Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
New member Mandy Nash was asked to lead the pledge. Ryan Fray did the invocation. He noted that internet pioneer and advocate Chris Crawford had died.
Eric Bergel announced that the search had begun for six families who would be willing to host the 2 exchange students that will be coming shortly.
George Owren will be heading up the Backpacks for Kids Program. He needs volunteers too.
NCAA update: Nobody bought VCU, so it belongs to the club. Scott Guild bought Butler for $25 (but spent $400 on other teams) Corky Cornwell bought Kentucky at $175. Carlton Nielsen bought Uconn for $150 but invested a total of $800 in the contest.
Stacy Lane came up to the podium to refresh the club’s memory about http://eurekarotary.blogspot.com, which is the latest step in the evolution of the Burl. Each week is available on the web. Bookmark the address to keep up on meetings you have missed. Printed copies will now be available next to the badge box for those who are internet challenged. It is read by people all over the world, from Siberia to Senegal. If you wish to be a Burl writer, there are openings. No one, of course, is as talented as I am, but don’t let that stop you.
Carol Riesch plugged the Senior Resource Center’s home delivered meals program. As a fund raiser, three local restaurants have pledged 15-25% of their sales on certain dates to “Meals on Wheels”. On April 5th 5-9pm it’s Las Cazuelas in Fortuna. On April 10, 4-9pm it’s the Plaza Grill in Arcata, and on April 20 5-9pm Hurricane Kate’s in Eureka.
Two blue badges were recently awarded to Mandy Nash and Anthony Antoville. 
Carlton donned his fining hat, an ill-fitting homburg that once belonged to Hobart Brown and proceeded to honor six Rotarians who had been members for 50+ years. Jack Morton, Dick Nash, Charlie Strope, Walt Shimasaki, Al Crnich and John Winzler. If you assume that they attended every meeting and adjust for inflation, that’s $44,200 each for meals. Add 21,600 lame jokes by the presidents of the club and throw in $7500 in fines and it’s a wonder that they didn’t defect to the Elk’s Club (which I understand has very good food). He then held up a Rotary banner from Denmark and said that Martin, last year’s exchange student sent it because his relatives had all joined Rotary Clubs as a result of his experience here. Then he announced that next week’s meal will be lutefisk in honor of Martin.
Tom McMurray introduced our program speaker, Dr. Elias Malki. He was born in Lebanon and became a US Citizen by choice. He speaks Arabic, Hebrew, and obviously, English. He hosts a Christian television program that is broadcast from Cyprus and reaches 20 million viewers. As a result of the program he is very well know in the middle east and has talked with many world leaders. He is an expert on the politics of the region. 95% of those living in the “fertile crescent” are now Muslim. Christians are discriminated against, even sent to “reservations” (Iraq) . Iraqi Christians have declined from 2 million to 500,000. He has written a book called “Ambassador of a Higher Power." Call Tom McMurray to order a copy.
Carlton then closed the meeting by reminding us of the following classifications are unfilled: Sturgeon wrangler, Cleavage Instructor, Dervish, Wheelwright, and Assassin.
Lutefisk: A dried whitefish prepared in lye. Lutefisk is made from cod is notorious in Scandinavia for its powerful and offensive odor.
Respectfully submitted by
Hank Ingham
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