NEXT MEETING: January 9, 2014

Rotary... The Recess of Our Lives!

District Governor 2014 Pam Gray from Rotary District 5140 visits Richmond Rotary for a special presentation.  Pam shares about the District “office”, why we love Rotary and an opportunity to travel on a Rotary wheelchair trip in March – a trip that won’t break the budget.

A second generation Rotarian, Pam was born in Paradise, CA., where she returned after college in 1984 to work in the families’ businesses, Rose Chapel Mortuary in Paradise and Scheer Memorial Chapel in Oroville.  As President of the Rotary Club of Paradise in 2007, her motto was “Rotary is the recess of our lives!”, now the motto for her District.  Pam’s vision to make Rotary FUN and inclusive was realized—along with the goal of having every Club Member to her home for a social at least once during the year.  After serving as Assistant Governor in the North Valley, Pam received the District Governor’s “Service Above Self”Award in 2010.  She has a lot of Rotary in her life – Pam’s husband Brian, a Rotarian since 1992, was Assistant District Governor for the North Valley Flying Squirrels.

MEETING OF December 19, 2014

Welcome

It was a dark and stormy day. President Stoney Stonework called to order the Richmond Rotary Club. Jon Lawlis lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Stoney led us in a silent prayer for Freedom, Peace & Justice on Earth. Alan, who was tending the door for one sick Sid. told us that Sid said, “You don’t want me to breathe on you”. After the club unanimously agreed, our virtually elegant Alan’s voice dropped off and his Words of Wisdom didn’t make it to the other side of the room. Alan, speak like Churchill or use the mike!

Visiting Rotarians

Matt Lingo, our Berkeley Rotary pal, visited us today.

Rotarians with Guests

Jon Lawlis introduced is fiancée Darlene. Mark Howe introduced his fiancée, Shanna. Herb Cole introduced Joe Kelman and his wife Elizabeth. Jim Young introduced his wife Linda and Robin Yee Wilson from West County Reads.

Sunshine Report

Bill Koziol agreed that it is a dark and stormy day… Hank Covell reported that Doreen’s cookies got to Ralph (No Asterisks!) Hill, who is doing ok and Ralph’s $1,000 got to the club. Hank encouraged the members to call Ralph’s cell and leave a message. He may not answer but listens to everything. You heard about Sid…. Prez Stoney reported the George Egan is home from hospital and also doing ok.

Announcements

• Treasurer DAB announced a very successful Holiday Auction with gross receipts in the $24,000+ neighborhood, making it the 2^nd or 3^rd best auction in club history and well ahead of our typical $20K +/-. Hoping we are looking at the ‘new normal’ David noted that total items auctioned were down but bidding was way up. Thank you Rotarians and friends!
• We ‘passed the hat’ to collect a Holiday gratuity for the County Club wait-staff, who have given us excellent service throughout the year. If you missed ‘the hat’ and feel so inclined, get those checks to David ASAP.
• Alan Baer reminded everyone that this weekend is Salvation Army bell ringing at Macy’s.
• Robin Y. Wilson (Dan Yee’s daughter) thanked Rotary on behalf of West County Reads for the Fall Book Drive which collected between 800 – 1,000 children’s books. Thanks also for the cash support for new book purchases. WCR was able to donate 350 books to the Richmond Main Street Holiday Party and has another 300 books that will be given away at the Verdi Elementary School Coat and Toy Celebration.
• Jim Young gave Book Drive thanks to all those who helped with donations and bin placement with special thanks to Mark Howe for donating storage space and Sid Chauvin for his truck and ‘mechanical aptitude’.
• Not Announced was what happened to the annual election of club officers. Stay tuned for the announcement of a Club Assembly which is sure to happen in the new year.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

WCCCUSD Superintendent Bruce Harter reports on the state of our schools

Prez Stoney introduced our own (Dr.) Bruce Harter, Superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District, for an update on the school district and comments about the Common Core new curriculum that is being implemented in California and the USA.

As usual, Bruce’s presentation was information rich. Here are some of his prime comments about Common Core:

• Too many college freshmen need remediation upon arrival at college. Common Core aims to focus on language arts skills and math in high school and eliminate the need for remediation.
• In English language reading the focus is shifting away from narrative prose to technical reading for information.
• Writing skills will focus on the ability to sight sources, make conclusions and support those conclusions with references.
• Common Core will bring additional resources to the district to support low income, English language learner, and foster children students. Bruce said the District knows it has many students in the first two groups and is now assessing the population of foster/children/students.

In other noteworthy developments Bruce said there has been improvement in campus behavior, discipline and student community identity, including:

• Better family involvement and student engagement. He cited the drop in student expulsions from 200 in 2013-14 to zero this school year as a tangible example.
• Investing in the ’whole child’ concept including health clinics on Middle School and High School campuses and the dental clinic at Peres that was organized by Dan Tanita and Richmond Rotary. Bruce said the clinics have helped improve student health and school attendance.
• The use of ‘restorative justice’ on some high school campuses that creates a ‘jury of student peers as an alternative to administrative discipline and simultaneously holds students accountable for their actions in the context of community expectations.
• The district also continues to pursue an ‘anti-bullying agenda based on increase individual school pride.

Other noteworthy information included:

The District has established the goal of ‘on to one’ computing meaning it intends to provide a table (a computing table, not a slate tablet) to every student. Bruce said he hopes that will allow a future reduction in the number of text books needed by students and a big saving for the District.

Based on student and staff surveys, Bruce is pleased that:

• 80%+ of the students feel teachers really care about them as people.
• 80%+ of the teaching staff feel a sense of accomplishment.

While it will take money and commitment he hopes to rebuild the District’s arts, music and sports programs.

A newsworthy note at the end of the program based on Bruce’s initial slide that showed students reading, “Richmond Tales, Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle”. Robin Y. Wilson said that West County book and school text has been selected by the California Teachers Association for Read Across America for 2015 and will be featured in the CTA newsletter and at the three CTA conventions around the state. For those who don’t already know it, the book has also spawned a sequel, “Oakland Tales, Lost Secrets of the Town”, commissioned by the Oakland Unified School District and including many of the same characters from “Richmond Tales…”.

And with that happy ending we thank Bruce Harter for an informative program and continuing success improving our local schools.

Before he rang the bell for the last time in 2014 Prez Stoney reminded the club that we will be dark until January 9^th when everyone needs to show up because the District Governor is going to be our speaker.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

NEXT MEETING: December 19, 2014

WCCUSD: Moving to the Future--Technology, New Standards & Career Training

Bruce Harter, Superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School district, will speak about the district’s new strategic plan.  This plan includes nationally aligned standards that will greatly enhance students’ opportunities for college and career, including high school training programs in health, engineering, criminal justice, information technology, hospitality & culinary arts, multi-media, construction and the arts.   Tablets will gradually replace textbooks, and a fabrication laboratory (through Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT), complete with three-dimensional printing for product prototyping, will accelerate training in design and engineering.

Bruce Harter is in his 9th year as superintendent for WCCUD.  He has been a math and science teacher, coached sports and was a principal before becoming a superintendent.  He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado.  Bruce is married to a high school counselor, Lee Anna, with whom he has three children – all graduates of public schools.

Holiday Auction a rousing success!

The Ho-ho-ho’s were cheerier, and the members and friends more generous than ever at Friday’s Holiday Auction: our earnings edged up close to $25,000, topping any Auction in recent history. The lion’s share of credit must go to Don Lau, who led his team of elves to collect an impressive array of gifts for the auction table. Gifts donated by all of you. You deserve the thanks!

Don writes: “A BIG MAHALO from The Menehune to the terrific Richmond Rotary Holiday Auction 2014 Team for all of their hard work over the past months and on Friday. Nick Despota, David Brown, Henry Moe, Lynn Martin, Connie Tritt, Stacey Street, Jim Young, Joe Bagley, Josh Surowitz, Heather Kulp, and Joan Davis. Job well done!”

MEETING OF

Welcome

Announcements

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

NEXT MEETING: December 12, 2014

2014 Holiday Auction

So how are you coming with this year’s holiday shopping, Bunkie? Thought so.

You’ve already visited the Holiday Auction page, but have a another look. It grows by the day, and now it’s brimming with creative, fun, and useful gifts and enticing get-aways. (Scotch is a get-away, isn’t it?)

So be sure to show up for the Holiday Auction next Friday. Bring money (plastic accepted), bring friends and business colleagues, and bring a spirit of giving — because every dollar you spend will go to a worthy organization in our community. Giving and receiving is a restorative win-win for the holiday season.

MEETING OF December 5, 2014

Welcome

President Stoney called the meeting to order and asked Henry Moe to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day was: A penny saved is a government oversight! Stoney called for a silent prayer for freedom, peace and justice on earth.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• Charlie Fender introduced his beautiful wife Clavel.
• Josh Surowitz introduced his guest Francesco Bach with Barcelona Ventures.

Sunshine Report

In Bill Koziol’s absence, President Stoney gave the Sunshine Report:

• Dan Sanders broke his arm when he was walking his dog.
• Judy Kafka fell down and broke her leg,
• George Egan had major heart surgery, but is recovering in ICU now.
• Ralph Hill is having cancer treatments on his neck – he claims that he is dodging the “asterisk of Past President”. Pretty amazing for a 90-plus-year old!

Announcements

• Don Lau reported that plans are well underway for a fabulous Holiday Auction on Friday, December 12^th! There is a terrific committee working hard on the event, with David Brown and his team of Henry Moe and Lynn Martin managing all the money aspects of the event, Sid Chauvin will be providing his famed egg nog, entertainment will be provided by Joe “Swampy” Bagley on guitar joined by guest vocalist Stacey Street, in her Richmond Rotary debut, and several members helping round up terrific auction items.When she isn’t singing, Stacey will also be managing the silent auction table with help from Jim Young, and Don and Josh Surowitz will be the auctioneers for the live items. Don mentioned that several members are still on the “Naughty” list since they haven’t yet donated an item so encouraged everyone to go online and post an item ASAP. He highlighted several great lots, including the famous Muscatel (and Hank Covell gave all guests and new members a brief history of this popular lot), a week at a condo in Mexico courtesy of Bob Dabney, a fabulous trip to Quebec thanks to Jon Lawlis, and a private backstage tour of ABC7 Newsroom with Dan Ashley arranged by Stacey Street. Josh Genser added that he will be hosting his famous whiskey tasting event again and has already presold 6 spots! Herb Cole noted that it is much more than a tasting – it is an educational experience too! Don encouraged everyone to bring lots of guests since the goal is raise $20,000 and we can only do that if people come and are willing to spend money for a great cause!
• President Stoney Stonework called on Josh Surowitz to announce the first meeting of the new Satellite Club. It will take place Monday, December 8^th at 5:30 at La Revolucion, and will include an abbreviated meeting, mainly focusing on service opportunities and what people might enjoy at the Satellite meetings. He encouraged everyone to attend, bring prospective members and spouses. These meetings are geared towards people who are unable to attend regular Friday lunch meetings, and are short and project-oriented. They have been very successful for Berkeley Rotary. Emails will be going out to all club members about the first meeting.
• Alan Baer announced that he needed some volunteers to help with bell-ringing at Macy’s Hilltop. Anyone interested should contact Alan directly.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Responding to Disasters

Stacey Street introduced Ana-Marie Jones, Executive Director for Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters (CARD). CARD was created after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and offers an alternative approach to emergency preparedness and disaster response. Ana-Marie has extensive experience including in the CA Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and serving as a guest lecturer on the faculty at UC Berkeley, and worked for 10 years in advertising and market research in NYC. She is also a proud Rotarian, having been a member of Oakland Rotary for 8 years, and feels that Rotarians can change the world! Ana-Marie led a lively, humorous and highly interactive session about disaster response and emergency preparedness, and challenged the group to think about both in a new way. In particular, she noted that traditionally, emergency preparedness nerds (which she calls herself) tend to be both pessimistic and threatening, focusing on all the bad things that might happen in a crisis (how many of you are familiar with the big “BINDER”?). Ana-Marie made the point that encouraging people to focus on strengthening their organizations and communities and planning ahead would be much more effective in preparing for emergencies, especially for those who have limited or no resources. She posed questions and led the group through some fun exercises demonstrating her points, and also did a quick “show and tell” of the streamlined emergency kit CARD provides to nonprofit and community organizations. She also gave every club member a whistle to put on their key-ring and encouraged every member to be a leader in these efforts.