Welcome to our Website!
Member Birthdays:
-
Glenn FoutNovember 10
-
Ross AtkinsonNovember 19
-
Maggie PfefferNovember 25
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
-
Patty AtkinsonNovember 17
Anniversaries:
-
Steve FrankKaren FrankNovember 26
-
Linda BurrDavid Del NagroNovember 30
Join Date:
-
Tony ThacherNovember 5, 20196 years
-
Steve AdamsNovember 10, 201510 years
-
Paul ThomasNovember 17, 200322 years
-
Richard McArthurNovember 20, 198441 years
-
Steve FrankNovember 20, 198441 years
-
Dustin BaxleyNovember 21, 20223 years
-
Leeana McNeilleyNovember 21, 20223 years
-
Connie BiggersNovember 22, 20223 years
-
Susan McDougalNovember 23, 20223 years
Our Floating Classroom program hosted a special group of local historians and environmental activists on an educational tour of Lake Casitas to learn more about Chumash history from Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie.
The Rotary Club of Ojai West once again is proud to support the Ojai community throught its support of the 35th annual Ojai Summer Band Concert Series, held each Wednesday through August 13, at 7 pm in Libbey Park.
President Donna presented our Four-Way Test Essay contest winners to the club at our first meeting this month. Each read their winning essays.
The Rotary Club of Ojai West dedicated its new Peace Pole in Rotary Park this month. Club President Donna Jones greeted about 40 people in the park who joined us to celebrate. Club member Susan McDougal shared her inspiration for the Peace Pole project. Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie began the blessing of the event and other spiritual leaders followed. The new Mayor, Andy Gilman, talked about learning patience and practicing it each day. Everyone got a chuckle out of that! District Rotarian Wade Nomura also shared the story behind the new gingko sapling from Hiroshima, which grow as a companion to the Peace Pole over the years.
The Rotary Club of Ojai West just completed its annual project to donate a dictionary to each third grader in the Ojai Valley.
The activity includes visiting most of the classrooms and running a short lesson plan on all the information available in the dictionary, and how to best use it "in pursuit of deeper knowledge"!
The kids love the gift, and we love giving them every year!
Club member Dr. James Halverson and his wife, Robyn, have been announced as the Grand Marshalls for Ojai's Annual July 4th parade!
The Halversons were also recently honored for their many decades of contributions to the health and vitality of the community of Ojai at the Ojai Valley Hospital Foundation's annual Nightingale Ball in January. Dr. Halverson recently completed a 30-year term as medical director of the Continuing Care Center, just one of the many roles through which he has served our community.
Rotarians of Ojai West cooked up a Santa Maria-style BBQ feast this month for the residents and staff of Mesa Farms. A wonderful evening with great people doing good works!
We were pleased to host Rotary District 5240 Governor Sherry Sim at our regular morning meeting September 17. Governors visit every Rotary Club in their districts during their one-year term. It is always great to share our plans and successes with each of them!
Patti Bagley was honored at a recent club meeting with a Paul Harris Fellowship. The award honors members of the community who exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” Patti (second from left in the photo) serves on the boards of eight non-profits in the Ojai Valley, and is past President of most of them. She is devoted to Veterans, DAR, SAR, Ojai Woman’s Club, Nordhoff Cemetery cleanup, and many others. The award was presented by Dr. Jim Halverson. Several members of the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club attended, including RCOW members Lillian Talley (left) and Connie Biggers (right).
A Special Summer Boat Cruise on Lake Casitas
Our floating classroom typically cruises around Lake Casitas full of students from Ojai valley schools (we serve about 500 children annually.) But last week we boarded a special crowd: Senior citizens who had never previously had a chance to cruise the lake while it is so full! Residents of the Gables and the Artesian, along with a few others, spent a happy few hours experiencing nature and fellowship.
Thank You to All Who Came to Our Ojai Band Summer Season! See You Next Year!
Supporting Young Adults by Supporting Mesa Farms
Our club members collected and/or donated 12 packets of Gift Cards, Ojai Visitor Guides, Trail Maps and a few miscellaneous things for the initial participants at Mesa Farms, This new facility provides housing, wellness offerings, vocational support, and community connection for young adults facing homelessness, supporting an upstream solution to housing insecurity for people above the age of 18.
The staff are interviewing people at this time and should have their first participants moving in at the end of the month.
The staff are interviewing people at this time and should have their first participants moving in at the end of the month.
This will be an ongoing project because they will have new tenants within the next 24 months, and we would want to provide the same welcome support for each one!
RCOW gave a grant to local Boy Scout Lakin Ellison's Eagle Scout project. Here are a couple of images from the project day. He directed a crew of volunteers in the construction of a fire ring at the American Legion Hall, which will be used for the dignified retirement of American flags.
The date for the dedication ceremony is TBD.
Laying the foundation
Ellison presenting the finished fire ring
The team of volunteers
The Rotary Club of Ojai West recently honored Gage DeLao and Avery Monson as their January and February Nordhoff High School Students of the Month. Teachers and administrators nominate deserving students monthly for this award. Students receive a scholarship award and certificates for their outstanding efforts.
Avery Monson was nominated by her English Teacher, Gabrielle Taylor. Presenting Avery to the Rotarians she stated that it has been her pleasure to watch Avery grow into a stronger and more confident reader, writer and all-around student. She performs academically at the top of her class.
Gage DeLao, a senior, was nominated for the award by his CTE teacher Annelisa Cohen for his outstanding efforts in Environmental Field Studies and Agriculture. Cohen stated, “Not only is Gage humble, but he is dedicated to getting everything done with precision and accuracy. Whenever I need a hand in the native plant nursery or doing field work, he will be the last one working to make sure the job to perfection.”
Rotarian Beverly Schuberth opened her home to guests to celebrate Mardi Gras 2024 in style last week! Click through the image carousel to view just a few examples of attendees enjoying each others' company.
Photos courtesy of Steve Adams Photography (a fellow Rotarian!)
The Rotary Club of Ojai West recently completed its annual project to distribute student dictionaries to every third grader in the Ojai Valley. This is the 21st year of the project! As always, the project was originated and managed by Rotarian Richard McArthur and his wife Sheryl McArthur.
The Rotary Club of Ojai West honored fourteen young people with a Paul Harris Fellowship at a festive and joyful ceremony and reception on December 19 at the Ojai Museum.
A Paul Harris Fellow is the highest recognition a Rotary Club can
present to either a Rotarian or member of the community
who has made an outstanding contribution to the community.
These outstanding young people exhibit all the best habits of Rotarians in supporting Ojai, especially Service Above Self!
present to either a Rotarian or member of the community
who has made an outstanding contribution to the community.
These outstanding young people exhibit all the best habits of Rotarians in supporting Ojai, especially Service Above Self!
The two Rotary Clubs of Ojai shared an evening of celebration and fellowship to toast the 2023 Holiday Season. Our gracious hosts were the team at the Camp Arnaz Program Center run by the Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast.
For more images of this great event, visit our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/OjaiWestRotary
Scroll down a bit to find posts about our various holiday activities!
President
President-Elect
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Public Relations
Membership Chair
Member at Large
Member at Large
Family of Rotary
Interact/Youthact Advisor
RYLA Coordinator
Foundation Chair
Web Master
Peace Chair
Environmental Committee
Rotary Club of Ojai West
Mailing Address:
1129 Maricopa Hwy
PMB A237
Ojai, CA 93023
To send us an e-mail, use the contact form below.
Service Above Self
Ojai, CA 93023
United States of America