She is also still bringing the “Box” hoping to get “Someone” to contribute a little San Marcos Rotary History to it for the centennial.  Bring photos and memorabilia from past RI meetings, Conferences or Conventions that we can use to celebrate the RI Centennial in ‘05 and our Club’s 50th in ‘06.  She will bring the box week after week until you put something in it and if you don’t like your picture please replace it with a like dated item.

Speaking of the Centennial project, on display were pictures of the “Tot Lot” park next to Senior Center that is planned for our project.  One idea is to install topiaries (plants that look like things) around the playground for kids and adults to look at.  If you have any ideas let Stephanie or Bill Schramm know. 

Pat, Darrell, and several others delivered the Holiday gifts we purchased to our adopted family who were displaced by the fires         and to the mother of the two younger kids we adopted from Project Head Start.

Stephanie had good news; her husband is recovering nicely and getting stronger everyday.  She thanked us all for our thoughts and prayers.  She also announced that the District Centennial Gala would be held on the USS Midway on July 17th.  A lot of work and planning are going into this event so it will be lots of fun.  When tickets go on sale don’t wait!

Our Club’s Reverse Opportunity Drawing has been scheduled this year for an earlier date!  Mark you calendars for February 28th and get ready for announcements about whose team you will be on.  This is what we do every year so we can build a house in Mexico, buy a computer for a Blind Person and give scholarships to Palomar College and San Marcos High School Students, among other projects.  We are selling 300 tickets this year so please be prepared to participate.

Please keep Grannie and Charles in your prayers.  Grannie took quite a fall and is in the hospital.  Charles has their children to help him and Paul has been checking in.  Hopefully good news will follow.

January 1 - DARK, no meeting.
January 22-25 - Central America Project Fair in Costa Rica.
February 10 - District Council Meeting “San Diego Opera”.
February 28 - Reverse Opportunity Fundraiser.
March 4-7 - Presidents Elect Training Seminar.
April 3rd - District Assembly.
April 2-4 - RYLA
April 22-25 - District Conference at Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino.
July 17 - Centennial Gala in District 5340.

Luene’s Humor of the Week is from Hartford, CT, treasured home of Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain and author of many famous novels.  That home, and one of his neighbor, Harriet Beecher Stowe are always decorated for Christmas and are great fun to visit.  Samuel Clemens sent this marvelous wish to his friend Alexander Graham Bell after a particularly trying session with Bell’s recent invention, the telephone.  “It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage, may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, except the inventor of the telephone.”

Meal on Wheels for December and January.

12/22 01/05 01/12 01/19

Driver: Devi Vakil     Driver: Darrell McMullen     Driver: You?     Driver: George Burrola

Rider: Shelly Anguiano     Rider: Rob Eckert     Rider: You?     Rider: John Forst

Our speaker today was one of our own members, Sam Hamod, a former advisor to the U.S. State Department.  He spoke on "The Situation in Iraq" and pointed out that there are many complications in this situation and a great many players from different parts of the world.  All of which makes Iraq more than a simple U.S. vs. Iraq or any such over-simplification.  He went on to say that the Iraq situation has polarized people in the US and in the world, but it is his hope that some good common ground may be found that will lead to the Rotary goal of World Peace, which is also the goal of the UN and most people in the world.  Hamod said he felt that the UN offered the best chance for a brokered peace and rebuilding of Iraq.

Next week we have Brad Lichtman, Principal of the new Mission Hills High School as our guest speaker, the Greeter will be Shelly, Pledge by George, Invocation by Joan, and Lee Baron will sell raffle tickets. 

Luene’s thought for the week is by Samuel Clemens, with thoughts of Devi and Sam going to India.  “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

As Luene would say, “Have a Great Rotary Week”... Rob

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