NEXT MEETING: January 4, 2018

Boasting about Bolivia

Alan Blavins will again share fish stories from his recent trip to Bolivia. We have no photos or other information about Alan’s presentation at this time. Based on Alan’s past performance, both on the river and at the podium, it should be good.

MEETING OF December 21, 2018

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley called the meeting to order and asked HENRY MOE to lead the pledge. Sid shared his thought for the day: “ Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad. “ Jerry reminded us that we will return to our old meeting hour from 12:30 to 1:30 starting with the first meeting of January – January 4th.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Simon Ellis introduced his son Matthew Piatt as our only guest of the day.

Announcements

  • Starting Friday, January 4th, our club meetings will resume its traditional starting time of 12:30 sharp and end at 1:30 sharp. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the fellowship that is at the heart of the Rotary experience.
  • Erle Brown reminded us that the crab feed is coming soon. It is on Saturday, January 26th. The price is $50 per person and he is selling tables of 10 for $500.
  • Alan Baer asked us to sign up for the bell ringing at Hilltop Mall to benefit the Salvation Army. He passed around the hat to collect donations in advance from those present.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

A Club Conversation

Jan and Shahad Wright, a YMCA staff members, during the delivery of some 400 bikes to the EM Downer Family YMCA. Photos courtesy of Don Lau.

Jerry gave the floor to Jan Brown, who led the meeting. She started with 2 thoughts:

  • She was very proud to have been a part of the bike give-away process and encouraged us all to attend Saturday, December 22nd when they would give the bikes to the kids.
  • Jan also asked us to assist with ideas for new venues and feedback on locations for our dark days at the Country Club.

Jan started her presentation by giving the group an overview of the current Board members and their positions as well as the upcoming year’s slate of Board members.

She came prepared with a  brief PowerPoint presentation (here) updating us on the following:

  • Committee members and assignments
  • 2019 Activity Calendar
  • An invitation to locate Walter.

Jan ended the presentation asking us this question: “Who will we invite to be Rotarians?” Tom Butt called for 100 new members by 2020!!!

Josh Genser then presented a request for our ideas for a signature project for our club for the 2020-2021 year. He gave us some ideas he had such as Pogo Park, (they want to build a new playground) The Arts Commission might help us donate a Sculpture. There is also YMCA, PAL, School District. He would like to get our ideas to him by late January when they expect to make a decision.

David Brown mentioned some of the plans in the making:

  • Catered dinner at Richmond Civic Auditorium on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Save the date!
  • Seeking sponsors such as Chevron, Mechanics Bank, Overaa Construction
  • Historical review of last 100 years since 1920.
  • Putting the Rotary logo on City flag poles for 1 week.

Sid suggested that we create a 1920/2020 logo for our flags that we hand out to visitors from other clubs and visits to other clubs.

Jerry asked us to please recall historical information and search for old photos we may have for display at our 100th anniversary event.


- Connie Tritt, Rotating Scribe

NEXT MEETING: December 21, 2018

A Club Discussion

Instead of a presentation by an invited guest, this Friday we will conduct our every-once-in-awhile Club Conversation. Our main topic will be planning for the 100 year Anniversary of Richmond Rotary.

A few weeks ago, Jan circulated a survey among our members to determine their preferences for the type of celebratory event, the time, the guests, and more. We’ll hear about the results and explore your ideas about what type of event would be most suitable.

Alan Blavins created the striking logo on the right in recognition of our anniversary. Thank you, Alan!

MEETING OF

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley opened the meeting. David Brown led us in the Pledge this week—his first time ever to do the honors!  Josh Genser offered an invocation for peace, freedom and justice on earth.  Sid’s thought for the day: “Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of value.”  – Albert Einstein

Announcements

  • Alan Baer tells us we still have three spots open for the Salvation Army Bell Ringing on Saturday, December 22nd.  He sent the sign-up sheet around and also passed a hat for any personal donations anyone would like to make to the Salvation Army
  • Darlene Drapkin reminds us everyone, as of the lst of the New Year, our Rotary meetings will start at 12:30, as in days of yore (early 2018).
  • Darlene Drapkin is also asking for help in getting speakers for our meetings. Visit the link on this website, richmondcarotary.org/presentations-calendar/ to find open dates and acquaint yourself with our new booking system. You can send this link to potential speakers, allowing them to pick a date and send us a brief description of the presentation they propose. You can also contact Darlene Drapkin directly.
  • Finally, Darlene announced that Carlos Martinez, the new City Manager, will be our speaker at the January 18th meeting.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

What's in Store in the New Tax Law

Our resident CPA, Connie Tritt, presented a succinct, authoritative overview of changes in the new tax law. The biggest deal for many of us is that the amount of the standard deduction has nearly doubled, from $13,000 to $24,000. That may affect your decision to itemize or not. But wait, there’s more… Here’s Connie’s excellent summary in 9 slides (Power Point presentation).


- Rotating Scribe Darlene Quenville

NEXT MEETING: December 14, 2018

What to expect for your taxes in 2019

What changes will we see in our 2019 tax laws and procedures? Our resident CPA, Connie Tritt, will gives us a rundown on what to expect: the good, bad and maybe deferable.

So come, listen, and prepare to stock up on either aspirin or champagne.

MEETING OF December 7, 2018

Welcome

Jim Findley lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb asked for a moment of reflection for peace and justice on Earth. Syd’s Thought for the Day: Don’t wait for people to be friendly, show them how

Our guests were Jeff Sloan, the Executive Director of Early Childhood Mental Health Program. He was a guest for the last time (see below).
John Bassett, General Manager of the Shops at Hilltop.
Scott Harris, owner of a digital marketing business in Point Richmond.
And finally, our speaker, Leslie Lundin from LBG Real Estate.

Announcements

    • David announced that the auction, when we receive a promised payment from Chevron, will have raised $38,181! Also, we raised $7,240 for bicycles for the toy giveaway, of which the Club matched $5,000, plus another $2,100 was raised at the auction, so we donated a total of more than $14,000 for bikes! Finally, David circulated a basket to collect tips for our waitstaff at the Country Club.
    • Alan B. announced bell ringing at Macy’s at the Shops at Hilltop on December 22 and circulated a sign-up sheet.
    • Don L. announced that the toy giveaway (including the bikes) will be on December 22m, starting at 8am at the Downer Family Y, and invited any one to attend (and help).
    • President Jerry announced the Richmond Rotary Holiday Party will be on December 8, at 5:30 pm, at the Richmond Art Center. The cost is $15 per person.
    • Jan announced new member of the Club’s Board of Directors: Oscar and Jim Findley. Norm had agreed to serve another term. Next year’s officers are Jan as President, Alan B. as Sergeant at Arms (a dramatic departure: Syd has been doing that for as long as I can remember), Connie will be Secretary and Jon and Erle will be co-Foundation Chairs. Jan thanked everyone for their willingness to serve.
    • Erle announced the Crab Feed. January 26 at Salesian High School cafeteria. Buy whole tables, not just individual tickets, and you have no tickets nor reservations until David has your money! There will be a button on the web site to buy your tables.
    • Jim announced a fundraiser for victims of the fires in Butte County being put on by the Elks Club, but it will be past by the time you read this.
    • Jerry announced that Stacey has agreed to the President of the Richmond Rotary Club in 2020!

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

The Shops at Hilltop and Hilltop by the Bay

Today’s speaker was Leslie Lundin from LBG Real Estate, which purchased Hilltop Mall and the 77 acres of land it occupies. The mall has been renamed “The Shops at Hilltop” and the entire property as “Hilltop By the Bay”.

Hilltop By the Bay will be a mixed-use community (a new city within the city), including more than 3,500 residential dwelling units (a mix of rentals, for-sale and affordable), offices, recreational amenities and 1.2 million square feet of retail. The latter will be in the Shops at Hilltop, a portion of which will be anchored by a 99 Ranch Market and several other businesses calculated to appeal to Asian consumers, which is the fastest growing and one of the wealthiest demographics in the region. Once those businesses start pulling in buyers, mainstream retailers will follow, many of which will be outlets.

One problem with the plan is that the cost of residential construction is outstripping the income that can be received from them, so they may have to be prefabricated buildings or wait for construction costs to go down. Look at their web site for a really cool video of what the completed development might look like, lots of statistics about the demographics and wealth of the region served by Hilltop Mall (Richmond is wealthier than you think!), and information about retailers and restaurants expected to occupy the rehabilitated mall. That’s Shophilltop.com.


- Josh Genser, Rotating Scribe

NEXT MEETING: December 7, 2018

Shops at Hilltop Mall

Coming in 2019, the new “Shops at Hilltop.” This is promised to be an engaging, imaginative and regional destination for Bay Area residents to gather, play, dine and shop. Hilltop is managed and co-owned by LBG Real Estate Companies. Leslie Lundin, a principal will share what’s in store, describing and illustrating LBG’s vision for the redevelopment and re-imagining of the property starting with the retail portion and expanding to the development of the entire 77 acres site.

THE HOLIDAY AUCTION: HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS?

We usually gauge the success of our annual holiday auction in dollars. By that measure, our club did very well indeed—we raised more than $37,000. That money helps schools and diverse non-profit organizations fulfill their mission. It funds a range of projects that benefit residents of every age group. (Which organizations and projects?) Let’s congratulate ourselves.

But by focusing only on dollars, we risk ignoring other values that are not so easily measured. Let’s start with engagement: 88% of our members gave to the Auction this year. That high level of engagement reflects the contributions of roughly half of our members who rarely attend weekly meetings. Furthermore, it demonstrates an ethic of giving that, because it is usually expressed in private acts, may otherwise go unnoticed. Well, let’s notice.

Scanning the overflow crowd last Friday, let’s also notice that many of those in attendance were not Richmond Rotary members. We welcomed 10 Rotarians visiting from other clubs and 55 guests! Regard their attendance as an enlargement of the circle of goodwill drawn round our community, evidence of an expanding network for good whose effects ripple across our city and beyond.

Yes, the impact of the Holiday Auction cannot be measured in dollars. But we see it in the engagement, the goodwill, and the commitment to service that you and our Rotary friends demonstrate, during the Holiday Season and year-round.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Holiday Party will take place at the Richmond Art Center on Saturday, December 8th, at 5:30 PM. This is a good opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow Rotarians, outside of the high stress environment of our weekly meetings. 😉

If you were not able to bring a toy and food item for the Richmond Police and Fire Department holiday program to our Holiday Auction last Friday, you can bring it to the Holiday Party.

 

MEETING OF

Welcome

Announcements

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM