Monthly Archives: June 2013
NEXT MEETING: June 28, 2013Demotion: A time for exits and entrances
Jim is being way too harsh on himself. His tireless efforts helped lift Rotary’s profile many notches within our city. And of course the door swings both ways: as one soul happily steps out out another cautiously steps in. So with this meeting we welcome our new president, Liliane Koziol. MEETING OF June 21, 2013WelcomePresident Jim called the meeting to order, inviting Bob Dabney to lead the pledge of allegiance. Stoney requested a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Jim then offered his Thought for the Day; “Let’s start enjoying all of this marvelous global warming we’ve been experiencing lately!” Jim then convened a Club Assembly to vote on the non-discrimination policy, previously distributed to the club membership. There being no questions, Bob Dabney moved and Michelle Itagaki seconded to approve the policy as presented. The voice vote garnered unanimous approval of the non-discrimination policy. Jim then put a question before the members as to their willingness to hold the August 30th meeting at the Richmond Museum, since the Richmond Country Club is already booked for a golf tournament that day. A straw vote registerd 15 ‘ayes’. The final location for the August 30th meeting will be announced later. Visiting RotariansCraig Dunbar from the Redding Club joined us today. Jim also recognized John Troughton, a long time Richmond Club member. Jim then closed the Club Assembly. Announcements
Recognitions
Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseNorm and Bonnie are on vacation, leaving us with the task of coming up with our own nonsense. Result: many thoughts, mostly mundane and unfunny. Hurry back, Norm! PROGRAMTeach for America
Tom Waller introduced our speaker of the day, Tyler Hester of Teach for America or TFA. Tyler was raised in Marin and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Stanford. He worked for the federal Department of Education after which he was awarded a scholarship to attend Cambridge University in England, where he was awarded a second master’s degree. During his matriculation at Cambridge he became convinced that educational inequality is the civil rights issue of our day. Upon his return he taught English with TFA in southern California for two years and then came to the Bay Area with TFA to teach in Richmond. Tyler joined the TFA ‘corps’ in 2008 after finishing graduate school at Cambridge. He learned a great deal about educational inequity while he’d worked for the federal Department of Education and during his studies at Cambridge. He eventually came to the conclusion that TFA was doing something positive in classrooms all over the country and joined the group, originally teaching two years in a 7th grade English class in southern California. During that period he had the highest performing 7th graders in the history of the school district where he was teaching, but despite that record, he was laid off. Tyler said that once he began teaching his heart was changed. He became less ambitious for himself and more for the kids in his classroom. After being laid off, he came to the Bay Area and applied for a position with the West County Unified School District (WCCUSD) where he was hired and where he became motivated to help take his school from good to great. He said that Richmond is “bursting with potential” and that the students have tremendous capability. Tyler taught four years and then applied, as his parents had wished, to complete a doctoral degree. He was accepted to the doctoral program, but at the same time was offered the position to lead the West County TFA. Because of his passion for the project, he deferred his doctoral work and accepted the position with TFA. He told us that this is his dream job and that he loves it. He recounted the story of “Victor”, a 9th grader he taught in Richmond. Victor had not been assigned any homework since the 2nd grade; he had gang affiliations; and he wasn’t ready to meet the high expectations set by Tyler in the classroom. One day Victor said “I’m going to hit someone in the face so they’ll kick me out.” Tyler visited Victor along with his family and managed to keep him in school for a long until Victor was caught dealing drugs in the school bathroom and was expelled. Victor went to continuation school where he was shot at, and while in the act of trying to shoot back, was picked up by the police. Victor went to juvenile hall. Tyler stated that there are just “too many Victors” and that its those kids who motivate him to do this work. Tyler reported that in the U.S. if you’re poor you have only an 8% chance of graduating from college by the age of 24. Only 41% of third graders read at grade level and that if you’re not reading at grade level by the third grade, you are more likely to serve prison time. Despite ten years of consecutive academic improvement in WCCUSD, shockingly, only 2% of Richmond’s 9th grade algebra students are at grade level. TFA incorporates a specific theory of change that includes the basic principle of recruiting and developing outstanding and diverse leaders. TFA looks for people who already have a track record of excellence either professionally or in other aspects of their lives, and they support the corps teachers to do “big things” with their kids. If they can help their kids be successful by doing “big things”, the students will learn that they can personally aspire to more. Lastly, they try to get those who accomplish those “big things” in their classrooms to devote the rest of their life to the endeavor, not always by remaining in the classroom, but by supporting the endeavor in some way that moves it forward, politically, financially, educationally, or in some other fashion. This past year the program in Contra Costa County had 76 TFA teachers, 24 in West County schools, primarily the ones that are the hardest to staff. There are six full-time TFA administrative staff members who support the 76 teachers countywide. This year there are 10,000 corps members nationwide. Tyler believes that young people of his generation feel called to serve. He knows he has benefited from the entirely unearned privilege of being born to a good family and growing up in Marin County. He now wants to give something back. - Lynn Martin, Your Roving Rotary Reporter |
NEXT MEETING: June 21, 2013Teach for America
Since Teach For America (TFA) started in 1990, nearly 33,000 TFA teachers have taught more than 3 million children nationwide. TFA’s mission is to contribute to the elimination of educational inequity by helping ensure that children growing up in low-income communities get an excellent education. TFA recruits committed recent college graduates and professionals of all backgrounds to teach for two years in urban and rural public schools, trains and develops the teachers so they have an immediate positive impact on their students, and then fosters the leadership of TFA alumni as they continue to deepen their impact as educational leaders and advocates. Come learn more about Teach For America, including its contributions in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, where about 80 TFA teachers come to work in classrooms each day. MEETING OF June 14, 2013WelcomeJoey Bags led us in the pledge today, and George Egan asked the club for a moment of silence for “Peace and Freedom on Earth”. Sid’s thought for the day was ”If you never try you will never know” Sunshine & Rotarians with Guests
Club AssemblyThe President will convene a brief Club Assembly for a one-item voice vote on a recommendation of the Board of Directors. The recommendation is to adopt an amendment to add a Non-discrimination Clause to the Club’s By-Laws. The adoption of this amendment will position the Club more favorably when it applies for future grants from non-profits that require their applicants to have such clauses. “The Rotary Club of Richmond, Inc., admits members of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, marital status and age to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to members of the club. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin gender, gender identity, sexual preference, marital status nor age in its administration, policies, admissions, programs, and other activities.”
Announcements
Recognitions
Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseMore ponderisms … PROGRAM
Captain Martin McNair was introduced by Tom Waller, a fellow Navy officer. Martin was commissioned in 1962 at the Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island. He was a member of Class 29 – Underwater demolition Team. Martin explained how Draper Kaufman became the first Navy Seal. He briefly reviewed what are, for some, well-known aspects of the Navy Seal training program:
Draper Kaufman, the father of the Navy Seals, was one of those who did make the cut, but his eyesight was poor; he failed the physical and was denied entry to the elite group. So off he went to Europe at the height of WWII where he worked as an ambulance driver until he was captured by the Germans in France. In a prisoner exchange Draper was returned to England, where he was taught to disarm unexploded bombs in London, a very important and dangerous job that nobody wanted to do. When Draper returned home some time afterward to see his father, a friend of his father, a Navy Admiral, was visiting. Draper told the admiral his story. At about this time a Marine assault force in the Pacific had lost many men when their landing craft hit a reef, which the Marines thought was the shore. When they jumped from the craft many were drowned in the deep water. As a consequence the Navy decided to employ a phalanx of divers to chart near shore waters before any beach assault and use explosives to create a path through the reefs. To the Admiral, Draper with his invaluable explosive handling skills was the perfect candidate to implement this new strategy. He was readmitted to the Navy, when an underwater demolition team training facility was created in Fort Pierce, Florida. This became the Navy Seals. The Navy Seal teams grew from these modest beginnings. Today there are 2,000 people in the Navy Seal program under the command of a 4-star Admiral. Mark Howe, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: June 14, 2013The History of the Navy Seal
Did you know that longtime Richmond resident Martin McNair is a former Navy Seal? Martin will share with us how and why this elite group of the armed forces started. He will describe some of the early history and, no doubt, enliven his presentation with personal accounts. MEETING OF June 7, 2013WelcomeLiliane Koziol opened the meeting with a warm welcome to everyone. Tom Waller led the pledge of allegiance and Stony Stonework asked us to take a moment of silence for peace and justice on earth. Rotarians with GuestsRichard Alexander introduced his wife Katherine Alexander, a former Rotarian herself. Sunshine ReportRalph Hill reported that Charlie Wong called him today to wish him a happy birthday and that Charlie sends his best wishes to all of us Rotarians. Announcements
RecognitionsJoe “Swampy” Bagley announced that last Wednesday was the Honorable Judge David Calfee’s 60th anniversary with the club. Judge Calfee is a generous donor and he received an enthusiastic round of applause for his generosity, as well for as his longevity. Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseAn old Irishman was coming home late one night from the pub. As he passed the graveyard, he thought of all his friends in there, and then he saw a stone beside the road. He thought, “The poor man, buried out here by the highway. And he lived to the ripe old age of 145. A fine man. Let’s see, his name was Miles, from Dublin.” PROGRAMJustice Delayed is Justice Denied
David Brown introduced guest speaker The Honorable Judge Diana Becton. David explained to the group that a defining characteristic of a “good judge” is what’s called “judicial temperament”. To be considered as possessing judicial temperament, a judge must listen more than he or she talks; be curious about why the litigants are there and what’s important to them; have respect for the majesty and dignity of the American legal system; and understand the importance of everyone leaving the courtroom feeling like they’ve been heard, even if they did not prevail. David reported that Contra Costa County is very well served by Judge Becton who possesses these characteristics in abundance. Judge Becton’s presentation was titled “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” and she went on to tell of the appalling condition of our county and state judicial system, primarily due to extreme budget cuts. Judge Becton underscored that citizens have a right to prompt access to the justice system to seek legal redress, but that due to the severe cuts the system has experienced, this right cannot currently be assured. From 2008 through 2011, the court system in Contra Costa County absorbed $7.5 million in cuts, 13% of its total budget at the time. Then, in 2012, the county system was required to absorb an additional $7 million in cuts in one year. As a result, drastic cuts have been made to personnel and the services and programs they provide including the closure of courtrooms. The Contra Costa judicial system typically handles 10,000 criminal cases, 25,000 civil cases, 10,000 family law cases, 120,000 traffic cases, 2,000 juvenile cases, and 1,300 probate cases every year. In order to handle this load, a staffing ratio of ten support staff to each bench officer or judge is necessary. Currently, the court system has a ratio of 7.7 support staff for each judge. Five courtrooms have closed including those in Concord and Walnut Creek whose courthouses now handle traffic cases only. All other cases are transferred to Martinez, as are all of Richmond’s juvenile cases. In addition to the closure of the courtrooms, one out of five of the county’s family law departments and one out of five civil law departments have been closed. Court reporters have been cut from family and civil probate cases; self-help centers have been cut by 50%; management positions have been cut by 40%; line staff have been cut by 30%; and clerks hours have been cut allowing the clerks’ office to operate on a part-time basis only. Judge Becton described the impact that these cuts and closures have had on the public. They include long waiting lines and waiting times during which people have fainted or become involved in altercations. The case load is no longer measured in the number of cases waiting to be filed, but in the number of feet of cases piled in the office, now at 23 feet high. Cases that have already been adjudicated can sometimes take six months for the paperwork to be finalized. Judge Becton reported that statewide 61 courthouses have closed since January 1, 2012 and that 26 night courtrooms have closed as well as 18 problem-solving centers. Child custody cases, which should for the good of the child take no longer than three weeks to hear, are taking up to six months. Overall, the state’s judicial system has sustained approximately 19.6% in cuts, all of which prevents people from receiving prompt access to the justice system. Although Contra Costa is a prudently operated system with an established reserve fund, new legislation requires that all reserve funds will be confiscated by the state in this next year. Judge Becton reported that due to these problems, the system has devolved into a two-track system, one for those who can afford private mediation and one for those who cannot, and that overall the ability of the system to provide adequate and timely justice has decayed. Lynn Martin, Roving Rotary Reporter |
NEXT MEETING: June 7, 2013Budget challenges to California's judicial system
The Honorable Diana Becton will discuss the budget-driven challenges that face our State’s judicial system. MEETING OF May 31, 2013WelcomePresident Jim Young rang the bell and called the meeting to order. Heather Kulp led the pledge of allegiance and Stoney Stonework asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. President Jim had this thought for the day: “It ain’t over til the fat lady sings”, referring, of course, to the successful concluding performance on May 26 of the Lost Secrets play at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Rotarians with GuestsNorm Foley introduced his wife, Bonnie. Sunshine ReportJim reported that Norm Lundberg is a new grandfather. Congratulations! Announcements
Recognitions
Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseOn the rewards of higher education: PROGRAM
Richard Alexander introduced Rear Admiral Tom Cropper, President of the California Maritime Academy (CMA) in Vallejo. Richard’s son, who’s now finishing his senior year at CMA, also played on the school’s rugby team with Tom Cropper’s son, who graduated in 2012. Admiral Cropper is a graduate of Iowa State University and received his US Navy officer commission in 1981. He pursued a 31-year career as a naval aviator before retiring and becoming President of the CMA. The CMA is a California State University (CSU) of Engineering, Technology, and Marine Transportation. It is one of 23 campuses in the CSU system and one of only seven degree-granting maritime academies in the United States. With about 1,000 undergraduate students enrolled at the 80-acre campus, the CMA offers six different Bachelor degrees and one Master’s Degree in Transportation and Engineering Management. Key values learned at the CMA are teamwork, trust, reliability, and self-discipline. There is a major emphasis on developing leadership qualities in CMA graduates as they prepare for careers of service. Recognized by various publications as offering an affordable, high-value education, the CMA boasts a 94% job placement rate for its graduates. Licensed ship’s officers can make $70-100K at the age of 22. As Admiral Cropper pointed out, the CMA is not just a merchant marine academy. It’s a complete maritime university that is
With water accounting for 70% of the earth’s surface, 80% of food protein, and 90% of world trade transport, the oceans are vital for life as we know it. This quote provided by Admiral Cropper (author unknown) provides a haunting reminder of the ocean’s majesty and mystery: “The sea is huge and it is always changing. Its many moods and unending motion are unforgiving of human weakness and constantly place great stress on people and equipment.” Rotating Scribe, Tom Waller |
NEXT MEETING: May 31, 2013The California Maritime Academy
California Maritime Academy (CMA) in Vallejo is a California State University (CSU) of Engineering, Technology, and Marine Transportation. It is one of 23 campuses in the CSU system and one of only seven degree-granting maritime academies in the United States. With about 1000 undergraduate students enrolled at the 90-acre campus, CMA offers six different Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s degree in Transportation and Engineering Management. Rear Admiral Thomas Cropper, current President of the University, will tell us more about the school, its past, present, and future. MEETING OF May 24, 2013WelcomePresident Jim Young rang the bell and called the meeting to order. Richard Alexander led the pledge of allegiance. In drawing particular attention to another recent, senseless killing of a polio vaccination team member in Pakistan, George Egan asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Prescient President Jim had this thought for the day: more sold-out performances are anticipated for the last weekend of the Lost Secrets play (and, lo and behold, there actually were more). Visiting RotariansIt was great to see Leslie Levy, formerly a Richmond Rotarian when her law office was in Richmond and now a member of the Berkeley Rotary Club. Rotarians with Guests
Sunshine ReportDoris Mitchell is a new mom. She and her son (born on May 10) are doing well. Congratulations, Doris, and we look forward to seeing you soon! Announcements
Recognitions
Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseThree people were going to the guillotine. The first was a lawyer, who was led to the platform, blindfolded, and had his head put on the block. The executioner pulled the lanyard, but nothing happened. To avoid a messy lawsuit, the authorities allowed the lawyer to go free. The next man to the guillotine was a priest. They put his head on the block and pulled the lanyard, but nothing happened. The blade didn’t come down. They thought it must have been divine intervention, so they let the priest go. The third man to the guillotine was an engineer. He waived his right to a blindfold, so they led him to the guillotine, and put his head on the block. As he lay there, he said, “Hey, wait. I think I see your problem.” PROGRAMAlbert Fraenkel, Baton Rouge Ambassador-by-the-Bay<img src=”https://richmondcarotary.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/fraenkel-supremecourt.gif” style=”float:right;borders:none;margin:0 0 10px 10px;” > Jan Brown introduced the program speaker, Albert Fraenkel, past President of a large Rotary Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a successful entrepreneur who moved west to retire in San Francisco 15 years ago. Albert and his wife Ellie, together for 59 years, met Virginia Brown, Byron’s mother, at a park in San Francisco a while ago. That acquaintance eventually led to this enjoyable talk by an amiable story teller and accomplished Rotarian. Albert declared that his life has been blessed. He was born in New Orleans, went to Tulane University, spent a couple of years in the Navy during the Korean War, and moved to Baton Rouge, where he and Ellie borrowed a lot of money to start a furniture distribution company from scratch. He remembers their first sale, a $10.95 playpen that convinced them they could make a go of it. The furniture distribution company grew steadily as more employees were hired (over 600 at the peak). Soon there was diversification into mattress manufacturing with plants in several states. After a few years, the company was set up with an Employee Stock Ownership Plan valued at more than $30 million (from an initial personal start-up investment of $12,000). Fifty-four years after start-up, the company is now being acquired by a large manufacturing company in Richmond, VA, which will continue operations in Baton Rouge. As his company grew during those years in Baton Rouge, Albert was asked to join the local Rotary Club, which had 380 members at the time (all male, all white). Albert became Baton Rouge Rotary Club President in 1986, the same year Don Hardison was President of Richmond Rotary. At the start of Albert’s term, Baton Rouge had 450 Club members (one non-white, still all male). Following California’s lead, the Baton Rouge Club added five female members in 1987 and continued its diversification over the years. Today, as one of the 50 largest Rotary Clubs in the United States, Baton Rouge Rotary has 475 members, a full-time Executive Director, its own 5000-ft2 headquarters, and a $960,000 Club Foundation dedicated to Education-related projects. As he spoke fluently with no written notes, Albert highlighted some unique issues for large Rotary Clubs. For example, “scooters” seem more prevalent (members who check in but routinely leave early). The Houston Rotary Club, with about 900 members, needs to recruit about 100 new members each year just to stay even and keep up with attrition. It’s also harder to form close friendships in a large organization. Clubs with 30-60 members seem to be the most friendly. (Hey, that’s us!) Albert said to encourage new members to join in order to be of service to the community, to remember that friendships are enhanced through service, to grow by building on unique Club strengths, to go slow in releasing a Club member, and to not shy away from worthy projects that last longer than a year. As for staying mentally sharp, Albert takes courses at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning at the University of San Francisco. So stay thirsty, my friends, and keep those neurons firing. Rotating Scribe, Tom Waller |
This Friday the Club bids a fond farewell to current president Jim Young. Or as Jim himself put it, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”
On March 1st, we learned about the value of storytelling in children’s lives from Jean Ellisen, our guest speaker that day. Inspired, our club donated money to support a field trip for an elementary school class to the Annual Bay Area Storytelling Festival. Unfortunately the class was unable to attract a chaperone in time for the excursion. So in lieu of the trip, Jean used the money to support a Teen Poetry Slam—a new addition to the Festival. Last week Jean sent along pictures and a warm appreciation.
