With Rich acting as MC and Dean Puretz as speech master, we were given a taste of what a Toastmasters meeting is like, sans the normal “um” counters and grammarian.  Dean did select a word for the day (“dilemma”) which was supposed to be woven into any of the spontaneous talks the speakers gave, if they could.

            Toastmasters starts members off with a 10 speech training manual, starting with an introduction talk or “icebreaker”.  Successfully delivering all 10 earns you the Competent Communicator title.  To give us a feel for the talks, club president Marilee started with an icebreaker focused on the hats of her life.  Below is a picture of her in one of the dozen or so she used during her talk, a hat created to wear with the kindergarteners she taught.  From the first few words, she had us completely enchanted.

      February 24 Robin will be inducted as the North San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce’s new Secretary – congratulations!  Come show your support, showcase your company, and meet other Valley business people and the honorary mayor of Northridge, Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson).  The lunch will be held at the Odyssey Restaurant; tickets are $55 each.  Tables for the vendor faire are $125 each.

      Saturday and Sunday, November 12 and 13, we participated in the fundraising festival at St. John Eudes church.  While many non-profits were there, including the Salvation Army (thanks to our own Captain Judy), the real focus was on raising funds to help prevent and rescue children from child slavery.  We know several thousand dollars were raised, which means hundreds of children will be helped.  Thank you Emilio and Renée (our committee chairs), Barbara, Rich, Robin, Jean, Antoinette and Beth for working the event, but a very special big thank you to Rosie and Clinton for not just working the whole event but bringing their special vibration equipment for “rides”!

In a backyard ceremony in Northridge last Saturday night, Sally O'Steen, 94, walked down the aisle on the arm of Louis Kerker, 100, her oldest, dearest friend.    Louis was at Sally's first wedding in 1937. He gave Sally's hand in marriage to Ted Knox, 89      (Former MSFV Rotarian Ted Knox  weds!) 

One of our former members " VAN" Now retired and living on the Puget Sound in Washington State has finally Arrived at an Honorable Vocation. 

V A N

PS  Van Met his lovely Bride on our very own "Love Boat"  Emilio's beautifull Sail  boat   "Noteworthy"  And they say marriages at sea never last. 

The Mid and North San Fernando Valley Rotary Clubs had a very Successful 1st Bingo event at the Local 300 Union hall.  

Aside from the many BIngo Winners.  We had more than 20 Auction Items  

There was plenty of food, drinks, fellowship and FUN to go around.  We are looking forward to our next Bingo event sometime in August

Paul Eisenstadt, chairman of the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and owner of Protection Alarms talks to Mid SFV Club

Denny's Restaurant on Sherman Way in Van Nuys Just west of Havenhurst

      16575  Sherman Way,  Van nuys, Ca. 91406

For additional information please call Emilio at 818-262-6028 

District Governor Drew Frohlich's message to the Mid-SFV Rotary club hinged on a simple fact: There are more and more Rotary clubs springing up in places like Germany, India, Korea and even the old Soviet Bloc. Even the Chinese allow foreigners to have Rotary clubs with Chinese citizens as guests, but not members. The only place clubs aren't growing is in the U.S. What can we do to help our club and our district grow? Drew believes we need to Think Bigger, Bolder and Better.

Neither the sizzling hot valley sun or a temperature which soared to105 degree F., stopped shoppers from sorting through the large variety of items at the recent Mid SFV Rotary Club's rummage sale, August 30 at the Canoga Bowl in Canoga Park.

      Congratulations!  Our club was one of only about 12 clubs (out of 42) that received an RI Presidential Citation. This year's criteria included having a project that helped reduce childhood mortality, in addition to a number of other areas, such as Convention attendance and an increase in membership.

Rotary, Gates Foundation announce $355 million for polio eradication

New challenge grant helps bridge critical funding gap, inspire other donors in global effort to end crippling childhood disease. Rotary International and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced they will contribute a combined $355 million in new funds for polio eradication

Taste of the World dinner and fundraiser was held Oct. 25.  Casual, low cost ($20/person) with an international menu, it was very affordable and a lot of fun.  It was used as a club social, a way to introduce potential members to Rotary, and as a small fundraiser. 

On Oct. 20 we gave a Service Above Self Award to a staff member at a nearby nursing and rehabilitation center.  The honoree gets voted on by both staff and patients, so it really is the person who most exemplifies Service Above Self in the 6 month period between awards.