InternatIonal assembly

San Diego

LA2008 Host Organization Committee Newsletter January 2008 Issue The LA2008 Host Organization Committee for the Los Angeles 2008 RI Convention is a collaborative venture of Rotary International Districts: 5240, 5260, 5280, 5300, 5320, 5330, 5340

COUNTDOWN 2008

• March 31 is last chance to enjoy discounted registration fee.

• Register today for all Host Events and make your hotel reservations at www.rotary2008.org. Space is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. Act now to get best prices, seats and rooms.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Natalie Cole to Headline at the Nokia Theater

• Welcome to Southern California

• The Stolen Rotary Bell

• 3 Ways to Be a Star in L.A.

• Hidden Gems

• How to Dress Like a Star in L.A.

• Rotaractors Get in the Act

See the Stars! Register by MARCH 31 to enjoy discounted registration fees!

13-20 January 2008

Hot News from the

LA2008 HOCwww.rotary2008.info

WELCOME to Sunny Southern California!The LA2008 HOC Host DGs, Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego and Mayor

Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles join L.A. Inc (Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau) in welcoming RI President Wilf, RI First Lady Joan, and all 529 District Governors of Rotary International from around the globe.

Los Angeles has hosted two past RI Conventions, in 1922 and 1962, and in the past 46 years, the City of Angels has evolved to become a world class center of culture, finance, trade and commerce, manufacturing, sports, high technology, fashion, education, entrepreneurship and creativity.

We have over 140 cultures, speak 135 languages and have 92 consulates to serve you. The 374 clubs of our seven host districts, representing 18,200 Rotarians, invite you to return in June for the LA2008 Convention. Create lifelong memories as you and your families explore and discover the Golden State that your relatives, friends and business associates call home.

LA2008 Host DGEs DG 5240 Jane McClenahan (RC Ojai West)

DG 5260 Larry Jernigan (RC Lancaster Sunrise)

DG 5280 David Moyers (RC Palos Verdes Sunset)

DG 5300 Charlie Barr (RC Upland)

DG 5320 John Brainerd (RC Newport Irvine)

DG 5330 Mark Howison (RC Perris)

DG 5340 Jim O’Meara (RC Carlsbad)

- - - Come to the Convention…Stay for the fun! - - -

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Photo: Natalie Cole Credit: © Bounce, Inc.

Natalie Cole, multiple Grammy® Award winner and daughter of the legendary Nat ‘King’ Cole, will perform on Saturday evening at the new Nokia Theatre L.A. Live as part of the “California Experience.”

Cole is a major entertainer in her own right. Her considerable work includes familiar crossover smashes from 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990s; hits from other artists; and a whopping lifetime album sales of over 30 million worldwide. (cont. page 2)

June14: California Experience!Star of the entertainment world: Eight-time Grammy® Award Winner

Natalie Cole

“Rotary Today” Day: June 17 Star of the medical world:

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization Dr. Chan will make a presentation during the plenary session on Tuesday, June 17. She will share with us the current and future steps to eliminate polio once and for all time. Rotary’s part in this effort is critical, as from the first we have been a major partner with WHO, UNICEF, and CDC. “Future of Rotary” Day: June 18 Star of the philanthropic world:

Stephen Lewis, Co-Director of AIDS-Free World Formerly the Special Envoy to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Stephen Lewis authored the best-selling “Race Against Time,” an award-winning title for “Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2006” by the Canadian Booksellers Association.

Natalie Cole (cont.)

Her “Unforgettable: With Love,” album went to #1 on the Billboard album charts and won the Grammy® Awards for “Album of the Year,” and “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.” The song “Unforgettable” used groundbreaking technology to allow her to sing a duet with her late father’s voice. It received the Grammy® for “Record of the Year.” It was followed by Grammy® accolades during the 1990s, including “Best Jazz Vocal” for “Take a Look” (1993) and “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” for “When I Fall in Love” in 1996. Her latest album, “Leavin’,” with its September 2007 release, reveals her soulful roots with which she collaborated with famed R&B producer Dallas Austin (TLC, Boyz II Men, Madonna, Janet Jackson, etc.)

The opening act for Natalie Cole will be Grammy® winner as well as two-time Emmy®, Academy® and Golden Globe® nominee Steve Tyrell, a world-class entertainer for four decades. Tyrell performed recently with the Boston Pops Orchestra and at the request of the Sinatra Family, opened the Hollywood Bowl season at which Frank Sinatra was inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame.

Postcard from Los Angeles Stolen Rotary Bell Awaits Rescue

To: Rotary Club of San Cristobal de las Casas RID 4200 Chiapas State, Mexico

From: Your Club Bell

Dear Rotarians,How very clever of you ladies to give me to visit-

ing U.S. Group Study Exchange team leader Angi Ma Wong (RID5280 Los Angeles) back in May. You sneaked me into her big handbag during the launch of the water project that we did with our Sister City Ashville Breakfast Rotary Club (RID 7690 North Caro-lina).

It is one of our club’s traditions to send me off with visiting Rotarians so that someone could travel some-where in the world within the year to bring me home. This time will be exciting because a group of you will be coming to the 99th RI Convention in Los Angeles to bring me back home in June 2008.

There are worst places to be kidnapped than to California. I’m actually having a wonderful time here, visiting the stars’ homes, enjoying so many of the

ethnic restaurants and tourist spots. In my entire 35-year life, I have never been skiing in the winter SNOW in the nearby mountains early in the morning and then surfing in the Pacific Ocean in the afternoon.

Here is a picture of me enjoying the beautiful sunset from the cliffs at Palos Verdes where Rotarian Wong’s club is located. Be sure to sign up for the Host Hospitality Event on Monday night RIGHT AWAY because it is first come, first serve and space is limited at these unique events hosted by local Rotary clubs.

For example, the Palos Verdes Sunset Rotarians will bring me to a catered dinner at the Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center as their guest of honor. Did you know that it is one of the premier whale watching sites in the world? I will wait for you there for you to pick me up. Miss you all and wish you were here, Your Club Bell

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Ever have the fantasy of conducting a world-class orchestra? Here’s your once-in-a-lifetime chance! June 17

In addition to attending the exclusive, Rotary Interna-

tional-only Concert Under the Stars at the Hollywood Bowl,

one lucky Rotarian will have the opportunity to bid on and

win the chance to conduct the world-famous Hollywood

Bowl Orchestra!

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra has provided a unique

fund raising opportunity to the Rotary International Founda-

tion in connection with its performance at the Hollywood

Bowl on Tuesday, June 17. The Orchestra is allowing the

auction of the conducting of the American National Anthem,

“The Star-Spangled Banner,” at the beginning of the concert.

The USA National Anthem will be preceded by President Wilf

conducting the Canadian National Anthem, “O Canada,” on

the evening of June 17th.

Three Ways to Be a Star! Register Today1 2 3

1The high bidder will receive the following:

a. Attendance at one rehearsal session with the evening’s conductor

b. Recognition in the evening’s program as the guest conductor

c. Autographed pictures with President Wilkinson and the evening’s conductor

d. Rotary International Foundation recognition for the entire amount of the winning bid

Watch for details soon on the www.Rotary2008.org

home page and on the LA2008 Host Ticketed Events link.

Then keep visiting this website to monitor your bid and

keep up with the program of this Tuesday night Holly-

wood Bowl event.

Will itbe you

?

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Star in the International Family Reunion at a Host Hospitality Event: June 16

Be a part of the No. 1 reason Rotarians give for attending a convention as you and your family enjoy a one-of-a-kind event planned and executed by local Rotar-ians and Rotary clubs to SHARE ROTARY through food, fun and friendship. Attending a Hospitality Event with fellow Rotarians from all over the globe gives you the rare, profound and enriching opportunity to personally experience Southern California’s unique and diverse lifestyle, languages, communities and cultures.

Guests will be hosted at themed dinner parties, backyard barbeques and ethnic meals in members’ homes, restau-rants, parks, local attractions, or even private clubs, some of which are exclusive to members only. Events are planned for the Reagan Library, Universal Studios, the Tournament of Roses House in Pasadena, the Japanese–American Museum, Peterson Automotive Museum, Greystone Mansion, Santa Monica Pier, UCLA Faculty Club, and many other special venues.

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Star in the first-ever Convention Commemorative Project

Enriching, rewarding and satisfying… Rotarians show they

care by taking action! Now you can be involved in the first-ever,

hands-on project at a RI convention – Rotary’s Wide World of

Books, the largest international book drive ever!

Every attendee at LA2008 is asked to PACK ONE (or

more) children’s book(s) in any language and appropriate

for ages kindergarten to third grade (9 years old) for the

Convention. Your contributions will help to build the

Mountain of Books on the convention center floor, and

Rotarians from over 170 countries can read in their

own language to local school children.

At the same time, you will be helping Rotary

International to set a Guinness Book World Record

with this commemorative convention project.

If you can’t come to L.A., send a book or a check

(addressed to Rotary’s Wide World of Books) to:

Ingo Werk, Chair, RWWB -Los Angeles, California,

P.O. Box 1600, Wilmington, CA 90748-1600 USA

HIDDEN GEMS: Whatever Your Passion, LA Has Something Fun for You and Your Family!

Pacific Asia Museum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -One of four institutions in the USA dedicated exclusively

to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Griffith Observatory - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stargazers may view the sky for free from optical and

solar telescopes. Architecture buffs will marvel at the

historic dome and surrounding terraces.

Autry Museum of Western Heritage - - - - - - - - - - - - -“The Singing Cowboy,” Gene Autry, left a marvelous col-

lection of Western memorabilia.

California African American Museum - - - - - - - - - - - -Chronicles the African American journey from the west

coast of Africa to the west coast of America with artifacts,

paintings, crafts, letters and other memorabilia.

Museum of Tolerance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Promoting equality and tolerance in society, CBS Evening

News called this a “one-of-kind” experience. View Holo-

caust documents and artifacts.

Peterson Automotive Museum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Features state-of-the art presentations of race cars, classic

cars, hot rods, motorcycles, movie and celebrity cars. -Jennifer Floto, Rotary Club of Hermosa Beach

LA is a museum-lover’s dream come true. From the renowned J. Paul Getty Museums to the Gene Autry Mu-

seum of Western Heritage and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, LA boasts more museums and cultural institutions

than most U.S. cities. Art, science, paleontology, maritime, tolerance, history, Hollywood legends — you name it;

LA has a museum for it. There are over 80 in the Greater Los Angeles area. Besides the obvious choices that your

guidebooks will highlight, Rotarians won’t want to miss some of these gems:

American Film Institute - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Movie buffs will delight in the historic photos, but the

film preservation efforts will thrill you.

Martial Arts History Museum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Did you know that Theodore Roosevelt was one of

the first students of judo and that James Cagney and

James Colburn were among the first actors to demon-

strate martial arts in film? Take a relaxing and scenic

ride to Santa Clarita on the Metrolink to discover how

the history, art, culture and traditions of Asian martial

arts have impacted Western society.

Chinese American Museum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Housed in the historic brick building that Felipe Garnier

constructed specifically in 1889 for the Chinese, this

little treasure is located at Los Angeles’ birthplace at El

Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Perma-

nent and temporary exhibits showcase the contribu-

tions of the Chinese to the development of Southern

California.

In general: Business casual for both men and women; jackets, shirts, slacks.

Hollywood Bowl and Host Hospitality events: Dress comfortably in layers

and wear comfortable footwear in case you do a lot of walking because the

Bowl and many of the Host Hospitality venues are outdoors. Be sure to include

a light to medium weight jacket/sweater/wrap, as June evenings in Southern

California are always cool, regardless of warm daytime temperatures.

Nokia Theater: Formal or semi formal dress for enjoying the wine and cheese

tasting, classic car exhibition, and especially for walking on the red carpet un-

der the spotlights and flashes of the paparazzi!

How to Dress for LA2008

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SIGN UPfor one or more of over 26

Pre & Post Convention Tours or Day Tours.

VISIT www.LA2008.western-leisure.com

FIRST COME, FIRST SERvED!

Published by the LA2008 Host Organization Committee A Collaborative Venture of R.I. Districts 5240, 5260, 5280, 5300, 5320, 5330, & 5340

Marketing & Hospitality Division Mike Birkholm (D5280) Chair Marc Leeka (D5280) Vice-Chair Angi Ma Wong (D5280) Communications Chair Jenn Floto (D5280) Asst. Communications Chair

Design: Darylynn Polamero (D5300); Jock MacKenzie (D5240); Martin Anderson (D5240)

Copywriter: John Miron (D5280)

Photo Credit: Downtown Skyline; © Michele & Tom Grimm

Rotaractors Plan to See the Stars

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See the Stars! Register by MARCH 31 to enjoy discounted registration fees!

Rotaractors from around the world plan to live up to their namesake of “Rotary In Action” as they prepare to See the Stars alongside Rotarians in Los Angeles in June.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30 and now boasts more than 7,000 Rotaract Clubs in over 160 countries and geographi-cal areas, with over 170,000 members around the globe. After a strong showing of Rota-ractors in Salt Lake City for the 98th Annual Rotary Convention, hundreds of Rotaractors are expected to descend upon Los Angeles in June 2008.

The Rotaract Preconvention Meeting is held in the days leading up to the Rotary Convention and serves as an annual meeting focusing on Rotaract. Traditionally, the Rotaractors from the host region organize social gatherings and fellowship opportuni-ties to be enjoyed by all preconvention participants. This year’s committee, chaired by RI Rotaract Committee member Roderick Brown, has planned the following slate of star-studded events:

Star Search, welcome night for Rotaractors

Star Struck, night on the town at an exclusive Hollywood club

Under the Stars, boat party on the Queen Mary

Starry-Eyed Service Project, in conjunction with Shane’s Inspiration at Griffith Park

Be a Star, behind the scenes tour of Sony Studios

Superstars, volunteering at Rotary’s Night at the Hollywood Bowl

A Star is Born, Rotaract 40th Anniversary Luncheon

For more information about the events, please visit www.rotaract2008.com

1) Register NOW for LA2008

2) Purchase Host Event Tickets

3) Be a Host for Home Hospitality

4) Become a Volunteer!

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