Vision Statement –
Our club is a group of individuals who together demonstrate service above self through our actions to create lasting change for the betterment of our local
and global communities.
Mission Statement –
We provide service to others by applying our diverse talents and resources in meaningful projects that support our community and youth programs while building friendships through fellowship.
Values –
The 4-Way Test, Fellowship, Leadership, Integrity, Diversity, & Service
___________________________
Thought for the Day
Joke of the Day
__________________________
MANDATORY PARTICIPATION EVENTS FOR ALL THOUSAND OAKS ROTARIANS:
CHILI COOK-OFF- Concluded for 2025- SEE MARISSA BUSS
WINE FESTIVAL-SUNDAY AUGUST 24TH- SEE DAVE MASCI
STREET FAIR -SUNDAY OCTOBER 19TH SEE CRYSTAL EVANS
_____________________
_______________________________
MEMBERSHIP IS IMPORTANT....
Invite a friend, family member, colleague to join Rotary.
Encourage Them to Be Part of Something GREAT!!!
Why wouldn’t you want them to be part of an organization that feeds the hungry, cures the sick, provides education to women and children, provides clean water and sanitation. And now is taking on the environment.
President Pat opened the meeting declaring The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks is the Best Rotary Club in the World!!. In honor of Rotary Int'l Youth Awareness Month, the program today is the 4-Way Essay Contest for High School Students. Pat also reminded everyone tonight is the My Stuff Bags project and the State of the Schools meeting for CVSD.
Pledge and Song: Victor Hayek then came forward to lead the club in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Chris Steele with help from Karen Furnari leading the club in God Bless America.
Inspirational Moment: Victor then said when he came to this country he was 7 years old and his mother got involved with the church and took him to volunteering for those less fortunate, and it gave him a sense of happiness and fulfilment. When he got older he donated money, more than time, but it was still fulfilling. He said when Jere Robings asked him to 'join' the club..... he soon found out that he was not 'joining Rotary', he was 'becoming a Rotarian'. Rotary is giving and has been rewarding for him as he is continuously inspired to give back.
Guest Introductions: Chris Steele introduced Past Pres-Skip Roberts, visiting Rotarian-from Ojai Rotary-Past Pres Jack Jacobs. Wife of Matt Lallo- Teresa. And guest of Karen Albaum-Gary Siegel and guest of Michelle Nash- Ellen Muscarella.
Victor Hayek Pledge and Inspirational Moment
Chris Steele and Karen Furnari "God Bless America"
Michelle Nash announced that it is time to sign up for Fireside Chats which will be held on May 29 and 30. Host homes are needed as well.
She also announced that the My Stuff Bags stuffing project was tonight (Thursday) from 4-6 pm
David Masci reminded everyone that we will be making sandwiches for Harbor House on May 17th. Supplies and volunteers are needed
Trevor Tyloch needs a couple more readers for the Reading is Fundamental program. Reading to elementary students next week. Contact Trevor.
Carol Freeman said someone left a Rotary Vest at the Rotary Booth at the Cook off, but Susan Murata claimed it saying she left it there in case anyone needed one.
Darin Arrasmith and David Masci talk about the RYLA experience:
David started by saying it was an incredible experience with 216 kids participating this year. Darin said he first participated at RYLA in 2004 and began running the program in 2007. He said it is a wonderful weekend for the kids, teaching them team building and confidence. He didn't want to give too much away because next week's program is All About RYLA. You don't want to miss it!!
Matt Lallo donated 64 Happy Dollars in honor of he and wife Teresa's 64th Anniversary.
Susan Murata let everyone know that in the foyer there are left over "Chili Cook Off Cutting Boards" which was the cooks gift this year for the Cook Off. She said help yourself....first come first serve.
KT Connor said Jere is always with her, but today especially because his Granddaughter and Daughter were at Rotary with her today.
Karen Albaum said she visited RYLA and it, indeed, was an incredible experience that everyone should experience.
Larry Baker- said Rich Folsom was one of his scouts that went on to be an Eagle Scout and one of the people there today was another young man that made Eagle Scout. (sorry didn't catch his name)
Tanya Calijury had a Westlake magazine that had pictures from the Mardi Gras Ball featuring Patricia Jones, Maria Prescott, Laura Conway.
Mike Magasinn said this was the best Chili Cook Off ever and there was very little chatter on the walkie talkies.
Louis Hirsch and his wife just returned from France and he's happy because it's his birthday.
Jeff Borenstein gave 1$, which was collected as a tip at his Chili Cook Off Beer Booth, he had previously turned in $68 in tips and thanked Karen and Fred for their hard work.
Michael Ladd said he has finally recovered from his 13 hour work shift at the Chili Cook off.
Jason Corey is happy that tax season is finally over and he can start coming regularly to Rotary meetings.
Vicki Arndt said the reason there wasn't any chatter on the Walkie Talkies at the Chili Cook Off was because they weren't working. She said she turned in all of her tips as well in the cash bags.
Marissa Buss agreed this was the smoothest Chili Cook Off and thanked everyone, especially the Chili Cook Off Committee for everything they did.
Somone asked "is that why you are sitting by yourself today"
Michelle Nash thanked Marissa for a job well done and then said she is happy because her son was accepted at Albert Einstein school, which means his Med School will be Free tuition.
Fine Master-Trevor Tyloch-Questions about Tik Tok $20 Right $30 Wrong (Sorry, I didn't get everything written down correctly)
The Session was long and most of us did not understand anything about Tik Tok. Questions included things like "What year did TikTok reach 2 Billion downloads? 2020", "What is a max video length?- 60 Minutes", Which Tik Tok star is known as an expert?- Khaby Lane", "How many languages is used on Tik Tok worldwide? - 40", "How are videos recommended? - Algorithm" and more. Fine Session Victims were:
Crystal Evans-Wrong, Pat Mc Coy Wrong, Don Moors-Right, Karen Furnari-Wrong, Carol Freeman-Right, George Jones-Wrong, Darin Arrasmith-Right, Paul Dryman ??,Lee Ladd Wrong, Ellen Cheney Right, Felix Masci (help from David)- Right, Maria Prescott-Wrong, John Bradley-Wrong, Karen Albaum-Right, Martin Anderson Wrong, Louis Hirsch-Wrong, Tanya Calijury-Wrong
PROGRAM: The Four Way Essay Contest: Trevor Tyloch started the program by explaining how the contest is judged. The committee reads all of the essays and selects their favorite; they then read them again and make a selection of their top three. There were several that were good, but did not meet the parameters of including the 4 Way Test.
There were 88 entries all together for NPHS and TOHS. All three of the winners were from TOHS. First place receives $500, Second place receives $300, and Third place receives $250.
Melissa Wood an English teacher from TOHS thanked the Rotary Club for giving the students the opportunity to participate in the contest and to read their essays to an actual audience.
3rd Place: Katie Smith: Katie's essay was about telling the truth, even when she is nervous about the outcome. She broke the laptop she and her mom share. Knowing it probably happened at school, she first thought about not saying anything and pretending she didn't notice it was broken. In the end, she decided to be honest and tell her mom. She was afraid she might be grounded, but her mom was fine and wasn't mad. Katie realized that by applying the principals of the four way test, it was a path to always doing the right thing.
2nd Place-Katlin Brown: Katlin recounted a story when she was younger (7yrs) and stole a pair of shoestrings from a store; she stuffed them in her boots and walked out of the store with her dad. When she pulled off her boots, later in front of her father at another store, the shoestrings fell out. Her father saw them and walked her back to the shoe store and made her give them back. She learned that if she had applied the 4-way test, it would have been better for everyone.
1st Place- Arianna Yesingy: Arianna told a simple story about she and her friends planning what they should eat for lunch off campus. Noone was making a decision, so they left it up to her. She decided to go to a strip mall where there were several options to choose from, that way everyone could get what they wanted. She realized that putting others 1st was the honest and best policy.
At the end of the program Trevor and then President Pat Mc Coy congratulated the winners and passed out certificates and their cash winnings.
.png)
