NEWS TODAY

WESTWOOD VILLAGE ROTARY CLUB

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The speaker of the day Vicki Puliz, 2021-2023 RI Director of Zones 26 & 27 ("The Big West") was introduced. During her tenure she was one of only 17 directors of a Zone around the world. She also served as a member of the RI’s Executive Committee Board, Chair of the Participant Experience/Program Committee, and Board liaison to the RI Strategic Planning Committee and Youth Advisory Council. She talked about how she initially joined Rotary for business networking as the first female member of the Rotary Club of Sparks, Nevada, and how her role expanded to include club president in 2004-2005, Governor for District 5190 in 2013-2014, and Rotary Public Image Coordinator from 2016-2019.

She described in her own words the core values of Rotary International: Friendship/fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership. She carefully explained that leadership is different from service in that it requires looking at challenges differently and galvanizing others to help. Indeed, her own favorite experiences in Rotary were those that involved leadership of the next generation. One poignant example was how in the youth camp she helped to inspire kids to write their dreams on one side of a wooden plank and their obstacles on the reverse side. At the end of the summer every child shattered the board to demonstrate that they could overcome the obstacles. One little girl named Sophie could not shatter her board and was looking demoralized as she was the sole camper who was unable to do so. - Vicki described how the campers and staff rallied around Sophie and encouraged her with cheers and chants until she was able to shatter that board!

Vicki loves Rotary and hopes to continue her work in a leadership capacity.

Thank you to PP Steve Scherer for reciting the 4 Way Test, John O’Keefe for leading the pledge, PP Gordon Fell on Thought of the Day regarding Rotarians providing assistance and never reaping any personal benefit except satisfaction for having helped, and PP Ed Gauld on singing, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”.

Congratulations to PP Mark Rogo for receiving the Rotary Above and Beyond Pin for the Month!!

• September 9th - Camp Pendleton Collection for children supplies to be donated by Beverly Hills Fire Station #1. Diapers and toys are appreciated.

• September 16th, Friendships Create Peace - Zoom meeting between India District 3199 & District 5280 by PP Marsha Hunt.

• October 14th - next Westwood Village Rotary Club clean-up. Details to follow soon!

• October 14th - Wine, Sip and Sea at the home of Rose and Chris Gaynor in the Palisades. Always a fun party at the Gaynor's!

• October 28th - The Rotary PEACE walk which you will hear more about soon. Please plan to attend (it's only a short walk) and support Rotary's efforts for Peace in the World.



• November 19th - Foundation Celebration in Marina Del Rey which has sold out but if interested, let President Steve know to put you on the wait list. Opportunity tickets will be available soon and, if interested in providing a gift basket for auction at the event, please notify PP Diane Good.

SEPTEMBER MEETINGS

• September 7, 2023: at Hillel with Jiayi Le on Statistical Machine Learning

• September 14, 2023: at Hillel with Katilin Ryan on Global Medical Training

• September 21, 2023: at Persian Gulf Restaurant with Kaitlin Ryan, an undergraduate UCLA student and Internation President of the Global Medical Training Club.

• September 28th on ZOOM, Mary Michlovich, Executive Director of OPICA and Adult Day Program & Counseling Center for Seniors with cognizant disabilities.

WVRC 2023/2024 Leadership Team