Before the meeting began the club enjoyed a beautiful musical interlude performed by Deacon Jay Miliam (Don Ludwig looked on in awe and wondered out loud to nobody in particular if Deacon Jay has any accounting skills)

There was a full house when Prez Pat rang the bell to open the first meeting of 2009.

Bill Kincaid led the pledge of allegiance

Leroy Fulton “learned” a new song about Rotary and attempted to “learn” the club how to sing it.  He did much better leading the club in a rousing rendition of “Smile”.

Leroy also gave the invocation today.

Tony Amato introduced Rotarians with visitors that included Dan O (business associated Don Junker); Scott Dowds (Bank Manager Helen Eligio); and Jeremy Lins (aged father Joe).

Prez Pat announced that the recent visit from the Free Wheelchair Mission got a remarkably generous response from members of the Fullerton Rotary Club.

Buck Catlin announced that Feb 16 is the very last day he can accept applications for the Community Investment Awards.

The Rotary Dental Clinic is scheduled for this Saturday at 9 AM at Richmond School (700 Richmond Ave).  80 to 100 children are expected to receive dental care underwritten by the Fullerton Rotary Club and provided by Dr. Doan and his staff of Dental Students from University of Southern California.

Warren Wimer announced that on April 26^th at 3 PM there will be a Yachting Fellowship with Free Food and booze at Lido Isle (no yacht required for entry).  Warren also said there will be Duffy Electric Boat tours of Lido Isle  and promised more details to come.

Jay Kramer announced Valentine Day Program ideas that include members sharing how Valentine Day is celebrated in their native countries.  If members are native born and wish to tell how Valentine Day is celebrated in your homeland contact Jay.

J Ritchey reminded the club that Wednesday January 21 is Rotary Club of Fullerton Night at Titan Women’s Basketball.  Prez Pat will try his motivation skills on the Titan Women and attempt to begin a winning streak again.

Dick Daybell and Sandy Hayes have prepared assignments for Winter/Spring fellowship Luncheons. Members can pick up assignments at the sign-in table this month

Mike Oates presented to the Club a “Thank You” present from the Western Welfare Center for the Handicap in which our club and the Shingal Rotary Club for Yong-in participated in a Matching Grant Program.  The gifts were costume jewelry all handcrafted by the handicap.  Fullerton and Shingal Rotary have given this program a Van and wheelchairs over the past two years.  Shingal is participating with Fullerton on a grant this year that will provide a refrigerator/freezer for FIES for its community food distributions to the community’s homeless and needy.  The Fullerton Club also agreed to promote a member exchange program with Shingal.

Paul Simonds and Mitch Hovey were defrocked as Newest Nine members as they have completed their requirements.

Finemaster George Giokaris got to the podium fully loaded with recognitions and started with Fred Johnson who was caught recently handing out Kawanis aprons to volunteers at a recent Boys and Girls Club event and Bill Klinghoffer for wearing someone else’s name badge at the meeting.

George also took a moment to recognize Minard Duncan, Don Bankhead, Bob Hathaway, Dick Jones, Pat McKinley, Cathy Gach, Buck Catlin, Griff Duncan, Bob Sattler and Tom Meyer for their fantastic support of the Fullerton Joint Union School District this past year.

George also noted that Scott and Jane Dowds will celebrate their 31st anniversary this week, as will Dan and Eileen O.  Theresa Harvey was reminded of her husband Bill’s birthday ($2), and Bob Hathaway also paid $2 for his wife Karen birthday (although Bob said is was worth $100).  Bob Hillhouse paid to celebrate his birthday this week, as does Old Man Lins, Deacon Jay, and Bill Mathy.  The Club celebrated Jeremy Lins Birthday a raucous rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” as a thank you for Jeremy spending his special day with us.

Newest Niner Jim Arabia had the winning number and Bill Hite volunteered to assist him in Naming that tune.  Bill has a big heart but wasn’t much help in naming Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”.  Musicologist Fred Johnson thought for sure he would loose money today.

Fred Hutchison provided the $10 consolation prize to Jim.

Program

Jim Blake introduced Jeff Knightlinger who is General Manager and CEO of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.  Jim is a 21 year Board Member of the district and was able to give a program all by himself, but Jeff spoke for 30 minutes and described the district’s formation, and function, and how water gets to Southern California and where it comes from and how environmental and political issues effect future availability of our water.  Jeff also told how well the district has prepared for the growth of the Southern California water need, but also warned of the need to conserve water in the future.