President Laura started the meeting with the Invocation, Flag Salute and welcoming the guests. She then welcomed the Zoom participants and, for the benefit of our guests, Laura gave her "Why Rotary" elevator speech, going something like this:
Simi Sunrise Rotary is a non-political, non-religious social organization comprised of business, civic and professional leaders who meet on a regular basis in order to form friendships that will better the community through those friendships both locally and abroad.
Laura spoke more about Rotary International's Peace Builder's Program and Simi Sunrise being recognized as a Peace Builder Club. She had a video played that touched on this with an overarching message of Peace and Unity and that Conflict can be Resolved. Bottom line, the Peace Builder Club promotes the idea that Peace is Possible. She mentioned the Simi Smiles event as an example of the Program. The Simi Smiles event, headed up by Sophie Klepper, involves placing 300 or so painted rocks along the Simi Arroyo that display images such as Hope, Peace and Tranquility. The goal is to bring the community together. This event would involve the youth of our community as well.
As a reminder, Laura is hosting a meeting at her house Monday, September 12th at 6:00 PM. The subject is the Community Needs Assessment discussion with responses. Let Laura know if you're interested in participating.
Also, a reminder about the mid-year Board retreat. It's scheduled for Saturday, November 5th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PMand will beheld at 99 Ranch. It will be a Potluck event and is more than a Board retreat. This will also be a Strategic Planning Session with everyone from the Club being invited. All members are encouraged to attend as this will be the time to have your voice heard in regard to the direction you'd like the Club to take in the future.
She then told us that next week we will have a shortened regular meeting and then a Board Meeting, all at Varenita. Board members should attend in person as well as new members to discuss the STAR program. All others can attend the regular meeting via Zoom. However, if you'd like to attend in person, please let Laura know so she can get an accurate head count. And, lastly, we will be DARK on September 15 - NO MEETING.
Laura ended the meeting with a recitation of the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned.
2021 - 2022 Rotary Theme
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Martha Macker lead the Invocation this morning.
Bruce Bromberg (center) lead the Salute to our wonderful Flag, the symbol of the greatest country on the planet. And he not only the lead the salute, he educated us as well with some facts about our Flag that he read off of his phone. Many were surprised because it wasn't known that Bruce could read.
Arun Sharma welcomed our Guests this morning. They included:
Ms. Alyssa Potter (Special Guest)
Ms. Sylvie St Laurent (Special Guest)
Mike Kort (president of Simi Sunset Rotary AKA Rotary after Dark. Just what does that Club do after dark?)
Mr. Adriaan Jordan (Dan's son and head of the Interact Club at Monte Vista)
Mr. Jon Lovesen (Steve Johnson's guest from Denmark)
Alyssa Potter, left, with Dorina Timbol
Demi Fox, left, with Sylvie St Laurent
Mike Kort, 2nd from left
Adriaan Jordan, left, with his Dad
Jon Lovesen, left, with Steve Johnson
Eric Kaufman was our Greeter this morning.
Eric and Laura
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The following have been voted in as Prospective Members:
Sylvie St Laurent (Second Notice).
Alyssa Potter (First Notice).
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Geovanny Ragsdale announced an upcoming Holiday event on Saturday, December 10th. This will include a trip to Los Angeles to enjoy a Master Chorale program with a dinner afterwards. Tickets are now on sale for $50 per person and this includes transportation to and from the event. See Geovanny for more details.
Geovanny Ragsdale
Carolyn Boucher let us know that National Service week ends on Saturday, September 17th. International is asking us to help a Kiwanis, Optomist, or Lions club that week.
The Kiwanis is hoping we could help them on Saturday, September 17thwith their Barn Dance and Casino Night event, which is the same day as the YES! program. The help is needed in the set up and from 1-5:00 PM. So, any Rotarians not helping with the YES! event please consider volunteering at the Barn Dance and Casino Night. It will be a fun night for everyone and they could really use the help. Please contact Carolyn Boucher (carolyndboucher@gmail.com) if you're interested.
Carolyn Boucher
Steve Hise and Bob Whalen were trying out a new comedy routine that they are taking out on the road. The routine involves bald guys playing Pickleball in their sandals. Anyway, Bob (in his sandals) had such a good time learning how to play from Steve Hise at the picnic, that he and Steve are starting a Pickleball Group. Apparently Bob is a phenom and missed his calling as a professional Pickleballer. See Steve if you're interested.
Bob, left, and Steve
Larry Borovay said that the date for this year's Oktoberfest has been set for Saturday, October 8th.Mark it on your calendar! Larry will need the whole Club's participation to make this a success.
Larry shared some videos (Thanks Dan Jordan!) advertising the event that will be shown on social media. Larry also asked for 10 volunteers to buy some Raffle Tickets. He said that if you can't sell them after a while, simply give them back and you won't be charged. See Larry or John Tolson for the tickets. Larry also thanked Deb Davila and Ryan Valencia for their help in organizing the event.
Larry said that he will be needing 12 volunteers soon to help out at booths being set up at various times and at various locations around the city getting the word out.
Oktoberfest Raffle
Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise
Oktoberfest Raffle
Win a Trip to Europe
Germany - Czech Republic - Slovakia - Hungary - Austria
Ticket cost: $100.00
(Only 200 tickets will be sold)
Drawing date:
October 31, 2022 or sooner if tickets sell out.
Trip includes:
Trafalgar tour for two (2) adults
9 nights' accommodation (10-day Imperial Europe)
13 meals
On-trip transportation
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Expert Travel Director and professional Drive
Luxury air-conditioned coach
Must see sightseeing and surprise extras!
Buying a ticket already makes you a winner!
(Your purchase will help our club raise additional money to support this event!)
Carolyn Boucher talked about the upcoming YES! event. It is an all day event and will be held Saturday, September 17th at Brandeis American University and will require a lot of Club support.
Ryan Valencia said that he'll be needing a lot of help this year on a multitude of Community Service projects. The first one will be a Day of Service at the Simi Samaritan Center on Saturday, September 10th. Ryan is looking for volunteers for morning and afternoon shifts to help out on two projects at the Center. One project involves moving and setting up office partitions and the other is a Courtyard gravel project. Please let Ryan know if you can help. See Ryan's email contact below.
And, Ryan is also looking for two volunteers to be coordinators with the Food Forward program at the Center. These volunteers will coordinate the harvesting of fruits and vegetables being grown in people's yards that typically will go to waste. This harvested food is then distributed through the Samaritan Center. Again, please see Ryan for details or email him at:
ryanvalenciaCA@gmail.com
Ryan Valencia
Kailey Craig talked last week about Scott Phillip's visit on Thursday, September 29th. As District Governor, Scott is encouraging Rotarians to Get Loud with his Let's Get Loud about Rotary campaign. Laura asked that all Board members attend the meeting on the 29th. And, in recognition of the Let's Get Loud campaign, she asked us to wear our Rotary Pins.
Also, Geovanny Ragsdale reminded us that Laura and Herschel are hosting a get together that evening of September 29th at 6:00 PMfor Scott at their home. Yes, Herschel, at your house AGAIN! Both current and past Club members will be invited so this will be a reunion of sorts as well. Please wear something hot pink to the meeting in order to welcome Steve. He likes Loud. Below is a link to RSVP for Scott's visit this event:
A reminder about the upcoming 5240 District Conference on November 18th - 20th.
Our next Food Fanatic dinner has been scheduled for Saturday, November 12th. More details to follow but if you are interested in attending the sooner you RSVP, the better. If you wish to attend the November 12th dinner, please RSVP Demi with a text to:
805.490.1401
The Mahlers hosted a Food Fanatic dinner this past week and a wonderful time was had by all. Don't miss the next one!
The 13 Souls Memorial Run was held this past Saturday with great solemnity. There were over 250 participants with Jeff Von Molt presiding over the ceremony. The Marine Color Guard was in attendance with each of the Heroes names read aloud with an accompanying ringing of a bell. A very emotional day to say the least.
Thanks go out to Ryan Valencia, Tim Gray and especially Leigh Seaton for making this happen.
Jeff Von Molt, whose son was wounded in the bombing, presides over the ceremony
The Color Guard presenting the Flag
Leigh Seaton announcing the names of the Heroes
Ryan Valencia and Demi Fox
Our Rotary Booth
A very nice turnout
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.
Carolyn Boucher recently attended a Rotary of Ventura meeting to highlight the Team Ginny effort. She wanted us to know that the search continues in earnest and that there is a potential donor currently being vetted.
And, as Carolyn Boucher had previously said, it doesn't take any effort or money to place the Team Ginny car magnet on your car. Please see Carolyn if you'd like to get one.
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"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain
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Arun Sharma was spotlighted this week. Arun has owned MAACO Collision Repair and Auto Painting in Ventura for 34 years now. He came to that industry from Rocketdyne after the Shuttle went down. He said that he didn't see a future for him in engineering after that catastrophe. Asked what the most rewarding part of his job is, he said seeing a smile on the face of a satisfied customer upon seeing their car repaired and, more importantly, being able to keep his people employed. He has had some employees working with him for over 25 years. He's seen their families grow and succeed because of his business and that brings him great joy.
Asked how Rotary has impacted his business, he responded by saying that Rotary promotes many of the values that were instilled in him as a child. His Indian upbringing stressed humility and kindness which perfectly describes Arun. Our Club is lucky to have him as a member.
Carolyn Boucher interviewing Arun
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Bill Klepper was highlighted this week. Can you believe he was once a cute little boy? Here he is wading into the Atlantic way back when. Bill currently is in the financial world. Little known facts about him include that he collects movie posters and can ride a unicycle. That we would pay to see.
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Annika is our newest member and a wonderful addition. She is from Germany originally. She then went to England, where she met her husband and they ended up in Simi. She currently is the Executive Director of the Simi Samaritan Center. She's into yoga, hiking and dancing. Her husband says her super power is her ability to gather people together and getting stuff done. Sounds like the Samaritan Center is the perfect fit for her!
Since Bill was unable to attend this week's meeting and defend himself, he was fair game. We've all heard the east coast accent and that unmistakable laugh, sort of like nails on a chalk board. Bill has held numerous positions in the community such as past Police Foundation president and Simi Sunrise Club president to name a few. He teaches at Cal Lu and he's a local TV star. He's everywhere and gets things done through his super power which is peskiness. You tend to say yes to whatever he requests in order to shut him up.
Roger earned a Phd in Psychology in 1971 and is a long time member of this Club, contributing greatly to our success. He's enjoyed playing and coaching soccer in his younger days. Happy Birthday Roger!
No Club Anniversaries this week
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Colin Tetreault is an accomplished sustainability business, policy, and senior scholar-practitioner. He spoke to us via Zoom about the positive impact implementing sustainability processes can have on our community.
Colin serves as a Senior Manager for Ernst and Young's Climate Change and Sustainability Services division.
Prior to joining EY, Colin served CDP’s engagement with States & Regions across the US and Canada. Colin built a comprehensive value-proposition of sustainability measurement and action for States & Regions, while also developing the first integrated and leading practice mechanism for Public Authorities to measure and act on climate related issues.
Colin is the Chair of the City of Phoenix's Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission. As the ranking appointed citizen official in the state focused on sustainability, Colin serves an impactful board of senior executive leadership and community changemakers to advance the region in a nonpartisan and outcomes-focused manner. Colin has sparked fundamental financial and investment change - via green bond principles and lending standards - and has advanced the City's most robust climate action plan to date.
Colin has served as the Senior Policy Advisor of Sustainability to Mayor Stanton of Phoenix, Arizona; the highest appointed sustainability position in the state of Arizona. Colin oversaw the development and execution of all policy transforming the 5th largest city in the nation into a leader in sustainability that empowered its residents, created the conditions for economic development success, and protected its natural systems in perpetuity.
Colin has served as a Senior Sustainability Scholar & Global Sports Scholar – focusing on: business & sustainability strategy; national energy & environmental policy; entrepreneurship & smart cities; “resource” & circular economies – at ASU’s School of Sustainability.
Colin was been recognized as a “40 under 40” by the Phoenix Business Journal, TED Speaker, and served as the Chairman of the Final Four 2017 Sustainability Committee.
Colin Tetreault
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Happy Birthday Annika!
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Next week, September 1st,will be a shortened, regular meeting and then a Board Meeting afterward, all at Varenita. Board members should attend in person. New members are encouraged to attend in person as well in order to discuss the STAR program. All others can attend the regular meeting preceeding the Board meeting via Zoom. However, if you'd like to attend in person at Varenita, please let Laura know for an accurate head count.
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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!
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