Fellowship at Pearl Social Hats off to social committee chair Cathy Cash for another entertaining event. The September social gathered Rotarians at Pearl Social Cocktail Club where they enjoyed conversation and libations. Attendees included President Kim Stone, Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy, Carolyn Chandler and Kurt Koenig, Karen and Jeff Kerns, Larry Minasian, Murray Ray, Andy Berwick, Steve Davis and newest Club member Mark Osiel.
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Mark Osiel Inducted as Newest Club Member Mark Osiel welcomed by sponsor Roger Davis and President Kim Stone The long wait is over! Mark Osiel was officially inducted into the Rotary Club of Montecito at our last meeting. Mark was introduced by his sponsor Roger Davis and has already participated in his first Club social. If you haven't already met, be sure to introduce yourself to Mark at the next opportunity. And watch this space for the return of the Membership Spotlight, with additional information about our most recent members.
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Final Leg of the District 5240 PeaceBuilder Relay Sheila Hess from the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning presents Peace Baton to President Kim Stone The Rotary District 5240 PeaceBuilder Relay is an initiative to symbolize and foster unity, peace, and collaboration among the clubs within the district. For weeks, the peace baton has been traveling through the Rotary clubs in District 5240. At our September 17th it was delivered from the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning to our Rotary Club of Montecito. As the baton passed hand to hand among our members we shared in the heartfelt connection among all Rotary clubs, their communities, and their passionate commitment to sharing the bonds of peace.  Kurt Koenig hands off to Jeff Kerns as Paul Kremser looks on.
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Offsite Meeting At Shelterbox Paul Vercammen entertains with stories of his childhood in Santa Barbara Members met at ShelterBox headquarters for our August 6th meeting. Our speaker, Paul Vercammen, provided a brief tour of the facility and ShelterBox tents before lunch. |
Backpack Success Story Club President Kim Stone and Club Foundation President Tony Morris deliver backpacks for distribution by Montecito YMCA staff. This year we delivered 55 backpacks to support local students. Wow! Thanks to all who contributed to this service project. It's just one example of the positive impact Rotary has in our community.
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Welcome Samantha! Samantha Lloyd-Knauf became the newest member of our Club at our July 16th meeting. She was introduced by sponsor Roger Davis and welcomed by Club President Kim Stone and District 5240 Governor Sherry Sim! Samatha joins as the part of the Lotusland corporate membership. If you haven't had the chance to meet her yet, be sure to introduce yourself at the next meeting.
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4th of July Pancake Breakfast Rotarians Roger Davis, Bernadette Bagley, Kim Stone, Todd Aldrich, Tony Morris, Peter Buehler, Murray Ray and Sese Ntem join forces as the new "Breakfast Club". Thanks to all who got up early on the 4th of July to provide support for the Montecito Fire Department's annual pancake breakfast. Rotarians set up tables, greeted guests, and made countless batches of pancake batter. According to Fire Department staff nearly 2,000 meals were served. A new record! Special thanks to Samantha and John. Samantha Lloyd-Knauf will be inducted as the newest member of our Club at the July 16th meeting, but she's already demonstrating her dedication to serving the community and recruiting others to join in the fun! Click the Read More link below to see additional photos of Rotarians at Work! |
Montecito Family YMCA Preschool Graduation President Tony distributes books to the graduates Rotarians, Bernadette Bagley, Roger Davis, and Murray Ray joined President Tony Morris to celebrate students graduating from the Montecito YMCA preschool program. Parents and friends cheered for the graduates as they sang songs celebrating their time at the preschool and signaling their excitement at moving to the next stage in their education. As part of Rotary's Youth Literacy initiative, our Club presented each graduating child with a copy of Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh, The Places You'll Go" which many opened immediately and began reading. The graduates' enthusiasm made it a feel good event for all involved.  Graduates singing YMCA (by the Village People) |
RYLA Participants Share Their Stories Ellen Butler, Preston Fehr, Ada Green and Sophia Regan shared their experience at District 5240's Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. Their moving and passionate speeches made clear the importance of the RYLA program and its ability to positively impact the leaders of tomorrow |
SBCC Scholarship Awards Rotary Club of Montecito members. SBCC staff and students gather on campus to celebrate the 2024 scholarship awards This year twelve deserving students received scholarship assistance sponsored by our Club, the Club Foundation, and individual Club members. We celebrated their success at a special lunch on the SBBC campus, hosted by the students in the Culinary Arts program. Thanks to President Elect Nominee Sese Ntem for coordinating with SBCC Foundation staff to organize the event. For a complete list of scholarship recipients and sponsors, click on the Read More link below.
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Congo Peace School Update Aerial view of the Congo Peace School campus with new basketball court Amani Matabaro Tom of the Bukavu-Mumosho Rotary Club of Eastern Democratic Republic Congo continues to send regular updates on the progress on the Congo Peace School.
For additional photos, and details about recent projects and activities on the Congo Peace School, click on the Read more link below to review the complete text of the latest Action Kivu newsletter. |
Global Grant Participation Esnart Sikanda, secondary school student at the Grace Centre in Zambia By partnering with other local Rotary clubs, we increase the international impact of our Club. The Grace Centre in Zambia is a case in point. The Rotary Club of Ventura sponsored their first ever Global Grant to help establish the Grace Centre in Kazungula, Zambia. Kazungula is an impoverished town on the border of Zambia and Botswana. With no source of income in their families, many girls and young women of Kazungula become victims of sexual abuse. The Grace Centre was established to remedy this situation. It provides counseling, training in tailoring, computer work, and food preparation, and in select cases, funds for secondary school education. Our club joined in supporting this Global Grant, and our funds provided a secondary education scholarship for Esnart Sikanda, pictured above. Click on the Read more link below to see Esnart's handwritten letter explaining the impact this scholarship has had on her life and that of her family.
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Montecito Association Update Houghton Hyatt, Executive Director of the Montecito Association, and President Tony Houghton Hyatt, Executive Director of the Montecito Association, spoke at our April 16th meeting. She provided an overview of the objectives and activities of the Montecito Association, and answered questions about specific community concerns. For more information about the Montecito Association, you can visit their website at www.montecitoassociation.org
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Taco Tuesday Social Montecito Rotarians gathered at El Paseo Restaurant for fun, fellowship, food and beverages. |
Citizens Climate Lobby Scholarship Awarded Analee Josselyn, from Westmont College, has been selected for the $1,000 Santa Barbara Citizens Climate Lobby scholarship supported by Montecito Rotary. She is a third year student majoring in History and Economics & Business, and minoring in Environmental Studies. Analee has agreed to volunteer for the Santa Barbara chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) including attending two meetings per month, and giving support to social media efforts, from selection through the CCL Conference in Washington D.C. during June of 2024. The three-day event will include two days of speakers and workshops, and a day visiting Congressional offices on Capitol Hill to lobby for climate legislation.
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District 5240 Governor's Visit Group 8 ADG Jan Phillips and District 5240 DG Marta Brown with Martony awards presented by President Tony  Club Presidents, current and future, pose with District officials and Club members. |
Gwyn Lurie Discusses Local Journalism Gwyn Lurie spoke at our February 20th meeting, explaining her philosophy of journalism and how she acquired her position as publisher of The Montecito Journal.
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Sese Ntem Announced as President-Elect Nominee for Rotary Year 2025-26 Club members present at our February 20th meeting gave unanimous approval to the board's recommendation of Sese Ntem as President Elect Nominee. Congratulations, Sese!
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Craig and Liz Breese Inducted! New members Craig and Liz Breese with sponsors Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy. Frequent visitors Craig and Liz Breese were formally inducted into the Rotary Club of Montecito at our first meeting of 2024. Sponsors Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy were on hand to welcome them to our fellowship. Check future editions of the Axis newsletter for a Spotlight interview with details about our newest members.
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Update on Local Journalism President Tony Morris with Brandi Rivera, Publisher of the Santa Barbara Independent Publisher Brandi Rivera updated our Club on the challenges of providing local news in the digital age. She provided a brief history of print publications in our area, and spoke about staffing and operations at the Santa Barbara Independent, the last surviving local paper.
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Holiday Party Revelers assemble for a group photo at the end of the evening. Keen observers will note that thru the magic of digital editing we were able to include both photographers in the photo. :) Club members were joined by visiting Rotarians Marc Green and Anne Teller for an evening of fun and feasting. Many thanks to Cathy Cash and Bruce McRoy for opening their beautiful home to us, and providing a delicious array of appetizers and desserts. And congratulations to President Tony on his holiday trivia win!
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Toys for Kids Rotarians Eryn Shugart, Todd Aldrich, Murray Ray, Taro Usami, and Larry Minasian present a selection of toys collected for deserving, local children. Thanks to your generosity, Christmas will be a little brighter for children who attend the Savie Health free clinic in Lompoc. Eryn Shugart gratefully accepted the wide variety of games and athletic equipment collected during this year's toy drive, and will deliver them to the health center in Lompoc.
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Holiday Concert Pam Herzog leads a choir of 5th and 6th grade students from Montecito Union School. Club members and proud parents enjoyed a concert of holiday songs by the Montecito Union School Chorus. Students were rewarded for their performance with delicious, after-concert cookies!
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2023 Community Grant Awards Representatives of the organizations that received Community Grant Awards in 2023. Rotarians gathered on Tuesday, November 21st, to award cash grants to local nonprofits in support of their service to our community. In total, 14 organizations received funding as a result of your generosity.
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Update from Amani Our Club's longtime partnership with the Bukavu-Mumosho Rotary Club of Eastern Democratic Republic Congo continues to pay dividends. Amani Matabaro's latest update on the Congo Peace School explains the importance of the school's curriculum in the face of continuing violence. “The east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing one of the world’s most complex and forgotten crises. Around 2.8 million children are bearing the brunt of violent conflict, being recruited by armed groups, losing their families and homes, and being exposed to ever-growing levels of sexual- and gender-based violence.” In this space where so many use violence to control innocent civilians, Founding Director Amani Matabaro’s vision for active peace is revolutionary. Each week at the Congo Peace School, the students and staff focus on a principle of peace and nonviolence as taught by Martin Luther King, Jr. |
The Amazing Life of Keld Hove President Tony Morris presents Speaker Keld Hove with our Club flag. Members assembled at out last meeting for a whirlwind review of the accomplishments of Keld Hove. Keld has devoted his life to finding creative ways to help people in need, from developing innovative community policing practices to baking sourdough bread. And in between he stars in "Politijagt" ("Police Chase"), a hit Danish TV show. If you'd like to learn more about Keld, you can visit him at the San Ysidro Pharmacy in Montecito where he works with his wife Lara. |
Prize-Winning Coffee Winning bidder Todd Aldrich poses with coffee entrepreneur Carlos Peralta and President Tony Morris. Members who attended our October 16th meeting enjoyed a presentation by Carlos Peralta, founder and master roaster of Rincon Coffee. |
Fire Fighting Update President Tony welcomes Montecito Fire Chief David Neels Montecito Fire Chief David Neels spoke at our Club meeting on October 19, 2023. He described his career working in a variety of firefighting positions, the challenges posed by changing climate conditions, and ongoing efforts to provide the best quality service to our community.
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Hope Ranch Beach Barbeque Food, fellowship and a fantastic sunset at Hope Ranch Beach. Rotarians Steve and Cindy Davis, Paul and Sue Kremser, Andy and Meri Berwick, Cathy Cash, Bruce McRoy, Tony Morris, Karen Hickman, Murray Ray, Bernadette Bagley, Kurt Koenig, and Kim Stone (with son Brandon and her French exchange student) gathered at Hope Ranch Beach to relax oceanside while sharing stories, drinking wine, and feasting. Thanks to hosts Cathy and Bruce for reserving the beautiful location and providing a bounty of side dishes. And kudos to grill master Kurt Koenig who introduced us to the delicious taste of Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning (as well as opening his cellar to donate a variety of fine wines to enhance the evening). |
ShelterBox Night of Inspiration Rotarians Larry Minasian and Murray Ray welcome guests to a Shelterbox disaster relief tent. Rotarians joined forces with Shelterbox staff and volunteers for an inspiring evening to benefit the local disaster relief organization. Event attendees learned about the work Shelterbox does around the world and were able to see firsthand the tents and supplies provided by Shelterbox to people impacted by disasters like floods, earthquakes and fires, Thanks to Cathy Cash, Bruce McRoy, Murray Ray, Kim Stone and Larry Minasian for volunteering to be part of this inspiring event.
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RYLA Students Visit Club Karen Hickman and President Tony Morris pose with RYLA graduates. Our Club continues to sponsor local high school students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). Participants in the popular weekend retreat learn valuable leadership skills that can be applied as they continue their education and move into their future careers. In 2023 we expanded our sponsorship from two to three students, and we're planning to sponsor even more next year! Kudos to Karen Hickman for her continued commitment to recruiting students and overseeing our involvement in the RYLA program.
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Blue Oyster Cult? Rotarians enjoying fellowship and food at Finch & Fork. They came for the $1 oysters and stayed for the sterling conversation. Rotarians Andy and Meri Berwick, Murray Ray, Rod and Susan Hersberger, Bruce McRoy, Cathy Cash, Todd Aldrich, and Tony Morris (photographer) gathered for happy hour on Thursday, August 24th. Rumor has it as good time was had by all. Thanks to social director Cathy Cash for organizing.
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A Look Back at Jordano's in SB President Tony Morris Poses with Speaker Pete Jordano and his wife Gerd. Longtime Santa Barbara businessman Pete Jordano shared his secrets for success and took members for a trip down memory lane as he described his family's more than 100 years in business as food and beverage purveyors. Journalist Bonnie Carroll, a friend of the Jordano's, attended the meeting and published an article about the event in EdHat. Click here if you'd like to review her piece. |
Marcy Wimbish Inducted President Tony welcomes Marcy as our newest Club member Marcy Wimbish has been attending club meetings for some time, but August 22, 2023, marked her official induction into the Rotary Club of Montecito. Thanks to Jennifer Goddard for introducing Marcy to our group, and a warm welcome to Marcy. Be sure to look for her at future meetings and introduce yourself!
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Backpack Success Story! Thanks to everyone who contributed backpacks to the Montecito YMCA's 4th annual Backpack Give Back program. We gave the YMCA a total of 37 backpacks, representing nearly a third of all backpacks they received. And as a result of your generosity, the Montecito YMCA was recognized for having collected the most backpacks of any YMCA in the Central Coast. Nice work!
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4th of July Pancake Breakfast Rotarians volunteer as chefs for the Montecito Fire Department's Annual Community Pancake Breakfast Thanks to all the Rotarians and friends who supported the Montecito Fire Department by serving at their annual 4th of July Community Pancake Breakfast. Volunteers mixed batter, manned the beverage bar, and mingled with members of the Montecito community.  Roger Davis and Taro Usami serve up breakfast beverages  Rotarians and fiends pose beside our new sign. Good work getting the word out about Rotary in action!
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Thanks and Welcome Back Montecito Rotarians gather to salute the end of President Tony's first term Thanks to Todd and Allyson Aldrich for hosting the Step-Down celebration for the end of President Tony's first term. Lucky for us, the "end" is temporary as Tony will be leading our Club again in Rotary year 2023-24. Thanks, Tony, for your inspiring leadership. Can't wait to see what we accomplish in the coming year!
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Rotary Group 8 Chili Cook-off Rotarians Andy, Bernadette, Kim, Tony, and Taro enjoy world-class cooking at the first ever Group 8 chili cook-off. The Group 8 Chili Cook-off was a great success! Rotarians from Carpinteria, Montecito, Goleta, and Santa Barbara gathered at the South Coast Railroad Museum for fun and a little friendly competition. Participants enjoyed train rides, live music, and beverages while sampling chilis created by nearly a dozen club members. Congrats to our own Kim Stone for bringing home a third-place award! To see more photos and Kim's award-winning chili recipe click the Read more ... link below.  Chef Kim enjoys a well deserved beverage break.
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Friendship Center Drumming Rotarians joined with residents of the Friendship Center for an afternoon of rain and rhythm. Special thanks to Sese Ntem for leading the lesson.  Arthur sharing the experience with a Friendship Center guest.
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2023 SBCC Career and Vocational Scholarship Awards 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.
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Andy Awarded Paul Harris Pin President Tony presents Paul Harris +6 Pin to Andy Berwick 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!
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RYLA Students Selected President Tony and Karen Hickman pose with RYLA candidates Lola Sage and Harry Hayman. 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. Each year all participating clubs in District 5240 select ambassadors to represent them at a 4-day, all expenses paid retreat designed by Rotarians to teach and promote the leadership skills necessary to make change through service to humanity locally and worldwide. RYLA offers courses not often found in standard high school curriculum. These courses include diversity training, public speaking, team building, goal setting, leading a meeting, and character & ethics. The retreat offers a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, plus talented keynote speakers who inspire our youth to become great leaders and to do great things. |
Good Times at Game Night Rotarians Murray, Taro, Bruce, Bernadette, Cathy, Kati, Peter, and Tony (behind the camera) gather for a little friendly competition. 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.
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Another Local Success Story Brad Bennett, Pacific Pickle WorksOur 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.
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Taro Usami Officially Joins the Rotary Club of Mentecito 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.
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Jamie Schrader Visits from Rotary Club of Lexington, Kentucky 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.
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Rotary Club of Montecito Provides Scholarship to Zambia Peace School Esnart is 15 years old and in her 11th grade at Zimba Boarding Secondary School. She is the third born child in a family of three (3) children. The first born completed her secondary education and was given a bursary by the government to go to university. The second born also completed her secondary education and is doing some piece work. Her parents divorced when Esnart was still young. After the divorce, Esnart and her siblings moved in with their grandparents who have been looking after them because their father stopped providing any support and their mother is struggling to provide all the needed educational materials. Below is a picture of the house where Esnart lives in Mambova with her grandparents.  Her grandparents’ main source of income is farming, however they are old and weak and can no longer carry out the same farming activities they did in the past. Now they farm only a small portion for home consumption, and the family is struggling to cover all the required boarding expenses for Esnart. The Rotary Club of Montecito donated $500 to support Esnart with a scholarship to the Zambia Peace School. Thanks to all members whose contributions enable us to support important work like the continuing education of young women. |
Montecito Union Chorus Performs 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.
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2022 Community Grant Awards Eleven local nonprofits were honored at our Club meeting on November 15th as recipients of our 2022 Community Grant Awards. 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.
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Update from California's 24th U.S. Congressional District President Tony Moris with U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal 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.
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Socializing Over Sunday Brunch at El Paseo Restaurant 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!
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Packing Food for Distribution by Food Bank of SB County Members Jason & Anita Blakemore, Susan Hersberger, and Bernadette Bagley met at the Food Bank on August 18th to package produce for distribution at the Franklin School Mobile Food Pantry Program. The Mobile Food Pantry Program brings food to low-income neighborhoods throughout Santa Barbara County, providing nutritional staples like rice, beans, canned goods, bread, protein items and fresh produce. Thanks to all who participated in this worthy project. |
Living Vehicles Donates to Club Foundation Former Club members Robert Mislang and Wally Hofmann present check to Club President Tony Morris. 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!
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Volunteering to Help Seniors Larry Minasian and Kim Stone with Rona Barrett 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.
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4th of July Pancake Breakfast Jason & Anita Blakemore pose with Kim Stone and President Tony Morris in front of Montecito firefighting equipment. 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.
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Step Down Celebration Outgoing President Tom Fisher receives commemorative plaque from Incoming President Tony Morris 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.
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Helping Reduce Food Insecurity Kati Buehler, Lynda Nahra, Susan Hersberger, Peter Buehler, and Jason Blakemore package food for distribution to formworkers.
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Support for Ukraine President Tom Fisher presents checks to Kerri Murray and Dean Axelrod. Checks for $10,500 each were donated to ShelterBox and Direct Relief International for their work assisting Ukrainian refugees.
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Volunteering at Unity Shoppe Peter Buehler, Jason Blakemore, and Larry Minisian bar code cereal boxes for the Unity Shoppe pantry.
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Rotary in the News 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.
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Vocational Scholarship Awards President Tom presents award winning student with certificate and check as sponsoring faculty member looks on.
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Congo Peace School Update 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.
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Latest Update on the Congo Peace School 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).
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President Elect Tony Visits Hometown Rotary Club 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!
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Montecito Beautification Day 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!
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Food Packaging at Franklin Community Center Visiting Rotarian Taro Usami and his wife Zelda assist Club member Todd Aldrich in assembling food bags for distribution. 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.
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Tuesday Social at Carr Winery Murray Ray and President Tom Fisher enjoy a glass of wine on the patio at Carr Winery. 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. |
Botanical Day of Service Jason and Anita Blakemore take instruction from Santa Barbara Botanic Garden staff member Jason. 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.
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First In-Person Meeting at the Music Academy of the West President Elect Tony Morris helps President Tom Fisher auction a selection of delicious wines. 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!
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Deadline for Community Grant Applications is Friday, Oct 8th Each year the Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation awards community grants to qualifying Santa Barbara County non-profit organizations. Individual grants range from $1,000 to $1,600. Details and the online application form can be found on our club website at www.montecitorotary.org. If you are involved with a nonprofit that has unmet needs, please encourage them to apply for a grant. But hurry, because the deadline for applications is this Friday, October 8th. |
Polling Place Volunteers
Our Rotary Club partnered with a local Lions Club to staff a polling station at Santa Barbara High School during the recent gubernatorial recall election. Many thanks to participants Anita & Jason Blakemore, Kati & Peter Buehler, Cathy Cash, Cindy Davis, Tom Fisher, Harlan Green, Jeff Kerns, Bruce McRoy, Tony Morris, Eryn Shugart, and Liz Westwick. Through your efforts we added $600 to our Club's coffers. |
Congo Peace School Update Understanding the balance of the natural world and learning how to live nonviolently within it is part of the Congo Peace School’s curriculum. Nshobole (pictured above) is a 4th grade elementary school student, starting 5th grade in October. After she finished reading this book, “Our Planet in Danger,” she told Amani: “Cutting down trees and throwing away plastic waste are big threats to our planet.”
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Labor Day Social Cathy Cash & Tony Morris at the Labor Day Putluck 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. |
Back2School Backpack Delivery 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.
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August Beach Cleanup 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.
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Care4Paws Work Day President Tom Fisher and Gary Hopkins bag dog food for hungry pets at our most recent Care4Paws work day.
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Kati's Step-Down Celebration Past President John and President Elect Tom congratulate outgoing President Kati on a successful year. 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.
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Final Club Meeting of 2020-21 Bernadette, Andy, Kati, Cathy, Bruce, Todd & Murray gather outdoors for our first in-person meeting of the year. 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.
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Back2School Fundraiser Nets $16,000 for SBCC Scholarships 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.
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Behind the Scenes at Our Back2School Fundraiser 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.
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Salvation Army Work Day Rotarians Kati, Jason, Gary, Eryn & Peter work side by side with friends of the club Simon, Maureen & Robert (not pictured). Club members and friends gathered on May 10th for our fourth day of service at the Salvation Army Food Pantry. |
Preparing for the Virtual Fundraiser 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.
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C.A.R.E 4 Paws Food Packaging 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.
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Camp Whittier Work Day 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,
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Socializing in the Sand 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).
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Eryn's Official Welcome 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.
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Latest Update from Amani 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). |
Supplies Donated to DVS Our January service project was a huge success! Thanks to all who contributed in support of Domestic Violence Solutions, a local non-profit that offers shelter and support for individuals and families affected by domestic violence. Together we provided school supplies, cookware, utensils, dishes, diapers, and cleaning supplies. Anita and Jason made the delivery last week and report that DVS staff were thrilled to receive so much. Thanks to everyone for your generousity! |
Essential Supplies Delivered to Nyantende Hospital Amani Tom, our partner from the Rotary Club of Bukavu Mwangaza in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sent an update from the Nyantende Hospital in South Kivu. Badly needed medical supplies and personal protection equipment were delivered to the hospital thanks to funds provided by our club and others in Group 8. Supplies included Thermo flashes, medical masks, Latex gloves, sterile gloves, hydro alcoholic disinfectants, anti-malaria, oral & injectable medicines, and trash cans for hygiene inside the hospital. |
Holiday Cheer for Golden Inn and Village 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. Peter & Kati Buehler collected donations at their house, and thanks to your generous support Tony Morris' car was packed to near bursting when he made the final delivery! |
Salvation Army Service 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.
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September Beach Cleanup and Social The starting lineup. 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.
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Salvation Army ServiceKudos to Anita Blakemore for organizing a meaningful and fun service project at the Salvation Army this past Tuesday (Sept 8th). Members volunteered in shifts with Lynda Nahra, Claude Dorais (Rotary E-Club), and Kati & Peter Buehler taking the morning shift; while Liz Westwick, Gary Hopkins, Bernadette Bagley, and Anita & Jason Blakemore covered the afternoon shift.  Claude loading food into a recipient's car. 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. |
Beach Clean-Up 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.
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C.A.R.E 4 Paws Service 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.
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Fellowship and Fun 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.
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ReStore Work Day 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.
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Kati Kicks Off the New Year 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:
She also shared a video message to the club by Rotary International President Holger Knaak. (If you'd like to know more about Holger's fresh vision for Rotary see this article on the RI website.) Liz provided a preview of coming socials, and Anita shared news about scheduled service projects. Susan outlined changes to the Community Grants program, most notably the switch to a single grant cycle per year with the potential to award larger grants. Tom Fisher summarized his recent visit to the Cabrillo Pavilion and discussed options for venues once we resume face-to-face meetings. 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. |
Montecito Rotary Awards $12,500 in SBCC Scholarships 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.
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District 5240 Celebrates Rotary Year 2019-20 DG Savi Bhim celebrates the accomplishments of Rotary year 2019-20. View video on YouTube.
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John's Step Down Celebration 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. |
Kati Announced as President, Rotary Club of Montecito NoozHawk annouced Kati Buehler as President of the Rotary Club of Montecito for 2020-21. Congratulations, Kati! (Click here to read the full article.) |
Leslie Talks Tiger Training 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).
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