Manhattan Beach Rotary ClubServing Manhattan Beach Since 1950

Club No. 751 • District 5280 • Chartered August 9, 1950 • www.mbrotary.org

TODAY’S PROGRAM

July 06 — Vision for the Future. President Rich Ham will present his Craft Talk and plans for his year as president.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself.Life is about creating yourself.”

— George Bernard Shaw

Norm LevinPresident Geoff knew that, at the upcoming Demotion, he would be honoring many club members. But he wanted to reserve this meeting to highlight just one club member, with just his fellow members in attendance, a member who has been of extraordinary service at club meetings for this and prior years. That was Norm Levin, aka Mr. AV, who has arrived early and left late for virtually every meeting so that we would be continuously entertained at meetings by music, film, slides and Powerpoints. He is yielding this daunting task to Russ Samuels.

July 13 — The Beach Reporter. Local writer and columnist Paul Silva is a local favorite and will discuss “Signs of Life” with us this morning. July 20 — World Vision. Kim Lorenz, Director of Philanthropy at WV will tell us all about this great organization. July 27 — Gelson’s. We will hear from Paul Harrigan of Paragon Commercial Group this morning.

Save The DateJuly 7 — MB Rotary Golf. Rotary Golf Fellowship is every other Tuesday at the Manhattan Beach Marriott at 5pm. Contact Kent Caldwell for more Rotary Duffer information.July 28 — District Breakfast. The District 5280 breakfast is at the Westin LAX featuring William Magee, DDS, MD, who founded Operation Smile. To sign up, see Rich Ham or Shannon Ryan.Aug 13 — Rotary Book Club. Our Book Club meets to discuss “Ghet-tocide: A True Story of Murder in America.”Nov 24 — Foundation Celebration. The Rotary Foundation celebration is at Loews Santa Monica Hotel, $125 per person. See the District 5280 e-newsletter for more information.

Programs

Meet Patrick FardIt was Monday, June 22, 2015, and it was the last meeting of the Geoff Bremer Presidency. To celebrate his last meeting, he gave up the usual tailored suit and tie and showed up in shorts and tropical shirt. One visitor came all the way from Western Australia to bid Geoff farewell (OK, OK, he just happened to be there). Kathleen Terry’s husband, Fred Manna was another visitor, here to invite us to attend the first Pol-liwog Park summer concert on July 5 to honor our veterans and service members, an event sponsored in part by our club as well as personally by Mark Burton. Then Still-President Geoff inducted a new/old, past/future member, our prodigal son, Patrick Fard, once again sponsored by Steve Murillo.

Composting With Waste ManagementOur speaker was Janine Hamner, a Southgate Rotarian, who is the com-munity affairs manager for Waste Management Corporation, the largest trash company, and largest recycling company, in the country. She told us that “Think Green” is their tagline, and proceeded to prove it. The best environmental programs are still buying only what we need and reducing plastic packaging, but Waste Mgt. has gone far beyond that. They turn methane gas into electricity and use composting to produce energy. They now have every Manhattan Beach grocery store saving non-packaged leftover food to feed animals. Residents will soon have small organic waste containers in their kitchens for composting—local

schools and businesses are already doing it. The residential program rolls out in August. Their CORE (Centralized Organics Recycling Equip-ment) turns compost into bioslurry into biogas. Relying on landfills is a dead-end business strategy and they are planning for a different, better future.

Special OlympicsShannon Ryan offered special thanks to Jordan Holbert for setting up and coordinating RSVPs for the Demotion…..Shannon also reminded us that Manhattan Beach is a Host Town for the upcoming Special Olympics. Shannon is on the Host Town Committee, which is host-ing 80 athletes from Hungary and 6 from Nepal. The July 23 picnic (box dinner courtesy of Mike Zislis) still has $100 tickets available, although volunteer opportunities are sold out for the picnic…..The Special Olympics Opening Ceremony includes a block of 1000 prime seats reserved by District 5280—tickets can be purchased through the District website…..Rich Ham bought a table for 10 for the sold-out Paul Harris Celebration on November 14, so see Rich for tickets.

Happy DollarsHappy Dollars: Still-President Geoff offered to match, up to $500, happy dollars for the new permanent fund for this last meeting, and money started pouring in. Larry Johnson honored Wells Bring Hope

and told us the District has pledged $40,000 to the project….Ian Jackson celebrated lots of medical tests, all negative…..Steve Murillo honored new member Patrick Fard, his martial arts teacher, and Mem-bership Chair Ian Jackson…..Megan Hall appreciated the District Assembly…..Lee Walker had thanks for Geoff Bremer’s great year….Nelson Gray noted that Deb Robertson was Geoff’s club sponsor…..Mike Matthews was grateful that the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation Wine Auction fundraiser brought in $1.45 million…..Dan Saks’ daughter finished nursing school…..Mark Burton commended Geoff for establishing our permanent endowment…..Shannon Ryan had kudos for her Demotion Committee.

Groaners Finally, we got the news from Dick Ackerman that former club member Patrick Donahue suffered a fall from his horse with some resulting bro-ken bones, but he’s recovering well. And current club member, Wendell Harter, whom we’ve not seen lately, is now in hospice. President Geoff’s Monday meetings year finally ended as it had begun, with a “groaner,” with Geoff once again living down to his reputation for telling jokes that make one groan.

DemotionBut we were not done. We still had Saturday evening, June 27, 2015, for the long-anticipated demotion, and it was a blast. Shannon Ryan was the masterful producer and director, and no lesser light than Maestro Kent Caldwell lavishly praised her production, as did all in attendance. Apps and dinner were provided by Megan Hall. Drinks were organized by John Gardner. Countless folks helped with set-up in O’Donnell Hall at American Martyrs Church. The venerable Mike Doell inducted the new Board. Geoff Bremer had gifts for his officers, his Board, his committee chairs, and more, which gave us a sense of the massive volunteer effort that goes into a Manhattan Beach Rotary Club year. The traditional skit making fun of the outgoing president was similar, but different this year, presented more as a formal roast combined with formal toasts. President Geoff was dressed as a nerd (he’s in such good shape that he could look like Pee-wee Herman and still make a hand-some impression on guests including wife Chris and his family and his mom). He was roasted and toasted by Dick Chase, Jim Hunter, Duke Winser, Jan Rhees, Ian Jackson, Larry Johnson, Kathleen Terry and Richard Ham (who ended with a grateful tribute to Geoff). The Roast closed with a Kent Caldwell production, the song “YCPA,” written by Kent, to the tune of YMCA, complete with our club’s far superior ver-sion of the costumed Village People dancers, and Shannon Ryan ended the evening with a tribute to Chris Bremer.

Thank YouAnd so ended another Rotary presidency. Past President Geoff bestowed the “Rotarian of the Year” award upon me, which (I said then and meant then and still mean) was simply the greatest honor I have ever received in my lifetime. I say that not because of the prestige of the award, but because of where it comes from. I was on the stage looking out at who was there—both club members and spouses/partners—and saw Integrity with a capital I everywhere I looked. The accumulation of over 30 years of time with this group has impacted me beyond anything words could say. The importance of the award to me grows directly out of the Integrity I see in this club—I have lived long enough to know that it is not all that common to be in a room filled with overwhelmingly good people. I take pleasure in this group every Monday morning because of that Integrity—the older I get, the more thrilling it gets. I’m too old to get a kick out of aggression. But I never tire of being in the company of good people, and this club is where I know I can turn for such company.

Publisher’s Note - Above is President Geoff with Jim Hallett our 2015 Rotarian of The Year. In addition to being among the finest members that it has been my honor to know, Jim enjoys a fine Zinfandel, a good read from Corpus Juris Secundum, long walks on the

beach, the feel of a Mont Blanc in his hand, a soft summer rain, and fresh snickerdoodles.

President Geoff BremerNo one epitomizes this more than Past President Geoff, as everyone at the Demotion so obviously knew. Before becoming president, he spent countless years as our treasurer and participated sooner or later in everything our club does. He succeeded the charismatic Kathleen Terry, and it was at first culture shock to experience Geoff’s slow, deliberate style and pregnant pauses. I for one took a while to adjust. But Geoff has a charisma all his own that sank in deeper with every meeting. He attended to every detail. We all wanted to work for him, because he never failed to appreciate us. He showed up for everything, no matter how small the event. He was totally reliable, tax season or not. I started to realize that he actually never seems to think a mean-spirited thought, and with that realization, I was hooked. So was everyone else, and it was obvious at our last meeting, when Geoff delivered his last groaner. It was, fittingly, a silly joke. Best of all, it was funny in the middle and lost its zing by the end, which left us not so much laughing as applauding, one last time, for this now-so-familiar, extraordinarily decent, man.

Yours in Rotary,Jim Hallett

Local RotaryMake-Up ClubsRotarians Participate at Weekly Meetings!

TuesdayHermosa Beach..................................12:15PV Sunset...........................................7 pm

WednesdayRedondo Beach..................................12:15Westchester........................................12:15

ThursdayEl Segundo.........................................12:15LA Int’l Airport..................................12:15Lawndale.............................................12:15

FridayPalos Verdes.......................................12:15

For times and locations of local club meetings go to www.rotary5280.org and scroll down to the “District Info” area on the right side and click on the “When/Where Clubs Meet” link for information on all clubs in the district.

Meals On WheelsScheduleRotarians Serving Their Community!

July 06 David BoocheverJuly 08 Kathleen AdamsJuly 13 Susan AdamsJuly 15 Paul AllmanJuly 20 Harris BassJuly 22 Tim Auringer

Birthdays July 13 Matt PeckJuly 14 Damien GoldbergJuly 15 Mark BallanceJuly 25 Norm LevinJuly 27 Wendell HarterAug 06 Herb Trachtenberg

AnniversariesJuly 06 Harris & Margaret BassJuly 08 Wade & Wanda AustinJuly 10 Nelson & Peggy GrayJuly 17 Dave & Joan HornbeckerJuly 17 Wayne & Carol NelsonJuly 25 Rich & Judith Ham

Officers & Directors 2015-2016Richard Ham

President Shannon Ryan

President-ElectGeoff BremerPast President

John HuguninSecretary

David HarrisTreasurer

Paul AllmanHistorian

Ken DeemerDirector

Eric IversonDirector

Megan HallDirector

Ed KushinsDirector

Deb RobertsonDirector

Herb TrachtenbergRotary Foundation

Ian JacksonMembership

Sue VoglCommunications-PR

D. J. Sun, GovernorDistrict 5280

Be a gift to the worldK.R. Ravindran, President

Rotary InternationalBe a gift to the world

___________________________________________________________

ROTES QUOTES PUBLISHING COMPANY

P.O. Box 691 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266Jim Hallett – Editor · Dennis Ridge – Publisher

Donn Ennis – Photographer___________________________________________________________

www.mbrotary.org

Serving Manhattan Beach Since 1950

Manhattan Beach Rotary - 110 Active Members Strong!The 2014/15 Rotary year is another growth year. You can see by scanning the classifications below what areas

are open. Let’s think and then act. John Acker – Financial Planner Dr. Richard Ackerman – Aerospace ManagementKathleen Adams – Financial AdvisorSusan Adams – Aerospace Paul Allman – Personnel Training † Deborah Arnold – Business Software ConsultantTim James Auringer – Automotive DealerWade Austin, Jr. – PhotographyMark Ballance – Information TechnologyHarris Bass – Business and Tax Law Bill Bloomfield – Commercial/Laundry †David Boochever – Consultant/Computer †Geoff Bremer – CPAJan Buike – Social WorkerMark Burton – City Councilmember Kent Caldwell – Insurance †Karla Cameron – BeverageRichard Chase – College Professor Roger Cox – Business Consultant †Steve De Baets – Truck RefrigerationKen Deemer – Private InvestorSteve Delk – RestaurantMike Doell – Moving & Storage †Donn Ennis – Oil Refinery Engineer †Robert Espinosa – Fire Chief Monica Farrell – Non-profit DevelopmentRichard Farrell – Video Production (ret.)Vinny Fazzino – Builder/EngineerJohn Gardner – BankingRobin Gary – Pilates InstructorDavid Gendron – Specialty FinanceDr. Damien Goldberg – Ophthalmologist Nelson Gray – Honorary Member † Robert Guilford – Business ConsultantTim Hageman – Police Officer Megan Hall – Caterer Jim Hallett – Criminal & Family Attorney †Richard Ham – Aerospace Engineer Jay Harkenrider – Real Estate Residential † Dave Harris – Wealth Advisor † Wendell Harter – Peace AdvocateLisa Hemmat - RestauranteurJordan Holbert – Graphic DesignerDave Hornbecker – Office Supplies †John Hugunin – Community College Professor Jim Hunter – Property Management †Eric Iverson – Web DeveloperIan Jackson – Mortgage Banker †Tom Jeffry – Attorney - Health Care †Dan Jensen – Real EstateLawrence Johnson – Investment Banker †Don Jung – CPA Business Manager Brad Koppel – International TradeEd Kushins – Home Exch. ExecutiveJim Lambert – IT Consulting

Bob Lanahan – Systems EngineerNorm Levin – Business Theatre Mark Lipps – TV Distribution David Long – Executive RecruiterSteve Lore – General Contractor Kathy McElroy – Physical TherapistBarbara Matles – Travel AgentMike Matthews – EducationRandy Meadors – Architect Dennis Morehead – Property Mgt †Gerry Morton – Nutritional Products Steve Murillo – Mortgage Broker † Lindy Murrell – Communications Wayne Nelson – Marketing Dr. John Nylund – Dermatology † John Osten – Commercial Publishing Dr. Ray Padilla – Dentist Dr. Patricia Panucci – OrthodontistMatthew Peck – AccountingDave Peters – R.E. Invest/Develop/MediationDan Quisenberry – AttorneyLoli Ramezani – Senior ServicesLynn Range – Design and Sales Don Redman – Mfg Executive (ret.)Jan Rhees – Residential Real Estate † John Rhind – Accounting † Dennis Ridge – Printing Dr. Deborah Robertson – Veterinarian Roger Rombro – Attorney - Family Law Joel Ruben – Attorney - Real Est. & Bus. LitJohn Russo – RetiredShannon Ryan – Financial Planner Daniel Saks – InsuranceRuss Samuels – Fitness & Personal Training Bill Sauber – Auto Club Services (ret.) Dr. Les Silverman – OptometristJeff Snyder – InsuranceRonald Sokol – Attorney Charlie Steinmetz – Investor - Real Estate Bob Stephenson – Accountant Corporate †Amanda Stone – E-CommerceLincoln Stone – Business & Immigration LawMarc Teitelbaum – Honorary Member † Kathleen Terry – Management Consultant †Herb Trachtenberg – Aerospace Engineer † Dr. Chris Ullman – Chiropractic † John Van den Akker – Property Mgt/Invsts †Sue Vogl – JournalismLee Walker – Insurance - CasualtyJason Wallace – Attorney - Real Estate Ingo Werk – ManufacturingDuke Winser – Honorary Member †Larry Wolf – Real Estate Broker/OwnerAlexander Yoffe – Attorney

† Active Past Presidents