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With floods in the Midwest and ice dams on their rivers, it is almost embarrassing to live in beautiful San Diego…notice the almost! It was a terrific day on the bay and perfect for a meeting of America’s Finest Rotary Club. President STAN Hartman called us to order and we had Philippe Cesson give a wonderful and very moving invocation reminding us of the long friendship between his original homeland, France, and the United States and the sacrifices made to cement that friendship. I had the privilege of leading the National Anthem with Larry Showley providing accompaniment. Bert Wahlen did the news as only Bert does the news.
We had visiting students from Hoover High Interacts introduced by Joe Farrage. Pat Caughey introduced our newest Rotarian, Bruce Drake, who heads up the Boy Scout Explorer Division. Lots of former Scouts (Boy and Girl) in our Club! Dick Troncone presented Paul Harris Fellowships to . Your generosity makes Rotary good works possible. Ken Andersen, Marten Barry, Larry Clapper, Rodney Moll, Susan Snow, and Jean Young.
Chuck Pretto then took the podium and claimed to have chaired the most successful Camp Enterprise ever! I suspect that 33 former chairs would challenge him about the 4 Way Test. I heard that it was terrific and Chuck and his committee did yeoman duty. Lewis Linson and his project managers urged us to get involved with Rotarians at Work Day on Sat., April 25. Having slung a bit of paint and planted a few trees down at Veterans Village in years past, I can attest that it is a great program.
Peg Eddy and husband Bob took a fine for doing well and doing good. That old saying about “no good deed…..” Mike Madigan was the Chair of the Day and gave our visitor from the farthest distance (La Jolla!) a bag of gifts. He’ll probably never come back. Several citizens with the name “Cushman” have made substantial contributions to our City and Mike only got a little confused in introducing our speaker, Dennis Cushman from the SD County Water Authority.
Dennis had the unenviable task of giving us mostly bad news about our water. We are getting less of it and it will cost more. Other than that…! With massive new capital improvements needed to the infrastructure that delivers water from Northern California, a two inch long minnow apparently more important than we Southern California humans, less water available from the Colorado, and our natural cycle of draught, things will be getting a little dicey (and expensive) come summer. However, the good news is the technical advances in recycling, desalination, and expansion of out storage capabilities. Lots of good if not all pleasant information!
Finally, Don Schoell gave a eulogy for our long time friend and member, Bob Smith. If you are bringing a guest next week to hear T. Boone Pickens, remember to register at www.rotary33.org or call the office!
Editor: Steve Hubbard
Photographer: Paul Nestor
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