Success Through Teamwork 2/27/13
Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,
This week we had all the ingredients for a fantastic meeting, a great turn out, high energy, laughter, new information and the installation of a new member and fantastic it was!
We had visitors join us from Animo Venice Interact Club and Howard Pollack's special guest Bill King. Governor Lew Bertrand and John Marcato who got together again shortly. Kelly Kane and daughter Tara came to sell Girl Scout cookies. We were delighted to welcome Sharon Martinez who has joined the member rotation from the Marina del Rel Hospital. Also back with us for the first time in too long was healing Rotarian Judith Wilson. It was nice to have Judith back among us.
District Governor Lew Bertrand graciously joined us again to act as the installing officer for John Marcato. John has not only demonstrated interest in Rotary but also a Rotarian family history, as well as the desire to make a difference. I have every expectation that John will be a great Rotarian. He joins a core of new Rotarians that will be making sure that Playa Venice Sunrise will be vital and strong for years to come. Thanks to sponsor Katie Litsey for bringing him to us. Pictured is Katie putting on John's pin and Governor Lew giving John his membership certificate beautifully created by Alex Rosales of Control Printing. We thanked Governor Lew with a DVD of Tore Knos Jr.'s new movie, Abel's Field. Warmest welcome John!
With this outstanding start of the day, President Jim brought speaker Jay Johnstone to the podium. Jay shared 
a wealth of experience and stories with us. His 20 year career included winning four World Series rings. He has history with both the Dodgers and Angels. Jay is a Rotarian in the La Habra Club. When it come to giving back, Jay "gets it!" Thanks to President Jim for pursuing Jay starting last August and getting him to our Club.
Gwen Vuchsas rose to update us on the March 16th Luck `O the Irish BingoFest. She advised we only needed one more $100 game sponsor and as you might expect Mr. Generosity, Howard Pollack, spoke up to take the game! Howard is always there when we need him.
Contact Tore Knos if you are interested in sponsoring him during his 2,000 mile walk that will start in mid March and end next fall. Tore will be checking off one more thing on his "bucket list." He announced another check off that he had no control over. His daughter will be having a baby next August. Congratulations Grandpa!
We'll be taking two tables at the March 12th District Breakfast, one for the Club and one for our Interacters. We'll have a great presence at the last breakfast of the Rotary year!
Speaking of the Animo Venice Interact Club, they held a clean up at the Ballona Wetlands after this week's meeting.
President Jim announced that Sarah Chapman will hold an evening recap on March 15th of her efforts towards "Build a Better Benin." Contact Jim for details. We hope to have her soon return to speak to our Club.
The membership is reminded that March 13th is "Bring a Friend to Rotary. Think about who among your friends and associates would bring value to our Club by becoming a Rotarian. As we know first hand, Rotarians get by giving. Please let me know who you are bringing so I can begin a head count. I hope Tom Carson will have to get an additional table in he room for this meeting!
Once again no one pulled the ace of spades in the 50/50 drawing some $750 carries over to next week.
Thanks to Gwen for taking pictures this week.
Save the Date:
Mar 9 Trip to Camp Pendleton Memorial Garden
Mar 9 District arts, speech, music and dance contest at LMU
Mar 12 District Breakfast
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 13 Family of Rotary breakfast and tour of USS Iowa (just announced)
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