As February winds down, WVRC on the 28th

This was a full meeting - everything but live dancers.  As a result, my report may be missing some items, for which I apologize (in advance).  But we did start off in the usual manner, with the Pledge being led by PP TOM LENEHEN.  GREGG ELLIOTT was at the piano, with PP STEVE DAY conducting us in It's a Grand Old Flag.  PP HOMER NEWMAN was up next, with an Invocation, the key words of which were AS WE DO to others (instead of WHICH we do to others) - a lawyerly difference, and a provocative idea.

STU GILMAN reported that there were no visiting Rotarians, but we did have a number of guests.  LEE DUNAYER introduced his wife, Marti, who sometimes works with today's Speaker, Marc Hankin.  Former member King Wu was present, and TED IHNEN did the honors.  Pres. GEORGE told us of Karen Nemig, who is with Lehman Bros.
A short time later (but mentioned now, since it concerns visitors) PDG BILL GOODWYN awoke from a light nap, and in behalf of SHERRY DEWANE, who had the
sneezes (or was it hiccups?), introduced Lisa Harwood, VP and Trust Officer of Wells Fargo in BH.  

MARK BLOCK reported on the status of our forthcoming Japanese Student Exchange.  We have one applicant - and while I was writing this report, another - they are Cindy LYSTER and Nicole GAYNOR, and are both to be congratulated on making an excellent decision!   We'll look forward to their reports next fall.   HARLAN LEWIS reported on our most successful Yearling Breakfast this past Tuesday morning - Yearlings present were ALON DORON, LILLIAN KLIEWER, MICHAEL GINTZ and KATHY REZOS who were instructed, and inspired, YOE thinks, by the 16 well-informed (more senior, that is) members who were there.

LENORE MULRYAN, always active with our Ambassadorial Scholars, introduced Rob                     
William's, who has just returned from a year of study in New Zealand.  He has become an Israeli citizen, and is working to interpret public policy for the Israeli Air Force.  He began by telling us he was Israeli, also American, and recently Canadian - so he uses whichever country seems best when asked!  He briefly described his new activities, including his now being a Captain in the Israeli Air Force, and invited questions. Guest Karen Nemig asked how he became an Israeli citizen.  Anyone who is born Jewish can apply, upon landing at Tel Aviv - based on the ancient Jewish law of Right of Return.  MARK BLOCK asked what the Strategic Thinkers thought of Prime Minister Sharon's recent proposal to separate the two peoples, but this sort of went by the boards. Rob did indicate that the Israelis are interested in buying the Golan Heights, which would eliminate that as a problem area. They would be willing to buy the West Bank also, but there is no one to buy it from!  There is talk of a new election to eliminate the present coalition government, so that the true government would be either Likud (on the right) or Labor, (on the left).  PP STEVE SHERER asked how powerful Yasser Arafat is.  He has some serious physical ailments, but if he were to die, it would not be helpful to the Israeli cause.  He is not considered trustworthy, but there is no one else to take his place.

February is Black History month, so DAN PRICE put together some great film clips of old-time black actors.  First was a 1936 version of Showboat, in which Hattie McDaniel and Paul Robeson both sang - "Can't Help Lovin Dat Man".  Next was a 1929 production called On With The Show, featuring Ethyl Waters singing "Birmingham Bertha" and John W. Bubbles as the featured dancer.  Last was Louie Armstrong - a 1934 show entitled Rhythm in Black and Blue, (for black audiences only) and he sang "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascal you".  Two notes here - Louie was born in 1900, thus was 34 at the time, and William Randolph Hearst had a specific rule at San Simeon - that song was NEVER to be played there!  (Editorial note - when you own the castle you can make your own rules…)

There was a nice presentation by KEVIN KOIMATSU on behalf of the Read by Nine program.  They received a check for $1300,  some of which came from WVRC and the rest from the District.  These funds were for Richland Elementary School, just off Pico and west of the 405. And will be used to buy books for their library. This was received by new Principal Ellen DeLestim and Vice Principal Jon Gest - a 25-year veteran at Richland. They also would welcome any volunteer readers, please.  

Before I get to the Speaker, two announcements, please:
First, a change - the Rotary Auxiliary will meet on Thursday, March 14th, starting at 11:30 at Westwood United Methodist Church.  Lunch, then shuttle to the Fowler Museum a UCLA for lecture and tour.  Contact Petie Henkes, as usual.
And a NOW HEAR THIS - from the powers that be - it is decreed that we do, indeed want more lawyers - there are only two active among us, and we should welcome other possibles, OK?  

LEE DUNAYER introduced our Speaker, Marc Hankin.  Marc is an attorney, located in Cheviot Hills, and he is indeed passionate about Elder Abuse.  His educational resume includes a BA from San Francisco State, JD from Loyola, and a post-juris doctoral LL.M degree in Taxation Law from NY University School of Law.  He has served as an adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola, and his practice revolves primarily around conservatorships, controversies about legal capacity, elder abuse, will contests, and trust litigation.

Mr. Hankin became personally involved in his concern for elder abuse when he was in his last year of law school. His father had Alzheimers, but his condition was not recognized, and as a result, the family was easy to led into terrible decisions.  They were told they had to divorce, to protect his wife from losing her inheritance, for instance.   At this point, his father's question was, "When do I have to move out?"

Mr. Hankin wrote into state law Code Section 14006.2, which corrects this unnecessary legal problem. The Code was then adopted by over 3/4th of all the states in the U.S. and has now become federal law, as part of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988.
He is also the conceptual father and draftsman of The Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act (EADACPA), enacted in 1991,which was recognized by the Second District Court of Appeals in California. This act enables abuse victims to sue abusers by requiring the victimizers to pay the victim's attorneys' fees and costs.
He also drafted The Due Process in Competence Determination Act (DPCPA) which was enacted in 1995.  This Act was co-sponsored by the California State Bar Association and the California Medical Association, and provides modern scientific standards into the law for the determination of who is competent to consent to medical treatment, to make contracts, trust agreements, make gifts, sign wills, marry and perform other acts. In addition, he has several proposals working their way through the California Legislature regarding other needed measures to protect elders from abuse by victimizers.

PP STEVE SCHERER asked what we should do if we learn about elder abuse occurring.
Turn the facts over to the Adult Protective Service, and they will investigate.  RUDY ALVAREZ pointed out that the most effective antidote for such abuse is to get the media involved - TV or journalists are looking for such stories. Marc Hankin, we thank you for your presentation of a subject about which most of us know very little.

YOE, Ernie Wolfe