Verandas Beach House 401 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach CA :15 AM

Transcription

1 Verandas Beach House 401 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach CA :15 AM Dr. Chris And then there was Chris. Dr. Chris Ullman, the chiropractor, the comedian who makes us laugh at every meeting. Everyone in the room looked forward to knowing where that good-natured, sardonic, biting humor comes from, and Chris actually showed us it comes from the deep sadness and the simmering rage that he experienced as a very young man exposed to unbearable tragedy. Chris told us stories, mixed with tears and laughter, as only he can. But let me let him speak for himself. Chris was born January 31, 1949, the 4th of 6 children in Temple, Texas and then Tulsa, Oklahoma, parented by a Jewish father and an Irish-Catholic mother. He submerged himself in theology attending Catholic schools, then headed to New Orleans to work the offshore oil fields but ended up hitchhiking around the country, finding his way to a jolting Jimi Hendrix and the Monterey Pop Festival. He volunteered for the Army, drilling at Fort Polk, Louisiana and attending NCO school at Fort Benning Georgia. And then: Vietnam. Today s Program Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil! Golda Meir Former Prime Minister of Israel October 16 MB Roundhouse Aquarium at the End of the Pier Michael Greenberg, CEO of Skechers, will discuss the upcoming remodel of the Roundhouse Aquarium. Page 1

2 ************************************************************************************** I wasn t there, so I can t properly repeat the references Chris offered. An Khe. 1st and 50th. Patch. Play The Game. Chris recommended the PBS Vietnam series, and he especially appreciates the series focus on what went on in North Vietnam. (The usually opinionated Dr. Chris declined to express political opinions during this talk.) In Vietnam Chris met a 7-year-old village girl and quickly grew attached to her. The day after meeting her, the Viet Cong killed three village leaders and scattered toothbrushes around their bodies. It turned out that the little girl had shown off the American toothbrush gifted to her, and this was the VC response. Chris also learned about the VC taking so-called comfort girls from the local villages. He decided that the VC could not be properly called the National Liberation Front, as they claimed, but more accurately the National Intimidation Front. He saw them as bullies and was more than ready to do what needed to be done. He headed into the jungle and was especially impressed by the Montagnards, who fought as a village with whatever meager tools were at hand. On patrol, Chris often walked point. Booby-trapped trails made it important not to walk on trails. One day his sergeant insisted on putting a freshly-in-country recruit on point, over Chris vociferous objections. The recruit tripped a trap, which triggered an ambush. The recruit left in a body bag. Chris meted out some justice on the sergeant after it was over. Chris tried to get the name of the recruit as he died, and thought he heard Martin, but later realized he was saying Mama. He s still Martin to Chris. Chris completed his tour with short range ambush night patrols, organized in 7-man teams. He returned to the United States with a purple heart, wearing his uniform, only to be spat upon and called a BK (Baby Killer). Some fights ensued. After about a year, a girl disrespectfully wearing fatigues heard him out, and somehow the conversation broke the fever. He voted for Nixon in 68 and worked for McGovern in 72 and managed to get beaten up by three Secret Service agents at a Nixon rally. Dr. Chris attended the Palmer College of Chiropractors. At one point he exorcised Kareem Abdul- Jabbar s migraines. The New York Times picked up the story and Chris practice quintupled. He married Kay, found his way to Manhattan Beach, divorced, married Diane at Barnabey s, had three kids Jordan, Cecily and Bryce divorced, and ended up raising those three wonderful kids by himself. None of this assuaged the pain he still feels from the 1981 still birth of Kay s and his son, Samuel Christopher Ullman. Chris closed his talk with a photo of himself with his many kids and grandkids. Chris is a spiritual searcher. He is currently engaged in yoga and meditation. Early on, he spent time at an ashram in Denver. During time in New York and Houston, he became close friends with Rennie Davis of Chicago 7 fame. Chris quoted Rennie: You can t change the world peacefully unless you re at peace. Rotary has very much been at the center of Chris life for 35+ years. He has been our club president and much more. He sponsored Larry Wolf into the club, and Larry is much on his mind. Chris told us he has written two books, one or both including Cascading in the title. He invites us to obtain and read them. Both include Vietnam backgrounds. I close with a personal word. I m a nervous wreck writing this story. Chris was in the club when I joined over 34 years ago and has been a dear friend ever since, as he is with countless members, past and present, of this club. He and I have engaged in some of the most intense conversations of my lifetime. He has been a Rotary inspiration and a close, loyal friend to my daughter, Megan. I love him and, at the same time, remain a bit wary of him, because I cannot imagine anyone living life at the incredibly high level of intensity that Chris does. I can only hope these notes somehow memorialize a memorable morning. He is, in a word, fascinating to be around. Chris stood up in front of us on Monday and poured out his heart and soul as only he can. We were privileged to be there. Rotary Business It was Monday, October 2, 2016, and President Mark Burton had important Rotary business to attend to, as always. But this was Chris Ullman s day, and everyone wanted to get to his much anticipated craft talk without delay. Still, there was important Rotary business, especially in Puerto Rico, where Cedric Tuck-Sherman (who Page 2

3 got his blue badge from sponsor Gerry Morton) has family, to whom Deb Robertson delivered a generator, while James Kennedy worked with District Governor Cozette Vergari to organize a club-and-district aid effort..mark Lipps subjected the October birthday celebrants to 4-count burpees.john Osten s daughter finally found the new house she wanted.mike Doell inexplicably congratulated Donn Ennis for WSU dismantling USC..Shannon Ryan commended Mark Lipps and Tom Jeffry for taking on an unnamed physical challenge.jim Lambert s wife closed a major deal at IBM.And Russ Samuels son got to talk to an astronaut in the space station. Yours in Rotary, Jim Hallett See more Paparazzi photos of Monday s meeting at our Club s SmugMug Site Programs October 23 - Rodney Loehr, Co-Founder AquaViable Solutions and Water Resources Specialist, will share his expertise about the direction of water technology. October 30 - Alison Diaz, Executive Director Environmental Charter Schools, will discuss what makes schools and education work. November 6 - Tom Bakaly, CEO of Beach Cities Health District, will discuss activities at the Health District. Save the Date Tuesdays Thru May 22 Richstone Mentors Click on Link to Register Tuesday, October 17 Board Meeting 7:00 to 8:30 pm Where: Lido di Manhattan, 1550 Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA Friday, October 20 Career Day Environmental Charter School, City of Lawndale Tuesday, October 24 World Polio Day Sunday, October 29 Skechers Pier to Pier Walk Join the Manhattan Beach Rotary Team Goal is to raise $2,000. Raised To Date - $540. Page 3

4 Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Fellow MB Rotarians Cedric Tuck-Sherman, Bob Lanahan, Deb Robertson, Ingo Werk, Richard Montgomery, and James Kennedy; with the full support of President Mark Burton; are currently working on gathering information and planning a strategy for the Manhattan Beach Rotary club to assist disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico. We hope to aid the island in an effort similar to what was done for Cleveland, Texas. To put things in perspective, one of my best friends who lives there compared the wreckage to a post-war landscape. Power will not be restored for a minimum of 3-6 months. One can only imagine what the people of Puerto Rico are going through right now. It is utterly incomprehensible. At this time we are still in preliminary discussions with affected friends, family, and colleagues on Puerto Rico on how best to help. Once we have gathered that information we will need to figure out a plan of attack and are trying to coordinate our efforts with clubs on the island or other regional clubs looking to do the same to amplify our efforts. If anyone in the club has any ideas or wants to help in any way please contact me (James Kennedy) to discuss further. Skechers Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk Our club has formed a team ("MB Rotary") to participate in the Skechers Pier-to-Pier Friendship walk on Sunday October 29th! Our goal is to raise $2,000 and to date we are at $540. It cost $30 per person so we need at least 67 people to sign up. When you add up our 109 members along with their friends and family, this goal should be easily achievable. Plus it s a super fun event supporting some great organizations. Thank you to the 18 who have all ready signed up. - David Gendron - To sign up click on the link below. Page 4

5 Wine Garden Chair Cedric Tuck-Sherman Mark and Vinny selling wine to Harris Bass. Mark, Duke and Vinny modeling the shirts. Dr. Chris with the Interact Club. The Money Changers Ticket Sales Service with a smile. The man with the Most Tickets? Ready, Set, Go! Page 5

6 Hanging out at the Beer Tap. Sales are going strong. Wine anyone? I have the premium wine. Pulling customers in off the grass. The Guards at the Gate. Taking security seriously. Guarding the Exit. Thank you Manhattan Beach Rotarians that worked to make this event successful. I know that fun was had by all. More pictures at Page 6

7 District 5280 News October 28, The Foundation Celebration "Million Dollar Dinner" JW Marriott at LA Live, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA Drawing tickets have been distributed to clubs. Additional drawing tickets and table reservations are still available. Visit the web page for full details. USC/UCLA TAILGATE NOV. 15 Rotary Clubs of Lomita-Torrance Airport, South Bay Sunrise, & Torrance Del Amo Calling all Bruins and Trojans! The three Rotary Clubs in Torrance will present the 9th annual Rotary USC-UCLA Tailgate luncheon at the Torrance Marriott. This event has been growing each year, and we expect over 400 attendees this year. The rivalry promises to be exciting this year and we are reaching out to other Rotarians and community groups to publicize the event and help it continue to grow. To learn more go to the Web Page Colombia Humanitarian Trip March at Bucaramanga and March at Bogota. This year s Humanitarian Trip is different from all previous years, with a complete change in venue. We will be doing projects in two cities in Colombia with a combination of projects, tours, and lots of fun, activities and fellowship each day. You can choose to go to either city or to get the most out of the trip by going to both Bucaramanga and Bogota. Due to projects being widely dispersed, we will not be visiting the global grant projects and will visit projects within short driving distance. Some projects will be presented to us either in Bucaramanga or Bogota during our local activities. For more information visit the trips Web Page Page 7

8 Local Rotary Make-Up Clubs Rotarians Participate at Weekly Meetings Tuesday Hermosa Beach 12:15 pm PV Sunset 7:00 pm Wednesday Torrance Sunrise 7:15 am Redondo Beach - 12:15 pm Westchester - 12:15 pm Thursday El Segundo - 12:15 pm LA International Airport - 12:15 pm Lawndale - 12:15 pm Friday Palos Verdes - 12:15 pm Meals on Wheels Schedule October 17 Eric Iverson October 24 Ian Jackson October 31 Tom Jeffry November 07 Daniel Jensen Richstone Tutoring (Tuesdays, 4-5 pm) October 17 Jan Rhees & Danny Quisenberry October 24 Susan Adams & Dave Boochever October 31 Rick Farrell & Norm Levin November 07 Deb Robertson & David Boochever November 14 Mike Matthews & Dr. Chris Ullman November 28 Dick Chase & Open October 20 October 21 October 24 October 25 October 27 October 28 October 31 October 18 October 18 October 21 October 22 October 25 October 25 October 28 Birthdays Jan Buike Russ Samuels John Van den Akker Randall Meadors Kathleen Adams Kathleen Terry Duke Winser Anniversaries Jamie & Kristina Cappetta 14 yrs Roger & Joanna Rombro 31 yrs Michael & Stacey Dobak 17 yrs Alex & Kristen Yoffe 7 yrs Norm & Claudia Levin 47 yrs Herb & Nancy Trachtenberg 47 yrs Richard Montgomery & Diane Paralusz 9 yrs Officers & Directors Mark Burton President Ken Deemer President-Elect Shannon Ryan Past President Russ Samuels Secretary Jay Harkenrider John Rhind Treasurers Gerry Morton Director Club Service Programs/COO Mark Lipps Director Club Service Social David Gendron Director Community Service Bob Lanahan Director International Service Loli Ramezani Director Vocational Service Tim Hageman Director Youth Service John Osten Sergeant At Arms Ian Jackson Membership Chair Dave Peters Rotary Foundation Kathleen Terry Peace Chair Cozette Vergari, Governor District 5280 Ian H.S. Riseley, President Rotary International Rotary: Making a Difference ROTES QUOTES PUBLISHING COMPANY P.O. Box 691 Manhattan Beach, CA Jim Hallett Notes Writer Sue Vogl - Notes Coordinator Donn Ennis Paparazzi Dennis Ridge Honorary Publisher Page 8

9 Manhattan Beach Rotary 109 Active Members Strong John Acker Financial Planner Kathleen Adams Financial Advisor Susan Adams Aerospace Paul Allman Personnel Training Deborah Arnold Business Software Consultant Tim James Auringer Automotive Dealer Wade Austin Jr. Photography Harris Bass Business and Tax Law Bill Bloomfield Commercial/Laundry David Boochever Consultant/Computer Geoff Bremer CPA Monica Farrell Bringleson Non-profit Development Jan Buike Social Worker Mark Burton City Attorney Jamie Cappetta Religion/University Karla Cameron Beverage Marc Castellani Wealth Management Richard Chase College Professor Roger Cox Business Consultant Mark Danaj City Manager Steve De Baets Truck Refrigeration Ken Deemer Private Investor Steve Delk Restaurant Michael Dobak Advertising Mike Doell Moving & Storage Donn Ennis Oil Refinery Engineer Robert Espinosa Fire Chief Patrick Fard Martial Arts Richard Farrell Video Production (ret) Vinny Fazzino Builder/Engineer John Gardner Banking David Gendron Specialty Finance Dr. Damien Goldberg Ophthalmologist Nelson Gray Education Robert Guilford Business Consultant Tim Hageman Police Officer Jim Hallett Criminal & Family Attorney Richard Ham Aerospace Engineer Jay Harkenrider Real Estate Residential Dave Harris Wealth Advisor Wendell Harter Honorary Member Jason Hearne Computer Animator Lisa Hemmat-Lupercio Restaurateur Jordan Holbert Graphic Designer John Hugunin Community College Professor Jim Hunter Property Management Eric Iverson Web Designer Ian Jackson Mortgage Banker Tom Jeffry Attorney Health Care Dan Jensen Real Estate Lawrence Johnson Investment Banker Don Jung CPA Business Manager James Kennedy Energy Consultant Brad Koppel International Trade Ed Kushins Home Exchange Executive Jim Lambert IT Consulting Bob Lanahan Systems Engineer Serving Manhattan Beach Since 1950 Past President, Past District Governor Norm Levin Business Theatre Mark Lipps Chamber Manager David Long Executive Recruiter Steve Lore General Contractor Jim McFarland Title Insurance Barbara Matles Travel Agent Mike Matthews Education Randall Meadors Architect Richard Montgomery Advertising Dennis Morehead Property Management Gerry Morton Nutritional Products Steve Murillo Mortgage Broker Lindy Murrell Communications Wayne Nelson Marketing John Osten Commercial Publishing Dr. Ray Padilla Dentist Dr. Patricia Panucci Orthodontist Matthew Peck Accounting Dave Peters RE Investments/ Development /Mediation Dan Quisenberry Attorney Loli Ramezani Senior Services Don Redman Manufacturing Executive (ret.) Jan Rhees Residential Real Estate John Rhind CPA Accounting Dr. Deborah Robertson Veterinarian Roger Rombro Attorney Family Law Erin Rothner Interior Design Joel Rubin Attorney Real Estate & Business Lit John Russo Retired Shannon Ryan Financial Planner Daniel Saks Insurance Russ Samuels Fitness & Personal Trainer Dr. Les Silverman Optometrist Ronald Sokol Attorney Charlie Steinmetz Investor Real Estate Bob Stephenson Accountant Corporate Lincoln Stone Business & Immigration Law Kathleen Terry Management Consultant Herb Trachtenberg Aerospace Engineer Cedric Tuck-Sherman Marketing Dr. Chris Ullman Chiropractic John Van den Akker Property Management/Investments Sue Vogl Journalism Megan Walker Caterer Lee Walker Insurance Casualty Jason Wallace Attorney Real Estate Ingo Werk Manufacturing Duke Winser Honorary Member Larry Wolf Real Estate Broker/Owner Scott Yanofsky Contractor Alexander Yoffe Attorney Tom Zimmerman - Finance Page 9