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Leland Hammerschmitt, Editor |
July 30th, 2010 |
July is Literacy Month
August is Membership and Extension Month
Upcoming Programs and Events
August 6th-District Governor, Deepa Willingham
August 13th-Nick Frankle-Membership Development
August 20th-David Wilk-Life After Brain Surgery
August 27th-Bill Buratto-Green Coast Innovation Zone
EXT. LATE-MORNING,
A late-model but well-maintained Cadillac pulls into a small parking lot shared by post office delivery trucks. The camera widens while it CRANES-UP to reveal the adjoining verdant park, and the signature campanile of the town as the mysterious stranger enters the park.
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EXT. PARKING LOT/ PARK
Angle on the walking feet from mysterious drivers POV as the ground changes from asphalt, to grass, to wood chips with the SOUND of children's playful voices. Angle rises to the mysterious stranger's POV as he passes other complete strangers with a quick hello and joke. "A hale fellow well met". His view scans the approaching fountain plaza. It's the appointed time. His scan narrows to his president, uncharacteristically alone. The meeting begins precisely on time. In quick succession, others arrive. At the appointed time, the command to go forth was given and as quickly assembled, the confident looking members moved quickly in disparate directions. Operation "Ojai Local Restaurant" began as quickly as it had assembled. But this was no ordinary group… these were Rotarians… and no ordinary Ojai Rotarians, these were the Friday lunch-club special forces… no knife and fork-ers but experienced veterans who get their hands dirty. The quiet town of Ojai was about to experience the shock n' awe of local economic stimulus and a spread of good-neighborness.
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FLASHBACK MONTAGE:
A quick cut, multi-frame-in-screen showing assorted Ojai special force Rotarians do their good works to
win the hearts and minds of the unsuspecting villagers, thankfully the Rotarians do only (mainly) good, otherwise this town would be easy pickings… like the Mexican village in the "Magnificent Seven"… but the Rotarians are gunslingers for good and not mayhem and today their mission was to repay a favor.
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INT. RESTRAURANT DAY.
Angle on door. It flies open. The blinding filtered light shoots in, quickly eclipsed by the shadow of the mysterious stranger. Eyes turn, piano stops playing (well it would have if the had one at Sakura Sushi), customers freeze, no one moves to their hidden weapons.
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ECU of the mysterious stranger's facial parts. A right eye, then dry lips moistened as a tightly- rolled cigar is placed in the tight lips… with a near but not quite snarled affixed.
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Full angle on the doorway from inside. The mysterious stranger is shrouded by backlight enhanced by smoke dust cheap effect thus creating a lighting effect no one actual ever sees in nature.
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A mid shot of the mysterious stranger who is wearing an out-of-season serape (but I liked the visual). As the stranger grabs the corner of the serape and masterfully removes with the swirl of a matador… the stranger is revealed. It's Janet Mahon and she's her for some fish damnit!
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JANET MAHON
(With characteristic upbeat smile and tone)
" Hi, guys…"
THE END
There are many stories in the naked orchard… this was but one.
At 11:45am on July 30, the Rotary Club of Ojai met at Libbey park fountain, and then dispersed to go to many of the locale Ojai area restaurants to have lunch at the many eateries as a show of support and a long-overdue thank-you to those establishments that support our "Taste of Ojai" (Sept. 25th 3-6pm) on an annual basis. This BRILLIANT idea for our club to support our local businesses was not only a success but also a wonderful injection of financial neighborliness! Well-done Rotarians!
Upcoming Programs and Events
Aug. 6 - District Governor Deepa Willingham
Aug. 13 - District membership development chair Nic Frank will be presenting the program.
August 20th-David Wilk-Life After Brain Injury
August 27th-Bill Buratto-Green Coast Innovation Zone
Final Thoughts
"Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstances"
Bruce Barton
American Congressman
1886-1967
