Stories

Fleet Street's Bike Valet - May 21

Fleet Street has been contracted to do bike valet for the final stage of the Amgen Tour of California. The ride is California’s version of the Tour de France (which lasts 21 days) but is this one is only seven days. It began in Northern California and Stage 4 is from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita (passing near Ojai); Stage 5 is from Ontario to Mt Baldy; Stage 6 is around Big Bear Lake. Most important, STAGE 7 on May 20 starts at Mountain High Ski Resort and ends at the Pasadena Convention Center. American cyclist Coryn Rivera, who won the Tour of Flanders last month, is among the favorites, along with Alexander Kristoff and WORLD CHAMPION Peter Sagan. These riders and teams are truly world class.

Fleet Street will be located about 25 yards from the finish line where there is a "festival"...food, vendors, etc. Load in is at 8 a.m. (we try to get there a little earlier). The festival starts at 10 and the riders will arrive between 12:30 and 1 p.m. We should be done about 2:30. We will provide lunch and arrange car pools. No special experience is necessary. We need people to sign participants in, move/rack the bikes, and return the bikes to the cyclists. We have done this before and are very organized.

Other Stories...

The Vocational Service Committee is looking for a large turn out of our members to honor the seven educators who are being awarded bronze plaques on the Walk of Hearts in Woodland Hills.  We meet on Sunday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the Crate and Barrel parking lot on the corner of Victory and Topanga Canyon for the ceremony.  Two teachers nominated by the committee are being honored. Matt Schaaf will be unveiling these plaques.  It is recommended that you reserve your free ticket online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-walk-of-hearts-celebration-at-the-village-at-westfield-topanga-tickets-33326098257 Joe Andrews, who founded the Walk of Hearts is pictured at left.

The Rotary International Foundation (TRF) was recognized as the “World’s Outstanding Foundation for 2016” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). This is an exceptional honor for TRF because AFP represents more than 30,000 members in over 230 chapters – worldwide! AFP works to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.

The award was presented during AFP’s 2017 International Conference in San Francisco with more than 3,400 senior-level fundraising professionals from 33 countries looking on. It was my privilege to accept the award on behalf of TRF – and Rotarians worldwide – and the 2016-17 Trustees Chair Kalyan Banerjee.
 
Harvey Tapper has Polysystic Kidneys with 4% renal function.  He is in need of a kidney transplant.  If anyone knows of someone who is willing to donate a kidney for him, please contact his nephrologist:
                                     Dr. Lawrence Guziel
                                     7230 Medical Center Dr., Suite 205
                                     West Hills, CA 91307
                                     (818) 345-0664
 
When you call Dr. Guziel's office, let them know that you want to be tested to see if you're a donor match for Harvey Tapper. His blood type is A+.
 
Following our Rotarian of the Day Michael Turner’s second week in a row leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance and 4 Way Test our Club was treated to the a fascinating program by the award winning famed father and daughter team of Fiona and Craig Huxley, who are leading a Save the Elephants movement.
 
They took us on a whirlwind journey through a clip from their documentary about the plight of elephants and how they are being decimated by ivory poachers. Craig and Fiona are working diligently to bring awareness of this issue to the public. There was extreme interest shown by members and guests because of their questions to them.