Villa Park Rotary Newsletter, January 21, 2010

The January 21, 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

 Villa Park Rotary Newsletter

Haiti Earthquake Relief

Rainy Days

Good Morning everyone.  This week's meeting was very mindful of the disaster relief efforts currently going on in Haiti.   Millie Alexander led us in our invocation, George Poulos led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Teri Brooks actually had the group pull off a round version of "Row Row Row Your Boat".  Greg Mills continued our new recitation of the Rotary Four Way Test.

Following Breakfast Eric Sense asked for a moment of silence for the San Diego Chargers Football team after their loss to the New York Jets..  For those of us who attended the game, it was a tough week and a difficult loss.

Guests:

Lisa Stepenski- a lawyer and guest of Ron Accornero

Wayne Silzel-  3rd visit-  ? new member candidate

Eric encouraged all members who do make-ups at other clubs to bring in the Make Up Card.

Mark Schmidt attended his make-up at the Orange North Club last week.

Birthdays:

Lisa Fischer - Jan 16th

Steven Pollack- Jan. 22nd-  Steven is heading off to India to attend a wedding and tour the country for two weeks with family and friends.

Announcements:

Linda Bartrom-Olsen announced that the upcoming Singing Contestwill be on Feb 11th

and the Speech Contest would be on February 18th.  The theme of this year's speech is " The Future is in Your Hands"   We still need contestants and judges.  We hope that we can get a great bunch of kids as in years past.

Jane McDonald, International Committee Chairperson,  announced that the club will be sending $2000 to the Rotary Foundation to go towards Haitian Earthquake Relief.  By giving the funds to the Rotary Foundation she feels the money will go to what's needed most and that the club will get Paul Harris Credits.

Shelter Boxes cost $1000 and can supply the needs of up to 10 people. Jeannie Hankins, our Foundation Chairperson, echoed these sentiments and asked if anyone in the club would be willing to work with her on the  Foundation Committee.  Jay Applebaum volunteered and will be working in this capacity next year with the District.

Jim Brodsky delivered a check from John Broussard, who is on vacation, to go towards the relief effort for $100-Bill Baker and Lesslie Giacobbi also volunteered to donate additional funds toward the purchase of a Shelter Box via the Rotary Foundation.

Greg Mills announced that  the club Oktoberfest will be on Thursday October 7th at the Phoenix Club.  Some thought was given to the club having a booth at the Orange Street Fair on Labor Day Weekend but City of Orange fees were too expensive to make it  profitable.

Jay Applebaum talked about the upcoming fundraiser on May 1st which will be a basketball game featuring the Harlem Ambassadors and their star player Lady Magic vs an all star team of Villa Park Teachers and Alumni to be called the Villa Park Rotary Wheels.  The event will be held at the Villa Park High School Gymnasium, but we welcome players from Lutheran and Villa Park High,

players must be 19 or older. Committees will form up shortly to make sure this is a fun and profitable evening for the club.

Linda Bartrom-Olsenwas grateful that her escaped dogs were found and were safe and sound.

Jill Kuli indirectly helped in the process by calling Animal Control when Linda's Black Lab turned up at her front door.

Jim Brodskyannounced that later that morning he was going to Cal State Fullerton to hear a talk by one of the last surviving Schindler Jews who had been helped during the Holocaust by German Industrialist Oskar Schindler, who saved Jews during WWII by employing them in his factory, when the speaker was a young child. He invited members to join him.  Other members who had heard the talk before said it was a very moving and wonderful experience. 

                                                                   Happy Bucks:

Steven Pollack got a tie from his daughter Lauren who had just returned from New Zealand, where she was taking a class during intersession from college.  Steven and the rest of his family will be going to India for 2 weeks to attend a wedding and see the sights.

Sylvan Swartz reported that he and his wifeBarbara, Lesslie Giacobbi and Jay and Gail Lieberman had served dinner at the Ronald McDonaldHouse last evening.  Barbara made a pot roast will all the veggies & potatos and Lesslie made a salad that was so good people were reportedly licking the bowl.  Everyone had a great time.

Jim Brodskywas happy for the Scott Brown win in Massachusetts- Lesslie too-

John Broussard is in Hawaii for 10 days cruising around the Islands.

Teri Brooks was happy that a child had been rescued in Haiti after being buried in the rubble for a number of days and was also happy to hear the USA chant after the rescue.

Mark Schmidt had been in the Portland- Seattle area last week and was commenting to the people their about the wonderful weather we have in Southern California.   We can only guess Mark brought the rainy weather back with him.

Paul Hudson and wife Jane returned from a vacation in Costa Rica and reported having a great time.  He also thanked Teri Brooks for trading Meals- on- Wheels dates with him

Eddie Nash- is Engaged!!!  He attended the National Meeting of the Camp to Belong in Scottsdale, Arizona-  there are now 7 camps nationwide and the camp that Eddie started in Orange County will be having its 2nd camp later this year. He thanked the club for their support.

Secret Greeter- Milt Stamos- caught Jane McDonald, Jill Kuli and Brad Reese

Speaker: Sr. Pastor Stan Van DenBerg

Stan is one of our newest members and serves as the Sr. Pastor at the Covenant Presbyterian Church  at 1855 Orange- Olive Rd near Shaeffer Park.  The church has about 600  members.

Stan was born in Bogata, Columbia while his dad was stationed there in the Army.  His mother is Columbian and Stan speaks fluent spanish. His family moved to Iowa when he was 2 and later to California, where he grew up.  He is an alumni of Villa Park High School and graduated in 1977.

He went on to study Geophysics and earthquake seismology at Cal State Fullerton.

He joined the Marines and had an aviation guarantee, unfortunately he couldn't pass the eye test and opted to leave the Marines.  He began his career with Chevron Oil, but during the same time became a Deacon at the Covenant Presbyterian Church.  He explained that the word Presbyterian means led by elders.  He left Chevron and became a full time minister in 1986.  He subsequently went on to study at the seminary and achieved a PhD.  He became the Sr. Pastor of the church in 1996.

He had 4 children.  2 attend Villa Park High, 1 son attends Orange Lutheran and Wrestles and he has an 11 year old daughter.

Stan believes that the "Truth Sets You Free" and that the truth is found in the scriptures- the Old and New Testament. His church is involved in many community outreach programs  and will be sending a team to Haiti to help with earthquake relief efforts.

Upcoming information:

Next week's meeting 1/28/10

Greeter- Pam Dunn

Pledge- Teri Brooks

Invocation- Ken Fischer