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.