(Click here for a photo gallery from this meeting)

What has happened to our beautiful sunsets Mr. President?  This is July and we are going through a period of July ? skies, even the news casters can’t come up with a name for our gloomy July weather besides we need to dress warmly!  Mr. President, we expect miracles!  

What a wonderful time for some Fellowship after our Club Board of Directors Meeting where our B of D reviewed what our Club is planning for Rotary Year 2010-2011 which is reflecting the desires of our members expressed at this year’s Fireside Chats, especially in community orientated projects plus preparing for the desires of RI and District 5320 that will take Rotary into this new Decade.  We were really pleased with the presence of District Governor Johrita Solari plus her Anaheim Rotarian husband Bruce, Assistant Governor Jim Rutter from San Clemente Sunrise, the two of our lovely member wives: Sheila McGonegal and Barbara Smith. And we can not forget our Past President and Honorary Member Bob Silver sporting a reddish beard but still is maintaining his wonderful smile, all dually greeted by our PP/PDG Roger McGonegal.  President Jerry struck the Club Bell at 6:17 PM or the Fellowship would have carried on with even more smiles and laughter occurring.

Starting the meeting was with PP/PDG Jim DeBoom giving the Invocation, followed by PP Bob Silver leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance to our great Flag, and John Kerr guiding us through The Four Way Test with limited glancing.  Bob Merring, breaking out the new Songs for the Rotary Club books and choose Sing Out a  Song of Rotary, to the tune of Give My Regards to Broadway.  Following the song introductions were done with our distinguished guests and President Jerry choosing the order of tables to eat starting with DG Solari’s table.

President Jerry started the meeting after dinner early where the hat was passed for a special gift for Miyuki, Jay and Jamison’s new baby daughter/sister: Sakura May Richardson, which translates to “Cherry Blossom” born on July 17, 2010 at Hoag Hospital weighing in at 8 pounds 9 ounces.  Congratulations to the Richardson Family.  Other announcements were the PolioPlus baseball tickets and Steve Speer having to auction off his tickets to AJ, a speedy recovery by Yvonne Karn from knee surgery, and John Kerr’s full coin bank.  

We always love Ed Rennie’s stories including “When eagles soar” or “When you walk in another man’s shoes.”  Following Ed was that evil barrister Fine Master Tom Walley hitting on poor Steve Speer for his 1 year old grand daughter, Tom had to suck it up and when asked about his trip to Ojai for a golf trip (that had different version from a week before by Andy Campbell?), and no one could top Jim DeBoom’s story about wrecking his new son-in-law’s car (Jim seems to have problems with cars over the years!).  Happy fines were shared by Barbara Smith, Bob Silver, Roger McGonegal, and AJ Thielen.

Roger McGonegal introduced DG Johrita Solari, who first attended Rotary in 1993 at East Anaheim (which turned in its charter) and then was sponsored by L.B. Lowell in the Anaheim Club which is now her home club.  She wanted everyone to know that RI and District wants us to go back to the “Basics” where the clubs become stronger by “Bigger thinking,” “Better implementation,” and to be “Bolder.”  To assist the entire District clubs, they have 140 District volunteers including AG Rutter, Rick Topping, and Roger Hester assigned as advisors to our Club if we have any questions.  She asks us to set our goals for membership including more women and members in their 20’s.  PolioPlus is still a priority including the Angel “End Polio” game on Saturday, July 31^st, giving to the Rotary Foundation to continue Rotary immunization of children to eradicate polio with over 2 billion doses given to children since Rotary became involved in 1986.   She mentioned the Foundation Dinner in November, Businessman’s Luncheon, and District Conference on April 29^th – May 1^st at the Airport Hilton on MacArthur Blvd., plus the Convention in New Orleans in May 2011.  The District will be hosting for a month the GSE Team from Holland in April and May focusing on peace and conflict resolution and again our Club will be hosting this team from Holland for a day or so.            

Johrita really did her homework about our Club and how we have changed lives with our love, labor, heart and hard work that is making a difference and requested that we Ask in Gear to continue our work by Building Communities - Bridge Continents.  She made her points and in Johrita fashion completed her presentation so President Jerry had plenty of time to present his Thought for the Day:  Danger and Opportunity as quoted by JFK.  President Jerry clang on the Club Bell signaled the meeting adjourned before 7:40 PM.  Great job Johrita and Jerry.

The youngest of the 1940 kids!

Bill Hossfeld, Scribe

Sgt. at Arms AJ Thielen was at the registration table and Hal Gray was serving as the greeter. President Jerry was dressed in slacks, sport coat, shirt and tie for his first meeting. He looked impressive and in control!

Steve Speer was handing out the 2010-11 theme pins during reception time that saw Bob Wood thanking last years officers and directors for the time and talent they shared with Rotary. Roger Gilbert was back from an Alaskan cruise (that should be worth a fine). PP Marc was relaxed with a glass of wine in hand.

Promptly at 6:15 Jerry gaveled the meeting to order, calling on Steve Dominquez for a very thoughtful invocation, Mike Iascone for the pledge, Sarah Davis for the 4 Way Test and Bob Merring for a song.

Guests included Zora Davis, Barbara Smith, Maria Smith (dressed like her husband in Spain ’s Soccer jersey and Mary Jo’s niece Nalae who is in California on a Physical Assistance Training program.

After dinner, Gary Konecne provided us with a joke about two fishermen and PP Marc picked up a bunch of money as Finemaster from Dan Hoffman (daughter looking for a job), AJ, Marc him self, Art Walton (driver’s test) and happy fines from Steve Speer, Hal Gray, Victor Currie, and Steve Dominquez (celebrating Spain’s World Cup victory).

President Jerry shared a thank you card from the Paularino Elementary School band who received $250 from the club foundation to help the play at Knott’s Berry Farm. He then presented bouquet of flowers to Miyuki Smith-Richardson and Ann Wong for the good work last year and this coming year. Walter Smith was presented his Blue Badge in exchange for $10 as he has completed all the requirements.

President Jerry, a 20 year Rotarian then started the Club Assembly noting that Newport-Bal has changed from an old man’s dinner club to a much younger club with the addition of Sara Davis, AJ, Mike to name a few.  Many of the younger members are taking leadership positions for which we are all thankful. 

Jerry would like events such as the Progressive Dinner, the family BBQ, Fellowship evening and celebrate birthdays the first meeting of each month.  And maybe an Amtrak ride to San Diego to visit the Gas Light District and a bus ride to LA to visit historic sites.

He then introduced the Officers and Directors for 2010-11, Vice President Policy and Ethics
Victor Currie, Secretary, Sarah Greenberg-Davis, Club Treasurer Anna Wong, Foundation Treasurer Steve Phair, President-Elect Bill Hossfeld, Club Service Steve Speer/Art Walton, Vocational Service Gary Konecne, Community Service Bill Davies, International Service Bob Merring,  RI Foundation Roger Gilbert, Public Relations Club Fund Raising Dan Hoffmann, Sergeant-at-Arms A.J. Theilen, Programs Miyuki Smith-Richardson, and Webmaster & Bulletin Editor Victor Currie

One by one they discussed their area of responsibility.  Steve noted we had 17 RSVP’s for tonight and 32 ate dinner. His plea was to RSVP weekly. Club family picnic is set for August 28^th.  Bill said the goal for this year was 8 new members for a total 70. Goal for the coin banks is $2,700. Gary indicated they are going to start an Interact Club at NHHS and send 4 local high school Juniors to RYLA. Roger said we were the first club in the district to achieve our Polio Plus goal (in 2 years no less) and our Foundation goal is $13,000.  Bob is looking for additional Matching Grant funds and will continue to support the Youth Exchange and GSE team efforts.

Dan said he will focus on relations to the public as well as internal relations and encourage members to donate to the Club Foundation. AJ said the assignment roster will be out soon. Steve Phair talked about raising money when Pot sales are legalized in November.

President Jerry gaveled the meeting to a close at 7:36 p.m.

It was a fun night!  Excellent opening night for a new president!

Jim de Boom, Scribe



Marc Aarons reacts to the suprise RotoScout theme.

(Click here for a gallery of Hal Gray's photos from Demotion night)

With oodles of guests, we started the meeting to coincide with the timely arrival of outgoing President Marc Aarons, who was immediately presented with a “sash of honor” by Past President Bob Silver, for him to use in his “tent of honor” set up in the back for a simulated campout.

Jim deBoom captured the spirit of the occasion with a thoughtful invocation, and Icecbreaker Steve Dominguez followed with the Pledge of Allegiance, with Icebreaker AJ Thielen leading us in the Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do.

Future RotoScout Leader Nick Charles CurrieEmcee Victor Currie took over, introducing a surprise presentation by “Future RotoScout Leader in Training” Nick Charles, perhaps emulating President Marc, to read the RotoScout 4 Rules of Leadership, promising to be “calm and understanding”, “enunciate and speak clearly,” “never lose my temper” and “always pronounce names correctly as a sign of respect.” We then sang the RotoScout Campfire Song, ending with the chorus,

 “It’s the end of Marc’s year

So let’s give him a cheer

 ‘Cause we still have

our Club on the Bay.”    ----great piece, author!

Introduction of visitors included Gay Morris, Jan Hossfeld, Anne Campbell, Lynda Wood, Yvonne Smith, Linda Silver, Pat Warmington, RJ Wilson, Erica Currie, Stephanie Walley, and Andrew Spaatz.

President Marc and emcee VictorAfter a great dinner, emcee Victor introduced a series of people to present Marc with a some badges of merit for his sash, beginning with Club Service Director Bill Hossfeld presenting him with the “rock” badge for his environment and nature center support. Next came Gary Konecne and Miyuki Smith-Richardson offering the “creative name pronunciation award” badge. This was followed by the King of Switzerland, otherwise recognizable as Dan Hoffman, offering the “merit badge of neutrality.” Icebreaker Steve Dominguez was selected to mention Marc’s losing 80 pounds, with genuine congratulation for his good health. Tom Walley, who claimed he was never here to notice what Marc had accomplished, gave him the most ambiguous award of a BIG question mark.

The King of SwitzerlandNow it was Marc’s turn to recognize some of the people who made his year a huge success: Icebreakers of the Year, Sarah Davis and Bud Warmington. A special award on his Polio Plus outstanding leadership, Steve Speer; and Jerry Morris for stepping up to the Presidency even though he’s “been there, done that.” Secretary Bob Merring was applauded for “keeping track of it all.” Anna Wong, moving in as Treasurer, received plaudits, Bill Hossfeld at Club Service Director, Dan Hoffman for his great grant writing, and Mary Jo Vechiarelli for Vocational Service, and Gary Konecne for Community Service. Dick Holmgren and Roger Gilbert (latter out of town) shared the honors for the Rotary Foundation, and Andy Campbell the sole recognition for the Club’s Foundation. Victor Currie got a plaque for our new Website, and Lauren Reeves for her successful fundraising. Program Chair Miyuki Smith-Richardson was recognized along with Raouf Yuja, and Steve Phair got a well-applauded Sergeant at Arms plaque for his consistency in arrangements.

Gary Konekne was recornized as Icebreaker of the Year, and also was given the Community Service Award.Bill Hossfeld was named Rotarian of the Year, and also given the Bob Callis Award for the member most helpful to the president during the year.Then came the surprise announcements…Receiving the Community Service Award of the Year (voted on by the membership) was Gary Konecne, followed by another secret vote for Icebreaker of the Year: Gary Konecne! The Bob Callis award, to that one person who in the President’s opinion, was the greatest assistant to him: Bill Hossfeld! And then, by vote again, that person selected to be the “Rotarian of the Year” – none other than Bill Hossfeld!  So, massive congratulations to the two members who made this Club tick so well this year: Gary Konecne and Bill Hossfeld! Well done, guys.

After the pin exchange, new President Jerry Morris, said he was loving Rotary and his focus this year was to have us join him in having fun!

Lucky scribe, Bob Wood



We met at Hoag Hospital Irvine for a vocational visit.  Promptly at 5:30 we met in the Community Education and Conference Room, a beautiful, state-of the-art meeting room with a big screen TV as big as the one in the Wynn sports book.  We learned that the hospital was built in 1990 and has had a succession of operators, the last of which was Tenet.  Hoag entered into a long-term lease for the property in February 2002.  They originally planned to invest $35 - $40 million in upgrading the facility, but ended up spending $85 million.

The complex consists of two separate hospitals.  One is an acute-care 85 bed hospital and the other is a 70 bed orthopedic specialty facility with 70 beds.  With 9 operating rooms (and three which will come on-line later) it will be the highest volume orthopedic center in the county.

Following the opening lecture we broke into three groups for a tour.  A couple of highlights:

-        They have spent over $2 million in landscaping to create “healing gardens”, areas that patients can walk through rather than just around the halls.  These lessen stress and, along with extensive follow-up care and counseling, speed the healing process.

-        State of the art CCU which will test predictive analysis software tied into patient monitors.  Hopefully, this will allow staff to anticipate problems with patients before they actually happen, allowing them to take preventative measures.

-        Operating rooms and support areas arranged in a manner to increase efficiency and allow for higher volume and better treatment.

It is a beautiful, modern hospital facility.  The opening is set for this September.

Steve Phair, emergency scribe

PS From Ed Rennie:
Worth reporting:

It was a great dinner.  Steve rolled out some new items, deep fried zucchini for example, which were just terrific.  Also, he overprepared.  Everyone took home boxes of pizza, pasta, etc.

There seemed far more people at dinner than at the Hoag tour.  Bob Smith and wife and Steve Dominguez and wife joined the group among others.

Steve and Gina’s look forward to a banner night tonight—the Lakers game.  Steve noted it will be at least a $3,000 night.

Ed



(Click here for a photo gallery from this week's meeting)

The marine layer had no impact on the beauty of the view—it just doesn’t get any better—and it never gets worse.  Walter Smith worked the sign-in desk with able assistance from AJ Thielen.  BAM!

Prez Marc opened the meeting asking for an invocation from Hal Gray.  AJ led the Flag Salute and Walter Smith the 4-Way.  Bob Merring’s sonorous tonsils let us through  Daisy, Daisy—think it’s the first time I ever sang the second verse.  WOW!

Guests were Rotarian-In-Waiting Steve Dominguez and his proud wife Maria, Sosi Palangran and Speaker Uwe Roggenthein.  ZONK!

Prez Marc’s Rotary Minute was an update on the Health, Hunger and humanity (3-H) Grants.  The linchpin of the program is PolioPlus.  Amazingly, over the past year, only 254 new cases of Polio were diagnosed.  AMAZING!

After dinner, Roger McGonegal took the podium encouraging all to attend an Angels’ game on 7/31 at 6:05 p.m. benefiting PolioPlus.  The tickets are nicely discounted.  WHOPEE!

Your scribe then took the podium to induct Steve Dominguez, sponsor Marc Aarons, into our Club.  Jerry Morris noted that Steve grew up in San Diego attending South Gate High School.  Steve took his undergraduate degree at UCLA and then medical school at the University of Iowa—go Hawkeyes.  He completed his medical training specializing in plastic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.  Steve was relieved of a wad of one dollar bills, a Club custom.  TERRIFIC!

Prez Marc welcomed full coin banks from Ray Lenihan, Jim DeBoom and Remi Weiss.  Michael Iascone contributed a bag of coins, perfectly acceptable.  BANG!

In the absence of a Jokemaster, Gary Konecne filled in with two winners.  Your scribe added a one liner.

Finemaster Speer fined Dan Hoffmann $40 in absentia.  Happy fines were paid for Gary Konecne for his daughter’s graduation from kindergarten, Victor Currie for an inscrutable Andy Campbell golf story, Roger Gilbert for a retirement party in style at the Hotel Biltmore in Phoenix, John Kerr reminding that customers are good, Roger McGonegal for awards to Art Walton/Bob Wood/Symantha Smith/wife Shiela, Bob Merring for computer problems, delayed solutions and ain’t love grand stories.  UNBELIVEABLE!

Speaker Uwe Roggenthein told about the Queen Mary, now berthed in Long Beach, and efforts currently underway to upgrade it and surroundings.  It was built in 1936.  Its management was recently taken over by Delaware North, a private company which also manages the TD Garden in Boston and Wembley Stadium in the U.K.  His first assessment of the task about a year ago was that it was a tired old ship.  However, its considerable history, charm and truly unique features made clear the potential for turning it into a major attraction.  KERPOW!

Consulting firm DJAV was hired and is currently developing a five-year plan for renovation, upgrade and development of the surrounding 45 acres.  Of the Queen’s 314 rooms, 165 have already been completely renovated.  Still, the overall effort is a work-in-progress.  Nothing is off the table: theaters, live shows, etc.  

Uwe graciously offered a free weekend for two on the Queen.  Look for its auction soon.  SLAM!

Prez Marc closed with a quote alluding that attitudes are mirrors of the mind.  New member Steve then gave warm handshakes to all at the door.  GREAT!

See everybody next week at Hoag Hospital, Irvine at 5:00.  Then off to Speer’s Mama Gina’s across from UCI. 

Ed Rennie, El Scribé ZEOWEE!