The Reminder 4/22/2022
In the beginning…
Rotarians, family, and friends gathered to celebrate life, service, and fellowship. President Betsy gaveled the meeting to order to honor the Allan J. West Arbor Day Celebration.
Thank-Yous to Kathy Yee for the warm greetings, Patricia Anderson for ably leading the Pledge of Allegiance, a spirited invocation read by Marty Babayco, Fern and Deirdre at the Welcome Desk, Finemaster Tony Thacher, Suzanne Scar for the Roving Mic, Bill Prather and Andy Gilman for Room Setup, and Reminder Editor/Photographer, Carl Gross.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We were honored to welcome 2013-14 District 5240 Governor Jack McClenahan and Ojai Rotary West President Steve Adams.
Ren Adam introduced his guest, Doc Pierce.
On this day in history…
Earth Day was first observed on April 22nd, 1970, when an estimated 20 million people nationwide attended events at tens of thousands of sites across the country. Betsy’s 7th grade classmate and her rode our one-speed bikes 5 hilly miles to school. After that day, they went back to riding the bus!
Announcements:
Don Reed gave a financial wrap up of the Taste of Ojai. It is shaping up to be the most successful ever with net proceeds north of $50,000! Thanks to all who made it happen. These funds will be invested in our community and its people.
New Member: Tessa Turner. Accompanied by President Betsy, Greg Webster and Cheree Edwards (Membership Co-Chairs), and Ren Adam, Ms. Turner was formally inducted. Congratulations and welcome, Tessa!
Tony Thacher presented Paul Harris Awards to:
Al West
Kay Bliss
Pradeep Kapadia
Christine Golden
Dave Brubaker
Well-deserved and congratulations to all!
Mark your calendars for the Living Treasures Induction Ceremonies this June 21st at 4 PM at the Ojai Museum.
District 5240 Step Down Celebration will be held on June 25th:
April 25th our intrepid crew participated in the Children’s Walk for Kids, benefitting the Ronald McDonald Ventura Family Room.
For those of you who are new and old to the Club, we have a special program. On May 26th and May 27th at 8:30 AM we be having the Matilija Portfolio Review. Students from Matilija dress up for a mock interview and present their work for the year. This is a rare opportunity to meet and interact with these students. All who have participated describe it as a profoundly positive experience. Please contact Larry Beckett and volunteer for this special program.
Thanks to all who participated in the Secure Beginnings Diaper Bank event.
Upcoming Events:
4/29/22 Fifth Friday Social which will convene at A1 Indian Cuisine in Meiners Oaks.
5/6/22 Marc Whitman: Art Center Proposal for Ojai Unified School District Property
5/13/22 Pradeep Kapadia: Progress Report on the Kapadia Education Foundation
5/20/22 Rotary Club of Ojai Education Foundation Scholarship Presentation at Boccali’s Restaurant, noon.
5/27/22 Ojai Rotary is Dark.
Confessions and Fining: Tony Thacher
Confessions 
were rampant. PK missed his presentation due to time changes and travel. Cheree celebrated her “Medicare Birthday”. Al West, Dave Brubaker, Christine Golden, and Leslie Bouche were also relieved of their lucre.
Program: Al West, Betsy Vanleit, and Arbor Day
President Watson introduced Al West and Betsy VanLeit.
Al West had a brilliant career in Forestry. Al is an expert in many fields including snowpack, watershed measurement and management, condors, coaching and fire management. He speaks for the trees.
Mr. West gave a brief presentation on the history of Arbor Day which was started by J. Sterling Morton (of Morton Salt). Al has worked with the likes of Barbara Bush on tree planting bills, gave us “Forestry Facts” as President of Ojai Rotary, and started the tradition of planting trees in local elementary schools, enlisting and enlightening the students on trees.
A brief history: Nebraska newspaper editor — and resident of Nebraska City, NE — J. Sterling Morton had an enthusiasm for trees and advocated strongly for individuals and civic groups to plant them. Once he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he further spread his message of the value of trees. And on January 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.
The celebration date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for the largest number of properly planted trees on that day. It was estimated that more than 1 million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
Betsy VanLeit is a member of Ojai Trees. She outlined the activities of her group and stressed the importance of trees in our lives. She pointed out the importance of trees in our lives:
Trees produce oxygen which you inhale; and they take in CO2 which you exhale. That makes us breathing buddies with trees! How cool is that?
Trees mean energy cost savings (cooling & heating)
Trees increase the resale value of your property and beautify your neighborhood
Trees provide direct health and social benefits (safer, reduce stress, less violence)
Trees improve air quality by releasing fresh oxygen and removing carbon
Trees help the watershed by reducing storm water runoff and stabilizing the soil
Trees mean better business in commercial districts (shaded parking - attractive)
Trees encourage walking and outdoor activities, and cool parked vehicles
In addition to tree planting, Ojai Trees offer help in recommending arborists, lists of recommended trees to plant, and ongoing support and education.
President Betsy read a proclamation for Arbor Day and presented it to Father Fernando Lopez, Resident Pastor.
After the program, the attendees planted a tree in the grounds of St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Final Thoughts
“A true conservationist is a person who knows that the world is not given by our parents, but borrowed from our children.”
James Audubon
