 Wednesday, July 3, 2002 |
|||||||||
| Volume 61, Issue 50 |
Written and reported by
Buck Catlin |
||||||||
Wednesday, July 3, 2002 |
|||||||||
| Volume 61, Issue 50 |
Written and reported by
Buck Catlin |
||||||||
THE ROTARY CLUB OF FULLERTON ROOM OFFICAL NAMING EVENT
Banner celebration at the Paulina June and George Pollak
Library, California State University, Fullerton Library.
A gathering of all our Club Members and Rotary dignitaries from sitting District 5320 Governor Rod Ide, many past and present District Governors and a pulchritudinous bevy of lady Rotarians and wives was on hand.
Following the Pledge, the acappela singing of Rotary classics led by CSUF Admissions Dean Jim Blackburn, our Fifth Grade U.S. History days were brought July 4th, 1776, back into focus as Bob Clark, Jr., read the "Declaration of Independence" verbatim.
An "All-Stops-Out" catered box lunch courtesy of CSUF Library brought everyone to the buffet. (Those cookies didn’t last long on the buffet!).
Prez Peloquin launched the formal program with introductions of deserving dignitaries led by Warren Wimer. Then Jim Young, the driving force behind the concept of a Rotary Club Of Fullerton Room at CSUF, gave the background of the project. He drew the analogy of how a spread of clouds in the heaven appeared to "Linus, Lucy and Charlie Brown". He likened it to how the project got started.
Next on the agenda was CSUF Librarian Richard Pollard. His "prop" was a book bearing an inscription inside the cover by RIP Richard King who was our guest when the Rotary Room was first opened. Librarian Pollard passed out a Rotary History Quiz dateline 1958 and challenged all to take the test. (Jim Young would have been the "hands down" winner!). (Food for future Rotary Club "Raffles”!)
CSUF Vice President Academic Affairs Ephraim Smith presented a highly informative, up-to-date picture of the student body at the University. Third largest of the California State Universities (1. SDS; 2. LBS) it now serves approximately 30,000 students. This semester 3000 freshmen (1-18 years average age); 6000 transfer (28 years average age); 2000 graduate students (28-29 years average); 2000 at El Toro, (no student parking problems -- the biggest draw!) Admissions to CSUF are 75% local resident students. The challenges facing CSUF? How to shape the role of the University to incorporate diversity, academic programs and the changing educational needs of a growing student population. The Library is really the center of student activity. CSUF don't need to "doff its hat" to any of its national university colleagues.
Speaking of "diversity", CSUF Director of Admissions and Records, Jim Blackburn (Club Recognition Master in Absentia) introduced two international students who gave splendid viewpoints of what coming to the United States and CSUF means to young people from different cultures. Yu Hsin, a young lady Accounting major from Taiwan, pointed out the differences in humor and work habits of Eastern and Occidental cultures on the campus. Her most important lesson learned here: The importance of "critical thinking". STELIOS ELELTHERIOUS, a Management Science major, from Cyprus (one Rotarian wondered what students called him for short -- "Stelly"?) characterized the different life styles of Greeks and Americans as "socializing" and "work oriented", respectively. What has he learned most here? Self-reliance.
Jim Young then revealed his W.W.M.R.P" (Women Who Make Rotary Possible") in recognizing Jack Hayes and wife Sandy who did the design and labor on the CSUF Rotary Room display case and poster boards. Indeed, a tour de force. There's no doubt that observing students, current and future, will begin to know the work and goals of the Rotary Club of Fullerton as they visit the Library. A permanent plaque and a personal trophy honoring Jim ’s dedication and work were presented.
The official naming ceremony was concluded as the significant personages responsible for the room pulled down the covering canopy over room lettering signaling the opening of the Room. DG Rod Ide, Designer Jack Hayes, Prez Bill Peloquin, PDG and Conceptor Jim Young, CSUF VP Ephraim Smith, CSUF Librarian Richard Pollard jointly executed the unveiling. (The only thing missing was the breaking of a bottle of champagne over the speaker's podium. An understandable oversight by former Naval officers Bill and Jim. But then, they weren't submariners. All else was a BZ event!)
