Success Through Teamwork 2/13/13
Each week President Jim will share his thoughts about that week's meeting with Tony Ciancimino who will pass them on to members and friends. Pictured is David Citrin as he give the speech that will be his entry in the March 9th District Arts Competition Arts Contest at LMU.
Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,
Yesterday we were treated a sampling of what the students we will be sponsoring in the 3/9 District Arts Contest will be offering. We are blessed to have four delightful and genuinely nice young people representing us. They are Art: Tanishia Williams - Venice High School, Dance: Drew Deason - Bishop Montgomery (Torrance,) Music: Tzedakah McNeish - Westchester High School and Speech: David Citrin - Hamilton High School. Each winner received a check for $125 and a club pin. All 40 plus contestants received a certificate acknowledging their participation. Katie Litsey led the effort for local judging which yielded this diverse and well rounded group. Gwen Vuchsas suggested that having the winners perform at a Club meeting might make a good program and Katie made it happen. Gwen was conservative in her evaluation, they made it a great program. Pictured with President Jim are Tzedakah, Drew, Tanisha and David.
President Jim made two special announcements. The Board of Directors have approved our sponsorship of students to participate in this summer's three week exchange program to Japan. Katie will be heading up the screening process. He then went on to advise the Club that on March 24th we will be hearing from a Rotaract student from the Republic of Czechoslovakia who will be staying with the Vuchsas'. Our International exposures have expanded tremendously this year under Jim's leadership.
Jim read a lovely thank you note from Judith Wilson who is home and working hard on her recuperation. Hearing from her fellow Rotarians would help ease the pain of the process!
David Shapiro, who has taken over the duties of weekly member commitments, handed out a list of assignments. He asks if someone is unable to fulfill his duties on the designated day, that they make arrangements to replace themselves or as a last resort, that they advise David. Let's help David by making this a smooth process.
President Jim played the second week of "Name that Member." This is a fun way to learn more about our fellow members. Some members are easily guessed and others require that one "key" piece of information. If you haven't returned your questionnaire to Jim, please complete it and get it back to Jim some he can continue this fun game.
Howard Pollack and Pam Wolf are coordinating a Career Day program that will have students "shadowing" members at work. It will take place on either April 17th or 24th. The exact date will be announced next week. Contact them if you want to participate. We haven't done this in a long time so we need a strong member effort. The chosen date will end with lunch at the Courtyard by Marriott replacing our weekly breakfast meeting.
Gwen reminded everyone that Luck `O the Irish BingoFest is rapidly approaching (March 16.) Members will be asked to donate $25 gift cards for the raffle. Additionally we are looking for sponsors for each of the nine $100 games and the final $500 blackout game. Hearing this, Dan Kolodziejski (The Giver) volunteered to sponsor the blackout game. Dan's generosity is amazing. Gwen will be sending out the BingoFest flyer electronically for the membership to distribute to friends and associates. She also handed out a revised calendar of events planned for this spring, both of which have been posted on our website.
David Shapiro shared that he and his wife are expecting a baby girl. Congratulations David! As the loving father of a girl, President Jim waived the fine. By the way David it's not too early to start thinking how you will greet your daughter's first suitor. Take a page out of President Jim's book and be cleaning your gun when the boy arrives. A silent but strong message!
Dan just returned from three weeks in South East Asia. This living history/geography lesson cost Dan $50 which he replicated with another $50 in his joy that nothing got "screwed up" at work while he was gone!
Next week will be "S" week when we'll be treated to craft talks from Peter Smyth and David Shapiro.
Since there was no winner in this week's 50/50 card drawing, $550 will rollover to next week.
Thanks to Christina Davis and Don Culton for this week's photos. Thanks also to Stephanie Rondeau for additional pictures of the local Arts Contest judging which have been posted on our website.
Mar 9 Trip to Camp Pendleton Memorial Garden
Mar 9 District arts, speech, music and dance contest at LMU
Mar 13 Bring a Friend to Rotary
Mar 16 Luck `O the Irish BingoFest
Mar 23 Ethics Forum
Mar 24 2nd Annual Car Rally (New date!)
Apr 6 Rotary Day of Service
Apr 26 RYLA
May 2-5 District Conference
May 11 Pancake Breakfast Fire Station 63 (New date!)
May 14 Teacher Eddy Awards
June 28 Demotion Party
Be well.
Yours in Rotary service,
Tony