President-Elect Carol Levi has been hard at work, along with her nominating committee, developing a slate of candidates for next year's Board. This is the first of two announcements that the election will be held on Friday, January 30th at 12:40 PM during our regular meeting.
A quorum is required for a successful vote, so please be sure to attend!
The board recently received an invitation from the Rotary Club of Orani in The Philippines to establish a Club Sisterhood between our two clubs. It is hoped that forming this partnership will open meaningful opportunities for both our clubs, strengthening fellowship, expanding our reach, and advancing Rotary's mission through collaboration. While Joint Service Projects and Cultural Exchange are two goals for this endeavor, the possibilities are vast. Be assured that our club has no financial obligations and that if for some reason the partnership is not beneficial to both clubs, then the agreement can be concluded with 60 day notice by either party.
I went on a hike to the crater lake at the top of Mt. Pinatubo, which erupted in 1991, the second largest eruption of the 20th century. It is only reachable by a 1.5 hour bumpy 4x4 trip and then a 2 hour trail. Almost near the summit, I was surprised to see this weather-worn Rotary sign made out of concrete. Not sure when it was installed, but there is a 2017-2018 plaque from a club in Manila that has adopted the native Aeta tribe members who live in the area (the same tribe that our club has committed money to help with their school). It’s a wonder how they got it up there. I had to fjord a river about 30 times on the way!
Thank you Paul for sharing and bringing our club and the Rotary Club of Orani together.
Notice of Application Received
We have received an application for membership from Marco Mendoza. Marco is the Managing Director of IFC Advisors in Los Angeles and is a resident of Rolling Hills Estates since 2012. He is married with two children.
Cindy Ingraham Keefer is the artist who created the Celestial Globe, a massive and monumental bronze sculpture installed permanently in Gravity's Stairway at Griffith Observatory in January 2026. The 800-pound bronze sphere that is over 4 foot in diameter draws inspiration from the Farnese Atlas, a second-century Roman sculpture, and features 46 classical constellations cast in bronze. The work offers visitors a striking encounter with the ancient origins of astronomy and the enduring human effort to understand the sky, and rotates to allow viewers to observe how the ancients imagined the heavens turning in Atlas's grip. Realized in close collaboration with structural engineers, fabricators, and Observatory leadership, the Celestial Globe stands as Griffith Observatory's first major new exhibit in nearly two decades and will be experienced by more than 1.5 million annual visitors.
Cindy has been working in bronze for over 15 years working upon commission creating mostly dedication sculptures. She is a multi-disciplinary artist who also supports fashion designers in downtown LA. The Portuguese Bend is her home that she shares with her 2 doodles, dozens of peacocks and her husband, Tom Keefer.
