Introduction
Cheree Edwards, past President, did an admirable job pinch hitting for Betsy Watson, who is vacationing in Turkey. Cheree thanked all the people who made today’s meeting possible.
Visitors
Today’s visitors included Emily Ayala, Ann Kaplan and Sean McDermott.
Invocation: Marty Babayco
Especially in this day, as Fall reminds us of the time of harvest, we give thanks for those who work the earth as farmers, the farm laborers who till the soil, plant the seeds, tend the crops, work tirelessly at the harvest, and those who care for livestock, milk our cows, and collect our eggs. We give thanks for all those who give with their hard toil and long hours, so others may eat.
We are also grateful to those who work in the agricultural industries, the factories and shops, the truck drivers, the workers, and packers, that produce so much of what we need to live and thrive. And with so much abundance, that we can literally feed the world.
And we remember that with this abundance, comes a responsibility to insure that in our land, rich in natural resources, we are obligated to help those who worry about where their next meal will come and worry that their children will not have enough to eat.
Saving mothers and children is one of the areas of focus that Rotary International has identified as an organizational priority. Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation.
They ask us as Rotarians to think of ways that we can address these needs in our local community and around the world.
So, during this Fall harvest season, remember our motto “Service Above Self”, and think of what you and other Rotarians can do to spread our abundance and make a difference for those in need.
Announcements
Kathy Yee invited us to the October 29 celebration at the Majestic Oaks Winery followed by the Story Telling Festival at Libbey Bowl. Please respond to your Evite.
Colin Jones asked us all to help make Operation Snowflake a success. This is a free event for Military, Veterans and their families struggling financially. This event creates a day of joy with gifts for the children, entertainment, Santa, food, lots of fun and introduces key support agencies that aid the families throughout the year. Operation Snowflake is hosted by the Ventura County Military Collaborative, a 501c3 Nonprofit and our many community partners.
We anticipate that over 500 Military, Veterans and their children will receive help from Operation Snowflake this year. Saturday Dec 18th, 2021
Sue Gilbreth invited us to help the OLVC clean-up of the Meadow Preserve on 11/13/21. Bring your gloves. Tools will be provided.
Kay and Marty asked for suggestions on next year’s club leadership and recommendations for nominee for various offices. They also asked for nominees for the Bob Skankey Humanitarian Award, the “quiet hero” award.
Marty went on to describe the activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of our club’s founding in May of 1948.
Paul Harris Award
Cheree was happy to bestow the Paul Harris award on Andy Gilman in recognition of his efforts to keep our club vibrant during this time of COVID.
Rotary Humor
Fining by Larry Wilde
Larry did a masterful job of extracting money during the fining session. His topic was the important dates and events in the life of our new member Candace Alexander, eg: where was she born, where did she attend high school, where did she win her MBA, etc. Good work, Larry.
Program: John Krist, CEO of Ventura Farm Bureau
Since February 2008, John Krist has been the chief executive officer of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, the region’s oldest and largest agricultural association. As CEO, he is responsible for managing the nonprofit organization’s staff, daily operations and finances. He recommends policy to the organization’s Board of Directors, implements board directives, and represents the interests of the membership at legislative and regulatory hearings. He also serves as the organization’s liaison with the news media, as well as with numerous community organizations and groups.
John gave a detailed overview of the current state of VC agriculture and his sense of how the challenges facing the industry will be overcome. Following are some of his major points:
- Agriculture in VC is a hi-cost, hi value operation focusing on fresh fruits and vegetables
- 40000 people are employed in the industry
- The average farm size is 122 acres, somewhat smaller than the national average
The major challenges facing agriculture are:
- Water shortages
- Labor shortages
- Regulatory and legal challenges
- Climate change
- Invasive pests
John finished on a somber note: “How we address the challenges over the next 10 years will determine whether agriculture will be thriving in 100 years”.
Final Thoughts...
“The farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn’t still be a farmer”
Will Rogers
