NEXT MEETING: August 28, 2015

Junior Achievement: Program Overview

Stacey Martin-BonaduceStacey Martin-Bonaduce, Program Director for Junior Achievement (JA) in West Contra Costa and Oakland, will provide an overview of programs that prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.

JA provides business/entrepreneurship, financial literacy and workforce readiness programs for K-12th grade students throughout Northern and Central California. Volunteers are key to JA’s success, creating a powerful combination of academic knowledge and real-life business experience that bridges the gap between the classroom and the world beyond. During 2014-2015, more than 4,000 volunteers taught JA programs to over 100,000 students from diverse socioeconomic demographics in 23 counties.

MEETING OF August 21, 2015

Welcome

President Alan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Jim Young to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. He asked Stoney Stonework to invoke a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on Earth. In Sid Chauvin’s absence, Herb Cole had a thought for the day: Your friends will come and go, while your enemies will tend to accumulate so be nice to everyone!

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

There were no guests, but Rotarian Ralph Porter from the Solano Sunset Club in Vallejo joined us for lunch. And if it wasn’t Ralph Porter (excuse a possible scribe error), the man made a very good impression anyway and we welcome him back.

Announcements

howe-family

  • Mark Howe and Shana Bagley tied the knot with family and friends at their Sanderling Island home. The Rotarians’ new partnership was officiated by Paradise Rotarian Arthur Pollock. Congratulations and Best Wishes to Mark and Shana! Pictured on the right are Mark’s son Ross, the groom himself, the happy bride, and Serena, Mark’s daughter.
  • David Brown read aloud a letter sent to Hank Covell from Betty Calfee (who just turned 99 years young and remains a compelling writer) that enclosed a check for $25,000 in memory of Dave Calfee!! Wow!! Betty wants the money to support either a Scholarship Fund, which would be appropriate for Dave, or else a current project that needed funding. Betty noted that the Richmond Rotary was always very important to both Dave and her, and she sent her love to all members. The Club membership erupted into cheers – what incredible generosity, Betty, and Dave!!
  • Josh Genser announced that Mayor Tom Butt’s Community Fund Annual Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, September 28th at the Richmond County Club. The event will raise funds to support Richmond Youth Sports this year, and Josh is hoping that Richmond Rotary will be a sponsor of the event at the $1500 level, which will include a Foursome, door prizes, mulligans and recognition in all event promotion. Josh also encouraged members to participate as golfers, or to just attend the closing dinner. See attached flyer for more information.
  • In Menbere Akilulu’s absence, Stacey Street (your scribe today) announced that there would be another event at Salute on Sunday, August 23rd from 3-6 pm, again to help raise funds for Menbe’s Thanksgiving Day event for disadvantaged community members. As before, there is no charge, just come and enjoy some delicious wines, great food and wonderful company, and this time enjoy music provided by a wonderful jazz combo. Donation or participation in the silent auction are strongly encouraged! Stacey noted that Menbe said she would be very angry if her fellow Rotarians don’t come support the event!!! There will be a final fundraiser at Salute on October 8th so mark your calendars!

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Cecilia GaerlanStacey Street introduced Cecilia Gaerlan, Executive Director for the Bataan Legacy Historical Society. Cecilia gave an extremely compelling presentation on World War II in the Philippines. Cecilia’s father, Luis Gaerlan, was a soldier during WWII in the Philippines, but though he suffered horrific trauma, he never told the full story to his family since it was too difficult to remember. When Cecilia started learning the truth, that Filipino soldiers were used, deceived and sacrificed to win the war, and ultimately betrayed when deprived of benefits on Truman’s signing of the 1st Surplus Rescission Act, she founded Bataan Legacy to address the lack of information about the role of Filipinos during the war. Its multimedia presentations are designed to teach everyone the importance of WWII in the Philippines and to present the war from different points of view – soldiers, civilians, Filipinos, Americans and other nationalities.

Cecilia provided a brief historical overview, chronicling the history of the Philippines as a colony, then a Commonwealth, the history of fighting over the Philippines, and then how it was ultimately invaded and overpowered by the Japanese. She described the Bataan Death March to the prison camp after the surrender on April 9, 1942, where troops were forced to march 60 miles in tropical conditions, and were beaten, bayoneted or left to die if they couldn’t go on. Nearly 11,000 died, and another 25,000 perished in the prison camps. In addition, in 1945, during the liberation of the Philippines, approximately 100,000 civilians died in Manila, and by the end of the war, approximately 1,000,000 Filipino civilians perished.

Cecilia also showed several short videos and film clips, including historical footage that she narrated live, and interviews with Filipino soldiers. Cecilia closed by inviting everyone to attend two special events: an exhibition on WWII in the Philippines will be at the SF Public Library from September 12 through January 9, and a conference hosted by Bataan Legacy on Saturday, October 24th from 10 AM to 5 PM in San Francisco. Visit For more information or to register (attendance is free), please visit this web page. For more information about Bataan Legacy, visit www.bataanlegacy.org.


Stacey Street, Rotating Editor

NEXT MEETING: August 21, 2015

World War II in the Philippines

Cecilia I. Gaerlan, Executive Director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society, will speak about the organization and the role of Filipinos during World War II in the Philippines. Bataan Legacy Historical Society’s main goal is to educate the public on the historical significance of the Battle of Bataan and World War II in the Philippines by presenting the war from different perspectives (Filipino, American, soldiers and civilians) through its multimedia presentations, exhibitions, conferences and lectures in schools and different organizations throughout the country.   It also documents the stories of survivors and veterans of WWII in the Philippines.  Cecilia was inspired by her father, Luis Gaerlan, Jr. a Filipino veteran (41st Infantry Regiment) of WWII and a survivor of the Bataan Death March.  They have produced a documentary, and the trailer can be viewed here.

MEETING OF August 14, 2015

Welcome

The One and Only President Alan Blavins opened up the meeting with a joke. Sid’s thought for the day was that wives with missing husbands should post their pictures on beer cans.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Neha Venkatesh and her mother and father were guests of Henry Moe. Neha is a Junior at Salesian and a member of the Interact Club. She started her own foundation called Scholarships without Borders. She supplies shoes to students in countries around the world and she attended Rotary to speak about her foundation. This summer she took a trip to Spain to witness things she had purchased being handed out to students. Erle Brown offered a pledge to her foundation and will pay it off during the Rotary Crab Feed. Dan Tanita also gave her a donation as well as our speaker Ron Hilley.

Announcements

  • August 22, 2015 – Rotary Northern Seminar in Vallejo. Coffee served at 8:30am, check-in at 9:00am, sessions until 1:30pm. To be held at Solano Community College Satellite, 545 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo 94591.
  • October 3, 2015 – Six Flags Rotary Day. $40 includes admission to the Park and eat with Rotary. If you have a season pass, you can pay $20 and eat with Rotary.
  • November 21, 2015 – Alan Baer announced that “Day at The Races” tickets (Golden Gate Field) are $40 and the only way to reserve a spot is to pay for it.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

The FBI and Polygraph Examinations: Q&A with Ron Hilley

Jim Young introduced Ron Hilley, a retired FBI Agent and Polygraph Examiner and Interviewer.

Ron spoke about his time with the FBI and about his current job as a consultant for Polygraph tests. He said when he is hired he first studies the background of the person he will be performing the polygraph on then he sits and talks with the person for a few hours before he even starts the polygraph. He spoke of the importance of building a rapport with the person, trying to gain trust. His stories were engaging and every Rotarian seemed very interested in his talk.

 


Henry Moe, Rotating Scribe

NEXT MEETING: August 14, 2015

The FBI and Polygraph Examinations: Q&A with Ron Hilley

Ron Hilley, retired FBI Agent and Polygraph Examiner and Interviewer will describe his experience in both fields and will respond to your questions.
Ron has been a private polygraph consultant since 1996, and prior to that was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assigned to both criminal and foreign counterintelligence matters. He was selected by the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department to conduct polygraph examinations in sensitive intelligence matters and criminal investigations throughout the U.S. and overseas, and established private practice in 1996.

Ron studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and earned his BA from U.C.L.A. in Slavic Languages.  Ron was also a member of the US Navy from 1966-69.

MEETING OF August 7, 2015

Welcome

On a bright sunny day, Prez Alan called the meeting to order. Your Scribe led the group in the Pledge and Prez Alan asked for a Silent Prayer for Peace on Earth. Sgt-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered the following from General George S. Patton, “Always do more than is required of you.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Pam Jones introduced her guest Jennifer Granillo.

A report on the Holiday Auction Tour at KABC-TV

rotarians-at-KABC_8Holiday Auction bidders, Josh & Emily Surowitz, Linda & Jim Young and Zelpha &  Sid Chauvin toured the KABC-7 News studios Friday in San Francisco, hosted by News Anchor Dan Ashley. The measured tempo of on-the-air news delivery belies the hectic behind-the-scenes activity of the operation’s staff of 50, who receive, edit and assemble electronic news from around the region and the world.

Great tour! If we are lucky, Stacey Street will talk the personable Mr. Ashley into offering the tour again. The news team pictured with Richmond Rotarians is Michael Finney, Dan Ashley and Cheryl Jennings.

Announcements

  • Pam Jones introduced Jennifer Granillo, Site Manager for RotoCare Clinic. Jennifer shared her story of how her life was saved by a stranger after she left El Salvador and was left in Mexico on her way to be reunited with her mother in the US. She decide to give back and quit her job and came to work with RotoCare Clinic. Jennifer informed us that the Clinic will be moving out of the space at Brighter Beginnings into its own space and will be open 2 days per week instead of only 1. More info to follow
  • A brief Sunshine Report was give that Ralph Hill’s wife had suffered a stroke. (Note from Scribe: just called Ralph and he indicated that he was about to take a walk with a “pretty girl” and that his wife was not doing well)

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Ombudsmen: Elder Advocates in Action

Our guest speaker was Nicole Howell, Executive Director of the Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa (OSCC), an advocacy agency for frail and vulnerable residents in long-term care facilities. OSCC is a non-profit organization that serves the 9,000 residents in CC County who are in the 460 skilled nursing care and residential care facilities across the county. Nicole and her team of 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff do “pop-ins” at the various facilities, investigate reports of abuse or neglect, and work with family members looking for possible placement of relatives. OSCC believe that there should be “freedom of choice” or personalized care give to people placed in care facilities. There is also a concerted effort to move away from medication as a means of “controlling” residents.

Nicole asked us to:

  1. Tell the community about OSCC;
  2. Help recruit volunteers to assist with the program;
  3. Give out information on Trainings. OSCC can be reached a www.ccombudsman.org or calling 925.685.2070.

The Menehune “Rotating Editor”

NEXT MEETING: August 7, 2015

Ombudsmen: Elder Advocates in Action

Nicole Howell, Executive Director, discusses the Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa (OSCC), which advocates for the frail and vulnerable residents of long-term care facilities in the county.  Their vision is for the long-term care facilities in Contra Costa County to be the best in the country and reflect the high standards of resident-centered care.

The Ombudsman Services of Contra Costa serves 2,880 residents of skilled nursing facilities and 6,200 residents of residential care facilities. OSCC investigates complaints made on behalf of residents, and works to bring resolution to those complaints. In addition, OSCC provides a range of resources for residents, their families, and facility staff.

MEETING OF July 31, 2015

Welcome

President Alan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Connie Tritt to lead us in the Pledge. Alan asked for a silent prayer and Sgt-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered this thought for the day: “The older you get, the harder it is to lose weight because your body and your fat have become good friends.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

District Foundation Stewardship Chair and District Governor Nominee (2017-2018) Gary Vilhauer was a visiting Rotarian.

Jim Young brought his lovely wife Linda as his guest.

Special Events

Paul Harris Fellow awards were presented by Dan Tanita, DDS, to Tyler Covell (Hank Covell’s grandson) and Shana Bagley (your scribe).

Announcements

  • Jim Young needs volunteers for the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP) monthly sandwich program. They meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month for about 2.5 hours. Volunteers can sign up even if it is for only 1 – 2 times a year. Please contact Jim if you are interested.
  • Herb Cole was in Houston, Texas and reported that it was raining” hot water.”       While there, he read a headline in the local paper “Rotary Targets Polio.” The article stated that Nigeria is coming off the “Polio List” (Woohoo! Well done, Rotarians).
  • Jim Young, in response gave $100 to the Rotary Foundation to recognize Linda Young’s mother, Pauline, who survived polio.
  • Downtown David Brown announced that Sgt-at-Arms Sid Chauvin is taking sign-ups for the Saturday, November 21, 2015, Day at the Races at Golden Gate Fields (10% of net ticket sales will be donated to the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund). The cost is $40 per adult which includes valet parking, admission, and a Turf Club buffet lunch.
  • Alan Baer mentioned that the new cool District 5160 aloha shirts are for sale for $45. Orders can be placed with Alan.
  • Alan Baer also announced that today is the last Friday of the month which means that there is a BARSHEEP TGIFF at La Strada at 5:30 pm.
  • Alan Baer further stated that on Saturday, August 22, 2015, there will be a District assembly in Vallejo.

Sunshine Report
Bill Koziol reported that: Ralph Hill is back in Greenbrae and could use a call.
Bill is organizing a visit for next Wednesday; Charlie Wong is hanging in there and it would be great to give him a call.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Jim Young introduced our speaker, UC Berkeley research astronomer Stephen Stahler, Ph. D. Dr. Stahler gave an out of this world (thank you Tom Butt) presentation on “Why are there Stars.” While learning about molecular clouds, super novi, compact objects, negative heat capacity, and accretion luminosity, we also learned some valuable astronomy factoids that apply to our everyday, Earth-based lives:

 

  • We are all made of stars (Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Moby)
  • 90% of matter in the galaxy is invisible
  • In the world of physical sciences, there is no life, but there is also no death
  • Dense cores are caused by (nuclear) spaghetti
  • The most important part of the Big Bang happened in the first three minutes
  • 10% of all stars in our galaxy have earth-like planets around them
  • The more massive and the more brilliant a star, the shorter the lifespan
  • Nemesis is a figment of your (and Dr. Richard Muller’s) imagination
  • Our Earthly worries might seem trivial – as we are surrounded by over 100 billion stars in just our galaxy and while we measure our lives in years and decades, the Universe is 14 billion years old
  • And most importantly, as stars age, they spew off gas (please refer back to first factoid)

 

For background, visit Dr. Stahler’s website, which has links to his recent papers, publications, and sketches can be found here. Anyone interested in purchasing his book, The Formation of Stars, you can do so on Amazon.


-Shana Bagley (soon-to –be-Howe), Rotating Scribette