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President Lee Brockett initiated the meeting with a well-tempered sounding of the Rotary Bell and respectfully requested John Derry, Duane Greenleaf and Susan Smith to offer the invocation, lead us in the pledge and song respectively.
Terri Grassi warmly welcomed our guests and visitors and handed the forms to me but they slipped out of my legal pad on my way to my car at the Meridian. If you found them, I'll pay whatever your next fine is, up to two dollars! Our club should have that information if you need it. Vimal Seth introduced a representative of "Rotary Bangalore South" with which our club participated in a Matching Grant project of purchasing classroom furniture for 500 students from 5 schools. A plaque acknowledging our clubs hangs as testament in India! Our $1,500 club donation expanded to over $20,000 for the benefit of the kids in India! The power of Rotary matchng donations.
Will Abbott enthusiastically conducted the opportunity drawing and Cathy Gach, trying to pick the Joker, chose a Jack.
Recognitions
In a discussion that continued after the meeting concluded, Joe Lins fined a tall bearded attorney who remained nameless for not conducting "Recognitions". Clearly, Joe thought Phil Silverman was on tap for this week. As one would anticipate as a lawyer, Phil produced evidence that it wan't his turn in the form of his smart phone calender. Despite the animated discussion after the meeting, there were no earth shattering consequences from this incident. In fine "Four Way Test" form, Joe admitted that he didn't have his own phone to quickly look up birthdays and anniversaries but he thought on his feet and evoked the "Four Way Test" to flush out a few members who divulged birthdays and/or anniversaries knowing full well that there would be a fine involved. Sandy Hayes was one of them copping to a birthday. A couple of upstanding past presidents were called on the carpet when Joe was surreptitiously handed their names. J Richey was unable to distract Joe from fining him claiming he had not yet remembered his and Rosemarie's anniversary, but since the date wasn't quite here yet, there was no foul. Bill Mathy cleverly had Joe thinking he was given bad information until he divulged that it was their anniversary, and not Robyn's birthday.
Announcements
Minard Duncan confirmed that there is a Program Committee meeting next Tuesday October 8 at 8:30AM at Coco's on Harbor Blvd. Vern Andrews gave a reminder that the Endowment Award applications are due October 16.
Roger McGonegal, our Past District Governor, congratulated us on the success of the Fight Polio Jog-a thon which earned a 2 to 1 matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He invited us to the November 9 District foundation Dinner, encouraging us to purchase drawing tickets to win prizes like one week in Hawaii, One week at the Bob Hope Golf Classic in Palm Desert, and a golf Getaway at Temecula Creek Inn.
| Future Events: |
| 10/1 |
Program Committee @ Coco's, 7:30am (Harbor & Berkley) |
| 10/9 |
7:30am Board Meeting @ Hartnett Law Office, 350 E. Commonwealth Ave |
| 10/9 |
Medical Bleeding Disorder HHT |
| 10/16 |
Singing Your Way to Good Health & Barber Shop Quartet |
| 10/23 |
Kevin Choi Craft Talk and 10 min. DVD by Ray Hensen |
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Program
Former Fullerton Mayor Sharon Quirk-Silva, our 65th District State Assembly representative,(Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Hawaiian Gardens, La Palma Stanton and West Anaheim) returned to give us an update on happenings in our state Capitol. She's back in town just starting on Sacramento's summer recess.
She was proud that the state balanced it's budget including 10% rainy day funds as Fullerton has done in the past. $4.2 million went to paying off debt and significant funds went toward helping students focus on (STEM) science technology, engineering and mathematics.
Sharon noted that in the past year, unemployment has decreased.
Despite being a "freshman", State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva hit the ground running, already sponsoring bills that reduce the average time to process filings for new business from 80 to 5 days! She also supported legislation to give tax credit to companies which can help them purchase equipment and she signed AB-912 which enables excess concrete to be use on local projects rather than go to the landfill. k
She has seen lots of bipartisan progress at meetings to improve unpopular policies like vehicle license fees and prisoner releases.
She worked with Rocky Chavez to help veterans avoid having to pay out-of-state college tuition rates. Despite the dissolution of State Redevelopment funding, 95% of the planned projects were able to go through. The old Hollywood Wax Museum is now presenting "Bodies" and "Titanic" displays thanks to efforts of our state legislature. Pathways of Hope was able to keep 75% of the funding it was hoping to receive.
One of Sharon's goals is to make what they do in Sacramento make sense at the local level.
As a freshman in the state legislature, she learned about the existence of the "Third House" (besides the Congress and Assembly) which consists of the lobbyists and special interest. This wields a bit of power over some of the legislators. Sharon has resisted offers to attend special meetings by these people just prior to voting on issues. She makes a point to avoid getting pressured which no doubt is difficult when re-election time comes. Clearly, she is proving to represent us ethically and is continuing her good communication style that has gotten her to where she is. She has voted "no" or "stayed off" of 90% of tax increase bills. She acknowledged that the high speed rail project seems to be stalled.
Her office is in the Fullerton Towers and she welcomes constituents to contact her about issues of concern. We are proud of Sharon getting things done as she continues to learn the complexities of our state!
President Lee carefully sounded the Rotary bell to conclude the meeting so as to not shock anyone!
| Proposed New Members |
David Slomovic, Sunnycrest Senior Living, by Joe Lins
Francis Knott, by Dan Kiernan
Noel Burch, Rotarian transfering from the Montebello Club to be closer to her work in Downey. She resides in Fullerton. |
(Published using 100% recycled electrons)
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