We are a leadership organization comprising of local business, civic and professional leaders.
We are a nonpolitical, nonsectarian service club.
We meet regularly to get to know each other, form friendships and through that we are able to get things done in this community. Like:
Scholarships at 5 local high schools,
Interact Clubs at 3 local schools.
Support the YMCA, City Center, Ventura Botanical Gardens
Promote literacy and career guidance in schools
Internationally we support a huge project our club started called GoCare in Nicaragua and contribute to eliminating Polio worldwide.
The Rotary Club of Ventura-East meets Thursday noon to 1:30 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura. Come and learn more about Rotary's humanitarian service, high ethical standards in all vocations and help build good will in this community.
One of the goals we deem very important in our projects is that of “sustainability.” With our NGO partner, Go Care, we have been producing results in helping people in poverty move out and up to become productive members of their society while returning to their villages as volunteers to help others do the same.
In November, six Rotarians visited our project in Pantanal, a barrio on the outskirts of Grenada, Nicaragua. This village was the first development we undertook many years ago. Michelle Cekov, CEO of Go Care and a member of Rotary Club Ventura East, is carrying on the job her father (past DG Jan Lindsay) and other Rotarians began 20 years ago. Michelle, along with Club President Harriet Clune, Rich Stewart, International Chair Judy Hoag, Colin Hoag and a Rotarian Pam ……. Of the Flagstaff, AZ club, spent time meeting with members of the Pantanal Community.
When I first visited Pantanal in January of 2010, there were still homes of one room, made of cardboard boxes, reclaimed wood from the dump and corrugated metal. People earned about $1 a day. Now many homes are made of home-made concrete building blocks, the cardboard homes are gone and some even have two or three rooms and are painted, often with a stucco finish. All the homes have corrugated metal roofs and most still have dirt floors.
Children are going to school; many are completing high school and the community now has numerous university graduates. Public University is free in Nicaragua. But, books and supplies cost money and transportation is difficult. Our club, with Go Care, has provided education in the village, English language lessons, computer labs and skills classes, health care and many more services. And Go Care provides scholarships to University that consist of funding books and supplies as well as transportation, mostly by local bus, to the city to attend classes. Adults are also learning English and computer skills and better jobs quickly follow.
Education is the answer for many to move out of poverty, but families need to understand and embrace how important it is. We heard this story: A young boy wanted to go to school. Go Care had a place in the classroom for him. His mother did not want him to go. But go he did. Every day he walked quite a distance to school. He excelled. His mother was not happy that he wanted to go to high school so far from the village. He went and excelled. Then he wanted to go to university, on a scholarship, with housing provided in the city. His mother was so sad to “lose” her son. He is now in medical school and working as a volunteer in Pantanal to help others succeed. His mother spoke at our meeting with the community. She is now taking computer classes herself and is helping to encourage others to take advantage of the programs to learn new skills.
This is Rotary. This is service above self. This is creating opportunity for people to excel through education and achieve a better life for themselves and their children. This is sustainable because when people learn, they teach others. When they receive a scholarship, they agree to return as volunteers to their village.
I was so impressed at the changes in the community since 2010. The people work hard to keep the school clean, the library books are treasured, the class rooms are immaculate. The pride is measurable. The community center is always full, the health clinic teaches classes as well as administering care to the families. A Rotary legacy that will live on and grow through the people in Pantanal.
I have waited until the “all clear but Smokey” siren before writing this. It has been a tumultuous 48 hours. One that I have never experienced in my 82 years of breathing oxygen.
Saying “I lost my home” doesn’t seem so tough but in that, you are saying, I lost EVERYTHING that I hold dear. Unreplaceable pictures, personal items, wardrobe, medicines, all those things collected thru the years to provide you with comfort, now gone. You are at zero! (The older you are, the darker that zero becomes.) While beautiful homes all around us burned to the ground, ours survived. (I was asked what my pre-plans were and I replied, “pray to Jesus and buy a lottery ticket.”
When Judy rushed into the bedroom at 9pm Monday nite and breathlessly shouted, “we have to evacuate!”, I immediately pooh poohed that comment. “It’s not going to happen”, I stated. Ignoring my ignorance and indignation, she immediately began to pack a suitcase. “Don’t forget your medicines!, she added. Meanwhile my youngest son rushed to us to help out. We decided to stay with his family until the warning was removed. Our daughter, Janna, her new puppy Cosmo, Judy and I joined a long line of traffic heading out of Ondulando.
The city was extra depressing. The electricity was off everywhere. It was dark, cold and fiercely windy. Flashlights were mandatory. iPhones and IPads quickly ran out to power. With no TV, and trying to ignore the raging fires silhouetted on the blazing hillside you were left with small talk and meaningless conversation. Then we got a call from our neighbor, Steve Osman. He stayed behind and was fiercely watching his and OUR houses stamping out embers being blown around by the unpredictable fire storm. Meanwhile, homes all around us were going up in flames.
I slept fitfully on the couch until 5:30am. I awoke to see good friend, Barry Nielsen, on the other couch. He had lesser time to react as he left his expensive watch on his dresser as he rushed out the door. (His home is gone along with all clothes, personal sundries and daily needs. (Big day at Costco coming up shortly!) now comes the HUGE problem. Where do you live for the next year or two? (It will probably take that long for the city to issue a permit!) There are no rooms to rent anywhere.....period!
Then came the next alarming news. We have been told to evacuate my son’s residence. (He lives next to Buena H S.). “Holy Moly,” as Batman would say. Where do we go now?
Janett and Roger Whitlock have been good friends for 60 years. They have a lovely, spacious residence in Camarillo. A quick call at 6:00 am and eight of us, plus cat and dog headed south.
Janett is the most fabulous host. We have been treated like royalty. It will be hard to go home but home we will go as we have one. As I reflect on the past events, one thing is abundantly clear. Having family, friends and good neighbors is a blessing not all enjoy. Judy and I are triple blessed. I can’t imagine going thru this conflagration without their support.
We are blessed with a strong family who support each other. We are blessed with long, deep friendships of people who care. We are blessed by a neighbor who epitomizes the old fashioned, timeless care and concern. And as an added bonus, we are blessed with our home of 47 years.
Amber Landis-Stover gave our Inspirational Message.
Bill Spellman introduced guests and visiting Rotarians.
There were not any guests or visiting Rotarians today so Bill's job was rather easy.
Todd Juvonen gave our joke of the day followed by John Borneman who led us in our song.
President Harriet passed around a sign up sheet for our Christmas Party scheduled for December 10th at the Channel Islands Yacht Club.
Rich Stewart passed around a sign up sheet for Salvation Army Bell Ringing on December 9th.
Happy $'s: John Borneman, Jeff Hata, Rich Stewart, Tom Swan, Vance Thompson, Amber Landis-Stover, Bob Pazen, Bill Spellman, Jim Word, Husam Hishmeh and David Morris.
Midge Stork conducted the raffle with was a gift card to Rabalais. Our lucky winner was Laura Shannon.
President Harriet presented blue badges to Greg Jones and Melody O'Leary Namikas.
You can start the holiday season on a charitable note by donating on Giving Tuesday, 28 November.Why should Rotary be your charity of choice? Because our 1.2 million members see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our
