Are we people of LOVING service?
The Financial Times, a well respected UK newspaper, chose the following title on their front page to summarize the life of Queen Elizabeth II, on the day of her funeral:
“People of loving service are rare in any walk of life.
Leaders of loving service are still rarer”
This is from the sermon of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The author was, of course, alluding to the Queen’s life. He added, in criticism of the leaders of the world present there: Those who serve will be loved and remembered while those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten.
Our motto, as Rotarians, is “Service above Self.” So this quote was an affirmation that we, Rotarians, are a rare breed and we should be grateful for the opportunity to be part of it! Indeed, Service is part of the DNA of every committed Rotarian! We are part of beautiful family: Just scroll down and see the pictures of all these Rotarians while serving!
That quote was also an examination of conscience: Is my service “loving?’ or “Am I serving for the right reason?” Here’s my commitment to always pause and fill my heart with Love, before any service I do at work, home or at Rotary. Would you join me?
Joe Chehade, President
Let’s be loving a Family
Coming up this Wednesday
This week, Larry Plotkin, the first President of our club (charter President) and a community leader, will be our speaker. We will learn part of our club’s history and will be inspired from his lifelong experience serving the community.
We also have a new member induction: CHARLES PANNUNZIO, our new LAWA representative will be inducted! Charles serves as the senior public information officer with Los Angeles World Airports and has more than 35 years of experience in journalism and public relations.
Also, stay tuned, Kelli Trombley will make a special announcement during the meeting!
Zoom Link to join on Wednesday
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85083951798?pwd=RzM5bFBSWjJQUitGYm5WRitCbnVMUT09
Meeting ID: 850 8395 1798
Passcode: 013697
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Happy Rosh Hashanah!
We would like to extend our warm wishes to all our members from the Jewish Faith for a Happy New Year, praying it will bring Joy and Prosperity to all!
Hilton’s “Food for the Soul”
Hilton Brown writes:
Last week, I volunteered to distribute food at the Mar Vista Family Center ("MVFC"). The distribution operation was organized, efficient and staged by happy, welcoming employees. Their joy was only surpassed by the food recipients. Everyone offered a smile, a "Buenos Dias" and “Gracias.” Their peace and appreciation made my heart smile. Truly, it was Soul food!
HILTON, you make our heart smile too! Thank you!
Arabian Nights online registration
You can now register for the Cultural dinner online: CLICK HERE. Feel free to forward this link to family and friends
THANK YOU
from the Auction committee
Tracey Thompson-Busa writes:
In just one week, we brought in $13,000 for the live and silent auctions combined for the Cultural Dinner!!! That’s incredible!!!
Let’s not stop there. One auction item from each member can make all the difference!
Best selling items are sports tickets, hotels, family packages and anything to do with food! Restaurant gift certificates or food baskets are great sellers. Please try to keep the fair market value of the items at $25 and up.We need all Cultural Dinner auction items in by Oct 3rd if possible. Please contact Tracey & Rob (birddotkom@aol.com) and let them know what you can bring in so we don’t have people contacting the same businesses. Thank you all for your support on the CD auction. It’s going to be great!!!!!
Last call for
Camp Pendleton Collection
Rotary is having a donation collection event, supporting the Marines and their families at Camp Pendleton. You can donate baby items, including diapers, housewares, small appliances and non-perishable food. Gently used items are also accepted! We will be collecting donations at this Wednesday’s meeting. If you have a question or have items but cannot be at the meeting, contact Ramona (ramonaivy@gmail.com) to arrange for a different drop off location.
SIGN UP ONLINE FOR THESE SERVICE PROJECTS
You can now volunteer for any of the following service events through our website using THIS LINK:
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Mar Vista Family Center weekly food distribution
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Charity Build A Bear - October 9
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Walk to end Alzheimer - October 23
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Rise against Hunger - November 5
Note that some of these events allow a limited number of volunteers.
(Thank you Joerg Rose for your help to set this up!)
Calling all history nerds!
Lucy Wegner writes:
We are planning a group visit to the Reagan Presidential Library (Simi Valley) in December. There will be a special Holiday exhibit and a chance to tour Reagan’s Air Force One plane. Great for kids! Tickets start at $24 (less for seniors and children). Contact Lucy (lwegner63@gmail.com) for more details.
WAM…was Magnificent
Congratulations to Westchester Rotarian John Sharpe: the founder, the engine and the soul of WAM. The event was a huge success! It brought the community together!
Thank you to our event co-chairs Maria Davis and Gwen Vuchsas. It was a lot of work to plan, set up etc. Gwen Vuchsas writes:
Our booth was very busy all day - we did 100’s of tattoos and 175 sand ornaments. Thank you to all of our volunteers Maria & Joe, John, Bobbie, Becky, Lucia, Kelli, Richard F., Tracey, Hilton, Melissa, Joseph and Lidia from Venice High School Interact and our Superstars Addy and Whitney from Visitation who did 5 hours each and ran the ornament table. The weather was fabulous, the crowds were big, lots of vendors and great music and entertainment. WAM 2022 was a great success and we were proud to be a sponsor!
A happy smile!
The Rotary "neighborhood"
John and Nancy Edwards, our Cultural Dinner honorees
So precious to see the children initiated to the life of loving service
HONOR FLIGHT…
Cheering our Veterans
Having Fun...
and get it done!
Gwen Vuchsas writes:
On Friday morning at 2AM, Garrett, Bobbie, Ramona and Gwen met Howard at LAX to unload 36 wheelchairs for the Vets. We stayed until the Vets began to arrive. It was special and moving and we were honored to participate with Honor Flight!
Surprised by the crowd waiting for him!
Thank you ROCK MILL -Vincent and Bonnie Cullinan, for donating the truck and the warehouse!
Thank you Howard for driving the truck!
Garrett tired after loading the wheelchairs on the truck. Thank you!
On Sunday evening around midnight, President Joe, Melissa, Ramona, Gwen, Garrett and Howard were at LAX to welcome home the Vets and pack up the wheelchairs until the next trip in October. Craig Van Doren from Honor Flight said the weekend went beautiful and could not thank us enough for our support of this wonderful program! Special shout out to Howard for driving the truck on both ends of the weekend and Bonnie for providing the truck and storing the wheelchairs!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
A happy Rotary Song… all the way from Tanzania!
Listen to this upbeat four-way test song:
https://youtu.be/ASeR_-K3Jo4