Rotary Bulletin

The Meeting

Rotary has so many serious things to deal with like Global Warming, Starvation, Wars between nations etc.  However, we must deal with more serious things like who stole the Gavel .  Len talked a bit about that in a cavalier sort of way, and decided to recite the 4 way test to us in hopes of getting a confession from someone and the return of the Gavel.   No such thing and we moved on.  Len had brought a new makeshift gavel to run the meeting so he gently rang the bell to start the meeting.

Marsha had a birthday.  She won’t mind my telling her birthday number,  It is 25 … again.

Len received a message from his Gavel and read it -- and it turns out his Gavel is starting to travel around and meeting other Gavels and having capricious affairs of a nefarious nature.

Seamus was there (who is Julia’s grandchild) who has had some tough times at an early age.  Very tough.  He spoke for a few minutes and is "on the mend".  His choice of Ice Cream had Olive Oil in it.  (It figures he is Julia’s grandchild).  In the sweetest voice I think I have ever heard he said said to all of us:   “Thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers when I was sick.”  Sweet, sweet words, spoken well from a child who has had some very serious problems.  We love you Seamus.

Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce

Joe took the podium for a bit (what a surprise) and called upon Sandy and asked what she was doing the night before at Chevron Park.  Sandy had been elected and installed as the President of the Chamber of Commerce.  This would be her 3rd term I believe.  Citizen of the Year last year, and now President of the Chamber…again.  

Rotarian's turned out enmasse to cheer her on and support her.  As the evening went on it was obvious this town would have a hard time if it wasn't for all that our fellow Rotarians do; especially for the Chamber.  I looked around the room and saw Bill Mason who reigned supreme in this position on and off for about 25 years.  Lili Craig did it for a few just recently;  Marsha has been President and is now the ?  (I am not sure what her title is now, but she runs the Chamber on a Daily Basis)  I think her title should be “Chamber Runner”.  I know Elyse has been President and is still on the Board.  (They must have some podiums available from time to time).  Joe must have been the President at one time.  If not he should and probably will. (Now that he knows there are Podiums available)  How about Chris Powell?  I know he was President.  He has been President of most things in the city at one time or another, and does them quietly…for the most part. 

Tom got an award for the Club, but he is not sure for what .. but accepted it anyway.

Shirley received an award as well.  She gets lots of those and I loved her speech, especially the part that says after she retires (soon) she plans on keeping her membership in Rotary.  Sweet words from a sweet person.  You go girl.  Travel and then come home to us.

Guess what.  I need to brag.   I was President of the Mountain Communities Chamber of Commerce for 3 years.  We started with 7 members and went to 125.   I couldn't have done that without having had the experience of been a Rotary President.  When my final term ended they gave me a Gavel.  I still have it.  I would lend it to Len, but I like it too much.

Guess what again.  I am sure I missed a few Presidents for now and I apologize, but they don’t do it for the recognition.  There may be some Rotarian out there that was also a President of the Chamber and I forgot to mention him or her.  But I won’t hear from them.  They would just as soon lay low…until the next time when the Rotarian rutting season for community service returns.  (And it will).  It returned to Sandy and we love her for it.  (Thanks for taking on the new job Sandy). 

So we are no strangers to leadership…and we stay on afterwards -- to follow.  That’s the neat thing about Rotary is that sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow, and you are not particularly concerned about any type of hierarchy, or credit, as long as it is -- community service. 

The Program (Adam Gerard – Tree Musketeers)

Speaking of leadership, the current President of the Tree Musketeers was there to talk to us, and boy was he impressive.  I intentionally used the word “boy” because he started with the Tree Musketeers when I think he said he was 10.  It sounded like he became an adult at the age of 11 or 12.  (Tom and I are working on it, and Joe never will get there).  Joe has the Peter Pan syndrome.  It's a good thing, sort of.  Look it up.  Marsha tried Adulthood, but came back.  It's not all that great. 

You liked Adam from Hi.  You loved him 10 minutes in. You hope he remembers you when he is in his 20's, and perhaps visit him in Washington when he is in his 30's.  If I had to pick a young person that will be a “big time player” when he is fully grown up, it would be Adam.   This guy was just…Super.  Confident with a slight swagger, yet humble and grateful as well.  Having been accepted to both Stanford and Yale he was moving on (regretfully) from the Tree Musketeers to which he attributed so much of his “maturity”, and it was ample. 

This was no Alexander Dumas Three Muskateer.  This was not Athos, Porthos, nor Aramis. (Look it up) 

This was Adam Gerard.    

Tree Musketeers has a rich tradition of sending its youth leaders out into the world via prestigious universities ranging from USC to NYU, Berkeley and Harvard. The winning college portfolio begins with LEAD courses. Adam Gerard, a nine-year veteran at the place where kids are boss, is headed to Yale this fall.  If you have about 4 minutes go to their web site and see what our future leaders will look like, you will be impressed.  If you go here you will see kids running a meeting…without a Gavel.  

http://treemusketeers.org/2013/who-we-are-tree-musketeers-new-video/

*By the way, I think Sandy Jacobs is on the Advisory Board…just sayin.  That’s our girl.

I would like to say that Len ended the meeting with the clanging of the bell, but his new gavel was stolen, so there was barely a tinkle.  That's where I have to go now. Tinkle that is.