Yearly Archives: 2016
NEXT MEETING: June 17, 2016Fostering Love of Learning through Reading and Storytelling
Read-Aloud is about social justice and equity for children and families. Giving children the opportunity to have their own books, one-on-one adult and child time, space for children to develop at their own pace, and the pure joy of reading are what makes the program vibrant. Children go from being beginning readers to seeing themselves as learning to read with books of their own. MEETING OFWelcomePresident 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: “If there is a bar where everyone knows your name, you’re probably an alcoholic!” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsProgram Chair Stacey Street brought Shabnaz Yousefia Sid Chauvin brought Joe Kelman Visiting Rotarian Vicki Whiting is from the Sonoma Valley Rotary and was today’s speaker. She is also the former president of her club and the incoming Assistant District Governor. Announcements• Assistant District Governor Alan Baer announced that July 23, 2016, there is a group going to tailgate and to watch the Oakland A’s. There will be fireworks, hot dogs, and family fun. Please contact Alan for more information. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
Check it out here: http://www.kidscoopnews.com/
Finally, this week's rotating scribe, Shana Bagley Howe, who knows a thing or two about writing, offers this reminder: "Let's eat grandma. Let's eat, grandma. Punctuation saves lives!" |
NEXT MEETING: June 10, 2016Vicki Whiting: Rotary + Reading = Successful Kids!
The more kids read the better they succeed. Today our community is facing a literacy crisis. More than half of elementary aged students do not read at grade level by the end of third grade. Former teacher and now successful syndicated author, Vicki Whiting, will present the issue of literacy, why it is important and how Rotary Clubs around the country are working to make a difference in the lives of children. Vicki is also a member of the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, a past president of her club and she will be Assistant District Governor of District 5130 starting in July 2016. Learn more about Vicki Whiting at Kids Scoop News MEETING OF June 3, 2016WelcomePresident Alan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Nick Despota to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. In Sid Chauvin’s absence, President Alan provided the thought for the day: “If love is blind, then why is lingerie so popular?” Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Oscar Garcia: Who Are You?
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMTouching the Lives of Veterans with Music
Lilian Koziol introduced Richard Harrell, Director of Heroes’ Voices, a service organization for veterans. Richard has had a long career in classical music performance and education, having been the Director for the Juliard and San Francisco Opera Centers (he worked at SF Opera at the same time as today’s scribe, in fact!), as well as at New National Theater in Tokyo. He has directed more than sixty opera productions around the world, has been a judge for numerous vocal competitions and has been a longtime voice teacher and opera singer. Rick added that his father was practically a career Rotarian in Oklahoma and even started a club when they moved to a smaller town in Virginia. Rick recently joined San Francisco Rotary, after starting Heroes’ Voices, and his club has been a big supporter. After realizing the power of music to connect and heal, he started Heroes’ Voices in particular to help the more than 600,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain and other injuries, as well as other veterans from Viet Nam, Korea and even WWII in need of help. The organization brings veterans together and creates a community through free singing lessons and opportunities, guitar lessons and poetry workshops. These take place mostly at VAs, and in some prisons, but they have also formed a Guitar Corps at the Veterans Memorial Building in San Francisco, open to all community members and veterans. Heroes’ Voices also creates active partnerships with other organizations, sponsors research and provides soothing, acute and hospice care. Rick shared moving photos, stories and quotes from veterans who had participated and benefitted. He hopes as the organization grows, and develops a sustainable source of funding and infrastructure, to reach more veterans in the community. He ended with a quote from a Viet Nam Veteran: “After several years of silence, I now sing in the shower and in my heart.” www.heroesvoices.org.
- Stacey Street, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: June 3, 2016Touching the Lives of Veterans with Music
One of the greatest challenges that veterans face when returning home is how to reconnect with their communities. Veterans often feel isolation, even disorientation after leaving a war zone and military service to return to civilian life. Complicating this, over 500,000 veterans have, or will return from Iraq and Afghanistan with some level of traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or both. Music therapy is a powerful tool for treating battle-related brain injuries and enduring psychological traumas MEETING OF May 27, 2016WelcomePresident Alan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Henry Moe to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day: “I am absolutely convinced that the socks that go missing from the dryer turn into extra Tupperware lids.” AnnouncementsAlas, announcements were made but none were recorded for publication here. But here’s the good news: if you have an event that you’d like to publicize to the club, come to this Friday’s meeting and announce-away. First announcement free. One dollar per announcement thereafter, unless you sprinkle it with foreign phrases—C’est la vie—or words of more than 5 syllables. They’re extra. But no announcements will be silenced for lack of funds. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMPutting Richmond Students FirstYour Scribe had the pleasure of “formally” introducing her husband, Don Benham, an accomplished professional trombonist and music teacher. Other than serving as principal trombonist in several Bay Area orchestras including California Symphony and teaching music at the Amethod Public Schools, Don enjoys long-distance running and vintage cars. The “curtain” opened on 60 Third Graders from Benito Juarez Elementary School poised to play violin, and Don led them (while playing his baritone) in several exercises, including scales, as well as recognizable songs such as that one about the little lamb… The kids did a wonderful job and received a standing ovation!
Next Don introduced Jorge Lopez, CEO of Amethod Public Schools (AMPS). Jorge was born and raised in Richmond, the first in his family born in the US. He shared some of his own history, including some amusing anecdotes, which was challenging, and how ultimately his mother’s will that he have an education enabled him to persevere and not only graduate from high school but go on to college and a master’s degree. Jorge has taught in many different school districts, and came to the Amethod Public Schools in 2004 when he took over Oakland Charter School. It was struggling, with some of the lowest test scores in the state, but Jorge and his team changed the structure and focus, and it became a National Blue Ribbon winner in 2007. Since then, Amthod Public Schools have expanded to include two other schools in Oakland, Downtown Charter Academy and Oakland Charter High School, and three schools in Richmond, Benito Juarez Elementary, Richmond Charter Academy and John Henry High School. Ultimately, Jorge feels his job is to offer all kids an opportunity – especially those who don’t have any – and to teach them the values and rewards of grit, determination and hard work. Visit the organization’s website for more information about Amethod Public Schools. - Stacey Street, Rotating Editor |
NEXT MEETING: May 27, 2016Putting 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 currently operates three public charter schools in Richmond. Its staff believe that students can succeed in rigorous and college-prep environments when provided with high expectations, capable educators and leaders, challenging academics, more time for learning, and access to a range of enriching learning experiences. AMPS seeks to strengthen the character and academic foundations that are direly needed for underrepresented students to best prepare them to assume positions of responsibility in society. Core to its 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 May 20, 2016WelcomeOn a beautiful sunny day, Prez Alan welcomed all and asked PP Stoney Stonework (great to see you Stoney) to lead us in the Pledge. Prez Alan offered a moment for Peace on Earth and Sid Chauvin offered: “The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that you can succeed.” Visiting Rotarians and GuestsJames Lee was a guest (for the last time) and he brought with him as his guest Yolanda Oviedo. Special EventsNew Member James Lee, who was sponsored by Josh Genser, was inducted into the Club. Welcome James! Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
Liliane Kozial introduced our guest speaker Nicole Richards, a South Afrrican native who is a fulltime volunteer and Operations Manager of the Committee for South African Solidarity (COSAS) which is working on economic justice and freedom in South Africa. She moved to the U.S. in 2005 and is the Editor of the South African BEACON. One of her main initiative involves getting better education for the children of South Africa by providing educational supplies to the schools. COSAS uses as its guide in the struggle for justice and freedom the 1955 Freedom Charter which outlines the hopes and the desires of the people. COSAS needs funding to continue to provide educational supplies. Unfortunately, they do not have a website at this time, but if you would like to help I am sure Liliane can provide contact information for Nicole. The Menehune “Rotating Editor” |
NEXT MEETING: May 20, 2016COSAS: Fighting for Economic Justice and Freedom in South Africa
Nicole Richards, a South African native, is the Operations Manager of Committee for South African Solidarity (COSAS) and Editor of the South African BEACON. Ms. Richards moved to the U.S. in 2005 with her family and volunteered with a number of community organizations while going to school and working. In 2012, she became a full-time volunteer organizer with COSAS, which she now leads. Nicole will speak about her organization’s role in continuing the unfinished struggle for economic justice and freedom in South Africa, defined in the 1955 Freedom Charter, and how the struggle against poverty and inequality here in the U.S. is connected to the struggle in South Africa. MEETING OF May 13, 2016WelcomeAlan Blavins called the meeting to order and asked Nick Despota to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by a moment of silence in thoughts of peace. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsSid Chauvin brought Joe Kelman Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMPogo Park in Richmond's Iron Triangle Neighborhood
Our speaker, Toody Maher, is an artist, inventor, and entrepreneur. In 1983, she pioneered Swatch’s product launch and drive sales in her region from $0 in 1983 to $30 million in three years. She then started Fun Products, which created the world’s first clear telephone with lights. While working for a research institute on how to increase overall health and well being in communities, she realized how valuable parks could be if only they were properly designed and managed. Formerly the Elm Playlot (located at 8th and Elm streets in one of the most blighted areas of the Iron Triangle), Pogo Park was virtually unused despite the fact that 3,500 children lived within a seven-minute walk. Almost every house adjacent to the park was boarded up. The park was littered with needles, liquor bottles, condoms, and shell casings. Park swings had been chewed by pit bulls. The solution, Maher saw, was to engage local residents to plan, design, build and manage the playlot themselves. She and her team interviewed 2,300 neighbors and asked, what do you want? They came up with a lively innovative design. Ron Holthuysen, whose Scientfic Arts Studio is located only blocks away, stepped forward to show residents how to build the playground equipment themselves. Today, the park has become a model for others across the nation. It has revitalized the neighborhood, created employment and acts as a symbol of hope. Toody invited Rotarians to stop by the park and see for themselves and also to visit the website: http://pogopark.org/ David Cole, Rotating Editor |
The executive director of the Read-Aloud Volunteer Program, Ruth Major, will discuss this “elegantly simple but potent tool for literacy.” Read Aloud is a relationship-based program that fosters young children’s curiosity and joy in learning. Since 1995, the program has supported K-2 children in Title 1 schools in Richmond and San Pablo. Some of the volunteer readers have been with the program since its inception. Many feel it is the highlight of their week to be with the children in the schools.
Program Chair Stacey Street introduced Vicki Whiting, the publisher and editor of KidscoopNews. Her mission is to awaken in children the magic of reading. She runs a non-profit organization that publishes a newspaper in the Bay Area geared toward 2nd through 8th graders (including Washington Elementary and Grant Elementary) to encourage them to read and to make reading fun. Only 37% of Richmond 3rd graders are reading at grade level. Increased reading ability creates increase success. This program helps the children learn to read and to enjoy reading. The sample KidscoopNews provided at the meeting was also fun for adults to read.
Members learned more about Oscar Garcia through his “Who Am I?” Oscar was born at Richmond Hospital and raised in Richmond in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and most of his family lived in the Iron Triangle. He went to Lincoln, Helms and then graduated from Kennedy High School. His mother instilled in him and his siblings the importance of education, and all of them went to excellent colleges. Oscar himself went to University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!) and majored in Chemical Engineering. He decided when he graduated to focus on Environmental Engineering, and was a consultant for several years. His consulting work took him to Brazil where he lived and worked for four years, and was able to experience the World Cup and four Carnavals (wow!), and became fluent in Portuguese (he was already fluent in Spanish). Fast forward to 2012 when Oscar joined Chevron Refinery as an environmental engineer. He moved to San Ramon to work on a special program just last year. Oscar’s main hobbies are travel in Europe, Central America and South America (he highly recommends visiting Machu Pichu!), spending time with his very large family in Richmond and Concord, especially mentoring his two nieces and two nephews, and volunteering as a Richmond Police Commissioner, along with fellow Rotarians David Brown and Felix Hunziker.
