President Dapper Spar opened the October 21, 2015 meeting of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village

 

Audrey Brown led the flag salute

Brian Hines led in the song

Ed Pope gave the invocation

 

 

 

Then we have the Great Pumpkin Social at Steve Kerrigan’s that afternoon starting at 4:30.  If you signed up to bring something – don’t forget. Of course - costumes greatly appreciated.

 

Rose Tudor was to receive her Blue Badge but she was AWOL. 

Kimmy Tharpe was to receive her Blue Badge but it was “lost in the mail.”

 

Past weekend the Rotary Foundation seminar was given and Ed Pope will discuss at another meeting.  Ed, Steve Kerrigan and Karl Knickmeyer attended the seminar.

 

Lee Ginsburg gave the report for Fun & Games with “the checks are in the mail.”

 

There is a Bravery Uncorked event Saturday (24^th) at The Landing, sponsored by Hamid (owner of Bocaccio’s and the Grill & Sushi Bar).  Hamid helps our Club a lot and support this event would be appreciated. Event runs from 1 – 5 pm and benefits The National Wounded Warrior Center in Mammoth.

 

October 24 is World Polio Day.  We will do “Happy Dollars” next week to raise a little extra money for that event.

 

Thanks to Audrey Brown, Armando Lozano, Todd Fisher, Steve Kerrigan & “Rockin’” Jeanne Archer for representing our Club at the Thousand Oaks Street Fair.  Audrey & Armando really worked the room on our behalf.

 

In Memoriam:            Jeanne Archer sadly informed us that Richard Kohlbrand, a longtime member of the T.O. Club has passed.   His son, John Kohlbrand was a member of our Club for many years.  Our condolences to John and the Kohlbrand family.

 

Introductions: 

 

Dapper Spar introduced Ken Warner, a Visiting Rotarian from Thousand Oaks

 

 

Armando Lozano introduced his guests:

            Cheri Mercer, CEO of the Westlake Culinary Institute

            Frank Perez, owner of a direct credit card processing company

            Karen Dry, Financial Advisor & CFP, with Northwestern Mutual

 

Program:            Dr. Herbert E. Gooch, III, PhD.

 

            Dr. Gooch is Professor of Political Science at California Lutheran University.  He formerly served as Director of the Masters in Public Policy and Administration program and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies at Cal Lutheran.  A graduate of U.C. Berkeley in History, he holds a M.B.A in Management and both masters and doctoral degrees in Political Science from U.C.L.A.  He has written extensively and is a frequent commentator on political affairs locally and statewide.  He has been at Cal Lutheran since 1987 and lives in Newbury Park with his wife and son who attends Cal Lutheran.

 

            Dr. Gooch gave a tremendous presentation of today’s political landscape.  He explained how recent redistricting has assisted the Republican Party.  However, the voter concentration in the west coast, east coast and major cities has assisted the Democrats.   As a result, the “competitive seats” in Congress are shrinking.  He finds that the Democrats tend to be comprised of women, minorities and the younger voters.  Where the Republicans tend to be non-Hispanic and white by comparison.

 

            Dr. Gooch said that the Republican representation in the House of Representatives is the largest since the Civil War – 247 vs 188.  Noting that it takes only 218 to elect the Speaker of the House, the Republicans will have that locked up for the near future.

 

            Finally, Dr. Gooch gave a very interesting and enlightening discussion of the top Presidential candidates.  This led to a very interesting and appreciated Q & A.

 

President Dapper Spar thanked Dr. Gooch for his presentation to our Club and then adjourned the meeting.