Yearly Archives: 2020
NEXT MEETING: June 19, 2020Addressing the Invisible Crisis of Beach Microplastics
To learn about the myriad ways that plastics affect all of Earth’s inhabitants, visit this collection of Rotary articles on the plastics trap we’ve unwittingly set for future generations. MEETING OF June 12, 2020WelcomeAnnouncementsFor security reasons, our video conference meetings are by invitation only. The Zoom invitation will be sent to our members with the subject “Richmond Rotary Invitation.” If you didn’t get it last week, please check your spam. Rotary guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, request it by sending an email to info@richmondcarotary.org prior to our meeting on Friday.
Vanshika Bhushan: Graduate of Salesian College Preparatory, President of Salesian Interact Club, recipient of 2020 Richmond Rotary Interact Scholarship; Vanshika will be attending UCLA in the fall. David Brown announced two 2020 scholarship awardsThe Judge David Calfee Scholarship: Judge Calfee was raised in Richmond where he practiced law until he was elected Municipal Court judge in 1958. A 60 year member of the Richmond Rotary, his dedication to students is evidenced by his donation to the club with the request that it be used for scholarships (allocated through the West Contra Costa Retired Educators Scholarship Fund). The recipient for this year is Mariana Cruz of Kennedy High School. Congratulations Mariana! Richmond Rotary Interact Scholarship: Each year Richmond Rotary honors a graduating senior from our sponsored Interact club. This year’s winner is Vanshika Bhushan, President of the Interact Club of Salesian College Preparatory School. Congratulations Vanshika! Website ChangesAttentive readers may have noticed that we’ve made a change to our upper menu bar. We’ve promoted the “Projects” category, formerly a sub-link under the “About” category. That change reflects a renewed emphasis on action and engagement within our community. But wait, there’s more. If you click the Projects link, you’ll find a new section, “Peacemakers & Pandemics,” which presents links to four posters designed by Pierre Thompson. Each poster highlights a message aimed at enhancing individual and community resilience. On each of those pages you can give an example of something you or someone you know has done to promote the value identified by the poster. Happy DollarsDon had a whole bunch of Happy Dollars because his daughter Haley is pregnant with her second son, due on his birthday in November. This will be Don’s third grandson. Stacey also had Happy Dollars. First, her daughter got her driver’s permit. (How do you spell “liberation”?) Stacey was also happy because she and Marshall just celebrated two years since they got together, marked by a nice dinner at home and with their children graciously performing as waiters. “Very romantic.” More mindful than any of us of the budget challenges our school district faces, Matthew Duffy donated generously to the Ed Fund. That is something that made every one of us happy. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMWCCUSD Superintendent Matthew Duffy
Planning for the reopening of schools in mid-August, Matthew told us that administrators are weighing three options: a continuation of distance learning, a return to in-person classes but with fewer students to permit physical distancing, or a hybrid model. Which of these is adopted will depend on the conditions of the pandemic, directives of state and county authorities, and budgets. On that last factor, Matthew encouraged us to consider a donation to the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Perhaps more than any time in recent memory, your support will go a long way toward enhancing opportunities for the children of our community. No one can say how the Covid will affect the education of students long-term. But one thing is certain: those impacts will be significant and long-lasting. |
NEXT MEETING: June 12, 2020WCCUSD Superintendent Matthew Duffy
For information on WCCUSD’s response to Covid-19, please visit the District’s website. For security reasons, our video conference meetings are by invitation only. The Zoom invitation will be sent to our members with the subject “Richmond Rotary Invitation.” If you didn’t get it last week, please check your spam. Rotary guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, request it by sending an email to info@richmondcarotary.org prior to our meeting on Friday.
MEETING OF June 5, 2020WelcomeAnnouncementsFrom our incoming President, Stacey Street: “As a club we are made up of people who are committed to making a difference and who share deep compassion for our community. We recognize the injustices that are perpetrated and acknowledge the pain all our members are experiencing. We want to make space for thoughtful talking and deep listening about this. This connects directly to the work we want to do to use our collective wisdom, commitment and resources to support our community and ensure everyone can thrive. We do want this to be part of our focus moving forward. We have begun the process at the meetings of our key board and program/project leadership, working with an expert facilitator, Kelly Robinson, who has extensive experience working with nonprofit and community organizations. Kelly has helped guide systems change as well as work focused around the value of equity. “We will be sharing more with the club in the near future and will be looking to engage all of you in ways that are meaningful for each of you and that will lead to positive change in our community.” Pierre Thompson informed us that Rotary International last week issued the statement against racism that appears below. A second, action-oriented statement will come from Evanston soon. Statement from Rotary InternationalAt Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work. We have more work to do to create more just, open and welcoming communities for all people. We know there are no easy fixes and that challenging conversations and work lie before all of us. Rotary’s strength has long been our ability and commitment to bringing people together. We will tap into that strength now as we stand with those who are working for peace and justice. Rotary will do our part to listen, learn and take action to ensure that we continue to contribute to making positive change. Pierre also attended a meeting where John Hewko, General Secretary of Rotary, remarked that Rotary was built for moments such as this – through bridging divides in the community and bringing people together to discuss serious issues. As Rotarians all our work tends to support the overarching idea of promoting peace. Rotarian Alan Test (and friend of Richmond Rotary) is offering to pick up clean and little-used clothing from your home to give to the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP). He can be reached by email at testalan@yahoo.com. Thank you, Alan, for prompting us to clean our closets while giving direct help to those who could use the items! Clothing donations can also be taken directly to GRIP located at 165 22nd Street, Richmond 94801. Donations M-F 9-12, 1-4. District 5160 Assembly seminars continue via zoom this week and are free and available to all Richmond Rotarians on the District’s website. For those who want to see an overview of all of District 5160 clubs’ achievements this year, District Governor Tina Akins invites you to the first ever Virtual Awards Breakfast on Saturday June 13. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMThe Family Justice Center
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NEXT MEETING: June 5, 2020The Family Justice Center
For security reasons, our video conference meetings are by invitation only. The Zoom invitation will be sent to our members with the subject “Richmond Rotary Invitation.” If you didn’t get it last week, please check your spam. Rotary guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, request it by sending an email to info@richmondcarotary.org prior to our meeting on Friday.
MEETING OF May 29, 2020WelcomeAnnouncementsThis week Rotary International issued a powerful statement that affirms our commitment to promoting respect and working for peace and justice.
A Letter from our President and President-ElectDear Richmond Rotarian, Our Club’s greatest assets are the relationships that we build with one another and our community partners. For 100 years, Richmond Rotary has been dedicated to serving and supporting youth through educational and community programs. The WCCUSD has been a longtime community partner. Superintendent Duffy will be our program speaker on Friday, June 12. This is an opportunity to consider ways to fill the immediate need identified by the Superintendent, and to look inward. With gratitude for your membership in Rotary Statement from WCCUSD Superintendent Matthew DuffyIn our own community, Superintendent Duffy, has affirmed the District’s commitment to our students. Below is an excerpt, but please read the complete statement here. “Schools have to be safe havens for young people and a place where they can make sense of these horrible acts. As educators, we have a responsibility to make sure we don’t repeat patterns of institutional racism, neglect and hatred. It falls on us more than ever to be thoughtful about every one of our actions, to create in our schools the humanity, love, care, decency and dignity we aspire to see in the wider society.”
Our Club’s Covid-19 ResponseWith the first wave of Hygiene Bags delivered, Hygiene Bags 2.0 for the Homeless is nearing purchase completion. To make a contribution to the project, please visit the Amazon page to choose what you wish to donate. And finally…
Meeting of May 29, 2020Happy and Sad DollarsDavid Brown had sad dollars because Ric overlooked his and his wife’s fortieth anniversary. “I can’t imagine anyone else I’d rather be quarantined with.” Nick was happy that Supervisor John Gioia is working to balance responses to the pandemic with the climate emergency, an underlying condition driving the pandemic, wildfires, rising tides, and catastrophic weather conditions. Melinda was happy to have conducted the first online tour for the Richmond Museum of history. We’ll stay tuned. If we missed your Happy or Sad Dollar contribution, please accept our apology. Writing as fast as we can. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMCollaborative Communication: Skills for Every Day
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NEXT MEETING: May 29, 2020Collaborative Communication: Skills for Every Day
For security reasons, our video conference meetings are by invitation only. The Zoom invitation will be sent to our members with the subject “Richmond Rotary Invitation.” If you didn’t get it last week, please check your spam. Rotary guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, request it by sending an email to info@richmondcarotary.org prior to our meeting on Friday.
MEETING OF May 22, 2020WelcomeAnnouncementsYour annual Rotary dues are now due. Please use the PayPal button on the right to make your payment of $200. A donation to the Rotary Foundation of $100 is encouraged but optional. Thank you for helping to keep our club an active force for good in our community. Happy and Sad DollarsOn this Memorial Day, Jan offered a remembrance of Elof Granberg, who passionately reminded Richmond Rotarians every year of the reason we honor this day in history. Elof served with the Canadian Regina Rifle Regiment in WWII and was part of the Normandy invasion. He often recalled his fellow comrades who paid ‘the ultimate price’ for peace, freedom and justice in the world. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMContra Costa College
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NEXT MEETING: May 22, 2020How is Contra Costa College responding to student needs?
For security reasons, our video conference meetings are by invitation only. The Zoom invitation will be sent to our members with the subject “Richmond Rotary Invitation.” If you didn’t get it last week, please check your spam. Rotary guests are welcome. To receive the Zoom link, request it by sending an email to info@richmondcarotary.org prior to our meeting on Friday.
MEETING OF May 15, 2020WelcomeAnnouncementsWith 50 Hygiene packets ready for delivery to GRIP and the homeless, our club has committed to another 50. Thank you to our generous donors, volunteers and organizers for this event. Community Chair Pam Jones, with Darlene Quenville, Jon Lawlis, Alan Baer, Tamara Shiloh, and you, were the force behind the effort. Thank you and good luck on the next 50! Using Amazon’s wedding registry, we have set up a Richmond Rotary Community Project to purchase hygiene gift bags for homeless people in the Richmond area. Visit the registry here, to choose the items you want to donate, or just go to Amazon and search for “wedding registry”, then in the next search field, “Richmond Rotary.” Thank you for your generosity! There’s a virtual Board Meeting this Thursday, May 20, at noon. Contact Jan if you’d like to attend. The Danville Rotary is conducting a fundraiser, A Virtual Lyyve Party to support Bay Area Food Banks. It’s on Sat. May 23 12pm-12am. Tickets start at $5. For more information, visit. Happy Sad DollarsWithout dedicated a team of scribes, Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars have become occasional treats: nice when we have them, too bad when we don’t. (Volunteers?) This week we have a few Happy and Sad Dollars, even reaching back a month to grab notes left in our PayPal donations page, where you can record the source of happiness and sadness when you chip in a few bucks. Last week Nakele was simply happy to attend online Rotary zoom meetings. Yes. Jan offered congratulations the UC Berkeley University & College Graduates of 2020. In honor of both this year’s grads and Cal’s alumni of 50 years ago, when commencement was canceled for different reasons (Kent State & Peoples Park unrest), Jan had happy dollars that this year’s canceled graduation was replaced by a 2020 Virtual Commencement via Minecraft. Go Bears! And last month, Darlene Quenville had happy dollars because her parents had a safe car journey from Florida to upstate New York. They drove because flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus. RecognitionsHappy and Sad DollarsNorm’s NonsensePROGRAMReflecting and Adapting
Each small group discussed any or all of three questions: How do you imagine Rotary meetings if we don’t have a place to meet? What partnerships could our club build that would promote service to the community? What is the most memorable program you’ve heard this year? After about 15 minutes of discussion within the smaller groups, everyone returned to the “main room” and shared their ideas. Despite having several separate conversations, we heard a lot of overlap. Using breakout rooms was effective because it enabled small group discussions. Some good ideas surfaced. And just as importantly, each of us had an opportunity for conversations with a small handful of other Rotary members. Almost like sitting at a table with a bunch of friends. |
Most volunteer cleanups of our local beaches can painstakingly remove small objects such as bottle caps and straws but leave behind enormous quantities of truly tiny fragments of hard plastics, polystyrene foam, and plastic wrap. Those hard-to-see items continue to break down, off-gas toxic chemicals on hot days, leach into our waters, and become a permanent part of the environment. In this presentation, Mary Barnsdale will illustrate how ubiquitous these nearly invisible microplastics are; share surprising findings about where some plastics pollution may be coming from; and show how one local group led the 
Congratulations Class of 2020!
As in districts around the country, distance learning has become the basic mode of instruction in WCCUSD. Superintendent Matthew Duffy observed that some students do fine with that approach, which relies on up-to-date technology and a home environment that supports extended attention to online lesson content. But for a variety of reasons, distance learning does not work well for many other students.
At our last meeting, we hosted a presentation by the director of the Richmond office of the Family Justice Center, Oravanh Thammasen. Ms Thammasen offered an overview of the organization’s work assisting families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and elder abuse.
Lisa Montana lead a conversation that focused on tools that people can use to speak to one another in ways that are both honest and respectful.
If you wonder how to talk to someone across a political divide or how to stop having the same arguments–over and over–with your family and co-workers, join us for a lively and interactive discussion. Lisa Montana will provide an introduction to Collaborative Communication, which enables people to speak in ways that are both honest and respectful.
Dr. Mayra Padilla, Dean of Institutional Equity at Contra Costa College, reflected on the essential role of a community college. The Metas program prepares preschool through 12th-grade students in our community for college success by increasing their proficiency in reading, writing and math. One hundred percent of 12th grade students involved in Metas graduate from high school and go on to enroll in college. A Richmond High School graduate herself, Mayra shared inspiring stories of several students who came up through the program and launched successful academic or professional careers in STEM and beyond. Many graduates have returned to serve the West Contra Costa community and even as instructors and mentors through Metas. The Metas program receives generous support from outside donors.
After welcomes and preliminaries, we randomly divided our group of some 30 members into small breakout rooms of 4 or 5 per “room” (a “room”, now defined in physical terms as a packet of digital audio and video signals transmitted through space, to and from computers located somewhere and computers right here on our desks, or laps—back and forth—thereby creating the sensation of “being together.” Welcome to the 21st century.)