Our club’s speaker, Laine Hendricks (District Governor), arrived in time to schmooze with a ton of Rotarians, most of whom were on the “relaxed start” schedule, so the room was happily acquainted with her by the time we got gaveled into business. That would be 12:28!
Pledge of Allegiance to our flag was successfully led by Suzanne Juptner, on a beautiful fall day, both outside our walls and inside our room too.
President Cary Koh took on the matter of helping our club handle the stress of our times, of our area, of our responsibilities by introducing a tune from one of his playlists, featuring instrumental solos meant to help us “calm it” for a few minutes, hopefully to carry forward to having a longer-range effect on our “to-do” lists, on our constant hurry, and on our very souls.The piece was by Leonard Bernstein.
Sunshine report by Jim Shypertt was on the death of the widow of the late Club president and friend-to-all, Don Lembi.
Visiting Rotarians featured the introduction of our speaker (District Governor Laine Hendricks, and her wing man, Assistant Governor Mark Watson.She is from the San Francisco Club, and he from the Foster City Club.)
Rotary Foundation presentation by Bob Doerr:A Rotary Foundation Minute.Bob made this final of his series of November reminders that the Rotary Foundation is the high-impact, globally focused Rotary instrument for Rotarians to support with gifts (501c3 style) to make notable and worthy change for the poor.
$200 is suggested as the “norm” for each Rotarian [with high hopes that many will exceed that number generously).BUT, even if that is a higher number than you can consider right now, ANY gift at all is important because we (Burlingame Rotary) strive for 100% participation.All gifts from us to the Rotary Foundation end up coming back three years later at a rate of 50% of what was given, so we can re-use it for our local projects that we are committed to.Sort of a “two for the price of one” thing.Kind of.To read much more on this, go to Rotary.org.They conveniently have a “donate” button so you can do so from the comfort of your own computer, at a time of day or night that is right for you!
PLEASE make a donation; join all your other Rotary brothers and sisters of the notable, historic and awesome Burlingame Rotary Club in this once-a-year endeavor.Thank you very much!
First is a call to “Reconnect” with the world by creating hope.She noted that our international Rotary president is a Scot who has especially spoken of Rotary programs for obliterating the disease of polio worldwide, as well as programs to lift up and provide education for girls across the globe.This year another global goal has begun:Mental Health.Our Governor revealed that her grandfather died by suicide when her mother was only 14, and thus changed her life permanently.She also has lost a brother to suicide, which is seen as a symptom of mental illness.She spoke of her own battle with depression and noted words from Yoko Ono: “Healing yourself is connected to healing others.”
A second aspect of “Reconnect” is with Rotarians and Rotary projects and clubs in our region.She advocates clubs and Districts working together to make a larger impact in their community mission projects.She noted that there is an upcoming event in Reno which is specifically so Rotarians can meet each other all the way from our District 5150 (no relationship to the Mental Health initiative) which covers three Bay Area counties, up to the Sierras and then across the state line to the western regions of Nevada.
Her third area of “Reconnect” beyond the world and the region is for Rotary clubs to increasingly partner with other community groups which also are committed to better the lives of people living in the area.Examples include local governments, NGO’s, other service clubs, (maybe churches, temples, mosques, etc.?) and other groups of local citizens who seek to dedicate themselves to putting service above self, and to acting in moral and ethical ways, as seen in the Four Way Test.
The Governor handed out bling!Yes, we each received a lapel pin crafted for our District with images of the Golden Gate Bridge, three hands clasping each other—one brown, one tan and one white-ish, symbolizing the several well represented groups in our population and among our leaders.Also was a rainbow reminding us of people with a variety of hopes and dreams, as well as featuring a watch face, meant to remind us that time is a-ticking away, and the moment to begin to Reconnect as Rotarians iswww.rotary.org
The party of all parties was the next night, at The Candy Store, courtesy of Mike Heffernan and his wonderful wife Jo.The cutely namedvenue is home to some of the area’s most remarkable classic cars, from the very early 20th century to the present, and provides opportunity for inspection and viewing of these cars, owned by a variety of mid-Californians (most of whom will not be present, but allow us to view their cars).The party will be nourished by “light refreshments,” meaning you won’t have to cook dinner when you get home.The point is fellowship, friendship, and fun.Just ask Suzanne Juptner, who is a major source of energy, vision, and determination in making a lot of our parties actually happen.
If you are just now reading about this event, then clearly you missed it.But you are reminded about what interesting and knowledgeable, as well as nice, people we have in our club.And you surely have rededicated yourself to not miss the next Rotary party that comes along.
Jennifer Pence reported on last week’s visit to Burlingame High School by herself and our Scholarship Team. They interviewed many students who are candidates to receive or renew a Rotary scholarship as they pledge to be heading to college careers after high school. Several students remarked at how happily surprised they were at how much interest the Rotarians showed in them and in their lives. Remember the fact: Every teenager needs at least three adults not in his/her family who are cheering for them, care about them, pay attention to them, pray for them, respect them. And their lives will be far better for it. Way to go, Jennifer and team.
“Two truths and a lie,” is one of the games we often play as a way to get to know our fellow Rotarians better.The person who is “it” will provide three statements about their life, of which one is a lie and the other two are true (fact checkers, be alert).Today, Jennifer announced that Al Royse was “it.”Al came up to the mic and claimed to not be any good at lying (at which point some pointed out they had just found his lie).He then claimed to have met 5 United States Presidents.Next, he claimed to have been the youngest legislator ever in the Nebraska state senate, at age 21, serving for two terms.Finally, he claimed to have won the 138-pound wrestling state championship in Nebraska in high school.To find out which one was the lie, you will have to find him at a Rotary meeting and ask him for yourself or ask any of those who were present for his entertaining revelations of his past life!
Next Wednesday (December 6) our speaker will be Nan Su, who is senior investigative reporter for Epoch Times, focusing on China, Taiwan, and the significant military and cultural tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Mark Johnson arrived for Rotary at 12:50pm. In his classic (and classy) good humor, clearly still oblivious to Webster’s definition of the word “late.”
Program time!Mark Watson introduced Laine Hendricks who received a Standing Ovation, as befits a visiting Rotary Governor.Laine told of how she has been past president of the San Francisco Club and then as our current District Governor she has established a theme of “Reconnect.”This has three aspects.
now.
The Governor concluded by asking us what brings us back to Rotary time and again.Aside from the lavish door prizes, the monthly free group trips to Disneyland and the chance to rub shoulders with people in the news in order to tantalize friends, “guess who I bumped into at lunch,” our club volunteered that many come back to rotary because of the friendships, and the opportunities speakers often bring to do some self-reflection and to find ways to commit to tangibly making Burlingame a better place for all.And finally, our Governor asserted that “if your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough.”
Our very own Burlingame Rotarian, Mark Lucchesi has started a podcast for the Burlingame Historical Society called "Burlingame is a Small Town." He has interviewed a number of Burlingame Rotarians as well as other prominent folks in our community. You can check out his YouTube podcasts here.
Join us for our annual holiday lunch at the Burlingame Community Center. The festivities will include lots of treats, entertainment, and, of course, EGGNOG!
Our very own Burlingame Rotarian, Mark Lucchesi has started a podcast for the Burlingame Historical Society called "Burlingame is a Small Town." He has interviewed a number of Burlingame Rotarians as well as other prominent folks in our community. You can check out his YouTube podcasts 