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Carl Gross, Editor |
August 14th, 2009
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August is Membership and Extension Month
Upcoming Programs and Events
Presented by Program Chairman, Leland Hammerschmitt and his crew.
August 21st-Norm Davis-Ojai Water Issues and Water Rates; Matilija Dam
August 28th-District Governor Visit-Luz Maria Ortiz
September 4th-John Johnston, CEO Ventura Co.-Managing Ventura Co.
September 11th-Laura Whitney-Ojai Foundation/Get Acquainted Talk
September 18th-Al West and New Club Member-Craft Talks
September 25th-Dr. Laura Danly-Curator Griffith Observatory
In the Beginning....
President Scott gaveled the meeting to order under sunny skies and the not so dog days of summer. Marty Pops led the Pledge of Allegiance to this great Nation while Larry Beckett recited the Four Way Test. Marty Pops and Larry Beckett did double duty as greeters. Bill Prather handled the roving mike with aplomb. Speaking of mikes, our Prez gave a tutorial on its proper use so that our dulcet tones can waft over the crowd.
Scott offered the following in his ongoing review of the 4 Way Test:
Last week we learned about the history of the 4 way test, and in prior weeks we talked about TRUTH… remember the story about the hiker who lied to help a critically wounded friend?
Today, let's chat a bit about FAIRNESS.
"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because YOU are a good PERSON, is a little like expecting an angry bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
On first take, our instincts tell us that fairness means equal treatment and equal sharing…we should be judged by the same rules and everyone gets an equal piece of pie.
OK, we have one big piece of pie we have to share with two children. WHO gets to cut it, and WHO gets to choose?
Oh, we are clever parents, we say, “Timmy, you cut it ANY way you want, but SUZY gets to choose which piece she gets FIRST.” In order to not get cheated, Timmy is motivated to divide the pie into two halves that are as nearly equal as possible. Oh aren't we clever?
Now big people. This is similar to a business buyout provision between two partners whereby at any time, ONE of the parties can make an offer to buy the OTHER out, BUT the SECOND party always has the first right of TURNING it around and buying the FIRST party out at the same price.
These are solutions that seem fair, don't they? But they also feel kind of funny in practice. I think it's because they appeal to greed as the great equalizer. The child and the business partner both want as MUCH as they can get, and assume the other person wants the same.
My sons are in Kenya for the summer on a service project. Richard emailed me a story of an experience he had last week. They traveled to a very small village where the children eat only 2 or 3 meals per week. My boys eat 2 or 3 meals for breakfast. Do you think it would be fair for Richard to split a piece of pie with a hungry Kenyon child by the same rules that he would with his brother…I split, you choose? How might the slice look different in this case?
As an aside….I'll mention that there was no pie in Kenya. But the patriarch of the SAME village decreed that a chicken be slaughtered, split, roasted, and served to my sons.
To divide the world's resources fairly, we would ALL have to start giving away stuff until everyone had the same amount. The poorest person in this room would be very busy, GIVING and GIVING until all was even…because our world is a place where 3 billion people live on less than $2/day.
Ever since the beginning of time man has had to deal with differences. Differences that make splitting the pie pieces change size before our eyes. We try to hang our hats on some ethical standards:
“Don't do to others what you don't want done to you.” That's straight from Confucius, and is similarly worded in the Quran.
“Do Unto others as you would have them DO unto you.” That's both Leviticus and Jesus quoted in the gospel of Luke.
There's a subtle but substantial difference between the two…one is a call to action, the other is a pause to consider not-acting.
There isn't a major faith that doesn't have a similar code of ethics to measure fairness by.
To truly practice fairness….in law, business, parenting, diplomacy, personal relationships…we have to open our minds to the different perspectives from which we come…with an open heart and mind to putting ourselves in the position of those with whom we are trying to be fair.
So is fairness is nothing but a word that defines a perfect world, a world that is not possibly real ?
Consider that the answer to this question comes back to the concepts of, understanding…tolerance….but maybe the best phrase is our new one, “Mutual Recognition.”
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed Linda Taylor from Ojai West who brought Rabea Theobald, our new Exchange Student from Germany. Michelle Olsen was visiting from the Ventura Downtown Club.
Colin introduced his guest, Terry Gardiner, his Brit friend from across the pond.
Announcements. . .
Please take some time to read the items on our bulletin board.
Scott thanked the Invocation Committee for their efforts in setting guidelines for our Club Invocations.
With great regret, the Rotary Board this week accepted the resignation of Marty Babayco. Marty submitted a resignation letter this week stating that family and vocational commitments will make his Rotary service impossible to meet for the next year. (He is the primary family caregiver for his elderly mother.)Marty, a past-president and friend to many of us, further stated that he hopes to resubmit his name for membership consideration in the future.
Please click here. Our District Governor, Luz Maria talks to Merrill Hoffman from Rotary Club of Santa Barbara about Membership. Merrill gives his insight on how he has brought more than 70 members into Rotary. August is membership and extension month. Please, Share Rotary.
Fining: Colin Jones
Colin Jones led the effort to lighten the member's pockets and moods with his Welsh wit. Confessions poured forth:
Tony Thacher remembered John Gray who passed recently. The following was reproduced from Richard McArthur's presentation to the Ojai West Club:
Special Presentation -- My Favorite Rotarian
On a sad note – John Gray passed away. In the words of Richard McArthur , “My favorite Rotarian was John Gray.”
Richard had known John for over 25 years. John was a member of the Friday club but was very instrumental in starting our club. With John's efforts, charter night had 51 members in attendance. John had over 30 years of perfect attendance………he will be missed.
| Richard writes: I have known John for over 25 years. He came in to our lumber yard regularly when I first started my present job. He was building his new house. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Ojai. During his visits to our lumber yard he would mention his involvement with the Ojai Rotary club and invited me to join him at the club's Friday noon meetings. I was unable to be gone from our business for two hours during lunch time. John understood, but kept bringing up Rotary from time to time. John does not give up. He formulated with other Rotarians in his club a plan to start a second club in our area. This was at a time when Rotary was your father's Rotary. John and his group met a lot of opposition from within their club. Members opposed to a new club brought up lots of objections. Everyone who really wants to be in Rotary is in Rotary. A new club will take a lot of our members and so on…. It took a few years but he finally convinced the board to study the idea of a new club in Ojai. |
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| Now John really went to work. He started visiting prospective Rotarians and asking about meeting times and interest. Morning clubs were not yet common. The district was pushing for more morning clubs at that time as a way to grow. John reported back to his board that there was a lot of interest. The board of directors decided to proceed with starting a new club. John continued to work hard getting commitments from potential Rotarians. At charter night 51 new Rotarians were in attendance. John's work was not done. He continued to work with our new club for over two years to be sure we were off to a great start. After a few more years had passed we asked John to join our club. He attended over half of our meetings already. John accepted our invitation. Our club has flags from other Rotary clubs hung across our meeting room. John is responsible for over half of them. He and his wife loved to travel and would drive several hundred miles to make it to a Rotary meeting for a makeup. John had over 30 years of perfect attendance. John had an operation a number of years ago and could not leave his home to go to a Rotary meeting. Our president temporally adjourned our meeting and reconvened the meeting at John's home so he could continue his perfect attendance. John was at our next meeting on crutches. Attendance requirements were tighter back then, only 7 days to makeup and only the regular meetings counted. John really put service above self. He served on the first President Bush's committee on voluntarism. John moved away a few years ago to take care of family concerns out of state. He did not rejoin Rotary in his new local. His travels are limited by age and the family need. John however has started several volunteer organizations in his new area. The last time I saw John was when we invited him to attend a dinner celebrating our club's passing 100 Paul Harris Fellowships. Not bad for a 53 member club. Ten Paul Harris's were awarded that evening. Of course we gave John another one. Both he and his wife were already Paul Harris Fellows. John Gray is my favorite Rotarian. He started 51 of us on our Rotary journey. He gave me the opportunity to be a part of Rotary through his persistence in starting a new club. He exemplifies the purpose and principles of Rotary. Thank you, John Gray. |
Bob Skankey celebrated his first year of marital bliss.
Lerie donated to the Education Foundation for her Rotary Anniversary.
Larry Wilde got alot for his fine, celebrating his birthday and a host of other things.
Bill Prather kicked in for his trip to Eastern Europe and his appreciation of their local automobiles.
Al West was celebrating Smokey the Bear's 65th birthday.
John Rennell passed his stockbroker exams which have become more stringent since the Madoff debacle.
Larry Simpson donated in honor of John Gray, who brought him into Rotary.
Ren Adam paid his fine, observing he was followed by the police.
Colin fined himself for his son's birthday and wedding anniversary. He then told a joke...the punch line? "Sometimes the bull wins". You had to be there.
Leland review the upcoming programs. Norm Davis will speak to water issues in the Valley and District Governor, Luz Maria Ortiz will visit our Club the following week.
Make Up Online 
It has never been easier to makeup on-line. Ren and Cari showed us how easy it is. Just go to our web site, and click on the E-Clubs button. There are 14 participating Rotary E-Clubs. Go there, select a topic, read it, take the quiz, provide the Club Secretary's email, jangelgabriel@gmail.com, to whom they will forward the makeup, and make a donation. You can also print out the certificate of completion for your records.
There, I fixed it..
The Program-Chris Platt
Chris Platt, with his wife, Han own the Ojai Medical Arts Pharmacy. Chris took us on a tour of his business and pointed out the unique services they offer. The pharmacy offers custom compounding of medications and unique delivery systems. The art of compounding medications provides a suitable dosage form and method to provide medications that otherwise would not be available in the commercial market.
Chris went on to discuss the current state of stem cell research. This has been a controversial area since the source of cell lines often come from embryonic tissue. Since the Obama administration, more funding and support has been provided for this research.
The value of these cells lies in the ability to differentiate into other tissue cells. This enables scientists to develop tissues that can function in a variety of ways. Pancreatic cells can make insulin, neural cells can be used to treat Parkinson's disease or spinal cord injuries, and the list goes on. Unfortunately adult stem cells are fixed in form and function and does not present the potential to differentiate without certain inducements that can make them carcinogenic.
Thank-You, Chris for an interesting and informative program.
Final Thoughts
Scott Smith
In closing, Think about FAIRNESS this week: How can we be fair, if we don't know the other party's perspective. The ONE guarantee is that THEIR perspective is different from OURS.
Try to go beyond tolerance to “Mutual Recognition”
Remember to take a breath, PAUSE and THINK….BEFORE you speak or hit that irreversible SEND button on your computer.
If you upset someone, apologize early rather than trying to bluff it out.
Remember: the bull does not care nor understand that you are a vegetarian.
