(REDONDO BEACH – July 18, 2012)  Following our traditional opening ceremonies, President Nancy Campbell introduced guests and visiting Rotarians.  Among the Rotarians were  Jack Spencer, PDG, a past-president of our club during the 1962-63 Rotary Year and former district governor of District 5280, Eli Gauna, PDG from District 5260, Kevin Paul, past president of the Lawndale Rotary Club,  and Chantel King, not yet a member but a former Rotary Scholar. Guests included Ken, Deborah and Chris Barela, and Gunner Willoughby.

Nancy called for volunteers for this weekend’s Relay for Life where our club will prepare pancakes for participants, Sunday morning. The Relay will be held at the Alta Vista School and volunteers are needed starting at 6:30 a.m. Sunday.  “You’ll find us at the Rotary canopy,” she said.

18-year-old Chris Barela was introduced and honored as our Cadet of the Quarter.  Chris has been a member of the Jr. ROTC program at Redondo Union High School. An Eagle Scout and fundraiser, Chris will start college this fall at the University of California at Santa Barbara where he will major in biopsychology.

Nancy reminded members to fill out the Membership Satisfaction Survey. Members can log onto the club Web site with their username and password.  Navigate to the Admin screen and there click on View Club Documents and a link to the survey appears.

Finemaster Steve Aspel fined President Nancy $5 for something or other; Mark Smith $20 for his photo in a local newspaper WITHOUT his Rotary pin on his coat lapel, and then $10 for his new position as V.P. of Malaga Bank; Dave Whitehead and Bill Paul $20 each for incorrectly reporting something or other Finemaster Steve uttered at last week’s luncheon; and President Nancy another $20 for calling on Monique Waite by the wrong name. Oops!  Particularly since Monique wanted to donate $1 as a Happy Buck announcement.

Brynn Dietz volunteered to head our boat-building project for the upcoming District 5280 picnic, scheduled for September 9th.  A cardboard boat race across the Redondo Beach Lagoon is a highlight of the afternoon activity.   Our club entered a boat a couple of years ago but age and water got the best of the old tub.

Luncheon speaker Janne Kouri gave an inspirational talk.  See next article titled “Janne Kouri Takes NextStep.”

Ted Wendorff’s raffle ticket was selected but alas, he did not pick the green and white marble.  “Here’s ten bucks, Ted” was his consolation prize.

Nancy likes to end our luncheon meetings with three trivia questions.  Here are the three for this week: 1) Name the famous French detective from the silver screen? 2) Who was the second man on the moon? 3) Name the Dodger pitcher who won the 1956 MVP Award? Click HERE for the answers. (Best viewed in Internet Explorer)