Marc brought flyers about the “Taste of Encino” put on by the Encino-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce on October 12^th on Ventura Boulevard between Balboa and Genesta from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Our club will share a table with the Encino Rotary Club and Marc passed around a sign-up sheet for members to man the booth all day.

Sandra Santucci has been in and out of the hospital and we send our very best wishes.

Pet announced an event at Valley Presbyterian Hospital next Tuesday evening.

Shelly reported a Community Clean-up Day will be held on Bessimer Street between Kester and Van Nuys Boulevard on November 8^th beginning at 8:00 in the morning.

Les reported the plans for our community service event to keep kids off the street on October 31^st will be at Victory Outreach where will are renting a Jolly Jumper and many games.  Rotarians are to come in Halloween costume and will be judging the costumes to choose “the best” of many different categories.  We will also be taking blood pressure readings for the children and adults who attend.

November 8^th the District 5280 will have its Rotary Foundation Fund Raiser at the Biltmore Hotel in L.A.   Wynne has booklet of 10 tickets for sale for $100.00. 

The Club Board Meeting will be on Wed evening, October 8^th at Wynne’s home at 6:00 PM.

The last BINGO event fell on Yom Kipper and there were only 32 in attendance.  But the lady who has been caretaker for Ruth Cross won 5 times at the last evening.  She bought pizza for anyone who wanted it, and was so excited with the ‘full card” winnings as then she would be able to pay off the car payment!  In October the 4^th Wednesday is October 22^nd.   After that we will try having BINGO on the 3^rd Wednesday, hoping to avoid most holidays.

Zoriada thanked the Rotarians who had sent cads and attended the funeral for her father last month.

Happy Bucks:

Robin was very happy that her book has been published.  “Life on Hold” tells about coping with raising a special needs child. Robin has copies of the book for only $8.00.

PROGRAM:
Peter introduced Lead Officer Steve Underwood who talked about what is going on with the Van Nuys Division.  The San Fernando Valley is one of the 4 “Borrows” of L.A., and it has 7 geographic areas called Divisions.  There is one Basic Car unit for each Division, but only about 4 Basic Cars are responding at any given time.  Approximately 25 thousand people are served by each “Basic Car.”  Each block in the Valley has a number, and officers know the location of each block. 

Calling to report an emergency to 911 will mean many different people respond.  For community concerns, calling the lead officer means you reach the same person each time and that person knows business owners and leaders of the community.  Officer Underwood handles about 20 phone calls a day, and many emails.  In his area south of Victory and East of the 405 the crime rate is down.  Rates are low in the valley.  Police try to be visible more and “predictable policing” now tries to schedule police to be in areas where criminal activity is apt to occur.  

The LAPD has about 10,000 officers and are now hiring as they know a number will be retiring. 

For non-emergency calls, 1-877-ask-lapd is good, and “we tip” that is MYLA311 which is the same as dialing 311.  There is a new computer connection called “Next Door” that gives out information about what is going on in the immediate community.  Reporting suspicious activity or cars left on the street – or annoyances like barking dogs brings information to your neighbors, and hopefully reduces the crime rate.

NIXLE.com will send out information like what streets are being closed in the community.

Asked about tinted windows, he says the front window and the divers windows (front seat windows) are not to be tinted so the driver can be seen.  And loud music – heard over 50 feet – is considered an annoyance and can be reported.

RAFFLE:

Judy had $86.00 and Jim Tanner won the 50/50, while Les got a deck of card, Zoriada a small repair kit for her glasses, and our waitress won the emergency kit.