The Transformers July 2011

5280 District Newsletter • July 2011

E very July 1st, Rotary undergoes a

renewal. From the Club level,

through the District and up to

Rotary International, leadership changes,

bringing a revitalization and enthusiasm that

keep our Clubs invigorated, refreshed and

energized. It is one of the beauties of

Rotary, and it has helped us retain our

excitement and has renewed our commitment

to serving others over the years.

Our motto this year lends itself very well to

the renewal that we are undergoing now.

“Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.” By

looking within and examining our

commitment to Rotary, we are able to make

the changes and deepen our commitments,

which allow us to have a greater impact on

those we are serving. This reassessment also

allows us to determine what we can do to

more deeply “live” our motto “Service Above

Self” and help transform other people’s lives.

This year, a special award will be given to

those Rotarians that have “transformed”

someone else’s life. During the Club visits,

these Rotarians will be honored, and a

special recognition will be given to those

that have had a major impact on some-

one’s life.

One of the easiest ways to help improve

someone else’s life is by becoming

involved in a humanitarian project – either

locally or internationally. By “putting your

hands on a project,” you can transform

someone’s life. It is during these

experiences that we have our “Rotary

Moments,” and we have a meaningful

impact on someone else’s life at the same

time.

We are very lucky to be Rotarians and to

be participating in this experience we call

“Rotary.” By helping others, we not only

have the opportunity to transform their

lives, but in the process, WE are

transformed, and we often become even

more committed to helping those that are

less fortunate.

Let us take this time of renewal to

recommit ourselves to our motto “Service

above Self,” and reexamine what we can do

to transform someone’s life. Let us “Reach

Within to Embrace Humanity” and by doing

so, help improve the world we live in.

Brad Robinson

Governor Brad’s

Message

RI President Kaylan and Binota Banerjee congratulate Governor Brad and Catherine

We Are So Close

After over 20 years of hard work, we,

Rotary and its partners, are on the brink of

eradicating this tenacious disease, Polio. A

strong push is needed now to root it out.

It is an opportunity of historic proportions.

Rotary raising the $200 million match for

the Bill and Melinda Gates Grant will

directly support immunization campaigns

in developing countries, where Polio

continues to infect and paralyze children,

robbing them of futures and compounding

the hardships for their families.

As long as polio threatens even one child

anywhere in the world, children

everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are

that high.

Family is the first emphasis because the

family is the starting point for everything

Rotary is trying to accomplish.

The second emphasis is continuity,

finding the things we do well and taking

them to the next level. The greatest

obligation is to PolioPlus where success

is so very close.

The third emphasis is change which can

only start within each of us. Mahatma

Gandhi said, “You must be the change

you wish to see in the world.”

As India’s Nobel Laureate, the poet

Rabindranath Tagore, wrote, “I slept and

dreamt life was joy. I awoke and saw life

was service. I acted and behold, service

was joy.”

Rotary International

W e are the doers of communities,

the leaders, the ones who are

most involved, who see the

problems and have the means to find the

solutions. I am asking you to reach within

and unleash your inner power and then use

it to embrace everything and everyone

around you.

I would like to see Rotary blossom from

being the world's most recognized service

organization to being the most important

NGO [nongovernmental organization] in the

world. Rotary, it is said, has the strength of

a government and the tenderness of a

parent.

Rotary's strengths include its ability to

attract leaders from different vocations as

well as its role in promoting peace. Rotary

needs to become the preferred organization

for today's generation to join and partici-

pate in, to make the world better and safer

and happier.

Kalyan Banerjee President Rotary International

Cover: Rotary’s Strategic Plan recommends the

priorities of Rotary International, Districts and Clubs.

The #1 Goal for Humanitarian Service is Polio

Eradication. The entire issue of the Rotary Global

History Fellowship this month is about Polio. The

newsletter is on the District Website under

Documents. Governor Brad encourages each

club to set a goal of $1,000 for the End Polio Now.

Will you be

with us to the

Finish Line?

JULY

01 Rotary Foundation accepts Matching

Grant applications thru March 31

15 Club semi-annual SAR report is due at

Rotary headquarters

20 First Club Visit—Westchester

21 Gov Visit Bellflower

23 Gov Visit LA Cedars

26 First District Breakfast

27 Gov Visit South Bay Sunrise

Gov Visit Lomita Torrance

28 Gov Visit Pacific Palisades

AUGUST Membership

10 Presidents Meeting and Dinner

18 Literacy Breakfast

SEPTEMBER New Generations

27 District Breakfast

OCTOBER Vocational Service

02 Rotary Family Picnic—Redondo Beach

03 Presidents Dinner

09 District Youth Conference

21-23 Multidistrict Interact Symposium

NOVEMBER Rotary Foundation

06 Foundation Celebration Circus Vargas

16 District Leadership Meeting

Presidents Meeting and Dinner

Plan for Success in 2011-12

The Senior Leadership Team

Andrea Clark

District Treasurer

Remember RI dues and District dues are due

July 1. Your secretary or treasurer should be

receiving the statements. It's time to report all

your NEW members to RI and to our Dis-

trict. I'm looking forward to my challenge

of filling Dennis Benko's shoes as the new Dis-

trict Treasurer!

Jim Dyer, DGN

District Breakfast Chair

We will have four District Breakfasts this year, the

first one on July 26th. District Breakfasts are great

opportunities for new members to learn more about

Rotary. Consider bringing a potential new member,

it's a very impressive experience.

Val Velasco

Executive Aide

Embrace all that we do to help others.

Become a Transformer in our clubs and district.

Lew Bertrand

District Governor Elect

District 5280 is expanding into the valley.

We will begin to know all 69 Clubs that

will make up 5280 as of July 1, 2012.

Plan, Achieve and Enjoy!

Rick Mendoza, PDG

District Rotary

Foundation Chair

Do you want your Rotary Club to have the

very best year in The Rotary Foundation?

The District Rotary Foundation Team can

assist you with all of your Foundation

questions.

The District Rotary Foundation Team can assist

you with Matching Grant and District Simplified

Grant writing and processing. Contact them!

Sr. AG Jaimee Sul New Generations

We plan to implement a number of worthy

community service projects and fun filled

activities to promote service through

fellowship among Youthact, Interact,

Rotaract and Rotarians alike.

We will have a Youth Protection training

seminar in the early fall, bowling fundraiser

for End Polio Now, a record number of

attendees are expected to pack Youth

Conference and Multidistrict Interact

Symposium in October and we have a big

hands-on project in the works with the LA

Regional Food Bank.

RYLA heads back up to the mountain this

year so start saving your club funds to send

a bunch of students please. Oh and I hear

there’s a Talent Show being planned…

so You Think You Can Dance/Sing/Rotary??

Join us as we lead our future with the New

Generations of District 5280!

December —Family

Great Service, Great Fellowship

Happy Holidays!

JANUARY Rotary Awareness


25 Presidents Dinner

FEBRUARY– World Understanding

9-13 District International Trip to

Puerto Rico

24-26 PETS (Presidents 2012-13)

MARCH Literacy

17 Rotary Day of Service

21 Presidents Dinner—Presidents and

Presidents Elect

APRIL Magazine


19-22 District Conference San Diego

TBD RYLA

MAY International Convention

6-9 International Convention Bangkok

JUNE — Rotary Fellowship

2 District Assembly

Additional programs and events will be

included in future newsletters, website,

Friday News and Facebook.

Leading the District


Sr. AG Don Reeves

Special Projects and

Events

The first Presidents Meeting will be held

on Wednesday August 10. Each of the four

Presidents Dinners will be different.

The first will focus on Club Goals, The

Rotary Foundation and Membership.

All Club Presidents are strongly encouraged

to attend or to designate a representative

– preferably the President-Elect.

This event will be co-sponsored by the

Palos Verdes Peninsula and Palos Verdes

Sunset Clubs. Please see the flyer and

map on the District Website for details and

RSVP no later than 3 August.

Embracing Our Communities

This is the first of a series of true stories

from Rotarians around the district.

One Evening with My

Rotary Club

My club had been planning for some time.

The Annual Holiday Celebration for the

residents of a local shelter for abused

women and their young children was only

days away. Gifts for the residents needed

to be purchased and wrapped. We had a

list of their names, including the children,

some who were only infants. I was

provided a budget by the club. It was my

job to purchase and wrap all the gifts.

Each child was to receive a toy. Each baby

was to receive a blanket and other items.

A personalized gift bag containing hygiene

and cosmetic items was prepared for each

adult resident. It was the night of the cele-

bration and we were ready. Some of the

member’s spouses also joined to help.

Several of the members picked up the food

to be served from a local donor restaurant.

Other members gathered the various

supplies needed for serving dinner that

evening.

At 5 PM, 10 of us met at the shelter. We

arranged the dining room and organized

the food to serve. There were 21 women

and 16 children gathered. We met and

learned the names of the children,

including the babies. Club members and

spouses served the residents.

Afterwards, we served ourselves and

joined the residents. We ate together.

Following dinner and cleaning of the

dining room by the Rotarians, we moved

into the living room. One of our singing

members led everyone in holiday carols.

We sang and laughed for several hours.

It was time to hand out the wrapped

gifts. The gifts were opened in a midst

of sheer happiness and appreciation.

Many a tear was shed.

Towards the end of the evening a young

mother with several children, including a

one-month-old baby she was holding (a

baby nearly all of us held), remarks

poignantly to several of us, “This is the

first Christmas in many years that my

babies and me have been free of

violence and abuse. Tonight has been

safe and peaceful for us. Thank you.”

What do you say? That night I went

from being simply a member of a Rotary

Club to being a Rotarian in my

community.

Submit stories about Rotarians and

Community Service to Joe Vasquez.



Sr. AG Joe Vasquez Community Service

DJ Sun

Sr. AG

International Service

International Service is the advancement of

international understanding, goodwill, and

peace through a world fellowship of business

and professional persons united in the

ideal of service. International Service

encompasses actions taken to expand

Rotary's humanitarian reach around the globe

and to promote world understanding and

peace.

Rotary International's Six Areas of Focus:

• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

• Disease prevention and treatment

• Water and sanitation

• Maternal and child health

• Basic education and literacy

• Economic and community development.

I hope each club belonging to District 5280

will do any international service project

related to the above mentioned areas.

If you should need and help and guidance,

please do not hesitate to email me.

Sr. AG Dean Reuter

Membership

The new and improved Membership

Committee is ready to come to your clubs

to talk about the various aspects of

Membership.

Improve member retention rate by

finding ways to keep new members

active and involved. Keeping new

members coming back week after week

begins with an informative and inspiring

orientation program. It’s important to

make new members feel welcome,

engaged and fully aware of the club’s

operation.

AUGUST is Membership month so beat

the rush for guest speakers, e-mail for

speakers about Membership.



Sr. AG Pat Bennett

Vocational Service

Vocational service includes career days,

mentoring, vocational and appreciation award

presentations, business assistance, job

shadow days and Craft Talks.

Literacy

Clubs are encouraged to provide books to

schools and libraries.

Speech, Art And Music Contests

The winners of the local club will represent

that club at the District competition.

Ethics Forum

Two evening Forums will be held with group

panels including ethics in the workplace,

school and organizations. Individuals from

the legal and political arenas discuss ethics

relating to the 4-Way Test.

Vocational Awards

Awards for persons ages 18- 24 with a

high school diploma who are interested in

vocational careers. We are looking for

Rotarians who have businesses or contacts

in the vocational areas to offer internships,

apprentices and/or on the job training.

Sr. AG John Colville,

PDG

Club Service

As Senior Assistant Governor for Club

Service 2011-2012, I am looking

forward to service. District 5280 is

blessed this year with 15 wonderful

assistant Governors for our 46 clubs.

The opportunity they have this year for

personal growth along with their

experiences visiting with new clubs will

be exiting and will allow them to enjoy

fellowship with new friends as well as

friends they have known in these clubs.

I am confident they will do an

outstanding service to our clubs. I am

so proud to serve with them.

Meet the Club Service

Assistant Governors

Mary Tabata Hermosa Beach

Manhattan Beach

So Bay Sunrise

I look forward with eager anticipation

to working with our Rotary Clubs to

help the club maintain or improve on

whatever achievements the clubs

attained in the previous Rotary year.

As AG, my motto will be

“TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM

WORK”. Please be reminded that

great players help a team to win

games but GREAT TEAMS win

CHAMPIONSHIPS. We will aspire to

win the CLUB OF EXCELLENCE title.

With the above motto in mind, the

Club President’s leadership and a

motivated club, it can be

accomplished. LET’S GO LEADERS!!

I look forward to meeting new

friends and Rotarians on my

visits to the clubs during the

next year. If we can all keep

our members active, involved

and appreciated, we will have

another great year in District

5280. We are the best District

and we plan to stay that way.

What would I do if I were club

president again??? I would first

have my sanity checked.

Actually, this was one of the best

years of my life. I expected the

best from the membership and

received far more than my

expectations. I wanted everyone to

enjoy our many projects and we

had a blast.

So, expect the best and have fun!

Sam Pirnazar Koreatown

Los Angeles 5

Rancho Park

Ted Grose Beverly Hills Century City

Westchester

Jerry Brown Historic Filipino

Hollywood

Wilshire

Linda Black Culver City

Playa Sunrise

Santa Monica

Gordon Fell PV Penninsula

PV Sunset

Wilmington

Linton Morgan Downey

Lynwood

Paramount

Glenn Mitchell Rio Hondo/Vernon

San Pedro South Gate

Meet the Club Service

Assistant Governors

Greg Becker Del Amo

Lomita-Torrance

Torrance

Congratulations Club

Presidents 2011-12!

Good luck with your year

and I hope I can help make

it a bigger success!

I would like to encourage the new Club President's to work closely with

your board. Communicate your goals and vision to them. Be sure everyone

understands the direction you want to take the club and they will help you

get there.

Ask for feedback and buy in. We had a club slogan for the year: “Dreams

work through Team Work.”

Don't be afraid to lead. John Maxwell states, “Leadership is the capacity

and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the charac-

ter which inspires confidence.”

Have a FUN year!

I am very aware of the pressures that you may

be feeling as a new Club President. What

helped me the most was to be well organized

and prepared entering my year. Establish

goals with input from all Club members and

ensure that all Club members are aware of the

goals for the coming Rotary year.

It is important to communicate regularly with

your Club’s members so that they stay con-

nected. Club Assemblies, Club Bulletins, and

email are great tools for communicating with

your members.

Lastly, maintain regular communication with

your Assistant Governor for Club Service whose

purpose it is to provide support and guidance

to ensure that you have a successful year as

Club President.

Jim Beardsley Crenshaw/Watts

Hawthorne

LAX/Lennox

Redondo Beach Kevin Smith Brentwood

Malibu

Pacific Palisades

Frank Rodriguez Bellflower

Carson-Gardena

LA Colombo

Dave Reimann El Segundo

Latinos Unidos

Westchester

Lola Semaan Downtown LA

LA Cedars

Thai Town

Samuel Bingham Inglewood Lawndale

South West LA

Focus on Communication

Senior Assistant Governor Marc Leeka Club website front page is current.

(by September 30)

Club website includes information for

make-ups and visitors. (by September 30)

Club website or Facebook page has photos

from five meetings or special events. (by

December 31)

Club produces 1-minute video.

(by February 28)

SUGGESTION TO

CLUBS:

IDENTIFY communication strategy before

July 31. Sr. AG will meet individually with

clubs to provide assistance.

DIVIDE communication strategies into

areas, then rank in importance.

ASSIGN resources and volunteers to most

important communication areas.

Periodically EVALUATE progress and shift

resources to less-important communication

areas.

Marc Leeka has taken on the chal-

lenge to increase the communication in Dis-

trict 5280. He is focusing on the District

Website, club websites, electronic bulletins,

Social Media and ClubRunner.

In this article you will read the guidelines,

including dates, for invigorating club

communications. Follow the suggestions and

the club will have award winning success.

MAJOR GOAL:

Each club expand and enhance club

communications to its membership and

community. Assist the club to determine its

target audience and find an optimum mix of

communication methods: newsletter, website,

ClubRunner, social media and advertising.

Every club is encouraged to create a

1-minute video.

IMPORTANT EVENTS and

DATES:

ClubRunner membership information is

current and includes photos. (by August 30)

Wilshire Rotary Club of

Los Angeles Enters

Facebook World

In just a short time the Social Media

Revolution changed the way we all

communicate with each other. Wilshire

Rotary Club quickly understood that

Facebook is an excellent tool to broadcast

the Rotary message into the world without

too much effort. It is also an effective way

to market weekly meetings, program

speakers, service projects and social

events. Uploading photos helps convey a

visual explanation of club activities too.

Content is King for a Facebook page and

Wilshire Rotary aims to give their fans and

users a reason to visit the page with

regularity. Keeping the club Facebook page

fresh and current is of the upmost

importance and it only takes a minimal

amount of time to administer the page, 15

minutes, no more.

Among Rotary Clubs with Facebook pages

are Beverly Hills, Los Angeles 5,

Malibu and Westchester .

Through the wonders of Facebook, Rotary

clubs have tapped into a Social Media

community that is vast and viral. Use it

well and use it wisely.

Do your club members receive the District Newsletter? The Friday News?

Update ClubRunner emails or send to [email protected].

Join the District Facebook site: [email protected].

Rotarians Around the District

Leadership Directory

Editor Colette

Paul was pleased

to have the clubs

provide all the needed

information for

another outstanding

directory.

District Trip Chair

John Ramey

asks Rotarians at the District

Assembly to raise their hands

if they are going to Puerto

Rico in February. Over 100

Rotarians will enjoy a

wonderful get-away while

providing true Rotary service

to 13 excellent projects.

Sr. AG John Colville, PDG, instructs the Club Service Assistant

Governors to inform the clubs to follow John’s Rules including “Start on time, end

on time.”

District Recognition Chair Christina Chan is pleased to

hear clubs saying they plan to organize early for club recognitions

by setting club goals to include Rotary International and District

5280 objectives and record the club’s progress throughout the year.

District Treasurer Andrea Clark smiles every time she reads

that a club has paid their Rotary International dues and their Rotary

International and District 5280 dues.

Los Angeles 5 President Megan O’Rourke and Wilshire of LA President

Kyle Pierce look over the new Leadership Directory to see who the new

District Leaders are and the leaders in the Rotary Clubs of District 5280.

about the operations and programs of the

club. Be sure to include membership

reports and rosters, budgets and bylaws.

The Assistant Governor for each club can be

a resource to help with the materials

needed for the visit.

Some clubs are very formal in their

presentations, others are not. All are eager

to provide the best there is about their club.

This is a time to invite spouses and

potential members. The Official Visit is a

time for new member inductions and for

special recognitions.

The District Governor is THE program on the

date of his address to the club. The

President should keep business items and

announcements at a minimum during this

meeting to allow the Governor ample time

for his address.

Who Gets Your

Club Newsletters ?

Club publications should be e-mailed to

these district leaders:

District Governor Brad Robinson

Executive Aide Val Velasco

District Administrator Emily Blair

SAG Club Service John Colville

SAG Communications Marc Leeka

District Newsletter Carmela Raack

And the club’s Assistant Governor

This is your District Newsletter, please send club

announcements, pictures and other interesting

items you want to share.

For more information about any article, contact

the Rotarian chair,

go to www.rotary5280.org ,

read the Friday News,

or go to the new

[email protected] .

SHARE THE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER!

Carmela Raack, Editor 2011-12

CarmRaack@aol .com

The Governor’s Visit

O ver the next several months Governor

Brad Robinson, Executive

Aide Val Velasco and the

Assistant Governor Club Service working

with specific clubs will attend, learn about

the clubs and hear the governor speak at

every club in Rotary District 5280. Great

projects and fun socials will be discussed.

They will visit with old friends and meet

new ones.

How does your club prepare for the visit?

First, the President completes the Planning

Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs and

reviews it with the Club Board. Each Board

member should be prepared to discuss their

area of responsibility.

Develop a notebook, folder or special

presentation to give to the leadership team

and to use with new members that is

It is accepted courtesy to stand when the

District Governor is introduced. It is not

appropriate to “scoot” on the day of the

District Governor’s Visit.

An appropriate gift would be a donation to

The Rotary Foundation or to End Polio Now.

Good Luck! Enjoy a great Governor’s Visit.

What Rotarian doesn’t look forward to a Governor’s Visit? At the conclusion of Governor Brad’s speech

one member remarked, “I really enjoyed the Governor’s talk. His speech was great. I feel so refreshed!”

mailto:[email protected]

First District Breakfast July 26

The Future of the LAUSD

Superintendent Dr. John Deasy

District Breakfast Chair Jim Dyer has arranged the first breakfast to

kick off the new Rotary year. Come visit with old friends and meet some

new ones. Start the year with Governor Brad Robinson and

Rotarians who “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”

Westin LAX Hotel, 5400 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045

7:00 a.m. Registration, 7:25 a.m. Breakfast, Free Hotel Self-Park

Send your club's reservations by July 19 for the Early Registration price

of $34/person. Thereafter all reservations are $39/person. Tickets are

also available at the door.

Literacy

Breakfast

Chair Ramona Holland has announce the Annual

Literacy Breakfast will be

held on Friday morning,

August 12, 2011, 7:00 am,

at Lawry's Restaurant.

Club Presidents and

Vocational Chairs along

with other interested club

members are invited to

attend.

District

Picnic

Wendy Clifford and

Don Reeves have

announce the annual

District Picnic will be held on

Sunday, October 2, 2011.

Register your club and get

your boat ready. The

LA Colombo-Americano Club

won the last TWO boat races

without breaking a sweat.

Will they do it again?

District Activities

Club Corner Share activities of the Club with District Rotarians.

Culver City Rotary invites

District Rotary Clubs to join them for

their annual Club Assembly at the

Palisades Boy Scout Camp Sunday, July

24, 11:30 AM — 2 :00 PM. The first

hour each club will have time to conduct

their own club assembly (if desired).

We will have lunch together, as well as

fun and fellowship. THIS IS A FAMILY

EVENT SO BRING THE FRIENDS,

KIDS, GRANDKIDS,....! We will have

access to the swimming pool, volleyball,

archery, and so on.

Cost per person is $15 for adults and

$10 for kids under 12 yrs. Contact

President Ann Murakami.

Westchester Rotary is in the

Rotarian Magazine, July 2011, item #2

on page 14 featuring their home makeover

program. Nice going!

The Rotary Foundation Celebration will

be under the big tent of Circus Vargas in

Torrance on Sunday, November 6,

11:00—3:00 PM. The event will feature

outstanding aerialists and acrobats.

Tickets for Rotarians, family and friends

are $65 for adults and $35 for children.

Purchase tickets at the July 26 District

Breakfast. Contact Chair Jerrie Heslov.

BEST Speaker in ALL of Rotary Past RI

President Cliff Dochterman will

be the featured speaker at the Beverly

Hills Rotary meeting, Monday, July

11, 12:00 noon. Governor Brad

Robinson encourages Rotarians to

attend this meeting. Contact President

Brooke Knapp.

Extraordinary

Projects

Elementary School

Equipment

Hydroponic System for

Growing Vegetables

Provide Dictionaries to

All 4th Graders in Puerto

Rico

Administrative and

Lunchroom Equipment

for a School for

the Deaf

Furnish Facilities in

Police Stations for

Abused Children

Provide Equipment for

Solar Power for Local

Aqueduct

Baking Equipment for

Women’s Vocational and

Rehabilitation Facility

Improve Facilities for

Nursing Home

Mobile Waste

Management Part of a

Rehabilitation Program

Equipment for At-Risk

Girls’ Center

Provide Funding for

Literacy, Tutoring, Arts

and Sports Programs at

Boys and Girls Club

Wheelchair Distributions

District Trip Chair

John Ramey

Over 100 District 5280

Rotarians will make the trip

No Passport or Shots Required!

The cost will include air fare, hotel

(double occupancy), all meals and

ground transportation

Host Hotel is the Courtyard by Marriott

in Isla Verde, San Juan