"Nothing can be made foolproof, because fools are so ingenious!" Utterer Rich Shearer possibly created this in his own image, perhaps?
VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
Mitch Simmons - Marietta, GA, Metro Club
Luis - Concord Club
Waite Stevenson - Moraga Club
Akoni Viray - Acalanes Interact Club President
Brendan Bashin-Sullivan - Four-Way Speech Contest Winner
Brendan's proud parents
Glenda Fillinger - Always smiling
Agatha Sue Lee - Keeping Cal under close observation
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Tom Black celebrated Pat's birthday by picking her up at the airport and paying for her dinner. What a guy! $20 was the highest he would go for this "recognition," his second in two weeks.
Ken Kosich's wife Patti awakened him on his birthday morning with the cheery news he had a dental appointment. No word on how the day progressed from there. Cost to him - birthday, not dentist -- $30.
Gary Fulcher admitted something happened on May 1, 2009. It has something to do with his being the longest serving Red Badger in LSR history. He claims he submitted a $50 donation in honor of this dubious distinction a week or two earlier. Can you 
confirm this, Ernie? Since Rich Shearer is Gary's supposed mentor in this fiasco, isn't it about time that he joined the "cash hit parade" with Gary?
Speaking of Rich, somehow John Fazel couldn't distinguish which of Rich's "partners" had a recent birthday. Turns out it was his former S.O., Riley Warren. Rich dug deep and came up with $20 to honor all of the great services she contributed to the club.
MOMENT WITH AYMERIC
You remember that King John forgot a moment with Aymeric last week which cost him some embarrassment and cash. This time he came through and Aymeric brought a film clip to show us. That 
didn't work either. So he reported on attending one stage of the Tour de California and did, or will be doing, lots of other "stuff" besides. He intends to return next week with the aforementioned film clip. Lots of luck with that, too!
Paul Bettelheim announced he was starting a "Get Aymeric a Haircut Before He Goes Home" fund, with a $20 donation. The startled Aymeric isn't sure if this is for real. However he is being urged to take the money whatever he decides to do.
FOUR-WAY SPEECH CONTEST CERTIFICATE
This was awarded to Brendan Bashin-Sullivan (what a melodic name!) for his success in capturing the Southern District top prize 
this year. By the time you read this he will have faced another competition for the top District Honor. However Brendan finishes, Prez Fazel expressed our best wishes along with the admiration of every LSR Club member for his tremendous accomplishment. Brendan was accompanied by his parents, who stood proudly by while he received yet another honor.
REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
King John sent to the editor this photo from the previous 
Saturday's work day at Rush Ranch. David Waal and his son Ryan, Pat Flaharty and John joined with volunteers from Rush Ranch in building a fence that divided an existing paddock into a riding arena for therapeutic riding. They also completed a loading ramp so handicapped folks can mount horses and so that the wheelchair-bound can groom the steeds.
Brad Davis got serious for a change and reported on some upcoming support efforts we will be providing to the Interfaith Housing Project. In addition to resurrecting bicycles again we will be going on a short ride with the kids in residence.
Brad is now looking for volunteers to tutor kids once a week, Monday through Thursday, from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. This is an on-going program at the Project and is called the Homework Club. It is a vital part of efforts on the part of the Project management to give these children the necessary support for them to perform better scholastically.
By this time, Alex Arnold, with his crew and the Garden Club Ladies, will have spruced up the Lafayette Gazebo. Is this what used to be called "painting the town red?" Even if the Gazebo is supposed to be white? Never mind. At least Alex doesn't need to make this announcement ever again.
Pat Flaharty told us about the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program for international students. A new scholar will be coming to U.C. Berkeley this fall. Pat is looking for volunteers to sponsor this adult student in helping her/him get acquainted in the area. For details on how to get involved, talk to Pat.
Krysten Laine confirmed it is now crunch time in preparation for Motorama, the best fund raiser the City of Lafayette will see. June 2 is the deadline for submissions for sponsors, etc. Packets will be available to all club members next week to solicit participants. The word is sell, sell, sell!! She noted that 90 percent of club members are participating in the development of the Motorama event culminating on Fathers Day, June 20. Let's get out there and do our part to finish with a flourish (honk honk!).
Hayes Englehart won the raffle this week and drew a blue ball. Ordinarily this is not news. But in this case the information that only two balls remain in the sack is worthy of note. So don't say you haven't been put on notice at least to double down for next Friday's drawing. A word of caution, If Chuck Kenney shows up the odds in your favor are markedly diminished.
TGITLFOTM ON FRIDAY, MAY 28, 5:30 P.M., THE FILLINGER'S
Since Glenda was present at this morning's meeting, Paul could 
no longer procrastinate in informing her of this upcoming soiree. She showed enormous control by pretending to know all about it. We will follow up to be sure Glenda will actually to be home Friday night. Upon leaving the building she was heard to say "bring some goodies, a beverage and y'all come now, ya heah?" Or was that Buddy Burke?
PROGRAM
Aspiring congressman Mr. Burke introduced our speaker for the 
day, Howard Goldsmith. Howard is employed by the Employment Development Department (EDD) of California in the Work Force Services Division. His job is to promote hiring of military veterans into the civilian work force. 75 percent of his time is spent advocating for veterans by contacting local employers, making presentations to service clubs and others, and providing labor market information. Howard connects veterans and communities through these activities plus an established referral system.
Howard provides intensive, one-on-one, job-search assistance to veterans, including case management, personal consulting and 
job search follow-up. His group provides military skill translator services from military to civilian equivalence. Howard's agency provides co-enrollment with one-stop government agency partners, which are the Work Force Investment Act (WIA), Youth Employment Opportunity (YEOP) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). He lets vets know the new GI bill is just as great as the original, which followed WWII.
The EDD also provides referrals to additional agencies, such as the Concord Veteran Center for those with PTSD, the County Vets Service Office for those with other disabilities, the VA Out-patient Clinic in Martinez and even homeless shelters.
Other EDD programs provide help with unemployment insurance, a bonding program, work opportunity tax credits for employers and trade assistance.
There is a CALJOBS website www.caljobs.ca.gov, which is an interactive labor exchange for veterans and employers. Veterans get 24-hour job listing priority on this exchange. Howard emphasized that a whole host of young veterans have a hard time figuring out how to translate their military experience to the civilian work force. Meanwhile, older veterans, who have been in the work civilian work force but have lost long standing jobs, do not know how to engage in a productive job search in this more modern era of communications and hiring practices.
These are the folks who can benefit the most from the services that Howard and his group have to offer. This is valuable information for today's employers and military veterans. Thank you, Howard, for sharing this important information.
