The Pre Meeting and the Business Meeting

Quite a “buzz” before the meeting, lots of people attended.  Most were excited by the program which was a Dodger from the 80’s…Jay Johnstone.  I usually get to the meeting early and usually one of the first to arrive, but Jay Johnstone was already there.  He was so easy to talk to, but … a little crazy.  The first think he did was order some coffee.  He didn't just order a cup, he ordered a pitcher.  About half way through the meeting I saw him order a second pitcher.  Now I know why he is so wired.  It was great fun having a one on one chat with him before the meeting.  We talked baseball.  I know there are lots of Dodger fans in the club and I can tell you each one of them that is a fan, loves to talk baseball.  Jay Johnstone loves to talk baseball too, and he talks from personal experience.  He greeted people as they came in the room.  He poured them coffee.  He was enjoying the meeting with us.  He was having fun, and so were we.

It was so crowded that Joe had to announce that those that weren't eating had to take chairs along the sides and in the back of the room, so that those that were eating could have a place setting.  Floyd was there along with Bill and it was great to see the two of them having a chat.  The both look great and had a nice grin on their faces.   It’s like they know something that we don’t.  I wonder what it is.  I know Floyd loves baseball and we always have a chat about the Dodgers when we sit together;  Dave is also a Dodger nut along with Elyse.  I was born in Brooklyn and have been a lifelong Dodger fan and we all were looking forward to hearing Jay Johnstone talk.  He was an excellent ball player and always a character.   We expected lots of stories, and we got lots of stories.

Next year’s District Governor paid us a visit(Elsa Gilliam).  She is a member of the Wilshire Club She was there with her assistant, Melanie St. John.  (Any doubt women have taken over).  Kayla (runner up scholarship winner)  came to accept a check for college.  Chris introduced a school board runner, I didn't catch her name.    Dave Atkinson was there from the City Council;  Dickie Van Breen introduced her husband Mark Burton,  City Council -- Manhattan Beach and a Rotarian in MB.   Dean introduced the owner of Banner Stationary; Elyse introduced her husband Jim, and her grandchildren.   Grand Ma still looks good.  Melissa told a clean joke (which is always risky)  about an old man groaning in the theater.  The old man Fred had fallen from the Balcony…and he was groaning, and the crowd gave a groan. 

Ted had a birthday.   No telling how old that guy is.

Len read a bunch of boring announcements, letters thanking us for things, Pancake breakfasts, fund raisers by other clubs, yada yada yada, chilli cook offs, wine tasting, yada, yada, yada. 

Lili spoke to us about “Fuel your schools” (http://www.fuelyourschool.com/select-new-region.aspx).  “Doner’s Choose” :  It’s money set aside…For Teachers.  That’s gotta be a good thing.  It’s not a government run program, its run by Corporate AmericaChevron.    If you put 8 gallons of Chevron gas in your car, Chevron donates a dollar to schools in the area.  Teachers in the South Bay can then apply for these mini grants from Chevron. So if you need gas (not if you have gas) go to a Chevron station and filler up.  www.fuelyourshools.org.

Lili further had a birthday card waiting for her and she reluctantly read “Another Year Older and You are Still Jail bait”.

The Program (Tom introduced Jay Johnstone)

We talked about Jay Johnstone before and Tom introduced him.  WOW.  4 World Series rings, National Chairman of Hope for Heroes, a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of rotary for 26 years.  La Habra Club.

This was the best program we have had this year.  (Although Tom hasn't done a craft talk yet this year).  I can’t do it justice by writing about it.  If you are a baseball fan you loved it.  Even if you are not, you gotta love Jay Johnstone.  He is a character through and through.  He is a prankster, and when he was with the Dodger we had at least two other pranksters, Jerry Reusse and Mickey Hatcher.  But Jay was the ring leader.  The did lots of stuff.  Jay wrote a book and I think he sold them out after the meeting.  I bought one.

Jay wanted to be a football player.  He signed 11 letters of intent for colleges to play football.  The NCAA says you can’t do that, so he signed one for baseball and the rest is history.  He played baseball.   He played on 8 different teams and 4 world series rings.  There very few ball players that can say that.

There was a lengthy Question and Answer period, but Jay Johnstone has been crazy his whole life and still is.  There is some footage of him and his pranks on YouTube.  Here are a few.

http://youtu.be/qZp0ge8TeYI

http://youtu.be/W-sDlyJpA6s

Note:  Sorry my self imposed deadline is 6 PM Wednesdays so I have to push the send button.  You may be able to tell that this is not polished, but perfect is the enemy of good so off it goes.