The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter
June 26th, 2020

Carl A. Gross, Editor

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.
 
President Cheree's Demotion Zoomapalooza
 
In the beginning...
 
We gathered in real and virtual spaces to celebrate the Presidency of Cheree Edwards and welcoming Michael Scar as our new President.  What a year it was!  It was one of high spirits, hard work, adaptation to a new reality, and, first and foremost, fellowship, fun, and Service Above Self.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The theme of this soiree was Cheree's favorite iles d'evasion,  Hawaii. Rotarians, with island garb and masks gathered at the Matilija Pavillion to kick off the event. After presentation and recognitions were given, Rotarians and guests picked up their food and went home to fire up their computers for the Zoom portion of the program.
 
 
Soon to be Past President observed:
 
Hello to the Best Rotary Club I know!
 
I can't say thank you enough for such a wonderful & perfect send off last night at my demotion "Luau".
 
It's been my honor to serve as your President and it's been a remarkable year!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Congrats for all your well done work and to our most deserving awardees "Rising Star Award" Tara Saylor and our "Robert Chesley Rotarian of the Year", Bill Gilbreth.
 
This afternoon at our District Governor Step Down & Awards celebration we were honored even further in the large club category...
 
In a District with 72 Rotary Clubs we were just 1 of two clubs to earn the Gold Club Medal Award.
 
We were the Region 3 award winner for International Service Avenue and District Award winner for our Membership Avenue of Service!
 
...and in a District with over 3000 members our very own Kay Bliss was honored with the Heather Frankle Dream Catcher Award. Congratulations Kay!!
 
Please watch this wonderful youtube video all the way through and celebrate Rotary Club of Ojai.
 
 
Cheers to you all and Aloha for now~.  
Past Pres. Cheree 
 
Roasts and Plaudits
 
Deirdre Daly led off.  She asked "How do you roast a person who is perfect?". Deirdre gave a brief history of Cheree and how she adapted to competition.  When she opened her Realty Office, Larry Wilde and Dennis Guernsey moved in on each side of her office with prominent signs on their doors.  She simply put her office sign on the door saying, "Main Entrance Here".   
 
Deirdre recounted the past year:
 
1.  District Governor, Savi Bhim, visited Boccali's for a joint meeting of the Rotary Clubs of Ojai, where $10,000 was raised and a great time was had by all.
 
2.  Ever innovative, Cheree's Club Assembly was like a Rotary Convention where Rotarians were encouraged to visit the booths of Club Members and learn about the functions and goals of each Avenue of Service and plans for the new year.
 
3.  Our Club took a big risk in moving our Taste of Ojai to the Topa Mountain Winery.  It was a grand success, raising over $50,000, a new high.  
 
4.  Our holiday party at the Farm House on the Ojai Valley Inn was the social event of the season.  Sergio Arregones, cartoonist for MAD magazine entertained the kids with his cartoon lessons while Rotarians and guests were treated to food, fun, and fellowship.
 
5. Start of a Rotaract Club and presentation of Peace Ambassadors, recognizing the students contribution to our community and the world.
 
 
Bret Bradigan said he would "Try to be sincere"..
 
Bret admired her great sense of organization, addressing the adaptation to virtual meetings, "You made the meetings "friendly and familiar".
 
Cheree is a person who never says no.  She would take on ideas and make things happen. 
 
Dr. Pops read a few of his laudatory haikus. 
 
Christine Golden: "She is the embodiment of nice. and shows grace under pressure."
 
 Bill Gilbreth related the fable of the "Princess who came to the Valley":
 
They call this a Demotion Party. But I believe that it really should be called a Coronation. Let me tell you why – in terms of a brief fable.
 
          Once upon a time – long, long ago – there was a small gaggle of Rotarians, in a little east/west valley not far away. The Rotarians were old. You could even call them jaded. Tragically, they also were all MEN!
 
          But a beautiful princess came to their little valley. She was in the real estate biz. Let’s just call her Lerie. In any event, one of the Rotarians asked her to join their little club. And so she did.
 
          The Rotarians expected that Princess Lerie would know her place – and wouldn’t challenge male supremacy. Alas, however, a dark cloud formed over the little valley. At first the merry little Rotarians chalked it up to “June gloom”. But that wasn’t really the problem. The actual problem was that the poor simple Rotarians had discovered that Lerie wasn’t a princess after all… They discovered that she was actually a Queen!
 
          A queen that was more than an equal!
 
          Ultimately the Rotarians solved their problem by electing Queen Lerie as their president – and settled down to live happily ever after…
 
          Over time the small Rotary club grew in size – to the substantial benefit of their small valley and its graduating seniors. Other Queens joined the club and were also elected president – to the benefit of both their valley and such far flung places as Ghana, Niger, India and Bosnia.
 
          It was in this bucolic setting that yet another queen came along. Let’s call her Queen Cheree.
 
          Like Queen Lerie, Queen Cheree was nice, and in the real estate biz. Unfortunately, however, Queen Cheree suffered from a tragic flaw!
 
          Although not readily apparent – except, perhaps, to a sailor named Don – it turns out that queen Cheree’s terrible defect was that she was a closet perfectionist!
 
          Probably because of this character defect, strange things began to happen when queen Cheree became president. You have already learned the sordid details of Queen Cheree’s year from Queen Deirdre - and I won’t repeat them here. It would be impermissibly cruel to do so.
 
          Instead, let me to say that it’s been a really great year Cheree – and an absolute pleasure to work with you. One home run after another.
 
          Thanks for all the fun and amazing accomplishments!!
 
Shannon, Cheree's daughter shared that she does not make her own coffee and forgets things.  While this was going on, Cheree had another surprise, her son, Clinton "Zoom bombed her" with an unexpected visit to be at her party.
 
Frank Fink took credit for recognizing her talents and suggested she be President.  This was followed by a host of jokes.  (Was he a standup comedian in a previous life?)
 
Please click on these links for more of the story:
 
In keeping with the theme, we were treated to Island dancing.  To view, please click here.
 
For Savi Bhim's District 5240 video, please click here.
 
For a photo album of the Demotion Party, please click here
 
Thanks to all that made this a great celebration.  We look forward to Michael Scar's new year, and, Thank You, Cheree for a great year!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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