Oct. 7, 2008-The October District Breakfast focused on diversity, vocational service and philanthropy. District Breakfast chair Angi Ma Wong with keynote speaker Judy Belk, a member of the first all-female GSE team.
Click HERE for District Breakfast photos.
The October District Breakfast at the Westin LAX was a celebration of unity, diversity, vocational service, and philanthropy.
The flag salute was led by PDG (1996-97) Bob White, a veteran of WWII in teh Army Air Corps who trained in the B-25 bomber school in Sacramento, followed by the invocation delivered by Karim Jaude, past president of the LA Cedars Rotary club whose members greeted Rotarians and guests at the door. Special guest PDG Roy Massey (Fresno) Chair of the Ethics Task Force Initiative for Zones 23-24 and his wife Catherine presented Lew Bertrand, SAG Vocational Service, a plaque to mark D5280's participation in the pilot Ethics Resource Program designed to inject an ethics module in RYLA.
Five former homeless veterans, including one woman, who are members of the New Directions Choir, under the direction of George Hill, provided musical entertainment, singing "America The Beautiful", "Lean On Me", and "What's Your Name" to 2 standing ovations.
The Redondo Beach Rotary club won the admiral's trophy, awarded by DG Chuck for their 1st place win in the first-ever cardboard boat race at the September District Picnic at Seaside Lagoon. While 8 vessels were entered, only 4 made the complete loop to the buoy and back to the finish, while Redondo Beach's home lagoon-advantaged skippers Larry Hashimoto and Jim Chen paddling into history. Chuck also announced that the race would be included in the upcoming 2 future District picnics.
With October being Rotary's Vocational Service Month, Breakfast chair Angi Ma Wong shared her vocation as an intercultural consultant and corporate trainer. She led everyone in a humorous and educational mini-training of greetings found around the Rotary world: 7 kinds of handshakes, the wai, cheek-kissing, and correct bowing.
Speaker Judy Belk, Sr. VP of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, shared her fascinating experience as a member of the first all-female Rotary GSE team sent to the Netherlands in 1982. She explained that the Santa Clara Rotary club was courageous in their sponsorship of the team during a time when fierce debate was going on whether to permit women to join Rotary. Judy's life was transformed by the cultural differences she encountered and the attitudes the team changed positively during their visit. She also told about growing up with discrimination in Alexandria, VA "before Washington DC became a tourist destination" and concluded with suggestions on how to choose where we directed our donations.
NEXT MEETING: January 09 will be facilitated by the District's Rotaractors and Interactors. Check back here for more details.