All posts by klujan

Rotary News, Scholarships

Monrovia Rotary Club Honors Life-Long Kiwanian Fred Bowden

By Susan Motander via Monrovia Weekly

The Monrovia Rotary Club in collaboration with the Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS) and Bowden Development has created a new scholarship fund.  The Fred Bowden Family Vocational Scholarship is the newest Rotary scholarship fund to benefit adult learners in the Monrovia Community.

It may seem rather strange for the Monrovia Rotary Club to honor a member of the Kiwanis Club, but one only needed to know Fred to understand the tribute.  Fred was a great supporter of all things Monrovia.  According to Bill Shieff, a member of Monrovia Rotary Club, Bowden was a great supporter of both clubs.  He participated each year in the big Rotary Club auction.

This new scholarship fund is especially significant in that Fred was a major construction contractor in Monrovia for many years. The fund will provide four annual scholarships to adults so that they can complete certification training in construction at MCAS.

Monrovia Rotary President Darrell Brooke explains the process: “Through the Fred Bowden Family Vocational Scholarship program, the Monrovia Rotary will contribute 50 percent of the cost per student, and the MCAS will cover the other 50 percent. This is the same formula we have been using successfully for the last several years for certification in other fields.  Our goal is the same: putting people to work.”

The mission of the Monrovia Community Adult School is “Helping to Build the Future Together” by reaching out to the community to create more opportunities.  These scholarships will help to fulfill that mission with assisting students in programs such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification.  Other programs will offer information about construction materials and practices, plan reading, and networking opportunities for those already working in construction.  Each course lasts 26 weeks and ends with certification in a particular construction field.

As the Bowden Construction part of this program, Todd Bowden, Fred’s son, is offering job site access to these scholarship recipients after they have received their certification.  Bowden said of the program, “We are thrilled to walk along this journey with everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing it come to life.”

Service

Stop Hunger Now Packing Event to be Held Nov 15 at MHS

The Monrovia Rotary Club and MHS Interact Club will be holding a Stop Hunger Now food packing event at Monrovia High School on November 11, 2014 to assemble over 12,000 meals to help support ongoing school feeding programs that sustain lifelong change.

Stop Hunger Now is an international hunger relief agency that has been fulfilling its commitment to end hunger for more than 15 years.   Since 1998, the organization has coordinated the distribution of food and other lifesaving aid to children and families in countries all over the world.

Stop Hunger Now created its meal packaging program, in 2005. The program perfected the assembly process that combines rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix including 21 essential vitamins and minerals into small meal packets. Each meal costs only 29 cents. The food stores easily, has a shelf-life of two years and transports quickly. Stop Hunger Now works with international partners that ship and distribute the meals in-country.

The event will be held from 9am to noon in the MHS Gym and should prove to be immensely fun, hands-on, and rewarding for people of all ages.

For those unable to attend the event but still want to help, you can donate online at https://monroviarotaryclub.com/donations/

Please click on the Paypal button and before submitting, enter “Stop Hunger Now” in the field titled “Project Donating To” to direct your donation to the Stop Hunger Now event.

Event Contact: Jenny Pappano 626-318-9275

Service

Monrovia Rotary/Interact Clubs clean up Rotary Park on “Make a Difference” Day

The Monrovia Rotary Club and the Monrovia High School Interact Club teamed up on Saturday, October 25, 2014 to clean up Rotary Park on E Lime Avenue and S California Ave in Monrovia for the annual Make a Difference Day.  We cleared out overgrown plants and trimmed them down to 4ft high to allow for better visibility into the park from the street as well as cleared out leaves and trash from planters.  The sand was sifted through on the playground and redistributed.  The team worked for the entire morning both young and old to get the project completed and the results looks fantastic!

 

 

Rotary News

Monrovia Rotary & Action on Film Fesival Screening “BEHIND THE GATE” AUG. 23, 4PM

Action on Film will present a showing of “Behind the Gate”, a documentary film which examines the changes in the Horse Racing Industry.  Narrated by Joe Pesci, the film also features some of the biggest names in the industry, many of them local to the San Gabriel Valley, including Oscar De La Hoya, Bob Baffert, Doug O’Neill, Laffit Pincay and Gary Stevens, and many others.

The screening on Saturday August 23, 2014 at 4pm at the Krikorian Theater in Monrovia will benefit the Monrovia Rotary Club’s community service projects, including Santa Clothes, Essay, Music & Speech Contests, Camp sponsorships for 8th and 11th graders, Interact Club at Monrovia High School, as well as contributing to worthy local organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, “Yes” Program through City of Monrovia, Girl and Boy Scouts, Santa Anita Family YMCA and many more. See a more complete listing at www.monroviarotary.com

Tickets may be purchased at
http://aoffest.com/store/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=641&adminPreview=1
for $15/person.

Service

Monrovia Rotary Food Drive for Foothill Unity Center

We are pleased to be able to conduct a Holiday Food Drive for the Foothill Unity Center. Please bring the items (listed below) to our regular meeting on July 29th or the Unity Center will gladly accept a cash donation. Foothill Unity Center is a 501(c)3, and your donations are tax deductible.

President Earll is making copies of the needed items and and passing them out to ten of his neighbors. If we all take the similar action, this Food Drive will be a big success! We have a great opportunity to help brighten Thanksgiving for many folks who are in need and get our new Rotary year off to a great start!

Cans or Packages – No perishables or Fresh Bread, Please
Turkey Certificates, Canned Meats/Tuna, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Stuffing Mix, Hearty Soups, Mixed Veggies, Packaged Beans/Rice/Pasta, Corn Bread/Biscuit Mix, Cereals (Hot or Cold), James & Jellies, Cake/Brownie/Cookie Mixes, Salad Dressing, Frosting, Canned Yams, Jell-o, Peanut Butter, Spaghetti Sauce, Mac and Cheese, Rice A’Roni.

Club History

Bryan Earll takes the Helm as Monrovia Rotary Club President

July 1 is a day where around the world, new Rotary Presidents are taking on their appointed leadership role.  Today was no different for Monrovia Rotarian Bryan Earll.  Bryan Earll, Monrovia Rotary’s 95th President, is the current President and Owner of Apex Fasteners located in Monrovia, CA and is also a resident of Monrovia with his wife Sarah Earll.  He has worked in the Fastener Industry for 26 years.

President Earll was handed the reigns and his Presidential pin today at his inaugural meeting today at noon by newly Past-President Alexander Blackburn.  Earll presented four goals for the year:

  1.  Have fun
  2. Honor our club by becoming a 100% Paul Harris Club
  3. Approve the updated Rotary Constitution and By-Laws
  4. Establish a strategic plan and vision for our club moving forward.

Earll was clear in his message that “this is not “My Club” it’s “Our Club” and it’s “Your Club”. It’s “Our Year” to collectively shape a vision of what we would like to accomplish over time and we have a great future ahead of us.”

Rotary News

Local Monrovia Students Win Awards at Rotary District 5300 Conference

On Saturday, May 17, 2014,  Rotary District 5300 held its annual George Hensel Ethics Speech and 4-Way Test Essay Contests in Palms Springs, CA. Two local Monrovia high school students won awards in each contest.

Sarah Noor (an 11th grader at MHS) took home the grand prize of first place in the The George Hensel Ethics Essay Contest and won $3000.00.

Madeline Currey (also an 11th grader at MHS) was runner up in the 4-Way Speech Contest and received $1100.00.

Both students competed with students from almost 60 other Rotary Clubs across Southern California and Southern Nevada.

In addition to sponsoring these two contests, Monrovia Rotary sends 8th and 11th graders to leadership camp each year. It has also awarded a total of $10,000.00 to seniors from Monrovia High School, Canyon Oaks and Mountain Park.

Monrovia Rotary Club recognizes the importance of helping students become leaders in the community.

 

Service

Second annual Santa Clothes Project to assist 50 local disadvantaged youth

The Rotary Club of Monrovia will once again be helping out local children in need for the holiday season. On December 7th, 50 disadvantaged children identified by Santa Anita Family Services will get a special treat this holiday season. Through the assistance of the Rotary Club of Monrovia, Kohl’s and Wells Fargo, the 50 students will get the opportunity to shop for new clothing and shoes. Each child will be paired with a Monrovia High School Interact Club member, adult Rotarian, or adult Wells Fargo staff member to assist with their shopping and will be able to purchase $125 worth of school appropriate clothing.

This is the second year that the Rotary Club of Monrovia has offered the Santa Clothes project to less fortunate children in the Monrovia area. Last year the program was able to assist 30 children with $120 each and we are very happy to be able to extend the benefit to 50 children this year at $125 each.  Monrovia Rotarian Karen Lujan stated “I was personally able to assist two children last year to pick out clothes and shoes and it was one of the most rewarding things I haven done all year. The parents were so appreciative of the program and the kids faces beamed as they showed us all their purchases (some even wearing them out of the store).”

Tax deductible donations (501(c)3 EID: 51-0656409) are being accepted online for the Santa Clothes project to help fund more children at https://monroviarotaryclub.com/donations/. Please help if you are able to. Just click on the button with the Santa hat to help contribute to this great project. The more money we can raise, the more kids we can assist this holiday season.