Monthly Archives: July 2017
NEXT MEETING: July 28, 2017Canine Guardians Dogs Provide Critical AssistanceCanine Guardians Assistance Dogs breeds, trains and places service dogs with wounded veterans with PTSD, diabetics and children with cancer. Our dogs are taught to turn on and off lights, pick up dropped items, open refrigerator door, grab a bottle of water and take it to their person and much more. Our dogs also provide emotional support to veterans with nightmares and children with cancer. Come learn more about this program and meet some of their dog trainees. MEETING OF July 21, 2017WelcomeThe Incredible President Connie resided over the meeting and woke us all up with a stirring ringing of the bell. Mayor Tom Butt lead us in the pledge, Erle Brown asked for a moment of silence for peace, justice and freedom on Earth. Sid’s thought for the day: Globally, every second of everyday, 12.8 cans of spam are consumed. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsWe welcomed two visiting Rotarians: Mack Robinson, Assistant Governor; and the wonderful Sonia Rivas from San Pablo Rotary AnnouncementsOn October 21st you can indulge yourself in the pleasures of wine and cigars with members of the San Ramon Rotary Club. The event is being held at the Blackhawk Country Club. Talk to Pam Jones if your our interested. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMJoe Aaron is an economic futurist. A futurist forecasts social trends, and an economic futurist attempts to anticipate the economic impact of those trends. Trends are characterized by exponential, not linear, growth. The most common example of exponential growth is Moore’s Law named after the co-founder of Intel Corporation. The two trends that will impact our economy the most over the next 10 to 15 years are the electric vehicle (EV) and the Autonomous Vehicle (AV). Together they will add two trillion dollars to our GDP. They will drive the internal combustion engine into extinction and lead to a 20% retreat from the current peak demand of 100 million barrels a day before the end of the next decade. Joe modestly claimed that “You can take me out of the south but you can’t take the south out of me, and I graduated from the 12th best college in Georgia.” We learned that there are no “pie in the sky” predictions, only well thought out probabilities that conform to the laws of economics.
Henry Moe, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: July 21, 2017A Peek at Our Economic FutureJoe Aaron is an Economic Futurist. A futurist identifies trends in society, and an economic futurist attempts to anticipate the economic impact of those trends. Trends identify themselves through exponential growth, not linear. The most common example of exponential growth is Moore’s Law named after the co-founder of Intel Corporation. The two trends that will impact our economy the most over the next 10 to 15 years are the Electric Vehicle (EV) and the Autonomous Vehicle (AV). Together they will add two trillion dollars to our GDP, They will drive the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) into extinction and cause oil to retreat 20% from a “Peak Demand” of 100 million barrels a day before the end of the next decade. MEETING OF July 14, 2017WelcomeNewly-minted President Connie Tritt called the meeting to order and presided over the meeting in her first meeting in the capacity of Richmond Rotary President. Connie took the occasion to remind us of our elevator speech. When people ask “What’s Rotary?”, we can lay it out this way: If it’s a long elevator ride, throw in the Four Way Test: Visiting Rotarians and GuestsStacey brought her daughter Alyssa Street to today’s meeting. Alan Bauer also brought his daughter Stephanie, who is the Interact President at her high school. She returned just the night before from community work in Nicaragua. And how’s this for a coincidence: Stephanie spent time teaching English in your scribe’s (Darlene’s) mom’s hometown of Estelí, in northern Nicaragua. AnnouncementsIn case your pleasures tend toward those involving the stronger sensations, the San Ramon Rotary Club will be sponsoring a Whiskey and Cigar Tasting event at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, October 21. Plenty of time to prepare your taste buds. Richmond Rotary was recently recognized at a Rotary Awards Dinner for having one of the top newsletters in the District. Kudos to the entire Flywheel team: Shana Bagley, David Cole, Nick Despota, Darlene Drapkin, Josh Genser, Jon Lawlis, Henry Moe, Shana Bagley, and Stacey Street. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMLarry Lewis and the RIchmond Police Activities LeagueLarry Lewis, from Richmond Police Activities League, needed no introduction. He’s visited our club on numerous occasions and, outside of these meetings, has worked with a large number of our members. Richmond Rotarians have served on the RPAL board, while others have joined him on a wide range of community projects. He gave shout-outs to members in the room, including Mey Saechao, Cecilia Orozco, Darlene Drapkin and Josh Genser, acknowledging their collaboration over the years. Larry singled out Erle Brown, saying that Erle and the Boys Club were like family to him. Every time he did well or badly, Earl was there to praise him or let him have it. Larry’s first job was with the Richmond Boy’s Club, where he became Executive Director at the age of 21. He could have worked in the City but he chose to enter the Police Department because, he joked, he could run well. RPAL has brought into its programs 120 truant young people— kids who ditch school, are picked up, and then sent to RPAL. Rules and regulations enforce a daytime curfew that keeps kids on a steady path toward maturity. RPAL provides the young people with services that can help keep then motivated in positive ways and stay out of jail—and graveyards. Larry is grateful that there are other programs for Richmond youth, like RISE, YES, and the YMCA. Taken together, these programs offer positive guidance and engagement with everything from college prep and money management, to robotics learning and field trips to locations beyond. Larry finished by listing a number of ways you can help.
Darlene Drapkin, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: July 14, 2017
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