Be Prepared - the Red Cross' Marching Song

Okay, folks, this is serious.  In fact, I've wanted to write the following line all my writing career and really mean it.  So here goes - it's so serious, your life depends on it.  And the lives of your family.  Want to know what it is?  Earthquake preparedness.

And preparedness for other of life's bigger moments, too.  Here's just a brief list: earthquakes (of course), mud slides, explosions, tornadoes, floods, wildfire, pandemic flu, power outages, transportation tragedy, terrorism, tsunami, and the one that will get us all, etc.  It's a long list, isn't it, which means the odds are pretty good one of them will hit you and your family at one time or another.  And went it does hit, being prepared for it may mean the difference between survival and the other, less attractive alternative.

At our last meeting (7:30am at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital Conference Room) we were visited by Monique Phan of Preparedness, Health and Safety Services at the American Red Cross.  In a 45 minutes talk, one that kept us riveted, she guided us through such important concepts as - when your world starts shaking, Drop, Cover, and Hold On.  Drop to hands and knees, find a reasonably strong piece of furniture of crawl under, a table maybe, and hold on so it and you stay put. 

But as importantly, before it hits, assume it will and get ready for it.  Get some basic supplies together - food, batteries, radio (battery or hand cranked), water (a gallon per person per day - plan for a week's worth), first aid kit, flashlight (tape batteries to the outside so they remain fresh), and other things your family will need if the world outside becomes a hostile, inaccessible place.  Then keep this kit where you and the rest of your family can get at it. 

Which brings up the next thing you need - a plan.  Make one.  Start by what to do if - if there's a fire, if there's an earthquake, if there's a mudslide - make a plan to get out of the house, where to meet up, how to contact one another if you're away when it hits. 

Then after you have the plan, make sure the whole family knows about it.

And when things change, change the plan.

If you'd like Monique Phan to speak to your group, her email's mphan@oc-redcross.org.

For This Glider Pilot, D-Day Was Just The First Step

Captain Bob Meyer, WWII veteran glider pilot, tells us, among other stories, about his role in D-Day

Captain Bob Meyer, in the closing months of WWII, found himself in a brutal fire fight in German itself.  Unable to determine who was friend and who wasn’t, he decided to push himself as deep into his foxhole as he could and wait this one out.   That tactic wasn’t to be.  A German paratrooper, Luger in hand, literally dropped from the plane into that hole with him.  Pushing the gun to the Captains head, he growled in perfect English, “You want to die?”

Curiously enough, Captain Meyer wasn’t in the infantry; he was in the Air Force.  And a Glider Pilot.  Dragged into the clouds by a mother ship, he was responsible for bringing in equipment and munitions to the troops.  Just to give you an idea of the danger the good Captain experienced, once he was tasked with carrying in a glider full of landmines.  Usually he flew with a copilot, but this time, when he showed up to fly in the landmines, he wasn’t given a copilot.  “Why?” he asked. 

“No reason to waste two of you guys,” he was told.

This morning Captain Meyer spoke to our meeting and started with D-Day and his role in it.  He and his unit brought in heavier equipment like jeeps and light tanks which made the paratroopers he supported a more capable force.  The Captain’s Unit was given 4 distinguished service citations while he was a member.  He has a book coming out in November, “Flying in, Walking out” that details these experiences.

Important to note is that Captain Meyer wasn’t here just to talk about himself and his exploits.  The military, being an important part of his life, he’s taken on an vital mission on behalf of our fighting men and women in Afghanistan.  When speaking with many of them he found that their lives overseas are divided into three parts, 8 hours of sleep (if lucky), 8 hours of hard work and dangerous duty, and 8 hours of complete and utter boredom.  He couldn't do anything about the first two, but he could about the last.  He started a ministry to send DVDs to our troops, along with battery powered players.  He was there to enlist our help, and we gave it, both with more DVDs, and with a donation to help him cover his shipping costs.

If you would like to help the Good Captain out, visit his website, www.abitofhome.org and email him at bobmeyer@yahoo.com.  He and our troops could use your involvement.

Oh, by the way, the German who dropped into his foxhole turned out to be a German American Citizen who'd been sent to German by his parents before the war to learn better German and ended up being drafted by Der Fuhrer.  When Captain Meyer replied, "No, I don't want to die,"  the transplanted American said, "Me neither.  Let's sit this one out."  And for the next six hours Captain Meyer and his new buddy shot the breeze.  And they had a lot of breeze to shoot.  They were both from the windy city - Chicago.

Gary Scaife of Help R Heroes Told Us This Morning How To Do Just That

A 26-year old firefighter heard some frightening noise coming from a burning building – the cries of a child.  Without a moment’s hesitation, he ran into the flaming structure and found a 10-year old little girl cowering in the living room.  Scooping her up, he made his way out again.  When he got her to safety, he did the best he could the calm her down and make sure she was all right.  He quickly realized she was trying to tell him something.  Her 8-year old brother was still inside.  Handing her over to a colleague, he ran back in and found the brother taking refuge behind a couch.  Moments later firefighter and child were outside and safe. 

Gary Scaife, Managing Director of Help R Heroes, spoke to us this morning

Often, though, this kind of bravery results in injury and even death to our selfless firefighters – we certainly saw that in spade on 9/11.  Gary Scaife’s orgainization is committed to making sure this kind of bravery is not forgotten.  Gary is the managing director of Help R Heroes, a part of Care Partners USA.  Help R Heroes is a non-profit whose goal it is to provide what a simple paycheck won’t in times of personal crisis for injured firefights and the families of the fallen.  As their Website says:  In our communities, firefighters and paramedics work tirelessly performing great acts of bravery.  hRh is dedicated to supporting the success and safety of the men and women who protect us daily.  Through community partnerships, we can make a difference now!  Visit their website for more information and ways to get involved:  www.helprheroes.com

One way you can get involved is by buying a Rotary sponsored Hero Bear pictured here.  The website will tell you exactly how to do that.

Today - May 17, 2011 - We Honored Our Most Improve Students

Our Most Improved Students (with award folders) - L to R - Elzy Segura, Ana Munoz, Ayah Shehadeh, and Humberto "Tito" Murillo 

The Fountain Valley Rotary Honored four “Most Improved Students” this morning.  This is an event we always enjoy.  Seeing students who get it – get the importance of education and of hard work -  then get to experience at least a small part of what both provide – provides all we Rotarians a thrill.

Let’s take a brief look at who we honored and from which Fountain Valley School they came.

First was Elzy Segura, an 8^th grader from Moiola (Fred) Elementary School.  Elzy loves the TV Show Dancing with the Stars.  But her love for dance doesn’t stop there.  She is largely responsible for Moiola starting its very own dance team.  Her two sisters, Adrieh and Lanie, pictured here, joined her this morning, as did her mother and father.  Good job Mr. and Mrs. Segura.

Lanie and Adrieh Segura came to see their sister, Elzy, honored.

Ana Munoz accepting her honor and free bowling party from Joseph Kagel, our present elect.

Ana Munoz with her award - Congrats!!!!

Next we met Ana Munoz, a 12^th Grader (senior) at Valley Vista High School.  Described as just a bit stealth in her school life, this young lady goes about helping and accomplishing much.  Her teacher told the story of how she (the teacher) would “nag” a boy sitting near Ana to straighten up his act, and then see Ana, a little later, help the young man.  “She’s always doing that sort of thing,” her teacher said.  “She helps.  And when we needed kids to head up the prom planning, she volunteered.  Ana possesses good leadership skills.”  And she’s a leader not to be messed with.  Her favorite thing is kick-boxing, and she’s good at it.  Currently she wants to take all those skills and meld them into a career in Law Enforcement. 

Ayah Shahadeh, a 9^th Grader from Los Amigos High School, came next.  Ayah (pronouced I-ah), was a student who came to high school and hadn’t yet decided to embrace her studies.  Well, that’s all changed.  For, not only is Ayah a student who is now ready to leap into the 10^th Grade fray, she is also are artist.  When asked her what she liked to do in her time off, she answered, “Draw.”  So we asked her for a sample – she draws, alright, but what she draws are her designs.  One of those designs follows.

Design by Ayah Shehadeh, (c) 2011 Shehadeh - printed with permission

Humberto "Tito" Murillo accept his honor and free bowling party at the Fountain Bowl from Joseph Kagel

Finally we got to hear from a guy – Humberto “Tito” Murillo.  A senior at Fountain Valley High School, Tito has recently become a role model for his classmates.  Along with liking sports – football and basketball – he’s also been involved with the schools Workability Program, and through it, has found himself a job in the restaurant industry.  He’s not sure, though, that he wants to make a career there.  He’s got his sights sets on taking an Auto Mechanics course at Golden West.  When he gets out, I’ve got a car that needs a good one.

Fountain Valley Rotary Club Honors Area Teachers of the Year

14 Teachers in the Fountain Valley School District Honored as Teachers Of The Year (2010-11)

The Fountain Valley Rotary Club held its annual Teacher Recognition Breakfast at the Offices of the Fountain Valley School District on Tuesday, May 10^th. Fourteen teachers from the area’s elementary schools, middle schools and high schools were honored as Teachers of the Year for the 2010-2011 school year. Many dignitaries were in attendance including members of the Fountain Valley City Council, the Fountain Valley School District Board and the Huntington Beach Union High School and Garden Grove Unified School Districts.

After a welcome from Donna Frank, president of the Fountain Valley Rotary Club, and opening remarks from Marc Ecker, Superintendent of the Fountain Valley School District and a member of the FVRC, the fourteen honorees were introduced. Principals of each of the participating schools introduced each Teacher of the Year from his/her school and commented on the reasons why that teacher was deserving of the honor. Each teacher so honored was then presented with a plaque.

The teachers honored and their schools are: Patti Ostovarpour (Courreges Elementary School), Laurie Frandsen (Cox E.S.), Annalise Winkle (Fountain Valley High School), Evelyn Lee (Fulton Middle School), Christine Conkle (Gisler E.S.), Roger Takahashi (Los Amigos H.S.), Amy Nevin (Masuda M.S.), Michael Waldinger (Moiola School), Lara Epling (Newland E.S.), Mary Jimenez (Oka E.S.), Andrea Benson (Plavan E.S.), Loren Howard (Talbert M.S.), Martha Anderson (Tamura E.S.) and Kenny Villalobos (Valley Vista H.S.).

Bob Banka - Doing One Thing That No One Else Does

Orvil Redenbacher, the popcorn king, once said that the way to success was to do one thing and do it better than anyone else.  That is certainly the overriding motto of our speaker this morning.  Although it took him a long time to get there, Bob Banka, has built a 22 year present and long future by doing just one thing – and being the only one in the known universe to do it.  He has compiled the largest collection of airplane photos and 3-view line drawings of airplanes and he’ll sell any one of them to you from a ¾ inch thick catalog.  “One of the most important things about flying scale model aircraft is building them to scale.  Everything from wings to decals need to be exactly the right size and put in exactly the right place. ”

How did he compile all these photos and 3-view (top, side, and head on) drawings?  “By wading through about 3 tons of airplane magazines.  One at a time, collecting as I went.  Also by going to air shows and airports, anywhere there were planes.”  He showed us a couple of his albums – a page is shown above – the P51D, the P51D Mustang, the P51D Cloud Dancer – each carrying someone either actually, or in their imaginations, into the wild blue yonder.  All to perfect scale.  “And if you need that information, I’m where you have to come.”

And come they have over the past 22 years.  In Orange County alone there are probably 4 to 500 model airplane pilots.

The problem is, business is down.  There are still the same number of enthusiasts, but now the Chinese are supplying them with model kits – all to scale – that the hobbiest can put together in minutes.  “Where they used to spend months hand crafting these models – building something they could really be proud of.  Now they get a kit from China with four of five pieces in it – a little glue here, a little glue there, and it’s together for the hobbiest to fly.  Instant gratification is the name of the game now.  My business is down 75%.  But that’s okay.  I’m fully vested and invested, and the 25% remaining keep me going.”

If you would like to build a P51D, or some other really neat plane, and build it the old way, the hands on, meticulous, to scale way, give Bob and call.  He’ll be all to happy to help.

They Need Help Living In The Black - Blind Children's Learning Center

This morning we were told about what has to be the most vulnerable members of our society, blind children.  Kim Neuhauser, Executive director of the Blind Children’s Learning Center, was our guest speaker.  A Ph.D. who’d spend more of her adult life in academia, Dr. Kim believes she’s found the best of all second careers.  “Here at BCLC we are committed to providing the highest quality education, support, and services to students with visual impairments and their families. We believe that early intervention is critical to create opportunities for these children so they might reach their full potential.” 

Great goal, but are they hitting it.  Let’s take a look at Sarah.  “Sarah’s blind," Dr. Kim tells us, "and schooling began for her when her mom, Jennifer, enrolled her in the Blind Children’s Learning Center, where she learned to crawl. Many years later, during her Senior year at Costa Mesa High School, Sarah studied Braille music notation with BCLC’s Braille transcriber, Tammy Murphy. Sarah loves to sing and sang with the school choir. Braille notation allowed her to read music. Sarah continues to follow her love of music, and now sings with the choir as a freshman at Orange Coast College.”  If you want to learn more about Sarah’s journey, as well as the journey’s of others of their 59 students, take a look at the Blind Children’s Learning Center newsletter, Insight, at:  http://www.blindkids.org/images/stories/insights_sp2011.pdf. 

Kim goes on to say, “Unfortunately, the California budget deficit and resulting cutbacks in  programs to support people with disabilities are beginning to impact this most vulnerable of populations.  However, with the help of friends and supporters like you, BCLC will meet the challenges and continue to support children with visual impairments and their families. I take inspiration from the students and from you. Thank you for your support.”

One way you can support this very worthy enterprise, is to take part in their 7^th Annual Destination Independence 5K Walk on Saturday, May 14, 2011.  Here’s how to get in touch with them:  18542-B Vanderlip Ave., Santa Ana, CA  92705; 714-573-8888; www.blindkids.org; and if you’d like to get involved in the 5K Walk: jaimiehaver@cox.net or sharon.mitchael@blindkids.org.