Coming soon:
3/14    Jennifer Carter's Dad   Global Warming                                                    
3/21    Jo Ann Pozzi - Rotary India Rotaplast Experience

Wednesday, March 7, 2007 convened by President Russell, theme for the year ‘Lead the Way’.

  Forest led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thought of the Day:  “Nobody is a real loser – until they start blaming somebody else.” John Wooden

INTRODUCTION OF ROTARIAN GUESTS:   Lisa (guest of Kevin); Ray (grandson of Walt and Sue). 

VISITING ROTARIANS:  Al Kaplan, underground construction (Petaluma).

ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS.

Cash 4 Cash – Tickets sales are hot – get them sold!

Board meeting – Tuesday, March 20th, 7:30 am, Sunrise Assisted Living facility (flak jackets no longer advised).

District Assembly:  Saturday, April 14th – Mendocino College – Ukiah.  Governor’s reception dinner Friday night – see Sally J. for sign-up and details.

The First Friday social held at Pelican Art Gallery was fabulous !

(Linda and Donna are great hosts).  

PVR was well represented and great fun was had by all.  The artist, Sachal, was delightful; only surpassed by his wife, Carol.

FINES:  Birthdays were celebrated:  Sheila B and Mike L.; Monica paid for her daughter’s birthday; Connie recognized Jim’s birthday anniversary; Kathy F. paid for a great newspaper article, confusion occurred with Kathy paying a fine; Janet R. paid part of the fine, Mike L. paid too.  

There was so  much bell ringing today, it was hard to count the numbers.  

The Club recognizing members participating in the Casa Grande High School project (Sheila, Shadi, Connie, Monica).

                          

                    RAFFLE: 50/50 raffle ($1308) the blue marble was selected by Russ F.  

In other News....The Nearly Annual Dinner Theater Party (A Rowtary On the River Fundraiser) was a huge success. The Usual suspects were there and the usual mayhem occured. Photos suitable for printing (and blackmail) can be seen at:

PROGRAM:  Dr. Ruben Armiñana, sixth President of Sonoma State University (since July 1992).  He is also a professor of Political Science and teaches periodically.  Dr. A is the former president of the Western College Association and also serves on several CSU systemwide committees.  Dr. Armiñana was born in Cuba in 1947, and became a US citizen.  Previously he served at Tulane University as Vice President/Assistant to the President.  He also worked in the private sector as Vice=President of a New Orleans-based international trading company.  He served as a news consultant for a television station in New Orleans, following several years as a news anchor and reporter for the only daily Spanish-language news program on Louisiana television.

Cuba – after Fidel Castro.  For the past 47 years – all predictions have been proven wrong.  Cuba continues to defy what should have happened.  Rumors of Castro’s illness and imminent death have proven “accurate but not permanent”.  His illness, appearing serious, but he appears to be bouncing back.  In power for 47 years, he is in his 80’s and either God or the Devil will eventually call on him.  He has temporarily given his Presidential powers to his brother, Raul Castro, who is 75 years old.  Their temperament and tempers are quite different.  Fidel has a strong personality, lots of stamina; his brother, on the other hand, is not popular, quite shy and not very bold.  Dr. A’s theory is that Cuba has always been dominated by a very strong personality; the politics have depended a great deal on one personality.  It doesn’t work well with institutionalizing the structure over time.  Dr. A visited in 1977, the first Cuban to revisit, on a diplomatic mission; which failed.  In 1977, six people went together with a US Senator from Louisiana.  The Senator was previously in Bangladesh selling rice from Louisiana.  Cubans eat rice at least twice a day.  Louisiana was interested in being a major importer of rice to Cuba – straight shot from the Port of New Orleans.  At that time Cuba bought rice from China, with subsidies from Russia.  In the 1970’s Russian declined to continue to support any purchases from China. 

Dr. A arrived in US in 1961 at the age of 15 years.  When he arrived in Cuba on his diplomatic mission, they separated him from the group.  The diplomatic mission failed within a couple of days when Cuba sent 30,000-40,000 troops to Africa (mercenaries for the Soviet Union).  Cubans have no allegiance to anyone but themselves and their families.  Many people from Latin America are committed to the Catholic Church, but in Cuba it is a very weak organization.  Political parties also have no strength, therefore Cubans don’t align themselves with organizations or institutional structure.  Today, if exiles manage to cross the 90 miles – ‘dry feet policy’ – if they land on US soil, they can ask for asylum.  Their thought is that a family member in the US will assist them until they are able to stand on their own.  The Cubans are the most successful immigrant group – with their strong work ethic and support of one another.  Two US Senators represent the Cuban success story.  Cuba has done well with health and education; poorly in housing and consumer goods (very serious shortage of food stocks, shoes, etc.).  Dr. A. feels that unless you capture the imagination and passion of the Cuban people and their families, you will never get their loyalty.  Their loyalty is to Fidel Castro, the person; not the communist party.  Dr. A. shared some of the differences between the average Cuban’s priorities and those of the communist party.  Cubans are not good socialists or communists; they tend to be highly individualistic and entrepreneurial. 

Dr. A. shared great information on Cuban life, their cars, their values, their ingenuity in solving shortages to meet their needs.  Most restaurant food is horrible, but the little family-run places have great fare.  Dr. A’s opinion is that after both Castros pass away, that Cuba will non-violently move more and more to a much more liberalized country.  It is the last great hold-out of a communist dream.  It didn’t work in Soviet Union, in Europe; even in China you see much more of a capitalist society. 

Great questions followed Dr. Armiñana’s presentation; enjoyed by all; and lots to learn.

More pictures can be seen here.