As this Rotary year comes to an end we celebrate life, love, and service to our world. As Winston Churchill (a Rotarian) observed: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." - Directly echoes the philosophy of Rotary, of tireless giving and service above self ...
In the Beginning
Our soon-to-be-deposed President Wendy opened the meeting, welcoming our Guests:
Terry Truitt (relative of Lerie Bjornstedt)
Kara Hooper (Founder of O-Higher Ed)
Pam Burns (Guest of Fern)
Terry Beckett led the Pledge of Allegiance to this great Nation.
Inspirational Moment
Patricia Gates, reminding us that this is Gay Pride Month with a poem by Mary Oliver:
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
+ Mary Oliver
Thanks to:
Setup and Tech: Kelley Rasmussen and Gary Liptak
Greeter: Christine Golden
Flag Salute: Terry Beckett
Inspirational Moment: Patricia Gates
Roving Mic: Dave Watson
Fining: Sue Gilbreth
Net: Kathy Yee
Reminder Newsletter: Carl Gross
Reminder Editor: Randy Roth
Purveyor of Comestibles: Jayne Cruise
Announcements
- President Wendy thanked our 3 Amigas (Cindy, Kathy, Sue) and the Rotary Club of Ojai West for the Lake Casitas cruise. A great time was held by all!
- Dave Watson is looking for with Club Service. He circulated a signup list. Let Dave know you will help.
- Frank Finck’s memorial service will Saturday, June 14th at the Ojai Art Center. Please RSVP for in person or Zoom viewing.
- Rotary Club of Ojai West Wine Festival is June 21st from 12 to 4 PM at Lake Casitas. If you haven’t already, volunteer to help Ojai West
Paul Harris recognitions
President Wendy recognized Leslie Bouche, Sue Gilbreth, Bill Hatch, Jerry Maryniuk, Terry Twichell, Bill Warlick, and Kathy Yee with Paul Harris Fellowships for their service to the Club and Rotary International. Congratulations to all!
Upcoming Programs
- 6/13/25—Steve Sprinkle, owner of the Farmer and the Cook on The Future of Farming.
- 6/20/25—Tracy Curtis-Taylor, Cleared for Takeoff—Female Pilots.
- 6/26/25—Demotion Party at Boccali’s at 6 PM. We see President Wendy off and welcome PE Sue. Be there or be square. There will be surprises, entertainment, and great food. Tickets are $50 with $10 for the world-famous strawberry shortcake.
Museum Moment
President Wendy showed grand plans and a brochure from 1947 for the Ojai Music Festival.
Fining—Sue Gilbreth
It seems that our members were well informed and offered a series of correct answers, but Sue made up for that with confessions. Guilt is a powerful incentive. Kathy Yee loved the boat ride on Lake Casitas, Bill Prather was happy to be up and walking, while Fern Barishman saved on her Medicare policy with the help of Kelley Rasmussen.
The Program: Get Acquainted Talks
Membership Director, Bill Prather introduced Gary Liptak and Colin Hurren.
Gary took the podium and gave a brief history of his life.
He spoke of the 60s, the political turmoil, and the Vietnam War protests. He witnessed the Kent State shootings, May 4th, 1970, with “bullets whizzing around our heads”, leading to the death of four students and wounding of 9 others
He graduated with a degree in Chemistry, garnering multiple awards as a teacher.
He and his family would commute from New Hampshire to California, initially as “snowbirds” and finally settling in Ojai.
He loves cycling and swimming, having been in 12 countries on 3 continents.
He said of our Club, “I love the congeniality”. Once a member of a Rotary Club in New Hampshire which was not so “touchy/feely”. Gary will head up the Education Foundation this coming year.
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Colin Hurren was born on the East End of London. His father was a butcher and mother was a factory worker. He described himself as a “working boy” at 16, learning how to survive.
In the university, he did documentaries, worked for Price-Waterhouse as an accountant, finding himself in the Sudan. This began his eventual career in the film industry. He worked on action movies in England as a Production Consultant on Lucas films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. He was the first to develop an integrated accounting system for the film industry.
He started Hurren Consulting, representing businesses like MedSpa, iPhone accessories, and Magic Hour Tea in Ojai.
Thank-You, gentlemen for your presentations. We look forward to working with you going forward.
Recommendations:
Patricia Gates recommends Crip Camp on Netflix. It’s about disabled youth learning to reclaim and celebrating your identity, telling your story, and discovering the power of community.
Deidre Daly recommends Season 20 of Project Runway. She says it has great projects and great diversity. On Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Final Thoughts
Sir Edmund Hillary: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." - Connects with the challenges Rotary members willingly take on for personal growth and societal benefit.
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