august 2011
Monarch Beach
sunrise rotary on the california riviera
2nd Annual LobsterFest MBSR clawed their way to another successful fund-raiser, the 2nd Annual LobsterFest at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point on Saturday, June 26th. More than 475 people attended, far and away MBSR’s largest event ever. Although good fun and great fun was had by all, the biggest beneficiaries are the many fine children’s oriented organizations in the community as the club netted nearly $30,000 to support them. Chaired again by LaVal Brewer, the club’s LobsterFest Committee worked overtime to create an outstanding event. Chef Louis Lepe of the St. Regis Hotel once again supervised the preparation of more than 500 lobsters and pounds of tri-tip steak cooked to perfection, and this year What A Dish Café & Catering provided a delectable selection of appetizers during the event’s early stages of socializing and silent auction bidding. More than 70 volunteers, including Rotarians and members of the Dana Hills HS Interact Club, helped the attendees to food and fun. The event included a silent auction, music, dancing and a no-host bar, and was sponsored by Jackson & Wilson Trial Lawyers, Luciano’s Ristorante, Aliso Creek Printing, Building Online, the Dana Point Times and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce. The silent auction, chaired by Ellen Turnbull, collected more than $40,000 market value in donations of vacations, jewelry, restaurants, wine and many other desirable prizes. Next year’s event has already been scheduled for June 30, 2012—same place, same time, so get your appetite ready for another great event!
Demotion Breakfast In accord with his wishes, MBSR broke from long-standing tradition by demoting out-going President James Littlejohn with a Toast, rather than a Roast on Wednesday morning, June 22nd. Accustomed to treating their past leader with little respect and cavalier good humor, some members protested against the rather staid gathering, led by Past President Terry Rifkin whose placard-carrying revolt continued on page 3 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 Al Soley As we begin the new 2011-2012 Rotary year, I acknowledge the great work of our past president James Littlejohn and his leadership in guiding us through the past year and allowing us all to have fun doing our great Rotarian work. We should look back on what we have accomplished during the past 12 months and for that matter over the past 22 years. I am honored to serve as your new president and appreciate the support of our nominating committee and Russell Kerr who selected me two years ago. I thank all of you, my fellow Rotarians, for electing me as your president. This is a great time to reflect on our achievements over the past two decades and on opportunities ahead. We have done a lot and there is so much more to do, so many people to help, in so many different ways, and there are so many opportunities to grow. Grow our membership, grow the awareness of our community about Rotary and grow our friendship and love for one another. Our new RI president Kalyan Banerjee is asking us all to “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”, he wants us to understand that all of us all around the world have similar dreams, hopes and possibly the same dilemmas; the world is an extension of our communities, Rotary clubs and our own families. It is with this principle that I like us to extend continued on p.3
New Members Attend Fireside Chat by Rod Eide
The membership count at the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club is going back UP—from a high of 70 in 2001, to a low of 48 in November of 2010, the total is now at 53! Rod and Nan Eide hosted the most recent Fireside Chat and the attendees included Dave Crouch (Chiropratic Services) with his wife Mary; Tom Freeman (Financial Planning Services) and his wife Denene; Robin Lawrence (Environmental Engineering); and Gary Maxwell (International Business). These new friends were joined by MBSR veterans including incoming President Al Soley and soon to be Past President James Littlejohn. Following a half hour of socializing, the presentation examined what Rotary International is, what it does, and how it’s organized, as well as some MBSR history, how the club works, and why it is outstanding. A poster board featuring the MBSR organization chart helped explain how new members get involved in the Club’s service and operational activities. At the conclusion, the new members had gotten to know some of the club leaders and had decided how they wished to get involved, and who to see.
Boys & Girls Club Fishing Trip On Friday, July 8th Rotary members Ellen Turnbull, Mike Killebrew and James Littlejohn volunteered their time and took 40 kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley on a fishing trip sponsored by the Dana Point Harbor Association. Great fun, weather and food was the nature of the day, along with catching some fish!
Aug - Sept, 2011
Birthdays & Anniversaries Aug 2 Aug 9 Aug 10 Aug 13 Aug 16 Aug 19 Aug 23
Russell Kerr Lisa Bartlett Cherie Hinchliffe Joe Fitzgerald Bill Peverill Kathy Flores Mike Killebrew
Birthday Anniversary (Michael, 1980) Birthday Anniversary (Kathryn, 1988) Birthday Anniversary (David, 1995) Birthday
Aug 23 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 31 Sept 2 Sept 3 Sept 6
Margarita Martin George Rendon Mitch Jackson Kathy Flores Gary Spencer Martha Hoffmann Julie Lungo
Anniversary (Dale, 1982) Anniversary (Polly, 1984) Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday Anniversary (Marty, 1980)
Honoring Our American Heroes
Demotion Breakfast, continued from page 1 demanded the right to treat James with the same bad taste all other Presidents experienced. Needless to say, her protest received a standing ovation and raucous cheering. That aside, James was treated to a hearty farewell with Toast speeches orchestrated by PresidentElect Ellen Turnbull and given by Past Presidents Mitch Jackson and Neil Burns, and incoming President Al Soley. Mitch focused on James the father and family man, Neil on James the Rotarian, and Al on James the Mentor, but all seemed to focus on James the Man of gratitude, and the man with the great smile. James led the laughter when Neil called him the Cheshire Cat of Rotary, big white teeth in a big grin on a black background. But the characteristic that most embodied James in the minds of all was his unceasing efforts to deflect all praise from himself and to his team, his staff, and his family. MBSR was indeed fortunate to have James leading them during the past year, and we hope his “Demotion Toast” conveyed our respect and affection. In addition to demoting James, the breakfast concluded with incoming President Al Soley introducing his Board of Directors and committee chairs, all of whom were sworn in by incoming District Governor Greg Owen.
by Terry Rifkin MBSR assisted VFW Post 9934 and the City of Dana Point with the American Veterans Traveling Viet Nam Memorial Wall May 11th thru May 16th. Rotarians volunteered in the locator tent throughout the event, and joined the Cypress, Laguna Niguel, and Yorba Linda clubs in contributing $250 each to the Tribute. Alan Wickstrom’s daughter Julie and her boyfriend Michael Groover proudly sang our National Anthem at the Opening Ceremony and added God Bless the USA at ceremonies throughout the weekend. Rotarians helped family members and Viet Nam War Veterans find their loved one’s names, and experienced many touching moments. One woman, seeking her husband’s name, came with her 43-year-old son who was one month old when his father died, and an Airborne Unit Commander sought the ten names of his entire unit who all perished. Besides Rotary, no organization exemplifies “Service Above Self” more than our Military. Participating in this tribute to our nation’s fallen heroes was Community Service at its best.
President’s Message, continued from page 2 our hands to embrace humanity and touch people’s hearts around us, continue the good that we have traditionally done and be willing to change. I would like to thank the club officers, committee chairs, service leaders, and the membership to support me in the months to come.
Save these dates! Fri, Sept 9
Business Person of the Year Luncheon
May 6 - 9, 2012
RI Convention, Bangkok, Thailand
Sat, Nov 19
Foundation Dinner
Jun 1 - 3, 2012
District 5320 Conference
Apr 27 - 29, 2012 RYLA Camp
Sat June 30, 2012 3rd Annual LobsterFest
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 Membership & Extension Month august
New Member Spotlight Ricardo Beas by Linda Hess Ricardo Beas joined MBSR in January and resides in Mission Viejo with his wife, Rosa. He has three grown children who are 24, 30, and 33 years old. Working in the restaurant business for 36 years, Ricardo owns Ricardo’s Place in San Juan Capistrano, which received the Chamber of Commerce’s “Business of the Year” award in 2010. When not working, Ricardo enjoys martial arts, dancing, and fútbol soccer, and being involved in our community. Ricardo joined MBSR because of our positive community involvement, morning meetings, philosophy of helping others, and friendship between members. Ricardo hopes to see increased international involvement with other Rotary clubs and more Latino businesspersons become Rotarians.
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary
President...................................... Al Soley
Tuesday
Vice President............... Alan Wickstrom
7:10am, Mission Viejo
Secretary............................ John Coffman
Casta del Sol Golf Club House
Treasurer....................................Rod Eide
7:15am, San Clemente Sunrise
President Elect ................ Ellen Turnbull
Talega Country Club Heritage Grill
Imm. Past President........James Littlejohn
7:30am, Newport Sunrise
Club Service Committee Leaders:
Five Crowns, PCH
Scholarship Program...........Bonnie Myers
12 noon, Laguna Niguel
Golf Tournament......................Rod Eide & Neil Burns
Savannah Chop House
International Service.....Margarita Martin
Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club
Officers & Directors 11/12
Make-Up Locations
7:00pm, Coto De Caza/RSM
Vocational Service................... Linda Hess
Wednesday
Community Service.......Nancy Baumann & Nan Eide
7:00am, Coto De Caza/RSM Del Sol
Club Service..................... Ellen Turnbull
RSM Bell Tower
Youth Service.....................John Coffman
6:15pm, Newport-Balboa
Membership....................Marsha Prentice
Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club
Foundation Support..................Rod Eide
6:15pm, San Juan Capistrano
Website ........................ Alan Wickstrom
Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot
Club Bulletin.......................... Neil Burns Programs ............................. Kathy Flores
Thursday
Song Leader ...................... John Hayden
12 noon, Newport-Irvine
Fine Master ......................... Mary Jeffries
University Club @ UCI
Attendance............................... John Rose Public Relations............ Alan Wickstrom Photography..........................Terry Rifkin Info & Orientation....................Rod Eide Social................................ Sharon Baltzell Fellowship......................... Penny DiCaro Sergeant at Arms ................. Paul Lehrich RI President............... Kalyan Banerjee District Governor................. Greg Owen
12 noon, San Clemente Iron in the Fire Restaurant
Friday 12 noon, Laguna Beach Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course
Visit us at www.monarchbeachrotary.com for more details.
M B S R me e ts o n We d n e s d ay m o r n in g s at 7am at the R itz - Ca rl ton La gu na Nigu el • www.mona rc hbeachrot ary.com