THE Express Rotary-West Newsletter - Reggie Wood demotion party 6/19/10

Incoming President Stephanie Midgett was in Montreal for the International Rotary Convention, but she sent (via Alice Gardner) a copy of the invocation read at Reggie's first meeting as President a year ago. Also, some mushroom pate'.

Past President John Kenyon presented Reggie with a gift from the club: A plaque commemorating his term of office and recognizing his "outstanding service." Also, a Rotary Pin with an embedded diamond and the notation "Past President."

Reggie was fortunate to have his entire family with him, including his parents, his brother (who came in from Colorado) and his daughters.

Photo by Les Gardner

Reggie presented a new pin to Bob Beeby, whose title changes from President-Nominee to President-Elect.

This evening marked the occasion of Bob's 39th birthday. All of us, including Sara, sang Happy Birthday to him, thus frightening the coyotes into Santa Barbara county.

Reggie thanked our gracious hosts, Sid and Sheila Cohn. Sid is at left.

"It's our pleasure, " Sid said.

John thanked Alice Gardner, the hostess with the firstest and mostest, and Maud Kenyon who showed up early to help set the spread. John also thanked Rob and Linda Long, Linda Taylor for the centerpieces, and Lavon Roberts.

John spoke for us all when he said that he was glad to see Dietrich and Jackie Pahnke.

Dietrich has been absent while recovering from a serious fall, but he looked fine among his friends.

Right: Dietrich Pahnke
with Patty and Ross Atkinson

John also thanked his guests Sue and Colin Walker for attending.

Duncan and Pat-in-the-hat Nelles, seen at left, also made the season.

Steve Frank, a professional emergency medical technician, performs the
hemline maneuver on Bryan Crawford, who was choking on a recycled hot dog.

"We have an amazing club. This year we gave over 15-thousand dollars to Nordhoff High School. In our 25th Anniversary year, we have the Floating Classroom, we have water projects going..."

"Another thing we do great every year is our support for the Rotary Foundation, in many ways. It was founded over a century ago in 1917. Through last year, we've given over 409-thousand dollars to the Foundation. Our goal for this year was 12-thousand, with 100% participation. We met that goal and contributed over 17-thousand, as we have in each of the last twelve years."

"We contributed over 22-hundred dollars to the PolioPlus campaign."

Right: Robyn and Jim Halverson

Jim told us that this year, three members have achieved Paul Harris Fellowships plus One.

Gayel Childress accepted the award for Dennis Jones.

Maud Kenyon, seen at right with Sheila Cohn, received an award even though she's joined a club in Colorado.

Three of our members have achieved Paul Harris plus Two. Michelle Henson is seen at left.

"We've had 279 Paul Harris Fellows, and seven major donors--those who've given over 10-thousand dollars; and three more who've given over 10-thousand in their will.

Ken and Luann Fay have given over 25-thousand dollars to the permanent fund", Jim said.

Lavon Roberts, shown at right, has been a member long enough to qualify for honorary status under the "rule of 85". She chooses to remain a fully active, dues-paying member.

David and Angela May have given much of their time and labor to fundraising for Rotary-West, as organizers of the Wine Festival and the Big Chili Cookoff.

Dave is one of the major movers behind the Floating Classrooms.

This evening, he presented Angela with a Paul Harris Fellowship award.

Bob Pergson is a Paul Harris Fellow plus four.

So is Rene Briggs, who will give a Fellowship to her grandson later this year.

Ray Smith, standing next to her, is not a plus-four yet, but gave his plus-three Fellowship to a deserving Nordhoff High School teacher a week after this photo was taken.

President-Elect Bob Beeby is "halfway to major donor" status.

Photo by Les Gardner

Honorary Member Cliff Norton became a Paul Harris plus five donor this year. He plans to give one to his brother.
Jane McClenahan, who was out of town at the International Rotary Convention, became a Paul Harris plus 7.
Teresa Rooney will present a Paul Harris Fellowship of her own this year.

Past-President Reggie gave a Fellowship award to his daughter, Jocelyn.

She was an Interactor during her years at Nordhoff, and has done many hours of volunteer work.

Rob Long gave a loquacious presentation on the value of "recycling, reusing, reiterating, and regurgitating." He pointed out the that tables we were eating off of were actually recycled Cool-Whip tubs.

"See this deck screw? It used to be a parakeet. Reggie, you've inspired me. I'm going to build a guest house, using only what arrives in my mailbox."

Sheila Cohn told us that her husband Sid always buys his clothes at Help of Ojai, so he can give up on getting anything new for Father's day.

"A lot of people have been asking me what I think about my Rotary Year. Well, it had a beginning, a middle, and an end. That's all I figured out so far."

"Really, what kind of year do you get with a club like this? It's a club that doesn't look down, and doesn't shy away from challenges. Y'all need to congratulate yourselves. It's been a very good year and it's all because of you."

"We had our 25th anniversary earlier this year. Our first President, John Gray, was unable to make it, because unfortunately, he died. But I can tell he must have been a great influence."

"In July, we had two new members, Tom Farmer and Nick Oatway. They marched right in with Mike Caldwell and gave our schools 64-hundred dollars, because they were in a pinch."

"Then we picked up another new member, Jim Chase. And we prepared for the Big Chili Cookoff. And another new member, Holly Wiggins. We saw our foreign exchange student, Rubea, throughout the year, and helped her tour America when her year with us was over.. Bill Shouse always supports us with that. In October, the GSE team came around from Bangla Desh, and brought us some major street cred. Then we had our social event at the lake, and got to taste Bryan Crawford's wonderful spaghetti. Also in that month Bruce Dunwoody showed up at a meeting. And also our District Governor, Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith."

"In November, the Rotorboat was moved into the Rotary Foundation, and that seemed like some kind of accomplishment. There was legal mumbo-jumbo, and resolutions, and things like that. And we started an endowment fund, 50-thousand dollars. Sometime on down through the years, that's going to pay off."

"In December, our old friend Father Jack passed away. It's bitter sweet. It's always that way."

"In January, the Floating Classroom docents started preparing lessons. And we lost member Bill Lotts. And Bryan went to the Rose Parade on the Rotary Float, which made us all proud. And another new member joined, Ward Wright. "

"March... We had our first classroom on the lake. That was one of my highlights, to see that happen. Thanks to everybody who made that happen. To make it especially poignant, a bald eagle flew about the boat on that day. Also in March, Bruce Dunwoody came to another meeting."

"In April, we got involved in one of those Rotary Barbeques, at the Ojai Tennis Tournament. And thank you everybody, for going along with Rotary At Work Day, and raking and spreading the mulch at Rotary Community Park, because something actually had to happen. Two more classes on the lake, and Interact went out for their cruise. How many, Michelle? Over twenty-five. and C.J. MacLeod certified me to crash the boat. Stay tuned, buckle up, it's gonna happen.

"In June, we got some articles about this in the newspaper. Thanks, Ray, and whoever else was involved in that. Stephanie had a lot to do with that as well. Stephanie taking over next year reminds me of one of those relay races, the baton-passing thing. No lollygagging around here. Just continue with a job well done."

"It's great to be in Rotary, where they put service above self. That's what's needed in the world. The board accomplished some things behind the scenes. I'm telling you, there's something to that. I would like to tell the Board that there's still money in the bank. We pledged $400 to the Academic Decathlon. We helped the student bereavement program, which was going under. And like every year, scholarships. We helped the Friday club with $500 for the Sherri Skinner Educational Endowment Fund. And the Nordhoff yearbook. Stephanie got the OK disaster signs laminated--a lot of 'em. We sent three students to RYLA. Our own Rick Turner put some water filters in Guatemala, and things of that nature. And Linda Taylor was able to finish the Thailand dental clinic project."

Parting Thought: "Stand not upon the order of thy going." -- Lady MacBeth