The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter
December 16th, 2020

Kevin Davis, Editor

December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. 
Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
 
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In the beginning...
 
This past Friday, December 16th, Co-president Kay Bliss and Marty Babayco called the meeting to order where we welcomed a packed room for our last meeting before the holiday season.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Christine Fenn led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. followed by Wendy Barker, who gave the following inspirational quote:
 
 
“It’s the holiday season and I wish each of you a wonderful and joyous time with family and friends.
“But life doesn’t always work out the way we hope. And this can be a hard time of year for a lot of people. So, in case you need to hear it, these are my sentiments, written much more eloquently by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
‘This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.‘“
 
 
Marty also thanked:
 
Greeter – Lelie Bouché
Welcome Table – Michael Scar
Cash Box – Dave Brubaker              
Room Setup – Bill Prather
With Sean McDermott
Reminder Editor – Kevin Davis
Finemaster – Ren Adam
Fine Net – Bryant Huber
Roving Mic – Bret Nighman
 
Marty thanked our attendee on zoom today, Dr. Bob Skankey, in addition to our in-house guests Brian Schlaak, Chuck Craig and special guest Bob Isler who is joining our club having formerly been a Rotarian elsewhere.
 
 
 
 
Marc Whitman then introduced us to Jerimiah Rios from Meiners Oaks Elementary School, his mother Beatris Rodriguez, his teacher, Richard Byrd and his principal, Lisa Abeloe. The club honored Jeremiah with a check for $100 and the Student Service Above Self Award, “in recognition of your commitment to service above self in your school, making a positive impact with your school, and reflecting Rotary’s values of service and good will.”
 
 

Marty went on to thank the social committee for putting on a terrific Holiday Party. Sue Gilbreth especially thanked Patrick the Magician for forgoing a paying gig to entertain us that night. Sue also went on to let the club know that the last Contra Dance was held on Sunday, December 18th.
 
 
 
 
 
Bruce Hanson informed the club about our interactions with the Little Big Fund. Rotarians Mike Weaver, Bruce Hanson and Kevin Davis, with Kay Bliss worked to help three Ugandan social entrepreneurs with microgrants to help start a medical clinic, support for expecting mothers and a soccer camp to help youth in an infamous refugee camp.
 
 
 
 
Co-President’s Elect Carl Gross  & Bill Prather then announced that the Nomination Committee  has selected Sean McDermott as the next President-elect (for the term of 2024-25).
 
 
Co-club president Kay Bliss, in special recognition, bestowed The Paul Harris Fellow Award on Michael Weaver in a surprise announcement. A past president of our club, past board member at large and past Peace chair, Mike is also the chairman of the RCO Educational Foundation, after serving on its board for several terms. In addition, Mike has worked for Rotary at the district level being a former Assistant Governor for Group 7, Chief of Staff and much, much more.
 
 
 
 
“It's people like Mike who provide the muscle for that all-important but often misunderstood district link,” said Kay. “That connects each club to Rotary International, and to the 46,000 other Rotary Clubs throughout the world.” Kay then awarded Mike his fifth sapphire Paul Harris pin to go along with the four others he previously earned through financial contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
 
 
 
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
 
We’re dark for the next two weeks. Happy Holidays!
 
Back on January 6th, 2023 with Dena Jenson, Director, Center for Nonprofit Leadership at California Lutheran University.
 
Happy New Year!
 
THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM-Leslie Clark, founder of Nomad Foundation.
 
 
 
An Ojai resident and founder of the Nomad Foundation, long-time Rotary honorary member Leslie Clark has recently returned from Niger with a new book. Her program describes her 30 years living amid, painting and writing about the nomad tribes of northeastern Niger. The Rotary Club of Ojai has supported numerous educational, vocational and health-related programs and the mission of The Nomad Foundation over the years.
 
 
Of particular note was how Leslie and fellow Rotarian Dr. Bob Skankey connected and built an education center and hospital in Niger. Dr. Bob was 83 when he started the Matron training program to help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates among the Nomads. What started with five trainees has now expanded to 58 matrons, who are in effect the only medical resources in a geographical area the size of the state of West Virginia.
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This week’s Life Hack
 
“Something does not need to be perfect to be wonderful. Especially weddings and Christmas!”
 
 
We wish you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!
 
 
 

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.

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