IS E = MC-SQUARED REALLY TRUE?

Worth getting up for, Kevin

The thoughtful Kevin Croak might have discovered the secret to Albert Einstein's success. Albert was a prophet, nailing 21st-century politicians of all stripes. Clearing away all formulas and cobwebs and obfuscations, he said: "If facts don't support the theory, just change the facts."

GUESTS

Rotarians:    

Jay Lifson, Lafayette, attending with agenda

Larry Sly, Concord, always hungry

Mike Bell, Walnut Creek Sunriser

Alicia Cragholm, not letting Kevin C. get away with anything

Other:

Yo Ikeda, Buddy Burke's Toastmaster Club

Ellen McEntyre, same (and former exchange student host for us)

Sue Skiff, same

Mark Shaw, realtor

Joe Captain, a little early for wine

The Doc brought props

DIGNIFIED DOCTOR (NOT)

Patrick Harpole didn't fully expose himself, but did give a brief bio he called "down and dirty", showing a giant dirt clod to prove the point.

He was born in Detroit, raised in Portland, had recreation in SF, back to Portland for med school, interned in NY, trained in Boston, morphed into a flight surgeon in San Antonio, residency in Martinez, and has reaped the rewards for 37 years in Pleasant Hill. And gives TGITLFOTMs in Orinda.

George Chaffey must have gotten to him with Rule #1. Apparently it's fun to save lives and it's fun to improve lives. Spinning a couple of what must be a great supply of yarns, he related a life-saving experience with a 44 year old two-pack-a-day man, who was conservatively and unsuccessfully treated by some outfit with the initials KP. Patrick whisked him into surgery and provided the life-saving stent. But the most fun was improving the life, through testosterone, of an 86-year-old who still closed realty deals, served all the women coffee and was dating a 26-year-old. Someone in the audience asked for the brand of coffee.

Patrick ended by quoting the noted philosopher, Porky Pig - "That's all, Doc."

WHAT'S SHAKIN'

Mark helps Yo as well

Birthdays? The only one Mark Larks was interested in and told about was Anne-Liisa's. It was a family gathering at which the gals paid appropriate homage to the birthday gal and the guys watched the ball game. How does he get away with that?

An upcoming TGITLFOTM celebration was announced by Chuck Bove's shill, Pat Flaharty, who said that Chuck's palace will somehow change from Italian to Spanish, and this theme will be reflected in the food and beverages. September 28th, presumably at the usual 5:30.

Jay's right at home at our lecturn

But the really big celebration comes next weekend, the 15th and 16th - the Art & Wine Festival, as brought to life by Jay Lifson who is the City's maestro for all this kind of stuff. A Rotary booth will be at the same location where Tippy Canoe was proudly displayed last year (in front of our Antique friends). A signup sheet was passed around, and, hopefully, will still be available for those who have dithered.

Gary Fulcher wants to produce another smash hit project for his band of artisans. His requirements

Gary plans to "build" on recent success

are simple and clear - the product needs to be portable, raffle-able, and "shiny". He'll host a planning session at his shop on Wednesday at 7:30 (that's p.m. - Manhattans are generally not consumed at 7:30 a.m.)

Our Board, however, does generally meet in the "ayem," at 7:00. This will happen as usual on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, on 9-11 of all times, at the Fazel office in Orinda. Decisions will undoubtedly impact many lives.

A very nice letter from David Furtado, Ernie's offspring, was read. David had a life-changing experience at Camp Royal. This often seems to happen. Steve Ware said we already have two candidates for the next one, but we should also find a candidate for Camp Venture and make a businessman/woman out of him/her. This happens for students between the 11th and 12th grades this summer, so let Steve know if you have anyone in mind.

A SOBERING REMINDER

Yo has a story to tell

Yo Ikeda is a veteran of Manzinar internment camp during WWII. But she doesn't seem mad at anyone. Despite being at Lamorinda Sunrise, she spoke softly, with a gentle sense of humor.

She heard about Executive Order 9066 on the radio as a second grader and it was brought home to her by a school crossing guard who asked her if she was Chinese or Japanese. Japanese in the west coast states were evacuated in three weeks. They were allowed to take only what they could carry.

The first camp was, of all places, the Tanforan race track. After a couple of months, they were taken to the railway station, not having any idea where they were going. It turned out to be the desert. They went to Owens Valley and then were bussed to Manzinar. It wasn't so hard for Yo; she just followed her parents.

They were housed in barracks, of which the main construction material seemed to be tar paper, with four or five cots along each wall. The first sandstorm hit right away, filtering into the barracks and causing mass coughing. There were 10,000 people in the camp. One of the hardest things was the lack of privacy on the most basic level. Another difficulty was the erosion of family dynamics. A generation gap between the Nisei parents and the kids became a chasm. The parents lost control of the kids, which was not something Japanese society was used to. But there were occasional comforts. Yo's favorite was a beagle who appeared from nowhere, followed her around all day, and disappeared at night to take care of himself.

The inhabitants adapted. Farmers performed miracles in adverse circumstances, growing produce of all kinds. Professionals organized a hospital, a newspaper, fire and police services, school and church.

There was plenty of prejudice, particularly when it came to forcing sales. However, the residents liked the head government official at the camp well enough that they named a garden for him. Yo remembers Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange coming to take many pictures which eventually helped to publicize the situation.

Her father was forced to sell his marketplace. He also suffered from cancer of the mouth and went on a starvation diet to try to recover. Apparently it worked. He ultimately relocated to Chicago and worked for Curtis Candy Co. (Butterfingers!) which hired many Japanese.

Yo is a delight, full of grace and good humor

When the war neared its end, an inmate had to have a sponsor in order to leave the camp. Upon departure, he/she was given $30 or $40. Long afterward, reparations of around $20,000 were given to these American citizens of Japanese ancestry.

On her last day at the camp, Yo was called into the school principal's office, which was normally for a reprimand. The principal was very gentle and sympathetic, pointed at the US flag outside and told her some of the virtues it represented.

She indeed overcame and flourished for 35 years as an occupational therapist. She's been back to the camp for reunions a couple of times and her most vivid memory is that the name of every resident was set forth on the wall.

It is probably the case that Yo understated the hardships. But she imparted lessons that every American living under our Constitution should take to heart.

CALENDAR

Tusday 9/11 - Board Meeting, Orinda

Friday 9/14 - Laura Day, District Governor

Friday 9/21 - Zhan Li - St. Mary's College

Friday 10/5 - Club Assembly

Tuesday 10/9 - Board Meeting, Orinda

Friday 10/12 - Meryl Cohen

Friday 10/19 - RS: Ultimate Political Speech

Friday 10/26 - Jim Kendall exposes himself

Friday 11/2 - Dr. Tapan Monroe, Economist

Friday 11/9 - Rotary International Foundation

Tuesday 11/13 - Board Meeting, Orinda

Friday 11/23 - Dark, Thanksgiving weekend

Friday 11/30 - Leander Hauri exposes himself

Friday 12/7 - Congressman George Miller

Friday 12/14 Dr. Paul Staudohar, Baseball, unions, the East Bay

2012 - October 27

2013 - January 26, March 23, May 25, July 27