Los Banos Rotary Club History
Lions-Rotary Joint Meeting

The Lions and Rotary Clubs got together Tuesday night to re-hash their last softball clash and re-cement friendships that were all but torn asunder on the softball field that night back in early September when the younger and more vigorous Lions thoroughly smeared the good name of Rotary in the dust of the infield. The excellent dinner, prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Vito Torlano, did much to soothe the ruffled dispositions of the Rotary gang and for the first time since the game they were able to take the defeat with a smile.

Rotary President Francis Buck opened the meeting and set the tempo by slapping heavy cash fines against numerous of the Rotary gang for real and imaginary infringement of rules. Lion President Joe Vajretti did more of the same with the result that considerable silver was in the kitty before the end of the evening, which means that Santa's pack will be a bit heavier when he comes to Los Banos for the big Kiddies' Christmas Party on December 22.
After the preacher, Bob Reis, got away with a couple of fish stories that should have – but didn't – merit the official Rotary Liars' Badge, the gathering took on a more sedate tone, with an excellent travel talk by Paul Travies, of Carmel, a noted traveler and lecturer. Travies showed a number of colored slides of an Italian tour, personally photographed by him, shortly after the last World War, while he was stationed in that sector with the U.S. Navy. The pictures and his accompanying remarks were primarily centered on the architectural beauty of the churches, cathedrals and public buildings in Italy. The full color photographs were of professional quality and brought out in minute detail the sculpture and perfection of Roman architecture.

Among the scenes shown were the castle and city walls built by the Romans some three hundred years before the birth of Christ, the famous leaning tower of Pisa which is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world; the world famous St. Peter's church in Rome, and numerous scenes of buildings and personnel of the Vatican City.

Christmas Party

The closing of the school will not have any effect on the annual Lions-Rotary Kiddies Christmas Party, to be held next Wednesday at the Del Rio Theatre. Tickets for this party were to have been distributed yesterday, but because the school closed all children of the school will be admitted to the show without tickets. Tickets for students of the Volta, Charleston and Hamburg Camp schools were distributed yesterday.

There will be two shows, the first to start at 11:30 a.m.; the second at 2:15 p.m. In past years it has been found more convenient for the country children to attend the early show and the town kids the afternoon show. In so far as possible it is hoped the children will follow the same general rule this year, so there will be ample seats for all students at both shows.

Each show will be the same, with a motion picture first, followed by a personal appearance of Santa Claus, who will greet each child and present them with a gift.

The party is jointly sponsored by the Lions and Rotary clubs in cooperation with the Del Rio Theatre management.

December 3, 1948

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