In the beginning...
President Marty called the meeting to order.
Bill Prather led us in the Pledge of Allegiance
Tony Thacher read the Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be America Again” as our invocation:
Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free.
(America never was America to me.)
Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed—
Let it be that great strong land of love
Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme
That any man be crushed by one above.
(It never was America to me.)
O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.
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Sure, call me any ugly name you choose—
The steel of freedom does not stain.
From those who live like leeches on the people’s lives,
We must take back our land again,
America!
O, yes,
I say it plain,
America never was America to me,
And yet I swear this oath—
America will be!
Thanks be to:
President Marty thanked all of our helpers.
Jane for the delicious Greek lunch,
our greeters Leslie Bouche and Suzanne Scar, David Brubaker taking cash,
set up by Bill Prather and Sean McDermott,
Christine Golden as fine master,
Dave Watson on the net,
Sean also on the roving mic,
photos by Carl Gross
and yours truly, Wendy Barker, Reminder reporter.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Guests included Fern’s her walking partner Debra, Anne Kaplan and Dottie Combs, and at the Presidents’ table were Walt Hamann, Paula Power, Dee Bennett, and Derek Poultney.
Announcements:
Al West was in the hospital last week. Luckily, he’s back home now and would love to have visitors. Please call Joyce before visiting.
Betsy Watson, joining us on zoom, recovering from illness.
Larry Beckett has an illness as well. Best wishes to Betsy and Larry for speedy recovery.
It’s time to update your Clubrunner profile. If you need help, just ask. Even if you think your information is correct, please check it.
Carl Gross would be glad to walk you through the profile updating and can take a picture for your profile on Clubrunner.
Dave Brubaker noted later in the meeting that you should make sure your area code is listed.
On Sunday afternoon, September 18, there will be an International Day of Peace event in Libbey Park. Our club has participated in the past and has been asked to do so again. Volunteers are needed to figure out what we will do, as well as work at the event that day. Contact Marty or Kay to volunteer for this community event.
Presiden
t Kay reminded us that we got a district grant for our local diaper bank. They now have a lot of supplies in pods at the school district office and some of them need to be moved. If you can help next Wednesday, September 7, from 8am-9am, let Kay know.
75th Anniversary Committee members AND other interested people are encouraged to come to their next meeting, Friday, September 9 immediately following our regular Rotary meeting.
Taste of Ojai committee will meet Tuesday, September 13 at 6pm in Libbey Park.
Wendy Barker shared information about our September 23rd Rotating Meeting. Sign up to meet at the Ojai Quarterly office with Bret Bradigan, Whitman Architectural Design with Marc Whitman, Greg Rents with Greg Webster, or the Ojai Valley Museum with Wendy. Hosts will provide food and, most importantly, share what they love about their jobs. Learn about putting together a podcast and magazine, the tools of the architectural trade, check out the toys Greg deals with every day, or get a behind-the-scenes tour of your local museum. Wendy will have the sign-up sheet at the next couple of meetings or contact her to sign up.
Guest Paula Power talked about the plans for a new Meiners Oaks Park (MOP). She was joined by Derek Poultney, ED of the C.R.E.W., and Dee Bennett, a retired teacher. Their group is partnering with the county to build a park at the old car wash property on El Roblar. The 2-acre site is owned by the County of Ventura. An environmental assessment is in process now and a local landscaping design firm is working on a preliminary plan. C.R.E.W. will likely do the landscape maintenance at the park. Check out their website: imaginemopark.org or contact them at imaginemopark@gmail.com with any questions.
Confessions and Fining
Christine Golden was our fine master. Bryant Huber’s “confession” was really an encouragement for everyone to use the Clubrunner app on their smartphone.
He also mentioned the fun “Buck Moon and the Ramblers” are playing at Topa Brewery next Friday night. Renee and Sean didn’t get their questions about water correct, so had to pay.
Upcoming programs:
September 9 – Get Acquainted Talks by Sean McDermott and Bill Prather
September 16 - Jonathan Fraser Light and “The Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball”
September 23 – Rotating meeting
The Program: 137 Shots-A documentary film by Mike Milano
Bret Bradigan introduced our speaker Mike Milano, a writer, director, and producer, who has lived in upper Ojai for about five years.
His film “137 Shots” is now playing on Netflix; 25 million people around the world have seen it. It has been nominated for an Emmy for outstanding current affairs documentary. Another of his films, “Burning Ojai” is playing on HBOMax and has been seen by almost 5 million people.
“137 Shots” is a film about a 2012 incident in Cleveland, Ohio. A massive 66 police car chase ended with the death of two unarmed people after 137 shots were fired at their car.
Milano is from Cleveland. Both his father and grandfather were attorneys there and he has lots of memories of growing up around the courthouse. He was getting his master’s degree in journalism at UC Berkeley when the melee took place. This was his first film; it took 5 years to film and a total of 8 years to complete it. Netflix felt it was almost too hot of a subject to release.
Milano didn’t want to use experts in the film, instead focusing on the actual players including the county prosecutor, head of the police union, cops involved in the incident, and family members of the victims.
Gaining access to them was one of the most challenging aspects of making the film. Another challenge was using Freedom of Information requests to get information.
Mike has two upcoming film projects with Ojai connections – one about Krishnamurti and the other about Johnny Cash.
He got a standing ovation at the end of his very interesting talk.
Life Hack by President Marty
Closing life hack by President Marty:
Just because it’s not your fault, doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility.
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