Rotary Club of Greater Van Nuys
Service Above Self
Meeting at 94th Aero Squadron
Thursdays, 12:10 p.m.
16320 Raymer St., Van Nuys, CA 91406 /October 18, 2012
Flag Salute:Leo O'Biecunas
Invocation:Barbara Pampalone
Attending Members: Barbara Pampalone, Don Fetherolf, Don Reinken, Elaine Bern, PDG (Past District Governor) Eli Gauna, PDG Emilio Basile, Fernando Moreno, Judy Coates, Guy Mangia, Razi Sheikh, James Tenner, Marie Valencia, Javier Nunez, Leo O'Biecunas, Martha Stulman, Robin Kellogg, Ron Wolf, Roz Kogler, Tom Harris, Mauricio Aranda, Beth Ullman
Guests: Wayne Slappy, guest of the club who is a Financial Advisor; Andrea Reinken, and Candy Zavala and Deandra Garcia of Tierra del Sol with honorees Spencer Sanders and Deni Trejo, plus Deni’s parents, Leticia and Javier Trejo
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Club Assembly
Next week we’ll be discussing proposed projects and other club business. Please give Mauricio your ideas for projects before then, so he can organize things for the meeting. His email address is , or call him at 818-634-4043. We want to hear from everyone!
That’s Entertainment
Fernando Moreno, one of our newest members, will be performing with the American Burlesque Troupe in their show Friday, October 26, in Hollywood at the Theatre Asylum (on Santa Monica Blvd. and Vine). Part of the proceeds from the ticket sales are going to one of the charities the Troupe supports. It promises to be a fun-filled evening of Las Vegas style comedy, dance and musical entertainment, and members of the Rotary Club of Greater Van Nuys are invited! Theatre Asylum is located at 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles; 323-962-1632; website For a sample of the show and tickets, click on
Thanksgiving Baskets
Robin reminded us we are supporting the North Valley Y program providing 2000 Thanksgiving food baskets to needy families. if you’d like to buy a basket already filled, the cost is $35. Or volunteer – the Y needs helpers November 13 and 14 to assemble and distribute the baskets. For more information, contact Maithili Patil at 818-489-4762 or , or ask Robin.
Football Pool
Leo announced the football pool board, for the rivalry between USC and UCLA, is now up and ready. You can participate for just $5.
Joint Service Club Luncheon
PDG Emilio passed around a sign-up sheet for those attending the November 15 annual Thanksgiving Joint Service Club Luncheon our club will be hosting this year. If you will be there but didn’t sign up, please let Emilio know. We also need volunteers that day to check people in and act as greeters. Because of the number of attendees, it will be held downstairs. Please be sure to attend this special, once-a-year event!
Harvest Festival October 31
Javier reminded us to help support our Halloween event at Victory Outreach Church in Arleta, 13580 Osborne St., half way between the I-5 freeway and Nordhoff St. If you haven’t yet done so and are available, please sign up to volunteer. There will be lots of activities to keep you busy, from selling corn to assisting the dentists at the dental checkup booth; handing out information at the Rotary booth to keeping both kids and animals safe at the petting zoo, or judging costumes. Help is needed starting around 5:00 p.m. to set up. Wear a costume if you have one! Contact Javier to sign up. He can be reached at 213-216-2795 (cell) or by email to .
PolioPlus in the News
Don and Andrea Reinken told us NPR is in the middle of a 5-day special focusing on polio through 7-minute interview segments that are very well done. While this interesting series will be over on Saturday, you can visit NPR’s website where the interviews will still be available:
Bingo
PDG Emilio reported we had only 49 players last week and need 45 just to break even. Please give him or Rich any ideas for growth. Andrea Reinken suggested adding posters with project photos and Rotary information, in part to show people what the Bingo funds are used for.
New Member Orientation
We are fortunate to have added four new members to our club since July 1; now we need to tell them a lot more about Rotary! Don and Andrea Reinken have graciously offered to host a traditional fireside chat (with real fire, if the weather is cool enough) on Sunday, December 9 at their home. If you will be in town, please put it on your calendar. Tentatively it will be a brunch.
Board Meeting
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, November 15 at 6:00 in the building next to Rich’s office. Please remember to email your reports to the board if for any reason you cannot attend.
PROGRAM
Mauricio introduced Candy Zavala of Tierra del Sol and our program honoring the “unsung” members of our community. Candy introduced fellow employee Deandra Garcia, honorees Spencer Sanders and Deni Trejo, plus Deni’s parents, Leticia and Javier Trejo.
L-R Candy Zavala, Spencer Sanders, Deandra Garcia, Deni Trejo, Leticia Trejo and Javier Trejo
Spencer joined the program last year. Currently he works at LA Valley College; volunteers at the North Hollywood LAPD office two days a week, helping with their fundraisers and maintenance, and he helps the AIDS Project LA with delivery of food to the home-bound.
Deanna is a Community Trainer for Deni, who graduated from their program, gaining food service skills, and now works in the State building in Van Nuys. He also volunteers – for Assemblyman Cardenas and MEND. Both our honorees were given certificates of merit and $50 gift certificates.
L-R Candy Zavala, Spencer Sanders, Deandra Garcia, Deni Trejo and Mauricio Aranda
SPEAKER: Bobby Arias, Communities in Schools
A native of the Valley (and for several generations), previously at both USC and Loyola Marymount, and partner with the Van Nuys Rotary club on an annual holiday show, Bobby Arias is very involved in both education and community. Now CEO of Communities in Schools, he believes that “programs don’t change kids, relationships do.” And when any kids fail, so does part of society.
Javier Nunez, Bobby Arias and Marie Valencia
Bobby told us how his education, from local public schools to CSUN to USC (where he earned his Masters in Social Work), with lots of help and encouragement, showed him how big a difference help can make even for someone without family or big financial hurdles. He made it a point to give that help back. At USC he particularly helped first generation youths; at Loyola he was a great example as their first Latino athletic coach. But seeing how so many groups go after the small pool of students who are already doing well spurred Bobby to do something to expand the pool.
Recruited to join the local office of Communities in Schools (CS) 25 years ago, he’s been there ever since, focusing on private-public partnerships that develop opportunities for kids, increasing graduation rates and keeping kids in school.
In 1990, when his best friend’s son was murdered while learning to drive, he realized he hadn’t expanded the pool to include kids who need a second chance. They are now in their 20th year of such a program, showing his belief in recovery and redemption. This and other programs exemplify the organization’s 5 principles:
- All kids deserve a caring, one on one relationship with a caring adult. One must love them into change and turn them onto living before they can be turned onto learning.
- All kids need a safe haven. Project Red makes it possible for each one who gets good grades to go to any college, even setting up a safe passage for kids to get to and from school.
- All kids need a healthy start. Too many children are raising children. Recently he was called to help a pregnant 10-year-old!
- All kids need an opportunity to give back. Sometimes we have to accept, but we all need to give, as well. With some huge events (40,000 in attendance), this attitude kept them successful and with zero arrests.
- Everyone needs a marketable skill. If these programs don’t lead to a good job, they’ve failed. CS is now partnered with Mission College for CS students and others in need of work in the area to get at least the 30% of jobs reserved for locals on the $2.9 million construction project at Mission – 1000 jobs, with trainees starting at $15/hour! This is now expanding to the other 8 LA Community College campuses.
L-R Marie Valencia, Martha Stulman, Bobby Arias Don Reinken and James Tenner
For the last 10 years CS has worked with the LAPD to stop gang violence and create opportunities for all SFV residents. Monday they’ll celebrate one milestone with the opening of a new job development and leadership center on public property at Osborne St. and San Fernando Rd. It will be rent free for 10 years, but will have to produce results, showing community and individual successes.
Bobby ended with a well-sung song advocating help and support for children. He can be reached at 818-891-9399.
REMINDERS
November 1 will be our official Governor’s visit from District Governor Lew Bertrand. Please make every possible effort to attend!
Major Honors to be Awarded November 1 Mike Quiroga will be honored as Philanthropist of the Year and our club as the top organization by the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals at a special luncheon on November 1 at Courtyard by Marriott in Sherman Oaks.
The October 27 RI Foundation fundraiser is a masquerade ball, with auctions. Tickets are $125 each, but the club will contribute $25/member or $50/couple to encourage every one to attend. James Tenner has the opportunity drawing tickets – you could win $500, $1,500 or $3,000! Those tickets are just $10.
Donation Collections: Please bring old eyeglasses, and unused greeting cards, especially holiday cards, to donate to different charities. Beth will be collecting them through December 13.
Hope of the Valley Mission is in need of clean socks, underwear and suitcases for their homeless daily shower guests. Razors and razor blades are also needed. If you can help provide some of these essentials, please contact Jonathan Leeper at 818-392-0020, or by email to . Items can also be delivered to the First Presbyterian Church in Northridge, 10400 Zelzah Ave. (between Devonshire and Chatsworth). Their phone number is 818-360-1831.
We need a new club logo, both for our bulletin and our new flag. If you have a great idea of what that should look like, please bring a sketch to a meeting or give it to a board member. There may even be a prize in it for you.
Happy Bucks
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Happy Bucks this week, including Martha, who was forced by fate and a failing vehicle to get a new car this week.
PolioPlus
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Priscilla Pig for PolioPlus this week.
Opportunity Drawing
Congrats to Ron Wolf, who won half the $60 pot.
Notable Quotables
“What is the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)
Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other. Poor Richard's Almanac, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American publisher, author, inventor, scientist and diplomat
Meeting Information for Nearby Clubs
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