September 9, 2010
For our first Club Assembly Meeting, President Ben Aranda prepared a discussion on "understanding the work of Standing Committees, featuring the Community Projects Committee and the using the New Generation Avenue as an example of Resource".
At around 7pm PE John Mina started club assembly meeting. Just as we were finishing our 4 Way Test, President Ben Aranda walked in and took over from John, but not without the members ribbing Pres. Ben with chorus on fining him for being late. And while we were on the issue of fines, someone added the idea of fining those who did not have their Rotary pins for the meeting. Sargent at Arms Jorge Prado started looking around and sure enough caught a number of us who were guilty. At the end of the fine collection we made out nicely with $10 bucks that is going straight to club's bank account with Comerica, thanks to Rotarian Redy Babasa, VP of Comerica who makes our deposits quite convenient.
Pres. Ben officially started the meeting by asking the members for a joke to share. Predictably, both Benito Miranda and Ben Marte raised their hands and took turns to share their jokes and got the members all warmed up for the agenda of the evening.
Rotarian Jose Sigala updated the club on the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council's participation in the ceremony on September 18th to honor the Filam farm workers for their life, work and legacy to promote and fight for the well- being of all of California's farm workers. The City of Los Angeles has designated September 18th as The Delano Manong Day. The club applauds and supports our Rotarians who are members of the HNC who continue to be on the forefront of recognizing the legacy Filipinos who make significant contribution in the community.
President Ben read off the upcoming Rotary activities which includes the Rotary Picnic to be held on Sunday at the Seaside Lagoon in Redondo Beach. Treasurer Mila is spearheading our club's participation and food contribution. This is an opportunity for fellowship and promises to be a lot of fun and lots of good food. PN Cirilo Pinlac will be attending the President's Retreat on behalf of Pres. Ben, scheduled on September 24 – 26, 2010.
As the meeting progressed to the Club Assembly agenda, President Ben held us all captive while he talked about the different club committees where we, as members need to be actively participating in. He presented an organized and well thought out power point presentation where he considered each of the member's talents and what committee that talent can best be utilized in. He encouraged that the members contact the standing committee directly for ideas on projects, discuss with executive committee attention and ultimately to the general club. Such encouragement must have prompted a light bulb to be lit because Rotarian Redy Babasa shared a community project that Comerica Bank is currently working on. The project is about providing school backpacks to the underprivileged youths of the Los Angeles Unified School Districts. It may well be project that our club can partner with once Jorge Prado contacts a possible source for backpacks. Discussion for this project will definitely be continued.
Before we closed, President Ben reminded the members that October is Vocation Service month. He is also looking forward to booking speakers for the month of October, otherwise he really does not mind talking the entire hour oduring our Thursday meetings.
Lastly, PP Vic Ching made an important point , and that is we need to get back to doing fellowship nights, where we can just eat, drink and have fun.
See you all next Thursday!
