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The Mesh

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The Venice Marina Rotary Club (PO Box 871, Venice, CA 90294) meets each

Thursday at 12:15PM, at Shanghai Red’s Restaurant, Marina Del Rey, CA, except

in the case of special meetings. If there are any questions or comments, call 310

995 1228. Rotarians are asked to send changes, modifications and additions in

their addresses, telephone numbers and email information to 310 745 3502.

As of August 25, 2003, Adiba is still in ICU at Brotman Hospital on a ventilator.

She is holding her own, but the Doctors want to stabilize her to move her to UCLA

Hospital for another operation. The Doctors at Brotman are going to remove the

ventilator and oxygen tomorrow to see how she does. This past weekend the liner

of her heart was drained of fluid accumulation. She is fighting hard.2

Thanks again to Tom Ryan for the final publishing (this month) of the latest and

most correct August 25, 2003, addition of the Club Roster for the active Venice

Marina Rotarian. Thanks again to Giselle for obtaining the information for Tom to

use.

Our PROJECT AMIGOS trip to Mexico is set for October 24, 25 and 26. Rotarian

Joey (47 Years Perfect Attendance) Baker offered the use of his boat as a

refreshment rest stop in San Diego while driving to Mexico. Let’s all go to Mexico!

Let David Voss or David Maxwell know of your plans to attend as soon as possible.

Thanks to all who came today. For those who missed, ask the attending members

about it. Everyone had a good time.

The Invocation was given by Duncan Elkinson, Dr. Vince Scott led the attendees in

the Pledge of Allegiance and Past President Admiral Willie Hjorth vocalized a

rendition of God Bless America. Giselle and Duncan brought the raffle prizes. The

meeting started 2 minutes late (fine on the Presdient) but once again our waiter

George had the salda son the table at 12:15PM. Try to say thanks to our waiters for

the fine jobs they have been doing.

Attending were ten (10) guests: Martin Smith, guest of Jeffrey Solomon; Rotarians

Art Rangel (Auburn, California Club), Don Culton (South Bay Sunrise Club), Steve

Shepherd (Westchester Club) and speaker Scot Clifford, Wilshire Club. Rotarian

Clifford brought Ruslan Novakoskiy, an Interact member who is from Siberia and

who brought us a club flag from Siberia. JR brought Kelly with him from the Boys

and Girls Club-we love seeing you Kelly.. Gwen Hughes has guest Mr. Tahir

Leonard. David Escobar attended as a special guest; David, sponsored by Jeffrey

Solomon, lives at the Marina City Club. President Maxwell had as special guest

Weiping Zhang, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Carmen Portnoy led the Club

members in the Welcome song..3

Rotarian Adiba Shaby is doing a little better since she is off the respirator a few

hours in the daytime. She is regaining strength so she can be transferred to UCLA

Hospital for another operation. She remains in intensive care at Brotman Hospital.

Whenever I see her, she starts writing notes about her students and her fundraising

golf tournament. We miss you Adiba, especially your smile and your raffle sales.

Keep fighting and recover as quickly as possible.

Rotarian Winnie Northrup called President Maxwell this past Sunday to ask about

Adiba. Winnie is still at home with her pain and broken toes. We wish her a

speedy recovery. I told her someone would act as a taxi driver for her when she felt

able to attend a club function. A speedy recovery to Winnie. We miss you.

We have the Jacket Awards Program at Venice High School coming up. Rotarian

Steve Williamson has once again volunteered to work to raise the money for this

event. Please say yes when he contacts you for a $175 contribution to sponsor 2

jackets.

President Maxwell recognized Emmanuel for his last week’s speech about Rwanda

by presenting him with an Eagle statue for his eagle-like spirit. Unfortunately

Turkey-like Maxwell left the statue at home.

Thanks to Howard Pollack for lending his reading glasses to Maxwell who left his

at home.

Dr. Gwen Hughes bragged $25 for her brother production of a TV series entitled

"FREE STYLE AMERICA", which emphasizes the good in America. Gwen was

the announcer and host. Thanks to Gwen. Look out Dr. Phil!

Carmen Portnoy then introduced Scot Clifford, Wilshire Rotary Club, who is this

year’s District 5280 DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL SERVICE..4

Rotarian Scot said that the goals of International Service are to advance peace,

understanding and good will among people from different countries. It does this by

three programs- exchange, scholarship and humanitarian needs. The exchange

programs include group exchange and the Japanese student program in our District.

Scholarship programs include the Ambassadorial program and the World Peace

Scholarship program.

Scot currently has an Interact student form Siberia, Russian living with him under

on exchange program. We have a new Open the World program with Russian,

which is funded by the Library of Congress. Four Russians in a special area of

expertise come to America and live with US Rotarians for a short period of time.

And, of course, we all know that Rotary International meets humanitarian needs

around the world. Polio Eradication is the most known Rotary project. However,

many others also exist such as wheelchairs and eyeglasses. In fact, I’m sure that

whatever you can think of has been accomplished by Rotarians somewhere. For

example, our club has Project Amigos. We also have arranged for via our Club

money and grant money form RI and the District for medical equipment to be

delivered for use in Lebanon in conjunction with a Lebanese Rotary Club.

BUILDING HUMAN BRIDGES is the aim and goal of Rotary. Scot is doing this

on a daily basis and he presented an informative view of what Rotary is and what it

does. Great presentation, Scot. Thanks for coming today. ROTARIANS DO

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. It truly is an organization where the

motto "SERVICE ABOVE SELF" is the real creed.

The raffle was then held and the drawing for the money saw Rotarian Howard

Pollack draw blanks-no winners. Not one person has drawn a joker from this new

deck in the months of July or August. The drawing is becoming interesting.

Dr. James P. Blumenthal, DC, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Diplomate, American

Chiropractic Board of Nutrition will speak on Interactive Metronome, a new

treatment for one’s brain. I will be in the front row for this one..5

Past District Governor Carol Wylie, Dominguez-Carson Rotary Club, is our

speaker. She is Rotary International Area Coordinator Western North America

Poverty Alleviation Task Force. She has been appointed District 5280 Membership

Chair by District Governor John Colville. She is also in charge of the District

Membership Seminar. Carol will speak about membership. We hope and trust that

she will welcome new members Peter Aprato and Emmanuel Murekezi as members

of our club by installing them. Peter and Emmanuel and their sponsors should be

present if at all possible. Carol is a dynamic speaker. See you at the meeting.

Rotarian Jim Bovee has arranged for a fellow military member (B-17 Pilot who has

written a book) from WWII to speak about experiences in the German theatre. Jim

has some stories to tell also. I will be in the front row for this one also. We will

learn a lot about Jim. See you there.

The next Board Meeting will be held on September 4, 2003, at 1:30PM ,after

regular meeting.

Please notify Giselle or Duncan ASAP of all your make ups and events attended

where you represented ROTARY.

David Escobar, sponsored by Jeffrey Solomon, has attended two meetings as a

special guest. David also was at our Hot August Nights Yacht picnic. He also

attended the District Literacy Breakfast in August with Duncan and David

Maxwell. David, who lives in the Marina, is a stock- broker in Santa Monica. The

Board will review and vote on his application September 4. Please contact David.6

Maxwell, Howard Pollack and/or David Voss if anyone has an objection or be

present at the September 4 meeting to discuss this matter.

Our Club has received its information for the upcoming November 1, 2003 PAUL

HARRIS FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING EVENT. You will be hearing more

about this from our Club Foundation Director, Dr.Vince Scott. The motto is:

EVERY PERSON EVERY YEAR. This ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

FOUNDATION raises its money to be spent on many helpful activities. It is

sustained by donations from each of its members. We would like to see each club

member contribute what they are able to this Foundation per its fundraising

activities – 100% PARTICIPATION. We all have heard what great works are done

with our money. Once again the District will have a raffle. Each member has

access to sell raffle tickets totaling $100. Let’s try to put our morning coffee money

in a cup between now and October 18 to see what each of us can do. The goal is a

$100 contribution per member. I will be happy if each of us makes a contribution

no matter what the amount is. THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU

ARE ABLE TO DO. Think of how many lives have been touched by Rotary

International in its many activities such as Polio Eradication, literacy improvement,

wheelchairs and operations for those who are in need but have no money and/or

access to surgeons.

Dr. Scott will tell us that our Club was instrumental in starting this Annual

Foundation Event in its present form. Previous Club leaders saw a need and filled

it.

The District is having a training and informational Foundation seminar on October

11, 2003, 4 hours Saturday morning, costing $25. Past Rotary International

President Rick King is the headline speaker. He is worth going for as he is

entertaining and informative. Learn about the Rotary International Foundation.7

workings. Let David Maxwell know if you’d like to go. Giselle has already stated

she is g

The Club is seeking a few good people to volunteer for taking notes and writing

about club meeting(s) and/or event(s) on a per occurrence basis or a time based

period. Please contact Tom Ryan or David Maxwell to volunteer. THANKS. It’ s

fun, try it and you will like it. Also, any articles are welcome as well as letters to

the editor.

THANKS TO CARMEN, PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON AND TO TONY CO-CHAIRPERSON,

for the programs and events we are having.

Yours in Rotary,

DAVID B. MAXWELL,

Club President