March is Women’s History Month, National Reading Month, Disability Awareness Month, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, and Kidney Month
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In the beginning…
President Marty called Ojai Rotarians, visiting Rotarians and guests together on a day that my grandmother would call “A day for ducks”, as the skies poured out much needed rain.
Rod Owen led the Pledge of Allegiance and Tony Thacher gave us “LOUD” reasons to share what Rotary is all about with our fellow Ojai Community:
Inspiration for the DG
May I add my welcome to our District Governor Scott and apologize for my infrequent ability to get loud. Anne says I mumble, and even President Marty has been known to leap up and pull the mic towards me.
But there are other ways to make noise and get the DG’s attention. Time was Bob Davis and I drove his brand-new Lexus up over the mountain out into the central part of the Central Valley on a dusty Fall Thursday, to Del Ray to buy a used manure spreader, not only used but homemade. It ran on propane. You could tell because a large lozenge-shaped propane tank was welded to the side. It had too many other Rube Goldberg features to mention here and also had a tendency to backfire if you double clutched to downshift. And, Scott, I’m here to tell you it was loud!
We drove it to Rotary the next day. The District Governor was to be there, and we hung a sign on the back of it saying “Wait here for a message from the District Governor.” Bob wore bib overalls and I, well, what you see is what you get. After the meeting our president presented the DG with the speaker’s gift out in the parking lot; and we cranked it up, got a couple of good backfires and filled his trouser cuffs with some of Ojai’s finest equine product. All in all he was a pretty good sport about it, considering the state of his tasseled loafers. And if ever I saw him at a District function, he always remembered me.
So I guess my point is, and I think there is one, that you can always get loud for the District Governor as Bob and I did, but also needs-be for the other 364 days in the Rotary year. You can get loud by raising your hand and volunteering for a Community Service such as the cemetery cleanup, or for Vocational Service’s Matilija Project and, of course, for our The Taste of Ojai. You can be loud in giving to The Rotary Foundation annual fund or for disaster relief in Turkey. And you can make noise by leaving a legacy in your estate plan for our own Educational Foundation. And you can just do Rotary service by nudging Jack Jacobs awake about ten minutes into Scott’s remarks.
Let’s take Scott’s message to heart. Lord knows after all the clubs he’s visited he knows it by heart. And when you leave today and jump into your chariot, backfire or no, be ready to spread a little Ojai Rotary product around the valley and the world beyond.
That Rotary product is Service. And it nourishes all that it touches. May I add my welcome to our District Governor Scott and apologize for my infrequent ability to get loud. Anne says I mumble, and even President Marty has been known to leap up and pull the mic towards me. But there are other ways to make noise and get the DG’s attention.
Time was Bob Davis and I drove his brand-new Lexus up over the mountain out into the central part of the Central Valley on a dusty Fall Thursday, to Del Ray to buy a used manure spreader, not only used but homemade. It ran on propane. You could tell because a large lozenge-shaped propane tank was welded to the side. It had too many other Rube Goldberg features to mention here and also had a tendency to backfire if you double clutched to downshift. And, Scott, I’m here to tell you it was loud!
We drove it to Rotary the next day. The District Governor was to be there, and we hung a sign on the back of it saying “Wait here for a message from the District Governor.” Bob wore bib overalls and I, well, what you see is what you get. After
the meeting our president presented the DG with the speaker’s gift out in the parking lot; and we cranked it up, got a couple of good backfires and filled his trouser cuffs with some of Ojai’s finest equine product. All in all he was a pretty
good sport about it, considering the state of his tasseled loafers.
And if ever I saw him at a District function, he always remembered me.
So I guess my point is, and I think there is one, that you can always get loud for the District Governor as Bob and I did, but also needs-be for the other 364 days in the Rotary year. You can get loud by raising your hand and volunteering for a
Community Service such as the cemetery cleanup, or for Vocational Service’s Matilija Project and, of course, for our The Taste of Ojai. You can be loud in giving to The Rotary Foundation annual fund or for disaster relief in Turkey. And
you can make noise by leaving a legacy in your estate plan for our own Educational Foundation. And you can just do Rotary service by nudging Jack Jacobs awake about ten minutes into Scott’s remarks.
Let’s take Scott’s message to heart. Lord knows after all the clubs he’s visited he knows it by heart. And when you leave today and jump into your chariot, backfire or no, be ready to spread a little Ojai Rotary product around the valley and the world beyond.
That Rotary product is Service. And it nourishes all that it touches.
President Marty thanked all who helped with planning and set up for today’s meeting. Marty welcomed special guest and speaker Scott Phillips, District Governor, Margarida Eidson, Assistant Governor, Group 7, Jan Phillips Assistant Governor Group 8, Assistant, District Governor Elect, Marta Brown, Member Sid Cohen and Care Partner Jeanie and Dr. Bob Skankey in person, Guests, Liz Sampson and Dolan Halbrook (Dr. Fred Fauvre’s son in law, Renee's spouse).
Announcements:
Kathy Yee gave us an update on Taste of Ojai. We’ve sold $11,000 in Sponsorships, and 76 individual tickets. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors. Ojai Playhouse is a new vendor and new Auction items include; Kevin Davis donated collector Lego sets, Patrick the Magician donated Magic Castle tickets and the Weirick’s donated their condominium in Mammoth. Still looking to fill a few volunteer positions. Let Carl Gross know if you can help.
Cheree Edwards updated us on 75th Anniversary Committee meeting today after lunch. To be held at Dewayne Boccali’s ranch in the upper Ojai, great venue, tickets and save the date coming soon.
What's coming up?
March 24th-4th Friday Focus Group-Animal Husbandry at John and Peggie Russel’s 3 Dog Ranch and Native plants at Don and Cheree Edwards’s Garden, tour and lunch. Signup sheet being passed around for box lunches.
Virtual District Training, Saturday March 18, information available on tables. Please join us, officers need to go and great for new members. To register, click here.
Dr. Fauvre announced nominations for the Ojai Living Treasures program. Both Ojai Clubs are collaborating, and ballots will be available online as well as hard copy or vote online. Nominations due in April.
5th Friday Social at Ojai Brewing Company on Bryant Street 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Bring your own snacks or purchase menu items from the Grilled Cheese Food Truck.
Member Shout out to Bob Davis, our local ecdysiast, for “Getting Loud” about Rotary and his “Strip Tease”, great sense of humor and message. Have a PURPOSE, have a message that COUNTS, END POLIO! Donate to Polio Plus. Click here.
Presidents Message: Kay introduced Pradeep Kapadia to update us on his Educational Foundation which connects students in developing countries to go to college. The Institution as helped 608 students in 22 countries thanks to our Rotary and the Goleta Rotary. That’s what we call “Getting Loud”.
The International Service Committee meets at 7:30 a.m. on March 21st.
Fining: Bill Weirick was the first to offer confessions. Once the members penance was made, he launched into a host of questions about crawdads and the like.
Upcoming Programs: Bret updated us on future programs for March.
Program: Margarida introduced District Governor Scott Phillips who challenged us on how to get “LOUD” for Rotary in Ojai. We all know who and what Rotary is and does, but do your neighbors, your friends, your family?
If you truly love something, you want to share it with others. Share with others what Rotary means to you. Be proud to wear your pin and be ready to answer when asked, “What is Rotary”?
Food for thought: In order to live in the kind of society you want, you have to help build it. Say “YES”. Take care and give comfort to each Rotarian. Support each other in business at www.rotary5240.biz.
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