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| Program Chair: Sally Brant | May 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||
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This Week...
June 6
Don Fleischman, Jet Propulsion
Laboratory
"Modern Science"
Upcoming...
June 13
John Morris, Head Deputy
"What's Going on in the DA's Office?"
June 20
Linda Mehr, Director of the Research Library
"Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science" June 27 Michael & Jordan Wacht, Neutrino, Inc. "The Basic Operations of Computers" |
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June 6
Don Fleischman
"Modern Science" |
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Mark Block shared that he is actually using an invocation from PP Jim Collins today, so thank you Jim and Mark! ;) No visiting Rotarians today. However, Marilyn Gallop from John Mirisch's (Beverly Hills Mayor) office attended in his absence in addition to Carol Collins and special guests Pam Sullivan, and Adam Porter. Also, Sherry Dewayne from Wells Fargo and Karen Ayers, our soon to be President, Mark Rogo's right hand! Announcements:
Today's Merchant Minute was brought to us by the Geffen Playhouse marketing director, Joseph Yoshitomi. The building was originally constructed in 1929. In 1995, it was named the Geffen. The playhouse is UCLA affiliated, educating 23,000 students in various art mediums in addition to shows. There are actually two stages and he welcomed us all to the upcoming seasons. PP Jim Collins, our 60-YEAR MEMBER, shared with some of the newer members his history or a brief senior craft talk. =) In 1950 he graduated from UCLA in Civil Engineering - GO BRUINS! For the next two years he built catholic churches from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. On July 15, 1950 he was lucky enough to marry lovely Carol. And so it happened in the summer of 1952 his father in-law asked him to re-engineer a building at Centinela and Sepulveda. While there, he met Vern who as the story goes took Jim for a drive to see this hamburger stand Dick & Reese McDonald had opened. It was an open-air stand, selling hamburgers for 15 cents? Cheeseburgers for 19 cents? Take-out was unheard of then, so Jim and FIL returned and changed plans and opened their own hamburger stand. To give us some perspective and success of take-out hamburgers, McDonalds started with that one stand and today have 35,000 stores around the world. In 1960, Mr.s Burke talked Jim into including chicken with his hamburgers so he flew to Louisville, Kentucky. The Colonel himself picked him up and personally trained him and Jim went on to help build out and train 224 KFC's from 1962 to 1969 from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. In 1967 Collins Foods International (he mentioned he's not sure why they added International originally when they were only in the US - b/c you were visionary even THEN, Jim!) took over Sizzler with two fraternity brothers and went public in 1968. Went international in Australia and the shares went from $18 to $36 in 18 months! In 1991 Jim got into an argument with PepsiCo and traded or sold his shares tax-free, stock for stock. Today other projects he is involved with include helping Frank Baxter with charter schools. Thanks, Jim, for being so dedicated to Rotary and sharing some of your great stories! PDG Bill Goodwyn introduced our former member, Sherry Dewayne: SHERRY DEWANE WAS BORN IN MANATAWOCK, WI. GRADUATED CUM LAUDE FROM AZ STATE UNIVERSITY AND IS A WEALTH ADVISOR WITH WELLS FARGO PRIVATE BANK IN BEVERLY HILLS. SHE HAS MANY YEARS OF IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCE ADVISING INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREAS OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, COMPLEX PRIVATE BANKING, BROKERAGE, TRUST, AND PLANNING SOLUTIONS. SHE IS A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER AND DRAWS UPON THAT PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION TO HELP MANY OF HER CLIENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. SHE HAS SHARED WITH ME THAT A FEW OF HER MOST UNUSUAL CHALLENGES INVOLVED FINANCING AN ISLAND IN THE CARIBBEAN AND CONFERRING WITH AN ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY AND AGENT WHILE THEY WERE FLYING TO THE BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL REGARDING A GERMAN TAX CREDIT. SHERRY HAS THE UNIQUE DISTINCTION OF BEING A ROTARIAN ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, TWO OF WHICH AS A MEMBER OF OUR OWN WESTWOOD VILLAGE ROTARY CLUB. IT WAS NECESSARY TO RESIGN EACH MEMBERSHIP BECAUSE OF PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENTS. I'M HOPING WE CAN RECRUIT HER FOR HER FOURTH AND RECORD-BREAKING MEMBERSHIP WITH US IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SHERRY IS GOING TO SHARE WITH US WITH A PROFESSIONAL INSIDERS EXPERIENCE ABOUT FRAUD, FORGERY, AND OTHER FUNNY BUSINESS. Top 10 things you can do to prevent identity theft and/or fraud 1. Make sure your incoming and outgoing mail is secure and locked, especially on west side in nice neighborhoods, there is enough information on your bills, pre-approved credit cards etc. Lock up your mailboxes! 2. Use online bill pay -the Internet is actually safer than a hard copy check. Sherry gave many examples of how many handlers see and process your check and don't put the word Trust anywhere on your check. 3. Mail bills from a post office not from your corporate office - up to 15 people may see it in random floors to have the opportunity to create problems for you. Also when you put UP your outgoing mail flag on your home box , Sherry asked why do you think you are only notifying the post officer and why do you they are the only ones who would take your mail? Lock up your mail! 4. Shred everything - buy the criss- cross kind and shred your credit cards and cds. They make criss-cross shredders strong enough for these - thieves are clever and can easily piece your cards together if you simply cut up and discard them. 5. Service people in your home create theft and fraud opportunities e.g., cleaners, construction, delivery, repairs, the list of people who enter our homes and premises is actually a bit alarming 6. Missed it! 7. Balance your checkbook - each state has different laws for different thefts with different timing but if you are monitoring your account and there are any discrepancies, our funds are protected by law but one must report in a somewhat timely manner, not, "I didn't realize for the past two years..." 8. Sign up for a credit monitoring system - can do it online -most banks have their own, but if she were to recommend a credit bureau (b/c she was asked) she replied: Equifax, Experian, or Transunion. Her reasoning to use one of those credit bureaus is because they already have your information so why go and provide to someone else and open that vulnerability? I missed a couple as we were all startled by Sherry's stories of everyday thefts and reminded how vulnerable we all are in today's open society. Next week, Don Fleischman from JPL will bring us "Modern Science." Don't forget the Angelino Hotel on June 20!
-YYE Aly Shoji
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