The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter
February 21st, 2020

Therese Brown, Editor

February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month

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 1.2 million-member organization 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.
 
In the beginning
 
 
President Cheree is back from a romantic weekend get-away in Pismo Beach with her husband and gaveled the best Rotary Club she knows to order at 12:14 p.m. Terry Beckett led the flag salute and Brian Berman shared a beautiful invocation about peace. 

Cheree thanked all those who made the meeting possible:
Room set up - Fred Coleman
A/V - Terry Beckett,
Desk duty - Suzanne Scar and Sandy Buechley
Greeters - Ron Polito and David Scarlett
Roving Mic – Matt Clements
Fining - David Scarlett and Greg Webster
Reminder Editor - Therese Brown
Official Photographer - Carl Gross
Set up and service including a not-sure-how-that-happened box lunch - Ginger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
 
 
 
 
There were no visiting Rotarians today and we had two distinguished guests: Marquita Fleming who is the artistic director for Marty’s musical Legally Blonde, and Trevor Quirk, a write-in candidate for District 1 Supervisor. Trevor shared a few words about his candidacy and invited members to a fundraising event next Tuesday at Boccali’s at 5:30 pm. He   asked members to write in his name on the ballot and offered to stay after the meeting to answer questions.
 
 
 
 
 
Upcoming Programs
 
Bill Gilbreth gave an update on upcoming programs:

February 28th:  A celebration of Living Treasures
 
March 6th: Leslie Bouche and Kay Bliss will be sharing the Club’s involvement in International Service
 
March 13th: Ojai Valley Music Festival’s Bravo program - 2nd and 3rd graders sing and interact with the audience
 
March 20th – Max Copenhagen from the Ventura County’s Civil Grand Jury
 
March 27th – Off site lunch and tour at the Continuing Care Center
 
 

Announcements:
 
President Cheree thanked President-elect Michael Scar for leading the meeting last week.  She also thanked members for completing their survey.  Feedback will be compiled to help improve the Rotary experience. The suggestion box will be available for the next month or two as well.
 
 
 
 
 
Dr. Fred Fauvre reminded member that ballots are due for Living Treasures.  They are available at the Living Treasures website:  rcolt.org or by calling his office.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deidre Daly invited members to a Fireside chart at 6 p.m. tonight at Michael & Suzanne Scar’s home. All members are invited to meet newer members and share Rotary experiences. Tonight’s discussion will focus on Community service.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Betsy Watson reminded members to check their email and RSVP to the Rotary social on Thursday, March 12. Members will meet at Topa Mountain Winery for pizza from Boccali’s at 5:30 pm and then attend Legally Blonde at Matilija Middle School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Cost is $30.00.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rotary Humor
 
 
 
 
Fining and Confessions:
 
Confessions – Cheree and her husband took a daring ride on a biplane while in Pismo, Mark Whitman celebrated his social security birthday and Matt Clements was in Utah for the last two weeks and came home with two King Charles spaniels named Tia and Bo.
 
Fining - David Scarlett led members through a hilarious romp of Australian slang. We learned that a “billabong” is a stagnant pond, that a “dunny” is a bathroom, that “billy” is a teapot and that “galah” means you are a fool or an idiot.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Program: Anatomy of a High School Musical
 
 
Marty Babayco gave an intimate portrait of the anatomy of a high school musical. He is busy conducting rehearsals this week for Legally Blonde. At T minus 355 days he is already planning next year’s show. While listening to warmups, he has an iPod in his ear playing next year’s musical options. He tries to imagine what the show would look like on the Matilija stage. His goal is to inspire and to create a safe place for kids.
 
Disney figured out that high school musicals are a big deal. 4.8 M come to see them. At Nordhoff, 36,000 + tickets have been sold since Marty started directing. He has been involved with 44 sold out shows.  
 
At T minus 330 days he chooses the next musical. Marty has to like the show (and so does Kay), but so do his production team, many of whom he has worked with for over 20 years.
 
Musicals are very expensive to produce. Last year’s production cost $38,339 while income was $38,343. The biggest cost is licensing. One company controls over 90% of the musical market. Fees are paid not only for the show but for the number of performances and for how many seats the theatre holds whether or not they are sold. One third of the budget pays for musicians. The high school orchestra no longer exists. The school district does not cover any of the cost. Income is generated through ticket sales, donations and program sales. 
 
Marty spends the summer “blocking” the show. He meets with set designer, John Mirk, and the two scribble designs on napkins. There are 18 scene changes in the first act of Legally Blonde. Mirk’s wife Marquita paints the sets. Marty commented that blocking is the most solitary thing he does but it is also the most creative. The blocked script is 135 pages and takes two months to write. There are 125 costumes for 33 cast members as many cast members play more than one role. Elle Woods, the main character in Legally Blonde, has 12 costume changes in the production. One of his biggest challenges was choosing the appropriate shade of pink. The cast is responsible for their own costumes. There are 200 props in this show.
 
Auditions take place in December. 51 students auditioned for 36 spots. Auditions involve singing and a “cold” read. Cast members are chosen based on the characters in the play. Those that are not cast in the production are encouraged to join the technical team.
 
 
 
 
 
In January, preparations start in earnest. There are 30 days/100 hours of rehearsals and three full weekends of set construction. Students are taught how to use tools and design the promotional poster. Marty’s rule is that there are no mistakes on the stage. He described having to work around illness, break ups, sports, death, car crashes and fatigue. Somehow the show always goes on. Marty feels honored to work with these student risk takers every year.
 
Adjournment:
 
President Cheree adjourned the meeting at 1:31 pm with an inspiring quote that reflects the theme of Legally Blonde:
 
“There is NO force equal to that of a determined woman”
 

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.

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