The Desertarian
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The Desertarian DECEMBER 3RD, 2008 OFFICERS & SCRIBE: DAVID CUTTER DIRECTORS PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE BRILL 2008– 2009 Jacque Wachs— President Belgian Hugs Greeting us today were Milt of Allegiance. Lea a small smattering of Ray Corvan, President Levinson and Ray Corvan. Berghmans, in between hugs applause. Elect & Program Chair all around, helped us recite Bob Elsner, Immediate the Three Way Test Past President (photogenic pause) of the Jacque introduced our lone Milt Levinson, Secretary Four Things We Think, Say visitor, returning Sojourner, Janie Bolitho, Treasurer, and Do. Club Service Roger Mickalko. It is great to Board of Directors see you again, Roger! Bob Allan Mike Brill Barry Freet Bob Jones introduced his Helene Kalfuss guest, Stephen Lerman, Lars Hansen Sylvia Zarasua special for the final time. President Jacque Wachs Jerry Haugh again introduced Kevin Nay opened our meeting by asking Mark Stanley his wife and chauffeur, Sherry Art Snow to lead the Pledge Haugh, as not special. Ex Officio Jim Dowler Bob Barrett offered a fine DESERTARIAN STAFF Rotary invocation. Mark Stanley Janet Miller David Cutter Ken Sherman The announcement of no Kevin Nay song today was greeted with Devorah Kalani Photographer Mike Brill Our Meeting December 3rd 2008 WRONG! Did you walk Helene Kalfuss brought a showing us the many ways to home, Jerry? special guest, Amanda Barrett makeup Rotary meetings. from California Patios and Devorah Kalani introduced Francis Flynn. It was great to have Bud Wein join us, courtesy of Jim Dowler. Frank Peabody and Lars Hansen played out a fun skit PAGE 2 Visitors and Announcements The show then transitioned beautifully 6 years: JJ Bronstein, Ed Ellis, Bob Elsner into recognition of an outstanding group 8 years: Frank Peabody 13 years: Ken Sherman 14 years: Helene Kalfuss 15 years: Dick Hostrop 17 years: Mike Brill 21 years: George Saulnier (in absentia) AND 37 YEARS! -- Milt Levinson of members with perfect attendance. They are: All received a certificate suitable for framing. 1 year: Janie Bolitho, Jerry Moss, Bob Allan 2 years: Kevin Nay, Marv Goldberg, Ray Corvan 3 years: Jacque Wachs, Barbara Roberts, Jerry Haugh (thanks to Sherry) and the Crosses, Christine and Stewart. 4 years: John Glenn, Bob Barrett Visit the new website at Bob Allan had the pleasure of presenting www.therotaryclubofpalmsprings.org a Paul Harris Fellow pin to Ed Ellis—Ed’s Advertise on seventh! the Palm Ray Corvan reminded us that our last meeting of the calendar year, December Springs 17th, will showcase our now Annual Rotary web Holiday Auction with, hopefully, fewer but more desirable items. site—only $100.00 per Debbie Morgan was presented as Palm Springs Rotarian of the Month in year. recognition of her many contributions to Reach out and the club, especially as a relatively new member. (Help Debbie and Lars Hansen touch the world! serve a catered meal at the Braille Institute Holiday Lunch on December 19. For more information, call Debbie or Lars.) THE DESERTARIAN DECEMBER 3RD, 2008 PAGE 3 The Dowler Moment Jim Dowler had two Friday, December 12th from servers. If you missed this announcements. First, he 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Second, he week, you will have another encouraged us to attend Don noted that the deadline for chance on December 10th. Aikens’ retirement celebration grant requests to the Club from the Palm Springs USD at Foundation Board must be the O’Donnell Golf Course on submitted by January 15th. He Ray again asked us to has only one request at this participate in the holiday social time so your odds are good if you meet the deadline with a deserving need. Eco Fact Ray Corvan passed around an 70% of envelope for a staff tip to our well-deserving luncheon the poor people Salvation Army & Windsor Court in the hour at Windsor Court in Palm Jacque asked us to save Sunday, again for Rotarians to become Springs on Tuesday, December February 8 for Bowling for Salvation Army Bell Ringers to world 16th. A signup sheet was Polio, a joint fund-raiser with work two-hour shifts from passed and if you have wish list the Sunup Club at Morongo items, please bring them to the Lanes. More details will follow. are next meeting or otherwise get them to Ray. Finally, David Cutter (another female awful photo, clearly the photographer’s fault) asked Al “Crazy Legs” Carmichael. 12:00 – 6:00 on Saturday, Ray Corvan introduced our speaker, Al “Crazy Legs” December 13 at the (TBD) Carmichael. Al was a star running back at USC and Ralph’s in Palm Springs. He played nine seasons in the professional ranks. He started only needs three more by reminding us that a rivalry game such as Saturday’s volunteers. Please help! match up between UCLA and USC always starts on level ground, regardless of how heavily one or the other is favored. DECEMBER 3RD, 2008 PAGE 4 Al Carmichael at the Trojans Al joined the Marines out of for a touchdown unscathed. high school and tried out for Feeling it was a fluke; the coach the El Toro Marine Base team admonished his regulars to in 1947. Since he had played smother him on a second try. but one year in high school and That runback had the same had no résumé, the coaches result and Al made the 35-man discouraged him from applying. team as the 35th player. He didn’t touch the football became a star and later tried during the first day of tryouts out for the Los Angeles Rams and was cut the second day, As practices continued, Al professional team. After some again without handling the made his way to the second time, the coach took him aside ODDFACT pigskin. Undaunted, he insisted string but the starter broke his and gave him what turned out that he be given just one leg early in the season and Al to be great advice—“You may chance. The coach reluctantly became the number one make the team, but you won’t Alcohol let him run back a practice kick- running back. He quickly play given the veterans ahead of off, which he promptly returned you. Go get a college degree.” beverages have all More Trojanville 13 minerals Al turned down offers from the However, in Al’s senior season, Naval Academy and LSU, he scored not only the winning necessary settling at USC. touchdown against the Bruins but repeated the feat in the During his first season in 1953 Rose Bowl as the for human Trojanville, the team did not do Southern Cal defeated well. The head coach was fired life. and replaced with Jess Hill, who Wisconsin 7-0. turned around both morale and the season’s final game...that Al went on to play nine years in results. The next season, SC wrecks any SC fan’s year. the pros as a first round draft went 7-3 but lost to UCLA in pick with the Green Bay Newlyweds. Packers and played two years with the new bride insisted that they wed a day before his then with the Broncos and holds the November 10 birthday because she certainly was not Denver distinction of scoring the AFL’s going to marry an 80-year-old man! Thanks, Al, for some Broncos of very first touchdown. great reminiscences. the brand new American Prompted by a question from Football his barber, Al told us he was a League in widower until last month. In 1960. Al agreeing to get married, his DECEMBER 3RD, 2008 PAGE 5 USC Related Fines behind Trojan Rodney Peete went to powder blue and gold in 1949. (The colors and winner OK Sooner Barry are now “True Blue” and gold; PMS “UCLA Blue” and Sanders. PMS 1235, coated or PMS 122, uncoated. Note that Jacque Wachs couldn’t the Trojans don’t have their own PMS.) remember the UCLA beat USC Mike Sellin learned a costly lesson that the Bruins left 8 times in the 1990s and Milt the Los Angeles Coliseum for the Rose Bowl in 1982 Levinson didn’t know that and Kevin Nay discovered that Jackie Robinson was Past President Bob “Trojan” UCLA’s only Heisman winner UCLA’s only four-sport varsity athlete. Elsner collected “donations” as was Gary Beban in 1967. Barbara Roberts paid $10 to learn that the largest well as doled out silver dollars Frank Peabody was stumped on private employer in Los Angeles is the University of with a Bruins/Trojans theme. the “official” UCLA colors: Southern California and Barry Freet couldn’t hit the Ray Corvan knew that Bruin Navy Blue and Gold and Mike “number of times in the Rose Bowl” softball delivered Troy Aikman finished third for Brill couldn’t help with the by Trojan Bob—UCLA 12, USC 32. the 1988 Heisman Trophy information that Red Sanders Happy Dollars and Happy Elsner Finally, Jim Dowler knew what Trojans! (OK, who slipped in Mike Brill was delighted that his son and the following people have in Charles Manson?) girlfriend joined Carol and him for common: Ron Howard, Tom Thanksgiving (girlfriend belongs to son, Seaver, Mark McGuire, Randy Happy Dollars not Mike). He was also happy that his “Big Unit” Johnson, Jerry Buss, son informed him that he would not be George Lucas, Jack Warner, part of current layoffs at the .pdf Corp. Charles Manson, Judge Joe Wapner, Gen. Norman Kevin Nay has a new broker-dealer, Schwartzkopf, John Ritter, Tom which, in his profession, is a big deal. Selleck, Cybill Shepherd and Christine Cross wanted to John Wayne—they were all acknowledge how neat the photo area Opportunity Drawing of our outstanding club website that he especially enjoys the To close the meeting, Crazy Legs drew the winning ticket is.