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President Steve Day hushed the room with an audacious ringing of our ship’s bell which stunned our post-Covid ears. Perhaps a bit much for the cozy Persian Gulf. He welcomed us warmly, though, and called on PP Chris Bradford, Esq. to explain the Purpose of Rotary.
Not having his own brief prepared, Chris read from RI’s mission list of Friendship, Goodwill, Understanding, and Peace—all on an international scale. Chris later added that RI had just awarded two graduate fellowships for overseas study to District 5280 applicants, including one of our own.
Only partially satisfied, President Steve called on Member Moshen Babaeian to lead us in the Flag Pledge, which he did nicely. Next came a Thought of the Day contribution by PP Michael Newman, Esq., who reminisced about our good friend and deceased PP, Sean McMillan, Esq. who left us while trying to avoid hitting anyone or anything with his solo engine plane when he lost power over Santa Monica. I’m sure no one could forget his presidency of WVRC, when he started nearly every meeting with a short list of the latest Troubles in Ireland, his love, or some Irish humor.
Also, eager to be aeronautically correct, PP Admiral Edwin Gauld showed up donning his pilot’s hat led us in singing, into the “Wild Blue Yonder” with the Army Air Force (in his day). Pres-Elect Ben Fisher brought us back to earth announcing our 4th Cleanup Day starting at 8:00AM on this Saturday, 7/22, in Westwood.
President Steve announced that eleven members were celebrating their birthdays this month, too many to name, but he did. He mused that if all 12 months were so prolific, we would have 132 members! I refrained from reminding him that the honor goes to October! Rotary Anniversaries and Wedding Anniversaries were also plentiful and at $50 a whack, it is enough to make Terry M. White (Treasurer) smile.
Our program today is provided by Angel’s Flight West-a non-profit founded in 1983 that provides air transportation for seriously ill patients who need treatments at Ronald Reagan Hospital and Cedars-Sinai that are not available where they live. Since a large number of WVRC members have participated in Angel’s Flight or Earth Angels (providing auto transportation from Santa Monica airport to Cedars-Sinai or Ronald Reagan Hospitals, we were fortunate to have directors of both programs with us today. Cheri Cimmarrusti, Associate Executive Director of Angel’s Flight described how Angel’s Flight’s founders wanted an ongoing program to help those in need in our community on an ongoing basis to permanently address those needs and become a reliable and well-known community provider.
Volunteers have done an admirable job over the past 40 years, and you will be impressed the first time you visit the website: AngelFlightWest.org. Yet the demand grows—now to 5,000 missions annually and there is always a great need for volunteers.
Any good driver with an auto and insurance who is interested in driving patients can check the site, apply to be a driver, complete a 30-minute orientation, and check the listing of rides currently required. This operation is well-managed, and you can drive once, or weekly, or whenever a ride is required. When one considers the intimidating factors facing a sick person (must be stable) trying to plan a trip from hundreds of miles away to Los Angeles, to the hospital, and back home again, AND pay for it all, one can appreciate what a unique, important, and free service this is!
But not all Rotarians are pilots! Alexander Ramirez, Earth Angel Coordinator, explained how important the local drivers are and the great demand. You may volunteer for a one-way trip from Santa Monica Airport to the hospital or laboratory, but that person needs to return home not even knowing in advance just when that will be!
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