President Zoot Velasco welcomed everyone to today’s meeting. Raco provided today’s invocation and Bob Sattler led us in the pledge. Ken Kaisch provided our Rotary Minute for Peace. “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.” Larry King. Listening to others, and listening well, is important for your personal development because it allows you to expand your horizon. As Larry King points out in the quote above, we don’t learn things from what we have to say; we learn from what others have to say. We each have a world of our own, filled with our thoughts, ideas, opinions, values, experiences, and perspectives. Collectively, these make up our horizons. One of the best ways to expand that horizon is to expose ourselves to other thoughts, ideas, opinions, values, experiences, and perspectives. We do this by opening our ears and minds to them. We do this by listening.

Zoot thanked our greeters today, Leslie McCarthy, Bailey Kline, and Beverly Berryman, and reminded us that our club will soon be 100 years old. A century of Rotary here in Fullerton!

Guest today included Chuck Cota, Fred La Puzza, Pablo Bailon, Debbie Cheong, Cristina Espirity, and Christine Consuji, all guests of Ernie Delfin. Additional guests included Carlos Salazar and Gilbert Contreras, both guests of Zoot Valasco, and Steve Danley, guest of Sueling Chen.

Zoot Valasco was our song master today, leading us in a karaoke version of Chubby Checker’s Twist Again. Sueling Chen won the twist dance contest. Zoot then began today’s duck race, and the winning duck was number 25, and our guest Chuck Cota took home the prize.

Brett Ackerman was today’s recognition master, who without hesitation, fined John Phelps for his heckling; Jim Williams for his 50th wedding anniversary and 43 years with Rotary. Jim Ripley was also recognized for a wedding anniversary. Others recognized, but not in attendance, included Chris Meyer for a wedding anniversary, and Warren Wimer for a spouse’s birthday.

Today’s announcements: Leslie McCarthy reminded us that our August 25th meeting will be off-campus at the Boys and Girls Club, Richman Branch. A barbeque lunch will be provided as well as games and contest galore.

Zoot Valasco awarded his “chip” to Dan Ouweleen for service above self along with Jacob Knopf, who is Dan and Susan Ouweleen’s intern, and volunteers his time providing the live Zoom link for those unable to attend our meeting in person.

Our featured speaker was our newest member, Ernie Delfin, who gave his craft talk today. Ernie is an immigrant from the Philippines and grew up very poor in a little village north of Manilla. Ernie was the first person from his village to go to high school and then on to college. Ernie became a CPA, which allowed him to immigrate to the United States. Ernie went to work here in the U.S. as an accountant, married and raised his family. Ernie is currently writing his memoirs, which he hopes will be published this September. Ernie has been involved in Rotary and Rotary International for many years and believes strongly in our motto, service above self, and is eager to participate in helping our club grow and to help others.