Friday, October 29

John Thomas

President & Founder, Thomas Partners Strategies

“Why it is so Necessary to Vote”

This Friday, October 15

District Governor Doug Baker

Club Assembly

Friday, October 22

Steve Solomon

Annual Giving Officer, Rotary Foundation

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

Est. 1909

www.rotaryla5.org

2010-11

Number 12

October 13

El RodeoEl RodeoEl RodeoEl Rodeo

Photos by Noble Trenham

Contents

President’s Message Page 2

Club Leadership 3

LA5 & District Events 3

New member Mike Dickinson 3

LA5 Committees: International, Wine

Tasting, Hiking, and Membership 4

District Governor Doug Baker 7

Photo Gallery 8

A Princess Helping Those In

Need;

Club Assembly;

Newest Member Introduced

Speaker Sarah Culberson wanted to

find her birth father and after some

time she did. He was here in the

U.S. for college when Sarah was born

and moved back to his native Sierra

Leone in West Africa. Sarah says she

is blessed to have two wonderful

families on two continents. When she

finally went to meet her biological

dad she didn’t know he was a prince

and thus she is a princess. After

meeting her family in Sierra Leone

and noticing that the whole commu-

nity needed help to rebuild after the

terrible civil wars, she founded the

Kposowa Foundation. Sarah’s

adopted father, Dr. Jim Culberson, is

a Rotarian and met with Bo’s Rotary

Past President Dr. Andrew Muana in

Sierra Leone and discussed a Rotary

partnership for clean water wells.

Sarah Culberson speaking about her wonderful partnerships in Bo, Sierra Leone for better schools, clean water

and other necessities for a better life.

The Salvation Army Brass Band pro-

vided music for the luncheon. They

were here in honor of Major Mike

Dickinson being introduced as our

newest member.

Our deepest sympathy and condolences go to

our El Rodeo publisher and editor, Leon

Scales, and his family. His mother passed away

this past weekend. She was 98.

2

President’s Message October 13, 2010

The Club Assembly is this Fri-

day, October 15th. We are

honored to have the follow-

ing District Leaders visiting

our Club:

Doug Baker, District 5280 Governor from the

Downey Club

Joe Vasquez, Executive Aid from the Bell-

flower Club

Val Velasco, Senior Assistant Governor of

Club Service from the Westchester Club

DJ Sun, Assistant Governor of Club Service

from the Koreatown Rotary Club.

The purpose of a Club Assembly is to give

Divisions and Committees the opportunity to show

their projects and their goals to further educate

our members and guests about the operations and

mission of the Club. You will see projects and

members representing these Areas of Rotary Ser-

vice:

• Club Service ― focuses on strengthening fellow-

ship and ensuring the effective functioning of

the Club [Carol Shafer & Elizabeth Wheeler,

Directors];

• Membership ―recruitment, orientation, com-

mittee assignment, mentoring, retention, rec-

ognition and Rotary Cares [Barrie Segall, Chris-

tina Hurn & Jose Vera, Directors];

• Fundraising ―the means our Club raises dona-

tions for the Rotary Foundation and Community

Service funds that are used along with match-

ing grants to carry out our mission of service

[Art Kassel, Diane Netzel & LJ Rivera, Direc-

tors];

• Vocational Service ― encourages Rotarians to

serve others through their vocations and to

practice high ethical standards [Jay Richardson,

Club VP];

• Community Service ― covers projects and ac-

tivities to improve life in our community

through literacy and human services;

• International Service ― encompasses actions

taken to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach

around the globe and to promote world under-

standing and peace [John Langfitt, John Green

& Gus Oppermann, Directors];

• New Generations (Youth Activities) ― recog-

nizes the positive change implemented by

youth and young adults through leadership de-

velopment activities, involvement in the com-

munity, international service projects and

youth exchange programs [Margaret Todd, Alan

Bernstein, Directors, and Paul St. John, past

LA5 Director];

• Communications & Public Relations ― produces

and coordinates internal and external commu-

nications with the District and the media

[Nobel Trenham, Director & Leon Scales, El Ro-

deo Publisher and Chief].

The room will be set up with displays of our various

service areas and recipient organizations of LA5

grants.

The meeting Agenda includes a short program to

introduce visiting dignitaries and guests; introduc-

tion of new members; followed by Division Direc-

tors taking a few minutes to explain their projects

and goals. Before and after the short meeting,

members and guests will be able to visit all the dis-

plays, meet the District Leaders and enjoy the fel-

lowship of your fellow Rotarians and guests. All

this while listening to the Governor’s favorite

country group, “Asleep at the Wheel.”

This Club Assembly will leave you breathless and

proud of the power of LA5, a Bigger-Better-Bolder

Club, and the power of Rotary in “Building Commu-

nities Bridging Continents.” RSVP and bring a

prospective new member! Thank you for support-

ing your Rotary Club!

3

John Green John Langfitt Diane Netzel LJ Rivera Barrie Segall Carol Shafer Margaret Todd

Alan Bernstein Christina Hurn

Art Kassel Gus Oppermann Noble Trenham

Jose Vera Elizabeth Wheeler

LA5 Events

Oct. 15, this Friday!

Dominican Republic Deadline

Oct. 15 Regular Meeting

District Governor Doug Baker

and Club Assembly

Oct. 21 Evening Hike

Griffith Park, 6:45 pm

Oct. 21 Associates Reception

The Edison Downtown

(see page 9)

Oct. 23 Wine Tasting

(see page 4)

Nov. 11 Hockey Night Out

Los Angeles Kings Dallas Stars

Discount tickets limited!

(see page 5)

Nov. 9 New Member Mixer

Capital Grille Restaurant

in the Beverly Center

Save the Date and

Invite a Guest

District Events

Nov. 7

Save the Date!

And buy Raffle Tickets!

Paul Harris Foundation

Mardi Gras Celebration

House of Blues, Hollywood

Feb. 17-21, 2011

Dominican Republic

International Service Trip

(see page 4)

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

Est. June 25, 1909

Club Leadership President Gerry Turner

President-Elect Megan O'Rourke

VP Program Chair Jay Richardson

Secretary Christina Chanpong

Treasurer Don Robinson

Immediate Past President Marc Leeka

Directors:

Club Fellowship Carol Shafer

Elizabeth Wheeler

Communications Noble Trenham

Funding Art Kassel

LJ Rivera

Diane Netzel

Membership Jon S. Gibby

Barrie Segall

Christina Hurn

Jose Rivera

Service Projects John Langfitt

John Green

Gus Oppermann

New Generations Margaret Todd

Alan Bernstein

Sergeants-at-Arms Anthony Bourg

Anthony Calloway

Robert Donahue

Executive Director Jon S. Gibby

jon@rotaryLA5.org

Exec. Administrator Jennifer Gregg

Rotary Club of Los Angeles Office

900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 418

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Telephone 213 624 8601

Fax 213 624 2694

Website www.rotaryLA5.org

District 5280

Governor Doug Baker

Website www.district5280.org

Please Welcome New Member

Mike Dickinson

Mike was accompanied at the head table by two

members of the Salvation Army of Southern

California, Los Angeles Metropolitan Advisory

Board, Past President Kathy Turner and Peggy

York, and was sponsored by Kathy and Penny von Kalinowski. All of

us were treated to four marvelous Salvation Army musicians, col-

lege students volunteering their time to honor Mike.

Major Mike Dickinson is Area Commander for the Salvation Army.

He has been a Salvation Army Officer for twenty years. Prior to

coming to Los Angeles, he served as the associate officer/pastor of

the Salvation Army corps/church in Spokane, Washington. He and

his wife Cindy were then appointed as the corps officers/pastors

of The Salvation Army in Anacortes, Washington; Lake Havasu City,

Arizona, and in Modesto, where they spent six years and he was a

member of the Rotary Club.

Most recently, Major Mike was the Divisional Secretary (Chief Op-

erating Officer) for The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in

San Diego, overseeing the work in four counties (Riverside, San

Bernardino, Imperial and San Diego).

Major Mike and his wife Major Cindy Dickinson have three chil-

dren, David, 15; Joshua, 13; and Rebekah, 11. He is looking for-

ward to getting involved in the Los Angeles community, both

through the Salvation Army and with his new friends in the Los An-

geles Rotary Club.

4

News of LA5 Committees

International Service

Rita Lee, Chair

Registration Deadline is this Friday, October 15th!

February 17 to 21, 2010: LA5 will sponsor a pro-

ject in Santiago to provide insulin for diabetic

children, distribute wheelchairs and take part in

other projects. Members and friends will visit

projects, attend evening fellowship events in

historic locales with local Rotarians and take

fascinating day excursions, and can extend their

trips to visit world-famous beaches. Airfare, ho-

tels and meals will cost $1,600. For more infor-

mation or to sign up, contact Rita Lee at ri-

taasialee@gmail.com or see the District website.

Hiking

Bob Firring, Chair

Thursday October 21, 6:45 pm

Evening Hike, Griffith Park, Please RSVP to Bob Firring.

Wine Tasting

Mike Hainkel, Chair

Saturday, October 23, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm

This month we’re going to Beverly Hills to the home of Denise Anthony and Eddie De Ochoa, a house built by

Tom Mix, the “King of the Cowboys” of silent film and early talkie fame.

Bring your favorite California Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon, a prospective member, and a smile to visit with

friends and see this terrific home. If you can find 2007 California wines your name will be put into a drawing

for some movie tickets and a bottle of wine! We know you will love the wine, the food, and the music. Denise

and Eddie will be happy to provide guided tours of the house and property. (Adds Denise: “2004 and 2005 are

also good years.”) 1326 Benedict Canyon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

Please RSVP to Denise at (323) 578-7566 or danthony@titleguru.com

Membership Events

Kate Rosloff and Erick Weiss, Co-Chairs

Tuesday, November, 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Mark your calendar for our next Membership Reception and make plans to invite those who you think would

make wonderful additions to our club. Thanks to Charisse Older who will be hosting us Tuesday evening, No-

vember 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the elegant new Capital Grille Restaurant in the Beverly Center. Make

plans to continue the fun with dinner at Capital Grille after the reception.

Please RSVP to Kate Rosloff at krosloff@marchofdimes.com or (213) 637-5035

5

The Children’s Court Committee

by Peggy York

In 2005, President Ben Tunnell reconstituted the well established Children’s Court Committee and gave it a new mission. President Ben wanted to see the generous legacy gift from Bob Gunzell used to provide foster youth with grants of up to $1000 to provide for needs for which there was no other funding available to them. With the Los Angeles County De-pendency Court and the Department of Children and Family services as partners, the committee began by letting social workers, judges, attorneys and advocates know about the work of LA5 and our club’s desire to provide some measure of

help, and assurance that we care about these children.

The committee quickly grew to 19 loyal and committed members. As the requests came in we learned that all of these children have compelling stories of neglect and physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. Many are in the foster care system all of their young lives because there was no one willing or able to care for them. Many are separated from their siblings, have physical and/or psychological health issues, have been transferred from school to school creating little op-

portunity for academic success. We quickly learned that their needs are many and varied.

Since 2005, LA5 has been able to help more than 250 children. We have funded medical and dental needs, prom dresses and letterman jackets, music and art lessons, field trips and sports gear, camps and college necessities. We have even helped to fund a funeral. God bless the memory of Bob Gunzel. His legacy gift has brought comfort and pleasure to chil-

dren who have known little of either.

Stan Moe Passes at Age 96

Stan and his wife Reiko enjoying an afternoon at a Day at the Races in

2006.

Born in 1914 and raised in the prairie country of North Dakota,

Stan Moe graduated high school at age 15 and became an archi-

tect, graduating with a degree in architecture from the Univer-

sity of Minnesota in 1936. Harvard had accepted Stan, but due to

the Stock Market Crash money was tight and he wasn’t able to

attend.

He dodged the war when Pearl Harbor was bombed by getting

work in Africa for the British with land lease building. He re-

turned to the U.S. and eventually moved to California in 1947.

When the Korean War broke out his firm lost the majority of their

projects, so when the Far East Air Force in Japan approached him

to assist them, he accepted.

In 1952 Stan joined a small firm specializing in school design and became one of the six partners who built it into one, operat-

ing on a global basis. As DMJM grew it specialized in missile programs including the USAF Titan I program; international pro-

jects that took him to 27 different countries, and earned him 2 million air miles; and space projects including design projects

for the Space Shuttle project for NASA.

He built the Cairo International Airport-then known as Payne Field during World War II-in 6 weeks and was at one time held as

a prisoner because he didn’t have a visa. King Farouk quickly sent his bodyguards to have him released!

He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of MN; is in numerous Who’s Who editions; was inducted into the

North Dakota Hall of Fame and was in the process of writing his memoirs in 2005.

Stan became a Rotarian of LA5 in 1964 at age 49. On his Membership application his phone number reads, “EMpire2-1594.”

Most of the correspondence in his file is trace paper for use with carbon paper. No printers yet. He has seen 47 Rotary Presi-

dents, with Keith Chamblin as his President when he joined.

After retiring, Stan continued to pursue his favorite hobby: foreign travel. He considered his wife Reiko and himself as

“travel pioneers” being among the earliest tourist visitors to places like Antarctica, Cambodia and China.

Our sympathy and condolences go out to his wife, Reiko, and his Family. Services have not yet been announced and a Tribute

to Stan will be made at the Club's meeting on October 22nd. We miss you Stan.

6

Princess Partners with Rotary Family to Heal Thousands

by, Olympia LePoint, M.S., CEO & Founder of Mathaphobia.com

Princess Sarah Culberson with her two fathers Jim Cul-berson (left) and Joseph Konia Kposowa.

As an adopted daughter of an American Rotarian, Sarah Culberson experienced the epiphany of her life when she discovered her royal heritage as Prin-cess of Bumpe Chiefdom, in Sierra Leone, West Af-rica. Even more shocking was this revelation: Princess Sarah, upon her visit to Bumpe, discov-ered that over 35,000 people lived without clean drinking water and feared illness, even death. Dirt-filled, river water was the town’s only source for hydration. Without hesitation, Princess Sarah Culberson decided to combine her adopted and biological resources to secure humanitarian help. As a result, Princess Sarah co-founded The Kpo-sowa Foundation, an organization geared to im-prove the general quality of life for the people of Sierra Leone, West Africa.

With Rotarian family ties here in The United States, Princess Sarah Culberson turned to The Ro-tary Organization for help. East Bremerton (Washington) Rotary President Kim Zook contacted Sarah’s adoptive father, Morgantown North Rotary Past President Jim Culberson, and her biological father, Joseph Konia Kposowa, to combine The Kposowa Foundaton’s effort with the Rotary’s mis-sion to serve under-privileged communities across the globe.

In this case, the Morgantown North Club plus the East Bremerton (Washington) Rotary Clubs raised and contributed approximately $17,500 to build clean water wells. This money was matched by their Rotary District. Then a grant application was submitted to TRFound in the Spring of 2008 which resulted in $50,600 dedicated to build five clean water wells for the African town. Through partner-ing with the newly established Bo Rotary near Bumpe, the $50,600 was provided to the town’s Rotary leadership to recruit the World Hope Or-ganization, a reliable and experienced well opera-tion.

Bumpe citizens with fresh well water.

Unlike the shallow, parasite-infested river water of Bumpe’s past, the new wells were designed to be sealed with concrete and protected by the World Hope’s special construction technology. With a surplus of resources, the Rotarians efforts – all ini-tiated by Princess Sarah Culberson – proved ex-ceedingly successful. Eight wells were successfully created and strategically placed in Bumpe. Now after six months of clean drinking water for fami-lies, Princess Sarah Culberson and Jim Culberson have the satisfaction of knowing that a family, a Rotarian network and a humanitarian desire can span a globe.

For more information about The Kposowa Foundation, visit www.BumpeFund.org.

7

Doug Baker is not ‘just an old white guy’

As one of a select group of district governors worldwide

chosen to chart directions for the individual Rotary clubs

in their jurisdictions, Doug Baker, only the fourth Downey

Rotarian to be so honored in the local club’s 86-year his-

tory, sees his main role as guiding each club to become

truly relevant in the community it serves.

Declining membership is an endemic problem, affecting

clubs of all sizes and traditions, as members succumb to

bickering, inattention and, simply, inertia. Further, all

sorts of ugly consequences transpire when some use

(‘abuse’ is the more apt term) the club as a forum to ad-

vance their political agendas. This is a no-no, says Baker,

whose moral vocabulary includes doses of decency, sin-

cerity, and politeness in his dealings with people, ex-

tending even to his tennis court opponents (he plays 3-4

times a week, an activity for 20-odd years now).

This, plus a sharp sense of humor, may partly explain

why, starting with one client in 1980 and an initial invest-

ment of $1.5 million when he started his investment

management firm, Meridian Capital Management, Inc.,

the firm now has a retail client base of 225 who have

given him total discretionary control over some $300 mil-

lion worth of assets. These clients, who have invariably

stayed with him through the years including his first one,

he actively services. Return-wise, he says, “Over the last

three years, we’ve done approximately 22 percent better

than the major indices (Dow, Standard & Poor’s, etc.).”

Notwithstanding this noteworthy accomplishment, Baker

offers this rather profound comment in reference to how

Meridian handles its investors’ money: “Success is not

always measured by the rate of return on investment but

by the level of comfort we provide our clients.”

More telling perhaps is his ability to retain the loyalty of

his associates and staff, including current Downey Rotary

president Ingrid Martin, who has been with him for 17

years and who’s in charge of Meridian’s institutional

(broker-to-broker) division, Portfolio Design Advisors,

Inc., which tracks brokers’ transactions on behalf of 500

business clients. . And these qualities may partly explain

why he became Rotary district governor.

A UCLA business graduate, Baker went on to pursue

graduate business studies at USC, which awarded him his

CFP designation.

Baker says it’s been a fulfilling life, allowing him to in-

dulge his other passions, namely, reading (mostly myster-

ies and biographies), music (all kinds, including classical,

big band, the blues, jazz; his two ultra-favorite songs:

‘Ave Maria’ and ‘Danny Boy’), and wine (his favorite is

‘Biale’—“the best California zinfandel around”).

One of the duties of a Rotary district governor is to visit

all the clubs in his/her domain within six months of in-

stallation. Baker is responsible for 46 Rotary clubs in all.

“I will be devoting 30-40 hours a week on average to Ro-

tary district 5280,” Baker says, adding, “I won’t see you

till December.”

He repeats a catchy slogan: “[We will do things] bigger,

better, bolder!” There is a note of urgency in his voice as

well. “We aim to redesign our basic approach, reintro-

duce what worked for Rotary in the past, when it began

106 years ago,” he says.

Pragmatic, analytical, engaging, and deeply committed

to the ideal of ‘service above self’, Doug Baker knows

that when things are not going well and corrections/

improvements need to be made in anything, be it tennis

or golf or a club, it’s best to go back to basics. The bene-

fits reaped when objectives are met are many, he says,

because “when we perform things in the service of oth-

ers, our own lives are enriched.”

From The Downey Patriot, August 5, 2010.

Doug Baker, Governor, District 5280

Our Speaker on October 15

Doug is a member of the Downey Rotary Club. He

joined the club in 1989 and was their 2005-06 Cen-

tennial President. During that year the Club was

awarded numerous distinctions, achieved 100% Paul

Harris status and the large Club of Excellence Award.

His service to District 5280 includes SAG-Membership

(2006-07) the SAG-Foundation (2007-08) when as part

of a dynamic team the District ranked number one in

the US for annual unrestricted giving for the year and

sixth worldwide. He also served as the District

Breakfast Chair.

In 2008-2009 Doug served as the Executive Aide for

District 5280 Governor Charles Anderson.

He is a Southern California native, born, raised and

educated all within a 25 mile area! Doug is President

of Meridian Capital Management, an Investment Advi-

sory and Management firm.

Doug and his bride, Connie, live in Seal Beach. He

enjoys tennis, reading, travel and the company of

friends. His most meaningful Rotary moment was the

96 hours they and their daughter, Kelly, spent in El

Salvador during a wheelchair distribution event. It

underscored that indeed we enhance our own lives by

making a difference to others, either next door or in

another country, one person to another.

8

9

Save the Date!

LA5 Associates Happy Hour

October 21st - 5:30pm - 8pm

Bring a prospective member!