Gary Scaife of Help R Heroes Told Us This Morning How To Do Just That

A 26-year old firefighter heard some frightening noise coming from a burning building – the cries of a child.  Without a moment’s hesitation, he ran into the flaming structure and found a 10-year old little girl cowering in the living room.  Scooping her up, he made his way out again.  When he got her to safety, he did the best he could the calm her down and make sure she was all right.  He quickly realized she was trying to tell him something.  Her 8-year old brother was still inside.  Handing her over to a colleague, he ran back in and found the brother taking refuge behind a couch.  Moments later firefighter and child were outside and safe. 

Gary Scaife, Managing Director of Help R Heroes, spoke to us this morning

Often, though, this kind of bravery results in injury and even death to our selfless firefighters – we certainly saw that in spade on 9/11.  Gary Scaife’s orgainization is committed to making sure this kind of bravery is not forgotten.  Gary is the managing director of Help R Heroes, a part of Care Partners USA.  Help R Heroes is a non-profit whose goal it is to provide what a simple paycheck won’t in times of personal crisis for injured firefights and the families of the fallen.  As their Website says:  In our communities, firefighters and paramedics work tirelessly performing great acts of bravery.  hRh is dedicated to supporting the success and safety of the men and women who protect us daily.  Through community partnerships, we can make a difference now!  Visit their website for more information and ways to get involved:  www.helprheroes.com

One way you can get involved is by buying a Rotary sponsored Hero Bear pictured here.  The website will tell you exactly how to do that.

Today - May 17, 2011 - We Honored Our Most Improve Students

Our Most Improved Students (with award folders) - L to R - Elzy Segura, Ana Munoz, Ayah Shehadeh, and Humberto "Tito" Murillo 

The Fountain Valley Rotary Honored four “Most Improved Students” this morning.  This is an event we always enjoy.  Seeing students who get it – get the importance of education and of hard work -  then get to experience at least a small part of what both provide – provides all we Rotarians a thrill.

Let’s take a brief look at who we honored and from which Fountain Valley School they came.

First was Elzy Segura, an 8^th grader from Moiola (Fred) Elementary School.  Elzy loves the TV Show Dancing with the Stars.  But her love for dance doesn’t stop there.  She is largely responsible for Moiola starting its very own dance team.  Her two sisters, Adrieh and Lanie, pictured here, joined her this morning, as did her mother and father.  Good job Mr. and Mrs. Segura.

Lanie and Adrieh Segura came to see their sister, Elzy, honored.

Ana Munoz accepting her honor and free bowling party from Joseph Kagel, our present elect.

Ana Munoz with her award - Congrats!!!!

Next we met Ana Munoz, a 12^th Grader (senior) at Valley Vista High School.  Described as just a bit stealth in her school life, this young lady goes about helping and accomplishing much.  Her teacher told the story of how she (the teacher) would “nag” a boy sitting near Ana to straighten up his act, and then see Ana, a little later, help the young man.  “She’s always doing that sort of thing,” her teacher said.  “She helps.  And when we needed kids to head up the prom planning, she volunteered.  Ana possesses good leadership skills.”  And she’s a leader not to be messed with.  Her favorite thing is kick-boxing, and she’s good at it.  Currently she wants to take all those skills and meld them into a career in Law Enforcement. 

Ayah Shahadeh, a 9^th Grader from Los Amigos High School, came next.  Ayah (pronouced I-ah), was a student who came to high school and hadn’t yet decided to embrace her studies.  Well, that’s all changed.  For, not only is Ayah a student who is now ready to leap into the 10^th Grade fray, she is also are artist.  When asked her what she liked to do in her time off, she answered, “Draw.”  So we asked her for a sample – she draws, alright, but what she draws are her designs.  One of those designs follows.

Design by Ayah Shehadeh, (c) 2011 Shehadeh - printed with permission

Humberto "Tito" Murillo accept his honor and free bowling party at the Fountain Bowl from Joseph Kagel

Finally we got to hear from a guy – Humberto “Tito” Murillo.  A senior at Fountain Valley High School, Tito has recently become a role model for his classmates.  Along with liking sports – football and basketball – he’s also been involved with the schools Workability Program, and through it, has found himself a job in the restaurant industry.  He’s not sure, though, that he wants to make a career there.  He’s got his sights sets on taking an Auto Mechanics course at Golden West.  When he gets out, I’ve got a car that needs a good one.

Fountain Valley Rotary Club Honors Area Teachers of the Year

14 Teachers in the Fountain Valley School District Honored as Teachers Of The Year (2010-11)

The Fountain Valley Rotary Club held its annual Teacher Recognition Breakfast at the Offices of the Fountain Valley School District on Tuesday, May 10^th. Fourteen teachers from the area’s elementary schools, middle schools and high schools were honored as Teachers of the Year for the 2010-2011 school year. Many dignitaries were in attendance including members of the Fountain Valley City Council, the Fountain Valley School District Board and the Huntington Beach Union High School and Garden Grove Unified School Districts.

After a welcome from Donna Frank, president of the Fountain Valley Rotary Club, and opening remarks from Marc Ecker, Superintendent of the Fountain Valley School District and a member of the FVRC, the fourteen honorees were introduced. Principals of each of the participating schools introduced each Teacher of the Year from his/her school and commented on the reasons why that teacher was deserving of the honor. Each teacher so honored was then presented with a plaque.

The teachers honored and their schools are: Patti Ostovarpour (Courreges Elementary School), Laurie Frandsen (Cox E.S.), Annalise Winkle (Fountain Valley High School), Evelyn Lee (Fulton Middle School), Christine Conkle (Gisler E.S.), Roger Takahashi (Los Amigos H.S.), Amy Nevin (Masuda M.S.), Michael Waldinger (Moiola School), Lara Epling (Newland E.S.), Mary Jimenez (Oka E.S.), Andrea Benson (Plavan E.S.), Loren Howard (Talbert M.S.), Martha Anderson (Tamura E.S.) and Kenny Villalobos (Valley Vista H.S.).

Bob Banka - Doing One Thing That No One Else Does

Orvil Redenbacher, the popcorn king, once said that the way to success was to do one thing and do it better than anyone else.  That is certainly the overriding motto of our speaker this morning.  Although it took him a long time to get there, Bob Banka, has built a 22 year present and long future by doing just one thing – and being the only one in the known universe to do it.  He has compiled the largest collection of airplane photos and 3-view line drawings of airplanes and he’ll sell any one of them to you from a ¾ inch thick catalog.  “One of the most important things about flying scale model aircraft is building them to scale.  Everything from wings to decals need to be exactly the right size and put in exactly the right place. ”

How did he compile all these photos and 3-view (top, side, and head on) drawings?  “By wading through about 3 tons of airplane magazines.  One at a time, collecting as I went.  Also by going to air shows and airports, anywhere there were planes.”  He showed us a couple of his albums – a page is shown above – the P51D, the P51D Mustang, the P51D Cloud Dancer – each carrying someone either actually, or in their imaginations, into the wild blue yonder.  All to perfect scale.  “And if you need that information, I’m where you have to come.”

And come they have over the past 22 years.  In Orange County alone there are probably 4 to 500 model airplane pilots.

The problem is, business is down.  There are still the same number of enthusiasts, but now the Chinese are supplying them with model kits – all to scale – that the hobbiest can put together in minutes.  “Where they used to spend months hand crafting these models – building something they could really be proud of.  Now they get a kit from China with four of five pieces in it – a little glue here, a little glue there, and it’s together for the hobbiest to fly.  Instant gratification is the name of the game now.  My business is down 75%.  But that’s okay.  I’m fully vested and invested, and the 25% remaining keep me going.”

If you would like to build a P51D, or some other really neat plane, and build it the old way, the hands on, meticulous, to scale way, give Bob and call.  He’ll be all to happy to help.