Mr. John Washburn, Chairman of the Washington Working Group on the International Criminal Court, was our speaker today.  Thank you for taking the time to attend our meeting and present a talk on the work you are doing.

President Tom Jeffry presented the Manhattan Beach Policeman of the Year to Sgt. Mark Mason.  Sgt. Mason was not able to attend our meeting due to retirement and travel commitments.  Accepting the award for him was Police Chief Eve Irvine and Capt. Tim Hageman.  A Big Thanks to all of the Officers and Staff that serve our community to keep it safe.

Sgt. Mark Mason

Rotary Foundation Chair Paul Allman presented a Paul Harris Fellow recognition to Ken Deemer.  Thanks for supporting our RI Foundation and all to the work they accomplish worldwide.

As part of our March Literacy Month celebration, John Hugenin spearheaded a joint project between our club and the Molina Foundation. 

As part of our March Literacy Month celebration, John Hugenin spearheaded a joint project between our club and the Molina Foundation.  We donated $400 and received over 100 books which will be distributed to the various shelters and programs that make up the 1736 Family Crisis Center.

Left to right:  John Hugenin, Daphyne Howell (Director of Administration and HR at 1736), Robin Gary and Ron Troupe (1736 Board President)

Monday night President Tom and Scholarship Chairman Dennis Morehead presented Scholarship awards to El Camino and Central High.  Our continued outreach to serve the broader community.

Katie Gleason, Dennis Morehead and Tom Jeffry

Nelson Gray, Dennis Morehead, Tom Jeffry with faculty and students from Central High in Los Angeles.

Congratulations to President Tom and his board for their awards at the District Conference this past week end.  Shown here is the RI President's Presidential Citation.  Check out our facebook page for the rest of the awards along with some pictures.

RI Foundation Club Chair Paul Allman presenting a Paul Harris +4 recognition award to long time Member Mike Doell.  Thanks for your continued support of this vital Rotary International program.

This was our first annual recognition of students at the Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School for excellence in the area of science.  This was an outstanding group of students.

From Left to Right - Back Row - Rotarian Lynn Range, MBI Principal John Jackson, 

Executive Director of Education Services Carolyn Seaton, Rotarians Robin Gary and Ian Jackson.

Front Row - Middle School Honorees Nadia Owen, 6th Grade; Zachary Horowitz, 7th Grade and Jane Fishman, 8th Grade.

From Left to Right - Back Row - Rotarian Lynn Range, Mira Costa Principal Dr. Ben Dale, 

Executive Director of Education Services Carolyn Seaton, Rotarians Robin Gary and Ian Jackson.

Front Row - Mira Costa High School Honorees Jagriti Agrawal, Kara Drexler, Sam Reinehr, and Kiera Isgrig.

Congratulations to Fire Engineer/Paramedic Mike Murrey for his selection as Firefighter of the Year for Manhattan Beach.  Mike has been a firefighter for 14 years in Manhattan Beach.

Chief Bob Espinosa looks on while President Tom presents a recognition award to Fire Engineer Mike Murrey.

Mike Murrey's crew showed up to show their support.

Today we had one of the founding brothers of Body Glove, Bob Meistrell, talk to us about the origins of his business.  We really enjoyed his stories.  Body Glove has been a big supporter of Rotary Fundraising Events.  He was made a Paul Harris Fellow at the last District Breakfast by Governor Lew Bertrand.  Governor Lew along with Cindy Williams, President of the Rotary Club of Westchester, presented Bob with his Paul Harris Plaque.

Bob Meistrell with another engaging story.

President Tom looks on while Governor Lew and Cindy Williams present Bob Meistrell with his Paul Harris Plaque.

President Tom thanking Bob Meistrell for being out guest speaker.

President Tom presented Bob with a certificate of 100 Polio vaccinations given in his name.

Today President Tom Jeffry and Sponsor Roger Cox inducted Daniel Quisenberry into our club.  Daniel is an attorney with an office on Rosecrans.  He will work in the New Generations avenue of service.

President Tom conducting the induction of Daniel Quisenberry with Roger Cox looking on.

Daniel welcome to the Rotary Club of Manhattan Beach!

This morning our club recognized excellence in the Art, Ceramics, Woodworking, Broadcast Journalism, Digital Photography, Media Design and Fashion Design.  Each student received a certificate and a check for $100.  Thank you to the parents, teachers and staff that supported these students in their artistic endeavors.  Shannon Ryan did an outstanding job coordinating this event for the club.

Here is some of the ceramic art work that was on display.  More pictures will be posted on our facebook page.

Dave Boochever is reviewing the final selections for Rotary El Camino Scholarships with Kathleen Terry.  Other committee members in attendance were Donn Ennis, Jay Harkenrider, John Hugunin, Larry Johnson, Mark Lipps and Herb Trachtenberg.  Notice the high tech display that Dave Boochever set up for the committee.  If you would like to participate in scholarship selections contact Dave Boochever or Dennis Morehead.

Once again an outstanding meeting with Musicians from the Manhattan Beach Middle School and the Mira Costa High School entertaining us with outstanding performances.  All of the students, with their parents, from the music competion were in attendance.  We heard the six first place winners play.  Congratulations to all the students, parents, teachers and school administration for their support of the arts.

The First Place Recipients with President Tom.

Left to Right: Lexie Yee - Flute, Alexandra So - Violin, Isaac Siegemund-Broka - Clarinet, Jules Gilliam - Trumpet, President Tom Jeffry, Danica Chong - Cello, Erick Chong - Cello

Middle School Participants

Mira Costa High School Participants

Ken Deemer has done a great job setting up Rotary Reads for 7 Elementary Schools and some 58 classes.  If you didn't get an opportunity this year, don't miss out when it is time to do it next year.  These kids are great.

Mrs. Glassman's Second Grade Class at Grandview Elementary School.

Bob Timberlake, Mira Costa High School Model UN Advisor, reacting to President Tom when he was told that the check was in the mail.

Today we had Model UN Advisor Bob Timberlake and four seniors from Mira Costa High School who are competing on the Model UN team.  We are proud to support their award winning team competition every year.

From Left to Right:  Ari Howorth, Jack Rosenberg, Bob Timberlake, Michelle Nwoke and Ryanne Martucci.

We had a great meeting this morning with five of the six candidates for City Council in attendance.  Thanks to Pat Donahue for moderating this event.  It was helpful to hear the candidates express their views.

From left to Right;  Rotarian Pat Donahue, Councilman Wayne Powell, Candidates Mark Burton, Tony D'Errico, Mitch Ward, Mark Lipps and President Tom Jeffry.

Today, RI Director Ken Boyd was the featured speaker at a joint meeting of the South Bay Rotary Clubs.  We were honored to have him here.  Shown here are Club Presidents, VIP's and Director Boyd.

Today we had the honor of one of our member's daughter, Amanda Stone, being inducted into Rotary by RI Director Ken Boyd.  Amanda works in the electronics field at Belkin. Welcome to our Club.

Here are the Manhattan Beach Rotarians that recently visited Guatemala.  You can see all of the 1,000+ pictures with the link below.

http://rotaryclubofmb.smugmug.com/GuatemalaTrip2013/Guatemala2013/Guatemalatrip2013/27939697_LVdGTg#!i=2358165768&k=ZBCc6TJ

Friday evening seventeen young musicians gathered at the Manhattan Beach Middle School Multipurpose room for a solo competition in front of two judges, many parents and several Rotarians.  A big thanks to Robin Gary for coordinating this event with the school.  We look forward to hearing the winners play at one of our meetings.

Many of our Rotarians turned out to serve lunch at the Joslyn Center.  This is a yearly event where we help the City of Manhattan Beach honor the Senior Citizens of our city.  Rotarian Jan Buike said it was a very successful lunch and thanked us for our help.

To see more pictures click on the link.

http://rotaryclubofmb.smugmug.com/Other/121312-Holiday-Luncheon/27102325_Fd3FQJ#!i=2274334926&k=LtQ3NnD

What a great outing to see "The Manor" at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills.  We were transformed in time to 1929.  As President Tom said, Thank You Robin Gary for suggesting this as a Club outing.  Thank You Geoff Bremer for organizing and coordinating the event.  And Thank You Tammy Lipps, the Ripe Choice, for providing the box lunches and dessert.  It was enjoyable standing around afterwards drinking wine and enjoying cookies before we left for home.

To see more pictures of this fun event go to our Facebook Page or our SmugMug account.

We received a very nice Thank You from Julie Gonella, VP of the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden.

The flower shown is the Beach Primrose which is the official City Flower of Manhattan Beach.

President Tom Jeffry talked about the success of the District Masquerade Ball.

For those of us who missed it, this is how the President looked.

Dick Anderson, La Quinta Rotary Club, gave a very interesting talk on the literacy efforts in Guatemala. This is a cooperative effort with many Rotary Clubs.  Richard Ham has organized a club trip to Guatemala where you will have a chance to see this work first hand along with many other wonderful parts of that beautiful country.  As an aside the other National Project Co-Coordinator is from my hometown of Ephrata, Washington.

Richard Ham, International Service Director, Dick Anderson and President Tom

Geraldine Greiner, Sandpipers Holiday Basket Chair, handed out sign up sheets for Rotarians to once again help with Holiday Baskets on December 18.

She is shown here with President Tom.