Monthly Archives: April 2015
NEXT MEETING: May 1, 2015Revolutionizing the Way the World Eats – One Coconut at a Time
Danielle Herrerias, Manager of People & Culture at Nutiva, will discuss Nutiva’s grass roots mission to revolutionize how the world eats with its pure, organic superfoods. In mid-2012, the company moved to Richmond. Responding to a rapidly expanding desire for nutrient-dense foods, Nutiva’s growth has more than tripled in the last 2-1/2 years. The company believes in sharing its success with its community donating 1% of sales to sustainable agriculture and other environmental causes. Nutiva has partnered with local organizations to plant fruit trees in Richmond schools and run a youth basketball camp. As part of the People & Culture team at Nutiva, Danielle has played a key role recruiting and onboarding new employees, developing a competitive benefits program, and training and developing employees. Prior to Nutiva, Danielle was HR Manager for Real Goods Solar in San Rafael. She earned her A.B. from Stanford University in social sciences and a Masters in City Planning from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. MEETING OF April 24, 2015WelcomePresident Stoney Stonework called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club and Tom Waller led the pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin provided this thought for the day: “Even duct tape cannot fix “stupid” but it can sure muffle the sound.” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Special Events
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMMasquers Playhouse: Gearing Up for the Next 60 Years
Stacey Street introduced David Cole, a 30-year book publisher and currently President of the Board of Directors for the award-winning Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Masquers Playhouse has been a model of a successful, independent community theater. With more than 100 members and no paid employees, volunteers build the sets, sew the costumes, sweep the floors, and work the box office – all the while producing five fully-staged plays a year, running a summer program for youth, producing concert-version musicals and providing live theater to Bay Area residents. David talked about the challenges of operating a small live-theater operation in the Internet age where people have an overwhelming variety of entertainment choices. What keeps it all going (thank goodness) is the wonderfully simple fact that there are lots of people who want this choice among their options. There’s really something for everybody, whether it be a drama, comedy, or musical. According to David, the most popular Masquers play of all time was “The Full Monty”. Maybe it’s time for an encore? In an effort to remain relevant and to give back to the community, the Masquers Playhouse three-week summer program for youth ages 9-14 is really special. Called “Stage One”, the program involves full immersion for the kids into all facets of live theater from writing plays to designing and building sets, doing make-up, running the lights, and building self-assurance and the ability to present oneself effectively. David reminded us how important it is to involve youth in the visual and performing arts, not just STEM. (As a related quick aside, your Scribe offers this quote from Dana Gioia, then Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, who said in his commencement address eight years ago to Stanford graduates, “The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.” It’s good to remember that beneficial innovation needed in all aspects of life depends on tapping into and releasing the imagination and creativity available in all people.) We’re all encouraged to support the Masquers Playhouse by at least purchasing tickets to their live theater performances. But there are other ways to support the organization, too. Our own Alan Blavins built and painted sets used in the recent Masquers performance of the British comedy, “There Goes the Bride”. Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: April 24, 2015Masquers Playhouse: Gearing Up for the Next 60 Years
Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the award-winning Masquers Playhouse in Point Richmond has been a model of a successful community theater. With more than 100 members and no paid employees, volunteers build the sets, sew the costumes, sweep the floors, and work the box office—all the while producing five fully-staged plays a year, running a summer program for youth, producing concert-version musicals and providing live theater to Bay Area residents. In the 21st century, however, all this is not enough. Masquers Board President David Cole will talk about the theater’s plans for the future and how this small local arts organization plans to stay relevant for many years to come. MEETING OFWelcomePresident Stoney called the meeting to order and asked Jon Lawlis to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day was: The biggest lie we tell ourselves is “I don’t need to write that down, I can remember it.” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Special EventsWe are delighted to officially welcome a new member to the Richmond Rotary, Richard “Ric” Ambrose, Executive Director of the Richmond Art Center. He was recommended by Jan Brown and Don Lau, and we look forward to having him participate as a member, and learning even more about him. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCooking up American Dreams out of Kitchen@812
Stacey Street introduced Raquel Toledo, Communications and Program Manager for Business Development Center. Raquel previously worked at the RYSE Youth Center as Development Director for two years, and prior to that was Development Director for the San Mateo County Historical Association for five years. Stacey noted that Raquel is also a Herculean (she lives in Hercules) who loves bacon and donuts, she learned the most about communicating with people while serving tables at a restaurant, and, most important, she is the Mom of two energetic boys, aged 2 and 4, who believe she has super powers (and Raquel intends to keep it that way….). Raquel provided an overview of the Business Development Center, a nonprofit agency founded in 1995 committed to helping entrepreneurs open and operate successful businesses. The BDC’s clients are primarily low-income, minority, and women entrepreneurs who benefit from individualized services, including business consulting, entrepreneurial training, assistance in securing financing, marketing support, website set-up and loan application support. They do this with help from community partners who provide not only funding but also in-kind services, such as Mechanics Bank, Hack the Hood, SparkPoint Contra Costa and Chase. Kitchen@812 (named such since it’s located at 812 San Pablo Avenue in Pinole) is one of the BDC’s newer programs, a non-profit food business incubator enabling entrepreneurs to turn passions into profits by helping launch and develop food ventures. It provides 3,400 sq/ft of shared-use commercial kitchen space with 24-hour access to a flexible prep area, work stations, standard commercial cooking equipment, cold storage space and bilingual business support services. Currently 18 food artisans share the space, including caterers, bakers and food vendors, and Raquel highlighted some success stories. Salsa For All Seasons now has its salsa in all local Whole Foods, and Raquel had samples of this delicious salsa for all in attendance! 40 food businesses have been launched in total since Kitchen@812 opened. One of the main fundraisers for Kitchen@812 is the Culinary Clash, a food competition and festival, a la “Chopped” on Food Network, with teams comprised of a chef, corporate sponsor, community leader and youth chef (last year Richmond Rotary’s own Heather Kulp competed!), and Raquel showed a video from the 2014 Clash (https://vimeo.com/102069328). She encouraged all to attend the 2015 Culinary Clash on Wednesday, May 20th, 6-9 p.m. –a really fun and tasty event! Visit 2015culinaryclash.eventbrite.com for tickets. Stacey Street, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: April 17, 2015Cooking up American Dreams out of Kitchen@812
The Business Development Center (BDC) is a nonprofit agency providing free business assistance to aspiring low-income, minority and women entrepreneurs. One of its core programs includes Kitchen@812 – a food business incubator program cultivating East Bay food start-ups from the ground up, providing food business training, resources and access to an affordable shared commercial kitchen space. As the Communications and Program Manager, Raquel Toledo is responsible for events and programs that promote BDC services and encourage community support for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business development in Contra Costa County. Raquel will share plans for upcoming events that support Kitchen@812. MEETING OF April 10, 2015WelcomePresident Stoney Stonework called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club and Tom Waller led the pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin provided this thought for the day: “If God had wanted us to touch our toes, He would have put them on our knees.” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMApropos of Charlie Hebdo: The French Satirical Spirit
Liliane Koziol introduced the program speaker, Francois Miglio, an affable artist from southern France who lives in the Bay Area and exhibits his paintings widely. Besides doing his artistic work, he spends a lot of time observing social and cultural happenings. He occasionally expresses his understanding of what he has witnessed through satirical drawings that include decorative, politically incorrect wine labels. At today’s meeting, Francois undertook to share his thoughts on the January 2015 murders at the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly newspaper. While his spoken English was not always crystal clear, for sure it was much better than what most of us could do with French. There are always beginnings and the one Francois started with was the late 2004 murder by a Muslim radical of a Danish film maker who had released a short film criticizing the treatment of women in Islam. That event unleashed a string of incidents, demonstrations, and protests around the world over the following years that Francois thoroughly chronicled with supportive slides. For Francois, the Charlie Hebdo murders on French soil in January of this year deeply shocked and destabilized the French psyche in ways not fully understood even here in America where we sometimes think we’re alone in treasuring freedom of expression. In fact, there are very deep roots to freedom of speech in France going back to the mid-1700’s when official restrictions on “blasphemy” (including irreverence and sacrilege) were abolished. To speak out, to be able to contest and challenge – to fight against – every source of power with different ideas is seen as a most fundamental French value. To be offended by an idea (like a caricature of the prophet Mohammed) is one thing but then to kill because of that offense is unspeakably inhuman and inexcusable. That’s the point. Many thanks to Francois for coming to share his views with Richmond Rotary. For those of us who were at the meeting, Francois passed around one of the almost 8 million special-edition Charlie Hebdo newspapers that were published in the days after the January killings (prior typical print run was about 60,000 papers). Francois’ daughter in Paris waited in line overnight to get a copy which she sent to her dad and which we got to hold. Je suis Charlie (“I am Charlie”). Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: April 10, 2015Apropos of Charlie Hebdo: The French Satirical Spirit
François Miglio will approach the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo and the “Super Kosher” attacks in France from a cultural angle. He will explore two questions: MEETING OF April 3, 2015Welcome76 trombones lead the big parade, but today at Rotary 25 violins lead the meeting, after President Stoney Stonework welcomed guests and Rotarians and called the meeting to order. Josh Genser was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Stoney led us in the invocation, a silent prayer for Freedom, Peace & Justice on Earth. Today’s Chauvinism is attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Visiting RotariansMac Robinson and Dennis Bullis both from San Pablo joined us today. Rotarians with GuestsFelix Hunziker again introduced Chevron engineer Oscar Garcia. Sunshine ReportBill Koziol was enjoying the sunshine, but had nothing to report. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
Program Chair Stacey Street introduced Musician & intimate Confidante (her husband) Don Benham and a cast of dozens of aspiring violinists, from Benito Juarez Elementary School, a Richmond Charter School operated by Amethod Public Schools. Professor Benham led the string ensemble in recognizable renditions Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (Mozart, no kidding); Mary Had a Little Lamb (composer unknown); Boil That Cabbage Down (American Folklore Society, Alan Lomax). Prof. Benham attributed the string ensembles emerging musical talent to the Benito Juarez School mascot, Mighty Mouse and school motto, “We Honor Hard Work!” The Professor, a professional trombone musician when he is not leading the string ensemble, then introduced Jorge Lopez, Chief Executive for Amethod Public Schools. Don and Jorge originally met when Jorge called Don looking for a trombone teacher…fate. Jorge is a Richmond native who went to Bay View and Donner Elementary, dropped out of Gompers and started at Richmond High, but transferred to Berkeley High because in those days, “…you didn’t walk across town to go to school.” Jorge’s grandfather came to Richmond in 1916 fleeing the Mexican Revolution and settled in Richmond, working at the Atlas Foundry. After three generations of steel workers, Jorge was working on his Masters Degree at Sac State when a friend told him, “You’re afraid to do a really hard job”. The hard job was the principal of the Oakland Charter Academy, a failing charter school in the Fruitvale, Oakland. Jorge’s friend knew how to push his buttons: Jorge took the job. After running off the taco truck parked on the playground, and firing all the incompetent teachers (you can do that at a charter school), Jorge launched an academic turn-around. In year one using the novel idea of having the students actually read books (no pun intended), he raised the API (Academic Performance Index) 116 points. In year two, keeping the same tack, the schools API increased an additional 94 points. In year three the API increased an additional 72 points. That year Oakland Charter Academy became Oakland’s first Blue Ribbon School. Cutting to the chase, Jorge said that Richmond and public education in general need Charter Schools as a matter of choice and to provide school management with real decision-making flexibility. Jorge said that public education is still in a crisis nationally. Citing the statistics for Richmond third graders:
Jorge said that Benito Juarez is the highest performing charter school in WCCUSD, but that charter schools are not by themselves a ‘silver bullet’. “Schools need to be focused on kids and they need community and family support.”Most of all, they must have high expectation like at Benito Juarez Elementary where, “We honor hard work!” Thank you Prof. Don and Principal Jorge for a delightful and hopeful description of education in our current community. Rotating Editor, Jim Young |
