| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Bulletin -- April 22, 2009 (#988) Program: Dr. Zachary Clements, Inspirational Speaker, "Chicken Little Need Not Apply"
Why am I here today? Dr. Clements described today’s important topic as “Let’s pick ourselves up off the floor and get moving in this country.” Clements is concerned just as many of you are. He said, “People say, ‘someone needs to get control of things in this country.’ Yes we’re having difficulties in this country, but we also have a lot to be thankful about.” Instead of talking about what’s wrong, Clements suggests waking up in the morning saying “Hey—I’m alive for one more day! My legs work. My wheelchair rolls. I had enough to eat and drink. Somebody loves me.” Public Education Clements noted the way people love to throw stones at American public education. “I’m hear to tell you, I run into people with the In My Day disease. If you’re over 40, you’ve got it. If you’re over 50, you’re dying from it,” Clements says. People ask what’s wrong with the education system today and it sends them into Gregorian chanting [sung in monotone]: “In my day, when I went to school we never had problems like we have today. Good Lord. I don’t understaaaaand. Why when I went to school children had to read and write and pass their subjects in order to graduate and now they let anyone and everyone oooouuut the dooooooor. Why in my day children were well behaved and jumped when the teacher spoke. But today do you hear some of the language young people use today? I believe it’s because the teachers (especially the young ones) are no longer respected by the chiiiildren…” To which Clements replies, bull! These people don’t understand why someone of a generation who “should” agree with their lamenting simply doesn’t. They say, “In my day teachers could hit students.” So is this what’s wrong with our education system today Clements asks? Clements points out that we didn’t use to fear our teachers, we feared our PARENTS. You are Responsible for Your Children. Clements said a concerned parent ask “Why do schools allow the children to dress the way they do?” To this he said, “If I understand you correctly, you don’t seem to like what your children are wearing to school.” That’s right, they said. Clements simply replied, “Well, if you don’t like what your children are wearing to school, why in heavens name do you let them dress like that?” Parents want schools to dictate what is/is not appropriate because they would rather their children be upset at the school than them.
Marriage Whatever happened to commitment, asks Clements. He attended a wedding recently and as is tradition in his family, he and his wife presented the bride and groom with $100. He said, “I would like you to have this as a token of our hope for your future.” The bride responded, “Well, we’re going to give it a shot!” Give it a shot? Whatever happened to commitment? Clements and his wife have adopted a new policy. They present the newlyweds with an IOU. If after five years they are still married, they’ll double it. If not, he’ll send them a bill for the time and money they wasted going to the wedding. Positive Performance What can I do to make the world a better place? How can we try to stay positive? Everyone is trying to change performance for the better, but this cannot be done until we change behaviors. Clements wants to know what is wrong with people in our country when they would order a diet called “how to lose weight while you sleep”? Clements says, “The only way to lose weight in your sleep is to have someone slip in and cut a body part off!” What you need to do to increase positive performance is first develop a positive attitude. This leads to positive behaviors which in turn leads to positive performance. Clements tries to impress this upon everyone young and old. He offers the following advice to young people just starting out in life: Four Keys to Success
Four Points Clements Wants to Leave With Us:
Dr. Clements left the club with a final piece of advice: “To all of you and to your families, I remind you very simply: Let’s you and I do all we can in this sphere of the world to make it a better, more positive place.” This Week: Rotary Radio Day had a record year as the club made over $15,000. Checks are still arriving. Please make sure your contacts have submitted their payments. Let’s give a special welcome back to Bob Miller. John Bernardi presented a plaque to the club on behalf of the United Way. The club donated $1,000 to the campaign. President Steve presented checks to the following people: PSU’s President John Ettling, CCC’s Cheryl Regean and CVPH Board Chair Paul Sands. Board members, please stay around for a few minutes for a quick vote on new members. Bonnie Black discussed the District Budget. District Assembly will vote on the budget for July 09. We have to cast our vote on behalf of the club. The club motioned/seconded and approved vote to support the budget as presented. Fines: None this week, but look out Maria Alexander. President Steve has your number. Visiting Rotarians: Cheryl Reagan, Sunrise Club Guests: Jonathan Beach (Bob Parks); Cheryl Reagan, (Pres. Steve Frederick); John Massella & Megan Ashley (Paul Grasso); John Ettling (Keith Tyo); Manson Glover (Brian Hammond). 50/50: The pot is worth $500. Dave Napolitin drew the seven of hearts. Upcoming Programs/Duties: go to Membership Duty List
   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
