Lynwood Rotary Meeting Update 06.15.2017

At the June 15, meeting, members and guests heard the speaker, Marisela Santana, Public Relations Consultant and Community Relations Activist, talk about her activities within the community.

Before the speaker, Club President Elect, Joe Wang talked about the scheduled Annual Officer Installation Meeting next Thursday, Jun 22 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Room 1 of Bateman Hall, with dinner served at 6:00 pm.  Joe said everyone is encouraged to bring guests.  Jerry Brown will be the installation officer from District 5280, who is District Chief of Staff.

Joe also talked about the staffing requirements for the Fireworks Sales Stand from July 1 thru July 4.  This year there will be a requirement for overnight security, Friday, June 30, and also for the nights of July 1 thru July 3. On Tuesday, July 4, after sales are ended around 10 pm, there will be a requirement to pack up and take the unsold product to the fireworks company in the vicinity of the City of Commerce.  Someone will have to volunteer their pick-up truck to transport the unsold product.

 Fernando Millan stated that Youth act members and some of their parents will volunteer for the four days of fireworks sales.  Fernando handed out a schedule of Youth act events for the summer and early fall, that starts with new officer training on Jun 19 and Jun 20, and includes the fireworks stand staffing.  He noted that Youth act will also participate in the Relay for Life run at South Gate Park on Jul 15 and Jul 16.Daniel mentioned again the American Cancer Society 24 hour Relay for Life, for Lynwood and South Gate this year at the South Gate Park, from 9am on Saturday, July 15 to 9am on Sunday, July 16. (Hopefully Lulu, who was not present, will again take the lead in organizing Lynwood Rotary participation.)

Rotary member Victor Gomez, in reference in part to Marisela Santana’s planned events talked about his sign advertising company, Call Bulletin, providing free space to publicize community and city events.  It was stated that a request should be made for free advertising space for the planned July 15 event celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the Train Depot Building, which is now the Lynwood Union Gallery.

Speaker Marisela Santana.  Daniel introduced Marisela, noting her contributions to community events within Lynwood. In response to questions from Daniel, Marisela explained that she was the Public Information Officer (PIO) at the City of Lynwood for 3- ½ years until she was laid off due to budget cuts in March 2016.  She stated she had hurt feelings, but this year she again was actively involved in community projects, stating that “I love this community.”  She   noted that before working for the City of Lynwood, she was a reporter for the LA Wave newspapers for 15 years. Another comment, Marisela stated that she assisted a community project involving the waste disposal contractor, WR, Waste Resources. The work involves touring streets and alleys of Lynwood to get the contractor to quickly pick up discarded furniture and other bulky items.

Marisela described the recent very successful Women’s Expo event (Saturday, May 13) that she helped organize that included vendors selling women’s beauty products.  Marisela, in reference to this Expo declared that it gives her “much pleasure to help women look beautiful and feel happy.”  She noted that at the Expo, the first 100 women participants received a free hat.  Marisela noted that she has worked with Mayor Santillan for many years and also noted that next year with more advance planning; there can be a Women’s History Month event in Lynwood. Responding to Marisela’s Expo event, Rotary member Iris Pygatt noted that she graduated from a cosmetology school, along with her other educational accomplishments.

Marisela talked about her involvement in the Lynwood Union Gallery in the historic train depot building.  She explained that for the first time there is an arts and history center in Lynwood.  For the Board of this organization, Rowland Becerra is the President and Marisela is the Secretary of the Board.  A coming event described by Marisela is the 100^th Anniversary of the train depot building, to be celebrated on Sat, July 15.

As explained in part by Joe Wang, who, as a professional engineer, has served the City of Lynwood as head of the Public Works Department, and also for a short time, as the City Manager, the historic building that now houses the Lynwood Union Gallery, was part of the Pacific Electric Train Depot for the City of Lynwood when the PE train tracks passed through Lynwood, along the route of what is now the 105 Freeway.  At the request of the City of Lynwood, Caltrans had the historic building moved to its present location, when the 105 Freeway was constructed.  There is a Railway Society historical organization, whose President lives in Pasadena, which is assisting in providing historical photos of trains.  Also youth are going to be encouraged to do art work of trains, perhaps based in part on historical photos that can be found.  Speaking of youth involvement, Fernando mentioned that kids talented in art should have a place to display their art work and suggested that LUSD should be involved.  For the July 15 event, images of trains, by both youth and adults in the Lynwood community is planned to be a major part of this gallery event. Also mention was made that students at CSULA may be involved in the Jul 15 Gallery event.  

Daniel Miller / Omar Franco / Rowland Becerra