In the beginning…
Ojai Rotarians and their guests gathered on the bucolic grounds of Chez Boccali. The sun reached its zenith as temperatures hovered in the high 80s. Cheerful enthusiasm was abundant as we celebrated seeing the lower half of faces and not framed by a Zoom box. Next week, the indoor mask mandate will be lifted, and we will resume meeting at the Aquinas Center.
President Betsy called the meeting to order as Sean McDermott led us in the flag salute.
Christine Golden gave the invocation reading from Paul Harvey’s missive to his grandchildren:
“I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand-new car when you are sixteen.
It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister, and it’s all right If you
have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the
covers with you because he’s scared. I hope you let him.
When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you’ll
let him/her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you
can do it safely.
On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don’t ask your driver to drop you two
blocks away so you won’t be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.
If you want a sling shot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy/girl, and when
you talk back to your mother that you learn what Ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue
on a frozen flagpole.
I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your
Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.
I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor’s window
and that she hugs you and kisses you when you give her a plaster mold of your hand
for her birthday.
These things I wish for you-tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness.
To me it’s the only way to appreciate life.
Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I’m here for you. And if I die before you do, I’ll
go to heaven and wait for you.
Many thanks to those who make these meetings so special:
Greeter: Dominic Pino
Pledge: Sean McDermott
Invocation: Christine Golden
Fining and confessions: Bob Davis
Reminder Editor: Carl Gross
Photographer: Carl Gross
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Rotarian Steve White from Washington State has been wintering in The Ojai.
Haady Lashkari introduced Dr. Maziar Goshtasbi, a new geriatrics specialist at the Midtown Medical Group here in Ojai.
It was nice to see Fred Farkhani, who has been working at his Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy so hard to provide vaccinations for the Ojai residents. Fred, we missed you!
On this date in history…
On February 11th, 1963, American chef Julia Child’s show “The French Chef” premiered.
Also on this day, in 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison. Leaving Victor Verster Prison on 11 February, Mandela held Winnie's hand in front of amassed crowds and the press; the event was broadcast live across the world.
Driven to Cape Town's City Hall through crowds, he gave a speech declaring his commitment to peace and reconciliation with the white minority, but he made it clear that the ANC's armed struggle was not over and would continue as "a purely defensive action against the violence of apartheid".
He expressed hope that the government would agree to negotiations, so that "there may no longer be the need for the armed struggle", and insisted that his main focus was to bring peace to the black majority and give them the right to vote in national and local elections Staying at Tutu's home, in the following days Mandela met with friends, activists, and press, giving a speech to an estimated 100,000 people at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium
Announcements
The indoor mask mandate will be lifted next week. We will be meeting indoors at the Aquinas Center. Please continue safety measures when you have symptoms. Please continue handwashing and maintaining distance.
Programs: Andy Gilman gave us an update on upcoming programs. Please click here for more information.
Dr. Fauvr
e announced the Living Treasures ballot nominations will be going out next week. Please think of who you will nominate, to recognize our local heroes who go above and beyond in their lives of community service. Please visit the Living Treasures website for more information.
Kay Bliss reminded us of the focus groups following the meeting. This is your chance to tell us what you want to see in our club. She also announced Grant Writing Workshops available.
Cindy Frings announced that the Taste of Ojai website has been updated, that there is an early bird special on tickets bought before March 1st, and made a strong appeal for volunteers. We will be asking for help in the coming days. This is our major fundraiser so please donate your time and expertise.
Leslie Bouche told us of the upcoming International Service Committee meeting on Tuesday, February 15th at 7:30 AM on Zoom. Those interested can reach out to Leslie and she will send you a Zoom link.
Candace Alexander got here Blue Badge. Congratulations!
Paul Harris all around. Tony Thacher and Terry Beckett, in keeping with the “every Rotarian, every year” credo, presented Paul Harris Awards to Mike Malone (plus 3), Leslie Bouche (plus 1), Catherine Lee (plus 1), Deirdre Daly (plus 1), Mike Weaver (plus 4), Jim Combs (plus 1), Cheree Edwards (plus 3), Pradeep Kapadia (plus 2), Marc Whitman (plus 1), Terry Beckett (plus 5), Fred Coleman (plus 1), and Dave Brubaker (plus 2). The plus designation is for additional Paul Harris Awards in past. Congratulations to all and thanks for your generosity!
Secure Beginnings is more secure with $2000 award. Renee Mandala received the “Flash Grant” of unused District 5240 funds to support this valuable resource. They support new parents, provide a diaper bank for those having trouble affording it, breastfeeding support, and ongoing education for parents of 0-5 year olds. Thanks to our “grants guru” Kay Bliss for her help in securing the grant!
Fining and Confessions: Bob Davis
Senor Bob took the podium under less than exuberant applause to extract lucre from the members. Alluding to the Secure Beginnings offer of free diapers, he wondered if they considered diapers for adults. The answer: It Depends.
Mr. Davis gave us a history of Edward Drummond Libbey. Cindy Frings, Ren Adams, Candace Alexander, Renee Hallbrook, Sean McDermott, and Deirdre Daly fell victim to the glass menagerie magnate and benefactor of Ojai.
Social Hour
Following the meeting, we had a social hour and clusters of focus groups that gave input and helped Marty and Kay with their planning for the 2022-23 year.
Final Thoughts…
“We have a chance to do something extraordinary. As we head out of this pandemic, we can change the world. Create a world of love. A world where we are kind to each other. A world where we are kind no matter what class, race, sexual orientation, what religion or lack of or what job we have. A world we don’t judge thaose at the food bank because that may be us if things were just slightly different. Let love and kindness be or roadmap.”
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