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Guest Speaker
Gordon Fell introduced our guest speaker, Lt. Col. Don Sheppard, a professor of military science at UCLA and whose biography is on our website.
The LTC once deployed to Afghanistan is now, professor of Military Science at UCLA. His responsibility includes overseeing ROTC students at Cal Lutheran, Loyola Marymount and Cal State Univ. Northridge and other locations. ROTC involves a 4-year commitment to receive a commission to be an officer in the US armed forces. The starting salary is $40,000-$45,000/year plus benefits.
The speaker handed out interesting material that addressed issues like future resources and future operational strategy. You can view them from this Dropbox address by clicking here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ux5j93ru9ycp5g9fdwayn/AGkF4jVSax7heEG_OD5QGus?rlkey=lrlpym8c30w1d0x97sfst0h3m&st=l4sj1r9h&dl=0
There are about 75 ROTC at UCLA. Cal State Northridge is an extension program of UCLA. Applicants can try the program out for two years with no commitment required. California is considered the main location for military recruitment in the country, mostly because of its size and our educated populace.
There was a question on recruitment goals and obstacles. The LTC says he recruits about 35 cadets per year and has contract and commission goals. With help from DoD, he commissions 22-23 cadets per year. His goal is to increase that number with the addition of Cal State LA into the program.
LTC Sheppard addressed the strategic building up and changes in military strategy as the world situation changes. Due to these constant changes, his job means he serves on active duty 24/7.
Overall, enrollment in ROTC is currently flat. But with high school seniors he has seen a significant increase in interest, with normally 2-3 students per year expressing interest. This year however, he was approached by 15 seniors expressing interest.
It was an interesting presentation with lots of questions from the Rotarians. PP Steve presented Lt. Col with a gift and thanked him for his presentation.
Before the regularly scheduled meeting, PP Chris Bradford sat down with some of our new members and gave them a broad overview of the Rotary International Global Scholarship Program. Most of the current applicants in the past few years have sought graduate degrees in Paris or London, in environment or tropical diseases areas of study. Christine suggested we look at the veteran community and suggested that the comprehensive forms are the hurdle for Veterans. PP Chris says there are rules pertaining to eligibility, such as they must have a sponsoring Club in our District, they must live or work in our District and they must be graduate students. The scholarship is $30,600/year in graduate studies.
May 2nd is National Brothers and Sisters Day.
PP Tom Barron read the Rotary Four Way Test. PPx2 Steve expanded it to “Is It, Is It, will it, will It.”
Jim Crane was our greeter.
PP Chris Bradford led us in our Pledge of Allegiance.
PP Gordon Fell shared his Thought of the Day, dedicated to our veterans.
PPx2 Steve thanked Roozbeh for catering the meeting and shared updates on the Persian Gulf fire in the electrical relay box on Westwood Blvd, which spread to the whole block. It may be that Persian Gulf is closed for up to a year.
PP Ed Gauld led us in song to the tune of God Bless America.
PE Ben introduced Sam and Valeria as prospective Rotarians, moving here from Costa Rica where Sam was a former member of a Costa Rican Rotary Club. (Note – Sam and Valeria have submitted their application for membership under the category of “Organizational Development and Community Building.”) PPx2 Chris Gaynor introduced his guest Dennis Greenwald, a retired atty, interested to see what Rotary is about. PP Michael Newman introduced former WVRC Member Curt Smith as a visiting Rotarian from Reno
PPx2 Steve talked about the Gladstones Beach Restaurant clean-up on Sunset Blvd and PCH in Pacific Palisades. PPx2 Diane Good, PPx2 Steve Day, PE Ben Fisher and Janet Schwartz all participated alongside DG Makiko. It was organized through the Surfrider Foundation by our very own SAG of Community Service, Diane Good. Thirty District Rotarians and 8 Rotaracts and DG Makiko were also there.
Next week our guest speaker will be the homeless Healthcare LA executive Director Mark Casanova.
PPx2 Day ended with a Quote from Dr Spock; “A human being is happiest and successful when dedicated to a cause outside his own individual, selfish satisfaction.”
PPx2 Steve thanked Diane and Roozbeh, who teamed up together to make this last-minute venue change at the Salvation Army Family Center a successful meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
(as an editor’s note – the Cooper font was chosen for the text titles in honor of President Steve’s dog).
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