Thank You Thank You Thank You!

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1 1 EL RODEO MARCH 20, 2015 Thank You Thank You Thank You! Dear LA5er s and Friends, thank you so much for your support of the 2015 President s Ball! We had AMAZING attendance 150 strong signaling that you believe in the Rotary Mission Service Above Self. We were joined by many luminaries in our Community including Gov. Gray Davis, Ned Colletti of the Dodgers, Tom Girardi, Chief of Police of Hermosa Beach Sharon Papa, LA Police Protective League President Craig Lally, and PR Guru Michael Levine. We introduced New Member Yossi Dina who contributed several items to support LA5 and I hope you will tune in to his engaging TV show Beverly Hills Pawn. We also announced our Rotarian of the Year Denny Dynes for his tremendous years of service and his inspirational spirit that has lifted us all year. We hit the dance floor with a vengeance notably Denise Anthony, Olympia Ann, Maureen Tepedino, Margaret Karren, PE Jose Vera and New Member Ted Fukuda! I was moving a little slow on Sunday morning myself All in all, a successful evening thanks to YOU! Please take a moment to thank Arthur M. Kassel (Executive Producer & Major Sponsor), Richard Malchar (Major Sponsor), Program Sponsors Jim Balbin (MKM LLP) and Paul Ekstrand (Enthusiast), Table Sponsor Rick Gibson (Pepperdine) and Wine Sponsors Gina Doyle (Lawry s), Todd Johnson (The Grill on the Alley) and Lee Black (Black Hill Farms & Family Vineyards from Hidden Hills) when you next see them. Also thanks to the many contributors of Silent Auction items you made a HUGE Difference! Also, please thank Jon Gibby who really worked so hard on the event and Jennifer Gregg for organizing the Silent Auction and our Rotaractors and USC intern, Chastity Manning for showing up on their Spring Break, especially future LA5er Jermaine Ee! OK Back to Business! I am so looking forward to our Vocational Day this Friday! We will be joined by our contestants in our Speech, Dance, Music and Art competition. Please make a SPECIAL EFFORT to join us to help us select the very best candidates to advance to the District judging competition. PP Ken Chong is District Chair and we want to make sure that LA5 delivers the strongest group possible to make him look good! Thanks again for your wonderful support. I am proud to be a Member of LA5. Happy Birthday to all of our March Birthdayites! We will be celebrating your special day this Friday so please plan on joining us. This week s song will be When Irish Eyes are Smiling. Notre Dame fans don t say I have never done anything for you. :) See you Friday, Prez Alan

2 IF YOU MISSED LAST WEEK 2 EL RODEO The Night s Guest of Honor, our beloved President Alan, is featured here with his beautiful wife Stephanie (left) & LA5 Vocational Music candidate Acacia Marquez and her mom. Be sure to hear Acacia perform this Friday at LA5! Jennifer Gregg wowed the crowd with her resplendent green gown that highlighted her shimmering blue eyes...oh yeah, there s some guy in the picture too... (USC Grad Jermaine Ee). Always the over achiever, Christopher Voss was accompanied by not one, but two dates at the President s Ball. When asked his opinion on the night s libations, LA5 Executive Director Jon Gibby mysteriously responded, They re magically delicious! Our investigation continues... The always responsible District Governor Elsa Gilham, and her equally prudent husband Larry, indicate the exact amount they had to drink at the Governor s Ball. Paul and Joan Ekstrand, Paul and Melody St. John, and Paul Jacques were on hand to verify their claims. President Elect Jose s wife, Erica, showed her Irish roots in the greenest ensemble of the evening.

3 UPCOMING EVENTS March 18 Ability First Site Visit March 20 Vocational Day March 21 Ability First Bowling Party March 26 Associates Mixer/Speaker: Positioning Yourself for Real Estate Success March 27 Gil Garcetti April 3 CHP Commissioner Farrow April 8 A Place Called Home Site Visit & Happy Hour VOCATIONAL DAY ARTS SHOWCASE 3 EL RODEO Hosted by Ken Chong, Senior Assistant Governor, District Vocational Service Nothing stirs the human spirit more than the service to others and the fine and performing arts. This Friday, the Rotary Club of Los Angeles brings both forms of inspiration together as we support our community s talented young artists. Young people gifted in music, art, dance, and speech will first present their talents to LA5, this Friday, before moving on to the District Arts contest later in the month. During the final competition, these students will have the opportunity to showcase their talents before university deans and professors from Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, CSULA, and Otis College. Join us this Friday, March 20th, for the annual Vocational Day Arts Showcase. Purchase tickets Follow the on Facebook. PRESENTS THE ABILITYFIRST BOWLING PARTY Calling all Rotarians... Sign up to volunteer and help those with special needs enjoy a day of bowling, lunch and fun! Saturday, March 21, :30a.m. - 1:00 p.m. AMF Bowling Lanes 1201 West Beverly Road Montebello, CA RSVP by March 7, 2015 Contact Ben Turner or the Rotary Office for more information

4 IN MEMORIAM: JOHN MAYLONG CLAERHOUT 4 EL RODEO John M. Claerhout March 16, 1929 April 4, 2014 John M. Claerhout was a faithful member of the for 37 years. Long time members of our club remember John as a superb non-profit executive who built strong governing boards, assembled excellent professional staffs, and who raised millions of dollars for many different charities. Most of his career was with the Boy Scouts of America where he served on the national staff, and as Scout Executive in many major cities, Los Angeles being his last assignment. After Scouting, he was President of the Hugh O Brien Youth Foundation. Newer Rotarians did not see that part of John. They noticed a Senior Citizen who was always perfectly dressed, who arrived early for every meeting, who never unbuttoned his jacket during the meal, who attended District Conferences and Rotary International conventions, and who was always surrounded by people of all ages either picking his brain on fundraising, or inquiring about the current book he was reading. He was a voracious reader. All the above would be enough to include him as our weekly Featured Rotarian, but there was so much more to John than many LA5ers understood. A native of Toledo, Ohio and graduate of the University of Toledo, John and his wife Carolyn, who preceded him in death, loved drama, the theatre and movies of distinction. Even into his 80 s, John saw more movies in a week than most teenagers in Southern California see in a month. Most unique, though, is the fact that John was the only child of parents, both of whom were totally blind. From his early years he cared for them, protected them and nurtured them without ever robbing them of their dignity. He learned to see life through the eyes of his Mom and Dad, and in his career he helped donors see through the eyes of those whose lives would be helped by their gifts. John was born on the 3rd month and the 16th day of that month. His heart was filled with compassion for those whom the world often did not see, and his vibrant faith in God enabled him to make a difference in so many awesome ways. That s why many of us referred to him as John 3/16. John is gone, but he will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, dear brother. Rest in peace. District 5280 Senior Scam Awareness Project Training Dates February 6, 2015 / March 6, 2015 / May 8, :30 AM 11:30 AM The California Club 538 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA Please plan to attend LA5 s luncheon meeting at the conclusion of the training session. Please RSVP to: Mike Birkholm ò ò mbirkholm@birkholmdirect.com

5 THIS WEEK S ANNOUNCEMENTS 5 EL RODEO ROTARY SING-A-LONG SONG LYRICS When Irish Eyes Are Smiling Lyrics by Chauncey Olcott & George Graff, Jr. There s a tear in your eye, And I m wondering why, For it never should be there at all. With such pow r in your smile, Sure a stone you d beguile, So there s never a teardrop should fall. When your sweet lilting laughter s Like some fairy song, And your eyes twinkle bright as can be; You should laugh all the while And all other times smile, And now, smile a smile for me. When Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, tis like the morn in Spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter You can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy, All the world seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, they steal your heart away. For your smile is a part Of the love in your heart, And it makes even sunshine more bright. Like the linnet s sweet song, Crooning all the day long, Comes your laughter and light. For the springtime of life Is the sweetest of all There is ne er a real care or regret; And while springtime is ours Throughout all of youth s hours, Let us smile each chance we get.