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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
November 18, 2021
Past DG Alan Frumpkin
"Service Above Self: What's In It for Me?"
Article by Steve Wilson
Photos by Dianne Bobko
Our speaker was Past DG Alan Frumpkin, an inspirational 40+ year Rotary leader who has addressed our club about a half-dozen times. Alan is a lawyer and former teacher. Alan's theme was "Service Above Self: What's in it for Me?", and Alan used the occasion to bring a strong note of optimism to our club by calling to mind a number of his own experiences.
The motif of Alan's presentation was that in giving of ourselves to others and to mankind, we reap many times what we have sown. Few if any in our club would disagree with this, but Alan's examples from his own life were uniquely moving.
Alan began with a story from his high school years about singing Christmas carols in an Oakland veterans' home and an unexpected friendship with a permanently disabled vet that arose from that experience. this was followed by an account of lives touched by polio immunization in India and a reconciliation between two young men that happened through a RYLA training. Alan recounted an impromptu dinner invitation that left him seated between Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev, and his conversations with them.
Finally, Alan turned to the theme of the enduring friendships we develop through Rotary service. Alan then read a poem he had written after finding out that another Rotary leader had been gravely injured in a plane crash. The theme might be summarized as "if not me, then who, and if not now, then when?" As always, Alan left us inspired in our Rotary work and more optimistic about the future of the human species. Alan is now involved for his club with wheelchair projects in Peru.
Among the questions answered by Alan, he opined that he didn't necessarily agree that Rotary should give high priority to attracting younger members, but rather that it should continue to emphasize membership recruitment of community leaders, and that we should recruit chiefly through our actions, by example.
Club Meeting - November 18 , 2021
President Joe called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance - Warren Barmore led us.
Inspirational Thought - Today a thoughtful quote by the Greek philosopher Epictitus was offered by Sean.
Announcements
Announcements today included a pitch for support of the ALAS thanksgiving dinner for farmworkers (checks to Mary at CCWD or donations via square through the Foundation website, all payable to the Foundation). Our Adopt-a-Family commitment is done.
No meeting next Thursday (Thanksgiving). The following Thursday, 12/2 is a Club Assembly at which each committee chair will present. Following a regular meeting on December 9, our December 16 meeting will be the annual DG visit from DG Danielle and will be held at the Odd Fellows Hall. The last two Thursdays of the year will be dark. Starting in January, and barring a negative turn of events, we hope to return to the HMB LIbrary, or if not, to the Odd Fellows Hall for the near term.
Happy/Crappy News 
- Warren's family had a big gathering recently on Angel Island (some family history associated with the Immigration Museum).
- EJ just returned from native Deutschland (tighter Covid protocols there).
- Ginger returned from Hawaii (protocols about the same as here).
- John and Larkin are celebrating 51st Anniversary next week (congratulations!!)
- Kevin will be traveling to visit family.
Pres. Joe's Weekly 'States of the Union Quiz - New Jersey
State trivia spotlight this meeting was on New Jersey, the Garden State. Kevin, Dianne and Rose all shared.
Marble Game 
Ginger won the marble drawing, but drew green (sigh.)
Coming Events
No meeting next Thursday (Thanksgiving).
The following Thursday, 12/2 is a Club Assembly - yearly State of the Club and of our Club Foundation at which each committee chair will present an update on accomplishments and current status.
Following a regular meeting on December 9, our December 16 (Christmas meeting) meeting will be the annual DG visit from DG Danielle and will be held at the Odd Fellows Hall.
The last two Thursdays of the year will be dark. Starting in January, and barring a negative turn of events, we hope to return to the HMB Library, or if not, to the Odd Fellows Hall for the near term.