In the beginning...
President Betsy Watson called the meeting to order at 12:03, thanking all those in attendance for covering their faces, social distancing and replacing their masks when done eating.
Given the continued COVID crisis, in-person attendance was very light this week. However, our very own Andy Gilman brought and deployed some nifty AV-equipment and we were able to present a much more effective zoom experience featuring multiple cameras and a roving mic.
Greeting this afternoon’s club members, visitors and guests was Bob Davis.
This meeting’s Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Cheree Edwards, followed by the invocation read by Christine Golden entitled “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet, by Joy Harjo, 1951:
“Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop. Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control. Open the door, then close it behind you. Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean. Give it back with gratitude. If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back.
Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire. Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time. Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters. Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you. Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them. Don’t worry. The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves. The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more.
Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.
Do not hold regrets. When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed. You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant. Cut the ties you have to failure and shame. Let go of the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go of the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.
Ask for forgiveness. Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor. Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse. You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return. Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.
Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long. Your spirit will need to sleep a while after it is bathed and given clean clothes. Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go. Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.
Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.”
President Betsy then thanked all those who helped make today’s meeting possible in addition to the aforementioned members, Betsy thanked Bill Prather, Suzanne Scar and Andy Gilman for helping setting-up. Tony Thacher for fining and myself, Kevin Davis for penning this week’s reminder and filling-in on photography duty for Carl Gross who was away this week. Last but most definitely not least, Betsy thanked our caterer, Jayne for serving us yet another delicious meal.
Our visiting Rotarian this week was Cindy Enderby, Past President of the Rotary Club of Montecito, and formerly of the Rotary Club of Houghton, Michigan. Cindy thanked the club for hosting, and for our work together with her club in Ghana.
Al West then introduced us to his guest, his oldest son Christopher, who was down with his family from Oregon.
Andy Gilman then introduced our guest speakers for today: Kara M Lakes, Assistant Director of the Ojai Storytelling Festival, Brian Bemel, Founder and Director of the festival, his partner Alex and also featured storyteller Debra Ehrhardt. Other guests introduced included Renee Holbrook, Annemiek Schilder and Rebecca Ryiz.
Announcements:
Cindy Frings gave us an update on Taste of Ojai. Cindy mentioned that this year’s event is going to be different. “We’ve been on a bit of a journey since back in January when I met with Tara Saylor who challenged us to hold a more mobile, ‘in your lap’ event,” Cindy said. So the event has (at least for now) a new name, “The Progressive Taste of Ojai” or as it’s fondly known as the “Walkabout.”
The date is now April 10th, 2 - 5:30 pm, so mark your calendars. The event is going to be hosted at Libbey Park. People will acquire wrist bands and move about town to sample the 10 - 15 participating restaurants and businesses each offering their own “Taste.”
Cindy went on to thank many people (whose names this reporter did his level best to jot down) including Kathy Yee and Suzanne Scar for the auction, Marty Pops the “idea guy,” Andy Gilman, Bret Bradigan for help with PR. As well as Marc Whitman, Tara Saylor, Michelle Sherman and others for their help, without whom this event would not be possible.
This Day in History...
President Betsy then informed us that on this day in history, September 17th, 1978, Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin and Jimmy Carter signed the Camp David Accords, the framework for peace in the Middle East, between Egypt and Israel.
Mike
Weaver, chair of our peace committee, then stepped up to the mic to let us know that on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 the United Nations recognizes its day of peace. This year Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres's message for the 100-Day Countdown to World Peace Day, the international day of peace is “Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.”
World Peace Day was established by a UN resolution 40 years ago, a globally-shared date for all humanity to work together towards peace. Just this past weekend, the Secretary-General outlined his vision to fix the world.
In that speech he said that the world is moving in the wrong direction. That the COVID pandemic was a wake-up call for the global community to come together to face global emergencies. Ecology. Refugees. Inequity. Injustice. All are happening around the world. And Rotary is doing its part to address these and other pressing needs around the globe.
For the work of our club in the area of international peace, Mike and Betsy are pleased to announce that our club was awarded the Peacebuilder Club designation by Rotary District 5240.
Randy Strong sent a video which is part of the Ventura County Rotary Clubs Awareness campaign. This video highlights the activities of the Rotary Clubs of Ojai. Click here for the video.
Upcoming Programs: Andy Gilman
Andy briefly highlighted some upcoming programs including a visit from Jim Bailey, Cofounder of Rock Tree Sky School this coming week, some craft talks by members and then a presentation from Ojai’s Mayor Pro Tempore, our own Bill Weirick on October 8th. Bill will discuss the Go Ojai Demonstration Project on Ojai Avenue and Maricopa Highway, including pending design changes and next steps with that project.
Catherine Lee then gave us an emotional tribute to why she loves Rotary Club so much followed by an update on a new social event coming up. “The funsters have planned another event,” she announced. It’s on the coming 5th Friday of the month, October 29th, 2021. There will be a meet-up at the Majestic Oak Winery between 6 - 7 pm, then the group will walk over to Libby Bowl to enjoy a comedy night at the upcoming Ojai Storytelling Festival. Please RSVP promptly when you get the invite if you plan to join as we will be purchasing a block of tickets.
Tara Saylor was also pleased to announce that she applied for and has been accepted in a program in New Jersey to work with and help Afghan refugees, starting immediately. “See you in a month,” she said.
Terry Beckett then confessed that today was his birthday and that he turned 82 years-old.
Larry Beckett then stepped-up to the mike and told us a yarn of his own about his time on a ranch in Montana, to be continued apparently.
Cheree Edwards made a confession and donation, as did Leslie Bouché who donated to celebrate her 6th year anniversary in the Club and, in particular, her work at the school in India.
Lastly, your reporter this week, Kevin Davis, made a donation to honor his son making his junior transfer this week to University of California, Davis.
Andy Gilman was then asked to introduce our guest speakers this week, Brain Bemel, Director and Founder of the Ojai Storytelling Festival and, his very special guest, world-renowned storyteller/performer, Debra Ehrhardt.
Brian stepped to the mic first to make brief remarks about the Festival and show us a brief YouTube video (produced by Andy Gilman) about this year’s Festival.
Brian shared that he started his career as an elementary school teacher, where teaching kindergarten was his particular favorite. From there he went on to become Ventura County’s Department of Education’s Performing Arts Specialist.
The Ojai Storytelling Festival, which is October 28th - 31st and will be held at both Libbey Bowl and the Ojai Arts Center, will feature world-renowned storytellers Donald Davis, Regi Carpenter, Kim Weitkamp, Rev. Robert B. Jones and guest speaker Debra Ehrhardt, among many others.
Finally, Debra Ehrhardt – the Special Guest at this year’s Naughty Tales – was given the mic and we were treated to a riveting excerpt from her play Jamaica Farewell. What’s it about you may ask? “Jamaica. Revolution. Visa. Impossible. CIA. Seduction. Desperation. A dream. Heartbreak. Handsome. American. Customs. Millions of dollars. Goats. Prostitutes. Bullets. Adrenaline, Kerosene. Run for your life,” according to her website. Based on her real life growing up and leaving Jamaica for America, the play is currently being adapted and made into a motion picture by “an Oscar-winning producer,” said Ms. Ehrhardt.
Final Thoughts...
Upon presenting Debra with a lovely bag of Ojai Pixies, President Betsy Watson closed the show this week at 1:26 pm with a quote from Orson Welles:
“If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.”
And John Lennon:
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.”
