Yearly Archives: 2015
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 |
NEXT MEETING: April 3, 2015Putting Richmond Students First
Enjoy a special presentation by violin students from Benito Juarez Elementary School led by Don Benham, followed by a conversation with Jorge Lopez, Chief Executive for Amethod Public Schools (AMPS). AMPS believes that all students can succeed in rigorous college-prep environments when provided with high expectations, capable educators and leaders, a disciplined commitment to academics, extended time for learning, and access to a range of enriching learning experiences. An excellent college education is necessary for expanded opportunities in an increasingly competitive and global 21st century job market, and together as a school community AMPS strives to meet that challenge, and to prepare students to be driven individuals who take smart and calculated path for the good of their personal progress. AMPS seeks to strengthen the character and academic foundations needed for underserved students to excel in school in order to assume positions of responsibility and distinction in society. Central to the network’s mission is the belief that it doesn’t matter where you start in life, but what you do with what you have in life is what counts. MEETING OF March 28, 2015WelcomeWhoa Nellie! As the check-in line whittled down to a mere three and the buffet line got down to only five, President Stoney Stonework welcomed the 60+/- guests and Rotarians to today’s meeting and called to order the Richmond Rotary Club. Erle Brown 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. Sidney was on his way to David Calfee’s Celebration of Life (more later). Filling in for Sid and busier than a one armed Boatwright was Stacey Street. Visiting RotariansMack Lingo from Berkeley Rotary. Hello Mack! Rotarians with GuestsFelix Hunziker introduced again local boy and Chevron engineer Oscar Garcia. Jan Brown introduced her husband Byron Brown. Prez Stoney introduced his wife Maryanna Stonework. Mark Howe introduced his guests, City Manager Bill Lindsey and new City Director of Finance Belinda Warner. Nick Despota introduced his wife Nel Benninghof. Don Lau introduced Randy Enos, School Board Trustee. In the Rotarians as Guest Dept, it was nice to see Paul Allen who said he would not be such a stranger in the future. Other Guests included:County Supervisor John Gioia, Capt. Anthony Williams RPD, Susan Segovia, Sean Pyles, Jim & Marilynn Mellander, Kevin Keane, Joan Barrett, Ben Therriant, Susan Wehrl, Kazue Nakahara, Leah Casey, Patty Caressa, Vann Ferber, Martin McNair, Mike Pacer. Sunshine ReportBill Koziol reported talking with both Ralph Hill and Charlie Wong and they are both doing well and would appreciate a phone call. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMUnderstanding Public Employee Pensions
Here are the zingers:
Important Fundamentals of pension vocabulary & definitions:
In a defined benefit plan like CALPERS and OPEB the City has the responsibility, liability actually, to manage the contribution variables and risks in order to guarantee the retirees ‘defined benefits’. In the defined contribution plan (401k plan) the employee/retiree manages the variables and risks including the ultimate retirement rate of payment. Borenstein said that he thinks ‘defined benefits plans’ are a good thing because they allow retirees to actually plan their income and pool (share) the economic risk of investing, BUT they must be based on the fundamentals of affordable (sustainable) contributions AND realistic investment expectations and accounting, especially time-value*. Herein lays the problem for the City of Richmond and most, if not all, of the other public employee pension funds in California. The funds are based on unrealistic and unsustainable assumptions. Some of the plans have been subject to inappropriate accounting. Taken together and rolled into public employee contracts under the authority of California Contract Law, they have produced the current unfunded public pension deficit. How does this happen? Here is the formula used for calculating public employee pension benefit:
The ‘Multiplier’ is something of a magic number that is hotly debated in public employee contract negotiations. The larger the Multiplier, the larger the benefit. There is another number that is very important to the total amount of pension benefit liability but it is not a direct part of the individual formula. That number is the minimum age or years of service at which employees can retire and receive 100% of the Multiplier benefit. This number is very important because it sets the minimum number of years the pension fund has to earn income before payments must be paid to retirees. It also is an indirect, but not absolute, determinant of how long the pension fund must pay benefits to retirees. The duration of retiree benefits is determined by life expectancy Starting earlier usually means a longer time retirement benefits are paid. So, when public employees work hard for a long time and get paid a decent living wage (to do the often tedious and sometimes dangerous work of public life in the community), and, are promised the benefit of a ‘high’ Multiplier, they can plan to retire with a pension that is a significant percentage of their working life salary. Well, not quite, one other thing needs to happen. That defined pension fund needs to have enough money put into it every year the public employee works, so that the ‘wise and prudent’ pension fund managers (CALPERS, etc.) can invest the money in order to insure that every retiring public employee can receive their ‘defined benefit’ if they retire at the earliest age allowed by the pension plan. This is how the unfunded pension liability of $446,000,000 came into being:
Dan Borenstein’s presentation was a tour de force of specific facts and figures that I am sure will be accurately shared with the public again in the near future. If you hunger for those facts and figures, you should have been there. This scribe does not want to misrepresent Dan’s detailed efforts so they are not included here. Thank you Dan Borenstein for an illuminating discussion of a complicated subject. *Time-Value, arguably the most important and difficult concept in finance. Ask your CPA for clarification or maybe we can have a whole program about it. Colloquially it is exemplified by the old saw, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Rotating Editor, Jim Young |
NEXT MEETING: March 27, 2015Understanding Public Employee Pensions
Dan Borenstein is an award-winning columnist and editorial writer for the Bay Area News Group, which includes the Contra Costa Times, Oakland Tribune and San Jose Mercury News. He has worked for the Times and its affiliated newspapers since 1980, including previous assignments as political editor, Sacramento bureau editor, projects editor and assistant metro editor. A Bay Area native and Contra Costa County resident, he holds undergraduate degrees in journalism and political science and master’s degrees in public policy and journalism, all from the University of California, Berkeley. Dan Borenstein’s weekly column often focuses on public finance issues, including columns during the past six years on government employee pensions. Those columns have helped shape public policy at the local and state levels. He is regarded by many as one of the most knowledgeable journalists in California when it comes to public pensions. His pension columns have won the Northern California Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Award for commentary and Freedom of Information Award for column writing, and the California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for column writing and public service. MEETING OF March 20, 2015WelcomePresident Stoney Stonework called to order the Richmond Rotary Club. Josh Surowitz 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. Sidney’s Thought for the Day: “Eventually you’ll reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.” Rotarians with GuestsFelix Hunziker introduced local boy and Chevron engineer, Oscar Garcia. Felix…Oscar…that’s ‘odd’, I mean a coincidence. Welcome Oscar! Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMWriterCoach Connection Richmond Update 2015
Prez Stoney introduced Beverly Roberts Charles, JD, the Richmond program Manager for WriterCoach Connection (WCC). Ms. Charles graduated with a degree in journalism from Northwester and has held many positions in advertising, medical administration and non-profits, including Chair of the Berkeley Art Center. She went back to school at San Francisco Law School, securing her JD in 2010, and has been WriterCoach’s Richmond Program Manager since 2014. Ms. Charles introduced her colleagues, June Pangelinan the WCC Richmond Volunteer Coordinator and Karen Larson, the WCC Site Coordinator for Richmond HS. WirterCoach is no stranger to Richmond Rotary as some of our most altruistic members and their spouse/partners have supported the program for years. Ms. Charles provided a quick reminder of the one-on-one tutoring that each volunteer coach provides participating students. The basic concept is to provide the students with the attention to writing detail and critical thinking development they do not automatically get as part of their classroom education. The program has an East Bay focus, having started in Berkeley and expanded into both Oakland and Richmond. It has grown from its first year of 150 students and 73 coaches to 289 students and 148 coaches, and is always looking for volunteers who can spend one or two hours with students once or twice a month. Expansion in Richmond has allowed the program to move beyond its initial start at Richmond HS to now include Kennedy HS. Members interested in finding out more about WCC and volunteering opportunities are invited to check out the WriterCoach web site and note especially the “Volunteer” tab. Like most non-profits, WriterCoach is also looking for financial and corporate support and would greatly appreciate introductions to individuals and companies that are willing to support literacy education in our local high schools. Cross those ‘I’s and dot those ‘T’s. Thank you, Ms. Charles and WriterCoach Connection in Richmond! With a lick of the wrist, Prez Stoney adjourned our motley crew until next week and Journalist Dan Borenstein’s program about Public Pension Policy. Higher taxes? Did anybody say anything about higher taxes? Jim Young, Rotating Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: March 20, 2015WriterCoach Connection Richmond Update 2015
Since 2001, WriterCoach Connection has sent teams of trained community volunteers into secondary school English classrooms to work one on one with students on their writing assignments. The program has been in Richmond for 3 years and the presentation will provide an update on the program in the Richmond schools WriterCoach Connection serve, including key successes and challenges. Results from WriterCoach Connection’s pre-coaching and post-coaching student assessment will be discussed, as well as survey results from stakeholders; students, teachers and volunteer coaches. MEETING OF March 13, 2015WelcomePrez. Stoney welcomed all who were lucky to be present on this Friday 13th. Liliane Kozial led us in the Pledge. Stoney offered a Moment of Silence for Freedom, Peace and Justice. Sid Chauvin offered, ”The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement!” Announcements
Hank Covell reminded us all of Dave Calfee’s Celebration of Life on March 28. Please let Hank know if you will be attending so they can plan for the crowd. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMBay Area Climate Action
Nick Despota gave a quick overview of the shifting public opinion around climate change. He suggested that we can look at the issue through 2 different lenses: on the one hand, its technical and economic aspects; and on the other, the moral obligation to act. According to a recent poll, that obligation is felt by a majority of Americans. Nick then introduced our speaker Judy Pope, with 350 Bay Area. 350 Bay Area is a grassroots activist group whose mission is to achieve deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the 9 Bay Area counties and beyond. Judy kicked off with good news about climate change: we know what we can do and how to do it. More good news: California became a leader in the effort to limit climate change with the passage of AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, in 2006. AB32 established a state-wide cap-and-trade program, set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, set transportation and building energy standards, and established a goal of achieving a statewide renewable energy mix of 33% by 2020. Judy said that a clear path to limiting the impacts of climate change—already evident in extreme weather events—is through a rapid transition to using only electricity generated by wind, sun and water. At the same time, we must sharply curb the use of coal, oil and natural gas. Citing an internationally agreed-upon goal of limiting global warming to 2° Celsius, she said that 80% of the known petroleum reserves must remain in the ground. Judy also stated that the risky practices of fracking and the transportation of highly explosive grades of crude oil by rail must be stopped. While the details of the climate change issue are complex, the pathway to a cleaner future is not: we must quickly curb the use of fossil fuels, replacing that energy source with electricity from renewable sources wherever possible. The technology to do that is already available. - The Menehune, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: March 13, 2015Bay Area Climate Action
The climate crisis presents California and the Bay Area with unprecedented opportunities for climate leadership. Judy Pope, with the climate change group 350 Bay Area, will discuss the path forward to clean green energy and the social and economic benefits for California and the Bay Area of taking that path as quickly as possible. She will discuss major obstacles to switching to clean energy, including but not limited to the fossil fuel industry. Her talk will also cover the crucial role of Bay Area regulatory agencies, elected leaders and citizen activists. This information will be set in the context of the rapidly growing threats posed by a warming planet. Judy’s organization, 350 Bay Area, is a grassroots activist group whose mission to bring about deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in the Bay Area and beyond. MEETING OF March 6, 2015WelcomePresident Stoney Stonework called the meeting to order at Contra Costa College’s Three Seasons Restaurant and Tom Waller led the pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Stoney also provided this thought for the day: don’t forget to “spring forward” and set clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night, March 7. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMAway-meeting at Contra Costa College
Stoney introduced Mojdeh Mehdizadeh, the Interim President of Contra Costa College. Outgoing President, Denise Noldon, has taken a job with the State Community College system in Sacramento. Mojdeh has been with the Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) for 25 years, most recently as Executive Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology. She is proud of her Community College roots, having started her post-secondary education at Diablo Valley College in Concord (one of the three schools in the 4CD system). Mojdeh shared some quick facts about Contra Costa College.
With a Strategic Plan meeting coming up on March 27 (public invited), Mojdeh is committed to have Contra Costa College serve the community in the best way possible. Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe |
Jim Young introduced today’s speaker, Investigative Reporter Daniel Borenstein from the Bay Area News Group – “Contra Costa Times”. Dan has worked for the Times and its affiliated newspapers since 1980, including previous assignments as political editor, Sacramento bureau editor, projects editor and assistant metro editor. Dan is a Bay Area native and Contra Costa County resident. He holds undergraduate degrees in journalism and political science and master’s degrees in public policy and journalism, all from the University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!). Dan Borenstein’s weekly column often focuses on public finance issues, including columns during the past six years on government employee pensions. Today’s presentation has been ‘personalized’ to the public employee pension issues of the City of Richmond.
