The Meeting

This meeting was lively and fun and we all had laughs with our speaker who talked to us about Etiquette.  We had a couple of visitors who may be interested in joining Rotary and it was a very typical meeting to the very end.  The meeting came to an end.  Phil White was not there which is unusual and shortly thereafter Tom learned from Joe that Phil had been found dead in his apartment of unknown causes.  Everyone was shocked and didn't know what to do or say.  I still am, and as of this writing I don't think we know the cause of death.  I have started this bulletin a number of times, but for now I am just going to leave it alone.  I have written about Phil and will share those feelings and stories on Thursday at the regular meeting.

Jack attended Elyse's special dinner on Saturday night along with many Rotarians.  Cub Reporter Jack wrote a very nice report on the evening.  His report follows and I think it is a good idea to report on Rotary activities outside of our regular meetings.  So those of you who like to write, bring your pens along to our various functions and send me your thoughts, or talk to Jack our cub reporter when he wants an in depth interview.

Last Thursday’s Mystery Ride (be at the Hacienda no later than 6 PM) , Mystery Dinner, Mystery Restaurant

Mystery Exposed

Our very own Elyse Beardsley (with her husband, Jim) put together an incredible evening out. Jim is also in the Rotary (another club, though) and both clubs joined together for a Mystery Evening.

Now there were a few mysteries we had to struggle through before we actually had a GREAT evening, socializing with ourselves and another Club. Those mysteries were solved by the sequence of events. The first mystery was Elyse’s clear directions that we all had to be at the Hacienda by 6:00 PM no later. Everyone wondered why? Well, that mystery soon dissolved since we all were there by 6:00 PM but nothing happened until 6:30 PM when we were loaded into two Hacienda airport buses (thanks Joe). But we were told that we should look for the buses with taped over windows. There were none. In fact, the dark tinted bus windows allowed the world to see inside the bus but made looking out of the bus difficult. We pulled out of the entranceway to the Hacienda and headed south on Sepulveda (newcomers to the west coast would pronounce it Sepulveeeeda until corrected). Under way finally, everyone speculated about where we were headed. This had to be SOME restaurant – Elyse promised that whatever kind of cuisine you wanted – the restaurant could provide. Then we turned left on to the street where the West Basin Water District is located. OH NO – a catered dinner hosted by them at a plant that recycled sewage water? We’d been that route before. No thanks (interesting and likely the future source of drinking water – but I was not ready for it). We passed the water plant and turned right into the back entrance to El Segundo Plaza. Now everyone was trying to figure out to which restaurant we were headed. But none of the suggestions fit the description of an international dinner. None. Not a one (want a hamburger or a vegetarian dinner or a tasty steak grilled with vegetables and baked potatoes – you got it). The mystery deepened.

We stopped in front of Whole Foods. Mystery solved. Whole Foods has food in nearly every possible configuration – Asian, Italian, American, etc. But where would we eat? In the back of the store where the wine bar is, Whole Foods had put together two columns of tables (with table clothes).

The evening started with wine tasting. The sommelier was from one of Whole Foods’ wine suppliers. Knowledgeable about wines, he spent the entire evening with us – pouring, explaining and suggesting. Fascinating.

For dinner, Whole Foods had a prepared menu with a vast number of choices of varying types of cuisine. I had salmon, with small potatoes, and mixed vegetables. The salmon was done with a ginger dressing. Absolutely delicious. As I “Hoovered” my meal, I carefully took note of what others were eating – and as advertised – there was an array of varied dinners. Every dinner looked outstanding.

After dinner, the Hacienda transportation company picked us up and took us back to the hotel where we disappeared into the bar (thanks again to Joe who made it irresistible). 

Elyse and Jim planned a perfect and fun evening. Our collective hats are off to them for making an incredible, super fun, memorable evening. It was the best. Perfect Rotary fellowship. Thank-you Elyse (and Jim). What’s next??

We are solid fans of Elyse’s push to make us entertaining and entertained. Elyse, how are you going to top the Mystery Night??