Villa Park Rotary - Newsletter - Archive (May 14, 2009)

We started the morning with a moving invocation by Jill Kuli, the pledge was led by Bill Baker, and our song "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" was led by Teri- the group revolted after the chorus, but to Teri's credit we made through the whole song.

We welcomed Brad Reese back after a successful hip surgery.

And Ron Accornero who had a pacemaker inserted

Birthdays and Anniversaries:

Greg Mills will be celebrating his birthday with a business trip to Tampa- we got to hear this twice as Ron forgot he asked him previously. It was a deja vu experience.

Marsha and Jim Leeg are celebrating an anniversary in the best way according to Marsha...apart...

Jim is in Italy

Announcements:

VP Mayor Pro-Tem Bill McElony- gave us an update on what's happening with our city.

1. He told us the city has a new City Manager- who is also a grant writer- which should help us get better public funding- she starts next week.

2. He also took a moment to talk about the newly renovated City Hall

3. He and Woody talked about the upcoming meeting on May 20th about the impending increases in water costs for the city. The meeting will be at the city hall and everyone was strongly encouraged to attend and be heard.

Woody Rickerl- passed around the sign up sheet for the upcoming Villa Park City Picnic

on May 24th at Irvine Lake- Villa Park Rotary will be cooking hot dogs and hamburgers/cheeseburgers- It looked we filled up the volunteer sheet. So you there.

Teri Brooks- Bragged a bit, with a little prodding from me, about the great article she wrote for the recent District 5320 Newspaper about Brian Nash and his Camp to Belong project. She was also soliciting volunteers for the annual roast of the outgoing club president on June 20th...just remember all you volunteers, I don't get mad,but I will find a way to get even.

Ken and Bob Meyer are making an extra effort to send packages to our troops in certain units in Iraq who are stressed by their long deployment- a $20 donation will fill a box and pay for postage; club members generously donated to the cause. Thank you.

Greg Mills is getting an early start on Oktoberfest and wants to create "save the date" postcards-he is looking for volunteers. Let's all make sure to do our fair share to support this year's Oktoberfest!!

Greg is looking to make some fun changes with live music, dancers and some other changes.

Steven Pollack announced that we will be doing a work party on the shed in the tree nursery site.

We need to put up the walls and roof.

Steve Stern announced the Demotion Party will be on June 20th at the home of Jay Applebaum at 6PM- the theme "New York, New York". Dinner will be real honest to goodness New York Deli. YUM!! Steve is asking for volunteers to bring salads and deserts. Please sign up with Steve to make sure we coordinate the event.

Speaker: Rebecca King from the Eli House for abused Children in Anaheim.

This was a very touching presentation- Rebecca, one of seven children, lived through abuse from her father. All the children with help of church based charities have over come these circumstances and gone on to have successful, fulfilling lives.

The Eli House is looking for volunteers more than money- so anyone who has some extra time to donate they could use your help in a number of different ways.

Finally, the President's Meeting this month was our Annual Awards Dinner and I am happy to report that our awards booklets all received certificates of appreciation. I am extremely happy to report that our new website www.rotaryclubofvillapark.org received a third place award out of the many sites that were in the competition. Thank you to everyone who took the time and made the effort to

create these books. Also Thank you to Joe Brand and Mark Schmidt who also attended the event and got treated to hearing the four winners of this years District 5320 Song Competition. These were four very talented men and women who sang selections from classical songs/opera and show tunes.

P.S. Come see the Photos on the website from Alex Moro, showing the big smiles on the faces of the boys who received our Love Packs and exclusive photos from the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club's Lobsterfest.

That's all for now from soon to be demoted president Jay;

Joe's waiting in the wings and is itching to take over in 46 days.