The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, for the year ended June 30, 2006, contributed a total of $140,000 to charities and other worthwhile causes, with $100,000 earmarked for 51 organizations in the Conejo Valley area, $30,000 to Rotary International for its worldwide humanitarian efforts and $10,000 for scholarships in Thousand Oaks and the surrounding communities.

The major sources of funding come from the club's three major fundraisers: the Chili Cookoff during Conejo Valley Days in April, Wine & Art Festival in August and the Thousand Oaks Street Fair in October.

Another source comes from each of the club's 120 members, who pledge a minimum of $100 a year to support charitable ef

forts. These funds are collected at weekly "fine sessions" in which members are asked frivolous and humorous questions that are usually unanswerable. Thus, the fine is imposed.

Yet another source of member giving at meetings arises when unforeseen tragedies strike, such as the tsunami in Indonesia or Hurricane Katrina, requiring immediate financial support. In each case, the total amount contributed by individuals was about $5,000.