Volleyball, Wine Arounds, Dine Arounds and More
by Jim McFarland

Another beautiful day at the Westdrift!...Sorry, I keep repeating myself, but it’s true!  Meeting 26 of the 2025-26 year was called to order and Shwetha Reddy led us in the flag salute and gave us the Inspiration of the day!  “Your worth is not measured by the length of your to-do list, but by the peace in your mind and the intentionality of your actions. Today I will not focus on doing more; I will focus on doing what matters”

Guests: Dave Harris introduced 3rd time visitor Laura Brunell, Don Whinfrey introduced Stephanie Peters, Gerry Morton introduced Antonette Sloan from New Zealand and Casey Montoya (KCal) joined us as a guest this time.  The Magic in Giving Players gave a quick skit on our MIG ticket sales and need for sponsorships! Bret (really David) Hadley, James White, and Martha Mansfield, all gave us a laugh and reminded us to “lean in” to our community and contacts for sponsorships for this very important event!

President Cedric Tuck-Sherman says we’re just $298 dollars short of our goal to get our Zimbabwe Global Grant funding from our club completed. Eagle Scout project:  William Long spoke to us regarding his project, building bulletin boards for Adams Middle School.  William is currently studying mechanical engineering with his USCG 3rd engineering license, Cal Poly Maritime Academy. Model aeronautics club president, SCUBA diver and has various sports pursuits.  

Wine Arounds: Thank you to the Ackers for hosting last Friday’s event. There were over 34 club members in attendance.  Reminder … there are more wine around events scheduled. See Club Activities in this Bulletin.

Dine Arounds … we have all the hosts!  Look for the email to sign up.  Should be out this week!  Connection Challenge. Make sure to get with the people you’ve been matched up with and set up those coffees, breakfasts, lunches, dinners or just meet up!  Make sure to take pictures so we can share your time with the club.  Upcoming events -- tour next week at Brainstorm Productions, Richstone tutoring, and Rotary Reads through March 13th at Pacific and Pennekamp. It’s Vocational Service Awards season coming up.  Music Awards March 30, Arts and Crafts awards April 20, Teacher awards May 18 and, also coming up,  Fire and Police recognition.  District Breakfast March 21, 9-11:30, Carson.  BTW, the club will pay for you if you are a new member this calendar year.  Blue Badge requirement!!

Speaking of … Dave Barnes received his badge!

We celebrated birthdays and anniversaries for January and February. To see a complete list of past and upcoming birthdays and anniversaries, go to ClubRunner.

Our guest speaker was introduced by Tarek Shaer.  Cam Green, former Head Coach of the Mira Costa Girls Volleyball team. @coachcamvolleyball. Cam showed us a quick “Game Day” video, showing how game days are special and preparing for the day.  

Accomplishments: 1990 CIF Champion, 1991 USA Youth National Team Gold Medal, Top 3 Recruit in the Country, 1993 NCAA Championship Runner Up, 4x Junior National Champion Head Coach, 5 NCAA Final Four appearances, 2 NCAA National Championship appearances, 7 Year AVP And FIVB Women's Professional Beach Coach, 2 CIF Boys High School Championships (Mira Costa), 2 CIF Girls High School Championship (Finals), 5x Bay League Champions, Bay League Coach of the Year.

Cam said he was a horrible student, but he found sports as a way for him to excel.  He played three sports at Costa. He feels that having more than one sport keeps your body in total shape rather than just one.  Too many athletes have issues because of repetitive use of one group of muscles and tendons.  He finds less issues in those that play multiple sports.

Cam left us with… “I found my worth through sports, but my purpose I found in helping others find theirs beyond it.”

Happy Dollars:  Larry Johnson had a recorded message to us from his rehab facility…No greater power in life than love was his message!  Scott Yanofsky had photos from the LAX USO visit from Ukrainian soldiers. Blues night at OB’s.  Rick Farrell and his band Quinn McCool will be playing March 7, 9:30 to 12:30. Hopefully you all picked up your $5 tokens on the table. Make sure to take your nap and come out and enjoy!!

Raffle drawing.  Coby McDonald won the bottle of win, and Tom Jeffry won a chance of the one marble… no winner today!!

PS. We are looking for notes writers !!! If I can do it anyone can!!!

For more meeting photos, go to:  SmugMug

Rotarians in the Not-So-Wild 

by Editor 

Thanks to Lisa Hemmat-Lupercio and Kathleen Terry for sending me photos this week. Husband Levi Lupercio took Lisa's place to read to his daughter's class at Pacific, while Tim Hageman and Mark Shoemaker connected through Kathleen's Connection Challenge program. Now, I'm challenging my readers, please send your Connection Challenge and Rotary Reads photos to me at svogl@usc.edu. I promise to publish them in the weekly Bulletin.