4th Annual International Food Festival
A World Class Event!
On Sunday afternoon April 23rd 2006, at the Malibu home of Tom and Stephanie Loo, the Club held its Fourth International Food Festival. The Festival featured home-prepared dishes made by members from the approximately two dozen different ethnic groups to which the Club’s Rotarians or their spouses claim ancestry. This year’s event also emphasized the difference of beverages from around the world. The afternoon event was the highest attended in its history and drew well over 200 members and guests, including District Governor Ingo Werk, District Governor-Elect Scot Clifford, Past District Governors Pat Cashin, and Rick Mendoza and their respective spouses or guests. The event also included the Rotary Group Study Exchange Team from Vancouver, British Columbia as well as several Rotarians from Sweden. The Event also included a dozen members of the Santa Monica College Rotaract Club who helped with the logistics and got a chance to see what our Club’s all about!
One purpose of the family-oriented Food Festival was to celebrate the diversity within the Santa Monica Club and to raise funds to provide assistance to the local and international charitable programs. Another is have an event that family members of all ages could enjoy themselves with the Club’s extended family. This year approximately twenty young children partied while their parents and grandparents sampled Pina Colatas and Margaritas.
In addition to the great food and live ethnic music from several bands, the Santa Monica Club held a silent auction which grossed over $11,000 with dozens of items secured or donated by members. Many thanks go out to the following for planning and putting on such a fantastic event!
 |
Jillian Alexander, Karim Jaude, Oded Wolf, Barry Bouley -- Raffle and Silent Auction |
|
Steve Alexis, Nicole Dickerson -- Food |
|
Monika White -- Music |
|
Tish Tisherman -- Rotaract liaison, auction and barmaid deluxe |
|
Sally Pai, Susan Dawson –- Event organization and Beverages |
|
June Doy -- Shepard of the Rotary Flock |
|
Ross Harrop –- Publicity |
|
Tom Loo – Guarantor of Good Weather and Cleanup |
Last, the Club extends its thanks to the many donors to the Raffle, Silent Auction and live auction. Their generosity will help our Club make this world a better place. Special thanks to Mike Nichols and Carlson’s for their financial assistance in securing the Grand Prize for the Festival.
And a special thanks goes out to Tom Loo and his lovely wife Stephanie for helping in the planning of this event and allowing us to use their beautiful Malibu residence overlooking the Pacific Ocean!
|
This is a great picture of our Hostess Stephanie Loo who is shown on the right with her good friend Ronni Hollander. |
Our host Tom Loo is shown carrying on a lively football discussion with Marvin's wife Ruth Levin. Tom is trying to explain what Reggie was thinking when he lateralled the ball back to an unknown USC player. |
|
|
Oded Wolf on the left is shown with his son Alex. Bill Buxton on the right is shown with his son Will. The children had a great time playing in the children's play area. By the looks of things the pops had just as much fun.
|
| Ryan Loo left is shown with a couple of his friends. This year a giant blow-up bouncy toy was provided for all the kids. By the way make sure you click on the picture in order to see it in full size. You will see the tattoos (on Ryan's face and hand) that were provided to all the kids and also to some of the adults. |
|
|
|
Our favorite Executive Secretary and Shepard of the Rotary Flock is shown with her cute new puppy "Bailey". One question June, where is Mochie? |
We checked the records and discovered that this is Ken Mirch's first Food Festival that he has attended. By the way Ken was on the committee that planned and organized our award winning public servant's award day. Way to go Ken! |
|
|
|
New member Ron Davis and Vickie shown with the Mariachi band playing in the background. Ron took one look at the great Pacific Ocean view and told us that he was going to go surfing with his son as soon as the event ended. |
| Larry Maher's wife, Brenda, is shown playing with their grandson Tyler. This is Brenda's first Food Festival. She couldn't wait to come to this year's event after hearing about the children's activities. (By the way, can you tell if Tyler is having a good time?) |
|
|
|
Shown starting left is Hal and his lovely wife Kai-Li
Quigley, and District Superstars Ron and Guin Lyster. CPA Hal, who is
recovering from a tough tax season, tells us he is leaving for a two week
visit to Mexico starting this next Friday.
Hal, |
|
Heineken man! Our Governor Ingo Werk is shown on the right enjoying a Heineken with former Wilshire Club President John Miron. Thanks Governor for showing us that you care by attending our event! |
|
|
|
Our hidden camera's caught this great picture of relatively new member Pat Bofird. Pat is a music professional and executive of Music Creations. By the way Pat, Mike Nichols is looking for you. |
Steve Alexis is shown taking a casual stroll around the Loo's beautiful Japanese garden with his wife Mardi. Steve, I love the coordinated outfits! |
|
|
|
Paul gets some speaking tips from KABC's world famous radio talk show host Ray Briem. |
| I don't think I can remember a time when Karim Jaude is not smiling. Karim told us how the Food Festival originally came about, and how it became the major project and fund raiser that it is today. |
|
|
|
World famous film producer Petra Haffter is shown serving PP Bill Crookston some Asian Culinary delights (Sushi and Onigiri, thanks to Hiroko Ikeda) |
| Mike Nichols left is shown with Robert Segal who is the founder of the World famous HelpGuide.org. Mike (Craft Talk Chair) wanted us to notify him as soon as our reporters spotted new members who have not yet given their craft talk. |
|
|
|
Erik Jorgensborg is shown cracking up after hearing a joke from one of our quick witted attorney members. Erik has recently reopened the World Famous Fisher Lumber Company in Santa Monica. Our Web team advises all to come out and say hello to Erik at his newly reopened store! |
| Scott Wagenseller is shown with his wife Ashley. Rumor has it that Ashley is pregnant and they are expecting their first child shortly. Congratulations! |
|
|
|
David Mortensen is shown with his friend Kathryn. We know that David is a die-hard Notre Dame fan. We are puzzled to observe why David is wearing a Texas Longhorn hat. We promise to get to the bottom of this and report back shortly.
|
| New member and World Class CPA George Pickell is shown with his daughter Delaney. George has just recovered from a tough IRS audit, but he informs us that he won the case, and all is well for his client. |
|
|
|
New member Diana Price is shown with her husband Dr. Cecil Smith. Diana is an executive at the Automobile Club. A few weeks ago she gave us her craft talk and was awarded 5 Rotary Stars for her stellar presentation! |
| Fred and Elizabeth Rafeedie are shown with their sons Mathew, Adam, and Daniel. Fred, this is a great picture of you and your family! |
|
|
|
President Paul makes it look so easy! Paul was this year's Master of Ceremonies. Paul gets 5 Rotary Stars for his world class leadership! |
|
And this Years Winner is Susan Dawson! Susan, who won a Pink Pearl Necklace, is congratulated by committee members Sally Pai (left) and Jillian Alexander (center). By the way this group was voted as the one with the best smile! |
|
|
|
Shown starting left is Tricia Ricard, June and Glenn Ricard. We found out that Glenn who is a world famous contractor loves to surf and is going to join Ron Davis later on today. |
| Holly Gustlin is a Senior Loan Officer at AmeriCorp Funding. She told us not to be fooled by Paul Gaulke's angelic pose. "He is only holding water in his hand to convince us that he is a health nut." |
|
|
|
Bob Trimborn is the Manager of Santa Monica Airport. Our cameras caught Bob sipping on a Pina' Colata chasing it down with a piece of candy. He tells us that he made several bids at the silent auction auction table. We we will report back next year to tell you what bids he won. |
|
Tish Tisherman shown with her Rotaract Family! |
|
|
|
PP Bill Crookston shown staring as Moses as he attempts to part the Red Sea (actually it's the Pacific Ocean) |
.... What a day - our Rotary mission in life - to meet friends and develop strong personal relationships was met! - Larry
