THE BEGINNING...
Azure skies, dotted with clouds, driven with light Santa Anas, greeted the Rotarians and their guests as they assembled for fun, fellowship, frivolity and food.
President Wendy called the meeting to order, welcoming everyone.
Don Reed led the Pledge of Allegiance followed by
Tony Thacher’s Inspirational Moment:
Among other things, November is Rotary Foundation Month. So what can I do to inspire you to contribute a small legacy to The Rotary Foundation annual fund? You’ve seen the pictures and words upon the screen behind me of some of our past projects and continuing aspirations. You’ve heard Good Witch Wendy’s goals for her year as president and, commendably, about half of you have already generously responded.
So I’m here to remind you what more you can do and that you are one in a million. No, One Of More Than A Million, Rotarians with a single purpose to serve this planet and its peoples.
Even if you never dig your toes into the sands of Niger as some Ojai Rotarians have, even if you can’t locate the Prashanti School on a map of India, some other Ojai Rotarians have found their way there. And even if you weren’t able to distribute diapers at OUSD or quarters at Laundry Love or put on gloves last Saturday in Nordhoff Cemetery, you, as an Ojai Rotarian can inspire and serve by giving to The Rotary Foundation.
Yes, it’s because you are truly One Of More Than A Million that every year you will leave a legacy to the world and its denizens through your Rotary Foundation.
A LEGACY
By James Lovell
Remembrance is a naked blade:
Take care lest I should prove untrue;
For in my will and testament,
My friend, I have remembered you.
My affluence is devised
To predatory moth and mouse;
Let them possess this spaciousness
Since you prefer a narrower house.
I leave to you a curious loom,
That I have wrought my dreams upon;
I beg you lay your hand to it
And weave a pattern when I'm gone.
November is Rotary Foundation Month, and you, as an Ojai Rotarian, are truly One Of More Than A Million. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
We welcomed Carin Kalley from Ventura East. Carin reminded us of their annual Poinsettia sales for the holidays.
We also welcomed many returning and first-time guests.
THANK YOUS…
There are many moving parts to a Rotary meeting. Without the following members, it would not be able to offer a consistent, informative, and entertaining meeting:
Setup and Tech—Bill Prather, Amy and Bill Warlick.
Greeter—Jack Jacobs
Roving Mic—Bill Weirick
Treasurer and Welcome Desk—Dave Brubaker
Flag Salute—Don Reed
Inspirational Moment—Tony Thacher
Fining—Bill Hatch
Net Person—Sue Gilbreth
Reminder Newsletter Editor—Carl Gross
Reminder Editor Chief—Randy Roth
Food Service—Jayne Cruise
Thanks to all!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leslie Bouche: Prashanti School
It was so nice to see Leslie Bouche back in the fold. She updated us on the Prashanti International School (PIS), one of our major International Projects.
Prashanti International School is an English medium, CBSE pattern school for the disadvantaged and fatherless children living in Prashanti Preschool Chatasalis hostel and also for local children of Puri district as well. It was opened in 2010 and now has about 300 students reading from class LKG through Std. 8. The plan is to add a higher class every year through Std. 12. There is no other government-recognized English medium school in this area.
As a non-profit educational society, Prashanti International School is dedicated to changing the world one child at a time. The way is through quality, value-based English medium education. Education is the natural birthright of every child. Only a high quality, value-based education gives disadvantaged and marginalized children an equal chance to become productive members and leaders of their communities. (Source: Prashanti School Website)
Our Club and others have made substantial improvements to the school, obtained funding from Rotary International including over 11 grants (including a Global Grant), provided educational materials, computers, tuition support (to make the school accessible to the poorer children). The academic, day school emphasizes a strong value system with a sense of love, service, and peace.
Leslie introduced Elizabeth Burnett, who has devoted 20+ years of residence and support to the school. Thank-You, Leslie for your dedication and hard work in keeping this great project alive and vital to the youth of Puri.
Bob Davis: Pins
Bob offered the members lapel pins from Armed Forces Network, supplied by last week’s “Gorgeous George”.
Holiday Party: Kathy Yee and Sue Gilbreth
Sue and Kathy want us to mark our calendar for December 15th at 5 PM. We will join with the Ojai West Club at the Ojai Art Center to mix and mingle and usher in the holiday season.
Lunch Mob next Friday, 11/22/24
We will not be meeting next Friday. We will fan out to the restaurants that participated in the Taste of Ojai and thank them for making our major fundraiser such a success. You should have signed up for a restaurant. Please contact Wendy if there are any questions.
Rotary Board Meeting
Board Meeting next Thursday, 11/21/24 at 8 AM, at the Ojai Valley Museum. Let Wendy know if you have anything for the agenda. All members are welcome.
Carin Kalley, from Ventura East announced their annual Poinsettia Sale. (put pic here)
Member Pictures:
Carl Gross will take your pictures for the membership roster and post them. Just let him know. If you have a picture, send it to him and he will post it.
Fining and Confessions—Bill Hatch
Bill took the podium and promptly donated $100, recounting his trip with Mary to Ireland, Amsterdam, Belgium, visiting ancestral lands and crashing his bicycle. He passed his helmet around showing the dent and scratches.
Kay Bliss invited new members to her home tonight for a get-acquainted mixer, 5-7:30 PM. She urged all to bring wine and food.
Marilyn Gordanier updated us on her program to educate girls in Afghanistan.
Educate Girls Now was founded in 2013 as a response to the dire needs of Afghanistan girls, as demonstrated in the documentary film Girl Rising, which tells the stories of nine extraordinary girls from developing countries.
The documentary shares the true story of Ameena, a young girl from Afghanistan forced into marriage when she was only eleven, giving birth to her first child at twelve.
To ensure the film’s authenticity, director Ramaa Mosley worked closely with Zarghuna Kargar, a BBC journalist who, after escaping Afghanistan, authored Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan. She also wrote Ameena’s story for the documentary.
Deeply moved by the film, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, world renowned educator and founder of Laurel Springs School, began working with her daughter and Zarghuna Kargar to establish a program that would provide resources to Afghan families, enabling them to keep their daughters in school and thereby prevent child marriages. Together, they created Educate Girls Now, a wonderful grass roots program to educate Afghan children.
Since its inception, Educate Girls Now has ensured that 304 children receive an education and saved 54 girls from an early marriage. We have rescued 12 war widows from a life of extreme deprivation by ensuring they receive funds to feed their children and send them to school.
Educate Girls Now has been expanding to accommodate the needs of additional Afghan families and enable girls to receive an education, healthy food, and a safe and secure childhood.
Al West was a great grandfather again this morning. Mother and child are doing well.
President Wendy celebrated her 26th Rotary anniversary.
The fining portion centered around what we are thankful for.
Kelley Rasmussen left before she was fined.
Bill Prather—“I can still dance!!”
Barry Verga—“To be alive, healthy, and to be here!!”
THE PROGRAM: HELP OF OJAI—50TH ANNIVERSARY
Don Reed introduced Help of Ojai co-directors Megan Telfer and Jayn Walter. This is the 50th anniversary of community focused and dedicated team of volunteers.
HELP of Ojai was originally founded in 1968, by a collaboration of churches and others in the Ojai Valley. The focus at the time was coordinating volunteer efforts to care for those community members “in need”. As the needs and demographics of the valley have changed over the years, HELP has endeavored to meet the challenges of our diverse population by introducing new ways to help and expand existing programs. HELP of Ojai became a 501(c)(3) in 1974.
Our mission is to fulfill the basic unmet needs of vulnerable Ojai residents. We bring together individual and community resources to provide safety net services to reach those who need it most. We prioritize our help to reach senior citizens, low-income families with minor children, and unhoused individuals.
We emphasize sustainable housing support, healthy food, and healthcare for those we assist. We strive to provide programs and services that improve the quality of life for our clients, and we work to create community dialogue and prepare for emerging social issues and trends.
Through our programs we are able to provide year-round advocacy, healthcare, nutritional support, outreach, and other life-enhancing services to various and diverse populations who would not receive them otherwise.
HELP of Ojai’s enduring goal is to bolster ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances: the isolated senior needing access to food and medical care; the low-income family at risk of being evicted; the homebound senior in need of food. HELP is the only agency in Ojai that meets the needs and more, year after year, thanks in large part to wonderful support from our community.
Megan oversees HELP of Ojai’s Senior Nutrition, Activities and Transportation Program. Megan has supported the organization in many facets, including the Community Assistance Program Augustinian Volunteer, and most recently the Senior Activities Director. Megan was instrumental in organizing and leading HELP’s COVID-19 relief efforts.
Megan holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina, and is a proud alumna of East Carolina University.
Jayn oversees HELP of Ojai’s Community Assistance Program, 2nd HELPings Thrift Store, Donation Center and West Campus. Before becoming Co-Executive Director in 2022, Jayn served as a Case Manager, specializing in housing assistance and disaster case management. She was integral to managing HELP’s Thomas Fire relief efforts.
She is an alumna of the University of Houston and holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Houston Downtown. (source: HELP of Ojai website)
They thanked the Board, represented by our Rotarian members: Deirdre Daly, President, and Don Reed,
Megan and Jayn presented a timeline from 1968 to the present. Just to mention a few of the myriad projects that help those in need:
Assistance Hot Line
RSVP Program
Van Transportation
Little House
Hospice Program
Meals on Wheels
Oak Tree House (Respite center for families of dementia patients)
Winter shelter for unhoused
Lighting the Christmas Tree at the “Y” every year
Computer Lab Access
Adopt a Family Program
Thrift Store
Oakview home modification program so that they can “age in place”
Senior Nutrition Programs
Thomas Fire Victims Support
Covid relief efforts—Food provisions, vaccinations, etc.
We are so blessed to have such a supportive and vibrant organization in our Community!
President Wendy presented them with a check for $5,000 for their 50 years of service.
RECCOMENDATIONS:
Bill Warlick recommended a book, Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari. It is a brief history of information networks and how they’ve influenced human civilization from the Stone Age to now. It’s an important topic in this time of fragmented politics and uncertainties about the future of AI.
Ren Adam suggests the Netflix series Dark Winds, 2 seasons and waiting for a promised 3rd. Dark Winds on Netflix got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes website. Based on books by Tony Hillerman.
See you in the lunch mob next Friday!!
The Rotary Club of Ojai 
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