Due to the COVID-19 Threat we have shifted our club meetings to Zoom. To join us contact any of our officers or our membership chairman and we'll send you an invite and link.
RB Rotarians once again Zoomed together when President Alex convened our weekly meeting on July 16. We united to recite the 4 Way Test as testimony to our code to begin the meeting at 11:00 a.m. John O'Neill led us in the pledge to our flag. John Goodrich provided the inspiration having discussed July as America's birthday with an Ambassador friend and specifically that July 4th was in fact the anniversary that the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Joel Doss welcomed Paul once again as our guest with a Rotary Welcome Song solo, while the rest of us! smartly remained 'mute.' The best effort to date ! President Alex thanked all volunteers for the meeting; Zoom set-up, Mike Fuqua, Scribe, Sonny Googins, Newsletter, Bill Angus. Alex offered interesting facts regarding women's membership in Rotary including 85% of all clubs have women members, average percentage 24% of membership; 22% are District Governors, International Board, 47% and the continent of Africa has the most female members.
Pat Chaffee, Treasurer, updated us on financials noting the generosity of members contributing to our income with Happy Bucks. He noted that Rotary masks were in and all should contact Joel Doss who will coordinate distribution to those who ordered them. Dan Barrios continues to have Foundation pins to award-the latest being Past President, Dave King who achieved his second. Family of Rotary reporter, Arilla, spoke with Athena who told us at the meeting that Felix will be having surgery for his rotator cuff in the near future. John O'Neill, our illustrious Fine Master, happily accepted Happy Bucks for celebrations, thanks, and observations of good deeds and good occasions.
President Alex announced that the next meeting will be July 23 and the program will be potential new members' induction. Attending events for the virtual International Conference was interesting and he suggested connecting with the family of Rotary by visiting the House of Friendship through July 31.
Our program presented Dick Norfolk and Jim Reid's Who Am I.
Dick Norfolk, originally from South Dakota grew up with 6 brothers. He brags now about 12 grandchildren. He was a math major and taught high school and coached football. He remembers his first salary of $4,500 as a teacher. Seeking a more lucrative profession he was hired by Pillsbury, getting into marketing and sales management and world trade center activity in Minneapolis. From teaching he morphed into merchandise marketing for over 30 years that grew to international marketing designing shows. He was eventually transferred to California. Dick gladly accepts responsibility for Rotary projects to support our club.
Jim Reid was raised in Levell, Texas born. He described Levell as land with crops and oil rigs, flat and mountain less. He inherited his interest in music from his father and was also interested in astronomy. At the U of Texas in Austin he achieved two Bachelor degrees, music and English and a Masters. Jim joined the Peace Corp and was assigned to Pusan, Korea, joining a cadre of 45 colleagues there. That began his interest in Asian languages and culture that eventually led him to Japan. A Fulbright from UCLA led to a PhD and studies about "Imperial Court Music of Japan." He also participated in musical performances. Coming to San Diego in the '80s, he created his own company- 'business development' uniting Japanese businesses in the Bio-tech area-a strength of both San Diego and Japan. In Rotary he has assumed responsibility for RYLA and our youth music program activities and serves on the Board of Directors of the Poway Symphony Orchestra.
Thank you to Dick and Jim for your contributions to RB Rotary.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 by President Alex.
Sonny Googins, Scribe