Meeting Notes and Club News

Beginning
The ever prompt President Bill, MD rang the ancient bell and introduced Joyce Capelle for the Pledge of Allegiance. Maestro Griff Duncan led Jim, Jim and Bob et al in America the Beautiful as accompanied by the "glowing" Sandra Fryling, who actually has degrees in Music. Our other pianists hold degrees in Engineering. Go figure!!!

Our specialist in Audio Clarity Enhancement, Bill Schenk provided a thought for the day noting the passing of Eudora Welty, America's foremost author of short stories. Bill reminded us of the beauty that is everywhere and the importance of noticing and creating beauty.

Middle
Lee Brockett handily introduced visiting Rotarians and Guests. Vince Verneuil, late of the Rotary Club of Fullerton was visiting from East Jefferson, WA. Our guests included Pat House ( guest of the talking and not paying attention Bob McNutt), Jim Lepack (guest of Rick Crane) and Fullerton Council Member Mike Clesceri, (Pat McKinley).

President Bill announced that Past Prez Wally Bartelt was the Rotarian of the Week.

Wally Swatkowski had the lucky number for the "opportunity drawing", but did not know that the first President of Rotary was not Paul Harris or Jim Young, but rather some guy named "Sylvester". Jeff Hutchinson supplied the consolation price, and President Bill regaled us with a lengthhhhhhy summation of Rotary's early days.

With great fanfare regarding the great things that are made possible by the Rotary Foundation, the always eloquent Bob Bean mounted the platform to award several Paul Harris Fellowships to persons who not here again. The PHF recipients in absentia will apparently necessitate our going through this all over again.

The accident suffered by the Rev. Dr. Leroy Fulton was noted. He is home and learning to be more careful, while his broken leg is mended. Send him a card. It will occupy his time and keep him generally still.

Prez Bill MD removed Chris Lowe's newest nine badge on a trumped-up district event exemption.

The following occasions were duly and inexpensively recognized: Bob Bean's 69th B'day (he was uncertain or at least confused); Jim and Mary Jane Thompson's Anniversary (33); the birthday of Marilyn Little; Bill Gorman's 66th B'day; Bill Heaton's B'day in 7/26, but he was absent, and he better have an excuse that will pass muster.

Terri Grassi, CPA asked that folks sign up for the Annual Rotary Picnic, August 22. Sunrise is the host this year, which hopefully does not mean that we will have a picnic breakfast. Most Rotarians do not drink that early in the day.

Program and End
Chief McKinley introduced Larry Lambert of OC Regional Mobile Gang Enforcement Team, an inter-jurisdictional activity operating out of the DA's office. Pat McKinley serves as Chair of the team's executive committee. Investigator Lambert's team is charged with the investigation and apprehension of individuals involved in a growing type of gang activity that is mobile, financially motivated, upscale, sophisticated and generally concealed. These gangs are often well organized and not bound by geography, i.e. "turf". The gangs' activities include: "high end" drug trafficking, movement of un-taxed tobacco and unregistered firearms, home evasion robbery, murder for hire, identity theft, etc. Some gangs include well-educated persons who use state of the art technology well. Women are often involved in gang leadership roles. The Gang Enforcement Team receives substantial $$(almost 3 million dollars) and funds academic studies as well as their law enforcement activities. Their efforts are very collaborative including more than a dozen other agencies.

Prez Bill concluded by reminding us that at the time of judgment, it is the size of the heart, and not the head that counts.