SPRING 2016
Monarch Beach
SUNRISE ROTARY ON THE CALIFORNIA RIVIERA
President’s P id ’ Message M by Gary Maxwell
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES… Well, the holiday came and went with great fun, family, friendship, laughter, and, of course, plenty of food. In the New Year we hit the ground running and began to prep for our always-busy spring season. On the morning of March 5, we had both club and interact members gathering together in downtown Dana Point to haul our enormous inflatable pirate through the streets in a parade celebration for the annual Festival of Whales. Although delayed a week, our annual Diamond Dig had high spirits and attendance. We had a marvelous turnout on a beautiful day and adorable little local, Ella Carulli, won the lovely diamond prize provided by Marinelli Fine Jewelry. Amidst all this we have successfully installed an off-site evening chapter of MBSR known as a Satellite Club. These clubs are becoming more popular with Rotary International, as their structure is more conducive to younger professionals and people with more hectic schedules in general. We are anticipating great things from this group, many of whom are former club members whose passion for Rotary has just been reignited! Our fun (and batter) filled Pancake Breakfast is coming up next! Originally launched by now Satellite Club Chair Jenna Spizzirri and held in conjunction with the Dana Point Easter Egg Hunt at Sea Canyon Park on March 26. This is always a fun and tasty event that we look forward to.
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MBSR Golf Tournament-3-28-16 by Rod Eide
The day of the 24th annual MBSR Charities Golf Tournament started out as a bit of a “Downer”. The weather forecast was for rain and the wind from the Ocean was kind of strong. But our Golfer Guests, including eighteen Marines from Camp Pendleton, and all of our great Club Volunteers showed up anyway. They showed up at the most beautiful Golf Course in Southern California--The Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, our Venue for the Day. The Volunteers got everything ready, and the Golfers Checked In, got their Golf Carts ready, exercised a bit, practiced their putting, then claimed all of the Wine bottles that they were lucky enough to hit as they participated in the Wine Putting contest. Everyone was having a great time, the weather cleared up a bit, and all Teed Off at 12:30 PM. Following an afternoon of fun for everybody, and lots of exciting Team Golf, taking advantage of all of the special Rules designed to keep the scores low, everyone checked in to the St Regis/Club-19 for a cocktail or two, good food, and lots of Prizes. Prizes for the Golf Tournament, and Raffle prize Winners. At the same time of course, there were a couple dozen great Auction Items to bid on. First came the drawing of several Raffle Tickets for small, but useful items that the winners could chose from. Then came the Awards of prizes for the Low Golf Scores--including a 4-Some of Women. The Winning Team’s Low Gross Score of 49 was a Tournament record, thanks to a Player that some Guests considered a “Ringer”, and of course, Cyndi Elder’s Team of Ladies got the Women’s Low score prize. Prizes were also given for the usual Golf Tournament challenges such as Longest Drives, Closest to the Pin on the Par 3 Holes, etc. One of the guest Marines won the Longest Drive prize. It should also be noted that no one won the beautiful Hole-In-One Volvo Automobile that was donated by Volvo Cars-Mission Viejo (courtesy of Club Member Joel Peretz). The last excitement of the day came with the Opportunity/Cash Raffle Ticket drawings--Prizes of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $300, and $100. It should be noted that the Winner of the $2,000 First Prize promised to give all of the money to Charities, including $400 to MBSR for a donation of our choosing. That Donation, along with the other $18,000 NETTED from the Event. Again, thank you to everyone who supported this successful Event in any of the many, many necessary ways.
Golf Tournament Fundraiser Party Animals by Mary Jeffries, Social Chair Our annual holiday party was hosted by Hayden Marcuda at his home in Monarch Bay. Fabulous decorations, a festive atmosphere, and lots of members made this party memorable. And the food was amazing! Is it David Owens’ chicken, his mother’s potato salad or Jordan’s Mango Margaritas that quickly come to mind? All good! Our January party celebrated the Chinese New Year – the year of the monkey. Carl and Sally Lindhart opened up their home for the celebration. And a window of specialties. Have you ever enjoyed a 100 year old duck egg? Some of us tried it. Very different – but not really 100 years old. President Gary and Carl have both spent some time in Asia, and they regaled us with culinary stories. This party was such fun with all the red/gold Chinese decorations. Red envelopes (by Gary) with money that represented wealth for the New Year was an added surprise. I’ve now learned that Chinese New Year is all about the $$$$, but it is traditional to wish all good wealth and health for 2016 Chinese style. Lots of fun; have to do this one again. Thank you all for being such a great party group
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Diamond Dig Fundraiser
President’s Message
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Of course, what would springtime be without a mention of our annual Charity Golf Tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links on March 28. This is one of our more relaxing events of the year but also one of our more heart felt - as you have the opportunity to both sponsor and/or play with an active or retired military person. I would also like to point out a trip to Colombia that was recently taken by incoming President Margarita Martin who assisted in creating the first ever Colombian Boys & Girls Club along with a few other remarkable projects. I am immensely proud of the members of the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary. We’re growing and having a wonderful 3rd quarter. Let’s keep this energy going!
First Boys and Girls Club in South America!
Youth of the Year
by Margarita Martin
Thanks to our International Chairperson, and incoming president, Margarita Martin, our club has the honor of being the sponsor of the first Boys and Girls Club in South America. Margarita comes from the city of Neiva in Colombia, and has long been interested in the youth of her city. She has been involved with an orphanage for many years, and the new boys and girls club will be located at the orphanage, which is a haven in a very dense and dangerous zone of extreme poverty. The two clubs offer a friendly space, warm and peaceful where the children of the district can be safe while they experience social, educational and psychological help. Two community projects that will involve the participation of the children and benefit the club have now been opened a bakery and a chicken coop! Way to go Margarita!
The Youth of the Year Program is Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley’s premier recognition program, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Club members. Each year, one exceptional young person from the club rises to the role of Youth of the Year. Maritza Garcia is our 2015 Youth of the Year. She is currently a senior at San Juan Hills High School and has been a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley for ten years. Coming from a family in which neither parent speaks English, Maritza turned to the Clubs to be her “home away from home.” The Clubs provided her the guidance and opportunity to participate in a variety of life-enhancing programs that have led her to where she is now. She has already been accepted to multiple four-year colleges and plans to major in International Business. Proudly, she will be the first in her family to attend college. She is currently a member of the Keystone Club, Toastmasters, senior division softball team, and College Bound programs. In the past, Maritza was a member of Smart Girls, Girl Scouts, and Sea Tech, an oceanography program. She is presently working towards her goal of international work by traveling to Mexico every other weekend to perform mission work.
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?
Blast From The Past by Nan Eide When I was a girl, in Montreal, there was a very famous burlesque theatre called the Gaiety Theatre, 539 Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest. The theatre had been there since 1911, and was famous because it had a well known and long term star in residence by the name of Lilli St. Cyr. From the 1940s and most of the 1950s, St. Cyr, along with Gypsy Rose Lee and Ann Corio, were the most recognized acts in striptease. Her reputation in a brash world of strippers was strictly high-class. In fact, she was billed as an “exotic dancer”. That description was what puzzled me, and so one night, I and 3 of my girl friends set out to see what it was all about. The ushers at the door let us in, (despite the fact that we were probably under age) and I can’t remember if they charged us anything. I remember that we did stand out in the crowd of mostly middle-aged men. An act came on to “warm” up the crowd. They were on roller skates, and did mostly turns on the well-lit stage. Then, they wanted someone in the audience to join them. Guess who they selected. Over my vehement protests, my friends pushed, and the skaters pulled me up on to the stage. They put skates on me, took hold of me and spun me around so that I was so dizzy that I would have fallen had I not been supported. After it was over, I almost fell down the stairs into the orchestra pit. After I had settled down into my seat, the lights dimmed, and Lilli St. Cyr came on. But dancing was not what she did – more like slow walking around in the dark. And if she did strip down to the nude, none of us could say – it was too dark. But I will always remember my stint on the burlesque stage.
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Officers & Directors 2015/16
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Make-Up Locations
President............................ Gary Maxwell Vice President ....................David Owens Secretary ............................Car;los Olvera Treasurer ..................................John Rose President Elect ............ Margarita Martin Imm. Past President ..........John Coffman
TUESDAY
DIRECTORS: Club Service ............... Margarita Martin Community Service ....... Anita Houston Foundation Support .............. Lisa Sakai International Service .M. Martin/B. Wise Membership Dev ......Jere Bright/Hayden Macurda New Generations Service: John Coffman Vocational Serv. Stephanie McMcormick
7:30 AM Newport Sunrise Five Crowns, PCH
CLUB SERVICE COMMITTEE LEADERS: Attendance ..................... Mike Soloman Club Bulletin.............................Nan Eide Fellowship ....................... Penny DiCaro Fine Master ......................... Lisa Wilson Fundraiser, Children’s Charity Russ Kerr Fundraisers, Golf ..................... Rod Eide Fundraisers, Lobster Fest ........... Russ Kerr Info & Orientation ................. Rod Eide Photographer....................... Terry Rifkin Programs .............................. Bob Huber Public Relations .......... Alan Wickstrom Scholarships .............. Zohreh Behbehani Sergeant of Arms ................ Paul Lehrich Social .................................. Mary Jeffries Song Leader ..................... John Hayden Website ....................... Alan Wickstrom LEADERSHIP: RI President ................... Ravi Ravindran District Governor............... Kevin Padilla
7:10 AM Mission Viejo Casta del Sol Golf Club House 7:15 AM San Clemente Sunrise Talega Country Club Heritage Grill
12 NOON Laguna Niguel El Niguel Country Club
WEDNESDAY 7:00 AM Coto De Caza/RSM Del Sol RSM Bell Tower 6:15 PM Newport-Balboa Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club 6:15 PM San Juan Capistrano Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot
THURSDAY 12 NOON Newport-Irvine University Club @ UCI 12 NOON San Clemente Iron in the Fire Restaurant
FRIDAY 12 noon, Laguna Beach Aliso Creek Inn & Golf Course MONARCHBEACHROTARY.COM
FOR MORE DETAILS.
MBSR MEETS ON WEDNESDAY MORNINGS AT 7AM AT THE LAGUNA CLIFFS MARRIOTT IN DANA POINT • MONARCHBEACHROTARY.COM