Woodland Hills Rotary - A Message from the Club President

Welcome ALL Rotarians to the Rotary Club of Woodland Hills, Team 726 for the 2008-2009 year. John Wooden once said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are...”

I am proud to be a part of the Rotary Club of Woodland Hills. I would like to thank the past presidents who chose me for this honor. I respect them all and promise all of you that I will not disappoint you. With this year being the 20 year anniversary of women in Rotary, it is an added honor to be serving as President this year.

There are so many wonderful members in this club. Each and every one of you makes a difference and impacts so many near and far. Thank you to those of you who have mentored me and continue to mentor me, answer my questions, provide guidance, and kick me in the behind when my enthusiasm gets the better of me. I hope that this will not happen too often.

As we enter into Rotary’s 99th year, the impact that we make worldwide cannot be compared to any other service club. Our “Service Above Self” motto says it all. This year our Rotary International. President D.K. Lee has chosen for his motto “Make Dreams Real”. Our Club will not only “Make Dreams Real”; we will turn our dreams into REALITY.

We will continue to support our past projects while focusing on an increasing need to expand to new projects and goals. POLIO PLUS is within our grasp and we will make a difference in this endeavor. Our International Projects include the Door of Faith, the orphanage we support in Baja, California. This facility provides its children the best home available to them. Visitors can help provide a family atmosphere and watch the children experience the stability, love and guidance that come from our help. Mia’s Children, a project that we have assisted with by selling calendars is just one of the ways we help the children of Romania find a better life away from poverty, abusive homes, prostitution, drugs and abandonment.

Our community projects include supporting the Wellness Community, where cancer patients and their loved ones meet and learn that there is hope, where our contributions are helping to fund a Garden of Hope. On September 7th, 2008, ground breaking will start on this project. This Garden of Hope will provide a tranquil area for participation in professionally led support groups, educational workshops, and nutrition and exercise programs, where people affected by cancer can learn vital skills enabling them to regain control of their lives, reduce isolation and restore hope regardless of the stage of their disease. When the garden is completed, there will be a wall where our club will have tiles of encouragement. The Pacific Lodge Boys home, located in our own backyard in Woodland Hills, is a residential treatment program for boys aged 13-17 who need help with their lives. At Pacific Lodge, these boys are able to lead productive lives and become pro-active citizens of our community. Another of our community projects is supporting Haven Hills, an organization that provides safety and support to victims of domestic violence, assisting these victims as they rebuild their lives, learn a trade, find a job and learn to believe in themselves and find meaning in their lives.

Youth Services helps the youth of our community with guidance, encouragement and leadership skills to fulfill their dreams. Vocational Services honors the Fire and Police departments for their unselfishness in keeping us safe. The Health Faire for the community provides free medical testing and education to people of all ages.

These are just a few of the exciting events we have planned for this year. Club Service, which maintains and grows our membership, oversees our fundraising events that fund our projects, and one of my favorites, our fellowship events, where we can be ourselves and build long lasting friendships and extended families.

As we look forward to the year ahead, please know that there are no BENCH PLAYERS in our club! We are all STARTERS. There is no “I” in TEAM. With 110% effort, we will be the team to be reckoned with. Watch out, the SILVER BELL is within our reach. The odds makers have us at even money. Woodland Hills will be the club that other clubs will want to emulate. They will no longer be saying where has Woodland Hills been, they will be saying Woodland Hills is BACK!!!! BRING IT ON….LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Jill Mellman

President 2008-2009

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