The lovely and charming Cozette Vergari (Confession: she’s my dear friend, a family law and estate planning lawyer in Westchester with a countywide reputation for providing extraordinary service to her clients, including a particular talent for peacemaking) is our District Governor and was our presenter today. This talented Westchester Rotarian, a USC grad, has undergraduate and graduate degrees in music and dance and performing arts. She has a Rotary resume a mile long.

Today’s Program “Space. The Final Frontier.”

Captain James T. Kirk, USS Enterprise August 7 – Designing the Largest Telescope Ever Built for Space. Northrop Grumman VP and Program Manager Scott Willoughby talks about the James Webb Space Telescope.

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DG Vergari started by presenting her District Governor Citations to John Rhind, for 50 years of Rotary service, and Kathleen Terry, her Senior Assistant Governor for Membership. She told us we have 2300 Rotarians in District 5280, with 1.2 million members in RI, all “making a difference” and “touching countless people we never meet.” She has 100 Rotarians on her District team, including Dave Harris, a trustee on the District Foundation Board. (“We are here to assist you.”) She’s a local girl who grew up in El Porto and went to Westchester High. For her, Rotary is an opportunity to “do business in an atmosphere of trust and respect.” Her philosophy: “There are no dreams without purpose, and dreams will not come true without passion.” DG Vergari encouraged us to read and contribute to the District Newsletter. She described District Grants, Global Grants, and Reverse Global Grants. The District provides college scholarships. With Gates Foundation double matches, polio contributions get tripled in value. The annual district dinner celebration will be on October 28 this year, featuring Peter Salk, son of Jonas Salk, and our club is being asked to fill three tables. In the second half of March, there will be two Humanitarian trips to Colombia visiting a total of 16 District projects. (Typically 130 Rotarians go, and these trips sell out as early as the first day, so let the District’s Tori Hellinger know if you want to be on her email list.) DG Vergari’s specific focus is on child sex trafficking, and she is developing a District 5280 grass roots initiative/coalition to address this plague. Anyone who has been president of our club has experienced how intense and time-consuming the job is. Account for that, and multiply it exponentially, and you have a sense of what is required of our District Governor. We already owe Cozette Vergari an immense debt of gratitude, and she’s just getting started. Yours in Rotary, Jim Hallett It was Monday, July 31, 2017, and President Mark Burton dedicated our meeting to the memory of our beloved Dennis Ridge and invited us to join him at Lido on the following Wednesday to reminisce about Dennis. Donn Ennis honored Dennis by taking it upon himself to print the Bulletin for us this day. Flowers were sent to Dennis’ partner, Steve Copley…..Our guests included District Governor Cozette Vergari and her district assistants, Dave Davis and Karen Greenberg. President Mark advised us that DG Vergari was requesting contributions of $20 per member in the district toward End Polio Now, for a total commitment from our club of $2200 (the District total will be $250,000)…..Ten club members participated in the PS I Love You day at the beach—we have “adopted” ten of the kids involved.

President Mark honored two Rotarians of the Month, our two AV guys, Les Silverman and Dan Quisenberry, especially noting their handling of the transition to our new locale. Les thanked Russ Samuels and Norm Levin for their support. Our directors reported their activities for our honored guest, DG Vergari. Bob Lanahan, International Service, described Niger WASH, Guatemala Literacy Project, Fiji Water Project, and End Polio Now. Working with James Kennedy, they are searching the District for new projects as well. Loli Ramezani, Vocational, described our usual awards and recognitions, the District Literacy Project, Rotary Reads, Lennox Academy Career Day, crafts, music, police, teachers, fire and more. Tim Hageman, Youth, described both Costa and Vistamar (Deb Roberson) Interacts and MBMS Interact (Duke Winser). Mark Lipps (Social), with James Kennedy, anticipated August 20 U2 at Polliwog, the LA Zoo with Nelson Gray, and watching submarine racing (“so intense”)….Shannon Ryan (“Relax? Never”) described community service—we have the wine garden at the Fair again; David Gendron is working on a citywide coalition day of service, and much more. Programs August 14 – The Wisdom of Walt. Author, speaker and university professor Jeff Barnes will tell us how Walt Disney transformed his dreams into reality. August 21 – Keeping Us Safe at LAX. Patrick M. Gannon, deputy executive director, public safety and security at LAX, will tell us how he does it. Save the Date Monday, August 14 – Rotary Book Club. We’re discussing “The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild” by Lawrence Anthony. Tom Jeffry is hosting. Sunday, August 20 – Concerts in the Park. Polliwog Park, 5-7 pm, U2 tribute band, bring your own food and beverage. To help Mark Lipps hold the space, show up at 3. Sunday, September 17 – Sample microbrews. We’re meeting at the Strand Brewing Company, 2201 Dominguez St., Torrance. Dog friendly; guitars and harmonicas welcome. Sunday, September 17 – Day at the Beach. Join Vinny Fazzino as he takes the kids from Casa Hogar to the beach.

Local Rotary Make-Up Clubs

Rotarians Participate at Weekly Meetings!

Tuesday Hermosa Beach - 12:15 pm

PV Sunset Beach - 7:00 pm

Wednesday

Torrance Sunrise - 7:15 am

Redondo Beach - 12:15 pm Westchester - 12:15 pm

Thursday

El Segundo - 12:15 pm

LA Int’l Airport - 12:15 pm

Lawndale - 12:15 pm

Friday

Palos Verdes - 12:15

For times and locations of local club meetings go to www.rotary5280.org and scroll down to the “District Info” area on the right side and click on the “When / Where Clubs Meet” link for information on all clubs in the district.

Meals on Wheels Schedule August 8 Jim Hallett August 15 Richard Ham August 22 Jay Harkenrider August 29 Dave Harris September 5 Jason Hearne Birthdays August 6 Herb Trachtenberg August 8 Marc Castellani August 13 Jordan Holbert August 15 Megan Hall Walker August 20 Jim Hunter August 26 Mike Doell August 27 Harris Bass Donn Ennis Jay Harkenrider Anniversaries August 1 Tom & MaryRose Jeffry August 4 John & Roberta Rhind August 6 Robert & Laurie Espinosa August 8 David & Jane Long August 10 Paul & Sharon Allman August 17 Michael & Jill Matthews