|
|
June 26, 2009
Reporter: Cal Lee Editor: Ron Brown Photographer: Tom Black
Pat Flaharty, President, 2008 - 2009
|
|
PAT FLAHARTY'S DAY - OR DAVID WAAL'S DAY?
Mr. Waal started out his day by giving a succinct Thought:  "People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
His day didn't quite end there. Fast-forward to 12 hours later. David was in the spotlight again, but on his own turf. But "turf" doesn't exactly describe the magnificent venue for the demotional roasting of freshly Past-Prez P. Flaharty. It was matched only by the food provided by the other David, Mr. Isenberg. These two headed a cadre of Red Badgers who taught the oldsters how to put on a party. They  produced a warm evening and elegant grounds for placement of the stations of culinary delights. The Waal house was, to say the least, too good for the musical group which sang about how Pat feels pretty.
During the course of the evening, Pat was roasted by a vintage Fillinger narration with a slide show, various speakers who exposed every embarrassment they could find, and the presentation of a chef's hat (too small) and apron which everyone signed, some while he was wearing it. Pat may never again want to hear the phrase "I get it", or any mutation thereof.
He was given a chance to present plaques for Rotarian of the Year. And the choices were quite choice: HAYS ENGLEHART, for dragging in all those new members through might and main, and MICHAEL EDWARDS, for giving Pat much wise counsel at the outset, arranging all those banners from other clubs worldwide, and constructing The Cart.
Pat was also given an opportunity, which he took, to be a spontaneous auction item with Mike Edwards to prepare, cook, serve, and wash up afterward, the meal to end all meals. This raised a cool $2,000 on the spot - $1,000 for each of two hungry bidders who have not authorized the release of their identities.
 In the end, everyone did allow as how Pat had a pretty good year, and 12 new members to prove it. And no one can feel too sorry for him, what with a trip to Vienna and points east scheduled a few weeks from now. It will be interesting to see whether his Rotary pin (which he surely will wear 24/7) gets him into any adventures, or at least lunch.
The Waal/Isenberg duo may have established a tradition for some time to come.
The Fazel administration looms after having considerable international experience at the (appropriately) International Conference in England.
BACK TO REALITY ROTARY
Fast-backward to the meeting. Some things don't turn out as represented. Dave Isenberg promised fish for the surprise demotion, whereas that evening we had to settle for beef. Dave Waal said ladies shouldn't wear heels because of the gravel driveway, but the front stairs were perfectly easy to navigate. He also said we must dress warmly. A good deal of the meeting was occupied with such details.
 The Prez also took his last crack at B&A. George & Carol Chaffey celebrated their 45th anniversary, rounded down to $40, by going to Spamalot. Chuck Yeager adroitly ducked a recognition by saying his celebration was going to be attending the ever-so-special TGITLFOTM. And Paul Bettelheim announced his 20th anniversary as a Rotarian, kicking in $100 for the Endowment.
ACTIVE INTERACT
Mehrnaz Ahrar of Acalanes H.S. who is the current ruler of the InterAct club there is a bundle of energy. She was escorted by Jim Cambier, a long-time member of the Danville Rotary who does considerable work for the District regarding InterAct. Mehnaz exhorted our Red Badgers to go to an InterAct meeting at Acalanes to see what's up. She gave special thanks to Mr. Ware (whoever he may be) for his assistance.
The Acalanes InterAct was originally started by Skip McCowan's daughter Amy and was an immediate success. By the way, Amy, who enjoyed the Demotion party, is about to go to Hastings to become a shyster like her father. Her brother Ryan also enjoyed the Demotion, but probably was driving up and down the hill in his sleep that night. He'll be a junior at UC Davis, where he is a star goal keeper.
THE ULTIMATE PROGRAM
 What could be more appropriate for the last program in Pat Flaharty's administration than, well, Pat Flaharty. He was so nice to everyone. If this had been held after the Demotion party, his approach might have been different.
He did a lot of research last week - of SmugMug pictures which Tom Black took during the course of the year. But before showing these, he did a little trip down Memory Lane, including the epiphany of "I get it", and his post-PETS hat.
He then gave the Top Ten reasons he became president.
10: Make Brad sit through my year as I did his.
9: Embezzle funds without Ernie finding out.
8: Tell a story in half the time it takes Paul F. and Rich.
7: Set aside 1 year of my life to humiliate myself.
6: Look more distinguished than Paul F. in a wig.
5: Use up all Rolaids expiring in one year.
4: Start slow and taper off (the motto of past presidents).
3: Describe the LN-4 hand in less than 200 words.
2. Tired of being relegated to selling the raffle.
1. Wanted to "get" Rotary.
Then came the pictures. Pat wrestling the gavel away from Paul F. Transition pictures. Praying pictures. Flattering pictures of how our meetings went. Projects: Zuzka, Dictionaries, Las Trampas, Interfaith Pumpkin Carving, Christmas party, 3/4 Century Club luncheon.
The year was a great one for membership, with a dozen new members who are all lean, mean and active. The "bring a guest" admonition, now expanded to "bring 3 guests" each year, produced results.
 At this point, for some reason, Pat gave in to an irresistible impulse to tell an Irish joke, which was so successful that he was made to repeat it that evening. Following is a skeletal version of questionable accuracy.
Kneeling reverently in a confessional booth, a lad told the priest, "Father, I've been promiscuous." "Who with, my son?" "I can't tell you." "Was it Mary Quinn?" "No." "Was it Helen O'Shea?" "No." "Was it Fiona O'Flaharty?" "No, I can't tell you, Father." The lad exited the confessional and met his friend, who asked, "Did you get forgiveness?" "Not exactly." "What did he give you?: "5 Our Fathers, 4 Hail Marys, and 3 good leads."
When everyone had recovered from that one, Pat gave recognition pins to:
The past presidents who were present, and who deserve to be kept low profile.
Pat's board of directors:
Chuck Yeager, secretary
Ernie Furtado, treasurer
Rich Shearer, advisor
Hays Englehart & Walter Nelson, membership
Skip McCowan, international
Thomas Peeks, community service and president-elect
Rod Ford-Smith, setup and all things Postino
Committees:
Jim Brencic, programs
Buddy Burke, Las Trampas
Paul Bettelheim, Endowment
Cal Lee, RI Foundation
Steve Ware, InterAct
Brad Davis, Interfaith Housing
Thomas Raeth, Dictionary and work projects
Paul Fillinger, a very active past president.
Tom Black, PR
Ron Brown, Rich Shearer, Tom Black & Cal Lee, newsletter
In fact, Pat gave thanks to everyone in the club for great support.
After he creates international incidents in Eastern Europe, he'll get right back to work, joining George Chaffey and Don Jenkins in working on the RI Foundation for the Lamorinda area. Another item we'll hear more about are the Focus Group plans which were started this year. And Pat is determined to get involved with water (RI projects, that is).
In the end, we can say we never had a president who was so - Irish.
VISITING ROTARIANS
Jim Cambier, Danville, and InterAct for District 5160
Mike Heller, Lafayette
Larry Duson, Lafayette
Don Jenkins, Orinda, and Foundation for District
GUESTS
Bob O'Brien, brother-in-law of Alex Arnold from Huntington, NY
Chuck Bove
Jean Simpson
CALENDAR
July 3 Weekly meeting, Postinos 7:00 to 8:15 am, Hays Englehart presiding. | |
|
|
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS OF THIS AND OTHER LSR EVENTS MAY BE FOUND AT TOMBLACK.SMUGMUG.COM. SHOULD BE YOU SMITTEN BY A PARTICULAR IMAGE, PRINTS MAY BE ORDERED FROM THIS WEBSITE. (THE QUALITY IS EXCELLENT.).
| |
Contact Us
Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise
PO Box 1491
Lafayette, California 94549
www.lamorindasunrise.org
E-Mail Us
| |
|
|
|
|
|
