April 10, 2020
NEXT MEETING: April 10, 2020
The Need for US-Russia Rapprochement Today
Sharon Tennison, founder and President of the Center for Citizen Initiatives (CCI), organizes citizen diplomacy initiatives between the U.S. and Russia. Ms. Tennison will discuss why the belief that Russia is America’s enemy must be re-examined and updated.
After 36 years of CCI’s work to avoid nuclear war and build constructive relations with Russia, the evidence is clear. CCI’s long history working across Russia’s 11 time zones shows that diplomacy rather than projecting conflict works amazingly well.
Ms. Tennison will co-lead a trip to Russia in September 2020 with Ambassador Jack Matlock where the group will visit 30 Russian cities in a “fact-finding” mission. You are welcome to apply and get an education not possible from the U.S.
Jan will email the link for our Zoom session on Thursday. Watch for it.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
You should have already received this exciting news about a global opportunity to serve our health care workers on the frontlines of this pandemic—from your home. District Governor Tina Akins letter is below. This project was initiated by The Global Impact Group right here in District 5160 and our clubs are leading the country in this effort. Those who attended previous Rotary International Conventions and the Reno 4 way Fest District Conference last May were treated to examples of this group’s amazing skilled use of cutting edge technology to overcome enormous hurdles in all parts of the globe. Please consider volunteering and passing on this link: https://theglobalimpactgroup.org to your friends, family, and professional networks.
[showhide type=”letter” more_text=”Read DG Tina Akin’s letter” less_text=”Hide letter” hidden=”yes”]
I have an exceptional and extraordinary request of you, and all members in our district, to join the fight against COVID19. What if there was a way to help, from the safety of our homes, and make a real difference?
Our district is one of two districts leading in an extraordinary new effort, and your immediate participation is critical to its success. This program will be announced via a press release today (CNN, NYT, and other major coverage), and will be adopted by Rotary Clubs across the nation in the next few days.
The background is this: Two weeks ago, Rotarians in a local club engaged Rotary International to recruit 1 million volunteers in two weeks to sign up with Volunteer Surge, a new program that allows us to train online, for free, to become a Telehealth Worker, or a Community Health Worker. These volunteers will provide basic assistance, and will reduce suffering and save lives, locally and across the nation. How? By helping our health care providers to focus more of their attention where it is most needed.
Please click here to learn more and decide how you, your friends, and family can participate. And share this link with others on Facebook, email, and other social media.
The world is watching, and we, as Rotarians, people of action, are now truly defined by our actions in this crisis.
With appreciation and thanks,
Tina
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHMOND ROTARY!
Richmond Rotary received Happy Birthday Greetings from the Rotary Club of San Francisco#2. They have invited our club to attend their Zoom meeting with RI President Mark Maloney tomorrow Tuesday, April 7 from 12pm to 1:30. Wear your Hawaiian shirt and Rotary pin! I’ll be there. Hope you can join me. See https://sfrotary.com/event/e-meeting—ri-president-mark-maloney/ Registration is required, and you would all register as guests and indicate your club name. Please join us and we can toast you from a distance on the occasion of your 100th anniversary.
Dora Dye
Secretary
Rotary Club of San Francisco
Richmond Rotary also received birthday greetings from Herb Behrstock of the UNA-USA East Bay Chapter. The UNA-USA was to provide wonderful pageantry at our Centennial Dinner in a shared celebration of the signing of the United Nations Charter 75 years ago in San Francisco. Herb wrote:
“Although plans to celebrate anniversaries this month and this year are not working out as foreseen, I wanted to remember the enormous efforts made for this weekend’s Rotary dinner program — along with regrets about its cancelation (or possibly deferral). And to send congratulations to you and your members for Richmond Rotary’s milestone anniversary made possible by the efforts of so many leaders over the current and past decades.”
Herb also noted: “As you likely know, the celebrations that were being planned in SF for UN75 were also regretably canceled … You and Rotarians might be interested to know that one activity which a small team of us is actively exploring would be to arrange the ‘traditional’ walk that’s occurred for major UN anniversaries in Muir Woods — where the delegates in SF traveled in May 1945 for their historic walk with some memorializing of FDR and bonding about visions of a peaceful future after the War, and principles to adopt in their Charter.”
This may become an event that Rotarians can also share – perhaps through a virtual meeting and walk through Muir Woods. Herb and Liliane will keep us informed of this exciting possibility.
Happy and Sad Dollars
Once again, our Happy and Sad Dollars span a couple of weeks. In reverse chronological order.
MARCH 28
Don was sad that former Richmond City Councilman and State Assemblyman Bob Campbell passed away on March 26. “Bob was a mentor to me and a dear friend. One of the real good guys.”
MARCH 30
Jan had many, many happy dollars in memory of her dad, Don Hardison, and his birthday on Architects Day at Richmond Rotary.
APRIL 3
Jon Lawlis reported that Lola has sad dollars for Ziggy. ;-(
Nick was happy that so many members have taken to the new online meeting platform. “We have higher attendance today than we’ve had at most of our in-person meetings. And I can see and hear everyone better.”
Oscar had a happy dollar for the fact that he’s working from home and can grow his beard again.
RECOGNITIONS AND HAPPY/SAD DOLLARS
LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM
Last Friday, Richmond Rotary recognized three area high school students whose essays on the Four-Way Test were judged by our club to be most outstanding. In a moderated discussion, Daniel Soberano, Jennifer Diaz Lopez and Sabrina Abdurakhmonova told us what inspired them to write about their topic, which Four-Way Test question they considered most important, and which Four-Way Test question they considered most challenging to apply.
You can read their essays here:
First place: Therapy, Mental Health, and the Four Way Test by Daniel Soberano, Salesian, Grade 12
Second place: An untitled essay by Jennifer Diaz Lopez, Richmond HS, Grade 12
Third place (tied): An untitled essay by Sabrina Abdurakhmonova, Middle College HS, Grade 9
Third place (tied):Taking Responsibility by Margaret Rosario, Middle College HS, Grade 10
Their understanding and application of the Four-Way Test is truly an inspiration! Special thanks to the Rotarians who carefully reviewed the pool of essays and shared constructive feedback with every student.