district 5280 “let’s make a difference” -...

Rotaract Newsletter District 5280

Rotaract Newsletter District 5280 VOLUME 03

February/March

Governor’s Message

World Rotaract Week -

Water Pasteurization Indicators Project

2011-2012 District

Leadership Application

Meredith K. Olson

Scholarship Application

Rotary District 5280 Dominican Republic

Humanitarian Trip

Presidents Wheelchair

Project

Rotaract Spring Social -

Toga Party

Youth Led District Breakfast

Wigs For Kids

Rotary District 5280 Conference

Rotaract Ciao Dinner & Celebration

The Four-Way Test

Rotaract Pre-Convention 2011 New Orleans, LA

2010-2011 Rotaract

District 5280 Calendar

Calendar

“Let’s Make A Difference”

ISSUE 08

In this issue

Governor’s Message By Rotaract Governor Sergei Belokonnyi

Dear Rotarctors,

I would like to notify you on changes our Rotaract District under-

went in February. After almost 8 months of dedicated service on

behalf of District 5280, Cheryl Wong had to resign from the

post of Rotaract District Governor to pursue other interests. On

behalf of all Rotaractors and Rotarians of our District, I would

like to thank Cheryl for all the time and effort spent on keeping

our District one of the most successful Rotary youth programs in

the world. Personally, I’d like to acknowledge Cheryl’s hard

work and relentless desire to perpetuate Rotaract’s cause, and

its impact on society within and beyond the Rotary world. Her

bottomless energy and vibrant character are appreciated and

will be remembered.

According to the guidelines of Rotary International the immediate Past District Governor be-

comes the acting governor if their predecessor can no longer serve in that capacity. Being an

immediate PDG, it is my duty and a privilege to take the proverbial baton and assume the

governorship once again. The message here is clear: beside personal contribution and individ-

ual significance of any leader, it is sound continuity and succession policies that ensure organ-

izational viability. It is important to remember that any organization is a live organism whose

health depends on all its organs and systems working in perfect concert. In that light, I’d like to

promise Cheryl and the rest of District 5280 - Rotarians and Rotaractors alike - we will not

miss a beat. Despite the change in leadership, nothing will change in Rotaract District 5280;

we will carry out all planned service and social events, and we will do so with the grace and

professionalism of the mature service organization that we are.

Speaking of maturity, on March 13, Rotaract turns 43 and to celebrate its birthday we invite

you and your club to partner with your sponsoring Rotary club on a service project, during

World Rotaract week (03/07-03/13). We encourage you to reach out and strengthen famil-

ial ties with our parent organization. Work together, communicate more, and get to know each

other better. May this month be a time for us all to reflect on our mutual history, reconnect with

each other, strengthen the existing connections and build new ones. Lastly, and most impor-

tantly, continue benefiting the society as whole – as one family, the Rotary family.

Yours in service,

Sergei Belokonnyi

Rotaract District Governor

Rotaract District 5280

1

2

3

3

4

10

10

10

11

11

11

11

12

14

2011


World Rotaract Week - Water Pasteurization Indicators Project

A Water Pasteurization Indicator (WAPI) is a simple thermometer that indicates when water has reached pasteurization temperature

and is safe to drink. It was invented by Fred Barrett and Dale Andreatta.

Pasteurization destroys all microorganisms that cause diseases from drinking contaminated water and milk. A small polycarbonate

tube contains a wax that melts when water or milk is heated enough to be pasteurized (65˚C/149˚F). This saves much fuel by el imi-

nating the need to boil water or milk to ensure that the pasteurization temperature has been reached.

Since water pasteurizes at temperatures well below the boiling point of water, WAPIs save time when solar pasteurizing, and save

fuel when using traditional fuels.

We need your help making WAPI’s to send to Rwanda

Sunday March 13th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

9412 Cattaraugus Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90034

Hosted by West Los Angeles Rotaractor Catalina Falla

Every year, World Rotaract Week honors the chartering of the first Rotaract club in 1968. World Rotaract Week is a time for Rota-

ractors and Rotarians around the world to come together to celebrate the success and importance of the Rotaract program. This event

is also an excellent opportunity to inform members of your community about the amazing work that Rotaract clubs do, and give them

an opportunity to get involved.

Lunch Will Be Served

World Rotaract Week 2011 - March 7th -13th

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization


2011 - 2012 District Leadership Application

Each year the Rotaract club members and select Rotarians of District 5280 elect a leadership team from within the ranks to carry out all aspects of the Rotaract program. This team works all year long with Rotaract club members, Rotary cubs, and Rotary district leadership closely to produce a world class program. The purpose of our Rotaract district is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to en-hance the knowledge and skills in the areas of personal development, addressing the physical and social needs of their community, promoting better relations between all peoples worldwide through a framework of friendship and service, and whose goals are: a) To develop professional and leadership skills b) To emphasize respect for the rights of others, and to promote ethical standards and the dignity of all useful occupations c) To provide opportunities for young people to address the needs and concerns of the community and our world d) To provide opportunities for working in cooperation with sponsoring Rotary clubs e) To motivate young people for eventual membership in Rotary

http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5280/7780/HTML/116111//2011-12DistrictLeadershipApplication.doc

Download the Application Here:

Leadership Applications are due by Thursday March 31st

http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5280/7780/HTML/116110//2011ScholarshipApplication.doc

Download the Application Here:

Scholarship Applications are due by Thursday March 31st

Meredith K. Olson Scholarship Application

The Meredith K. Olson Award was created in 2003 in honor of our Past Rotaract Governor Mere-

dith Olson. The award is a $1,000 scholarship which can be applied to assist with tuition at an ac-

credited institution of higher education, or to offset the cost of Rotary/Rotaract sponsored events.

Meredith Olson worked with a passionate spirit to set the foundation of our Rotaract District, and

strongly believed in the ideals of Rotaract. A qualified candidate for this award will hold these

ideals equally as high and demonstrate it through their commitment to their club and to service.

http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5280/7780/HTML/116111/2011-12DistrictLeadershipApplication.doc



http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5280/7780/HTML/116110/2011ScholarshipApplication.doc




Rotary District 5280 Dominican Republic Humanitarian Trip

Santiago, Dominican Republic

February 17th - 20th, 2011



Thanks to the Rotary District 5280 Dominican Republic Planning Team, and all the District 5280

and 4060 Rotarians, Rotarctors and Interactors for making it the experience of a lifetime!

Thanks to Cheryl Wong for all of her hard work planning the El Puente - La Cumbre School

Sponsorship Project. It was a great success and we could not have done it without you!



Being a part of Rotaract has been the highlight of my college career so far and the Dominican Re-

public trip was the epitome of that highlight. Through this trip I have become so much more thankful

and appreciative of having Rotaract in my life and my life in general that it is unbelievable. I al-

ways thought of my Santa Monica College Rotaract Club and its sponsoring Rotary club of Santa

Monica as my Rotary family and considered them to be the best; however, during this trip I found

out that my extended family which includes everyone in Rotary District 5280 is just as amazing if

not more so. Even before I went on this trip I knew it was going to be excellent. I knew it was going

to be wonderful not only because Frank Lavac of Santa Monica Rotary thought of me worthy

enough to sponsor or that the whole Dominican Republic trip for me so that I won’t have to pay any-

thing but also because everyone in my whole Rotaract and Rotary club was supportive and excited

on my going, I was really happy that I would be doing service projects during this trip and through

them I will be able to help people that I have never even met before.

For me it’s the little things that make life worth living, and the whole Dominican Republic trip was full of small delightful moments

that made me so proud and peaceful at the same time. For starter’s all Rotarians present on the Dominican Republic trip treated

me like I was their own kid. I never met one Rotarian throughout the duration of this whole trip who talked to me without a smile

on their face, no matter how tired they were. I had multiple Rotarians who set examples of service above self for me: such as Mr.

Paul Gaulke of Santa Monica who waited for all his Santa Monica Rotarians by standing on the lobby till the last Santa Monica

Rotarian arrived even though he had severe back pain. Then I had Mr. Larry Bender of the Hawthorne Club who took time out of

his busy trip schedule to explain a lot of the Rotary procedures to me and taught me the need of patience while dealing with

lengthy and necessary Rotary customs. Last but not the least I was touched a lot by Mr. Doug Baker our District Governor who

took time to specially recognize all of the Rotaractors present on the Dominican Republic trip in front of the D.R. Rotarians even

when the program was running extremely late and everyone just wanted to go back to the hotel to relax. Amongst my Rotaract

peers I have to give special thanks to Jessica Delmastro, my roommate and currently a very close friend. Jessica I never knew

two unknown people can meet for the first time and gain so much love and respect towards each other. To dear Jonathan Keisner

thanks a lot for always being so sweet and protecting me a lot during the walk back from the La Vega Carnival where I know

for sure I would have been troubled if you were not holding my hand while the whole walk back and making sure that I am ok.

Last but not the least I have to tell everyone about a moment during the trip that made me very humbled and made me remem-

ber my roots. I am originally from Bangladesh, so while we were travelling in air conditioned busses as I looked out on the streets

I started crying. The streets of the Dominican Republic looked a lot liked the streets of Bangladesh where people stand all day in

killing heat trying to sell items so that they can get food at night. A lot of these street vendors risk their lives by diving in front of

cars and running in heavy traffic just in the hopes of earning a little money. While watching them I remembered those days how

hard life was in Bangladesh and the struggles I did to get where I am today. From learning good, fluent English to jumping

through hoops after hoops of immigration interviews where someone I had never met before was deciding my chance of a better

life in the United States through some mundane, unimportant and impersonal questions. Regardless all the scenes of Dominican

Republic made me a little home sick but then I remembered that home is just not a place it’s a feeling. Home is the feeling of

comfort, home is a feeling of love, and I definitely felt both these feeling with all the genuinely kind and caring Rotarians and

Rotaractors who went to the Dominican Republic trip. So, I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for being so genuinely

nice and kind towards me and making me feel so much at home during this trip. I know that I didn’t mention a lot of other breath-

takingly amazing people whom I met during this trip but rest assured that I will never forget any of you. From this point on every-

one I met during the Dominican Republic trip will be in my prayers, even when I don’t pray because my heartfelt well wishes for

you all are never ending. Thank you for existing and being a part of my life through this Dominican Republic trip.

Dominican Republic Experience By Diana Priyanka Chowdhury


Presidents Wheelchair Project

7:00 pm at the Hermosa Beach Rotary Club House

$10 cover to benefit Homeboy Industries

Saturday, March 26th, 2011

2521 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Rotaract Spring Social - Toga Party

Toga theme back by popular demand!

Youth Led District Breakfast

Saturday March 12th @ 10:00 am

Hacienda Hotel

525 N. Sepulveda Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Meet and greet with fellow Rotaractors and Rotarians all while distributing

wheelchairs to the needy of Los Angeles.

Show your support for New Generations and the youth of Rotary District 5280 at the final district breakfast of the year. We want to impress our Rotarian brethren. This is one of the few times a year where Rotarians from across the district gather together as one. It is a great chance to mingle with and make friends with Rotarians from the greater Los Angeles area. You never know what good could become of a relationship with a Rotarian. Remem-ber, the next step beyond being an Interactor and a Ro-taractor is becoming a Rotarian. Rotarians need us just as much as we need them. We are the future of Rotary.

Tuesday April 12th

7:00 am

Westin LAX Hotel

5400 W. Century Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Contact Social Chair Portia Martinez for more info

[email protected]


Wigs For Kids

1. Is it the TRUTH?

2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The Four-Way Test

Rotaract Ciao Dinner & Celebration

MAY 12-15, 2011

HYATT GRAND CHAMPIONS

RESORT, INDIAN WELLS

Saturday June 4th, 2011

The Depot

1250 Cabrillo Avenue, Torrance, CA

End of Year Dinner & Awards Celebration

Mark Your Calendars!

Rotary District 5280 Conference

The Rotary District 5280 New Generations team is looking for a Whigs for Kids

hair cut candidate from Rotaract. All you need is a beautiful, full head of long

flowing hair and a willingness to help a child in need. Candidate will have their

hair cut at the District breakfast on April 12th. Ready, get set, grow!!!

For more information contact Jaimee Sul at [email protected]

Of the

things we

think say

or do...

http://www.wigsforkids.org/


Rotaract Pre-Convention 2011 New Orleans, Louisiana

2010-2011 Rotaract District 5280 Calendar


Month Service Social Meeting

August Membership and Extension Month

23 West LA Club Visit

28 Membership Mixer BBQ & Pool

TBD Roll Out International Service Project

September New Generations Month

12 District Family Picnic

20 South Bay Club Visit

October Vocational Service Month

10 Rotaract Leadership Conference

21 Pennies for Polio Fundraiser

21 LA Cedars Club Visit

November The Rotary Foundation Month

7 Foundation Celebration

9 District Breakfast

9 Marymount Club Visit

11 El Camino Club Visit

December Family Month

12 Toy Collecting and Sorting Holiday Social (following)

January Rotary Awareness Month

9 Toys to Tecate

13 RI President Multidistrict Visit

15 Rotary Cares Day

February World Understanding Month

5 Chinese New Year Parade

17-21 District Trip to Dominican Republic

TBD UCLA Club Visit

March Literacy Month

7-13 World Rotaract Week

12 World Rotaract Week Service Project

26 Toga Party

31 District Leadership Applications Due

31 Scholarship Applications Due

TBD USC Club Visit

TBD Occidental College Club Visit

April Magazine Month

12 District Breakfast

15-17 Tentative RYLA

TBD SMC Club Visit

May

May 12-15 District Conference - Palm Springs

20-21 Rotaract Preconvention - New Orleans

21-25 Rotary Convention - New Orleans

June Rotary Fellowships Month

4 Ciao Dinner

11 District Assembly

District 5280 Rotaract Clubs

El Camino College

Koreatown

Los Angeles Cedars

Marymount College

8939 South Sepulveda Boulevard

Suite 312

Los Angeles, California 90045

District 5280 Rotaract

South Bay

UCLA

USC

West Los Angeles

“Let’s Make A Difference”

2010-2011 Rotary International Theme

Get involved today and

visit our website at :

www.rotaract5280.org

To include your club’s events and accomplishments

in the District Newsletter please contact

2010-2011 newsletter editor Jonathan Keisner at:

[email protected]

Occidental College

Pepperdine University

Santa Monica College


Rotary District 5280 Governor: Doug Baker

Rotary District 5280 Website: www.rotary5280.org

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to

30.

Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by

a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of

the family of Rotary.

As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with

more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract

has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Through the Rotaract program, young adults not only augment their knowledge

and skills, but they also address the physical and social needs of their communities

while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of

friendship and service.

Membership starts with you!

Invite friends, family, and co-workers to become members of your Rotaract club.

district 5280 “let’s make a difference” -...

Documents