Dear Playa Venice Rotarians & Friends,

 

For being in lock-down, it’s sure been a ridiculously busy week for the club!!

 

It started off with a spectacle, celebrating Howard Pollack’s 80^th birthday with a huge parade! Thank you to all who came out to support “Mr. Generosity!” Howard – thank you for all you do for the club, and for the community... especially now. We hope your neighbors will forgive us for the honking and traffic! Shout out to member Adrian Acosta and his LAPD team for leading the epic motorcade!

 

That day, Playa Venice members Glenn Hemanes, Kristen Hemanes, Gail Brooks, Tracey Thompson-Busa, Lindsay Thomas, Judy Borowy, Bobbie Casalino-Lewis and Ramona Ivy all delivered special gift baskets (as far away as Azusa and Woodland Hills!) to the Teacher Eddy Award honorees. That night, Gwen Vuchsas, Christina Davis, Kelli Trombley, Lory Sarlo, and the rest of the LAX Coastal Chamber Education committee pulled off a fantastic awards presentation to recognize 20 of our finest local teacher-heroes. Great job!! Thank you all members who joined the event to honor our educators! 

 

Thank you Nora MacLellan and Gwen Vuchsas for continuing to find ways to help during the pandemic. Working with Badge of Heart, Jane St. John of REmax, and Bristol Farms, they delivered 200 face shields, 70 mask adapters, and 60 meals to California Hospital. Thank you for keeping the community service flowing!

 

On Saturday, we had an incredible turnout of members attending the virtual District Club Assembly. We also had members leading workshops (as usual!)... kudos to Joerg Rose for running the Clubrunner session, and Lucy Wegner for running the secretary sessions – they couldn’t have found anyone better! 

 

What you may not know is that there is a 2nd ROTARY CLUB ASSEMBLY on Saturday, May 30 starting at 9am. Topics will include membership (Peter Smyth will run), social media, PR, web design (Joerg again), and peace. You can register at the district 5280 website (if not now, very soon) to attend any or all of the sessions. 

 

Also over the weekend, Joerg Rose and Robin Mock served as judges during the weekend’s district Pageant of the Arts. Applause to Kathrine Russell (district chair), Gwen Vuchsas (SAG, Vocational), and Lindsay Thomas (chair for the club) for making it all happen!! We’re looking forward to seeing the winners!

 

Then Monday, there was a second Blood Drive working with Westchester Elks (who did all the work!) and Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital. We had 33 donors - thank you to everyone who gave blood during the double blood drive! Another one is scheduled for June 15!

 

Gail Goldstein and the scholarship committee received over 100 scholarship applications this week. A fantastic showing! Thank you to the committee members who will now review all the applications for the 13, $1,000 scholarships. Members will get to meet all the recipients at the May 27 Zoom club meeting.

 

Congratulations to all of our members who became “MOU certified,” which means they are eligible to fill out district grant requests on behalf of the club. We need newly certified members each year  – thank you Gwen, Gail, Jerry, and Peter for taking the time to get certified so you can serve the club further. 

 

For those who might be interested in learning about the Rotary Foundation Global Grants, there is another Global grant workshop (#2 of 3) tomorrow 5/20 at 3:00. Workshop #3 is Wed 5/27 3:00. Register here: https://rotary5280.org/event/global-grant-workshop--part-2/

 

Thanks Ray Morales for your presentation last week on your trip to Oaxaca during the district’s Humanitarian trip. Here are a couple of videos for members to watch if you’re interested in learning more. Next year’s trip will be to Costa Rica – April 17-22, 2021.

 

Thank you past President Jim Vuchsas and International Chair Joe Chehade for engineering continued support for our international partners in Chapala, Mexico. Our club contributed vital funds to their Emergency Food Relief Project, where the food situation for non-employed workers is getting worse and worse. Our community extends well beyond the westside of Los Angeles...

 

Tomorrow, the wonderful Paola Melis will give her craft talk. Looking forward to it Paola! We’ll gather at 7:30, begin the meeting at 8, and finish by 9:00. We’ll have two bonus breakout sessions (so we can connect in small groups) from 9-9:20. 

 

Here’s the recurring link for tomorrow’s meeting:

Meeting ID: 753 725 112

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,753725112# US (San Jose)

+13462487799,,753725112# US (Houston)

 

Now for the Big News:  the General Secretary of Rotary International is going to be our guest speaker at our meeting on Wednesday, June 3. John Hewko is not only the General Secretary and represents Rotary worldwide at Rotary events and conferences everywhere, but he is the official CEO of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. Due to his schedule, he is available only after 9am our time. So on June 3 only, our meeting will push by 30 minutes. We’ll gather at 8, Call to Order at 8:30, and then John will join us a little after 9am and potentially go to 10. The entire district will be invited to join this Zoom (at 9am), so it should be quite the virtual event! Mark your calendar now so that you don't have to jump off at 9am just when it starts getting good!

 

Lastly, due to the International Convention, it looks like we will be moving our "Club Leadership Transition" Zoom from June 26 to Sunday, June 28. So please block out your calendars that Sunday night 6:00 for a one-hour club Zoom. More details to come.

 

Stay safe out there everyone, and let’s keep checking in on each other...

 

In Rotary service,

Brady