NEXT MEETING: December 14, 2018

What to expect for your taxes in 2019

What changes will we see in our 2019 tax laws and procedures? Our resident CPA, Connie Tritt, will gives us a rundown on what to expect: the good, bad and maybe deferable.

So come, listen, and prepare to stock up on either aspirin or champagne.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• • David announced that the auction, when we receive a promised payment from Chevron, will have raised $38,181! Also, we raised $7,240 for bicycles for the toy giveaway, of which the Club matched $5,000, plus another $2,100 was raised at the auction, so we donated a total of more than $14,000 for bikes! Finally, David circulated a basket to collect tips for our waitstaff at the Country Club.
  • Alan B. announced bell ringing at Macy’s at the Shops at Hilltop on December 22 and circulated a sign-up sheet.
  • Don L. announced that the toy giveaway (including the bikes) will be on December 22m, starting at 8am at the Downer Family Y, and invited any one to attend (and help).
  • President Jerry announced the Richmond Rotary Holiday Party will be on December 8, at 5:30 pm, at the Richmond Art Center. The cost is $15 per person.
  • Jan announced new member of the Club’s Board of Directors: Oscar and Jim Findley. Norm had agreed to serve another term. Next year’s officers are Jan as President, Alan B. as Sergeant at Arms (a dramatic departure: Syd has been doing that for as long as I can remember), Connie will be Secretary and Jon and Erle will be co-Foundation Chairs. Jan thanked everyone for their willingness to serve.
  • Erle announced the Crab Feed. January 26 at Salesian High School cafeteria. Buy whole tables, not just individual tickets, and you have no tickets nor reservations until David has your money! There will be a button on the web site to buy your tables.
  • Jim announced a fundraiser for victims of the fires in Butte County being put on by the Elks Club, but it will be past by the time you read this.
  • Jerry announced that Stacey has agreed to the President of the Richmond Rotary Club in 2020!

MEETING OF December 7, 2018

Welcome

Jim Findley lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb asked for a moment of reflection for peace and justice on Earth. Syd’s Thought for the Day: Don’t wait for people to be friendly, show them how

Our guests were Jeff Sloan, the Executive Director of Early Childhood Mental Health Program. He was a guest for the last time (see below).
John Bassett, General Manager of the Shops at Hilltop.
Scott Harris, owner of a digital marketing business in Point Richmond.
And finally, our speaker, Leslie Lundin from LBG Real Estate.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

No Recognitions today, but because last week was the Auction and there could be no Recognitions, Ric observed that we may have missed someone. Up piped Syd, whose birthday was December 2, and who had a wild and wooly birthday that this scribe could not hear in its entirety but seemed to involve passing out beneath a pickup truck in the driveway of his daughter’s house.

Happy and Sad Dollars

• Jon had a very happy $20 for the birth of his first grandchild, Aubrey Marie Lawlis, at 8lbs, 10oz a hefty addition!
• Josh had a happy $20 for a lot of good things, including Stanford’s Big Game win (and the bottle of Oban Erle had for him for delivery after the meeting), Stanford’s football wins over all of the California schools (Cal, UCLA and USC) this year, and his bowling team is in first place going into the last week of the season.
• Hank was happy that Josh’s mom, at 100 years old, was at the auction last week.
• Tamara was happy that her landlord was at the meeting today.
• Don was happy that Stacey took over the auction this year and did such a great job at it.

Our Newest Member

We were happy to welcome a new member into the Richmond Rotary Club today: Alan Baer did the honors, inducting Jeff Sloan, the Executive Director of Early Childhood Mental Health into Rotary. Congratulations, Jeff!

PROGRAM

The Shops at Hilltop and Hilltop by the Bay

Today’s speaker was Leslie Lundin from LBG Real Estate, which purchased Hilltop Mall and the 77 acres of land it occupies. The mall has been renamed “The Shops at Hilltop” and the entire property as “Hilltop By the Bay”.

Hilltop By the Bay will be a mixed-use community (a new city within the city), including more than 3,500 residential dwelling units (a mix of rentals, for-sale and affordable), offices, recreational amenities and 1.2 million square feet of retail. The latter will be in the Shops at Hilltop, a portion of which will be anchored by a 99 Ranch Market and several other businesses calculated to appeal to Asian consumers, which is the fastest growing and one of the wealthiest demographics in the region. Once those businesses start pulling in buyers, mainstream retailers will follow, many of which will be outlets.

One problem with the plan is that the cost of residential construction is outstripping the income that can be received from them, so they may have to be prefabricated buildings or wait for construction costs to go down. Look at their web site for a really cool video of what the completed development might look like, lots of statistics about the demographics and wealth of the region served by Hilltop Mall (Richmond is wealthier than you think!), and information about retailers and restaurants expected to occupy the rehabilitated mall. That’s Shophilltop.com.

- Josh Genser, Rotating Scribe