Rotagram for Wednesday, February 3, 2021

1. Our President, Ken Kaisch, opened the meeting at 12:02.

2. Ken’s opening comments were as follows:

A free society is a moral achievement,” wrote the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in a book published just months before his passing. Freedom does not come from economic policies or political power, he observed. It requires morality, which Rabbi Sacks defined as “a concern for the welfare of others, an active commitment to justice and compassion, a willingness to ask not just what is good for me but what is good for ‘all of us together.’ It is about ‘Us,’ not ‘Me’; about ‘We,’ not ‘I.’

Just as the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to exercise an abundance of caution, we could also use an abundance of care and compassion during these troubling times. The world seems so polarized, so divided, and yet our desires to pull together can be stronger than the forces that pull us apart. And they must be because we need each other.

The problems our world faces today will not be solved by individuals or isolated groups. We face these problems together, and we will find solutions together. To do this, we need to talk with each other, listen to each other, respect differences, and acknowledge our shared humanity.

Sometimes, we think complex problems require complex solutions. But the key to building a moral, compassionate society is surprisingly simple. It involves applying an ancient wisdom that is still relevant in our modern world: Love one another. Treat all with dignity. Share your blessings with the less fortunate. And give special attention to those who are sick in body and spirit. We “do these things,” Rabbi Sacks noted, “because, being human, we are bound by a covenant of human solidarity, whatever our color or culture, class or creed.” It’s true that living in a free society gives us some independence. But we still depend on each other.

Preserving our freedom will require our cooperation and our compassion. Each of us play a part in making our society moral—and free—by our habits of heart, thought, speech, and action. This is the underlying message of Service Above Self. It is indeed “a moral achievement” to do what is good for all of us—together.

3. Patriotic moment was led by Bev Berryman

4. Invocation was led by Cathy Gach

5. Club news: This month is Rotary Peace Month for Rotary International. ‘Promoting World Peace’ is one of the core functions of Rotary. We are currently looking for qualified young adults interested in promoting world peace. Rotary offers Peace Fellowships each year. Go to the Rotary website (www.rotary.org) for additional details on this wonderful program.

Our only fund raiser this year, Fullerton’s Schools Got Talent, is set up for April 24. It will be a virtual event, so it will be safe for all. We need volunteers to help Christian and Zoot, and we need sponsors (that is you), and those willing to go out and get sponsors.

Zoot will be putting on a Valentine’s Virtual Happy Hour on Friday, Feb 12 at 5 p.m. If you have not been to one of these, they are great fun. This is also a great opportunity to invite guests. A virtual invite will be sent out the week of the event. Mark your calendars now.

We need volunteers to help with membership. We need to think of innovative ways to invite prospective members. If you have an interest in this area, please give me a call.

Club members that deserve special recognition for Service Above Self: Marty Burbank, who, after hearing Matt Howell’s presentation last week, suggested to Matt and a bunch of us that putting a roof on the riding ring for Tara’s Chance would be a great ‘hands-on’ project for the club. I thought it was a great idea and it would give us all something we could really sink our teeth into this year.

6. Fine master – that Irish sweetheart, with a devilish sense of humor, the one and only Les (is more) McCarthy led us in honoring the following Rotarians:

Bill Kincaid, Carl Camp’s wife, Judy, & Mike Oats for their birthdays. Each was fined $5 for the recognition. Mike Oats was asked what happened on his birthday in 1870 (answer was 15th amendment to the constitution, but Mike did not remember). Joe Arnold was also fined $5 for recognizing his 2nd wedding anniversary. But then when Joe was able to answer the question who was excluded from being granted the ability to vote in 1879, he correctly responded, ‘Women’, he was granted ‘fine free’. Dan Kiernan was recognized for celebrating the ‘121st’ year of marriage to Ann. (Dan is that true? You really do not look quite that old). Dan was unable to state when women did get the right to vote as 1920 and was fined $5. Zoot missed the answer to when women could become Rotarians (answer was 1989) and was fined $10.

7. Our speaker for the day, Mike Darnold, was introduced by Dan Ouweleen. Mike was a former member of our club before moving to the coast. He has served many leadership positions in Rotary. He founded and currently leads the charity group ‘California Youth Services’. He is the 4-time President of the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce. As a Rotarian he founded our district Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). This year he developed and is offering a virtual RYLA called e RYLA.

Mike described the e-RYLA to us. It sounds great. The program will be offered over 3 evenings and a weekend ( beginning Wednesday 21 Apr thru Sunday 25 April). It includes fun interactive games, challenging puzzles, and leadership lessons. It will include on-line leadership and technical coaches. As normal it will focus upon High School Juniors, and this year will include those H.S seniors who were scheduled to attend last year but, could not because of COVID. Details on the program are available on the Rotary district web at http://ryla5320.org/. He hopes to offer the e-RYLA in future years as preparation to the regular RYLA, which is held in the mountains at Idyllwild Pines, Ca.

Ken closed the meeting with our charge: “Go out and be good people and great Rotarians!”