Yearly Archives: 2013
NEXT MEETING: March 8, 2013Lead Like Lincoln
This Friday’s speaker, Arnold Kunst, will tell us how Lincoln’s leadership style, which forged a 19th century victory when victory was anything but certain, can be emulated by the harassed 21st century business and professional community. Mr. Kunst, who holds an M.A. in history, has fine-tuned his speaking skills with Toastmasters International. His Lincoln presentations, as well as his recently published Lincoln 365, arose out of an award-winning speech entitled ‘Lincoln Was a Loser.’ MEETING OF March 1, 2012WelcomePresident Jim Young called the meeting to order on a beautiful, sunny day at the Richmond Country Club. Dan Tanita had the honor of leading us in the Pledge. Stoney gave us the invocation and there was no Thought for the Day. We missed you Henry! Rotarians with GuestsMark Howe had as his guest Germana Maci, Prez Jim’s guest was wife Linda, and Alan Baer introduced Marin Trujillo, Community Engagement Coordinator for WCCUSD, who was representing Bruce Harter. Sunshine ReportIt was good to see Bill Kozial who did not have a report. Hank Covell reported that John Nicol was doing well and always looks forward to a phone call from Rotarians. David Brown expressed concern for Erle Brown’s liver. Prez Jim let us know that he cannot see out of his right eye…so everybody took advantage of his blind spot. Announcements
Special EventsMarin Trujillo was introduced and asked to speak about the book “Richmond Tales.” Marin gave a very compelling overview of what the book the book has meant to him and to the students in the school district. It has given students a sense of pride in the rich history of Richmond spanning the days when the Native Americans lived in the area, to the WWII boom, the Civil Rights movement and on into the future. It is written from the point of view of two children a boy of Mexican decent and a girl who is African American. There is excitement in the community about the book becoming a play “Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle” through the efforts of our Rotary Club. RecognitionsJoe “Swampy” Bagley did the honors: Your Scribe and his wife celebrated their 24th Anniversary in February. It also happened to be the 29th Anniversary of Dan Tanita and Your Scribe joining the Club one day apart (Quota??) Jerry Feagley, who is in pursuit of being the longest person to have a Red Badge, celebrated his 6th Anniversary in the Club. When are we scheduling his “Who Am I?” Bob Dabney celebrated 9 years in the Club. Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseYou know you are getting old when …. PROGRAMComing to a child's mind near you: the Bay Area Storytelling Festival
On May 17 they are having a Study Trip day when students from local schools can come to the Craneway to learn about storytelling. The cost is $350 to sponsor a class to attend so if anyone is interested sponsoring a group you can contact Jean at jellisen@sbcglobal.net Jean shared the impact that storytelling can have in enriching the lives of the young and old. Jean used storytelling to get her adopted son to learn more about his new community through the eyes of a dog named “Gonzo.” Jean does work with a number of local schools and emphasized that the best way to learn about one’s family history is through asking elders to tell stories about the past. If you were not there you missed Rafael Madrigal’s Urban Legend story about the “White Witch of Wildcat Canyon” Ask him about it some time. The Menehune, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: March 1, 2013Bay Area Storytelling Festival
MEETING OF February 22, 2013WelcomePresident Jim Young welcomed the large gathering today. The invocation was lead by Stoney. The Thought for the Day was offered by Herb: “The highway of life is littered with flat squirrels who couldn’t make up their minds which way to go.” President Jim then added, “Henry Ford said there are two kinds of people: those who think they can and those who think they can’t, and they’re both right.” Visiting RotariansRich Brandeis, former Richmond Rotarian and President of our club, who is President of the Mendocino club, along with his wife, Lisa. Rotarians with GuestsAlan Baer brought his daughter, Stephanie. Sunshine ReportJosh S is present and, apparently, feeling better. Announcements
RecognitionsLillian’s birthday was on Presidents’ Day. Happy and Sad DollarsAlan Baer had happy dollars for his daughter’s birthday. Norm’s NonsenseA farmer was out working in his field one day when a carload of politicians came flying by. They were going too fast for the curve and turned over in the ditch. Later the sheriff stopped by and asked the farmer if he had seen the car. PROGRAMClub Assembly and a proposal for a new international project
Josh Surowitz announced the formation of four membership teams. Each team is now engaged in a friendly competition to see who can bring in the most new members. The winning team will be treated to a party at a restaurant, location to be determined. Members of non-winning teams will need to pay their own tab. Too bad. Jim has made good progress in arranging funding for the play, Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle, that the Club is producing in collaboration with the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. We have raised $30,500, and need another $19,500 to meet our goal of $50,000. There are several grant applications pending and volunteer opportunities coming. President Jim passed out a list of proposals for projects, and pointed out that any successful project needs a champion. Connie Tritt introduced Donna Runnells, who is spearheading a clean water project in Ecuador. Donna runs a non-profit called the Living Bridges Foundation, which has brought clean water to small villages in Ecuador. The cost for each village is $38,000. So far, Ecuadoran Rotary Clubs have not returned anybody’s calls. But members in our club, including Herb Cole, who’s had plenty of experience with international projects, sounded optimistic about the possibilities of supporting this worthy project. Josh Genser, pinch-hitting scribe |
NEXT MEETING: February 22, 2013Winter Quarter Club Assembly
Jim Young will lead us through the Winter Quarter Club Assembly. This is an opportunity for all members to learn about Richmond Rotary’s projects, financing, and plans for the coming year. MEETING OF February 15, 2013WelcomePledge by Tom Butt Invocation was given by Stoney: a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice and for people murdered in Africa who were administering polio vaccines. Thought for the Day: Henry says the NRA can “go to hell.” Visiting RotariansDoug Adcock from Incline Village, traded banners with President Jim. Rotarians with GuestsAlan Blavins had friends from England, Derek and Rosemarie. Derek is a duck decoy carver. Sunshine ReportJosh Surowitz has pneumonia. Announcements
RecognitionsJosh Genser, Mark Howe, Joe Bagley and Jan Brown all had club anniversaries on February 15. 11 years for all but Joe, who has 22! Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseNothing publishable this week. 😉 PROGRAMShen Yun: The Renaissance of Chinese Traditional Culture
Traditional Chinese culture is a mix of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, each of which teach virtues such as loyalty, benevolence, and truth. Mr. Wong fears that many of those values have been lost because of the communist takeover of China and the Cultural Revolution. He thinks that is what is behind the scandals of contaminated sheetrock and baby formula from China. Shen Yun features over 100 artists, including dancers and musicians, playing both western and traditional Chinese instruments. It features dances that tell ancient Chinese stories. Josh Genser, pinch-hitting scribe |
NEXT MEETING: February 15, 2013Shen Yun: The Renaissance of Chinese Traditional Culture
Today’s speaker, David Zhang, Assistant Director for Asian Art Foundation, will take us a step further toward understanding that culture. MEETING OF February 8, 2013WelcomePresident Jim Young called the meeting to order. Lynn Martin lead the Pledge. Stoney gave the Invocation, in which he asked for a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice and for the two murdered Pakistani women who were administering polio vaccines. Visiting RotariansPate Thompson from Berkeley Rotary joined us today. Rotarians with GuestsJim Young brought his wife, Linda. Henry Kellman brought his brother and former Richmond Rotarian, Joe. Sunshine ReportBill Koziol reported that his wife gave birth to their new daughter, Eve Elizabeth Koziol, about three weeks ago— and that he hasn’t slept since. Announcements
RecognitionsLynn Martin had her one year Club anniversary. …and she’s still here. Special EventsSpecial thanks to those who worked so hard on the Crab Feed:
Connie Tritt presented a Paul Harris to Linda Young. Happy and Sad DollarsMichelle Itagaki because her surgeon has confirmed that her bones are healed, and as soon as her joints and muscles heal she can get back on her motorcycle. Herb Cole, who isn’t so lonely as the only alumnus of the University of Second Choice now that Joe Bagley’s daughter is dating a USC alumnus and that Jon Lawlis’ fiance’s daughter has applied for admission. Erle Brown who, starting tomorrow, will be sitting on a beach in Puerto Vallarta for a month. Henry Moe had happy bucks for the Crab Feed success. David Brown was happy to be joining Erle in PV in a week, but for less than a month. Rafael Madrigal. Oh, not so happy. He still sore about missed calls in the Super Bowl. Don Lau, was now happy about stuff that didn’t necessararily delight him when he was a kid. He just returned from a week in Hawaii where he helped his parents weed the yard and fix the house. Norm’s NonsenseA psychiatrist welcomes a man into his office, and says: “Sit down, what can I do for you?” PROGRAMAdventures in Antarctica, then and now
Scott told us of the history of exploration of Antarctica, starring his ancestor, Ernest Shakleton. Ernest went to Antarctica four times:
Meanwhile, Scott actually made it to the South Pole, only to find the remnants of the camp of Roald Amundsen, who had beaten him there by 35 days. Scott and his crew then froze to death on their way back. Scott got to travel to Antarctica as part of Operation Deep Freeze, 2010, the annual resupply of the American scientific colony, McMurdo Station. Scott was able to fly to the South Pole station and actually stand on the South Pole, becoming the first Shakleton to do so. Josh Genser, pinch-hitting scribe |
NEXT MEETING: February 8, 2013Tales from the South Pole
MEETING OF February 1, 2013WelcomeClub President Jim Young called the meeting to order with a litany of adjectives beginning with the letter R. Let it be noted that it is not true that Jim has accepted an offer to work as a writer for Sesame Street. And while on the subject of fanciful writing, let us also note that the scribe for this meeting, Josh Surowitz, came down with the flu a few days later. Webmaster Nick Despota is, therefore, filling in for Josh by deciphering Josh’s chicken-scratch notes and plying his own fanciful memory of the meeting’s proceedings. So here goes. Stoney Stonework asked for a moment of silence for “freedom, peace, and justice on earth”, and Henry Kelman, observed that the Dow Jones has hit a record high. Jim then handed the floor over to Jordan Simmons, director of the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Jordan described the work now underway at the Center, leading up to the launch of Richmond Tales, the play that spotlights the experiences of two children growing up in the Iron Triangle. Jordan announced that the Center needs our help on many fronts. As you know by now, the Richmond Rotary is the major financial partner for the production. But in addition to our monetary support, the success of the production will also depend on volunteer support, including transportation for young people, getting the word out, organizing food for the reception, and more. Stay tuned. Visiting RotariansMister Phillips, the president of the Pinole Rotary; and Paul Bonnar, president of the Pleasant Hill Rotary, visited us on this day. Rotarians with GuestsJim Young introduced Linda, his wife, and Jordan Simmons, executive director of the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts. Jon Lawlis introduced Darlene, by now a familiar face. Joan Davis also introduced her guest, but we apologize for not noting his name. Announcements
RecognitionsJoe “Swampy” Bagley presided over the Recognitions, noting that the long dry spell of no-birthdays appears to have ended. For instance:
Happy and Sad Dollars
Norm’s NonsenseThe defendant knew he didn’t have a prayer of beating the murder rap, so he bribed one of the jurors to find him guilty of manslaughter. The jury was out for days before they finally returned a verdict of manslaughter. Afterward the defendant asked, “How come it took you so long?” The juror said, “All the others wanted to acquit.” PROGRAMDad's Acending Rare Elevations
The line separating pleasure from pain can be incredibly thin, a thought triggered by this week’s guest speaker. Decked out in colorful GoreTex, climbing boots, goggles, and carrying an ice pick, Alamo Rotarian Jim Brandt recounted the adventures of a group of Rotarians—they call themselves D.A.R.E.—who scale some of the world’s highest peaks: Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro and others. (D.A.R.E. stands for Dads Ascending Rare Elevations.) A few years ago our own adventurer, Jon Lawlis, joined a high-altitude group of daredevils on the Kilimanjaro assault. Assault? As Jim spoke it seemed that this was less a matter of man against mountain than man against self, as in self-inflicted torture. One-hundred pound packs, terrorist threats, icy terrain negotiated in pre-dawn hours, precipitous drops, high altitude sickness, powerful winds and temperatures hovering around 30 degrees below zero. Are we having fun yet? As it happened, dessert for the meeting was vanilla ice cream. Frozen, creamy white and entirely safe. Yeah, we’re having fun. Nick Despota, pinch-hitting scribe |
Michelle Itagaki had the privilege of introducing our speaker Jean Ellisen, a trained storyteller, who was at our Club to help promote the Bay Area Storytelling Festival which will be held at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond on May 18-19.
The Rotacare Clinic grand opening was a great success, with lots of people in attendance.
Back by popular demand, Scott Shackleton, Assistant Dean for the College of Engineering at U.C. Berkeley, will unravel the mysteries of the real discoveries at the South Pole.
Last month the pace of life for Bill Koziol and his wife Kirsten recently bumped up several notches. The bumper: a healthy baby girl, Eve Elizabeth, born on January 15th. Both mom and baby are healthy; Bill is busy. Congratulations.