Flag: Marina Martinez                    Invocation: Ken Worthen                             America: Judy Coates

 

Guests: Mary Barrientos, the principal of R.U.T.H. YouthBuild High School in Canoga Park has brought 2 graduating seniors from her high school and will be the speaker today.  Ravin and Will have been attending that special high school.   Jean brought Antoinette again today.  Bill introduced Scott King who is chairing the track meet for us this year.  Jason has come with Wynne today as he is working hard on the track meet committee.

 

Don Reinken announced the “surprise” Track Meet dinner at his home on Thursday, April 9^th.

Jim Tanner has a husband-wife program for next week.  This team has spent the last years in animal rescue, and they need old blankets and towels for the recued animals.  Please bring donations to the next meeting on March 19^th.

Marc told about the death of his former wife at 70: she had lived since the age of 27 on dialysis!!

Richard announced the walk for polio on March 21 – it will be at the Crystal Springs Campground located behind the Ranger Station at 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles 90027.  He is taking about $1,200.00 donation to the fight against polio that our club has accumulated from our pink pig.  Marie says that at PETS she found out Nigeria has not had a polio case in one year.  To be pronounced free of endemic polio, a country must go 3 years without a case, but we are quite hopeful that Nigeria may be polio free!!!

The Fleet group that our club assisted Woodland Hills with a Rotary District Grant to get boys from Pacific Coast Boys Lodge to repair bikes is working from 10-2 at the Van Nuys Police Department and volunteers should go help on THIS Saturday.  Barbara went to clean up; Wynne was there the whole time.

April 2^nd is the “Service Above Self” fund-0raiser in honor of Emilio and 6 others.  Get tickets, sell tickets, and notify Wynne of your contributions to the auction.

Scott thanked the track meet committee for eliminating 2 pieces of paper in their notices, and is glad that only 3 pieces now need to be sent for instructions to the coaches, and one of them firms up the runners’ schedules.

 

Jim and Marc were unhappy to have missed the last board meeting.  Zoriada regrets that she will be in Washington DC on the day of the track meet and Peter is taking off for South Africa so can’t work then either.  BUT, PETER HAS AGREED TO TAKE OVER RICH’S JOB AS TREASURER and Rich is VERY happy.  Jean got his car fixed and it now can back up.  Bill regretted missing the board meeting for a school board meeting.

 

Mary Barrientos is the Director of Community Engagement for Resilience Unity Transformation Hope (R.U.T.H.) YouthBuild High School in Canoga Park.  She had come a few weeks ago to tell us about the Ballroom Dance Party to raise funds for the school.  At this high school they get a diploma, but also concentrate on building ethics and civility and practical training for the students.  Most students are men and they provide training in construction and “pre-entrance” classes in medical fields.

 They teach their students to work on beautification projects in the community and other volunteer work.  One of their students is now on a Neighborhood Council!!  They have reached the capacity that their building can provide with the 80 students there now, and have a waiting list.  Some instructors, like the ballroom dance instructor, are volunteers.

Graduation will be at the Marriott Hotel and Ravin and Will are two of the top graduates.

 

Will dropped out of high school at 16 and is married with a baby who is very special.  Will is now 25 and he will graduate and working as a chef.  He now wants to go on to school and become a drug counselor. 

Raven didn’t enjoy regular high school, but at RUTH YouthBuild she has been in the leadership program and that has helped her.  She is working on the CNA program and hopes that will open doors for her in the future. 

Marie was delighted to present the $25.00 Target coupons to these well-deserving young people.

Mary signed the book that will go to Casa Esperaza as part of our literacy program.

 

Judy had sold over $60.00 in the 50/50 and Marc was the lucky winner.

 

Written by Barbara Pampalone