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.

NEXT MEETING: December 5, 2014

Prepare to Prosper! An Alternative Approach to Emergency and Disaster Readiness

With the recent Napa earthquake, and the 25th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake (October 17th), now is the time to embrace an alternative approach to making our communities strong, resilient, and able to address the challenges and opportunities we face. Using her background in advertising and marketing research, and leveraging years of working directly with some of our most vulnerable communities, Ana-Marie Jones’ presentation is sure to leave us better prepared and with a new framework for supporting preparedness in our communities.

MEETING OF Novwember 21, 2014

Welcome

President Stoney called the meeting to order, Alan Blavins led the Pledge and Sid’s thought for the day was Birds of a feather flock together – then they crap on your car.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Visiting Rotarians were Stacey Duckett from Antioch Rotary and David Hammer from El Sobrante Rotary.
Guests were Sharla Sullivan from EBMUD and Shana Bagley was with Mark Howe.

Announcements

Holiday Auction

The clock is ticking down to our Holiday Auction on December 12^th. Please visit the Holiday Auction page to see what we’ve already collected—you’ll see the evergreens from last year. But you’ll also see a red button, Post my item. Click it to open a form on which you can describe your item, upload a picture if you’d like, and add to the growing collection of unusual and entertaining donations that will make this auction the best ever.

Buy a Kid a Bike Program

Each year approximately 1,000 children sign-up to for the Richmond/El Cerrito Fire & Police Holiday Program to receive toys and gifts. On a date in December, these kids come to the E.M.Downer YMCA in Richmond, receive a number, and with it, a chance to receive a bike. The bikes are distributed by lottery. The more bikes we have to give away, the more kids are winners. Last year we distributed over 300 bikes! Download flyer.

• Jim Young announced the end of the book drive and stated that if people still have bins and books to call him so they can be picked up. He thanks Richmond for donating to the project.
• Connie Tritt reminded everyone that it is foundation month which of course everyone knew. She reminded members that the club would cover half the costs to get members to their next Paul Harris for the rest of November.
• David Brown spoke about the Peres School Teachers project to give $100 for each teacher and that we were $1,000 short of the mark. After Mark Howe donated David Brown said he would match anyone else who donated and it looks like we met our goal.
• In addition to the Buy a Kid a Bike program (see below), the Richmond and El Cerrito Fire & Police collect and distribute new toys to children in our cities. If you would like to donate a new, unopened (but not wrapped!) toy, please bring it to our December 19^th meeting.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Update on the Water Supply and Drought

Lesa McIntosh, Member of the Municipal Utility District Board of Directors and former Richmond Rotarian, spoke about the current drought situation. EBMUD was created in 1923. There is a series of water storage sheds throughout California and the district’s planning has helped us get through past droughts and this drought so far. She also mentioned that the customers have taken the non-mandatory 10% cutback and actually did 11%. Lesa had many great things to say about EBMUD and is a great spoke person for them. You can view the mission of EBMUD at https://www.ebmud.com/about/mission along with the Strategic Plan for the system.

NEXT MEETING: November, 21, 2014

Update on the Water Supply and Drought

Lesa McIntosh, member of East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors, will provide a timely presentation about the current water supply and the drought.  Lesa has served on the EBMUD Board of Directors representing Ward 1 since 1999. This includes the Contra Costa County cities of Crockett, Hercules, Rodeo, San Pablo; portions of Richmond and Pinole, and the communities of North Richmond and Selby. Lesa is responsible for policy decisions affecting more than 1,800 employees, 4 labor unions, 1.3 million water customers and some 600,000 wastewater customers. She is the first African American woman Vice President (2005) and President (2006 – 2008).

Lesa grew up in Richmond and attended Richmond Public Schools, graduating a year early from Kennedy High School. She has her B.S. in Political Science from UC Berkeley and her J.D. from John F. Kennedy School of Law. Lesa has practiced law in the city of Richmond for 24 years, with a current focus on business, estate planning and probate. Lesa is also dedicated to the community and serves on the Contra Costa County Bar Association, NAACP-Richmond Chapter, the Board of the League of Women Voters and as an instructor for Contra Costa College, among others.

MEETING OF November 14th, 2014

Welcome

President, Stoney Stonework welcomed everyone to the meeting and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Stoney asked everyone to take a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth.

Sid’s thought for the day was, the definition of a ‘politician’ is one who shakes your hand before the election and your confidence after.

Announcements

Holiday Auction

The clock is ticking down to our Holiday Auction on December 12^th. Please visit the Holiday Auction page to see what we’ve already collected—you’ll see the evergreens from last year. But you’ll also see a red button, Post my item. Click it to open a form on which you can describe your item, upload a picture if you’d like, and add to the growing collection of unusual and entertaining donations that will make this auction the best ever.

Buy a Kid a Bike Program

Each year approximately 1,000 children sign-up to for the Richmond/El Cerrito Fire & Police Holiday Program to receive toys and gifts. On a date in December, these kids come to the E.M.Downer YMCA in Richmond, receive a number, and with it, a chance to receive a bike. The bikes are distributed by lottery. The more bikes we have to give away, the more kids are winners. Last year we distributed over 300 bikes! Download flyer.

• Bill Koziol gave the Sunshine report stating he’d seen Charlie Wong and that he is in good spirits and appreciates phone calls. Ralph Hill had surgery recently and will be undergoing radiation therapy for three weeks. He is in the Greenridge care facility in El Sobrante.
• Mark Howe reminded everyone to donate books for the West County Reads book drive.
• David Brown announced that we now have $1,500 for the Peres Elementary School teacher fund. The goal is to give each teacher in the school $100 toward classroom materials and supplies. If you’d like to donate, please bring a check to David.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Talk with Dan Ashley, ABC7 News

Stacey Street introduced today’s speaker, Dan Ashley, news anchor for ABC7 news. Dan has been an anchor for over 30 years, 20 of them with ABC7 here in the bay area. He’s covered major news stories locally, nationally, and internationally. He serves on numerous boards including the Red Cross, the Contra Costa Crisis Center, CASA, and others. He also sings with a rock band called Push which does classic rock covers.

Dan started off saying that bringing back stories to tell the public is a sacred trust and one he takes very seriously. He also noted that having a job that allows him to go and speak to others is very rewarding. He talked about broadcasting in terms of the impact of technology on news. In past years the news was on at six and 11:00 but now it’s required to be on at 5, 6, 10, and 11 daily. CNN started this trend with a 24-hour news cycle and it changed everything. The expectation is now that news will be reported immediately and as it happens. As a result, local news is often about updating and keeping the story refreshed as it unfolds. This whole trend has damaged newspapers dramatically. In past years, newspapers would be all over the newsroom – advanced copies of newspapers from everywhere would be used to source broadcast news stories. This is no longer the case. Now, there isn’t a single newspaper in the newsroom where he works.

When a big story hits they go into what’s called a “continuous coverage” mode. If they don’t, the public will find the story somewhere else so they have to be on at the same time as CNN, MSNBC, Fox, etc. If a story is big enough to “cut in” on regular programming they know that no matter how big the story is, they will get calls from those who are angry because they cut in on Jeopardy. Social media is another facet of electronic communications impacting news. Dan is now required to Tweet on a regular basis. At its core, though, the job of news reporting is the same as it’s always been. Dan noted that the most important thing is to live in a place where the news can be freely reported and where ideas and beliefs can be expressed openly.