After a lunch of Alpo and noodles, President Terri Grassi gonged the assemblage into submission, and invited Leslie McCarthy to lead us in the pledge. Howard “Mahalia” Wood then conducted the off-key Rotary chorus in that great old gospel spiritual “He got the whole world in his hands” accompanied by Don Ludwig’s heroic efforts at the upright. The chorus then delivered a rousing rendition of “Smile” as an encore. Don Bankhead prefaced his invocation by noting that the world needs prayer more than ever today.

VISITORS & GUESTS

The Rev. Dr. Ken Kaisch introduced visiting Rotarians and guests, including his own guest, Steve Hull. Bill Mathy’s guest was Dan Ouweleen, Bill Heaton brought his wife, Milly, and Frank Kawase was accompanied by his son-in-law, Hubert Wong, who is an emergency-room physician.

NEW MEMBER INDUCTION

President Terri then summoned Jim Blake to the front of the room to introduce new-member inductee Paul Simon. Jim told of their long friendship and Paul recounted his many years in Rotary where he served as president of the club in East Whittier. Paul is a retired executive from J.C. Penney & Co. We’re looking forward to his craft talk.

THANK-YOU PINS

Your scribe then heard his own name called along with Leslie McCarthy: we were being summoned by the President. I was reluctant to come forward until Terri assured me that we were not in trouble. It seems that last week the ROTAGRAM scribes were each awarded a thank-you pin for their work, and I was (sorry to say) absent. So, evidently, was Leslie, and this was the belated awarding. It’s a nice pin: the U.S. Flag crossed with a Rotary flag. I shall wear it proudly! Thanks, Terri.

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AWARDS

Indefatigable civic booster and past club president Mike Oates then took over the microphone to give a report on the annual Fullerton Rotary Track Meet. This is an event that’s Fullerton Rotary has been sponsoring for years amongst the local high schools, and increases the opportunity for student athletes to gain experience and win recognition from this friendly competition. One goal of the event is to use the proceeds from these meets to develop an all-weather facility on which our high-school athletes can use for practice and competition the year around. According to Mike, Rotary provided over 400 hamburgers, 300 hot dogs, along with condiments (onions, tomatoes, mayo, mustard), Doritos, chips, 500 drinks of water, Coke, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, plus 350 T-shirts, and 1st, 2nd & 3rd place medals for both the Frosh & Varsity athletes. Mike then called for the track coaches from the three schools to come forward with their top stars who were all awarded plaques for their achievement. The standings were very close with Troy in first place, Fullerton Union a close second and Sunny Hills an even closer third. Troy coach, Jim Burton, introduced his top athletes. Byron Frenkiel and Maggie Duffy. Fullerton coach, Craig Nordstrom introduced Jordon Brown and Jessica Nelson. Sunny Hills had two coaches, Greg Abbott and Joe Ok. They introduced Ryan Garcia and Allison Garcia. All young people for Fullerton to be proud of.

MANY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Boys & Girls Club Golf Tourney coming up soon. Sign up with Club Executive Director, Fred Johnson.

Wine Tasting Saturday, April 21 at the home of Bob Clark Jr. at 2101 Valwood Drive in Fullerton. Let Bob know if you’re coming so he can order enough wine.

A “Water Inspection Tour” of Diamond Valley Lake will take place on Friday, April 20th. The event is being sponsored by Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and is hosted by MWD Board Member, our own Jim Blake. Call Theresa Harvey at the Chamber office at 871-3100 by April 13 to reserve your spot.

Recent PDG and resident barbershop basso Bill Peloquin announced a show by the Orange Empire Chorus, a chapter of Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as SPEBSQSA (The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.) I guess they changed the name because they have already succeeded in preserving and encouraging barbershop music and the old acronym was impossible to pronounce. (Still it was fun.) The event comes off Saturday, April 14th at Plummer Auditorium. Matinee at 2:00 and Evening show at 7:00. The theme is “Fantastic Fifties”: a nostalgic look back at the era in which some of us older guys actually remember.

Cathy Gach (rhymes with Johann Sebastian Bach) plugged the upcoming Arts Gala 2007 coming up on Sunday, May 6th at Vista del Sol, 305 N. Harbor Blvd. from 3:00 ‘til 6:00 pm. The event is being held in support of Fine Arts education at the Fullerton Union High Academy of the Arts.

Announcements: (continued)

J Richey announced that Sunday, April 22nd will be “Rotary Club Day” at CSUF’s Goodwin Field, home of the great Titans Baseball team. A $15 ticket gets you entry into the park, clubhouse VIP seating and all the hot dogs you can eat. See the major leaguers of tomorrow playing for one of America’s top college teams. Call Rick Crane for more information.

Dick Schoen announced an auction to provide financial assistance scholarships for at BIOLA university. See him for details.

RECOGNITIONS GALORE

Pirate Captain Dick Daybell raised the Jolly Roger and picked our pockets for pieces of eight. Among his victims were:

Mike Oates and Randy McFarland: $25 for “comments” (unspecified).

Dan Kiernan: $99 for something to do with New Zealand; paid by Wally Bartelt.

Past Prez Bob Savage: $50 for failing to warn 2008-09 Prezelect Chief Pat McKinley about all the pitfalls of the job (Club President).

Rev. Greg Hickman: $49 for “advertising”; Greg threatened to take up an offering.

Drew Napolin escaped by being absent.

Rob Jahncke who took over publishing the e-Rotagram in his dad’s absence. Father Bob Jahncke will pay.

Theresa Harvey who got her picture in the paper as “Theresa Murphy.”

Winston Creel and Art Levin for mourning UCLA getting eaten by some ‘Gators.

All “Big Ten” school alumni whose teams failed to win the March Madness.

Rick Crane: $100 for something that happened at an Angels’ Game.

Bob Savage: (again) for $27 as a “reminder” to get his Fellowship Lunch group together.

Waltah Bahnes: Rebekah Havard: $33, Howard Wood: $66, all for being born on April First.

Theresa “Murphy”: $33 for being born on April 2nd.

Cathy Gach: $49 for “advertising.”

Just as Captain Daybell was about to tie up at the dock, Chet Schultz volunteered that he’d just had a birthday on April 3rd. It was his 85th! Dick Daybell fined himself the $85 for missing it.

OPPORTUNITY DRAWING (FORMERLY KNOWN AS “THE RAFFLE”)

The winning ticket was #798497 which was held by Mark Zane. Visiting Dr. Wong drew a card for Mark, but it was NOT the elusive Joker. Consolation prize of $10 was furnished by Bob Clark.

PROGRAM

Superintendent of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, our own Dr. George J. Giokaris presented a report on the condition of the district and its eight constituent high schools. In addition to the three we usually hear about, Fullerton, Troy, and Sunny Hills, the district also includes Buena Park, La Habra, and Sonora schools, and the continuation schools, La Mesa and La Sierra. The district is so solvent and well funded that its bonds have been rated AA3 which has lowered the interest rate that the taxpayers will have to come up with to retire them. Dr. Giokaris PowerPoint presentation illustrated the great progress that has been made at each school in the district, and showed plans for future expansion and revenue generation. The district is held in such high regard by teachers and administrators that it has the longest waiting list of applicants for job openings anywhere in the State. (We’d hoped to be able to provide a download of the presentation but were unable to do so.)

CLOSING ITEMS AND FINAL THOUGHTS

President Terri reminded everyone that the date of the April Board Meeting has been Changed to April 17th at the usual place.

She also reminded us that the April 25th club meeting will be held at the Fire Station.

Her closing thought was a quote from Babe Ruth:

Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.”