Monthly Archives: January 2017
NEXT MEETING: February 3, 2017Telling Richmond's Story: A Local Journalist's Account of the 'Remaking of an American City'
Early is an appointed member of the City of Richmond Personnel Board and volunteers as a writer coach at Richmond High. He has worked as a labor journalist, lawyer, organizer, or contract negotiator since 1972. Last year, Early co-founded a national network of trade union activists called “Labor for Bernie.” Senator Bernie Sanders, a visitor to Richmond in 2014, contributed a Foreword to Refinery Town which praises the book “for offering ideas and inspiration for making change where it counts the most–among friends, neighbors, and fellow community members.” MEETING OF January 27, 2017WelcomeJosh presided over the meeting in a more buoyant mood than we have seen from him recently. Jon Lawlis led the pledge and Herb Cole provided the invocation. Sid’s thought for the day: Why is it that our children can’t read the Bible in school, but they can in prison? Visiting Rotarians and GuestsWe welcomed a number of guests. Darlene Drapkin was a guest of Jon Lawlis. Jerry Feagley brought Al Nero. Alan Baer hosted Edgar De Leon and Gary Tang. Nick Despota invited our speaker Ted Obbad, and Brian Cronin. Special EventsJim Findley was awarded his blue badge, and Darlene Drapkin was initiated as our newest member, receiving her red badge. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCutting Carbon Pollution through Fee and Dividend
Nick Despota introduced our speaker, Dr. Ted Obbard a volunteer with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a national organization dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It sees the primary strategy for accomplishing these goals as putting a price on carbon. Since this approach to combating climate change is market-based, the organization believes it will more easily gain support across the political spectrum. Central to its goals, the organization seeks to create the political will toward positive action while enabling individuals to exercise their personal power. Outside studies have shown that the effects of a carbon tax are proportionate to its size, so prices can be set to address the problem in scale. These studies also indicate that reducing greenhouse gas emissions contributes to the creation of jobs, improves the health of citizens, and saves lives. Learn more about the Citizens’ Climate Lobby at its website.
- David Cole, “Rotating Editor” |
NEXT MEETING: January 27, 2017Cutting Carbon Pollution through Fee and Dividend
Now with nearly 70% of Americans saying they believe that humans are responsible for a warming planet, the conversation is shifting away from the question of whether climate change is real, to the question of what we can do about it. The Citizen’s Climate Lobby is a national organization with an answer. CCL is building the political will to put a price on carbon and lobbying Congress to support the market-based solution called Fee and Dividend. The two key ideas of Fee and Dividend are, first, that it would incentivize development and purchase of more efficient products; and second, that it is revenue neutral and so more likely to win support across the political spectrum. A member of the Alameda Chapter of the CCL, Dr. Ted Obbard, will tell us how the Fee and Dividend system can dramatically drive down greenhouse gas emissions while growing the economy, improve health, and avert the most extreme effects of climate change. MEETING OFWelcomePresident Josh led the meeting. Josh Genser lead us in the pledge and Herb Cole asked for a moment of silence. Sid was not here so we were left Thoughtless for the Day. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsJordan Lau, the son of the Great and Mighty Don Lau, attended the meeting. Special EventsConnie Tritt presented Jordan Lau a Paul Harris from his father Don Lau. The young man was genuinely surprised. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the East Ba
Our speaker on this day was Martin Bond, Executive Director of Community Energy Services Corporation (CESC). Martin described the horizon for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the East Bay. CESC provides services to low income homeowners, with the aim of helping them save money through energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy systems. Martin played a version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with our Richmond Rotary members. After shooting down 2 or 3 contestants, Oscar came up with the first right answer to questions about home solar systems, appliance efficiency, electric cars and so on. Pres Josh also managed to divine a correct answer to one of the questions. Martin stressed the price of residential solar energy systems has been plummeting. Right now purchasing is a better option then leasing, since the price of these systems will continue to drop. - Henry Moe, Scribe-in-a-pinch |
NEXT MEETING: January 20, 2017Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the East Bay
Martin Bond, Executive Director of Community Energy Services Corporation (CESC), will speak about what is on the horizon for energy efficiency and renewable energy in the East Bay. CESC works to improve the health, safety and energy efficiency of the homes of the most vulnerable in our communities through an integrated whole house approach. CESC provides a variety of services that increase the health, safety, and energy efficiency of homes. These services are free to Bay Area residents with low incomes. For those residents who don’t meet the income standards for our free programs, CESC provides home improvement services at a cost in line with other licensed contractors. All of our services are high quality, and provided by a trustworthy team of experts with a strong interest in serving the community. CESC also specializes in helping small and medium-sized businesses meet their energy saving and climate protection goals, and partners with local governments, utilities, and business associations to provide our programs and services to businesses throughout Northern California. MEETING OF January 13, 2017WelcomeToday’s Meeting was called to order by Past President Alan Blavins. Dan Tanita led us in the Pledge and David Brown asked for, and got, a moment of silence for peace and freedom and justice for all. Thought for the DayPast President Alan Blavins had his own thought for the day, a bit of doggerel: Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift, And that’s why they call it the present. (To me, it’s a mystery how “mystery” rhymes with “history”.) Visiting RotariansMark Linsky, Youth Services Chair from the Pleasanton Club, who was here to talk about De Anza High School Junior Achievement, only to learn that our Club is not the sponsor of the De Anza Interact Club. GuestsOscar Garcia brought his friend Gordon, but I didn’t catch his last name. Jon Lawlis had two Darlenes, one Darlene Drapkin, who has visited our club before and may be a threat to join, and the other Jon’s sweetheart. AnnouncementsThe 10th Annual Richmond Rotary Crab Feed is on January 28, 6pm, Salesian HS cafeteria. You must pay David or Erle for your seats or you can’t eat! We already have 90 reservations!
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMEast Bay Center for the Performing Arts
Mara Lockowandt and Dolores “Lolis” Garcia from the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Mara is Director of School Partnerships and Lolis is Assistant Director for the Center’s resident arts company, Son de la Terra. The 50th anniversary of the EBCPA is coming up! The Center serves youth ages 3 to 18. It has 8 resident arts companies and gives private music lessons. It also provides programs in the WCCUSD schools in school and after school, on school sites and at the Center. They also provide training for teachers. They reach 5,000 students in 20 to 25 schools. There is also an intensive summer program at the Center for about 130 middle and high school kids, and a summer program at school sites for about 750 elementary school kids. The Center has a Diploma Program, which is a 4-year program in arts production for 130 students. Classes go Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the summer. The program also includes academic tutoring and help with college applications. The Center also delivers “wrap-around” services, consisting of referrals to other service providers when student needs are identified, such as mental health services and counseling. Lolis then gave us a demonstration of various types of Mexican music that visitors and students can enjoy and even join in at Month Fandangoes on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Josh Genser - Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: January 13, 2017East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
For nearly 50 years, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts has been committed to rigorous artistic training for children and youth in Richmond and surrounding neighborhoods in its DEEP ROOTS WIDE WORLD curriculum, integrating artistic mastery and cross-disciplinary training in global performing art traditions through a youth development lens. More than 50,000 young artists have attended classes, and 98% of the Center’s high school seniors graduate and are accepted into colleges. East Bay Center believes that art and culture can be useful as a fulcrum of broad resident-driven neighborhood and community change. The Center functions both as a direct service organization and as a deeply trusted partner with advocacy efforts and systems-change initiatives, including coalition and resident-driven partnerships that improve civic outcomes for youth and families in and around Richmond. In partnership with WCCUSD, East Bay Center brings its curriculum into schools to restore access to the arts for over 5,000 Richmond and San Pablo students each year. Its community performances and civic events draw over 22,000 annually.
MEETING OF January 6, 2017WelcomePresident Surowitz led the meeting and our speaker John Crandley led the pledge. Alan Blavins led us in a moment of silence for peace, justice and freedom. Sid’s Thought for the day Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. Visiting Rotarians and Guest.Oscar Garcia brought Jordan Staebler as his guest. Our speakers were George Sakaldasis and John Crandley Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe Contribution of the B-52 to National Security
John Crandley and George Sakaldasis were a great tag team for the B-52 Bomber. John spoke about the history of the plane from the late 50’s to today. The bomber went through minor changes over the years but the general design and usefulness has not. The newest type bomber in use is the B-2 bomber and a new design is in production now but the B-52 will be around for years to come. George Sakaldasis spoke of the time in 1973 when the Russians were threatening to invade Egypt and Israel and as a pilot George was called in to duty. The US upgrade the emergency to High Alert and Air bases around the US prepared for a possible conflict. The Russian spies and satellites picked up all this movement and decided to back down for the invasion. George believes that the act of preparing for the conflict may have prevented World War 3 from starting. Henry Moe, “Rotating Editor”, and Rotary Crab Feed Manager |
Free-lance journalist Steve Early moved to Richmond in 2012. This month, Beacon Press published Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City, about Richmond’s colorful history, its labor, political, and racial conflicts—as well as recent acclaim for public policy innovation. The book has been widely and favorably reviewed. A chapter profiling Chris Magnus and “community policing” in Richmond was excerpted in December by Washington Monthly.
