A balmy summer morning sun passed the meridian into a balmy afternoon as stragglers of the Rotarian variety ambled into the St. Thomas fellowship hall for their weekly congregation of service-doers. Greeting the assemblage was Bill Weirick as Dave Brubaker faced down hordes of questioners about the new dues policy, while Kelley Rasmussen and Bill Prather turned the room into a welcoming space. Kelley also manned the roving microphone.

Invocation: Marc Whitman set the tone with a Maya Angelou quote: “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberals the soul of the giver.” He continued “I have also learned that there have been studies which have proven that certain givers have a gene or are genetically prone to release serotonin in the brain when they feel they have made someone else happier. In other words, these givers are gifted to receive pleasure when they are giving.”

 

He continued to note that the act of giving, of service, create a Butterfly Effect, in which small deeds ripple forward into the world. “For those who are so gifted, it is important to go into the world to spread our good vibrations.”

 

Visiting Rotarians: Kern Lewis from the Tuesday club.

 

Guests: Kern’s mom, the distinguished local artist Karen Lewis joined her other son, Mark, who presented our program. Fern Barishman also introduced Michael Addison as someone curious about Rotary.

 

Dave Brubaker headed to the mic amid an impolite smattering of applause to explain how and why dues have increased from $350 per six months to $400. Dues cover most of the costs of club operations, including socials, room rental and storage, website and other miscellaneous expenses that go with running a club with 70 members. Mostly, it is to streamline the system by which we pay Jayne $750 weekly up to 50 eaters, and share the expenses as fairly as possible. The new dues structure will be in place for a six-month trial.

Taundra Roddick talked about Youth Services committee, of which she chairs and was holding a meeting after our regular meeting. Anyone curious about the various projects - tutoring, portfolio project or a possible career service day project for local youth - is encouraged to reach out to her.

 

Catherine Lee rousted up enthusiasm for the Sergeant at Arms duties, which includes setup and takedown, A/V needs, pledge, invocation, etc. She passed around a spreadsheet in which volunteers could sign up for the individual dates. It would be their responsibility to make substitutions, though she would be reminded everyone of their duties via email each week.

 

Wendy ran through the rest of the month:

- August 9th, Tony Thacher will reprise his museum annual meeting oration about “Tale of Two Families: The Friends and the Thachers”

- August 16 it will be a lunch mob, meeting at Taste of Ojai-supporting restaurants

- August 23 two members will be doing their craft talks.

- August 30th, it will be our annual dual meeting with the Tuesday club at members Dennis Guernsey and Erik Wilde’s Faria Beachhouse.

 

Wendy pulled a blast from the archived past with a 1920 brochure from Wheeler Gorge. The tents and cabins of this once-renowned resort for taking in the hot and cold springs, steelhead fishing, sunning and hiking, ranged from $1.25 a night to $4 for a cabin with running water and a toilet. She noticed in a motif image that it showed a woman taking pictures of her kids, with the caption “Kodaking” as a verb for this early antecedent of Instagramming.

 

Sue Gilbreth netted lucre from the following confessions:

- Andy Gilman’s Agora Foundation was hosting a screening of women-written or directed films with Juno that night at Ojai Valley Brewery.

- Bill Prather danced onstage at the Art Center for the first time, in a show-tune revue.

- Leah Hecker paid up for her 20th wedding anniversary

- Bob Davis paid up for the pleasure of paying his fines online. “If I can do it, everyone can do it!”

- Brubaker paid up for neglecting to mention during his announcement that you can also pay your Polio Plus and Rotary Foundation contributions online.

 

Sue’s questions revolved around “The Dog Days of Summer.”

First up was Kevin Davis who mis-guessed that Sirius was known as the Dog Star.

Jack Jacobs guessed that a dog-days themed poem was written by the 5th century BC poet Hesiod.

 

 

Wendy introduced journalist and community service leader Mark Lewis “as one of the first people I met when I moved to Ojai.” Mark previously served in just about every capacity on the museum board, including board chair and he currently serves on the exhibits committee.

 

Mark took us through one of his patented deep dives into a preview for a story he’s writing for the Fall issue of Ojai Quarterly. He was prompted to write the story when he noticed so many local institutions were built in 1924, including the Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai Valley School’s buildings, Krotona Center, Villanova Preparatory and Meiners Oaks.

 

It was Edward Drummond Libbey’s dream for Ojai to rival Pasadena and Montecito as a place for wealthy East Coasters to spend their winters, and part of the attraction was golf, hence the Ojai County Club, now the Inn. But he struggled to sell lots in the adjacent Arbolada. In fact, he sold none when he first subdivided in 1921, and only the three pre-built spec homes, designed by famous architect George Washington Smith. The golf course, however, designed by George Thomas Jr., was immediately hailed as “a masterpiece” and the great Wallace Neff, who built the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, now the museum, and Post Office tower, built the Country Club.

 

Gradually, starting with the Country Club, Ojai moved westward through walnut and apricot orchards and pig farms. Next up was the Villanova School, which was planned to be a college as well as a boarding high school. Then Krotona, and finally Meiners Oaks was platted out by grandchildren of the pioneer John Meiners. It was the site of the famous Star Camps, in which Krishnamurti drew thousands of people for his famous talks, living out of tents and living the Theosophical life.

 

Lewis teased out a provocative bit of the story as well. Did you know that the KKK once flourished in the Ojai Valley? Pick up a copy of the Fall OQ, coming out Labor Day weekend, to learn more.

 

Wendy finished us up with a couple of recommendations:

Kathy Lee recommended an episode of “The Daily,” the NY Times podcast, from July 13th with sociologist Robert Putnam, author of the seminal work from 25 years ago, called “Bowling Alone,” about the loss of social capital in America, and the dire consequences that ensue. The loneliness and despair he described in that book have only accelerated with social media and smart phones.

 

Bret Bradigan recommended “Hundreds of Beavers,” a strange and wildly funny film made by two weirdos in Wisconsin on a shoestring budget, reminiscent of Bugs Bunny, Chuck Jones, Buster Keaton and other inspired lunacies in this tale of a trapper looking to win the heart of the trading post owners’ daughter.