For the meeting on February 19, 2015 12pm – 1:30pm , members and guests heard Ms. Deborah Warren, Outreach Liaison, for Lynwood Worship Center and for Pastor Woody, talk about several current programs. One current emphasis is working with small groups to teach techniques for single-parenting. Both men and women serving as a single-parent need instruction and support in raising their children. Among the issues to consider are how kids become violent, and generally it is not due to drug use. We are finding out that in addition to life and job skills, personal faith is the greatest strength to leading to successful growing up of children. Also noted was that we need to get both parents and grandparents to be involved in children's lives. Deborah mentioned another issue, that of teenage daughters, wanting to have children at too young of an age, before they are emotionally and financially able to care for their own children.

Deborah distributed a flyer regarding Parents Classes at LWC. The classes will begin in March. The classes will be open to the public at large. There will be two formats: the first module will be geared towards a biblical perspective; and the second will be more expansive and will be based on material from learned, scholars in the field of Child Education. Deborah also explained a handout she had provided the club a month ago, entitled Advance Health Care Directive Kit: My Health Care Wishes, published by the California Medical Assn. She noted that use of this directive serves not only the older population, but also for the younger population in the event of unexpected incapacitation.

On another community problem, Deborah mentioned the continued Forgotten Children Mission of the Worship Center. Deborah noted that recently a truck load of kids (young women} was observed being dropped off along Long Beach Blvd. So, while there has been progress in elimination of the prostitution business along Long Beach Blvd., there continues to be a need to minister to the young women caught up in this business.

Before the speaker, as part of the usual announcements, there was a discussion among everyone who attended last Thursday night the annual Sheriff's dinner meeting and thank you for community leaders, to include Block Watch participants.

Also mentioned was the monthly Block Watch Meeting, Feb 24, at 6pm; also mentioned is the Women's Recognition Month event scheduled for Mar 21, and the Women's Relay for Life event planned for June. And a guest mentioned a Red Hats Society event planned for Friday, March 13, 4-7 pm, tickets $15.00.

Note as a reminder,: two coming events with Rotary Youth-Act as follows (being organized by Tila and Fernando Millan: Sun. March 1, Help with Feeding the Homeless at a major shelter in North Long Beach, event starts in late afternoon. Also, the LA Marathon, registration day on Sat March 14. Registration on line. Go to LA Marathon.com; then to volunteers; and enter Lynwood Rotary / Interact; for the requested password, use: Lynwood. On Mar 14, a charter bus leaves Lynwood Senior Center, at 6:30 am. Call Fernando and Tila for more information: (323) 422 -8328.

Everyone is encouraged to suggest speakers and programs for our weekly Rotary meetings. In particular, we encourage everyone to talk to individuals about being a speaker, and to provide us with contact information, so we can follow up for specific meeting dates.

Daniel Miller and Omar Franco – Public relations and community outreach for Lynwood Rotary