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The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Terry Beckett
The Inspirational moment was shared by Brett Bradigan
Thorton Wilder was a Thacher Student in 1912. Before Thacher he was a son of missionaries, and raised in China, so Ojai was first town in America that he lived in. He went on to write “The Russian Princess” and then “Our Town” (which seems like it might be a combination of Ojai and New Hampshire).Wilder understood that beauty and suffering are inseparable. The same fracture that lets in light also gives form to compassion.
“Without your wounds, where would your power be? It is your very remorse that makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and women. The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as one can human being broken on the wheels of living. In love’s service only the wounded soldiers can serve.” — Thorton Wilder
Visiting Rotarians: Caryn Colly from the Ventura East Rotary club attended the meeting with the goal of promoting their ponsietta sales fundraiser.
Guests: The day’s speaker, Paul Sulzman
The meeting crew for this week was the following:
Sgt-at-Arms—Dave Watson
Set up crew–Dave Watson, Bill Prather
Greeter—Rod Owen
Flag Salute -Terry Beckett
Inspirational moment – Bret Bradigan
Reporter---Renee Halbrook
Roving Mic—Fern Barishman
Fining—Dave Watson
Bag Person—Katherine Lee
Treasurer-Dave Brubaker
Jayne Cruise for our delicious meal
Announcements
Sue informed us that we have a Holiday Party coming up on Wednesday, December 17th at 5:30 pm, at the El Roblar Hotel, 122 E. Ojai Avenue. Invitations will be sent via email with a link to respond. The party has been organized by the fabulous New Socialistas Cindy, Janet, and Tessa and it will include dinner, drinks, and dessert. The ticket price is $100.00 per person. This price is subsidized by the club so that everyone can attend. The last day to RSVP is December 3.
Carin Kally of the Ventura East Rotary Club reminded us that their club has been been selling poinsettias for the last 36 years. The plants are locally grown in Carpenteria, and available in packages of 6 plants. The price includes delivery. Order forms were available on the table, or click here to see the flyer and download the form at home:
Clinton Haugan the Co-Director of Community Service wanted to thank all the volunteers who came out to clean up the Nordhoff Cemetery this year.
Bruce Hanson told us about upcoming Programs
Next Friday, November 14, chief of police, Jenkins. Will answer his approach towards policing. He started at the Sheriffs office since 2000 and has had an Illustrious career before accepting the position of chief of police
Joe Wack—a guitar and fiddle player who has had a long career in television and movie animation and now hosts an old-time jam in LA. Joe will play some music for us and discuss how an old-time jam works
Amy Warlick the Co-Director of the Peace Committee told us about the Peace Committee Meeting on Sat, 11/8 at 9:00 am at the Peace Pavillion, by the peace pole in front of Matilija Auditorium.
Bill Prather the Co-Director of the Membership Committee held a Membership Committee Meeting after today’s lunch meeting
Don Reed discussed the Matilija Project meeting also after today’s lunch meeting, to help with the revitalization of Matilija Auditorium. Don is working to get feedback to support a grant request due before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Barry Varga informed us of the investment committee meeting for the education foundation, which currently nets 6.5 million dollars. This year has seen a fund increase of 16% despite a tricky market.
Fining and Confessions were lead by Dave Watson.
Confessions:
Liz Sampson reminded everyone that next weekend the Friends of Ojai Music Festival will host their holiday home tour and marketplace. Fern will be playing piano. Tickets $45 .
Wendy Barker told Dierdre Daly that she would be in charge of the auction, but Janet Cambell did 90% of the work.
Ann and Bill Warlick have been married for 30 years, and will celebrate their anniversary with a trip to Thailand.
Richa Badami is excited to share that her theatre students will perform a sneak peek at next week’s meeting of their show on November 20 Enemy of the People by Henry Gibson
Fining
Candice Alexander had a close guess about the field of odontology which covers teeth and their development .
Kay Bliss guessed that the hardest substance in the human body might be fillings, but the correct answer was enamel.
Catherine volunteered and then guessed that humans have 47 teeth, a bit high to the true number of 32.
Gary Liptak correctly guessed that the dental term for gums was gingiva.
Kelly Rasmussen accurately guessed that the common name for 3rd molars was Wisdom teeth, but was stumped in correctly naming the middle layer of a tooth, which is denten.
Program
Sue Gilbraith introduced our speaker ,Paul Sulzman:
Paul Sulzman has been a professional performing artist since finishing college in 1987 when he was cast in a national tour of Shakespeare’s ¨Othello¨. He began training in ballroom dance in 1988 as a competitor and then trained to teach social ballroom dance in 2004.
Paul is a classically trained and multi-award winning stage actor, director, producer, and teacher. He has performed in more than 70 stage productions including more than 30 Shakespeare productions. Part of actor training is studying psychology and the depths of human consciousness and behavior. This led him to study different religions, ancient texts, and different metaphysical subjects including Western & Vedic Astrology.
As a trained ballroom dancer and former competitor, Paul has been teaching social ballroom or ¨partner¨ dancing in both private lessons and group classes, and he has hosted many dance parties since 2005. For the past ten years he has served as President of Ventura’s historic ¨La Estrella Dance Club¨, founded in 1913. Paul currently has ongoing classes, private lessons and dance parties in Ventura, Ojai and Santa Barbara including his LATIN DANCE class here in Ojai on Thursday nights, attended by Sue Gilbraith and Bill Prather. He recently he performed as ¨Creature¨ in the Ojai Performing Arts Theater’s production of ¨Mary Shelley: The Year Of No Summer¨.
Paul Sulzman, a 60 years old, professional artist, started his presentation by quoting Kurt Vonnegut
“. . . Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what's inside you, to make your soul grow.. “
As a child, Paul had played piano and enjoyed drawing. In a financially focused country, he has discovered that there other things of value in this life beyond the pursuit of money.
Paul attended Benadictine College, in Kansas. He started as a communications major but participated in many college plays. Eventually he changed his major to theatre. After college he discovered ballroom dancing. He joined in a competitive ball room dance team, and competed in England. He felt deprived because he didn’t know how to translate competitive skills into social dancing. With that foundation, after a successful career in Acting, Film and Television, eventually he felt called to teach social dancing.
Paul realizes that partner dancing is a physical form of communication, both sending and receiving messages. There are currently hundreds of people involved in the local dance community. Paul encourages everyone in participating in social dance, because it combats loneliness and depression, and is a creative outlet. Also, it is the only physical exercise that also helps the brain.
Paul then lead several Rotarians in learning the “box step”, one of the foundational steps in social dancing.
Sue Gilbraith adjourned the meeting with this quote:
“Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people.”—Alvin Ailey
