February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution month
2025-2026 Rotary International Theme
Trevor Tyloch-Happy Cup
Herb Gooch- Fine Master
Thought for the Day
Funny for the Day:
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MANDATORY PARTICIPATION EVENTS FOR ALL THOUSAND OAKS ROTARIANS:
CHILI COOK-OFF- May 3, 2026- SEE MARISSA BUSS
WINE FESTIVAL-June 14, 2026- SEE DAVE MASCI
STREET FAIR -3rd SUNDAY in OCT 2026 SEE CRYSTAL EVANS
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Jeff Borenstein introduced Guest Speaker
Guest Speaker- Regina Biddings-Muro
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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.
The lunch meeting was called to order by President Darin Arrasmith, at 12.27 pm.
INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT: President Darin February is Peace Month so he talked about how and why we are frequently being asked to be afraid and oppose things. While we can easily be turned against one another, we need to stop and pause and ask ourselves how we can propagate that which bends toward Peace Building. Darin suggested we do what we can to get away from the destructive noise. Darin then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Dr. Fred Lindberg leading everyone in the room in singing My Country ‘Tis of Thee.
GUEST INTRODUCTIONS. Paul Dryman handled the introductions: 1) JackJacobs from the Ojai Club, 2) Jeff Borenstein’s guest was Edmundo Muro, husband of Regina Biddings-Muro, 3) Matt Lallo’s guest was his wife Teresa, 3) Keith Wintermute’s guest was his wife, Jody, and Laura Conway’s guest was Peter Heerma.
Pat McCoy showed off the new 16-page brochure for this year’s Economic Forecast Breakfast.
Pat also told everyone about the upcoming Comedy show (flyer on the tables) that was so much fun last year where he was bent over in laughter. He had eight VIP passes to give away.
Steve Stanley is looking for nominations for this year’s recipient of the ConlanAward – he said it should be someone who has gone above and beyond in service to the community. He also welcomed fellow Rotarians to serve with him on the Conlan committee, which is currently a committee-of-one.
Monica Murrietta had a get-well card for Judy St. John (knee replacement) for all to sign and was happy to haveRegina as today’s program speaker and also reminded all to sign up with Jeff Borenstein for Mystery Night,
Sommer Barwick was enthusiastically happy, with her arms waving in the air, to see her good friend, Regina.
FINE SESSION-Herb’s theme was Economics, particularly considering the upcoming Economic Forecast Breakfast, for which he had praise for Conference leaders Sevak Khodabakhshian and Pat McCoy. $40.00 for correct answers, $60.00 for incorrect answers. Herb asked members of the Conference committee to stand for the first series of questions
Sommer Barwick was CORRECT in her knowing that it is Untrue that the $2 bill had been discontinued.
Pat Hanley was CORRECT in knowing that Sweden has gone almost completely cashless.
Marc Feigen CORRECTLY knew that two-thirds of the $100 bills in existence are currently in circulation outside of the United States.
Karen Albaum was INCORRECT as she did not know that Amethyst is the birthstone for February. Karen was however CORRECT when asked which President was not born in February -that being Jefferson who was born in April.
Both Regina and Ean Kleiger were INCORRECT when it came to knowing that duck quacks have no echo.
HARVEST FOOD PANTRY - FIGHT HUNGER. FEED YOUR NEIGHBORS!
Help the Harvest Food Pantry feed food insecure families in Thousand Oaks! Volunteers are needed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of the month as well as some Tuesday mornings. more information, please contact volunteer recruiter Patricia Williams at patrishawill@gmail.com. Location is at United Methodist Church, 1000 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks.
NATURE MADE GREAT RACE - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED APRIL 8TH, 9TH, 10TH, 11TH
Volunteers will help with a variety of tasks and duties including: Goodie Bag Stuffing, Trail Course Monitor, Water Station Volunteer, Race Day Registration/Packet Pick-Up, Bag Check, Lead Mountain Biker, Adult Bike Leader, and more. Sign up to volunteer today, Register to volunteer with Great Race via VolunteerLocal.
THE CENTER AT THOUSAND OAKS HIGH SCHOOL
The Center for Advanced Studies and Research at Thousand Oaks High School is a rigorous AP Capstone program in which students develop the research, critical thinking, and communication skills necessary to be successful in college and in professional endeavors. It is a specialized program within Thousand Oaks High School that supports students pursuing this course of academic exploration.
Volunteer Lab Assistant
The Center is seeking a retired science professional who is passionate about education and eager to support the next generation of scientists. This hands-on opportunity is ideal for a former scientist, researcher, or biologist who would enjoy sharing their knowledge and experience with students. As a volunteer Lab Assistant, you will support two classes of approximately 15 - 20 students as they conduct original research. Volunteers help guide experiments, problem-solving, and the scientific process while encouraging curiosity and confidence. They are hoping for a commitment of every other morning, either from 8:30am to Noon or 9:30 to 11:00am.
Student Research Mentor Volunteer
The Center is also seeking professionals from a wide range of industries who are interested in mentoring students and supporting their academic and research growth. As a
T.O. Rotary Mystery Night- March 29th- See Jeff Borenstein for details and to sign up. Hurry only 6 spots left.
PROGRAM: Past-President, Jeff Borenstein in introductory remarks for today’s program in conjunction with Black History Month, said that seeing the depiction of Bryan Anderson’s character in the movie Just Mercy was his epiphany in his spearheading the Club’s Black History Program. Jeff went on to say Black History IS American History, and then introduced ReginaBiddings-Muro, recently of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks and former Vice President at CLU, and currently in the midst of launching her new company, Own Your Crown.
Regina started the program by saying that she is honored and proud to be among those that practice and believe in Service Above Self. She continued on to share her personal story, being raised in Indiana. As a student at Purdue, she was tasked with writing her family story as the oldest living member of her family. With her father having traveled the world while serving in the Army during World War II, he kept a detailed journal that Regina was fortunate to receive from her mother. Regina’s father was a quiet man – born in Jim Crow Alabama, moving to West Virginia to work in the coal mines, and ultimately wending his way to Indiana where he raised his family. One important thing that she was able to glean from his life story was that joining the Army saved his life.
With this familial background, Regina moved on to the theme of her presentation – Freedom.Regina said that while Freedom is a fundamental American promise, there is an illusion that it is guaranteed once you get past the internal battles, but-Freedom is not Free.
Regina focused on the prices that need to be paid to secure freedom, the first one being what she called Courageous Acts of Defiance. She cited the examples of Harriet Tubman and her dedication to the Underground Railroad, and James Baldwin’s defining of humanity.
The second price to be paid is what she deemed Anxiety and Radical Responsibility. In this, she recalled her mother’s work to uplift her community, stressing that education is the great treasure.
Regina talked about Prudence Crandall, a woman with an all-white boarding school in Connecticut, who started a revolution by admitting Sarah Harris, a 20-year-old Black woman.
She went on to talk about Howard Thurman who said one needs to listen to the Sound of Genuine within oneself, Maya Angleou who declared that respect is inherently earned, and Nelson Mandela with his long walk from bitterness to reconciliation.
Regina went back to emphasize that ALL of this requires education. Along her path, she learned how to argue opposite sides of an argument as a way of listening better and finding ways to work with others. In this path she has now launched her new company, Own Your Crown, a consulting practice. One of her fundamental areas of focus will be Crisis Communication. Regina strongly believes in the Power of Leadership and Communication. This is her new passion. She concluded her presentation by declaring that “there’s a lot of work to do.”
Pres. Darin presented her with a book to sign that will be donated to a Title One School in her honor.
