Yearly Archives: 2014
NEXT MEETING: April 11, 2014The Richmond Community Foundation
The mission of The Richmond Community Foundation (RCF) is to help build the capacity of the Richmond community by serving as a Community Leader, Collaborator, and Broker, and by leveraging assets of all kinds in order to create and sustain a strong, healthy city. Josh Genser, RCF Board Chair, will talk about how the organization seeks to make philanthropy and philanthropists more effective in delivering good deeds in Richmond. In fact, how can we all become better philanthropists? MEETING OFWelcomeOur lady President Liliane Koziol welcomed everyone while standing alone at the head table. The pledge was lead by Jonathan Lawlis, the invocation by who else but Stoney? Visiting RotariansJeff Mulivihill again! Will he ever join? Rotarians with Guests.Liliane had 6 guests from across the world. 5 students of International House, Berkeley. They were: Hatti Sudell, of the U.K. (I got to use my first language: English), Patricie Mavubi (Ruwanda), Sider Dlamini (Swaziland), Michel Brun (France), Saddig Nuru (Botswana), and their bus driver Willie Bennett. Announcements• The UC Berkeley International House has announces its Springfest. The country of Focus this year is Korea. The event takes place on Saturday April 12th, between 10-30 am and 4pm. For more information, send an email ihousespringfest@gmail.com or call 510.642.9461 • The club received a thank you letter from “Kids Power”, expressing gratitude for our support of their work. • Henry Moe informed us that Nikki Basa (winner at Richmond Rotary) won again and moves on to the next round in Vallejo on May 3rd.2014. Rock on Nikki! RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s Nonsense“Madame Fortune Teller, tell me: “Are there golf courses in heaven?” PROGRAMBotswana the Desert Country that Blossomed with Independence
Seretes Khama, the paramount Chief of the largest tribe the Bamangwato, was educated in Oxford, England, in the 1959s, after being banished to Britain for marrying Ruth Williams (1948), a white English woman. Winston Churchill decreed that the exile should be “permanent”. In 1956 he returned to Africa, after Khamas fellow chiefs traveled to London to appeal his banishment. He returned to become Chief in 1963. Fast Forward to 2014: 48 years. President Khama encouraged mineral exploration in the early 70’s: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, soda ash and cobalt. Botswana is the largest producer of diamonds in the world by value. The country now produce 30 million carats per year. The diamond dealer Debawana is moving its London-based international sorting and marketing operations entirely to Gaborone. Ten percent of the diamonds produced will be sold there. This adds 5 billion to Botswana’s GDP. The per capita revenue has risen from $80 to over $17,000. Tourism has becomes second only to minerals as an income producer with over 300 lodges and permanent tented camps in game parks. Twenty percent of the country is set aside as game preserves. The 8 miles of roads have been transformed into over 4,000 miles of paved roads—the most miles per capita of any nation. There has been a steady reduction in poverty from 59% in 1986 to 23% in 2008. Botswana has consistently been ranked as the least corrupt country in Africa: 32nd in the world, and less corrupt than 9 EU countries. There are 9 free years of education and 300 secondary schools. And lastly, The University of Botswana created in the 1970’s today has a student population of over 10,000. Alan Blavins, our back-from-holiday Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: April 4, 2014A visit from the Consul General of Botswana
The Consul General of Botswana, Honorable Charles Frankel will introduce us to Botswana. More than four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most stable economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country’s conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. MEETING OFWelcomeAlan Baer presided over our meeting today, since president Liliane was away on some other Rotary business. Alan led the pledge, and Herb Cole recited Stoney’s now famous invocation. Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsenseYogi Berra spent most of his adult life in baseball, both as a player and as manager. Even though this Hall of Famer never got past the 8th grade, he is known for his philosophical observations and remarks, most of which are understood only by him. We recently printed some of his quotes and following are some more… – “It ain’t over til it’s over.” PROGRAM
Leah Mcintosh, the accomplished sister of our very own Lesa Mcintosh, was introduced today by her sister. Leah has served the community through her work on the library commission, the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council, and in many other capacities. Today she serves as the Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator of HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program, Contra Costa County). HICAP provides free and objective information and counseling about Medicare. Their volunteer counselors help understand clients’ specific rights and health care options. HICAP is funded by the federal government. Its volunteers are required to commit 30 hours per week after 10 hours of training. Is not easy and most volunteers are cut from the program. Rigorous training is necessary to competently understand a complicated program like medicare. The program helps eligible people 65 with the basic medicare questions: where is the local office that I enroll at, who do I talk to, how old do I have to be to qualify and other basic rules of the program. Because HICAP is government-funded, no one tries to sell a participants anything. All services are provided free of charge. Its mission is to offer counseling, advocacy, information, and community education. Mark Howe, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: March 28, 2014The Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program
Leah McIntosh, HICAP Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator Contra Costa Country. HICAP (the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) provides free and objective information and counseling about Medicare. Their volunteer counselors help understand clients’ specific rights and health care options.
MEETING OF MARCH 21Last week the Club met at the Chevron Refinery for lunch and a tour of the plant. Unfortunately our scheduled scribe was not present and did not find a substitute. Sorry, we have no Announcements or Program Notes this week. MEETING OFWelcomeAnnouncementsRecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
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NEXT MEETING: March 21, 2014Visit to the Chevron Refinery
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NEXT MEETING: March 14, 2014To Air is Human – Video Production in the age of the Drone
Charles Anderson and his company, Epicycle Media, produce video for businesses. One of the most exciting technologies developing right now is the use of UAVs – unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for video production. While the FAA is working on regulations to govern the commercial use of UAVs, Epicycle Media is ramping up to be ready for full-scale production services. Charles promises that his presentation will be fascinating and fun, and he’ll have some very interesting props. (Pun intended.) MEETING OF March 7, 2014WelcomePresident, Lilliane Koziol called the meeting to order at 12:30 P.M. She introduced the speaker theme “What is Life Without Adventure,” including guests. Jeff Mulvihill led the pledge of allegiance and Herb Cole the invocation. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsJeff Mulvihill, our perennial guest from Redding Rotary Club. We also welcomed Tim Chambers, Beatriz Portillo, Patricia Torres, Peter Hall, Giselle Carino and Nikki Basas, all of Salesians High School. Announcements• On March 30th opportunity to raise $1,000.00 at Golden Gate Fields. Need volunteers. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsenseThis man went to his Rabbi and said, “I’m very troubled by my son. He went away and he came back a Christian.” PROGRAM
Today Richmond Rotarians became both judges and audience for the Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest. The competitors were Salesian High School students Peter Hall, Giselle Carino and Nikki Basas. Each delivered a 5-7 minute speech applying the ideas and principles of the Rotary 4-Way Test to the theme: “What’s Life Without Adventure?” Tom Waller introduced the process and the 5 judges: David Brown, Alan Blavins, Herb Cole, Jeff Mulvihill and Linda Young (wife of Jim Young). After each student spoke the judges left the room to deliberate. In their absence the other visiting members of the Interact Club spoke about their programs and projects. The judges returned and Tom Waller announced the results and presented prizes. The second runner-up was Peter Hall. The first runner-up was Giselle Carino. The winning speaker was Nikki Basas. Congratulations to all! - Lesa McIntosh, Rotating Scribe |
Our speaker was Consul General of Botswana, Honorable Charles Frankel. Mr. Frankel opened his talk by saying he will have to tell the truth because a Botswana student was present. His talk took the form of “Botswana Then, 1960, and Botswana Now, 2014”. It was captivating as well as very informative. With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation Chuck showed us how large Africa is and exactly where Botswana was ( I wasn’t sure). Some 70% of the country was desert, namely the Kalahari.
In 1966 Botswans became independent. Population stood at 600.000. Of those, 20,000 lived in the new Capital Mafeking. Per capita income was in the 10% poorest nations: $80 annually. There were only 8 miles of paved roads. No government schools or hospitals. Three private secondary schools. And fewer than 10 college graduates. The economy was dependent on beef exports. Main income source was remittances from Botswana miners, all men, in apartheid South Africa. Chief Seretse Khama became President, and Gaborone the new capital.
