District Activities and Dates
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It was Christmas Eve and the pot belly stove glowed orange-red. Its heat radiated throughout the room. The howl of a cold wind outdoors could be heard. As the night progressed and the wind subsided, heavy snow began to fall.
Occasionally, Mother or Father stoked the fire and added coal to the stove. In a corner of the room stood a Christmas tree. A simple string of colored bulbs wrapped around the tree. There was a wrapped present for each member of the family placed beneath the tree.
Mother served warm eggnog sprinkled with cinnamon. She passed around a platter of slices of various holiday breads and small popcorn balls. These treats, including the eggnog, were made and given to us by neighbors. Earlier in the evening we had our traditional dinner of tamales made by Mother.
The quietness of the night was occasionally interrupted by the passing of a passenger or freight train. Our house was but a stone’s throw from the double main line. The whistle and chugging sound of the steam locomotive could be heard several miles away. Midnight was near.
It was time to open the presents. We children ripped the paper apart. Pieces of carton material went flying. Mother collected the paper and carton material and into the stove it went. We played with our toy until the exhaustion from a long day overcame us and we fell asleep.
These are fond memories. Of a time when our home was warm, and it was peaceful. The pot belly stove, the small popcorn balls, and the chugging sound of the steam locomotive are gone. The memories, though, remain vivid. Whatever your memories are of Holiday Seasons past, hopefully they to, are of warm and peaceful times.
Rozangela and I wish you and yours a joyous Holiday Season and prosperity in the New Year. To our Rotary Family, may the Holiday Season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter.
Thank you to Carmela Raack, a member of the Culver City Club, for our new streamlined and informative newsletter.
Joe
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Youthact Club Sponsored by Lynwood Rotary
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The Roosevelt Youthact Club is a group of about 35 elementary students from 4th through 6th grade. Roosevelt Elementary School located in Lynwood, is home to the club. The Lynwood Rotary Club sponsored the club’s beginning in 2006. They continue to actively support the club. Teachers Domitila and Fernando Millan are both club advisors and Rotarians.
For 12 years the Youthactors have been involved in service projects in the Lynwood community and beyond. For Thanksgiving the club organized a food drive to serve 40 families. In January they plan to visit residents in a local senior care center. Members of the club have traveled to Long Beach to serve the homeless. The club which meets each Friday at 3 PM, resembles a regular Rotary club meeting.
Roosevelt Youthactors serve the Lynwood community and around the world in positive ways. In addition to serving residents in the community they contribute to PolioPlus and other international programs. At their weekly club meeting members raise funds by donating “happy and sad coins”. President Fernando, a 5
th
grader, shares, “We want to do our part to help other people. Working together as a club we can do more. When visitors come to our club meeting, we feel important.”
The Governor met President Fernando at the Youth Conference in October. He was invited by President Fernando to visit the club. In November the Governor made an Official Visit to the club. Members of the Lynwood Rotary Club, parents, teachers, and school board members were in attendance. The Governor reported afterwards, “The club visit was exceptionally organized and inspirational.”
Report by Domitila Millan
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Woodland Hills Rotarian Sheri Polak is our official Rotary contact for wildfire relief efforts. Please contact Sheri for any offer of or request for help. Sheri can be reached at [email protected] or 818-635-9139.
The District 5280 Charitable Foundation is accepting donations for the fire victims.
Los Angeles 5
President has issued a challenge. Donations will be matched up to $15,000. This could be $30,000 to help families.
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Playa Venice
also helped raise money with a matching challenge. The club recently donated to the
Malibu Rotary Club
$11,095 to help the fire victims. Special thanks to Howard Pollack for providing the matching monies. Rotarians doing what Rotary does best - helping others.
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Big Bear Interact raised $1,500 to be matched by LA5. Great job! Read the full story
here.
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Ho Ho Ho! The Rotary Elves are Doing Good!!
"It's All About the Clubs!!"
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Club Focus: Downey, A Friend Simply Asking Another Friend
by Lorine Parks
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Hatchimals. EtchaSketch. AirHogs. The
Rotary Club of Downey
distributed nearly 2000 of these Spin Master fuzzy delights absolutely free, brokering packages of a variety of the toys, to other Rotary Clubs and groups that focus on children at Christmas.
The toys were stored and distributed at Arc, providing programs and service for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Arc is strongly supported by the
Downey
Club. Barbara Lamberth,
Downey
Treasurer, is holding one of the 2,000 toys and helped organize and coordinate their distribution.
Rotary Clubs throughout District 5280 distributed the toys including
Bellflower, Culver City, Inglewood, Koreatown, Latinos Unidos, Playa-Venice, Santa Monica and Torrance-Del Amo.
Toys also were given the Sherriff's Department, Downey Police and Fire Departments, the Exchange Club Family Support Center, Human Services Association, Rancho Los Amigos's Pediatric Unit and Toys for Tecate.
Third-graders from Downey Unified School District who come as guests to the Rotary Club’s annual Christmas luncheon will receive from Santa himself the first of these benefits.
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Latinos Unidos 14th "Fill the Bag, Feel the Joy"
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"Fill the Bag Feel the Joy" Holiday event was another success. THANK YOU to all who supported the event, donated and volunteered their time. Helping to bring joy and laughter to so many families, and it showed in all the kids smiles.
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San Pedro Rotarians, along with Interactors from San Pedro High School and Port of Los Angeles High School, serving the children in the community at the YWCA's annual Breakfast with Santa Event. So great to see those smiles!
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Rotary and the Salvation Army
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Rotary Clubs throughout District 5280 ring the bells for the Salvation Army.
Wilshire of LA
Rotary even had a bell ringers challenge with the Lions Club. Along with
Glendale Sunrise
other clubs include
Compton, Hollywood, LA5, San Pedro, Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Monica and Torrance-Del Amo.
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Santa Clarity Valley Rotary
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Heroes and Helpers Holiday Shopping Spree. A special treat for 30 children from the local Boys and Girls Club. Burbank Noon Rotary has supported this project for ten years, monetarily and through hands on support. Proud to be a Rotarian!
#ServiceAboveSelf
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Park Vista Seniors Holiday luncheon! Providing a good hot meal, entertainment from El Segundo High School and gifts for all the seniors at Park Vista.
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The club recently held a golf tournament to support their toy giveaway.
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Another successful year toy giveaway. Thank you Salon Brandys, Alvizar Buffet, EZ Party Rentals, volunteers, family members and most of all
Compton Rotarians
, "Service Above Self " is what it is all about. They enjoyed an incredible night with food, music, raffles, and most importantly Santa Claus with many toys.
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Rio Hondo - Vernon
Rotary Club
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Getting ready for the wrapping party and the annual toy give away to Rosewood Elementary School.
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Santa Clarita Valley
Rotary Club
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SCV Rotary
supporting Family Promise and their event which will bring joy to many families this holiday season. A very special thank you to Larry, Glenn, and Diane for representing the club!
#SCVRotary
#FamilyPromise
#RotaryLovesToGive
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Ten families were sponsored with students at Delores Huerta Elementary School in Lennox. Each family received two large boxes filled with pantry essentials and ingredients for a holiday meal. Many of these families live far below the poverty line and live just two miles from where our club meets. We are grateful to make the holidays brighter for our local families!
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WOW!! Rotarians from
Bellflower, Paramount, Lynwood, Playa Venice
and
Westchester
along with
Hawthorne/Lennox Rotaractors
did vision screenings on 5500+ students over the past 2 weeks and 1,400+ were referred on for free eye exams/glasses from
#visiontolearn
#whyrotary
#betheinspiration
#rotarydistrict5280
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The District Breakfast features power couple Shawn Holley and Dorian Holley. Ms. Holley is an entertainment and business litigation attorney representing many well known actors and singers. Dorian Holley is an entertainer who was the vocal director for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" Tour. He has toured with Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Don Henley and Lionel Richie.
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Presidents-Elects are invited and encouraged to join fellow 2019-2020 Club Presidents for PREP, an essential training session for the coming year as Club President!
Saturday, January 26, at the Proud Bird. Register by January 11, 2019. Click the "register" button to sign up today!
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Erase Hate, Foster Acceptance
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A District Social Awareness Forum entitled Erase Hate, Foster Acceptance was held December 1 at Loyola Marymount University. Judy and Dennis Shepard of the Matthew Shepard Foundation were well received. Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin presented a city proclamation.
The discussion groups shared ideas on how to encourage clubs to do a project featuring acts of kindness.
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Angel City Celebration, bringing health and fun to Roosevelt Park today! Thank you to our incredible Head Elf Marjorie Heller for making the event happen with flying colors another year! & thank you to Santa for taking time from his busy holiday schedule to visit the kids of Los Angeles.
Sponsored by Los Angeles 5 Rotary and Rotary Club participants from area the District including Rotaractors and Interactors.
More than 350 volunteers helped in so many ways:
Staged the Heath Fair, Resource Fair, & Book Fair
Prepared and served 3,000 pancake breakfasts
A personal toy shopper for 4,000 children
Helped with the registration booths and Book Fair
Assisted the event participants and exhibitors
Free flu shots for volunteers
Cedars-Sinai Bloodmobile welcomed blood donations
Vision to Learn provided free eye exams
Set up and clear all equipment before and after the event
Organized the fun activities, security and much more
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The Rotary Foundation
Partnership with District 5280
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The mission of RPF is to decrease crime caused by illegal and stolen firearms by providing a safe, efficient and easy way to dispose of unwanted guns through gun buyback programs. And to provide hope and opportunity by repurposing the materials from the guns for two community programs focused on art and vocational training.
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Fun in the Surf and Sun! Happy Holidays!!
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Event Details Found Here:
2018-19 District Newsletter Editor:
Carmela Raack
Email club project and activity stories to include in the District Newsletter and
inform Rotarians and other clubs what
YOUR
club is doing!
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