Yearly Archives: 2016
NEXT MEETING: July 29, 2016Generating Solutions to Ensure West Contra Costa Students Thrive
MEETING OFWelcomeIn Josh Surowitz’s absence, Alan Blavins presided. He called the meeting to order and asked Henry Moe to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Alan then asked for a moment of silence for world peace. Sid had a thought for the day from Charles de Gaulle, “I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to politicians.” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsSid brought Joe Kelman, a regular and welcome guest. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe Cruelest Crime - Acid Attacks
Our speaker was Joe Doser, an Environmental Health Specialist. He addressed the problem of acid attacks, a phenomenon he described as an extreme form of domestic violence. Worldwide there are about 1,500 such attacks a year, though the reporting and recordkeeping likely underestimate the problem. Most such attacks occur in poor countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Uganda are the most common). The victims are primarily women, and the face is the target. The attacks are disfiguring. They often cause blindness, and they are frequently fatal. Because such attacks take place in extremely poor areas, victims rarely have access to swift medical care. Doser pointed out that there are several international organizations dedicated to serving the victims of acid attacks. He asked Rotarians to visit the websites and share information about the subject. He alo announced his willingness to speak to any group, large or small, on the topic. He provided a handout that included the following resources: Acid Survivors Trust International (acidviolence.org) and Center for Rehabilitation of Survivors of Acid and Burns Violence (ceresav.org). There is also a link to an organization that is helping the child acid victim whose photo moved him to this work (childfoundation.org). - David Cole, Scribe of the Day |
NEXT MEETING: July 22, 2016The Cruelest Crime - Acid Attacks
Each year more than 1500 people are victims of acid attacks. These attacks tend to occur in certain Third World countries, though it is not unheard of elsewhere. Joe Doser, Environmental Health Specialist for Contra Costa County, will discuss how he first came to learn about this issue, why he got involved, and what certain organizations and governments are doing to help the victims and hopefully end these terrible crimes. While this is understandably a very difficult subject to hear about, he hopes people find the information he will share worthwhile. MEETING OF July 15, 2016WelcomePres Josh Surowitz presided over the meeting. Erle Brown kicked off the pledge, and Herb Cole offered the invocation. Sid’s thought for the day: “Once you lick the frosting off a cupcake, it becomes a muffin—and muffins are healthy!!” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsStephanie Baer and James Baer, daughter and son of Alan Baer joined us on this day. Mara Lockowandt and Charlene Smith were guests of Stacey Street. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMYesterday's Instruments Today
Lisa Grodin, the Director of Education for Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and the Music Director for the Junior Bach Festival, presented spirited renditions of violin music by Corelli, Bach, and others Baroque composers on an instrument of the times. Lisa explained that early music shares with American jazz the notion that the music would not be played strictly as written, but rather improvised and ornamented by individual performers. She demonstrated that different bows were more suited for particular styles, some rendering a silky sound, others snappier and crisp. Lisa gave us a full picture of professional musicianship that encompasses education, scholarship, and performance. - Henry Moe, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: July 15, 2016
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NEXT MEETING: July 8, 2015. No meeting next Friday.Eject the Englishman on July 8th
MEETING OFWelcomePrez Alan Blavins (for the last time) rang the bell and welcomed all to the Happiest Rotary Club in Richmond. Nick Despota led us in the Pledge with Alan offering a moment for Peace and Good Will to all. Sid Chauvin offered “Old Age is coming at a really bad time!” Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
Stacey Street introduced our speaker Jasmine Tarkoff the co-convener of the Multi-Faith ACTION Coalition which is working together to address the root causes of poverty through public policy change and advocacy. Jasmine is also Executive Vice President of Temple Isaiah in Lafayette. The work of the MFAC is through its committees: Housing/Shelter; Food Security; Jobs and Economic Security; Education and Health. They are working on issues like minimum wage, health care for the undocumented, low cost housing shortage, and housing for veterans and those with housing subsidies. To address these issues they are working on the following initiatives: Asking landlords to make 1 unit or 1% of their units available for veterans or folks with subsidies; establish a Housing Security Fund; Junior Assessing Dwelling Units; spreading the word about the issue (132,000 people in Contra Costa County live below the poverty level); and by bringing on more people to work on the issue. I believe at the end of the meeting Jasmine and Jerry Feagley were planning on meeting to see what could be done in Richmond. If you like to learn more about the work of the Multi-Faith Action Coalition and how to contact the organization, please download its brochure. - The Menehune “Rotating Editor” |
NEXT MEETING: June 24, 2016The Contra Costa Housing Crisis – Challenges and Solutions
Jasmine will offer her insights about the housing crisis in Contra Costa County and engage us in a discussion about what we can do together to address it. MEETING OF June 17, 2016WelcomePresident Alan Blavins called the meeting to order, asked a club member from the back of the room to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and asked Alan Baer to lead us in a silent prayer for peace. Sergeant-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered the quote of the day: “Sometimes, I drink a glass of water to surprise my liver!” (Let the record reflect that immediately after, your Scribe promptly delivered a glass of water to Sid. Surprise!!) Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMFostering Love of Learning through Reading and Storytelling
President Alan Blavins introduced the lovely Ruth Major, the executive director of Read-Aloud Volunteer Program. The Program is a relationship-based program that fosters in children the joy and love of learning through reading and story-telling. Literacy is a key skill that impacts a child’s school readiness and later academic success. One-on-one interactions over time provide children and adults with meaningful relationships. This relationship supports the child’s developing skills, allowing the child to read at their own pace without classroom and peer pressures. It gives them time to be curious, to experiment, to explore what is read. The volunteers run the program at the following local elementary schools: Coronado, Dover, Downer, Montalvin Manor, and Washington. The more volunteers they have, the more children they can reach. Currently, they are reading to about 350 students a year. Each student receives books to take home and share with family and friends. For more info, visit http://read-aloud.org/ (website), or info@read-aloud.org (email), or call 510-237-0735. To make a donation, go to http://read-aloud.org/donate/ To apply to be a volunteer: http://read-aloud.org/volunteer/apply-to-volunteer/ And for several links to great reading resources (and bi-lingual books!) visit: http://read-aloud.org/about/links/ - Shana Bagley Howe, tu Escribita (“A book is a gift that you can open over and over.” – Garrison Keilor) |
Educator and Richmond native Natalie Walchuk will discuss how GO Public Schools strives to give every child in West Contra Costa a quality education and prepare them for work in the twenty-first century. The organization supports a coalition of students, families, educators, and community allies united around generating solutions to ensure that every West Contra Costa student thrives. Together this coalition works to develop community leadership, enact practice and policy shifts, and ultimately improve student learning outcomes.
Alan and his twin sister were born during the Blitz, and it was evident from the baby pictures that the expression Alan wears today was already apparent in infancy. Don presented compelling photographic evidence of Alan’s love of foreign adventure, sexy women, and challenging fish (did we get that right?).
Come one, come all! It’s time to throw out the Englishman!! Come see the premiere of “The Alan Blavins Story: Fact or Fish Tale?” The Demotion of Alan Blavins also ushers in the reign of our next president, Josh Surowitz.
