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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Meeting Responsibilities
February 4th, 2021
 
Invocation
Gonzales, Greg
 
Flag Salute
Seaton, Leigh
 
Guest List
Ragsdale, Geovanny
 
February 11th, 2021
 
Invocation
Rothman, Joel
 
Flag Salute
Rusnak, Don
 
Guest List
Schadt, Don
 
February 18, 2021
 
Invocation
Scroggin, Kathy
 
Flag Salute
Schulte, Kim
 
Guest List
Shannon, Stephanie
 
Upcoming Events
Drive in Concert - Queen Nation
Apr 02, 2021
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Bob Whalen
February 12
 
Gary White
February 21
 
Mike Sidlinger
February 21
 
David Hart
February 24
 
Harvey Mahler
February 24
 
Cesar Zambrano
February 25
 
Anniversaries
Larry Borovay
Kathi
February 16
 
Dorina Timbol
Steve Timbol
February 18
 
Jim Stutzman
Sandi
February 19
 
Join Date
Harvey Mahler
February 1, 1983
38 years
 
Tim Shannon
February 11, 1993
28 years
 
Leigh Seaton
February 16, 2017
4 years
 
Mike Sidlinger
February 24, 2011
10 years
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President-Elect
 
President Elect Nominee
 
Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Club Service
 
International Service
 
Community Service
 
Vocational Service
 
Youth Service
 
The Rotary Foundation
 
Director at Large
 
Director at Large
 
Director at Large
 
Parliamentarian
 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
This week's meeting was held on Zoom.
Demi, our Sergeant at Arms, got the meeting started with our stretches.  One nice thing about Zoom, and probably the only nice thing, is that it allows you to hide from the camera and Demi won't know you're not exercising.
Greg Gonzalez lead our Invocation today.
Leigh Seaton lead us in our salute to the flag.
Geovanny Ragsdale welcomed our Guests.
President Bill talked about the importance of the upcoming Drive In concert.  This will be, Bill says, the first Drive In concert in Simi Valley.  Both the City and the Park District are looking forward to it.  We have to deliver on this one as it will set the stage, pun intended, for similar upcoming events.  And these upcoming events could be a significant source of revenue for our Club.  An event of this nature, Bill continued, requires help from everyone.  Part of that help involves the sale of tickets.  To that end, he has challenged all of us to sell at least two tickets each.
President Bill Klepper 
  Our next meeting will be February 11th, 2021.  It will be on Zoom .  
 
 
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Please remember to bring a friend or an acquaintance to our next meeting, even if the meeting is by Zoom.  
 
 
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Dorina Timbol let us know that the Painted Rock challenge is over and that they have a winner.  An announcement will be coming out. 
 
And, of course, the push continues to find that donor.  If you need to learn how to Share on social media, please reach out to Team Ginny and they will be glad to help.
 
Here's another link that can be shared as well:
 
Here's a link to a Testimonial from Rocky and Tony....
Please remember that The Samaritan Center is still in need of chaperones on Wednesday nights.  This effort allows those without a roof over their head to have a safe and warm place to spend the night.  The hours needed on Wednesday night are from 7 PM to 7 AM the next morning on Thursday.
Please see John Tolson if you can help out.
Tickets continue selling fast.  They are expecting a Sell Out.  Let's all make sure this happens by taking up Bill's challenge and selling two tickets each.  See below for a link to ticket sales.
 
The date is set for April 2nd and they are looking for a lot of help.  As noted previously, this type of venue will require more volunteers than the Drive-In Movie venue.  So please consider helping out. 
 
There will be an opening act at 5:00 PM and then Queen Nation comes out at 6:00 PM.  They will play until about 7:30 or 8:00 PM.  A Sign Up Sheet will be coming out soon.  Please keep an eye out for it and consider helping per the hours noted above.
 
Here's a link for ticket sales:
 
 
 
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Yes, we were once again honored to have Dan Jaeger, our Poet Laureate, regale us with more of his thoughts and musings.  The dispute continues though between Dan and Bill as to how Dan gets on the agenda.  Dan says Bill asks him and Bill says, not so.  Dan asks him.  You be the judge.....
 
Dan's timely topic was football what with the Super Bowl coming up and all.  Unfortunately, the team he expounded on was the Green Bay Packers.  As a reminder, Green Bay is NOT going to the Super Bowl.
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The big news this week is that it was Ira the Lion's 6th birthday this past Monday.  Ira is Moorpark College's pride and joy so they threw a party for him and simultaneously opened the Zoo back up to the public.
 
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We had the following Guests this week:
 
Sam Wolfe
Linus Kojelis
Fred Thomas (Prospective Member)
Brett Goldsmith (Prospective Member) Unfortunately, no picture for Brett.  Nothing personal Brett!
Brian Gabler (Guest Speaker) Brian is trying to remain incognito so no picture for Brian either.   
 
Mr. Sam Wolfe
Mr. Linus Kojelis
Mr. Fred Thomas
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We had two Guest Speakers today.  First, we had John Baxter introduce Jose Martinez, owner of Mission Burrito, and also one of the newest members of Simi Sunrise.
 
Then Brian Gabler, the City Manager for the City of Simi Valley, gave us an update on the Southern California Edison (SCE)-induced power outages.  
John Baxter continued his celebration of Vocational Month with an interview of Mr. Jose Martinez, owner of Mission Burrito here in Simi.  Jose started as a dishwasher in 1988 and eventually took over ownership.  There had to have been many hours of hard work in order to have achieved this.  Quite impressive. 
 
He said he's gearing up for Super Bowl weekend with his Super Bowl platters and special Super Bowl burritos.  Jose's interview is available by clicking on the link below:
 
 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/175KxpvgOqt6oWn5B5CFHtGlOo7GyFCizk4-_B8ORSwI/edit#slide=id.p
Mr. Brian Gabler, Simi Valley City Manager, gave us a pep talk involving Southern California Edison's (SCE) Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) here in Simi during windy times.  There have been 10 since September.  It's clear that Brian understands the issue and how it is affecting this city.  He started by saying that the cost of these shutoffs to the city is significant.  As an example, Brian cited the proposed $600,000 cost associated with providing battery back ups to street lights at all 50 intersections in town.  He also mentioned an $800,000 cost to provide a generator backup for the Library and Senior Center, which are both Respite Centers.  These PSPS's affect pretty much everything and everybody in Simi in some way.  In January, 23 of Simi Valley's 25 circuits were shut off in one event. 
 
The problem stems from the fact that there are no repercussions to SCE when these shutoffs are effectuated.  The city has complained to SCE but to no avail.  SCE has even gone so far as to no longer reimburse customers for lost food.  Apparently, power companies and cities that provide power have always had the ability to initiate these PSPS's but only PG&E (norther California) and SCE choose to do so.
 
The impetus behind the PSPS's is that SCE is trying to limit its liability during fires.  The Woolsey fire, caused by a downed power line, ended up being a $2.2 Billion settlement and that's something SCE wants to avoid in the future.  So when the wind hits 30 miles per hour with a certain duration predicted and the humidity is low, circuits are shut down. 
 
The city's argument is that if SCE maintained and upgraded their equipment properly, the problem would lessen.  This just tells the city that SCE has no confidence in its equipment.  On top of that, of Simi Valley's 25 circuits, 3 of them (Energy, Big Rock and Twin Lakes) get shut off every time.  The city has asked SCE to upgrade and better protect these 3 circuits since they know they are an issue.  Like all other requests and recommendations, this falls on deaf ears. Urban areas that have no possibility of experiencing a wild fire are being shut down because SCE wants to limit its liability, has no confidence in its equipment and they have no disincentive to change their program.
 
Brian ended by saying the city has pretty much given up any hope of getting SCE to cooperate.  The city has switched gears and is now concentrating on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  Apparently the only entity SCE will respond to.  Other cities and counties (including LA County) have joined this effort to control SCE resulting in the CPUC having convened a meeting with SCE last week in which our mayor, Keith Mashburn, testified.  Brian said that there is a Community Meeting with SCE coming up in April and the public is encouraged to attend.  Bottom line, Brian feels as if they now have the CPUC's attention. He says that customers will be better served if they complain directly to the CPUC as opposed to the city.  The number to call for the CPUC is 1-800-649-7570.     
 
 
No one was born.....
....and no one got married.  Coincidence?
and no one joined the Club.  What a boring week.
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