THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Alex explains Thought to Prez Elect Roberts

Soon-to-be-Ex-President Alex Arnold Had this pearl of wisdom from William Arthur Word:

"A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths, feels your fears but fortifies your faith, sees your anxieties but frees your spirit, and recognizes your disabilities, but emphasizes your possibilities."

VISITING ROTARIANS

Brad Howard - Oakland Sunrise

Blair Howard - Okay, technically she's not a Member of a Club, but she is every bit as much a true Rotarian as any of us

GUESTS OF OTHER PERSUASIONS

None this time.

BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS GOODIES

George Chaffey and John Fazel both joined the Club on June 2, 1987. Yes, our two remaining Charter Members were recognized to the tune of $25 each.

49, Jim?

Jim Marggraff celebrated a birthday by having an "I'm not 50" party. Not being 50 is apparently worth 20 - dollars, that is.

Rick Ashburn had an anniversary. He forgot about it until about 11:00 p.m. that night. Fortunately for him, blushing bride Dana (nee Fillinger) did, too. No harm, no foul, and no sleeping on the couch.

Good boy, Charlie

Charlie Franklin not only celebrated Terry's birthday but also kicked in a little sumpin'-sumpin' for their upcoming 52nd anniversary, too.

And Thomas Peeks ponied up $33 in honor of 33 years of wedded bliss to Yolanda. Dinner at Gary Danko is in the offing, sez Thomas.

WE LOVE GETTING NEW MEMBERS

Steve happily sponsors Mary

A few weeks ago, Mary Marks walked into Ware Designs Jewelery. Minding her own business, she was accosted by Steve Ware and Spike Speicher and all but forced to come to a Lamorinda Sunrise meeting. But a funny thing happened - she kept coming back.

And so this week, Mary was inducted into the ranks of The Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise. Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and Rossmoor (the longest Club name in all of Rotary - seriously).   Just remember, Mary, that only one keystroke separates "induct" and "indict" on the keyboard.

Count on George to properly induct Mary

George gave us a brief introduction to what we didn't know about Mary. Her father was from Szechuan. Her mother was from Shanghai. They met in Colorado and she was born in Kansas. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts (no word if Julius "Dr. J" Erving was there at the same time) and became an elementary school teacher. Her husband died when they had two young children, Chris and Jeff, who are less young now. Mary then became a piano teacher, which she has done for years. Her competitive tennis and horsemanship days ended when she ruptured an Achilles tendon. She also writes poetry and a book of her poems, "Mary's Moment: Tales of a Young Widow," will be published this Fall.

Welcome, Mary. Your smile and sparkling personality will be most welcome, even if I feel like a slacker by comparison.

BATTER UP

Always at 'em aren't you John?

The Orinda Fourth of July festivities need our help and we can make a shekel or two in the bargain, say John Fazel, who knows a thing or two about shekels and bargains. All we have to do is make and serve pancakes for the Pancake Breakfast. This event is being transitioned from the Orinda Roadrunners to us, so this is our chance to learn how to do it right. Bodies are needed from roughly 7:30 to 10:00. Yes, that is in the morning. No, Steve Ware, that is not a Saturday. Yes, this item is a repeat from a couple weeks ago, but most of you probably didn't read it then, either. Contact John to volunteer to help out.

WE NEED PICTURE/PHOTO FRAMES FOR A VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT

Paul Fillinger takes incredibly wonderful family portrait-quality photos. You already knew that, of course.

What you may not know is that he is putting his skills to work to take family photos of the Garden Park families. Considering the backgrounds of the Garden Park clientele, it is clear that this is a Big Deal to them - living on the streets is not conducive to family keepsakes, the kind of things we take for granted.

Definitely one of your best ideas yet, Paul!

But Paul needs our help. Specifically, he needs contributions of 5x7 picture frames in which to mount these wonderful photos he is taking. Would you please check to see if you any extras you can part with? Please? If you take a look around your house and see how important family photos are to you, you know how much what Paul is doing, and your contribution, will mean to our friends at Garden Park.

ANYBODY GOT SOME WORK FOR A DEDICATED, DESERVING TEEN?

Blair already has outstanding credentials

Blair Howard already has a "do-good" resume that puts most grown-ups to shame. This Acalanes High student, daughter of  Past District 5170 Governor, Brad Howard, was an integral part of the Opportunity Knocks program when she was at Stanley Middle School. Then there was her program to match donors (including Lamorinda Sunrise, whom she asked for help) with poor families to make sure they had Christmas presents. She just finished her junior year and is carrying a 4.3 GPA. She is clearly no slacker.

Blair is also looking for summer work. This reporter watched as several Members gave her leads, but I bet she could use some more.

THREE-QUARTER CENTURY LUNCH, DEAD AHEAD

Watching Brad Davis dismember chickens. Cliff Dochterman speaking on the Joys of Aging. John Fazel in a tuxedo. A room full of people having a great time that you help make happen. What more inducement do you need? June 20, Orinda Community Church, 10:30-2:00.

PROGRAM

Fantastic experience says Krysten

After a quick last-minute review of stuff to be done at and in advance of this Sunday's Motorama, Krysten Laine and George Chaffey offered their perspectives on the recently completed Rotary International Convention, held this year in Bangkok, Thailand.

This was Krysten's first Convention. Her take: "You think the US is a melting pot? It's got nothing on a Rotary International Convention."   Krysten reports that she was blown away by the cultural diversity and the availability of leadership information.

But as great as the official displays and programs were (Krysten was especially impressed by the Friendship House), it sounds like the chance encounters and happenings are what she will remember most vividly. Such as her somehow ending up taking photos of Rotarians for two hours at the registration area - at one point, she had a dozen cameras around her neck so that everyone in the group could get a photo of the group. Understand, this was in no way an official position that she was assigned to do, it just happened. And Krysten had a ball.

Just do it!

Similarly, Krysten somehow ended up spending several hours helping Rotarians get taxis. Again, this was not an official function - she just ended up doing it. Imagine the scene: Krysten not speaking Thai or the language of the Rotarians trying to get a cab; the Rotarians not speaking Thai or English; and the cabbie speaking only Thai. Now imagine this scene repeating itself over and over for two or more hours. Somehow, it all worked. And again, Krysten had a ball.

Krysten also got to experience Israeli and Palestinian Rotarians side by side, enjoying each others' company. Anything that can accomplish that has something special going for it.

Krysten's approach to her first-ever Convention seems have been to let herself "get lost" in it. From her description, it would be unfair to say that she was aimless, but it is clear that she was willing to allow the tides of good fortune to take her along. The result? A heck of a good time and a much larger appreciation for what Rotary and Rotarians do around the world.

George says always something new and different

In contrast to Krysten, George is an old hand at Rotary International Conventions. So is Carol, for that matter. George's approach to them has evolved into one of cutting the Convention down to size. Not in a bad way, mind you. It's just that George and Carol have developed a circle of friends and activities at Conventions that especially appeal to them. George is particularly attached to IFFR, the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. We have heard before about the "Fly Aways" that IFFR puts on at every Convention, including a recent program George gave here on flying to and from last year's Convention in New Orleans.

But, as George says, there is always something different at every Convention. One decidedly different thing that stood out this year was (and remember, this was Bangkok, not Las Vegas) the Home Hospitality Night event featuring Thai dancers and a Thai Elvis impersonator - with the Thai hosts singing along. Not only was it a hoot on its own terms, said George, but it reminded him how much culture that people think of as uniquely their own has actually spread to other parts of the world to become part of other peoples' cultures.

Krysten, George and Carol also used the Bangkok Convention as a springboard to see more of Asia. And this, says George, is one of the great benefits of going to a Rotary International Convention; the chance to see another part of the world you might otherwise never get to see or even imagine wanting to see. George said that he had never had any particular interest in traveling to Asia. But since he and Carol were there, they took advantage of the opportunity - and he loved what he saw.

Thanks to both Krysten and George for sharing their insights and their enthusiasm. Maybe now you will want to start planning to go to the 2013 Convention in Lisbon, the 2014 Convention in Sydney, or the 2015 Convention in Sao Paolo.  

CALENDAR

Wednesday 6/20 - Three Quarter Century Club luncheon

Friday 6/22, 7am - Gabriel Angelo - Magical musical story

                   5:30 pm - Demotion party, Waal home

Friday 6/29, 7am - Jim Margraff exposes himself

Wednesday, 7/4 - Pancake Run - Orinda

Friday 7/6, 7 am - Antje Jahnke - Procrastination Researcher

Tuesday 7/10, 7am - Board meeting

Friday 7/13, 7 am - Club Assembly

Friday 7/20, 7 am - John Yoo, Legal Counsel, George W. Bush

Friday 7/27 7am - Expose yourself, Claire Roberts

Friday 8/3, 7am - Saving lives, a woof and a meow

Friday 8/10, 7 am - Economist Tappan Monroe

Tuesday 8/14, 7am - Board meeting

Friday 8/17, 7am - Dan Borenstein & Pensions continued

Friday 8/24 7am - B'wana Carole Chaffey, Liberia