NEXT MEETING: March 3, 2017

The Biological Embedding of Social Experience

Darlene Francis’s research program explores how biological, psychological and social processes interact over a lifetime to influence health and vulnerability to disease. The historic belief that information only flows in one direction, from the genome, is simply incorrect. Her research demonstrates that genetically identical organisms can manifest dramatically different phenotypic profiles in response to different environmental and social conditions. The research is focused on exploring how social inequalities in health come to be. Darlene optimistically focuses on identifying opportunities for intervention. This level of trans-disciplinary research can only be conducted with multiple collaborations that span many disciplines (molecular epigenetics through social epidemiology). In sum, her research explores how experience and social factors are transduced into biological vulnerability, risk and resilience.

MEETING OF Febry

Welcome

President Josh Surowitz cheerfully opened the meeting and asked Dan Tanita to lead the pledge. Herb Cole provided the invocation.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Kimberly Terry attended as Stacey Street’s guest.

Announcements

• Alan Baer reminded folks that tonight is TGIFF. It will take place at Salute and we are the host club.
• Dave Brown reported that he successfully returned from Puerto Vallarta.
• Henry Moe wanted to thank our members for sponsoring three students to the district conference.
• Last but not least, Stacey Street put out the word that she needs everyone to recommend speakers for upcoming meetings. She suggested that she wouldn’t be doing this job forever, but this suggestions was roundly rejected by all present.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

UC Berkeley Solar Decathlon

On behalf of the Richmond Community Foundation, which partnered with the UC Berkeley Solar Decathlon team, Jim Becker, President and CEO, provided the introductions. Sam Durkin and Suraj Patel, both engineering students at UC, described the purpose of the project and how it was being implemented by the UC Berkeley team.

The Solar Decathlon is an international competition sponsored by the Department of Energy challenging collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The competition will culminate in October 2017 in Denver where the competing houses will be on display and a winner chosen based on measurable results.

The UC Berkeley team is comprised of 40 members representing a variety of disciplines, from engineering and architecture to fundraising. They have made their goal to design a home that will be affordable and suited to use in Richmond specifically.

Sam and Suraj presented slides of the project design, an 860 square foot house with sliding walls and Murphy beds for flexibility in use of the limited space. The home is also designed to be stackable for multi-family use, with large windows, and decks for expanded living space. The plans also call for use of Tesla batteries to store solar energy.

Further information is available online at www.solardecathlon.berkeley.edu

NEXT MEETING: February 24, 2017

Solar Decathlon at UC Berkeley

The Solar Decathlon is a rigorous, two-year competition in which teams design, build, and maintain 600-1000 square foot residential homes that are entered into a week-long competition in Denver, Colorado.

UC Berkeley’s very first team has designed a RISE home, which aims to address the increasing population density of many San Francisco suburbs. Designed for Richmond and in line with the partially adopted livable corridors code, this home will eventually be donated to the Richmond Community Foundation Housing Renovation Program. The UC Berkeley team is excited to present its ideas and design at the Richmond Rotary Club meeting and receive feedback from Richmond Rotarians!

MEETING OF

Welcome

Past Pres Alan Baer presided over the meeting, Pres Elect Elect Jerry Feagley led the pledge and Herb Cole led a moment of silence for peace and justice on Earth.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Starr Britt was Ric Ambrose’s Guest, Al Nero was Jerry Feagley’s Guest and past Richmond Rotarian Edgar Deleon was Alan Baer’s Guest.

Announcements

• March 8^th – Jerry Feagley is on the board of PAL who will have a fundraising luncheon. For information, contact Jerry directly. Click here for tickets.
• Alan Baer announced that the El Cerrito Interact Club was having a fundraiser last Saturday at Panda Express
• Ric Ambrose announced that the Richmond Art Center was hosting a Art and Jazz event at the center last Saturday.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Brandon Nicholson, board member and co-founder of the Hidden Genius project, spoke to us today about the program and history. He started off with a video with commentary from young high school men in the program. He explained that the program is an intensive 15 month program consisting of 2-7 week summer sessions with one day a week sessions during the school year.

Brandon also described several success stories of their program. One of the young men used the skills he learned through the Hidden Genius program used the skills to develop an app that could help released prisoners find companies willing to hire them. His inspiration was his uncle who was being released from prison and was worried about finding work. He also explained that the Hidden Genius Program will be expanding to Richmond and will share space with R.Y.S.E. in Richmond.

NEXT MEETING: February 17, 2017

The Hidden Genius Project: Cultivating Entrepeneurship and Leadership in Black Communities

The Hidden Genius Project trains and mentors black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.
Oakland native Brandon Nicholson, founding Executive Director, will discuss the project, which seeks to reveal the true potential of black male youth and transform their communities from the inside out.
Brandon has dedicated his life to promoting equity in the public realm, particularly in the education space.  As a senior evaluator and consultant, he began to recognize the potential for technology to bolster the domestic and global economy as underrepresented populations gain more equitable access to growth sectors.

Brandon serves on the Board of Trustees/Directors of Marin Academy (San Rafael, CA); the San Francisco 49ers Academy (East Palo Alto, CA); Great Oakland Public Schools; and several others.

MEETING OF February 10, 2017

Welcome

The meeeting called to order by President Josh Surowitz.

The Pledge led by “our esteemed mayor” Tom Butt, who took a long minute to recognize that Josh was talking about him.

Invocation led by Herb Cole, who asked for, and got, a moment of silence for peace and freedom.

Syd had a Thought for the Day but, alas, it wasn’t loud enough to be heard above the shuffling of chairs following the moment or silence. Supply your own thought for today.

Visiting Rotarians

Pate Thomson from Berkeley.
Fred “the Governator” Collignon (emphasis on the second syllable), from Berkeley.
Ken Courville from Dixon.
Aaron Gobler from Albany

Rotarians with Guests

Jon Lawlis brought his frequent guest, his darliong Darlene. Alan Baer brought former Richmond Roatarian Edgar.

President Josh took a few moments to read the Governor’s report on the Richmond Rotary Club, in which Fred extolled the virtue of and quantity of our services internationally, to the community and to youth.

Announcements

Nick took a poll of how many read the Flywheel, then announced that we need more scribes!

It was announced that Jerry Feagley is the Club’s President-Elect-Elect.

Aaron Gobler, from the Albany Rotary, brought the interclub bowling trophy to show off and to announce that there will be a BARSHEEP bowl-a-thon to raise money for Rotacare. We hope to raise $10,000. It will probably take place in mid-May at Albany Bowl.

Ken Courville presented the President’s Citation for 2015-2016 to Past President Alan Blavins. Only 20 Club Presidents out of 71 got the award!

Governor Fred presented a banner stolen from the Hawaii District as a prank at a PETS conference. I guess you had to have been there to understand what happened and why it was funny.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

RotoCare Richmond

Shana Introduced Pate Thompson (a “beacon of light”), who introduced Daljeet Singh and Christina Tejada of Richmond’s Rotacare Clinic.

Richmond’s Rotacare Clinic is a BARSHEEP project, with support also from the Alamo Rotary Club. At the grand opening of the Pittsburg Rotacare clinic the Director of Contra Costa Health Services asked whether one could be opened in Richmond, and that was the impetus to do so. We are now coming up the third anniversary of Richmond’s clinic.

In those three years there have been a lot of changes:

• The Affordable Care Act got a lot of people insured, reducing the burden on the clinic.
• Doctor’s Hospital closed, but the impact of that is hard to determine.
• We changed partners from Brighter Beginnings to the Family Justice Center, which has increased synergies with the other services and agencies available from the Family Justice Center.

Rotacare is separate from Rotary, but gets a lot of support from Rotary. Not just money, but most volunteers and Board Members are Rotarians.

Dr. Daljeet Singh then invited any Rotarians to tour the clinic at any time. Just send an email to richmondclinic@rotacarebayarea.com.

The clinic has 80 volunteers and serves those with no health insurance. 72% of its patients are Hispanic. The biggest challenges are fund-raising and attracting enough volunteer professionals.

Christina Tejada then introduced herself as a Richmond native and recent graduate of UC Davis, and said that she was excited to be serving her home community.

NEXT MEETING: February 10, 2017

RotaCare Richmond, Where We Were, Where We Are and Where We are Going?

RotaCare Richmond. a BARSHEEP plus Alamo Rotary project, is about to enter its 4th year of operation at a time of tumultuous change in health care.  We are here providing uninsured people, our working poor, with much needed health care access.  RotaCare was born at time of financial crisis, and is now witnessing the progressive retreat of regional health care facilities and services for the poor. We face unknown challenges as a result of national health care policies that are in flux.

Come hear the clinical stories, and about the good being achieved and challenges we face right here in Richmond. Learn more about RotoCare.

MEETING OF February 3, 2017

Welcome

President Joshua called the meeting to order and asked Oscar Garcia to lead us in the Pledge.  Herb Cole asked for silent prayers for peace, hope, and Sergeant-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered a quote for the day: “There may be no excuse for laziness, but I’m still looking!”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Hank Covell introduced his lovely wife, Doreen from Pinole Rotary.
Mark Howe brought Bob Carlson and President Josh brought father in law Steve Grill.

Announcements

• Tuesday, February 7, President Joshua Surowitz is leading a meeting with Olinda School regarding his microlibrary/literacy project. Please contact Josh if you would like to attend this meeting or others with local elementary schools (it’s fun!).
• President Josh also announced that due to the success of our annual Holiday Auction, we were able to contribute locally to: Kid Scoop News, Read Aloud Program, and one full student scholarship for the Close Up Foundation’s trip to Washington, DC.
• Darlene Drapkin announced that the 23^rd Street Revitalization will hold a Business Watch meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 5:30 pm at Grant Elementary. Details here. Please come!
• President Josh thanked the many people (Erle Brown, Herb Cole, Sidney Chauvin, and Henry Moe) for all of their hard work to make the annual Crab Feed fundraiser a success.
• Nick Despota announced that we need speakers for our programs. “Think about other organizations you belong to. Would other Rotary members be interested in learning about they’re doing?”  If you have ideas for interesting speakers, please talk to our Program Chair Stacey Street.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Telling Richmond's Story

President Josh introduced today’s speaker Steve Early. Steve is a freelance journalist, member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, and a former labor organizer and union representative. He talked about his new book “Refinery Town.” The book discusses Richmond politics and history, Kaiser shipyards, civil rights activism, public safety, and other local lore.