No,you're not mistaken. You did receive a Bulletin yesterday as well. That was the June 2nd Bulletin and it was never sent out due to a particular box not being checked prior to hitting the Send button last week. This is the June 9th Bulletin. The person responsible for the screwup has been suspended for a week and docked a month's pay as we couldn't afford to let him go in this current labor market.
President-Elect Laura Berger attended the recent Rotary International Convention in Houston and came away feeling energized and ready to start her time at the helm.
Stephanie got right down to business and brought the meeting to order. Following are her comments:
This past week Simi Valley celebrated their high school graduates and Moorpark and other school districts are celebrating their graduates this week. This club was able to celebrate our Rotary scholarship recipients a few meetings ago and all of these amazing young people remind us that the future is bright, and they are up to the opportunities, (not challenges), that the future may present to them.
Today, we are going to hear from our speakers about Gigi’s Playhouse and this wonderful campaign to build a place for children with Down syndrome and to help change the way the world views Down syndrome and help to make the future happen with increased awareness and more acceptance.
As we enter the summer season, our club is preparing to bring in a new President with Laura Burger and with her is a new Board. Together, with us, we will all be working hard to implement Laura’s vision for our future. We know that our future includes special events that are designed for us to raise needed funds so we can continue to help the people in Simi Valley, around the country, and around the world. And we know that our future includes all of you. With you, we know that the future is bright for this club, is bright for this community, and is bright with all of the things that we have the ability to do.
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Kailey Craig lead this morning's Invocation.
Deb Davila lead the Flag Salute and reminded us about Flag Day.
Flag Day, also called National Flag Day, is a day honoring the national flag and is observed on June 14. The holiday commemorates the date in 1777 when the United States approved the design for its first national flag. Flag Day is celebrated on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Peter Cicciari welcomed our Guests this morning, and, agian, there were a lot of them. They included:
Ms. Kirsten Riddick (Speaker)
Ms. Laurie Samaan (Speaker)
Ms. Karyn Hogle (Simi Chamber)
Ms. Stephanie Jennings (Simi Chamber)
Ms. Kathy Van Etten (President Simi Chamber )
Mr. James Winstanley, Special Guest
Mr. Aditya Gaiki (Entrepreneur Award recipient)
Ms. Heather Christiansen (Entrepreneur Award recipient)
Stephanie Jennings, left, with Karyn Hogle center and Kathy Van Etten right.
Karen mentioned that the Chamber will be hosting a July fireworks show this year on July 2nd and is looking for volunteers to help out.
John Tolson, left, with James Winstanley
Brian Dennert
Leigh with his girlfriend Karen of 43 years now and.......
.......Leigh and Karen then. Congratulations on 43 years of marriage.
Camille Cordova was our Greeter this morning
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President Kathryn Scroggin
President Kathryn welcomed those on Zoom, including Bill Fox, Corey Baker, Karen Thompson, Demi Fox, BJ Anderson, Cindy Jacoby and Dick Strayer.
She then thanked Tim Gray and Karen and Dwight Thompson for attending the recent scholarship awards ceremonies, a very important function to the Club. Kathryn also thanked Leigh Seaton and Laura Berger for representing the Club at the upcoming District Governor step down dinner. Again, it is important to the Club to be represented at such events.
Kathryn then talked about last week's challenge of being a champion in getting the word out about Rotary. The best way to do this, she said, is to focus on the future. And one way to focus on the future is to reach out to the youth. To that point, our Club, through John Baxter, reached out and awarded Entrepreneurial Grants to some local youth this week. See below.
Our focus on the future means, Kathryn said, having open minds that think beyond what we have always done and to embracing the challenges we face in today's changing world.
This week our challenge, she continued, is to work together to create an even better future for the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise that not only serves to Change Lives but also serves to support one another as we work together to make a difference.
Kathryn's quote this week is from Abraham Lincoln. "The most reliable way to predict the future is to create it".
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John Tolson would like to know if anyone has interest in being on the Membership Committee starting July 1st. If so, please let John know.
Steve Pietrolungo stood in for John Baxter today or, as Steve put it, bailed John out. In any event, John couldn't make it today to present our Club's Entrepreneurial Grants. These are mini-grants given to young, local entrepreneurs to help them with their dreams. This is John Baxter's program and one that he should be very proud of because what better investment is there than our youth? The graduating seniors who received our scholarships this year and these grant winners here are examples of why the future is, indeed, bright.
Aditya Gaiki joined us this morning representing his IT company that received our grant. His company is working on an electronic attendance device for schools and our grant purchased cameras to support that system. Aditya just graduated from Santa Susana and is headed to Purdue. A very impressive young man.
Aditya accepting his award
Heather Christiansen, Cole's mother, joined us this morning to receive Cole's certificate. Cole is a Monte Vista student and, according to Steve, has shown entrepreneurial tendencies since the 6th grade. That was Cole's first year involved with Steve's Entrepreneur Fair at school. Since then, Cole oversees the yearly event with his contribution being baked goods. Our grant bought him a new stove.
Heather Christiansen
Leigh Seaton is looking for help this Saturday, June 11th to clean up the Camp Rotary area at Corriganville. This will involve weed clearance and bench painting from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. If you can help, and if you have them, please bring weed wackers, rakes, paint brushes, gloves, safety glasses, etc. Contact Leigh for meeting arrangements.
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The following two people have been proposed as members:
Mr. Eric Bordo, Mortgage Loan Services
Mr. Eric Kaufman, Biotech/Healthcare
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A previous Guest, Leila Thayer-Malone, announced a Walk to End Alzheimers coming up in October and left us a flyer below. See Martha Macker if this is of interest to you.
Leigh Seaton has arranged for another Blood Drive on June 16thduring our regular meeting. Please see Leigh to coordinate times.
And Leigh said that an arrangement has been made to credit the blood donated to Ayden Denne to help in his recovery. Yet another good reason to donate.
Our Club broke a record last year for amount collected so Leigh is hoping to keep that trend going. He's only had 11 sign ups so far so please consider giving some blood next week.
Ayden Denne
Ol' Man Seaton
Kathryn announced the following Club Meeting Schedule for all of June;
- June 16th - In person at the Best Western comprised of a shortened regular meeting and a joint Board meeting with the incoming and outgoing Boards. Leigh is also organizing a Blood Drive during this meeting.
- June 23rd - In person at the Best Western.
- June 30th - Dark.
Please remember Jake Finch's requests for Gift Cards. Her two requests had to do with, one, helping out the Simi Valley Unified School District students that are in need of assistance. School District resources have been stressed to the limit and help is needed to replenish those resources. That help can come to the District in the form of Gift Card donations for gas, groceries, etc. at places like Target and Walmart. $25 and $50 Gift Cards work best.
Jake's second request was more directed. Jake said that the District had just enrolled their first students, 8 and 14 year old girls, who have fled Ukraine with their mother. The family came here with basically the clothes on their back so are in need of everything. Gift cards to Kohls and Target would be very helpful. As an update, Jake said that an account has been set up and help has been coming in. But more is needed as more refugees from Ukraine have arrived here in Simi with school age children.
If you can help out, please reach out to Jake.
Also, a big shout out to Jesus Torres, who is providing legal services for these refugees pro bono. Providing a great example to us all!
Jake Finch
Tim Gray reminded everyone to get their receipts submitted and to coordinate with Tim on returning any Club items to the storage unit at Corriganville. And, once again, Tim thanked everyone for a very successful event.
Carolyn with a Team Ginny Car Magnet. She was recently contacted by a potential donor after that person saw one of the Car Magnets. You never know where that hero will come from.
As Carolyn said, it doesn't take any effort or money to place the magnet on your car. Please see Carolyn if you'd like to get one.
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Today's Guest Speakers were Ms. Laurie Samaan and Ms. Kirsten Riddick with GiGi's Playhouse. Laurie oversees HR operations for a Simi concrete company in several Southern California locations and Kirsten is an elementary school teacher at Katherine Elementary here in Simi. That's their day jobs. In their spare time they are working hard on bringing Gigi's Playhouse to Simi Valley. Gigi's Playhouse is a worldwide organization that was created to assist people with Down syndrome, from birth through adulthood. Both Laurie and Kirsten are parents of children with Down syndrome and saw a need for this type of assistance in our area. Working with Gigi's Playhouse, one of their immediate goals is to find a location here in Simi for a Down Syndrome Achievement Center. This Center will serve both LA and Ventura Counties.
They are currently in Step 4 of a 7 Step process to open up the Center with the goal to open in 2022. Another $60,000 is needed to be raised, on top of the $100,000 already raised, in order to move on to Step 5. They are hoping a large portion of this $60,000 can be raised at their First Annual Gala being held October 23rd at Wood Ranch Country Club. They are asking for help to support this Gala in the form of Sponsors, Wine donations, Gift Cards $10 and up, Flower donations, Baskets for auction, Photographers, Printing, and Big Items for auction such as trips and tickets.
In addition to help on the Gala, help is also being sought for additional short term needs such as finding a physical location as noted above as well as cash donations to cover start up costs.
Their Mission Statement is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome through national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.
What these Centers do, Laurie and Kirsten said, is to give those with Down syndrome a chance because, given a chance, they will rise up to the challenge. If you can help out, please reach out to:
The guys who make it all come together - Chas and Steve
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Our meeting next week, June 16th, will be held in person at the Best Western. See you there!
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Please remember to bring a friend or an acquaintance to our next meeting. This is a GREAT way to grow our membership! And the guest's breakfast is taken care of.
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