Rotagram for Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Meeting was called to order by club president Jim Ripley, “Welcome everyone. Well, this season, we’re starting the Christmas Holidays earlier according to my Chocolate Advent Calendar. Only three days away from Christmas,” joke President Ripley. Before he told another joke, he prefaced that he was asked to tone down his “sophisticated” jokes, “Why was Santa’s little helper depressed? Because he has low ELF esteem!” One last joke to begin the day, “What do you call a ‘broke’ Santa Claus? Saint Nickel Less.” “Enough of that!” yelled someone from the crowd, “NO MORE TORTURE!”

CIA awards update, Cathy Gach says that we are still at the same amount, “we need a little over $4,000 to get to our $20,000 mark.” We have until the end of the month to hit our goal of $20k.

President Ripley asked Jim Williams, the program coordinator, to please stand and be recognized, “I want to say that being President, I guess you define a good year, but really, for me, it’s all about the programs. We’ve had a run of programs this year during my presidency. So, I would like to take a moment to thank you for all your efforts.”

For our Commencement Ceremonies, Kendra Tankersley-Davis gave us our Patriotic Moment leading us in our Pledge of Allegiance. Marty Burbank gave us our Invocation, leading us in prayer, “Our father, as we gather for this lunch, you remember December 7, 1941, a stark reminder of a devastating consequence and a need to pursue that in peace. 82 years later, we are still grappling with conflicts with the terrorist attacks in Gaza, The War in Ukraine, mounting tensions in the Taiwan Straits in East Africa. These challenges underscore the need for unity and others. To paraphrase Paul Harris, ‘the way to war is a well-paved highway and the way to peace is still a wilderness.’ His words remind us that the journey to peace may be arduous, but it’s a journey with undertaking Rotary’s commitment to peace building and conflict resolution gives us hope that through collaboration and understanding, we can support the path through a more peaceful world. Let’s renew our dedication to Rotary’s ideas and good will. Amen.”

Today’s Song Master, Bob Muschek, led us in an A Cappella version of God Bless America. “I probably can’t hit the high notes, so you guys will have to figure out how to do that yourself.” Great song selection and Song Master segment, Mr. Bob Muschek!

Today’s lunch meeting did not include any guest.

Today’s Recognition Master/Fine Master was Dr. Bob Simon. “All right, everyone get your wallet’s out!” Doctor Simon wanted to recognize Ira Gershwin’s birthday today, December 6, 1896. “Ira outlived George by more than 40 years. Does anyone know what Ira’s wife’s name was?” Bob Jahncke was asked to stand and be recognized for his wife’s birthday on December 7th. He was fined $5. Carrol Morris was recognized for her birthday as well; she was fined $5 for it. Mike Cochran celebrated his 74th birthday on that day, we sang happy birthday to him and fined him $5 for it. Dr. Simon closed out his fine master segment by promising more opportunities in the year 2024, “I’ll have a little bit more to offer, but thanks for your cooperation.”

Today’s announcements, Bill Mathy took the stage to announce that the Rotary Clock that was agreed by city of Fullerton to accept from the Fullerton Rotary Club, is being delivered soon. He displayed a photo with a whole dug up to show that a grand opening celebration was coming soon. Bill is hoping to have an unveiling for the clock sometime in January, “we are going to contact the Observer, The Register, maybe even a couple of television stations.” He is also hoping to have a group shot of every club member, “we haven’t done that in years. That would be a great thing to do.” A time capsule was even mentioned as something that could potentially be something the club would be interested in as well.

Jim Williams announced for Zoot Velasco, who was not present today, an upcoming event, “Business in the Digital Age: How Technology is Changing Business” between Fullerton College and the North Orange County Chamber on Wednesday, January 10th, lunch meeting. Please contact Zoot Velasco with questions or visit hornetscholars.org. Marty Burbank announced “Veterans in the Park” every Monday morning, at Korean War Memorial at Hillcrest Park in Fullerton, California. “If you are a veteran, it is veterans only. There really isn’t any agenda, we just get together and talk about whatever comes to mind.” Also on Monday, December 18, Senator Josh Newman is going to be a special guest. Senator Newman is a combat veteran.

Proposed New Members:	Mark, Lee, Radiant Futures, Proposed by Leslie McCarthy
	Erlanson, Lana, Radiant Futures, Proposed by Leslie McCarthy
	Sung, Jin, Oasis Center International, Proposed by Dan Ouweeleen

Our Program at Hand was introduced by President Ripley, “I have the distinct pleasure to introduce today’s speaker who has been waiting 40 years to tell his story. I’ve known him for at least 30 years, and on a personal note, he’s a stand-up guy who has always taken my collect calls all hours of the night, whenever I needed his services. Please welcome Aaron Gregg attorney at law.” Aaron Gregg is a new member acquired through the merger of Fullerton South. He thanked everyone for allowing him to tell his story 42 years in the making. “I grew up in Bell, which is Southeast LA County, a product of LA City School District.” Aaron says his dad was from Arkansas and his mother was from Mexico City. His mother came to America to learn English so she could work for Mexican Airlines, but instead met his Mr. Gregg Sr. got married and had kids. “She never gave up her Mexican citizenship.” He regrets not learning Spanish but remembers during those times, the only time you would see a white guy with a Hispanic was in I Love Lucy. “I do remember in some instances; my mom being discriminated against.” Aaron moved to Fullerton in 1968 when his father started a donut business, “If you went to Disneyland and bought donuts, those were B and D donuts.” He remembers the transition from Bell to Fullerton was during his sophomore to junior years, he had to re-do the second half of sophomore year, so he was behind when he arrived to Fullerton. He attended Cal State Fullerton and graduated with a bachelor’s in political science. He then went to Western State University College of Law and graduated in 1977 after taking and passing the bar exam on the first time. “So, I was a lawyer at 25 and started practicing law.” Aaron talked about his family, he has a wife named Mary, and between them both, they have 7 kids. 2 of his daughters are lawyers. His oldest is an actor named Daniel. Next one is Justin, who is in the active-duty reserve in the Air Force. “He is in bomb disposal.” Their youngest child works for the University of Denver in their corporate training program. He then has, Matthew who is a Laguna Beach policeman. Philip, who is a lieutenant colonel in the air force, stationed at Central Command in Florida. Amy, his oldest daughter, is an attorney who does workers compensation defense. Veronica, the youngest daughter, does municipal law, “prosecutions of people sleeping in the park or going to the bathroom in the park and low-level crime.” Right out of law school, Aaron was bored so he went to a Toastmasters’ meeting where he met Rich Wes from Fullerton Rotary South. He wanted to join Rotary but had to wait because Rotary had a 10% limit back then, “Fullerton South had too many lawyers. They had Dick Ackerman, Gary Murdock.” So, he waited until he got in and was appointed as club treasurer and then eventually President. Aaron remembers his first job at a general practice firm where he worked there for two years until he realized he did not want to work for anybody. So, he went out on his own and took on every and any case that came through the door, “divorces, bankruptcies, not too much criminal, a little civil, and just some of that stuff that just didn’t interest too much.” Aaron specializes in probate court and has been doing probates since 1982 and he says its changed a lot in the last 50 years. But times and events have changed the way attorneys attend court, it’s all on zoom now. “Since the pandemic started, I’ve probably been to court about six times. Other than that, by Zoom.” His firm does conservatorships and trust litigations, he got out of family law because members would fight, but trust litigation is similar to family law. “If you get rid of the families fighting because it’s just horrific.” Aaron’s presentation explored the topic of wills and trusts and how to avoid falling into trouble. He ended his presentation by taking questions from members in attendance, and then President Ripley awarded him with a certificate in his name to Working Dogs 4 Warriors, a nonprofit dedicated to helping our Nation’s Warrior by training and donating service dogs to Veterans and First Responders.

Last thing on the agenda was the 50/50 drawing. Lucky ticket holder ending in 7468 wins the prize money! Minard Duncan wins! Congratulations Minard. “Next week we are dark. We’ll be having our Christmas Party here the evening of next Wednesday. Meeting is adjourned!”