The Rotary Club of
Ojai
 

Ojai Rotary Reminder Newsletter

Bill Gilbreth, Editor
April 24th 2020

April is Maternal and Child Health Month

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.
 
 
In the Beginning…
 
 
            President Cheree gaveled our Zoom meeting to order shortly after noon – and welcomed all 46 in attendance to “the best Rotary Club I know.” She invited Brian Berman to lead the flag salute and Ray Powers to give an Invocation, and then thanked Tara Saylor and others for their help in making the meeting possible.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcomes…
 
            President Cheree then welcomed our many guests – including Chris Rock, Pradeep Kapadia, Judy Pugh, and David Scarlett – and began with the following
announcements:
 
 
Announcements…
 
President Cheree wished a Happy Birthday to Judy Pugh and our other Aries.
 
 
President Cheree announced that Alex Kim has resigned from the Club. Alex has accepted a position as President of a hotel group in Scottsdale, Arizona – where he and his family will be moving. President Cheree thanked Alex for his service and wished him well.
 
 
 
 
Sue Gilbreth reported on our HELP of Ojai Food drive – and showed selfies of the many generous members who helped us raise lots of food and $2,341!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deirdre Daly reminded everyone of this evening’s Zoom Fire Side Chat and Talent Show, @ 7:00.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Janet Campbell reported on the 28 scholarships she and her dedicated committee recommended this year – a recommendation of $68,000 in scholarships that was overwhelmingly approved by our Foundation.
 
 
 
Judy Gabriel announced that two Student Peace Ambassadors had been selected in this year’s joint program with the Ojai Unified School District.  They are Kenya Johnson and Murray Lynn.  They each received a $50 certificate and can designate another $50 to their favorite program. We thanked Tiffany Morse for her hard work, as School Superintendent and as a Rotarian, in leading this effort. 
 
 
 
Bret Bradigan read the Arbor Day Proclamation, drafted by Al West, and showed slides of Colin Jones and the enormous Live Oak he planted for the school this year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Betsy Watson described the several outstanding programs that she and her committee awarded Community Grants to this year – for a total of $30,007!
 
 
 
 
Fining…
 
            Ren Adam extracted a number of confessions… from himself, Catherine Lee, Pradeep Kapadia, Bret Bradigan, Ray Powers, and Greg Webster.
 
 
 
           
Program…
 
 
            Terri Wolfe gave us a comprehensive account of the ways in which HELP of Ojai has adapted its life saving programs in light of the pandemic – and thanked Rotary for all their support.
            Starting March 16th, HELP de-commissioned its 250 volunteers and transitioned to the use of 14 staff members for food-related programs. The need has been enormous: an expansion to the delivery of 1300 hot meals/week, and 185 food boxes/week.
            In addition, through its Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors program, HELP and volunteers are working to reassure Seniors – many of whom are feeling isolated and insecure.
            HELP is now developing plans for their next phase, a gradual re-opening of their several services and programs. In addition, they have helped place a number of particularly vulnerable homeless persons in a Ventura hotel. For more information, please click here.
 
Closing….
 
            President Cheree concluded the meeting by noting that we have two hands; one for helping ourselves and the other for helping others.
 
In sum…
 
            A good time was again had by all….
 

You are invited to visit us at an upcoming meeting.

Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile