Today’s meeting found us across the hall from our usual place and that may account for the awkwardness of today’s proceedings. It didn’t faze Prez Scott though. Scott asked Newest Niner Thad Sandford to give the invocation and Kevin Fly to lead the pledge. Griff Duncan pleaded with us to try a straight-up version of the Star Spangled Banner and the membership did there best to comply, followed by Smile.

Sunny Hills High School alum Randy McFarland introduced Susan Smith, LaHabra Rotarian, transferring into our club, (guest of Prez Scott). And Fullerton Union High School Speech and Debate teacher Sal Tinasero.

Fine master Dan Kiernan did his usual sublime job as fine master. The membership approved of all his fines and marveled at his effectiveness and his uncanny communicative skills. Highlights of his tenure included Bill Hite’s birthday and recognition of Warren and Nancy Wimer’s donation of an American Flag that had flown over the White House. The White House incidentally is not for sale! If it were, it would need to be painted yellow! (If this statement doesn’t make sense to you then you weren’t at the meeting!! If you were at the meeting, you’ll understand why no trivia questions will be reported today).

Most of our interesting and important club business was suspended in order to accommodate the annual Rotary Speech Contest that included three speakers from Suuny Hills High School and four from Fullerton Union High School.

Representing SHHS were three wonderful freshman girls Sara Diaz (accompanied by her mother, Nellie Diaz); Amanda Poertner (accompanied by her dad Brian Poertner); and Miranda Chen (accompanied by her parents Stan and Dr. Sheling Chen). Looking on from the head table was their Principal Judy Fancher. (Interesting note these girls were all freshman!).

Representing Fullerton Union High School were Tiffany Lam, Nora Matti, Kayle Curley and Adrianna Young. Their Principal Cathy Gach also looked on from the head table.

This contest was organized by Dianne Masseth-Jones who enlisted the help of Bob Radde and Vern Andrews as time keepers and Deacon Jay, Zoot Velesco, Maryalyce Jeremiah, Irene Lang, and Ken Kaisch as judges.

The topic of the speech was “Reaching Within for Humanity” and those in attendance enjoyed seven young women from our community. All agreed that the judges had a hard time and all agreed what a fantastic job each of these girls did.

Today I’ll provide my own thought from the day. I saw a bumper sticker on a car as I drove back to work after the meeting. It said, “If you think the cost of education is high-consider the cost of ignorance” – (on Minard Duncan's car).