Events

THE HENDRICKS HODGKISS COMPANY AND HODGKISS INSURANCE BROKERS ARE PLEASED TO SPONSOR THIS LUNCHEON.

The same great Ebell lunch at no cost to you, but ONLY if you register ahead of time!

Director, actor, and producer Rich Correll joins us at the Ebell to share his fascinating journey in the entertainment business.

Rich began his career in Hollywood at the young age of eight. After co-starring in “Leave It To Beaver" as a kid, Rich went on to direct and produce some of the most well-known sitcoms in American TV history, including “Happy Days”, “Laverne and Shirley”, “Full House”, “Family Matters",  “Married With Children”, “That’s So Raven", “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody", and “Hannah Montana" among others. In 2018, Rich celebrated a directing milestone with the completion of his 700th TV episode.

Over the past 50 years, Rich has amassed the world’s most extensive, privately-owned collection of authentic sci-fi, fantasy, and horror movie memorabilia. Personal acquaintances such as Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, Vincent Price, Alfred Hitchcock, John Landis, Rick Baker, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Peter Jackson, and Rob Zombie have inspired him to keep the memory and recognition of their work alive.

Rich has chosen to honor their accomplishments by assembling a showcase and sharing it with the public through his museum exhibition, Icons of Darkness.

Join us on zoom with renowned artist Juan Carlos Quintero and get an upclose preview of one of the talented artists who will be performing at the November 20th Rotary Foundation celebration concert, "The Soul of Rotary".

Those well versed in Latin American culture know Medellín, Colombia is often referred as, “La ciudad de la eterna primavera (the city of eternal spring),” a reflection of the vast Andean Valley’s culture, art, flowers, music, and people.  Both musically and spiritually, the heart, soul and guitar of Juan Carlos Quintero's music reflects the colorful sounds and diverse rhythms of his cherished birthplace.

Successfully fulfilling diverse music paradigms throughout multiple decades has been the pillar for JCQ's expansive career. Recognized as a seasoned all-purpose music specialist, JCQ remains in the forefront while creating, producing and exploring new ventures.

As an avid yoga practitioner in Los Angles, Kayoko founded Yoga Gives Back in 2007, a non-profit organization whose mission is twofold: first, to mobilize the global yoga community with gratitude and second, to empower women and children in India to build sustainable livelihoods.

In its 15th year, YGB provides more than 2400 underserved mothers and children with micro loans and educational funds. YGB’s global campaign has reached many US cities and thirty countries worldwide with its mantra,“For the cost of one yoga class, you can change a life.” 

Prior to moving to the USA in 1992, Kayoko was a producer/director for NHK Japan’s National Public Broadcaster, working on primetime current affairs and documentary television programs; and cultural attaché at the Embassy of Japan in London. Her passion for documentary filmmaking is rooted in the perspective gained from years of living abroad including Australia, Brazil, United Kingdom and USA. Kayoko now uses her skills to film and produce YGB FILMS to share YGB’s fund recipients’ real stories with the global yoga community. For the last three decades living in Los Angeles, Kayoko had continued her work for NHK’s feature documentary programs as producer/director, but since 2016 Kayoko has become YGB’s Executive Director full-time. “First half of my life was to learn from experiences. Second half of my life is to serve others as much as possible! Thus, I am dedicating my life to a non profit, Yoga Gives Back, as Founder and President, to empower underserved women and children in India. YOGA has given me so much, a way to find peace in my heart, most importantly FAITH in myself. I am eternally grateful and I know millions people in the world share the same gratitude. So why not join us? We can do so much more if we come together, #OneMillionYogis!”​

Horror & Sci-fi & Fantasy - the stuff that October is made of! Inspired this month by our Ebell speaker, Rich Correll, AND in celebration of the spookiest month of the year, Wilshire Rotary will be taking a field trip to Rich's awesome "Icons of Darkness" exhibit at Hollywood & Highland! After our guided tour, the plans are to head to a nearby festive happy hour location for our usual fun and fellowship. Specifics are still being finalized, so get the date on your calendar and stay tuned for details!

On October 26th, immediately after our "field trip" to Rich Correll's Icons of Darkness, join us at Boardner's (Boardner's website) - a Hollywood Institution since 1942! This is a very special happy hour gathering where we will welcome our 2022-23 District Governor, Olivia Patterson-Ryans. DG Olivia asked us to "think outside the box" for our Governor's meeting so what better way to introduce our esteemed DG to Wilshire Rotary than to have her at one of our amazing happy hours!

Olivia Patterson Ryans

Born in Chicago, the oldest of six children, I learned leadership, management, organization, accountability, and responsibility while growing up in Los Angeles, California. Attended Pepperdine University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in math and psychology and a Masters degree in Administration and Management of Schools.

I’ve taught high school algebra and geometry before serving as a school administrator with LAUSD, a manager in the auto industry and as the Executive Director of a nonprofit agency in the real estate industry. I worked in the real estate industry for 20 years, now specializing in the commercial sector.

I’ve always strived for leadership roles as my way to be of service. As president of the Rotary Club of Inglewood, I developed interest in the business of Rotary and grew active on the district level. Attending our District’s Humanitarian Trips, I saw first-hand my Foundation donations at work across the borders. It is my belief that if we are sincere about the work we do as Rotarians through Rotary, the Rotary Foundation should be the first charity on our list for giving.

The greatest gift given to me, by Rotary, is my beloved husband. What a joy to have a life partner who shares my Rotary values and experiences. We work and play with the most unlikely folks from communities all over the world, developing friendships and partnerships, while helping those in need.

Olivia served on the board of directors of Music Mends Minds and as an ambassador for the Rose Bowl parade.

Portrait artist, Juan Bastos, takes us on a tour of 21st century portrait painting with stories from his 40-year career of immortalizing fascinating personalities from four continents.

Over the four past decades, Los Angeles-based portrait artist, Juan Bastos, has executed several hundred portrait commissions in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. These oil paintings and pastel drawings hang in private homes, corporate offices, government buildings, embassies, libraries, churches, and universities.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1958, Bastos and his family returned to Bolivia, their homeland, eleven years later. Surrounded by relatives who were painters, Bastos grew up in an artistic environment. After studying fine arts and architecture at the University of San Andres in La Paz, he came to the United States where he enrolled at Georgetown University in 1979. He later obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Cum Laude, and a Master of Fine Arts from Towson University.

Bastos has had one-man shows in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Lima, La Paz, and a Los Angeles retrospective of his California portraits. In addition, he has been included in group shows in New York, Paris, Madrid, Los Angeles, Essex, England, and a biennial in Cairo, Egypt. His works have been widely reviewed by the press. Bastos is often invited to give lectures and demonstrations at universities, colleges, and art institutions. Bastos has lived in Los Angeles since 1996.