Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith

District Governor’s Message

District 5240 Newsletter

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

District Governor’s MessageLiteracy Month Issue 9, March 2010

It’s so hear tening to see the outpouring of literacy projects, both large and small, that are or iginating in this dist r ict. There’s rather more ill iteracy in my or iginal dist r ict (4160 in Central Mexico) than there is here, and consequently I suppose I am more sensit ive to anything improving literacy. Any action is noticed and appreciated immediately.

Librar ies in our dist r ict gain every t ime a book is donated in a speaker’s name; children in Title I schools gain every t ime a Rotar ian takes an hour out of his/her t ime to read to them. The entire Third Grade of a recipient school benef its when a Rotar ian shows up to dist r ibute bilingual dict ionar ies that can change the outlook for an entire gaggle of nine-year-olds doing their best to learn to read English amid the cur rent atmosphere of budget cut t ing and program cancellat ions.

The outf it t ing of small, forgot ten public librar ies in small towns of Honduras and Nicaragua, and the provision of English books to Bhutan, Punaka in the Himalayas raises the literacy rates and presages the t imes in the future when world leaders will or iginate where we have sewn our books.

If you have never been on the site of one of these magic t r icks (turning future-less people into producing, valuable cit izens), see if you can make a contact among the members of those clubs that are exper t in these sor ts of lifet ime improvement skills. Make up your mind you’ll visit a place just emerging f rom the blackness of ill iteracy. You’ll f ind, as so many already have, that your new hobby is the encouragement of others to have what we have all taken for granted – the ability to read.

Don’t forget that the week of March 12 – 18 is Rotaract Week. We’re for tunate in this dist r ict. We have two of the greatest Rotaract Clubs in the world inside our borders – “active, commit ted, imaginative” are but three of the t raits common to both the Santa Barbara and the Thousand Oaks Rotaract Clubs. A third club (Channel Islands) shows promise, and I will char ter a four th club in San Luis Obispo on March 13, sponsored by the seven local Rotary Clubs.

I think I can say without fear of being overwhelmed with negative thoughts that if your Rotary Club is unconnected with a Rotaract Club, no mat ter your physical location, you are missing out on a lot of action, a lot of potential suppor t for your local projects, and even some potential members down the road.

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NewsletterContents

District Governor’s Message 1

Rotary Fellowships 2

Club Membership 2

Rotary Calendar 3

Charitable Giving Down 3

Club Tips 4

The Wisdom of Rotary Presidents 4

The Westlake Village Water Run 5

Chicago was the Wild West 5

Let George Do It 5

Editor’s Musings 6

Why I’m a Rotarian 6

The Rotaract Club of the Conejo Valley 6

Retention is the Key 7

The Stamps of Rotary 7

Making Use of Past Officers 8

Sometimes We Miss the Mark 8

The Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Water 9

Rotary FellowshipsBy Jeff Hata (Ventura East)

With the International Convention in Montreal just around the corner, last week’s club program brought to my mind images of the House of Friendship at the R.I. Convention and the various “Fellowships” that are available to Rotarians.

For those who may not be familiar with Fellowships, the Rotary definition is “Rotary Fellowships offer Rotarians the opportunity to make friends with others in Rotary who share a common vocation, hobby or recreational interest.” There are currently 63 fellowships listed on the R.I. website ranging in topics from wine tasting to aircraft owners to motorcycle riders to convention goers, the list is very diverse. If you would like to look at the various fellowships and see if there is one that might interest you, go to www.rotary.org and click on the “Service and Fellowship” tab. From there you can find what the various choices are.

One requirement is that a fellowship must have members from at least three different countries, so if you have a passion and there is an appropriate fellowship this will provide you with a means of sharing your knowledge and also learning new things from people around the world, that’ll take care of you.

On the other hand, if you have a passion for something and do not see a fellowship that fits, you can

start your own fellowship. There is a booklet available in pdf format that outlines what you need to do.

Fellowships can and should be fun. I know Jan Lindsay belongs to the Wine Fellowship and every year at the R.I. Convention the Wine Fellowship has a dinner where members bring a “good” bottle of wine and they share their wines. It’s a good way to get appreciation for wines from other countries and learn more about a hobby that you care a lot about!

Rotary Fellowships — you owe it to yourself to at least check some out and see what’s out there! Just another added benefit of being a Rotarian! D

Club Membership

We are honored by our association with our club and with the qualifications, generosity and presence of our fellow members. We are, in a way, on display as an example, not of our merit, but of the incomparable riches of our Rotary association.

Sometimes we forget that we are community examples of the good fortune that we’ve earned in our years on this earth. But we are.

Sometimes we don’t pay any attention at all to the charitable workmanship we ply both locally and abroad, But we do.

Sometimes we forget that we’re all members of a team, and the manager has decided that we are going into the game, whether we can catch or hit or throw or not. We are utility players, and the world loves us! It does.

When the manager (president) asks us to do team-like things for the next Rotary Year, say yes, and let’s have the best year ever! D

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Rotary CalendarMarch 2010 - Literacy Month

6 Master PRLS 3 (Facilitation Skills) Carney Business Center, Bakersfield20 Master PRLS 4 (Situational Leadership) Carney Business Center, Bakersfield26 Basic PRLS Cal Lutheran, Oxnard27 District Assembly Pacifica High School, Oxnard27 GSE Reception Ventura County27 PRLS Reception Thousand Oaks

April 2010 - Magazine Month10 District Assembly CSUB, Bakersfield10 GSE Reception Bakersfield

13-19 Korea Sister District 3720 Conference Exchange

17 Master PRLS 1, (Public Speaking) Carney Business Center, Bakersfield22-25 RYLA Camp Ramah, Ojai

24 “Rotarians at Work Day”29-

May 3Mexico Sister District 4160 Conference Exchange

Charitable Giving Down

I saw somewhere the other day that charitable giving was down in this country. Part of the decrease is due to general economic conditions, and part of it may be due to a reduction in the generosity of spirit most of us value so highly in Rotary.

Giving to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) has increased, I understand. Maybe it’s a function of bringing in generous new members; maybe it’s because TRF is growing more eff icient; maybe

it’s because the rest of us are getting older (and older) and we’re giving money away before we kick the bucket.

Who cares? Not I, I’m telling you. TRF does such a good job that I don’t worry myself about why there’s more money.

But sometimes I look around and I think, “We’re a small island of generosity in a large sea of complacency.” And then I look a little harder and I think, “No we’re not. It’s not just TRF and our money. It’s not just our f inancial donations. It’s everything we do – it’s every

beer we pull during our street fairs. It’s every bit of food we deliver through Meals on Wheels or feeding the homeless. It’s every little kid we outf it during the holiday shopping season. It’s every student we tutor.

Most of us do a lot, f inancially and hands-on. So, it’s not just the economy, and it’s not just a possible reduction in the general public’s generosity of spirit. It’s us.

We gain; the public loses. When was it any other way in this great organization? D

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Successive District Newsletter Editors have come to recognize that the most effective means of developing insights and discussions have been articles written by Rotarians in our District. In keeping with that thought, we invite submission of articles for publication.

Submission Criteria

• Articlesmustbeoriginalandnotpublishedelsewhere.

• ArticlesshoulddealwithRotarysubjectsonly.

• Articlesshouldbee-mailedinMicrosoftWordformatonly;appropriatepicturesareencouraged.

• Entriesshouldbereceivednolaterthanthe20thdayofthemonthprecedingdesiredpublication.

• Authorsacceptthattheirarticlesmaybeedited.

• Theauthor’sname,contactinformationandRotaryClubmembershipshouldbeapparent.

• AllsubmissionsshouldbesenttoJockMacKenzieatrbm717@adelphia.net

The Newsletter is published by Rotary District 5240

District Governor: Luz Maria Ortiz-SmithEditor: JockMacKenziePublisher: WayneSnyder

The Wisdom of Rotary Presidents

Gian Paolo Lang was RI President in 1956-57. He was born in Livorno, Italy, the son of a Rotarian president of the Livorno Club. Here’s what he wrote about education: “It would be an extremely good thing if, rather than emphasizing the importance of increasing the number of Rotarians we

stress the absolute necessity of increasing and deepening the knowledge of Rotary in all Rotarians.” D

Club TipsBy Mary-Catherine McBride (Newbury Park)

At the end of every Rotary year we present a ‘Rookie of the Year Award’ to a new member who has shown enthusiasm and participation. It highlights new members right away and makes them feel special in a new situation, they love the attention and acknowledgement of being appreciated.

By Mike Gibson (Santa Maria Breakfast)

During the month of June, have each of the four club meetings conducted by a Past President of the Club. There are several benefits: First of all, it relieves the outgoing President of a job that he/she has had, for 11 months of continual service; they will usually appreciate the gesture. Second, it serves as a “buffer” between the outgoing President and the incoming President. Third, and most importantly, it gives newer members the opportunity to see older members in their Presidential role of running a meeting that they otherwise would never get to see. Your Club will enjoy some great June meetings!

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The Westlake Village Water RunDG Luz Maria is Grand Marshall

By Edwin Velarde (Westlake Village)

Billions of people around the world are without access to clean water and decent sanitation. In some places, families, mostly women and children, walk as far as five miles daily to acquire water for their households. Many children live their lives infected constantly with waterborne diseases. Parents watch as 1.8 million of their children die annually from diseases caused by lack of access to clean water. The world can do better, and so can we!

On Sunday, April 11, the Rotary Club of Westlake Village is very excited to present The Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Global Water. DG Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith will be the Grand Marshall. Proceeds of the Run will go towards funding Rotary Global Water Projects that help provide needy families and children access to safe potable water. Plainly, the Rotary Club of Westlake Village cannot do this on its own. They are looking to Rotary Clubs around District 5240 and beyond to join and/or sponsor this event. We invite you to join us in supporting this lifesaving cause.

You can help The Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Global Water in one or all of the following ways:

1. BeaSponsororaDonor. There are various sponsorship opportunities available.

2. Askyourfamily,friendsandbusinessassociates to join the event.

3. OrganizeTeamstorepresentyourRotaryClub and compete in the ROTARY CHALLENGE 5K RUN/WALK category against other Rotary Clubs. The RotaryChallenge5KRun/Walkteams require a minimum of 5 runners completing the course with at least two timed runners. There is no limit on the number of teams from each Rotary Club.

Race Day Fees are Fun Run ($25), 5K Walk ($30), 5K Run ($35), 10K Run ($40) and 15K Run ($50). Discounts are available at www.westlake5k10k.com. Awards are given to the following categories: Individual Age Groups, Best Rotary 5K Run/Walk Team, Best 5K Team, Best 10K Team, Top Male 5K & 10K and Top Female 5K & 10K Awards.

See more details and register via www.westlake5k10k.com. For further information contact Event Chair, Edwin Velarde (818) 865-8006, edwinvelarde@att.net. D

Chicago was the Wild West

Paul Harris believed that Rotary started in Chicago because Chicago badly needed something like Rotary. From a business perspective, Chicago in the early twentieth century was the equivalent of a lawless frontier

town. It seemed the only way to compete in business with people who would say or do anything was to do the same. Business people believed that to be successful, you had to be unethical, until someone like Harris provided a viable alternative. Treat people fairly and they will want to do business with you.

“The words, ‘Can any good thing come out of Chicago?’ have been hurled by skeptics at many of the virile forces which have originated in that city, and Rotary has not been an exception. It is conceivable that Rotary might have been born under sunnier skies, in a climate more equable, and in a city of mental composure; but many will contend that there could have been no more favorable birthplace for a movement like Rotary than paradoxical Chicago, where the battle for civic righteousness was being so fiercely waged.” D

Let George Do It

“It’s not my job; I was Membership Chair four years ago, and I’ve already done that. Get off my back! It’s George’s turn to bring in new members; talk to him.”

“You don’t understand, Pastor, I donated to the church just last year. You took in new members this year. Let them pick up the slack.”

“I don’t know where you IRS people get off hassling me! I paid my income taxes for ten straight

(Continued on Page 8)

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Editor’s Musings

“May the mediations in my life find a welcome in your eyes”

Rotary’s regular, public, weekly meetings probably constitute the proof of our existence to those who are not members. It is, however, the small, private committee meetings that actually do the work of Rotary. They are the lifeblood of the organization. The smaller, dedicated, working meetings accomplish more in isolation than a hundred regular weekly meetings.

Attending meetings of any size makes us understand why we belong to the organization. Rotary is then termporarily placed at the center of the options we have with our lives outside our work and families.

Meetings of all kinds open us to the possibility of better relationships with others. Meetings give us directions in our lives, and the results of what we decide in our separate meetings always mean giving up some portion of our lives that we didn’t know we were going to lose when we joined. Do we lose? Not if what you’re giving up are meaningless TV programs, time-wasting games on a computer, or gossiping with people on endless phone calls.

People join Rotary because they want to have their lives changed. The only question is, “How much?” The discipline of meeting Rotary’s attendance requirements, the

necessity of personal commitment and the desirability of financial contributions do not represent personal achievement. They represent a personal preparation for service in ways and at times and places we would never have dreamed of before we joined.

Small, side meetings bring encouragement and education to members. It’s no coincidence that those most involved are those whose real efforts are behind the scenes in the small working groups that shape the organization.

Even after years of membership, anyone not a part of a smaller, active committee is missing rewarding experiences. What do you miss? You miss an hour a month. What were you going to do during that hour — “meaningless TV programs, time-wasting games on a computer, or gossiping with people on endless phone calls.” Come on! Get real!

When giving assistance to others, Rotary wants us to meet others’ needs, not display our own virtue. Rotary is like a body. A body has eyes, ears, nose, throat, legs, arms, heart, stomach, toes, and so forth. Rotary has different people with different skills and traits. To make the whole of Rotary work, we need the same sort of coordination and strength that it takes to make our bodies work.

The small, dedicated meeting greases the skids for every thoughtful act we do; they move the body of Rotary; they give assistance to others. D

Why I’m a RotarianBy David Williams (PDG ’95-’96)Rotary Club of Wilmington, D5280

I am a Rotarian because Rotary’s values are my values. Attendance at Rotary meetings and participation in Rotary projects remind me of the type of person I want to be – involved in improving my community, in promoting high ethical standards in my profession and in helpinig to improved living standards in disadvantaged parts of the world. D

The Rotaract Club of the Conejo Valley

It’s been a year of growth and challenges for the dedicated group of young professionals in the Rotaract Club of the Conejo Valley. Started in 2008, the group has finally found its wings with the help of Service Director Joe Lupanow who has brought new ideas and new direction. Led by President Mitchum Owen, the 2008-2009 year has seen a 50% growth in membership as their online and printed media attention gets them noticed.

“Clear and focused service projects that the whole group can participate in have led to the success of our club,” says President Mitchum Owen. “Projects like raising money and school supplies for local schools that are suffering under budget cuts have become regular events for our club.”

(Continued on Page 7)

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The Rotaract Club of the Conejo Valley(Continued from Page 6)

The group has also had the opportunity to volunteer alongside Rotary and other organizations during events like the California statewide beach clean up day, Oktoberfest, Bears for Mammograms, and the District Poverty Conference, just to name a few. “Over the past two years we’ve learned that young professionals in our area are looking for an outlet for community service, so that is where we focused our attention,” says PR Director Naj Alikhan.

Although service projects are the main focus, they are only one leg of the club’s priorities. On a monthly basis, Social Chair Taylor Clifford is busy organizing social events that keep the group tightly knit. Within the last year they have gone wine tasting in Paso Robles, played poker at the Ventura Rotary’s poker night, and bowled in costume for Halloween.

The future of the Rotaract Club of Conejo Valley looks promising, as they look to take on new more challenging service projects. Their latest project is a joint venture with the Rotaract Club of Cal Lutheran University to sponsor a professional acting troupe, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, to provide day-long acting seminars for lower income schools in California.

For more information on the Rotaract Club of Conejo Valley visit www.cv20s.org. D

Retention is the Key

Editor’s note: There are seven basic steps in establishing and running a successful membership program, keeping always in mind that implementing the seven steps with dedication and club leadership has proven to increase club membership substantially through a total membership recruiting and retention system. “Retention is Key” provides steps that will improve membership development . Implementation needs to be tailored to meet your Rotary Club’s structure and personalit y. This is the second basic step.

INFOR M a l l prospective members of Rotary Internationa l ’s programs and provide a club prof i le out l ining the club’s service ef forts.

• Develop and distribute a club prof ile (brochure). Add it as an insert into the Prospective member Kit (423-EN) which contains the Welcome to Rotary Folder (265-EN), This is Rotary (001-EN), Rotary Basics (595-EN), What’s Rotary (419-EN) and Rotary Foundation Facts (159-EN). Present the package to all visitors and prospective members. These are available from the RI Catalog (019-EN) or www.rotary.org under

“Shop” at the top of the page.

• Gather the contact information for all visitors to the club. Follow up with a letter from the Club President and a call from the member bringing the visitor.

• Establish a public relations plan to inform the general public continually about what the Rotary club is accomplishing within the community.

• Send prospective members the club’s newsletter (via email or snail mail) and web site to keep them informed. Place a call now and then to show the club is interested in their visiting again.

The Stamps of Rotary

BulgariaIssued 2/23/05

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years. It’s time for other people to pay theirs.”

Can it be that people actually think like that? Can it be that you’re hearing a really good excuse when you hear someone say, “I’ve brought in two new members, and I’ve only been in the club ten years. What do you want, anyway? There are people here who’ve never brought in a new member. Talk to them.”

What happens when you hear someone muse out loud, “Our club used to have eighty members; now we have thirty. Don’t give me static about getting new members—it’s a smaller, cozier club now, and I like it this way.”

And I’ll bet it will be even cozier when there are twenty members.

Come on! None of that makes any sense at all. Yes, there are people who have never brought in even one new member; yes you have current members who don’t care about your club. If you haven’t met any of them, it means you haven’t been in Rotary very long.

What can you do? You can make up your mind right now that that kind of thinking ends this very second! You’ll discover those people in your club who feel as you do, then you’ll form an ad hoc (maybe even unofficial) group to deal with the problem.

“Let George do it” should become the title of your marching orders, as a reminder that someone like you has to take on the survival and the improvement of your club single-handedly. D

Let George Do It(Continued from Page 5)

Making Use of Past Officers

It’s virtually a truism in every club: Not only do some past presidents desire not to be bothered with mundane jobs (“I’ve done my time; leave it to the newer folks.”), they will not do a good job on something if you ask them; or they’ll accept a club job, then not be active in the position.

It’s not a truism, in most cases. In club after club, most past presidents were, are and will remain the backbone of Rotary and the foundation of the club. There are those, of course, who haven’t yet come into this century. There are those who long ago decided that Rotary was a social event, not a calling. Every once in a while you run into one who wants the prestige of being yet again a member of the Board of Directors, but doesn’t want to do any substantive work in support of his yet-again position.

What can you do? You can deal with them as individuals, not as a class of pre-historic artifacts. Separate out the ones who will work from those who won’t; find out who wants a position, but doesn’t want the labor that goes with the position; glean out those for whom Rotary is their entire social life, not to be confused with the responsibility of participating in club events of a non-social nature; finally, identify those who will work—hard—and whose Rotary principles are still intact.

Then, get on with it! D

Sometimes We Miss the Mark

TheWisdomofRotaryPresidents: “It is the duty of every Rotarian of the world to study his own personal business and see that he conducts it according to the highest code of standards of practice in his relations with his employees, with those from whom he buys, with those to whom he sells, with his competitor, with the public or the government.” (Will R. Manier, Jr., in an address to the 1936 Convention in Atlantic City)

Take a look at us! When was the last time we looked at ourselves and our businesses with an “Ethics Eye?” When was the last time any other member of our club came to our off ice and commented on the presence (or lack of it) of the Four-Way Test plaque on the wall?

When you’re planning your programs for next year, you really ought to make sure that sometime during the year you have a major program that reminds people to look at their business ethics, practices and standards. I’m telling you, if you don’t do anything else for your members all year, get them to look at their own businesses for ethical lapses.

All it takes sometimes is a little reminder. Most of us could stand the shove in the right direction. D

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The Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Water

Rotary Club of Westlake Village’s

THE WESTLAKE 5K/10KRUN/WALK FOR WATER

at

THE COMMUNITY STREET FESTIVAL

Sponsorship Opportunitieswww.westlake5k10k.com

“Family,ActiveLifestyle &DoingGoodintheWorld”Sunday,APRIL11th,2010

5K Run/Walk, 10K Run & Kids Fun RunRegister at www.westlake5k10k.com

Chip Timing, Event Shirts, Healthy Snacks7:00amRunnerCheck-in&RaceDayRegistration

7:45am 5KRun/Walk8:30am10KRun9:45am Kids FunRun10:00am Awards Ceremony

10:00am–5:00pm TheCommunityStreetFestivalFood&Drinks, Crafts& Live Entertainment

4600LakeviewCanyon inWestlakeVillage

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Rotary Club of Westlake Village’s

The Westlake 5K/10K

Run/Walk for WaterOven 2 billion individuals and children are without access to cleanwater. The Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Water will benefitRotary’s global water projects that help help provide poor familiesand children access to clean and safe potable water.

WHAT: The Westlake 5K/10KRun/Walk for Water

WHERE: 4600 Lakeview Canyon RoadWestlake Village, CA 91361(intersection of Agoura Road)

WHEN: Sunday, April 11th, 20107:00 am Runners Check-In

Race Day Registration

7:45 am 5K Run/Walk

8:30 am 10K Run

9:45 am Kids Fun Run

10:00 am Awards Ceremony

10 am - 5 pm The Community Street Festival

Register by mail, complete this form and mail with your checkpayable to Rotary Club of Westlake Village.

Address: Rotary Club of Westlake Village .P. O. Box 3331Westlake Village, CA 91359

If postmarked by March 31st, registration fees are:

5K or 10K Run - $355K + 10K Runs - $55

Kid’s Run is $25 (kids 5 and under Free)

Runner InformationFirst Name ___________________________________________

Middle Name _________________________________________

Last Name _______________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

City_____________________________________________________

State ________________________________ Zip_______________

Phone Number _______________________________________

Evening Phone ________________________________________

Email ___________________________________________________

Birthday _______ /_______ /_______ Age on day of event ____

Must Circle one: 5K Run 10K Run Kids Run

Age groups (for 5K/10K Run only)

____ 9 and under____ 10-14____ 15-19____ 20-24____ 25-29

____ 30-34____ 35-39____ 40-44____45-49____ 50-54

____ 55-59

____ 60-64

____ 65-69

____ 70 & older

How did you hear about our event?

Sex: Male Female

T-shirt size: (Circle one) Adu lt : S M L XL Youth: M L

Waiver(mustbesigned)I hereby release the Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Water Committee,Rotary Club of Westlake Village and all representatives and agents of anyof the foregoing, and all municipal agencies whose property and/orpersonnel are used, and other sponsoring or co-sponsoring company(ies),agency(ies) or individual(s) from responsibility for any injuries ordamages I/my child may suffer as a result of my/my child’s participation inThe Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk for Water. I hereby certify that I/my childis in good condition and able to safely compete in this event. I will additionallypermit the use of my/my child’s name and pictures in broadcasts, telecasts,newspapers, brochures, etc and I also understand that the entry fee is non-refundable. As a participating athlete, I certify that all information provided inthis form is true and complete. I have read the entry information providedfor the event and certify my/my child’s compliance by signature below. IFATHLETE IS UNDER AGE 18: This is to certify that my son/daughter hasmy permission to compete in the Westlake 5K/10K Run/Walk forWater, and is in good physical condition, and that race officials have mypermission to authorize emergency treatment if necessary.

X_____________________________________________________________________________________

Register via www.westlake5k10k.comavoid the Race Day Rush and save withOnline Early Bird Fees

Registered RunnersReceive a FREE EVENT SHIRT(size guaranteed if pre-race registered)Chip Timing for 5K & 10K Runs

Prizes & Awards:Top Male and Femaleand various categories

Race Day Registration Fees:

5K or 10K Run - $405K + 10K Runs - $65Kid’s Run is $30 (kids 5 and under Free)