Monthly Archives: June 2017
NEXT MEETING: April 7, 2017Demoting El Presidente
The dictionary definition must be wrong. Demote: to reduce to a lower grade or rank, to relegate to a less important position. But hey! During past demotions, outgoing presidents have not appeared disappointed or diminished in the least. On the contrary, it’s been all grins and chuckles. In this president’s case, maybe we’ll even see some twirls and flourishes. At the conclusion of the ceremony, incoming president Connie Tritt picks up the gavel and moves us forward! Mark your calendars. MEETING OF June 22, 2017WelcomePast-president presided in the absence of El Presidente, Josho. Sid’s Thought for the Day: Before you give a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what is left. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsAnthony Murphy, from Great Britain, was introduced by Jerry Feagley Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe Challenges of a Richmond Distiller
Farid Dormishian, is the founder/distiller for Falcon Spirits, located at 3701 Collins Ave. in Richmond, Ca, very close to the Country Club. www.botanicagin.com He graduated from Cal Berkeley, paying for his education through bartending. He started making beer and then wine and it turned out so good, he got the idea to make liquor. He took time off to visit distilleries around the world from scotch in Scotland to brandy in Paris. He even paid to learn about the process in different places. He looked at places for where to open. Because funding is a challenge, he got his dad and friends to help out, along with 401K. He leased a place in Richmond. He got permits from City and County which took a long time while paying rent. His Dad was killed in a car accident, right before opening and so he had to work with one tenth of the finding because the other investors pulled out after that. Distilling takes a lot of compliance and product needs to be sold through a distributor. After many vicissitudes, he opened in 2011. To run a distillery, it takes 7 days a week. Building a brand is very difficult. He operates with a small PR budget. Won a San Francisco Best of the Bay Distiller award in 2014. Overcoming Richmond’s image is a problem when he offers his product all over. He wishes he could get more local businesses to carry his products: Amaro Aplomado, and Botanico’s Spirit Gin. He sources herbs and flavors to provide just the right flavors. He lets it sit for a month and then flavors with cucumber juice to give it the essence and to create a brandy based gin. Rotarians in attendance got a chance to taste three of his gins and they were truly delectable!!!!! - Darlene Drapkin, “Rotating Editor." Earned my blue badge last week, woo hoo! |
NEXT MEETING: June 23, 2017The Challenges of a Richmond Distiller
There are many misconceptions about what a distiller’s life is all about. Some think it is romantic, some envision an illegal appellation moonshiner, and some a jet-setting glamorous party animal… The reality is far from this. Distillers have to cope with what any other manufacturer has to go through and sometimes more when it comes to taxation, compliance, distribution… Farid Dormishian, Founder/Distiller for Falcon Spirits Distillery, will touch upon these and will share some of his own personal challenges and accomplishments. He will also describe his journey from undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at UC Berkeley, to bartending and wine-making, to launching his own distillery. Members won’t want to miss this talk, as Farid is also bringing samples of his delicious spirits for us to taste! MEETING OF June 16, 2017WelcomePresident Josh Surowitz called to order the final meeting of his term of office. Henry Moe led us in the pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice on Earth. Sid’s thought for the day was, “The people with whom we should try to get even are the people we’ve helped.” Rotarians with GuestsSimon introduced son, John Ellis, who just graduated from John Swett High School. Nick had three guests: his wife, Nel, who is the Membership Chair of Healthcare for All California; Dan Hodges, the Director, and a co-founder, of Healthcare for All Calfironia, and today’s speaker, Eric Leenson of the Business Alliance for a Healthy California. Who Am I?We were happy to learn more about Darlene Drapkin’s background. She is a native of Southern California. Her family is background is Nicaraguan, Polish and Jewish—and despite all of that, she’s a vegetarian. Darlene has an MBA, with emphasis in marketing. Twenty years ago she moved to East Richmond Heights. Darlene works on neighborhood commercial revival projects; for example, establishing Business Improvement Districts to create money and organizations so neighborhoods can revive their business districts. She used to be a member of Oakland Rotary, and had projects in several Oakland neighborhoods. She hopes to be involved in the organization and revival of Richmond’s 23rd Street corridor. AnnouncementsAnnouncements were made but none were recorded. Sorry. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMSingle Payer Healthcare in California: Now is the Time
Despite high costs and outcomes no better, and in some categories worse, than in other industrialized countries, many Americans remain uninsured and underinsured. Our system is very inefficient. This month, Senate Bill 562, a bill to enact a single payer healthcare system in California, was passed in the California legislature. However, it does not specify a funding mechanism and it will not move into the Assembly until it does. Eric pointed out that single payer is not “socialized medicine” because the delivery systems stay private and consumers would still have choices. Instead, it is “socialized insurance.” While reputable economic analyses show that the plan would save more money than it costs, paying for it remains the hurdle. The current proposal is a tax on gross receipts on business (which would no longer need to pay for insurance for it employees) and an increase in the sales tax (similarly, those in the individual markets would no longer pay premiums). - Josh Genser, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: June 16, 2017Single Payer Healthcare in California: Now is the Time
Learn more about the Business Alliance at its website, and about the Healthy California Act here. MEETING OF June 9, 2017WelcomeJosh Surowitz presided over today’s proceedings, and began by noting “skeleton crew.” (Translation: Sid wasn’t here today so Josh performed double-duty, also serving also as Sergeant-at-Arms: collecting money, handing out meal tickets, and acting ornery. It was almost too much for him.) On cue, member spoke to the Flag and, during the invocation, contemplated lofty thoughts. Filling in for Sid’s Thought-for-the-day, Nick offered this about thoughts: “If the brain were simple enough, we’d be too simple to understand it.” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsOur sole visitor was our guest speaker, Brian Beckon, who will discuss the current bill to enact a single-payer health care system in California. AnnouncementsPresident Josh Surowitz announced very sad news. Erle Brown’s wife Phyllis Peres Brown passed away yesterday. They were married for 57 years. Phyllis often attended Club events so many of us came to know and appreciate her. We extend our deepest sympathies to Erle. A memorial service for Phyllis will held on Thursday, 15 June 2017, at 11 am at Wilson & Kratzer, 24th & Barrett. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCommunity Capital: Impact Investing for Everyone
Stacey introduced a guest who may have prompted some of us to rethink how we invest our money. Brian Beckon of Cutting Edge Capital explained the whys and the hows of “community capital.” First a definition: Community capital is investment capital raised publicly from an investor’s own community, and including all economic classes. Why is community capital worth developing? Brian offered 3 reasons.
-Nick Despota, Flywheel Editor |
NEXT MEETING: June 9, 2017Community Capital: Impact Investing for Everyone
What if everyone in a community could invest in its revitalization and keep the profits circulating locally? They can! With community capital strategies, anyone of any economic class can invest in local businesses, nonprofits, and community investment funds. This is impact investing for everyone. In this discussion we will talk about what community capital is, why it’s so impactful, and the legal strategies that make it possible. We’ll compare community capital with crowdfunding and go over some real life examples. MEETING OF June 2, 2017WelcomeIncoming President Connie Tritt called the meeting to order and asked Pam Jones to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb Cole asked for silent prayers for peace, hope, and justice. Sergeant at Arms Sidney Chauvin offered a quote for the day: “Women are to be loved, not understood,” which resulted in a few snorts from women in the room. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsMack Lingo and District Governor Fred Collignon were visiting from Berkeley Rotary. Stacey Street brought Khalid Elahi who is a life skills coach. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe scheduled speaker of the day failed to show, show there was an impromptu presentation by Ric Ambrose and Shana Bagley. Ric grew up “as a normal person” in Warren, Ohio with 7 siblings. His father worked 7 days a week. Ric was the state tennis champ and managed the best hot dog restaurant around (The Hot Dog Shoppe, 740 W Market St. Five stars on YELP, by the way). When he decided to attend college at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!), his life began to take shape. He studied Art History and Studio Art and met his wife (of 37 years). He went on to earn a Masters in Fine Art and fell into an art studio curatorship that eventually led him to the Richmond Art Center. He enjoys the opportunity to run an art studio and to have time to create his own masterpieces (and they ARE fabulous).
-Shana Bagley, Rotating Scribette |
Today’s speaker was Erik Leeson of the Business Alliance for a Healthy California. The organization is new and was formed to make the business case for a single-payer health plan. U.S. businesses pay twice as much business in other industrialized countries, all of which have single-payer health plans, and receive less in services and outcomes. Health care costs are rising faster than inflation, and consumer much more of our Gross Domestic Product than it does in Europe.
Shana talked about life lessons she learned from sailing offshore, which you can learn more about on her blog posting,