Weekly Review Jul 14, 2025

by Jim McFarland

President John Acker called the meeting to order, gave the flag salute, and our Thought for the Day -  “Rotary is about friendship.”
 
Guests.  Several repeat visitors…no new ones.
 
Picture of Kelly Stroman from the Beach Reporter article about her new job.  Where’s her Rotary Pin?
 
Happy Dollars:  Coby McDonald attended family reunion and 60^th wedding anniversary as well as 88^th birthday for aunt. Jim McFarland attended celebration of life and scattering of ashes last week in Ketchikan, Alaska. Tarek Shaer had $20 for his daughter Lily interning at Patti Panucci’s Beach Braces office for the summer.
 
Monica Farrell Bringleson talked about Pure Water for Zimbabwe. She had copies of the book Finding Hope by Tatena Johnson for $20 with all proceeds going to Water for Zimbabwe.  Also, we saw a video showing how they are providing AquaViable water systems, to provide clean drinking water solutions by imitating nature.  The system provides the purest premium drinking water available.  By condensing humidity found in the air, their technology produces water the same way clouds do in the atmosphere when it rains. This also provides income for individuals, as they can sell the pure water to the public. We are helping them buy Mason jars.
 
Leadership Manhattan Beach invited us to the retrieval ceremony of their Millenium Time Capsule on Saturday, June 28^th at 2 P.M. on Veterans Parkway at the Wave Art sculpture. Club Sunrise Burbank invited us to a fundraising event at Barragan’s, Thursday, June 26^th, 11 A.M-9 P.M., 730 N. Victory, Burbank.
 
Nelson Gray presented a Paul Harris pin to Ted Iantuono. 
 
Rotarians in the Wild.  Walt Kasha went to Texas. Cedric Tuck-Sherman was in Calgary, Alberta, representing us at the 2025 Rotary International Convention.   Should have gone!
 
The Advisor is in the House: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” John Wooden. “Motivation.  If you do nothing unexpected, nothing unexpected happens.” Fay
Weldon.
 
President John thanked his board.  Check out the names that make this club a success: Lisa Hemmat-Lupercio, John Rhind, Matt Peck, Kelly Stroman, Richard Montgomery, Debbie Goldberg, Rita Crabtree-Kampe, Deb Robertson, Vinny Fazzino, Chad Ahrens, Ted Iantuono , Tarek Shaer, Dan Graham, Patti Panucci, Nina Patel, Mike Jenkins, Bruce Greenspon, Paul Allman, Wimberly Meyer, Jim Hunter, Jason Hearne, John Ranaudo, Duke Winser, Bryon Bos, Jan Rhees, Sue Vogl, Donn Ennis & Walt Kasha, our photographers. They all got bottles of Rombauer chardonnay!!!
 
Rotarian of the Year -- Chad Ahrens! Thank you Chad, plus thanks for serving on the board for Cedric's term! Volunteer of the Year  - Christina Pascucci!  She volunteered for almost every event!
 
Who is this Rotarian???? Baby picture of President John.  Told his jokes…They were clean!!
 
Kat, the catering manager at the Westdrift, presented President John with a martini to acknowledge his year as our president. A little early in the morning for that, but President John took it in stride. 
 
He then showed us some videos; Babe, I’m Leaving by Styx and Jump by Van Halen.
 
Presentation to Richard Montgomery, our 2026-2027 President, a Rotary President’s hat.
 
Pictures of all the events throughout the year.  A final “Who should we fine?”  Of course, a picture of Gerry Morton…on his phone.  Cedric too!
 
Raffle!  Coby McDonald got some wine, and Herb Trachtenberg drew for all the marbles $46. Not quite.  Not a winner this time.  Adjourn!  Woohoo said President John!  Dark next two Mondays!! Don’t forget Demotion on June 29!!
 
For more meeting photos, go to SmugMug.