August 16, 2013

             Reporter: Ron Brown     Editor: Ron Brown         Photographer: Leander Hauri                   

President:  Hays Englehart 2013 - 2014          

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Always a surprise Steve?

Steve Ware read what felt like a short story from Emerson, Wadsworth or Twain (you make the call). The final punch line was something like "the guy with the gun wins the game." Okay Steve...defend yourself. 

KEN THOMAS IS BACK

pre-mustache

Well, at least for this meeting. Ken moved to back to Colorado a couple of years ago, but he continues to get together with Pat Flaharty once a year for a major hiking expedition. He looks good, mustache and all.

OTHER EVENTS OF NOTE

Ernie hung in there

Ernie Furtado reported that Kevin Burke, a plumber by trade, peeled off three $100 bills to buy Rob Roy raffle tickets at the conclusion of the Lamorinda Picnic at the Moraga Commons. Needless to say it made his and Hays' day, since it was double the number of tickets sold in the first three hours of the event. Apparently Kevin REALLY wants to win Rob Roy.

Quest Crew

Alex Arnold is a proud member of the Gary Fulcher Quest crew and he invited them all to stand and be recognized. These are folks who have experienced Gary's generous hospitality aboard his boats in the San Juan Islands and now in the SF Bay. Alex reported that Gary would be undergoing reconstructive shoulder surgery the following Monday. He wished him well, on behalf of everyone, for a very successful operation and a speedy recovery. Gary was touched by the warm applause.

Hays took a moment to announce the passing of Elena Dochterman, and all that she has meant to Rotary. He and several other members will be attending her funeral this afternoon.

Happy sailing, Larry...er Dennis

This week's Vocational Moment fell to Dennis Kurimai for his one minute, elevator speech. Dennis works for Mr. Ellison at the Oracle establishment, selling sophisticated hardware and software for backbone systems, used by companies like E-Trade and PG&E. His products are used in highly complex transactions. 

ROB ROY KEEPS ON SAILING

The events where Rob Roy will show up which are confirmed so far are:

 8/31 - 9/1 Scottish Highland Games in Pleasanton

 9/7     Alamo Music Festival

 9/8     Berkeley Solano Stroll

 9/21-22    Lafayette Arts & Wines

 10/18-20 District 5160 Conference, Chico

 10/27   Lamorinda Reservoir Run

PROGRAM

Buddy gets great guests

Buddy Burke served up John D. den Dulk this morning to take us behind the scenes as a contestant and $31,000 winner at the TV Game Jeopardy in 1993. If a background similar to his is needed to compete, most of us need not apply. John has a B.A. in Oriental Languages with Honors Thesis from UC Berkeley. Languages studied include English, Dutch, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Classical Chinese, Mandarin, Japanese, Sanskrit, Hindi and Tamil. (How in the world did he miss Russian?)

A man of varied education & experiences

John has done volunteer and paid work for the Republican Party of California. John was a Congressional Candidate in 2006 running against Barbara Lee. He was Chief Operating Officer for the Reagan Presidential Inaugural Event. Federal Government work included Special Assistant at the Dept. of Agriculture, consultant on computer education projects with the Dept. of Education and contract work at Defense and State. There's more, but you get the idea of the breadth of body of work that might qualify you to try out for Jeopardy.

It is a four stage process to get on the show as follows:

1.   Pass a written test - only 8% of applicants pass

2.   Get through a pretend Jeopardy Show

3.   Negotiate a pool interview

4.   Appear on the show.

John got on the show on his fourth try. What did he have to overcome in the first three efforts 

1.   Talked about politics - Bad

2.   Didn't pass written test

3.   Didn't get to interview - All California entrants were rejected

4.   Made it by letting his "innerclass clown" come out in interview

You have to blow them away!

There is a Green Room, which is actually a suite. There are 16 handlers, five hosting three contestants. These are all nice people who you enjoy meeting... before you eventually spend 20 minutes trying to kill them.

Jeopardy actually films five shows per day. John got on Thursday using a language and limerick gimmick. He won $15,000 the first night. He came back Friday with another limerick and won an additional $15,000.

That followed with a two week hiatus. John admitted some arrogance on his part crept in and he went for broke on a Double Jeopardy Category, which caused him to lose out on the second day. His sister still thinks that Alex Trebec tripped him up.

He was asked if he had a photographic memory. John didn't go so far as to say yes, but he did acknowledge having a trivia mind, coupled with the ability to perform under pressure when there is money on the line. He acquired the latter skill as a very competitive poker player. You've been warned if invited to a "friendly" game.