December 15th RB Rotary Newsletter
President Bill called the meeting to order with the statement that our club supports the Interfaith Community Services Holiday Food Drive. There were lots of generous donors who brought canned goods to our meeting last week and this week. Many thanks to all who helped with this project.
Troy led us in the pledge. Jim Hyldahl gave the invocation and noted that most of our troops left Iraq yesterday and all of our troops will be out by the end of the month. 4500 Americans lost their lives during this long war and we are eternally grateful for their sacrifice and that of their families. John Hawkins entertained us with some beautiful holiday music during lunch. Charley did a bang up job as greeter, welcoming Ian, our friend and fellow Rotarian who visits us from England once a year.
Joe Max, one of our newest Rotarians, gave his "Who Am I". He thanked Mira and Vern for driving him to the meetings. He was with the Philadelphia Police Dept and then the State Department where he was an advisor in Viet Cong and the Belgian Congo. He's lived in San Diego for 38 years and received his Masters in Criminal Justice. Joe comes to us from the El Cajon Rotary Club and his been in Rotary for 22 years. Please greet him warmly when you see him. Joe is 94 years young!
Jim Sommer reported that Carl Hoffman isn't doing well after his golf cart accident. He was badly banged up and cracked 5 ribs. He is back in the hospital as his lungs started to fill with fluid. Please drop him a card. No visitors or calls right now. Jack Mitchell still answers his cell phone and is at Belmont Village. He's doing ok but hates not being able to play his trumpet! He is getting very frail but still has his beautiful smile and I know he'd like a card or a visit. Please call first. We were also informed that Bob Krejci passed away last week of a stroke at 98 years old. His family will have a memorial some time in Jan. Cards can be sent to Bob's address.
Our Bull's Eye included almost every single person in the club. President Bill asked anyone who has helped with set up, been speaker chair, worked the front desk, was on a committees, etc. and that encompassed 95% of us!
Benita Page thanked everyone for their support of the Shelter Pantry for Interfaith. The President Bill encouraged everyone to attend our Happy Hour at The Urge the 1st and 3rd Thurs. of the month, starting up again on Thurs., Jan. 19th. Please come and bring a friend and/or prospective member. Sign up to march in the Holiday Parade on Dec. 28th and be part of San Diego's 100th Anniversary in Rotary.
Diane Law introduced our speaker for the day. Chris McCarthy, who is a manager/owner at Ben Bridge Jewelers, gave a very interesting talk on diamond mines in Canada. Originally, only India and Brazil had diamond mines in the 19th century. South Africa appeared on the scene in the 1900's, Russia (Siberia) started mining in 1950, Australia in 1970 and in 1990, and most recently diamonds were discovered in Canada. Mining didn't begin until 2002 as they had to drain a lake to reach the rock bed and there were only 2 months out of the year that they could access the area due to severe weather. Ben Bridge gets all their diamonds from this mine and will celebrate 100 years in business in 2012.
WE WILL BE DARK THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS. Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be on Jan. 5, 2012. Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Happy and safe New Year!
Karen Stelman, Scribe