Irvine Rotary News

Holes For Heroes — Helping our Hurting Heroes, Military Children, Families and Vets

2012-01-21T18:57:00.001-08:00

Monday May, 21, 2012 at 9:30 am at the Marbella Country Club, San Juan Capistrano, the Irvine Rotary Club will kick off its first Holes for Heroes - Orange County, a very special signature fundraising event benefiting Wounded Warriors and their families. Plans are for this to be the clubs major annual fundraising event, and every club member is expected to pitch in.

Ray Sanford, a Vietnam Vet, has taken the lead on this event for the club, but it's a proven fundraising event that has garnered $105,000 this its 5th year run by the Rotary Club of Downtown San Diego Breakfast. Last year Chicago and Las Vegas Rotary Clubs also rolled out Holes for Heroes events.

OC is a natural to embrace this event, OC is the home to El Toro Marine Corp base, and we have thousands of military and their families close by. Our club has more than a dozen vets, and double that with club members who have family who are active or retired military members.

Dave Ferguson from the San Diego Club, and founder of Holes for Heroes, was on hand to explain how the event got started and how successful it is now. The San Diego club has provided the plans and background information for us to launch the event, and we have several committees forming now that need your help. This is a great way for each of us to say thank you to our troops. It will be an exciting day with a wounded military playing with each foursome golf group. Over the past 5 years the SD club has raised over $400,000; their first year 120 players helped provide a net of $32,000 to their club's fundraising efforts.

The event provides the community with an opportunity to interact and get up and personal with some of our military. And they love the opportunity too. At the evening dinner after a day of golf, each military member introduces themselves. This will sure to be moving and gain a standing ovation from everyone in the room. Golfers, non-golfers, military family members and friends are invited to join the evening festivities that include a silent auction.

Sponsors are key to the success of this event and there are dozens of sponsorship opportunities including: Sponsorships: from $25,000 title sponsor to $250 to sponsor a wounded Hero to play. Player Opportunities include Foursomes for $1,000 including 4 player spots with lunch, dinner and auction and participation in all contest for prizes; Army of one-1 player spot with dinner and auction; Dinner and auction only-$75.

We'll be turning Marbella into a military course for the day. Volunteers are needed, sign up your friends and family to either play or work one of the many areas including auction, registration, spotters for auction, set up the day of the event. We have six team chairs:

Advertising: Ray Sanford

Auction: Cisca

Day of Event: Dale Ford

Administration and Banking: Tom Mahony

Sales, Marketing, Sponsorships: Lucy

Military Coordination: Rick

So, what are you waiting for. Sign up for a committee and volunteer for this worthy event. More information to come at future meetings.

Holes for Heroes OC flyer & Signup

Holes for Heroes OC sponsorship package

Shari Friedrich, OC Treasurer

2012-01-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

OC County Treasurer Shari Friedrich is responsible for a $6.5 billion investment pool for Orange County. The good news, she keeps our money safe guarded and is responsible for investment of public funds and collecting taxes. She sits on OC Pension board and is a member of the public finance committee. Her responsibilities also include banker for school district funds (writing checks for payroll) and some OC districts also use her funds as a safe investment vehicle for their district's money. Her goal is safekeeping by providing safety, liquidity and yield (no risk). She has an unblemished record of safety, never having lost one dollar of tax payer monies.

Shari oversees a staff of 97 and a budget of $18 million. She's made changes to continue safety including reviewing exposure to risk, hiring a dedicated analyst for reviews investment instruments daily; she's redesigned reporting structures; streamlined investment operations; reduced administrative costs over 10%. Unfortunately our yields are at rock bottom. She conducts an annual treasurer's conference, is reaching out to each OC city to assist them with their investments through a monthly conference call. She has brought best business practices to the treasury. Her staff is responsible for collecting on behalf of 200 agencies; $4.7 billion in collections (a 97% rate); and 54% OC taxes have been collected before the end of the calendar year. 40% goes back to schools; 19% to each city and 34% to the state.

For us taxpayers, although she does not set tax values, she is working to make it easier to pay our taxes through online services. She's brought cost-effective practices to government,including restructuring her office. Including a better customer service office.

Irvine is the sixth largest economy in the US with 3.1 million people, we are doing better than state in revenues. Taxes collecitng rates are up for Irvine, 1.45% in 2011; .87% for California.

John Moorlach: OC - A Model During A Period of Municipal Meltdown

2012-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

John W. Moorlach, Vice Chairman, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Second District predicted the biggest municipal disaster when OC defaulted on its debt. He talked about what elected officials in California and around the country are facing. The global reality is they are all mired in debt for municipal debt, deferred maintenance, pension funds and more. Although employees are paying more into their pensions, there's no raises and new tiers for retirement (including the ability for a municipal employee to opt out of the retirement plans), we are still mired in debt for the default 20 years ago.

OC reforms helped the county reduce unfunded liabilities, but all of CA is looking at OC to see how they handle the future. The majority of our general purpose revenue, $653 million, 87% of the county revenue comes from property taxes. 2011 was a balanced budget, every year we are laying off more and more municipal employees. But we inherited a retroactive salary benefit, worth $1.5 billion. In a bull cycle we enjoyed amazing growth, but there's a train wreck in slow motion about to hit OC.

OC Pension plans are doing fairly well, investments are bouncing back, but pension costs continue to rise, revenues are flat, and employees on pensions are living alot longer than predicted. The pension burden is $.31.5 per $1 in pension contributions. Irvine's unfunded liabilities alone are $1,823 per capita. We are running on fumes. If we don't see an uptick in the economy we'll run out of cash

What should CA do? Downsize, ratchet back regulations, roll back pension formulas, create hybrid pension formulas, freeze pension plans, privatize, merge and consolidate management, address the underground economy, report all debts, create a moratorium on bond debt and do something with public pensions.

There's a net migration out of CA. Watch what will be happening in other municipalities!

IRC Member Craft Talk: Randy Woods

2011-12-26T16:05:00.000-08:00

IRC member Randy Woods shared his personal and work story with the members this week, he's come to his current profession via a circuitous route.

Randy is a Security Industry Solutions expert, his company Night Hawk Security Solutions inserts covert cameras, CCTV, and handles Loss Prevention Training and Interviewing for companies. He's been in the security field for over 25 years. And Randy says "his goal is to get a confession from someone." He demonstrated his techniques with his Polygraph invention, a hilarious looking contraption that seemed to work, from his demonstration! Randy's secret self --everyone has one -- is as a Gadgeteer--he's always played with gadgets and made some machines.

He's firmly planted in OC now, but moved back and forth from the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest and back a few times. Randy grew up in Salem, OR. His first job growing up was working at the corner grocery store selling candy to kids. Later he went to work for several different restaurants...at Bob's $.19 Hamburgers, and before long he was managing their 13 stores. In Hemet, CA where he managed the Railroader Restaurant. He went to a broadcasting workshop and for a brief stint worked on-air at KIIS-FM 102.7, and later as a disc jockey at the Newport Beach Marriott.

Say hi to Randy when you visit the club, he's a great guy!

Christopher Cabral

2011-12-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

This morning a young man by the name of Christopher Cabral attended our meeting. He came to tell us he needs help preparing for employment. Christopher’s disabilities do not in any way hinder his motivation to work and become a taxpaying member of society. Rotary is helping Christopher fulfill his dream.

Christopher recently entered the Irvine Unified School District’s Career Link program and is learning career preparation skills in his classroom. He comes from a close-knit family of nine children, five boys and four girls, and he lives in Irvine. He has a congenital disorder, which has affected four out of the five boys in the family, one who died over a year ago. Christopher is confined to a wheelchair and has very little communication skills. He currently uses a device called the DynaVox, which he is able to manipulate with a type of joy stick he uses with his finger. This is what he used today at our meeting to tell us, "I want to work.”

Linda O’Neil, director of Career links, and Paul Harvey, a volunteer in the program, gave a compelling presentation for a devise to help Christopher better communicate with others. They would like to purchase an iPad 2, and also a software program called Proloquo2Go. This device has been successful for those with Autism, or any person with a disability that involves communication disorders. This program will help Christopher with a more rapid method of enabling him to engage in basic greeting conversation.

When Career Links is able to provide Christopher with a new communication device, they will help him find employment in the community. An ideal job would be for Christopher to work at an Apple Store as a demonstrator for his Apple iPad 2 with Proloquo2Go. Christopher and his assistant would be a sales team to demonstrate the value of these two technologies and what it can do to help others with disabilities.

The estimated cost for the devise is $2,361. This morning our club presented Career Links with a check in the amount of $1,500, they still have a ways to go to purchase the device and pay for the required training for Christopher.

The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre Director Donna Inglima

2011-12-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

Donna Inglima, The Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre Director, discussed the important work the Playhouse's youth education and theatre program provides, a program supported by IRC. The club recently supported the production of a world premiere, the first for the theatre, of Looking For Home, Stories From The Orphan Trains.

Beginning in 1853-1930's, Charles Lauren Brace, the founder of the Children's Aid Society of New York, executed a program to move more than 250,000 kids off the streets of New York City and into homes. Homeless and abandoned children were taken off the streets, clothes and fed, and then moved by train to homes in the midwest. The show is a tale of adults and youth, the memory is a play set in 1922. The music, lyrics and books were created by Mary Murffitt, playwright. She also was adopted, and interviewed an orphan train survivor, where she developed the play's concept. The train made different stops along a route, the kids were presented like slaves on stage. Some went to a wonderful family, others not so lucky.

The show explores abuse, love and the many issues in adoption with a cost of 38, 22 children ages 9-17. It's a deep story of laughter, sorrow and hope. The show appeared for two weeks, and had three weeks in production. It premiered in November during National Adoption Month. The club's contribution of $1500 helped to support Boys & Girls Club kids to come to the show.

Doing Amazing Work in our Communities-State of the Irvine Rotary Club

2011-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

12.7.11 Irvine Rotary Club Meeting notes

Photo: Richard Milo was awarded his Paul Harris +7 Pin.

Mody Gorsky presented President elect nominee Don Kennedy, who will take his presidency after Lucy Walther’s term. There were no additional nominees, Mark Brubaker moved to close nominations, and Don Kennedy was ratified by the members..

Community Service Report/Avenues of Service:

The Irvine Rotary Club is giving a lot back to our communities and working a lot.

Lucy Walther led the summary of our community service accomplishments:
1. Richard Milo reported on the success of our partnership with causes for diabetes and cancer.

The Juvenile Diabetes walk in Newport Beach recently held in November had a large contingent of Rotarians, 21 walkers from the club who added $2,000, one third of the event net revenue, for Juvenile Diabetes.
In addition, the club provided $1,000 to support the spring Komen Walk for the Cure.
Children’s Book Drive-Richard encouraged members to stop at garage sales and purchase books for children that we can donate during the Orange County Fair Book Drive. It’s a district wide project. Last year we donated more than 30,000 books for kids. Simply spend no more than $10 to buy books and the club will reimburse you.

2. Ed Hardenburg indicates we will have a walk this year at the Dana Point Harbor in April which includes a donation to Cystic Fibrosis.

3. Cisca Stillhorn reported:

Our support of South County Outreach is complete for the year, we provided a total of $1,000 to SCO. Our contact has changed so we will be engaging them to come to a future meeting to re-establish with them.
We provided a work day for the Irvine Animal Shelter with 13 Rotarians helping with the facility build out.
In addition, we will be doing a project to support Irvine Adult Day Health. We made a donation of $1,000 and will work on conducting a work day on their behalf.

4. Rick Topping reported on:

Injured Marines Simper If Fund which supports injured marines
Wounded Warrior Fund
Holes for Heroes
ALS Society

5. Leslie Mogul reported the $1500 support of The Laguna Playhouse’s Youth Theatre world premier of Looking for Home, a Story from the Orphan Trains, was made possible with the support of IRC. Children from Orangewood and Orange County foster care were able to attend performances free of charge.

6. Ray Benedictus reported that Community Service from our club members does a lot to make things happen in the community. He added we provided support this past year for the American Heart Association.

7. Mody Gorsky reported we continue our successful partnership with the City of Irvine with our Irvine Public Safety Partnership Awards. Lucy and Mody have had four meetings with the city and they are thrilled to continue the program.

8. Austin reported on our international projects:

Mexico (Ensenada area) Clinics-April 2012 we will conduct our 100th Mexico Clinic. We conducted four dental and two medical clinics during the year. These are fabulous opportunities for our club to team with our local Mexico Rotary partners, who identify the location, to provide needed medical and dental care. He would like more club members to participate. We stay in nice hotels, meet great people. He’ll be scouting some more locations in Mexico, including orphanages in Corazon, to continue this avenue of service. The Ensenada clinic cost $4000 for two clinics, and we provided $30,000 worth of service.
Haiti Adult Clinics-we’re determined to continue the project when the country provides us the opportunity.
India Clinic-were committed to doing a clinic in India, Austin will talk with Harry on this.
Bolivia Prosthetic project is being executed with 8 other rotary clubs. It is under review at the International Rotary Foundation. Our goal is to produce 135 prosthetic legs, the program trains people to manufacture the prosthetics, and give to local disabled.
Stove project is still being executed in Guatemala. The goal is to produce 1500 stoves, we are mid-way through production.
Romania Orphanage-we are in the process of determining is this is feasible.

Local and International Irvine Rotary Club projects are funded by our three major fundraising efforts including:

Bowlathon-this year raised $5,000
Cash Bash
Holes for Heroes-2012 will be our first year for this annual fundraiser. The San Diego Downtown Rotary Club created the successful model, in this their 10th year they raised $109,000 from the golf tournament. 75% of the proceeds are donated to International and the rest goes into their club foundation. Sign up now to be a donor or sponsor of this spring event. Wounded warriors are invited to play in each foursome.

New Member Projects: Jay Spencer suggested each new member adopt a fundraising project to participate in. Each week new members and red badgers man the Check in Desk so they can quickly get to know our members. It starts with a sincere smile and handshake, this effort is winning us a new member each week.

Finance Report: Tom Mahony reported our charitable goal for 2012 is $35,000. We currently have $70,000 in the bank. Our club does not charge dues. We are changing the name of our foundation to Irvine Rotary Foundation to match the new club name. Here’s how our club operates and where revenues are derived:

Rotary International Foundation-provides matching grants back to the district and club.
Club Operations –Dale Ford and his weekly fining pays for club expenses.
Irvine Rotary Foundation-is our charitable arm from where we donate money back to local and international projects.

Ed Hardenburg reported we have an accumulated cash balance in excess of $5700 which will be used to supplement sending the club president to International Rotary Conference: Lucy to Thailand in 2012, Don Kennedy to Lisbon in 2013.

Mark Brubaker added any extra money we raise is donated to new charitable opportunities to help individuals or organizations during the year.

Officers for the Irvine Rotary Foundation are:
President: Woody Jones
President Elect: Ray Sanford
Vice President: Kris Khurana
Secretary: Mary Mar
Treasurer: Tom Mahony
Club President: Mark Brubaker
Club International Rotary Foundation Chair: Ray Benedictus

Support for Boy Scouts

2011-11-30T12:20:00.000-08:00

Janet Wang and Mark Brubaker present a check for $500 to Scoutmaster Johansen to support the Boy Scouts.

New Member Jean Hobart

2011-11-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

Cisca Stillhorn and Rick Topping welcome Jean to the club. She’s a close friend of Cisca’s, a lawyer, post polio victim who spends 50 hours a week doing volunteer work.

Meet Robyn Nelson

2011-11-29T19:37:00.000-08:00

The Irvine Rotary Club welcomed our newest member, Robyn Nelson. She is a California original from Sacramento, and a registered nurse, currently the Dean of College of Nursing in the Health Sciences at West Coast University, where 2800 students are in the nursing programs.

Robyn's career trajectory began with a desire to be an elementary school teacher, but she changed her major and worked in critical care and later went onto teaching, before moving to Southern California she was a head of the nursing program at Toro College in Nevada, and Professor of Nursing at CSU Sacramento.

Outside of her professional career she's a songstress, pop and light opera are her favorites. Her husband Dean is a Jazz band musician.

IRC Meeting on the International Rotary Move to Eliminate Polio

2011-11-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

Former rotary district governor Herb Tromboldt shared the latest update on the Rotary International's Polio Immunication Days around the world. It's the rotary's effort to end Polio now. It's the largest humane project in the world and it was started by rotary international, which partnered with other non-governmental organizatins around the world including Unicef and the World Health Organizatioin.

Rotarians around the world have done the heavy lifting on this project to get it off the ground. Herb shared a trip by rotarians this past Feb. 2011. A team of 36 rotarians went to the Kashapur area of India to immunize children against polio. Just 90 miles from New Delhi, the people live in deplorable conditions, open sewage, sewers running over constantly, one of the ways polio is spread. Add no refrigeration, heaps of garbage everywhere, no surprise this area has been ground zero for several hundred cases of polio in the past year. 80 immunization stations were set up with three movile units, a parade kicked off the activities, and the local Indians worked with our rotarians going into all neighborhood to share the polio vaccine, just a few drops by mouth is all it takes to protect these kids.

Just one of the wonderful international projects rotary takes on. Very rewarding work!

New IRC Member Von Christensen

2011-11-20T20:58:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the Club Von!

The Irvine Rotary Club is on a roll, we welcomed another new member this week. Von Chistensen, an Irvine resident and an attorney who works in Newport. Von was welcomed to the club by former district governor Herb Tromboldt.

Interested in learning more about the rotary club, you are welcome to join us for a delicious buffet breakfast and fellowship each Wed. morning at 7:30 am at the Rancho Community Center in Irvine. Please check us out!

IRC Bowlathon Raises $5,317 for rotary projects

2011-11-14T19:29:00.000-08:00

Thoughts from Diane Braasch, event coordinator for rotary Bowlathon:

As night sets in, I am enjoying the thoughts of todays Bowlathon. It is wonderful to have Rotary friends and some of you sure stepped up to help our event fly. It was not the best weekend to have this event due to the long weekend and people taking advantage of a getaway, but 90 people attended. 10 businesses paid $250 to fly a banner on the lanes for the three hours'. We were able to take advantage of the bowling centers hospitality. . Forest Lanes was so professional in taking care of our every need. The professional bowlers who turned out to bowl with us were some of the best. The PBA stars who I usually can get to bowl with us, were in Vegas bowling the World Series of Bowling but our local pros scored well. Toni Thomas brought some of her homemade Christmas decorations for the silent auction. They were beautiful. Leslie Mogul and Stella Cardoza did a beautiful basket including tickets to Laguna Playhouse, Robyn Nelson brought a basket with Christmas goodies and Marla Noel a fabulous Tequila basket. I made a bunch of baskets and was happy to see that all our baskets sold in the silent auction The most unusual gift was an Adult Pogo Stick donated by Rich Milo. and a diamond pendant from Ken Carrell of the Jewelry Box in Lake Forest. Forest Lanes donated a 2 hour party for six.. I purchased some fun gifts for everyone to win. Most everyone took home something and on the lanes were treated to lollipops in the bowling theme. For those of you who did not join us just because you wanted to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon at home.......well, you lose because it was sooo fun. The scores were varied and I know some of you wil have a few aches tomorrow...but be assured, YOU are making a difference in our charitable causes. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AND SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO GAVE ....Isn't that what Rotary is all about? This event net $5317 to our Rotary Foundation. Not bad for a fun three hours at the bowling center......

Thank you and thanks for all your help, Diane Braasch

Craft Talk: Meet Ed Link

2011-11-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

IRC member Ed Link is a fun guy and knows how to entertain a crowd! He's responsible for Business Development for the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, and in about four years time since he moved to the area, he's helped expand the chamber and rotary membership rosters.

When he's not drumming up business for the chamber, you'll find Ed on the beach playing volleyball, his new athletic love. "My office on the weekends is the beach and the volleyball fields." He's also learned the fine art of wine tasting--California has abundant opportunities for this--- and sailing--which evidently seems to be a lot tamer in the open ocean than his AK roots.

Before he moved to California, he lived on a riverboat in Little Rock, and was the membership chair of the Little Rock Chamber. He also filled his free time with sailing and sailboat racing on the river in Arkansas, evidently the winds there providing challenging sailing.

Ed, a jock at heart, tells us his Conway, Arkansas (30 miles north of Little Rock) upbringing was a wholesome and great place to grow up. The school system there especially catered to his athletic love of baseball, and he eventually joined a minor league baseball league in Hayes, KS.

Thanks Ed for the entertaining craft talk!

4th Annual IRC Public Safety Award

2011-11-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

The IRC recently awarded Mr. Patel with the Irvine Public Safety Award. It takes courage for local citizens to step up to the plate and call the local police when they see something suspicious in their neighborhood. That is what helped the Irvine Police Dept. recently when local Irvine resident Mr. Patel did when he called when three men in a Mercedes knocked on the door of his home. According to Detective Joe Kathia crime analysis and good old community involvement helped close a string of burglaries.

In the Yale corridor more than 90 burglaries had taken place within a few months. The crimes were put on Crime Stoppers TV, and one of the victims had written down a license plate that helped the Crime Division zero in on the suspects. It was Mr. Patel's phone call that confirmed all of the details to arrest three of the four suspects. The fourth suspect was eventually picked up in Seattle and returned to Irvine to serve serious time in jail.

Mr Patel says he did not think much about the call he made, he felt it was his civic duty. He has a strong sense of community spirit, and he wants to keep his community safe.

According to Detective Susan Davis, the largest issue is thefts from unlocked vehicles. Car hopping thieves check door handles and are more often than not able to open the car door and remove anything visible in your car.

Citizens, beware, stay safe and if you see any unusal activity in your neighborhood call 911!

Welcome New IRC member Mike Javanmar

2011-11-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mike Javanmar, a resident of Lake Forest, is the newest member of the Irvine Rotary Club. Mike is a teacher of economics at Rio Honda College in Whittier. Mike's a graduate of UC Riverside. Please welcome Mike to our club!

Meet IRC Member Toni

2011-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

Toni is a charter member of Irvine Rotary Club. In 1990 she and a small group of other rotary lovers started the club. She was the first female club president in 1995.

One of her fondest club community projects was on Dec. 15, 1990 during the first Desert Storm, when the club accomplished a major holiday tribute for service member's families. It was a Yellow Ribbon Holiday for the El Toro and Tustin Base. Donations came in from all over southern CA for kids, there was a wrapping party so each kid got a gift, bands played. A video was created which you can view on the IRC website. "It was a gift for me, I realized if we all work toger4ther so much more can be done," says Toni of the commardie and team work from the rotary family and friends of this project.

Toni says she loves her life. She's been a tax preparer for the same company for 20 years. She's been married for 15 years, and has a blended family of five kids.. Her joy is with her family, friends and just appreciating life. She spends alot of time with her husband, who is retired. Toni's motto " Live, Laugh and Love".

Toni grew up in Nebraska City until age 11. The town bosted 7,000 residents, it was a great place to grow up, but she's delighted to today be living in OC. Thirty years ago she did modeling and acted in musicals and drama. And she was a model and appeared in a variety of print advertisements.

It's members like Toni that make our IRC so interesting. She's passionate about her continuing membership in our club.

City of Irvine proclaims October 24th as World Polio Day

2011-10-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Assemblyman Jeff Miller presents to Irvine Rotary Club

2011-10-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Assemblyman Jeff Miller (R) talked about the policies and issues affecting local communities that are determined in Sacramento.

Jeff says revenues for the state fell short in September. How are we going to deal with this shortfall. There's no political courage in Sacramento, he says. We need to reduce regulatory burden in the state. Cuts will be made to the people who need the services the most.

He has served as both Mayor and a Councilman in the City of Corona, before being elected to the State Assembly in 2008 and re-elected in 2010 to represent California's 71st State Assembly district. The district spans the edge of Eastern Orange County and takes in the majority of Western Riverside County and encompasses cities of Anaheim, Corona, Eastvale, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Norco, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana and Tustin. His goals: keep the economy growing, the budget balanced, the community safe, and get the roads moving.

Jeff serves on the Assembly Higher Education Committee as well as the Insurance, Housing and Community Development and Transportation Committees. He passed AB2098 legislation to expand the 91 freeway and create 18,000 jobs in an area hit hardest by the recession.

He says he's fighting for major reform: Prison reform, Education (K-12 and community colleges). The ultimate goal for CA is to become a leader and attract business. Vote, and do your part to get the state and our community growing again.

Irvine Rotary Club Welcomes New Member Tammy Chu

2011-10-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Irvine Rotary Club this week welcomed our newest member, Tammy Chu, CPA. Born in Taiwan and raised in Hawaii, she attended school in Virginia. Tammy works as a CPA and auditor at Grant Thornton in Irvine. Welcome to the club, Tammy!

Social Marketing-Jump on the Bandwagon -Oct. 5, 2011 Rotary meeting presentation

2011-10-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Niklas Myhr, Social and Global Marketing and Media Instructor at Chapman University, shared the latest thinking around social media with the Irvine Rotary members. LISTEN - RELATE - ENGAGE- CREATE.

Jump on the Bandwagon now, if you have not already. The cold call is dead, says Niklas. rEACH OUT TO YOUR GREATER SOCIAL NETWORK TO GET A SALE, THE JOB, AND MORE. Just Google yourself, and see what everyone is saying about you and your company, or not! Use your network to get a job, stay in touch, and improve your visibility and notoriety. Niklas suggested you share aggressively with your network, build one if you have not already. Start with other members of the rotary club. Dont let the thought of spending too much time networking socially scare you, you may become addicted to this newest route to fame and maybe fortune.

Niklas' dad was a rotarian and brought Niklas to many meetings, and on his travels and rotary visits around the worldwide.

Irvine Rotary Club Welcomes New Member Walter Kowalczyk

2011-10-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

On Wed., Oct. 5 the Irvine Rotary Club welcomed Walter Kowalczyk as our newest member. Walter says he's a man of God, husband to Theresa for 15 years and father to Anthony (10) and Sarah (3). He is the Western Pacific Region’s Director and sales professional for The College Network with the responsibility of managing an 8 state region with over 20 independent contractors and sub-contractors on the West Coast. He also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for a Saint Michael the Archangel Academy which is a nationwide K-12 private satalite program. Walter enjoys family time exploring California with Theresa and the kids.

Welcome to the Club Walter!

SAVE THE DATE - Irvine Rotary Club Holiday Party takes place December 10

2011-09-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

Rotary District Governor Greg Owen Speaks to Irvine Rotary Members Sept. 21, 2011

2011-09-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

District Governor Greg Owen and his wife Valerie.

District Governor Greg Owen reminded us of the power of Rotarians locally, nationally and internationally as he reminded us it's Rotary's 100th anniversary.

Projects cover sanitation, book drives and wider visions. If you are a rotary member, you know that your passion for the underserved, needed or a good cause can get great support through the power of rotary. No other organization offers wide avenues of service.

Rotary's finest moment has been to help eradicate polio. Rotarians have given $1Billion to eradicate polio and teamed with Bill Gates and The Gates Foundation, who provided $355 million to complete our goal. We are expecting to meet our goal of eradicating polio off the face of the earth by the end of 2012. Rotary clubs around the world have the power to put the infrastructure in place to roll this out, and rotarians have participated in providing more than 30 million vaccinations, each kid needs 3-6 doses of vaccine to be protected.

You'll soon be seeing big tractor trailers with Eradicate Polio signs. Greg's company has allowed rotary to wrap his tractors which travel around the country. We have the opportunity to have a tractor at an event.

The Rotary Foundation goal is $200 per capital per year. Irvine Rotary Club meets and exceeds this goal. The IRC foundation is one of the top fundraising foundations in OC.

Do you contribute $1,000 during the year to rotary? If so, become a recognized donor, and half of all contriubted income comes back to our district. Currently $50,000 annually comes back to the OC district to contribute back in our community to nonprofit projects.

Dean Irwin is the speaker this year at the Foundation Dinner, plan to attend, information is being distributed to members.

Ways to Get Involved:
Makeup meetings can be done online thru the EClub, it's available 7/24. You can makeup meetings at home or during business. This online club is very appealing to those who have restructions and are unable to make meetings.

RYLA-kids leave the safety of their family and go for a long weekend to learn about leadership in the mountains in Idllywild, once a year. When they get back they don't want to get off the bus, they've made lifelong friends in a short time.

The International Rotary Convention next year takes place in Bangkok, Thailand. If you have the resources to attend, it is an amazing trip.

FUN ON THE LANES BOWLATHON NOV.13 AT FOREST LANES, SIGN UP NOW

2011-09-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

FUN ON THE LANES BOWLATHON FUNDRAISER
NOV. 13 AT FOREST LANES, LAKE FOREST BENEFITS MANY COMMUNITY NON-PROFITS

Irvine, CA, September 24, 2011….The second annual Fun on The Lanes Bowlathon sponsored by The Irvine Rotary Foundation will again benefit many community non-profit organizations. Bowlers, bowling teams, and supporters of rotary’s great work to support non-profit organizations, are invited to participate on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, 11 am-2pm.

According to Diane Braasch, Irvine Rotarian and Bowlathon organizer, family, friends and everyone is invited to participate, cost is $30 per adult, $25 for children 10 and under and includes three games of bowling and shoe rental. Company and Rotary Club teams are encouraged, five bowlers per team. Sponsorship lane banners are available.

A silent auction featuring baskets for dining out, bowler gear, wine and more are also part of the fundraising day.

The Irvine Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is sponsoring this fun and fantastic bowling fundraiser. All proceeds benefit Irvine Rotary Club projects. Past projects include: SMILES dental clinics inCalifornia, Mexico and Haiti; Irvine Senior Center, Juvenile Diabetes Foudnation, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, ALS Society, StoveTeam International, Boys & Girls Club, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Boy Scouts of America, and Irvine Valley College.

For more information register to bowl with Fun On the Lanes please contact Diane Braasch (494) 458-5940.

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The Incredible Egg-Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes, Wed., Sept. 14, 2011

2011-09-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Discussing the importance of animal welfare and innovative technology in modern agriculture, Brandy Gamoning of Hidden Villa Ranch presented information about the production and processing of eggs to the Rotary Club of Irvine. The presentation took the group through a virtual tour of an egg ranch—from production to processing. She also answered the groups many questions about different label claims such as and the healthfulness of eggs.

Hidden Villa Ranch is a national shell and liquid egg production, distribution, and marketing company based in Fullerton, California. Their ranches in Southern California and across the country produce both conventional and specialty eggs including organic, cage free, omega-3 and other nutrient fortified eggs.

They are committed to providing American consumers with safe, quality, affordable food. This mission relies on humane treatment of their hens and the use of innovative processing technology.

For more information on Hidden Villa Ranch’s products and services, visit www.hiddenvilla.com.

Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes-Wed., Sept. 7, 2011

2011-09-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

IRVINE SOLAR INCENTIVE PROGRAM ADDS VALUE TO RESIDENTS ON TOP OF THE STATE REBATE AND FEDERAL TAX CREDIT

Citywide Solar Program Supports the Creation of a Strong Solar Community

Business owner Daniel Sullivan has a vision of creating a strong solar community out of Irvine by offering incentives to all residential, commercial and municipal properties with a Irvine solar program. The innovative program allows residents to go solar for little to no upfront cost and receive substantial cash-back awards for their involvement.

Sullivan Solar Power, who has an office in Irvine, today launched the comprehensive solar advocacy program to inspire residents to declare energy independence and make a longstanding impact on the community. Participants will receive cash-back incentives in addition to the already substantial State rebate and Federal tax credit through November 18, 2011.

“In just one hour, the sun casts enough energy upon the Earth’s surface to provide the entire world with power for one year, yet less than 1% of our electricity is generated from solar,” said Sullivan. “We need to harness this resource for the benefit of our future generations and this is our company’s way of contributing to our children’s children.”

The community solar program includes all residential and commercial Irvine properties and the early adopters will receive the largest incentives. The program also incentivizes residents to encourage their neighbors, groups and friends to go solar. Homeowners that participate in the program will be able to go solar for less than their current electric bill while strengthening the local and national economy, according to the company’s director of community relations, Erica Johnson.

“We designed Irvine’s Solar Program in a manner that will create a critical mass and encourage as many residents as possible to go solar, and hopefully, lead a solar energy revolution where we shift our dependence on fossil fuels to renewable resources,” said Sullivan.

There will be an educational solar luncheon for property owners on Saturday, October 15th at 11am at the Irvine City Hall (1 Civic Center Plaza). The presentation will inform residents about solar technology, rebates and incentives and the Irvine Solar Program.

JOIN THE SOLAR ENERGY REVOLUTION
- Be a part of America’s Energy Solution
- Receive incentives two times the State rebate
- Help your planet, help your neighbor, help your community, help yourself

Participate in the Irvine Solar Program
Launched August 15 2011, this Program has been created to encourage the creation of a strong solar community within the City of Irvine. Participants are able to go solar for as little as $0 upfront with a monthly payment equal to or less than current electric bill rates. In order to create a critical mass, businesses and homeowners who partake will receive substantial cash-back incentives in addition to the State rebate and Federal Tax Credit.

The Irvine Solar Program is exclusive to residential and commercial projects within the City of Irvine. The program will expire on November 18, 2011. The Irvine Solar Program is designed to encourage as many residents as possible to go solar. Those who sign up first will receive the greatest community incentives. There are three incentive phases and a bonus:

 The first 50,000 Watts (~10 Homes) = 7% Cash-Back Incentive
 The next 50,000 Watts (~10 homes) = 5% Cash-Back Incentive
 The next 100,000 Watts (~20 homes) = 3% Cash-Back Incentive

If residents commit to install 200,000 Watts or more, all participants will receive an additional 3% cash-back incentive bonus.

A series of educational solar community presentations are taking place to inform residents in Irvine about solar technology, rebates and incentives, and the Irvine Solar Program. Solar luncheons will be taking place on Saturday, August 27th and October 15th at 11am in the Irvine City Hall.

Additional information on the program can be found by calling 1-800-SULLIVAN or by visiting www.IrvineSolarProgram.org.

About Sullivan Solar Power
Sullivan Solar Power is a turnkey solar design-build firm. The company has installed over 6,000,000 watts of solar power ranging from small-scale residential to large-scale commercial and municipal systems. Sullivan Solar Power services all of Southern California and has been ranked as one of the fastest growing energy companies in the nation by Inc. Magazine. Regardless of project size and scope, Sullivan is committed to delivering the best products and the most qualified professionals to its customers. Please visit www.sullivansolarpower.com for more information.

LIGA, Flying Doctors of Mercy-Club Meeting notes Aug. 30, 2011

2011-09-04T17:41:00.001-07:00

LIGA, Flying Doctors of Mercy's mission, since its beginning in 1930, has been to provide free healthcare, including medical, dental, surgical and other specialties, and health education to medically underserved children and adults in rural areas of Mexico. Fifteen years ago kids had holes in their hearts, blue babies, valve problems, those illnesses are now treated by LIGA.

Dr. Wilner, a physician and medical teacher, who has been a member of LIGA for 20 years, and Jackie Hansen, talked about the program's three clinics in Northern Sinaloa where they've treated 686 (record) surgeries for kids. Before kids died of many treatable illnesses.

Physicians, dentists, pilots and other healthcare volunteers are needed to provide for the growing number of children and adults needing treatment. Medical personnel are usually flown by volunteer pilots in privately owned airplanes, carrying four to six passengers each. These dedicated men and women bring vital and urgent care to those most in need. For every $1,000 in donations, LIGA provides over $100,000 in medical services. Almost all surgeries are successful and kids now live a normal life. The average case costs $6,000, and they do 8-10 cases per year. Kids come from anywhere in Mexico for treatment. The medical clinic where the surgeries are provided in an outpatient clinics, is located in the City of Obregon. The kids stay a week after the surgery. On average kids will take 5-6 hours to get to their surgery. Where kids could hardly walk into the clinic, months after their surgery, they will be active and normal. Most kids that come to LIGA for treatment are triaged and treated. Their lives are saved, and says the doctors, "It's very satifying volunteer work."

A typical clinic trip will see 14 to 18 small planes departing from Southern California carrying 50 to 80 volunteers to three clinics where they will see 800 to 1,000 patients. Patients receive a wide range of free medical treatment. LIGA works closely with Mexican medical personnel and volunteers to assure cooperation, education and training.

Liga also provides an opportunity for American medical students, interns and residents to enhance their medical education by visiting the interior of Mexico and participating in clinics.

Liga clinics have been supported by Rotary donations!

The Irvine Animal Care Center Scoop at Irvine Rotary Club

2011-08-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

When you rescue a shelter pet they Know! If you have adopted a dog or cat or other animal from a shelter you understand the true meaning of this saying.

The Irvine Rotary Club proudly provides support to this award-winning program,we should all be proud of. Ron Edwards, Animal Care Administrator and Christine Franco, Program Coordinator of the Irvine Animal Care Center provided an overview of our most unique city run shelter which services the entire Irvine community, and beyond. Their low euthanasia rate, high level of donors,volunteers and supporters make this an animal shelter many other cities are envious of.

In this economy in other communities, many animals get overlooked, but not at this center. It costs $6.50 per day per animal to keep them in the shelter. Fundraising and donations is an important part of operating the shelter, but the city sure does contribute. Three outstanding programs include:
1- Extended Care-if an animal is not reclaimed within 30 days, the city pays for care of the animal for the first 45 days. And the goal is if the animal is adoptable, they will work to get it adopted.
2-Enhanced program-they fundraise for the medical funding needed to pay for injured animals including fractures, mange and more. Full time medical staff are employed to provide excellent care. Anyone wishing to adopt one of the 2,200 animals annually adopted from the center are screened first before allowed to adopt an animal.
3- Third Chance Program-This is a huge area of needed not just locally but across the country. Because the Irvine shelter is so blessed with resources, as space allows, they go to other shelters from as far away as Escondido, Inland Empire and Los Angeles to rescue animals that are adoptable and bring them locally. Irvine truly save lives from beyond our community. There is a big demand from other shelters for help and Irvine shelter heeds the call. And our Irvine community has a big demand to adopt shelter animals.
You can participate by becoming a volunteer (ages 17+)and walking a dog or petting a cat, attending the Super Pet Adoption Day where you can adopt a Certified Pet, and their annual fundraiser Casino Night! Specials include Senior Pets for Senior People, a special low fee.

Adopt a Pre-Loved Pet Today! Visit www.IrvineShelter.org.

August 16, 2011 Meeting Notes

2011-08-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

Sports is a part of our American way. Whether you are able or disabled, most of us have a desire to play with the team!

David Armendariz, Regional Director of the Special Olympics, Southern California, enlightened our rotary club about the breadth and depth of the organization. 3.1 million SA athletes compete in 195 countries around the globe. This effective organization provides kids and adults with disabilities with an opportunity everyday to maximize their potential in sports. Ethel Kennedy created the organization almost 50years ago. There are many volunteer opportunities to work with SA, meet and get to know the disabled and see them in action.

SA is a sports traiing and competition organization for the disabled athletes. They are able to develop their skills thru sports. At one time this group was forgotten, now they are center stage, around the world. Athletes learn to compete, be a good team mate, communicate, and build skills.

They want to win, like any athlete. SA compete in 12 sports. The minimum age is 8, and seniors age 70-87 participate. SA athletes are five times more likely to be employed, than their peers.

Ralphs Market grand reopening

2011-08-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the ribbon cutting ceremony of Ralphs at Walnut and Culver, Irvine Rotary coordinated with Irvine Eagles Special Olympics of Southern California, Orange County Region team, and Boy Scouts Troop 691, to attend the event. The collaborative participation, was to jointly promote self confidence and self esteem through participation in sports and scouting. And that, sporting and scouting are for all, regardless of any physical limitation.

Each non-profit entity, Special Olympics and Boy Scouts Trooop 691, will receive a monetary grant from Ralph's Foundation to recognize the work they do for youth in Irvine Community. The grant will be used to fund future sporting and scouting projects.

The Ralphs Foundation gave the Irvine Eagles a $2,500 grant to help to underwrite sports during the upcoming Fall season. The grant will also help double the number of athletes participating in the Irvine Eagles bowling program.

Special Olympics provides a year-round sports training and competition program for men, women and children with an intellectual disability. Through the power of sports, the athletes gain important life skills and experiences that enhance self-confidence and self-esteem.

Irvine Rotary Club supports the activities of Irvine Eagles through sports uniform donations, volunteering at Special Olympics games, and joined baseball game attendance over the years.

Irvine Boy Scout Troop 691, received a $500 grant to help fund the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Troop 691 and Eagles Reunion this December 19, 2011.

Established in 2006, Irvine Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of the Irvine Rotary Club. The Foundation has its own Board of Directors and Officers separate from the Rotary club, with the elected Officers and Directors drawn from the members of the Irvine Rotary Club. The Foundation has tax-exempt status under IRS code 501(c)(3), Charitable Corporation.

The Foundation raises money and makes charitable contributions in accordance with the following guidelines:

Contributions to schools for educational scholarships;

Charitable contributions for youth activities and to youth organizations within, or substantially benefiting, the Irvine area and/or California;

Other charitable organizations within, or substantially benefiting, the Irvine area and/or California;

Charitable organizations which help alleviate suffering in a time of crisis, wherever situated; and

Other charitable organizations approved by a majority of the Members of the Foundation.

Irvine Public Safety Partnership Awards

2011-08-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

Mody Gorsky of the Irvine Rotary Club presents the Irvine Public Safety Partnership award to Anthony Johnson of Universal Protection Service for his invaluable assistance to the
Irvine Police Department in solving a series of recent vehicle break-ins at The Market Place. Assisting in the presentation are Irvine Police Chief David Maggard and Detective John Condon.

Irvine Rotary supports Irvine Adult Day Health Care

2011-08-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Kris Khurana and Cisca Stellhorn present Kimberly Beesom (center) with a $1,000 check to support the Irvine Adult Day Health Center. The IADHC was one of the casualties of the Governor Jerry Brown's decision to take away funding for community programs in an attempt to balance the California budget.

Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes July 27, 2011

2011-07-31T21:02:00.000-07:00

Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes July 25, 2011

Visitors to Rotary Club Meeting:
We had a full house today with visitors and members:
-International guests Hunz from the Netherlands, a past district governor, was there. Hunz said the Netherlands has five rotary clubs, but the country is the size of Irvine to Los Angeles.
-Al Tello, Foundation Direcfotr of Irvine Valley College, was on hand to receive a check from the Irvine Rotary Foundation for their Scholarship program. Tony presentedthe check. According to Al they have raised $161,000 this year to fund scholarships for kids to attend college. Once they complete their AA, kids can transfer and get accepted to any college they want. Another great rotary project.

What do new Rotarians receive when they join the club: We throw almost everything but the kitchen sink at them: they will look fashionable in rotary logod tshirt, jacket, hats and more.

-Barry continues to do good: he visited two former rotarians who have not been well. David Dostel is feeling the effects of diabetes, but he's able to travel with his family and getting back to do the things he loves.
-Barry also visited Al Rosenstein at Heritage Point where he's now happy go lucky, dating his love Francis, and also president of the association.

Networking and building visibility for our rotary club: We'll have a table at the Irvine Chamber OC mixer where 400-500 people are expected to attend, on Thurs., Aug. 25 at Strawberry Farms. There's free parking and lots of people to network with. Consider attending, and working our booth if you are available.

Date with a Rotary Member: The dating continues: Richard and Marla had their date. Richard is so multi-talented, he's got a mechanical and engineering mind, and has been a hardware engineer and knows how to build things. He's also a watchmaker. Marla, who always looks fashionable, loves fashion. She's a CPA and great with numbers, and president of an amazing mortuary.

Rotary Member accomplishments:
-Birthdays in July: Cynthia Mendoza, Marla Noel and Mary Mar
-Wedding anniversaries: Wayne celebrates 44 years; Ann Collins on July 29, 45th anniversary

Craft Talk by Cisca Stellhorn:
She's almost a charter member of the club, she was the first new member of Irvine Rotary Club.
Cisca was born in Santa Cruz and the youngest of five kids. Her brother in Manteca, a rotarian, suggested she join the rotaryclub when Cisca said she wanted to see her donations working hard for charity. Although she graduated with a BS in Biology from UCI, she went into the family trade, as a lawyer. Her family were also judges. Cisca is busy and involved and a big part of our rotary club.
She's daring and a true outdoors woman with horses, dogs and the vim and vigor to bike, hike, horseback ride, and complete triathlons. She's jumped out of airplanes twice; rode a bike through the Rockies twice, 450 miles in six days! Last year she completed a 50 mile hike in the High Sierras. She likescountry music and going to concerts. A claim to fame, Cisca was responsible for the Dressage in the 1984 Olympics and in charge of 380 volunteers.

She loves to travel--trips to China, and other places around the world
She had a great show and tell: Cisca likes to knit and weave, she's got a Knitters Loom. And she's a bow hunter-harvested an elk.And her 357 Magnum! She got that from her grandfather who lived on 250 acres and had a gun and a holster he wore every day.
Attorney Cisca handles Family Law today, after doing many other areas of law. What she likes most about her job, being part of a person's growth in their transitional life, she gets to see her clients come out on the other side. " The warrior in me gets to come forward and hold power for others," says Cisca.

On her bucket list: Hike to Base Camp of Mt. Everest and Kilamanjaro, and to everyday touch someone's heart.

She loves being part of a village.

Bhutan is a favorite travel place, the people are sweet, happy, generous, friendly, engaging and you feel safe anywhere in this Bhutist country. Cisca has seen the evolution of Bhutan from a Monarch run country to today's democracy.

Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes, July 20, 2011

2011-07-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Our Irvine Rotary Club welcomes visitors. If you are thinking of joining a Rotary club, please check us out. We have been told our club is one of the most welcoming.

Visitors this week included: Visiting Rotarians, former Irvine Club members Becky and Bob Larson, now living in Des Moines, WA.; Newport Balboa Club President Bill Hospil, and Club member Ray Benedictus' son Ian.

News from our President Mark Brubaker: "Club members, make your rotary experience more interesting by joining a committee. "Many Hands make life work".

Committees include Public Relations, Website, Programming, Community Service, Club Foundation, International Service. There's something for everyone's interest. To find out more, please attend a board meeting and see our board and committee chairs in action. Board meetings are once a month on Tuesday at 5:30 pm.

Paul Harris: Way to go Dale Ford, he received his Paul Harris Plus 8 Pin. Rotarians receive a Paul Harris Pin for each $1,000 donation to The Rotary International Foundation. As Dale says, "Just $83.23 per month per year, and you've got a $1,000 donation completed."

The District 5320 Rotary Foundation contributions from our club hit our target. We received third place over all of the other clubs (total of 41) in our district. We contributed an average of $482 per capital in giving. Way to go club, next year our goal is #1!

How we support the community:

Cisca is organizing a Chili Cook Off team before the Angels Game on August 20. All club members and spouses and significant others are welcome to come for the fellowship before the game, even if you will not be staying to see the Angels win! Have a family Chili recipe you want to share?

Jewelry Trunk Show is this Thursday, 3-8 pm. If you need more info, contact Cisca for a flyer. A portion of every sale is contributed to another worthy cause our club supports.

Rotary Book Drive – Bring a new or gently used book to donate. Cynthia will be bringing all our book donations to the OC Fair grounds on Fri. July 29. Time to clean out your bookcase, or donate those boxes of books you have in your garage. Book drive volunteers are also needed to work the booth at the OC County Fair. Volunteers get free admission to the fair too. Ask Cynthia how you can help!

Craft Talks: Several times a month, a rotary club member has the opportunity to conduct a Kraft Talk, it's all about sharing who you are, what you do, and what's your passion with club members. And yes, you have the opportunity to plug your business or work,
without a fine.

Today's Speaker: Visit our Rotary Club and one of the first people you will meet is Barry Brown. He's always there to offer a smile and a warm welcome to members and guests. He wants all our club members to get to meetings early so you can shake his hand.

He's busy and out an about during the rest of the week, as he tells us. Some of the club projects and community support Barry does includes working at the Irvine Senior Center talking to seniors, shopping for those that cannot do for themselves, and other projects like building a ramp for a disabled gentleman's home. Barry has been a long time Rotarian; he first joined the Placentia Club and when he moved to Irvine joined IRC. This was the first time in five years he's done a craft talk, lots to tell. In five months he'll turn 76, he was born in 1935.

He's so fit and active. Priscilla, his love of the last 12 years, is a bit younger and helps keep him moving! But Barry is self-motivated. His joy is in "Building and doing in the community." His job for the last four years, working part time from 9am-1pm every weekday. Barry gets to walk up to four miles a day in his job working for a commercial door company placing stickers on the backs of business doors. Who knew how those signs and stickers got there! Before that for most of his adult life he worked in the perishable food business. His son is a Global VP of Bank of America.

"The greatest joys in life are my memories," says Barry. He reminisces of his younger married life (before Priscilla he was a widower), finding butterflies in camp when he was a youngster; meeting interesting people. His joys too are six grandkids; all are well and growing. Barry's Bugaboo: Rotary members, please be attentive when others speak. Turn those cell phones off!

Jay Johnstone - Pro baseball player and trickster

2011-07-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

Jay Johnstone - the colorful former Angels baseball player who earned 4 World Series rings, is the Celebrity Chairman for our Angels Rotary Night event to End Polio Now on August 20th. He will share some fascinating stories about his career in Major League Baseball.

JJ Triva: John William Johnstone Jr. (born November 20, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs. Johnstone was known as a versatile outfielder with a good sense of humor, known for keeping clubhouses loose with occasional pranks and gimmicks. He later served as a radio color commentator for the Yankees (1989–1990) and Phillies (1992–1993).

Career highlights include:

As an Angel, he preserved Clyde Wright's no-hitter against the Athletics in the seventh inning by catching a Reggie Jackson fly ball 400 feet straightaway in center field, just in front of the wall (July 3, 1970).
As a Phillie, he went 7-for-9 in the 1976 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds. However, the Reds swept the Series.
As a Dodger, he hit a pinch-two run home run in Game Four of the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, the home run rallying the Dodgers from a 6-3 deficit to win 8-7. The victory also enabled the Dodgers to tie the Series at two games each; they won the next two games to win it all.

Clubhouse prankster

He pulled off a number of infamous pranks during his playing days, including placing a soggy brownie inside Steve Garvey's first base mitt, setting teammate's cleats on fire (known as "hot-footing"), cutting out the crotch area of Rick Sutcliffe's underwear, locking Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda in his office during spring training, dressing up as a groundskeeper and sweeping the Dodger Stadium infield in between innings, nailing teammate's cleats to the floor, and replacing the celebrity photos in manager Lasorda's office with pictures of himself, Jerry Reuss and Don Stanhouse. One time, during pre-game warm ups, he climbed atop the Dodger dugout and, in full game uniform, walked through the field boxes at Dodger Stadium to the concession stand and got a hot dog. He also once dressed up in Lasorda's uniform (with padding underneath) and ran out to the mound to talk to the pitcher while carrying Lasorda's book and a can of Slim Fast.

As a baseball announcer, he once covered a microphone with a scent of stale eggs then proceeded to interview Dave Stewart, Mickey Hatcher and other players.

Many of the pranks, along with other aspects of his career, are described in the books he co-authored with sports columnist Rick Talley - Temporary Insanity and Some of My Best Friends Are Crazy.

While fictionally playing for the Seattle Mariners (a team he never played for in his real baseball career), Johnstone struck out looking against fictional California Angel pitcher Dave Spiwack in the top of the first inning in the movie Naked Gun. Johnstone, who was a left-handed hitter throughout his career, bats right-handed in the movie.

After the Dodgers' 1981 World Series victory, Johnstone and Dodger teammates Monday, Jerry Reuss, and Steve Yeager appeared on Solid Gold and sang their own rendition of Queen's hit, We Are the Champions.

The Angeles want people to come out to the ball park. Cheaper parking and lower ticket prices than the Dodgers. Frank McCourt has led an extravagant lifestyle, and many of his family members are in top positions with the team. The Dodgers have been stripped of their money.

He said the Angels have outsold the Dodgers ticket sales for the last three years. They draw a good attendance and give a good play. Jay was a high school quarterback and was lucky enough to get many offers for football scholarships, he even signed seven letters of intent to play football. About that time, the Angels came along and asked him to play. He said “sure.” He said “It was the best thing I ever did… pro-football players can barely walk after they retire.”

Meeting Notes - July 13

2011-07-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

"I always look forward to Wednesdays, what a great way to start the day at our rotary meetings," says Rotary Club President Mark Brubaker.

Like a good breakfast, The Irvine Rotary Club was graded at the top in food for rotary meetings, visitors are welcome to come taste why! Our club member Diane, a caterer, is an awesome cook. Yum!

Visitors: They can't stay away, former rotary club member Lutz visited our club from his home now in Germany, he brought his teenage daughter too!

Rotary club members are welcome to attend our board meetings. Mark's goal is for every club member to serve on a committee, it builds camaraderie and helps us get our work accomplished easier.

Member Austin Wall was recognized for his service to kids in Haiti when the club awarded him another Paul Harris level.

New Member Robyn Nelson, has a lot of Rotary experience. She's currently Dean of Nursing at Orange Coast College. Welcome Robyn!

Cynthia Mendoza says if you plan to attend the OC Fair, bring three gently used kid’s books or one new book to get in for free. Volunteers are needed to work the book drive booth.

Service for Marines: Visitor Cynthia, President of the Newport Sunrise Club, talked about her club's involvement in the active lives of Marines at Camp Pendleton. She collected dollars from our members to buy cookies for the kids of Marine Families.

Meeting Notes - July 6

2011-07-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

How do we grow our Rotary club? Word of mouth and guests, who are always welcome to attend one of our meetings and see us in action. Our meetings are multi-faceted. Rotarians from other clubs are always welcome to do a make-up. This week Janet's son Calvin and Robyn Nelson, soon to be inducted into our club from Green Valley Rotary Club in Nevada were introduced.

Sergeant at Arms Dale Ford is the orchestrator of fining our members, in a light-hearted way, which helps us grow our funds so we can generously support non-profit organizations. Fines and happy bucks, donations from our members and guests for things they are thankful for add to our growing kiddy. Another way is through holding fun outings and events, August 20 is our Angels Game & Chili Cookoff event. During the year we celebrate our anniversary, a Bowl-a-thon, and more. Tom Mahoney got the Fine Free Badge for the next month, he paid for the opportunity to be safe from fining.

Girls, love to shop, Women of Rotary have the opportunity to purchase beautiful jewelry, with a percentage of each purchase being donated to Human Options. It's Campagne, chocolates, an open h ouse, a fun rotary party, and a great way to do a make up meeting. Cisca is our organizer on this event.

RYLA-Rotary Youth Leadership Award — Becoming a Better Person — was today's topic, presented by three deserving young girls.

The Irvine Rotary Club raises money to support a variety of local and international projects. Our support for youth includes helping them break out of their mold and experience a new world.

Tania, Myra, and Bernice are Santa Ana Boys and Girls Club members who got to share in the experience of a lifetime, attending RYLA camp for a long weekend recently in Idyllwild, CA. They met other rotary sponsored youth from around the world and forged friendships for life, shared and learned, with no parents around. This brief experience opened their eyes to new adventures, helped overcome fears and helped to transorm them. They learned communication skills, leadership skills and how to form a tight-knit "family" with other youth. "It gives me the guts to talk to anyone now," said one girl. They are the future of rotary, kids who learned new perspectives.

How they got involved in RYLA and Boys & Girls Club-each girl lives in a tight-knit Hispanic community, and what they know is they want to go to college after they graduate high school, which is only a few years away. According to Bernice, she needed more than 100 community service hours in three months, and she turned to the B&G Club to connect her to the community service avenues. She and her friends started going at a young age, love volunteering, and long after they've completed their hours, they are still hanging out at the club. They use the gym for all kinds of sports, and love to play with the little kids there, "It's like our second home", says Tania who plans to major in psychology when she goes to college. Mayra plans to attend an art institute.

RYLA camp Alumni run the camp programs and are the camp leaders the following year. The girls plan to work hard and attend RYLA meetings so they can provide service next year as camp counselors and leaders. It makes our rotarians feel terrific when we can hear first hand how our monetary contributions, and personal support pay it forward. One of our rotary members is the link between the B&G Club, RYLA and the support they receive.

Interested in learning more about how you can pay it forward, please attend one of the Irvine Rotary Club's weekly meetings, every Wednesday morning for breakfast at the Irvine Community Center, 3 Ethel Copley Way, Irvine, CA. You are always welcome!

Semper Fi Fund

2011-06-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Irvine Rotary Club has supported the Semper Fi Fund since its beginning. We were one of the first service clubs to help. It’s now their 7th Anniversary, and as the need is still there, our club continues to provide support and grants for our injured soldiers. The stories can be hard reading and the pictures tough to view, but they illustrate the unbroken spirit of these young people, the commitment of their families and the good work that is being done for them. Read about their bravery in the Semper Fi Fund’s latest newsletter.

President Mody's Demotion Party

2011-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a teaser. The rest are here.

Mody's Message

2011-06-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Dear club members, spouses and friends,

I would like to thank you all for a very memorable demotion day. Some personal thanks are in order and apologies in advance if I forget anyone:

Tom Mahony and Sonia - Thank you for allowing the party to take place in their new "castle". Thanks for being the perfect hosts.

I would like to thank Diane for catering the event. Thanks to Ray Sanford for cementing all the memories. Thanks to Luana for making the center pieces. Thanks Wayne for putting together the sound system. Richard for making the attractive background (and in Hebrew no less) and of course, thank you Randy for arranging the slides.

Thank you Governor Johrita, incoming Governor Greg Owen and their spouses for attending. Price and Debbie attended too but they are club members as far as I am concerned.

Thanks to my three wonderful bachelorettes - Ray B, Bret and Rick. I know it took an effort to put on the make up, the nails etc. Thanks to Bret's daughter too, for all the help in that department.

Mark Brubaker - thank you for putting all of the pieces together.

And of course the club - thank you for making this past year so memorable. I am a very lucky man.

And now, as this party is about to be over - we have a new one to attend - so let's all reach within and touch humanity.

--
Mody Gorsky

Sam Allevato - OC Great Park

2011-06-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

Members In the News:

• Marla Noel, CEO of Fairhaven Memorial Park announced they are celebrating their 100 year anniversary with movie in the cemetery. You are welcome to join.
• Jay, Kummar, Mary and Cisca graduated the free disaster preparedness training recently. In light of the worldwide disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, don’t you too want to be prepared!

Date with a Rotarian:

Rotarians become lifelong friends. What a fun way to get to know your fellow Rotarians.
• Luana and Toni talked what they learned about each other’s life and loves during the recent "date."

Featured Speaker:

San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato, discussed The Orange County Great Park, Creating a National Treasure. Sam’s become an inspiration to his community through his leadership and impressive credentials, he’s also a member of the San Juan Capistrano City Council.

The OC Great Park $70 million construction continues and the park is evolving. The overall design and selection of how the park would develop was a true community endeavor, a lot of public input was garnered to create the park. The former agricultural land and El Toro Air Base, located in the heart of Irvine, is now a park for the 21st Century, it is twice the size of New York’s Central Park, seven square miles and 1400 acres.

There was an initial design competition, study groups and stakeholders helped create the public’s vision and shape the community asset. A OC Park Design Studio has brought an oasis of activity and reflection to this former military air base. The grand vision is realized and the comprehensive park design is available for viewing at www.ocgp.org. The designers tried to accommodate everything on the community’s wish list.

The original land was purchased for $100,000 in 1942, and has had many lives which is celebrated in a timeline on the park walkway, formerly one of the air strips.

Different areas of the park provide something for everyone including:
• Balloon Park-which is celebrating it’s 6th anniversary July 9th with 6,000 kids in the park that weekend
• Festival Site-home of Cirque du Soleil, also the site for events, it’s available for renting by organizations.
• Over 400,000 people visit the park each year
• Education Garden-the former Officer’s Club
• South Lawn-to be transformed into four soccer fields when complete
• North Lawn-a multi purpose area
• Sports Park-eventually will accommodate all major sports
• Picnic Meadow
• Palm Court-a gathering spot, the building have been retained and repurposed into an art and cultural center
• Agriculture area-200 acres are active growing fields that provide produce for the Farmer’s Market.
• The land is being conditioned for future planting and more gardens
• Future Development-to be determined by community needs.

Come to the park for a free balloon ride and you will be able to view the vast park in all its glory. On Sunday’s there is a Farmer’s Market, too.

Presidential Citation Award with Distinction

2011-06-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

By Mody Gorsky

In recognition of our club's achievements this year, the Irvine Rotary Club was awarded the prestigious Rotary International Presidential Citation.

In order to qualify for the Presidential Citation award, clubs must meet certain requirements in the categories of club service, vocational service, community service, and international service.

Our club exceeded the requirements in these categories and was therefore awarded the Presidential Citation with Distinction – one of only 6 clubs awarded within District 5320.

I would like to congratulate our Board, club officers and of course, the membership. This award means we represented the core values of integrity, fellowship and service of Rotary. We once again proved that we are leaders in our community and our District.

The Renaissance of Chinese Culture

2011-06-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

Our speaker this week was Dr. Shizhong Chen, who spoke about the new Renaissance of Chinese Culture.

Dr, Chen has been active in projects concerning China for many years. He founded, co-founded, or had been spokesperson for a number of organizations concerning China.

Dr. Chen was born in China in 1962. At the age of 15, he entered the gifted program of China University of Science and Technology. He came to the US to study and received his PhD degree from the University of California, San Diego. He currently lives in San Diego, where he runs a biotech company.

Irvine Police Chief David Maggard is Honorary Member

2011-06-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

Irvine P.D. Chief David Maggard became an Honorary Member of Irvine Rotary today. He spoke of the vision that the City of Irvine had from the beginning and said he was proud to be a part of what makes Irvine great. He cited that the difference between Irvine and a lot of cities is the Police/Community partnership.

Chief Maggard with Harish Murthy's son, Akshay, a member of the Irvine Police DARE program.

Former Mayor Mike Ward

Chief David Maggard, Honorary member of the Irvine Rotary Club.

Rick Topping presents the membership certificate to Chief Maggard.

Lucy Walther, Mody Gorsky, Chief Maggard, Rick Topping

Rick Topping presents checks to Vanessa Donaldson for the Injured Marines Semper Fi fund and the Wounded Warriors Center at Camp Pendleton. Irvine Rotary has a long tradition of assisting the military.

Irvine Rotary Club Sponsors Free Dental Screening Exam

2011-06-04T18:47:00.000-07:00

Over 120 children entering elementary school in Irvine participated in the 5th annual Dental Screening clinic sponsored by the Irvine Rotary club. Once again, the help from Irvine Assisteens, the high school students in the Assistance League, was much appreciated. Food was provided for the staff and club members by Corner Bakery. In addition to the screenings, the IUSD Health Services staff provided height/weight screenings and information about vaccinations. The children were kept entertained with coloring books and puzzles.

As part of their commitment to providing support within the community, the Irvine Rotary club works with the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) and local dentists to conduct the dental screenings that are required for incoming IUSD Kindergarten and 1st Grade students new to IUSD.

The screenings were provided by Dr. Charles Tozzer, DDS and Dr. Austin Wall, DDS, who have partnered on numerous occasions to provide free dental services to needy children throughout the world. Dr. Tozzer is the founder of Dental Care for Children (DCFC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation dedicated to providing free dental care for children. He donates his time, money and dental services to children who would never in receive proper and basic dental care. His foundation has participated in over 100 clinics in the United States, Mexico, and Haiti. Most recently, DCFC has helped start clinics in El Salvador and Morocco. To learn more about DCFC and how you can help, please visit www.dentalcareforchildren.org.

In addition to sponsoring the Irvine dental screening clinic, the Irvine Rotary club also sponsors two clinics a year in Mexico, where more than a thousand children have received free dental care.

The Irvine Rotary club provides support for several local organizations, including South County Outreach, Irvine Adult Day Health Center, Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, and Working Wardrobes, in addition to partnering with the Irvine Police Department and Chamber of Commerce.

The Assistance League of Irvine is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to providing programs and services that will enrich and improve the quality of life in our community. Learn more at www.alirvine.org.

RI Convention in New Orleans

2011-06-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

Luana and Mary showing off the masks they bought in New Orleans.

The club's attendees at the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans spoke of their experiences. From travel nightmares to the great parties and the Host Hospitality event with the Slidell, LA Rotary clubs, they each spoke about how much they enjoyed the trip.

Water for Sudan

2011-05-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Orin Abrams from the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club joined us today, along with Ole Prahm from the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, and three "Lost Boys" from Sudan.

Orin presented the "Water for Sudan" project that he has been spearheading in our Rotary District. Water for Sudan is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides clean, sustainable water to over a quarter of a million people in Southern Sudan.

He showed a video on this impoverished region, where 3 million people live on less than $1 a day, 2 million have been killed at war, and 15% of children die by the age of 6 - primarily from water-borne diseases. He introduced us to Daniel, Simon, and John who, along with 18,000 other young boys, have fled this war-torn area. While many died, these three "boys" (now men) were expatriated to the US, and now live in San Diego, have received a college education, and are providing support for the villages they left behind.

The "boys" recounted their experiences living in Sudan, including how they had lost family members and become sick themselves from the water, not realizing it was contaminated. When visiting his village in 2006, John stated that he had to drink the water as there was no alternative; in 2009 he returned to enjoy fresh water from their new well.

Thanks partly to drilling equipment provided by Ole and the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, 100 wells have been installed, with 900 more needed. Donations are are very much appreciated, and more information can be obtained at www.waterforsudan.org.

Rotary club of Irvine brings the Laguna Playhouse live theatre performances to four Irvine schools

2011-05-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

Irvine, CA, May 17, 2011… The Rotary Club of Irvine’s partnership with The Laguna Playhouse provided TheatreReach: Bringing Books to Life! performances in four Irvine elementary schools during the spring May 2011 tour of By The Great Horn Spoon!, a story about the California Gold Rush, according to Mody Gorsky, club president.

“We are delighted to provide funding for an Arts Access for Youth community grant in support of these performances. Community service and improving the quality of life within our community is “the heartbeat of Rotary.” Approximately 500 fourth grade students from Vista Verde, Stone Gate, Oak Creek and Canyon View Elementary Schools, many who would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience live theatre, attended these performances,” added Gorsky.

According to Donna Inglima, Director of Youth Education Programs at The Laguna Playhouse, the goals of TheatreReach include inspiring students in low-income schools to read their curriculum books and better understand what they have read, and to provide early exposure to live theatre for children who might not otherwise have access to this enriching experience.

Cash Bash Smash Success!

2011-05-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

Dr. Austin Wall and Rick Topping announced the winners. Richard Milo projected the spreadsheet of winners and losers on the big screen so everyone could keep track.

The Irvine Rotary Club's annual Cash Bash was a smash success. Lots of winners and lots of fun.

The Grand Prize was won by Tim Wolin who donated his winnings back to the club's foundation to be used for projects.

Members and guests kept track of the proceedings on the big screen.

Rotarians at Work Day - St. Andrew's Children's Center, Irvine

2011-05-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Our annual Rotarians at Work Day project this year was at the St. Andrew's Children's Center in Irvine where club members painted, cleaned and helped create a new planter box. Photos are in the Photo Gallery.

“The Heart of Rotary” Hospitality Night at the District Conference

2011-04-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cisca Stellhorn for leading the charge once again for our booth at the District Conference’s Hospitality Night! With the help of Luana, Stella, Cynthia, Toni T, Tony M, Barry, Ed, and Dale, our booth (serving wings and beer) was a great success! "King Mody" definitely added to the spirit of the evening!

The event was well attended, with many clubs having a booth – serving everything from British “Bangers and Mash” to chocolate dipped strawberries and margaritas! Music and dancing added to the jollity – and I am told a lot more partying went on well into the night for those that stayed over.

The breakfast on Saturday morning was well attended, and awards were given to the “unsung heroes” from 3 Rotary clubs (these were awarded at every meal throughout the Conference). Winners of the District Singing and Speech contest (from local high schools) performed excellently, and a great presentation was given on the plight and needs of the “motel children” in Orange County. Thanks to District Governor Johrita Solari for highlighting this needy group, for whom many of us brought toiletries and other necessities.

Emergency Medical Care for Libya

2011-04-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dr. Tarek Tumiya, a trauma surgeon from Libya, gave us a deeper insight into the situation in Libya, and events leading up to their current turmoil.

He recounted his personal experiences growing up there, including being imprisoned for three years for trying to save the life of a fellow student being hanged during his university’s annual “cleansing” to encourage students not to combat the Ghaddafi regime.

After his release, he was able to leave Libya and move to the US where he happily practices trauma surgery and lives with his (Libyan physician) wife and two children. He recently returned to Libya as a volunteer to help treat the devastating injuries inflicted by the extreme “shoot to kill” weaponry being used. As a humanitarian, he was dedicated to providing the best medical care for all of the wounded, regardless of their tribal affiliation – the spirit of Rotary indeed!

Ensenada Dental Clinic

2011-04-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Members of Irvine Spectrum Rotary, along with Rotarians from Club Rotario Ensenada Calafia and a dental team from Dental Care for Children and USC Dental School, visited a school in the hills behind Ensenada to provide free dental services for school children.

While the dental team was treating 52 children, the Rotarians assisted, planted a vegetable garden and helped paint the school.

Over $26,000 worth of services were given away in the one-day event. After a quick-clean up the team we hosted to a fantastic carne asada dinner at the home of the Ensenada club's President-Elect.

BGSA Spring Carnival

2011-04-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana partnered with the Irvine Rotary Club to host the Spring Spectacular Carnival on April 8, 2011 from 2-5 PM. The carnival was open to all BGCSA members in the community and featured carnival games, activities, a bounce house, prizes, food and more for children under the age of 18.

The Irvine Rotary Club members provided 15 volunteers for the carnival. The volunteers assisted with the set-up of the event and ran activities and games throughout the day. With the Irvine Rotary Club's support, the carnival was able to raise $250 for the Club's Keystone Teen program.

The Spring Spectacular Carnival was hosted during the Santa Ana Unified School District Spring Break in an effort to promote positive activities during after-school hours and school holidays.

The Voyage of the Traveler

2011-04-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

Our guest speaker this week was Captain Michael Lawler. Born in Newport Beach, he started racing sabots when he was 8 years old. He was a member of the USC Sailing Team and raced in over a dozen Newport To Ensenada Races and sailed in the ’03, ’05 and ’07 Transpacs (Los Angeles Harbor to Hawaii). He also holds a United States Coast Guard 100-ton Captain’s License.

When he is not cruising around the world, he makes his living as an estate planning attorney in Newport Beach, and is the past president of the Orange County Bar Association’s Trust and Estates Section. He also served as President Reagan’s Finance Director for the Inaugural Ball Committee.

Off the water, he also has a Private Pilot’s License, ran the New York City Marathon, has climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He is also a three-time past president of the South Coast Metro Rotary Club.

This past summer he completed a three-year circumnavigation of the world, departing from Newport Harbor on his own sailboat, “Traveler.” The Voyage of Traveler took him and his crew to 61 countries on six continents, cruising 31,145 nautical miles.

Michael showed a video of the trip which recounted rescuing the crew of a fishing boat, a brush with pirates and even becoming the King of an island in the South Pacific. As king, he knighted Rick Topping as his nation's Chief Inspector.

He also presented Mody with a whale tooth (for virility and to aid in attracting women).

Did somebody yell “100% testosterone”?

Orangutan Preservation in Indonesia

2011-03-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

by Gillian Bradshaw

Betsy Yaap, Bob Yaap's daughter, visited us from Indonesia today, along with her family, including her sons James and Robert. She took us on an amazing journey of her life in Thailand, Australia, Borneo, and Indonesia where she has been working to preserve the habitat of orangutans and other wildlife, as land is developed for agriculture.

She explained that they survey the animals' home range and identify areas where plantations can be developed, leaving corridors for the wildlife. She consults with businesses on sustainable development and teaches children about the abundant life in their "backyard" forests.

While visiting the remote villages, where the natives live entirely off the land, she helps to educate them in protecting the environment and how harmful poaching and trading can be. She said that we can help by using products with an FSC logo showing they have been harvested responsibly; also that we can avoid products containing palm oil as these plants are of no value to the native animals of these countries.

Betsy is working on her PhD which will help answer many questions relating to conservation in this part of the world. When asked where she will go next, she expressed an interest in Egypt or Chad so we will look forward to her "Chapter 2" presentation in a few years!

Irvine Rotary welcomes three new members

2011-03-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

PDG Bret Gerdes and Membership Chair Rick Topping welcome Ed Linck, Dan Kempff and Jay Spencer to the Irvine Rotary Club.

Irvine City Councilmember Jeff Lalloway

2011-03-13T19:52:00.001-07:00

Our speaker last meeting was Jeff Lalloway, the newly elected Irvine City Councilmember. He spoke about why he decided to run for office and the current challenges facing Irvine. From the state trying to take redevelopment funds allocated for the Great Park, to public employee unions, to what the future planning issues are, Councilmember Lalloway gave his candid insight.

He handled all of the questions brought forth by members and stayed after the meeting to answer more.

Irvine PD Emergency Response Team

2011-03-13T19:45:00.001-07:00

Our guest speaker this week is Frank Southern from the Irvine PD Emergency Response Team.

Frank is a 34-year resident of Irvine and last July retired from the Tustin Unified School District after 39 years of service. He began as a math teacher at Foothill High School. His last position was working at the District office where he was the Director of Student Services. He was also the Director of Curriculum and Director of Secondary Education for Tustin Unified.

He has been the State Administrator of the Year, OC Administrator of the Year (Pupil Services) and most recently, was presented the outstanding contribution to education award by the Orange County Department of Education.

Last August Frank was hired by the Irvine Police Department to facilitate the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Program.

As can be seen, Frank failed retirement…

Please join us on Wednesday to welcome Frank.

Great Art Matters - Laguna College of Art & Design

2011-02-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

by Gillian Bradshaw

We were delighted to have three guests from the Laguna College of Art & Design (LCAD) to tell us about the programs they offer and how students benefit from the scholarships they receive, including the one from the Irvine Rotary club.

Tracy Hartman (Associate Director of Development) and James Miller (LCAD alumni, professional artist, and Admissions Counselor) gave us an overview of the college, courses offered, the student population, and the type of career these artists pursue.

The college, which is located in Laguna Canyon, was founded in 1961, and has a total of 420 students from many countries. A fully accredited, private, non-profit college, LCAD grants Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Drawing & Painting, Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, and Game art, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting & Drawing.

Our scholarship recipient, Gemma Magdaluyo, a Senior majoring in Illustration and minoring in Drawing & Painting, shared some of her artwork, including an oil painting "La Boccaria" (butcher's shop), a pencil drawing "Monkey Man" (made up of jungle animals), and an wood panel painting illustration for a book she is writing "Girl with Antlers". Gemma plans to pursue a career in the publishing industry, focusing on book illustrations.

LCAD alumni have gone on to develop film featurettes, video games, cartoon animations for Disney, 3D computer modeling, comic books, websites and much more. The school participates in many exhibits and has a studio on site which can be visited any day except Sunday (in fact, tours are offered at 2 pm daily). In November every year Irvine Rotary club member Marla Noel hosts a candlelight exhibit at the Fairhaven Mausoleum where students' art is auctioned off partly as a fundraiser for LCAD (80% of students receive financial aid).

Learn more about LCAD at their website: www.lagunacollege.edu

Irvine Rotary Celebrates 20th Anniversary

2011-02-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

By Gillian Bradshaw

DG Johrita Solari presents President Mody Gorsky with a 20-year rosette.

On Saturday, February 19, the Irvine Rotary Club became 20 years old! We celebrated in grand style at the classy Bistango restaurant in Irvine.

The event was well attended, with many people bringing their spouses/significant others, and also some guests/prospective members, and visitors from other Rotary clubs.

Our newest member Ken Carrell (and his wife Christin Anzell) was there, and it was great to see former members Dan Eisenbeicz and Julie O'Brien (with her daughter Erin), as well as charter (now honorary) members Warren Willard and Cap Peaslee (and his wife Gina). It was also nice that Mark Roy, President of the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club, and his friend Rhonda were able to join us too.

We were honored to have our District Governor, Johrita Solari (and her husband Bruce) in attendance - and were proud to receive a 20 Years of Service Rotary emblem for our club banner. Several Past District Governors came, including our founding DG George Grossman (and his wife Carlene), Price Shapiro (and his wife Debbie), who attends our meetings so often we think of him as a member, and of course Immediate Past DG, our very own Bret Gerdes (and his wife Natalie). We were also delighted to have our District Governor Elect, Greg Owen (and his wife Val). Thanks to all of them for helping to make this such a special event!

We were entertained by Rick Topping - with hair (in case any of the former members didn't recognize him), Woody Jones in his Steelers jacket (apparently hoping they'll win the Superbowl next year?!), and Julie Obrien's 3-year old daughter who asked Mody for a play date!

Thanks to Cisca Stellhorn and Mary Mar for the wonderful job they did arranging this fantastic evening! Also to Ray Sanford who ran our video program including the great videos that Randy Woods made for Gillian Bradshaw's demotion party, and our new club video orchestrated by our President Mody Gorsky.

Here's to the next 20 years for the Irvine Rotary Club and the wonderful "Service Above Self" that we provide!

Irvine Rotary Club Charter Members with Founding District Governor George Grossman and his wife Carlene.

2012-2013 Club President Selected

2011-02-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

In true Rotary style, our club has selected Lucy Walther to be our President Elect Nominee, taking over the reins July 1st, 2012. We do this so that there is plenty of time to prepare and be able to hit the ground running!

Lucy is a Financial Advisor and partner in the firm Edward Jones Investments and has been a member of Rotary for a number of years.

She has enthusiastically encouraged us to give as much as we can in fundraisers (once raising $5,000 in 10 minutes for The Rotary Foundation), and always brings several guests to our events. She has also helped us renew our partnership with the City of Irvine and the Irvine Police Department — and we were delighted to host their first Public Safety Award at our February 2nd meeting.

Lucy is a member and past Chair of the City of Irvine’s Investments Advisory Committee, and has been the President of the Orange County Chapter of the National Association Investors Corporation, (NAIC). She has been a long-time member of the American Business Women’s Association, and served for six years on the boards of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the Irvine Senior Foundation. She has held several board positions with both her Rotary clubs, and is currently our Community Services director. As a member of Saddleback Church, Lucy has taught bible-based financial classes as part of Crown Ministry.

In July 2003, the City of Irvine and the Irvine Chamber of Commerce honored Lucy as the 2002 Irvine Citizen of the Year. This award served to highlight Lucy’s extensive volunteer efforts in support of her community.

Lucy has been a keynote and guest speaker on financial and motivational topics to numerous professional and business organizations, including American Business Women’s Association, the Orange County Administrators of Special Education, Rotary International and the Association of Convention Operations Management. She has appeared in many publications, including the Seniors Today News, Irvine World News, Orange County Register, Christian Science Monitor and American Careers Magazine.

Lucy was born in Evanston, Illinois, received her Bachelors in Business from Elmhurst College and her Masters in Management from Northwestern University. She obtained her CFP and AAMS from the College for Financial Planning in Denver. She considers herself blessed with a wonderful husband, Peter, and four children: Christopher, Philip, Katherine, and Natalie.

Lawrence White receives first Public Safety Award

2011-02-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

We were honored to have the Chief of the Irvine Police Department, David Maggard, and several of his staff attend our meeting this week as part of a new partnership with the Irvine Rotary Club.

Today's award was presented to Lawrence White, a security officer at the Irvine Spectrum who helped to solve a well-publicized crime. He noticed an individual who looked "out of place" one night as the stores were closing. Upon questioning him he found he was the Assistant Manager of a store that engraved IPhones and other Apple equipment. Just to be certain, he followed him into the store, where the man clearly knew his way around - it seemed he was telling the truth. However, when hundreds of these devices were stolen a few days later, Mr. White immediately suspected this individual and called the police - sure enough he was the thief and they caught him red-handed!

Congratulations to Mr White, and thanks to his wife, the Irvine Police Safety Director, and the other member of the Police Department for attending and making this award so special.

Thanks to Lucy Walther for initiating this partnership as part of our commitment to help keep Irvine safe. A quarterly award will be given to individuals within the community who have helped prevent or solve a crime.

Great Lives Start Here

2011-01-26T06:48:00.000-08:00

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana

Robert Santana, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, shared many of the wonderful services the Club provides for children from low income, high risk neighborhoods in Santa Ana.

A safe haven is provided for children to do homework, participate in sports, and learn positive life skills from the dedicated staff. There is also a wellness clinic, and help for parents with translation, tax preparation, etc.

Founded in 1954, the Club has given over 70,000 children a chance at a better life and many have gone on to professional careers. There are now 7 locations serving over 1,000 children a day.

Robert is a native of Santa Ana, and after serving our country in the US Air Force, he returned home to impact the lives of young people in his community. He became a law enforcement officer and worked as a crime investigator, DARE officer, and crisis negotiator. He became a volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club to help children avoid getting into these terrible situations.

The Boys & Girls club is a not-for-profit organization and welcomes volunteers, donations, and assistance with fundraising. Thanks to Marla Noel, who is on their Board of Directors, we are proud to provide support for this wonderful organization to continue to improve the lives of so many children.

Please visist www.boysandgirlsclub for more information.

Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton

2011-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Our speaker this week was Colonel George B. Brown III, USMC (Ret), the Executive Director for the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA.

The Armed Services YMCA was founded in 1861 to help soldiers wounded in the Civil War. Since then it has expanded to provide support for Marine personnel on active duty around the world. At Camp Pendleton over 5,000 individuals (primarily enlistees) were supported during 2010. Their many programs include a preschool, after school programs, tutoring, help for new mothers, bikes and comfort quilts for children, transportation, help for the disabled, and various forms of financial support.

He thanked Irvine Rotary club for our support of their Secret Santa program which this year helped 955 families (and thanks to Rick Topping and Janet Wang and her son's Boy Scouts troop, we provided support for four of those families). Through Working Wardrobes (which we also support thanks to Al Rosenstein), they are able to provide gowns for the wives to attend military balls. They also appreciated Tim Wolin and others in our club who have provided home hospitality for those unable to be with their families at Thanksgiving. Our long-term support of their Wounded Warriors program was also recognized and appreciated (thanks Rick Topping!).

Colonel Brown graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1969, and entered active duty attending The Basic School at Quantico, VA followed by artillery training at Ft Sill, Oklahoma. Throughout his career as an artillery officer, Col Brown served in a variety of command and staff positions at the artillery firing battery, battalion, and regimental levels. He commanded two firing batteries and First Battalion, 11th Marines. His staff assignments include tours with Amphibious Group Two, Headquarters Marine Corps, Joint Staff, and the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. After completing 30 years of service, he retired from active duty as the Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia on July 1, 1999. Upon his retirement, he served the Marine Corps in a different capacity as the Membership Director for the Marine Corps Association in Quantico, VA until July 2002. In December, 2003, he assumed his current duties as the Executive Director for the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA.

Being District Governor

2011-01-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

By Gillian Bradshaw

Our speaker today was our own Bret Gerdes - Immediate Past District Governor and esteemed Irvine Rotary Club member!

Since this is the time of year that the "next round" of District staff (of 135 people) is being put together under our incoming District Governor, Greg Owens, Bret thought it would be interesting for us to learn about his experience of being "DG" last year (in case any of us were considering that as a potential goal one day?!).

The criteria for being DG isn't that stringent (at least seven years of being a Rotarian, and at least three years out from being Club President - with as many District positions as possible under your belt). However, it is a seven year commitment - including four years of training (as the selection takes place four years before the term begins). Once selected, you become the "District Governor Elect Nominee Designate".

After surviving the rigorous "panel" interviews, Bret said he will never forget the day that a group of District officials arrived on his doorstep with champagne to celebrate his new "job" (and his wife Natalie's new job too!).

From that moment - until he passed the gavel over to Johrita Solari at midnight on June 30th, his life was a whirlwind of District meetings, club visits, events, fundraisers, training seminars, and much more - to say nothing of the huge volume of emails to handle at the end of a long day (I think he once said he went to 7 Rotary meetings in one day!). He had to squeeze his property management job into his "spare" time!

Needless to say, Bret did a wonderful job of being DG - and anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps is encouraged to put their name forward for Club President, and sign up for District Committees - as Mary Mar and Ed Hardenburgh noted, it is fun and provides a great insight into the larger family of Rotary.

Thanks Bret!

Holiday Brunch with Santa - and Motivational Speaker

2010-12-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

Ho Ho Ho - our dedicated member and excellent caterer, Diane Braasch, provided a wonderful brunch, with all kinds of tasty delights (and we already have the best breakfast in town!). We were encouraged to bring guests and were delighted that so many people could join us. Then Santa (or was that Mrs. Claus?) arrived and handed out fun gifts, including a "tea with the Queen" flowery hat for Gillian, and a book for Mody on how to attract a nice Jewish girl. Thanks Diane!

We also had a motivational speaker, David Trotter, who is passionate about helping people awaken to the rich, meaningful life that is available to everyone. A former pastor, David encouraged us to embrace change and to alter our mindset from "criticize, complain, contradict" to "model, share, embrace." In his ministry, just as we do in Rotary, he used this philosophy while traveling to several third-world countries to help others. He co-founded the Awaken children's home in India, providing a home, love, safe water, and education for impoverished orphans.

With over 10 years of non-profit leadership experience, David speaks and writes on the topics of motivation, spirituality, and marriage.

Reminder: Next week, December 29 will be "dark" - no meeting. Our next meeting will be January 5, 2011.

Therapy Dogs

2010-12-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

Since Dr. Jerry Von Talge retired from his multi-faceted profession as a trial consultant, expert witness, psychotherapist, minister, and writer, he has been very involved in volunteer work.

One of his passions is to work with animals and he volunteers with the Irvine Animal Shelter, including taking new dog photos weekly for their website. He also volunteers with the Orange County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OCSPCA), which includes PAWS therapy dog visitations to various facilities.

“PAWS” stands for “Pets Are Wonderful Support.” Jerry's wife Jean (a retired trial attorney) became a PAWS volunteer about a year ago. They have two therapy dogs: Tzu (“Sue”) Ling, a Shih Tzu, and Bella, a Shih poo. They brought Sue in to demonstrate her skills on stage!

The Director of PAWS gave an overview of their Program, which has 100 dog teams that work primarily with the elderly in nursing homes, and hospitalized children (25 facilities in all). They also participate in elementary school reading programs.

The President of the OCSPCA provided information on how dogs are selected for this program - several of them (like Sue) came from the Irvine Animal Shelter.

Jerry and Jean have been volunteers for the new UC Irvine Center for Diabetes Treatment & Research since 2004. Dogs have a unique ability to detect subtle changes in human behavior that can signal low blood sugar, heart attacks, seizures, etc. Jerry also does grant writing, promotional materials, photography and newsletter articles for the Center.

There is new and promising work being done in the areas of autism, so dogs truly are a man's best friend. Jerry left us with the thought "Change someone else's life and maybe you will change your own." Certainly that is what we aim to do in Rotary!

Helping to Keep the World Green

2010-12-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Our speaker this week was Michael Renzi, one of the cofounders of Zero Carbon Alliance, which was created to provide an opportunity for ordinary Americans to dramatically increase the use of renewable energy in our nation’s homes and businesses.

We were reminded that 70% of our oil is imported, and only 3% of the energy we consume is "green". However, we have many sources of sustainable green energy, including wind, solar, and water. Also, insulation and recycling play a key role in reducing energy consumption.

Renewable energy certificates can be purchased from wind or solar facilities in a government authorized program, enabling many businesses (including Starbucks, Hilton, and Lowes) to promote themselves as being "green". This can be done on an individual basis as well, which can be done directly with the energy companies or through a broker such as Zero Carbon Alliance.

If we are conscientious about using renewable energy, we should be able to be about 75% "green" in 20-25 years - a wonderful legacy for our children!

Prior to starting Zero Carbon Alliance, Michael held the position as Vice President of Sales with FiberTech Polymers from 2005-2010, manufacturing “eco-responsible” products derived from all recycled waste materials.

National Immunization Day - India

2010-12-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Rotary District 5240 invites interested Rotarians to join a National Immunization Day (NID) trip to India in February 2011. The trip will be approximately two weeks. The participating Rotarian and/or the Rotary club pays the traveling expenses, estimating at $3,000 per person.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to see and participate in the eradication program in a country where polio remains endemic.

For more information, click here.

This week's speaker

2010-12-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

Our guest this week is Michael Renzi. Michael is one of the founders of Zero Carbon Alliance. Zero Carbon Alliance was created to provide an opportunity for ordinary Americans to dramatically increase the use of renewable energy in our nation’s homes and businesses.

Prior to starting Zero Carbon Alliance, he held the position as Vice President of Sales with FiberTech Polymers from 2005-2010, manufacturing “eco-responsible” products derived from all recycled waste materials.

Holiday Party

2010-12-04T06:53:00.000-08:00

A very jolly time was spent at our annual Holiday party, brilliantly coordinated by Barry Brown and Kathy White, with Luana's superb Christmas House decorations, and with Phil as our bar tender!

The Groves community center was tastefully decorated, with a beautiful Christmas tree and many teddy bears that will later be donated to needy children.

The food was delicious - prime rib and all the trimmings, and a great variety of appetizers and deserts.

We had two skilled musicians playing the guitar and piano, with the highlight being the carol singing at the end, particularly "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - Woody did a fine rendition of the "Five Gold Rings" and most people came in on cue (with Peter and others juggling two "day" too!).

Definitely a great start to the season and we look forward to next year's celebration!

Ringing in the Holiday Season with Sound Therapy

2010-12-01T09:09:00.000-08:00

Our speaker this week was Mark Romero, who provided an interesting insight into (and demonstrated) the power of sound therapy.

Using his guitar as a metaphor for life, Mark talked about the need to keep our "strings" in tune, and how musical vibrations can promote health, wellness, and vitality and keep our thoughts, beliefs and perceptions on an even plane.

He demonstrated the effect of these sounds on physical strength by putting our strong, young, athletic Ray Benedicktus to "the test". The fact that he could easily move Ray's arms without the music and couldn't when it was playing, certainly looked convincing!

Formerly the CEO of a successful technology company, Mark has developed a unique process to help individuals attain a higher level of success, improve their health, and enhance their productivity. His scientific breakthrough is expressed by means of his unique musical notes and tones. This tool is a proprietary blend of specific sound frequencies to help reduce stress, "supercharge" performance, and heighten creativity.

Mark Romero Music Inc. offers a wide range of services that build on clients' existing efforts, including his sound therapy CDs, Musical Prescriptions CD series, teleconference series, keynote speaking engagements, private and group coaching sessions, and advisory services.

Leslie Mogul - Marketer, Philanthropist and Fundraiser

2010-11-24T07:32:00.000-08:00

It's always interesting to have one of our members be our speaker, giving their "craft talk".

Today we learned a lot about Leslie Mogul, who was raised in Baltimore, has spent several years in Miami, New York, Philadelphia (where she and her husband raised two sons), and San Diego, now happily settled in Laguna (and close to the Irvine Rotary Club!).
Growing up in a family of jewelers and having a mother as an accountant, Leslie learned her sales and marketing skills early. Earning a Marketing degree in Miami, she spent several years in Philadelphia, working for the Penn Central Railroad, creating fun promotions for trips between Washington DC and New York (including fashion shows and historic storytelling).

When the Pennsylvanian railroads merged, she had the fun task of gathering all the old signage and memorabilia and actioning it off - dining car silverware and all. Having to tell the residents of the small towns that their train service was being discontinued was not such fun, however, since most of the towns in the East were built along the railroad tracks.

Back to university for a degree in Communications and Journalism, Leslie became a reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and a writer for Ladies Home Journal, followed by several years working in advertising and PR for home furnishings, flooring, and Jeeps, traveling all over the country promoting the products. She then started her own PR agency during "the days of international and national clients and million dollar budgets" which, for Leslie, included Ed McMahon and Juliet Prowse.

After marrying Bill in Philadelphia, they owned a stained glass studio and production factory that provided glass to Atlantic City casinos and churches. They also renovated a 150 year old apartment building on Philly's famous South Street, and owned a historic home once famous for slave running.

Moving across country to San Diego, Leslie created a marketing and PR agency for Scripps Health, representing 15 hospitals and clinics and 2,600 doctors. She then created her own agency, doing PR, Marketing, and now Fundraising for other major healthcare organizations (and earned an MBA in Finance). Bill focused his artistic abilities on hot glass, owning a blown glass gallery and studio in Escondido.

In total, Leslie has helped to raise over $50 million for various non-profit organizations, with her proudest achievement being the $2 million she helped raise to rebuild the Escondido animal shelter after it burned down.

Always wanting to live by the beach, Leslie and Bill now live in Laguna Woods, where they enjoy golf, horseback riding, tennis and walking. Bill makes sculptural jewelry and Leslie is in charge of fundraising at the Laguna Playhouse (and several of us have enjoyed a number of plays there!).

Leslie and Bill also own a plot of land in Mexico so perhaps a new adventure awaits them there - and in the meantime her fundraising talent can help us raise funds for the dental clinics and school projects we participate in every year!

Life After Polio – JoAnne Brooks

2010-11-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

What is polio and why is Rotary so focused on eradicating it from the face of the earth? This is a question we "Baby Boomers" are often asked by younger people who have never been exposed to the devastating effects of this crippling disease.

JoAnne Brooks from Laredo, Texas, gave us a startling reminder of how being infected with the polio virus can change your life for ever. Contracting the virus at the age of four, JoAnne instantly became paralyzed in both arms and her right hand, and this has remained unchanged over the past 48 years.

However, those who know her well, have difficulty labeling JoAnne as disabled. There is little she cannot and does not do. "Can't" is not a word she uses very frequently. She has raised two children (her daughter Brittany is a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, and her son Austin is studying political science and Spanish at North Texas University). Her husband Greg has remained supportive and helped her and the children through many changes in their lives.

JoAnne hopes to serve as an inspiration for others facing challenges in their lives. She also hopes to teach by showing through her actions and life that “Disability” is just a word and a label. We each determine our own boundaries and choose what challenges we will overcome.

Having been a probation officer for many years, JoAnne now spends much of her time working with the Salk Institute to promote awareness about polio, the importance of being vaccinated against it, and the increasing incidence of "post-polio syndrome". Often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome is actually the "wearing out" of muscle and nerves that have compensated for those damaged by polio. This results in breathing, swallowing, and other problems - often in people who did not know they had been infected by the polio virus.

So, polio is very much both "past and present" in the US and as Rotarians, we should be very proud that Rotary (with help from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) is helping to put it in the "past" for all nations of the world!

To learn more about polio, JoAnne's life (and her incredible skill as an artist, making jewelry with her feet), please watch the video below, and visit www.poliotoday.org.

Ensenada Dental Clinic next Saturday, November 13

2010-11-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

Our semi-annual Ensenada Dental Clinic is this coming Saturday.

The school is Maestros de Baja California, located in Colinas de San Angel, a very poor suburb of Ensenada and home to primarily immigrants from other parts of Mexico.

Following the clinic, we are invited to the Club Rotario Ensenada Calafia's XII Christmas Expo, the club's annual fundraiser.

It will be held in the Salon Casino of the Riviera de Ensenada Building on the main boulevard. There will be food, beverages, music and lots of things to buy.

If you are staying overnight at the Hotel Coral, please make your reservations soon.

South County Outreach - Norah Dopudja

2010-11-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Norah Dopudja is the new Director of Homeless Prevention and Mentored Learning for South County Outreach. She holds a BS from California State University Fullerton in Human Services.

Norah has enjoyed working with and learning from the homeless and at-risk population for the last decade. She brings with her extensive experience and passion for service to her community.

As Director of Operations for Birth Choice Pregnancy Center, Norah opened and oversaw four non-profit community care clinics in Orange County. Norah was also responsible for the day-to-day operations of the clinics as well as developing training programs for hundreds of staff, client advocates and volunteers.

Serving in multiple roles at Toby’s House Maternity Home, Norah worked as case manager for the residential facility and volunteer coordinator. There Norah was responsible for completing a comprehensive assessment plan for each new resident and addressing clients’ needs and goals in the areas of housing, education, health, psychological well-being, childcare, and career.

While working as volunteer coordinator, Norah enjoyed training and working with hundreds of mentors, interns, contractors and volunteer personnel dealing with client needs.

Exchanging banners

2010-11-01T05:35:00.000-07:00

During last week's meeting our President, Mody Gorsky, exchanged banners with President-Elect Prakash A. Bhulani from the Rotary club of Calicut Midtown, District 3202, Kerala, India. This is a small town on the southwest coast of India. Calicut is one of the main commercial cities of Kerala. The ship on the banner represents the city's history of being one of the main ports on the "Spice Route."

Living the Feng Shui way

2010-11-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

by Gillian Bradshaw

I am sure that after today's presentation, we all went back to our homes and determined whether our floor plans fit into the Feng Shui "Bagua", or octagonal shape that represents the energy of the earth and how this is used to create balance in our lives.

Jessie Kim, a Feng Shui professional from Korea, gave us an excellent overview of Feng Shui and how this ancient Chinese science and art can be used to assure good health, wealth, careers, relationships, etc.

We learned how, in China and other Asian nations, houses are built to allow the earth's natural energy to flow through it, and how, for example, people avoid living on cul-de-sacs where the air cannot "flow". Also, that the front door can never be opposite the back door (like in my house!), and how no part of a room should be "behind a door" (so the computer I am working on right now isn't technically in the room!).

However, Jessie explained that houses (and work spaces, etc) can be adapted to the Feng Shui style by appropriate placement of items that represent the elements (metal, water, earth, wood, and fire), as well as sounds, shapes, and colors.

We Rotarians clearly fit well within the Feng Shui Bagua, with our balance of Helpful people, Health, Water, Knowledge, etc - all centered around the Earth - no wonder the cogs of the Rotary wheel keep on turning so well.

JDRF Sit In/Protest UN-Walk.

2010-10-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

This was the 16th year for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Shooting Stars family team to gather to raise money for diabetes research! And for our 3rd year in a row, we staged a Sit In/Protest UN-Walk. Over 50 “un-walkers” gathered, on the first sunny day we’d had in weeks…shared bagels, pastries and coffee, friendship and support…just WONDERFUL!

To date, we’ve raised over $6,000, with monies still coming in! And our t-shirt proved to be a “talking” point, illustrating the exciting new research, coming out of UCI and JDRF, involving the venom of sea anemones from a bay in Cuba.

For all your support and love, THANK YOU so very much!

With hugs,

Joanne Milo

Geologist turns Lawyer?

2010-10-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

Our speaker today was our own Mark Brubaker who gave his "craft talk". While I think most of us thought "oh, we know what attorneys do", we were very interested and entertained by Mark's talk - starting with his birthplace, Cortez in Montezuma County, Colorado (population 8,000).

Here he enjoyed a very family-oriented life and many outdoor pursuits, including hunting. Geology seemed a natural career to pursue, so Mark studied geology and chemistry at Fort Louis College in Durango, paying his way by building houses in Green River, Wyoming, and working as a summer intern at an oil company.

As a geologist, he worked for a gold mining company in the Carolinas and Mexico and then (like other gold seekers before him) found himself moving West. Since there was no gold to be found in Santa Monica, he decided to go to law school instead - and ended up using his geology and law education by representing McDonnell Douglas on toxic oil spills and the effects on the environment (imagine that ... BP could really use his help now in the Gulf of Mexico!). He also worked on the Apollo 8 oxygen system project.

The next step in his interesting career was working in a huge international law firm in Irvine with 3,000 attorneys, before setting up his own business managing business transactions and litigation.

Mark has been married to his wife, Susan, for 17 years (also an attorney - yikes) and is enjoying raising his 14 year old son, Jonathan (an avid water polo player), and 10 year old daughter, Katie (a budding ballerina) - not forgetting his 2 year old labrador.

Thanks Mark! We always love to learn more about our members, "new and old" - and it is especially good for us to get to know our President-Elect better!

Program: Feng Shui

2010-10-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Jessie Kim, or Ms. Feng Shui as she is professionally known, will be joining us for our upcoming meeting. Born in Korea, Jessie is a lifelong student of Feng Shui and comes from a family of Feng Shui tradition. Jessie is licensed by Feng Shui Palace and has professionally consulted to businesses, real estate agents, investors, and individuals since 2000.

Jessie will not only help us develop a fundamental understanding of Feng Shui, but will also provide us with guided examples of how to use Feng Shui to balance the energy in our own homes and businesses.

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is an ancient science and art that was developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It is based on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. Understanding of Feng Shui can help balance the energies of various spaces to assure good health, wealth, careers, relationships, romance, etc.

For the meeting Jessie has requested we all bring a floor plan of our home, doesn't have to be a professional floor plan but hand drawn layout of our home would be fine too.

StoveTeam project in The Rotarian Magazine

2010-10-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of The Rotarian Magazine has an article about StoveTeam's mission to provide fuel-efficient stoves to the world. Click here to see the online version.

IUSD honors Irvine Rotary

2010-10-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Irvine Unified School District presented the Irvine Rotary with an award honoring the club's 14 year effort to provide Irvine students access to dental care. The presentation was held at the IUSD board of directors meeting on Tuesday, October 19. The board also honored the efforts of Dental Care for Children, the non-profit started by local dentist, Dr. Charles Tozzer.

Ensenada dental clinic a success

2010-10-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

It is a pleasant, early Saturday and the people in the hills above Ensenada are gathering at the local Church, not for services, but to see the dentist. There is an air of excitement, since people who may have been in pain for weeks or months now have a once-a-year opportunity to have their worst dental problems fixed. The clinic is in the Iglesia Betesda church, located in the hills east of Ensenada. The pastor, Felipe Saurez de Jesus, has built this church with his own hands over the past decade to administer to the poor, mostly immigrant families from the southern parts of Mexico who move north looking for jobs. And it’s not his first. His previous church, also built by his own hands, sits on another hilltop about a half-mile away. His commitment to his parishioners and his community is what attracted Dr. Charles Tozzer to help almost a decade ago.

Dr. Tozzer founded Dental Care for Children, an Irvine based non-profit dedicated to helping children with free dental care wherever they may be. Presently, his organization participates in eight clinics a year; four in Mexico, two in Haiti and two in the United States. But he’s become a resource for other dentists and organizations wanting to set up clinics in other areas. With his help and assistance, there are now free clinics in Africa and Central America. DCFC has been providing services to this underserved part of Baja California for over eighteen years and have earned the gratitude of the entire community. There is always a line of people waiting for this annual opportunity to be seen by a dentist.

Each clinic’s primary aim is to do something for everyone but the volunteers realize that it is almost impossible to completely meet everyone’s needs. So they try to treat people who need help the most, or whose condition can be dealt with quickly. The dentists provide a real gamut of services from x-rays to crowns, from cleanings and fillings, even to root canals and dentures. But often, the only solution for many is to remove the teeth, which is done in about a third of the cases.

The 22-person dental staff, a few of them in their final studies at USC dental school and working under the supervision of the licensed U.S. dentists, provide more than $66,000 in free dental care during this visit.

Since there will be a follow-up visit in five weeks they are able to do impressions for crowns and partial dentures to replace missing teeth. The lab work is donated by U.S. companies to restore dental function for these people. They will also be able to evaluate the results of the hygiene services and training they provide to help these people keep their teeth.

Project funding is accomplished by direct grants and support from other organizations. The Irvine Rotary club has been a key sponsor, each year underwriting two of the clinics in Ensenada and one in Irvine. Irvine Rotary pairs up with the Rotary Club of Ensenada Calafia to select and manage two projects that are held in local elementary schools. The local club works with the Ensenada school district to select the school most in need. On one Saturday, the clinic is open to all the children who attend the school. The children get their teeth checked and fixed while the parents, Rotarians and teachers help fix up the school.

Dental Care for Children makes sure that everything is done using the latest in equipment and in compliance with local rules and regulations. They prepare extensive paperwork that has to be submitted to both U.S. and Mexican Customs, certifying the origins, dates of manufacture, and usages. In order to comply they are greatly helped by the advice and assistance of Señor Héctor Higuera, the Chief of Tourist Assistance, who has been very clear and helpful about the requirements and paperwork required to allow for a smooth and problem free border crossing. For this trip, Señor Higuera met the team at the border and complimented them on their service and attention to detail in preparing all of the necessary forms to make the border crossing easier.

Name Change!

2010-10-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

The Rotary Club of Irvine Spectrum is no longer! In fact, it's shorter.

The club has changed their name to better reflect the area they serve as well as the club members.

The new name is The Rotary Club of Irvine.

District Governor visits Irvine Spectrum Rotary

2010-09-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

In 1993, 6 months into a new business my husband Bruce and I had started, Bruce received a letter asking him, as “The President” of the business - to come as a guest to a Rotary meeting - to check it out.

Since I was the president of the company he gave “me” the invitation to attend.

Well, knowing that Rotary was an organization made up of business men, - I a business woman - and president of the company, decided I would take time from my very busy schedule to “attend the meeting” and to leave a rather large “Gender Chip” on my shoulder - right in the middle of their “good old boys” club!

When I got there I was right! There they were, all men standing around talking to each other – so - I threw back my shoulders, stood tall, with the invitation letter in hand, walked right up to the registration table And firmly told the gentleman behind the table I was here to check out Rotary and here was the invitation that the Vice President of our company had received in error.

Bob, the Rotarian behind the table - looked up with a big smile and said he was very happy to see me. He called Larry over and introduced me to Larry as a guest.

Larry reached out his hand to shake my hand AND with a big smile and said “welcome to Rotary, we are glad you came”.

We chatted a few minutes and he said come in and meet the members – Larry introduced me to everyone in the room.

Well, to make a long story short. I was invited back to the next’s week meeting and “honestly” – I couldn’t wait to go back!

And before I knew it -
I was a Member of the Rotary Club of East Anaheim.

Of course, I was way too busy – remember it was the “start up year” of our business and I did have that “Gender Chip” on my shoulder AND it was a club of elite, exclusive, seasoned business men. I was so wrong!

I was enjoying the fellowship and working with the guys on community projects – here were group of professionals that had connected their heads to their hearts.

But, my Rotary story stopped in 1996 when the club turned in their charter and I walked away.

It wasn’t until 3 years later I went to lunch at my husband’s Rotary Club and met LOWELL JONES - “LBJ” — a 50 year perfect attendance Rotarian – we chatted and he asked if I knew about Rotary - of course I told him my Rotary story and we had a fine time.

The next day when I got back from lunch, the little red message light on my phone was blinking - I had a voice mail message from LBJ –

it was sure nice to meet you and we would like you to join the Rotary Club of Anaheim.

Of course, I was extremely too busy and he didn’t ask me to call him back so I didn’t –

The next Monday around 2:00 pm that little red message light on my phone was blinking, it was a message from LBJ telling me what a great Rotarian I would be and asking me to come back to another meeting.

Every Monday around 2:00 pm for more than 2 months, that little red light was blinking with the message from LBJ asking me to come back to Rotary.

I finally relented and went to a meeting to tell LB to stop calling me - he was so pleased to see me he could barely contain himself – I didn’t have the heart to tell him not to call me and we had another fun time that day.

After that meeting - he called every day until I came back and joined Rotary – I am proud to say LBJ sponsored me into the Rotary Club of Anaheim in 2000.

And Here I am your District Governor – Who knew! LBJ knew!

As you Governor it is my responsibility to share with you what work is taking place at Rotary International this year.

Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith is doing things differently. He is encouraging us to take a back-to- basics approach and look at things with good old “Cowboy Logic” if it ain’t broke don’t fix it - If it don’t work get rid of it.

He, with the “RI” Board of Directors recently adopted a revised plan for Rotary

that focuses on promoting 3 elements essential to our future:
Strong clubs,
Effective Service,
And a unified and recognized brand

Recognizing and promoting that - Rotary is a grassroots organization and most of its humanitarian efforts are carried out at the club level - President Ray is promoting the 3 Bs -

Bigger, Better, Bolder –

BIGGER not necessarily bigger clubs but bigger thinking in our clubs – BE innovative BE flexible –
These are not the good old days of Rotary. Be creative, look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary.
BETTER – Consider implementing a vision plan in your club, look at what is not working and what is working - ask yourselves - is your club balancing activities in the 5 Avenues of Service.

BOLDER – Promote networking, talk business, do business with Rotarians. Look at sustainable service - as you continue to create significant projects both locally and internationally

I know you all agree - Making stronger rotary clubs makes Rotary strong.

President Ray has made it very clear it my responsibility is to help make better Rotary Clubs by helping you meet your goals.

There are 120 Rotarians volunteering to support the 46 clubs in your district.

You have directly available to you - your Assistant Governor Jim Rutter

New to the District this year, are Membership Area Coordinators (MACS) and Rotarian Rick Topping is assigned to work with himself your membership chair

There are Foundation Area Coordinators too (FACS) and Rotarian Mary Mar has been assigned to work with Ray Benedictus your Foundation Chair.

Our goal is to help the Irvine Spectrum Club be a stronger Rotary Club by giving you the resources and support to help you reach YOUR goals.

Rotary International is NOT setting the goals you are. Rotary International President Ray recognizes that Rotary starts and ends with the individual clubs not at Rotary International.

President MODY recognizes the importance of quality membership - and the value - of retaining members. He has worked with you to set a goal for the club 4 members net.

Now at the end of the Rotary year – should you succeed in reaching your membership goal and you have included in net growth women and members under 40 years

Your club will be in the running to win a special dinner for 6 served at our home by past district governors. Did a mentioned this includes wine and a visit to the private Solari cellars?

I have all the confidence that this club will meet your membership goal and even - go beyond it!

Because, YOU- like my Rotary sponsor LBJ - will get your “ASK - in gear”!

President MODY is confidence that everyone in the club supports the Rotary Foundation as you have an “All-Time Giving” to the Rotary Foundation of more than $335,000.00 to date.

I believe you are as pleased as I am that your club can receive matching grant money from the Foundation to work with people in need and money from the District Simplified Grant fund to help fund community projects supported by Irvine Spectrum Rotarians.

President MODY’s goal is to have everyone in the club give $300 this coming Rotary year

As a leader that - walks he talk - President MODY has made a donation to the foundation – he would not ask you give – if he did not give - and I would not ask him to give - if I did not give to the Foundation.

If you haven’t gone to the new District Website please take a minute to click onto rotary5320.org. It has been updated and is an active resource for you to take advantage of. We will continue to add new things each week. Check it out

We also upgraded your district online directory. Take a look and be sure the information about you is correct.

Thank you for supporting the End Polio Champaign.

As you know, 25 years ago Rotary made a promise to the world that we would eradicate the disease of polio from the face of the earth. To date 2 billion children have been immunized against polio – there are only 4 countries left in the world that are experiencing the pain of polio —as long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere - including our children in the United States - remain at risk. The stakes are that high - you can help Rotary achieve a polio-free world we are inches away.

On September 10th - Rotarians in the District came out in record numbers to recognize our outstanding Rotarians who exemplify integrity and high ethically standards and live the 4-Way Test. Congratulations to all 29 nominees

There are some special surprises in store for us at the Foundation Dinner this year - it will be a fun time recognizing contributions of clubs and individuals. Mark your calendars November 13th. Your club has already purchased 2 tables and I am looking forward to seeing you all there!

I hope you will seriously consider joining us at the District Conference to “Celebrate Rotarians and the Heart of Rotary” it will be at the Hilton Hotel in Irvine across from the OC Airport on April 29th30th and May 1st.

And plans are being made now for a sneak preview of the District Conference on February 6th 2011. (Place Mats) – 2 representatives to take a look.

I am so confident that you will find the district conference to be a valuable experience - that - if you disagree - I promise to personally refund your registration fee. Look forward to seeing you all there

Our Group Study Exchange team coming in from the Netherlands - They will be here for about 4 weeks April 19th – May 15th 2011- The team will be focused on vocations that involve peace and conflict resolution. There will be 5 team members and a team leader. This will be a unique opportunity to be involved as a fun peace ambassador for your club.

And of course we will tie up the year at International Convention in New Orleans. Lazie Lay Bon Toms Roule – Let the good times roll. May 22nd – 24th, 2011

My passion for Rotary is – “Doing Good in the World”

I love to be involved with Rotarians like you, who share your hearts by doing and giving.

It is inspirational for me - to see you - truly putting forth every effort “to do good in the world”

(Irvine Spectrum projects)

For 19 years the Rotary Club of Irvine Spectrum has been sharing their hearts with this community and the world.

Irvine Spectrum Rotarians have change lives ---- have saved lives. You have touched people you will never see.

You have planted the precious seeds of hope in children, you have given the gift of laughter and imagination to children that had none, you showed troubled youth that had given up- that you care about them, that the community cares about them, you support the Boys & Girls Club

You have given families another opportunity to life without domestic violence, you have brought smiles and confidence to children living through domestic violence, supporting Toby’s house and Laurel House

you gave children their first books to read, you have given scholarships rewarding and recognizing academic achievement allowing high school students to pursue their education, you give the gift of the “Arts” supporting Partners in Harmony,

You support RYLA encouraging children to stretch their competitive muscle, learn the value of integrity, and give them the ability to see and know their inner strengths to become better people, you have given seniors the resources to maintain their independence and quality of life,

You gave the gift of laughter and assurance to American troops engaged in military combat, you thanked them for their sacrifice supporting Snowball Express, and Wounded Warriors,

You gave people in developing countries their dignity, you gave the gifts of self-reliance, sustainability and hope; you gave children in Romania the gift of school supplies, computers,

For 11 years you have been giving the gift of good dental care to primary school children,

You have given the gift of clean water and permanent water storage to children in orphanages in Myanmar,

You bought stoves for families in El Salvador who cooked with open fire saving children from being burned and having on-going health issues,

You bought polio vaccines giving children of the world another chance to live a better life without being paralyzed, you are a 200% Paul Harris Club.

You have shared your love, your humor, your time, your hearts.

You have followed through with you promise to “do good in the world”.

You do so much for the community locally and internationally.

This club is stronger through the hard work of your members and your committed leadership.

I have learned that our leaders in rotary are committed to make Rotary better - and know the way to do this - is by making our clubs stronger.

Rotary is the club! Rotary is this club!

I am proud to be a Rotarian in the same district with the Irvine Spectrum Rotarians.

I know you take your heart into the game and leave nothing on the field.

You are doing an incredible job.

You are “Building Communities – Bridging Continents

Thank you for giving me another opportunity to enrich our lives in Rotary service.

Raising UP your parents

2010-09-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

They've raised us - and what fine Rotarians we have turned out to be! Now it's our turn to take care of our parents - helping to raise them up above the average lifestyle of aging seniors.

Our speaker this week was Joel Geffen, who brought Life Line Screening to the West Coast (an affordable community-based health screening service provided in senior centers, etc). Joel has been dedicated to improving the lives of seniors for many years - with his wife, Susan, who is a gerontologist and an attorney specializing in elder law.

While Joel (a member of Kiwanis) is primarily focused on marketing to Baby Boomers and seniors, Susan help seniors with their legal affairs, health care options, financial planning, etc. She also helps their family members to determine when it might be appropriate to consider assisted living or a nursing home, with a goal to keep them in their own home as long as possible.

Susan conducts free seminars on elder care and will be holding one at the Irvine Hilton on Saturday, October 23, 9 am - 12 noon (register at 1-800-301-1326).

Joel and Susan live in Redondo Beach with their four children.

Irvine Schools

2010-09-08T10:23:00.001-07:00

by Ray Sanford

Gavin Huntley-Fenner, PH.D. and a member of the Irvine Unified School Board, presented us with an update on what's happening with our local schools. While doing so, he gave us some tidbits about why being involved with education is so important to him. He started his education in Guyana where he used a slate to write. From there to the United States and receiving a PH.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT, his research in language and mathematics learning, his present focus has been how to best prepare children for future opportunities. The competitive nature of our present world means that children need to prepare earlier than ever in order to succeed.

He stressed that the Irvine schools are near the top nationally in both efficiency of operations as well as scholarship. He lauded the current faculty and administration for their dedication to the children as well as their initiative and creativity in doing more with less.

The State of the Irvine Schools

2010-09-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

by Mody Gorsky

Our speaker this Wednesday will be Gavin Huntley-Fenner, Ph.D. from the Irvine Unified School Board. Gavin joined the Irvine Unified School Board in 2005. His doctorate is in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT and his research involves language and mathematics learning. He is the parent of two children, both of whom are currently in the district. He is an accomplished and effective board member and a recognized leader on the local, statewide and national level.

Gavin served as an Irvine Unified school board trustee since 2005. He served as Board President (2008-2009), and Board Clerk/Vice President (2007-2008). Gavin will discuss the "State of the Irvine Schools." He will be speaking about where we are now and some upcoming challenges and plans. Although he is currently running for re-election, he promised to not make it a "campaign" speech.

High School Students Share RYLA Experience

2010-08-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Every year, the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club sponsors three local high school students to participate in the annual District 5320 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) 3-day camp in Idyllwild, CA.

As Rotary's leadership program for young people, RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, team work, compassionate, and personal growth.

This year we selected three students from Woodbridge High School in Irvine: Melissa May, Natalie Aronson, and Heather Haney. They were all juniors at the time they attended RYLA with 300+ other high school juniors sponsored by Rotary District 5320 clubs. All three RYLA participants are all leaders, both at school and in the community. Natalie (a twin) will be the ASB (Associated Student Body) President in the coming school staring in Sept 2010 and is active in cross county. Melissa (a triplet!) will be Senior Class President, and has been an active member in the National Charity League (NCL), a mother/daughter service organization. Heather is a member of the Rotary Interact Club and will be Captain of the Cheer Squad at Woodbridge again her senior year.

The students provided highlights of their RYLA experience, including:
• Being separated from each other the minute they stepped on the bus
• Joining "families' for the remainder of camp (for which they created names, logos, cheers, etc)
• Being led blindfold into an (unknown) dining room and being fed (building trust)
• The "Boojum Experience" including navigating a rope "spider web" suspended from high trees (overcoming fear, team coordination)
• Excellent speakers, including a Rotarian who came from a troubled life and promotes "being fully present" in everything you do in life
• Fun and fellowship around the bonfire and forming strong friendships in such a short period of time

They all enjoyed the RYLA experience tremendously, increasing their self confidence, learning how to immediately connect with strangers, and gaining practical leadership skills. They all credited RYLA for gaining a deepening understanding of what Rotary International is about and stands for.

They expressed their interest and support in re-initiating the Interact Club at Woodbridge High this year by inviting, including, and educating their school peer of Rotary service projects and activities, initially through word of mouth, later through broadening understanding of Rotary function and impact in our local and global society.

We wish them a wonderful Senior year at Woodbridge, success with their college education and careers - and encourage them to remain in the Rotary family!

For more information about RYLA, please click on the link: http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/YouthPrograms/RotaryYouthLeadershipAwards(RYLA)/Pages/ridefault.aspx

About RYLA

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 14-30, but most clubs and districts choose to focus on a narrower age range, such as 14-18 or 19-30.

RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to
• Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth
• Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
• Encourage leadership of youth by youth
• Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities

S'More Fun at the Beach

2010-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

by Gillian Bradshaw

Hooray for Cisca's Annual Beach Party at Dana Point (Lifeguard Station #7 - staked out at 6 am by Cisca who drove her truck with a big trailer with tables, chairs, lanterns, firewood… you name it - she has this down to a fine art!).

The early birds enjoyed fun at the beach, including Cisca's nephews, Ian and Griffin who spent lots of time in the water ( swimming, digging to China,etc.). The sun came out around noon to the joy of the sunbathers .

Most people arrived in the late afternoon - Bret & Natalie, Woody & Deana; Austin and Barbara, Ray, Tony, Richard & Joanne; Mark Brubaker, Susan and their son and Gillian & Robin. It was also nice to see former member Carl Balzanti and Valerie.

Ray took charge of the grilling and there was an amazing variety of meat brought by several people, a wonderful foccacia garlic bread, lots of salads and other accoutrements - delicious! Of course, the best part of the day was sitting around the fire after dark (in our Snowball Express caps!), listening to the waves and toasting our marshmallows over the fire to make S'mores - yum!

By 10 pm (beach closing time) everything was packed up (again, under Cisca's direction, with everything in its exact spot - and tied down with bungee cords) and off she went. Having left the remaining wood for another group to enjoy, Gillian and Robin noticed, as they were driving off, that our neighbors had taken it and thrown it all on the fire at the same time - I am sure it lit up the whole of Dana Point!

Thanks to Cisca for this massive undertaking - and here's to "S'more" great beach parties in the years to come!

American Heart Association

2010-08-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Our speaker this week will be Katie Oakman from the American Heart Association (AHA). Katie has been with the AHA for almost two years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from Westmont College. She is a Business Development Director for the AHA. Katie works with companies to create a culture of health and wellness in the workplace. She also partners with these companies and individuals in the community to form teams and raise funds through the Start! OC Heart Walk. Currently in its 30th year, the Heart Walk promotes physical activity and celebrates heart disease and stroke survivors while raising critical funds for the AHA.

Women's Cancer Research Foundation

2010-08-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Our speaker this week is Carlina Thomas — Executive Director from The Women's Cancer Research Foundation (WCRF). WCRF is dedicated to improving the cure rates of women with gynecologic cancer through strategic clinical research and community-based educational outreach.

Carlina came to the WCRF with a proven track record in nonprofit leadership. She has served as president of the California Waste Association, the City of Huntington Beach Neighborhood Watch Program, and the Dr. Ralph E. Hawes Parent Teacher Association (PTA). She also chaired several education related and community-wide committees, ran for school board, and in her free time serves as a dedicated volunteer for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a Marketing emphasis from California State University, Long Beach. Since that time her professional background includes years of successful environmental consulting sales management and national account development experience with Fortune 500 Companies generating annual sales in the millions.

Breaking the Traditional Mold

2010-08-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

Our Speaker this week will be Rabbi/Cantor Osnat Margalith and being a woman Rabbi, she will be speaking about "Breaking the Traditional Mold".

Rabbi Margalith was born in Israel and raised in an Orthodox Israeli family. She holds two ordinations as well as a Masters degree in Sacred Music and a Masters degree in Rabbinic Studies, all by the Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR-CA). Rabbi Margalith is a member of the Cantors Assembly – the Conservative Cantors’ Association; serves as a community chaplain for OC Jewish Family Services and as a result of her interfaith outreach in Orange County was asked to join the faith leaders’ advisory board of OCICE – Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment.

She has been active and served as a board member of Conservative synagogues in Tampa, Florida and in Orange County as well as in numerous Jewish organizations, day schools and Adult Education and programming such as the Community Scholar Program of Orange County. Rabbi Margalith, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, received her BA in Comparative Literature and Languages as well as a Masters of Science in Library Science (MSLS).

As a congregational spiritual leader, Rabbi Margalith is looking to make a difference in people’s lives; to provide transformative moments through liturgy and music.

Rabbi Margalith is married to Dr. Avi Margalith and lives in Irvine. They are blessed with three wonderful sons: Guy (a Foreign Service Officer), Gurie (a CPA), Ben (an actor and MFA student). This October, Rabbi Margalith will have the pleasure of officiating at the wedding of her children Gurie and Tiffany Leia.

Attorney Michael Fell - Adovate for Victims Rights

2010-08-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

Michael Fell is a former Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney with over 18 years experience as a prosecutor and over two years experience as a civil litigator who has been dedicated to victims rights his entire career. Mr. Fell has been recognized for his commitment to victims, including, but not limited to the awards listed below:

Ambassador of Peace Award (2003) for his work with victims of hate crimes and in developing a tolerance program for youth (TURN - Teaching Understanding respect and Non-violence)

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Diligent Prosecutor Award (1995, 1996, 2006) for his work with DUI victims and prosecuting DUI cases

Victim Witness Assistance Program Recognition Award for his diligent work with crime victims.

Mr. Fell currently represents the Adenhart, Pearson, Stewart and Wilhite families in the criminal prosecution of the Defendant, Andrew Gallo) under Marsy’s law. (Former Angel MLB pitcher Nick Adenhart, Henry Pearson and Courtney Stewart were killed and Jon Wilhite was seriously injured after they were hit by Mr. Gallo, a drunk driver, on April 9, 2009)

Wounded Warriors at the Angels Game

2010-08-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 31, 2010, was a special Rotary day at the Angel’s baseball game.

Irvine Spectrum did their best to create the best chili the O.C. has to offer. I think we did rather well but the judges gave us a 4th place. It is kind of like a “kissing your sister” award. I know the judging was stacked but we all had a gas.

Our great chili chicks were Dianne Braasch, Joan Sarver and Cisca Stellhorn. Our event planner was Ray Benedictus who is now an official cat herder.

The event was great for District 5320 and our fight against polio.

The Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club had twelve special guests. Six US Marines attended the event. They were members of the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, CA.

Three special Marines and their ladies enjoyed our hospitality. They were members of the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Camp Pendleton.

We were fortunate to have these Marines, one sergeant and two lance corporals, tell us their personal stories. All of them sustained significant injuries while serving in defense of this nation, and have also have worked tirelessly with their loved ones through their individual recovery process. For this and so many more reasons, they are heroes.

Each of these Marines did what Marines have done since November 10, 1775. They have answered the call to watch over the flock. They are part of the reason we were able to enjoy a Saturday afternoon with friends, eating chili and attending a baseball game.

Past District Governor Allan Stark sat near these Wounded Warriors and had a chance to visit. PDG Stark was a Navy Corpsman prior to becoming a doctor. He is my hero.

Your club can support the Wounded Warrior Battalion and help make a difference in the lives of our injured warriors.

Should you wish to support these warriors please feel free to contact Rick Topping.

"Semper Fi" and "Service Above Self." What a combination.

Rotary and Angels team up against Polio

2010-08-02T07:43:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, July 31, several of our members participated in the the District's 3rd annual polio fundraiser at Angel Stadium. Rotary's #1 mission, in conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is to eradicate polio worldwide, by vaccinating every child in the countries that still have this crippling virus.

The event started with a fun tailgate party (and more fund-raising) - a chili cook off contest! Cisca Stellhorn, Diane Braasch, and Joan Sarver cooked and served a variety of home made chili dishes (Joan's "Kick Ass Chili" was my personal favorite, with Diane's milder but very meaty "Chicago" a close second - and Cisca's turkey one not far behind). I know we got a lot of votes, and hopefully we won, but the winning was in the socializing we all did!

For the non-chili lovers, Ray Benedicktus put on his apron and got out his barbecue tongs, making delicious hamburgers and hot dogs - as if having arranged for all the ticket and T-shirt sales wasn't enough - thanks Ray!

We were honored to have a group of Marines from the Wounded Warriors battalion join us with their family/girlfriends - thanks to the coordination of former Marine, Rick Topping. With several former Marines in our club, this is one of the primary organizations we support - not only with donations and other funding, but with as much "hands on" participation as we can. It was a pleasure to meet these brave soldiers who sacrificed their health for our nation's safety and freedom - we thank them and wish them a speedy recovery!

This was also a Birthday party for Mary Mar, who came to celebrate with both her families (her own, including her cute granddaughters, and her Rotary family!). We sang Happy Birthday and ate delicious cake!

Our youngest "future Rotarian", John Lincoln Alcorn was there - all dressed up in his Angels outfit - and learing how to party with his Rotary family at the ripe old age of 102 days!

Several others were there, including Ed Hardenburgh, Dale Ford and his son, Austin and Barbara Wall, Randy and Pam Woods, Mark and Susan Brubaker, Tony Mucia and his daughter Megan, Woody and Deana Jones, Ray B's girlfriend and son Ian, Cisca's nephews, Diane's daughter, and our esteemed past District Governor Bret Gerdes and Natalie (am I missing anyone?!)

Then it was off to the game - and prime seating on the Club level (with in-seat service all evening long). While the game wasn't all that thrilling (except for the Angels home run with the fireworks - but they lost 1-2 to the Texas Rangers), a fun time was had by all - and all for a good cause!

Roll on our 4th Annual Angels event for polio in 2011!

Michael Fell to speak at Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club

2010-08-02T07:30:00.001-07:00

Michael Fell is a former Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney with over 18 years experience as a prosecutor and over two years experience as a civil litigator who has been dedicated to victims rights his entire career. Mr. Fell has been recognized for his commitment to victims, including, but not limited to the awards listed below:

Ambassador of Peace Award (2003) for his work with victims of hate crimes and in developing a tolerance program for youth (TURN - Teaching Understanding respect and Non-violence);

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Diligent Prosecutor Award (1995, 1996, 2006) for his work with DUI victims and prosecuting DUI cases;

Victim Witness Assistance Program Recognition Award for his diligent work with crime victims.

Mr. Fell currently represents the Adenhart, Pearson, Stewart and Wilhite families in the criminal prosecution of the Defendant, Andrew Gallo under Marsy’s law. (Nick Adenhart (former Angels MLB pitcher, Henry Pearson and Courtney Stewart were killed and Jon Wilhite was seriously injured after they were hit by Mr. Gallo, a drunk driver, on April 9, 2009)

Accordingly, he will be speaking about victim advocacy and his work with Marcy's law.