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Program for Friday June 27, 2003

Terri Malone

Teri Malone, Senior Tax Specialist of the Internal Revenue Service (sometimes known as the IRS), will be discussing some of the recent changes in the tax law, as well as "e-filing and tax abuse schemes

Door Duty: David K and John Medlock

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Program for Friday July 4, 2003

Happy 4th of July to All
No Meeting

Door Duty:

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Program of June 20, 2003

Steve Seskin

ULD Prez Dave introduced Richmond resident and award winning song writer/musician Steve Seskin. Steve is a graduate of the High School for the Arts and Music in New York City and has written such hits as "Grown Men Don't Cry", recorded by Tim McGraw and the Song of the Year, which he will talk about today, "Don't Laugh at Me". "Don't Laugh at Me" was recorded by Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary) and has launched a national movement in the public school system against teasing, bullying and "targeting" while promoting, compassion, empathy and appreciation of individual differences.

Steve sang the song for the club and explained he wrote it because of his own kids problems in school with bullying teasing and serious everyday harassment. Steve noted 160,000 kids stay home every day from school because they are being bullied or picked upon. After the song was recorded by Peter, Paul & Mary, things started to happen. Peter Yarrow called at 4 AM in the morning about three years ago saying, "Steve, I haven't been this excited since the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Your song can be a focal point and impetus for character education within the schools" Steve said, "That's great!", and went back to bed. Yarrow called back in four weeks and said, "We're off! I've raised $500,000 to start the character education project based on your song", and he started the Don't Laugh At Me Foundation. The program based on the song is in 17 states and 36,000 schools and growing every day.

Steve explained that while he loved music in high school, he took a more pragmatic route in college and studied to be a psychologist, "You know, to get a job". When he moved to the Bay Area, the music bug bit him again and for the past 30 years singing and song writing has been how he has made his living. It's very gratifying work. There is absolutely nothing else in life like having 600 kids sing back to you the song you wrote for them.

Selflessly attributing the success of the Don't Laugh At Me Foundation to Peter Yarrow, Steve asked the members to bring the program to the attention of any teacher or educators the might know by having them check out www.dontlaugh.org for Operation Respect: Don't Laugh At Me. The web-site describes the program that is available for free and is supported with books, videos and other teaching material through McGraw-Hill Publishers. Steve noted it is really important to encourage public educators to teach character education (sometimes called "values" education) because it can no loner be assumed that children will get this kind of learning opportunity in their homes. Steve made the point that he isn't talking about mild teasing or razing that is always going to go on in groups of children (like at Rotary), but when kids are targeted and systematically bullied every day, "at a different level".

Steve noted that Congressman Geo. Miller introduced Resolution HR 161 into the House of Representatives recognizing the positive accomplishment of Operation Respect and hoped that it is a first step in getting some serious federal revenue into supporting the character education effort.

The writer recommends strongly that we take Steve's advice and forward this article to everyone you know in education, not worrying about redundancy, as in this case it is reinforcement.

For those who would like to know more about Steve himself visit his Home Page. With the right software you can hear him sing and buy his music right at the source, www.steveseskin.com

Happy/Sad $$
In addition to his regimental visit, Elof had $20 Happy Dollars for the two weeks he spent visiting relatives in Sweden.
Prez (ULD) Dave had $20 Happy Dollars for "being here" today, noting that none of the crew of "Whitefang" objected to Capt. Mark Howe putting in at Santa Barbara at 3 AM Sunday, concluding the "Whitefang's" participation in the Coastal Cup Regatta. (More on this adventure later.)
Ted Abreu had $20 Happy Dollars for his daughter Lauren's graduation from Cal State Hayward, his daughter Elizabeth visiting from Washington State and his youngest starting college last week.
Dr. Dan Sanders had Happy Dollars for his son's checkered academic career which just concluded with his graduation "cum laude" from UCLA.
Hank Covell had $49 Happy Dollars for the Peres Project because it represents 1/1,000th of the $49,000 raised by the extremely successful Second Festival of the Arts benefiting the Conservatory for the Arts at Pinole Valley HS. Noting that there is less money available in the schools for the arts, Hank thanked the Rotarians that attended the event. (Mark your calendars now for the Third Festival of the Arts.)
Dandy Dan Ercollini had Happy Dollars for the just past "first Father's Day ever', that his kids picked up the tab for the Father's Day dinner.
Charlie Fender had Happy Dollars for being back from a week of and 55 mile hiking along the Cornish coast of Great Britain with his daughter and friends. (Charlie was unclear whether his happiness was a product of this accomplishment or the end of the accomplishment.)

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Last Week
"Bad Penny" and ultra-lame duck President David Brown, with shades of Richard Nixon-esk commentary (Not the, "I am not a crook", one), rang the bell. He then asked our favorite Camp Royal Co-chair Ted Abreu, to lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance
Prez Dave's quote for the day - - - Hans Christian Andersen, "Where words fail, music speaks."

Visiting Rotarians:
Lillian Tsi of Steel Strip is visiting from San Francisco Club #2. This is Lillian's second consecutive visit in spite of last week's demotion of Prez Dave.

Guests:
Judy Kafka introduced her guests Dr. Scott, the Principal of Peres Elementary School and Peres Vice principal Ms. Renoir. Prez. Dave thanked Dr. Scott and Ms Renoir for the hospitality shown to him by the Peres staff at the recent awards ceremony.

Werner Schwarz introduced Lillian Tsi's guest, Joe Cheravento, "an Irishman", from Citibank in Berkeley.

Rich Alexander introduced his guest and daughter Lauren.

Announcements
Ultra-lame duck Prez Dave said, 'We don' got no stinking announcements', or words to that effect.

Coming Speakers

Recognitions
David K. had no sunshine report, because he wasn't here. But that's OK as it not only means that the members are in generally good condition, but the fishing's OK too.

Joey "too busy*" Baggs, who is rumored to be spending the summer celebrating "Xmas at the Bagley's", was well represented by semi-permanent stand-in, and acappella virtuoso, Dandy Don Lau.
·Dandy Don, asked Don Hardison how it had been going? Our other dandy Don told us that it has been going well and LONG!, as he and Betty celebrated there 61st wedding anniversary June 14th. Anniversary's, birthdays and graduations have so filled Don's days that he felt obliged to contribute $100 to the Club Community Fund.
·Moving from one generation to the next Dandy Don focused on Jan (Hardison) Brown and her busy life. Besides Don and Betty's anniversary, it includes her own 31st anniversary next week, her birthday (The number of years of which was only alluded too in relation to a historic freeway speed limit and "an appropriately shy # of years", given Don and Betty's anniversary. You do the math.), and, her daughter's recent graduation from Cal Poly (Economics & Business Admin.) AND move to LA to start a new job, (whew)!
·Dandy Don then asked Dandy Dan Ercolini about life in general. Dan also had been celebrating nuptial bliss, 30 years, celebrated on the San Mateo coast and, "It was a great day just like the other 29 years, 364 days." (Write that down for future use.) Dandy Dan had celebratory 100 bucks for the Rotary Polio Plus program and his check received the Earl Brown, "properly notated" seal of approval.
·The Dandy Don picked on Charlie Wong. Charlie confessed that Don was correct in pointing out June 19th as his wedding anniversary, 54 years and counting. The Wongs revisited Santa Barbara for celebration and his grandson's graduation from high school. Charlie made an initial contributory check for his third daughter's Paul Harris.
·The Dandy Don Said, "Mark who?, (Markku) Pelanne?" Mark jumped up and admitted he celebrated his 57th birthday last week in his mother's favorite restaurant…in Helsinki. That was a wonderful event, but it was not alone. In the last weeks Mark has also settled a longstanding estate issue with his brother, and, successfully completed the second game of golf played in a lifetime.
*The writer does not know about nor can he testify to the veracity of the rumors surrounding Joey Bags "Xmas" project. He can testify, however, about one Mr. Bagley's grand time commitment to the wonderful, charming, pleasant, intimate, with easy parking, Second Annual Point Richmond Music Festival. Mr. Bagley appears indispensable to the Festival organization. Anyone who lets this summer pass without attending the Pt Richmond Festival, in addition to not supporting the local muse, might be considered plain old fashioned dumb. The next Pt. Richmond Music Festival evening is July 11th. For more information click on…www.pointrichmond.com/prmusic/

Ultra lame duck Prez Dave, using ultra lame duck Prez-a-dent-chull discretion then asked Elof Granberg, given his absence at last week's 59th D-Day recognition, to tell the club about his reunion visit to the Regina (Saskatchewan) Regiment for their 59th D-Day remembrance. Elof reported his wonderful visit with old comrades-in-arms, a ceremonial parade and dinner begun with pipes. Elof then read a very moving soldier's poem, a tribute written by and to his comrades.

ULD Prez Dave also recognized Dr. Scott, the Principal of Peres Elementary School and asked, "Have you broken ground yet?" Dr. Scott replied, "not quite yet", and Prez Dave reminded the members that Peres is about to be the beneficiary of significant school district renovation. ULD Prez Dave also reminded the members that Peres, as evidenced by its hall plaque, was build by Don Hardison. Don was the school architect.

Raffle
There was $141 more in the kitty than when the meeting started. No one was sure of the actual till. ULD Prez Dave asked Steve to pick a name, Earl Brown (again) as the rafflee. Earl picked a white ball. ULD Prez. Dave rang the bell and the meeting was adjourned.

Note: Editor Semper Paratus is paratusing his semper around the South Pacific until the end of July. Until then your acting editor is J. S. Young. We wish Semper well in the South Pacific and remind him to watch out for the Boar's Tooth Ceremonial, "It's a heck-of-a ceremonial".

Those wishing to have more or more accurate information about them, their event or whatever, can e-mail it to zyoungs@attbi.com