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The Mesh

The Venice Marina Rotary Club meets each Thursday at 12:15PM, at Shanghai

Red’s Restaurant, Marina del Rey, CA, except in the case of special meetings. If

there are any questions or comments, call 310 995 1228. Rotarians are asked to

send changes, modifications and additions in their addresses, telephone numbers

and email information to 310 745 3502.

As of August 2, 2003

Peter Aprato, COO at the Hospital, has arranged for us to meet this Thursday at

12:15PM for our regular meeting in the Board Room on the second floor. I need to

provide a count before Thursday. A meal will be served and parking will be

to guide us. Let’s have a great turnout to learn more about the hospital and its

services in our community. The Board Room has been set for 36.

So far, I know these people are attending: David Voss, David and Joanna Maxwell,

Joni Pollack, Tom Ryan, Alex Gorby, Carmen Portnoy, Adiba Shaby, Elizabeth

Rodriguez and 3 guests, JR Dzubak and 4 guests, Winnie Northrup, and Giselle and

Daniel. All others should let me know of their attendance. Bring your spouse or

friend..2

Peter Aprato has attended two meetings as a special guest after he was

interviewed. Each member present at our last 2 meetings had the opportunity to

meet and to talk with him. There having been no objection to his membership as a

Rotarian, the Board then approved Peter as the newest Venice Marina Rotarian –

welcome Peter to the friendliest club in District 5280 and to the best service

organization in the World. His sponsor is David Maxwell.

We are set to travel to Mexico to build a house October 18-19. Please make

arrangements to attend. Let either me or David Voss know. We will stay at the

of Puerto Nuevo on the Coastal Toll Road. The trip consists of travel on Friday,

work on Saturday and golf on Sunday at Bajamar on the Ocean Course. David

Voss has put together the arrangements. THANKS, David. Each member shall

make his or her own hotel arrangements.

Signed up to attend so far include Giselle and Daniel, Carmen and Steven, Tom

Ryan, David Voss, Elizabeth Rodriguez and friend, David and Joanna Maxwell.

Let us know of your participation.

Meeting was opened with a prayer led by Reverend JD guest from Westchester

Rotary who was introduced by Mary Richert. Rotarian Howard Pollack led the

Club in the Pledge of Allegiance. And our own crooner JD Dzubak led the Club in

singing. President Maxwell presented JR with a Rotarian music pin for his

enthusiasm and willingness to lead the Club in song.

(David Voss has one coming free). We will raffle the No Fine Badge for August at

the hospital.

We had many guests at this meeting – 10 to be exact. Flags were presented to us.3

from New York and South Carolina. All the guests were introduced (I would tell

you each of their names except I cannot find the sign up sheet – paper paper

everywhere, but never the right one when you need it – The Rhyme of the Ancient

Club President). Gale LaBarre brought a young lady from her office. Mary had JD

as her guest. Diane Margolis from the Santa Monica club was present. Tony

Medley brought a special guest, Ginger Caples-Urode, who is a nurse and a real

estate agent and lives in the Marina.

This was our fifth meeting of the month. Thanks to all for their attendance during

the month of July. Please call Giselle, Duncan or the President with your make-ups

for any regular meeting missed. I truly hope that each and every member had a fun

time at our July meetings.

Announcements:

AUGUST MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

should contact President Maxwell

August 14 – Hot August Nights at Admiral Willie’s and Captain Tom’s boats.

Potluck dinner. See Willie and Carol Williamson about what to bring

August 15 – District Literacy Breakfast

August 21 – Regular Meeting

August 28 – Regular Meeting

Future Events:

September - Joint Meeting with El Segundo Rotary Club – program on LAX

Expansion

September – Joint Rotary Picnic meeting with the Culver City Club

September 30 – Next District Breakfast

October 11 – RI District 5280 Foundation Seminar-Speaker is RI Past President

Rick King

October – Joint Meeting with Westchester Rotary Club.4

October 18-19 Mexico Trip

November 1 – Foundation Dinner

December 4 – District Governor John Colville’s Visit

December 6 – Club Christmas Party

President Maxwell presented Tom Ryan with District Governor Rick Mendoza’s

Citation for his publishing of the MESH. In August, President Maxwell stated that

updating the Club web site and the club directory are action items to be updated.

Carmen Portnoy introduced Peter Dunn, Director of Gift Planning, CALIFORNIA

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. Peter talked about the history of charitable giving

in America. He told us that his organization is a philanthropic service corporation

that makes grants from many individual funds to nonprofit service providers. It

serves both the Adiba Shaby Scholarship Foundation (Adiba Shaby) and the Venice

Health Clinic (Mary Rickert). It was a very informative presentation.

Once again the raffle drawing resulted in no winner for the money. Keep coming

back.

A Board of Directors meeting was held at Shanghai Red’s after the regular meeting.

This is the Board meeting for August 2003. Next Regular Board Meeting is set for

September 4 after our regular meeting. All members are invited to attend. And all

Board members are encouraged to attend.

The Board received requests for community activities. Duncan asked to do a

Pancake Breakfast on behalf of the Club to support the Vera Davis Center in

Venice. The Board approved going forward with this project. Duncan was

appointed Chairperson.

Duncan also wanted to do a holiday Bazaar. He was also appointed chairperson to

report back to the board with information about this event. Carmen Portnoy

volunteered to help arrange for a Club clothes booth at the bazaar. Duncan has

talked to Playa Vista about holding the event there. Plans are for this to occur in.5

December.

Jeffrey Solomon discussed the idea of doing a casino night in the spring of 2004.

He was appointed to be chairperson for this fact-finding committee. He also is to

do research in seeing about our club sponsoring a new club.

Giselle was appointed to see about the Club sponsoring an Interact Club at Venice

High School.

The Second Annual Fund-raiser for Fire Station 63 is now scheduled for March 6,

2004.

Club Treasurer Steve Williamson reported on the Club finances. We are in the plus

column by about $2,000. Keep those brags, fines and raffle sales coming in. If

anyone has an idea for a fund-raiser, please let us know.

The District Governor has established a new FAMILY OF ROTARY TASK

FORCE. Club Rotarian Elizabeth Rodriguez-Goldstein has agreed to serve as

Chairperson for our club in this new position.

Rotarian Elizabeth is also doing an event this Wednesday in Santa Monica. She

will be on TV. She is going to have one of our Club Rotary Flags as part of the

event. Remember this is the same lady who trained the Police Auxiliary Youth

Program in CPR. THANKS ELIZABETH !

Message from District Governor John Colville: "The nominating committee for

District Governor 2005-2006, met 7-29-2003 and has selected the DGN for Rotary

District 5280 and it’s my pleasure to announce that INGO WERK of the

Wilmington Rotary Club is the selection."

President Maxwell attended the District Quarterly President’s Meeting. The next

MESH will have that report in it.

The month of July was a busy one for your President. He had 5 regular meetings, 3

board meetings, one District President’s meeting, one District Breakfast and five

President Work Sessions. All in all it’s been a full schedule. I THANK each and

every Rotarian for their support, laughter and participation.

Yours in Rotary,

David Maxwell

Club President