Ever been proud of the Christmas thank-you note you sent to Aunt Ellen? Are you a TweetStorm Trooper? Ever blog about your lawmower repair skills? Everyone has videoed an 8 year-old's birthday cake.

It's fun. It's freedom. You can do it in your bathrobe.

And you only have to take notes a couple-three times a year if you want.

No web authoring skills necessary — we'll format and post your stuff for you.

Just reply to this Spinnings with a 'Yes,' a 'Maybe,' or a 'Can I do it with two fingers only?' and we'll talk.

 

Our video meeting presentation is improving (it couldn't have gotten much worse).

Check it out by clicking on the meeting video link. Don't forget to turn on sound.

 

August 22, 2019 Meeting Video Link

 

Our popular Popsicle President reported that the African continent has reported no new cases of polio, which means that if the same report occurs next year the disease will have been eradicated from the continent, thanks partly to Rotary International's 30 year-old global PolioPlus inoculation project. PolioPlus has been a $1.1 billion effort by Rotary that helped vaccinate 2.5 billion children around the world.

If Africa remains polio-free, only the countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan will remain as harbors of the disease, which typically afflicts children under the age of 5, crippling most and killing many.

 

 

David Lim, swarmed by sponsors John DeRussy and Tom Huening, was welcomed as our newest member, a prodigal who took several years off (how time flies) working for Alameda County. An independent now, he has opened his own lawyer shop in San Mateo and promises to doff the suit and tie once in a while since he's his own boss. A word of advice: You're your own worst boss. I know. I've been in arbitration with myself for the last 22 years.

Now if we could only see the return of Susan Lopez-Guerra we'd have the reunion of the two founders of the Fun Run, which is fast approaching, so get your sponsorships in ASAP.

 

President Anne 'Campy' Campbell opened the Rotary closet and out tumbled years' worth of props and property the purpose of which is known to only the few. The best was the rubber horse's head. The other end is nowhere to be found, though you'd think it would leave a pretty good trail.

Disposal of the swag was decided by acclamation of those present, and disposal method only affects those — or she — who was not present. When it shows up on your doorstep, think of it as a present, though it'll be no gift.

 

As a measure of the distinction in which he is held by the club, speaker Lee Osborne received a new club badge, No. 1, and a new description, Master Storyteller.

In that role Lee retold the trials and tribulations he and two deceased Rotarians, Lew Roe and Ed Johnson, endured over almost ten years in building the club's first senior housing project, Rotary Haciendas.

The saga began when Lee and then-President Rich Orr and Rotarians John DeRussy and T Jack Foster took a trip to San Rafael to see what that club had accomplished in building low-cost senior housing.

They decided they could do something like it and put together a 15-member committee to get to work.

Things progressed when Julian Crawford of the school district announced that the district would be putting up for sale a property across the street from St. Gregory's School and would give Rotary preference.

Quentin Cook of Carr McClellan donated services to draft a contract.  Dick DeLuna and Jim Chalmers put to work their fundraising verve.

The outcome was the 81-unit Rotary Haciendas for low-income residents over the age of 62. There followed in 2005 the construction of the 50-unit Rotary Floritas a few blocks away on 27th Ave.

There is now new interest on constructing a third senior housing project.

Lee put out the request that anyone knowing of a suitable property in San Mateo should contact him.

We'll see where this leads.

 

Erin Sinclair was caught vogueing in Gentry magazine at the gala fundraiser for Peninsula Family Services at Sharon Heights. President Campbellicosa turned that into a President's Club fundraiser.

 

 

 

Ditto for Dave Skromme, who looked downright official in his U.S. Open bib. He was the Information Expert and 'where is the Porta-Potty?' guy at Pebble Beach a few months back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make it three: Carol Boes has been trotting all over the globe and drew big Facebook attention with her travelogue covering her Ireland trip. She's off next to the Amalfi Coast, her carry-on $150 lighter.​​​​​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DICK BENNETT

JOHN ROOT THE PLEDGE

BOB MENDOZA THE THOUGHT