Weekly eBulletin, May 7, 2014
eBulletin written by Bill Paul
Photography by Nancy Langdon
(REDONDO BEACH) May 7, 2014 -- A past president told us about his proudest moments as a Rotarian, we inducted a new member, and heard about the Rotarian Foundation. It was a busy day at our luncheon meeting today .
Guests today included Deborah Sheppard, Bob Parra, special guest Suzanne Lucas, and Ricardo Marcello.
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PDG Eli Gauna inducted our newest member, Sam Kartounian. Sam is in the jewelry business and specializes in watches. Following the induction Sam took a moment to "thank my fellow Rotarians for making us feel a part of the group, and for accepting me and my wife as part of your family." Welcome Sam. |
Announcements:
President Karen Weigel reported that 82 people attended the club mixer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on April 30th. – It was our last evening meeting of the current Rotary Year. Among the 82 people in attendance were 35 members and 54 guests of which 19 were scholarship recipients, parents, teachers, and interacters. Karen thanked Rotarians for sharing their Rotary experiences with guests.
Karen also displayed the large photo-plaque presented to the club from Washington Elementary for the Vision to Learn program our club sponsored at the school several weeks ago.
Remember one and all, the District Conference is scheduled for May 15 to 18, at the Grand Regency in Indian Wells
Karen then said, "If you think things are going to slow down in the remaining weeks of my presidency, guess again." With that she announced two new projects.
The Redondo Beach Library requested LEGO building blocks to support its STEM activities. Karen said the club would buy LEGOs if necessary, "but if you happen to have some in your closet gathering dust bring them in," she said.
President Karen also announced a Senior Project with the Beach Cities Health District. "It will be a team building exercise," she said, and we'll do some – light gardening, window washing, and minor repairs at six to 10 homes on June 7th, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. See Galina Gilman who has a sign-up sheet."
PDG Eli Gauna recounted his "proud moments" as president of the North San Fernando Rotary Club in 1975-76. He joined Rotary in 1972 and "I was a knife and forker for years," he said. Eli told us his Rotary Moment occurred when he sat next to a child with down's syndrome. It those days we called them Mongoloid children."That experience taught me the power of Rotary.
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Eli also gave out two Paul Harris Fellow awards. The first to Deborah Sheppard, formerly the Director of Sales and Marketing at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Redondo Beach and now an Independent Contractor and Principal of Destination Excellence. "Deborah was the club Business Person of the Year in 2012-13 and the District 5280 Non Rotarian Business Leader of the Year," he said. Meanwhile, Bob Parra was also recognized with a Paul Harris Fellow. He is the Southwest USA and Hawaii Area Sales Manager for Fiji Airways. "For the last 6 years he has approved the donation of two round trip Fiji Airline tickets to our Casino Night auction. Bob Parra and Fiji Airways have made all our Fiji projects possible," said President Karen.
Our luncheon speaker was one of our own. PDG Rick Mendoza gave an eye opening presentation about The Rotary Foundation. Rick is currently the Zone 26 Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for 2013-2015.
He opened his presentation with a bit of historical perspective. "The Rotary Foundation was started in 1917 with $26.50," he said. "Over the years our club has participated foundation activity in numerous ways. We have projects benefiting India, Mexico and Fiji. We've participated with projects in La Paz since the late 1980s, Pat Cashin has traveled to India 22 times on multiple Matching grants, Karen and Jeff Weigel are doing great work in Fiji with Global Grants, Vicki Radel is promoting peace scholars and recently participated in a first ever peace conference in Istanbul, Redondo Beach Rotary provides teacher mini-grants to area teachers, and our club has been very active in the End Polio Now campaign. "I particularly want to thank James Jackman for the large sum donated to the End Polio Now campaign during his year as president of the club. In fact the all time giving of this club since its founding in 1924 is $410,000. Worldwide The Rotary Foundation has given more than $8 billion for relief work" he said.
Rick noted, "The majority of foundation funds is utilized in the United States. The foundation assisted in the Northridge Earthquake, the horrendous fires in San Diego, and Hurricane Katrina," he said.
He noted the World Health Organization just issued an emergency alert a week ago about a polio outbreak in Pakistan where 54 cases have been reported recently. "It is an opportunistic disease and clearly our work is not done," he said.
Rick described various funds Rotarians can give to to support The Rotary Foundation. "We have a new grant module for community grants, Global Grants now require a minimum of $30,000 for projects and will require collaboration with other clubs in the world. We offer Vocational School Grants, package grants with Aga Kahn University, fund Mercy Ships that travel the world to provide medical assistance, offer Oiko Grants which are micro grants to women who start small businesses, and more.
He urged members to support the Every Rotarian Every Year program by donating $100 a year to the foundation. Rick reminds all members The Rotary Foundation is OUR Foundation to support the humanitarian projects around the globe.
PDG Eli Gauna offered to match each $100 donation with 100 matching points towards a PHF. And, drawing on his legal background, he offered to write a codicil to any Rotarian's will who wants to leave a bequest to The Rotary Foundation. "I'll do it for free for you,": he said, quipping, "all you have to do is die."
Festivities for the day ended with Ron Day drawing the lucky raffle number. It didn't do him any good, however , as he didn't draw the green marble. Ten bucks to Ron.