In the beginning…On a sparkling late winter day, Co-President Bill Prather greeted Ojai Rotarians who had gathered for service and friendship. Wendy Barker led the flag salute and Tony Thacher revealed once again that he has the soul of a poet when describing “World Understanding and Peace Day”.
Time flies like an arrow. . .
“A notable person once said, “Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like an Ojai orange.”
And once upon a time, arrows were a weapon of mass destruction. Just ask the French nobles up against Henry the Fifth’s bowman at Agincourt in 1415.
But here in mid-February, some 600 years later, as we approach Rotary’s birthday on February 23, designated World Understanding and Peace Day, we think of Cupid’s weapon as a symbol of peace and of love.
So let us reflect on how we as individual Ojai Rotarians and as a club, can make a difference in the lofty goals of love and peace. Individually, maybe it seems an uphill struggle, but collectively Rotary is a mighty force for good, and for peace.
As your Rotary Foundation chair, I urge you to participate by donating towards Carl’s and Bill’s goals of $100 to the Annual Fund and $50 for Polio Plus per member. You can give online at rotary.org or with a check to me made out to TRF.
You’ll be doing your part to help a child to go to school and not walk 2 hours a day to carry clean water for their family and you’ll be a small part of the 62 ambulances Rotary International sent to Ukraine. Yes, it’s true that you will, perhaps, supply only a full pail of water from a new well or a headlamp shining on a rubble-filled street in Kiev; but like time’s arrow or those English yeomen, we Ojai Rotarians will persist and fill the air with our mutual strength for love and for peace.”
As another notable person once said, “Peace, Brother.”
Announcements
- $2000 has been donated to NHS Music Program from the Marty Babayco fund
- The District Training session will be held 3/9/2024
- The PRLS Master Training program will be held at the Pointsetia Pavilion in Ventura 6/21-6/23
- Next week’s meeting will be at Matilija cafeteria
- Dave Watson is putting together materials for a booklet to be distributed to RCOEF scholarship winners. He needs pictures and information of previous RCOEF officers. He also announced that the scholarship celebration will be held at the St. Thomas campus.
- Kelly Rasmussen discussed a $4k grant application for tiny homes at Mesa farms
Upcoming Events
Jack Jacobs announced upcoming programs: Screenwriter JB White and Ojai’s new police chief.
Fining by Don Reed
Don Reed, a former Head Master and Physics Professor, relived his days as an educator by asking us a series of questions about physics. Judging by the expression on Don’s face, not a single question was answered correctly, so Don succeeded in extracting money, even if he revealed our collective ignorance of science.
Program: Beth Pratt on the story of P-22
Beth Pratt of the National Wildlife Foundation gave us a lively and fascinating account of her efforts to protect wildlife, and in particular, she described P-22 the “Brad Pitt of Mountain Lions”, who managed to survive for 12 years despite the dangers of freeways, poison, etc. Here are some of Beth’s most cogent points:
- Because of P-22’s celebrity status, the public is supporting the creation of a wildlife corridor over Highway 101
- Most mountain lions in our area survive only a few years
- Since our local mountain lions are largely isolated, the result is that inbreeding will slowly reduce the survivability of the species
- Governor Newsom is an energetic supporter of wildlife preservation
- She described the construction site of the wildlife corridor as “the most hopeful building site in the world”.
- Beth invited anyone who is interested to visit the construction site
Closing
Bill invoked the words and spirit of John Muir to close the meeting.
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