JUL 16, 2013 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
CDR Tim (Oz) Oswalt

Special guest Josh Groban had to cancel at the last minute, so President Jim invited Jerry Faletti to lead everyone in singing America (My Country Tis of Thee).  He filled in wonderfully, while Leon Goodrich inexplicably selected God Save the Queen to play on the piano while Jerry led the singers.   

Steve Nyhus delivered the invocation, at which your Scribe would have wept openly . . . had he not been driving in endless circles looking for a spot in the parking lot when Steve did so.  What was with that, he wondered as he wandered up to the roof deck after the meeting to a car interior that clocked in at 127º?

Jill Petzel introduced the week’s guests including Terry Anderson, Past President of the Rotary Club of Madison, WI.  Joe Kovarik and Terry were club presidents the same year and met at the Large Club conference in Des Moines, Iowa several years ago.  President Jim thanked Bo Aylin and Al Zdrazil for their service as door greeters.  Sherry Howe reported that President Jim also publicly acknowledged your humble scribe, but that was probably just so this document was timely completed and submitted.

President Jim next offered a memorial for Mark Weber, which is reproduced in full elsewhere in this issue.  A remarkable Rotarian, soldier, friend and family man, among the prescient acts Mark completed while still among us was to plant trees in his family’s back yard just weeks before cancer finally won its battle against him. (No word whether he then did 25 pushups to top it off, or if he counted his reps in Kurdish, which Mark learned to speak in less than a month!)

What a gift for his kids, who can think of how amazing their father was each time they look at those trees, and for his wife who can continuously appreciate this living symbol of his passion and love for his family.  Your Scribe pokes fun at lots of stuff, even himself (see “references” tab) at times, but does not make light of these sort of things folks.  Those of you so inclined, please keep Mark and his family in your prayers. 

Gil Thoele introduced Christian Weinhagen as Club 10’s newest Rotarian.  Christian is with the Weinhagen Tire Company, which has been doing business in St. Paul back long before I‑35 was even a smile on Dwight Eisenhower’s face.  (Weinhagen Tires had to move when the government acquired the right of way for the Interstate.)  Welcome, Christian!

Vicki Gee-Treft talked about Rotary’s Friendship Exchange, looking for volunteers for September 16 to 21 to host 4 couples from District 5080 which includes Southeastern British Columbia, Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington State.

Galyna Skibo, from the Rotary Club of Kiev, gave a brief presentation on the Group Study Exchange, then Margie Horning, District Grants subcommittee Chair, thanked the club for its fundraising efforts and presented a District check for $6,000.

Clyde Nelson introduced our speaker, Commander Timothy Oswalt, USN.  Commander Oswalt pointed out that 70% of earth is covered by water and 80% of the world’s population lives on the coastline.  (If that is the case, why is your Scribe’s lawn so brown all the time?)

The Navy is present to protect U.S. interests in both war and peace. The Navy permits us to have a presence throughout the globe, regardless of whether there is a land base available. 

A popular 1978 tune (a song the Navy actually used briefly in recruiting ads) included the couplet, “If you like adventure don't you wait to enter the recruiting office fast.  Don't you hesitate, there is no need to wait; they're signing up new seamen fast.”  Much to Victor Willis’ dismay, however, getting into the Navy is a lot more than walking into a recruiting station and signing up. 

In fact, over 70% of the Navy’s “target recruiting market,” 18-24 year olds, are not qualified for the Navy for one reason or another.  To begin, anyone under 50% in his/her class must be “justified” based on extracurricular activities or other extenuating circumstances.  Other barriers can prohibit those “smart enough,” as well.  The standard commitment a new recruit makes to the Navy 8 years (4 active and 4 “ready reserve”), although this can vary. 

Among those areas where the Navy is seeking to expand are nuclear engineering and medical fields.  To identify and encourage the most qualified candidates, the Navy has innovative programs for gifted students.  Those selected can get naval salary and benefits while attending school full time provided they make their grades and otherwise stay on track. 

One place the Navy is focusing its efforts to get its message to possible recruits is with “Influencers.”  This is one important reason for Commander Oswalt’s visit with Club 10 today.  (You or a potential recruit can email him at timothy.oswalt@navy.mil, and he can direct your potential recruit appropriately.)

As Commander Oswalt noted at closing, “Sometimes we [the Navy] rush in after the storm, sometimes we are the storm.”  All Rotarians should sleep better knowing these dedicated men and women are looking out for American interests across the globe.

Jim Kosmo thanked Commander Oswalt, and noted that a donation in his name would be made to the to the Read with Me program of the Saint Paul Public Library, and supplied him with a coin containing the Rotary 4 Way Test. 

Finally, Dick Warren closed with “this day in history,” which included that in 1862, David Farragut became the first admiral of the United States Navy and the Apollo 11 launch in 1969!  While your Scribe recalls watching the latter on a 9” black and white TV, no word on whether Clyde was present at the former.

See you next week!

Joe Beckman, Scribe