Burlingame Rotary Club
Founded in 1925

High Gear Bulletin

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

High Gear Editor: Marilyn Orr

 

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President Fritz Brauner took to the podium with Burlingame Lions President Bunny Macchia to welcome the combined audience to our Joint Services meeting with Rotary and Lions. Fourteen members of the Lions Club joined twenty Burlingame Rotarians.
 
 
Fritz then asked Bob Doerr to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, virtually displayed by Alex Buljan.
 
Lion Bunny then asked Lion Pastor Pete to come up to provide a prayer. After reminding us that it was the birthday of George Washington, he read a prayer written by our first president of America. Fritz invited Bobba Venkatadri to come forward for an invocation. Bobba expressed gratitude for all that our country has to offer. He recited the final lyrics from our national anthem stating that America is the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. But for an immigrant, it is, most importantly, the home of opportunity.
 
We were then treated to a uniquely Lions custom. Lion Eric led his fellow members in song. We heard the familiar strains of “My Country Tis of Thee”. Then they launch into an original song, to the tune of “O Tannenbaum”.
 
Fritz then asked for Guests of the Club. Alden Cunningham introduced, for her third visit, Anne Bouliane. Marilyn Orr then introduced Chamber of Commerce President Susan Baker. This was also her third visit.
 
Visiting Rotarian Rachel Ni from the Belmont-Redwood Shores Club was recognized by Marilyn. Rachel told us about her Club’s annual fundraiser, The Lobsterfest.
 
 
After a time for fellowship, Fritz returned to the podium to set the stage for the each Club highlighting their projects and activities. He asked Rotarian Jennifer Pence to begin. She outlined the three major college scholarship programs that Rotary runs. Jennifer talked briefly about a few students whose future success was strongly tied to these scholarships and the encouragement they represented.
 
President Bunny then returned to the mic and gave us a brief history of the founding of Lions Club International.  It was formed, in Chicago, in 1917. That is shortly after Paul Harris formed the first Rotary Club in 1905 in the same city. She outlined a number of philanthropic efforts and organizations that the Lions supports. She asked Lions Chip to come forward to explain one of their fundraisers. With the help of photos, he described a three-day high school basketball tournament involving schools throughout the Bay Area and beyond. Having begun in 1977 it is now the longest running tournament in the San Francisco Bay area. The funds they raise help support scholarships.
 
Lions Jack Van Etten spoke about a student speaker competition that is through the state-wide Lions organization. Each local club recruits contestants. Burlingame Lions reaches out to Burlingame High School and Mercy. The students have an opportunity to win cash prizes that increase if they progress to successive levels. This contest has been going on for 86 years. Rotarian Mark Lucchesi was a judge at the most recent competition.
 
Bob Doerr came forward to share our major international project in India. With the aid of a slide presentation, he reviewed our Rotary Global Grant to Ungutur, India. The funds, in partnership with other donors, updated an elementary school serving very impoverished students. Besides new classrooms, state-of-the-arts digital equipment was installed so that these students could compete with those attending private schools in wealthier area of India.
 
 
Rotary President Fritz then concluded the meeting. He thanked the members of the Lions Club and suggested that we do another joint meeting in the not-too-distant future.
 
 
 
 
Member Birthdays
Mike Horwitz
February 3
 
Cheryl Fama
February 14
 
Rosemary Rayburn
February 23
 
Anniversaries
Mark Lucchesi
Kathy
February 3
 
Marilyn Orr
Rich Orr
February 17