Monthly Archives: October 2015
NEXT MEETING: October 30, 2015California’s Ocean Wilderness: What’s Up Down There?Dirk Rosen is the founder and Executive Director of Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE), a not-for-profit organization. MARE supports a healthy ocean by collecting information on deep-sea ecosystems using remote controlled robotic technology. Dirk founded MARE in 2003 to protect and restore the ocean’s invaluable, yet threatened resources by enabling science-based marine conservation efforts in support of sustainable fisheries for future generations. He has 25+ years of deepwater vehicle design and operations experience with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and manned submersibles. He has led or co-led 27 ROV ocean surveys assessing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), exploring our National Marine Sanctuaries, performing fish stock assessments and environmental impacts of wave power and seismic survey sites, evaluating the impacts of fishing gear and recovering lost science equipment. Currently Dirk and MARE are in the middle of completing California’s final deepwater network of MPAs, those from the Oregon border to Fort Bragg. Prior to starting MARE, Dirk was president of Deep Ocean Engineering, test pilot for all three Deep Rover 1,000 meter-rated manned submersibles, and a designer/operator of the Phantom and Bandit Remotely Operated Vehicle systems, (of which more than 500 were built). Later at Hawkes Ocean Technologies he was the project manager for the 11,000 meter rated Challenger, a manned submersible designed to go to the deepest point in the ocean, the Marianas Trench. Dirk is a registered Professional Engineer, but don’t hold that against him! MEETING OF October 23, 2015WelcomePresident-Elect, Josh Surowitz, standing in for current President Alan Blavins, skillfully called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club. Connie Tritt led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. George Egan asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin (good to have Sid back again!) provided this thought for the day from Mike Ditka of NFL fame: “You will never be a loser until you quit trying.” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMLiliane Koziol introduced the program speaker, Ruben Lizardo, Director of Local Government and Community Relations for the Office of the UC Berkeley Chancellor. Ruben provided an update on the “Berkeley Global Campus at Richmond Bay” (BGCRB). The BGCRB project is centered on the 170 acres of Richmond property known as the Richmond Field Station, owned by UC Berkeley for over 50 years. A variety of engineering research work currently takes place on the property. UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks presented his vision for the BGCRB to the University’s Academic Senate in October 2014. When it was originally to be launched with funding from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), the project was known as the Richmond Bay Campus. Under the Chancellor’s leadership, the BGCRB will serve as a new research and action hub in Richmond with a focus on global issues, culture, and collaboration. The LBNL remains a steadfast partner in the BGCRB but this is clearly now a UC Berkeley-led project. While other internationally focused projects launched by universities have been located abroad, the Chancellor’s plan is to create a global campus in Richmond. The idea is to have the BGCRB be the focal point for an international coalition of academic institutions, the private sector, and community partners who will collaborate on research projects to address global challenges like energy, the environment, health, and the economy. A lot of this is still very much in the concept stage but the intention is for this to be a new model for global engagement and research integration that will have deep ties to the main UC Berkeley campus and to the local community through a variety of educational, public health, community outreach, labor, and transportation partnerships. Chancellor Dirks has been clear in his commitment to the Richmond community and how he believes the project can be a real catalyst for Richmond’s south shoreline. Through the South Shoreline Specific Plan, the City of Richmond is leading the way to improve infrastructure and enhance transportation, residential, and commercial development to ensure the Berkeley Global Campus is part of a sustainable and vibrant community that includes jobs, business opportunities, and an array of recreation and social outlets. Much is yet to be done (defining specific actions, funding, schedules, etc.). Still, things are happening. There’s a BGC Community Working Group, in which our own Josh Genser is serving. An initial set of Working Group recommendations that might become the “Richmond Compact” will be going to the Chancellor in December for consideration. In the bigger picture, UC Berkeley has a couple of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) pending with Cambridge University in the UK and National University in Singapore as potential BGCRB partners. If you’d like to receive periodic email updates and news about BGCRB, click on this link to sign up. Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: October 23, 2015Berkeley Global Campus, Richmond BayBerkeley Global Campus, Richmond Bay represents a transformational model for the expansion of educational and research activities. Building on University of California, Berkeley’s international reputation, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s groundbreaking research and the unique setting of Richmond Bay, the new Berkeley Global Campus will be a focal point for an international coalition of leading academic institutions and private sector and community partners. The Berkeley Global Campus will focus on global engagement and research integration with deep ties to the main campus and the local Richmond community through a variety of educational, public health, community outreach, labor and transportation partnerships. Campus representatives Terezia Nemeth, Development Manager for the Berkeley Global Campus, and Ruben Lizardo, Director, Local Government and Community Relations, will do a brief presentation on the project and the status of Richmond community relationships. MEETING OF October 16, 2015WelcomePrez Alan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Oscar Garcia to lead us in the Pledge. Alan asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. He offered this quote: “If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsDoris Mitchell’s guest was Adriana Quintero. Special EventsTiffany Straus, sponsored by Your Scribe, was formally inducted into the Richmond Rotary Club. Tiffany started as the Executive Director of Early Childhood Mental Health in April and is the wife of past-Rotary President Doug Straus. Welcome, Tiffany! Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe Biggest Explosion in History, or, How I Learned to Love MagnetarsJim Young introduced our speaker, Peter R. Harvey, UC Project Manager and liaison with NASA. Anytime something gets shot into space it probably crosses Peter’s desk before launch. Your Scribe was way in over his head with the presentation but I will give it a shot, as follows. As part of the Space Scientific Laboratory, Peter studies “things that go bump in the night” like Magnetars, which emit enormous amounts of cosmic radiation (huge energy bursts of gamma rays, particles, etc.). Peter and his colleagues believe the energy and related effects from the last detected Magnetar may well have had something to do with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 250,000 people and destroyed coastal cities all around the Indian Ocean. Although the Magnetar episode actually happened thousands of years ago, its effects reached earth just prior to the 2004 tsunami. Peter indicated there may have been 4 Magnetars over time and maybe one caused the end of the dinosaurs. If you want more details, ask Ric Ambrose, who seemed to be asking very good questions. The Menehune, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: October 16, 2015The Biggest Explosion in History, or, How I Learned to Love MagnetarsRemember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 250,000 people and destroyed coastal cities all around the Indian Ocean? What if someone told you it may have been triggered by an astronomical event in deep space? Peter R. Harvey, UC Project Manager and liaison with NASA is going to do just that, and he doesn’t wear a colander or an aluminum foil hat. Peter has more than 30 years experience in various space projects, holds a Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of California and has been the Project Manager for the NASA RHESSI project (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager). Peter has also worked on many other Cal/NASA projects with acronyms too numerous to list here. So if you want to know about ‘things that go bump in the night’, 35 to 50 million light years from Earth, don’t miss this program. MEETING OF October 9, 2015WelcomePresident Alan Blavins called the meeting to order, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and asked for a silent prayer for peace. Herb Cole offered the thought of the day: “I don’t need anger management; I just need people to stop pissing me off.” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Sunshine ReportBill Koziol reported that Ralph Hill’s celebration of life is still in the planning stages and should happen in a few weeks. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMConversation with Assemblymember Tony ThurmondWhile we were waiting for Assemblymember Tony Thurmond to arrive (no doubt, stuck behind a train), Alan Baer introduced guest member Antonio Mendoza. Mr. Mendoza is from the Philippines Consulate and also works with the Bataan Legacy Historical Society (see Flywheel: https://richmondcarotaryflywheel/august-21-2015/ ). He mentioned that the Bataan Legacy will be organizing a drive for care packages to be sent to troops sent to the West Philippines Sea for liaison work and training. After giving a Paul Harris Fellow recognition to Assemblymember Tony Thurmond, Pam Jones introduced him as our speaker. Assemblymember Thurmond said that in his first year of office, there has been a steep learning curve with figuring out how to actually get things done. He is often reminded of service above self, because every day he has the opportunity to make a difference. He gave a shout out to Mayor Tom Butt for his work on the West County health services task force. Assemblymember Thurmond has been busy working on many issues on behalf of his constituents. These include: affordable housing, funding to prevent children from missing school, and methane monitoring (uh oh, we are back to those aging stars spewing gas…https://richmondcarotary2015/07/?post_type=flywheel ). He discussed the recent change in the way we view affordable housing. It is no longer just low-income housing affecting those below the poverty line. As housing prices rise, it is now an issue for working and middle classes. They are being outbid by higher earners paying with cash on homes they might be able to afford. Assemblymember Thurmond eloquently answered the questions from the peanut gallery. He thanked us all for our support. His website is here: http://asmdc.org/members/a15/ . Shana Bagley Howe, Rotating Scribette |
NEXT MEETING: October 9, 2015Conversation with Assemblymember Tony ThurmondTony Thurmond was elected to represent California’s 15th Assembly District in November 2014. The district includes the East Bay communities along the I-80 corridor from Hercules to Oakland. First elected to the Richmond City Council in 2005, Thurmond served as Council Liaison to Richmond’s Youth Commission, the Workforce Investment Board and the WCCUSD. His priorities in the Assembly have been a continuation of his priorities as a non-profit leader, school board member, and city councilmember. Specifically, Thurmond focuses on improving the local and statewide economy, improving education from the ground up, and preventing crime. As a community advocate, Thurmond has helped create job training and workforce housing programs that serve as a model for state efforts at poverty reduction. Immediately prior to his election to the Assembly, Thurmond’s project, CEO Youth, was improving school attendance and reducing dropout rates. Recognizing that jobs, education and crime are interrelated challenges, Thurmond believes that, “To get it right, we need to give our youth a California as good as its promise. To get there, we need to do the real work to improve our schools, reduce dropout rates, create sustainable jobs that preserve our environment and invest in job training opportunities to build a 21st-century workforce.” A Fellow in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Children and Family Fellowship program, Assemblymember Thurmond is a graduate of Temple University. He did graduate work at Bryn Mawr College, PA where he received dual Masters Degrees in Law and Social Policy and Social Work. He lives in Richmond, California. MEETING OF October 2, 2015WelcomePrez Alan Blavins welcomed guests and Rotarians and called the meeting to order. Jon Lawlis was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Prez Alan led us in the invocation, a silent prayer for Peace, Freedom & Justice. Prez Alan, no doubt thinking about some members giving to the Rotary Foundation and Paul Harris Society said, “When it comes to giving, some people start with nothing.”. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsCPA Mei Saechao, visiting again, hopefully for her last time as a guest as, local girl that she is, she is going to join the club. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMESCAPE Club at DeJean Middle SchoolDavid Brown introduced John Iwawaki, today’s speaker and a long time friend of Richmond Rotary, and also his friend and neighbor. Richmond Rotary has been helping to sustain the ESCAPE Club (acronym for (Environmental Science, Conservation, and Photographic Excursions) at Lovonya DeJean Middle School since the 1990s when John and his sidekick Jason Lau (no relation to Don) started the club at Adams Middle School before it closed. Besides providing students an after-school venue to study and ‘hang out’, once a month the club goes on an outing into the greater Bay Area. For many of the club members, these trips are their first experiences outside Richmond city limits. Local geography that we take for granted, the Golden Gate Bridge & Fort Point, Muir Woods, Rock City at Mt. Diablo State Park and Pt. Reyes National Seashore, are new and exotic. Once a year the club also tries to go to the snow (if there is any) and on a camping trip to Yosemite National Park. All these adventures are free of charge to the members and that’s what Rotary supports. During Q&A Jim Young reminded the members of a past presentation John did when he brought ESCAPE Club alumni. One young woman in particular talked about how the club, “…changed my life.” John said he has had hundreds of similar comments and that’s why he keeps doing it. John then told the story of the 2015 winter snow trip when it actually snowed on the trip. He said one of the mother chaperones was all a twitter. She had never seen snow in her life. John, you’re amazing! You are a local hero. Keep up the good work. For those of you who want more information about the ESCAPE Club, check out the club website at http://www.escapeclub.org - Jim Young, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: October 2, 2015 (BACK AT RICHMOND COUNTRY CLUB)ESCAPE Club at DeJean Middle SchoolJohn Iwawaki, a science teacher and curriculum coach in WCCUSD, will be presenting on the ESCAPE Club at Lovonya DeJean Middle School. The ESCAPE (Environmental Science Conservation And Photographic Excursions) Club is an extra curricular, outdoor education program. Students are given the opportunity to play in the snow, camp in Yosemite, splash on the beach, hike to a waterfall, and many more new experiences in monthly field trips around California. Students are prepped in weekly after school meetings about the ecology, history, and geography of their next destination, and then write about their experiences following the trip. Since its inception in 1999, the ESCAPE Club has gone on 130 field trips, all free for the students. It is run completely by volunteers, and funded by corporate and private donation, and an occasional grant. For over 10 years, Richmond Rotary has contributed a significant percentage to its annual budget. For more information, visit the ESCAPE Club web site. MEETING OF September 25, 2015WelcomeClub President Alan Blavins called the meeting to order at Cafe Soleil in El Sobrante and asked David Brown to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Alan asked for a silent prayer. Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMWest County SchoolsJim Young introduced Steve Chamberlin and Elliot Haskell of the Chamberlin Family Foundation (CFF) who gave a detailed and informative presentation on “Smart Philanthropy” (phrase coined by Club Director Jerry Feagley). CFF is a private foundation that is currently focusing on K-12 public education in West Contra Costa County (where the Chamberlins have lived for the last 20 years) and Hawaii (where they grew up). This topic hit home for many people – which is the likely reason for the many parent and teacher guests in today’s audience. CFF’s goal is to give every child in the district the opportunity to have a great education, regardless of economic background. CFF has invested over $6M in West County K-12 education and has also developed properties to attract top-notch public charter schools that must meet stringent performance/demographic criteria and operate on the same per-student State funding as schools that are part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD). CFF claims they are completing their new-construction property projects faster and cheaper (per student seat) than WCCUSD (for example, ~$24,000 for the CFF Hilltop project versus ~$200,000 estimated for WCCUSD’s Pinole Valley High School). To date, CFF properties are leased by Windrush, Aspire, and Summit Tamalpais charter schools. Public charter schools are increasing in popularity and in performance compared to WCCUSD schools, giving parents and students more/better educational choices. The students are selected by lottery and the waiting lists are hundreds of students long. CFF doesn’t run the charter schools; instead, it builds facilities to attract the very best charter schools. CFF founder Susan Chamberlin’s dream is that people will lie about where they live so that they can attend school in West County. To learn more about the Chamberlin Family Foundation, please see their website. *** On October 7, 2015, from 4:00-7:00pm, CFF is holding an open house at their newest location (Aspire and Summit shared campus) at 3040 Hilltop Mall Road, Richmond. For more information and to RSVP, go to this web site. Although Sid Chauvin (we miss you Sid!) was not present to give a quote for the day, Steve Chamberlin gave us one to hang our hats on: “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48, also used by Bill Gates). Shana Bagley Howe, Rotating Scribe |