El

Rodeo

Upcoming Programs

June 17 Erin Runnion

June 24 President Gerry’s Demotion

July 1 Dark—Fourth of July Weekend

Rotary Club of Los Angeles

Est. 1909

www.rotaryla5.org

2010-11

Number 36

June 10

This Friday’s Program Honorable Lance Ito & Police Chief Peggy York, ret.

Upcoming Events

June 18 VIP Reception for President’s

“Fantasy” Ball

Our Wonderful Rotary Experiences

Peggy grew up in the country near the little village of Minerva, Ohio. Lance was a big city boy all the way. He was born in Hollywood and didn’t leave until he finished his undergrad work at UCLA and went off to Berkeley to law school. Peggy’s family moved to Los Angeles when she was 13 years old. She eventually became a big city cop and completed her graduate work at USC. That is where their dissimilarities end. After a short stint in private practice, Lance became a prose-cutor and it was in the early years of their careers in public service that they met.

In early 1981, Lance was working the Gang Prosecution Unit in the District Attorney’s Office. Peggy was a homicide detec-tive for the LAPD. They happened to meet over a dead body while investigating a gang murder in northeast Los Angeles. Despite the “unusual” circumstances, it was love at first sight. There was a short engagement, and six months later, they were married. This began what has been termed by many as a strange and wonderful relationship; in that Lance is, admit-tedly, strange and Peggy is, according to Lance, wonderful.

Both progressed in their careers. After 11 years as a prose-cutor, Lance was appointed to a Municipal Court judgeship by

Governor George Deukmejian, who later elevated him to the Superior Court. Lance is known for his ability to handle the tough cases.

In his 24 years on the bench, he always worked the most diffi-cult assignments. Two, most notably, were the Keating Seven case and the OJ Simpson double murder trial.

After several years in the field, Peggy began her climb to the top of the LAPD. She pioneered police work as more oppor-tunities became open to women. She participated in the first homicide team to include two women, and later, she became the first woman Deputy Chief of the LAPD. After leaving the LAPD, she became Chief of Los Angeles County Police. To-gether, they have been serving the public for 75 years.

Their home life has been filled with amazing family, brilliant grandchildren and their adored dogs. They have lived in three historic, beautifully restored homes in the Madison Heights area of Pasadena. They are now committed to mak-ing the world a better place through an active involvement in faith, nonprofit and entrepreneurial organizations. They firmly believe that God’s grace has brought them to this point in their lives, for which they are truly grateful.

Join us June 10 to hear LA5’s most as-tonishing couple talk about their life in Rotary and law enforcement.

Special introduction by

L.A. County District Attorney

Steve Cooley

President’s Message

The chart below shows how your donations are used by the LA5 Foundation

and the Rotary International Foundation (TRF). You will notice that a portion

of funds donated to TRF come back to the Club in the way of matching grants

through the District funding (DSG and DDF) and from TRF.

The latter funding is used for our participation in both international and community service

grants.

Over the years, the LA5 Foundation has grown to around $7 million. This is significant be-

cause some of the earnings from this Foundation help fund the Club’s operations, Children’s

Court, Scholarship Program, Rotary House/VOA and other Service Projects. However, neither

Foundation “works” for us if we do not continue to receive donations from our Members.

That you give something is more important than the amount you give. Please be as

generous as your circumstances allow. Beneficiaries of the Club’s Service Projects thank

you!

Urban Camp Day

Calling all Cub Scouts and Rotarians who

thrive on working with youth!

Where: Where: Where: Where: Join us at the Urban Scout Experience, 2333 Scout Way, Los Angeles, CA 90026.

When: When: When: When: Saturday, June 18, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

What: What: What: What: Race your space derby competition rocket, climb the rock wall, and more!

Cost: Cost: Cost: Cost: $5 includes Space Derby rocket kit, medal, patch, t-shirt, and $5 prize money.

After the EventAfter the EventAfter the EventAfter the Event

Lunch will be provided by the LA5 Rotary Club and Rotary Clubs of Greater Los Angeles

and prepared by Troop and Crew 300.

A Night in Madrid Dinner for 8

A Night is Alsace Dinner for 8

Dinner for 8 at a private home in

Manhattan Beach

Gourmet Dinner with wine for 6 in

Malibu

Third Annual LA Vida Music Festival

Sarah McLachlan Concert at the

Hollywood Bowl

4 L.A. Dodgers vs. Mets Field Level

Preferred Parking

L.A. Kings Hockey Tickets

USC Football Home Opener

Hollywood Bowl Box Seats

L.A. Dodgers Season Passes

Boom! At Pepperdine University

4 Lower Bowl L.A. Kings Tickets

Christmas Music by the Salvation

Army Brass Ensemble

“Ballgowns” original art work

9x12 Designed Art Glass Tray

Wardrobe & Interior Design Con-

sultation

Hair Salon Gift Basket with Gift Cer-

tificate

Shiatsu Massaging Seat Topper

Studio 210 Hair Salon Gift Certifi-

cate

LifeSpan Fitness TR200 Fold-n-Stor

Compact Treadmill

Treadmill Desk from Trekdesk

1 night suite at the Jonathan Club

Wrought Iron Candlesticks

Decorated Outdoor Patio Umbrella

Giant Red Camp Chair

UCLA Basketball: The Real Story

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bridge

Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of

Being Interviewed

Timeless Lifetime Sermons

Internet Television Show to promote

yourself, your business, or your cause!

Fantasy Ball Auction Items

The Rotary Club of Los Angeles

Est. June 25, 1909

CLUB LEADERSHIP

President Gerry Turner

President-Elect Megan O’Rourke

V. P./Program Chair Jay Richardson

Secretary Christina Chanpong

Treasurer Don Robinson

Immediate Past President Marc Leeka

DIRECTORS

Alan Bernstein John Green

Christina Hurn Art Kassel

John Langfitt Diane Netzel

Gus Oppermann L J Rivera

Barrie Segall Carol Shafer

Margaret Todd Noble Trenham

Jose Vera Elizabeth Wheeler

Club Fellowship Carol Shafer

Elizabeth Wheeler

Communications Noble Trenham

Funding Art Kassel

L J Rivera

Diane Netzel

Membership

Jon Gibby

Barrie Segall

Christina Hurn

Jose Vera

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

FOUNDATION BOARD

Chairman Al Shonk

Vice Chairman Ben F. Tunnell III

Secretary David L. Bland

Chief Financial Officer Donald R. Robinson

Director Nancy Howard

Director Marc Leeka

Director Ed Matveld

Director Gerry Turner

Rotary Club of Los Angeles Office

900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 418

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Telephone 213-624-8601

Fax 213-624-2694

Website www.rotaryla5.org

District 5280 www.district5280.org

Governor Doug Baker

Welcome New Member

Ken Bisnoff is a founding member of the

TelePacific Communications executive team

with over twenty years of telecommunications

experience.

As SVP of Strategic Opportunities, Mr. Bisnoff has senior

management responsibility for direct sales, channel sales,

marketing communications and human resources.

Prior to joining TelePacific, Ken was Vice President of Carrier

Sales for CallManage Inc. Additionally, he held sales posi-

tions with WinStar Communications and Teleport Commu-

nications Group, selling competitive local voice and data

services to a broad spectrum of business and carrier cus-

tomers.

Ken began his telecommunications career with AT&T in

New York City, where he was a National Account Manager.

He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engi-

neering from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Jon Gibby sponsored Ken’s application for membership. Be

sure to introduce yourself to him at our next meeting.

Welcome aboard, Ken!

The Children’s Court Committee

In 2005, the Rotary Club of Los Angeles wanted to see the generous legacy gift from LA5 member 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 Dependency Court and the Department of Children and Family services as part-ners, the Children’s Court Committee began by letting social workers, judges, attorneys and advocates know about the work of LA5 and our club’s desire to provide some meas-ure of help, and assurance that we care about these children.

Lead by LA5’er Peggy York, the Committee quickly grew to 19 loyal and committed mem-bers. As the requests came in we learned that all of these children have compelling sto-ries of neglect and physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse. Many have been 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 psychologi-cal health issues, have been transferred from school to school creating little opportunity for academic success. We quickly learned that their needs are many and varied.

The Club has continued this practice since 2005 helping 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 enjoyment to children who have known little of either.

St. Vincent Meals on Wheels Service ProjectSt. Vincent Meals on Wheels Service ProjectSt. Vincent Meals on Wheels Service Project Saturday, June 4, 2011

34 Rotarians and 12 family and friends volunteered to prepare and deliver over 1,500 well-

balanced, nutritious meals to elderly and other homebound residents in the Greater Los

Angeles Area. Some volunteers helped in the kitchen to assemble meals. Some drove offi-

cial St. Vincent MOW vans on planned routes with runners delivering hot meals and greet-

ings to each program participant.

Volunteers also cut and made fleece lap robes, given to meal program participants for their

birthdays. Six District 5280 Rotary Clubs participated, LA5, Koreatown, Rancho Park, His-

toric Filipinotown, Hollywood and Colombo Americano. LA5 was the lead Club for this event

with a $5,000 grant, matched with $5,000 by District 5280 and a grant of $2,000 by Korea-

town.

Wolfgang Puck’s Twin Sister Cooked!Wolfgang Puck’s Twin Sister Cooked!Wolfgang Puck’s Twin Sister Cooked!

Drivers and RunnersDrivers and RunnersDrivers and Runners

Del Rosario Family cut and made most of Del Rosario Family cut and made most of Del Rosario Family cut and made most of

the fleece lap robesthe fleece lap robesthe fleece lap robes

Kitchen LineKitchen LineKitchen Line Kitchen LineKitchen LineKitchen Line

LA5 WineFest

Monday May 30, 2011

Photos courtesy of Tony Medley

REPORT FROM ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Bill Gates spoke at the New Orleans RI International Convention on May 24. Some of the highlights are listed below:

• In 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio reported worldwide. In 2010, there were less than 1300.

• The largest and most populous state in India has gone 1 year without a new case. There was only 1 case in all of India between January & March 2011.

• We monitor city sewage systems to determine whether the polio virus is present.

• Because of you, there are many places where polio is thought of as a disease of the past. Now that’s both a blessing and a

curse. The blessing is that, for it to be a disease of the past means no child is being affected. The curse is that it makes it more

difficult to raise awareness that, in some places, polio is still a disease of the present. And if we fail to help leaders around the

world know this, polio will still be a disease in the future.

• If we fail, it will spread back to countries where it’s been eliminated & kill or paralyze hundreds of thousands of children who could be safe.

• The last 1% will be the most difficult to eliminate. To eradicate this last 1% requires logistics and science, particularly the refine-ment of the vaccine for specific areas. But neither will matter if we don’t have the will and the funding. Rotary must leverage the power of its 1.2 million members to keep polio front & center in the world’s awareness.

• None of this would have been possible without you, nor will we get where we’re going without you.

• There is a $400 million funding gap for next year. Pressure must be applied to governments to gain their assistance.

• I have made eradication of polio my Number 1 Priority.

• We are “this close.” Rotary has written so many chapters in the history of the fight against polio. Your work. Your voices. Your continuing commitment. These are the things that will allow us to end the story — and close the book.

To see Bill Gates present the speech on video, type the web address: http://www.rotary.org

When Mr. Gates’ picture appears, look to the right and click on the words in blue print: “Read the Story”. Go to the 4th paragraph. Click on View the entire speech on the ‘Gates Foundation website.’ Or ,click on Download the speech to read it in its entirety.

A TERRIFIC ROTARY MOMENT—FROM LA5 MEMBER, BARRIE SEGALL

Every once in a while you have a Rotary experience you just want to share with others. This one involves an LA5 member and the country of

Vietnam.

One of my nonprofit clients raises funds for an orphanage for disabled children in Vietnam, some of them deformed by Agent Orange. In the

course of time one of the LA members, Kelly, indicated that she wanted to adopt a severely disabled six year old child with encephalitis, but she

could not do it because of an embargo against adoptions by the U.S. government. Evidently there had been a rash of unscrupulous baby-selling

by people in Vietnam, causing the embargo to be set in place. But this was not a baby. This s was a 6 year old girl, in an orphanage, with a seri-

ous condition that would require 24 hour care. Was there anything I could do to help?

The following Friday I was at a Friday luncheon where I ran into Tuan Do, a new LA5 member. I inquired what country he was from and he said,

“Vietnam”. We sat for a while and I explained the plight of this woman and he said he could help. His business partner had a father who was a

major philanthropist in Central Vietnam, where the orphanage was located, and we set up a meeting between Tuan and the woman. Not only did

he have connections in Vietnam that could be accessed, but he has a disabled sister who he brought over from Vietnam, so he was very inter-

ested in helping. He gave Kelly the contact in Vietnam, and also put her in touch with a local immigration attorney who will try to help at this end.

Kelly immediately left for Vietnam and received a warm welcome and doors at the government were opened for her to expedite the adoption.

She will now be working with Tuan and the local lawyer to see if a dispensation can be made for this child.

This all happened within a few days. I think it is remarkable. This was another great story that highlights the value of our Rotary network. Thanks,

Tuan. What a great testimony to Rotary’s commitment to SERVICE ABOVE SELF!!!