The PVP Rotary Club enjoyed an offsite meeting at the beautiful Norris Pavilion on November, 18. The buffet was so plentiful that members thought that they were at a banque!
Jim Hartman gave a heartfelt invocation, Chris Leach recited the pledge, and Phyllis Pelezzare sang the Patriotic song, accompanied by Juliet DeMoss , and David Rowe sang the Welcome song. Joan Behrens and Jim Hartman thanked all the many members for their help with the Educator of the Year Dinner.
Announcements:
President Alan announced that our Holiday Party will take place on December 11 at Los Verdes Country Club.
He also said that 20 Seniors attended the Rotary Senior Lunch held at the Sunrise Senior Center and was facilitated by Lauren Spiglanin and Julia Parton.
Alan also explained that an increase in our dues was inevitable because of increases in costs from the Golf Club and Rotary International.
He asked us to please try and be present at Greg O’Brien’s official District Governor visit on December 2.
Inga Liden was inducted into our club on October 31, 2008. It’s great to have you as a dedicated member, Inga.
Our speaker today was Chris Gilbert, the Director of Sales and Development for the Norris Pavilion, the Norris Theater and the Palos Verdes Performing Arts Conservatory.
Chris referred to these as the “ Jewel of the Peninsula”, with three “stones”, that foster an understanding and appreciation of the arts. The Norris Theater was opened in 1983 as a 450 seat theater dedicated to offering something for everyone to be inspired and entertained. Performances are staged and choreographed by professionals and the Theater is the focal point for arts and entertainment on the Peninsula with it’s worldclass offerings.
The Palos Verdes Performing Arts Conservatory, with a soon to be completed new state of the art facility, educates and enriches children through dance, music and theater.
The Conservatory’s Ready Willing and Able Program provides classes for Special Needs children attending not only schools in the Palos Verdes School District, but also at Title One Schools nearby. Classes are taught twice a week at the schools in conjunction with the language provided f.
The Norris Pavilion is a multi-use facility offering event space for banquets, concerts and fundraisers. It is dedicated to the late Harlyne Norris. Taken together, all three venues offer cultural enrichment for our community.
A few delightful coincidences were revealed during Chris’ talk and the question and answer period afterward. We learned that Chris was able to enjoy some quality time with his father, while learning about Rotary’s Four Way Test. Chris’ dad is a member of the Maplewood, New Jersey Rotary Club. Alan Coleman announced that his father was the founder of that Rotary Club in 1948. Mary Jane then told us that her daughter and Chris were members of the first class to perform at the Norris back in 1983. Small world!
Remember that we are DARK next Friday in observance of Thanksgiving.