Senior Craft Talk by Jim Rider

First and foremost Jim wanted to explain ‘Rider Math”.  He explain to all of us Rotarians, it is like 2+2=3 or maybe 2+2=5.  It just sort of depends on whom you are talking to.

Dick Martinez was his neighbor for many years, until Jim and Sandy sold their home and moved to Pasadena.  Dick and Katy are their nearest and dearest of friends.  When Jim became Rotary President, the four of them were having a conversation at the convention.  It seems that Dick and Katy were going home, as Katy did not have a good dress for the evening dinner.  Jim said “Dick, go buy Katy a dress” and then it became she did not have shoes, and again Jim said “Dick, buy her some shoes” and then Katy remarked, “I don’t have a purse”.  The conversation ended and Dick and Katy did eventually go home.

The next meeting, now this is where “Rider Math” comes into play, and it has been a topic of many meetings over the years, Jim makes Dick stand up to fine him for this event and relates to the club this whole episode.  Jim ends by saying, “now this whole outfit might have cost you $5000 and because you didn’t buy Katy anything I am going to fine you 10% which will be $50.  The club was in an uproar of laughter.  Jim, being a CPA this is almost unforgivable and still remains that Jim has to always tell the club how much something is according to “Rider Math”.

When Jim was president he proclaimed that the vanilla ice cream served at least once a month should have lots of chocolate syrup.  From that point on, a large bottle appeared on each table when the ice cream was served.

Demotion for the president is really the club’s revenge and the team that puts on the skit can do (or up to the time of Jim’s demotion) horrible, awful things.  The group put Jim up on a stage, sat him down, put a plastic thing around him…. but did not cover all of his clothes and then they starting pouring chocolate syrup over him…all over him.  And, then to top it off, they put a bowl of whip cream on his head with more syrup and pronounced that he was a vanilla ice cream sundae with whip cream on top.

Jim said that this demotion was the lowest bar in demotions.  The hotel staff let him used a room for free to clean up and shower, etc.  When he went back to the desk to give them the key they said it was $7.50.  Jim says, “Well, they told me it was free”.  The desk staff said it was but your son played games and charged up the $7.50.

Rotary – What does it mean?

Jim explained that there is a point in time you become a Rotarian.  His point in time was when he was International Director and he planned the Ensenada work trip.  Larry and Patti Webber worked 12 hours straight fixing teeth.  Glasses were fitted, 21 fruit trees were planted.  Jim said, as he looked at everyone doing something that needed to be done, “This is what Rotary is all about”.  He received a heart pin 14 years ago for this work and today he showed everyone this pin.  Jim says this meant more to him than his president’s pin.

That’s what this club is about “Life Changing”  1999-2000 was his year as president.

Personal Side of Jim

He and Sandy met in 6th grade.  They started dating when they were sophomores in college.  They married December 30th, almost 33 years ago.  Their three children are

Megan, who is 27 and in her 4th year at Interior Design EMT.  Michael age 23 is studying to become a Fire Captain while working at Rio Hondo and doing well in his tests.  Eric, age 22 goes to Oregon State and is going for a career in Financial Planning.

More serious side of Jim

Jim has had heart problems and Tom Miles; his doctor has seen him through each step and trial.  Jim said that recently he had a staph infection and ended up in the hospital.  He had a pick line going up his arm and to his heart and another tube going out his other arm.

The best thing about this whole thing he said “is the medication that they give you.”

Last Friday, he got from the doctor the best report he has had in five years.