There is an interesting article written by Frank Bures in the June 2013 edition of the Rotarian magazine titled "The Cost of Fame" that looks at the growing trend of narcissism in America and its attendant costs to the individual and to society at large. Having grown up in America in the 80’s, I certainly agree with the author that the "me-first" attitude has become much more pervasive in current society. Mr. Bures points to a research study performed at UCLA that examined 16 values demonstrated by characters in popular television programs from the years 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997 and 2007. These values included benevolence, popularity, community feeling, wealth, achievement, tradition, and fame. The researchers found that values that benefited society most such as community feeling, benevolence and tradition received declining emphasis as portrayed by the television characters through the years. On the contrary, individualist values such as wealth, achievement and fame became increasingly dominant driving forces in the characters’ lives.

Does that mean that we, as a society, should abandon individualist ideals and only pursue communal goals? Absolutely not! I believe that the greatness of our nation is due in no small part to individualism. Nevertheless, there must be a balance somewhere between individualism and collectivism. I will leave to you to decide if we, as Rotarians, have found this balance, as suggested by research performed at the University of Michigan by Dr. Sara Konrath. She and her colleagues found that people who did unselfish volunteer work had a lower mortality risk. The more regularly and frequently they volunteered, the lower the risk.

I surmise that as Rotarians, in our efforts to help those less fortunate than ourselves, we may actually be helping ourselves!

Yours in Service,
Bill Nguyen, DDS, President, Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel

President Bill Nguyen brought the meeting to order at 12:25 p.m. Thanks go to Sal Mariscal who welcomed us and to Jan Alcide who led us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Inspiration was provided by Ingvar, who presented us with several wise and helpful sayings for daily living. Thanks go to Robie Robeson, who led us in singing a rendition of "For Me and My Gal."

Visitors and Guests:  Matt Messina, a senior at St. Margaret's, was introduced by Robert Ming. Robert informed the group that Matt is working as an intern for him. Mike Whipple introduced Mohammed Rasul a member of the Mission Viejo Rotary Club, and spoke of Mohammed's efforts to form an orphanage in Pakistan. Roc Kasper returned again this week and was introduced by father-in-law Bob Aston. Ingvar introduced Wes Rowlands, an investment manager visiting from Philadelphia who works for Professional Financial Services.

Host a Rotary Exchange Student for the Upcoming year 2013-2014

This year, our District will have a 16 year old girl from France and a 17 year old Brazilian boy that will need a Rotary home or two for the year.

We are looking for a perfect candidate to host an exchange student. An ideal placement would be with a Rotarian family that also currently has high school children of their own. However, a Rotarian couple whose kids have grown up and have a little spare time are just as ideal as well. Or perhaps you know someone that would fit the bill but are not Rotarians, neighbors, friends, church people, etc. Host families do not have to be Rotarians.

The Youth Exchange program is one of the best kept secrets of Rotary. At the core of the program is our need to understand the cultures of others from across the globe. It has been a proven life changing program for everyone involved.

The cost to the sponsoring host Rotary Club is a stipend of $100 per month to the exchange student.

Please contact Sug Kitahara, District 5320 Youth Exchange Chair, rotarysug@gmail.com (562) 882-7734.

Fellowship

The Fellowship of the Saloon

This Rotarian Age, Paul Harris’s second book, was written about the time that prohibition was being repealed. The following paragraph illustrates how Harris understood that alcohol was not the only lure of the saloon. People need fellowship, and they will go to where it is available. If not a service club like Rotary, it might well be a bar. Without the warmth of fellowship, no Rotary Club would last long enough to make a difference in the community, much less the world.

“It has been contended that the saloon was the poor man’s club; quite right, but it was his hearthside as well, in many cases. Saloon attendance was the great indoor sport of many, and the regular business of others. The lure of the saloon was in man’s insatiable desire for fellowship. There kindred spirits were to be found, and the stimulating influence of alcohol served as quick and certain means of breaking down the barriers between men. The pity was that it broke down more than barriers; it broke down self-respect. A strong man might withstand its demoralizing influences for a time—a long time perhaps, but it usually got him sooner or later.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 24)

Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

Small Town Connections

Paul Harris was well aware that the men (remember, women were only recently admitted to membership) who were most drawn to Rotary were often from the same kind of small town or rural setting that he himself experienced. They were ambitious people, who came to bigger cities because that is where the opportunities were. However, many found the large cities cold. Their ambition had taken them away from their boyhood friends, and they longed to recreate meaningful relationships with people who shared their values.

“Several of the members had been raised on farms, and the majority was of the class of country and small town boy who in search of fortune had gravitated to the city. While not self-made men, they were in the process of making, and most of them had made sufficient progress to justify the assumption that success in considerable degree was to be realized in the future. Some had received the benefits of college education; more had not.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 54)

Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

An Oasis in the Desert

Fellowship is the glue that holds Rotary Clubs together. Paul Harris knew this from Day 1. Some might consider it a selfish reason to join for the friendships, but having friends is as important to one’s health as breathing. Harris rejoiced in the fellowship of Rotary, and he wanted every Rotarian to rejoice with him.

“In the social desert of a city, they possessed an oasis all their own. To it the chosen few came to revel in the delights of friendly communion. No longer would any of them have occasion to dream in city parks and public places of happy days gone by; the ‘Happy days had come again.’”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 57)

Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

Members as Friends

One of the more interesting traditions of Rotary is to address members by their first names and to avoid using titles. This was not an accident. Titles are earned, and they set people off for their accomplishments. They have their role. However, friendships are earned through an entirely different mechanism, and titles inhibit friendships by separating people into various distinctions. Paul Harris explained this concept beautifully in just three sentences. Moreover, he made it clear that the playful nature of most Rotary meetings was not at all accidental.

“Their meetings were different from meetings of other clubs of the day; they were far more intimate, far more friendly. First names were always used, while ‘Misters’ and all other prefixes which might in any way interfere with the free flow of spirits, were banned. They became boys once again.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 57)

Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

JOIN FELLOW ROTARIANS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY TO CELEBRATE

PRESIDENT BILL’S YEAR

BOWLING WITH BILL

June 15, 2013

5:30 PM

SADDLEBACK LANES

25402 Marguerite Pkwy  Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 586-5300

EVERYONE WELCOME!

Bowlers - $40 per person

If you want to join us and not bowl, $15 per person

Includes salad, pizza and chicken fingers.

Beer, wine and beverages are available for purchase.

If you bowl, don’t forget your socks!

See everyone there!

RSVP: Barbara Foster 949-715-1902 or
Barbara@insightsworldwide.com

Nguyen, William - 100.00%
Sater, Betsy - 100.00%
Aston, Bob - 97.67%
Brown, Joe-  97.67%
Neuhoff, Ronald - 97.67%
Pearce, Frank - 97.67%
Whipple, Mike - 97.67%
Cheshire Jr., Harry - 95.35%
Robeson, Robert - 95.35%
Shaffer, Glenn - 95.35%
McCloskey, Jerry - 93.02%
Perrella, Ron - 93.02%
Alcide, Jan - 90.70%
Potter, Verne - 90.70%
Mulvaney, Dennis - 88.37%
Mariscal, Sal - 86.05%
Tokash, Ken - 86.05%
Carvacho, Sergio - 85.71%
Corona, Ingvar - 85.71%
Macaulay, RobertL - 84.21%
Weiss, David - 83.72%
Foster, Barbara - 79.07%
Oddo, Stephanie - 79.07%
Ferlauto, Vito - 76.74%
Gowen, Ed - 76.74%
Birkeland, Bruce - 74.42%
Davis, Joe - 74.42%
Glassock, Dick - 74.42%
Leber, Bill - 74.42%
Steele, Randy - 74.42%
Sterling, Miles - 74.42%
Scholl, Barbara - 72.09%

Save the Date

SATURDAY, October 5, 2013

Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel

Oktoberfest

Beer, Bratwurst, Music, Fun

Bring friends, potential and former Rotarians

Mark Montgomery

20 Sentry Hill
Laguna Niguel

MATCHING POINTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A DONATION OF $100 TO $500! Our goal is 100% participation. Summary YTD 30 members so far or 53% of all members have contributed over 1/2 way to 100% member particiption.  Remember any size contribution is welcome but over $100 to $500 receives club matching points towards your Paul Harris Fellowship.

Most members have contributed and we thank those below:

Jan Alcide
Bob Aston
Eve Beck
Jack Biggar
Don Blake
Gary Capata
Harry Cheshire
Ryan Cook(2)
Marilyn Crary
Joe Davis
Vito Ferlauto
Ed Gowen
Jennifer Heinen
Jeanette Krembas
Linda Lindholm (2)
Michael Maw(2)
Jerry McCloskey
Ron Neuhoff(3)
Bill Nguyen(3)
Frank Pearce
Ron Perrella
Stephanie Oddo(2)
Robie Robeson
Carlos Saenz
Betsy Sater (2)
Barbara Scholl
Glenn Shaffer
Cecil Spearman
Ken Tokash(2)
Mike Whipple(2)

Laguna Niguel Rotary Board Meeting
Tuesday, May 21, 5:30 PM

The Laguna Niguel Rotary Board meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church in the upstairs Conference Room (30071 Ivy Glenn Dr., Laguna Niguel). All club members are invited to attend.

For more information email President Bill Nguyen at smiledds@yahoo.com or give him a call at 949-413-4465.

Come and meet the Board members. They will all be there.

Here's the lineup to look forward to in the next few weeks:

Sergeant-At-Arms for May:  Robert Ming