The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club is proud to be a Peace Builder Club.
Thought for the Day
Funny for the Day:
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Marc Feigen introducing 2 Board of Directors Nominees
Steve Stanley-Board of Directors Nominee
Louis Hirsch Board of Directors Nominee
Bob Lewis Introducing Guest Speakers from Gold Coast Veterans Foundation
Becki Cramer- Executive Director
Jessi Gomez Program Director
Becki Cramer, Bob Lewis (seated), Jessie Gomez
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MANDATORY PARTICIPATION EVENTS FOR ALL THOUSAND OAKS ROTARIANS:
CHILI COOK-OFF-2027 TBD- SEE MARISSA BUSS
WINE FESTIVAL- June 13th 2027 - SEE DAVE MASCI
STREET FAIR - SUNDAY OCT 19, 2027 SEE CRYSTAL EVANS
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BECOMING A ROTARIAN IS A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE....
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. And have fun while were doing it!!!
President Michelle welcomed everyone, sharing how much she enjoys gathering each Thursday for lunch with such a wonderful group of like-minded people. She expressed how fortunate she feels to be part of this special club and to have the opportunity to spend time together each week.
With Veterans Day approaching, Michelle also shared her appreciation for all of our veterans, recognizing them as the true epitome of Rotary's motto, Service Above Self.
Inspirational Moment
Nelson Buss shared an inspirational message honoring the commitment and dedication of veterans everywhere. He spoke personally about the importance of military service, noting that his wife is a veteran, as was his father.
Nelson reminded everyone that when the military draft ended in 1973, those entering the armed services did so as volunteers, making their commitment to serve especially meaningful. He offered a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has answered the call to serve and expressed his deep gratitude to all veterans.
Following his inspirational message, Nelson led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of My Country, 'Tis of Thee.
Guest Introductions
Jeff Borenstein introduced our visiting Rotarian, Nate Harimoto, along with Becky Cramer and Jesse Gomez from the Camarillo Sunrise Rotary Club, who were also our featured speakers for the day.
Other guests joining us included Teresa Lallo, Don Beck, Allen Escotto, and Kelly Carroll. Susan Marcus was also welcomed as the guest of Laura Conway.
Nelson Buss Inspirational Moment and Song
Jeff Borenstein Guest Intros
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Announcements
Laura Conway, the club's Publicity Chair, shared an update on her efforts to increase the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks' visibility and recognition through several different platforms. She was pleased that local newspapers had published the story about the club's recent allocations and donations to area nonprofits, but emphasized that social media is another important way to spread the word about Rotary.
Laura encouraged everyone to share Rotary's good work on their personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. For anyone who isn't familiar with posting on social media, she happily offered to provide a little instruction. She also reminded members to wear their Rotary T-shirts when attending club and community events. For those who don't yet have one, Rotary shirts are currently available for purchase.
Laura welcomed additional ideas from members on how to increase the club's visibility and encouraged everyone to share suggestions.
Marc Feigen announced the winners of the World Series pool. Congratulations to Ean Kleiger, Chris Lamia, Lee Ladd, Dave Wender, Karen Furnari, Jeremy Paris, and Marc Feigen!
Rotary Foundation Fundraiser – November 19
President Michelle introduced Monica Marietta, the club's Foundation Chair, who announced an upcoming fundraiser benefiting The Rotary International Foundation on November 19, immediately before our regularly scheduled Rotary meeting.
The event promises to be a delightful combination of wine and desserts, featuring a silent auction with fabulous desserts, wines, and spirits. Members are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the festivities while supporting Rotary International.
Anyone interested in donating an item for the silent auction is encouraged to contact Monica Murrietta. Your contributions will help make this fundraiser a success!
Nate Harimoto had a reminder about the "name the K-9 Contest" that will be announced at the November 12th meeting.
This week's Happy Dollar Cup was carried by Dominic Pino, and members had plenty of reasons to celebrate, share good news, and express their gratitude.
Bob Lewis put in a happy dollar to share some wonderful news about his recovery. After a fall two years ago and a second surgery, he is finally feeling better and hopeful that his falling days are behind him. He recalled that after his last fall, Martin Anderson had to come to his rescue. Bob is looking forward to being able to attend more Rotary meetings now that he is recovering.
Michelle Nash contributed a very happy $20 to announce that her daughter, Chloe, passed the bar exam! Congratulations, Chloe!
Nelson Buss offered a happy dollar to congratulate his wife on winning her school board election.
Jeff Borenstein shared a happy dollar to thank Trevor Tylock for organizing the trip to Todd Road Jail for the Storybook Project. Jeff said it was a wonderful experience and one he truly appreciated.
Vicki Arndt shared an interesting connection between her professional life and Rotary. Having worked as a financial advisor for several years, she is required to complete continuing education courses. Her recent course focused on ethics, and she was pleased to discover that Rotary's Four-Way Test was included in the material. She also reminded everyone to mark their calendars for the club's upcoming Tijuana trip, January 16–18. Members will visit the Castro Limón Hospital and participate in providing hearing aids to children.
Pat McCoy was happy to report that he is back following his second knee surgery and that it was a success. He also reminded everyone that the Economic Forecast is coming up and said he would be sending an email asking members to sign up to serve on the committee.
Laura Conway added her encouragement for the upcoming Tijuana trip, saying it is truly a life-changing experience and strongly encouraging members to participate.
Louis Hirsch also thanked Trevor Tylock for the wonderful Storybook Project experience, describing it as incredible. He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all veterans for their service.
Maria Prescott contributed a heartfelt happy dollar in memory of her brother, Eddie, who gave his life in Vietnam on March 18, 1969. A touching reminder of the sacrifices made by our military families.
Mike Magasinn shared some exciting retirement plans. He and his wife had just returned from Tennessee, where they purchased property and are planning to build a home. They look forward to making Tennessee their retirement home in approximately three years.
Martin Anderson welcomed Bob Lewis back to Rotary with a happy dollar, although he jokingly added that Bob shouldn't expect him to come to the rescue again if he takes another fall!
Trevor Tylock offered his own happy dollar, telling Jeff Borenstein that during their visit to Todd Road Jail, Jeff fit right in! Trevor also thanked everyone who participated in making the Storybook Project such a success.
Sara Collins was grateful to celebrate another birthday and, most importantly, to be healthy.
Paul Dryman added a happy dollar in recognition of the Storybook Project and the wonderful experience it provided.
Felix Masci shared a special memory of attending a National Immunization Day with his wife, Barbara. They had received matching jackets, like the one Felix was wearing that day. Since Barbara has passed away, Felix still has her jacket and offered to donate it to anyone named Barbara, as her name is engraved on it. A thoughtful gesture and a lovely way to keep her memory alive.
Susan Murata reminded everyone about the upcoming tree decorating project for Hospice of the Conejo. The club will be decorating its tree next Thursday, November 12, immediately following the regular Rotary meeting. Mike Ladd helped get the effort started by handing Susan a $20 bill toward the purchase of ornaments. With that generous first contribution, several members immediately stood up and made additional cash donations. It was wonderful to see everyone jump in to support this worthwhile cause!
Jody Wintermute shared that both the Storybook Project and the Tijuana experience are truly life-changing opportunities. She expressed how grateful she was to have been able to participate.
Finally, Dorothy Sullivan provided an update on the open-space cow-grazing project, which is now underway. Cows are grazing on the hillsides without the need for fencing, helping to keep brush and vegetation under control. It's a practical approach to maintaining our open spaces and helping reduce fire fuel.
Marc Feigen introduced two additional Nominees who have generously volunteered to serve on the club's Board of Directors if elected.
Louis Hirsch, who lives in Agoura Hills with his wife, Janet, and their four dogs. Louis owns a lighting company, but he shared a meaningful perspective on his work and his commitment to service. As he put it, lighting a room is nice, but lighting a path for someone in need is even better. That, he explained, is the work that matters most.
Louis expressed his gratitude for Rotary and the opportunity it provides to turn good intentions into meaningful help for others, one project at a time. He is honored to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors.
Steven Stanley, joined the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks in 1996. Over the years, Steve has served on the Board during two presidential terms. He has also been a dentist practicing in Newbury Park for the past 30 years.
Steve said he is honored to once again be considered for a position on the Board. If elected, he looks forward to another fun and rewarding experience, helping the club in whatever way he can.
Bob Lewis came forward to introduce our guest speakers, Becky Cramer, Executive Director of the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation, and Jesse Gomez, the foundation's Program Director. Before introducing them, Bob provided some important background about our own club foundation, TORF (Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation).
Understanding Our Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation (TORF)
Bob explained that TORF is the charitable foundation of our Rotary Club. Its board is structured according to the foundation's bylaws and includes five immediate past presidents, along with additional members serving on the board.
The current board members include Darin Arrasmith, Pat McCoy, Patricia Jones, John Bradley, David Masci, Dave Stowell, Vicki Arndt, Roger Benson, Dave Wender, Susan Murata, Monica Murrietta (club's Foundation Chair) and Bob Lewis.
The foundation currently has a corpus of approximately $1.4 million. Each year, 3% of the corpus is allocated to support club projects, including scholarships and other significant community initiatives. This year's allocation amounts to $37,242.
Bob also explained that the club's Wine Event, established in 1990, is an important fundraiser. Proceeds are divided equally, with 50% going toward the club foundation's corpus and the other 50% benefiting Special Olympics.
A particularly meaningful example of the foundation's impact was a donation of $31,000 to the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation several years ago. Those funds were used to purchase a mobile outreach van to help veterans get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation: Helping Veterans Who Fall Through the Cracks
Becky Cramer opened the presentation by thanking the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks for its generous support. She was pleased to share some of the results and the difference that our contributions have made in the lives of local veterans.
The Gold Coast Veterans Foundation was founded in 2006 after Ron Greenwood and his wife, Lisa, witnessed the lengthy government wait times veterans often faced when seeking assistance. They began providing direct support to veterans from the back office of their business in Camarillo. What started as a simple effort to help those in need grew into an organization with a powerful mission.
Their motto says it all: "We help veterans who are falling through the cracks."
Today, the foundation serves approximately 33,000 veterans in Ventura County, with offices located in Camarillo, near the Flynn Road exit, and in the Thousand Oaks Community Conscience Building.
They assist veterans of all ages and at every stage of post-military life, including those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the post-9/11 Global War on Terror.
One of the foundation's most valuable resources is the mobile outreach van purchased with the Rotary Club's $31,000 donation. The van allows their team to reach unhoused veterans and others who are among the most vulnerable in our community.
Their approach begins with meeting immediate needs, providing emergency food, water, shelter, and clothing. Once a veteran's circumstances and available benefits are assessed, the foundation works with trusted partner agencies to develop a personalized housing plan designed to achieve permanent, stable housing.
Becky and Jesse shared several inspiring success stories, demonstrating how timely assistance and personal attention can change the direction of someone's life.
The foundation also provides medical and mobility devices, carefully tailoring equipment to meet each veteran's specific needs and helping foster greater independence. These devices are loaned to veterans on an indefinite basis, ensuring they have access to the equipment they need for as long as necessary.
The foundation also partners with Manna, allowing them to bring veterans directly to the food pantry to receive groceries and assistance. This partnership helps ensure food security for veterans throughout the community.
Becky concluded the presentation with a powerful statement: "Nobody else does what Gold Coast does." She explained that the foundation fills the gaps by providing whatever veterans need, whether it is immediate assistance or longer-term support. She once again expressed her sincere appreciation to the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks for its generosity and continued support.
Closing Remarks
President Michelle closed the program by reminding everyone that the mobile outreach van purchased with the club's donation was parked outside. She encouraged members to take a look at the van following the meeting and see firsthand the difference their generosity is making.
Michelle then invited Becky Cramer and Jesse Gomez to sign a book that will be donated to a Title I school in their honor, recognizing their participation and the important work of the Gold Coast Veterans Foundation.
She concluded by thanking everyone who participated in making the day's program such a meaningful and inspiring success.
