Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Pulitzer Prize Winner speaks at ISRC

On October 26th we had the pleasure of hearing and learning from Investor's Business Daily Pulitzer Prize Winner editorial cartoonist, Michael Ramirez. A two time Pulitzer winner for editorial cartoons, describes his job of being an editorial cartoonist as the opportunity to get people to really think about the important issues we face. Right from the beginning, and strangely enough, Mr. Ramirez announced that he does not like to draw! He does, however, enjoy being judge and jury by going through the drawing process.

And the process itself is demanding: He explained that in order to be in this line of work, one has to read many newspapers from both sides of the political landscape. One then has to gather the information, process it and only then begin drawing. This is essential, according to Mr. Ramirez, as the mainstream media, so he claims, is doing a very poor job reporting on the current financial situation and vetting our presidential candidates. Mr. Ramirez simply fills a void – as "an equal opportunity offender." His editorial cartoons are essentially drawings that make a political statement. He equated this to advertising – coming up with a precise image in order to "sell" a specific idea.

Describing himself as a member of the "Anti-Stupid" party, he has beamed a spotlight on such notables and ideas as Barak Obama, John McCain, George Bush, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Global Warming, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Oil and Drilling, War on Terror, Immigration, Social Security and Health Care.

Mr. Ramirez is the Editorial Cartoonist and a Senior Editor for
Investor's Business Daily. Ramirez is a Lincoln Fellow and has won several awards during his career, including the 2008 and 1994 Pulitzer Prize, the UCI Medal from the University of California, Irvine and the Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 1995 and 1997.

Ramirez was named "Best Editorial Cartoonist 2006" by the National Cartoonists Society, and won the prestigious 2008 John Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition.

Mike showed cartoons from his new book "Everyone Has The Right To My Opinion" available from
Amazon.com. Mike will sign copies of the book for club members. Simply purchase the book(s) and give them to Stella Cardoza who will take them to Mike for signature.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

When You Can't, Don't.

On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Joanne Milo's "Shooting Stars" team that usually walks to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation instead held a Sit In Protest.

The Sit In Protest was prompted by a complication of Type 1 diabetes that Joanne is experiencing after a 42 year struggle with the disease. She is temporarily in a walking cast, and wisely decided to "sit this one out". Her long time supporters and team members joined her in a Sit In Protest with this year's theme "I Must Protest".

The sit in was held at the home of Richard and Joanne Milo in Corona del Mar and included coffee and a continental breakfast. One protester brought a guitar, but refused to play it. Another brought his American express bill, and refused to pay it. A few of the attendees protested the protest and actually walked around Balboa Island…the nerve! Civil unrest abounded, along with great fellowship and conversation.

All in all, nearly $7,000 was raised this year by the "Shooting Stars" for JDRF.  Great thanks go out to the sponsors and contributors: Audrey Lane Laufer, LLC (sponsorship and shirts), Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club and its members (major sponsor), LouiseEganDesign (graphic arts), and to the dozens of friends and family members who show up each year in support.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Ed Hardenburgh joins Paul Harris Society

Ed Hardenburgh was welcomed into the Paul Harris Society by Rotary District Governor Roger McGonegal. Paul Harris Society members pledge to donate at leas $1,000 per year to The Rotary Foundation, which supports Rotary efforts and projects around the world.

The Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club has the highest number of Paul Harris members of any club in the district. The club also is one of the top contributors to The Rotary Foundation, but per capita and total giving.

District Governor Visits ISRC

Rotary District 5320 Governor Roger McGonegal was the speaker at the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club on Wednesday. Before he spoke, however, he helped promote Mody Gorsky to a "blue badge" status and welcomed the return of Janet Wang to the club after a year long absence. (from left, Pannkaj Kummar, Mody Gorsky, Toni Thomas, Janet Wang, Roger McGonegal)

Roger spoke about the coming changes within Rotary and The Rotary Foundation as well as this year's theme of "Make Dreams Real." The theme, set by Rotary International President D.K. Lee, focuses on helping children around the world.

Thousands of children die each day from a lack of access to basic needs such as clean water, health care or food. Children also don't thrive because they don't get an education, which gives them a way out of the poverty. Rotary's mission this year is to concentrate on programs and projects which can keep their dreams alive and give them hope for a better future.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Third Annual "Cash Bash" fundraiser

The 3rd Annual Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club (ISRC) $10,000 Cash Bash took place on Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club. All 250 tickets were sold again this year. Members and guests showed up for the
Sunday Brunch and watched as all 250 tickets were placed in a drum and pulled out one at a time.

The 250th ticket drawn was the winner of the $10,000 grand prize. This year the winner was Mody Gorsky, one of the newest members of the ISRC. Congrats to Mody on his big win. (He graciously donated part of his winnings to the Rotary Foundation and some back to the club.)

There were 14 other winners of between $100 and $500. We had a "Loser" drawing for all those who did not win (and were present at the brunch). Luana Rodberg was the winner of the $300 for the "Loser" drawing.

This event raised $12,500 for the projects and charities that ISRC supports. Some of these are:
  • Irvine Smiles Dental Clinic
  • Irvine Special Olympics
  • Irvine Senior Center
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund
  • StoveTeam
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Reading by 9

Congratulations to the club for another successful fundraiser. Thanks to Rick Topping for his 3rd year as Master of Ceremonies (thanks also for the new jokes and friendly banter). Committee members/workers were Tom Mahony, Bob Yaap, Luana Rodberg, Rick Topping, Mary Mar, Cisca Stellhorn, Ray Sanford, Kathy White, Richard Milio, Paul Strodbeck, Ed Hardenburgh and Al Rosenstein. For the 3rd year in a row, Tom Mahony sold more tickets than anyone…55 this year. Great job, Tom… maybe next year we should name the event the 'ISRC Annual "Tom Mahony" Cash Bash'!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Meet the Candidates

Today's meeting featured three speakers: George Brown an administrator for the YMCA-Armed Services, Bob Bliss, a candidate for the Saddlback College Board, and our own Pat Rodgers, a candidate for the Irvine City Council.

George Brown shared with club that the Armed Services YMCA is completely separate from the regular YMCA. He is based at Camp Pendelton and serves 43,000 people. There are special needs for grades E-5 and below on the base both for the troops and their dependents. Our club gave him a donation for his good work and we have participated in several great events at the base. He was introduced by an "OLD Marine" Rick Topping.

Bob Bliss is a retired instructor at Saddleback community college, where he taught and headed the computer instruction in the business department. He has served as a reserve in the police force and received all his college education at night as he was working full time during the day. He presented the issues of the campaign. I found it most interesting that this community college district is very well off financialy.

Pat Rodgers, a member of our rotary club, a retired policeman from Irvine wants to be a city councilman. He has served in Iraq and Afganistan after his retirement (26 years) from the IPD. He lives in the Ranch. He presented several opinions of issues facing the Irvine voters.

I salute both candidates for wanting to serve the public and go through these elections. Both men were brief! A rare trait in a politician



Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Rotary Foundation

Dr. Mike Abdalla spoke to the club about the current status of The Rotary Foundation and the upcoming changes for the administration of matching grants. Mike has been a member of the Orange Club since 1971. He has been a club President, District Governor and recently served as a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation.

He explained about Rotary's efforts and results in combatting polio around the world. Each week we pass a pig around the room to collect funds for the Bill and Melinda Gates challenge grant for Polio Eradication. This is a great example how, by working together, we can change the world. 

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Crime Survivors

On October 1, the Founder and CEO of Crime Survivors, Patricia Wenskunas, visited the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club and shared her story about being a victim of an attack that almost killed her and her son. As is the case with the majority of crime victims (83%), Patricia knew her attacker — her fitness trainer with whom she had worked out daily for 9 months.

She survived only by jumping off a balcony (covered in bruises and with her face wrapped in Saran wrap), and running for help — fortunately, her son was not at home. To make matters worse, the judge was not supportive of her case, and the attacker (having been jailed for only a few months) is still at large today (the attack took place - in Irvine - in 2002).
 
Having been both a victim of the crime and of the legal system, and stating that "long after the external bruises heal, the 'internal bruising' continues", Patricia has dedicated herself to increasing awareness about these terrible crimes.  She founded Crime Survivors (www.crimesurvivors.com) to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim, tools on how to survive the after-effects, and to advocate for changes in the laws that currently give the criminal more rights than the victim.
 
You can read Patricia's story (and those of other victims), learn more about the work of Crime Survivors, and learn how you can help by:
 
  • Visiting the Crime Survivors website (www.crimesurvivors.com)
  • Telling other people about this organization and arrange for a speaker to give a presentation
  • Participating or sponsoring the 5th Annual Crime Survivors 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, October 11, at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, CA (www.crimesurvivorsrunwalk.org).
  • Voting for Marsy’s Law: Crime Victims' Bill of Rights Act of 2008  (learn more at www.marsyslaw.org)
  • Giving a donation (any amount is welcome, but $50 will provide an Emergency Survival Bag in your name for a child or adult (containing comfort items, necessities, and materials to help them through their case)
  • Asking a survivor if there is anything you can do for them - don't shy away from them,  nor ask them for details they may not want to share