Success Through Teamwork 9/12/12

Dear fellow Rotarians and friends,

We are re-sending the Bulletin in hopes that it comes in "cleaner" than the first try. Thanks for your understanding.

Catching up on some details we (me, again) left out last week.  In an effort to get information out quickly to our audience, we left out brags. In his age group (still breathing) Don Culton came in first in his 5K Jet to Jetty run. Don donated $25 for the recognition. World traveler, Anne Algaze just returned from seven days in Fiji. She calculated that is was worth $10 a day to acknowledge such a great experience. 

Last Sunday was a great day of fellowship and fun at the District Picnic. Our Bear Force One boat design and rowing team did a great job as we captured third place over all. If they gave awards for the best food table our desert offering would also have been an award winner. Testament to the taste was no leftovers and hundreds of happy customers. With almost 40 attending as Rotarians, families and friends, we had a super showing. Congratulations to all for another outstanding event! More photos are available on the Club website Homepage (Playasunrise.org) on the lower righthand side.



While our Rotary Club served desert at the picnic, our Animo Venice Interacters decided to "Let Them Eat Cake!"  On September 11th they sponsored a school wide cake eating contest to market and promote their Club to the school. This "all consuming" event was a great success. Great work Interacters! More picture on the Club Homepage. 

Guest this week included Monte Cook who came to promote Supporting Our Servicemen (SOS) a 501c3 dedicated to helping those who are and have served our country. If you want to learn more about SOS visit their website, www.supportingourservicemen.com. Returning after taking the bar exam in New York was Insa Jansenn. A delight to have her visiting again! Longtime and loyal "friend of the club" Mark Williamson was with us this week. He even brought a date, one of our favorite canines, Annie. 

As you are beginning to see it was a very full agenda this week. President Grizzly, I mean Jim, invited Kathrine Russell to the podium for a special presentation. Kathrine pointed out that Paul Harris Fellows get a sapphire stone in a pin for every $1000 they have dedicated to the Rotary International Foundation. Our favorite smiley girl, Immediate Past President Gail Goldstein, was presented a pin with FIVE sapphires! Wow! Color us impressed and proud.





President Jim took the podium and continued the pin ceremonies. He recognized Judith Ciancimino as Rotarian of the Month  for her hard work on the Murder Mystery Party and here I thought it was for putting up with this author, who is very proud of his bride! Just a reminder, all the beautiful Edizen Stowall photos from the Murder Mystery Party are posted on the Club Homepage.

Next week is Bring a Friend to Rotary, where we invite prospective members and people who want to know more about what we do. If you have had someone come in the past and you think there still might be interest, please invite them back. The Club will pay for their meal. I am asking every Rotary member to please extend themselves in this effort. Membership is our lifeblood. Those of you who have already committed to bringing someone have my personal and sincere thanks!


As we noted last Sunday was the District Picnic. Judith Wilson and Pam Wolf did a terrific job in organizing the Desert Booth. They have our thanks. Our cardboard boat design/rowing teams put in a lot of hours in to make us shine. Their efforts earned us bronze medal status. Tom Ryan and David Voss (with a lot of help from daughter Jessie) built and painted our boat, Bear Force One. Rowers Katie Butler, Tom Dixon, Tom Carson and Captain Tore Knos did a fantastic job of making the Club look great. Not only do we all thank them for their hard work, President Jim gave them special recognition. He awarded each the Order of the Bear, a special bronze medal.  The shy David Voss was not available of get his medal since he had a court appointment. At least we know he was sitting on the safe side of the table. We'll catch up with David to thank him.


We were treated by our own Clarence Griffin to an update of the LMU Masterplan. He did a super job of informing us about the changes in store for the next 20 years. A more recent change that is on everyones mind is the fact that LMU is now charging for parking. No one is happy about it, but now we know that among those not pleased are the students and faculty, no one gets a free ride, so at the very least, it is fair.

We are now ready for our Cultural Dinner push, promoting the 10/18 honoring of Patty Sinclair and Randy Johnson, Co-Presidents of Playa Vista with our Playa Venice Community Service Award. The theme is Rio's Carnival. $75 includes all beverages (adult and otherwise,) pre-meal local Brazilian foods, salad, main course and entertainment. Each member will be asked to donate a $20 bottle of wine or a $20 bill. Don Culton is leading the charge with a bottle valued at $300. We will be announcing sponsorship levels in a separate
publication. Our goal is to net $15,000 for our future service programs. Success is critical. We need an all out Playa Venice effort!


Judith Wilson presented a banner she exchanged with the Rotary Club of Orange, to President Jim. Lucy Wegner outbid smiley girl for this week's Bear Essentials. Proceeds go toward our annual goal of $1000 for Polio Eradication.  $80 got her a Cantalini's Gift certificate and two original matching paintings from a starving local (ahem) artist. I assure you he is proud that they found a good home! 

Tom Dixon announced that we will be serving dinner at the Midnight Mission on Sunday 12/2 and again at an earlier
weekday service on a day to be announced.

Next week Gail and Katie will be signing people up for the Ralph's Rewards Card community giving program where Ralph's money is donated to our Foundation based on the amount of your purchases. It costs you nothing and the Foundation is the winner. As the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared." 

No winners this week in the 50/50 drawing so the pot goes up to $660.

Thanks for your patience, as we said it was a busy week. Special thanks to Chris Kishida, Tammie Bean, Judith Ciancimino, Don Culton and Katie Butler for this weeks photos. I appreciate their input and their making me look good!

Save the Date

September 14 Argonaut deadline for ads in support of the 9/20 Playa Venice pull out section

September 15 Dodger night, Polio Plus

September 19 Bring a Friend to Rotary

October 2 Quarterly District Breakfast

October 14 District Youth Conference

October 18 Carnival Fund Raiser

October 27 Westchester Halloween Fair

October 27 Paul Harris Celebration

December 2 Midnight Mission Food Service

Be well.

Yours in Rotary service,

Tony