Emergency Medical Care for Libya

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.