NEXT MEETING: October 5, 2012

A Visit from the District Governor

District Governor Laura Day returns to Richmond Rotary to give us her view of the Rotary World.

As a no-cost extra Laura will also demonstrate the arcane and nearly forgotten art of toga-tying (not to be confused with tie-dying). Evidently both the attire and its proper display are de rigueur for attendance at the District Conference in Napa Nov. 2nd to 4th.

More on that below.

MEETING OF September 28, 2012

Welcome

President Jim Young repeated his  “R” word opening. The Pledge of Allegiance was initiated by Dan Sanders. Stoney offered an invocation.

Rotarians with Guests

Joshua Surowitz introduced his guest Judy Herman, a voice-over actor.

Sunshine Report

A reminder: A celebration of Don Hardison’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, Friday, Oct. 12th at 2 PM.
Hank Covell reported that John Nicol is too weak to come to meetings but is as sharp as a tack so give him a call.

Announcements

• Board Members we will meet al La Revolucion Restaurant (Hilltop) before next Friday’s regular meeting, from 10:30 to 11:30, and then go on to the Richmond Country Club.
• Jim wants absolutely everyone to attend the Club Assembly, Oct. 12th. Once again, the meeting will take place at a different venue: the Social Hall of Arlington Community Church. It will start and end one half hour early, as determined by the BoD: 11:30 AM to 1 PM. Lunch will be catered by La Strada.

Location:
Arlington Community Church, Social Hall
52 Arlington Ave.
Kensington

There is parking across from the church. The location meets ADA accessibility standards. It is also a lot closer to Berkeley and South Campus than the RCC for those going to Don Hardison’s Celebration of Life and you may need the extra time to find parking and/or walk.
• One of the budgeted projects for this year is a Richmond Tree Planting project. Felix Hunzinker has agreed to head up the newly created ad hoc Tree Project Committee. Thank you, Felix.
We had a very productive meeting last week. Representatives from the  Richmond Trees Group and the ‘Solano Play’ who have already made major  improvements in the park. We are looking at a work day in early November for tree planting at the Solano Play Lot. If we receive an acceptable proposal, Richmond Rotary may ‘adopt-a-park’.  Details provided as they become available.
• Oct 28th, Halloween Fun Day at Solano Play Lot & Nov. 3rd. Tree Planting, details TBA
• Jim was delighted to report that Michelle Itagaki has agreed to be our new Program Chair and is already using her many talents and connections to continue building our speaker program. So keep those referrals coming into Michelle.
• East Bay Rotaract is having a fund raiser lunch at Marica Restaurant, 5301 College Ave., Oakland, Saturday & Sunday. Septembar 29th-30th.Their goal is to raise $1000 for the Blue Girls Academy in Debre Markos, Ethiopia. The academy is a school for teenaged girls who were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.
• EC Rotary wants you to know that their Wine Tasting Fund Raisers is Sunday Oct. 21st 2:30 – 5:30 at the MVCC.
• District Foundation Fund Raising event,  ‘Rotary Day at the Races’ at Golden Gate Field, Nov. 17th at $35/person with 10% of the gate going to the Rotary Foundation. If 12 members go a bunch of cool stuff happens.

The District Conference will be held in Napa Nov. 2nd to 4th. (Click “Learn More” link on right.)

Besides the much discussed Hospitality Night/Toga Party Friday night the following ‘A List speakers will be addressing the Conference:

• RI Director John Blount, Past District Governor, District 5130, Member of RI International teams including New Models, Rotary Action Groups & three PR President nominating committees.
Sunni McPeak, President and CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund;   Former Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Past CC County Supervisor; and speaker at Richmond Rotary meetings.
James Denham – General Manager, The Wine Steward, Pleasanton CA & Wine Expert
Charlie Bamforth, Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis & Beer Expert. (Come on, its Napa for Pete’s Sake!)
• Rotarian Al Jubitz Member Arch Klumph Society Peace Maker.
• The legendary  Cliff Dochterman, and many more notables.

Stoney, our Christmas Party chairman, confirmed the Party’s date of December 15th. It will be at the RGCC. Price to be determined.

Special Events

Interact Coordinator Henry Moe introduced the new co-Presidents of the Salesian HS Interact Club who both attended Camp Royal last year. They produced a short Power Point program about the Camp Royal experience: confidence building exercises that make up the core of the camp experience. They thanked the club mightily for the opportunity and for the new confidence it helped them develop as Interact Leaders

Recognitions

Jim asked if anyone see something different on their way into the meeting today? Something you’ve never seen before in Richmond? That’s Right, a Rotary sign on Giant Road pointing to our meeting, and we have Joe Bagley to thank for that.
Margaret Morkowski celebrated a birthday on September 25th.
Stanley Teaderman celebrated a birthday on September 30th.
• September 26th. Charles Fender and Clavel celebrated their 70th anniversary. (Wow!)
Joe Bagley, an anniversary on Sept. 27th.

Happy and Sad Dollars

• Josh Genser happy dollars for a second chance (round) to experience his Scotch Tasing event. Nov 17th. $200 per head..
• I, Alan Blavins, had happy dollars for making a hole-in-one at MVCC on September 16th.
• Stoney had happy dollars for his grand daughters 7th birthday.
Herb Cole had happy dollars for meeting with Glen Daggs. ( he will return!)
John Wilson had happy dollars for his car making it there & back.
Sid Chauvin had happy dollars for his daughters birthday AND sad dollars because she lost her wallet at Disneyland.
• Michelle Itagaki had sad dollars for finding out their vintage aircraft needed much more engine repair.

Norm’s Nonsense

More Ponderisms:
– If you’re going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
– If a book about failures doesn’t sell, is it a success?
– The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement

PROGRAM

Burning Man for Beginners

Jim Young welcomed our very own Burning Person, or ‘Burner’ as they are sometimes called, Michelle Itagaki, to shed a little dark, fire & light on Burning Man for the uninitiatesd.
Michelle is no beginner, last year was her fifth visit.

A brief history… The annual event now known as Burning Man began as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in 1986 when Larry Harvey, Jerry James, and a few friends met on Baker Beach in San Francisco and burned a 9-foot wooden man as well as a smaller wooden dog. Harvey has described his inspiration for burning these effigies as a spontaneous act of “radical self-expression.”

Today Burning Man is a week-long annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, in the United States. The event begins on the last Monday in August, and ends on the first Monday in September, which coincides with the American Labor Day holiday.

The 2012 Burning Man Festival took place between August 27 and September 3. It takes its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy on Saturday evening.

The event is described by many participants as an experiment in community, art, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance. Burning Man is organized by Black Rock City, LLC.

In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man. 2011 attendance was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out on July 24.

In April 2011, Larry Harvey announced that the organization had begun the process of transitioning management of the festival over to a new non-profit called the “Burning Man Project”. Michelle gave us the rules and regulations to survive the week. They are:

  • Leave no trace
  • No Commerce
  • If it wasn’t made by your body, don’t put it in the potty.( very important for the 7000 porta-pottys, emptied twice daily)
  • Mutant vehicles and bicycles are your only transportation.
  • Radical self reliance
  • Participate
  • Respect each other.

Black Rock, Burning Man’s location, becomes the third largest city in Nevada, It has it’s own bank, airport, kids’ camp, police force. People get married here and there is a temple for all that is burnt on the last day.
After all that dust and smoke, participants get to experience a true American event:a 9 hour traffic jam home.

– Alan Blavins Apprentice Scribe


NEXT MEETING: September 28, 2012

Burning Man for Beginners

Our own Michelle Itagaki, an experienced “Burner”, describes her several trips to this gigantic art festival, a celebration of creativity, personal freedom and self- expression.

MEETING OF September 14, 2012

Welcome

Prez Jim Young welcomed the assembly to the “last floating lunch meeting of the Relatively Rambunctious, Reasonably Ribald, Remarkably Resilient, Richmond Rotary Club.” Dan Tanita led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Prez Jim acknowledged our guests today. They include Interact Club members who are students at Salesian High School, and their parents.

Today’s meeting will be a little more emotional than usual so consider restraint in our otherwise emblematic enthusiasm.

Prez Jim led the Invocation as a tribute to Don Hardison. “It saddens me to report to you that our senior member and an Outstanding Rotary, Don Hardison passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday night with his family at his side.

  • Don joined Richmond Rotary December 31, 1945 and was club President 1986-87.
  • Don was a founder of the architectural firm HKT Architects (which is still in business), a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and the designer of many buildings in West County and the East Bay.
  • Don was nationally recognized for his work designing the ‘old’ Easter Hill which was ground breaking, racially integrated, multifamily housing that was ahead of its time but, unfortunately, was demolished to make way for the current project.
  • Your truly (pinch editor, Jim Young), a past student of design, wants to acknowledge what he considers to be Don’s finest work, the Zellerbach Hall complex and plaza at the University of California. “One of the best urban plazas in the United States.”

This is not meant to be a eulogy. A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held at

First Presbyterian Church, in Berkeley
Friday, Oct. 12th, 2 PM.

In consideration of the Celebration of Don’s life, the October 12th Club Assembly meeting will start at 11:30 AM and end at 1 PM. This will enable Rotarians to attend both the Club Assembly and the Celebration of Don’s Life.

Visiting Rotarians

Connie Tritt introduced her guest, Rich Ambrose, the Executive Director of the Richmond Art Center.

Rotarians with Guests

Prez Jim Introduced Pate Thompson from the Berkeley Club who was visiting today in his capacity as BARSHEEP Membership Coordinator.

Sunshine Report

Prez Jim reported that the word was out that Glenn Daggs is in the final stages of recertification as a Peace Officer and is about to start a new job as an investigator for the District Attorney’s Office.

Jim read the following note, just received from Dan Tanita:

“On September 28th at 9am the School District is doing a ribbon cutting for the newly remodeled, state of the art dental clinic at Peres Elementary School. Twelve years ago I started the clinic and have kept it going with volunteers.  We do free services for the kids. I actually started it as a Rotary project.

In November of last year the school board decided to name the clinic after me. I talked to Don Lau and I  said that if anyone from Rotary was free they would be welcome to attend the ceremony. (…)”

Prez Jim observed that the Peres Dental Clinic and his 12 year effort are the kind of thing that exemplifies ‘Service Above Self’ in Rotary. He encouraged all members who can to attend the Friday ribbon cutting at Peres.

Announcements

  • The Prez was glad to see the membership at La Strada. You would think we are the Gypsy Rotary Club instead of the Richmond Rotary Club.  Next week, post golf tournaments, we are at the Richmond Country Club.
  • The District Governor will be the program Oct. 5th. Be here for a big dose of Rotary, a refresher course on how to tie a toga and a special surprise demonstration of dealing with toga emergencies. Remember, ‘Yah gotta be here for the good stuff’. And that includes being at the District Conference in Napa.
  • The Board met yesterday and did some real work in preparation for the Club Assembly October 12th. This included consideration of membership, efficient operations, decision-making, and the Rehfuss funds issue.  We will describe all this in detail at the Club Assembly, October. 12th. To ensure we have the greatest attendance possible, Herb will deploy ‘Herb’s Harassers’, calling members to remind them of the meeting. Please mark your calendars.
  • EC Rotary wants you to know that their Wine Tasting Fund Raisers is Sunday Oct. 21st 2:30 – 5:30 at the MVCC.
  • East Bay Rotaract is having a fund raiser lunch at Marica Restaurant, 5301 College Ave, Oakland, Sat. & Sun, Sept 29th & 30th. Their goal is to raise $1000 for the Project Blue Girls Academy in Debre Markos, Ethiopia. The Academy is a school for teenage girls who were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.  Flyers are on the tables.
  • District Foundation Fund Raising event, ‘Rotary Day at the Races’ at Golden Gate Field, Nov. 17th @ $35/person with 10% of the gate going to the Rotary Foundation. If 12 members go a bunch of cool stuff happen, See Pam for details.
  • A Funny Thing Happened
    on the Way to the Rotary Conference

    Nov. 2-4, 2012

    WHY
    ALL ROADS LEADS TO ROTARY

    Meritage Resort Hotel
    Napa Valley
    Learn
    more
    .

    The District Conference will be held in Napa Nov. 2nd to 4th. (Click “Learn More” link on right.)

    Besides the much discussed Hospitality Night/Toga Party Friday night the following ‘A List speakers will be addressing the Conference:

RI Director John Blount ,  Past District Governor, District 5130, Member of RI International teams including New Models, Rotary Action Groups & three PR President nominating committees.
Sunni McPeak, President and CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund;   Former Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. Past CC County Supervisor; and speaker at Richmond Rotary meetings..
• The legendary  Cliff Dochterman, and many more notables.

Did Jim mention the Hospitality Night & the Toga Party?

Special Events

Interact Coordinator Henry Moe introduced the new co-Presidents of the Salesian HS Interact Club who both attended Camp Royal last year. They produced a short Power Point program about the Camp Royal experience: confidence building exercises that make up the core of the camp experience. They thanked the club mightily for the opportunity and for the new confidence it helped them develop as Interact Leaders.

Recognitions

David Keystone got into the Recognitions groove, beginning with Jim Young.

  • Jim reported that he and Linda began celebrating his birthday early, on Wednesday night, with the 1% at the SF Symphony Opening Gala, featuring violinist Joshua Bell. The beautiful people grabbed Jim’s attention: “Guccied, Pradaed, lipoed and siliconed. SF at its imperial best—or most fashionable anyway—drinking champagne until the cold drove us indoors.” Then next day Jim and Linda visited the Cindy Sherman exhibit at SFMOMA, and finished with Pisco Punches and dinner at the Pied Piper Bar at the Palace Hotel.

Due to a sink hole that suddenly appeared in the scribe calendar, the scheduled scriber (who shall go unnamed) was absent from this meeting. Crisis. Jim and Nick, and David Keystone stepped to fore to exercise their powers of recall. Not quite.

Happy and Sad Dollars

David reconstructed the following version of Happy and Sad Dollars from memory (where all reporting begins anyway), hence the telegraphic quality of the rest of this report:

David Brown had Happy Dollars for taking another huge step in his flight training.
Herb Cole was happy that Josh Genser wasn’t at the meeting to gloat about the game
Dan Tanita gave $50 in honor of the free dental clinic at Peres School, referred to above.
Henry Moe offered Happy bucks for the work that the students at Salesian HS have been doing

David apologizes for the guys and gals he may have forgotten, including Earle Brown, the happy-or-sadness of whose dollars David cannot now remember. (And he’s not even 50 yet. Jeez.)

Norm’s Nonsense

Sam is at a bar with his friend when he tells him: “I found out that my wife has been lying to me.”
Friend: “What makes you think that?”
Sam: “A couple of nights ago she stayed out all night and the next day she told me she spent the night at her sister’s.
Friend: “Well, maybe she did.”
Sam: “No, it’s not possible because I spent the night with her sister.”

PROGRAM

California Initiative to End the Death Penalty

On November 6th, Californians will vote on Proposition 34, the SAFE California Act. This measure that would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life without parole. Today’s speaker, Lt. Steve Fajardo, spoke in favor of the proposition. (More than a month ago, members were invited to suggest an additional speaker to present the opposing viewpoint but no recommendations were made.)

Lt. Fajaro explained that he had not always opposed the death penalty. “As I matured,” he said, “my views changed.”  He cited these reasons for his opposition to the death penalty:

  • It is possible that an innocent person is executed. It has happened numerous times.
  • Evidence is imperfect, juries and attorneys make mistakes; so, citing the Rotarian principle, “Is it the truth?”
  • Prisoners sentenced to the death penalty cost the state billions of dollars, far more than costs for those serving life in prison because of the special requirements for death penalty prisoners. (See below.)
  • The death penalty can prolong suffering to the victim’s families because it entails years of appeals and other legal procedures. Nor can the appeal process be eliminated because it is critical to our system of justice.
  • The death penalty is not a deterrent to people who would commit murder.
  • Demographic data shows arbitrariness in the application of the death penalty, with a disproportionate number of minorities receiving that sentence.
  • Religious values dictate that we regard all life as sacred.
  • There are effective alternatives to the death penalty.

Lt. Fajardo explained that, aside from the moral principles, one reason supporting the elimination of the death penalty is its high cost: $17 billion dollars for 17 executions in 7 years.
If Proposition 34 is passed, it will apply retroactively to persons already sentenced to death. It will require persons found guilty of murder to work while in prison, with their wages applied to any victim restitution fines against them.

Lt. Fajardo presented maps of California showing the large numbers of unsolved murders and rapes in each county. If Proposition 34 passes, it will create a $100 million fund to be distributed to law enforcement agencies to help solve more homicides and rapes.

Questions posed to Lt. Fajardo revealed, not surprisingly, that opinions on the death penalty were split. Some members are in favor of its elimination while others feel strongly that we should keep it. To his credit, Lt. Fajardo was respectful to all members of the audience, regardless of their viewpoints.

Calfiornia now has 725 people on death row. The last time a prisoner was put to death in California was in 2006.

For more information on Proposition 34, visit the Ballotpedia page


NEXT MEETING: September 21, 2012

California Initiative to End the Death Penalty

Steve Fajardo, retired Lieutenant of Police with the Oakland Unified School District, will discuss why he is voting Yes on Proposition 34, an initiative on the November ballot to replace the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Learn more about Proposition 34, and all the ballot measures, at Ballotpedia. The goal of Ballotpedia is “to cultivate a strong democracy(…) by building up a comprehensive almanac of information about elections, politicians and candidates at all levels of government. Voters have different values. We want all voters to have the information they need about candidates and ballot measures to cast a vote in accord with their values.” -From the Ballotpedia website.

MEETING OF September 7, 2012

Welcome

President Jim Young repeated his  “R” word opening. Then recognized that due to the special nature of the meeting room and the fact that there was no voice amplification. He said more, but I couldn’t hear. It was a little ironic that our noisy  room was known as “The Library”.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Joe Bagley, and the invocation given by George Egan. Sid Chauvin offered this comforting thought: “Worry is like a rocking chair…it will keep you busy but you don’t get anywhere” Rock on Sid!

Rotarians with Guests

Jonathan Lawlis brought his lady friend Darlene, who by now needs no introduction. Felix Hunziker introduced his lovely wife Audrey.

Sunshine Report

Raphael Madrigal had a brief in and out hospital visit. He’s now back to work. Glad you’re better!

Announcements

  • We were saddened to learn that Don Hardison, the most senior member of the Richmond Rotary, passed away on Monday, September 17th.Jan wrote: “Dad passed away peacefully at home with family by his side this morning.  Thank you for the notes of care.He heard them all.”Information about a public memorial service for Don will be communicated to Rotary members by email when details are available.
  • Jim praised the success of the Solano Stroll. He thanked the 15 members that attended. 500 cards containing our Polio message and our email address were handed out. The Rotaractors (Rotary for 20 somethings, young adults between Rotary and Interact) had a great little project assembling “water testers’
  • Jim thanked yours truly, Alan Blavins, for graciously (his word) accepting the role of Flywheel Scribe coordinator. David Keystone is happy (David’s word) to take care of December. Lynn Martin said I can sign her up for January 2013. All we need now is someone for this week, October and November. I thank all members, including currently enrolled scribes, for your consideration of this service opportunity. Jim then listed fall events, including the EC Rotary Wine Tasting fund raiser on October 21st. 2.30-5.30 at MVCC.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Rotary Conference
Nov. 2-4, 2012
WHY ALL ROADS LEADS TO ROTARY
Meritage Resort Hotel
Napa Valley
Learn more.
  • Jim also reminded everyone to follow the link (box on the right) to the District Conference in Napa. November 2nd-4th. Very notable speakers.East Bay Rotaract is having a fund raiser lunch at Marica Restaurant, 5301 Collage Ave., Oakland, Saturday & Sunday. Septembar 29th-30th. Their goal is to raise $1000 for the Blue Girls Academy in Debre Markos, Ethiopia. The academy is a school for teenage girls who were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.The San Pablo Rotary will host Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish, Music & Fun Fest. Saturday Sep.22nd at SP City Hall. $28.00 per person.
  • Pam Brown told us of BARSHEEP Foundation Day celebration with “A Day-at-the-Races” Saturday, November 17th. Lunch at The Turf Club. The District Governor will be present. She then illustrated how
    to get there by giving David Brown a check for $35.00. See it’s that simple.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

  • Michelle Itagaki had Happy Dollars was thrilled to see her grandchild stand and take first steps.
  • Jon Lawlis had Happy Dollars for Sid Chauvin secret stash of Manhattans at the stroll.
  • Jan Brown and Alan Blavins added $100 to the Youngstrom collection.
  • Josh Genser offered Happy Dollars for Point Richmond  music festival.
  • Rafael Madrigal had Happy Dollars for getting out of hospital, where the food “sucked!”

Norm’s Nonsense

When Dan’s house burned down, his first phone call was to the guy who’d sold him his homeowner’s policy. “I need a check for the cash value of my house, and I need it as soon as possible,” he said firmly.

“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way,” explained the insurance agent politely. “See, yours was a replacement policy, which means that we’ll be rebuilding the house exactly as it was before.”

“I see,” said Dan, after a long pause. “In that case, I want to cancel the policy on my wife.

PROGRAM

Candy Pierce updates us on campaign to end polio

Jim Young introduced  Past District Governor & Ace Rotarian, Candy Pierce. Candy udated us on the status of Polio Plus and its eradication. She was hindered by the fact that the restaurant could not project her PowerPoint presentation, “A Foundation for the Future”. Being the resourceful sort, Candy soldiered on and managed fine without the tech.

Candy started by reviewing the growth of the Foundation. And what growth!

1979   3-H grants and club partnership
1985   PolioPlus campaign launched
1999   Rotary Centers for International Studies
2000   10,000 matching grants approved since 1965
2003   District Simplified Grants launched
2004   Another 10,000 Matching Grants approved
2005   Future Vision Committee begins
2007   Gates $100 Million Challenge for polio
2008   Another 10,000 Matching Grants approved
2009   Gates commits additional $255 million for $200 million challenge

In 1988 polio cases covered three quarters of the world. Today there are 131 cases in three countries. You can remember the countries with the acronym, NAP: Nigeria has 84. Afghanistan17. Pakistan 30. Rotary has a PR and outreach poster program.

Candy showed a poster on her laptop screen by walking it around. The poster show a man in a t-shirt with the slogan “END POLIO NOW” and holding up his hand with thumb and forefinger just a little apart to illustrate “We are that close”. But Candy also had an image in which she’d Photoshopped in Jim Young’s head. This caused much merriment. Candy pointed out that every contribution helps.

You can make a benefactor pledge, effective upon your death, of $1,000-$9,999 to Rotary. She held up her hands to show that only her pinkie fingernails were painted purple. People ask why? It’s a talking point When children have been treated for polio, their pinkie finger is painted purple. This was her way spread the word about

  • The Rotary International Foundation is your Foundation
  • The Foundation addresses the greatest needs
  • The Foundation’s world reach is greater than that of the United Nations
  • The RI Foundation can go where politicians and religious groups cannot.

Candy pointed out that by creating Annual Programs fund there is support for today, and with a permanent fund there is support for tomorrow.

Because Polio Plus incorporates both, it is a true foundation for the future.

-Alan Blavins, Apprentice Scribe