A few brave and curious (lonely?) souls ventured into the Zoom Room early (noon) for friendly chat with fellow club members, joined by UCLA Rotaract’s President, Kelli Allen. Today we were joined for the first time since July by none other than current & PP Nancy McCready! It was great to have Nancy back on the screen.
After a few false starts (@12:26 and @12:29 - somebody was anxious to get things started), and without the customary bell (just a Zoom recording announcement), PP Tom Barron got things underway. (Not to miss the Dodger game going on concurrently, PP Mark Rogo posted the score throughout the meeting. Thanks, Mark!)
Announcements included:
- Wine Tasting - October 1 (6:00) at Jim and Eleanor Meyer’s home. Please RSVP through PP Diane’s Evite invitation or let Tom Barron know you’re coming. Bring wine and/or an appetizer.
- District Governor Guity Javid will visit the club on October 7.
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PP Steve Day was called upon to brief us on the District’s Foundation Celebration, “Ball Gowns and Bow Ties,” to be held November 6 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Tickets are $150 per person until September 30, and $175 per person thereafter. Event and Raffle Tickets can be purchased online at https://rotary5280.org/page/2021-foundation-celebration/ Or just contact PP Steve Day and he’ll take care of things.
- District Camp Pendleton donations will continue until October 24 (which is, coincidentally, World Polio Day)
- District 5280 is sponsoring a new mental health related Rotary Club.
- WE NEED YOUR SHOES!! WVRC is participating in the "FILL THE BOX" shoe drive for homeless in our local community. New & slightly used shoes/boots/sandals can be dropped off at the Collins & Katz Family YMCA located at 1466 S. Westgate now until October 8th. So start cleaning those closets and donate to this worthy cause!!
John O’Keefe introduced our guest speaker, Jennifer Noble, MSIS, Ed.D, our Senior Librarian at the Westwood Branch of the LA Public Library. Dr. Noble began and ended her talk by expressing her appreciation for the support given to the library by the club and its members, several of whom serve on various library committees and on the Board of the Friends of the Library.
Extraordinary measures have been taken during the coronavirus pandemic to keep patrons safe. And the Westwood branch has taken a lead in the process. In fact, during the pandemic the library has actually increased its roster of members by providing such things as:
- Library garage pick up services for books placed on hold.
- Ebooks. Los Angeles is the number 1 consumer of ebooks in the country!
- LinkedIn learning courses
- Photograph collection documenting California history. You can even order prints of these photos directly from the library.
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Did you know that the library has its own YouTube channel? (https://www.youtube.com/c/losangeleslibrary)
- Virtual (online) programs and meetings.
- Virtual programs in Farsi.
- Story Time for children
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Periodicals and newspapers. (You can even read the New York Times at the library’s website - https://www.lapl.org/branches/westwood.)
- Presence on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook (search for @WestwoodLAPL)
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Subscribe to the library’s newsletter by emailing [email protected]
As if all this wasn’t enough, Dr. Noble and her staff have also been busy updating the library’s collection of books and improving outdoor areas for people to meet and enjoy reading.
Anyone want to volunteer? The library can use your support. Dr. Noble was more than willing to provide her contact information:
Dr. Jennifer Noble, Senior Librarian
1246 Glendon Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-474-1739
Ron Lyster, Editor
