NEXT MEETING: August 1, 2014

Cambodian Child’s Dream Organization (CCDO)

Linda and Jim Young will discuss the Literacy service trip they took in January with a CCDO team. They will provide a brief background about the rural region where they served (beyond Angkor Wat), the nature of their participation, and the impact of the organization on rural schools and families in that region.

It is well documented that “giving” has real impact on Cambodian people when it is done through small Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s). The CCDO has a strong track record working directly with community leaders. Building Capacity in local communities is a key goal.

MEETING OF July 25, 2014

Welcome

President Stoney called the meeting to order and asked Jeff Mulvilhill to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.  Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day: It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you.  Stoney called for a moment of silence for freedom,  peace and  justice on earth.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

•    John Hermanson visited from the El Sobrante Rotary.  He is also their new President.
•    Herb Cole introduced his wife and daughter, Norma Cole and Emily Cole, both Paul Harris Scholars!

Announcements

  • Alan Baer reminded everyone that it was the last Friday of the month so the BARSHEEP TGIF party would be happening at La Revolucion beginning at 5 p.m. in the back room.
  • President Stoney let everyone know that Mark Howe reached Hawaii safe and sound, with just a few minor mishaps.  It took him 13 days, and best news of all, his girlfriend is still talking to him!
  • A Celebration of Life for Richmond Rotarian Norm Foley will take place on Sunday, August 10th, at 11 a.m.,  in Rancho Murietta, CA. If you would like to attend, please contact Pat Watkins, at 916-543-4983, or Watkinsp57@gmail.com, for more details by August 1st.Those wishing to remember Norm with a memorial may do so to a favorite charity, or to Loaves and Fishes, P.O. Box 13495, Sacramento, CA 95813.

Visiting Rotarian (see below) John Hermanson announced that the Salvation Army was inviting businesses and organizations to help distribute backpacks filled with school supplies to needy students on Saturday August 16th from 9 AM until noon at 4600 Appian Way in El Sobrante.  He encouraged all interested and available Rotarians to participate.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Tom Waller introduced speaker, Ron Swanson, who was presenting from Florida via Skype – thanks for bringing Rotary into the modern age, Tom! Ron is a lawyer and “serial entrepreneur” who talked about a new company, Sonic Cavitation LLP in Houston (www.soncav.com.) The company uses an elegantly simple technology with numerous potential applications, including purifying water. He focused on the severe drought conditions in the world, especially California, and explained how sonic cavitation could help.

Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure. Inventor Victor Glotov has created a “mini mobile generating machine” that uses mechanical ultrasound to create and harness cavitation in impure water, thus separating the purified steam from the salt and minerals; the steam is then condensed into pure water.  Each unit can process 1 million liters per day and is easily transportable by rail or truck. The company is about to launch crowdfunding for testing desalination. Ron encouraged Rotarians to visit the website and to “like” the Sonic Cavitation Facebook page.

 


Stacey Street, Rotating Editor

NEXT MEETING: July 25, 2014

Ultrasonic Cavitation: The New Solution for California’s Water Woes

Sound can be used in so many different and incredible ways. It can entertain you, heal you, and see inside you. It can clean water and produce power. It can change the world, for the better. Through the use of mechanical ultrasound, in conjunction with a natural process called cavitation, liquid can be hyper-purified to produce pure H2O. A Rotarian from out of town, Ron Swanson, will introduce a new technology that is simple, affordable, and green. It takes wastewater, seawater, even hydraulic fracturing flow-back water to pure H2O. For additional info in advance, visit the website of Sonic Cavitation.

MEETING OF July 18, 2014

Welcome

Prez Stoney called the meeting to order at La Strada. David Brown led us in the Pledge. Stoney provided the invocation with a prayer for freedom, peace, and justice and also offered the thought “Light up Rotary with Fellowship and Fun!”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Jan Brown had as her guest Melinda McCrary Executive Director of the Richmond Museum; Henry Moe has 2 InterAct students as his guests Giselle Carino and Peter Hall; Your Scribe has as his guest Roxanne Cruz from PG&E.

Special Events

  • Giselle and Peter, our InterAct students, were also the students who attended Camp Royale representing Richmond Rotary. Giselle described it as a life changing experience and both thanks Rotary for the opportunity.

Announcements

wine-tasting-thumb

  • On Wednesday, July 23rd, Saluté’s Restaurant hosts a, uh… spirit-lifting… fundraiser to help Richmond’s homeless, Vino for Vets. Each year the restaurant provides Thanksgiving Day dinners to folks who, otherwise, might have little to be thankful for. This wine-tasting fundraiser helps Saluté’s help our community. So please go, sample a few varietals, buy a bottle or two, and help Saluté’s continue the civic-minded Thanksgiving event they began a few years ago. 4-7 PM, 1900 Esplanade Dr., Richmond. Download Vino-for-Vets flyer.
  • Treasurer David Brown reminded all to PAY YOUR DUES IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY!
  • Past Prez  Liliane Kozial reported on the Rotary meeting held last Saturday in Oakland. Richmond Rotary scored 3 Awards: 2013-14 President Citation with Distinction (complete with medal!); Engagement in the 5 Service Areas of Rotary; and Setting Strategic Goals “Changing Lives”
  • Prez Stoney recognized our President-elect Alan Blavin… was very busy collecting money and taking attendance.
  • Joe “Swampy” Bagley announced that the Summer of Luv (1967/1968?) Rotary Auction item will be occurring on August 2nd 4-8pm at the Bagley home.  If you did not buy in at the auction you can for $50/person. Food, Fun, Drink, Music…Electric Kool Aid??
  • David Brown presented the first Rotary check of the year to Lynn Martin. $1000 for Early Childhood Mental Health.
  • “Sunshine Report” Erle Brown informed us that there will be a service for Norm Foley on 8/10 in Rancho Murieta. More details to follow. Prez Stoney paid a visit to Charley Wong and wife Jean and reported they are doing fine.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Helping Immigrants Lead Productive Lives

Tom Waller introduced (was Tom the Program?) our speaker Atta Arghandiwal who is the author of 2 books Lost Decency and Immigrant Success Planning. Atta grew up in Afghanistan and described the country that he grew up in as a very peaceful country were all groups got along very well. This all changed as the Russian, Chinese and Iranian communist parties slowly infiltrated the country. In 1978 there was a communist coup de at and a Soviet Union invasion in 1979. This was the end of peace in Afghanistan. Atta fled the country with the promise to get his family out of Afghanistan. Initially going to Germany, then to the USA, Atta had a very success career in the banking industry going from teller to Sr. VP. He did manage to bring his entire family to the USA. Atta wanted to create a guide to successful immigration and so he compiled his knowledge and real life practices into his book. Atta feels the key to successful immigration is become a contributing and productive member of your country


- The Menehune, “Rotating Editor”

NEXT MEETING: July 18, 2014
NOTE CHANGE OF MEETING LOCATION: La Strada Restaurant, San Pablo

Helping Immigrants Lead Productive Lives

When an Afghan emigrant named Atta Arghandiwal came to America some 30 years ago, he found that many immigrant self-help books focused on just one or a few topics while others were so complicated that they were discouraging rather than helpful. Along the way during his own successful banking career in America, Atta kept a notebook of learnings that he’s now condensed into a lifestyle guide for immigrants – a road map for the whole family. In this latest book, Immigrant Success Planning, he shares his insights with others who are eager to make the transition into a new life in North America. His book is filled with proven tips and strategies for success that can be used from the birth of a child to retirement and beyond.

Atta’s first book, Lost Decency: The Untold Afghan Story, became a Ben Franklin award winner. In that memoir, he talks about these three aspects of Afghanistan’s last several decades – where the country was, what happened in the ensuing years, and where it is headed now.

MEETING OF July 11, 2014

Welcome

President Stoney Stonework rang the bell and called to order his first meeting as President for the 2014-15 Rotary Year at the Richmond Country Club. George Egan led the pledge of allegiance and Stoney asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin, exuding increasingly Zen-like qualities from his corner of the room, offered this thought for the day: You cannot solve a problem until you acknowledge you have one and accept responsibility for solving it.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

  • Richard Poe’s guest was George Atkinson.
  • Sid Chauvin’s guest was his nephew, S.A. LeJune, from Beaumont, TX.
  • Stoney’s guests were Spencer Gilette, James Sweeney, Keith Smith, and Karen Varnado.

Announcements

  • Change of meeting venue this Friday! Richmond Rotary will meet downstairs at La Strada Restaurant on July 18, returning to the Richmond Country Club on July 25. (La Strada is located at 2215 Church Lane, San Pablo)
  • Alan Baer announced that the El Sobrante Rotary Club will be doing their annual back-to-school student backpack giveaway at the Salvation Army location, 4600 Appian Way in El Sobrante. All interested and available Rotarians are encouraged to stop and help out in the backpack distribution activity from 9am to 12-noon on Thursday, August 14.
  • Jovanka Beckles and Nancy O’Brien were on hand from the West County Child and Adolescent Services office (located on 41st Street in Richmond), which is part of the Contra Costa Mental Health Department. Nancy enthusiastically told Club members about a special summer program that desperately needed financial support from outside organizations. The special program, “Kids Challenge”, is for more than a dozen local youth who come from severely disadvantaged home environments and suffer from low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulties with socialization skills and many emotional and physical traumas. The program is based on the state of California’s “Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights”, which recommends a fundamental list of experiences that every child would benefit from (includes playing in a safe place, learning to swim, camping under the stars, exploring nature, playing on a team, etc.).At the end of Nancy’s short briefing, she said they were seeking $2,185.00 in financial support. Richard Poe then promptly spoke up and said he would write a check to cover the entire amount. Such amazing generosity! Thank you, Richard.
Groups of Richmond Rotarians at Gladstone Research Institute and San Francisco ZooLiliane Koziol receives Rotary awards

Richmond Rotarians made the rounds last month. A small group of them donned lab coats and toured the Gladstone Research Institute, on the Mission Campus of the University of California, San Francisco. There they learned about research techniques enabled by stem cell technology, the history of the Institute, and the impressive architecture and public art gracing the new campus.

Another group ventured to the San Francisco Zoo, where they exchanged views on live with lemurs and penguins. One of the critters, a sifaka, pleaded with Alan Blavins to take her home with him, or at least invite her as a guest to the next Rotary meeting. (Did someone say free lunch?) Alan resisted. (See photo.)

Both visits were Holiday Auction purchased by the biological studies-inclined among us.

Heading northward instead of westward, past president Liliane traveled to a Rotary conference in Woodland, California, to accept awards in three categories: Rotary International Presidential Citation with Distinction, Setting Strategic Goals to Engage Rotary, and Engagement in 5 Service Areas.

Congratulations, Liliane!

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Berkeley Lab Innovation Goes to Market

Tom Waller introduced Pam Seidenman from the UC Berkeley-based Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) or “Berkeley Lab”.

It’s generally well known that the City of Richmond has been selected as the proposed site for a second Berkeley Lab campus on the UC Berkeley’s Richmond Field Station property. This proposal has now become part of a broader concept to make the Richmond Field Station into a 40-year “Richmond Bay Campus” project, not unlike the UCSF “Mission Bay Campus”, which began in San Francisco about 15 years ago not far from the AT&T baseball park.

The program presentation at this July 11 meeting focused on Berkeley Lab’s technology transfer program.

Pam is the Business Development and Marketing Manager for the Lab’s newly re-named “Innovation and Partnerships Office” (IPO), formerly called the Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Management Office.

The IPO helps move technologies from the Lab to the marketplace to benefit society and the US economy by serving as a focal point to foster productive relationships between the Lab and the private sector. Technology licensing by industry startups or existing firms helps translate new discoveries into commercially viable products and processes. A private-sector company may also sponsor research at Berkeley Lab when capabilities and interests match.

There have been increasing efforts over the past 15 years to commercialize Berkeley Lab’s technology discoveries. An even more serious ramp-up in this regard is expected now that a new IPO leader was hired on June 9 and took on job responsibilities as Chief Technology Transfer Officer.

Pam reviewed some interesting success stories of Berkeley Lab’s tech transfer program in recent years. For example, the Quantum Dot technology developed by a Berkeley Lab startup named Nanosys and incorporated into color-enhancing QDEF (stands for Quantum Dot Enhancement Film) by 3M and Nanosys, will be used by computer maker Asus in its newest Notebook PC. QDEF offers 50 percent more color, greater energy efficiency, and more brightness than current electronic device displays.

For more information about Berkeley Lab’s tech transfer program, click here to check out their web site. At the top of that web page, you can click on a graphical image to the left or text to the right (“Available Technologies”) to more fully explore the technology categories open for licensing and research collaboration. Here are the eight main technology categories: Advanced Materials, Biofuels, Biotechnology and Medicine, Developing World, Energy, Environmental Technologies, Imaging & Lasers, Ion Sources and Beams, Nano- and Micro-technology, and Software and IT.

For the fledgling entrepreneurs among us (and/or friends and family), scroll to the bottom of that tech transfer web page and follow the link to “Berkeley Lab LaunchPad: Where Startups Take Off.” (And when you hit the big time, remember fellow Rotarians in your will.)


- Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe

NEXT MEETING: July 11, 2014
Note that there is no meeting this Friday, July 4th

Berkeley Lab Innovation Goes to Market

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) conducts non-classified basic and applied research in a wide range of fields including biosciences, computing, energy and the environment, advanced materials, and beyond. LBNL researchers have produced inventions that are saving lives and saving energy, improving productivity, and speeding the development of new therapeutics. As shown in the graphic at the right, a Low Swirl Burner, invented by Robert Cheng at LBNL and commercialized by Maxon Corporation, provides optimal fuel usage and ultra-low emissions for a variety of process heating applications. In this presentation, Pamela Seidenman, Business Development and Marketing Manager for LBNL’s Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Management department, will explain some of the Lab’s inventions and the stories behind them.

MEETING OF June 27, 2014

Welcome

President Liliane Koziol called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club. Visiting guest Larry Lewis led the pledge of allegiance and Stoney Stonework asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin offered this thought for the day: Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

  • John Hermanson of El Sobrante Rotary and his friend, Gus Petsas.
  • Sid Chauvin’s guest, Joe Kelman.
  • Liliane Koziol’s guests, husband Ken and friends, Josiane Siegfried, Becky Long, and Lou Perreria.
  • Alan Baer’s guest, his daughter, Stephanie.
  • Dan Tanita’s guest, Stanley Chagala.
  • Larry Lewis from the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) and special youth scholarship winners, Jessica Barragan, Susan Mireles, and Malik Cuay.

Announcements

Since this was her last meeting as Richmond Rotary Club President, Liliane Koziol briefly reviewed highlights from the past 12 months. These included

  • increasing Club membership count from 57 to 70,
  • generous member contributions to unbudgeted projects like Peres teacher support, Christmas bikes, cooperation with the Kiwanis “Shop with Cops” program, and provision of new jackets and seniors’ bay cruise for the Salesian High School Interact Club,
  • technology improvements related to Flywheel enhancements and Rotary Scribe self-scheduling,
  • the first major gathering in the East Bay of representatives from the San Francisco-based foreign consular corps (occurred at the Richmond Rotary Club meeting on November 1),
  • a successful joint mixer with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce,
  • a re-start after several years for Club participation in the Rotary District’s Four-Way Test youth speech contest,
  • the first-annual Richmond Rotary and Kiwanis Youth Fishing Derby at the San Pablo reservoir in cooperation with RPAL,
  • record Rotary Foundation Paul Harris participation (12 new Paul Harris awardees and 8 new pin-level recognitions),
  • successful startup and support of the RotoCare medical clinic in Richmond,
  • and the second-largest Holiday Auction fund-raising totals in Club history.

Putting a punctuation point on her year as Club President, Liliane shared that, in an email received one day before the June 27 Club meeting, the Rotary District Governor advised her that Rotary International is awarding the Richmond Rotary Club a “Presidential Citation for Distinction” based on its overall performance in Rotary Year 2013-14. The award will be presented at the District gathering on July 12 in Woodland (about 60 miles up the road, north of Davis, west of Sacramento).

Liliane then asked Executive Director Larry Lewis of the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) to come to the microphone to introduce the following three recipients of special Richmond Rotary Club youth scholarships.

  • Jessica Barragan, a recent honors graduate from Richmond High School, was class president for three years and will attend Sacramento State studying criminal justice.
  • Susan Mireles, also a recent honors graduate from Richmond High, will attend UC Santa Barbara in pursuit of a double major (still deciding which ones).
  • Malik Cuay spent some time in RPAL programs before entering Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated in May at the top of his class as a National Honor Society award winner. He will be attending the University of Nebraska starting in the Fall. According to David Brown, Richmond Rotary will pay $1,101 in college scholarships for each of these three students. Jessica and Susan will receive special one-time John Nicol scholarship funds as Richmond High graduates and Malik will receive regular Richmond Rotary Club funds. How pleasing and refreshing it is for Richmond Rotary to recognize and reward such deserving young people!

The following statement from Linda Young was read aloud regarding an update on her husband and our fellow Rotarian, Jim Young, who had kidney-cancer surgery on June 25: “Jim is doing well after the complete removal of a large tumor and whole [left] kidney along with lymph nodes. All tests of bones, lungs, and liver show no spread! Cards and notes welcome. Please no visits or calls.”

Dan Tanita again urged members to consider supporting the renaming of Portola Middle School for Fred Koremotsu, a local but nationally recognized activist who protested the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two.

speaker-recommendationIn order to fully support Stacey Street as the new Speaker Program Chair, we encourage all members to recommend speakers. To that end, Nick Despota has prepared an easy-to-use speaker suggestion form. When a potential speaker comes to mind, please fill out and submit the form, which emails your suggestion to Stacey. You’ll find a link to it in the drop-down menu under The Flywheel link in the navigation bar near the top of this page.

 

 

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Demotion!

Demotion of outgoing President, Liliane Koziol, proceeded with some fun-filled revelations along the way.

For example, not many Club members have known that, when current District Governor, Steve Lack (aka Crocodile Dundee), started his “Celebrate the Adventure” year, he painstakingly named all Club Presidents after fictional Super Heroes. Our own Liliane was dubbed “Storm”, a superheroine that appears in Marvel Comic Books as a longtime member and sometimes leader of the X-Men.

Storm, er, Liliane was born in the capital city of Madagascar and, according to photos from high school and university, had her warm, winning smile from the beginning.

She went to graduate school at Indiana University on a Fulbright Scholarship and met Ken during the first week on campus. We learned that Indiana “Hoosier” basketball fans were very sorry to see the Koziols eventually leave Indiana. It seems that when Ken and Liliane got married (1976), Indiana won their third national championship (after a dry spell of over 20 years). Then when daughter Tiana was born (1981), Indiana won their fourth national championship. Then when son Andry was born (1987), Indiana won their fifth (and last) national championship.

After earning a couple of Masters degrees and a Ph.D. in American Studies and Semiotics (the study of meaning-making), Liliane and her family moved back to the Southern Hemisphere where she became Chair of the English Department at the University of Madagascar.

After a few years’ time, opportunity beckoned back here in the USA. Liliane became Director of Programs at the UC Berkeley International House, a multi-cultural residential “living and learning” center for about 600 students and scholars from over 70 different countries. She later was appointed Deputy Honorary Consul of Madagascar and still serves on a number of local and national boards.

In concluding the meeting, Club Secretary Alan Baer presided over the official passing of the President’s gavel. Liliane was given her Past President Club badge and plaque. She rolled up her year’s podium banner and welcomed Stoney Stonework as new Club President for 2014-15. Alan Blavins was also introduced as President-elect for 2015-16.

Thanks, Liliane, for your excellent year of service as Richmond Rotary Club President!


- Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe