Happy New Rotary Year! I'm honored to be your president for the next 11.5 months (not that I'm counting) and hope to help ensure that YOU have a great year and that we all have fun working together to support our community and other Rotary efforts. It's exciting to think that in 2022 we'll be celebrating our 20th year and we should all send our thanks to the founders of our Club--and we will! In the meantime, it's not too early to pull together a small committee to start thinking about how we can celebrate in February. If you'd like to be on that committee, please let me know!
Also, if you have ideas for programs or service projects large or small, let me or the chairs of those committees know. The next 12 months are going to fly by so it's definitely not too early to come forward with ideas. As I said at our first meeting, I'd like to have a few of our normal club meetings be a little different this year and try out some hands-on art projects and mini service projects. Nothing builds fellowship and teamwork like actually doing things together.
The Los Olivos Rotary Club is the Little Club that Can and Does--because of each one of you! Let's make this one of our best years ever!
Our Demotion Party on Thursday, June 24 was wonderful thanks to past-past president Brendan Doherty and past-past-past president Judy Canby, aided and abetted by Brendan's mom, current pres Stacey, the Bergs and many others. Thanks to St. Mark's for letting us have their wonderful patio again and thanks to the weather gods for glorious weather!
President Chris was celebrated for her efforts and perfect meeting attendance--plus her unfailing cheer and energy. She managed to help organize service projects (along with many others, of course!) like the remodel of the Buellton Senior Center in September, the planting of Easter eggs all over Hans Christian Andersen Park and twice-monthly gifts for families with children needing food assistance at Bethania Lutheran Church. Despite Covid, she helped ensure we had quality programs and a great year...which led us to receiving a Silver Award of Distinction from our District! Brava, Chris! Thank you for a very special year!!
Our scholarship committee, led by Joshua Jones and aided and abetted by Chris Bashforth, Rich Nagler and Mary Ann Norbom, chose 4 spectacular students to support in their college ambitions.
They received their checks at a lovely luncheon at the Alisal River Grill where they shared their hopes, thanks and ambitions with the committee. THe very worthy students are: Vasilios Gogonis (Cal-Poly SLO), Olivia Torres (UC, Davis), Christian Shaw (USC), Mario Samaan (UC, San Diego).
We are so pleased to welcome back with open arms, Lesli Beaudette, who was forced to leave our club several years ago due to a job location change. For those that don't know her, Lesli is a native-born California and lived in the SYV as a child, graduating from the local high school and then heading to Willamette University in Oregon for a BA in Psychology, after which she headed back home. She's married to Steve Solum and they have two adult children with active lives and successful careers. Lesli is an escrow officer at First American Title Company once again here in Solvang, allowing her to rejoin our club. She says "I love being a part of the community and giving back with my fellow Rotarians at the Little Club that Can and Does!"
Eileen Thornton Caris has her roots in the great State of New Jersey being raised in Jersey City while spending many summers at the wonderful Jersey Shore. Eileen attended Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University) for her undergraduate and graduate work. In June of 1980, Eileen moved to Los Angeles and began teaching in Alhambra City Schools and supporting the teachers union.
In 1990, Eileen returned to school to pursue certification in Interior Design and Decoration. Since 1993, Eileen has been the owner and principal of E.T.C. Designs, an LA-based interior design firm specializing primarily in high end residential design and select commercial design projects. While Eileen is semi-retired, she continues to work with former clients and select new clients.
Eileen and Gary enjoyed a weekend home in Santa Barbara for 17 years where their girls learned to swim, boogie board, fly kites, and ride bikes. Thinking they would settle in SB upon retirement, they were happy to discover the Santa Ynez Valley and after a ten month search found a home in Janin Acres in 2017. It seemed fitting that after living for nearly one year in Copenhagen years ago, Eileen would settle in Solvang.
