Rotary Club of Arcadia, CA

CHECK CORRECTION:
Two Local Sponsor clubs in Pakistan have come forward to be our partners in the Matching Grant to provide Shelter Boxes-  RC of Islamabad Margalla and RC of Rawilipindi. Please make out checks to THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (TRF) not Arcadia Rotary Foundation as previously announced.  Arcadia Rotary Foundation will forward the monies on your behalf for any checks already written.  As of  last Friday we had $800 in checks, and $3000 in pledges.

NOTE: Checks will be held until TRF asks for the monies. This could be weeks, but evidence of pledges is needed.

NOTE #2: Any donations will apply to your Paul Harris Fellow points

CLUB CHALLENGE:

Monrovia Rotary is taking up the challenge and we should we be able to raise more than $5000 to do a SECOND MATCHING GRANT with the help of other clubs. We are challenging Sierra Madre Rotary, Duarte Rotary, Pasadena clubs etc….  to join us.

Two matching grants would raise $34,000 and shelter 340 victims.  Now we are starting to have  a Rotary project!

On September 3, 2010, Rosie Mares introduced Robert Granger to present his craft talk.

Robert Granger is the Owner/Director of Chyten Educational Services of Arcadia.  Chyten has 31 centers in 11 states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania).  In California, there are four centers (in Arcadia, Irvine, Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Westlake Village).

Robert came from a Michigan pioneer family which entered Michigan in the early 1800s.  Those were times of log cabins and fur trapping.  Robert’s father was one of three brothers who lived in Grand Ledge, Michigan, a city not far from East Lansing where Michigan State University was located.

[After all those years in Michigan, in the 1970s Robert's family finally migrated to California in search of a warmer climate.]

Robert’s parents went to Michigan State University, where they met.  His mother was from Grand Rapids. His father was in the Air Force R.O.T.C.  After they graduated, they got married.

Robert’s father then entered Flight School at Lackland Air Force Base in Lackland, Texas. It was in Lackland that Robert entered the world.

After flight school, Robert’s father was stationed in Newfoundland, along with the family. While there, Robert’s father flew C-54s in the Arctic.  Robert’s sister was born in Newfoundland.

When Robert’s father finished his time with the Air Force, the family moved back to Michigan.  Robert’s brother was born in Michigan.  Robert’s father started a company in Grand Ledge.  He also joined Rotary.

In 1963, Robert’s parents moved to Montserrat in the British West Indies, one of the “10 vacation spots you never heard of.” In Montserrat, the family was engaged in farming and cattle-ranching.  At that time Robert was eight years old.  He attended school in a one room school house.  His teacher was a disciplinarian who kept a leather strap within reach.  If he reached into his drawer, it would be a bad day for the offending student.

Robert passed his “eleven plus” exams, allowing him to be admitted to secondary school. Robert then returned to the United States to continue his education.

Robert continued his schooling first in West Virginia (eighth grade).  Then he attended Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton, Florida, and graduated.

Next Robert was admitted to Sewanee University (the University of the South) located atop the Cumberland Plateau, between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. [Another Arcadia Rotarian, Jim Helms, also attended this school.]  Robert graduated with a degree in economics.  However, this did not translate into immediate employment.

While at Sewanee University, Robert met his wife Kathy.

For graduate work, Robert entered Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.  As a result he was awarded his MBA in Finance and Accounting.

Robert was then recruited by a major corporation. This brought he and his family to California.  [This went against advice that he should seek residence somewhere "east of the Mississippi and south of the Mason-Dixon line."]

Robert’s wife Kathy is a math major who is Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources of the Walnut Valley Unified School District.

Robert and Kathy have four children:  Aaron (who went to the Air Force Academy – where he met the Parrilles’s son); Megan (who went to the University of Kentucky, and is now in the insurance business in Louisville, Ky.); Jonathan (who is studying at the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla); “Becca” [i.e., Rebecca] (who still lives at home while attending studying at U.C., Riverside.)

Robert’s interests include soccer, scouts and venturing, backpacking, fly-fishing, and sailing.

On September 3, 2010, Rosie Mares introduced David Burke to give his craft talk.

David Burke is General Manager of Westfield Shopping Town in Arcadia. He has been a member of Rotary from April, 2010.

David’s paternal grandparents were Dorothy (“Dottie”) and Joseph Francis Burke. Joseph was a song-writer, composer and conductor. He was also in the record industry. Among the latter’s albums are “Lady and the Tramp” and “Frank Sinatra, a Man and his Music.” In 1945, the couple and their children (including David’s father) moved from New York to Hollywood.

David’s maternal grandparents were Alice and Albert Marshall Loomis. Albert founded Western Sample Book and Supply Company. In WWII The company supplied samples to the military. They and their children (including David’s mother) had moved to Los Angeles in 1928.

David’s parents were married in 1971, having met while his mother was a student at USC. In 1974, David was born. His brothers were Danny and Michael.

David had a Catholic education, attending Corpus Christi School in Pacific Palisades, followed by Loyola High School. His extracurricular activities included football and track (shot-put and discus throw). David then went into a very different venue, attending college at U.C. Santa Barbara where academics competed with athletics (Rugby) and fun at the beach. He graduated from U.C., Santa Barbara in 1996.

David spent the next three years (1996-1999) in Manhattan Beach. First he worked for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Then he moved on to Platinum Capital where he made real estate loans, meeting mortgage loan officers. To achieve greater flexibility, he successfully studied for the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test).

David then did two years of graduate studies at the University of San Diego, graduating in 2001 with his MBA and MSIT (Master of Science in Information Technology).

As a result of the negative economic impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on this country, David moved back to Los Angeles to live with his parents.

David then received two job offers: one from a bank and the other from Urban Retail Properties, an affiliate of Rodamco. David became manager of Urban Retail Properties in Century City. In 2002, Rodamco was acquired by an Australian firm, Westfield. David ended up working for Westfield.

For the next one and a half years, David was managing Westfield’s Century City property. During this period, he met his future wife Kate.

Westfield then asked David to manage its Santa Ana property. By moving in with Kate, David was able to cut 35 minutes off of his commute. In Santa Ana, as Assistant General Manager, David found a chaotic situation with employees leaving. While confronting this situation, he proposed to Kate.

Westfield then gave David the opportunity to move to San Jose. Kate wondered if David had proposed so that he would not have to move to San Jose by himself. In 2004, they moved to San Jose where David managed Westfield’s Oakridge Shopping Mall.

Also in 2004, David and Kate were married. In 2005 their son Declan was born. (Meanwhile, also in 2005, at age 62, David’s father graduated from Cal. State University in Domingos Hills.)

David was then promoted to manage another Westfield Mall in San Jose, this time the one in Valley Fair. In 2007, they bought a house. In 2008 their second son Logan was born.

Then in July, 2009, Westfield called upon David to manage its Santa Anita mall. David and Kate rented out their San Jose home and relocated their family (Declan, age 4, and Logan, age 2, to Hastings Ranch. They have friends in Santa Barbara in the wine business.

A mall manager’s role is multi-faceted. For example, he must keep the mall free of overly-amorous kids and the food court free of vagrants. Also there are political aspects in mall operations.

David was recruited into Arcadia Rotary by Sho Tay and Frank Hall. He is interested in mentoring and teaching about mentoring.

1.  MIKE REAL announced that applications are now available to apply for Rotary Youth Exchange, either for a long term or a short term exchange.  Children of rotary members who are freshmen or sophomores in high school should apply ASAP as the applications are due by 09/30/10.  The cost for a long term exchange is $4,200.00.  If you have any questions, contact Mike. 

2.  BOB NOVELL passed around the Polio Pigs for donations to eradicate polio around the world and will do so each week during the rotary year.   He announced that the club hopes to raise at least $1,000 this rotary year.  The club raised $3,000 the last rotary year.  Bob said that there are reported increases in polio around the world especially in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria and India.  Please be generous 

3.  BRAD MILLER announced that the club has raised $800 so far for the Pakistan flood relief effort .  Anyone who wishes to donate should should make their checks payable to “Rotary International”, and we are in line to get a matching grant from RI for this project.

4.  MIKE OJEDA told the members to put the following socials on their calendar:   “Date Night” with dinner at the Outback Steakhouse will be on 09/17/10 from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.   Try out the new bleachers at the football game at Arcadia High School on 10/08/10.  Celebrate Octoberfest with other members at Matt Denny’s on 10/17/10.

5.  ERIC BARTER encouraged all of the members to complete the club’s email survey each week  to rate the club luncheons and programs each week.  He said that only about 30% of the members respond.  He took a hand count as to whether the members prefer a buffet lunch or a sit down, and he estimated that more than half of the members prefer a buffet lunch.

6.  DICK MARTINEZ announced that Ensenada Rotary is having a barbecue “fiesta” on Saturday 09/25/10 including a bull fight.  The cost is $50/person.  If you are interested in attending, contact 

Dick.

7.  STEVE GARRETT discussed his work in updating the technology on the web.  President MATT commended Steve for the countless hours he has spent on the project including posting the club’s records for the past 25 years on the webb.  RI is so impressed that they have asked Steve to make a presentation on this project.

8.  President MATT WEAVER announced that he is planning on going to Thailand for a week commencing 01/01/11 to work on the water project and he has asked members to join him on this expedition.  He said there will not be “hard core work” but “hard core traveling”.

9.  President MATT also announced that his gavel is missing (implying that it was “stolen”) and that he has had to borrow the gavel of Past President IMY DULAKE.  He will give one of his Rotary glasses that he is giving as a speaker’s gift as a reward for the return of his gavel.  I’m sure this is an incentive for the “thief” to return the gavel.

Well we’ve had about two months of the new lunch format. We need to have the silent majority step up and put their proverbial foot down to complain once and for all that “we’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.”

I know Rotary is about more than lunch, actually the “Knife and Forkers” might argue that, but, what has been delivered to us at the tables can hardly be called what we would like.

I have been a member of Rotary longer than I can remember…. I always ask Laura Freedman how long it’s been, (we joined at the same time). Actually, Laura Freedman used to be Laura Christiansen, but that’s another story. Furthermore, we had two (2) Laura Christiansens in the club at the same time but that’s yet another other story. Lunch used to be run by the Velvet Turtle.

At that time, lunch was actually a pleasurable experience, with salads and identifiable meats and deserts. It was a real Hogwarts experience with floating candle chandeliers and plates of great food with butterbear and other unusual delicacies. OK, I’ll take back the butterbear and floating lights, but I stand by the delicacies.

What we are experiencing today is the proverbial “the heat was turned up slowly until the pot boiled, we were in it, and now it’s hotter than hell and it appears there is no way out”. We have cooked ourselves by staying in one location too long. Ja-maken-me-Crazy has increased prices while delivering less variety, quality and imaginative food. Ok, I’ll give them the imaginative food. They give it to us and we need to imagine it’s good or food or both.

They feel like they have us over the barrel because we are to complacent to leave and would rather offer our membership a sub par experience than search for better food, prices and service (not the servers). While sub par works for the PGA, it shouldn’t work for Arcadia Rotary. I would rather bring my own lunch EVERY Friday and not have to pay the excruciating rates, get what I want and solve the dollar problem than be a willing participant in what they are calling lunch these days.

Part of the problem needs to rest on the Board and the President for letting this happen ( I am not saying past or present). I am sure that they feel this uprising is temporary and that we will all fall into line… but now as they are actually understanding the financial situation, do we really need to take this out on the membership. I don’t want to be a lunch zombie headed for a seat at the table of doom waiting with the “If we are seated, they will come” mentality.

In more recent times, long past the Hogwarts experience, we used to stand in line wondering what the Mystery Meat was…. but, we had the option of putting it on our plate or not. When we had a buffet line we had the opportunity to increase salad, or vegetables, or starch or meat. We have no choice now. We get what we get when Ja-Makin-Me-Crazy wants to give it to us. And they have been “Givin it to us”.

Today’s lunch for example, had the expected Mystery Meat – Fish in a tomato sauce with capers. (I am having one of the “capers” on my plate being analyzed), because I have seen things like that before in my daughters rabbit cage. ANYHOW, Fish, rice vegetable medly and rolls. I didn’t think anything could make me wish we had last years fare back, but this helped me get off my duff and complain. Last years mystery is much better than this year’s surprise.

Remember when we had salads, or spinach with all the trimmings, tacos (with all the accoutrements), I’ll even give you the BBQ chicken. Better yet, when was the last time we had beef for a meal or Lamb Shanks. OK forget the lamb Shanks (but I liked them). Those are the good old days. At this point, I will even take the build your own sandwich, actually that’s good, or hamburgers.

When we get asked who wants the buffet  back, we need to boldly put up our hands and be counted. After all, we’re mad as hell and are not going to take this anymore. If the President and the Board don’t listen, to the majority of the club then we need to get LOUDER. We need to see what’s out there. We need to let lunch venues compete for our business. We shop insurance, services, mechanics, doctors, advertising agencies, CPA’s, Lawyers, schools, you name it. We ought to be shopping this as well.

‘In the Immortal words of John Pinet…. “Buffet Closed….. You eat too much, You go home now.

I’m not going home. If you feel the way I do, make noise…. make alota noise.

Flood victims desperately need shelter

The announced goal was to raise $5000 by September 17th to buy 5 Shelterboxes for Pakistan flood victims.  $50 average was asked of each Rotarian, family, and community. This is not just about us. Read about the devastation and watch the video on the Shelterbox website.

For those still unfamiliar about Shelterboxes – they are big containers that can be delivered anywhere in the world with a tent shelter and supplies for 10 people. Read up on them at the Shelterbox website.

With the announcement of our goal,  $650 was immediately pledged or received – Our Rotarians stepped up.  Local Rotary Clubs have been invited to join us.

District and RI news: BUT WAIT – THERE IS MORE  Our District Foundation Chair, Clive Houston-Brown advised me there is District funds available for a matching grant. RI has announced the Rotary Pakistan Flooding Fund it will fast track matching grants for Pakistan relief.  A matching grant will make the $5000 grow to $17,000.

A request has been made on August 31st to District 5272 (Pakistan and Afghanistan) for a local club to be the co-sponsor of the matching grant project.  We await a response.

Anyone interested in learning about matching grants and helping with the project should contact Brad Miller, Eric Barter or Sho Tay.

We have utilized a set of applications from Google over the last year to put a calendar and photos on our www.arcadiarotary.org website. Unfortunately we ran afoul of their terms of service by having several people using a single user name and password.  We have now kissed and made up with the nice kids at Google. During the discussions with those young folks at Google they offered us the opportunity to try some of their new services; I guess they think if a bunch of Rotarians can do it anyone can.

To gain their forgiveness for our transgressions we had to agree to have one user name and password for each person using their service. It turns out this process, though time consuming, allows us a lot of opportunities to do new things.The really big new deal is that with everyone having an email address ending with @arcadiarotary.org we will have the opportunity to share information within our club that others will not be able to see. There will be a lot of new stuff for our members over the next few months.

Another stellar program was presented Friday when,  Kristen Helsel, V.P., EVSolutions, discussed the latest news from AeroVironment, Inc.  Headquartered on Huntington drive in Monrovia, the company develops and produces unmanned aircraft systems and efficient electric energy technologies such as electric vehicle refueling stations.  AeroVironment has partnered with Nissan Motors to develop a way for customers who purchase a new electric vehicle called the Leaf, to refuel (charge) at home.  It requires a 240V direct connection called a refueling station, but once installed it can recharge the new Leaf in eight hours allowing the owner to drive up to 100 miles on a full charge.  Since the average daily commute is 40 miles, that insures drivers will get to and from their destinations with ease.  Kristen is responsible for electric vehicle efficient energy systems and says that this type of refueling is now standardized in the U.S., and we should see recharging stations rapidly growing all over the country.  AeroVironment is no stranger to electric vehicles.  In 1989, General Motors asked them to help develop the first modern electric vehicle, which was introduced in 1996 called the EV-1.  The Toyota Prius was next in 1997, the rest is history; our quest for independence from oil had begun. 

Today Hybrid vehicles are commonplace and several automakers will launch plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in the next few years, most needing a refueling station at home, work, malls, municipal centers, airports, etc.  AeroVironment has developed what they call “fast charging” stations to be used in public places like rest stops and along well-traveled public highways.  These “quick-charge” stations provide refueling to the vehicle in as little as twenty-six minutes.  A recent L.A. Times article noted that 100 refueling stations are under construction in seven cities in South Carolina because of a state grant, just in time for the rollout of the Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt. 

 Did you know?  I’ll bet you didn’t! AeroVironment makes an unmanned aircraft, handheld and launched by a single soldier in the field, which can fly over the next mountain ridge or terrain with a camera on board.  It is called the Puma AE (All Environment) and is designed for land and maritime operations.  It is described as a lightweight digitally stabilized, gimbaled payload, which allows the operator to keep eyes on the target.  The aircraft carries both electro-optical and infrared cameras on board and has a communication range of 15 km and a maximum flight time of two hours.  It was developed for both military and civilian use.  Wow!  High Tech at its best.

Pat Dolphin

Brad Miller, Eric Barter, and President Matt Weaver spoke to the club about fund raising to provide Shelter Boxes to those in Pakistan suffering from the recent floods. Please see Brad Miller’s article on the Shelter Box for more information on the product. Please be sure to note: Pakistan Shelter Box in the memo section of your donation check.

Mike Ojeda introduced two more social gatherings for the club:

• Friday, September 17, 5:00 PM onward: Date Night at Outback Steakhouse patio.
• Friday, October 15, 5:00 PM onward: Oktoberfest at Matt Denny’s

Bob Harbicht noted that one Monday in October will be Monday night football at Paul Kalemkiarian’s

Matt Weaver welcomes back Dick Martinez.

Richard Schulhof introduces the jazz festival this weekend at the LA County Arboretum

Shelterbox contents

THE PROBLEM: Twelve million have been displaced by floods that ravaged Pakistan.

If that happened here it would be the equivalent of L.A., the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys… having to leave, mostly on foot, with nothing but the clothes on our backs.  Shelterboxes provide shelter, clean water, and food for 10 people for three weeks, and shelter for longer. Tents last up to a year.

We are blessed to live here – and we think its time to help those in Pakistan.

THE CHALLENGE: We would like our members to ask of themselves, neighbors, friends, family, co-workers and others “Would you like to help shelter the twelve million displaced by floods in Pakistan?” Most will say yes.   We are asking members to collect $10 or more at a time, for an average of $50 per member which will buy 5 shelter boxes that will house 50 people… or more if we can do more.

A BENEFIT: Making a difference, Service Above Self , giving back, tzedakah.  No matter what you call it, its part of the bigger global picture of helping others less fortunate, Rotarians at work.

ANOTHER BENEFIT: Gifts are tax deductible.  Checks should be made out to Arcadia Rotary Foundation. Gifts over $250 will get a letter of acknowledgement for tax purposes from the Foundation.

CONCLUSION: Our project will end at the meeting of September 17, 2010.

The Finemasters are working hard to make sure recognitions are had by all.

Matt Weaver was recognized for his new grandson Maverick, 7 pounds 11 ounces born at 11:30pm Saturday, just after the District Governors social.  For his great accomplishment, Matt was fined $150.

Eric Barter has a new item in his life, a Jaguar.  He wanted to drive his last car off a cliff, it had 220,000 miles on it, instead he gave it to his sister.   Eric was fined $100 for his new used Jaguar.

Bob Novell was asked to explain his lack of eyelashes.  He explained that during the District Governors barbecue on Saturday he turned on the gas to the barbecue and then went to get a match, the match completed the ignition process with great results.  He was thankful for wearing glasses to protect his eyes.  He was fined $50 and said he is glad to be with us now.

Jim Rider was recognized for his new partner.  A new pacemaker was implanted on his right side.  The old ticker had served its’ time.  He was fined $50.  He said he would add it to his hospital bills.

Don Chang has just returned from a cruise to Spain and Portugal for two weeks, that was worth $25 per country for a fine of $50.

Rob Post was recognized for his poster of a tri-chamber mixer at his business Post Alarm in Arcadia, on August 19^th.  $60 was the fine.

Andrea “Andy” Bundesmann was asked to participate in “60 Seconds to Recognition” she was given a bucket and a box full of Kleenex, she had to empty the box in 60 seconds using just one hand.  Jack Pan was the timer.  She performed with precision to complete the task with 8 seconds to spare to forgo a fine.  Good job Andy and good sport.

Jack Pan will have two changes in his life.  First, he is getting married sometime in October/November in Virginia, and Second, he is moving to Washington DC to work for “The Department of State”.  He has made his best friends in Rotary both here and in Alhambra.  He will be assigned to foreign countries for two years at a time.  He was fined $50.

David McMonigle announced that we are bringing back the Knife & Fork Award.  It is an honor one can qualify for by only attending the Luncheon each week with no other Rotary activity.  David was one of the first recipients.  He is very proud to have his name on the plaque.  There may even be a T Shirt for recognition.  Perhaps the T Shirt could be  washed and passed on each.  More info to come.

Jack McRae, when called upon for recognition, offered his new energy investment business as a fining opportunity for the Finemasters.  Happy as they were for the volunteered information, the opportunity they had in mind was his recent stay at the Boy Scout Camp Cherry Valley.  His efforts to avoid the fine by describing how hard he had worked were unsuccessful and he was fined $75 for both his business and his “hard” work with the Boy Scouts.

 What, the Rotarians were asked, do Bruce McCallum and Gerard Tamparong have in common?  Digging deep into their archives, the Finemasters had uncovered an old picture of Bruce and Gerard participating in a Boy Scout golf tournament.  The exact year was not disclosed, but Bruce and Gerard were fined $50 each.

 If you want all the details of Frank Hall’s recent trip to and through the Panama Canal, check out his travel blog at http://www.frankhall.com/travelogues.shtml.  The Finemasters recognized his travels and writing, but Frank was hurt that his recent “significant” birthday was bypassed.  Upon being fined $50, he correctly pointed out that they could fine as they liked; as Treasurer, he has the last laugh.

 Rosie Mares is moving her office to Monrovia next week.  Although moving is expensive, she was still recognized for $50 to celebrate the occasion.

 Icebreakers in attendance were invited to participate as a group to identify current Rotarians from old photos that the Finemasters dug up from the depths of Arcadia Rotary archives.  The Icebreakers did an outstanding job of correctly identifying all the more youthful visages of their friends and avoided any fines.  (They may have been unofficially aided by blue badgers at their various tables, but nobody’s talking …)  Participating were:  Rob Post, Saul Larner, Rosie Mares, Chiang Chiao, Mark Kwalaf, Rob Granger, Shari Pica, Roger Grant and Dave Burke.

THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY

Liz Thompson from Arcadia and an eight-year docent for the Huntington Library in San Marino presented an interesting and excellent program on Henry and Arabella Huntington. The flair of the Huntington’s background caught us all and enjoyed hearing about this illustrious and wealthy family.

Henry E was born in Oneonta, NY in 1850 and was the middle child of seven children.  He was an avid reader and his first job netted him $8.50.  At 20 years of age he wanted to become independent and he moved to New York in 1872 to work for his uncle Colis P. Huntington. 

Colis became Henry’s mentor and eventually having learned the railroad business and the other financial interests, Colis, one of the owners of Central Pacific Railroad made Henry the manager of his affairs.  This led him west to San Francisco; then, in 1902, he moved his business operations to Los Angeles.

Arabella Huntington was born in1850 in Richmond, VA.  She had married and had a son Archer.  When she married Colis in 1886 he adopted her son.  An interesting side fact is that the Tiffany’s store in New York has a plaque on the building stating that Arabella Huntington had once lived there.  Colis died in 1900 and left 1/3 of his estate to Henry and 2/3’s to Arabella.  Thirteen years later she married Henry Huntington and that was somewhat a scandal as she was his aunt by marriage.  Arabella was known as the richest woman in the world.

Henry always felt that Los Angeles would be a major city and that someone would or should develop Southern California.  He thought whoever did this would certainly one day be a very wealthy person.  He did not know at the time that it would be him!

In his travels he stayed in San Marino.  At that time the only business in the area was
The San Gabriel Winery.

He loved Southern California.

Henry bought right next door to George Patton and built Rancho San Marino.  He and Arabella called it their “ranch.”  Actually from that point on you could say he created Southern California.  His real estate holdings were practically all Southern California.  His holdings were as far eastc as San Bernardino, south to the ocean and west to Los Angeles.

He had to bring people and business to the area to develop the future cities.  He knew the
railroad business so he developed railroads to the major areas of his holdings.  He founded Pacific Electric, and the Red Car Line.  Lido Isle today, was once called Huntington Isle.  There is Huntington Beach, Huntington Drive right here in Arcadia, and Huntington Hospital.  He bought the Wentworth Hotel which was adjacent to “The Ranch” and it became The Huntington Hotel, and then The Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel and since 2007 it is The Langham Huntington Hotel located really in Pasadena.

He also developed gas lines and brought gas into the area.  He started Edison Electric.  On the L.A. Times Newspaper building his name is on a plaque, as he owned that building.  There is so much more to his story and the making of Southern California 

In 1924 he and Arabella established a trust to open to the public in 1928 the Library and Mansion and the many gardens that they had created together.  They wanted the public to come and enjoy the many wonderful collections of art and books and the pavilions of gardens that they had established.

Arabella died In New York in 1924 and Henry died in 1927 in San Marino.

The Huntington today is a non-profit organization.  Over 500,000 thousand visitors per year come to enjoy the beautiful gardens and to view the many original pieces of art and book collections.  On site there is a cafeteria and having tea in the Rose Garden Tea Room has been a delight for many.

The first Thursday of every month is free admission.  You must call for a reservation.

Geoff Tookey requested that we fill out and get him the forms with prospective new members’ names, etc. We’re in the new fiscal year and it’s time to welcome  new energetic people. Remember, there will be a special dinner/lunch to recognize those of you who successfully encourage new members into the club.

President Matt announced the upcoming District Assembly for PR and Training re: membership. Place and time: Etiwanda Gardens  on September 11, 2010. More will be announced soon.

We will be dark next friday, August 20, 2010. Insead,  we will meet that evening at the Monrovia Doubletree Hotel for a Club Assembly. We will have a facillitator present  to further educate us in the realm of different areas of Club Service.

                   Time:  Coctails – 5:00 PM

                                 Dinner – 6:00 PM

                  Cost: members – $10.00

                              spouse/significant others: $25.00

The Red Badgers were reminded that they will be meeting for dinner and drinks, at 6:30 and 8:00 PM respectively at Matt Denny’s on Huntington on tuesday the 17 th of August. Cost will be a  $25 contibution.

Dave Didier reminded us to get our donations to him, and the money will be passed on to the Foundation.   No need to send it to Rotary International.

We had only one announcement today. Dave Didier, the new head of the Rotary Foundation, requested any information that members of the club may have from 2000 to the present. He would like to explain the foundation and what it does but needs all the background information he can get. If you were involved in the foundation at any time from 2000 forward, please give Dave a call and pass along any pertinent information you may have.

(Dave Totten)

Rob Post began his craft talk by introducing his family who were all present.  This included his wife Angie, his parents, his sister Gina (also a Rotarian, but relocated to Costa Mesa), and the latter’s two sons (Dillon, now a toddler, and baby Reese).  Rob also provided slides to illustrate his talk

Rob grew up under the protective surveillance of his older sister Gina.  Whenever anyone in Gina’s presence asked Rob a question, she would relieve him of the need to dredge up an answer.  Today, however was an exception, despite an occasional comment from Gina.

Rob was born on February 23, 1979 in Pasadena at Huntington Hospital.  He began life in Temple City and Monrovia.  However, when he reached the 5th Grade, the family moved to Big Bear where he enjoyed fishing, hiking, and riding horses (such as “Bubbles” and “Little Bit of Heaven”).  Later the family moved to Temecula where Rob enjoyed little league baseball, football, track, and wrestling.  He also graduated from high school.

When the time came to enter college, Rob applied to only one – U.S.C.  He went on to graduate with a B.S. in Accounting.

The following five years were spent in Orange County as a member of the PriceWaterhouseCoopers firm.  There Rob audited companies dealing with consumer and industrial products and services, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, etc.  This gave him opportunities to travel to places such as Palm Springs and Tijuana (where he participated in a carnival).  His last audit client was Disneyland.

During this time, Rob became the owner of his pet dogs “Sophie” and “Tank.”

Rob’s dad had a rule that a family member should not join the family business until after at least three years of working elsewhere. In Rob’s case, he insisted that Rob also first get his CPA license.  Rob waited five years (with 14-hour days) before joining Post Alarms, having acquired his CPA license along the way.

Through eHarmony.com, Rob met his lovely wife Angie who also enjoys the great outdoors.  Rob proposed to Angie at the waterfall in Monrovia Canyon.  They were wed less than two years later on September 8, 2007, honeymooning in Tahiti.

Rob then turned to hobbies and travel.  Hobbies include vegetable gardening, elk hunting, sailing (e.g., to Catalina on his parents’ 45 foot sailboat), horseback riding (e.g., in Monrovia Canyon and Colorado).  Travel includes backpacking, in such areas as Europe right after college with his sister Gina (where he purchased lederhosen for use in Octoberfests and Halloween), and Costa Rica.

Through a mission of the Saddleback Church in Orange County, Rob also visited orphanages of abused children in the Ukraine.  Other destinations include Mexico, Tahiti (where he honeymooned with his wife Angie), New Zealand (with Brad Miller’s Rotary group), and Salida, Colorado (where the family has a cabin).  In Colorado they indulge in fishing, panning for gold, shooting, white-water rafting, and horseback riding.

The family business was started in 1956 by Rob’s grandfather Sam Post.  At that time it was a guard company and also a private detective agency.  In the 1970s, Rob’s father and grandfather started the alarm side of the company. Today the company has over 130 employees and monitors. The business includes Rob’s parents, his sister Gina and her husband, his wife Angie’s sister and brother-in-law, as well as employees and (in many cases) the employee’s family members.  Gina heads the Costa Mesa branch of the company.  As part of its community involvement, in a few weeks the family will be doing a Tri-Chamber Mixer for Arcadia, Monrovia, and Duarte.