n o i t c Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise e S l a i c Spe Cultural Dinner Honoring Sibyl Buchanan Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club will hold its 8th annual Cultural Dinner on Tuesday evening, October 21, 2014. This year’s event is entitled “Noche Espanola” and celebrates the country of Spain with authentic tapas, paella, sangria, flamenco dancers and a hosted bar. The dinner event is the largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds help fund Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Foundation projects such as Teacher Mini-Grants, Teacher Eddy Awards, Holiday Adopt-AFamily program, the Santa Tour, Airport Marina Counseling Service, feeding the homeless, 4th of July Parade, Christmas party and toy giveaway for the McBride School for handicapped children, high
WELCOME By Katie Butler Litsey, MPH, President, Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise
Vibrant, diverse and effective. These three words best describe the personality of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club. The enthusiasm of our club members and partners drives the success of our projects. And this year, the energy to serve others is more contagious than ever with a total of 61 members who share a wide range of
school scholarships, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, support of local area firefighters, and clean water projects in third world countries, to name a few. Each year at the cultural dinner the club presents one special award, the Sunrise Community Service Award, to a person who has made a difference in the lives of others, gives back to
backgrounds, experiences and passions. Our service projects truly reflect the diversity of our members’ interests and areas of expertise. Reaching an alltime membership high, we are now in a position where our collective passion for the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” can accomplish bigger and bolder projects in our local and global communities. An important goal of our club this year is to ensure sustainability of our service projects, so our efforts have
This year’s cultural dinner honoree Sibyl Buchanan
long-lasting impacts. We strive to incorporate education and vocational training components into our service projects to help community partners and future generations carry on project success. The path to sustainability is difficult, but our vision of a brighter world depends on it. It is a privilege to serve as Club President this year, and to be a part of a network of 1.2 million community and business leaders who work together to solve some of our world’s toughest challenges from polio eradication to peace and conflict resolution. There are so many different ways to participate
People ask all the time “What is Rotary?” Rotary is a worldwide nonprofit organization of more 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders. As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, the workplace and throughout the world. You will find members in more than 200 countries with more than 34,000 clubs in the world who volunteer in communities at home and abroad to support education and
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job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation and eradicate polio. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious and open to all cultures, races and creeds. The Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise is one of 66 clubs in District 5280 which covers the geographic boundaries of the Pacific Ocean to downtown and Woodland Hills to San Pedro. We represent the areas of Venice,
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Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista and Westchester and we are committed to living the motto of “Service Above Self” while having a lot of fun in the process. Whether we are passing out toys to our adopted families, supporting local teachers and schools or making pancakes to support the local fire stations, we always find time to have a little fun, laugh a lot and put smiles on the faces of those around us.
the community and lives their life by the Rotary 4-Way test. This year’s honoree is Sibyl Buchanan who has been a wonderful volunteer and supporter of so many organizations. Sibyl recent retired as the Community Affairs Director for Playa Vista after 25 years and will be moving to Brentwood, Tennessee with her husband Mitch. This is a huge loss to our community. However you can come to our event, pay tribute to Sibyl, and bid her farewell on October 21.
in Rotary’s priority areas: fighting disease, providing clean water, supporting mothers and children, promoting education, growing local economies, and strengthening peace efforts. The opportunities in Rotary are endless, and we encourage community members to ask how they can get involved! An environmental epidemiologist working with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Katie Butler Litsey’s Rotary service began with Interact club in junior high school. In high school, she went on a Rotary youth exchange trip to Germany. Currently a resident of Redondo Beach, Katie, her husband Michael and American Eskimo mix dog are hosting a 16-year old Rotary exchange student from Japan.
The club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. at the Marina City Club, Center Tower, 3rd Floor Restaurant, Marina del Rey. We look forward to serving the community with you. For more information about Rotary or how you can help support a local project, please visit our website, www.playasunrise.org, contact our Director of Membership John Mercato (310) 740-6469 or visit us at a weekly breakfast meeting.
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Rotary Club of playa venice sunrise
Mama Hill’s Help Mama Hill’s Help, a Watts-based after school program founded in 2001, is a refugee for children and their families and a place for learning and for once in their lives, a violence-free zone. It is a drug-free safe haven where three times a week neighborhood children come to eat, get assistance with tutoring, job skills, violence and molestation prevention, gang intervention, anger management, conflict resolution, college preparation, music appreciation and most of all, LOVE. Members of the Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise have become involved with Mama Hill’s by hosting monthly pizza parties, mentoring students, donating money to buy school uniforms and bus passes and most recently participating in a neighborhood block party fundraising event
Project Amigos After a four-year hiatus, due to unrest in Mexico, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club will be traveling to Mexico to help a worthy family living out of a cardboard box in Baja California, by building them a house. This Rotary project requires about 20-25 Rotarian volunteers to build the house in a single weekend with a
Sister Club in Ajijic, Mexico
As sister club to Rotary Club of Ajijic in the Mexican State of Jalisco, Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club has initiated a project to renovate and refurbish the Fire Department of Ajijic/Chapala. In its efforts, the club has successfully recruited “Los Bomberos”, a Latin Club of Los Angeles firefighters, and the Rotary Club of Santa Monica. Los Angeles fire fighter and President of Los Bomberos Roger Rubio recently went to Mexico with Playa Venice Sunrise Rotarian Don Culton to present the Chapala Fire Department with tools and fire retardant personal safety gear including jackets, pants, shirts, and hoods. The donations are valued at more than $10,000. There is another $20,000
Joe Chehade of Playa Pharmacy at his flu shot booth, at a recent event for Mama Hill’s Help
to support some of the students and their families. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotarian and owner of Playa Pharmacy Joe Chehade set up a booth to give free flu shots to the local kids and family members at the event. pitched roof, four windows, and a front door that locks. The family is selected by Casa de Los Pobres (House of the Poor). Rotarians that have participated in this program never fail to become emotional when at the end of the day, the keys to the house are turned over to the family. Rotarians realize how just a couple of days of service can change the life of an entire family!
worth of equipment gathered by fireman Roger Rubio waiting to be shipped across the border. The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club has enlisted the aide of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica in its efforts to obtain a Rotary International Global Grant to upgrade the outdated and damaged fire equipment currently in use by the Fire Department that serves a community in excess of 60,000 people. The Fire Department responds to 350 calls a year. Its current equipment limits their ability to help save lives and property. They have sixteen 16 firefighters who get paid minimal wages. They have limited training and no budget for equipment.
Photo left to right: Los Angeles Firefighter Roger Rubio, Chapala Fire Chief Victor Pena, Ajijic Rotarians Norma Canon and Alan MacGregor
Thank You to
SIBYL BUCHANAN Congratulations Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club!
We proudlyYou support & congratulate were here on Day One
and were instrumental in turning a vision into a community.
Thanks for your continued support to the community and congratulations for being named “The Club of Excellence” by the Rotary District 5280 of Los Angeles. Marina Del Rey Hospital is proud to be a member of your excellent organization.
P
888.600.5600 marinahospital.comlaya
PAGE 20 THE ARGONAUT October 9, 2014
AWARD Thank you forRECIPIENTS all you have done for Playa Vista, Thank for your for tremendous and bestyouwishes a futureleadership. filled with happiness.
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Rotary Club of playa venice sunrise
Vision to Learn Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club is proud of their participation in Vision To Learn, a program that provides eyeglasses to children in elementary school. Over 20%
of students in school have vision problems and without glasses, their ability to learn is impacted. Vision to Learn founder Austin Beutner wanted to fix this problem and created a program for screening children and fitting them with a new
(left) Vision to Learn founder Austin Beutner fits an elementary school child with a new pair of eyeglasses.
pair of glasses if needed. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Foundation has partnered with Westchester Rotary Foundation, Playa Vista, Loyola Marymount University, and the H.B. Drollinger Co. and several other Rotary Clubs to bring the Vision to Learn program to a number of local area schools including Westport Heights, Loyola Village, Westminster, Broadway and Playa del Rey elementary schools as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. Fundraising efforts have continued in order to provde screening and glasses to more students at additional schools. To learn more about Vision To Learn, go to www.VisionToLearn. org.
(left) Rotarian volunteers Sibyl Buchanan, Tony Ciancimino, Gwen Vuchsas, and Don Culton, in front of the Vision to Learn mobile truck as it visits Loyola Village Elementary School, in Westchester.
Midnight Mission
Captain Reggie Gautt, Jim Vuchsas, Sean Corrigan
The Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise is committed to feeding the homeless at the Midnight Mission on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The club makes 2 or 3 trips a year to the Mission to feed the homeless and bring food and much needed supplies including water, toiletries, clothing and shoes. The Mission was founded in 1914 and is celebrating 100 years! The mission’s many programs include emergency services, alcohol and addiction recovery, transition and training for jobs, and providing mail service for the homeless who send out resumes and need a place to receive responses. One of the club members noticed there was never any dessert provided at the meal servings and when the Mission was asked, they said they must concentrate on basic food and they would be happy to serve dessert if someone donated it. The next trip the volunteers from Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club showed up with 3,000 cookies in hand. Family members of Playa Venice club members have joined in this worthwhile project that provides food, service and clean-up for the homeless and handicapped who depend on the Mission to survive their life on the streets.
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Rotary Club of playa venice sunrise such as a classroom whiteboard. Teachers who very often pay for these types of projects or basic The Teacher Mini-Grant Program is one of needs out of their own pockthe largest and most successful programs ets can now apply for funding of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club through the Rotary Teacher MiniFoundation. The program is in its 19th Grants program. year and has grown from a first year disEach year over 150 grant tribution of $1800 in funding to approxiapplications are received and mately $15,000 last year. The purpose of approximately 50% of them are the program is to fund creative and innovative projects for the classroom teacher. Mini Grant (left) Dr. Cynthia Hoepner, funded through the program with the partnership and donaThe grants range from $75 to $400 and Principal of St. Bernard High School, receives Teacher Mini-Grant check tions from other organizations are awarded annually for teachers in all from Rotarian Christina Davis. such as the Howard Hughes grades for both public and private schools Center/Equity Office, Playa Vista, in the local community. the Jim Bunch Charity Fund, Los Angeles Commercial Over the years the projects have ranged from Realtors Association (LACRA), LAX Coastal Chamber planting and growing vegetable gardens, making of Commerce and private donations from individuals book bags, computer software, special literacy proand businesses in the local community. grams to outdoor education and basic simple needs
Teacher Mini-Grants
School Supply Program
January 14, 2014. Education is a priority of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club. In addition to the thousands of dollars given to teachers for these worthwhile projects through these grants, the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club proudly supports education through a book donation program, as well as a sponsor of the Chamber’s very successful Teacher Eddy Awards and awarding of numerous high school scholarships
Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation created a new program a couple of years ago through the generous donation of Los Angeles Commercial Realtors Association (LACRA) members. The local area schools are asked to submit “Wish Lists” and the items are purchased through the funding from LACRA and distributed to the schools at the Teacher Mini-Grant Awards Boxes of supplies donated to local schools through the Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise’s School Breakfast that will be held on Supply Program.
LAPD, LAFD, Santa and Rotarian Elves just prior to annual Santa Tour through Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista neighborhoods.
Holiday Activities The Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club celebrates the traditional holiday season with their Family Adoption program, a Christmas Party at the McBride School for handicapped children, and joins forces with LAPD and LAFD for the annual Santa Tour through Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista neighborhoods. Best of all, the world-famous Mark Twain Bell Ringers (nothing to do with telemarketing) are planning a special visit to Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club’s regular breakfast meeting at Marina City Club, Wednesday, December 10, 2014. “While all of our meetings are open to the public, this is expected to be “standing room only,” so guests should RSVP in advance (ciancimino@aol. com) They appeared at the London Olympic Games, so you won’t want to miss them,” says club President Katie Butler Litsey. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club brings a special holiday celebration each year to five very needy local families. The club also arranges a special visit from Santa to the McBride School. Rotarian elves are busily planning to make the 2014 holiday season a special time for those in need.
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ROTARY Rotary CLUB Club OF of PLAYA playa VENICE venice SUNRISE sunrise
to practice peaceful, compassionate Youth with Rotary Peace Resolution 85 Teacher Mini-Grantsmit Help Sister City Club Build a Service Better Benin behavior forLocal the rest of Classrooms the year and thus Los Angeles City Council recently adopted living the ideals of peace.” Playa Venice The Teacher Minia resolution that officially recognizes Sunrise Rotary Club President Katie Butler Grant Program one the United NationsisInternational Day of Litsey was present for this special occasion. of the largest and most Peace and designates Los Angeles as an Los Angeles will become the 87th successful programs International City of Peace. International City of VeniceVenice Sunrise ofPlaya the Playa Peace worldwide, joining Rotarian Bruer, cities such as Hiroshima, SunriseScotty Rotary Club. founder of PeaceNow.com, Nagasaki, New York, The program is in its joined others in drafting and Atlanta, Detroit, Toronto, 18th year and has presenting the resolution, and Philadelphia. Los grown from“The a first which states, United Angeles will be the first year distribution of 21 Nations has designated major West Coast city to $1800 in of funding to to September each year become an International beapproximately the international Day $20,000 City of Peace. The oflast Peace, devoted to comgoal is with to have year. The purpose through the program the1,000 partnerKatie Butler Litsey, Councilman Paul Koretz memorating and sowing and creative International Cities of of the program is to fund and (who sponsored the resolution), Vicki ship andDr.donations from other organurturing the seeds of peace Radel (Past District Governor of Rotary Peace by 2020. innovative projects for the classroom nizations such as the Howard Hughes and inspiring citizens to comDistrict 5280)
teacher. The grants range from $75.00 Center/Equity Office, Playa Vista, to $400 and are awarded annually for Westchester Rotary Foundation, the teachers in all grades for both public Jim Bunch Charity Fund, Los Angeles and in the local comwithprivate Westschools LA College Commercial Realtors Association munity. (LACRA), LAX Coastal Chamber of Summer and Semester Programs Over the years the For projects the Best have EducationalCommerce Experienceand private donations from ranged from planting andLife growing individuals of Your – No Problem What Ageand businesses in the local vegetable gardens, www.interedstudy.org making book bags, community. Additionally, the club crecomputer software, special literacy ated a new program a couple of years (310) 745-4243 programs to outdoor education and ago through the generous donation of basic simple needs such as a classroom LACRA members. The local area schools whiteboard. The teachers very often have submitted “Wish Lists” and the pay for these types of projects or basic items have been purchased through the needs out of their own pockets and funding from LACRA and distributed to can now apply for funding through the the schools at the Teacher Mini-Grant Rotary Teacher Mini-Grants program. Awards Breakfast. 14 schools received Last year 150 grant applications were numerous boxes of supplies from this received and 85 of them were funded program in 2013.
Study SpaniSh in Spain
Interact is a self-run The Rotary Club ofyouth Playaservice Veniceclub sponsored by Rotary. It is the Sunrise has partnered with Rotary Sarah Club’s job to provide support and guidance. Chapman, Founder of “Build A Better Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary proud Benin” to help Sarah withClub her is project to sponsor two high school Interact Clubs, in Benin, Africa. The club fell in love one at Venice High School and the other at with Sarah sheHigh came to speak to Animo Venicewhen Charter School. them about assistance for a little vilStudent Maina Cioni was inspired to lagethe in Western Africa Sarah start Interact Club at “Benin”. Venice High startedbecause her program after to visiting School she wanted help people Benin a traveling who areas less privileged.nurse. It didHer notmission seem fair toto herdeliver that they work twice hard was healthcare andaseducatotion getto what already had.third The world Venice theshe people of this High Interact Club completed 42 hours country. Through educational proofgrams, servicesafe thishousing, past yearsustainable with two service projprojects: Relay for Life (cancer ects and smart partnerships,research hopefully fundraising) and the sponsorship of a
Peruvian school child. Rotary This fallClub they plan Playa Venice Sunrise to do clean-ups, charity races service recently reached out to the and Rotary projects. MainaMexico believestoInteractors Club of Ajijic, enter intodevela op leadership, international sister city clubbuild partnership. Thisunderprostanding learn personal responsibility. gram willand continue the club’s efforts Maina has shared that being a leader does to create International opportunities not mean being in charge of everything, it and Rotary good will. The two clubs means guiding a group to work together will combine efforts in worthy causes to achieve a goal. such as supplying to elementary The Playa Venice milk Sunrise Rotary Club school children in the Ajijic area and also sponsors a Rotaract Club which is a scholarships to high school students. college-based service club. The club is chartered at Otis Artnorth and Design Ajijic, Mexico is College located of just of inGuadalajara, WestchesterMexico. and members of the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Clubmembers look forward In November several of to working withClub these peopleSunrise to make the Rotary of young Playa Venice our world better willcommunity fly down toand Ajijic andavisit theplace. sister
major improvements in the quality of city club to learn more of their needs. In life will occur in Benin under Sarah’s addition to creating fellowship with the direction and leadership. She has Ajijic members, the Playa Venice club plans to build an orphanage, improve transportation to medical facilities and members will have an opportunity to view some of the projects in which the build clean water wells. Playa Venice 4030 del Rey club willAvenue be assisting Ajijic. Sunrise Rotary Club is very proud to Marina del Rey 90292 Rotary has no boundaries when it have joined the Build A Better Benin comes to world peace, good will and project and to assist Sarah in serving understanding and helping mankind! the children of Africa.
Congratulations for your wonderful work!
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