President Laura welcomed us all back, Guests and members alike, after the Thanksgiving break. She acknowledged our Zoom participants and explained what our Club is all about to our Guests with her elevator speech.
Laura mentioned that Peter Cicciari is in the hospital with pneumonia. She sent him a digital get well card from the Club and asked that we keep him in our prayers. She also said that Kathryn Scroggin has applied for a grant from the City for our Happy Face Music Festival. Kathryn is hoping to receive $7000. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Please remember that next week's meeting on December 8th will be at Varenita. It will be the usual regular, shortened meeting at 7:30 AM with the Board meeting following at 8:00 AM. Please let Laura know if you are attending if you are not a Board member. Breakfast is an additional $5.00.
Also, please be sure to download the ClubRunner App. It provides access to everything Rotary and is extremely helpful in keeping up with what's going on with the Club and contacting other Club members. A link to the App is provided at the end of this Bulletin.
======================
Tim Shannon lead the Invocation this morning.
======================
Flag Salute
Arun Sharma lead us in Saluting our Flag this morning, a Flag that represents the greatest nation on earth.
======================
Mike Sidlinger welcomed our Guests this morning. They included Mr. Sal Ventura (a Special Guest) and Ms. Penny Jordan.
Sal Ventura (standing)
Penny Jordan (facing the camera)
======================
Karen Thompson was our Greeter this morning.
======================
Sal Ventura has been proposed as a New Member (First Notice). Sal is a retired Chemical Engineer and MIT graduate who moved to Simi Valley 5 years ago. Laura met Sal at the recent Street Fair and she invited him to our wine event. He then volunteered at our Senior Thanksgiving dinner so we've already put him to work! As a youth, Sal was in the Peace Corps and has a desire to serve others. A good fit!
======================
This being the first meeting of the year, Gary White, our Parliamentarian, held our annual meeting to conduct Club business. The business today was a vote for Larry Borovay's presidency for the year 2024-2025. Gary asked for a vote and Larry received a unanimous Yea. Congratulations Larry!
Gary White
======================
Bill Klepper is coordinating a Happy Face Hill cleanup this Saturday, December 3rd - weather permitting. We will meet at 7:00 AM at Jerry's Coffee Shop and then head up to the site afterward. Bring a weed wacker and rake if you have one. And, if you plan on spraying the dye, wear some old shoes. Lastly, if you eat breakfast at Jerry's, make sure you bring the exact amount of money needed to pay for it. Don't rely on Bill for the change. A recent audit of those past transactions has revealed some irregularities.
Bill Klepper (with a K)
Leigh Seaton is coordinating our Quarterly Blood Drive on Thursday, January 5. 2023. Please schedule your donation with Leigh. His email is:
John Baxter spoke about a move on our Club's part to have Simi Valley proclaimed an International City of Peace. He said that currently only 7 cities in California have been given this distinction and he's hoping that Simi Valley is number 8. He passed around a sign up sheet that endorses this move saying that our mayor and police chief, among other city dignitaries, have already signed it. John is forming a committee so let him know if you'd like to be on it. John's email is:
Laura mentioned that our City does so many of the things needed to qualify as City of Peace, that it won't be much of a stretch to be designated as such.
John Baxter
Steve Munday, Charitable Foundation Chair, spoke to us about the Foundation. He said the goal of the Foundation is to raise money for scholarships, hoping to reach $15,000 per year. Just like the Bike Assembly, the Foundation is experiencing a lack of funds. To help mitigate this shortage, Steve talked about the Sustained Giving program. This involves a Club member donating a one time, $50 donation (or more) every year. Currently, 40% of our Club members are doing this yearly donation. Steve's goal is to make it 100%. Steve asked for a show of hands for those wanting to be involved in this program and, as usual, many hands shot up. If you are able to be part of this, please let Steve know. He can be reached by email at mrchps@me.com.
Steve Munday
The Show of Hands
Chas Wilson talked about his friend, Lee Carter, who has been our partner on two water cistern grants in central Mexico. Lee will be talking to us in January about our next partnership dealing with girl's empowerment. The issue is that girls in Mexico are not taught about basic reproductive health from their mothers causing them to leave school early and to form incorrect concepts about their bodies as they reach puberty. Educating them about these very natural body changes is empowering to them resulting in higher self esteem.
Please see Chas if you would like to join the Project Team. Chas shared a slide from the actual grant application showing the proposed funding for this $100,000 grant. See the slide below. He said that we have talked in the past about matching funds from the District and from the Rotary Foundation. The slide shows a real life example of how the matching funds work. $37,000 will come from Clubs in 3 different Rotary Districts. $35,000 will come from two different Districts (DDF) and $28,000 from the Rotary Fund (TRF).
Chas said that he's hoping to raise $5,000 from our Club and $15,000 from other Clubs in District 5240. Chas can be reached by email at:
The Thanksgiving Dinner last Wednesday was a huge success and thanks go out to Sophie Klepper for coordinating the event, feeding over 500 people. Below are some pictures.
The supporting cast of volunteers that made it all happen.
It all started the Tuesday night before the dinner with the Flower Arrangement crew assembling the creations at Monte Vista. This couldn't have happened without Steve Pietrolungo's trip to downtown LA to the Flower Mart to purchase the flowers. And, it was touch and go with the Monte Vista refrigerator. Thankfully, it was repaired in time to keep the turkeys cool while waiting to be prepared and grilled at the Senior Center.
These two turkeys were seasoned and almost rolled in tin foil before someone realized the mistake. They were ultimately able to talk themselves out of the refrigerator.
Bob Whalen and Bill Klepper, lower right, were so proud of their bouquets. If you look closely, you can see tears in their eyes.
John Tolson, left, and Laura Berger lighting the flames that got the turkeys going. Don't try this at home!
Thanks to Leigh Seaton and the Y's Men for grilling 55 turkeys.
The band, the Aristicats, were outstanding! Thanks to Leigh Seaton and Bill Klepper for arranging their appearance.
No one left with an empty stomach.
Even Santa showed up.
Laura reminded us toSAVE THE DATE for the Group 5 meeting on Sunday, December 4th at the Sunset Hills Golf and Tennis Club. It will be a brunch starting at 10 AM and will feature Howard Berger, an Academy award winning make up artist as the Guest Speaker. Tickets are $30 and the event will include all 5 local Rotary Clubs from Moorpark (2) and Simi (3). Laura would really like a good showing from our Club and will be sending out another invitation. She then warned us that if the invitation was not responded to (either yes or no), she would be calling you, and no one wants to get that call.
As an added treat, Howard will be applying make up on Herschel Berger (first cousins), a process that can only benefit a mug like Herschel's. You don't want to miss that!
Family of Rotary Holiday Evening and Concert
Saturday, December 10th
Geovanny Ragsdale said that there are now only 5 seats remaining for the upcoming event on Saturday, December 10th. You need to get your reservation in soon if you want to participate. We will leave at noon and the concert is at 2 pm. This will include a trip to Los Angeles to enjoy a Master Chorale program with dinner afterwards. Tickets are on sale for $50 per person and this includes transportation to and from the event. See Kailey or Geovanny for more details. You can RSVP on the following link:
A final headcount is needed so please RSVP ASAP to reserve your seat. A luxury bus will be leaving from the Junkyard at 12:00 noon, returning around 5:30 PM.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is the “the finest-by-far major chorus in America” (Los Angeles Times) and a vibrant cultural treasure. Hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision, and artistic daring, the Chorale is led by Grant Gershon, Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director; Associate Artistic Director Jenny Wong; and President & CEO Jean Davidson. Its Swan Family Artist-in-Residence is Reena Esmail.
Description: Fixing fencing posts at the pioneer family area of the cemetery
======================
Dr. P is organizing his yearly Bike Assembly Party on Saturday, December 10th starting at 8:30 AM at Monte Vista. See flyer above for details.
Dr. P let us know that there is a budget shortfall for the Bike Assembly this year. A shortfall to the tune of $5000! We are feeling the affects of not having the Cajun Festival. He is working with the two other Simi Rotary Clubs to see if they can pitch in but he's also asking for our Club's help as well. He's asking for each member to sponsor a bike for $100. He talked about how giving a bike to an underprivileged child is indeed a Rotary moment. Asking for a show of hands for sponsors, many members didn't hesitate. See picture below. Please let Steve know if you can also sponsor a bike as well.
You can text Steve at (805) 813-4127 or email him at:
Karen Thompson is organizing her yearly Target Shopping Spree. It will be held Saturday, December 10th at 7:00 AM at the Target store at 2907 Cochran Street.
Karen said that since we have 58 homeless High School kids in our school district, this year we will be sponsoring them. Each shopper will be provided $250.00 and, with the Rotary money and the money promised from the PTA, we have enough for 38 kids to shop. However, Karen put out a request to see if anyone can sponsor all or part of the $250.00 in addition to what is already committed. Please let Karen know ASAP by texting her at (805) 469-3871 or by email at KarenYourRealtor@aol.com. Chas can bill you through your Rotary account.
Karen said that we are sponsoring 38 students and is in dire need of shoppers. Please let Karen know if you can help by texting her at (805) 469-3871 or by email at KarenYourRealtor@aol.com.
Karen Thompson
Larry Borovay is organizing an Ensenada Cruise. Following is an email from Larry's contact and some details from Larry.
Email from Larry's contact:
I have a group set up for the March 17-19 weekend. Pricing for a category 8D balcony based upon double occupancy is as follows:
Cruise - including taxes and fees: $516.20 per person.
Insurance - $65 per person.
If it is one person in the room, the rate would be $104.20 less. Additionally, I will add $25/stateroom onboard credit.
Note that this is the most that a person would pay for the cruise for that category stateroom. When someone commits, I price the room out with the current promotion to see if there is a better rate, and we can apply that. If they want a different category, then we can price that out, too, at the current rate. For example, today the rate would be $33/person less. Insurance is based upon the cruise rate and could vary too.
Here is the kicker - in order to be sure that you have these staterooms held in the group, we need names and deposits by DECEMBER 14, 2022. The deposit of $50/person is nonrefundable. The final payment is due January 2, 2022.
A note from Larry:
Time is of the essence and I need to prepare the Club in Ensenada with how many will be traveling. Our goal is to have lunch with some of the Rotary Members (Club Rotario Ensenada Centenaria) and to visit one of their projects.
We will be boarding the "Carnival Radiance" on Friday March 17th at 5:00 pm in Long Beach and will be at sea on Saturday, March 17th.On Sunday, March 18th we will arrive in Ensenada at 8:00 am and will depart at 5:00 pm. We will arrive back in Long Beach on Monday, March 19th at 7:00 am.
I will contact anyone interested that I receive an email from and obtain some information that I will pass on to Lisa, our Travel Agent. Lisa will then contact them to obtain payment and answer any questions. Please email me ASAP if you are interested at:
The District 5240 Conference was held on November 18-20. Thank You Dorina Timbol for representing the YES! program and our Club! Also at the conference were Chas and Phyliss Wilson, Carolyn and Pierre Boucher, John Tolson, Herschel and Laura Berger, Steve Timbol, Adriaan Jordan, Nohemi Carrillo along with a video of Josh Persky's daughter and Sharon Hartman. Below are some pictures from the event.
======================
======================
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie
======================
Anni Sumby, Executive Director of the The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley, is having a raffle in support the Center. Tickets can be purchased either at the Center, the Chamber of Commerce or Singh Auto Parts (see flyer above).
Jake Finch previously gave us an update on the Gift Card program she initiated with the Club last March. These were the Gift Cards that were donated to help Simi Valley school kids and their families in need. Jake gave us some stark statistics. She said that there are 214 children in K-12 that are homeless here in Simi with 58 of those in High School. In addition, there are 63 Foster Children, 27 of whom are in High School.
The good news is that, since last March, 115 Gift Cards have been donated totaling $4,875 with $1,850 of that being disbursed to those in need. Over $3,000 of that amount was from our Club alone! Our Club is AWSOME!
More help is always appreciated Jake said and that while Gift Cards to Kohls and Target are helpful, she said that she's also looking for Gift Cards to stores like Aldi and Smart & Final as well.
The Simi Valley Police Foundation is hosting a charity event on Saturday, December 10th in support of Spark of Love. See Bill Klepper for details.
======================
Peder Rudling spoke to us this morning about 3D Animation in support of litigation.
Peder shared some videos from some of the cases he's been involved in that included, among others, the 2005 La Conchita landslide. These videos were very fascinating and some were definitely not for the faint of heart.
When the secretary adds a new member to our roster, you will receive an automatic email that gives you your login ID and a temporary password so that you can access the web site (ClubRunner). This gives you the opportunity to upload a photo and enter a permanent password. You can go to the public portion of our website (no login required) and see the calendar, list of officers, birthdays, past bulletins, etc. The link to the public portion of our website is:
There is a phone app that can be downloaded to your phone; everyone should have that app on their phones. You will have to download the app and then log in the first time. After that, the login portion is not required.
======================
Please remember to bring a friend or an acquaintance to our next meeting. This is a GREAT way to grow our membership!
======================
Our next meeting will be a shortened, regular meeting followed by a Board meeting on December 8th at Varenita of Simi Valley located at 3921 Cochran Street. All Board members will be attending. Non-Board members can participate in the shortened meeting via Zoom or can attend in person. If you attend in person, please RSVP with Laura for a head count. And, as before, if you choose to have breakfast, you will be charged an additional $5.00.
=================================
Rotary Club Finder Need to find a club to do a makeup? Or find out where Rotary clubs meet while you are traveling? Click here to access the Club Finder page on the RI website.
============================
Thank you for reading this week's bulletin!
If you cannot do your weekly assignment it is up toYOUto find a replacement.
.png)
