Meeting Notes and Club News: Thanksgiving Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Volume 61, Issue 19		Written and reported by Bill Schenk

Buck Catlin provided the thought for the day, informing the club that no less than 15 Naval Academy graduates were lost on September 11^th. He commemorated the their service and dedication by reciting from the Navy hymn while accompanied by Mike Oates.

Mike provided a concert of movie themes for our turkey dinner luncheon. By accident or not, Mike played the theme from The Stripper as late arriving Debi Koff made her way towards the buffet line. Mike finished the concert with a rousing up-tempo rendition of the USC fight song in honor of the early Thanksgiving enjoyed by the Cardinal and Gold'ers who finally found the strength to Fight-On!

Jim Thompson introduced visiting Rotarians and guests which included: Mike Escalante's guest Bob Hathaway of the Fullerton High School District; every week guest Dr. James Hogg (who is past-prez of his Edina, Minnesota Rotary Club; Paul Carey, guest of Dick Rocke, Richard Hopping, guest of Dan Kiernan; Dan Daay, guest of Win Miller, Phillip Lee, guest of his mother, Chung; and Hugh Hill, guest of visiting Rotarian and District Governor-elect Jim Parsons. Walt Johnson also visited from Fullerton South. Jim Thompson awarded a bottle of fine wine to the visitor who traveled the greatest distance to Fullerton. When Jim asked Phillip Lee where he was from, Phillip truthfully and proudly announced he was from West Fullerton, but had traveled here from Shang-hi, China to be home for the holiday. (Chung Lee will have to report on whether Jim Thompson's infamous pallet for fine beer is as reliable for wine).

Bill Hite and Bob Clark, Jr. graduated from the newest nine and were defrocked of their blue ribbons.

To replace Bill and Bob in the Newest Nine-League, Fullerton Rotary welcomed the world's two newest Rotarians as Damon Dragos and Mike Nomura were inducted into the club. Mike Escalante and Les Christensen sponsored them, respectively. Mike is Vice President/ Mgr. of Citizen Business Bank of Fullerton, and Damon is the Principal of Sunny Hills High School.

Rotarian of the Week honors went to Winston Creel for the great job he did substituting for Prez Peloquin recently.

As the assembled members lamented the inevitable Prez Bill's Unanswerable Opportunity Drawing Question of the week, Tony Amato stepped up to the plate and with great authority correctly answered the question pertaining to the date that Congress approved President Lincoln's proclamation of a National Day of Thanksgiving.

District Governor-elect Jim Parsons reported on the progress of the Rotary License Plate project.

Terri Grassi reminds us that there is still time to buy tickets for the Harbor Light Cruise in Huntington Harbor on December 15^th at 6:00 P.M.

Jim Young announced that the Cal State Fullerton Library Rotary Room project has raised over $10,000 so far. Jim also shared that Paul Harris had recently taken him to the Big Bear Rotary Club and that an additional $500 was donated towards the Rotary Room. Former Member and New Big Bear Rotary member Bob McNutt made the arrangements.

Winston Creel and Griff Duncan announced that good tickets are still available for the Davis Gaines concert on Saturday, January 26^th. (Warning!!!!!!! This one's going to be even more popular than the others!!!!)

Leroy Fulton arranged the wonderful Thanksgiving program. First, Leroy introduced opera singer Mariah Soul, and her accompanist, Nguyn Jun Ha from Hope International University. After two beautifully performed songs, Dr. Fulton announced that he was also a voice instructor at HIU. Leroy then introduced his boss Dr. LeRoy Lawson, President of Hope International University who gave an inspirational program on the nature of Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of National Thanksgiving and what the state of our country really was in the late fall of 1863. He ended his program by making his own proclamation of Thanksgiving for our country and our world in the aftermath of September 11.

Nobody left the meeting without an extra thought or two about how many blessings we have to be thankful for.

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