September 1, 1976 the date when Robert (Bob) Phillips became a member of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Noon. In 2021 the Club was celebrating 50 years and asked Bob to contribute to the book.
The Author of the 50th Anniversary Book was very grateful to him for the contributions he made to the book and inspired by his #serviceaboveself and his enthusiasm.
Westlake Rotary Memories of Bob Phillips
-member since 1976
Westlake Rotary memories of Bob Phillips member since September 1976 how do you put all your club history memories of a 46 year membership in a club into a few paragraphs but let's see what I can do.
Service Above Self from the beginning and accepting club leadership when able and asked. Attending district and international conventions is a good start for any new member keep all of your Rotary Rosters and saved pictures. These will help to refresh your memory. I attended two International Conventions in Los Angeles and in Birmingham UK my year as club president. Many Rotarians travel every year to the Rotary International convention. You learn so much about how Rotary fits in the community and internationally you develop many new friends like Wade Namura, and his great Rotary slide history and PRLS presentation that every member should view and past Director Sam Green when help is needed on Rotary and personal matters.
Many clubs set up member resource committees to help club members with their own personal confidential problems. Sam helped my Westlake high school acquaintance in Miles City Mt be released and acquitted from jail for a capital offense through his Montana Rotary contacts. I have been seeing during my 46 year clubs over 1000 RCWLD members in attendance at the Westlake Village Inn, Hyatt Hotel and North Ranch CC meetings many of these club members were leaders of the Conejo Valley with their own history and experiences I remember them all starting as male club and then the transition to men and women with US Supreme Court decision. Weekly Rotary club 3 minute information presentations, club singing, fine sessions recognition added to my own understanding of Rotary. I was fortunate during my year as president to have such speakers at our meetings a Hanoi Hilton prisoner, Wade Nomura, Deepa Willingham, Rotary first woman president, Sylvia Whitlock, director Sam Green.
Before the start of the street fair I started off my first week as Rotary as the new chairman of the Conejo Valley days kickoff picnic in my 20s, which was a big job for the new kid on the block. I had to attend all the service club meetings in the Conejo Valley, wow, what a leadership jump for a new member. Parades, contests, whiskeroo, badgeroo, Miss Conejo Valley days with such performers as the actor James Cann.
I remember being the first club director of the Polio Plus funds program and working under founding member RCWLV Cy Johnson who later became district governor. My nine years as the District 5240 Director and judge for the Rotary International group steady exchange developed many memories and friends here and abroad from countries like Italy Argentina Germany and India. My wife and I hosted and visited and they came later to Thousand Oaks and we hosted again.
I met my wife of 43 years Trudy during those early Rotary membership years. Trudy has been by my side as a spouse home Hostess of Rotary Christmas parties, progressive dinners and events. Trudy is a Paul Harris fellow, six week master PRLS graduate.
The in our home club Christmas parties scholarship meetings and other nine years GSE gathering and dinners added to those friendships and memories.
I'm a 51 year instrument flight instructor I belong to the fall flying Rotarians Have a fly about at the International Convention RI Director Vicki Pulitz is a non-flying member many sub Rotarian clubs like the flying Rotarians have information boosts at the International Convention I remember attending Rotary clubs when traveling to Gettysburg a Rotarian owned hotel Rotarian city manager private tour of Williamsburg VA Seattle a private tour presidential palace in Buenos Aires hosted by the sister of the vice president Mexico district conference going to Brazil the United Kingdom also develop your understanding of how Rotary fits in the world some of these I had to use my high school Spanish speaker travel, you will be treated like royalty in your royal Rotary pins, especially club president pin.
Rotary helped to prepare me as a major for my three-year squadron commander position with the US Air Force auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. In conclusion put your family first, develop Rotary friends, accept Rotary Club and District leadership when able and asked, travel to other clubs locally and internationally, attend international RI conventions, keep your old rosters for your later memories and you will see how Rotary fits into your life as you journey.
Bob Phillips RCWLV Past President
September 10th, 2021
