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President Dick began the meeting by stating, “Four down, and 43 to go.” While most thought he was referring to the Club meetings he will lead, insiders know he was predicting the number of sites that will be studied for a new Chargers stadium. The Inspirational Moment was delivered by former Uganda refugee Walter Lam, who described the limitless opportunities afforded immigrants to this country. John Powell appropriately followed up with a rousing version of “God Bless America,” accompanied by Larry Showley. Bert Wahlen reported the news, including a Club history minute about 1984, when the Club acquired its first computer (probably an HP calculator scotch-taped to a Pong video game).
Bink Cook introduced new Paul Harris Fellows Dennis Burks, Bob Carroll, Daryl Ferguson (a Paul Harris Gal?), Cliff Myers, and Scott Silverman. Doug Arbon promoted the next Grotarian event: the Body Worlds anatomical exhibit (a dermatologist’s nightmare) at the Natural History Museum on August 25. Todd Jackson was fined for appearing in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine. Past District Governor Bill Sturgeon encouraged members to attend a performance featuring the Rotary International Youth Exchange Symphony this Saturday evening, August 1 at the Balboa Theater.
The Chair of the Day was Jim Kitchen, the V.P. for Student Affairs at San Diego State. The visiting Rotarian from the farthest distance had come across the sea from a far-off island (Coronado), and received an autographed Tony Gwynn baseball and a basketball autographed by our speaker. We will be monitoring EBay for these items. Jim introduced San Diego State University Head Basketball Coach Steve Fisher with a prediction the team will make the “sweet 16” in next year’s NCAA tournament. No one can accuse Jim of being a pessimist.
Steve Fisher gave a wide-ranging talk about his 42-year career coaching basketball, and the success of San Diego State’s program since he arrived. He is the only basketball coach in the Mountain West Conference who has been in the same job since the league formed in 1999. His first home game for the Aztecs was viewed by less than 1,000 fans, but now the men’s team attracts sellouts for popular games. The home court fan support has developed into such an advantage that it has become more difficult to add high-profile opponents to the home schedule. Steve is now recruiting the sons of players he previously coached. Virtually every recruit believes he can play in the NBA. Describing himself as a “teacher/coach/father-figure” to his players, Coach Fisher proudly reported that 4 of the 5 seniors on last year’s team are graduating. He closed by promising that if you come to a game, you will want to come back for more.
Editor of the Day: Al Harutunian III
Photography by Mike Conner
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