Weekly eBulletin Aug. 14, 2013 -- DG Baker's Annual Visit
CLICK HERE for more photo images of the meeting. Can you find yourself in one of these?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - DG Doug Baker made his official club visit to the Rotary Club of Redondo Beach. In addition Gov. Doug inducted a new member into the RBRC, Jeff Weigel.
(REDONDO BEACH – August 14, 2013) – Today’s club luncheon saw a constellation of stars, at it were. At least eight past district governors were in attendance: PDG Eliseo Gauna 1991-92; PDG Vicki Radel, 2000-01; PDG Rick Mendoza, 2002-03; PDG Pat Cashin 2004-05; PDG David Moyers, 2007-08; PDG Chuck Anderson, 2009-10; PDG Doug Baker, 2010-11 (and of course DG for 2013-14); and PDG Lew Bertrand, 2012-13. Of these eight PDGs one even inducted a new member today.
Today’s greeter was Past-President Colette Paul, invocation by President-elect Rolando Andrade, and PDG Rick Mendoza led us in the flag salute.
Visiting Rotarians (NOTE-if this list seems a bit redundant give it a break as Rotary protocol must be obeyed) DG and PDG Doug Baker; District Governor-Elect Elsa Glham; District-Governor Elect Nominee D.J. Sun; PDG Lew Bertrand, PDG David Moyers, Executive Aide Jaimee Sul; AG Bill Bloomfield and Jack Hausman a visiting Rotarian from Alpharetta, GA.
Boy, does Hausman have a story to tell when he gets home, to say nothing of banking several make-ups for his meeting today with eight past district governors in attendance. For you newbies or visitors we have five PDGs in our club, but rather than be redundantly redundant re-read the first paragraph!
Guests: Jeff Weigel, husband and special guest of President Karen Weigel; Craig Kovar, special guest of Jim Sharvin; Seth Stodder, special guest of Steve Scerra; Bryce Young, 9, son of Scott Young.
Meals-on-Wheels by Mark Smith and PDG Vicki Radel
Announcements:
Backpack stuffing scheduled for August 22. Meet at the Salvation Army from 10 a.m. to 12 noon for distribution. “You will receive a card with a student’s name and age on it. Think of words of inspiration for the students,” said President Karen Weigel.
Redondo Beach Police Reserves Award Banquet: September 25 starting at 6 p.m. $50 per person. See Mel Nichols.
Japanese Exchange Students: PDG Vicki Radel gave a report of our club’s recent hosting of six Japanese Exchange students to the LA Brea Tar Pits and museum.
Literacy Breakfast: Several members attended this recent event. Among them Chuck Anderson, Pearl Davis, Paul Hyashi, Karen Weigel and Chat Campbell. Karen said that 23 percent of Californians are illiterate, and is 33 percent of the population in Los Angeles County. “Illiterate means not having functional reading and writing skills,” she sad.
Reading Buddies Program: In collaboration with the YMCA and the Molina Foundation, several members of our club have signed up to assist: Terry Bichlmeier, Chantel King, Scott Fellows, Paul Hayashi, Jim Sharvin, Eli Gauna, and Karen Weigel.
New Member: Jeff Weigel, husband of President Weigel, was inducted today. District Governor Doug Baker did the honors. Welcome on board Jeff.
Luncheon Speaker: Today’s luncheon saw the annual visit of the district governor. Noted with District Governor Doug Baker, PDG was our guest speaker today. Before going further, it is noteworthy that RI records show that Governor Baker is one of only four or five district governors who have served two terms! Further, he is the only individual worldwide currently in that dual capacity.
That little tid bit of Rotary trivia aside, Baker launched his unrehearsed speech (‘I don’t know what I’m going to talk about in advance,’ he said) with this observation: “What we are doing in the world as Rotarians today is not working. Rotary is not the largest service organization in the world. That honor goes to the Lions. Rotary membership is down in North America but up in the rest of the world. Lions are up in North America but down in the rest of the world.”
He noted that membership in the Redondo Beach Rotary Club “is down 40 percent from its peak. Only 55 percent to 60 percent of your members attend your weekly meetings. What about the other 40 percent?”
Decline in membership is not exclusive to Redondo Beach, he continued. In the last dozen or so years “15 Rotary Clubs in our district with 60 or more members have disappeared altogether. What happened is they coasted along and didn’t adapt. Then the clubs died!”
Baker noted, “It used to be an honor to be asked to join Rotary, a great opportunity to offer our vocation in service to others in the community. But now we are out of that habit and we need to get back to it.”
The governor asked several Rotarians in the audience members why they joined Rotary. Replies of “service,” “giving back to the community” and the like were offered. Baker said, “It is club service, it starts here. We need people who are excited, enthused and engaged. We build stronger clubs if people are actively involved. Now we just write checks!” he lamented.
Raffle: With $50 in the kitty, Michael Jackson’s number was picked but he did not pick the green marble. He donated his booby prize of $10 back to the club foundation.