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 By Clara Germani
Bill “Chilly” Chillingworth walked out the door of his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 7th — a normal, bright California, Tuesday morning — for a business appointment 60 miles south. He would never see the house again He didn’t initially worry, because his neighborhood isn’t typical wildfire fuel: It’s a flat neighborhood with green lawns and no dry wildland around it, he says. But he can vividly chart the crescendo of panic triggered when his phone alarm erupted with an evacuation order. As he raced northward to meet his fiancé, they talked on the phone and feverishly checked off the so-called “p’s” she should grab as she fled: people, pets, pictures, paperwork. |
Fellow Rotarians, 
Historian Sheri Polak says is a club record. The Club was recognized for its 
Due to the fires, we had to postpone several events. We will reschedule our Topanga
Rotary has a remarkable record when it comes to health initiatives. Rotary has helped bring polio to the brink of eradication, and individual clubs have carried out a myriad of projects focused on preventing disease and supporting maternal and child health. Now the global pandemic has brought attention to another aspect of health that is often overlooked: mental health. In many places, depression, anxiety, and suicide are viewed as things to be ashamed of and kept quiet. But Rotarians are recognizing the gaps in understanding and resources and are stepping up to help. Mental health is an area that has been neglected by many people for too long because of the stigma associated with it. The involvement of Rotary clubs will gradually reduce the stigma, and more and more people will begin to be comfortable around the issue.
The first lunch meeting of our club this year was on January 22 and it was a big success. We presented a $2,000 check to Optimist-Pacific Lodge to fund specific items needed for their program. Ashley McGullam, a volunteer, and Jodi Reneaud, W.E.R.C. initiative director, offered an overview of what Pacific Lodge is doing for the community. Lois Koch received a shadow box in memory of her husband,Gary, a longtime member of our club. We confirmed the nomination of Bryna Hornstein (bottom photo on the right) to be our President in the 2026-2027 Rotary year (a mere 1 year 5 months and 8 days away but who’s counting?)
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