The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter
February 5th, 2021

Wendy Barker, Editor
 
February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month
 
Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. 
Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. The Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member.
 
In the Beginning...
 
Dierdre Daly welcomed Rotarians as they joined our weekly Zoom meeting.
 
President Michael Scar called the meeting to order.
 
Larry Beckett lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Marc Whitman gave the invocation.
 
President Michael thanked Larry and Marc along with Tara Saylor our Zoom coordinator and reporter Wendy Barker
 
 
 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
 
Bob Skankey was our lone visitor, broadcasting from his Airstream trailer, currently in Kingman, Arizona.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Harris Awards
 
President Michael had Paul Harris Presentations to award: 
 
Congratulations, and thank you to, Cheree Edwards +3, Marc Whitman, +1, Leslie Bouche +1, and Terry Beckett +5! There was also a reminder to donate to The Rotary Foundation.
 
 
Membership Minute
 
 
Jack Jacobs was called on, but admitted he “forgot to prepare.” Luckily, he was reminded that we are asked to focus on why we got into Rotary and why we stay as members.
 
The membership committee encourages everyone to ask a friend to attend a meeting as well as people who used to be Rotarian but have drifted away. Reach out to them and encourage them to attend, and hopefully, join again.
 
Cheree Edwards asked Bill Prather to share a quick story about his sponsor.
 
 
 
Announcements
 
Betsy Watson is in charge of a Superbowl pool. There are only 11 of 100 spaces left, at $5 each. There is no skill involved, just luck. With 4 winners, one per quarter, who will split all the cash. She asked that people call or text her for the last 11 spaces.
 
 
Mike Weaver reminded us that the Education Foundation is meeting Wednesday at 1pm via Zoom.
 
Deirdre Daly reminded us to pay our dues.
 
And Fred Fauvre said Living Treasures committee is meeting Thursday, 2/11 at 7:30 AM on Zoom.  All invited to this Zoom Fest. Call or email Dr. Fauvre if you want to participate.
 
Rotary Humor
 
 
 
 
 
Confessions
 
We didn’t have a fine master in attendance but that didn’t stop Bob Skankey from pledging $100 for his 90th birthday. He said he feels young, and recently enjoyed a 30 mile bike ride.
 
Play about Katharine Graham debuts online
 
 
Deirdre encouraged people to attend a virtual fundraiser, a play by recent speaker Robin Gerber at Santa Barbara Center Stage Theater. The play is about former CEO of the Washington Post who defied the government by posting the Pentagon Papers, took on President Nixon in Watergate, and stunned her male executives who had bet against her success. It’s on Friday or Sunday with tickets $10 or $25.  Tickets can be purchased at: Centerstagetheater.org
 
The Program:  Tony Thacher/Emily Ayala: Taste of Ojai/Ojai Pixies
 
  
Then it was on to our program of the day. Tara Saylor introduced a Taste of Ojai video featuring Tony Thacher and his daughter Emily Ayala. The video was shot in their Friends Ranches packing house on Maricopa Highway.
 
It was a really interesting video with Tony and Emily discussing the produce business. Farmers Markets, wholesale to grocery chains, individual sales at their packing house and especially this past year, their mail order business are all aspects of their successful business. The father and daughter duo also told us some of the history of the Thacher and Friend families in the valley. We didn’t have time to watch the whole video so please watch it online at: 
 
 
 
Upcoming Programs
 
Therese Brown shared upcoming programs including Reins of Hope with Samantha Balcezak, which is located on Catherine Lee’s ranch. 
 
For more on our programs click here.
 
Final Thoughts
 
President Michael ended the meeting with this quote:
 
When you do the right thing you get the feeling of peace and serenity associated with it. Do it again and again.
 
Roy T. Bennett
 
 
 

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.

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