Address:
Post Office Box 80276
San Marino, CA
91108-8276
Year End Letter from City Club President Tom Santley
December 15, 2004
A Year of Growth for City Club
We have many accomplishments to celebrate as we close a year of growth for San Marino City Club. Here’s a quick capsule of your Club’s success in 2004:
1. Net Membership grew in 2004 to 467 from 439 a year ago and 421 at the end of 2002.
2. By carefully managing our financial resources, by eliminating most postal mailings and using email to communicate with members, and by achieving net membership growth, City Club proudly contributed $11,403 to 20 community entities including major contributions to the Rotary Club Centennial Clock project, the San Marino Schools Foundation, the Chinese Garden at The Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens, and SMHS Athletics. (See more details below).
3. Outstanding speakers were presented at eight dinner meetings and capped by the 32nd consecutive presentation of the Tournament of Roses Queen & Court to more than 45 young San Marinans and 134 adults at the November Dinner.
4. Social Events were popular – the Presidents’ Party in March at San Gabriel Country Club and the Summer Fiesta at The Old Mill – and both netted small profits.
5. Special Events included A Day at The Races (61 attended a day of racing at Santa Anita Park), the Golf Tournament at San Gabriel Country Club in May attracted about 50 golfers, and 20 tennis buffs enjoyed the Tennis Tournament at Lacy Park in October.
6. City Club secured a new sound system for use at various locations and installed permanent overhead speakers at the Huntington Middle School Cafeteria (another financial contribution to the schools).
7. Our website (www.sanmarinocityclub.org) was re-designed and greatly expanded to include many photographs.
8. The City Club By-Laws were updated and revised to advance the Nominating Committee process to May so that new officers and directors will be elected in October. This will ensure that transition from one Board to the next will occur as early as possible. The number of Board of Directors was increased from six to eight so that additional responsibilities and projects can be assigned.
9. The Membership Roster was published earlier in the year.
2005 Officers and Board Members Elected
A quorum was present at the November Annual Meeting and the following distinguished members of City Club were elected for 2005:
Officers: President John Morris
First Vice President Mort Mortimer
Second Vice President Bill Gunnell
Secretary Tom Billings
Treasurer Dennis Kneier
Immediate Past President Tom Santley
Board Members for one-year term Fred Chen
David Grimes
Kent Halkett
Se-Yao Hsu
Board Members for two-year term Al Boegh
Charlie Rogers
Rosa Zee
Carl White
Congratulations to these great volunteers!
Your Help Needed on Committees
Want to help at the Registration Table at Monthly Dinners or at social events? Volunteer for the Arrangements Committee. Can you take San Marino Tribune-quality photos of City Club events, or write an informative news release? Volunteer for the new Communications Committee.
Are you a natural salesperson who can sponsor neighbors and friends as new members of City Club? Volunteer for the Membership Committee. Do you have some contacts for great door prizes for frustrated golfers or weary tennis players? Then volunteer for the Golf Committee or the Tennis Committee.
Whatever your talent, City Club has a committee that would benefit from your help. Get involved. Call 2005 President John Morris 626-796-3003 (evenings) or email him at morriswater@earthlink.net and he will alert the appropriate 2005 committee chairman. You will enjoy working with your fellow City Club members to help the organization grow in 2005.
Contributions to Community Cap 2004 – Record $11,403 is Donated
City Club continued its decades-old support for the MVP trophies for boys and girls varsity sports and the contribution was $1,873. The Rotary Club Centennial Clock to be installed in 2005 was supported with a $2,000 Platinum Level gift. The San Marino Schools Foundation received $1,250.
The new Chinese Garden at The Huntington Library will receive a $1,000 gift from City Club at the January 18, 2005 Monthly Dinner. Boy Scout Troops 351, 355, and 358 received a total of $400. SMHS football Booster Club, girls’ athletics, and the 2004 Grad Night received $900.
City Club made additional $500 payments on $2,500 pledges to the San Marino Public Library fund drive and to San Marino Historical Society for the Thurnher House Project. The Old Mill Foundation received $380.
Southwestern Academy received $200 and smaller contributions were made to the Huntington Middle School Annual Breakfast and the San Marino Junior Tennis Tournament.
Finally, the 2004 Board of Directors recognized that the City of San Marino will celebrate its Centennial in the year 2013. With that in mind, the Board has initiated a reserve fund for City Club’s participation in the City Centennial in 2013. The Board set aside $2,000 and, if future Club operations allow similar gifts, the Club will have $10,000 or more reserved for whatever 2013 City Centennial project the Club chooses to support.
This 2004 City Club Contributions Program of $11,403 is a recent-history record for the Club and all Members can take pride in its achievement.
A Year’s Worth of “Thank-you’s”
BIG “thank-you’s” must be given to so many Members who provided leadership and support of Club events and activities. First Vice President John Morris brought us stimulating and informative programs. John also organized proposals for a new sound system (nearly $3,000) and oversaw the installation of ceiling speakers at Huntington Middle School as part of that expense. Second Vice President Mort Mortimer and his wife Ceil Mortimer brought an “Irish touch” to a great Presidents’ Party in March. Mort has a jump start on 2005 programs and will present LA County District Attorney Steve Cooley in January, 2005.
Secretary Bill Gunnell kept meticulous Minutes and Treasurer Dennis Kneier kept accurate financial records and overhauled Club communications with a new emphasis on email systems.
Past President Wally Rosvall revised the By-Laws with the assistance of paralegal Kim Halkett, wife of Board Member Kent Halkett.
Kent was very busy handling all the arrangements and details for the Monthly Dinner Meetings – everything from reserving locations, coordinating catering, and preparing color-coded name tags. Bert Becker and his Membership Committee secured 57 new Members. Fred Chen made sure we had Invocations and Flag Presentations at our Monthly Dinners, and that City Club Members presented the MVP trophies at the high school.
Board Member Janet Rogers and husband Steve Rogers have made plans for a terrific Presidents’ Party next March. David Grimes and his wife Tanya Grimes oversaw the successful Summer Fiesta social event at The Old Mill for more than 170 Members and guests.
Charlie Rogers raced off to Santa Anita with 61 Members and guests for a very successful “ Day at the Races” social event. Past President Jack Brown led the 20-member Golf Committee to great success in May and Tom Billings chaired a great Tennis Tournament in October. Board Member Allan Wolff supported their efforts.
The City Club website was re-designed and greatly expanded by community volunteer Kim Halkett. Be sure to “surf” its many pages to see all the great new content.
New Member Sponsors Thanked
Past Presidents Bill Payne, Fritz Seares, Dick Ward, George Baffa, Allan Yung, Wally Rosvall, Jack Brown and Dick Cooper (two) sponsored New Members during 2004.
Dennis Kneier and I tied with seven Members apiece for “champion” honors. David Grimes and Dennis Kneier combined for six New Members and Membership Chair Bert Becker sponsored five. Board Members Kent Halkett (three) and Mort Mortimer sponsored New Members.
Member Pete Loeffler sponsored three and Charlie Rogers two. Other Club Members who sponsored a New Member were Alan Rose, Mike Spindler, John Kuch, James Mac Intosh, Emlyn Williams, Diane Comi, Bill Carmichael, Ed Blecksmith, Andy Barth, Hank Doney, Sue Rosvall, Chris Norgaard, Shody Chow, and Mike Preston.
Thanks everyone for a great 2004 Membership effort.
Help Get City Club Rolling in 2005
Watch for an Email message from 2005 Membership Chairman Carl White in the next few days. Carl will announce the goal for Membership growth next year and tell you how you can help City Club grow and continue to provide service to our community.
Final Thoughts
It was a privilege for me to serve as your 2004 President. I want to personally thank you for your membership in City Club this year and for your involvement in our Club’s activities. Without you we could not have had such a successful year.
I pledge my support to 2005 City Club President John Morris and the Board of Directors.
On behalf of the 2004 Board of Directors, I wish you a Merry Christmas, the best of the Holiday Season, and a very happy and prosperous New Year.
May you enjoy good health, increased wealth and good cheer in 2005.
Tom Santley
2004 City Club President