President Betsy Watson welcomed Rotarians and Guests to the Rotary Club of Ojai.

 

Bill Prather led the club with the flag salute and Marty Babayco led the invocation.

 

The meeting was called to order and President Watson thanked Bill for the flag salute, Marty for the invocation, and Suzanne as the Greeter. 

  

Guests were welcomed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Gilman shared upcoming programs:

 

October 15^th: John Crist, CEO, Farm Bureau of Ventura County 

  

October 22^nd: Kevin Davis, First Amendment Foundation

 

October 29^th: 5^th Friday Social-Majestic Oaks Winery followed by the Story Telling Festival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy Frings shared that the Sponsorship group for Taste of Ojai will be meeting at her home on Tuesday @ 5PM.

 

She announced that the evite for 5^th Friday activity was sent out. Please RSVP.

 

Mike Weaver shared that RCOEF will be meeting Wednesday at 8am at the Library here at the church.

   

President Watson shared that she will be on a “Turkey Trot” (traveling to Turkey) for the next 2 weeks. The club will get to enjoy hosts Cheree Edwards and Dr. Carl Gross. 

 

 

  

Cindy led Fining and confessions.

 

Brett Bradigan shared a story about the passing of stand up comedian Norm Macdonald.

 

Kevin Davis shared that his friend Maria Ressa recently received the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

Catherine shared that she has duck eggs for sale. 

 

 

  

 

Andy Gilman introduced Rotarian and councilmember: William Weirick. 

  

Currently in the middle of his second term as a member of the Ojai City Council, William Weirick comes to this position after a twenty year academic career as a university administrator and economics professor.

 

  

In addition to City Council, he serves on the Boards of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency, and Ventura Regional Sanitation Commission. He also has been part of a  management team for a third generation family business managing a diversified portfolio of real estate assets in the Southern California region the last couple of decades.

   

Born in Long Beach as a third generation Southern Californian,  his father’s career in the petrochemical business led to relocations from California to New York, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Texas.  Most of this time was spent in various locations within Louisiana.  This laid the basis for taking an academic position in Louisiana after completing his doctorate in economics at the University of Wyoming.   

 

Dr. Weirick began re-locating to Ojai after retiring from his academic position in 2004. Ojai first captured his heart and imagination when drawn to an in-person Krishnamurti  talk at Oak Grove School while an undergraduate at Pomona College in 1973.

 

While serving as a professor and university administrator in Louisiana, Dr. Weirick was involved in capital projects programs, business research activities, numerous university/community partnerships, and both local and regional economic development activities.  His published work focused on land economics and microeconomic public policy analysis.  He also was involved in arts organizations, beautification activities, and downtown renewal efforts.

   

Before assuming the City Council seat,  Dr. Weirick served  Chair of the Ojai Building Appeals Board and was involved in supporting Ojai FLOW which led to an historic public buy-out of the local private water utility. 

  

Dr. Weirick shared a history of the highway expansion projects in the Ojai Valley and updated the club on City’s recent discussion on the ATP project.   

 

 

President Watson ended the program with two closing quotes:

 

The first quote was from the first woman head of state in Africa, a former president of Liberia who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work:

   

 

 

 

Desmond Tutu