President Terri Grassi opened the meeting and invited Dave Bates to lead us in the flag salute. Bill Peloquin read the poem “Final Inspection” in honor of Veteran’s Day, and we sang “America the Beautiful” and “Smile” to the piano accompaniment of Don Ludwig.

Art Levine gave an invocation based upon biblical Psalm 133 (“How good and how pleasant it is to dwell together in unity”) and the opportunity Rotary affords to further that sentiment. Ed Little introduced Guests Joe Koch (guest of Don Bankhead), city-councilwoman-elect Pam Keller (Minard Duncan), James Ritley (J.H. Richey) and Colleen Patterson and Ed Atkinson (George Giokaris). Visiting Rotarians Ron Gillett (Fullerton Sunrise) and Robert Smith (Newport Balboa) were recognized.

Congratulations to members Bob Hathaway and Don Bankhead on their reelection to the School Board and City Council, respectively.

Announcements:

On November 10th and 11th , at Wilshire Auditorium, Fullerton Sunrise will co-sponsor “The Christmas Express.” Jerry Cummings (played by Jim Williams) will portray the challenges of newlywed-hood, with Terri Grassi, Theresa Harvey, and Dexter Savage also in the cast. Call (714) 739-7789 for tickets.

• Scouting for food, Nov 11. Contact Terri Grassi for info.
  
• Concert tickets – contact Winston Creel
  
• Irvine Spectrum club – needs help putting up flags on freeway
  
• November 14th -- district training about RI foundation
  
• CSUF’s Women’s Basketball season begins this Saturday. Contact Maryalyce Jeremiah for information.
  
• Community service class for 3rd-6th graders. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning 27th of November. Volunteers needed to teach about community service, whether Rotary or other community service. Contact David Schoen.
  
• This is Rotary Foundation month – contact Walt Barnes
  
• Our Annual Christmas Party for Seniors is just five weeks away (Dec. 13th, Ebell Club). Over 90 senior from Fullerton nursing homes will attend. Contact Mark McGee.
  
• YWCA Feb 23rd Annual Choclate Fantasy Event. Joe Lins is Man of Year. Contact Diane Masseth-Jones.
  
• Sock Hop - Boys Club and Rotary will co-sponsor a fun “family event” on Dec. 7th. Contact Walt Barnes
• MaryAlyce Jeremiah -- congratulated Democrats on their election success but then distributed t-shirts with an elephant! (Titans)

• Birthdays:
• Robert Jahncke -- 68th birthday
• John Braun -- spousal birthday.
• Bill Gorman -- won softball tournament in Italy
• Tom Meyer – appeared in two articles in paper.

Welcome back from the hospital Bill Kincaid!

Raffle – Pat McKinley missed winning $85 by not picking a joker from the deck.

LeRoy Fulton was acknowledged and thanked for reserving the Hope Int’l Univ. conference room and arranging for the invocation each week.

Program:

We had two speakers.

Today is Foundation Day. Dr. Raj Desai discussed his Project Deaf India, which our club supports. Goals of Project Deaf India:

• Prevention of deafness through MMR vaccination (not provided by Indian Govt.)
• Early Detection of Hearing loss at birth and intervention (standard in US & UK but not in India)
• Education and Management of children who are born both deaf and blind.

India has one of the highest incidences of deafness in the world due to lack of vaccine and greater consanguinity. Rotary International Grants provide health clinic, hearing aids, training.

Hearing loss is the most frequent birth defect, but this has only been recognized in recent years. It is critically important to identify hearing impairment at birth, so that children can be educated, beginning as early as one month after birth.

Bob Hathaway introduced a Rotary Ambassadorial scholar who recently returned from Spain. Rotary has the largest privately funded scholarship program in the world.

Gregoria Barazandeh, recipient of a Rotary scholarship (home club Newport Sunrise) attends UCI graduate student and active in volunteer work for people with disabilities. She has received Research Grants for various health care projects, such as “Pain Management for the Elderly.” She needed to learn Spanish, so went to Rotary Club Granada. She spoke to us of the Granada club’s activities: sending computers to Columbia, Fine Art Exhibition, recruiting Rotaracts (students), community service, and increasing the community’s awareness of Rotary.

Terri Grassi provided the Closing thought (by Leo Buscaglia): “Don’t spend your precious time asking why the world isn’t a better place. It will only be wasted time. Rather, ask how you can make the world a better place; there is an answer to that!”