Copy of The Flag - May 2nd, 2018 (May 03, 2018)

Last week's program was one of the year's favorites; Harold announced the The Four-Way Test Essay Contest winners and some of the winners read their essays. Thank you to Harold and his committee for an excellent job on organizing the event.

Harold started the program by thanking Stephanie Harbourne for her years of service doing this program as well as the current members of the committee. Harvey, Margie, Gary and Ruth. Karen did the certificates. After the teachers at the luncheon were introduced. Barbara Harrison from Oak Park Independent School spoke about how she uses the Four Way Test in her writing classes.
The winners of essay contest were then introduced and given plaques. There were four winners in each of three age categories; Elementary, Middle School and High School.
Seven students read their essays
►Katie Pregitzer spoke about how she used the Four Way Test to help her decide whether she should live with her mother or her father.
►Alexandra Reierson used the Four Way Test to help her be kinder to others and more truthful at school. In an effort to be fair to everyone she picks certain friends during group class work and different friends for activities at lunch.
►Harold read John List's essay which was about how his mother asked him to load up the car with supplies to entertain the poor while they were waiting in line for food. His mom asked if he wanted to go distribute the supplies with her. He decided it was better than sitting on the couch. John was shocked at the number of people that needed food.
►Ava Greenwaldt read her essay about how she and her family have helped give out over 400 stockings full of toiletries and toys. She says she loves doing that every year.
►Malavika Ranjit used the Four Way Test to help her assimilate into different schools. She has moved a lot and found it hard to be herself when trying to fit in. She decided she was lying to herself if she just tried to be popular and tried to please people.
►Michael Fuller woke up one day in December to the fires. The first thing he thought about was his horse, Shorty. When Shorty was safe he helped remove other horses from the fire zone. He believed it was beneficial to all.
►Adi Eminente is transgender and used the Four Way Test to guide him in his struggle to reveal his true self. He worried during that time if it would be beneficial to everyone if he told the truth about himself. He used the Four Way Test on his journey of self discovery. In the end , his family and friends all accepted him.

Harold ended the meeting by saying that if these kids are the future, he will relax and not worry.

Ruth provided the following comments about her experience helping with the essay contest: The Four Way test was my first involvement in a Rotary Committee and in retrospect it was a great place to begin. The visits to local schools to pass out information were divided between the committee members. For me, it was the Oak Park schools. As a relative newcomer to the area, it was good to get acquainted with this part of our community.
As the deadline approached, the essays dribbled in and Harold and I wondered if we would have enough for the contest. Then the day before the deadline, in they came. Harold and his wife did the first reading and then sent thirty essays with numbers on them to identify the writers, to each member of the committee with a numerical scoring sheet. As I read through the essays, I was moved by the thoughtfulness of the student responses and the depth of openness the students displayed. All of them were excellent and it was extremely difficult not to give every entry a “10."
We are fortunate to have such outstanding students and teachers in our community. The spirit of giving and serving others stood out as a theme of these essays. As I finished reading, I thought that if these are the young people who are going to inherit our country, we are fortunate indeed.
We are indebted to Stephanie Bell-Harbourne for setting up and running this program for many years. Thank you, Stephanie, for making it so easy for us to follow in your footsteps.

Harold also received the following email from Adi's father, which he wanted to share with our Club

Subject: Thank you!

Dear Mr. Hyman,

On behalf of my family, I would like to thank you for a allowing us to be part of such a wonderful event. Adi was thrilled to win but, more importantly, was excited to have the opportunity to share his story. That was the first time that he has spoken in front of a group of people, which was a huge milestone for him. Thank you for all that you and your fellow Rotary Club members do for our children and our community!

Sincerely,

Dale Eminente

This week's program was the History of Thousand Oaks, presented by Ed Jones and Chuck Cohen.

Ed Jones and Chuck Cohen are long time residents of Thousand Oaks, and both are dedicated civil servants who served in every capacity possible in the City. Both were at one time on the City Council and were mayors of the City. Ed lived in Thousand Oaks in 1964 when the City first became incorporated. At that time T.O. had a population of 18,000. The medium household income was $15,000
Both gentlemen were actively involved in the approval of the Thousand Oaks General Plan Dec. 22, 1970. The goal of the T.O. General plan was for Thousand Oaks to become an attractive living and working community. The environment of the city was to be safeguarded and the City was to maintain open space to assure the highest quality of life.
Below are highlights from their talk. Ed also showed a few slides of the early days of Thousand Oaks:
1958 – Photo of Rancho Conejo Blvd.
1962 – Photo of one of the first Conejo Valley Days Parade.
1962 – Metropolitan Water was brought to the Valley. Prior to this all water was from wells.
1962 – Thousand Oaks High School was built.
1965 – Corner of Thousand Oaks Blvd and Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks Blvd was one lane in each direction. There were no sidewalks or mediums. Sheep crowded the street. Many cowboys populated the area. There was only 1 stop sign in Thousand Oaks. Gas was .32 per gallon.
1970’s – Young professionals looking to live outside Los Angeles County were attracted to relocate to the Conejo Valley for less congested life style.

Today, the General Plan of the city of T.O. continually needs to be updated in order for residents to enjoy the highest quality of living. Thousand Oaks is ranked as one of the finest communities in the U.S.