The inaugural meeting of the Year of Betsy got off to a rollicking start for the first in-person meeting since March 2020 as we rounded up more than three dozen of our closest Rotary friends and comrades in philanthropic arms. The new venue at the St. Thomas Aquinas fellowship hall was spacious and cool, a nice contrast to the hot sun outside on the near-triple digit day. Greeting the shambling herd was Deirdre Daly and Michael Scar with appropriate aplomb and ceremony to mark the august occasion.
The buffet was laid out with watermelon aqua fresca, sodas, and a worthy and delicious spread of chicken piccata, rice, molasses rolls and steamed vegetables from the hall’s capable catering crew.
Bill Prather led us in the pledge, while Marty Babayco invoked us with a stirring message themed “Never in my Wildest Dreams,” noting the wild year and a half we have endured:
Not in My Wildest Dreams
Let’s face it, it’s been a weird and bizarre past year and a half.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine what we have all lived through; that our world was temporarily closed, our streets vacant, our businesses shuttered, and our classrooms emptied.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine wearing a mask any time I was out of my home, or having to wash and sanitize my own groceries, or treat anyone I met as a potential deliverer of a deadly virus.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine vacating travel plans, not seeing loved ones, or not celebrating our life’s milestones with each other.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine that we would stop shaking hands or hugging one another.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine feeling so lost and alone, and often feeling exhausted from the daily news that seemed at times, to threaten every corner of our world.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine we would lose Rotarians, Bill Gilbreth to cancer and Ron Polito to Covid.
However, …
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine that we would continue to meet as Rotarians and care for each other in new ways; that we continued to find ways for providing service to our community and our world even during a pandemic.
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine that most of us are now vaccinated; that we’re meeting in a new location in person, or enjoying a meal together, or being able to see our actual, real, beautiful, faces without a mask!
Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine that businesses are beginning to rebound, restaurants are filling, and classrooms will again hear the beautiful noise of students learning; and that our families and loved ones are healthy and safe, and we are planning again to carry out life’s celebrations with one another.
And finally…Not in my wildest dreams could I imagine that Kay and I would again be President Elects –-
So, at the beginning of Betsy’s Rotary year, we have so much to be thankful for. Thankful for our club’s past leadership, thankful for Betsy’s new leadership and all the volunteers who have stepped up to help make this club a vibrant and worthwhile service organization.
We are thankful to our club’s members, and that we can count on each other, to do great things in the name of friendship and service.
But most of all, we are thankful to be filled with the promise of new beginnings and new opportunities to continue our dedication to the ideal of Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self”.
We know there is still so much to do, but in my wildest dreams – we are so ready for the tasks that lie ahead. – Welcome back!
GUESTS:
President Betsy Watson asked if we had any guests. We did. Sue Gilbreth introduced Michelle Sherman. Christine Golden introduced Fern Barishman, Deirdre introduced Karen Banfield and Greg Webster introduced virtual member Candice Alexander, who is making her first in-the-flesh meeting.
PROGRAM--CLUB ASSEMBLY
It being Club Assembly, there would be no fining, but Finemeister Larry Wilde gave us an update that we expect to bring in $12k over the course of the year, so bring your checkbooks and cash. As fining represents nearly 40 percent of the funds it takes to operate the club - paying for lunches, the venue, miscellany like badges and awards, parties, etc.
Secretary:
Our most recent ex-president Michael Scar told us about his new/old role as Secretary, “handling the administrative side of things,” including tech issues with Clubrunner passwords among other things and keeping board minutes (board meets the third Wednesday of each month at Home Kitchen at 0730 hours).
Treasurer:
Deirdre Daly explained her role as keeping the club’s dues up to date, working with a new steering committee to make sure proper accounting procedures are in place, audit oversight from former treasurer Sandy Buechley, whom Deirdre thanked for her mentorship, making sure that vendors get paid, and collecting the dues, which increased from $330 per year to $375, half of which goes to the district 5240 and Rotary International. Processes are being developed to keep straight the various accounts - Rotary Club itself, The Rotary Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation. Also, we are no longer tracking fines paid as tax deductible due to the overwhelming administrative burden, but larger gifts will remain deductible.
International Service:
Leslie Bouche, serving her fourth year (or was it fifth?) ran through the many programs plus a few new ones planned.- India: just completed teacher training for the Prashanti School that the club supports, along with a sister club in the area.
- Ghana: The club has built a support center for the Street Girls program, as well as a new bread making facility to help these homeless young women start and sustain small businesses.
- Niger: We have built benches and desks for students in the school at the Tamesna cultural center. The nomadic tribes in the northeast area of Niger also benefit from Dr. Bob Skankey’s incredible midwife training program that has reduced maternal and infant death rates from as high as six percent to zero!
“Sustainable being a major concern for Rotary” Leslie urged us to donate, as the three-year cycle means that our money will return to the club in 2024 through district designated funds for future projects.
Youth Services:
Kathy Yee ran through the roster of youth-related projects, including the DDF (district designated funds) grant we received for the school district to handle urgent needs related to the pandemic.
The club also supports the Rotaract Club at Matilija Middle School, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) in which high schoolers from around the District 5240 attend a leadership course at Camp Ramah right in our backyard.
There are plans to bring back the Young Americans for local students to receive a master’s class over three days in performing arts culminating in a performance, which the OUSD superintendent supports.
Also, Kathy said we hope to bring back in 2022 the Rotary Youth Exchange in which local students go overseas to spend a school year with host Rotary families.
And the Career Day is being re-invented, again with Dr. Morse’s support, to focus on smaller groups with more personal interactions to give students insight into the actual how’s and why’s of building a career.
The Ronald McDonald Center walkathon is also back on track to raise funds for young cancer victims and their families.
Membership:
Co-chair Greg Webster said his busy committee’s goal is bring in a net gain of six members through sharing the news of the exciting fun and inspirational actions of the club. “We want people knocking on our door, begging to get in,” he promised.
Vocational Services:
Therese Brown talked us through her avenue’s ambitious agenda, which included supporting the Boy Scout Troop (she herself had two Eagle Scout sons), the Matilija Portfolio Project is back on track; and the Fred Clapp Ethics in Business award.
Club Services:
Bill Prather explained how his busy group keeps the club humming with setting up the rooms, audiovisual gear, greeters and flags, etc, in general supporting the president. This includes the Janet Campbell and Sergeant at Arms position and Fining with Larry Wilde. Programs chair Andy Gilman talked about his approach of exploring important community issues such as water and fire, and coming programs from the Ojai Music Festival’s Gina Gutierrez and Laura Walter, and Casitas Municipal Water District. Social chairs include Kathy Yee, Sue Gilbreth and Cindy Frings.
Dr. Gross solicited another scribe for the Reminder editing crew as well. Catherine Lee will handle the Family of Rotary tasks.
Public Relations:
Ren Adam explained that his job will be to share the news of what the club is up to, both inside the club and out in the community as well as at the district.
Community Service:
Sue Gilbreth showed us her program board, which included the 4th of July Fun Run, Community Grants, Living Treasures, Dr. Skankey Humanitarian Award among others. She also introduced us to two new programs; A Contra Dance to raise funds, as well as an Ojai Valley Land Conservancy cleanup project.
Peace Committee:
Mike Weaver said that his group is not a separate avenue of service, but meant to be integrated into all aspects of the club’s projects. The club has been celebrated as Peace Builder Club and every month, two students are honored by the club and school board as Peace Ambassadors and presented with money to donate to the charity of their choosing.
Member at Large:
Jeff Loebl explained that his role is to support Betsy in her all her presidenting efforts, as well as represent the interests of the club as a whole to the board.
Presidents-Elect:
Kay Bliss and Marty Babayco, both former presidents, are back this time as a team. And with the 75th anniversary of the club coming up in 2023, they are busy planning special events to mark the occasion.
As Betsy Watson opened the program: “I’m looking forward to our year of service together. Some have committees already and always welcome anyone who is interested in learning more and getting involved.”
Closing Quote: Betsy shared a poem from the imaginative Burma Shave-inspired pen of Dr. Carl Gross: "
Here we are after CoVid
At home where we once hid
No more Zoom
We meet in a room
Just like we once did
