In the Beginning…
President Wendy called the unruly mob of Rotarians and their guests into some semblance of order. Mike Weaver led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Deirdre Daly gave an insightful Inspirational Moment:
Rotarian Code of Conduct
As a Rotarian:
I will act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life.
I will deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect
I will use my professional skills through Rotary to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve peoples quality of life in my community and in the world
I will avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians
I will help maintain a harassment free environment in Rotary meetings, events and activities, report any suspected harassment and help ensure non retaliation to those individuals that report harassment
Guests
There were no Visiting Rotarians, but we had many Guests:’
Sara McCracken
Robert Porter
Lydia Johnson
Finn Porter
Jim Bailey
Welcome to all!
Thank-You to our Crew…
Setup and Tech—Sue Gilbert and Kelley Rasmussen
Greeter—Christine Golden
Pledge of Allegiance—Mike Weaver
Inspirational Moment—Deirdre Daly
Roving Mic—Fern Barishman
Fining—Bill Hatch
Net—Janet Campbell
Reporter and Editor of Reminder Newsletter—Carl Gross
Jayne Cruise—For our delicious meal.
Announcements
Student of the Month: Finn Porter from Rock, Tree, Sky School. Bill Hatch presented the award to Finn…well deserved! Jim Bailey spoke of his accomplishments and community awareness. Congratulations, Finn!
Bill Prather and Sue Gilbreth formally inducted Marily Mosley and Lisa Elliot to our Rotarian family. We all look forward to working with them.
There will be a celebration of life for Dr. Robert Skankey at the LDS Church on May 17th from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Catherine Lee announced the blood drive on May 2nd. From 11 AM to 2 PM at St. Thomas Acquinas. Contact Catherine to join in on this gift of life.
Portfolio Review. Bob Eisler is doing a great job in organizing our Annual Portfolio Review on May 1st and 2nd. Arrive at 7:30 AM. Interviews from 8:40 to 10 AM. The Portfolio Review is an opportunity for Nordhoff students to present their work in a job interview format. Started by the Orcut School District, we started our interviews in 1996. For those members and volunteers who participate, they come away with a better understanding of our students. We need bilingual volunteers and you do not need to be a Rotarian to participate.
Clint Haugen announced May 10th, we will be doing Shred Day at the United Methodist Church, Noah’s Ark Preschool Parking Lot from 8 AM to 12 PM. Remember to bring gloves and sun protection.
Al West reminded us that next week we will be out at Mira Monte Elementary School at 11:30 AM to celebrate Arbor Day and plant some trees. Sign up and pay for your lunch.
Museum Moment
President Barker gave a brief presentation on the Evelyn Nordhoff Memorial Fountain that graces our Pergola downtown. It was used as a place to tie your horse, was blown up, and has been restored to its former glory.
Fining: Bill Hatch
Bill led a spirited confession and fining session
Bill recounted his visits to the Dermatologist, to treat a persistent skin lesion. His physician was Ryan Wells, born and raised in Ojai.
Bob Davis, in stentorian mode, observed that the room was cold, heat was turned on, and subsequent door was opened.
Wendy announced her 3rd Friday at the Ojai Valley Museum: Ceramics and Crafts:
Join us on the 3rd Friday of the month for later hours and free admission. We're open until 7 pm. There will always be something special going on between 5 and 7 pm. It might be live music, artist demonstrations, an exhibition opening reception, or a craft. This is a free event. Every month join the museum and OVA Arts for Third Friday in Ojai.
Fining centered on what happened on this day, WWII factoids, and Paul Revere.
The Program: Bill and Amy Warlick, Get Acquainted Talks
Amy and Bill Warlick arrived in Ojai in June 2024 from San Clemente, CA, moving closer to their two children and looking to start a new life in the Ojai Valley. They were members of the San Clemente Rotary Club for two years actively involved in that club’s International Committee. They have also been volunteers building houses for impoverished Mexican families in Tecate and Tijuana, MX through a rotary-funded charity called Club Dust.
Prior to moving to San Clemente, the Warlicks spent over 25 years in the Chicago area, raising their two children in Park Ridge, IL, where they were involved in The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Canine Therapy Corps of Chicago, Boy Scouts of America and other non-profits. Looking to escape the cold and be near their daughter, they moved to California during the pandemic in 2020.
Amy's an avid gardener thrilled with the opportunity to get dirty in a big sunny yard where just about everything grows. She also loves swimming, hiking and traveling. Bill enjoys playing the guitar, mastering the Spanish language, reading and traveling. Bill also loves playing with his guide dog who helps him navigate the world as he is challenged by progressive blindness due to a degenerative retina condition called retinitis pigmentosa. Bill is currently a participant in a clinical trial of optogenetics for vision restoration.
Bill grew up in Central Texas, while Amy was raised just outside of Chicago. Bill and Amy first met in 1992 while working as trade policy analysts at the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) in Washington, DC. They spent four years in DC, before moving to the Chicago area to raise their children.
The Warlicks have two grown children: a 25-yr-old daughter who is trying to break-in to the competitive field of digital art and animation in Los Angeles, and a 23-yr-old son who is in a PhD program in Materials Science Engineering at UC Santa Barbara. His primary interest is in polymer filters for sea water desalination.
Amy has a master’s degree in international relations from The University of Chicago. At the USITC she was assigned to the U.S. Trade Representative’s office where she served as a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Trade Organization in Geneva during the 1990s. After the Warlicks moved to Chicago Amy became a U.S. Customs broker and joined a boutique trade law firm where she worked for 21 years specializing in trade investigations and Customs compliance. Then, after consulting on her own for a few years, she accepted a position with one of her clients and currently works full-time remotely doing Customs compliance and tariff mitigation for a SoHo luggage company called "Away."
Bill is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of The University of Virginia and has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. After his early work in trade policy,he earned an MBA from The University of Chicago and pursued a career in corporate finance, economics and fixed income securities analysis. Bill worked at United Airlines, then later covered the airline, gaming, and lodging industries as a Senior Director on the U.S. corporates team at Fitch Ratings, a global bond rating firm. Post 9/11 Bill also served as an advisor to the U.S. Air Transportation Stabilization Board on how best to support recovery of the beleaguered U.S. airline industry. Bill is now retired and interested in utilizing his skills and experience as a Rotarian.
Amy and Bill look forward to meeting all of you, learning more about all that this club is doing in the world, and joining you in service. They’re confident that their prior professional experience, particularly in the international and finance spheres, will be of value to the club.
Congratulations, Amy and Bill!!
Bill's Service Dog
Recommendations:
Mike Weaver recommends Silos, an Apple TV show. People learn to live in huge silos in the ground after a catastrophic nuclear attack.
For something lighter…Wendy recommends the Netflix series North of North. It’s a funny look at inuk life in the Arctic Circle.
Remember…Please signup for the Portfolio Review. Bob Eisler needs your help. Bilingual volunteers especially needed.
Final Thoughts:
As Rotarians, we have the power to speak and share, to explain and to educate, to inspire and to influence. It is our responsibility to share our talents and ideas and to find meaning in other people's messages. May we use our skills to provide service to others less fortunate and help them to be self-sustaining.
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