Villa Park CA Rotary Newsletter of July 1, 2010

The July 1, 2010 Newsletter has been published to the Villa Park Rotary website. A copy has been included below.

You may also read it on-line by visiting
http://www.RotaryClubofVillaPark.org/Newsletter.cfm

Rotary Club of Villa Park Newsletter

New Beginnings... Greg Mills Takes The Helm

Jay Applebaum Named Rotarian of the Year

Last Sunday's Demotion party lived up to its reputation- great food and lots of fun.  We knew that Teri Brooks was a total ham, but who knew that our own Eric Sense was so talented as he did his best Jack Webb impersonation as "Sergeant Sense, Eric Sense".   Outgoing President Joe Brand was royally roasted in true VP Rotary style, providing lots of belly laughs, especially when Teri Brooks dressed as a hooker sent her regards to Judge Bill McDonald and Pastor Stan Van Denberg.  Each outgoing chairperson received an award and Greg Mills introduced the incoming Board.  Photos are available in the Photo Album Site.

Our meeting this week began with an invocation by Linda Bartrom-Olsen who read the 23rd Psalm and asked for victories against our enemies human and  natural.  Bill Baker led our Pledge of Allegiance and Bryan Nash led the Rotary Four Way Test.  Our song was God Bless America.

Guests:

Wolf Arnold - Brea Club

Edgar Pons-Logos De Manero, Mexico Club

Lea Boalshe- Villa Park Medical Massage Therapist

Birthdays:

Selia Poulos-  celebrated with dinner at Antonellos

Terry Applebaum- celebrated with dinner at the Beach Pit Barbecue in Orange

Kirk Parker- celebrated with an audit in Texas- it turned out ok, no money changed hands.

Happy Bucks:

Jim & Cathy Brodsky went bike riding and Jim enjoyed a post-ride massage from Lea

Lesslie Giacobbi was happy about the demotion party and said her guest at the party may come join us for breakfast and take a look at joining the club.

Jill & Dennis Kuli just returned from a two week road trip that took them to the Pacific Northwest.

They visited Friday Harbor and enjoyed following a pod of Killer whales, Fort Townsend and Fort Warder.  Jill also enjoyed her 50th high school reunion.

Joe Brand fined himself for his Angus Youngesque outfit  he wore to last weeks meeting.  Short tie, White Shirt and shorts. He also lived up to Steven Pollacks pronouncement of him having ADHD.

He forgot to introduce Greg Mills as the new president at the demotion party and forgot to give him his Rotary Presidents Bling.  So he did it today.

Steven Pollack was happy about his thank you card he got from the kids at Cerro Villa Middle School for his Junior Achievement talk.  Steven said it was good to talk to an audience you know knows less than you about your topic.

Milt Stamos thanked Millie and Craig Alexander for the outstanding margaritas at the demotion party.

Bryan Nash thanked everyone who came to his Camp to Belong Fundraiser last Friday evening.

They have now raised enough money to expand the camp to 50 campers this year. Pam Dunn also commented on how beautiful the facility  was --The Newport Beach Winery and Vineyard. 

Bill Baker chimed in that the owner was a frat bother and quite the bon vivant.

George Poulos commented about Jane McDonald's cool charade style that she showed off at the Demotion Party-- looked like she was pulling dental floss back and forth from her ears.

Annoucements:

Community Service- Jill Kuli asked we look in our closets and find old clothes that are still serviceable to donate to Working Wardrobes.  Bring the clothes to upcoming meetings or you can drop them off at Jill's home on Jocotal Ave.

International Service- Jane McDonald-  is looking to budget monies to support the troops. Last year we donated $1500 to this project.  She's also looking into a joint project with a Rotary Club in Uganda. and is looking for water projects in India.  Lisa Stepanski will check with our contact to help schools in Nairobi, Kenya.  More backpacks will be made to send to Kenya or Tecate.

The Tecate Rotary Dance and celebration of Alex Mora's Birthday will be on August 28th we're still looking for members who want to go down.  The Tecate Rotary will meet us at the border and drive us across to the party.

Oktoberfest Update-Bryan Nash--  Jane McDonald is writing an article for Villa Park Magazine the deadline is July 7th to get the article into the August Edition.  We are also considering different name changes for the event.  If you have any suggestion please contact Bryan or Jay Applebaum.  So far we've found a few good names and will narrow it down over the next week.

Vocational Service- Linda Olsen-  working on a budget for 2010-2011.  Lisa Stepanski is being groomed to chair the committee next year.

Board Meeting will be held next Thursday at 7:30- location to be announced- all board members should try to attend, but everyone is welcome.

Pam Dunn read a thank you note from the homeless lady we gave money to last week.  We donated $230 that helped her get transportation to her new job.

Nagy Ibrahim announced that the Foundation Dinner is on November 13th and he wants to see a big turnout from the club.

Bob Meyer will be speaking at the Chrystal Cathedral on July 4th.

Speaking of July 4th - Jeannie Hankins is having her annual fireworks party on Saturday, July 3rd from 6 PM till after 9 when the fireworks finish.   Everyone is welcom and there is no need to bring any food, they'll be plenty.

Pete Moriarty announced that the President's Meeting on Wednesday, July 14th at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange there will be training for incoming presidents , officers and major committee chairs.  These meetings are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and our club has paid for two attendees at the dinner following the training.

Drawing $950- Bryan Nash drew a king.

Speaker: Greg Mills

Greg has been a member of the Villa Park Rotary for over 10 years and is our new Club President for the year 2010-2011.  The new Rotary International President is Roy Kligensmith who practices law and hails from Kirksville, Missouri.  His theme for the year is "Building Communities Bridging Continents"

President Greg had humble beginning and was born in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1955.  The city is the site of Illinois College where the Lincoln-Douglas Debates occurred.  It is otherwise the home of 3 million hogs and 17,000 people.  Greg's dad worked in the oil industry,but went on to run the family farm was his wife's parents became ill.  So Greg and his 3 brothers grew up on a 1000 acre ranch, where Greg's first paying job was shoveling manure.  Greg also became involved in Boy Scouting because his father had been an Eagle Scout and Greg also became an Eagle Scout at age 14.

After graduating high school Greg became a grinder repair man at the Caterpillar Company where he repaired nicks in the Caterpillar Wheels.  He eventually joined the Union, but was encouraged to get an education by some of his associates.  He attended Illinois College and majored in Math and Chemistry earning his bachelors degree.  He later went on to grad school and got his Master's Degree.    He held many jobs in the chemistry field, but ultimately decided he wanted get into the marketing end of the business.  He is currently working as an independent sales agent in the semiconductor industry, which initially brought him to Santa Clara, CA and later Villa Park.

Greg has a daughter Abby, age 10 and his wife is Andie.  Andie also has been a career women doing some accounting and later  a travel agent "extraordinaire" to rock groups. Greg and Andie had dated years ago and finally married when Greg was 39.

We are all excited to have Greg as our President during the 2010-2011 year.  He has already brought much thought and excitement to the club and has a great vision for where he wants to take the club during his presidential year.  Hold onto your hats, we're in for a very active year packed with new and meaningful projects.  Good luck Greg and Thank you Joe Brand for your contributions to the club during your presidential term.