August 20, 2015 Meeting of West Bay Rotary
After introduction of visiting Rotarians and visitors, Bob Rubin gave his classification talk. His first classification talk was in 1998, when then a member of West Bay Rotary the first time. He was in a law partnership with Dana Strout, and met his wife in Rotary. He has three children. His daughter was a Rotary exchange student to France. He has three grandchildren. Bob is the grandchild of a Polish immigrant, his grandfather. His father was a dress manufacturer in Chicago. His mother was a Czechoslovakian refugee in the mid 1930's. Her uncle, a physician, survived Auschwitz and was later a leader in oncology in Chicago. Bob has two sisters, and they grew up on the north side of Chicago, in West Rogers Park. He attended the University of Wisconsin, studying Political Science and Economics, and graduated during the Vietnam war. He went to UW Law School and graduated in 1972. He planned to have 5 jobs in the legal profession. He had studied with the Washington police department under a Ford Foundation grant to create and implement policy protocols for the officers. He taught law at Indiana University, teaching legal writing and criminal justice. He practiced in two large firms in Chicago, and then moved to Maine. His fifth job was opening his own firm in Maine.
His clients have included Phillips Electric and Hilton Hotels. He shared stories of lawsuits with Donald Trump and a paternity case involving professional baseball players. Bob is now retired inasmuch as he doesn't appear in court, but still has a few clients for whom he provides advice and counsel.
This is the last week that the buckets on the tables are for kids' backpacks.
Barbara Heard shared that LL Bean is donating 50 backpacks, and she is now searching for the items to go into the packs, which bucket funds will be used to buy.
Deb Hitchings shared that Cate Lamb is in hospice at the Sussman House. Visitors are welcome for short visits.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award applications are still being accepted. Mark Masterson is leading the effort for Windjammer Weekend, and help is needed for putting up the tent and other shifts during the Chowder Challenge. Ken Gardiner is leading the sponsorship effort, $100 or $50. Members are encouraged to each bring in one sponsor for the event. John Viehman shared that Vstv is doing a segment to feature the Chowder Challenge with Lanie Stiles and Kerry Altiero.
Gary Walker presented Rotary Information. He focused on the history of Rotary and women, initially its exclusion of women, the Supreme Court's decision outlawing that policy in 1987, and the change in the RI Charter in 1989 to allow women membership. West Bay's membership is 43% women and he believes it is the highest in District 7790.
Next week's speaker is PDG Deb Walters who has been raising money for Safe Passage and children living in the Guatemala City dump.