Yearly Archives: 2019
NEXT MEETING: November 15, 2019Re-introduction to the Richmond Standard
MEETING OF November 8, 2019WelcomePresident Jan Brown welcomed everyone to the friendly Richmond Rotary Club. Gerald Fay led the Pledge of Allegiance and Herb led the invocation. Jim Findley was standing in for Alan Blavins as Sargent of Arms. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsThere were three guests. Two were our speaker, Isaias Veile and his co-worker Iris Villegas. The third was Jaime Rascon, Immediate Past President of San Pablo club. Special EventsPresident Jan invited Nick Despota to the front of the room to present him with a pin from the District Governor (D.G.) ,Tina Akins. The D.G. had asked Jan for the names of two individuals who were key contributors to the club. She awarded David Brown personally last Friday, November 1st and Jan presented the pin to Nick in the D.G.’s absence. Jan acknowledged Nick’s creativity and high-energy level.
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMImportance of Cyber-Security Awareness
- Connie Tritt, Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: November 8, 2019Importance of Cyber-Security Awareness
MEETING OFWelcomePresident Jan welcomed everyone to the friendly Richmond Rotary Club. District Governor, Tina Akins was visiting our club. Visiting Rotarians and Guests
AnnouncementsThis month is RotaCare Richmond Month for our club. Rotacare, at 256 24th Street in Richmond, provides free medical care to the uninsured and those unable to afford care. BARSHEEP clubs rotate the provision of meals to clinic staff once a week. For the month of November, Henry Moe is organizing this important work. Thanks, Henry. Again this year, our club is contributing to the Richmond Fire and Police Holiday Toy and Food Program. To support that program, Pam Jones asks that we buy bikes for Richmond’s children: $59 buys a bike and a helmet. Please use Donate button or send a check (See left sidebar.) Saturday Nov. 9 is the Walk to End Alzheimers. Richmond Rotary will be represented by Darlene Quenville, Jon Lawlis and Jan Brown. Click here to join us or to make a donation to find the cure to end this deadly disease. Rotary Night for the Warriors is a District 5160 event in February. A percentage of the take goes to Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” program. For more info talk to Jon Lawlis. Download Rotary Night flyer. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMIt All Adds Up
Tina Akins, District Governor of 5160, made an inspirational presentation that spotlighted the magic of Rotary’s potential, especially in our individual charitable work, which adds up to something much bigger than expected. - Connie Tritt |
NEXT MEETING: November 1, 2019It All Adds Up Tina Akins, District Governor, Rotary District 5160 Tina Akins, District Governor of 5160, will be visiting our Club and giving us an inspirational perspective of what it means to be a Rotarian in 2019-2020. She will talk about the magic of Rotary’s potential, especially in our individual charitable work, which adds up to something much bigger than expected. MEETING OF October 25, 2019WelcomeOur President, Jan Brown, opened the meeting. Brian Fay led us in the Pledge and Jim Findley did the invocation for peace, freedom and justice on earth. Sergeant at Arms Alan Blavins gave a thought for the day. Visiting Rotarians and GuestsMac Lingo, Berkeley Rotary. (We tare most grateful to Mac for making a generous contribution to Club 100!) Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM
Oscar Garcia introduced our Speaker, Ben Therriault, with the Richmond Police Officers Association (POA). Mr. Therriault described the important role played by the POA. This entails insuring safe working conditions, bargaining for just compensation for the vital service the Richmond Police provide, and helping insure that the procedures adopted by the city are good for both the community and police officers. Darlene Quenville, volunteer scribe |
NEXT MEETING: October 25, 2019Richmond Police Officer's Association
MEETING OF October 18, 2019WelcomePresident Jan welcomed a full house at the Richmond Country Club on Friday. The pledge and invocation were led by Pam Jones and Herb Cole respectively.
Visiting Rotarians and GuestsDue to the special presentation surrounding our speaker and topic, we had many visitors: Rafael Cartagena and Tracy Giles were both visiting from the El Cerrito Club. Other special guests included visiting photographers from the 2010 Blossoms and Thorns Richmond Art Center exhibit: Fletcher Oakes with his wife, Barbara Speed; Ellen Gailing with her friend, Tom Schleis; and Ken Osborn. Also attending was Michele Seville, Arts and Culture Manager of the City of Richmond. Special Events
Sunshine Report
Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAM"Blossoms and Thorns" and Japanese Roots in Richmond
At the conclusion of the meeting, Flora and Janet were presented with long stem red roses – David Ninomiya’s favorite flower. Don Lau thanked the Ninomiya’s for their generous pledge to Richmond Rotary’s Centennial Project (see the Miraflores link). - Jan Brown, Pinch-hitter Scribe |
NEXT MEETING: October 18, 2019"Blossoms and Thorns" and Japanese Roots in Richmond
Flora will also tell us about two men of conscience who quietly made it possible for Japanese American families to return to Richmond and El Cerrito. MEETING OF October 11, 2019WelcomeOur Prez, Jan Brown, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone to Blue Apron’s Richmond Distribution Center. Hank Covell led us in the Pledge and Herb Cole did the invocation for peace, freedom and justice on earth. Thought for the day from Jon Lawlis: “The world is full of good people, if you can’t find one, be one.” A second thought for the day from Nick Despota, offered as we chowed down on sandwiches and salad: “Hunger is the best chef.” Alan Baer reminded everyone of the BBQ to help out the Bahamas at his home this Saturday, October 12th, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Bring along a dessert or drink. Should make your contribution to our Rotary Club with a note to benefit the Bahamas. Jan suggested we think of someone who hasn’t been to the Club in awhile, and bring them to the BBQ or to the Rotary Lite Meeting, next Tuesday at El Agave Azul Restaurant from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Jan encouraged people to bring a friend to next Friday’s Rotary meeting, where our speaker will be David Ninomiya’s sister, Flora, who will do a presentation on the Mira Flores Centennial Project. She will be talking about the key individuals who helped Japanese Americans after the internment. El Cerrito Rotary’s Sip and Savor is coming up at the Berkeley Country Club. See Jan for tickets. Darlene Drapkin introduced Jeremy, the Assistant Manager of Blue Apron. He told us about how Blue Apron came to be, it’s 350 employees here at the Richmond facility, and the company’s vision going forward. Many thanks to Jeremy for the very informative presentation.
ROTARIANS WITH GUESTSWe were happy to welcome a lot of guests to this meeting. Announcements
RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMBlue Apron Cecilia Orozco and Jeremy Adelson of Blue Apron. We gathered at the regional distribution facility for Blue Apron. This company delivers precisely portioned quality ingredients, nutritional information, and, of course, instructions –don’t forget the instructions!– that enable subscribers to prepare delicious gourmet food in their own kitchens. Tasty. - Darlene Quenville, Rotating Scribe |
Mike Aldax, editor of the Richmond Standard news website, will discuss the Standard’s mission and ways members can use the online publication to get the word out about important Rotary functions, from fundraisers to projects.
This year the ESCAPE Club chose Mt. Diablo for one of their getaways. The high school adventure field trip club is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Richmond Rotary is proud to have supported their excursions into Bay Area nature over these many years. Have a look at
Our speaker was Isaia Veile of Vanersity, Inc. Their company trains people and finds jobs for people in the IT field. They have an 85% acceptance rate.
Isaiah Leiva will explain key cybersecurity concepts important for small and medium size business owners. He will explain steps companies should take to protect sensitive customer and employee information. He will also explain some of the functions of a security operations center (SOC).
Brian Fay introduced his father and our guest Gerald Fay. Diego Garcia was also a guest.
Ben Therrault will give us a presentation about the labor organization that represents all Richmond Police Officers. He will speak on public safety in Richmond and about the past, present, and future of the organization.
Flora Ninomiya presented the movie, “Blossoms and Thorns,” about Richmond’s pre-and post-war community of flower growers and nursery owners whose lives were changed by the forced internment of Japanese citizens during World War II. At the conclusion of the movie Flora told the story of the Aebi’s (also documented in the film) who took on the care of their nursery. Francis Aebi also kept the taxes current. Many years later, as an adult, Flora would learn that the president of the small local Mechanics Bank, Edward M. Downer Jr., would quietly set aside the mortgages due for the nursery properties without telling a sole, not even his family or employees. Those acts of conscience and kindness allowed the Ninomiyas and other Japanese American families to return to Richmond at the end of the war and begin the process of recovery.