I wanted to start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! We are half way through the term and we’ve accomplished so much! Our Jan. 11th meeting will be a Club Assembly, which will highlight all of the projects we’ve completed and what’s coming up in these next few months.
Our first meeting of the year will be this Wednesday, January 4th. We will hear a success story from a counselor at New Directions for Youth, who had several challenges as a youth as a former gang member and and is coming to share his story. Our club supports New Directions for Youth programs. They are dedicated to providing programs and services to at-risk youth and their families.
Also, on January 4th, you’ll be able to sign-up online for the annual District Conferencefrom May 4 – 7th. This is a 4 day event (I usually attend Friday, Saturday and Sunday!) that the district organizes that will be in Lake Arrowhead this year. Rooms are limited and they expect to be sold out soon! Watch for an email from the District This is a great opportunity to have fun with your fellow Rotarians from our club and meet new ones from the other 62 clubs in our District. Avenues of Service from many clubs share their events and ideas. One night, each club sets up a table with various drink and appetizers and we share with all the clubs. It’s one big party! We can all learn from this and bring it back to the club. This event inspired Paul Gross, our president elect, to bring Vision to Learn to the West Valley Boys and Girls club earlier last year. I’d like to see at least 20 of us at this event!
January 10th – Our club board will meet at Sheri Polak’s home at 6 p.m. followed by our Foundation Board meeting. Club board meetings are open to all members. If you are considering a leadership role in the club, you should attend! Note: This is a different day then we usually meet.
January 14th – Saturday – two events!
10 – 1 – Prepare hygiene kits for Days for Girls (meeting program in December) Contact Elizabeth Tilkian for more info.
4:00 – City of Angels Ballet performance at 4:00 in West Hollywood. Contact Dale Barnes for more info.
January 18th – Meeting time will be 12 – 1:30! Our religious panel will discuss “Religion: a Pathway orObstacle to Peace?” Invite family and friends to our meeting. Attendees will be required to buy lunch at this meeting. Thanks Paul Gross for organizing! (See flyer below)
Our lunch cost at the Country Club has increased this year, although we have not increased the meal price to our members. However, we are guaranteeing 25 eaters so PLEASE EAT LUNCH!!!!
A special shout out toNeal Goldman who has been our club photographer for several years. Thanks Neal, for taking pictures at our meetings and events for our newsletter as well as our annual slide presentation at our demotion dinner every June. Nicely done!
Also, thank you Bernie Otis, for writing up the meeting memoirs each week that are included in this newsletter.
Did you know…..Kim Wall broke her foot while walking her dog just before Christmas? Jeff Stern broke his wrists last year doing the same thing!!! Please be careful walking your pets!
Have a great year!
Yours in Rotary Service,
President Diane
Motion Picture & Television Fund By Bernie Otis
December 21) we were energized by a wonderful talk by Bob Beitcher, president and CEO of the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), which supports the entertainment community in living and aging well with an assisted living facility, hospital, independent living accommodations in Calabasas.
Bob described the activities of the programs and facilities available at MPTF. The residential community is designed exclusively for entertainment industry retirees and spouses and provides a unique environment geared to this special group. We pride ourselves on our many recreational and social activities, in addition to opportunities to interact with the working entertainment community.
Harry's Haven is a specialized unit of MPTF devoted to the care and well-being of entertainment industry members with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related conditions. It occupies a shady, garden-like corner of The Wasserman campus and can accommodate 30 residents.
MPTF operates a highly rated 40-bed Long-Term Care unit on The Wasserman Campus. It is a ‘mini community of services and support for residents who require 24/7 care. The newly refurbished unit is spacious and consists of both single and double rooms. A dynamic activities department creates stimulating opportunities for these special residents and also provides activities for individuals to socialize and dine in groups for those who are able. Prioritization of space in Long-Term Care is given to existing residents on campus whose needs become elevated and require skilled nursing care. Plans are being made for a new retirement facility at MPTF.
Following Bob’s talk our young exchange student Javier Piñeda from Chile presented slide show that introduced to his home Club in San Juan Machali of Rotary District 4340. He also thanked the members for their warm hospitality he has received. The meeting concluded with the induction of of a new member, Amina Nakiyaga.
Bob Beitcher, president and CEO of the Motion Picture & Television Fund.
Club Memory: Rose Goldwater (l), who died on March 27 with past president Sheri Polak.
Javier Piñeda, the Club's Exchange Student from Chile with Alice Muntean (l) and President Diane Nelson.
Rotary Youth Outreach: Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical
Rotary Youth Outreach is a program that gives Rotary Clubs the opportunity to share new experiences with under privileged children. Join us for Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical at the beautiful Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Thanks to the generosity of Rotarians and the Segerstrom Center the cost of this day has been significantly discounted. The cost includes the theater performance and lunch. Sponsoring Rotary Clubs are responsible for transportation and appropriate clothing for the children attending the theater. Clubs may purchase tickets for deserving children and an appropriate number of Rotarian chaperones. Child participants suggested age is between 7-11 years old. Tickets are limited and cost $25.00 each. To purchase tickets, contact Downey Rotarian Diane Davis at dianedavis4sc@gmail.com
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Stories
Posted by Michael Turner, M.S.
Traits of Rare Leaders
Although we are just at the halfway point of this Rotary year, planning is underway for those who will serve as president and District leadership positions in 2017 – 2018 under DG-elect Cozette Vargari. President-elects began their training last month with PREP and continue it next month with PETS. The key to being an effective club president is being a strong leader. There are four characteristics of leaders who excels in their role.
Modeling Rotary’s Mission and goals: You are the role model for your members and the community you serve. It is important to practice and promote Rotary’s values and mission.
“The mission of Rotary International (RI) is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
In addition, you must serve as a foundation for your relationships with club members and the actions they take in their community. The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Communications: It is crucial to keeps club members as well as the community “in the loop” about club projects and activities. Club members should be given information from RI on a regular basis in order to keep them interested and engaged in Rotary. There are many sources to call on including RI’s weekly e-mails, the website, Rotarian magazine, manuals and handbooks, and social media posts. Inspirational Writer Israelmore Ayivor said, “Information leads to transformation. If you are not inspired by being informed, you will expire by becoming deformed!”
Walking the Turf: Presidents need to maintain constant contact with their members. If members are absent from club meetings or do not participate in projects or activities reach out to them to learn why. It may be a transportation issue, lack of money, or overwhelming responsibilities at work or home. Whatever the reason they will appreciate a phone call from you, not an e-mail or text message. The latter two are too impersonal. Continue doing this every couple of weeks just to tell them what is happening at their club and in Rotary. By keeping them informed they will continue to be engaged in Rotary they will look forward to returning to their club.
In addition, it important to recognize members on their birthday, wedding anniversary and club anniversary. This can be as simple as mentioning their names at meetings or in your club’s newsletter. Some may bring in birthday or anniversary balloons, or present certificates.
Demonstrate High Ethical Standard: The Four-Way Test is an excellent start, but actions speak the loudest because there are no established ethical standards. Everyone has his or her own and they reflect his or her belief system that drives his or her actions, approach and attitude toward a wide range of situations. As you carry out your presidential duties remember that your members are watching and listening. If you take the low road they may follow your example. In addition, in this technology-driven age you never know when someone is recording your actions and posting them on social media.
The commensurate leader is engaged with his or her members and Rotary. One of my jobs right after graduate school was at the University of North Dakota. There were about 9,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. President Tom Clifford (pictured below) most faculty and staff by name as well as many students. When he walked the campus, which was on a regular basis, he would to talk to people. He also knew something personal about everyone: birthday, family members, illnesses or achievements.
Five years after I left the university, I returned to visit. Walking across the campus I heard someone call my name. I turned around and there was Tom Clifford. When I worked at the university I was a low level employee but he remembered me five years later. We stopped to talk and he asked, “How are things going in Los Angeles?” I was amazed that he remembers where I moved. Tom Clifford was a rare leader and a much admired one. Think about him as you carry out your duties as president in 2017 - 2018
Michael Turner, editor ► michael@bearsworth.com
P.O. Box 144 ► Woodland Hills, CA 91365 ► (818) 344-5776
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