Well, today was the day, 103 smiling, laughing, ecstatic, wonderful kids got their much needed glasses.
They can now perform better in school and in other aspects of their life thanks to Rotary Club of Bellflower bringing Vision to Learn to Bellflower.
This journey started last year when I saw a need at a Caring Connections Meeting. Several eye exams and glasses were offered by another service organization if any counselors needed them. All of the counselors raised their hands. I stayed after and talked to them. It turns out that the seven title one schools in Bellflower have a great need for eye care.
Upon exploring the problem further, I found that Rotary has a program called Vision to Learn. We explored this and found out that they could bring their service to our city if we could raise the funds. We picked the largest Title One School (Washington Elementary), did the pre-screening, had 140 kids for Vision to Learn to screen. They found 103 kids in need of glasses.
One girl exclaimed, "I can see, I can see!" Another said, "Now my eyes won't hurt."
What a wonderful journey it has been. Just a start though, with the communities help, we hope to continue with the other Title 1 schools in Bellflower.
We had to show off Jean Seruntine's Grandson, Clay. We'll show him the picture on His Induction day!
District 5280's Chief of Staff - Melody St. Johns came to induct our two new members today.
Melody is the spark plug of our District. That's not surprising since she was the Social Chair all four years in her Sorority at ASU. She is famous for her love of Salad Dressing Shots (you had to be there).
Today Melody inducted Insurance Professional, Linda Nesst and Bookkeeping Professional, Didi Davis into our club. These two dedicated women will make Rotary very proud.
Thank you to our many guests present today.
Jon Matson brought six of Our Scholarship Students to tell us where they will be going and what their field of studies will be. We presented them with checks to the institutions they have chosen. It's a wonderful thing we do in this area to promote the future of this Great Country!
We had a great time at District Conference this past week. Strawberries were a success again at Hospitality Night. This year they were joined with some "Light Up Rotary" Decorations.
Rotary International and District 5280 awarded us a 2014-15 VIBRANT Club Award.
This week, one of our two soon to be new members Linda Nesst, allowed us to share an interesting brief walk up her road in life.
Linda told us how she was born in Sheboygan (Bratwurst Capital of the World), Wisconsin on Lake Michigan.
Her Great Grandfather is credited with inventing the Ice Cream Sunday in 1881. He owned an Ice Cream Parlor. One day he was asked to top a scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce (only used to make chocolate sodas). He only offered the concoction on Sunday, i.e. Ice Cream Sunday. She saw the effects of Polio first hand when two girls in the grade above her came down with the dread decease. She watched as their books, clothing, desks, and anything else they may have come in contact with were burned in the school yard. Linda played many instruments and was Battleship Champion at the local playground. Met Steve Litzinger in the 70's while working at an insurance company in Bellflower. He came in soliciting donations for the Y.M.C.A. Linda and her pups would take a road trip every summer back to Wisconsin to visit her folks. Rest stops and junk food was fine for Linda and sometimes friends. In later years, when Steve went with, it was real food and motels.
Linda's hobbies are needle work, wood working, and reading. She loves animals (dogs) and Green Bay Packers, is a card caring member of the NRA, and is a master SNIPE Hunter.
Remember; Thursday, May 28, from 6 - 9 PM is our fun change-up evening meeting social for us. Bring your family and guests. Club will pay for you since it will replace our lunch meeting. You will pay $15 only for family and guests. Location will be:
South Street Grill, 10769 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703
Today Mike Lundgren brought in three enlightened students that we sent to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly). What a joy and honor it is to be able to do this for our young and hopefully future leaders. We heard from Alfredo (Freddie) Molina,
then Itzel garcia,
and finally Isamar Fletes.
All great kids moved out of their comfort zones with some new formed skills. They all brought back with them the RYLA four C's: Cooperation, Creativity, Communication, and Compassion. Like all the other kids we have sent before them, never have they experienced anything like the RYLA. They can't wait to try new found tools and experiences in their world.
*After meeting today the Board meet to consider two new members that I proposed. Those being: Linda Nesst and Didi Davis. Both were approved and await the Club's approval May 21, 2015.
Taylor Morgan who runs the Neighborhood Watch Program for the City of Bellflower was our speaker this week. He had a lot of information on the Nixle.com and Nextdoor.com programs. He can be contacted at: Taylor Morgan at (562) 925-0124.
We were all blessed once again to have the 1999 California Teacher of the Year - Mister Lyn Thompson from Bellflower High School speak to us today. He spoke to us about ternary and the power of one among other things. This is his last year teaching. Bellflower will miss him dearly.
Pallavi Ridout from ICANN presided over our joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Lakewood today.
Today we were joined by our friends from the Rotary Club of Lakewood for a joint meeting. We did some catch up and had a good lunch. Pallavi immersed us in topic of the day, "is the Great Generational Divide Slowing Down Rotary Success?" She walked us through the Generational handed out. It was very interesting. She then talked to us about how to stay relevant. She explained that relevance does not involve compromise. The valves, priorities, and commitment of Rotary should never change. Any organization that is willing to compromise its DNA in order to stay relevant never lasts. We then got a sheet that asked us to list "Three things that are not working in your club" and to list "Three NEW things your club should try." I Emailed those forms to you. I would like them back now PLEASE?!> I should be able to collect 6 ideas per person which I will debrief and present back to the club a meaningful summary. Sound good? Thank You!
More than 140 Bellflower Unified Students Received Free Eye Exams Through The Rotary Club of Bellflower.
The Rotary Club of Bellflower saw the need for vision care in our low-income communities and began to address it. With our Partners, Vision to Learn (a nonprofit organization providing vision services to children in low-income communities) and Caring Connections (a nonprofit dedicated to helping meet the needs of children and families in the BUSD), we selected the largest Title 1 school in the Bellflower Unified School District (Washington Elementary). We jointly pre-screened the children. Our Club then donated the money to bring VTL to Bellflower.
During the Week of March 30th, 2015, One of Vision to Learn's Mobil Labs and staff came to Washington. They examined 146 children and prescribed to 103 kids! That is over 100 children whose lives are going to be forever changed!
Join Rotary Club of Bellflower...Be A Part of 1.2 million Folks Changing Lives Into Tomorrow!!!
Couldn't show all the folks we shared Our GREAT "Day of Service"
with at Bel Tooren Villa Convalescent Hospital in Bellflower.
Our Day of Service went wonderfully at Bel Tooren. We bought oils, puzzle books & pens, lap blankets, luminaries, nonslip socks, cologne & perfume, yes...even a Cowboy Hat, used as prizes and gifts for about twenty folks. We played games, talked, and listened. Their Care Nurse, Edna said they never had so much fun or had prizes given at game time before. It finally came time for them to go. We gave them gifts they could use and said so-long for now. I can't express the joy we had giving of ourselves to others today.We will be back to fulfill some special requests and get to know these folks even better.
Today was our Joint Meeting with the Rotary Club of Lakewood.
Pallavi Ridout led our program.
We had many honored guests with us today. Linda Zastrow with her niece Billie Jean, President Valarie Frost with many members from the Rotary Club of Lakewood, and Pallavi Ridout.
We presented Linda with a Plaque to Memorialize the $1000.00 Perpetual Scholarship Fund we set up in Bill Zastrow's name. What a great Rotarian with almost forty-seven years of perfect attendance. We will miss him dearly.
Pallavi Ridout engaged us in a program entitled: "Is the Great Generational Divide Slowing Down Rotary Success?" Pallavi gave us nuggets about genders and generations while pointing out what it looks like to get stuck in the past. She then asked us to step out of our "boundaries boxes" and come up with new ideas our club should try. I am tasked with scanning them into the computer and getting them out to both Her and Valarie. We will debrief them and discuss the results with our clubs.
Vocational Service Director Dave Romberg looks on as our
Art Contestant Jordan Jennings displays his photo art.
Jordan and our other Art Contestant Jazmin Goodinez(who could not be present today) are both from Bellflower High School. We had four Speech Contestants: Elaine Yau from Bellflower High School, Sydney Herman, Rosa Chavez, and Eduardo Torres, all from Mayfair High School. Lyn Thompson, Mike Herman, Teri Smith, and Letonia Jennings were here with the students.
The Art Contest was close between Jordan's Thought Provoking Picture and Jazmin's Beautiful Collage. In the end it was Jordan who won the $250.00 and a trip to compete at the district.
Speech was very difficult to judge. All four speakers were so different in delivery and content. By the closest of margins it was Elaine Yau that won the $250.00 and her trip to compete at the district.
One of the premier events that link Rotarians with high school students is this Art, Dance, Music, and Speech Contest. This year Loyola Marymount University will be hosting the 5280 District Event.
"The Rebel Reverend: American Revolution Hero James Caldwell"
That true story was our meeting today!
Craig MacDonald eloquently related this story to us. The great-great-great-great grandson of Rev. James and Hannah Caldwell. Craig is the author of many historical novels including this, his latest. Download the recording if you were not there.
Jessie Alejandre demonstrated and told us about
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co.
Jessie told us how Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co. started in the
home of Herbert Hyman in 1963. Great customer service and
product quality were his hallmarks. She brought us samples of
four very different teas to sample. We had a great Q&A and
came away with new knowledge about coffee and teas.
Today Nichole McGahey and Renett Banagas told us about a
Wonderful Organization - Caring Connections!
Caring Connections brings together many service organizations to help
families in need.
Some of the services provided include:
Academic Support Programs
Mental Health Services
Basic Needs (such as food and clothing)
Vision, Dental, and Health Services
Health Insurance Enrollment
Transportation Assistance
Parenting Education
And Special Programs
Last school year, Caring Connections touched
the lives of over 11200 families. More than
4,000 individual services were provided to
students and families.
148 Academic Support Services
407 Mental Health Services
109 Vision Service
800 Food and Clothing Needs
582 Holiday Food Baskets
429 Backpacks
457 Easter Baskets
We are lucky to have such a great organization to work with!
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