NEXT MEETING: April 12, 2019

Richmond Main Street Initiative

The Richmond Main Street Initiative is dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Richmond as a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban village. That means offering products, services, arts and entertainment that reflect our community’s rich and diverse heritage. Its programs and events are a vital part of the urban village concept. Richmond Main Street sees new businesses coming to our downtown in the near future, and Amanda Elliott, its Executive Director will tell us all about it.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Last Saturday Josh, Jerry, Tamara, Norm, Felix, Darlene D., Jan and Byron (note honorific bolded text for the hubby) joined teams from Pogo Park to install protective tree circles around the 21 oaks planted at Harbour-8 Park. Educational signage for each tree will follow. Check out the photos on Facebook.
• Ric Ambrose invited all to the Richmond Art Center “Party Richmond” fundraiser on April 13 5:30-9:00pm.
• Incoming Prez Jan Brown noted that it was Richmond Rotary’s 99^th Anniversary and provided all with the semi-long red rose to take home in the spirit of Dave Ninomiya who use to bring red roses to Rotary every week and a reminder of our upcoming 100^th Anniversary Mira Flores project.
• Oscar Garcia updated all on the Chavez Day of Service on May 30. There were many Rotarians as well as members of the community who participated with tree planting, clean up and painting.
• Prez Jerry invited all to the San Pablo Rotary “Night in Tuscany” event 4/26 at San Pablo Maple Hall. Cost is $45.

MEETING OF April 5, 2019

Welcome

Prez Jerry rang the bell and called the meeting to order with Oscar Gracia leading us in the Pledge, Herb Cole offered a moment for peace, freedom and justice. Sid Chauvin offered: “Seconds count, especially when you are dieting!”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Tamara Shiloh introduced Prez Jerry’s guest, Nakele Rechenauer.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

Ric Ambrose did the honors:

• Tom Butt just celebrated his 75^th Birthday on 3/23.
• Herb Cole turned a young 81 on 4/2.
• Erle Brown was sad about the passing of former Richmond Rotarian Ernie Spencer and was happy about his Michigan State Spartans being in the Final Four.
• Josh Genser was happy about his Stanford Women’s swimming and diving team.
• Stacey Street was happy that she will be doing a solo vocal recital in Clayton on 4/19. Stacey was also happy to host those who bought the tour of Meets the Eye Studios.
• Jan Brown also indicated she had a fabulous time at the Studio tour and the Chavez Day of Service.
• Sid Chauvin was sad about the passing of Raider great Clem Daniels.
• Ric Ambrose was happy about his Duck’s Women’s Basketball Team and for the tour of RAC he gave the Shimada students.

PROGRAM

The Read-Aloud Program in Richmond Schools

Prez Jerry introduced Gabriella Bracamontes from Read Aloud who indicated that the program started in 1995 at E M Downer Elementary School, has 112 volunteers and has given away 91,000 books and other reading material.

Gabriella introduced Executive Director Crystal Merrill, who told us that the program is a relationship-based program and not a tutoring program. Students are referred to the program by teachers and require parent consent for the student to participate.

The program is now available at Downer, Coronado, Dover, Montalvin and Washington Elementary Schools. This summer the program will be available at Booker T Anderson Recreation Center.

The 3,500 students who have participated in the program attend a 30-minute session once a week. Support for the program includes: volunteering time to work with a student; volunteer at book giveaways, book sorting, technical support, fundraising; donate books; and tax deductible contribution. For more information, please visit http://read-aloud.org

The Menehune, Rotating Scribe