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The Reminder Newsletter
September 8th, 2017

September is Basic Education and Literacy Month

 

In the Beginning...

 

Reporter’s note to self: Self! Note how much easier it would have been to do the Reminder if you had followed President Mike’s suggestion and pick up the sign in sheets, etc. from the back ( Front?) table.

Having failed in that endeavor, the following  may, in general, recall parts of the meeting accurately. 

 

The Rotary Bell was tinkled at 12:10. Robert Roddick led us in the Flag Salute and Don Reed asked us to remember those in peril by flood, wind, fire and earthquake around the world. Then we (well most of us) ate.

 

When President Mike again took to the rostrum, he thanked (profusely) Robert Roddick, who as Sergeant at Arms is responsible, with his team, for preparing the room on our behalf; Don Reed for the timely invocation; omnipresent Robert Roddick for the flag salute; Dave Brubaker for his work as program Director; and head of the fining department, Newcomer Jack Jacobs. Further thanks were extended to Colin Jones and Deirdre Daly for outstanding greeting above and beyond!  Ren Adam (please note, there is only one Ren Adam and only one John Lyon, so lets not add an extra “s” to their name) for his work at the desk. Ginger Case was again applauded for her superb work as our charming hostess. Ginger asked me to tell you that she does not prepare the food, only serve it, so thanks for the preparation should go to her co-worker Alex (Not our member Alex Kim, who works at the other golf resort in town).

 

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

 

We had two distinguished visiting Rotarians, Jack McClenahan (former president of the West Club, Former District Governor, and former member of our club [and secretary of our club during the ill fated year of this humble reporter’s Presidency]) and Carol Chapman, from Ventura South, who invited our club to participate  in their club’s annual Trivia contest to help benefit a significantly important Library fund. We are talking adult literacy here folks! What could be more important ?( Bret Bradigan— this should be your clarion call to FORM A TEAM!!).

 

Guests included ( but may not have been limited to) Christine Golden, special guest introduced by Betsy Watson, and Andy Cantwell, introduced by Bob Skankey. Also present were Brian Bemel, founder and lead  promoter of the Ojai Storytelling festival, and Antonio, the speaking mime, who was our program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Programs

 

Dave Brubaker told us of upcoming programs. Dave is such a compelling speaker that I forgot to put down who was coming when, but as you will see, that error is easily correctable by checking out the  club web page where I found the following: Sept 15: Richard Murad - Bringing a baseball academy to the Back Country of Ojai: Sept 22- Caryn Bosson - 20 years of the Ojai Youth Foundation; and Sept 29 - fifth Friday at President Mike’s  home. October 7th will feature Kim Maxwell!!

 

Announcements

 

Mike Weaver presented a moving 5 minute Video introducing us to the newest of Rotary International goals, International Peace ( Editors note: It has taken Rotary 36 years to come “This close” to the elimination of Polio.  I wonder how long this will take, but if we are half as successful with this drive as we were with Polio, in 35 years there will only be 6 nations fighting!) Forget the stuff in quotes, the main thing is that Ojai will be celebrating International Peace Day in Libbey Park on Sunday, Sept 24, 2017, and our club will be participating. Talk to Mike if you want to be further involved in Peace on Earth. ( The Video was very positive, stating that there is less war today than ever ( doesn’t feel that way) and that Human rights  are observed more today than ever ( really?).  If not Rotary, who? if not now, When? To view this video, click here.
 

 

Carol Chapman spoke about Trivia and adult literacy, but if you have been paying attention, I told you that up top

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fining

 

Johnny Johnston, fine master extraordinaire, accompanied by bagman, Dave Watson was prepared to present “ the most important fining period of the year “( according to President Mike) but made the mistake of asking for confessions, and surprise, surprise, there were a few.

 

Al West was celebrating his  60 something wedding anniversary to Joyce. Hats off to this dynamic duo!

 

Amani Hishmeh was thankful that her son was safe after the ravages of hurricanes.

 

Your humble reporter (who in 1959 received an award as a freshman in college for delivering the longest, most boring, true stories, about what he has done, or will do, and hasn’t learned anything since) told a story of his attempt to get to Burning man in a 42 year old Motor home (he made it there- the Motor home did not) and his attempt to make up Rotary on the Playa at a place that didn’t exist.

 

So successful were these verbose confessors that poor Mr Johnston had to delay the most important fining of the year to a date to be announced later.

 

Program

 

Dave Brubaker introduced Brian Bemel of the Storytelling festival and then brought forward Antonio, a Brazilian Native, who confessed to being a talking Mime and Professional story teller. I can tell you that Antonio took almost 1/2 an hour to tell a simple story of his youth and growing up in a house where birds were glorified, but cats not so much.  The story, adequate, as most stories of one’s youth are, but  the gift was in how he told the story. We found ourselves in his house in Rio, and then in his sister’s house in the most eastern part of Brazil, and we watched as Antonio’s appreciation of cats and his Father grew.  After he finished his story he presented a few moments of pure perfect mime. According to what I have heard, a Mime “ has the right to remain silent” but I’m sure glad he didn’t.  One of the more entertaining of our recent programs, that’s for sure!

 

Final Thoughts

 

President Mike threw out a great quote by some one, or he didn’t. I was still wrapped up in an invisible balloon and didn’t write anything down, and it wasn’t on the program he gave me. When you see him (Mike) you can ask him to repeat it, or not.

 

NB: Any spelling error or errors of fact are solely the responsibility of Carl Gross because he asked me to do this thing again after knowing full well how these things turn out!

 

Editor Note: You did good, Bob!! 

 

YIRS,

 

Bob Davis, Jr.

Humble Reporter

 

 

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