NEXT MEETING: March 1, 2019

A place to stretch out

Bridge Storage and ArtSpace has been in the self-storage business for nearly twenty years. Jeff Wright, the founder, will introduce us to the facilities and newer amenities. These include co-working spaces (with specialized areas like an art studio, wood shop and sewing lab), a film stage with chroma-key cyclorama, and a new commercial kitchen.

Got a friend or relative who’s looking for space where he or she can foster a new business or develop an avocation? This may be the ticket.

MEETING OF February 22, 2019

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley called the meeting to order and asked Simon Ellis to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb Cole led a silent prayer for peace, freedom and justice on earth. “Thoughtful” Sid Chauvin had this to share: “We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• Sal Addiego was visiting from El Cerrito Rotary, not for the first time….

Special Events

• President Jerry presented Tamara Shiloh with her Blue Badge. Tamara has been an extremely busy member so it is very appropriate she is now “official”!

Announcements

• Alan Baer encouraged everyone to participate in BARSHEEP’s TGIFF at Four Fools Winery in Hercules. $20 covered a couple glasses of wine and delectable from El Sol Catering.
• Josh Genser announced the work party on April 6^th. Richmond Rotarians are encouraged to come help build barriers around the oak trees on Richmond Greenway, or at minimum to attend and support those who ARE working!

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Retirement, Refocus or What?

Nick Despota moderated a very informative forum featuring a panel of Richmond Rotarians who discussed retirement. Tamara Shiloh, Josh Genser and Jan Brown represent different stages and experiences of retirement. Each shared personal observations and advice. Nick noted that for some, retirement represents emancipation from the job they’ve held their whole lives, freeing them to do things that were new and different. Other never really retire because their work is deeply connected to who they are, or because they love their work, and/or don’t want to give up the income it brings. Others refocus their skills to volunteer work or community service.

Some themes and key takeaways that emerged from the conversation:

• It’s very important to have social networks to depend and rely upon – either build new networks or sets of friends, or join an organization like Rotary, which may replace the built-in network at work. Rich social interactions also help keep the mind active and support our health.
• The response of one’s spouse to retirement can make this phases of our lives more satisfying or more challenging. For example, partners can have difficulties if both spouses are retired but one doesn’t have interests or networks. In other cases, we were told that if one partners wants to retire and the other doesn’t, tensions can ensue.
• There are stages of retirement: Josh’s wife Elaina calls them “Go-go, Slow-go and No-go.”
• Physical activity when younger can help you maintain your health and agility when older.
• As people age, it’s important for them to embrace technologies that can their improve quality of life when the body is failing: smart phones, self-programming thermostats, security devices, and so on.
• We need to also consider the impact your children can have on retirement. It’s not always positive. Children may want to impose their own values and opinions into the decisions you make.
• Planning for retirement is important, but you still never know what life might throw at you. For instance care-taking or illness can usher in new demands. Flexibility is necessary to adapt to changing circumstances.

NEXT MEETING: February 22, 2019

Retirement, refocusing or what?

If we’re not already retired, we’ve thought about what it may mean for us. And if we are retired, we realize the truth: life outside of the world of paid work does not match what we imagined. Projects, commitments, hobbies, sources of frustration or satisfaction—some or all of that changes. Maybe for the better, maybe for the worse. But different from what we imagined.

A panel of 3 Richmond Rotary members will consider what retirement is, is not, or can be. After the panelists share their observations, we’ll open the conversation up to floor for what we know will be a lively conversation.

MEETING OF February 15, 2019

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley welcomed all to the Richmond Rotary Club. Members pledged allegiance to a framed photo of a ship adorned with two 48-star flags being launched. (Because there was not cloth flag in the room.)
Alan Baer offered an invocation for peace and petitioned for a stop to the rain. Sergeant-at-Arms Sid offered: “The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people half-way.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Hank Covell invited his wife Doreen of the Pinole Rotary Club to join us today.

Tamara Shiloh introduced her guest Robert Connoly of the Mechanics Bank in Point Richmond, and Jerry Feagley introduced his guest Barbara Arriaga, a board member of GRIP.

Kathleen Sullivan, the guest speaker, introduced her own guests Larry Austin and Sedzi McNair of GRIP.

Announcements

• Darlene Drapkin distributed flyers for the Cesar Chavez day of service (tree planting on 23^rd Street) on 3/30
• Josh Genser announced the Richmond Community Foundation’s wine-and-dine at the Marriot on 2/21, as well as an all-Rotary work party at Harbor Eight on April 6th.
• Don Lau requested that get-well notes be sent to Dan Tanita who is convalescing
• Jan Brown announced that Richmond Rotary is entertaining ideas for its centennial project. The project must fill a vital need, engage partners and the club, be timely, and be in a place where Richmond Rotary can leave behind a plaque in honor of the hundredth anniversary. We need to identify the project and apply for grants from our Rotary District. Any project ideas should be emailed to Jan Brown and Josh Genser.
• Finally, it was noted that we need to think about other venues around town, in case the Richmond Country Club is not available.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

The Changing Face of our Homeless and How GRIP Meets the Challenge

Darlene Drapkin introduced our speaker Kathleen Sullivan, Executive Director of Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP), who noted her love for Richmond. Born and raised in Detroit, Kathleen met Betty Reid Soskin during her first visit to Richmond and began working shortly thereafter at the North Richmond Neighborhood House. She called GRIP the most rewarding work she has ever done. GRIP is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural coalition of congregations that addresses the war on poverty by dealing with “the least of these”. The homeless population is not the face that we often think of. GRIP has worked with victims of the Santa Rosa and Paradise fires, and they occasionally see their own family, friends, ex-classmates coming through the door. Many people are only one disaster away from experiencing homelessness.

GRIP services include a CARE Center, a Souper Center, an emergency shelter with 65 beds (transitional housing program), and veteran housing. They also operate a mobile clinic and have a collaborative healthy food effort with the local farm. Other programs include case management for veterans, a GED program with LEAP, case management for homeless children in West County, and encampment outreach. GRIP is undergoing major transitions, including opening a day center and warming center at night. However, one limiting factor to their expansion has been that county contracts require a match in funding.

In response to the regional affordable housing crisis, GRIP has used a strategy of reconnecting people to family members in other less expensive parts of the country, which requires mending relationships. Despite these many programs, Kathleen noted that very few Richmond City Council members demonstrated familiarity with GRIP.

Kathleen introduced us to two more representatives of GRIP: Larry Austin and Sedzi McNair. Sedzi shared his testimony about experiencing homelessness in an encampment and the uncertainty of not knowing where his next meal would come from. After losing his job at Blue Apron under uncontrollable circumstances, GRIP helped Sedzi to get back on his feet. He noted how “unreal” it seems to see his mother sleeping peacefully in a bed for the first time in years.

GRIP relies on community volunteers to help serve meals throughout the year. Many volunteers (including our own Jerry!) have a regular day of service, and Chevron has become known for their baked chicken. Perhaps the Richmond Rotary Club could establish a day of service! GRIP also has two openings on its 15-member Board of Directors (this would be a great opportunity for people who like to fund-raise). For more information, please go to www.GRIPCares.org.

NEXT MEETING: February 15, 2019
NOTE: This Friday we'll meet at the Community Room, Mechanics Bank Hilltop. See below.

The Changing Face of our Homeless and How We can Help

Kathleen Sullivan from GRIP will share the challenges of a State of Emergency for our homeless population in Richmond and throughout our state. The face of our homeless is not what it use to be and the options for housing are a major challenge. It’s important to know what services are available in your community and how you can help to support local homeless initiatives.

MEETING OF February 8, 2019

Welcome

President Jerry Feagley called the meeting to order at 12:30.  Josh Genser led us in the Pledge this week.  Bob Dabney did the invocation for peace, freedom and justice on earth and prayers for those in our club suffering from illness.  Sid’s thought for the day was, “You do not need a parachute to skydive.  You only need a parachute to skydive twice.”

Alan Baer introduced our newest Rotary Member, Matthew Duffy, Superintendent of Schools – WCCUSD.  Alan Baer did the induction honors.

Next year is our Club’s 100th anniversary, so we need more members to keep our projects going!

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

We welcomed two guests, one of them for the last time. That was Matthew Duffy, Superintendent of Schools – WCCUSD, who was inducted into the Rotary later in this meeting.
Ariel Mercado, from BART, also joined us on this day.

Announcements

Jerry Feagley announced that the Rotary meeting this Friday, February 15th, will be held at at the Mechanics Bank Community Room located at 3190 Klose Way, Richmond.

Mechanics Bank Hilltop is not at the Hilltop Mall.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Darlene Drapkin introduced our speaker, Lateefa Simon, BART Board Director,  Known as the girl with the glasses, Lateefa is legally blind and takes BART everywhere! Her grandmother was a Rotarian in San Francisco. Her family came to the Bay Area in 1943. Richmond is now her home. Lateefa is a huge advocate for transportation justice. She relies on public transportation for herself and her child, after losing her husband four years ago. She understands better than most that we need BART and we need it to be good.

Lateefa’s updated us on  BART’s rebuilding and reinvestment activities since the passage of First Measure RR Bonds Issue, a total of $3.5 Billion. Of that,  90.4% is dedicated to “Fix It First,” and 9.6% to “Prepare for the Future”.

BART has 90 miles of tracks in Contra Costa County, 110 miles of tracks in total. It is repairing and replacing critical infrastructure, fixing the tube, and taking earthquake safety measures.  Now until 2020, $300 million of project work to fix and repair. Some highlights of program:

• 22 miles of tracks have been replaced, making the ride quieter and safer;
• the system will begin a seismic retrofit of the Transbay Tube;
• Hayward Maintenance Facility does maintenance of all cars, including new cars;
• New train cars – 200 new cars by the end of 2019 – they will have state-of-the-art audio system, color-coded seats for disabled, cleaner due to no carpet on floors or seats, new cars now have three exits vs. two exits on older cars;
• El Cerrito Del Norte Station Modernization – Construction started in September, 2017, hope to be done in 18 months;
• Independent Oversight Committee – made up of CPAs, attorneys, etc. to oversee where money is being spent and routine audits;
• Overall, there are about 30 trains in the BART system;
  Richmond BART Building has retail, co-working and business incubator space.  This is starting to happen now in Downtown Richmond;
• Public safety around the BART stations – need to hire more officers, increase visibility, connect homeless to services;
• Providing more parking for most BART stations;
  Enhancing the Hercules Transit Center, with buses to transport riders to El Cerrito or Richmond Stations;
• Sick, addicted people, homeless are living in our tunnels. BART is working with all cities to address this;
• 15 new cleaners, cleaning being done each day;
• A new focus on Fare Evasion – need for more enforcement, higher barriers, plug holes;
  A pilot program to provide means-based fares for people not able to afford current fares;
  Youth Fare (50% off) expanded to age 18 from 13;
• Clipper Card Vending Machines – one vendor machine per station – replacing the paper tickets;
  You can download a security app, BART Watch, that gives the ability to inform the BART Police of any problem or safety issue via your smart phone and they know exactly where you are due to GPS in your phone

A special thank you to Lateefa Simon for her very informative update on what is happening at BART right now.

NEXT MEETING: February 8, 2019

What's ahead for BART?

BART Board Director Lateefah Simon serves District 7, which includes all or parts of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, San Pablo, Unincorporated Contra Costa County and San Francisco.

Anyone who rides BART regularly will have ideas on how the service can be improved. Director Lateefah Simon will provide us with an update on BART’s rebuilding and reinvestment activities. We know that will please some and disappoint others.

MEETING OF February 1, 2019

Welcome

Prez Jerry welcomed all to the friendly Richmond Rotary Club and Hank Covell led the Pledge. Mike Winter invoked the wish for peace in the world. David Brown offered: “It is good that 60 is the new 40, but it also means 9pm is the new midnight!”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Bob Dabney’s guest were his better half Cheryl Maier, and Yawo Tekpa, a Rotary Exchange Student from Togo. Mac Robinson a regular visiting Rotarian was also present.

Announcements

• Prez Jerry gave a BIG SHOUT OUT to Erle Brown and Henry Moe for the great job on the Rotary Crab Feed!! Also special thanks to Alan Baer and Santa Baer for their tremendous support in making it a success.
• Our meeting on February 15 will be held at Conference Room at the Hilltop Mall. We’ll provide exact location information next week.
• Alan Baer announced that the auction/raffle netted $1,300 and last year it was under $1,000.
• Bob Dabney let everyone know that our friend Herb Cole is feeling much better. Get well, Herb, we miss you!

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Liliane introduced our speaker Melanie Miksis from the 1951 Coffee Company, a non-profit that promotes job training and employment for refugees. Although not called 1951 because it was the year Your Scribe was born, it was the year UNHCR Refugee Convention that first defined and set forth guidelines for the protection of refugees.

According to the UN definition, a person is a refugee who has been persecuted for one of the following 5 reasons: race, religion, political opinion, social group or nationality. The number of refugees allowed into the USA has dropped from 230,000 in 1980 (post-Vietnam War) to 30,000 this year. This number is set by the Administration.

The 1951 Coffee Company provides barista training to refugees so they can be employed in the coffee industry. It also operates 2 coffee shops in Berkeley: one on Channing, the other on the UC Campus near the Student Union. The Company will also open a coffee cart at the Berkeley BART station.

The presentation prompted a stimulating discussion about the difference between refugees, those seeking asylum, and immigrants. 1951 received no government funding and relies on grants, donations and revenue from their coffee shops. For more information visit 1951coffee.com