Thank you to Steve Petersen, our President Elect, for stepping in for me and leading the meeting last week.  By all accounts he handled it with aplomb.  I know that Steve especially enjoyed presiding over the presentation of two Paul Harris Awards to a couple of "Veterans"; a special awardee happened to be a Veteran of Matrimony, Eleanor Cunningham.  I hear there were a few tears of joy shed as Jack presented his beautiful bride of 68 years with an honorary Paul Harris.  We also enjoyed the opportunity to recognize a brave woman, Carol Brinton Selfridge, with an honorary Paul Harris Award for her enthusiastic service to this great country during WWII.  I know everyone enjoyed hearing about Carol's great adventures as a Womens Airforce Service Pilot (WASP.)  Thanks to Dennis Peterson for bringing Carol to our Club.

We're looking forward to another Dinner Theatre night at Santa BarbaraCityCollege this Saturday, November 21^st.  25 lucky couples will enjoy a scrumptious meal at the Gourmet Dining Room after which a showing of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile will play at the Garvin Theatre.  I appreciate Len Jarrott's efforts to arrange for this fun annual event.

I want to thank all those who generously gave to the Foster Children stuffed toy auction last Friday.  We raised $1,160 for the holiday gift project.  Kudos to Dan Aldrich, Marlene King and Paul Hurst for planning and conducting the auction.  Santa BarbaraCounty foster children will have another enjoyable holiday season thanks to the Greatest Rotary Club in the World!

Another opportunity to help in the community has been coordinated by Kathryn McKee, Michael Lazarovits and Pam Galvin.  You may remember two guests of Kathryn's at lunch last week - they were from Border's Bookstores and they have just agreed to partner with us in the schools Four-Way Test Essay Contest.  In addition to extending shopping discounts to our club members, they are providing gift baskets for the students who win the contest.  All of you will have a two day shopping coupon for 25% to be used on Dec 2^nd and Dec 3^rd.  Look for the discount coupons on your table this week. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you all again this Friday.

Robert Dibley

President 2009/2010

High School Student – Sophomore or Junior

Santa Barbara/Goleta area

High Academic Achievements

Some Leadership Experience – willing to learn more!

Enjoys working with people

Active in the community

Displays potential for extreme success in the future

Loves having Fun!

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PERSON?  RECOMMEND THEM TO RYLA!  

We are looking for 2 high school students to sponsor for RYLA 2010.  The event takes place April 22-25, 2010.  Applications are due December 1^st, 2009.

Questions, ask Chris Clemens.

A Celebration and Thanksgiving

for the Life of

Robert Lawrence Young

Sunday, November 22, 2009

1:00 pm

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Fleischman Auditorium

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:

Hospice of Santa Barbara, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, 93103 or

The Santa Barbara Cancer Center, 540 W Pueblo Street, 93105 or

Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, 222 E Canon Perdido, 93101

If you would like to do something for the service, please consider bringing a healthy salad or side dish.  Thanks!

The November 13, 2009 meeting of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara began with a timid ringing of the bell by President Elect Steve Petersen, standing in for the absent Robert Dibley.  Len Jarrott gave an impromptu invocation, followed by Laurie Counihan-Childs and Kathleen Blake leading the song (God Bless America), with Leeana McNeilley leading the Pledge of Allegiance and introducing the visiting Rotarians:  Steve Dunn of Fairfield/Suisun, Ca, Larry Thompson of Montecito, Jordan Eller of Ventura East, Steve Boehm of Santa Barbara Sunrise, and Bernward Thorsche of Studio City.

MEMBERS INTRODUCE GUESTS:  Bob Hansen - Maria Ayala, Bill Alexander (welcome back Bill!) - Peggy Alexander, his bride, Stephen Millard - Mike Walker, Jack Cunningham - his blushing bride of 68 years, Eleanor Cunningham, JoAnn Mermis - Sara Guthrie, Len Jarrott - Helen Caldwell, Bill Dutton  - Carlos Camargo, Vicky MacGregor - Sheila Kearns, Jim Stretchberry - Steve Nicholson, Jim Armstrong - his wife Linda Armstrong, Dennis Peterson - his son Darren Peterson, Kathy McKee - her son Grant McKee, and Myteen Scheid, Jim Carberry - his wife Sue Carberry.  Guests of the Club were our speaker's daughter and son-in-law, Bud and Sharon Kayser.

HEAD TABLE: Dilys Jones, Dennis Peterson, Carol Selfridge and Steve Petersen.

AUCTION:  Dan Aldrich, with the assistance of Marlene King and Paul Hurst, ran a Fun Furried Friend Foster Children Auction, selling each stuffed animal for $30 - $50.  They raised $1,160 in just a few short minutes for a great cause.  If you would like to make a donation to the Foster Children Giving Fund, please contact Teresa Thornburgh (sbrotaryclub@cox.net), who can either make arrangements for payment or can put in on your next quarterly invoice.  But don't delay as shopping season begins soon.  If you'd like to assist in the shopping for the foster children, please let Dan Aldrich know.

FINES:  Eric Boehm, 1 whole card, Paul Didier, another whole card for the Fun In The Sun event photo in the Montecito Journal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  the November 20^th meeting will be held in Rodney's Restaurant, right next door to the Reagan Room.  Arrive early for a good seat! 

The Holiday Party has been rescheduled.  It will be a luncheon on Friday, December 4^th instead of Thursday evening event.  No formal program planned, but some fun items, and we may go til 2:00.  Sign up, bring your spouse, SO, or friend for this festive and fun luncheon. 

All Rotarians have been invited to be guests at the UCSB Girls Basketball game vs. Pepperdine, at UCSB on December 20^th.  Contact Steve Petersen if you're interested.

Len Jarrott reminded everyone about the Dinner Theater at SBCC scheduled for Saturday, November 21^st.  Contact him if you need to make any changes to your reservation.

50/50 Drawing for Polio:  Randy Figgins won the drawing and pulled a black marble, resulting in $16.25 in winnings, which he graciously donated back to the Foster Children Giving Fund.

PAUL HARRIS PRESENTATION:  Jack Cunningham shared that on November 15, 1941 he and Eleanor were married, and are now celebrating 68 years of bliss.  She has told him on several occasions that she deserves a Purple Heart, so he started thinking about something he could purchase for her that is esteemed, but that not just anyone could have, since you can't purchase Purple Hearts.  He came up with a wonderful idea, and presented Eleanor with her very own Paul Harris Fellow Award.  He concluded the emotion-filled moment with, "God bless you, Eleanor.  I love you."  There were more than a few "sweaty" eyes in the room.

Dennis Peterson then took the stand to take a moment to recognize any of our club members who have given of their time in service to our country, and then introduced our speaker, Carol Brinton Selfridge, who was recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her service as a WASP in WWII.  She shared many a great story about her time as a pilot.

Her presentation was concluded with her being awarded an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award.  It was quite a day for the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara.

The meeting came to a close at 1:30p.m.

Click here for photos from the meeting.