Upcoming:
May 16 Helene Spivak ...a special surprise
May 23 Dark
May 30 TBA

Meeting convened by President Russell, theme for the year ‘Lead the Way’. 


Thought of the Day:  “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” Alan Alda, actor and director (1936 -)



The visit from Anna Nicole Smith/Marilyn Monroe/Jerrie Patterson was unbelievable and can’t be described by mere words.







INTRODUCTION OF ROTARIAN GUESTS:  (Terry B.’s guest – our exchange student Capacine, and her dad, ?? Wiley; Caitlin Wiley, outbound exchange student to Chile.  Last time guest, ??? (Sally J.).  Chris Lombardi (Jim F.’s partner).  Mo R. introduced her husband, Hospice Chaplain and engineer/owner of Adobe Engineering; Mo also introduced her sister-in-law Monica Lukes.

Capucine and friends





                                        Maureen and friend




VISITING ROTARIANS:  No one visited today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS.

Golf Tournament – Jim O’. updated the group.  Dave J. and Sally J. updated their work effort

Board meeting – next Tuesday, May 15th at Sunrise

District Conference – May 17th to May 20th, Doubletree in Rohnert Park.  Sally J. shared the forms.  If you haven't registered by now, Please call Sally ASAP

Chris L. announced a planning meeting for Octoberfest tomorrow night at his house.  Derek and Marcia announced the first Rotary Walks this Saturday at Luchessi Park – 8:30 AM; great, fun Health and Fitness event.

HAPPY DOLLARS, FINES, ETC.: 
The Club sang the birthday song for Ron Johns.  Ron paid handsomely for becoming 65 (getting his Medicare card), selling his practice, and celebrating both with his family.

 Marcia M. paid for newspaper coverage.  Pamela T. paid for newspaper coverage (HC2 Board picture).  Dawn thanked Sally from the Valley (verboten for the next two months) for the fabulous Board retreat.  Mike L. celebrated opening day on the Bay; by capturing Best Decorated Boat of the Day (fine passed to Jerrie P.).

RAFFLE:  50/50 raffle ($878) the wrong color marble was selected by Moe Jacobsen. 

PROGRAM:  Sheila B. introduced Paul Brown, who has a degree from Ohio State; is principal land surveyor with Adobe Engineering; staff of 37.  Paul shared that he was raised in Wisconsin; started school in civil engineers, but quickly flunked out (wasn’t for him); so switched to English Literature.  He came to California with the intent to attend seminary.  He worked in a number of churches while at the seminary.  At one church he was asked to preach after the sad event at State.  He didn’t feel that he was suited for the rectory,so ended up counseling youth in San Francisco.  He ended up working for a survey company; pursued education in the field, received his license and formed his own company in 1982.  Engineers and Surveyors are not the same animal (well some of them are – look at John FitzGerald).  Paul felt the need to return to the religious arena to understand his connection to the seminary.  Through a personal crisis, he found the need to re-experience his connection.  With additional training, he became a Chaplain, and stated at Kaiser.  On his first day, he wondered how he would meet the needs of the clients; but trusted his ability to see it through.  He later learned that Pastors and Surveyors have things in common:  surveying is a very free-form, problem-solving process; that suited Paul.  He began to appreciate his skills as a surveyor and built upon them.  He took that same sense to honor something in him that needed to be expressed.  Paul shared several warm, real experiences as a Chaplain.  Paul was a Hospice Chaplain for about 14 years and trained other Chaplains; is now a per-diem (part-time) chaplain.

The difference between the hospital (short-term, most survive and move on) and Hospice (where death is imminent).  Hospice helps control and mitigate the physical pain and suffering of the dying process.  Hospice uses a team approach of professionals who meet all the needs of the dying and their families.  Chaplains use a couple of skills:  they bring to any visit an intentional spiritual presence (within all of us); the art of listening (practiced through role playing long before they ever see a client).  When a significant question is asked, often it is best to stay quiet and allow the person to work out the answer within themselves. 

Paul shared that he does Chaplaincy because he does not want to go through the rest of his life without paying attention.  There is a real lack in our community for that type of support.  Memorial Hospital is the only hospital in the County with a paid Chaplain.  We are a spiritual being having a physical experience.  Paul’s background is within Christianity, but everyone dies – regardless of belief or lack of belief. 

Beautifully moving discussion of life and our passage to death.

pt

More pictures can be seen by clicking here.