Guest Speaker: James Skydell
Mr. James Skydell is from the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue, a non-profit organization. His organization rescues golden retrievers and set them up for adoption. His organization also takes care of their medical conditions ((95% of their donations goes towards the medical expenses of these golden retrievers). His organization then match these dogs with the “right” families after an extensive online application process. He gave us some reasons why everyone should adopt a golden retriever: They like to be with people, they come in all shapes and colors, they are already house trained, they need a lot of attention. He encouraged us to please join his organization to either adopt, donate, foster or volunteer to help these dogs. For more information please visit
www.grcglarescue.org or call 818 700-5200
Raffle winner: Alice Gauna
Meeting ended at 1:05 P.M.
News from Chatsworth chatter as reported by Barbara Pampalone
It was exciting to welcome Libby’s friend-niece-daughter Janice Chick who came to see what we do besides making pillowcases. And, Barbara Mertus, a former stewardess, also joined us this evening. On Saturday about 8 members with several friends went to Patches and made 33 pillowcases that will be donated to the Foster Children group. And we had a great time. It was so nice to see Beverly, Patricia, Liz as well as Connie Smith who all pitched in to do a lot of sewing. Kris now thinks that we can graduate to making pajama bottoms and purchase T-shirts to go with them.
Next week is the pot-luck and a list was passed around so that everyone could plan what to bring on this 5th Monday of the month. Though we don’t have a really formal plan for that day, Incoming President of Greater Van Nuys Rotary Dave Friedman will be bringing information about the big club and invitations to participate with them on projects.
Tamara had a great time at PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) last weekend. She was surprised to find that there are many clubs even smaller than ours that are struggling to get new members. She brought back information on a project from Bolivia where they are providing stoves to people who have been cooking over wood fires – and suffering the consequences of living with too much smoke. Another speaker who still suffers from the effects of the polio he had years ago made the audience aware of the need to continue to support the polio funding even though MAYBE there will be no more endemic polio cases as neither Afghanistan nor Pakistan has had a new case in the last year.
She learned about setting goals for the club and has many ideas for fund-raising and other events for the club to think about next year. And, she had time to spend with Dave Friedman, who is the incoming President of Greater Van Nuys Club – although her name card clearly stated that SHE had that title!! (The Rotary computers just can’t understand the Satellite clubs yet!)
Kris announced we will have board meetings now on the second Monday of each month after the regular meeting. There is a new apt ha can be placed on your phone to tell you where the closest Rotary Club meeting is being held wherever you are. Kris is looking for a way to learn how to do grant writing as that is a way we could help the Wahlbangers and Lift Up L.A.
Next Wednesday Elizabeth and Kris – and anyone else who wants to join them – will go the to Foster Children’s Center to deliver the pillowcases that we prepared. She asked if we would like to help fill the backpacks that they pack with school supplies and toiletries for the children.
Cindy, Karen, and maybe Tamara will go on March 5 to the Pageant of the Arts at Marymount College so that our club will be ready in the fall to work with the Art Council to have an art contest here in the West Valley.
We talked about “Adopt a Family for the Holidays” and considered working with a local group who can recommend a family – or to help with a group home of “Aged Out Foster Kids’ though Lift Up L. A. Libby pointed out that we may connect with the Boy Scouts on some projects.
Next week, February 29 – is the social PotLuck with Dave Friedman coming. March 7th we will have a program by Food Forward and learn about giving homegrown fruit to be picked for distribution to the needy. March 14 we will find out about the Pageant of the Arts, and on March 21st consider the options of other projects.
