NEXT MEETING: August 30, 2019

Planning and our Built Environment

Many projects in Richmond are moving from the drawing boards to ground-breaking. The City of Richmond’s new Planning Director, Lina Velasco, will give us an overview of upcoming development projects in our city.

MEETING OF

Welcome

President Jan welcomed everyone to the friendly Richmond Rotary. Simon Ellis led the Pledge of Allegiance and Jim Findley led the invocation. Alan Blavins and Nick Despota gave thoughts-for-the-day that spanned the range from the profound to the puzzling.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Our esteemed guest was the 5160 District Governor Tina Akins. Tina presented a District check in support of our 100 year club anniversary project at Miraflores.

Announcements

• Last week you should have received a letter about our campaign in celebration of Richmond Rotary’s centennial, Club 100. (If you didn’t, the email may have been snagged by your spam filter.) Please consider a pledge to support our Miraflores Centennial Project 2020, an outdoor educational exhibit (see below). Don Lau is waiting to hear from you.
• Would you like a personal tour of the Miraflores Greenbelt to see the future site of our Rotary Club’s Centennial Project installation? Contact Jan.
• Richmond Rotary is hosting the BARSHEEP TGIF at Riggers Loft on August 30. 5:30-7-30pm (see flyer in your email)
• By the time you receive this, the Soulful Softball Sunday event will be a  memory with new backpacks (in part from Richmond Rotary) for kids distributed! (Thank you Pam)

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Groundwork Richmond

Matthew Holmes, Executive Director of Groundwork Richmond, described in vivid terms the link between environmental stewardship and youth development in Richmond.

NEXT MEETING: August 23, 2019

Groundwork Richmond

Groundwork Richmond works with partners, residents, and our community’s youth to restore the environment & train the next generation of environmental stewards. Matt Holmes, Executive Director, will discuss the program’s efforts to replenish crucial environmental systems that our communities depend on, especially in underserved neighborhoods that need it most.
Learn more at www.groundworkrichmond.org

MEETING OF August 16, 2019

Welcome

President Jan welcomed everyone to the friendly Richmond Rotary. Simon Ellis led the Pledge of Allegiance and Herb Cole led the invocation. Sid Chauvin was standing in as Sergeant of Arms for Alan Blavins (who was presenting one of his “fish stories” to the Concord Rotary today). Sid gave the thought for the day.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

There were three guests. Two were brought by Nakele Rechenauer. They were Nina Costales and Robert Garvey. Steve Kirby of Hercules Rotary was also in attendance.

Announcements

• Jan announced a Polio Minute for END POLIO NOW. Here is what your dollars are achieving:
  • Africa is about to be declared polio free (0 cases in 3 years).
  • Rotary is ramping up efforts to rid polio in the only two countries which reported new cases of polio last year (Afghanistan and Pakistan)
  • Rotary is investing in vulnerable countries that are polio-free so they may stay that way.
• Hank Covell found historic photos of the Richmond Rotary Roadrunners who ran in the 1982 Bay-to-Breakers race that he organized. It is a great centennial memory that included Hank, Tom Butt and Norm Lundberg!
• TGIFF is Friday August 30^th and the Richmond club is hosting the event at Rigger’s Loft. (It’s our turn in the BARSHEEP club Presidents’ rotation.)       Jan encouraged us all to attend and bring our friends, and business associates.
• Don Lau announced the new fundraising initiative “Club 100” asking 100% support by club members (and friends) towards our Miraflores Centennial project. Check your email for a letter from Don about the Club 100 campaign or contact him for more information.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

Project Second Chance

Our speaker was Elaine Kociolek of Project Second Chance about Adult Literacy.

NEXT MEETING: August 16, 2019

Project Second Chance

Project Second Chance is the Contra Costa County library’s adult literacy program. We help adults (17+) with very basic reading, writing, and spelling. We’ll learn about the scope of the problem and the unique services that PSC offers to help these adults who are hard to reach other than by word-of-mouth. You’ll also learn how service-minded members of the community can help by volunteering with the program. 

MEETING OF August 9, 2019

Welcome

President Jan Brown opened the meeting with Tamara Shiloh leading us in the pledge, Jim Findley leading the invocation and Alan Blavins providing a thought for the day.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Ken Lindgren (Darlene’s husband) and Diego Garcia (owner of Leftside Printing in Richmond) were the guests of Darlene Drapkin.

Cheryl Maier was the guest of her husband, Bob Dabney.

Also visiting us today was Carey Hawkins Ash, from the Making Waves Academy

Today’s Speaker(s) on Richmond’s Homeless Crisis: Tom Herriman of SOS (Safe Organized Spaces), introduced himself as the founding Rotarian of a Seattle club chapter. Joining him were Daniel Barth and Christina Redse.

Special Events

Cecilia Orozco earned her blue badge of membership! Mike Winter, Cecilia’s sponsor, did the honors of the presentation. Congratulations Cecilia!

Announcements

• Erle Brown announced our annual collection to benefit 31 classroom teachers of Peres Elementary School by the time school starts in September. 31 Rotarian are needed to give $100 each.
• Save-the-date: Richmond Rotary hosts a TGIF on Friday, August 30 at Riggers Loft. Richmond. BARSHEEP members and their guests are welcome!
• Tamara Shiloh announced a National Book-Lover-Day event at the Multi-Cultural Bookstore; this Saturday, the Multi-Cultural Bookstore is sponsoring the Food Bank benefit.
• Norm Lundberg, our International Chair, commended the work of the WASH program in Honduras (last week’s speaker) with a gracious offer of support. Anyone who would like to contribute should designate their donation to the WASH Honduras grant.
• The Centennial Planning Committee invites those who would like to lend a hand in preparing a historic video for showing at our Centennial Dinner to contact Stacey Street.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM

- Orange Ball Scribe

NEXT MEETING: August 9, 2019

Richmond’s Homeless Crisis

SOS Richmond is working with the city, the county and other community organizations to find solutions to growing homelessness. We want to enable homeless street and tent dwellers to build order and cooperation in existing communities; and to develop long lasting solutions to the current severe lack of affordable housing.

MEETING OF August 2, 2109

Welcome

President Jan rang the bell with a steady hand and Stacey led us in the pledge.

Jim Findley asked for a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice throughout the world.

Sgt.-at-Arms Alan Blavins delivered the thought for the day.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Susan Cohen Grossman from the Concord Rotary Club is our speaker today.

Darlene Drapkin brought along husband Ken and friend Jane Farrell.

President Jan welcomed back Darlene and Jonathon who were visiting from Quebec.

Jonathon showed off the latest work of art from Alan Blavins. A painting of their granddaughter Aubrey.

Announcements

• The Rotary Foundation has approved Richmond Rotary’s District 5160 Block Grant application for its Miraflores Centennial Project 2020.
• Richmond Rotary is looking for home hosts for two visiting couples from the Rotary Club of Shimada, Japan April 3, 4 & 5 of 2020. Contact Jan (jan@spokewise.com) for more information.
• Pam Jones announced Richmond Rotary’s support for the Backpacks to Kids day in Nichol Park later this month. Give her a call if you’d like to help her pick up backbacks.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Norm’s Nonsense

PROGRAM