September 21, 2022

After waiting in anticipation since April, our club finally got to hear all the details about Mark Montgomery’s and Jim McGinley's participation on the Honor Flight trip to Washington D.C. earlier this year. These special trips to our nation’s capital are conducted over a weekend period, so they're on a very tight schedule. Each group flies out on a Friday, then tour the monuments all day on Saturday and then return home on Sunday. Both Mark & Jim served as “guardians”, each assigned to one veteran to ensure their safety and well-being throughout the trip. While there they were able to participate in the laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as observe the Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.

Throughout the trip, it was heartening to observe the veterans, who did not know each other prior to the trip, compare war stories amongst each other, - no matter which branch of the military they were in or where they served in combat. One could feel the sense of camaraderie develop among these veterans. When the Honor Flight team returned to LAX, there was a large party there to greet and welcome home the veterans. It was truly a heartwarming event for all that attended. We certainly look forward to having more of our own members participate in future Honor Flight trips.

New Meeting Location Beginning October 4th!

Some of our upcoming activities and projects for this season include the fall Dictionary Project,  the renown Oktoberfest fundraiser event at Mark Montgomery’s home, participation in the Laguna Hills First Annual Heritage Day event, the sponsorship of the Military Support Committee's Taste for the Troops event, the holiday season “adopt a family” opportunities with our local non-profit partners, the Christmas Party for the young adult residents of the Glennwood Home in Laguna Beach and participation in the Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade. In addition to these club activities, there are also District sponsored events in our South County community that we will be expected to support as well.

Coming up on October 4th, we will begin meeting at the Crown Valley Community Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month. In this location, we will provide a simple lunch. To ensure that enough food is provided, we will need to have an approximate head count. We will send out a separate email asking if you plan to attend the next meeting and if you wish to purchase lunch. We will do our our best to keep the price of lunch provided approximately to $15 - $20 per person. Please also be patient and bear with us as we adapt to a new meeting location. There will likely be some details that have to be ironed out along the way.

Last but not least, thank you to those members that have PAID DUES. We're finally starting to replenish our coffers. Unfortunately as of October 1st there will be a penalty charge for the late dues, therefore please make it a priority to pay by October 1st. Next year there will be a late fee as of July 1st when the club is charged if we are late.

As always, we have lots of projects and events to look forward to throughout the rest of year. Please mark your calendars! We are here to serve and appreciate the time and effort our members contribute toward our community.

Yours in Service,

Chandra Chell

2022-23 President

Next Club Meeting on Friday September 23, 2022 - District Membership Chair Anabella Bonfa

Anabella Bonfa

Anabella Bonfa is a business litigation attorney with Wellman & Warren. She is the District 5320 2021-2023 Membership Chair.  She was previously the District Membership Chair from 2016-17 and increased district wide membership.  She is on the Rotary International Zone 26/27 Public Image Team and considered a specialist on Facebook and LinkedIn.  She is also a past recipient of Rotary International’s Vocational Service Leadership Award.   Please join us for her presentation on strategies to better market your club, grow the club membership and better retain both new and long time members.

Friday, September 23, 2022

Romeo Cucina Restaurant

28241 Crown Valley Parkway

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(corner of Greenfield Dr. and Rancho Niguel Rd.)

11:45 am - Socialize

12:00pm - Meeting Called to Order and Enjoy Lunch!

12:30pm - Speaker Program Begins

1:00pm - Meeting Adjournment

Laguna Niguel Mayor's Breakfast of Compassion

Rotary Dictionary Project Sticker Party – Sunday September 25, 2022

Now that it's fall, it's time for our annual Dictionary Project to provide the third graders of Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo with their own dictionaries. Before we head out to all the elementary schools to distribute the dictionaries, we need to place Rotary stickers on each of them. This is always a fun project and just takes a couple of hours. We hope you can join us at the home of Bill Nguyen. 

Rotary Dictionary Project Sticker Party

Sunday September 25, 2022

3:00p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Home of Bill Nguyen

23631 Marin Way

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Laguna Hills First Annual Heritage Day - Sunday October 2, 2022

For the first time ever, the City of Laguna Hills will be holding their Heritage Day event. Our club has received a District sponsorship to have a booth at this event. We will have three two hour shifts available from 12:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. for volunteers to help man the booth. Please RSVP below if you wish to help out. 

Rotary Oktoberfest Event

September 22, 2022 7:00a.m. - Mayor's Breakfast of Compassion at Crown Valley Community Center in Laguna Niguel

September 23, 2022 12:00p.m. - Club Meeting Featuring District 5320 Membership Chair Anabella Bonfa at Romeo Cucina

September 25 ,2022 3:00p.m.-5:00p.m. - Dictionary Sticker Party at Bill Nguyen's Home

September 30, 2022 12:00p.m. - Club Meeting Featuring Victoria Morgan from Bis Kids charity at Romeo Cucina

October 2, 2022 12:00p.m.- 6:00p.m. - First Annual Laguna Hills Heritage Day at the Laguna Hills Community Center & Sports Complex

October 4, 2022 12:00p.m. - Club Meeting Featuring Jennifer Trubenbach from Operation of Hope at Crown Valley Community Center

October 14, 2022 6:00p.m. - District 5320 Gala, Old Ranch Country Club, Seal Beach

October 18, 2022 12:00p.m. - Club Meeting featuring District 5320 Marketing Chair and GIVSUM CEO Shawn Wehan at Crown Valley Community Center

October 20, 2022 6:00p.m. - Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee's Taste for the Troops at Crown Valley Community Center

October 22, 2022 5:00p.m. - Annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser at Mark Montgomery's Home

November 1, 2022 12:00p.m. - Club Meeting featuring Carl Schulkin on the History of the Chet Holifield Federal Building (the Ziggurat) at Crown Valley Community Center

December 3, 2022 10:00am - Christmas Party for the Glennwood Home residents in Laguna Beach

December 10, 2022 - Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade

September Milestones

Birthdays

Kim Douglas - 9/19

Bob McCormick - 9/27

Wedding Anniversaries

Caroline Swift  - 9/15

Tammy Letourneau -  9/24

Club Anniversaries

Pat Bates - 9/8/87

Kristin Epperson - 9/25/20

Mara James - 9/25/20

Rischi Paul Sharma - 9/25/20

President - Chandra Chell

President Elect - Mike Gerard

Vice President - Stewart Mims

Secretary - Ivy Leeson

Treasurer - RoseAnne Ruccello

Immediate Past President - Eileen Gomez

Sergeant at Arms - Rischi Paul Sharma

Scholarship Committee - Stewart Mims, Taje Gill, Bill Nguyen