President Message 5/6/2026

Fellowship & Friendship

 

By far, my favorite aspect of Rotary is the relationships we develop which often result in life long friendships.  Above is a picture of four WVC Rotarians enjoying a fishing , golfing and beaching (and eating!) vacation in the Florida Keys. Yes, that’s me with Larry Bushey, my friend for nearly 40 years, Paul Van Acker, my friend and financial advisor, and Rich Cooper, our contractor and my favorite restaurant owner (the Manhattan). 

 

As we develop friendships through Rotary, we also cultivate professional and business relationships.  At lunch yesterday, Alan Kosh, recalled his Rotary mentor’s sage guidance that you don’t join Rotary to gain business, but you will inevitably find that your fellow Rotarians will employ your services.  I look around our Club and I realize that many of my Rotary brothers and sisters have had a function at a Wedgewood over the years.  In turn, I have engaged many fellow Rotarians.  My dentists, attorneys, doctors, telephone services, and my financial planners have come from the Rotary ranks.  When first joined Rotary,  I needed some advice on assessment, I turned to our Honorary member Larry Matheny, since he headed the office at the time.   I have been a client of all three original members of Ventura South - Lee Gibson, legal help with copywriting, Dennis Longwill dug my root canal, and Brant Gerckens still fixes my back!  So, if you need assistance with a service or product you have a Rotarian ready to serve.

Make an effort to get to know your fellow Rotarians.  Offer to do a craft talk.  I learned much that I didn’t know from Mark Spellman yesterday.  70 Stations to great girls! The upcoming small group socials are designed to introduce each other on a personal basis.  Please try to attend the social with one of our Board members. 

Finally, please mark your calendars for our Step Down dinner on Tuesday June 23^rd at the Manhattans Restaurant.  We will celebrate our great first year.  Sign ups will come soon.  Spouses and partners are very much invited!

See you next week when our district’s Polio Plus leader will give us an update of Rotary’s effort to finally end polio in the world.

Prez JZ