In the Beginning...

Editor Note:  Our Reminder Newsletter is submitted in an AI format that includes links to recordings of the meeting. Thanks to Kevin Davis for showing us the advancements in publishing and what AI can do.

VIEW RECORDING - 90 mins (41 mins of highlights) provided by Fathom.video AI.

 

Please note: Rotary will be dark December 15th, 22nd and 29th. There are no meetings until the first Friday of the New Year.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Opening - WATCH

This last Friday, December 8th, Co-President Carl Gross called the meeting to order and welcomed members and guests. Known for its heart, “the Rotary Club of Ojai [just celebrated] 75 years,” Carl said, “And we’re looking for 75 more.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT: Invocation - WATCH

Cheree Edwards gave us this touching inspirational moment from Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindegarten”:

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. most of what I really needed to know about how to live and what to do and how to be.

So these are the things I learned. Share everything, play fair. Don't hit people. Put your things back where you found them.

Clean up your mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat.

Plus, cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some and draw some and paint some and dance and play and work every day.

Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out in the world, watch for traffic. Hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Remember this little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and we really don't know why, but we're all like that.

It's okay. And remember that book about Dick? and Jane? And the first word you learned, the biggest word of all, look.

Everything you need to know is out there somewhere. The golden rule, love, basic sanitation, ecology, politics, and sane living.

Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk around three o'clock every afternoon.

Or we had a basic policy in our nation to always put things back where we found them and clean up our own messes.

And it's still true, Rotarians, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it's best to hold hands and stick together.

HIGHLIGHT: Carl Gross opens the proceedings - WATCH

 

Thank-Yous to...

Carl thanked Jerry Maryniuk and Bruce Hanson for the room setup. Fern Barishman for the holiday musical interlude. Wendy Barker, for the pledge of allegiance. Cheree Edwards for our inspirational moment. Greeter, Sue Gilbreth. Fining, Mike Weaver. Roving mic, Bret Nighman. Net handler, Bob Eisler. Welcome desk, Dave Brubaker. Kevin Davis for editing this newsletter. Photography, Bret Nighman. 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

We had a number of guests attend our meeting this past week, including some guest Rotarians: District Governor-elect Sherry Sim was in attendance, as was Alexia Parks, from Boulder, CO, who presented the banner from the Boulder Rotary Club, and Steve White, from Bellingham, WA. Other guests included Cynthia Weirick, Jennifer Jordan Day, April O’Malley, Scott Tomkinson of PAX Environmental, and our Evelyn Hernandez, Mira Hernandez, Rodrigo Hernandez and friends. The family of member Haady Lashkari were also in attendance. 

HIGHLIGHT: Holiday Party - WATCH

Tara Saylor and Bret Nighman, our Holiday Party committee, reminded us of our upcoming Holiday Party with Rotary West, Thursday, December 14th, $70.00 per adult and includes beer and wine. Camp Arnaz, bring warm wear as the social hour is outdoors. If you haven’t responded yet, you can still pay at the door.

HIGHLIGHT: Jack Jacobs talks about upcoming programs - WATCH

 

Service Above Self:

 

HIGHLIGHT: Evelyn Hernandez recipient Service Above Self Award - WATCH

Evelyn Hernandes is a senior at Legacy High School. Although she only enrolled a few months ago and has not been with the school for long, she has had a very positive impact on campus. Evelyn volunteered to be part of the student council, where she is bringing new fresh ideas on how to make the student experience even better. Evelyn is also always looking for ways to help others, that’s why she was awarded this recognition and a check for $100.

 

HIGHLIGHT: Betsy Watson and Kathy Yee Sing Adopt a Family - WATCH

Betsy and Kathy shared a choral update about theirs and Suzanne Scar’s work on the Adopt-A-Family program that was indescribable. Just watch.

 

 

HIGHLIGHT: Mike Weaver Ugandan Grantee Update - WATCH

Mike shared the story of a Ugandan recipient of a recent award by the Rotary Club of Ojai along with the Kapadia Education Foundation (see https://www.kapadiaef.org/), and a prior recipient of financial support and mentorship by our very own Dr. Bob Skanky. The video gave the club an update on how much of a difference investing in this young man has made to him and his community with the soon to be opened Adia Kayaka Community Clinic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Program:  Sergio Aragones-Cartoonist for MAD Magazine

 

 

HIGHLIGHT: Jack Jacobs introduces our very special featured speaker, Sergio Aragonés - WATCH

It’s always a treat to welcome our special guest this week, who is known as the “Fastest Cartoonist in the World.” Sergio explains the purpose of cartoons as a way to solve problems and bring happiness. - WATCH (35 secs)

Sergio is a legendary cartoonist best known for his work with Mad Magazine over the past 60+ years. He shared stories about growing up drawing cartoons as a child refugee in Europe during WWII. Sergio also discussed the importance of expressions and movement in cartoons, and provided drawing tips and examples throughout the talk. At 86 years old, he continues to work from his home studio in Ojai where his daughter helps care for him.

 

For more information about Sergio Aragonés, please go to https://sergioaragones.com/

Final Thoughts...

To quote MAD Magazine:

There are two types of people in this world...ones who believe there are two types of people in this world and ones that do not.

Looking forward to seeing you again at an upcoming club meeting in 2024!

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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 1.4 million-member organization with 46,000 member Clubs, 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.