December 15, 2016 Rotopinion (Dec 08, 2016)

President Diane Nelson

Dear Rotarians and Friends:

December has been an amazing month for our club! We’ve accomplished so many things in our own community. Angel’s City Celebration last Sunday in Watts, which was planned by LA 5 Rotary club. We volunteered with Fleet Street bike program giving away 10 bikes during the day. 300 Rotarian volunteers ran the event. Pancake breakfast was served in the gym, 3,000 toys and books were given to the needy, Vision to Learn tested vision and Rotary paid for many pairs of glasses, and 10 health trucks provided needed services. Thank you Dana Sherman and Alice Muntean for involving our club.

December 11^th – Thank you Paul and Dale Gross for allowing us to have our annual Holiday party at your beautiful home! About 40 of us participated in a pot luck dinner and gift exchange. Great event planned by Lynn Miller and Sandy Rosenholz.

December 14^th – Two Rotary events in one day! Wow!

Santa Sandy Rosenholz and his Rotary elves gave 400 gifts and candy canes to kids at Fullbright Elementary School in Canoga Park. Great to see we had lots of elf participation. Thanks to Elizabeth Tilkian and Alice Muntean for organizing. Sandy was a great Santa!

We treated 16 Foster teens to a holiday dinner at Mimi’s Café. One Rotarian per youth gave us the opportunity to hear their stories and inspire them. Everyone who participates loves this event! Each teen received a $25 gift card. Thanks to Elegance Hippolyte and Dylette Davis for planning.

Just a reminder! Tell you friends and family for their year- end giving to give the Woodland Hills Rotary Foundation so we can add more projects each year! Go to WHRotary.org. “Donate Now.” There is a button on the Home Page of our website.

“You cannot sell John Jones what John Jones buys

Unless you see John Jones through John Jones eyes”

Anon

Following our Greeter/Rotarian of the Day Marty Fentress’s open the December 14 meeting and there were various announcements, including report on our successful Holiday Party and holiday gift presentation to the Children at Fullbright Elementary School earlier that morning.

We were then honored by a most inspirational talk by Dr. Stephen W. Frueh a well known author, speaker and business advisor who spoke about the importance of Active Listening and Conflict Resolution and the important role these two concepts play in our life. See the story below.

We were all happy to see Anna and her 1 month baby, Millie, were at the meeting! See picture below.

Harvey Tapper won the 50/50 drawing! There were 19 cards in the deck. Nice job Harvey! Time to go to Vegas?!

At this next meeting, we will be passing the hat to raise money so Javier can participate in the three-week Exchange Student train trip across the U.S. This is an annual event for all Exchange students. The total trip price is $1,600. Please help if you can.

We are dark December 28^th!

Dues to increase on January 1, 2017. Dues will increase by $15 per quarter to cover our increased operating expenses. Your quarterly dues bill will increase from $85 to $100, or for those of you who contribute quarterly to the Rotary International Foundation with your dues, from $110 to $125.

What’s happening next year you ask?

January 4^th – Lunch meeting at noon at Woodland Hills Country Club

Speaker from New Directions for Youth with a very moving story about his life and how he’s paying it forward to the kids at New Directions for Youth.

January 11^th – Lunch meeting at noon at Woodland Hills Country Club

Club Assembly is our program. Let’s hear from our Chairs of Service the projects we’ve accomplished so far this Rotary year. There have been many!!! Learn about our projects and join a committee if you’re not on one already!

January 18^th – Lunch meeting at noon at Woodland Hills Country Club. This meeting ends at 1:30 due to its contents. 3 Clergy members speak about “Religion; a pathway or obstacle to peace?” This is being promoted in our local community as well so we expect a large turnout! Invite guests. Contact Paul Gross for more information.

January 25^th – Monthly dinner/fundraiser at Hook Burger on Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Woodland Hills.

Donation will be 20% of gross receipts between the hours 6:00 and 7:30 ONLY! Bring your friends and family and support this fun evening event! This will be a social event!

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Call me, text me or send me an email! 818-917-6541, Diane@LevyNelson.com.

Thanks everyone for a great first half of our Rotary year!!!

Yours in Rotary Service,

President Diane

Dr. Stephen Frueh: Good Leadership
By Bernie Otis

Dr. Frueh emphasized that good leaders are those who stay actively involved with those with whom they speak and make a real effort to not only listen to what others are saying to us, but understand what they are saying. He told us how he has learned this lesson from his grandchildren with whom he enjoys communicating because they are always open about their thoughts.

His message about conflict resolution rang loud and clear to me, as I recall the remarkably long and wonderful argument free marriage my late wife and I enjoyed. Whenever things got a bit testy she would smile, look directly into my eyes and say “Are we arguing, or discussing?

Above: Dr. Stephen Frueh with President Diane Nelson

Dr. Stephen Frueh: Good Leadership By Bernie Otis

Dr. Stephen Frueh: Good Leadership
By Bernie Otis