Edition Special Memorial€¦ · District 5240 - Rotarians in Motion 3 Issue 2010-11 May 2011 - In...

Special Memorial Edition

1District 5240 - Rotarians in Motion

Issue 2010-11 May 2011 - In Memoriam

Editor B r a d H e n d e r s o n

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Publisher W a y n e S n y d e r

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Communications Committee V i c k i A r n d t

Te r r y B e c k e t tA n d y L u p a n o w

D a v i d S a i n t - A m a n dW a l t S t e p h e n s

B r e n d a C r e s s e yB r a d H e n d e r s o n

W a y n e S n y d e r

District Governor D e e p a W i l l i n g h a m

District Governor-Elect W a d e N o m u r a

District Governor Nominee Elect F r a n k O r t i z

District 5240 Websitew w w . r o t a r y d i s t r i c t 5 2 4 0 . o r g

Website CommitteeTe r r y B e c k e t t ( C h a i r )

W a l t S t e p h e n sW a y n e S n y d e r

Editor’s/Publisher’sCorner

Article SubmiSSion criteriA

• Articlesmustbeoriginalandnotpublishedelsewhere.• ArticlesshoulddealwithRotarysubjectsonly.• Articlesshouldbee-mailedinMicrosoftWordformatonly;appropriatepicturesareencouraged.

• Entriesshouldbereceivednolaterthanthe15thdayofthemonthprecedingdesiredpublication.

• Authorsacceptthattheirarticlesmaybeedited.• Theauthor’sname,contactinformationandRotaryClubmembershipshouldbeapparent.

• AllsubmissionsshouldbesenttoBradHenderson

T his month’s theme is about “Rotary.” A s f a t e wo u l d h ave i t , R o t a r y h a s been de f i ned ove r t he cen tu r i e s t o b e a b o u t i n d iv i d u a l s – yo u a n d I .

However, we’re tak ing but a br ie f s ides tep th i s mon th t o r emember a f ew ou t s t and ing m e m b e r s f r o m a l l p a r t s o f D i s t r i c t 5 2 4 0 . A l t h o u g h w e c a n n o t c o n s u m e t h e e n t i r e breadth and commitment of these individuals, we can reflect on the memories of our travels toge ther (honorable or impress ionable ) and the i r con t r i bu t i on t o Ro ta r y I n t e rna t i ona l , l o c a l l y a n d a b r o a d .

I n a d d i t i o n , f e l l o w R o t a r i a n s c o n t i n u e t o m a k e a s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t o n o u r s o c i e t y. We h ave t h e ‘ p a s t ’ c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f l e a d e r s h i p , a n d w e h av e t h e c u r r e n t t r end in a newer gene ra t i on o f l eade r sh ip . We h ave t h e r e n ow n , t h e h u m b l e a n d t h e pos s ib i l i t i e s . A l l in a l l , we have Ro ta r i ans .

I n s o m e o f o u r r e m e m b r a n c e s , t h e r e i s a ‘ t h e m e ’ o f r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d h o w i t h a s i m p a c t e d e a c h o f o u r a c t i o n s a n d asp i ra t ions . Even i f you are not one to have c a p t u r e d t h e m e m o r y t o p a p e r o r e - f i l e , r ead ing o the r s ’ accoun t s o f these moment s i n h i s t o r y s h o u l d g i ve yo u p a u s e t o t h i n k abou t wha t you t r u l y do and con t r i bu t e t o R o t a r y. E a ch i n yo u r ow n way a r e ‘ g r e a t . ’

H e r o e s a r e n o t a l way s r e c o g n i z e d , b u t wh e n m e n t i o n e d w e t a k e p r i d e i n b e i n g a p a r t o f t h e i r c e l e b ra t i o n , wh i ch w e h ave e n j oye d i n t h e i r s p o t l i g h t . We f e e l a p a r t o f t h e m .

Longtime Rotar ians agree that involvement i s f u n d a m e n t a l t o g e t t i n g t h e m o s t o u t o f m e m b e r s h i p . Vo l u n t e e r t o s e r v e o n a c o m m i t t e e t h a t m e e t s y o u r i n t e r e s t s , t o b e a g r e e t e r f o r w e e k l y c l u b m e e t i n g s , o r t o j o i n a s e r v i c e p r o j e c t t e a m . Th e s e ac t iv i t i e s he lp you ge t to know your f e l low Ro ta ry member s and be t t e r unde r s t and the wo r k o f R o t a r y.

I t i s these re la t ionships we wil l remember, l o n g a f t e r w e h a v e l e f t e a c h o t h e r a n d m o v e d o n , w h i l e g r e a t l y e n r i c h i n g o u r p e r s o n a l a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l l i v e s .

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2 District 5240 - Rotarians in Motion

May 2011 - In Memoriam Issue 2010-11

Deepa’s MessageMy Dear Fellow Rotarians:

There is no governor’s message for this month’s newsletter. Instead I have asked Brad and Wayne to dedicate the issue to three great men, all of

whom left us on April 15th, 2011. By now all of you have heard of the passing of Past Rotary International Director, Sam Greene, and Past District Governor, Otto Austel; and the recent passing of member and Past President of the RC of China Lake, Dr. Pierre Saint-Amand. Pierre was the father of 2010-2011 Executive Assistant Governor, David Saint-Amand.

How do we Honor sucH rotarians wHo blessed us by tHeir presence in our district?”

Well, after much thought and discussion with the Greene family, the Austel family and some fellow Rotarians, we resolved that many of us fellow Rotarians would want to do something to celebrate the lives of the two giants of our Rotary World in a manner that they perhaps would have enjoyed themselves. They each loved Rotary through and through, and yet they each had specific aspects of the organization that they were passionate about – Otto about polio eradication and Sam about membership.

So to celebrate and honor their lives…the following is my proposal.

For Otto – Sharon and the family would like those of your members who want to honor Otto, to please do so by making a donation to the Polio Plus program in lieu of flowers. Please have your members coordinate their donations through you or your club’s Rotary Foundation Chair (so that appropriate TRF Global Contribution Form 123-EN can accompany their donation with a notation “In Honor of PDG Otto Austel”) and appropriate credit can be allocated to your club and to your member.

For everyone who makes such a donation to honor Otto will receive from the district, a special commemorative Polio Plus donation pin (that is being designed and getting made by Vicki Arndt, COO District 5240), that will say:

“Polio Plus Donation / Donated in Honor of PDG Otto Austel / District 5240 – 2010-2011”

For Sam – For those of you who attended the 2010 District Assembly, where PRID Sam was a keynote speaker, you heard him say that he wanted to have around 4,000 members in this district by June 30, 2011. Many of you are doing a great job recruiting new members into your clubs. Our Extension Chair John Weiss and PDG Jane McClenahan are well on their way to establishing two new Eco Clubs and EAG Terry Schaeffer is contemplating the start up of a New Generations Club. With those new clubs and with some added effort by all members, we CAN give Sam the gift of being close to 4,000 members by the end of this Rotary year! Won’t you all please try?

And here again, for every new Rotarian you induct from this point on till the end of this Rotary year, will receive from the District another special commemorative New Member induction pin (being developed), that will say:

“New Member / Inducted in Honor of PRID Sam Greene / District 5240 – 2010-2011”

Both of these limited edition commemorative pins will be available only through June 30, 2011.

As always, I remain your greatest admirer.

Love, Deepa



D r . O t t o A u s t e l was born in

the United States of German immigrant parents during the depression of 1929. During his high school years he excelled in athletics, particularly in gymnastics ranking #2 in Southern California. During this period Otto supported himself by working at night running printing presses – thus developing his love for learning languages. Upon graduation from high school, he enrolled in New Tribes Missionary School in Chico, California. He was fluent in English, German, Portuguese and Karaja Indian language of Central Brazil

He graduated from the California State University in Los Angeles with a major in anthropology and a minor in pre-med. Upon graduation from missionary school, he along with his first wife, Dreda, moved to Brazil to work as a missionary linguist where they stayed from 1950 to 1960. During this time Otto authored his first book on the description of the Karaja Indian language. Karaja Indian people called him “Otu” meaning “a little turtle" – the closest equivalent to the name Otto in their language. Otto returned to the Unites States from Brazil upon the death of his oldest son, Martin,

from malaria. The profound sorrow of losing his son gave Otto the courage to continue his education and in 1967 Otto graduated from UC Irvine School of Medicine specializing in Family Practice Medicine. He was a Family Physician in Simi Valley 1969 – 1996; a Staff President of Simi Valley Hospital 1980 – 1981; and a 3-year consultant for CDC and WHO for Polio eradication in Ghana, Angola, Egypt and Pakistan.

Years later Otto and his wife Sharon went back to Brazil on a TRF grant and established a medical clinic, put in water wells and provided pre-treated mosquito nets saving the lives of hundreds of men, women and children.

Otto’s Rotary life began in 1976 when he joined the Rotary Club of Simi Valley as a physician friend of his told him, “Joining Rotary is the best thing I ever did.” His friend’s testimony gave Otto

the curiosity to find out what was so good about Rotary! But he didn’t really find out till years later when then Governor Sam Greene asked Otto to lead a Group Study Exchange team to Brazil. He came back “awed” by the international impact of Rotary and in his own words he became a “born again” Rotarian!

Using his medical back ground that born again Rotarian went into action becoming

a champion for Rotary’s worldwide Polio eradication efforts leading innumerable NIDs to various countries; raising $350,000 (the most for any district that year); participated in 25 hands-on The Rotary Foundation humanitarian projects; served as Polio Plus Partners Task Force Committee in 2003-2004; served as Polio Surveillance Consultant in Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan; and served as the chair for RI’s Environment Task Force. To say that Otto was passionate about Polio eradication is a herculean understatement!

Otto was the recipient of Rotary’s highest recognitions, the Service Above Self Award; TRF’s Citation for Meritorious Service, RI Service Award for Polio Free World and TRF’s Alumni Service to Humanity Award. He was our hero as a person and our Rotary role model!

Otto AustelRotary Bio of PDG Otto Austel



On The Front Lines by Otto Austel

One of the most dedicated supporters of the PolioPlus program and Global Polio Eradication Initiative is Dr. Otto Austel, a member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, California, USA. In 1996, Dr. AUstel retired from family practice to put his medical expertise to work full-time as

a Rotary volunteer. Since then, he has participated in National Immunization Days around the world, including Angola, Ghana and India.

As a trained disease surveillance specialist, Dr. Austel helps to determine where the wild poliovirus persists – vital knowledge as the goal of eradication nears – by collecting stool samples for laboratory testing. He also has volunteered aboard a medical boat sering remote river villages in Bangladesh and for years has lead and supported efforts to assist members of isolated, endangered tribes in the Brazilian rain forest.

Back home. as the 1999-2000 governor of District 5240, Dr. Austel spearheaded a drive that raised $350,000 for PolioPlus Partners, the most of any district in the world. But public health fieldwork remains his true passion, and he is well known for his first-person updates from the rugged front lines of the war against polio.

Modest by nature , Dr. Auste l agreed to talk about his commitment to Rotary and his dedication to the polio eradication campaign.

ROTARIAN REBORN

I joined my Rotary club in 1976 because another Rotarian physician said, “Joining Rotary was the best thing I ever did.” His testimony gave me an incentive to find out what was so good about Rotary. I found out, but not until years later.

Frankly, I was planning to resign from my club in 1991 because I was too busy with my practice. It was then that Sam Greene, our district

governor who later became a Rotary International Director, asked me to lead a Group Study Exchange to Brazil. I did, and I was awed by the international impact of Rotary. I came back a “born again” Rotarian, and have volunteered annually – usually several times a year, on some project or mission ever since.

Most of us have a sincere desire to help change the world for the better. The Rotary Foundation facilitates opportunities for all of us to do just that – to become international soldiers for our planet and, especially, to fight polio, the disease that has terrorized, killed, and crippled millions of children during the past century. Thanks to the unity and support of Rotarians around the world, we can fight poverty,

disease, and social inequities and truly make a difference.

Why am I so committed to polio eradication? In 1999, as district governor-elect at the International Assembly, I heard Bill Sergeant (chairman of the International PolioPlus Committee) describe polio eradication as a “war against the evil poliovirus.”

I had chaired our club’s PolioPlus committee in 1985, but since then I hadn’t really followed the progress of the eradication effort and assumed that everything was under control. I was shocked to learn that there were still 50 endemic countries and that the chance of meeting our deadline for global eradication w a s i n jeopardy.

Dr. Otto Austel (above center) has traveled by boat to conduct desease surveillance in remote river villages in Bangladesh and island communities in Ghana for Rotary’s PolioPlus program

(Continued on )



As governor [of our District], I made polio eradication my priority. We took Rotarians from our district to India to help on a National Immunization Day. They became ambassadors fro the program, and our district led the world in its support for the PolioPlus Partners program.

When my governor’s term ended in 2000, The Rotary Foundation suggested that I go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta for further training as a polio surveillance consultant. I did just that, and I now have been doing disease surveillance for the past two years.

O u r d e a r O t t o c o n t i n u e d h i s d i l i g enc e th roughou t hi s Rotar y career, helping to inspire others in the care and concern for the well-being of fellow human beings. He will be remembered.

On The Front Lines(Continued from Page 4)

“I was shocked to learn that

there were still 50 endemic

countries and that the chance

of meeting our deadline

for global eradication was

in jeopardy.”



Samuel L. Greene

Rotary Bio of PRID Samuel L. Greene

Samuel L. Greene was born in Wash ing ton , Ind i ana . He graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees and he was a proud “Hoosier”.

Indiana University is a lso where Sam met his lovely wife, Caki, in 1947. They were married in 1948 and were able to share their lives together for 58 years when Caki passed away in December of 2006.

Upon Sam’s graduation the couple moved to Arlington, VA and Sam began his professional life in computer and data processing industry starting with the Burroughs Company. Sam, Caki and the family eventually moved to Connecticut and then to the San Fernando Valley.

While living on the east coast, in 1957 Sam was introduced to Rotary becoming a member of the Rotary Club of New York City. Those of us who heard Sam speak about his Rotary life will always fondly remember his story about being a new Rotarian at this club and being seated next to J.C. Penney on one side and Norman Vincent Peale on the other. Sam, I am sure, you never felt any pressure of “measuring up”, did you?

Besides his love for Caki and his family, Sam’s other passion was Rotary. He believed in the principles of this organization so much so that he dedicated 54 years of his life serving in every capacity possible at the club, district, zone and international Board of Directors levels. He was the Past President and current/

active member of the Rotary Club of West Lake Village, a 2010-2011 Membership Advisor for District 5240, a District Governor of District 5240 in 1990-1991, a Past Director of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, a representative to the 1998 RI Council of Legislation, a chairman of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee, a Membership and Development Committee Chair for Rotary International, a coordinator of the Family of Rotary Committee for Rotary International and a member of the Board of Directors of Rotary International for 1999-2001. He participated in many NIDs in Ghana and India.

Sam was the recipient of Rotary’s highest recognitions, the Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service.

But above all, membership was Sam’s passion! Every chance Sam had he wanted to talk about the importance of recruitment and retention, many times having the ability and creativity to think “outside the box” to increase diversity – diversity of age, gender and ethnicity. Prior to his death, he proposed and was about to induct two new members at his home club. Sam, please smile down as President Ed Pope has inducted those new members on your behalf and in your honor.

He was our hero as a person and our Rotary role model!



Interview with PRID Sam GreeneRRIMC Chris Offer

The editor of Membership Matters interviewed Past RI Director Sam Greene in its December 2004 issue. At this time, Sam represented the World Chair of the RI Membership Development and Retention Committee. He was formerly Past Rotary International Director (PRID) and a member of the RC of Westlake Village.

CO: What is your role as world chair of the RI membership and Development Committee?

SG: I have two main roles as Chair of the committee. First, there are fifteen members of the MDRC that come from thirteen different Rotary countries. This committee provides support and advice to Governors in promoting membership development and education in their districts.

It also serves as a resource to districts and clubs in developing programs to recruit new members, educate and retain existing members, and encourage the formation of new Rotary Clubs. The committee reviews membership statistics; survey and research results; RRIMC program; retention pilot project status; web based initiatives; strategic planning actions; and the discussion of regional issues and potential membership development strategies. Recommendations are sent to the RI Board of Directors for updating and changing the strategy of the Membership Development and Retention program. My second role as the chair of this committee is to work closely with the forty-four RRIMCs (Regional Rotary International Membership Coordinator), and the eighty RIMZCs (Rotary International Membership Zone Coordinators). The RRIMCs are trained in Evanston and they in turn train the Zone Coordinators.

CO: Does the Membership Committee have any new initiatives or strategies planned that will increase membership?

SG: Our committee needs to get to the individual club in the Rotary world to retain and increase our membership. The strategy is to emphasize membership at all Rotary designated forums such as PETS, GETS, International

Assembly, Rotary Zone Institutes, Director Elect training and the International Convention. Endorsement of the RRIMC program by the RI Board of Directors is

important. This will promote the program’s overall effectiveness and success.

Co l l abo r a t i on b e tween th e RRIMCs and the Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinators needs to be encouraged and supported by the RI Board and Rotary Foundation Trustees. A strong membership base will have a direct and positive impact on contributions to the Foundation. The remarkable network of Rotary Fellowships needs to be communicated to our members and used as a means of improving retention.

The committee has requested the President of Rotary International have a standing membership workshop at each International Convention. The committee is also monitor the 102 Rotary clubs that are participating in the Pilot Retention Program

CO: What effect do you feel that the RI Strategic Plan adopted at the Council on Legislation in June will have on membership development?

SG: This is quite a large program, so I will just highlight a few of the main topics that were approved by the Board of RI. Diversity of our membership should reflect the makeup of the community they serve. As an association we depend on internationality for the achievement of many of our humanitarian efforts. Rotary International sincerely supports and encourages diversity within its member clubs. Clubs must not exclude individuals from

(Continued on )



membership based on: gender, age, ethnicity, creed (religion), professional and business interests (classification), or political affiliation.

Our c lubs could expand Rotary service to all populations in the club’s community. Also, it would energize the club and build ties between different groups in the community.

Another objective of the Strategic Plan is to improve training and education at all levels. This would certainly help in our retention programs as well as recruiting new members. One goal of the strategic plan is to enhance our public image. We have an excellent opportunity to improve our image in conjunction with centennial celebrations, with particular emphasis on the Chicago International Convention.

CO: How can clubs and districts use the RRIMC’s and RIMZC’s that work with their district?

SG: These trained membership and retention specialists are available to all districts and clubs. They should be utilized at District Membership Seminars, District Conferences, and Assemblies. And, by all means time should be given to these membership specialists at PETS and GETS. This is how membership and retention can get to the individual member and our club leaders.

CO: If you had a single message to deliver to a club president on membership development what would it be?

SG: Make membership retention and recruitment one of your main objectives for your year. Appoint a strong member to chair a proactive membership committee.

CO: As world chair of the RI membership

committee do you feel that membership issues in the US and Canada are the same as other parts of the Rotary world or are they different?

SG: The membership issues for the US and Canada are the same because many of our districts cross the border and we are integrated into membership issues and humanitarian programs. However, the membership issues are quite different in other areas of the Rotary World.

For instance the Zone makeup in Europe and Africa includes several countries with different languages and cultures. Each of these countries develops different approaches to retention and recruitment.

CO: What trends do you see in Rotary’s members hip development?

SG: Th i s i s our four th yea r in stressing membership development. We are making great progress in that the RRIMC and RIMZC program has matured and been successful in reaching out to districts and clubs in making membership retention and recruitment a priority. Our retention rate has improved and globally we have increased our membership.

CO: What is the most critical issue facing Rotary in terms of membership?

SG: Converting the majority of our members in Rotary to seek out qualified persons in their community to become Rotarians. In regards to retention of our members to assure that our clubs involve their members in service projects and the activities of the club.

CO: Sam, thank you and thank you for all you and the members of your committee are doing to grow Rotary’s membership around the world. [End]

Sam Greene truly had a humanitarian heart and a Rotary soul. He became a Rotary legend. Rotary

was his passion, his dedication and his purpose. His accomplishments would fill volumes and included serving as a Director of R.I., past District Governor, a creator of PRLS, unparalleled at starting new Rotary clubs and a vital component in the success of District 5240.

However, what I want to share are some of my experiences with Sam Greene the man. He was my mentor, advisor and inspiration. He embodied the qualities of a hero, my hero. When I first met Sam it was at a Rotary event where he said “. . . We Greenes have to stick together. Call me anytime and I will do whatever I can to help you.”

He was there to help resolve an issue I’d been struggling with. He was there when I needed him to contact RI on a new idea for a project. He was there to just brainstorm over lunch or a lite beer. During my year as club president Sam was the key speaker at our Foundation Dinner. Even thought he was recovering from a serious fall and not feeling very strong, he was there and delivered a very motivating address. At that same dinner I roasted Sam. He was such a good sport and even asked for a copy of the roast. I have many stories of Sam, but one I will share: We were attending a demotion party and had been sitting alone at a table for a very long time when Sam said with a smile “I better mingle or people will think I’m hitting on you.”

Sam encouraged me to dream and then make it happen.

I am a better person for having known and shared with Sam Greene.

Evie Greene RC Westlake Village Sunrise

In Memoriam of an Exemplary

Rotarian

Interview with PRID Sam Green(Continued from Page 7)



Pierre Saint-Amand

Pierre Saint-Amand was born in Tacoma, Washington. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Fairbanks, Alaska and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Cal Tech. Following his

doctoral degree he studied at the Institute D’ Astrophysique De Paris studying the light of the night sky on a Fullbright Scholarship. He and his wife Marie met in Canada and were married in 1945. She survives her husband and lives in Ridgecrest.

Pierre served in the United States Army in Alaska during WWII and worked as a US Navy Scientist from 1950 until 1988. While working for the Navy he wrote numerous scientific papers on Geology and Atmospheric phenomena including the light generated by the night sky at high altitudes. He is perhaps best known for patents in weather modification and his leadership in Operation Popeye in Vietnam, and Project Storm Fury: the first attempt to dissipate or steer tropical storms away from populated areas.

He was inducted into the Rotary Club of China Lake on June 23rd, 1976. His classification was Earth and Planetary Services. He was the president of his club in 1979-80 and was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Both of his sons have been Rotarians, with one son, David, serving as the 2010-2011 Executive Assistant Governor for District 5240.

What is not well known is that Pierre’s Rotary journey really began in April of 1958 when he was given letters of introduction from Agustin E. Turner of the International Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Pasadena to Dr. James H. McLain and Rotarian Enrique Curti Canobbio, of Santiago, Chile. Pierre spent the next two years in Chile working on the successful initiation of a world-class Geophysics program at the University of Santiago, Santiago, Chile, and writing the definitive study of the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960, which he personally experienced. It is not known if Pierre was a member of the Rotary Club of Pasadena, but it was apparent even then that his life and Rotary would intersect.

Pierre was the president of the Rotary Club of China Lake 1979-80, year when the RI theme was “Let Service Light the Way.” Pierre lived that theme throughout his life. In addition to his service as a Rotarian he was: a trustee of the Maturango Museum of the Indian Wells Valley; a founding member of the Board of Directors and president of the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital and the Indian Wells Valley Airport District; a president and member of the Board of Directors of the Indian Wells Valley Water District, and a past president of the Ridgecrest Sister Cities Association and the International Footprinters Association Chapter 60.

Pierre was our hero as a person and our Rotary role model!

Rotary Bio of Pierre Saint-Amand



A Note from Director John Blount: Bad News Travels Fast

I t is with a heavy heart that I begin this news brief with very sad news. We have recently lost

two true Rotary warriors: Past RI Director Sam Greene and Past DG Otto Austel. They are both from District 5240 and they both passed away on the same day, April 15.

Sam was Governor of District 5240 in 1990-91 and Director of Rotary International for the years 1999-2001. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village. As a Past Director Sam headed RI’s membership committee for three years.

Personally, I will miss Sam greatly. He and I were c la s smates f rom 1990-91 and good friends for the past 22 years. Patti and I have been blessed to have spent quite a bit of time with both Sam and Caki over the years in Rotary work and at our home in Sebastopol.

I have many memories of working with him on many Rotary efforts and one immediately comes to mind: creating a promotional film for Sam’s first institute in San Diego, with Ron Beaubien as the chair. It was a zoo theme and the promotion was to have the promotional method communicated through voice-overs of animal images; Cliff Dochterman as an elephant, Rick King as a lion, Ed Futa as a panda, and, of course, Director Sam as a giraffe!

Sam invested a lot of time and re source s to suppor t w i th th i s

crazy idea- traveling to our studio, recording voice-overs, and then mailing a disposable video to every PDG in the zones . But we did have a great time together putting this together.

I ’m smi l ing a s I con t inue to remember Sam Greene, a Rotarian…a leader…a friend…

Otto Austel has been a giant in Rotary. Interestingly, Otto was s en t by Sam Gre ene , t h e DG, in 1991 as the leader for a GSE team to Brazil, an experience that Otto later credited with opening his eyes to the impact Rotary has around the world and making him a ‘reborn Rotarian’.

That began an a lmost annual volunteer journey for him in Rotary projects around the world. In 1996 he retired from his family medical pract ice in Simi Val ley, CA, to go to work full time as a Rotary volunteer. He worked in NIDS around the world, including places like Angola, Ghana, and India.

In 1999-2000 Otto was Governor o f Dis t r i c t 5240 and ra i sed an unprecedented $350,000 for Polio Plus Partners. After his Governor y e a r, a t t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f The Rota r y Foundat ion , he volunteered for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a surveillance consultant and continued for several years, traveling throughout the world.

Otto was obviously one of those people that made the world better for so many others and we were all privileged to have known him.

John Blount, is our current Rotary International Director (2009-2011) for our Zone 26 (and Zone 25). He

and his wife of thirty-five years, Patti, are both members of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol, CA. John

is a thirty-two year member and past president of the Sebastopol

Rotary Club. He was Governor of District 5130 in 1990-1991.

Rotary Giants Leave Us

Two of our distr ict’s most respected and honored Rotarians passed away this past month

and another left us back in October. Sam Greene and Otto Austel passed away on Friday [April 15, 2011] (not unlike two of our Founding Fathers John Adams & Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day (4th of July 1826). Jock MacKenzie passed in October. Rotary and our district have lost iconic leaders all Past District Governors and one a Rotary International Director. But it wasn’t their Rotary positions that made them stand out. It was rather their leadership, their quiet competence, their ability to motive ordinary people to come together to do extraordinary things.

Notes of Tribute and Rememberance



Otto Austel lost a son in the jungles of the Amazon years ago. He almost left Rotary at one point. That is until PDG Anil Garg asked him to get involved on Rotary’s Polio eradication effort. Otto became Rotary “point person” for Polio years ago crawling the sewers of Cairo and elsewhere. On a personal note, Otto and I graduated Master PRLS in the same class. What an honor to learn at his side.

Sam Greene was, to hear him tell it, a reluctant Rotarian. It was after WWII. He was working for IBM at the time and his boss made him join Rotary. He reluctantly joined the Rotary Club in Manhattan NY. At one of his first meetings he was surprised to have J.C. Penny introduce himself and sit at his table with him. Wow! Both Sam and I were Navy veterans (he WWII, me Vietnam). Over lunch a couple of times we shared “sea stories”. I’ll relate two of Sam’s. He saw quite a bit of action in the Pacific Theater aboard a LCI a relatively small vessel. It could land 200 troops and was only 158 feet long. This story actually took place just after the war ended. He and his crew were returning to Hawaii from the Philippines. In a huge storm not only knocked out their engines but also all of their communications. They were adrift and in a most dangerous situation. Luckily after a few days, a sea going tug stumbled upon them and took them under tow, traveling at only 2 or 3 knots. Their trip from the Philippines took them weeks. His other story took place again after the war. He still had hard feelings toward the Japanese after the vicious island to island fighting of the Pacific Campaign. He was a newly elected Rotary Director and he was in Evanston, Illinois for orientation. He had gone down to the Rotary Mess and was beginning to eat lunch when a Japanese man (another new RI Director) approached and ask

to join him. Sam told me, initially he was not pleased. His feelings were still quite raw. To make a long story short, they began to talk both were Navy men and they found that they had fought in some of the same battles and survived. Over time they became close friends and visited with each other’s family in the USA and Japan. Rotary brought two enemies together!

Jock MacKenzie was a retired US Marine officer. He was a bull of a man. Quite imposing, a hulking man of about 6’ 2”. Again quite imposing and even initially intimidating to some. I am sure he could successfully wrestle an alligator. This is one of the men that saw a need for our district to better train its presidents and leaders. He helped to found PRLS and Master PRLS. Those that took his course on public speaking will not soon forget the experience. He would not hesitate to call you up and provide constructive criticism or for that matter praise. I remember when he was editor of the district’s newsletter he publish several of my weekly letters to our club. One time he included an editor’s note saying: “This piece was kind of wordy but to stick with it because the ending was worth it”. Receiving praise from Jock, Sam, or Otto was like receiving a “Hardy well done!” from your ship’s captain; a high honor indeed. Least I leave you with the wrong impression, Jock, was really a puppy dog at heart.

Jock, Otto, and Sam, you will be missed by me and many others but fond memories and lessons learned from Rotary Giants will remain. God Bless all of you and your families!

Terry Schaeffer Rotary Club of Ventura.

P.S. I may have got some of the details of the

stories jumbled but their points are valid.

Inspirational Fellowship

We sent Past Rotary I n t ’ l Director, Sam Greene’s g r a n d d a u g h t e r on a

Short Term Rotary Exchange about 5 years ago… Even though his Granddaughter’s application was very late, there was no way I was going to disappoint Sam. I put together the exchange with Germany on short notice and she had a wonderful time. Sam even visited her in Germany since he happened to be in the area. I really liked Sam, he reminded me of my grandfather who was also very involved in a service club (Masons). I was very honored to receive our District’s distinguishing Sam Greene “Service Above Self Award” four years ago. He really inspired me and I admired him very much. We had many good chats at the various District Conferences.

Otto Austel was also such a trooper in the eradication of Polio. As a Doctor and as a humanitarian he was well known outside our District and even outside of Rotary through the World Health Organization. I didn’t know him as well as Sam but he was always ready to lend a hand even after his health challenges. He helped a couple of our exchange students out that had a medical issue at the last District Conference we had in the Palm Springs area (2005). Both Sam and Otto lived in the Thousand Oaks/Westlake area. It’s unreal that these two phenomenal PDGs died the same day. What a legacy they both left, we will miss them greatly.

Ronda WernerRortary Club of Camarillo

Youth Exchange Service Chair District 5240



Membership is Greene

It is fitting that the last Rotary meeting Sam Greene attended was that of his home club, the

Rotary Club of Westlake Village. The last official act Sam performed as a Rotarian was inducting two bright, young professional women into our club (Sam was an early advocate and champion of women in Rotary as well as a driving force behind membership recruitment and retention).

The photo of Past Rotary International Director, Sam Greene was taken Wednesday, April 13th at the Rotary Club WestLake Village regular meeting. Sam was inducting two new members at this time. This is, in all likelihood, the last photo taken of Sam before his sudden passing. Sam was so enormously proud of inducting the two new members in this ceremony. He was the best Membership Chair our club has ever had. In addition, there were three “special guests” (three potential new members) at the meeting, scheduled for induction in the following weeks.

YIRS, Edward J. A. Pope, Ph.D.

President (2010/2011) Rortary Club of Westlake Village

This is one of my last precious memories (photo) of PRID Sam Green, Rotarians having

fun at the District 5240 Foundation Gala (Jan 2011) with RI President Ray Klinginsmith, PEN Edwin A. Velarde (myself ) & PDG Cy Johnson.

He ALWAYS shared with me his experience i n t h e Philippines and how that occupies a piece of his h e a r t . He asked me to be par t o f his literacy pro jec t in C o t a b a t o w h i c h i n s p i r e d my project years later to Marinduque Island. What an honor to know Sam.

Edwin A. VelardeRotary Club Of Westlake Village

This is sad. I did not ever meet Otto but have of course heard about him often thru Rotary.

Sam Greene holds one of my most memorable first impressions in Rotary at a Thanksgiving Luncheon in Paso Robles way back at the beginning for our club in probably 2006. He was a dynamic man who captured my heart. I met him again at an event and shared how much he reminded me of my Dad and that was a huge compliment though he did not know my Dad. He was so gracious.

My heartfelt s o r row goes to you and all other long time Rotarians who are feeling the loss of special Rotarian humanitarians who have gone to God. They are being well cared for.

Blessings to the families... Hugs of Love, Linda

Linda Foster FinleyRotary Club Cambria Sunrise Centennial

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