Stories

 

Montecito Rotarians and SBCC student recipients of our 2023 vocational scholarships

 

For more than 25 years, our Club has supported local Santa Barbara City College students by granting career and vocational scholarships.  This year our Club granted four scholarships directly.  Another six scholarships were awarded through the Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation. 

 

Special thanks to members Kati & Peter Buehler, Cathy Cash & Bruce McRoy, James Fenkner, and Lynda Nahra for sponsoring individual scholarships.  And thanks to Jennifer Goddard for getting the word out about this worthwhile service project. 

 

Noozhawk published an excellent article on the program with details of each recipient recognized.  Click here to read the Noozhawk article, and click here to see additional photos from the event.

 

Longtime member Andy Berwick receives a ruby level Paul Harris pin for his ongoing contributions to Polio Plus and the Rotary International Foundation. 

 

Thanks Andy, for supporting the good work of Rotary!

 

Kudos to Karen Hickman for recruiting two deserving high school students to attend District 5240's Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) for 2023, located in the beautiful hills of Ojai at Camp Ramah.

 

The weekend culminates in an award ceremony for all students. It's inspiring to witness the growth of these students over the course of this world class retreat. They all leave with new tools to draw on for the rest of their lives in school, work, charity, and family life. 

 

Our recent Rotary Game Night was a great success.  Food was plentiful and delicious, while wine and sake helped the conversation flow. 

 

We had some interesting cross-cultural moments during the games with members from different backgrounds attempting to interpret culture specific clues. Next time you see Murray ask him to explain the meaning of "a dog's breakfast".

 

President Tony demonstrated excellent gaming skills and took home the $100,000 (candy bar) grant prize.

 

We plan to organize similar events in future and look forward to participation by even more club members.

 

Our March 7th meeting was a lesson in small business economics. Brad Bennett, the "Principal Pickle" at Pacific Pickle Works, explained the origins of his business, the challenges of marketing a niche product, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on businesses everywhere.

 

Brad supplied pickles for our lunch and brought samples of product and merchandise to be auctioned off to lucky Rotarians, with all proceed going to support club activities.

 

Kudos to the Speakers Committee for continuing to schedule such interesting guests.

 

After months of commuting back and forth from Japan to California and repeated participation in club meetings and social events, we can now officially welcome Taro Usami to the Rotary Club of Montecito. Taro's wife Zelda joined him for the induction ceremony at our last meeting. 

 

Look for additional information about Taro in the next issue of our newsletter where he will be featured in the Member Spotlight.

 

President Tony welcomed Jamie to our January 17th meeting and presented him with the official flag of the Rotary Club of Montecito. We hope to see Jamie at future meetings as scheduling permits.

Sixth graders from Montecito Union Elementary School entertained us with a program of holiday songs at our December 6th meeting.

 

It was great to have a return of the chorus after a three year absence and a nice way to kick off the holiday season.

 

The Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation awarded $1,000 each to C.A.R.E.4Paws, Friendship House, Little Village Foundation, Hospice of Santa Barbara, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County, Choral Society, Montecito Trails Foundation, Mission Scholars, Teacher’s Fund, South Coast Youth Orchestra, and Nuclear Peace Foundation.

 

For additional information about the event and our Community Grants Program see the article published in NoozHawk.

 

At our October 4th meeting Salud Carbajal, our Representative to the U.S. Congress, provided the Club with an update on activities in Washington D.C.

 

Hardy Rotarians braved near hundred degree heat to enjoy food, fellowship, and ice cold margaritas at the El Paseo Sunday Brunch.  We were having such a good time we forgot to take pictures!

 

Attendees included Murray Ray, Andy & Merri Berwick, Bernadette Bagley, Steve & Cindy Davis, Tony Morris, Sue & Paul Kremser, Kim Stone and Kati & Peter Buehler.  Thanks to Cathy Cash for organizing a fun event!

 

Our August 17th meeting was held offsite at Living Vehicles headquarters in the Santa Barbara funk zone. After a tour of the facilities and a brief presentation, Living Vehicles founder Wally Hofmann surprised us with a $500 donation to the Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation.  Wally is a fan of our Santa Barbara City College scholarship program and asked that the funds be used to support that endeavor. 

 

Many thanks to Wally and everyone at Living Vehicles for their generous support!

 

Thanks to Club members Larry and Kim for volunteering at the fundraiser for the Rona Barrett Foundation, which provides innovative housing solutions and supportive services for seniors in need.

 

Only four days into the new Rotary year and our first service project is complete!  

 

Rotarians Kim Stone, Tony Morris, and Jason & Anita Blakemore teamed up with the Montecito Fire Department for their annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast. 

 

On June 21st members gathered at the home of Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy to celebrate Tom Fisher's year as 2021-22 Club President. We feasted on chicken, tri-tip, salads and sides while reminiscing about the accomplishments of the past year. 

 

As the evening drew to a close, Tom was presented with a plaque to thank him for his service.  Thanks to Tom for a job well done, and best of luck to Tony as he starts the new year.

 

Checks for $10,500 each were donated to ShelterBox and Direct Relief International for their work assisting Ukrainian refugees.

Peter Buehler, Jason Blakemore, and Larry Minisian bar code cereal boxes for the Unity Shoppe pantry.

 

Thanks to Jennifer Goddard and staff for the press release about our SBCC vocational scholarships.  Click here to see the story as reported in Noozhawk.

President Tom presents award winning student with certificate and check as sponsoring faculty member looks on.

 

Amani Tom, our partner from the Bukavu-Mumosho Rotary Club of Eastern Democratic Republic Congo, has sent another update from the Congo Peace School. 

 

Follow the link below to see additional pictures from the school's Early Child Development program.

 

Amani Matabaro, our longtime collaborator from the Bukavu-Mumosho Rotary Club of Eastern Democratic Republic Congo, sends his thanks and best wishes for the new year. 

 

Click on the image above to listen to Amani's brief video message about the challenges faced by the Congo Peace School in 2021. 

 

For additional details about recent projects and activities on the Congo Peace School, click here to review the complete text of Amani's latest newsletter, titled How to Overwhelm the World (with good).

 

Tony travelled to Alabama to visit family over the holidays.  While there, he attended a local Rotary meeting and presented a Rotary Club of Montecito banner to James Tarbox, President of the Rotary Club of Enterprise, Alabama (Tony's home town). 

 

Thanks, Tony, for being an outstanding ambassador for our club!

 

A larger than usual crowd gathered at our November 16th meeting to participate in the annual Community Grants Celebration. Fifteen organizations received grants of $1,000 each to further their work in our community.

 

Representatives of each organization shared sobering stories about the impact of the pandemic, and offered inspirational anecdotes illustrating the diversity of services offered and their ability to respond rapidly to changing circumstances.

 

Read on to see the complete list of grant recipients and their Rotarian sponsors.

 

 

The Rotary Club of Montecito was well represented at this year's Montecito Beautification Day. 

 

Austin Pugh, Tony Morris, Bernadette Bagley, and Anita & Jason Blakemore donned vibrant protective vests, then travelled to their assigned location at the intersection of Hot Springs Road and the 101 Fwy. 

 

Trask pick-up included the usual bags & papers, plus a bicycle fender and other surprises.  Thanks to all who helped!

 

The Franklin Community Center was the site of our first November service event.  Club members and visiting Rotarians joined forces to assemble over 70 bags of food for local seniors and others dealing with food insecurity. 

 

Click on the Read more link to learn more about the event, and view photos of all the Rotarians who helped make this such a successful service project.

 

Last Tuesday wasn't a regular meeting day, but that didn't stop members from gathering to share a little Rotary fellowship. 

 

Liz Westwick arranged a relaxing social event at Carr Winery. Members in attendance included Andy Berwick, Bernadette Bagley, Jason & Anita Blakemore, Liz Westwick, Murry Ray, and Tom Fisher.

 

 

Our most recent service project supported the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.  Members Anita & Jason Blakemore, Kati & Peter Buehler, Gary Hopkins, and Eryn Shugart spent hours weeding, gardening, and clearing brush.  Many thanks to those who volunteered to help keep our botanic garden beautiful.

 

I think everyone would agree our first in-person meeting was a great success.  Mild weather made for perfect outdoor dining, and Ca' Dario provided a variety of delicious salads and pastas. A total of 26 people attended which was a significant increase over recent Zoom meetings. 

 

Thanks to all who attended, and special thanks to Eryn Shugart and Tony Morris for each bringing multiple guests! 

 

 

 

Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy hosted members at their home for a relaxing Labor Day potluck.  Guests shared fellowship and a delicious selection of home cooked dishes.

 

 

Thanks to Liz Westwick and Anita Blakemore for organizing our Back2School Backpack Drive, and thanks to all members who contributed.

 

Together we delivered more than 50 new backpacks to the Unity Shoppe for distribution to local students.

We forgot to photograph this month's service project, but I'm reliably informed that a good time was had by all, and we left the beach much cleaner than we found it. 

 

Participants included President Elect Tony Morris, Liz Westwick, Anita & Jason Blakemore, Allyson & Todd Aldrich, Kim Stone & her guest Joy, and Gary Hopkins with his daughters Lola and Sole. 

President Tom Fisher and Gary Hopkins bag dog food for hungry pets at our most recent Care4Paws work day.

 

Club members gathered on a warm summer evening to enjoy al fresco dining and celebrate the time-honored tradition of paying tribute to our outgoing Club President as she hands the gavel to next year's leader. Jeff and Karen Kerns lent their lovely home for the event, and Social Chair Liz organized food and decorations around an Ecuadorian theme in recognition of President Kati's birth in Quito, Ecuador's capital city. 

 

Members enjoyed face-to-face fellowship and participated in a blind auction with proceeds kickstarting next year's presidential fund. Click the link below to see additional information and all the photos from this fun-filled event.

 

Relaxed COVID restrictions allowed members to gather in person for the first time in Rotary year 2020-21 (in Bernadette's backyard).

 

As it was also the final meeting of President Kati's year, the program consisted of a review of the year's events and accomplishments, as well as recognition of new members and members who had performed exceptional service.

 

Our Back2School Fundraiser was an unqualifed success, raising over $16,000 to support scholarships for SBCC students pursuing techical and vocational careers.

 

Special thanks to committee co-chairs Tony Morris and Cathy Cash; team leads Lynda Nahra, Arthur Rachwald, and Harlan Green; Master of Ceremonies Jesse Brisendine; chat room monitor, Eryn Shugart; and everyone who contributed by soliciting auction items, inviting friends, and making donations.

 

While the audience was virtual, a small but mighty team met live and in person to coordinate activities behind the scenes during our Back2School fundraiser.

 

Club members and friends gathered on May 10th for our fourth day of service at the Salvation Army Food Pantry. 

 

These photos provide a sneak peak behind the scenes as President Kati and others prepare for our virtual fundraiser.  It's an event that you don't want to miss.

 

Preregistration is required, so click here (or use the QR code at left) to reserve your space.

 

Looks like we've found a great new member in Eryn Shugart.  When circumstances prevented her from attending our most recent service project, she called in a substitute.  Many thanks to her daughter Megan for jumping in to package food for pets whose owners have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Eight Montecito members joined Megan in the effort and followed up with a little socially distanced fellowship over food and wine.

 

There were many Montecito members among the 50 local Rotarians who joined forces for a work day April 10th at Camp Whittier.  Volunteers assembled picnic tables, refurbished a sports court and ropes course, cleaned cabins, cleared brush, and painted multiple structures. 

 

The highlight of the day was the dedication of Rotary Hill in recognition of the decades of support Rotary has provided to Camp Whittier and the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County,

 

Our March service session at Ledbetter Beach allowed club members to enjoy a little face-to-face interaction while beautifying the Santa Barbara beachfront. We had 14 people participate and took lots of pictures (including this one of Allyson, Todd, Craig, and Eryn).

 

Newest member Eryn Shurgart had a chance to put Zoom faces to actual bodies at our beach clean-up event.  President Kati took advantage of the event to formally present Eryn's Rotary pin and new member packet. Eryn's husband, Dr. Craig Shugart, was there to witness the special occasion.

 

There's no way a brief newsletter article could do justice to the incredible accomplishment that is the Congo Peace School. Fortunately, Amani Matabaro, our fellow Rotarian and the visionary leader behind the Congo Peace School, has provided us with a detailed update with lots of pictures.

 

Click here to access Amani's update, and as you read it remember that funds provided by our Club helped make this dream a reality for hundreds of children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

 

 

 

COVID-19 restrictions are especially challenging for seniors.  To ease the burden we sent hand-written holiday cards and gifts of essential items to senior residents at the Golden Inn & Village, a retirement community in Santa Ynez.

 

 

Club members Peter Buehler, Bernadette Bagley, Kati Buehler and Gary Hopkins joined Salvation Army volunteers and staff member Major Jessyca Carr for a day of service.

 

We had record turnout for the clean-up and social at Leadbetter Beach. 

 

Sam Tabbara, our new applicant for Corporate membership, brought three of his co-workers from U.S. Bank to help in the effort.  They were joined by junior volunteers Sole and Lola (who are becoming regular fixtures on the service scene) and club members Gary Hopkins, Jeff Kerns, Karen Hickman, Tony Morris, Liz Westwick, Bernadette Bagley, Cathy Cash & Bruce McRoy, Jason & Anita Blakemore, and Kati & Peter Buehler.  Read more to see all the photos before, during, and after clean-up.

Work was fast paced and physical as we loaded boxes of food into the vehicles of arriving families.  Once deliveries were complete, the team switched to assembling additional food boxes and loading them on pallets for storage.  At the end of the day we had an impressive stack of nearly 150 boxes prepped for future distribution.  

 

 

We had a great turnout for our Tuesday evening beach clean-up with 15 participants, including Santa Barbara Rotaractor Geoff Chappaz.  Gary Hopkins brought his daughters Lola & Sole which significatly lowered the average age of our clean-up team.  But great things come in small packages; together with Gary they collected a record amount of trash off the beach. 

 

Anita Blakemore organized two volunteer sessions to help out C.A.R.E. 4 Paws.  Turnout was great with a dozen volunteers participating across the two days, including our most recent applicants for family membership, Jason Blakemore and Peter Buehler (pictured below).

 

 

We packaged an impressive amount of pet food in the hour allotted, aided no doubt by the danceable ABBA tunes playing in the background.

 

This week's Mask-querade was a great success!  The small group of registered attendees was able to meet in person while maintaining appropriate social distance. 

 

Thanks to our social committee, Liz Westwick, Anita Blakemore & Tony Morris, for organizing.  Liz & Anita cooked up a delicious array of appetizers, pizzas and dessert, but I think the highlight may have been the specialty cocktails created by Liz's husband John. 

 

Our recent work day at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore was a do-it-yourselfer's dream. In addition to exploring aisles of appliances, electrical equipment, tile & plumbing fixtures, volunteers were able to take home any items being removed from inventory. 

 

Lora Fisher coordinated the event, then put on her work gloves to help haul merchandise along with her husband Tom Fisher, and club members Gary Hopkins & Bernadette Bagley.

 

The first meeting of Rotary year 2020-21 was a Club Assembly skillfully led by President Kati.  Kati's husband Peter attended as a special guest and is rumored to be interested in joining the club.

 

After a flag salute by Del and Larry's announcements of birthdays and Rotary anniversaries (36 years for Jerry Horan!), Kati introduced her board and shared her three goals for the coming year:

 

Kurt explained his role as Treasurer and shared our club budget for the coming year.  Members will vote to approve the budget at out next meeting on July 21st.

 

Kati announced the new newsletter (designed by Jessica and Bernadette) which will be sent out regularly in advance of  meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month.

 

 

Continuing more than 25 years of support for Santa Barbara City College, our club foundation awarded ten students with vocational scholarships totaling $12,500.

 

SBCC Foundation CEO Geoff Green expressed gratitude for our club's ongoing comitment and noted the economic significance of these scholarships stating, “the vast majority of these exemplary students move directly into our local workforce after completing their education.” 

 

Read the NoozHawk article to see Geoff's complete comments.

DG Savi Bhim celebrates the accomplishments of Rotary year 2019-20. View video on YouTube.

Social distancing restrictions prevented us from celebrating in person, nevertheless the club managed to give John a fitting farewell including a video review of his year as club president.

 

NoozHawk annouced Kati Buehler as President of the Rotary Club of Montecito for 2020-21.

Congratulations, Kati!  (Click here to read the full article.)

 

Montecito resident Leslie Zemeckis held the club spellbound with her story of Mabel Stark, the first female tiger trainer and the subject of Leslie's latest documentary film. (See trailer here).