Under grey skies with the promise of much needed rain, the Ojai Rotarians and their guests assembled in the Soule Park Clubhouse for fun, food, and fellowship.  President Daly, who is proud to serve as President of the best Rotary Club she knows opened the festivities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bret Bradigan led the Pledge of Allegiance and Mike Malone gave the Invocation:

 

You’ve blessed us with friends and laughter and fun.

With rain that’s as soft as the light from the sun—

You’ve blessed us with stars to brighten each night

You’ve given us help to know wrong from right

You’ve given us so much,  please Lord give us too

A heart that is always grateful to you.

Amen

 

 

Deirdre started by thanking our room set up crew – Fred Coleman and Bill Prather

Thank you, Mike, for the invocation

Thank you, Bret for the flag salute

Thank you, Cheree and Therese for greeting

Thank you, Suzanne for roving mike

 
Thank you, Tony Thacher for desk duty today

Thank you, Carl Gross who will be the Reminder Editor today

 
Thank you, Therese for fining and Bob for being her bag person

Thank you, Carl for being our photographer

 

 

There were many guests and Visiting Rotarians. Unfortunately, the guest sign in sheet was not picked up.  Apologies to all.

 

 

Clubrunner – Updating your data for communication purposes.  Need your Clubrunner id and password?  Terry Beckett can help.  His email is bk750@yahoo.com

 

Coming Up--Bill Prather gave us a rundown on upcoming programs.  The Program Committee has done a yeoman’s job in consistently providing informative and uplifting programs this year.  Thanks to all!

 

February 8^th—Christine Golden—Ojai Public Art

 

February 15^th—Mark Kerwin—Mediating Peace Agreements

 

February 22^nd--Craft Talks

 

March 9^th—Tara Saylor reported that The Ojai Valley Green Coalition has rescheduled the meeting on Climate Resistant Landscape Design from 10 AM to 3 PM at Kent Hall, 206 N. Signal Street in Ojai. For more information, go to: https://ojaivalleygreencoalition.com/2019/01/24/the-ojai-valley-green-coalition-presents-workshop-series-at-the-ojai-community-demonstration-garden-3/

 

Here are a few dates to put on your calendar:

 

April 6^th--Rotarian at Work Day at the Ojai Demonstration Gardens.

 

April 24^th—NHS Job Fair—Contact Bryant Huber for further information.

 

May 30-31—Matilija Portfolio Program

 

June 20^th—District 5240 Social—Dodgers vs Giants Game. https://www.rotarydistrict5240.org/Stories/district-5240-dodger-game-social-event-fundraiser

 

June 21^st—Demotion Party

 

 

Deirdre reported on the District Midterms which were attended by Deirdre, Therese, Nathan, and others in Bakersfield. 

 

 

 

Tony O’Thacher regaled us with a bit of humor in honor of our President.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the sound of one hand clapping, Therese took the podium to extract ducats from the assemblage.

 

 

Mike Weaver celebrated his birthday.

 

Don Reed’s son who has an MFA in creative writing has recently been published.

 

Suzanne confessed to 20 years of wedded bliss.

 

 

 

Janet Campbell’s daughter in law and son,  Justin is pregnant with Janet’s first grandchild.

 

 

The theme was ancient inventions and technology.

Bryant Huber, Ian Maclean, Marty Pops, Mike Malone, and Bill Gilbreth were grilled on everything from Chinese chemistry, silk making, and initial uses of the compass.  Thank-You, Therese for a lively session!

 

 

Mark Whitman introduced Bryant Huber, who spoke to the current technology in extracting water from thin air.  In these times when the availability of potable water is becoming scarce for many people in the world, this is becoming a viable solution to the shortage. 

 

Bryant thanked Tara, Mark, Sandy, and other Rotary members for their support.  Bryant has been researching this concept for the past 2 years.  That’s a lot of Googleing. 

 

An UN study in 2012 revealed that African women spend 200 million hours a day or 40 billion hours a year in providing drinking water for their families.  The average distance traveled for water is 3.7 miles, often traveled several times a day.  Some travel 20 miles a day for water.  This time could be used for productivity, education, and general betterment of the people.

 

With the drought, the need for more water is closer to home.  There are many people working on this solution.

 

Bryant reviewed some of the new exciting technology that produces water, literally, from thin air:

 

The Warka Tower—A 20-30 foot bamboo frame with a nylon net that captures and funnels water which is channeled to a terracotta pot at the bottom.  Invented by Arturo Vogler, an architect is simple in design and inexpensive.  It takes about 6 people to build the tower in 3 days.  It is susceptible to wind and takes time to build.  It would provide enough daily water for a family of seven.

 

The Cloud Fisher—An ultrafine netting in a rugged frame, it can stand up to 100 mile per hour winds.  It can last up to 25 years.  It can produce 100s if not 1000s of gallons of water daily.  An instillation in Morroco produces 8000 gallons of water a day.  It is expensive and requires skill and tools to install it.

 

Air Drop System—This system utilizes a fan, powered by a solar panel, and coil technology. 

 Utilizing nanotechnology, it channels water into drip lines to irrigate crops.  It is portable, easy to install, but is very expensive.  Its output is not dependent on fog or rain, but the output of water is small.

 

Other Units include the Sky Water and Rain Maker.

 

Bryant wrapped up the talk with what would be required to utilize these devices as a service project and what the local government would require for permitting the projects. 

 

Thanks, Bryant for an interesting and informative presentation!