NEXT MEETING: November 6, 2015

What is a fiduciary? Do I need one and why?

Franza Giffen has been an attorney for more than 30 years. Her practice has included estate planning, personal injury, small business formation and real estate. Since 1981 she has served the Contra Costa County Probate Court as a Probate Referee, appraising assets in estates going through probate. Her real estate broker’s license has assisted her in understanding the selling, renovating, managing and purchasing real estate for clients as well as in valuing property.

Franza will discuss the roles fiduciaries adopt and will provide some examples of how cases evolve. She will also touch upon elder abuse, mandatory reporting and choosing other attorneys to represent her in her cases.

Community Pipeline Safety Initiative

Following Ms. Giffen’s presentation, Treva Reid and colleagues will tell us about PG&E’s Pipeline Safety Initiative. Te utility’s pipeline infrastructure requires a systematic inspection and maintenance program to maintain public safety. We’ll learn what the entails.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Saturday, November 21st is Rotary Foundation Day at the Races
• The Peres School Teacher fund campaign raised $2,900 all from individual Rotarian donations. President Alan Blavins had the pleasure of bringing the checks to the school and giving them to two of the teachers. He was amazed at the enthusiasm for the gift. Alan thanked all those Rotarians whose donations made that happen.
• November 26 is the day for the annual Thanksgiving Giveaway and Dinner at Saluté Restaurant. The restaurant asks for volunteers to help serve food to the community members and hand out gift bags to guests.
• Saturday November is the date for a concert by the Untouchables (a local band from the 60’s) at the West Contra Costa Salesian Boys and Girls Club. See Hank Covell for tickets for the event.
• The Rotocare Clinic sent a wonderful thank you card to our Club for providing the food to the clinic. The last four years The Salesian Interact Club has provided the food for the two months per year in the name of Richmond Rotary. Martin at La Strada generously donated the food for several of those weeks.
• Alan Baer reminded the club that the Barsheep mixer is always the last Friday of the month.
• Pam talked to the club about the Buy a Bike Program for the Christmas Firefighters Program. To get a bike for each child about 61,100 would have to be raised. We our currently at $3,000 with $1,500 individual donation and the club match. $47 dollars buys a bike and a helmet for a child.
• Connie reminded members of the importance of our Auction in raising funds to complete all the projects we do. We really need items like dinners and also tours that can sell for $50 to $150 per person. We also need to bring friends that can spend money at the auction.

MEETING OF October 30, 2015

Welcome

Alan Blavins presided over the meeting and held a moment of silence for peace, freedom and justice on earth. Connie Tritt led the pledge and Sid Chauvin’s (great to have him back) thought for the day was to respond is positive to react is negative.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Guest Linda Young attended with Jim Young.

Special Events

Bob Dabney received his Paul Harris award. Congratulations, Bob!

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Jon Lawlis had sad dollars about the passing of his friend Phil Green.
• Hank Covell had happy dollars that his 80^th Birthday started with a party on September 26, then a wonderful dinner in Arizona with his eagle scout grandson and 5 other eagle scout friends who will all be going to Arizona State this fall and ended with a trip to Venice for 5 days.
• John Wilson had happy dollars that his house in Granite Bay will be closing soon.
• Jan Brown had happy dollars that she was able to go to her grandson’s Halloween parade.
• Alan Baer had happy dollars that Joe Bagley took home 1^st place in the San Pablo Rotary chili cookoff.
• Herb Cole had happy dollars that Hank had the damnest 80^th birthday celebration ever.
• Tom Butt had sad and happy dollars that his police Chief was the number one choice for the police chief job in Tucson, Arizona.
• Ric Ambrose had happy dollars that he celebrated his daughters 30^th birthday.
• Alan Blavins had happy dollars that he got to visit Peres school and handout 2 of the 29 checks to the teachers.

PROGRAM

Dirk Rosen is the founder and Executive Director of the Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE), a non-profit organization. MARE supports a healthy ocean by collecting information on deep-sea ecosystems using remote controlled robotic technology. Dirk founded MARE in 2003 and is a registered professional engineer. Dirk discussed the use of the deep sea camera to track fish populations and damage to the ocean bottom. You can see much more about MARE at www.maregroup.org.

- Henry Moe, Rotating Editor