This is President Kathryn's last meeting of the year. We'll all welcome the incoming President, Laura Berger, at our next meeting July 7th at the Best Western.
And Thank You Cindy Jacoby for this panorama of the meeting room this morning. Kathryn should never have expressed her discomfort with crooked banners.
Thank You Stephanie Shannon for the wonderful job you did this past year as our Sergeant-at-Arms. You ran a tight ship and kept the cats herded. No easy task!
Following are Stephanie's comments from today's meeting:
Good morning Simi Sunrise! This meeting is my last meeting welcoming you in the morning as the Sergeant-at-Arms and I want to be on the record of telling you that it has been my humble pleasure to start our meetings with you each week.
Helping us get this meeting started will be…
Invocational / Inspirational Words – Laura Berger
Flag Salute – Herschel Berger
Guest List – Steve Hise
As we wrap up Kathy’s year as our Club President and all that we have accomplished as a club under her leadership, I know that our success is the result of our members coming together to focus on what is important and how we can have the greatest impact in the community and the worlds around us.
Our club legacy is built from within this club by its members. It is built from all that we do day-to-day, year-to-year. An important part of our success is that we need to make sure that people around us know who we are and what we do. We should never assume that people around us know about Rotary and the incredible things that we do, or can do, or how hard we work to make sure that we are doing all that we can to impact the community and the world around us. Our positive impact needs to be shared with everyone around us. We are responsible in making sure that people know what Rotary is, who we are as a Rotary Club and why we are unstoppable when we put our minds together to accomplish great things.
Ladies and gentlemen, for the last time this year, President Kathryn Scroggin!
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Laura Berger lead this morning's Invocation.
Herschel Berger, center, lead the Flag Salute.
Steve Hise welcomed our Guests this morning. They included:
Mr. Jim Benkert (Guest Speaker and Head Football Coach at Simi High)
Mr. Carson Mott (Simi High Football Team)
Mr. Steele Pizzella (Simi High Football Team)
Mr. James Winstanley (Potential Member)
Ms. Rebecca Davis
Ms. Jodi Lewis
Ms. Daryn Berger (Herschel and Laura's lovely daughter)
Ms. Willow Borovay (Larry's lovely daughter)
Left to right, Steele Pizzella, Carson Mott, Jim Benkert, Jodi Lewis and Don Schadt
Potential member James Winstanley
Savi Bhim, left, with Rebecca Davis
Daryn Berger, newly graduated from Cal Poly SLO, left, with a proud Mother
Willow Borovay with her proud Dad
Stephanie Shannon was our Greeter this morning. She's shown with Steve Hise. Steve wanted some recognition, he's that kind of guy, so he asked that his name appear in this week's Bulletin as many times as possible.
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President Kathryn Scroggin
President Kathryn convened her last meeting as President. She first welcomed our Zoom participants; Eric Kaufman (potential member), Bill Fox, Linas Kojelis, Dan Gesell, Demi Fox and Gregg Hartman.
She mentioned that the results of the Club Survey that was sent out recently will be shared with the Board. Shortly after that, expect to see them here in the Bulletin. Kathryn then called Dan Jordan up to receive his permanent Blue Badge. Congratulations Dan!
Kathryn reminded us about last week's challenge to us all regarding being the kind of everyday people who demonstrate honesty, integrity and who can't be beat because our commitment to serve others through Rotary does not let us get beat and we never give up. This Club meets that challenge. She then listed several things that make us unbeatable and she wasn't sure if she had ever told us what they were. Here they are, in case she hadn't told us. Our Club can't be beat because of our Can Do attitude; our words of encouragement and our patience; our good hearts and spirit of kindness; and our adaptability in order to make things happen.
Kathryn's final quote is from Albert Einstein. "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
Before issuing her final challenge to us, she wanted to thank Steve P. for the wonderful Minnion music he has provided all year. It was something she looked forward to every week. Her final challenge is for us all to spread the word about Rotary and tell people things about Rotary they never knew and tell it simply.
Dan with his permanent badge
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Kathryn received an email from Shelter Box, the organization through which our donations were channeled to the Ukrainian refugees, congratulating our Club for obtaining Hero Status in regard to our donations. See the certificate above. Congratulations to us all!
Martha Macker asked this to be posted. A very worthy cause. Please see Martha if interested.
Laura Berger is hosting aRotary Information on Wednesday, June 29th at 6:00 PM. All members are invited with lasagna, salad, vegetables and dessert being served.
Please RSVP for a general headcount. If you are able to swing by at the last minute, that’s okay too, Laura said, as there will have enough food for a small army.
Place: 3463 Sunset Pl (Berger residence)
Time: 6:00pm
Peter Cicciari, our Rotary Foundation Chair, gave us a refresher on where our donated money goes and about some of the different levels within the Foundation.
Our money funds projects, Peter said, like polio eradication, clean water initiatives, sanitation upgrades and scholarships to name a few. The various levels of the Foundation include the Benefactor Program in which you include the Foundation in your will starting in the amount of $1000. See Peter for the necessary forms to be filled out if you are interested. Other levels are Sustaining Member which requires a contribution of $100 every year and the 30/30 Club requiring a contribution of $30 every quarter. And 30/30 Club Members are also eligible to win a Paul Harris Fellow by getting picked in Dr. P's world famous Spinning Wheel Drawing. The lucky winner for this morning's drawing was Stephanie Shannon. We know. She's won before and she was seen in close discussion with Steve shortly before this drawing. Hmm.....
Peter and Stephanie
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Mr. James Winstanley, Corporate (second notice)
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Bill Klepper wanted everyone to know about the upcoming Golf Tournament in support of the Simi Police Foundation. See Bill for details.
John Tolson would like to know if anyone has interest in being on the Membership Committee starting July 1st. If so, please let John know.
A previous Guest, Leila Thayer-Malone, announced a Walk to End Alzheimers coming up in October and left us a flyer below. See Martha Macker if this is of interest to you.
Please remember 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
Carolyn Boucher will have a Team Ginny table at the upcoming Fourth of July Celebration on July 2nd and she could use some help working the table. It starts at noon so please see Carolyn if you can assist.
And, as Carolyn had previously said, it doesn't take any effort or money to place the Team Ginny car magnet on your car. Please see Carolyn if you'd like to get one.
Tim Gray gave out a Last Call for receipts on the Music Festival. Once they are all submitted, a final determination can be made on the profitability of the Festival.
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Today's Guest Speaker is the Head Football Coach for Simi High School, Mr. Jim Benkert. This is Coach Benkert's fifth year at Simi High after 26 years at Westlake High School and 3 at Oaks Christian. He has compiled an overall record of 289-103-5 in his 33 years as a Head Coach. His teams have advanced to the CIF playoffs 29 times. Since taking over at Simi High, he's established the Pioneers as one of the elite programs in the county. Coach Beckert's 5 year record at Simi is 32-9, advancing to the CIF Quarterfinals in his first year and appearing in the first ever CIF Championship in program history in 2019. Amazing statistics.
But after listening to Coach Benkert talk, you understand he's not doing what he's doing for the statistics, he's doing it for the kids. His goal, he said, is to teach these kids what it means to be a functioning and contributing member of society. To do the right thing. We heard things like adhering to God's plan, working through adversity and learning life's lessons. Learn your job, know your job and be prepared to do your job. That there were no excuses for tardiness. He talked about a voluntary drug testing program. He talked about the absolute importance of academics.
In his first year, 61 of 80 of his players were grade deficient. Instituting his Band of Brothers program, he started marching (as in Army marching) the deficient players in formation wherever they went. The 61 was down to 19 after a few weeks and down to 7 at the end of the year. His first year, he had 19 incoming Freshmen. This year he has 60 on the roster and is the only school in the Marmonte League, one of the top leagues in the area, to have a Freshmen team. His program works. Simi High is now playing and winning against the elite teams in Southern California.
Its refreshing to know that the old values and morals are still being taught. While winning games and championships is nice, no doubt, Coach Benkert cares more about making sure the kids are working hard, doing the best they can and doing the right thing. Sounds pretty old fashioned.
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Jim with his Timer. He will need to make room in his Trophy Case for it.
Carson, Jim and Steele. A very proud Coach!
Congratulations Ron on building quite a legacy!
And Congratulations to you as well Jim for that same legacy!
Job Well Done Gentlemen!
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Congrats on your Anniversary Bob! 33 years with you? Wow!
Thank You both for all of your work and leadership this past year!
John didn't get the memo about Royal shirts today
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We will be Dark next week, June 30th. We will next meet in person at the Best Western on July 7th. See you there!
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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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