May 4, 2017 Spinnings (May 04, 2017)

Welcome to another issue of our weekly newsletter! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what we covered during the last weekly meeting, and learn more about our Member of the Week.

'Poobah of Philanthropy'

Club Business and Openings

Highlights and Lowlights:

Bernie Mellott led the Pledge and a few minutes later introduced visiting Rotarians: Danville Rotarian Melanie Prole and Marilyn Orr of the Burlingame Club, Rich's better half. Prez Tony introduced his son Christian, who just finished his junior year at the University of Michigan.

Photos courtesy Peter Webb, M.D.

John deRussy delivered the invocation and Chris Eckert presented the newscast, quoting from kids writing home from summer camp. Rod Linhares pulled the mike at the urging of numerous club members. (Chris said that when he's El Presidente, he'll expect a quicker microphone delivery. lol)

Bo Whitehill delivered very sad news. Our beloved member Tom Vocker, a past president ( and the man who inducted Barbara Evers and your truly), passed away on May 2nd. for anyone who knew Tom, this is a heartbreak,. He was a kind easy going man with a ready laugh--never taking himself too seriously. He served on numerous non-profit boards, as well as for profit boards, among them HIP Housing, Samaritan House, PAL, Rotary Haciendas, Borel Bank and more. He will be sorely missed. Susan Manheimer reports that services will be held Wednesday, May 17th at 11 am at St Gabriel's in SF

In the good news department, he said our Raffle King Dick DeLuna is back following some medical issues. YAY!

Black Flag Golf Tournament Results Announced

Bless Don Shoecraft for sending his golf results already written! In Don's words, "New format this year boosted turnout: We played holes 1 through 9 starting in time to finish and come in for lunch. The schedule is for those who can’t take a full work day, would like to combine it with a Rotary meeting and love golf — and tacos! There were lots of cincos out there on the course, but not a heck of a lot of celebrating the fact.

Thanks to players Steve McDonald (2016 Black Blazer champion), Paul Karson and his guest, Bill Feeley, Jeff Atkinson and wife Barbara, Steve Fick, Bill Walters, Don Leydig, Rod Dowiat, Skip Howie and Dave Skromme for coming out.

Thanks to Calloway scoring, net totals were in the 30s from 34 to 38. Since Steve could not repeat as winner with his net 34, we had a card-off to pick the winner from the second-place finishers, a tie between Steve Fick and Rock Dowiat with 35s.

And the winner: Steve Fick! Who didn’t come to lunch. But Prez Tony promises to get him eventually."

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHOEN TO BE HELD MAY 11

Margaret Taylor reminded all sponsors of two and four year college scholarship students that May 11 will be our annual scholarship luncheon. She asked that Rotarians remind their students, reminding them that they may bring a guest.

SHOW UP FOR CAR SHOW

Nick Rogers reminded all of the car show and BBQ, to be held at 11:30 AM on May 18 at Poplar.

IT BRINGS JOY TO OUR HEARTS

Oscar Lopez- Guerra presented Joy Rudkin with her permanent badge, noting that since he couldn't find anyone half his age to recruit, he recruited someone a third of his age. Joy said Thursday luncheons are the highlight of her work week.

NEWSCASTER SOUGHT

Ro Bianchi is looking for a newscaster to replace Chris Eckert for the next six months. Please contact Ro if you enjoy hearing groans from the audience! (This builds character!)

VOCATIONAL VISITS PLANNED

PHILANTHROPY OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED

Prez Tony offered P.O's to five Rotarians:

*Gary White was recognized for being a "person of distinction" who lectures on climate change. Gary offered a conditional President's Club payment, contingent upon inviting him to speak on the subject at a club meeting. (Was it my imagination, or did Martin's head do a 360? )

*Bruce Paris joined the President's Club for a few reasons, the most important of which was the fact that he replaced the expensive motor on his boat.

*Steve Parker ws fined for having a gorgeous new grandson, Calvin John, born on March 28. Steve is a President's Club member , but offered another $100 after asserting that Calvin is already crawling.

*Bernie Mellott was hit for her six-week old job running a San Mateo County organization that serves as a patient/resident advocate for those in over 472 homes throughout the county. She offered $100 to allow her to brag about her grandson acceptance into Notre Dame. With great excitement, Rod Linhares stepped forward, saying he, too, would donate in honor of her grandson. The catch: His donation was $5.

*Barbara Evers coughed up $150 with no problem after Prez Tony unveiled a giant poster-sized head shot of her that Boston Private was trying to unload--er--wanted her to have.

AND NOW FOR THE SPEAKER...

Abdul Hamid Maiwant is an employee of Boston Private. He is an immigrant Muslim and, in his words, "Most importantly, I am an American." Here are some snippets:

*He was born in Afghanistan the year the Russians invaded.

*His father was a general, overseeing 500 troops, and was on "the wrong side" of the war.

*Bodyguards of the members of the new regime gave his father and family one hour to leave the country, so they fled by train to Pakistan with $500 in their pockets.

*They lived in an asylum camp in Pakistan for severl months, and were then sent to Germany.

*The Germans felt the risk of granting the family permanent residency because of the father's political ties, and restricted them to going only within 60 miles of their home. His father did janitorial work to support the family.

*Through relatives in the U.S., the family was selected to go to the U.S. "The Aerican Dream" is still alive, he said.

*After working as a janitor, gardener and dock worker, the father opened a grocery store and put his children through college, telling them to stay true to their religion.

*They never felt threatened as Muslim, but were uncomfortable after 9/11, until President Bush said publicly that the act was not one of Muslims, but of ROGUE Muslims.

*The last 18 months, and in particular the last six months, have been uneasy times.

*There are three million Muslims in the U.S.--less than one percent of the Muslim population.

*According to his research, the odds of an American being killed by an immigrant Muslim are 1 in 3.2 billion.

*99% of extremists' victims are Muslims

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