PP Tom Barron opened the first meeting of the New Year by ringing the WVRC Bell and welcoming everyone to the warm and friendly WVRC!! Although still on ZOOM, and apparently now so until March 2022, PP Tom continued with his fun and entertaining meetings by hosting a new version of “Hump Day”. The meeting began with PP Chris Bradford leading us in the pledge, PP Diane Good giving a Blessing for the New Year and, PP and Maestro Ed Gauld singing, Auld Lang Syne in that wonderful voice of his.
Guests for the day included UCLA Rotaract’s Sarah Huang and Simran Sangha and potential new members Nancy Cohen and Lia Vydria. Announcements for the day included:
- Luskin Center not opening until Marsh due to Labor shortages and ongoing virus concerns
- WVRC Board of Director’s meeting is scheduled for 5:30 on ZOOM Tuesday January 11. If interested in attending, please contact PP Diane for ZOOM information
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WVRC members are invited to attend a tour of the VA Hero’s golf course and potential gym for Veterans which is a current project WVRC is considering getting involved in. The tour will take place Wednesday January 12th at 1:30pm where we will meet on the VA campus at the golf course. If you would like to attend, please contact Aaron Donahue.
PP Tom the announced the meeting schedule for the day which was to begin with “Some valuable information everyone needs to know or, Trivia that someday may get you somewhere.” Oh boy!! The meeting’s first speaker of the day was introduced, and it was none other then the bow tie wearing John O’Keefe. Now John seems to believe wearing a bow tie helps to attract girls and, I am not going to say anything about that as I do not want to dispel John’s perception. John began his presentation by showing us all “How to Tie a Bow Tie”. Not sure in the era of Covid if anyone wears a tie let alone a bow tie but, it was fun to learn how (just like tying a shoe) or better yet, why not to tie a perfect bow tie!! It seems people may think you are wearing a “fake or premade” bow tie if it is tied perfectly!!?? I kind of liked it when James Bond wore an untied bow tie but, I digress.
Next, John went from teaching how to tie a bow tie to bonds (didn’t see that one coming) and, quite honestly, I don’t think I know more now than I did when he began his presentation on “what is a bond”?! Oh well, hopefully my husband understands better!! John then took another curve and started giving clues for wine drinkers. Well, that got my attention!! Of course, France started the whole trend of wine drinking and naming of wines based upon the grapes used. John then told us how to compare US wines with French wines. For instance, a white burgundy in France is a chardonnay in California. He also told us how to tell at a wine tasting where the bottles are covered up (and why bother?) whether we are drinking a red or white wine simply by the shape of the bottle. It seems Bordeaux and burgundies have “shoulders at the top of the bottle whereas, white wines do not. So tonight, before you drink a glass of wine, look, and see for yourself!!
Finally, and according to John the most important trivia of all to present was on “how to make a perfect martini” (which brings me back to thinking about James Bond). According to the world of John, a chilled glass, a very, very good GIN (quality tastes like Juniper berries) a touch of vermouth, stir it all together (don’t shake), and top it off with an olive, onion or two. If you are not into wines, here is your chance to test John’s theory on a good martini!!
Next two speakers for the day were PP Ron Lyster and PP Chris Gaynor on the pros and cons of visiting Egypt. This is timely as Ron and Guin just returned from a visit. This was originally presented as a “debate” PP Ron telling us “why you only need to go once to Egypt” and, PP Chris explaining why “he would go back in a heartbeat”. PP Ron put that notion to rest very quickly by explaining he has nothing against visiting Egypt and highly recommends it, its just he has so many other places in the world he would also like to visit before returning to a place he has already been. Both PP’s agree Cairo has wonderful museums but, the city itself is polluted and dangerous. Apparently, there are tourist police to help make your visit safer!! PP Ron especially loved Mt. Nebo where, standing you too can see the promise land that Moses witnessed. He also loved seeing the sun set over the Red Sea and seeing Israel from Egypt. The Lysters cruised down the Nile which allowed them considerable time in Luxor near the Valley of the Kings. Ron recommends cruises if you choose wisely and it is a good thing he did choose wisely as it appears, both Guin and Ron returned to us healthy!!
PP Chris then took over with a power point of pictures of his and Rose’s trip where they are riding camels, touring inside pyramids and, watching the sun set behind these magnificent structures. PP Chris feels passionately about how extraordinary and breathtaking it is to see the pyramids pointing out, you do not see this anywhere else in the world. He is also in awe (as I think we all would be) of how the pyramids and tombs have withstood time and are in extremely great shape. You can see the hieroglyphs very clearly in the pictures we were shown, and PP Chris explains it is even more impressive up close and in person. I for one am ready for a trip to Egypt after hearing both Rotarians speak.
Unfortunately, time came to quickly and the meeting had to be called. This means we must wait for another day for PP Tom’s presentation on, “When Insults Had Class.”
PP Diane
