Monarch Beach Sunrise Club Jan/Feb 2013 Newsletter

Page 1

jan 2013

Monarch Beach

sunrise rotary on the california riviera

21st Annual Children’s Charity Classic Golf Tournament by Kip Horney

On Monday, October 22, 2012 the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club hosted 80 golfers to our 21st Annual Children’s Charity Classic Golf Tournament. Our event this year was held at the beautiful Talega Golf Club in San Clemente. Our major sponsors included The Marine Room Tavern’s Spring Golf Tournament, O’Connell Landscape Service and the City of Dana Point. In addition to our major contributors, a record setting thirty tee sponsors contributed to make this year’s event a real success. A highlight was the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group who offered a special welcome to sixteen 5th Marines and Wounded Warriors who played in our tournament. These brave men exemplify the Rotary ideals of Service Above Self. It was a great opportunity to have them join in and thank them for all they have done for all of us. Over twenty individuals and companies helped to sponsor golf with an American Hero. Our tournament began at 7:00 AM with registration and our putting and chipping contests. It was a great sight to see our golfers try and hit one of 40 bottles of wine from about twenty five feet and take home a bottle of wine if they were lucky enough to have their ball strike one of the bottles. And just before our shotgun scramble start we had all eighty golfers surround the putting green to simultaneously putt to a hole in the middle of the green with the winner taking home a prize. Golf events during the round included: closest to the pin; longest drive for men and women; straightest drive; beat the pro and four chances to win a hole in one prize. Following golf the golfers and volunteers enjoyed a delightful luncheon in the club house and our awards were presented by our master of ceremony, Russell Kerr. In addition to the golf awards everyone was invited to participate in our silent auction and raffle where twenty donated items went to the highest bidder and lucky raffle number winners. Prizes were presented for all of the on course golf events and low gross prizes were given to winners in three categories: men, women and mixed foursomes. Our men’s winner consisted of Dean Baltzell, Gary Bridge, Bob Elders and Ed continued on page 4

MBSR meets on Wednesday mornings at 7am at the laguna cliffs marriott in dana point • monarchbeachrotary.com


President’s Message

Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon

It is better to give than receive … then, party, party, party!

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary hosted its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for seniors at the Dana Point Senior/ Community Center on November 17th and by all reports, it was again a tremendous success! A record number of over 150 seniors arrived to stand in line as early as 10:45am. Once they were seated at the very festivelydecorated tables they were entertained by a one man band. Meanwhile the chefs in the kitchen led by Ricardo Beas and assisted by some of his staff as well as many Rotarians and volunteers from the Dana Point 5th Marine group were busily preparing the standard Thanksgiving fare. A big thanks goes out to all our turkey chefs who arose early that morning (somewhere around 4:00am) to get the turkey in the ovens so they’d be ready to bring to the Senior Center by 9:00am! Our potato peelers once again peeled over 70 pounds of potatoes in no time. Mark Cruz, our Master turkey carver made short work of all 14 of the cooked turkeys and was assisted by many other volunteers – Rotarians, Interactors, Community Volunteers and Volunteers from the 5th Marine Regiment group.

by Cyndi Elders and Lisa Wilson

by Ellen Turnbull

One of the many gifts of being a Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotarian is the joyfulness we experience together in giving to others. We work hard to raise the monies through our fundraisers, the golf tournament and Lobster Fest — and then we freely give of our time, expertise and monies for the joy of serving others. We have accomplished so much over the past several months. From the Annual Dana Point Senior Thanksgiving luncheon, Holiday Giving Program, Holiday Gift Card Tree for the Marines, Staten Island Storm Victims Clothing Drive, to the Operation Holiday Homework with the Boys and Girls Club, we have helped others and hopefully enhanced their lives. The gift of giving to others is a gift we give ourselves; exemplifying “Service Above Self.” From the joys we experience as we give, we also enjoy PARTYING!! Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotarians do know how to have fun! From the ghoulish and scary Halloween Party, the fellowship of our Fireside Chat at the Maxwell home, to the elegant and sophisticated candlelit dinner at the beautiful ocean view home of Heather Gillon, Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotarians know how to PARTY!! Great friendships and great food! Oh, did I mention that we know how to cook?? Scrumptious food, yummy!! As we enter 2013, may we carry on our wonderful traditions of giving throughout our communities and world and as always, enjoy our blessed friendships through our service in Rotary.

Thirteen high school students from the Dana Hills Interact Club joined us for the event as well. They not only helped in the kitchen, but enjoyed serving the seniors and clearing the tables. What an amazing group of students! A special thank you also goes out to Mike Killebrew who stepped in at the last minute when we learned that an ad had been placed in the newspaper that would likely increase our number of seniors attending. Mike purchased additional turkeys and the Laguna Cliff’s Marriott chefs prepared and donated the extra meals. This year we once again delivered meals to the 15 shut-ins who were unable to be at the luncheon. Thank you to Susie Jeffries who helped deliver the meals. It turned out that we had plenty of leftovers this year, so several people boxed up luncheons to take to other centers and we delivered huge trays of turkey, potatoes, and veggies to the Fire Station on Niguel Road in Dana Point. You should have seen the smiles on the faces of the firemen when they saw the food. Anyone who works at this event knows that it is a great way to start the Holiday Season. The seniors love it and they are most appreciative. Whether you worked the event, or donated food, money or paper goods, a big thank you goes out to making this event such a huge success. We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful place and have so much for which to be thankful.

Birthdays & Anniversaries Jan 31 Jan 22 Feb 1 Feb 9 Feb 14 Feb 17

Anna Bryson Rod & Nan Eide Penny DiCaro Jessica Timberlake John & Nancy Baumann Rod Eide

Birthday (Anniversary, 1966) Birthday Birthday (Anniversary, 1966) Birthday

Feb 26 Feb Mar 7 Mar 18 Mar 24 Mar 24

Alan Wickstrom Bill Palmer Joe Fitzgerald Mike Soliman Jeannie Hankins Bruce & Sarah Brenon

Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday (Anniversary, 2007)


Holiday Magic: Mission Accomplished by Terry Rifkin

Vocation Day by Gary Maxwell

MBSR joined the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support group for their Holiday Magic campaign providing gift cards for Operation Gift Card and toys for our Marines, Sailors and Families. The campaign was a huge success. Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary played a significant role by their contribution. More than 20 members contributed over 35 gift cards to our Rotary Tree for the Fifth Marines Holiday Party. A huge thank you to those who contributed. Last year our men were in Afghanistan. This year, home with their families, it was our mission to make the holidays very special. The gift cards brought big smiles to our Marines and families. A big shout out to our Interact Club, under the direction of John Coffman and Jessica Timberlake, who stood outside of Walmart on a November weekend to collect toys and gift cards for the Holiday Magic Campaign. Also, great thanks to our favorite elementary school teacher Sue Larwood at Don Juan Avila School for having her Student Council stand outside of Walmart the following weekend while our Interactors were busy with studies and other projects. People cannot say no to our kids! The evidence is in the amazing haul that you see in the picture attached. We got such a huge jumpstart on the holiday magic campaign for toys and gift cards that we were assured we would meet our goal of providing toys and gift cards to not only the Regiment, but several of the Battalions as well. Don Juan Avila Elementary School also provided beautifully decorated Christmas cards for our American heroes. These cards went to the barracks of our single Marines. They were absolutely precious. Thank you MBSR and Community Partners for recognizing the sacrifices of our Military and providing your support in such a generous way. Happy New Year and wishing you a wonderful year of service. We all know that active service will make our membership in Rotary more meaningful. Semper Fi!

November 7th marked Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary’s 23rd annual Vocational Day. This inspirational event consisted of a halfday job shadowing experience for 133 high school seniors from Dana Hills and Aliso Niguel. With more than 40 different volunteering private and public organizations cooperating to provide the experiences in Graphic Design, Oceanography, Printing, and even Law where the students gained a behind-the-scenes look at courthouse operations. While fueling themselves for the day’s activities during the morning breakfast, students and hosts had the opportunity to learn from two highly motivational presenters. Seventeen-year-old Taylor Carol started off the morning with his amazing life story of battling cancer and raising over 6 million dollars for pediatric oncology by following his dream and talent for singing. Keynote speaker Chip Espinoza, co-author of Managing the Millenials, provided both adults and students with many useful tips on how to build relationships and effectively communicate across generations — the “Text Message Generation and the Telephone Generation.” As quoted in The Growling Wolverine, senior Matt Reiser states, “The program is important because it takes the theories we learn in school and applies them to real life. Even if we didn’t get our first choice occupation we were still able to explore something new.” Senior Riley Sims said, “I think that we are very fortunate to have the job shadowing program because I feel that it really helped us decide which majors to pursue in college.”

Save these dates! Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 30

Nan Eide Russell & Pamela Kerr John & Silva Coffman James & Christine Littlejohn

Birthday (Anniversary, 1971) (Anniversary, 1981) (Anniversary, 1991)

Saturday, March 2

Interact & MBSR Marching in the Dana Point Festival of Whales Parade

Sunday, March 3

Diamond Dig at the Dana Point Festival of Whales


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? i s wo r ld u n d e r s tan d i n g m o n t h february

Clothing Drive and Hurricane Sandy by Paul Lehrich

When Hurricane Sandy whipped through the east coast, Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotarians took action and collected warm clothes for its victims. Members brought warm clothes to club meetings and placed a collection box at the office of Prudential California Realty in Monarch Beach. Dana Point seniors also helped and brought warm clothes to MBSR’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for seniors at the Dana Point Senior/Community Center on November 17. MBSR member Paul Lehrich connected with the Rotary Club of Staten Island through their President Joe Marchese, who coincidently had family living in Laguna Niguel. Six large boxes of clothing (over 60 lbs per box) were sent to the collection center in Staten Island. Paul brought a symbolic box of clothes to the Staten Island Rotary Meeting and presented it to President-Elect John Tapanis and Past District Governor Don Lin. Many thanks to the Staten Island Club for their co-operation—it was a great project for a great cause.

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Officers & Directors 2012/13

Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Make-Up Locations

President............................ Ellen Turnbull Vice President....................John Coffman Secretary..........................Marsha Prentice Treasurer........................Nancy Baumann President Elect ...............Alan Wickstrom Imm. Past President.....................Al Soley Club Service Committee Leaders: Scholarship Program...........Bonnie Myers Golf Tournament..................Kip Horney International Service.....Margarita Martin Vocational Service.............. Gary Maxwell Community Service................ Linda Hess Club Service....................Alan Wickstrom New Generations...............John Coffman Membership...........................Kip Horney Foundation Support.......Jeannie Hankins Website...........................Alan Wickstrom Public Relations..............Alan Wickstrom Club Bulletin.......................... Bill Palmer Photographer.........................Terry Rifkin Programs ................... Zohreh Behbehani Info & Orientation................. Linda Hess Song Leader......................... John Hayden Social.....................................Mary Jeffries Fine Master.....................James Littlejohn Fellowship..........................Penny DiCaro Attendance............................... John Rose Sergeant at Arms...................Paul Lehrich RI President....................... Sakuji Tanaka District Governor.................. Jim Lorman

Tuesday 7:10am, Mission Viejo Casta del Sol Golf Club House 7:15am, San Clemente Sunrise Talega Country Club Heritage Grill 7:30am, Newport Sunrise Five Crowns, PCH 12 noon, Laguna Niguel Savannah Chop House

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

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

Go to monarchbeachrotary.com for more details.

Golf Tournament, continued from page 1 Meenahan. Women’s first prize went to our very own Cyndi Elders, Sharon Baltzell, Patti Short and Martha Hoffman. And our mixed group winner to the team of new member Heather Gillon, her husband Geoff and Eilias Alawi. A huge thanks goes out to the entire MBSRC membership, the volunteers that helped orchestrate our tournament, our golf committee consisting of Kip Horney, Al Soley, Keith Regan, James Littlejohn, Cyndi Elders, Paul Lehrich, Marsha Prentice, Ellen Turnbull, Nancy Baumann and the staff of the Talega Golf Club for making this event possible. Best of all, in addition to having a great time, a significant amount of money was raised for our Children’s Charities.

MBSR meets on Wednesday mornings at 7am at the laguna cliffs marriott in dana point • monarchbeachrotary.com


Parties! Our 2012 Halloween Party was set on the second floor of the condo community center with the smell of ocean in the air. Skulls, cobwebs, candles, big scary green monsters, foaming punch bowls made the room glow with fantasy. The activity and enthusiasm heightened as we greeted each other with open arms. The food, wine and sweets were, as usual, plentiful and delicious. Thank you, Rotarians, for the perfect party to kick off the holiday season! The MBSR 2012 Christmas Party was a wonderful night, complete with a full sit-down candlelit dinner, a plethora of delectable dishes and desserts, and twinkling lights of Dana Point sparkling in the distance. A big thank you to Mary Jefferies who outdid herself with the planning and decorations and to Heather Gillon who opened her house for the event. A fun time was had by all, particularly by Santa-hat wearing James Littlejohn, who pulled up his stool to the dessert table to dig in! No one seemed to want to go home as the party continued into the night and ended with a round of single malt scotch for our muscular MBSR men who helped clean up. Everyone seemed to agree that it was one of the best parties of the year and we all look forward to more just like it!

Operation Holiday Homework by Penny DiCaro

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley’s “Operation Holiday Homework” event on December 15 was a major success for their San Juan Capistrano and Aliso Viejo sites. Thanks to many of our Rotary members, we were able to assist Boys & Girls Club members with their selection and wrapping of (donated) gifts for their family members—plus one for themselves. They earn points all year long for completing their homework and then the children with the most points get to go first to select the gifts. This year their Aliso Viejo and San Juan Capistrano locations received a donation of bicycles and helmets from Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (thanks Cyndi Elders), Fluor Corporation, and Boeing. It was quite a sight to see the children walk out with brand new bicycles! Thanks to the following members for their contribution (shopper or wrapper) to this event: At Aliso Viejo: David Harriman and his wife Kristina along with her sister Stacy, and Gary Spencer. At San Juan: Alan Wickstrom, Jessica Timberlake, Marsha Prentice, Zohreh Behbehani, Shauna Killebrew and her two daughters Megan and Madison, Kathy Flores and her daughter Katie, Penny DiCaro and her daughter Julie, past member Julie Lungo and her daughter Aliana. Last but not least, our fearless leader James Littlejohn was at both sites giving out guidance and Holiday Cheer. Thanks to all! Above, 1st row L-R: Jessica Timberlake, Penny DiCaro, a friend of Kathy Flores; 2nd row L-R: Julie Lungo, Marsha Prentice, Kathy Flores, Christine Littlejohn, Alan Wickstrom

Holiday Giving Program by Lisa Wilson

2012 was a year of giving for Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary. Thanks to member Margarita Martin, MBSR was able to help feed four needy families at Dana Hills High School. Margarita’s work with the Red Roosters provided a box full of delicious food that included a frozen turkey and enough nonperishables to feed a family for a week! This event was coordinated by our hard working Interact student, Kate Fulton, who made sure that the holiday boxes were picked up at the El Toro Marine base and promptly delivered to the families in time to enjoy for Christmas. In addition to the meal boxes, our own James Littlejohn and the Boys & Girls Club added to the families’ bounty by including a day of shopping, courtesy memberships to the Boys & Girls Club, and a pasta dinner to further fill the families’ cupboards. When it was learned at the last minute that there was a fifth family in need, the club stepped in and provided holiday fare to take care of the mother and three sons. Once again the Boys & Girls Club generously added holiday gifts for the boys as well as gifts for the boys to give to their mother. All in all, it was a heartwarming way for the club to help those in need in our own community. Great job MBSR and many thanks to Kate Fulton, The Boys & Girls Club and the Red Roosters (Margarita Martin), for helping to make the giving possible.


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