On September 7th at the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, Rotarians joined together to hear Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking Lance Miller. This was an interactive workshop where Lance shared tips and skills to overcome the number one dread for most of us - that of Public Speaking.. and we practiced what we learned. It was a fun-filled, knowledge-sharing four hours of some of the BEST time spent ever! Those who attended came away so excited and with MUCH more confidence to face that microphone and get up and speak next time it comes around!
So grateful to Rotarian Lance Miller for his generosity and sharing of both his time, knowledge and those all-important skills!
The District Governor visit on August 27, 2024 was so inspirational! Our District Governor visit included 7 clubs in the Valley - Calabasas, Granada Hills, Malibu, Greater Van Nuys, Sunland-Tujunga, and Woodland Hills; we also had Santa Monica College Rotaract Club there for the visit as well. Manny presenting the Paul Harris awards with District Governor Albert to Daniele, and our previous member JoAnne Catran - so many congratulations in reaching the next level of Paul Harris. Your contributions help Rotary to continue to do good in the world. Calabasas took on the fun task of putting together the centerpieces.. Manny brought in the FUN game to give away the centerpieces.
Sunday, July 14th, we had a truly fun time at Sherry Keowen's lovely house to celebrate the end of two years of Daniele's Presidency! A really fun group with great food, lots of chatter and we tested Daniele's skills with darts!! They were spot on - in fact she would have been right at home in an English pub and probably would have outscored the locals!! GREAT aim Daniele as we celebrated all of our achievements of the last year! When you look back - oh yes, we achieved a LOT! Thank you Daniele, for giving us two years of leadership, and Sherry - thank you too for once again, opening up your lovely home to us!
Daniele and Sally were happy to volunteer and cheer on runners of all ages at the 2024 Lakeside Fun Run on July 4. Daniele got to work alongside some civic-minded teens and provide water and refreshments to the runners. Sally saw the excitement firshand at the finish line where medals were given to the runners. We have built a strong relationship with the City of Calabasas. They are grateful for our consistent service with a smile at community events and are looking forward to working with us again very soon.
We used our 2023-2024 District Grant funds to purchase a drinking and pet fountain installed at the Gates Canyon Park - Brandon's Village. Brandon Village is an inclusive playground built to provide a play space where kids of all abilities can imagine, socialize and have fun side-by-side. Brandon’s Village is now 17 years old and requires an extensive playground rebuild and restore of this inclusive playground. We were excited that we could donate this fountain for all the families that visit the park. We included our Rotary plaque as a recognition of our continued support to the community of Calabasas.
Our 2024 Rotary at the Bowl was filled with good friends, fun, great music, and fireworks! Joining us was 100+ Rotarians from 10 different clubs! The featured entertainer was Harry Connick Jr.; he showcased not only his fantastic piano playing but also his humorous side. As always, the orchestra was phenomenal, and the fireworks were spectacular! Thank you to the District 5280 Rotarians who joined us for our nation's celebrations.
Our last Community Service project of the 2023-2024 Rotary year... our club members had the important task of repainting the Lost Hills Sheriff Station 911 Call Center. Steve taught us so much about proper pre-painting prep! There was much scraping and patching before painting commenced. Thank goodness for the painting tutorial because the room needed a lot of love. After several hours, a good deal of the work was finished. Thank you, Steve, for devoting more hours on another day to put the finishing touches on the room. The carpet was cleaned by Carpet Savers.. it was a like a brand new Call Center for our sheriff to work in!
Our President represented our club at the June 2, District 5280 collection event for Camp Pendleton. Since there is a huge ongoing need for infant care items and kitchen ware, Daniele delivered several boxes of diapers and packages of baby wipes in addition to pots and pans for the families who live on the base. Our club is proud to donate to such a worthy cause several times a year and looks forward to doing more in the fall at the next collection event.
Thank you Rotary Club of Granada Hills for the invite to the Bowls of Hope. The Bowls of Hope event aims to raise awareness for the need for affordable housing in the community, as well as raise funds for Many Mansions' programs that serve the formerly homeless, veterans, seniors, and families of very low income.
The Rotary Club of Calabasas worked with the The City of Calabasas to stuff 300 bunny bags for the Bunny Trail Jr event on March 23rd. We were also there with our own bunny bags to give to the excited children who came to see Mr. Bunny, hunt for eggs, and play and enjoy the magician. What a fun event to start Spring Break!!
On November 15, 2023, a group of the Rotary Club of Calabasas members were in their seats as part of the crowd preparing to hear the Mayor of Calabasas, and Honorary Rotarian, David Shapiro deliver his "State of the City" address.
We were all there to show our support, and in honor of, Mayor Shapiro when he turned the tables on us! We were so surprised, honored and delighted when Mayor Shapiro recognized us, bestowing on us the award of the Organization of the Year! We are so very excited as our Club President Daniele received the beautiful award, with us all joining her for a photo commemorating the occasion!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Calabasas Mayor and Honorary Rotarian David! To say we are thrilled and deeply honored is an understatement and we look forward to continuing to work with the City of Calabasas, its residents and the surrounding communities for a long time to come!
August 8th - Thank you District Governer Makiko Nakasone! It was an honor to have you visit our club in Calabasas. Our board shared our goals and plans for this Rotary year, focused on membership, growth, and continued service to our community, and friends abroad. We welcomed 3 new members, and pinned 2 members for their next PHF level. Our members were recognized for the District awarded certificates:
- Most Loyal Member - Manny Fernandez
- Most Active Rookie - Stephanie Himango
- Unsung Hero - Sally Goya
- Ambassador - Bette Hall
- Young at Heart Award - Kathy Heukrodt
Bette was amazing in making sure that our club was warm and welcoming for DG Makiko and team!!
July 11, 2023 - new Rotary year, new Club Board members! Congratulations to our 2x President Daniele Della Gala, VP Joanne Catran, Secretary Natasha Estrada, Treasurer Jeff Pollack and Directors Bette Hall, Ron Lebow, Eduardo Estrada. It is always a pleasure when PDG Jay Saltzman comes to perform our Club Board Installation.. and of course, we always enjoy our family member, Ferne Saltzman when she visits us!!
July 4th, Rotary Club of Calabasas was out supporting the City of Calabasas Fourth of July celebrations! We started in the morning at the Tennis & Swim Center for the Lakeside Fun Run, and then came back in the evening to support the Fireworks Spectacular at Calabasas High School. Many of our club members were there volunteering and meeting the residents of the Calabasas community. We even had a chance to chat with our City Council for a few minutes as they enjoyed the community and events as well!!
Our Annual July 3rd Rotary at the Bowl event! We had a wonderful time with 100 Rotarians from District, 9 Rotary Clubs in the District. Thank you Rotary family for a special event celebrating our country's birthday!! We were entertained by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, featuring the Beach Boys and John Stamos... and of course the extravaganza fireworks! Another fun evening with our Rotary family!
On Sunday, April 23 our members enjoyed meeting members of the community and sharing information about climate change provided by our very own Rotary Club of Calabasas member and Climatologist, Jorge Vazquez. Attendees received packages of wildflower seeds to plant as well as bags filled with a small terra cotta flowerpot with a surprise bag of seeds inside. Recipients loved unveiling the “mystery” seed types which ranged from cucumber seeds to daisies. We also enjoyed spending time with Mayor David Shapiro who will be a featured speaker during an upcoming Rotary Club of Calabasas noon meeting.
On Saturday April 16, 2023, the Rotary Club of Calabasas collaborated with other Rotary clubs in District 5280, family, friends, Interactors, and Rotaractors to help decorate and fill canvas "sweet cases" as well as assemble bicycles for the organization "Together We Rise." The organization's vision is to improve the lives of children in foster care so they feel cared for. This project will provide foster kids with personalized canvas duffel bags for their belongings instead of having to use trash bags and assembled bicycles to help them get to school with a little more independence.
Our Rotary Club of Calabasas was pleased to sponsor Calabasas High School student, Ashi Bhatia, in the visual arts category during the Rotary District 5280 Pageant of the Arts on Saturday, April 15. Ashi created a vibrant painting, titled “The Crab Trap,” that she describes as reflecting how people trap themselves in thoughts. Her artwork summary states: “Similar to the crab mentality, students today focus more on preventing others from reaching goals they themselves can’t achieve instead of putting in the work and effort required. In doing so, they isolate themselves from the beauty that already exists around them, essentially trapping themselves. In this competitive world of instant gratification, we have a duty to better and help each other while enjoying every moment in our wonderful journey as students.” We look forward to seeing future art pieces created by this talented young artist.
