Monthly Archives: June 2018
NEXT MEETING: June 29, 2018Bike East Bay SpeakerBike East Bay promotes healthy, sustainable communities by making bicycling safe, fun and accessible. It is committed to improving access to biking, walking and transit, with particular attention to communities and areas that have been underserved. The organization promotes bicycling as a way to improve the health, economic vitality, and happiness of our communities. These are admirable goals that can be difficult to achieve in a culture so committed to cars as the primary mode of personal transportation. How are they doing? Let’s find out. MEETING OF June 22, 2018WelcomeFor the last time in her term as president, Connie called the meeting to order. She will be out-of-town next Friday and past-president Alan Blavins will preside. Syd had a soothing thought-for-the-day, though: “Children are a great comfort in your old age, and they help you reach it faster, too!” AnnouncementsIncredibly, no one rose to make an announcement today. President Connie could not accept the unusual absence of anything to announce so called on David Brown. Our treasurer promptly stood and announced that dues were due (why do you think they call them “dues”?). If you haven’t done so already, you can meet your obligation by handing him your credit card or a check at the next meeting. You can also click the yellow Donate buttons on the right, one for the Rotary dues and the other for your contribution to Rotary International. Considering the state of international affairs right now, you may rest assured that donations will be put to good use. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMYES, Nature to Neighborhood. What does that mean?Our speaker on this day was executive director of YES Nature to Neighborhoods, Eric Aaholm. In his introduction, Nick reminded the club that Richmond Rotary has donated many thousands of dollars to YES over the last decade. Therefore, Eric’s presentation was an opportunity to learn how our dollars are contributing to the experiences of youth in our community. Since its establishment in 1999, YES has brought 5,300 Richmond and surrounding West Contra Costa County youth to week-long, residential summer camps and more than 1,000 families to weekend Family Camps in the Redwoods. YES organizers realized early on that bringing both children and their families on the weekend camping trips created opportunities for reinforcing the value of these retreats from urban routines by creating occasions for better communication, and just being together in a relaxing environment filled with new sights and sounds. In recent years, YES has built its capacity to provide services throughout the year, not just during the summer, when week-long and family weekend camping is most suited to students and families. YES has broadened its ability to partner with other organizations serving youth in Richmond, such as the RYSE Center. These partnerships create synergies that widen the effect of the positive experiences these collaborations can offer. Eric noted that through its programs YES also promotes high school achievement, including college and career readiness. An example is the focus on completion of a-g courses, required for admission to the University of California. Eric used the word “leadership” multiple times. YES strives to lay foundations for personal development— by building good communication skills, promoting healthy nutrition, cultivating an appreciation for our environment, focusing on college- and career-readiness, and more. These supports, opportunities and nudges all add up, gradually changing the faces of leadership in Richmond.
Nick Despota, Pinch-hitting scribe |
NEXT MEETING: June 22, 2018Developing Leaders through the Power of NatureSince its inception in 1999, YES Nature to Neighborhoods has brought 5,300 Richmond and surrounding West Contra Costa County youth to week-long, residential summer camps and more than 1,000 families to weekend Family Camps in the Redwoods. Each summer YES aims to send nearly 300 youth, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend camp, to one of seven different residential and day camps around the region. Eric Aaholm, the organization’s Executive Director, will tell us how YES build self-confidence and enhance leadership among Richmond’s youth. MEETING OFWelcomeOur meeting was called to order by President Connie. Tom led the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb offered the invocation. Syd had this thought-for-the-day: “One of life’s mysteries is how the boy not good enough for my daughter could father the smartest grand kid in the world.” Today’s GuestsOur guests today included Mac Lingo from the Berkeley Rotary; Jon Dwyer, our District-Governor Elect; our speaker Brooke Deterline, and her husband, Ken Deterline; and Susan Grossman from the Concord Rotary Club. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCourageous ConversationsBrooke Deterline trains people on how to to talk to people with whom you disagree yet with whom you must live and work—on how to have “courageous conversations.” Disagreement causes stress. Our animal brains’ fight-or-flight response to stress urges us to avoid the conflict of taking on disagreement, and causes us to avoid difficult conversations. Thus, those with whom we disagree become the other or the enemy. As an indication of our general aversion to disagreement, Brooke told us that inter-political-party marriages are now more controversial than are inter-racial or inter-religious! Time can help us manage our stress response. We must give our thinking brain time to catch up to our animal brain’s instinctive response. We may also be able to establish common ground of values before we talk about disagreements of policy or implementation. Rotary Clubs are an ideal forum for such conversations because we are already diverse in opinion, yet are part of a community. Consequently it should be safer to have such conversations among Rotarians. Stay tuned for an announcement of a Rotary-sponsored training on the ways to have more Courageous Conversations. - Josh Genser, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: June 15, 2018Courageous ConversationsRotarians and non-Rotarians alike share a sense that the polarization that is prevalent in the United States at this time is eroding our democracy. We seem to have lost the skills to share opposing viewpoints and discuss potential solutions to our common problems. There is a strong need in many Americans simply to be heard without judgement. Our speaker for this program, Brooke Deterline, is the CEO of Courageous Leadership. Brooke is a TEDx speaker and a HuffPo Blogger on Courageous Leadership. MEETING OF June 6, 2018WelcomePresident Connie Tritt welcomed everyone and noted that it was a small turnout today. Special Events President Connie presented Norm Lundberg with his “Major Donor” award. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMSTEMsailSpeaker Wayne Koide introduced the group to STEMsail – a group that seeks to reinforce concepts related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through sailing. Topics such as Bouyancy, Wind, Machines and Weather are taught during sailing trips and field trips. Their methodology is to experience the concept, sail the boat and train on the concepts. Wayne also showed a short video of kids sailing and learning. In wrapping-up, Wayne asked the audience for help with his primary challenge – lack of diversity of his students. Members referred him to The Escape Club, RPAL and METAS from Contra Costa College. - Connie Tritt, Rotating Reporter |
NEXT MEETING: June 8, 2018STEMsailWayne Koide will tell us about an innovative way of helping students develop a deeper understanding of science, technology, engineering and math—the focus of what is called S.T.E.M. curriculua in schools today. STEMsail seeks to reinforce these concepts through sailing as a practical platform for learning, with a special emphasis on sustainability and an awareness of our marine environment. Learn more at the StemSAIL website. MEETING OF May 18, 2018WelcomePrez Connie called the meeting to order. Your Scribe led the Pledge and Prez Connie offered a moment of silence for Peace, Freedom and Justice. Sid Chauvin offered the following from Winston Churchill. ”The best argument against democracy is the five minute conversation with the average voter.” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsSimon Ellis had as his guest Matt Piatt. AnnouncementsDavid Brown had 2 announcements:
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMChief Adrian Sheppard report on the Richmond Fire DepartmentPam Jones introduced our speaker Richmond Fire Chief Adrian Sheppard who came to Richmond after serving as a member of the Oakland Fire Department. Chief Sheppard has been busy working on a Strategic Plan for the Department. The department has 7 stations with a budget of $30 million. The divisions within the department include: Training; Suppression/Operation; Prevention; Administration; Office of Emergency Services. Last year there were 446 fires in Richmond and the department received 13,000 emergency calls. The department also made 2,000 safety inspections. Chief Sheppard is also the Chair of the Richmond El Cerrito Fire and Police Toy Program and thanked the Rotary Club for its part in raising funds to provide bike for the program. The Menehune, Rotating Editor |