This Week
Meeting Date and Place
Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 12:15 p.m......At the CAMERON PARK COUNTRY CLUB
Words of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom by Dave Sargent; Greeter Mike Dugan; and Bill Hughes at the Front Desk
Program
Irina Green, Rick Spicer & "Friends" will give a presentation on Canine Companions for
Independence
Last Week
The Club was treated to an informative, educational and
entertaining presentation regarding How Mongolia
Changed the World by fellow Sacramento Rotarian,
traveler and amateur historian Bruce Hester. After a
brief introduction by Club Service Chair Fritz Engel,
Bruce dove right into the history of the Mongol Empire
and the many unrecognized contributions which
Mongolia, specifically during the time of the leadership of
Genghis Khan, has made to the betterment of
civilization.
Bruce gave some interesting statistics about Mongolia,
including: It has a population of 2.7 million, is the least
populated country in the world based on population per square mile, is the second largest land-locked
country in the world, is one-quarter the size of the United States, has a temperature range of 110
degrees in the summer to minus 20 during the winter, has only a 100 day growing season, has an
average household income of $3,500 per year, has a population which is 30% nomadic, and is a
capitalist country. Regarding the capitalistic basis of Mongolia, CNBC has recently stated that people
should have invested in the Mongolian Stock Exchange this past year, as it increased 100% in value in
the past 12 months.
The Mongol Empire began expanding in 1206 under Genghis Khan, with expansion south into Northern
China to obtain some of that country’s wealth, and to the West for trade to increase the Empire’s
wealth and contacts. Unfortunately, one of the Empire’s trade missions was executed and their goods
taken by an impetuous young ruler. As a result, Khan established an army of 100,000 mounted men
and headed West. Within 20 years the Empire had expanded to control an area the size of the empire
Rome had taken 400 years to build, and the Mongols ruled that entire area with only 100,000 troops.
Today, six billion people – one half of the world’s population – live in the area once controlled by the
Mongol Empire.
According to Bruce, there were innumerable “firsts” from the Mongols – It was the Mongols who
introduced gunpowder to China (and later China gave it to the rest of the world); the Mongols
established the world’s first postal system across the expanse of their Empire; they raised the societal
position of the merchant from lower class to upper-middle or upper class; they made paper and used a
movable printing press 150 years before the appearance of the Guttenberg press in Germany. The
Mongols used the first paper money as a basis for trade and they encouraged free trade across the
Mongol Empire; they also believed in and supported freedom of religion, as there were such a huge
number of religions represented in the Empire. In addition to all of that, the Mongols initiated the idea
of a regular census and unified China, the Slavic states and Russia during their reign.
How then, did this incredible Empire manage to collapse almost 250 years later seemingly as quickly
as it arose? Unfortunately, the Empires “benefits” were also its most effect facilitators of its downfall.
A combination of things happened: The Plague started in the area now known as Viet Nam and spread
very quickly throughout the Empire because of the massive trade, postal and communications system
implemented by the Mongols. At the same time that was occurring, Genghis Khan died and his family
decided they were not as strong and capable as he was, so they divided the Mongol Empire into four
smaller “kingdoms”, each with their own leadership. This, of course, caused a major weakening and
very shortly was a disaster in the making. Soon thereafter, the Empire controlled by Genghis Khan no
longer existed. The Mongols did manage to continue to have significant influence in China, with
Genghis Khan’s grandson, Kubla Khan, establishing the city of Dada that would later become known as
Beijing, as well as creating “The Forbidden City” – which is a replica of Mongolia and was used so the
Mongolian chieftains in Dada would not forget their Mongolian heritage.
Bruce will be back next year with a new historical topic he’s been researching – “The Shape of the
States”, which researches the reasons each of our United States has the specific shape and contour
that it does. Bruce has spent years researching this fascinating topic and we can’t wait for him to
return and tell us “the rest of the story”! Thanks, fellow Rotarian Bruce, for a wonderful, entertaining
and educational program for our Club. We appreciate your time, efforts and fellowship!
As a brief side-program, California State Assemblyman Ted Gaines provided Club members with a
short overview of the current status of politics and finance in Sacramento.
Presidents Corner
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Club President Anne Eckert started the day’s meeting
off with the announcement of Art “The Baron of
Latrobe” Cort’s impending 84th birthday, which Art
continually dismissed as being “next month” (the next
day!). Certain un-named and un-indicted co-conspirators
ensured The Baron’s birthday would be celebrated in
style by ordering a cake decorated with construction
tools. A rousing and enthusiastic rendition of “Happy
Birthday” was sung by the Club members on Art’s behalf,
led by the Club’s own “Opera singer in residence”, Norm
Headley after The Baron successfully blew out the four
candles on the cake. Wait ‘til you see what’s coming for your 85th, Art!
Madam Prez also reminded Club members that the next Club Board meeting is Tuesday, October 5th,
at 12 noon at the Rescue Fire Department. All members are invited to attend and new members are
strongly encouraged to attend as part of their Club familiarization requirements.
Transferring Rotarian Janice Falek was re-introduced to the Club by Club Membership Chair Mike
Dugan. For those who get their physical workouts several times weekly at the Amphitheater Project,
Janice is no stranger, as she has not missed a Rotary Work Day at the site in over two months. And
that’s in addition to donating $1,000 toward the Project. Janice noted that her former father-in-law
was a Rotarian in the Philippines and she had spent numerous years there with her husband, running
both a rattan furniture and a SCUBA diving business there. She’s now settled down in Lotus and her
mother is a neighbor of PP Bill Gallant. Janice had been a member of the El Dorado Hills Rotary, but
decided the projects and work done by our Club were more her “style”. Welcome, Janice – and as
several people from EDHR have said “It’s El Dorado Hills’ loss and Cameron Park’s gain!”
According to Club Fund-raising Czar John Johnson, Saturday night October 2nd will be “Rotary
Night” at the Olde Coloma Theatre, with Rotary Clubs from Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills,
Placerville and Pollock Pines-Camino being invited to attend. This is an event to benefit the Olde
Coloma Theatre due to $50,000 is costs being incurred in order to comply with County ordinance
issues so they can remain open. Saturday night will be the first performance of the Theatre’s
Halloween Show and tickets are only $25 per couple, but are limited to 60 couples, as the Theatre
only seats 120 patrons. Tickets may be purchased Saturday night at the Theatre, with the
performance running from 8 PM to 10 PM and there will be a Wine Bar as well. Theatre opens at 7:30
and is located at 380 Monument Trail, Coloma 95613.
Rube Jessop was thrilled to note that United Outreach has just been given a double-wide mobile
home in El Dorado Hills, effective October 1st, through the estate of a person who believed in the
organization’s mission. While the rent of $600 per month for the home’s mobile home park space will
be covered by upcoming transitional residents, the current month is difficult to cover and Rube
requested any Club members who would want to help off-set that expense to see him with any
potential donations.
Club Polio Plus Chair Debbie Miller announced Rotary International is conducting World Polio Day
on October 24th. She mentioned that RI has authorized DOUBLE RECOGNITION POINTS (!) for all
Rotarians making donations via the website during the week of October 18 – 24, 2010.
One of the Club’s most senior members, Bill Fister, has successfully made it through surgery and will
now be spending some time recovering at Gold Country Assisted Living, according to Steve Long,
who recently spoke with Bill’s daughter. In response to another member’s question, Steve will check
with Bill and see if and when Bill is ready to “receive visitors” at Gold Country.
Sally “Iain” Marshall noted that Show-n-Shine 2010 is only a week away and there is still need
for SIX $50 sponsors and ONE $100 sponsor. Sally also asked for any “spare” coolers which might be
available and needed at the location Friday night. While 120 cars have registered thus far, there is still
a need for more car registrations.
Past President Bill Gallant announced Rotary Work Days at the Amphitheater for both Friday,
October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd. Those two days will require the movement and compaction of
large amounts of dirt in order to form the “seats” in the Amphitheater. Work starts at 7:46 AM and
those attending should plan on bringing their #2 shovels, something small and heavy to tamp dirt with
and a wheelbarrow.
UPDATE, Friday 10/1: A significant CP Rotary presence was observed at the, well, Observatory. A
spry and curmudgeon-like 84-year old Art Cort led a workforce consisting of Alan Clarke, Janice
Falek, Bill Gallant, Norm Headley, Chuck LePere, Steve Long, Joe Ryan and Rick Spicer, with
photos by Mike Neal.
UPDATE, Saturday 10/2: Final prep work was accomplished for the next concrete pour, which will
occur Tuesday morning, 10/5. The Baron of Latrobe led Bob Edwards, Janice Falek, Bill Gallant,
Bill Hughes, Tiffany McAchran and Rick Spicer, with photos by Mike Neal.
Noted Rotarians
HAPPY BUCKS AND NOT-SO-HAPPY BUCKS:
Mike Dugan dedicated $25 in Happy Bucks to Polio Plus
in honor of this month’s COSTCO magazine article about
Rotary International’s Polio eradication program.
Birthdays in October
Art Cort
Jana Ellerman
Suzi Lewis
Darol Rasmussen
-----Spouses----Gina Crofut
George Eckert
Sara Edwards
Michelle Hamilton
Suzanne Tavernetti
Thomas H. Thornton
Anniversaries in October
Dave & Pamela Johnson
Upcoming Calendar
October 14, 2010 - "The Bob McKay Story" by Bob Edwards
October 21, 2010 - Bertie Byrne, Program Director and Board Member from SCA-TV2, our local
access television station, will speak, accompanied by the SCA-TV2 Station Manager.
October 28, 2010 - Presentation by Debbie Milios from Blood Source
November 4, 2010 - Rotary Foundation Day with Dave Bunje
November 11, 2010 - Program by Alan Ehrgott of American River Conservancy
November 18, 2010 - Vocational Program by Bob Clarke and Jim Bowen
November 20, 2010 - Foundation Dinner at Sequoia Restaurant
November 25, 2010 - Happy Thanksgiving!
Upcoming Words of Wisdom/Greeter Assignments
October 14, 2010 - Words of Wisdom by Mike Dugan; Greeter Rube Jessop; and Ulla Petersen at
the Front Desk
October 21, 2010 - Greeter Bob Clarke; and Sabrina Ho at the Front Desk
October 28, 2010 - Greeter Art Cort; and Sabrina Ho at the Front Desk
The Last Word
DATES TO REMEMBER:
October 9, 2010 - Show and Shine
December 9, 2010 - Annual Christmas Dinner &
Auction, 6 PM at the Cameron Park Country Club
Mike Neal has put together a photo series of highlights
of the Rotary Amphitheater construction held on
October 1st and 2nd, 2010. The link is at the
bottom of this web page.
Gear Up is written by Art Cort, Jim Buckley and
Rick Spicer [also known as CBS]. Web site, photography, and artwork through the talents of
Mike Neal.