For Starters…
Co-President Bret Bradigan rang in the unruly mob and welcomed our Guests and visiting Rotarians.
LUNCH: We chowed down on sandwiches and chips from Gusto’s Deli (Participants in Taste of Ojai)
Co-President Kelley Rasmussen opened the meeting
Bret Bradigan led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Inspirational moment: Tony Thacher
I really should wear my hearing aids
But this time of year, there’s so much noise.
You’ve got your ballot, right?
It came in the mail last week.
I sent mine in the next day,
A prideful civic duty,
But still so much noise persists.
Civic duty: voting, jury, stopping at stop signs,
All the social contracts we mostly obey.
But still the noise exists.
So today I left my hearing aids at home,
With only my glasses on keeping my social contract with you,
To ‘make nice’ with you,
(What terrible English that is.)
I guess that’s my civic duty to you now:
To “make nice.’
To be kind to you,
And to make less noise.
Here’s a poem by Nancy Miller Gomez,
appropriate for people and politicians everywhere,
It’s entitled,
America Gets a Lesson in Manners
First, fold your napkin into a white dove,
Use gentle hands. Cut the sheet cake evenly.
Serve your guests cake before serving yourself.
There’s enough icing for everyone.
There’s icing enough. Don’t lick the knife.
Knives can be dangerous, handle with caution.
Teach children caution. Set an example.
Keep hands to yourself and use your words.
Use words not weapons. Don’t pull your gun
at a traffic stop. Say please and thank you.
Making a traffic stop, use your inside voice.
Your gun isn’t a napkin. It can’t staunch blood.
To staunch blood, you must use gentle hands.
Use your napkin you’ve folded into a dove.
So may I suggest:
Use your inside voice when speaking to others,
Find a quiet place and tune out the noise,
And don’t forget to mail in your ballot.
On Noise and Kindness
Poem by Nancy Miller Gomez (Poet laureate of Santa Cruz County)
Many thanks…
Meeting crew today:
Set up Bill Prather, Barry Verga
Greeter: Christine Golden
Flag: Bret Bradigan
Inspirational moment: Tony Thacher
Roving mic: Fern Barishman
Fining: Liz Sampson
Net: Dave Watson
Reporter – Gary Liptak
Editor – Randy Roth
Treasurer – Dave Brubaker
Announcements:
Bill Hatch “Service above Self Award” to Topa Topa’s Sloan Zimmerman introduced by Ms. Pembroke
Deirdre: Taste of Ojai Workday - Oct. 23rd, recruiting members with a truck to help at noon, Site work begins on Sunday at 8am
Taste of Ojai October 25th from 2 to 5:30
Leah Hecker: Ticket sales picking up, we need you to support Taste!
Janet Mahon - Taste of Ojai Auction - 38 items! Click here for more info.
Kelley - We need Volunteers for Ojai Day Booth!
Dave Watson seeks new members for the Education Foundation
Fern Barishman (Sgt at arms) seeks volunteers for meeting tasks
Coming Programs:
10/23 - Work Day for Taste of Ojai (Trucks needed)
10/30 - Fifth Friday
11/6 - International Service Committee: Your Donations at Work
11/13 — Lee Herrick, California Poet Laureate
Confessions and Fining
Fining: Liz Sampson,
Net: Dave Watson
Confessions:
Bret and a Rams game
Kelly Rasmussen offers to assist members who need to alter health care insurance options
Play at Matilija Auditorium this and following weekend: Dear Evan Hansen produced by OPAT.
Guest Speaker; Dan Pingaro introduced by Bret Bradigan
Mr. Pingaro is the new Executive Director, joining the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy.
Dan brings more than 25 years of experience in conservation, environmental policy, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, and community partnership. Born and raised in Southern California, his career began in natural resource management and environmental planning with the Hoopa Valley Tribal Government before he spent a decade with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency working across Tribal, water, and ocean programs.
He later went on to lead several conservation and community-focused nonprofits, including Sailors for the Sea, the Laguna Beach Community Foundation, and the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. But what stood out to us throughout the search was not simply the breadth of Dan’s experience. It was how he leads.
Bret was delighted to introduce OVLC’s next Executive Director, Dan Pingaro, who officially joined the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy on September 15.
The new Director of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy spoke to several topics:
Topic; 6500 acre Boca Chica conveyance and Wetlands recovery
Borders 500 acres of boy scout land
Negotiating grazing rights
Will be open to hiking while in restoration
Visit booth Saturday at Ojai Day event downtown
Thanks, Dan for a great talk.
Kelley gave us the Final Thoughts: Hug Your Neighbor! She presented Dan with local citrus.
