Today’s Meeting
Welcome to today! It’s October 7, 2014, the 280th day of the year, with only 85 more days left until 2015.
At today’s meeting, Cynthia Herrera is scheduled to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and new father Eddie Moreno is on tap to offer the invocation. Our program today is on Rotary Membership. If you think you have seen and heard it all, you may be surprised! We will get a report on the recent Past Presidents’ meeting, which I’m told was an upbeat and productive affair!
We also look forward to a report on last weekend’s District 5240 Conference in Monterey, and to hearing about Rotary news, and the EPiC Challenge!
Upcoming Dates and Reminders
Next week, Tuesday October 14 is our offsite meeting at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. If you haven’t already, please let Gary Davis know if you will be attending (with or without a guest), so we can arrange our meals.
Hey People!! Hugh needs your recognitions!! Please peruse your email inbox for the recognition form he circulated, or even easier — simply give him your “two lies and a truth.” Want it even easier??? Give him the truth and he will make up the lies! Let’s continue to add levity to our meetings and get to know each other a little better.
Upcoming meetings include our offsite next week (October 14) . . . a presentation on polio (October 21) . . . and a group of educators from the Rio School District will talk to us about their recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico (October 28).
Looking for ways to get involved in upcoming events???? Ask President George who is in charge of the Holiday Party . . . Let Steve Lee know that you can help with coordination of the Annual Basketball Tournaments (boys tourney is two weeks in February, and girls tourney is the first weekend in March) . . . offer to help Phyllis Throckmorton with the Annual Career Fair.
Last Week’s Meeting
Dr. Robert Dodge, a local physician and recognized peace activist, spoke to us about the horrors of nuclear weapons, and the 40+ years of humanitarian efforts he has participated in to eliminate them. Dr. Dodge laid out for us a chilling description of the impact of a single nuclear bomb, from the widespread and immediate fatality rate, to the intense blast and burn injuries, to the years-long impact of radiation poisoning, including damage to our crops and infrastructure.
According to Dr. Dodge, if a single, small “suitcase” bomb were detonated at Los Angeles City Hall, the immediate impact would be felt in the area from Dodger Stadium all the way to Staples Center. Everyone within a 4-mile radius of the bomb would be instantly killed, and the wider impacts would result in the injuries of more than 130,000 people.
Dr. Dodge encouraged us to take simple steps to let our elected officials know that we support the elimination of nuclear weapons, and circulated petitions for signature. He also encouraged us to link up with a Rotarian Action Group for Peace, an official entity that empowers and supports the peace work of Rotarians by offering structure, guidance and resources to further their peace efforts. (www.rotarianactiongroupforpeace.org)
On This Day in History
In 2001, a U.S.-led coalition began attacks on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with an intense bombing campaign, marking the beginning of the United States’ “war on terror” in response to the September 11 attacks . . . in 2003, former body-building champion and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger became California’s 38th governor.