The Pageant of the Arts is a combination of four competitions for high school students in the areas of art, dance, music, and speech. The competitions are held simultaneously in a building complex at Loyola Marymount University which includes an art exhibit space, a music auditorium, a dance studio and an adjacent building for the speech contest. Individuals and teams compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and Honorable Mention in each contest.
Each club in the District can enter one student in each area of competition. Some clubs conduct their own competitions in order to send the top winner to the Pageant. However, it is not necessary to host a competition. Clubs may have their local high school, boys & girls club, or YMCA nominate a student to compete in any one of the areas of competition. Attending the Pageant is an awesome experience as you see the wonderful talent that is brought to the event.
District Rotarians are strongly encouraged to attend this dynamic event. We also invite the top winners to attend either the District conference or a District breakfast to showcase their talent. It is important for clubs to begin the process now to identify possible high school students for these competitions.
The Literacy Breakfast is an annual event that focuses on issues related to literacy within our local communities.
The first Literacy Breakfast occurred in relation to Lawry's Restaurant's efforts to encourage participation in ESL literacy among its primarily Spanish-speaking workforce. Lawry's founder, Lawrence Frank, joined the LA5 Rotary Club in 1916. In partnership with Rotary District 5280, the Frank family, and Lawry's Beverly Hills continues its long tradition of philanthropy and community involvement by providing the venue and breakfast for this event.
Rotary is the perfect vehicle for making a positive impact toward world peace. There are few other non-religious groups the size of Rotary that are so globally united in their actions and interests. The Rotarian Action Group for Peace provides an official entity that empowers and supports Rotarians by offering structure, guidance and resources to further our collective peace efforts.
The impact that Rotary’s global network can have on peace will be tremendous. Consider the triumph of what Rotarians have done for polio. We can do the same for peace.
- We are working together to bring about peaceful societal systems to replace the machinery of war, aggression and coercion.
- We voluntarily choose to interact peacefully, learn more about the science of peace and create service projects that truly deepen our communities’ commitment to a more prosperous, healthy, fair and tolerant society.
- We have collectively come to the conclusion that peace is best for all, and its time has come.
- We share a belief that there is a worldwide, societal shift towards peace.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR:
The District 5280 is creating a District Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution position, placing this area of focus into prominence and supporting the concept that the five other areas of focus, Water and Sanitation, Economic Development and Community, Child and Maternal Health, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Education and Literacy all contribute to Peace building.
Our vision includes further support and resources for the Club Peace Chairs. I hope the clubs will make peace the cornerstone of their club’s activities. Training and education are an integral part of this area of focus and mediation training, webinars, forums, events are planned for this year.
I look forward to a productive year promoting Peace with the participation of all District 5280 Rotarians who are our Peace Building Force. I would like to quote the words of Past Rotary International President, Sakuji Tanaka, “And so I ask you all to put Peace Through Service at the forefront of your Rotary work this year, and to commit to a Rotary goal of a more peaceful world.”
