Monthly Archives: August 2014
NEXT MEETING: August 29, 2014West County Reads!
West County Reads! (WCR) was founded in 2001 and is a collaboration of volunteers, key educational institutions, libraries and other organizations seeking to improve children’s literacy in Richmond and West Contra Costa. WCR currently collects and distributes about 10,000 books per year at community events and through innovative “Take One, Leave One” bookshelves at a number of locations where families gather. Richmond Rotary spearheads programs to address literacy needs, and Rotary and WCR collaborated on the Richmond Tales Fest. Despite these initial successes the needs are still great. The question is: Where do we all go from here to achieve greater improvements in children’s literacy in the area? MEETING OF August 22, 2014WelcomePresident Stoney Stonework called the meeting to order and asked Fred Collignon to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day was a quote from the Dalai Lama who said: “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.” Stoney called for a silent prayer for freedom, peace and justice on earth. Visiting Rotarians and Guests
AnnouncementsThere were no announcements at the last meeting so be sure to stay tuned! RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCops and Robbers
Pam Jones introduced Jinho “Piper” Ferreira, a rapper, actor and screenwriter. Piper is part of the group Flipsyde, an internationally acclaimed trio that toured with the Black Eyed Peyes and Snoop Dogg, and composed anthems for the 2006 and 2008 Olympics. Piper grew up in Oakland and went to SF State University for Black Studies. In 2010, after touring and performing, he decided to join the Bay Area Law Enforcement Academy. The paradox of being a member of the Black community and a hip-hop artist, while simultaneously working in Law Enforcement, inspired him to write his solo play, Cops and Robbers. Piper showed a music video called “Believe”, focused on two young children headed on the path to disaster until they were saved by the Reach Youth Center in Alameda County. He noted that cops were portrayed in a positive light – a first for a rap video! In Cops and Robbers, Piper plays 17 characters and hopes to show a number of different perspectives that are believable. He wants audiences of all ages and backgrounds, including young people and those in prison, to see the people on stage as people, to make it possible to start the conversation about the issues in the play. We can’t begin finding solutions until we can talk about the problems, which include popular culture, economics, the education system and law enforcement. He ultimately hopes the play can be filmed so the message can reach a wider audience. Piper also gave kudos to Richmond Rotary for ensuring a group of local youth will attend his show at the Marsh Theater in Berkeley on Friday, September 12th. President Stoney added some thoughts at the end of the program about his experience living in Chicago several years ago while working for McDonald’s Corporation. He remembered the worthwhile initiative taken by local business leaders to go into school classrooms throughout the area to talk directly with students about alternative, positive pathways to productive and successful lives. Stacey Street, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: August 22, 2014Cops and Robbers
Come learn all about the one-man stage play, Cops and Robbers, which is now being performed at The Marsh Berkeley Arts Center. (You’ll also learn how Richmond Rotary is involved.) The play is a revolutionary look into the dysfunctional relationship between law enforcement, the media, and the Black community. Centered on an officer-involved shooting, writer/performer Jinho “The Piper” Ferreira, a rapper, actor, and screenwriter from Oakland, takes the audience on an emotionally charged ride with unexpected twists and turns. In the spring of 2010, The Piper paid his way through a Bay Area law enforcement academy, eventually graduating in the top percentile and delivering the commencement speech. The paradox of being a member of the Black community and a hip-hop artist, while simultaneously working in law enforcement, served as the inspiration to write Cops and Robbers. In the play, The Piper seamlessly travels through 17 characters, each with their own convictions, logic, and prejudices. Cops and Robbers takes no prisoners as it challenges the viewer to question all preconceived notions of “right” and “wrong.” There’s even an associated curriculum of constructive take-away messages to help young people make sense of it all and move forward in the right direction. (View a two-minute introductory video.) MEETING OF August 15, 2014WelcomePrez Stoney called the meeting to order and asked John Wilson to lead us in the Pledge. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice. He offered the thought: the definition of a conference is the confusion of one man being multiplied by the number in attendance. Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
“2 minute” Tom Waller introduced Paul Levitan from Galaxy Desserts who made a presentation to our club 7 years ago (really? Time does fly!). Paul and his partner Chef Jean-Yves Charon started Galaxy in 1998 and they received their big break in 2002 when their croissants were featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things list and made that same list for many years. At the time the business was in San Rafael and was outgrowing their space. Galaxy moved to Richmond on February 1, 2005, and has increased its business space from 26,000 -52,000 square feet. They have between 200-300 employees. Paul and his partner now own only 25% of the business because in 2009 75% of the business was bought by Brioche Pasquier, a French company. They are the #1 distributor of brioche in 350 stores and looking to a $50 million expansion hopefully by acquiring 10-15 acres in Richmond. Wouldn’t that be SWEET?! How can we help? Those of you who missed the meeting missed out on some tasty treats. Thanks Paul. - The Menehune Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: August 15, 2014Update on Galaxy Desserts
Paul Levitan is President and CEO of Galaxy Desserts, a Richmond-based food manufacturer that is now part of Brioche Pasquier, a leading French bakery group. Galaxy Desserts is home to over 200 dessert lovers working in a 52,000 square foot building filled with thousands of sticks of creamery butter, pounds and pounds of dark, milk and white chocolates, loads of ovens, enormous freezers and one eclectic kitchen dedicated to researching and hand-crafting the most fabulous, French-inspired desserts. Paul and Chef Jean-Yves Charon co-founded the company in 1998 on the promise of creating “exceptional individual desserts” while doing all crafting, baking, freezing, and packaging in-house. This will be an update from several years ago when Paul first visited Richmond Rotary MEETING OF August 8th, 2014WelcomePresident, Stoney Stonework welcomed everyone to the meeting. Stacey Street led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Stoney asked everyone to take a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid’s thought for the day was, “when management and labor both understand they are all on the same side, then each will prosper more”. I think those are true words of wisdom. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsStacey Street introduced her husband Don Benham as her guest today. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMWriterCoach, Love Coach
Tom Waller announced that we have two programs today for the price of one. First, he introduced June Pangelinan, the Richmond Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator for WriterCoach Connection, who in turn introduced Beverly Roberts Charles, the Richmond Program Manager, and David Almonte, the Community Liaison for WriterCoach. June told us that they are now recruiting for volunteers to work with students at Kennedy High, to which they are expanding in the fall. They currently have 100 volunteers working at Richmond High. It is not necessary to be a teacher or have any specific credentials. What’s important is to be a good listener, be patient, and be open. The time commitment is roughly 4-6 hours per month. June noted that the Richmond community has really stepped up and embraced the work they’re doing. Anyone interested can go to their website at www.writercoachconnection.org. Tom noted that he has been a volunteer and has experienced unbelievable personal satisfaction from the doing so. He commented that it makes him feel he is having a personal impact on young lives. He also reported that the teachers are very excited about it, because the work is coordinated with the subject matter they’re teaching. He urged everyone to give it some thought. Tom then introduced our main speaker, clinical psychologist, Dr. Victoria Bentley. Dr. Bentley talked today about loving relationships, sex, and intimacy after 60. Dr. Bentley emphasized the importance that relationships, sex, and intimacy have in increasing people’s longevity and overall physical and mental health. At the age of 62, Dr. Bentley experienced a number of losses in her life. Because she generally felt burned out, she decided to step back for awhile and essentially ended up “dropping out” for about seven years. During that time she started a non-profit, “Empower Congo Women” to help victims of sexual violence in the Congo, and she began to research the topic of senior sexuality. Because she was aging, she felt as if she had been “kicked out of the game” and that the possibilities for romance, sex, and intimacy were essentially over. But, she came today to tell us that isn’t true. One of the things she found in her research is that sex is really good for us – it increases antibodies by about 30%; fights cholesterol and high blood pressure; and helps us to sleep better. She also found that it’s actually normal for us to be sexually active until we’re at least 90! Dr. Bentley reported that aging is not a disease, it’s a biological process that is dependent upon the choices we make to a large extent. So, if we keep ourselves strong through exercise, healthy through good diet, and mentally sharp through learning new things, we will be able to have satisfying sex for the rest of our lives. Lynn Martin- Rotary Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: August 8, 2014Sex and Romance After 60
Keeping the flame alive! This is important whether a person’s in his/her 40s, 50s, or older. Dr. Victoria Bentley, a Clinical Psychologist and fellow Rotarian, advises people to look to sex, loving relationships, and intimacy as possibly the best ways to maintain quality of life and increase longevity after age 60. Contrary to some current ideas about aging, she believes that later years in life should be a time of inner expansion and exploration. As the external world demands less of us, we can turn inward and connect with others on a deeper, more intimate level, even sexually in ways we haven’t previously. MEETING OF August 1, 2014WelcomeOur new President Stoney welcomed everyone present and offered an invocation. Always ready to leap from the sacred to the profane Sid offered this thought-for-the-day: If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? Rotarians with Guests.Jim Young welcomed his wife Linda. And Charlie Fender welcomed his soul mate—of 72 years!—Clavel. Connie Tritt introduced her friend, Ted Ma. Don Lau introduced his son Jordan to the group. And Josh Genser brought Nico Veran, who, Josh told us, has decided to become a member. Welcome, Nico! Announcements• David Brown waxed on (and justly so) about David Calfee and his constant generosity. He again donated his clubs dues plus another $1000 to our club. A big thank you, Judge Calfee. • Josh Surowitz was glad to be back from a long stay in Spain. He and his family then spent a week at Josh Genser’s cabin. He said a good time was had by all—even the fish, which Josh S managed to not catch. • Mark Howe was back from his amazing sailing trip to Hawaii with his girlfriend. They must have found the adventure very engaging…because Mark bought a ring. Congratulations to you both RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCambodia Literary Program
Jim opened the program with a verbal and visual summary of Siem Reap, the host town where the average income is $2 per day. Here 34 American volunteers, each carrying 100 pounds of school supplies, made camp. Since the tragedy of the Khmer genocide educational resources for Cambodian children have been very limited, teacher training poor and literacy rates lagging. This is why Linda and 33 other volunteers under the professional leadership of Literacy teacher Trainer Charlotte Knox with logistical support by Ksenija Olmer, vice president of the Cambodian child’s dream Organization (CCDO) to help train English Teachers teach. The story really begins as the group leaves Siem Reap for a visit to the local school in a village called Ta Pang. We see students biking to school some with 3-year olds in tow. They will attend pre-school at the rear of the main building. The day starts with a hand wash at the “tippy-tap,” a home made contraption that consists of a plastic container that is tipped by a rope attached to a pedal. Combined with the soap-on-a-rope, the set-up offers the means for a simple but effective hand wash. The students all work the garden that helps provide lunch for the whole school. The kids wash their own dishes. The volunteers started the actual training with an all day workshop on a Saturday. All the school teaches attended unpaid in super-hot classrooms with glass-less windows and no electricity. The strategy to improve students’ language was read-aloud and active participation. The theme: “I do it,” “We do it,” “You do it.” Large visual aids—included in those100 pound packages—were adapted to be more culturally-friendly. For example, a model of a local house (created by Jim) is built in front of the class and students learn and recite the names of each part. With strong coaching follow-up the school’s staff have made significant accomplishments: A library of hundreds of English Language books (contents, again, of those 100 pound packs). Four English teachers trained & coached. Two pre-school teachers trained and supplied with toys and games. Librarian hired. Supplies still being provided. Intern social workers are working with orphan children. And after the volunteers returned home, there have been Skype follow-ups with English teachers. Another literacy mission trip is planned for January 6-18, 2015. If you wish to volunteer please contact: Kesenja Olmer, Vice-President , Cambodian Child’s Dream Organization Telephone, 925-708-0770, or email Ksenija@theccdo.org Alan Blavins, Stand-in-Reserve Scribe |
