NEXT MEETING: April 12, 2013

Heather Kulp and Her Career in Africa

Heather Kulp gives us an in-depth look at the non-profit work she did in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Angola. Into this account, Heather will weave her “Who Am I” presentation.

MEETING OF April 5, 2013

Welcome

President Jim Young welcomed a large room full of Rotarians and guests. Stephanie Baer led us in the Pledge to the Flag. Stoney Stonework gave the invocation asking for Peace and Freedom on earth.

Visiting Rotarians

We had District Governor Laura Day and Assistant District Governor Fred Collignon visiting today.

Rotarians with Guests

We had 10 guests from the International House at UC Berkeley. President Elect Liliane Kozial was nice enough to bring the whole group to experience a Rotary meeting. Stephanie Baer and Gonzalo Ochoa were guests of Alan Baer. Lesa McIntosh was the guest of Linda Young.

Sunshine Report

Our long time Rotarian Henry Kelman is at home requiring hospice care. Please send your thoughts and prayers for Henry.

Announcements

• President Jim wanted to remind everyone to pay their property tax due by April 10.
• President Jim asked for volunteers to work at our booth at the Richmond Tales Family Festival on April 20 in the Richmond Civic Center Plaza. We need two teams of three Rotarians from 10am to 4 pm. This is a literacy advancement program working with West County Reads which is also picking up books. Six volunteers are also needed for the Rotary booth.
• Tickets are on sale for the 6 shows in May of “Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle” at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Richmond.  Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and Seniors. See Rotary Project Page for more information on Lost Secrets. For tickets go to Ticket Master or see Linda Young or buy online.
• Tom Waller announced that on April 11-12, Concord High School is having their biennial production of “Every 15 Minutes”, a national program supported by the California Highway Patrol and numerous other agencies and organizations. The program provides a powerful dramatization that challenges students to think carefully about drinking or texting while driving, about personal safety, and the importance of making mature, responsible decisions when lives are involved. Anyone interested to drive to Concord with Tom on Friday morning, April 12, to experience the impactful concluding student assembly should contact Tom directly. This is a program that Richmond Rotary is investigating in order to possibly be a catalyst for getting it started at a high school in Richmond.
• David Brown accepted a $5000 check from Wells Fargo that will go to help our “Richmond Tales” project.
• Mark Howe announced that April 27^th from 3-8pm is the Holiday Auction Barbeque at his home. Anyone who didn’t buy into the event during the Holiday Auction last December can pay $50 to the Club and join in the fun. Should be a great time with plentiful food and beverages.

Special Events

• District Governor Laura Day presented Pam Jones with her Paul Harris +5 award which means that she has donated $5000 to the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations Pam!
• Lesa MacIntosh with East Bay MUD was inducted as a new member in Richmond Rotary! Congratulations Lisa! She was sponsored by Rafael Madrigal.

Recognitions

• Stephanie Baer was given a Rotarians at Work T shirt for helping with Richmond Tales PowerPoint at other Rotary clubs.
• Dan Tanita was recognized for his picture in the local newspaper about the Peres Dental clinic and dental care in schools.

Happy and Sad Dollars

• David Brown had a happy dollar to celebrate opening day for the Giants season.
• Nick Despota had happy dollars to celebrate an upcoming 4 week road trip to the desert and other Southern California destinations.
• Dan Sanders was happy to celebrate a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta.
• Connie Tritt was celebrating Tax Season.
• Fred Collignon, Assistant District Governor, wanted to announce the Rotacare fund raiser May 2 at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley. Lacy J Dalton is the headliner.
• Hank Covell mentioned the formation of the John Nicol scholarship fund in honor of our dear member who recently passed. John joined Richmond Rotary in April of 1970.
• Mark Howe had a happy dollar since Joe Bagley will be the entertainment at the April 27 Barbeque.

Norm’s Nonsense

An old woman is sitting in a rocking chair on her porch, petting her cat, Puff.

A fairy appears and says, “I’m here to give you three wishes.”

The old woman says, “I wish I were 21 years old and beautiful again.” Poof! She is.

“Now I wish I had a million dollars, and this old house were a mansion.” Poof! Done.

“And now, I wish that Puff were the handsomest man in the world and deeply in love with me.” Poof!

Suddenly she’s in the arms of the handsomest man in the world. He kisses her and says, “Darling, aren’t you sorry you had me fixed?”

PROGRAM

Staying Afloat

Steve Burton told us his amazing story of working in Abu Dhabi for three years building a gigantic luxury marina where money was no object. These were some of his impressions.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a tiny, wealthy, monarchial, class-based, predominantly Muslim Arab country the size of Maine, is extremely safe for Westerners.
• Abu Dhabi is the largest of 7 emirates that comprise the UAE. It has 90% of the land area and 94% of crude oil reserves (which equal 10% of the world total).
• The UAE was founded in 1971, only 42yrs old. It was the fastest transition from 3^rd world to emerged world status in 20^th-21^st century. It has the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world (estimated at $2-3 trillion).
• Steve was introduced to what became his project in 2006. The presentation he gave was a 2-minute video where the Royal Family would give the project a yea or nay. It was a dream-come-true project for any company on the planet. He was offered a job on the spot, although he was not looking. He assembled a $1-billion marina portfolio in one year.
• The exercise was always to think outside the box (for example, Ferrari world and Burj Al Khlifa, the world’s tallest building, in Dubai).
• One of the related projects was a $40-billion man-made island which included a Formula 1 race track .
• There was no business plan, permits, inspections, planning commissions, environmental review, and no attorneys, because everything was built to be the finest in the world.
• The Nationals (Emiratis) comprise only 1/6 of the UAE population of 800,000. They basically don’t have to work.  Free healthcare, housing, education, and no-interest loans. You get the picture. Unlike anywhere else in the world.

Rotating Scribe, Dan Tanita