october 2010
Monarch Beach
sunrise rotary on the california riviera
District Governor Johrita Solari Visits Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary by James Littlejohn
Johrita Solari, RI District 5320’s Governor for 2010-11 addressed MBSR on Wednesday, October 6. Accompanied by her husband and business partner Bruce Solari, Johrita told of her history in Rotary and how she carried a “Gender Chip” on her shoulder to her first Rotary meeting, particularly after their firm received an invitation addressed to Bruce in the mistaken assumption that he, not she, was President of the company. Despite her preconceived (and probably accurate!) notion that Rotary was an old boy’s club, she soon found that she enjoyed their fellowship and working with them on community projects. Rotary may have been an old boy’s club, but they were professionals whose heads were connected to their hearts, and Johrita has been an enthusiastic Rotarian ever since. Johrita also conveyed a message from RI President Ray Klinginsmith suggesting Rotarians focus on building strong clubs through effective service using a unified and recognized brand. He emphasized that clubs should be Bigger, Better, and Bolder, not just in size but in their thinking. Clubs should be writing and implementing a vision plan that dreams big and extraordinary. Governor Solari completed her talk by listing the MBSR’s many accomplishments over the last 22 years, including giving $199K to the RI Foundation, supporting numerous scholarship students, adopt a social worker families, RYLA, GSE, local seniors, and those in desperate circumstances around the world like the six shelter boxes provided to Haiti after their earthquake. Each project standing alone may be impressive, but taken in total with all the other projects completed over 22 years, MBSR’s accomplishments have been extraordinary. Johrita is proud to be a Rotarian, and proud to be working alongside MBSR building communities, and bridging continents.
M B S R m e e t s o n W e d n e s d a y m o r n i n g s a t 7 a m a t t h e R i t z - C a r l t o n L a g u n a N i g u e l • www . m o n a rc h b e a c h r o t a r y . c o m
President’s Message by James Littlejohn
Someone once said “time is the only thing that doesn’t wait” and since the first quarter of my presidency has already come and gone, I’m in total agreement. Recently I attended the Coastal Mountain Youth Academy Donor Appreciation Luncheon with Executive Director Kelly White. Her organization made special recognition comments about our Rotary Club’s support. From there I attended the Dana Point Festival of Whales meeting to inform their committee that we’ll run the “Diamond Dig” again. Then there have been weekly Club meetings, meetings with potential new members, monthly Board meetings and District President’s Meetings, and time left over to have a great time at the South Orange County Rotary Mixer held at Salt Creek Grille. (Thanks Pete, Tim, Marcos & Christy for your great support of Rotary!) Time not only doesn’t wait, it flies! Oh, by the way, my wife Christine went to Munich, Germany for vacation and left me to watch over my two wonderful teens for 2 weeks, transporting them to and from their soccer and
No Man Left Behind Sponsor a Marine to Attend the Birthday Ball by Terry Rifkin The 235th Birthday Ball will be held on November 10, 2010 (the Marine Corps’ actual birthday) at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point. The cost of a ticket is $100. As one can no doubt surmise our young Marines earn very little, work extremely hard and are subjected, all too often, to the rigors of combat. To this end and once a year – as has been the case since 1775 – they can enjoy the camaraderie and tradition of this celebrated evening in each other’s company no matter where in the world they may be deployed, or here at home with their wives and girlfriends. So that we might defray the costs of as many Marines as possible, we would ask that you consider sponsoring a Marine for $100 or partner up with another Rotarian to share the cost of sponsor a Marine. You may give a check to Terry Rifkin or use Paypal on the Support Group website at www.danapoint5thmarines.com. Your contribution will go a long way in lightening the financial load for our Troops. Semper Fi With Respect & Gratitude
continued on next page
October, 2010
Birthdays & Anniversaries Oct 1 Oct 1 Oct 6 Oct 10 Oct 14
Mitch Jackson Lisa Wilson Sharon Baltzell Alan Wickstrom LaVal Brewer
Anniversary (Lisa, 1988) Anniversary (Mitch, 1988) Birthday Anniversary (Liz, 1987) Anniversary (Kelly, 1995)
Oct16 Oct 21 Oct 27 Oct 30
Linda Knox Hess George Rendon Ellen Turnbull Cyndi Elders
Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday
New Member Spotlight
President’s Message,
by Linda Hess
continued from page 2
Our newest member, Dong Phan, lives in Dana Point. He is a Senior Relationship Banker with Union Bank, specializing in taking care of both personal and business clients with their individual banking needs on a more personal level. Dong offers a wide variety of services ranging from opening up basic bank accounts to residential and business loans.
basketball games, all while I ran the Capistrano Valley Boys & Girls Club golf tournament, went to City Council, Finance, Marketing, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Chamber of Commerce, G.RI.P. Care meetings and a Boys & Girls Club conference in Seattle. It’s all a blur. Where does the time go, I wonder? Better yet, do we really want time to wait? I couldn’t do it alone.
Dong enjoys free time by relaxing with friends, traveling, and listening to music, but one day he really wants to experience parachuting and scuba diving. Until his sponsor, Marsha Prentice, introduced him to MBSR, Dong was unaware and “pleasantly surprised to learn” that Rotary was a humanitarian club not only involved with their community but also with many other cities, countries, and continents. Our meeting location’s proximity to his work initially attracted Dong to MBSR, but more importantly, he joined because of our “friendly members and incredibly cheerful atmosphere.” Dong looks forward to making new friendships at our club and making a difference in the world as a Rotarian.
Support Your Rotarian Road Bikers and Help Eradicate Polio by Terry Rifkin
On November 20, Tucson will once again host Perimeter Cycling’s El Tour de Tucson. Rotary International and its campaign to eradicate Polio from the world is an official beneficiary of El Tour. Patty Vogan, Terry Rifkin and Gary Spencer will be riding and collecting pledges that will go toward Rotary’s campaign to end polio and matching the $250,000,000 grant from the Gates Foundation. Any contribution will be shared evenly among the three riders and go towards ending polio now. Checks may be made out to our Club (MBSR) and then made payable to the cause. Many thanks for your support.
Wednesday, November 10: Saturday, November 13: Saturday, November 20: Friday, April 29, 2011: May 21-25, 2011:
Thanks Neil for putting together our award winning newsletter, thanks Linda for putting together the Rotary mixer, thanks Martha for writing the article in the District Newsletter on the Rotary Foundation’s “Bequest Society”, thanks Nan & Rod for hosting our Board meeting at your home and allowing our District governor Johrita Solari and her husband Bruce to spend the night at your home. Thanks everyone for all you do! As I Iook forward to the second quarter of my presidency, I know time will not wait and neither will I because there is so much to do in so little time, and I like it that way!
Save these dates! Marine Corps’ 235th Birthday Ball Rotary Foundation Dinner El Tour de Tucson District Conference Rotary International Convention, New Orleans
The 4-way test of things we think, say or do… Is it the truth? • Is it fair to all concerned? • Will it build goodwill and friendships? • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
IS rotary Foundation Month november
District 5320 Business Rotarian of the Year Luncheon Led by President James Littlejohn and PDG Rod Eide, nearly 20 MBSR members gathered at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange on Friday, September 10, to celebrate and honor Past President Mitch Jackson’s nomination as the Business Rotarian of the Year. Mitch was one of 16 Rotarians throughout the District nominated for the honor, and in the final tally, Blake Christian of the Long Beach Club won this year’s award, but needless to say all of the nominees were strong candidates. Also honored at the event were Steve Speer of Newport Balboa for Ethics in Business and Mike Darnold of San Juan Capistrano for Leadership Excellence.
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary
President..........................James Littlejohn
Tuesday
Vice President................... Ellen Turnbull
7:10am, Mission Viejo
Secretary....................... Margarita Martin
Casta del Sol Golf Club House
Treasurer....................................Rod Eide
7:15am, San Clemente Sunrise
President Elect ........................... Al Soley
Talega Country Club Heritage Grill
Imm. Past President...............Russell Kerr
7:30am, Newport Sunrise
Club Service Committee Leaders:
Five Crowns, PCH
Scholarship Program...........Bonnie Myers
12 noon, Laguna Niguel
Golf Tournament......................Nan Eide
Savannah Chop House
Children’s Charities........... LaVal Brewer
7:00pm, Coto De Caza/RSM
International Service..........Mitch Jackson
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club
Officers & Directors 10/11
Vocational Service............Nancy Bauman Student of Month.......Zohreh Behbehani Community Service............... Lisa Wilson Club Service................................ Al Soley Youth Service.....................John Coffman Membership............................ Linda Hess Rotary Foundation Chair..........Rod Eide Website ........................ Alan Wickstrom Club Bulletin.......................... Neil Burns Programs ............................. Kathy Flores Song Leader ...................... John Hayden Fine Master ........................ Cyndi Elders Attendance............................... John Rose Public Relations............ Alan Wickstrom
Make-Up Locations
Wednesday 7:00am, Coto De Caza/RSM Del Sol RSM Bell Tower 6:15pm, Newport-Balboa Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club 6:15pm, San Juan Capistrano Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot
Thu rsday 12 noon, Newport-Irvine University Club @ UCI 12 noon, San Clemente Iron in the Fire Restaurant
Photographer.........................Terry Rifkin
Friday
Info & Orientation....................Rod Eide
12 noon, Laguna Beach
Social................................ Sharon Baltzell
Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course
Fellowship............................. Kelly White Sergeant at Arms ................. Paul Lehrich RI President................. Ray Klinginsmith District Governor............... Johrita Solari
Visit us at www.monarchbeachrotary.com for more details.
M B S R m e e t s o n W e d n e s d a y m o r n i n g s a t 7 a m a t t h e R i t z - C a r l t o n L a g u n a N i g u e l • www . m o n a rc h b e a c h r o t a r y . c o m