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Bridging Communities through Education, Connection, and Creation

by: Toni Villanueva

Newly elected President Tony Song, Rotary Club of West Covina Noon, shared his vision for the 2010-2011 Rotary year in three words:

• Educate
• Connect
• Create

The President’s goal is to educate our members and the local community about Health, Fitness, and Rotary (GSE, RYLA, Interact, among others) in an effort to show the reach that our singular actions have locally and across the globe.

In the coming year the club will encourage members and their families not only to connect with one another and other clubs, but also through the education and connection process, we will create Rotary moments together that can be remembered and shared.

Additional goals under President Song’s administration include:  obtaining a 501c3 designation to help generate more funding opportunities for the club; familiarization with the various media outlets at our disposal for public relations activities (i.e. Facebook, website development, You Tube, Twitter, etc.); and concluding our weekly meetings with the recital of the Four Way Test. 

Lawry’s Top Execs Visit Arcadia Rotary Club

by Anne Donofrio-Holter

Arcadia Rotarians served up a tasty program when Richard N. Frank, chairman of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc., and his son, Richard R. Frank, president and CEO, were the club’s keynote speakers.

According to Richard N. Frank, the history of Lawry’s began in 1913 when his father, Lawrence L. Frank, married into the Van De Kamp family.  Two years later he and Ted Van De Kamp opened Saratoga Potato Chips on Spring Street in Los Angeles.

Frank’s father, along with his uncle, Walter Van de Kamp, founded the Lawry’s company in 1922, forming an official relationship between Lawry’s and Van De Kamp bakeries.  Also that year, the two men opened the Tam O’Shanter, which has the distinction of being Los Angeles’ oldest restaurant operated by the same family in the same location.  Back in the day, the restaurant’s regulars included Tom Mix, Fatty Arbuckle, Mary Pickford, John Wayne and Walt Disney.

In 1938, Lawrence L. Frank and Walter Van De Kamp founded Lawry’s The Prime Rib on La Cienega Boulevard in Beverly Hills.  For many years, it was unique in that it offered a single entree - roast beef - served “from a large silver cart,” designed by Lawrence, “pushed table to table where the meat is then carved to order.”  The restaurant is also known for its Yorkshire pudding and signature “spinning salad,” which is prepared at each customer’s table by a server spinning a large metal bowl of green atop a bed of ice. 

According to Frank, Lawry’s was the first restaurant to serve salad before the main meal.  It is also said to have originated the” doggy bag.”

“Much of the splendor of the meal was in the way each part of the dinner was prepared and presented,” he said.

Also in 1938, Lawry’s began selling its seasoned salt in retail stores, followed by a large variety of seasonings made available to consumers bearing the Lawry’s name.

In 1956, just prior to the Rose Bowl Game, Lawry’s played host to the two competing teams – the Oregon State Beavers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.  This went on to become known as the Beef Bowl and the tradition continues to this day.

According to Frank, through the years, the basic elements of Lawry’s The Prime Rib have remained virtually unchanged.

“It is still a family business, with the second and third generations of Franks and Van de Kamps working side by side in the restaurants’ operation,” he said.  “Modifications and improvements have been made to meet today’s demands, but the meals served remain timeless and still very much Lawry’s.”

Frank joined the company in 1950 and for many years served as president and CEO of Lawry’s Foods, Inc. which includes over 100 products.  Under his leadership, Lawry’s Foods, Inc., now owned by the McCormick Company, grew from a fledgling family business into a multi-million dollar company.

Franks’ son, Richard R., serves as president and CEO of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. and represents the third generation of the Frank family active in the management of the company.  A grandson represents the fourth generation. 

“Both father and son have been active Rotarians in the Los Angeles Rotary Club and take pride in their restaurants, which are known for quality and integrity,” said Arcadia Rotarian Eric Barter. 

“The Lawry’s story is quite an impressive testament to family and entrepreneurship over several generations,” added Brad Miller.  “We are very pleased that both gentlemen took time out of their busy schedules to visit us this afternoon.”

The company also owns the Five Crowns and Lawry’s Carvery restaurants with Lawry’s The Prime Rib also located in Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and several international locations.

Er, make that a Rotary bus tour – just for Las Vegas

Photograph and text by Bernard Hunt

She came all the way from Paris to the parched desert landscape of southern Nevada to tell Rotarians about clean water projects around the world.

The intrepid Parisienne traveler is Cora Meneceur, a Rotary International intern assigned to Florida’s District 6960 to help spread the story of the district’s involvement in global water projects.

Las Vegas West Rotary was one of only 10 clubs across the nation chosen to be part of Cora’s Rotary Rail and Water Tour, named for her prime mode of transportation and for the topic/purpose of her journey.

For Las Vegas, the expedition had to be renamed the Rotary Bus, Rail and Water Tour.

Sin City was founded as a rail halt just over a century ago. But economic facts of life long ago forced passenger railroads in this neck of the desert to go the way of the passenger pigeon. So Cora came and went by Greyhound.

Cora’s journey around the United States was aimed at spurring support for District 6960’s application for an RI matching grant to fund water projects in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia and in Haiti, and to help an organization called Intelligentsia International.

Intelligentsia International aids village water committees in Central Asian nations and, working with local Rotary clubs, uses interns from the United States and other countries to fulfill its mission.

Cora, 21, a master’s degree student at St. Etienne Business College in Paris, visited Rotary clubs in eight states across the nation from late May through June. Her trip took her from Florida to Indiana and Illinois; Louisiana to Colorado, then on to California, Arizona and Las Vegas West in Nevada.

“Access to drinking water is one of the most basic measures of a community’s quality of life,” says Cora. “It is difficult for me to understand that in so many parts of the world, this access is not guaranteed.”

Besides seeing the country, Cora’s tour also taught her about Rotary.

“I learned so much about Rotary,” she says. “I discovered a multi-faceted country rich in its diversity.

“I met people aware of their commitment and ready to participate, qualities that make me realize where Rotary draws the source of its efficiency and effectiveness.”

Montebello Rotary Honors Outgoing President, Leadership Team

by Anne Donofrio-Holter

Montebello Rotary president Martin Castro, along with the club’s leadership team for the 2009-10 Rotary year, were honored for their service at the club’s 86th annual installation dinner held June 30 at the Rosemead Doubletree Hotel.

Guests enjoyed the music of the Ron Kobayashi Trio during dinner along with dancing in the hotel’s ballroom at the conclusion of the evening’s program.

As is tradition, club members paid tribute to Castro in the form of a comical skit highlighting his year as president.  Always the good sport, Castro donned a sombrero and sung his rendition of “My Way.”

Castro then praised his outgoing board for their hard work over the past year allowing the club to continue to benefit the community through its charitable programs and ongoing service projects, especially the worldwide eradication of polio, as well as the club’s efforts, along with the Montebello Historical Society, to transform the Sanchez Adobe into a museum, historical resource for local schools and self-supporting venue for community and social events.

“Every Rotarian is essential to our club and I thank all of you for your hard work this past year,” said Castro.  “We strive to make a positive difference in the lives of all those we serve.”

Richard L. Adams II, the evening’s master of ceremonies, was named Montebello Rotarian of the Year.  Selected by the club president, the recipient is typically someone who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to Rotary and has been of special assistance to the president during his/her term.

It has also been the tradition of the club to award a Rotary International Foundation Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of major contributions to the club over a number of years.  Selected by past recipients, this honor went to former District 5300 Governor Barbara Risher Welch.

In addition, perfect attendance awards were handed out to Castro, Adams, Welch, Ted Jones, Robert Monzon, Joanne Miceli, Pete Adriance, Edgar Morales, Kathy Schlotz, Bruce Jugan and Anne Donofrio-Holter.

Welch had the privilege of installing Monzon as president, along with those that will serve as the club’s leadership team for the 2010-11 Rotary year.

“Not only must a club recruit new members, it is vital that current members realize how important they are to the work of Rotary,” said Welch.

At the annual district conference, Castro was presented with a leadership citation and the club with an exemplary award in the area of public relations (Anne Donofrio-Holter, chairperson).

From Russia with love

by Bernard Hunt

When Tatiana Vinda of Moscow got an email from America telling her she’d won a VIP trip to Las Vegas, she first thought it was some kind of joke.

Russians play practical jokes on each other on April Fool’s Day just as we do in the United States, but Tatiana didn’t know if we did it on the same day.

Maybe, she thought, Americans have a July Fool’s Day on the Fourth of July.

She knows better now. She’s busy planning her trip to Vegas.

Tatiana is the winner of the mammoth It’s Vegas, Baby Internet-based global raffle from The Rotary Club of Las Vegas West.

“I’m absolutely happy to have a chance to visit Las Vegas. I think this city is one of the miracles of the world created by the hands of people,” says Tatiana.

“Also I’ve never stayed in a five-star hotel and never traveled by limousine.”

As winner, Tatiana earns a four-day, expenses paid trip to the entertainment capital of the world, including round-trip air fare.

She and a partner will be treated to a stay at one of the world’s most glamorous hotels; a top-drawer show and fine dining in smart restaurants with taste-tempting menus, amid the brilliant sunshine of this cosmopolitan desert oasis.

The contest drew attention and entries from around the world. On Independence Day , the Glorious Fourth of July, we drew the winning entry. Tatiana was one of nearly 500 entrants in the groundbreaking raffle.

The contest truly put The Rotary Club of Las Vegas West on the map, with entries from such exotic places as the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion; Fiji; Botswana and Finland. It drew widespread support across the world, with notable mass entries from Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The contest even attracted the attention of Rotary International itself for its daring use of the Internet to spur interest in a project by a Rotary club.

The contest was not restricted to Rotarians. Everyone, everywhere, was invited to enter. But the winner is a Rotarian.

Tatiana is a past president of the Rotary Club of Moscow East. The club is named, not for its geographical location in the city, but because its members are people who moved to the capital from areas in eastern Russia.

Tatiana was just settling in back home from a trip to Montreal for RI’s annual convention when she got her email sent by President-elect Bill Pierce. Now she’s planning on heading back across the Atlantic.

Tatiana is a charter member of the Moscow East club, which was established in 2005. She is the immediate past president.

The mother of Victoria, 14, Tatiana is representative in Moscow of a German company that imports business gifts and promotional items from Europe and China.

“We’ve had just 20 years of Rotary in Russia,” says Tatiana.

“You know that our country was in isolation for many years. Now we are happy to be part of the international Rotarian community.”

In Montreal, she says, she was delighted to meet and make friends with Rotarians from around the world.

All proceeds from the contest go to help underprivileged children in at-risk schools in Las Vegas and the other humanitarian programs of the club.

Tom Novotny, immediate past governor of District 5300, and a charter member of Las Vegas West Rotary, picked Tatiana’s winning ticket from a drum at a club barbecue at the home of President-elect Pierce.

Immediately after the drawing, Bill emailed the news to Tatiana, who—given the time difference—was fast asleep in Moscow. Entrants in the Internet-based contest were told the winner would be notified by email.

Entrants were obliged to submit email addresses with their Internet entries. Each entry was allotted a paper ticket. Those were then popped into the drum for DG Tom to pick from.

“I want to thank Tom particularly for picking my ticket as the winning entry,” says Tatiana.

Rotarians: Making a Difference in their Own Health

by Barbara Risher-Welch

This year, Bruce Jugan, a 15 year member of the Montebello Rotary Club, began speaking to Rotary Clubs in Districts 5300 and 5280 about the Federal health insurance reform legislation.  In his presentation he explained that most of the money spent on medical care is to treat illness associated with lifestyle choices.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 65% of Americans (195 million people) are overweight; chronic illness, such as diabetes and heart disease, follows.

As an example, Americans eat fast food “combo meals” (i.e., French fries, mega-sized hamburger and shake) without realizing that this single meal contains more calories than one should consume in an entire day. It also includes more sodium (salt) than one should consume in a day and a half.  Our daily food choices and lack of exercise play a large role in the huge medical bills our country is attempting to finance.

With awareness comes action. As a follow up to Bruce’s presentation to the Montebello Rotary Club, and with the enthusiastic support of Montebello President Martin Castro and his board, Bruce and Mike Newton, director of the Montebello YMCA, met with the catering director at the Montebello Country Club and discussed healthy food options for the club’s meetings. A win-win arrangement followed where Rotary Club members can now select a “healthy” veggie plate or fruit plate or eat the normal meat-based meal.

Additionally, the Montebello Rotary Club tries to start each meeting with 1-2 minutes of stretching (see photo). This reminds members that moving their bodies every day is important to their health.

Also, after stretching, a member of the club gives a “health minute” where he or she shares an interesting health tip with the club. For example, one member, Byron de Arakal, described how he and his son developed a passion for cooking healthy food in their quest to help the adult son lose weight. Another member, Richard Reyes, shared an article on salads on restaurant menus that are actually very high in fat and caloric content. The article gave specific suggestions for making healthier salad choices.

Bruce has given his talk to about 10 Rotary clubs and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Rotarians are leaders by nature. Is it possible that Rotary could lead the country toward better health?

If your club is interested in having a program about the Federal health insurance reform that includes a description of the underlying costs of medical care with suggestions for healthy options for Rotary clubs, please contact Bruce Jugan at work, 323-721-9121, cell 310-428-7300 or brucejugan@benefitscafe.com