NEXT MEETING: March 24, 2017

A Conversation Among our Members

It’s spring and we’re planting seeds. This Friday we’ll have an inclusive discussion about Club’s current activities, and hear each others ideas about possible future directions and projects. These open-ended conversations are opportunities for you to shape the Club to more closely align with your interests in the community. Come and make your voice heard.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• March 24, 25 and 26 The District Conference is almost there and Pam Jones thanked all those who have been involved in the preparations for the conference and hopes to see many Rotarians there. The Friday Night Summer of Love Party and separate bag assembly are open to everyone. There is a $15 charge for the dance.
• Jan Brown will plan a Rotarian trip to visit Charlie Wong sometime next week. Contact Jan if you would like to go

MEETING OF March 17, 2017

Welcome

Pres Josh led the meeting, Mike Winter led the pledge, Herb Cole led the invocation and Sid Chauvin’s thought for the day was “Every time someone comes up with a foolproof solution, along comes a more talented fool!!

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Jerry Feagley brought Al Nero as his guest for the last time. Al will become a member next meeting. .

Special Events

Gina Fromer, the new and better version of Don Lau at the YMCA East Bay, was inducted as the newest member of Richmond Rotary.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• David Brown celebrated maybe his 22nd anniversary as a Richmond Rotarian and had a check for the foundation.
• Jim Findley had happy and sad $s that he got his taxes done
• Herb Cole had happy $’s and asked all the CAL grads in the room to standup. He then talked about the defeat of the Bears Basketball team at the hands of Cal State Bakersfield where he was an adjunct professor. He did all this with a huge smile on his face and a printed report in his hand, which he freely distributed.
• Shana Bagley-Howe had happy $’s that UC Davies made the Tourney
• Don Lau had happy $’s that Michigan won their first game and as he was speaking someone told him they also won their second game.
• Erle Brown had sad $’s and asked everyone what day it was. People yelled out St Patrick’s day and he then wondered why the country club chose Mexican food as the meal.
• Pam Jones had happy $’s for her granddaughters 2^nd birthday.
• Henry Moe had sad $’s that the Salesian Boys Basketball program had to play at Dela Salle for the second year in a row. We went to the league last year and asked why we did not get a home game and we were told strength of schedule favored Dela Salle. This year we played stronger opponents than Dela Salle and we still played them at home gain this year.
• Sid Chauvin had a happy $’s to remember his mom who would have celebrated her 108^th birthday today
• Pres Josh had happy $’s that Central Michigan had the top scorer in the league and that his son struck out the first few batter he faced in his first pitching experience.

PROGRAM

The Mindful Life Project

Our March 17^th speaker was JG Larouce, who is the executive director of The Mindful Life Project. The project was founded in 2012 to help address the deeply rooted social and emotional problems that plague inner city schools. The project does this through training in mindfulness, expressive arts, yoga and mindful hip-hop. Its goal is to empower students and teachers to develop a strong mindfulness practice that supports educational ecosystems where compassion, empathy and kindness are the norms.

JG led the Rotary group in a 3-minute meditation where everyone closed their eyes and did not move or talk (which was really hard for the talkative people) and others fell asleep during the demonstration. We have so much data coming at us that we rarely take the time to rest our minds and that is how stress builds up.

- Henry Moe, “Rotating Editor”