The Meeting

We had a great turnout for the meeting;  standing room only -- almost.  Those of you that miss the meetings on a regular basis, you don’t know what you are missing, unless you read the Bulletin, but I am not sure if you all receive these or not.  “Just sayin”.   If you get this send me back an email and say hi or something:  I would like to hear from:   Ed, Ed, Dickie, Mari, Will, Michael, Matt, Rebecca, Maryam, Carlos,  Eng,  Geoff.  Let me know you get these.

Joe as usual took over the podium for fining purposes only, -- oh and a Joke too.  Joe is such a natural at the podium that I am not sure who is in charge some times.  Is it the Supreme Commander, or is he just a puppet regime with Joe pulling the strings?  We shall see.

Joe fined Elyse real good because she had just gotten back from FIGI and he had found online the “Figi Times Newsletter” and Elyse was quoted in there as “solving the water crisis for the Island, with no help from anyone”.  There was no mention of Rotary.  The Rotary “Take Credit  Queen” (TCQ) went on to introduce her own version of Bottled Figi water and the product will be introduced shortly, again with no help from anyone including Rotary “Elyse was quoted and fined accordingly.

Joe also fined Laura again, well, just because she is “Laura”, or as Marsha calls her “Miss Alabama”. 

Joe also fined Melissa again for still “acting as President”.  She got her picture in the paper again. 

Joe fined himself for inviting 2 Insurance People (Tom and Julie) to view the landing of the Space Shuttle from the top of the Hacienda Hotel.  They noticed it was not a safe place to be and would not be covered by their insurance.  I am not sure how many of my fellow Rotarian's got “invited” to the viewing from that vantage point, but I can tell you one Realtor who didn't.  “Just sayin”.

Joe then told one very funny joke about getting into heaven and not stepping on the Ducks.  Apparently that is a very serious offence in Heaven.  I tape the meetings now so I can do some accurate reporting and I listened to it again, and laughed just as hard.  A Very Funny joke…well told, with lots of laughter. 
Rule of Humor:  Unless you have a funnier joke you should never follow a super joke with one not so good.  That didn’t stop Elyse, she tried anyway.  “Just sayin”.

Other Items of Note

  • Marsha had a Birthday (no one said her age so that means she is moving up the ladder), and 
  • Julia and Bill had an Anniversary (22 years).  
  • Tom read a letter from the Eagle Scout we sponsored for $300 (sorry, I don’t have his name), thanking us for all our help. 
  • Fire Poster Contest is Oct. 18 at Chevron Park.  Laura is running that.  We need some volunteers to be Judges.
  • Park Vista Christmas meeting will be Dec. 6.
  • Nancy Cobb added another diamond to her Paul Harris pin.
  • Clair has been traveling to New York and Arizona and is making up meetings as she goes.  She had some nice stories.
  • Clair also brought Robin Fossilman(sp) to her 3rd meeting.  She owns “The Mailbox” on Main Street in El Segundo and wish’s to become a member.  I know her well and she is really neat.  (Tom, those magazines you asked me to receive in my mailbox for you will probably have to stop now.  She will know too much.  She will think they are mine.)
  • Dave Atkinson (City Council Member) visited for the second time. 
  • Oct. 13 will be another International Dinner and also (if you want) combined with an evening at the Improv. For $10 per person.  Call Elyse and/or Joe Harding for more information.


The Program

Our Youth

Dave Reiman concluded his Program Chairman of the Month that was dedicated to the youth of El Segundo by introducing Doug Sersun of the New El Segundo Athletic Club and Life Style Café.  Doug is a “Retired” Air Force Military Officer (24 years) who graduated from the Air Force Academy, and his wife is also a Graduate of the Air Force Academy.  

He has lived all around the world as most military people do, and when he retired -- he chose El Segundo 4 years ago.  He said on a number of occasions how much they loved El Segundo and that is why they chose to settle here.  After a few years  of sitting on his back porch drinking wine(I am surprised we have not met before) and watching the sun set, he chose to get back into the mainstream by becoming involved with Cross Country racing teams in our high school.  He has had a rather dramatic impact on Cross Country running with our high school.  He will continue in that role.  When he took over the program there were 4 runners.  Now there are over 80. One of his teams took a 4th in the State.  

We met Dave Reiman’s son Chris a few weeks ago at Rotary and he told us how inspiring the coach and team are to him;  and Laura’s son Hunter (who I understand is going to have the title “Prince” at the Homecoming celebration) also is one of his disciples;  and Tom’s son Conner has become the number one runner on his team.  Tom was very proud of him; let’s hope Conner feels the same.

Obviously this man is having a major impact on our youth in this town.  He feels he is helping kids make good choices.  His philosophy is fairly simple and one we learned in Scouts.

“Leave the camp ground better than you found it”.

Carrying this same philosophy over to the next chapter in his life he now owns the El Segundo Athletic Club and the Life Style Café (under construction) at 505 Main St. (310) 335-1456 .  www.elsegundoathleticclub.com

This building space is (going to be) about 6000 Sq. Feet devoted to promoting a healthy lifestyle“How you use your body and what you put into your body determines your health”.  I asked if there was going to be wine in the new café and could you get a glass while you are on the treadmill.   My partner in crime Phil was concerned about the number of ash trays in the gym and would there be one on the arm’s of the cycle machines or not.  Phil and I would be quite a pair to enroll in this gym.  Speedo's here we come.

As a matter of fact, guess what?  “I did go down and signed up for 1 month”.   The place is totally renovated with lots of interesting looking machines, and a class room for group workout classes and Yoga and Spinning (whatever that is).  I didn't want to make a long term commitment just yet.  I have belonged on and off over the years to the Spectrum Club in El Segundo and that was about $110 per month last I looked.  It does have lots of stuff there including a large pool (which I used once), A Restaurant with Healthy Foods (and some not so healthy); A Bar,(which I did on occasion use).  Lot’s of hot tubs and classes etc. which I rarely used. Eye candy was pretty good from my perspective, but when the women checked me out, they were not impressed.  They had obviously stepped on a duck.  (You had to be there).

The Spectrum Club had (has) A great shower facility -- which I never used (I am not wild about communal showers with a bunch of men and they kept having to remove me from the women’s side).  I am not a crowd pleaser.  So the way I see it I spent about 2 years as a member and went maybe 10 times.  I figure that cost me about $300 a visit.  I gained about 10 pounds a year.  That’s why I didn’t make any long term commitment, but let’s see how I do with my first 30 days at the El Segundo Athletic Club.  It’s time for me to get going again.  I have at least one more good "run" in me.  

When I went for my visit they were extremely nice (Lisa).   I “gave myself up to a higher power” and Lisa didn't pressure me at all to sign up for a longer period. She didn't point and laugh either.   Thanks Lisa.   I am going to go for the first time today, and more or less become familiar with the machines and see where I might fit in as I begin my journey back to “health”.  I will keep you posted if you are interested.