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.
President Darin welcoming everyone to the best Rotary Club in the Universe. He asked everyone to give Michelle Nash a round of applause for running the meeting last week.
Inspirational Moment: Monica Murrietta said that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and that 1 in 5 Americans are struggling with some kind of mental health issues. She said let's do something different and had everyone get out their cell phones. She asked everyone to reach out to a friend, relative, or colleague that they hadn't talked to in a while. She said, send them a quick 'hello', 'how are you'.... just say Hi. She said, I guarantee you just made someone smile by doing so. She then led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Song: Nancy Wohl led everyone in America the Beautiful
Introduction of Guests and Visiting Rotarians – Paul Dryman introduced- Visiting Rotarians- Lyle Pennington/Moorpark, Ben Thomas/Moopark, Juan Ponce/Agoura, Ron Yamashiro/WLV Sunrise. Guests- Neal Polido, Lorenzo Riley, Andrea Peeters, Teresa Lallo , Tim Herrington, Tom Stevens, Jacqui Montero, Robert Hager.
Lyle Pennington from the Rotary Club of Moorpark told everyone about their upcoming golf tournament fundraiser "The Best of the Best" saying they have a different format. They have categories of golfers so there is more chance to win. He also said they have a fabulous raffle for a Dream home in Sunriver Oregon and encouraged people to buy tickets today after the club meeting. You can contact the Rotary Club of Moorpark for more information. The tournament is at Moorpark County Club of June 10th
The Happy Dollars cup was passed by Sara Collins and she started with a happy dollar because she had a wonderful Mother's Day in La Jolla and also celebrated her granddaughters 21st birthday.
Paul Dryman had a grateful dollar for Ean Kleiger who helped Paul with a tooth ache and performed a root canal.
Keith Wintermute let everyone know about ticket sales for the wine event and also raffle tickets. He said there is also a special VIP ticket which includes premium wine tasting in a private setting for 1 and a half hours before the regular wine event. First place raffle prize is 3 nights in Paso Robles with 3 VIP tastings at 3 different wineries. and dinner 2 nights.
Vicki Arndt said she will be gone till October. She is heading to her property in Montana.
FINE SESSION-President Darin was the Fine Master- Malapropisms (sayings that get twisted in your brain) was his category. $35 right answer $50 wrong answer.
Victor Hayek -"I am fading into Bolivian" should really be "oblivian".. Right
Mike Ladd "he is taking me for granite" should be "granted" Wrong
David Masci ??? cross the bridge. Right
Maria Prescott "not the sharpest rock in the drawer" should be " Knife. Right
Larry Baker "her elevator doesn't go all the way to a full deck" should be "Top" Right
Kyle Lundberg "the wheel is spinning but there is no one home" should be The Lights are on but there is no one home Right
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: The Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation present check to Special Olympics.........
Wine Festival Chair-David Masci came forward to present the proceeds from last year's wine event to Special Olympics. Then Tim Harrington a board member from Special Olympics spoke about his son who is a Special Olympics athlete. Because of his training and experience as an athlete, he has been able to hold down a job at a local grocery store for the past 19 years and is described as their 'best' employee. He thanked the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks for their continued support and said it is truly making a difference.
David Masci presented a check in the amount of $18,800.
PROGRAM: Vicki Arndt began by introducing Past President of the Westlake Sunrise Rotary Club- Ron Yamshiro. He was there to introduce his mother who would talk about Asian Americans being detained in camps during World War II. When he introduced his mother he said "God could not be everywhere so he created Mothers".
June is a 93-year-old Japanese American who lived in California. She has spent her life bringing to light what they had to endure during World War II. When she was 10 years old, she and her entire family were detained and confined in a relocation encampment at Santa Anita Park when Pearl Harbor was bombed. At first the FBI only took away leaders of Japanese, German and Italian descent, but eventually all Japanese families were taken as well. They lost their homes/businesses/everything.
Her family was first located at the Santa Anita location and later moved out of state, where they remained for over 3 years. She described the deplorable conditions at Santa Anita, where they were made to sleep in the stables, she described the horrible smells they had to endure. They were treated like prisoners and not allowed to leave. There were armed guard towers.
At the end-when they were finally released, they were each given $25 dollars and a train ticket and told they could leave. Her family, however, was not able to return to California because that was still off limits to Japanese, so they moved to Denver where they had friends.
She remembered years later President Ronald Reagan making a national formal apology to the Japanese people, saying he hoped we have learned our lesson and something like this will never happen again. June said she is sad that we are once again rounding up families and detaining them.... She said she appreciates Rotarians and their kindness around the world. She hopes more people will learn to treat others with kindness and compassion.
President Darin thanked June for her presentation calling it a "gem" saying this should remind us of our great country and he is thankful we are able to embrace these types of mistakes and bring us to a better place.
He then welcomed Regina Biddings Muro back and adjourned the meeting
