What an inspiring Friday meeting we had with District Governor Carl Kruse.
We had several guests today. Bill Wishad returned. He is ready to take over the gavel and run our club like he does his Malibu club. Oh, wait. There is no gavel here. Therefore, he won’t be running our club meeting (collective sighs). Ellen Griffin was back in the house. It is great to have Ellen giving us a real "look see." We hope she joins our merry band of Rotarians.
Janice Kurth, District Governor elect for 2015-2016, came by to see us and Hakan Sakul. Hakan’s son, Ben, was a visitor to be with his dear old dad before going off to college.
Hannah Fogg, also about to go away to college, roused her father, Richard, out of bed to get to the meeting this morning. Richard just back from a whirl wind tour of Europe was reeling from the effects of jet lag and too much French whine. And, District Governor Carl Kruse came to wish us well.
We had the distinct privilege of having Art Mendoza lead us in the pledge. Art then provided some fairly intriguing words of inspiration. Something about mad love. Love gone mad. Deeply, truly, madly love. He says he got the idea from Nietzsche. We went to the chow line dazed, confused, beleaguered and less hungry sorting out Art’s philosophical musings.
Memo to future deliverers of words of inspiration: please avoid Kant and Sartre for all our sakes.
The meeting started with Hakan Sakul receiving his Blue Badge. DG Kruse awarded Hakan with the Blue badge with Janice Kurth beside Hakan as his sponsor. DG Kruse then spoke to Hakan in low, hushed tones, words that were meant only for Hakan. I, however, overheard the sage advice the DG uttered. He said to Hakan - and I quote: "My son, when you come to the fork in the road, take it." My eyes are still moist.
There were some very happy folks today. Paul Butler was very happy ($25) for his next birthday. He claims his happy dollars is more or less half his age.
Not to be outdone, Art Mendoza ponied up $25 for his birthday. Like Paul, he would not reveal his true age. Art also threw in another $5 for his trip to Mexico. Richard Fogg was very generous giving $100 for his European family vacation. Then he tossed in another $25 for being late. Very late. And for yet another feature article in Fortune magazine about Richard’s investing strategies. You know, buy low, sell high. Yada, yada, yada. I don’t quite know where to place this next one. Malcolm Koll did not raise his hand for happy dollars. He had to be prompted right before fine time about July 31. That red letter date is Malcolm’s lovely child bride, Venesse’s birthday. Malcolm paid $25 in tribute to his wife which we hope he remembered on July 31. Malcolm did say that poor Venesse is getting older. Implying that he, Malcolm, was getting younger. Shaving your moustache off does not qualify for the fountain of youth Malcolm.
Radia Bencheikh was the only one fined today for coming in twenty minutes late. Not really. She was fifteen minutes late. We are all hoping Radia makes future meeting on time. 7:00 am is meet and greet time. The meeting starts promptly at 7:15 am for those keeping score at home.
Our District Governor, Carl Kruse "control" was our speaker today. Carl spoke of being a torch bearer for the club and Rotary. His personal story of carrying the Olympic Games torch - which he brought to the club - included carrying a picture of his father and a man who died in the twin towers during 9/11.
He challenged and encouraged each of us to find our "ahh ha" moment doing Rotary service. Carl spoke of his "ahh ha" moments building a home for a woman in Tijuana and giving a polio inoculation to a three-year old girl in India.
With that, Carl awarded Kevin Cahill a "Torch Bearer" certificate for all his work as a Rotarian. I am not making this up: Kevin was absolutely speechless. Richard Fogg received an igniter pin from Carl. This will light a fire under Richard and all of us to bring in more members to help in doing more service. Carl then gave an nuclear radioactive energized pin to the President of the Club for being so bunny like.
And that, my friends, is a wrap. For those who attended the meeting, it was unforgettable. For those who missed this meeting, your bad. It will never come again. Lesson learned: Don’t miss these meetings. So much happens we have to replay them on our slo-mo instant replay machine just to make sure you saw and heard what you saw and heard.
Until we meet again.
Steven Weitzen, President
Del Mar - Solana Beach Sunrise Rotary
Janice Kurth, District Governor elect for 2015-2016, came by to see us and Hakan Sakul. Hakan’s son, Ben, was a visitor to be with his dear old dad before going off to college.
Hannah Fogg, also about to go away to college, roused her father, Richard, out of bed to get to the meeting this morning. Richard just back from a whirl wind tour of Europe was reeling from the effects of jet lag and too much French whine. And, District Governor Carl Kruse came to wish us well.
Janice Kurth, District Governor elect for 2015-2016, came by to see us and Hakan Sakul. Hakan’s son, Ben, was a visitor to be with his dear old dad before going off to college.
Hannah Fogg, also about to go away to college, roused her father, Richard, out of bed to get to the meeting this morning. Richard just back from a whirl wind tour of Europe was reeling from the effects of jet lag and too much French whine. And, District Governor Carl Kruse came to wish us well.