A GOOD NEIGHBOR
THE LAKEWOOD KEY for February 9, 2024
By Joe Quinn
President Mary Horn (PM) did it again! She ran the meeting backwards, by allowing our Program Speaker to go first at 12:30 p.m. That is the second time in the last few weeks that she has done that! But it was worth it. Actually, the meeting started as usual with a breathless invocation by Clint Johnson, inspired by Valentine’s Day and including a touching poem by President Abraham Lincoln. Apparently, Clint ran all the way from the far parking lot. Our Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mark Edgecomb.
City Manager John Caulfield took the podium to introduce Lt. General Xavier Brunson, the highest-ranking officer at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), who also serves as the Commandant of I Corps, one of the largest segments of the United States Army. Since John is the Lakewood City Manager, Rotary has all kinds of graphics that might embarrass him. The video screen showed a picture of John (looked like a deep fake made by AI) with a long-stemmed red rose in his mouth, surrounded by hearts. PM interrupted his intro of General Brunson, to point out the video and levy a fine. Never to be caught unawares, John said she could have whatever money he had in his wallet or $100. Her choice. She chose safely and took the $100 bill. (There was a prior LR President who would have said, “No, I am like the IRS—you are ordered to pay all of the contents of your wallet, or $100, whichever is greater.”)
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