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  Program Chairs:
  Dwight Heikkila & Ed Jackson

August 2, 2012  

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August 9
Manny Pacheco
“Forgotten Hollywood”

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August 16
John Maceri
“Inside Homelessness”

This Week...

August 9
Manny Pacheco
“Forgotten Hollywood”

Upcoming...

August 16
John Maceri
“Inside Homelessness”
**Community Service Committee Meeting immediately following

August 23
Tore Knos, PhD
“Update from Sudan”

September 9
District Picnic
Redondo Beach, Seaside Lagoon


There was a lot of excitement and noise before the meeting today, as Tommy Hawkins, famous Notre Dame and Laker basketball star pick-and-rolled around the room shaking hands.  Though he’s way past Medicare, he’s still very quick for a big guy and still rebounds better than most poets.

PP Ron Lyster got us started smartly with the flag salute and Aly Shoji provided the invocation.  PP Edwin Gauld stepped up to lead us in “God Bless America,” showing us he’s still got the pipes. 

Pres Dwight’s announcement of the District Picnic to be held September 9 at the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach elicited the usual amount of unabashed enthusiasm from the crowd.  A few members are planning to attend the annual Literacy Breakfast at Lawry’s on August 10—at least those who can read.

PP Steve Day (Foundation Chair) received a similar non-response regarding Dodger’s Game Night for Polio Plus on September 15, though he pumped the evening event mightily.  Seems like a chance to get on the infield is worth a $10 lottery ticket, so maybe we can get a couple of cars going.

But all eyes were on Tommy, so Pres Dwight hustled up an intro and gave him the mike.  It turns out that Tommy, who lives in Malibu, is involved with many groups and activities at UCLA and throughout LA  and probably qualifies as a Bruin even though he was a two-year All-American for Notre Dame.  He’s certainly qualified as a story teller as he began telling us about his “glory days “ as a Laker.  After starring in the NCAA tournament for Notre Dame (ND’s first African-American star player) and feeling like the “King of New York,”  his dismal arrival in Los Angeles was on a late night Greyhound.  The Lakers had low visibility in Dodger Town (what’s a Laker?)  and had to send their players out on buses with loudspeakers to drum up attendance.  When Tommy joined the other centers for practice, the coach quickly told him he would now be a forward-a position he had never played.

Add to this the Boston Celtic domination of the Sixties, Tommy had a great opportunity to develop humility with the Lakers.  Once his playing career was over, he was hired by the Dodgers, where humility was in short supply.  He developed a fierce competition (and friendship) with Tommy Lasorda over 18 years.  When Hawkins  was recognized as Notre Dame Alumnus of the Year in ’99, he left the beautiful trophy on LaSorda’s desk when he was out with a note saying “Top this!”  The next day, Hawkins found his trophy, face down, back on his own desk with a magnificent Commendation from the Pope (to Lasorda) placed on top!

Not content with the front office and broadcasting activities, Tommy has moved on to completing a beautiful “coffee table” book of his own poetry and some exquisite art—“Life’s Reflections-Poetry for the People.”  A lot of members were happy to have him sign their new books and happy to hear his stories.  He’s a very talented and likeable man who saw a lot of sports history unfold.

—YOE Dwight Heikkila

  1. ROTARY DISTRICT 5280 LEADERSHIP 2012-13
    Westwood Village
    Mailing address:
    P.O. Box 24114, Los Angeles, CA 90024-0114

    Meets: Thursday, 12:30 PM, UCLA Faculty Center
    480 Charles Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095

    Club President - Dwight Heikkila
    (310) 820-6090
    dwightah@hotmail.com

    President Elect
    Mark Rogo
    (213)280-6415
    mark@markrogo.com

    Vice-President/Club Service
    Leah Vriesman
    (310) 844-4224
    ljvriesman@excelresearch.org

    Secretary – Aly Shoji
    (310) 301-3014
    ashoji@support.ucla.edu

    Treasurer - Don Nelson
    (310) 472-9488
    dncpa@adelphia.net

    Past President - Ed Jackson
    (800) 214-3810
    bossman1983@gmail.com

    Community Service - John Heidt
    (310) 474-0938
    jheidt@heidttores.com

    International Service
    Marsha Hunt
    (310) 500-9828
    marshahuntinc@msn.com

    Vocational Service
    Richard Thompson
    (310) 408-2822
    richardfthompson@gmail.com

    New Generations Service
    Jim Crane
    (310) 733-6783
    jamesecrane@sbcglobal.net

    Rotary Foundation Chair
    Steve Day
    (310) 670-5013
    sday@hcohn.com

    Publicity/Public Relations
    Mike Newman
    (310) 208-7723
    mnewman@dhwnlaw.com

    Membership - Colby Smith
    (310) 948-9198
    colby.smith.dds@gmail.com

    Executive Secretary
    Ernie Wolfe
    (310) 277-3910
    erniehisself@aol.com

    WVRC Auxiliary

    Eloise Siskel
    (310) 472-2509
    eloisewee@aol.com

    Sook Heikkila
    (310) 820-6090

    ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
    PRESIDENT:
    Sakuji Tanaka

    DISTRICT 5280 GOVERNOR:
    Lew Bertrand


NEARBY MAKEUP SITES: Monday, Beverly Hills: BH Hotel, 9641 Sunset / Tuesday, Inglewood: Hollywood Park Casino, 3883 W. Century Blvd, Inglewood / Wednesday, Century City: Hyatt Regency Century City, in the Breeze Cafe, Culver City: Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd, CC, or  Wilshire: The Ebell, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd, LA / Friday, Santa Monica: Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Dr, Pacific Palisades
For information about on-line makeups,
www.recswusa.org