In the beginning...
President Mike rang in the meeting with a host of visitors, all a part of the Districts of Korea and Mexico, accompanied by District Governors, Past District Governors, Rotary International President's Representatives and Past General Secretaries to name a few. With less than an hour to prepare, Mike, his team, and Ginger pulled it off. Thanks to everyone for making this a very special meeting.
A special thanks to Bob Roddick for the set up, Matt Clements for the Flag Salute, and Carl Gross for the following Invocation:
May I grow in understanding of my own motives,
Knowing that people often act out of their own fears.
May I be a force for replacing fear with insight,
Helping us all to be patient and kind as we talk.
Strength, real strength, can always find compromise
Working together, may we find a common ground.
Enable us to move forward with a shared purpose.
May we see what is truly important and unites us.
Focusing on that, to banish road blocks of ego and fear,
Today, may I be open to others' ideas and beliefs.
Thanks to Randy Roth for desk duty, Carl Gross for the Reminder and, Ginger Case for the yeoman's job of feeding and hosting this assemblage.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Visiting Rotarians:
Susan Weaver--E Club of One World
Ed Futa--Rotary General Secretary General
Steve Adams--Rotary West
Sandy Schwartz--District Governor Elect from Bakersfield East
Linda Taylor--Rotary West
Mike Caldwell--President Rotary West
District Governor--John Weiss and Christine
Past Governors including--Jane McClenahan, Chung Sam Doh, Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith and E. Russell, Deepa Willingham, and Wade Nomura
Larry Chambers--Rotary Club in Cambodia (Next time you are in Cambodia, look him up!)
Visitors:
Katherine McCullard, Christine Golden, Rachel King, and Andy Cantwell
Welcome to all!!!
Upcoming Programs
October 13th--Patrick Zarate, COO, Ventura County Behavioral Health--Opiate Use and Abuse in the Ojai Valley
October 20th--Kathleen Schafer--Interesting Outlooks for Ojai
October 27th--Craft Talks
November 3rd--Joe Sohm-Visions of America
Announcements:
Don Reed reminded us that the Taste of Ojai is just around the corner (10/22). There are more tickets to sell, donations for the silent auction, and a few sponsorships. This is our main fundraiser of the year. Lets make it special!
President Mike shared that we were voted the Best Service Club in the Ojai Valley. It is through all your efforts that this honor is ours.
There is a RCOEF Board Meeting this Tuesday 10/10 at the Café Emporium. All members are invited.
The Nightmare on the Hill, a fundraiser for Ventura East is now selling discount tickets.
Ojai Rotary Board Meeting at President Mike's office, 10/12.
We lost a good friend and counselor with the sudden and unexpected passing of Allan Jacobs. He will be missed. He served on almost every committee and was President in 1991. Through his efforts, the Ojai Rotary Club Educational Foundation was founded and thrives today. His quiet and sage counsel will be missed by all of us. We will have the opportunity to say a few words at this Friday's meeting and honor his legacy.
The Program: Kim Maxwell
Bret Bradigan introduced Kim, a producer, director, writer, and teacher and founder of the Kim Maxwell Studio. Kim was one of the original founders of the Ojai Playwrights Conference and has served on its board for the past 20 years. A devoted activist and arts advocate, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Ojai. Bret added that he was a student of hers and "She did the best she could."
She started off with a playful and very accurate depiction of life and people of Ojai. "We are the most beautiful mess ever seen!".
She was the product of sensible Canadian parents and was always fascinated by great stories. Stories have the ability to break down differences and bring us together. She now has a podcast called Townies. Go to thetowniespodcast.org downloadable on iTunes.
Her students are from 14 to 86 years old from a variety of backgrounds.
She thanked the Ojai Rotary for their continued support and told us to "Stay soft, Ojai." Thanks, Kim, we will take that under advisement.
Final Thoughts
"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."
Harry S. Truman.
You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.
