Stephanie brought the meeting to order and following are her comments:
I wanted to take this time with Kailey as my wing person, to thank those of you who have signed up as volunteers in support of our Happy Face Music Festival. We’ve mentioned before and will continue to remind everyone, that this music festival helps our club continue to fulfil our commitment as Simi Sunrise Rotary members and helping those around us. Without the money earned from this festival and all of our fundraising efforts, we would not be able to help those in need.
This festival cannot happen without volunteers. And it’s not lost on me, that we have more volunteers from outside our club, than from in our club and to say that is a disappointment, is an understatement. This is OUR event!
We need volunteers and we are not in a position to pick and choose where we want to work at this stage of the event timeline. We are just over two weeks away from bringing back a music festival to Simi Valley for the first time in over two years…OUR music festival and what could become a main fund-raising event for us moving forward. If we don’t present a good experience for our guests, we may not have a second festival. The only way we can ensure that we make a positive impression on the guests and encourage them to come back next year and for them to come to our Oktoberfest, is if we all help to set up and run a great event and that requires us to put our best effort into this event.
It takes us to all be brave to start a new music festival and it is not without risk, but together we can put on a great event. So please volunteer.
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Cindy Jacoby lead this morning's Invocation.
Mike Sidlinger lead the Flag Salute. The question on everyone's mind was whether or not Mike knew he had a hairy head growing out of his shoulder?
Stephanie Shannon welcomed our Guests this morning, all none of them. Good job Stephanie!
Zoom was our Greeter this morning.
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President Kathryn Scroggin
President Kathryn opened by acknowledging Bill Fox's and Arun Sharma's attendance at today's meeting and looking forward to seeing them both in person. She then spoke about her previous challenge to us about being brave enough to start something, new or otherwise, that will empower people. The Happy Face Music Festival is one such endeavor. This is a new type of venue for us, Kathryn said, and there is a possibility that some things might not go as planned. We'll get past these things and learn from them to make our next Festival even better. Remember, she said, that the goal here is to raise funds that will pay for the various programs we sponsor and those programs are what empowers people. She ended by picking up on Stephanie's request of volunteering for Happy Face Music Festival. Many more volunteers are needed and having enough volunteers is critical to the Festival's success laying the ground work for subsequent Festivals. If you're already helping, reach out to family and friends to enlist their help. Call them, text them whatever it takes. This is a very important event to the Club.
Kathryn reminded us all about the upcoming PRLS (Potential Rotary Leaders Seminar) training. We all received information on this via an email from Cindy Jacoby. This is a great way to learn more about Rotary whether your a new member or have been one for a long time.
She also mentioned the District Governor Step Down on June 25th at the Los Robles Greens Golf Course.
Lastly, Kathryn read some portions of Thank You notes she received from the three RYLA students who spoke to us last week. Very encouraging to hear such sentiments from our youth. Kathryn left us with a request to continue to give in order to improve, enrich and empower the lives of others.
Kathryn's weekly quote is from the great Winston Churchill. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
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Kathryn announced that John Baxter received two applications for Business Start Up Grants. One from Santa Susanna High and one from Monte Vista - go Dr. P! A panel will be convened and the applications will be reviewed.
Cindy Jacoby let us know that the Scholarship committee ended up awarding 21 scholarships totaling $16,000 to graduating seniors. That's the good news. The not so good news is that Cindy is reaching out for help in handing out the certificates to the winners. You can assist by attending the graduation ceremony and, as a representative of our Rotary Club, present the certificate to the winner in person. Please email Cindy if you can volunteer. Following is the graduation schedule and Cindy's email:
Monte Vista - Wednesday, June 1st @ 6:00 p.m. - LOCATION - School at the North West Corner (Chessboard)
Apollo - at their graduation on Friday, June 10th @ 5:30 p.m.
Leigh Seaton has arranged another Blood Drive on June 16th during our regular meeting. Please see Leigh to coordinate times.
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Kathryn announced the following Club Meeting Schedule for the remainder of May and all of June;
- May 19th - In person at the Best Western. There will be an All Hands Happy Face Music Festival volunteer meeting along with the regular meeting. In addition, there will be a timely presentation by the Water District.
- May 26th - In person at the Best Western.
- June 2nd - In person at the Best Western.
- June 9th - In person at the Best Western.
- June 16th - In person at the Best Western comprising of a regular meeting and joint Board meeting with the incoming and outgoing Boards. Leigh is also organizing a Blood Drive during this meeting.
- June 23rd - In person at the Best Western.
- June 30th - Dark.
Bill Klepper is looking for help to clean up Happy Face Hill on Saturday, May 14th. It needs to look its best with its namesake music festival coming up.
Meet at Jerry's at 7:00 AM and then start work at 8:00 AM. Bring weed wackers if you have them and gloves. See you there!
Another reminder about Jake Finch's requests for Gift Cards. Her two requests had to do with, one, helping out the Simi Valley Unified School District students that are in need of assistance. School District resources have been stressed to the limit and help is needed to replenish those resources. That help can come to the District in the form of Gift Card donations for gas, groceries, etc. at places like Target and Walmart. $25 and $50 Gift Cards work best.
Jake's second request was more directed. Jake said that the District had just enrolled their first students, 8 and 14 year old girls, who have fled Ukraine with their mother. The family came here with basically the clothes on their back so are in need of everything. Gift cards to Kohls and Target would be very helpful. As an update, Jake said that an account has been set up and help has been coming in. But more is needed as more refugees from Ukraine have arrived here in Simi with school age children.
If you can help out, please reach out to Jake.
Also, a big shout out to Jesus Torres, who is providing legal services for these refugees pro bono. Providing a great example to us all!
Jake Finch
John Baxter reminded us that Valley View and Sinaloa Middle Schools are looking for volunteers to help out on Portfolio Day.
This email from Mr. Hall spells out the details for Valley View:
Dear Community Member,
Valley View Middle School is inviting you to an important event for our school by taking on the task of interviewing our phenomenal eighth grade students. As part of their culminating activity from middle school, students are expected to create a portfolio and present it to a community member. Our Portfolio Day is on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. The portfolio will review what they have completed in eighth grade as well as detail a career that our students have shown an interest in. The students will impress you with their portfolios, their communication skills and their readiness to advance to the next level of their educational careers.
We would like to have a number of community members from all careers to join us to interview our students. We have morning times available from 8:00 am to 12:15 pm, afternoon times from 11:55 am to 2:35 pm or you can volunteer all day if you are able to. For those that are able to volunteer on May 18, we will provide you with information as to where to park as well as a complimentary lunch. Your ability to volunteer for our students means a lot to us, this is an important day for our 8th graders.
If you are able to volunteer, please RSVP with Debbie Edwards at (805) 520-6820 ext. 1306 or email or Debbie at debbie.edwards@simivalleyusd.org. We thank you in advance for the difference you are making for our students.
Sincerely,
Michael Hall
Principal
Valley View Middle School
Debbie Edwards
Sub for Nadia Hurtado, Office Mgr.
Valley View Middle School
Please read the enclosed message from
Sinaloa Middle Schoolabout their Portfolio Day.
Portfolio Day gives eighth-grade students a chance to show
their school work to a member of the community.
It's a great opportunity to make a difference
in a person's life.
Note: Sinaloa has a registration link below.
Thanks!
John
Dear Community Member,
I wanted to forward the information for our 8th grade portfolio day registration.
The event runs from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on May 19th, There are a few options for those volunteering to help in terms of sessions, which you will see when you click on the link. Please let me know if you need any additional information or if you have any questions whatsoever. You can always contact me via email or phone!
We sincerely appreciate your help with volunteer support! Take care, and I hope to see you soon!
We thank you in advance for the difference you are making for our students.
John Baxter
Tim Gray let us know of some immediate needs:
- The number 1 need is VOLUNTEERS! 40-45 are still needed.
- AUCTION ITEMS are needed for the Silent Auction.
- OUTSIDE GAMES, like Cornhole, are needed.
- Help with TICKET SALES is needed.
- There will be an ALL HANDSMEETING after the regular Rotary meeting next Thursday, May 19th.
- There could be a need to help the Y'S MEN with their BBQ if some other food vendors don't pan out.
Let Tim or John Tolson know if you need or want any paper tickets. Tim left us with Sell, Sell, Sell, Like, Like, Like and Share, Share, Share!
To recap, The Happy Face Music Festival will be held on Saturday, May 28th which is Memorial Day weekend. It will be a half day event at the Rancho Simi Park with no more than 2000 tickets being sold at $50 per ticket. It will follow a minimal concept with Food, Alcohol (both beer and wine), and Entertainment provided with only those 21 and over being admitted.
John Baxter is looking for help distributing flyers and posters around town. Let John know if you can help.
Here's some nice PR from Mike Campbell
Kathryn remarked that the Team Ginny Team remains strong, powerful and committed to finding that donor for Ginny
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No Guest Speaker today due to the Board meeting.
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No Birthdays this week
Way back 40 years ago, the calendars were different and there really was a May 115
So here's what happens when you don't show up for a meeting - we all talk about you. Things like "what a baby face" and "where's the bow tie" came up. It was vicious.
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It was nice to see Bill Fox and.........
.......and Arun Sharma in person (sort of) again. So happy to see both of you doing better!
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Our meeting next week, May 19th, will be in person at the Best Western. Remember, there's an All Hands Happy Face Music Festival Volunteer meeting as well.
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Please remember to bring a friend or an acquaintance to our next meeting. This is a GREAT way to grow our membership! And the guest's breakfast is taken care of.
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Rotary Club Finder Need to find a club to do a makeup? Or find out where Rotary clubs meet while you are traveling? Click here to access the Club Finder page on the RI website.
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