UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Nov 15: JOE GARNER,

Best-selling JFK Author

Nov 22: Dr. Darryl Holter, CEO Shammas Group Nov 29: DARK

Happy Thanksgiving! `

CALENDAR IT NOW

Nov 16: HEALTHY FAMILIES

HARVEST FESTIVAL: South Park

Recreational Center

Nov 23: GRIFFITH PARK HIKE

Nov 26: USC/UCLA RIVALRY ` VISIT WWW.ROTARYLA5.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SPEAKERS & EVENTS

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

established 1909

November 15, 2013

rotaryLA5.org

Leeka Dispatched to Africa

Chaos Threatens El Rodeo

Panic hit LA5 when news spread that Past President and cur-rent El Rodeo editor Marc Leeka had been dispatched to Af-

rica by Rotary International . LA5 back bencher, and intrep-id cub reporter, Peter Weinberger was named as Marc’s re-

placement during Marc’s overseas assignment. Weinberger quickly squelched rumors that he was changing the name of LA5s newsletter from El Rodeo to Pravda --rumors that were

traced back to visiting Rotarians who had infiltrated the LA 5 Veterans Day Celebration posing as a brass quartet. `

Guest Speaker U.S. Army Major General C.A. Hennies not

only entertained and informed the Veteran’s Day crowd

about our military’s special operations, but also provided

training to Sergeants at Arms Paul Ekstrand, Barry Hyto-

witz and Steve Sommers. They are now experts in spotting

non-LA5ers attempting to recruit LA5 members as their own.

2 El Rodeo

El Rodeo 3

LA5’s version of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir -- Jack Dibb, Su-

mi Kawaratani, Carol Shafer, President Ken, Jon Gibby, Mike Birkholm, Elizabeth Wheeler -- lead the crowd in singing the songs of each branch of the armed forces.

If you missed the meeting last week

Marine Corps veteran Terry Yeager reacts to being mistakenly introduced as an Air Force Veteran. “Semper Fi” is the only portion

of Terry’s response fit for a family publication.

President Ken with Medal of Honor Recipient Col. Jack Jacobs - one of only 3,486 soldiers ever to receive this honor.

Posing as a military quartet, an attempt by members of other Rota-ry clubs to infiltrate LA5 was quickly scuttled by LA5’s diligent

Sergeants at Arms, Steve Somers, Paul Ekstrant and Barry Hytowitz.

Listening to General Hennies’ presentation for Veterans Day re-minds Marjorie Heller and Susan Griego of their days in Boot

Camp at Camp Lejeune.

Bob & Carole Donahue discuss their new Navy Seal inspired exercise program for SOSMentor. Check out their great work at

www.sosmentor.org

Ben’s Lunch Advice

Our lunch selection is especially

palatable this week.

ENTREE: Sauteed Chicken Piccata, Angel Hair Pasta, Lemon Sauce, Bouquetiere of Market Vegetables.

Heavenly!

VEGETARIAN: Zucchini, Artichoke and Mushroom Frittata, Fontina Cheese, Asparagus, Herb Salad. `

Please RSVP to guarantee your seat because every-

body is going to want it! ` Cheers!

4 El Rodeo

Rotary Cares

LA5 Remembers Roger Presgrove

The Rotary Club of Los Angeles lost one of

its best on Sunday, November 10. After a long battle with cancer, Roger Presgrove died

at home surrounded by his wife and fami-ly. He will be missed by Rotary, and by so many other groups as well.

Roger spent his entire professional life work-ing in the non profit sector. He and his wife,

Roxana, founded Help the Children: an in-ternational mission agency headquartered in

Bell, CA. that sent help and hope all over the world to those who needed it the most.

In addition to assisting local people in need throughout Southern California, Roger had a

special place in his heart for Latin Ameri-ca. He sent food and medical supplies there on a consistent basis, and also medical equip-

ment that would not have been available

without the leadership of Help the Children.

He was a man with a strong faith, and he both lived and died with the strength his faith provided.

His memorial service will be held this Satur-day at 10:00 am at the church where he and

Roxana were members:

Real Life Church 23841 Newhall Ranch Road Valencia, CA. 91355

661.775.2052

Rest in Peace, Roger. `

Walker L. Railey

J oin fellow Rotari-

ans and guests at both of these fun-

f i l l e d e v e n t s . Healthy Families Harvest

Festival is this Saturday. It’s a great service event. Volun-

teers always welcome!

Our annual USC UCLA Rival-ry Day is on Tuesday, No-

vember 26th. Buy a table of 10 or be a sponsor and get

prime seating!

Go to www.rotaryla5.org for

more information.

Chartered June 25, 1909

Club Leadership 2013-14

Ken Chong, President Alan Bernstein, President-Elect Jose Vera, Vice-President Elizabeth Wheeler, Secretary Don Robinson, Treasurer Jay Richardson, Past President

Club Service Arthur Kassel Paul Richey

Community Service Margaret Karren Jim Hoyt

Funding Todd Johnson Al Shonk

International Service Laine Wagenseller Rick Sarmiento

Membership and Retention Charisse Older Erick Weiss

Vocational Service John Miller John Jaacks

Youth Service Anthony Calloway Paul Jacques

Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Ekstrand Barry Hytowitz Steve Sommers

Executive Director Jon Gibby JON@ROTARYLA5.ORG

Rotary Club of Los Angeles 523 West Sixth Street, Suite 718 Los Angeles, CA 90014 Telephone 213.624.8601 Facsimile 213.624.2694 WWW.ROTARYLA5.ORG

District 5280 Governor Doug Baker

El Rodeo Marc Leeka, Editor Peter Weinberger, Cub Reporter Felix Keats, Photographer

El Rodeo 5

Rotarians You Want to Know:

Gus Oppermann

A t the two previous District Confer-

ences, LA5 was awarded the Large Club District Club of Excellence

Award in the International category. The recognition was largely due to Gus Op-permann’s leadership and management of

LA5’s multitude of international grant projects.

He is a natural for the job, having more than 40 years in con-struction schedule and cost management. Three years ago he

shifted from large, internationally-based corporations to focus on his privately-owned Optimum Construction Cost Consult-

ants.

In the last few years Gus has been involved with fifteen pro-jects in Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa,

Panama, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Puerto Rico and Mex-ico. This year LA5 will be

the lead Club on three pro-jects in Colombia, plus a project in Kenya and poten-

tial grants in Turkey, Bot-swana and Niger. There’s a good chance approval will

be granted for a breakout session at the Sydney 2014

RI Convention to highlight our club’s Myanmar water

systems efforts.

“I was raised believing we have an obligation to help others, and that contrib-

uting your time and talents is often more important

than money. Our club com-munity and international projects are important be-

cause the outcomes are beneficial, visionary, inclu-

sive and cost effective.”

If you haven’t met Gus yet, then please introduce your-

self at the next meeting.

Gus’ Favorites

The best restaurant in LA is Taix

in Echo Park. It opened in 1927.

The best city I ever visited was Heidelberg, Germany. The castle

and the old town are beautiful.

I love travel stories. The last book I read was John Steinbeck’s Trav-els with Charley. Bill Bryson is

my favorite author.

I know it is junk food but my guilty pleasure is the Chic-A-

Boom sandwich at Tacone.

Three albums I would take to a desert island because I never grow tired of listening to them: Oscar Peterson’s A Jazz Odyssey from 1950; Van Morrison’s Tupelo Honey and Music That Matters to

Him by Yo-Yo Ma.

I graduated from high school in 1967. When I hear The Beatles sing “Hello Goodbye” on the ra-

dio, it takes me back again.