Friday Program: "The Next John Grisham?" Robert Dugoni, Author of Jury Master and Damage Control, New York Times Best Sellers | Miscellanea | Rotary First Harvest | International Ballet Theater (IBT) | BBRC Anniversary Dinner | Ballard Addition | Impromptu Ticket Auction | Proposed Member: Bob Crosby | Web Fun
Friday Program:
"The Next John Grisham?" Robert Dugoni, Author of Jury Master and Damage Control, New York Times Best Sellers
Bob Holert introduced our guest speaker, author Robert “Bob” Dugoni, who lives in Bridle Trails here in Bellevue. Bob is the author of three books (see them at www.robertdugoni.com), and he spoke to us Friday about his story of becoming an author and what writing means to him.
Bob defines a story simply as the passage of time. A story is a journey, both physical and emotional. He provided examples of how Moby Dick, Lord of the Rings, and the Wizard of Oz are all three prime examples of how the characters are engaged in both a physical and emotional journey: Dorothy may have physically traveled to Oz and back, but her emotional journey is learning that “somewhere over the rainbow” is right in her own back yard.
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Friday’s greeters were Ron Black and Candy Igou. Ron provided the invocation and Candy introduced visiting Rotarians and guests.
Mike Dunlop announced a leave of absence after one year due to the fact that he is so darn busy at work. We’ll miss Mike and hope he hurries back.
Wielding her whip and a determined scowl, Spider Monkey (Sayoko) gently reminded the club members to update their website information at bbrc.net — or else!! John DeWater seemed interested in the "or else." For everyone else, please update your directory data.
Howard Johnson and Paul Chapman put on a short presentation to support Rotary First Harvest and the Saturday work parties. HoJo pointed out that fasting on Fridays at the BBRC raises $3,000 a year for First Harvest. There are other ways to donate also: buy Christmas cards from First Harvest — they can even customize them for you — or by becoming a Rotary First Harvest Partner. See Paul for forms to sign up for monthly deductions from your account.
HoJo encouraged everyone to get out and learn a little more about First Harvest, adding the quote from astronaut and science teacher Barbara Morgan: “You can’t learn about something until you get a little bit of it on you.”
International Ballet Theater (IBT)
New Rotarian Manfred Markevitch introduced Heidi Tucker, “Ms. Dracula,” who is the Senior Vice President of the International Ballet Theater. “Dracula” is playing at the Meydenbauer Theater in Bellevue from October 25th through 31st. “Twilight in Transylvania,” IBT’s masquerade gala, will be October 28th, at 4 p.m. The event includes dinner, auction, and tickets to the play for $175 per person. Call 425-284-0444 for details or check out their website: www.interballettheater.org
Tim Leahy auctioned off a pair of tickets for the Seahawks and four tickets for the Huskies versus Ducks game. Chris Monger walked away with the ‘Hawks tickets, and John Martinka with the Huskies tickets. It just goes to show you need to show up every meeting because you never know what good deals you might be missing.
Bob Crosby is proposed for membership. He is senior loan officer at Stay In Home Reverse Mortgage. His classification will be Reverse Mortgage. He lives in Sammamish with is wife Carol, and he has three children between the ages of 18 and 24. Bob's hobbies include fishing, hunting and raising Labrador Retrievers.
Friday Program:
"The Next John Grisham?" Robert Dugoni, Author of Jury Master and Damage Control, New York Times Best Sellers
Bob Holert introduced our guest speaker, author Robert “Bob” Dugoni, who lives in Bridle Trails here in Bellevue. Bob is the author of three books (see them at www.robertdugoni.com), and he spoke to us Friday about his story of becoming an author and what writing means to him.
Bob defines a story simply as the passage of time. A story is a journey, both physical and emotional. He provided examples of how Moby Dick, Lord of the Rings, and the Wizard of Oz are all three prime examples of how the characters are engaged in both a physical and emotional journey: Dorothy may have physically traveled to Oz and back, but her emotional journey is learning that “somewhere over the rainbow” is right in her own back yard.
Bob stated that life is a journey of the heart, and when you serve on your journey, it changes you. Many have journeys by starting companies, fighting in wars, or having a baby. All are emotional experiences that help us grow.
Good writers take the reader on an emotional journey.
Bob’s story is about dreams. One morning as a child, he had a moment of clarity and sat down on the edge of the bed. He pictured himself giving a lecture on slavery from the point of an abolitionist, and he realized his classmates were leaning forward listening to him. Thirty years later, he realized that his dream was slipping away from him. He had achieved professional success as a partner in a prominent California law firm, but his real dream remained unfulfilled.
One morning he awoke and sat on the side of his bed and said out loud: “I can’t do this any more.” His wife knew exactly what he meant. He was good at what he did, but it wasn’t his dream or his passion. He committed to make the change.
When he announced the change at work, his colleagues didn’t believe him. Brian, his law partner said he admired him. Brian called it courage. Robert disagreed. He said he was afraid and was a coward: He was afraid of what would happen if he didn’t do it.
The change didn’t happen overnight. They didn’t actually move until a year later. He initially made a lot of mistakes. It wasn’t very glamorous — he had an office in Pioneer Square and wrote three novels. His desk was piled high with rejection letters. He stayed the course through patience, perseverance and prayer.
One night, although he was tired and resisting, he went with his wife to a party. At that party, he met a guy in the back of the room and began to talk. “Joe” told Bob the story about a trial he had just won. Joe and Bob collaborated on it for the next four months.
Ten agents wanted this book. One agent called and stated she was getting on a plane and “don’t call me until I land in New York in 4 hours.” This story became the Cyanide Canary, and the book won multiple awards.
The next question from the agent was: “Do you have any other books?” He sent the 1500 pages of the other three to her, and he soon had a contract with Warner Books.
Bob says that despite his success, he’s not out of the woods yet. He has realized there are no guarantees in this business.
After listening to this great story, you can be sure that many Rotarians immediately left for bookstores to order copies of his others.
BOB HOPE"S POINT OF VIEW
Courtesy of Wally Mahoney
ON TURNING 70 "You still chase women, but only downhill."
ON TURNING 80 "That's the time of your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing."
ON TURNING 90 "You know you're getting old when the candles cost more than the cake."
ON TURNING 100 "I don't feel old. In fact I don't feel anything until noon . Then it's time for my nap."
ON GIVING UP HIS EARLY CAREER, BOXING "I ruined my hands in the ring ... the referee kept stepping on them."
ON NEVER WINNING AN OSCAR "Welcome to the Academy Awards or, as it's called at my home, 'Passover.'"
ON GOLF "Golf is my profession. Show business is just to pay the green fees."
ON PRESIDENTS "I have performed for 12 presidents and entertained only six."
ON WHY HE CHOSE SHOWBIZ FOR HIS CAREER "When I was born, the doctor said to my mother, 'Congratulations, You have an eight-pound ham.'"
ON RECEIVING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL "I feel very humble, but I think I have the strength of character to fight it."
ON HIS FAMILY'S EARLY POVERTY "Four of us slept in the one bed. When it got cold, mother threw on another brother."
ON HIS SIX BROTHERS "That's how I learned to dance. Waiting for the bathroom."
ON HIS EARLY FAILURES "I would not have had anything to eat if it wasn't for the stuff the audience threw at me."
ON GOING TO HEAVEN "I've done benefits for ALL religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality."
"The Pleasures of a Cruise Vacation," Dave Stockert, Holland-America Cruise Lines. Interested in cruising? Find out more about the growth of the cruise business and the options available. (McCaulley)
Message back to a new author: “Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.” ~ Unknown Author
Click on the names below to wish your fellow members a happy birthday or congratulate them on their BBRC anniversaries.
Shelley Noble, 10/01
Larry Gill, 10/04
Larry May, 10/07
Sadru Kabani, 10/09
Bill Spencer, 10/14
Mary Bell, 10/14
John Mix, 10/15
Chris Rasmussen, 10/17
Tim Leahy, 10/20
Don Chandler, 10/20
Alan Pratt, 10/24
Jay Powers, 10/27
Corr Pearce, 10/27
Connie Shulman, 10/28
Bob McKorkle, 10/28
Bob Holert, 10/30
Jeff Maxwell, 18 yrs
Robin Callan, 16 yrs
Rourke O"Brien, 14 yrs
Brian Evison, 12 yrs
Ruben Ladlad, 5 yrs
Mike Ralph, 3 yrs
Steve Vincent, 2 yrs
Tim Leahy, 2 yrs
Roger Allington, 2 yrs
Michael Dunlop, 1 yr
BBRC Anniversary Dinner
The club’s Anniversary Dinner will be Friday, November 16th. Cocktails will be at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. Stay tuned for more details!
Ballard Addition
Chris Ballard is the club’s newest dad. He’s so busy with fatherhood he forgot to mail the editor the vital statistics as promised. However, he did happen to mention that his wife was in labor for 30 hours. Yikes!
