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June 19, 2009  
Reporter: Ron Brown     Editor:  Ron Brown          Photographer: Tom Black
Pat Flaharty, President, 2008 - 2009


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 
David Isenberg advised that "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain
 
GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS
 
Tina Bettencourt - New member Joe's wife
Glenda Fillinger - Keeping tabs on you know whocal & agatha sue 6-19
Agatha Sue Lee - Breakfasting with Cal
Bryn Bettelheim - Savoring Paul's exposure
Chuck Bove - Guest of Hays Englehart
Gail Wozniak - Past President of Orinda Club
 
ANNIVERSARIES GALORE AND A BIRTHDAY
 
charlie 6-19Charlie and Terry Franklin - 49 years and Terry's b'day
Hays and Regina Englehart - 32 years
Thomas and Yolanda Peeks - 30 years
Mark and Claire Roberts - 24 years
David and Evie Isenberg - 22 years
 
Declared celebratory take to the treasury: $ 200.00
 
Add $10 each from George Chaffey and Hays for talking when they should have been listening.
 
NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
 
Krysten Laine announced that the East Bay Brothers and Sisters program needs male help in the mentoring  program for boys aged 6 to 18 years old. This is a valuable, worthwhile program for anyone who has the time and the heart for this kind of community service. It's right up our alley.
 
Las Trampas has had the promise of a new shredder for itsbuddy 4-17 business enterprise. However the company making the offer has since gone out of business. So Buddy Burke put out a plea for another good Samaritan to aid in the procurement of said article.
 
Paul Fillinger couldn't resist making one more desperate plea for people to show up at the surprise demotion party for President Pat Flaharty on Friday, June 29th, 6:30 pm until midnight. The Waals, who are hosting the party, will undoubtedly be the major recipients of an untold number of surprises.

 
ANOTHER MYSTERY ROTARIAN UNMASKED
 
This undercover Rotarian left the following clues:
1.    Owned 8 cars before the age of 20.
2.    Toured the Louvre museum in Paris in 20 minutes.
3.    Has personally met with Garth Brooks and a whole host of other country western entertainers.
 
This turns out be new recruit, but elsewhere veteran Rotarian david isenberg 6-19David Isenberg. He explained growing up in Texas required a natural affinity for cars and gun racks at a very early age. So his father provided him with the loans and he was trading in and out of the car business faster than you can say jack rabbit.
 
Between junior and senior years of high school Dave's parents decided he could use a dollop of European culture. So they sent him with several other students to Paris. First on the agenda was a tour of the Louvre. The boys just knew there were women in Paris who couldn't wait to make their acquaintance, but they would surely not be found in a museum. So they hustled into the front door and out the back as fast as possible. Who cared to look at a painting of the Mona Lisa when there were real live babes to pursue? "Cherzez la femme", and all that jazz. Apparently those lofty aspirations didn't exactly materialize. It is clear that the parents' fond hopes for the "culturization" of their son was an exercise in futility.
 
Dave was formerly in the radio business for 23 years serving much of that time as a promotion and program director for the country and rock and roll station KSEN in San Francisco. In this management position he would meet with the various stars and entertainers in order to set up and promote their public appearances and/or live interviews on the shows. David was uniformly impressed with the attitude and style of these celebrities, especially Garth Brooks.
 
LSR STREET SIGN TAKES VACATION ROMP IN LAFAYETTE
 
A week ago former LSR member Mike Wilson was driving on Mt. Diablo Blvd. when he spotted the LSR street sign hitching a ride. It seems the forlorn little sign had been abandoned to whatever the fates might bring by its owner and masters.
 
Mike picked up the grateful little sign and proceeded to take it on a one week, never to be forgotten, vacation tour of our fair city. pat 5-19Mike returned the happy little sign through Steve Ware to President Pat. Mike included a power point pictorial presentation entitled "What I Did In My Week Out Of The Closet" validating this truly historic occurrence.
 
The sign was treated to a pool party; a visit to a dog park where it learned to be careful where it stepped; played computer games; went shopping at Safeway, got cash at the Wells Fargo ATM; took a steam bath at the health club; visited the Lafayette Reservoir; had a spiritual moment; said thanks to the vets at the Memorial Building and the crosses on the hillside; visited Jay Lifson at the Chamber of Commerce and got its assignment for the Arts & Wine Festival this year; obtained a line of credit from Larry Sly; and took an elevator ride to find out how the other half lives in their own closets.
 
The sign was glad to be home and silently pleaded not to be left mike wilsonon the street anymore. It opined that Pat should certainly be fining someone for this egregious act. However, Pat being Pat, decided instead to fine Mike Wilson if he can ever find him!
 
Alas this narrative does not do justice to presentation slides. You had to be there. How could Rotary let someone this clever slip through our fingers so quickly? Come on back Mike, we miss your wit and style!
 
NEW MEMBER INDUCTIONS - OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER
 
In what has turned out be nearly a weekly happening, George Chaffey presided over the induction ceremony of two more sterling new members. These two gentlemen are sponsored by Krysten Laine, who is now locked into a duel with Paul Bettelheim for top LSR recruiter this year.
 
george 6-19George welcomed them into the Rotary International organization with 32,000 clubs world wide and 1.2 million members. He noted the 200 plus banners the local club members have so far exchanged with other clubs as a symbol of the fellowship that is a watch word of Rotary, along with service. Our local club is really a family with a built-in cheering system when we are up and support system when we are down.
 
Joe Bettencourt, accompanied by his wife Tina, is the Owner/CEO of Walnut Creek based Interim Healthcare & Staffing. Joe hails from Chico, is a radio talk show host, enjoys golf, skiing, wine and is yet another motorcycle enthusiast.dom Krysten joe 6-19
 
Dominic Porrino is a UC Santa Barbara graduate with a law degree from Golden Gate University. He follows in the footsteps of several of our other great members in the legal profession. He practices family law, real estate and estate planning from offices in Lafayette. His significant other had the temerity to be in Scotland today leading a tour of students instead of standing at Dominic's side this morning. Dominic enjoys golf and is also a wine aficianado. Especially the Italian variety.
 
To both of you newbies a big warm WELCOME! As you are sure to discover firsthand, ours is the best Rotary club on the planet...plus Texas.
 
PROGRAM
 
It was Paul Bettelheim's turn in the barrel this week for the ever-popular Expose Yourself. He began with a history lesson starting paul b2 6-19in the 1850's. His maternal great grandfather left Russia, before being drafted into the Czar's army, for a life of freedom in the U.S. He emigrated to New Orleans where he was promptly drafted into the Confederate cavalry. So much for military avoidance. He survived the war and went on to a distinguished law career in Texas. Paul's grandfather became a judge with an office just down the hall from LBJ in San Antonio.
 
Paul's other great-grandfather was a rabbi who emigrated to Baltimore from Russia. His family eventually worked its way to California.
 
Paul's father grew up in San Mateo where he married Paul's mother. They raised two older daughters along with Paul. The sisters became the mothers of Dan Garfin and Sharon Rossi, which explains the Bettelheim connection with two other recent club recruits. (My such an in-bred clan we are!)
 
Paul is a graduate of Berkeley High and UC Davis. He showed a picture which supported his claim of wrestling alligators to pay his way through college. He later acknowledged the reptile might have been drugged (or dead). This was in the 1970's and Paulpaul b 6-19 was in ROTC to maintain his exemption from military service in Vietnam. (Just a chip off the old great-grandfather's block?) Upon graduation he was obligated to serve two years in the Army. However, he immediately enrolled in veterinarian school, thus obtaining another deferment, and assuming he had incurred an additional two year hitch. Upon earning the coveted DVM degree, he went to pick up his orders only to learn to his astonishment that he was on the hook for two year, not four. He foolishly questioned the clerical error by the army but was admonished that the dial was reset to start after each obligation. Paul wisely beat a hasty retreat before the decision could be reversed. He did have nightmares for several years later thinking the army would be coming after him for those first two years. Since he got the Tempurpedic and started taking Ambien, he's sleeping better.
 
One of his more memorable service experiences while in Korea centered on a root canal for the Commanding General's dog. Paul was responsible for administering the anesthetic. He had visions of the dog dying on the table and the General putting him away for a very long time on grounds of medical incompetence. Fortunately, the dog survived. Giving Paul's affinity for canines, he showed a picture of a German Short Hair described as the first receptionist at his civilian hospital.
 
bryn 6-19Paul has two sons with Susan, "the first love of my life"--who died of cancer. Fortunately, for Paul "the second love of my life" Bryn came along. They have enjoyed 12 happy years together with their blended families.
 
Rotary has become an integral part of Paul's life. He has enjoyed several outstanding fishing trips with various Rotarian buddies. Along the way he was also been named Chamber of Commerce man of the year.
 
We're sure there is much more to learn about the life and times of Dr. Paul Bettelheim. But more great story telling will have to wait until his next public confession turn comes around.

CALENDAR
 
 Weekly Meeting Program:Pat's last day as Prez. See what he has to say as he leaves office and turns the reins over to Mr. Fazel!
Friday 06/26 7:00 - 8:15 am
TGITLFOTM and Pat's Demotion Ceremony at the home of David Waal.
Friday 6/26 6:30 pm until midnight!
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