NEXT MEETING: July 11, 2014
Note that there is no meeting this Friday, July 4th

Berkeley Lab Innovation Goes to Market

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) conducts non-classified basic and applied research in a wide range of fields including biosciences, computing, energy and the environment, advanced materials, and beyond. LBNL researchers have produced inventions that are saving lives and saving energy, improving productivity, and speeding the development of new therapeutics. As shown in the graphic at the right, a Low Swirl Burner, invented by Robert Cheng at LBNL and commercialized by Maxon Corporation, provides optimal fuel usage and ultra-low emissions for a variety of process heating applications. In this presentation, Pamela Seidenman, Business Development and Marketing Manager for LBNL’s Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Management department, will explain some of the Lab’s inventions and the stories behind them.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Since this was her last meeting as Richmond Rotary Club President, Liliane Koziol briefly reviewed highlights from the past 12 months. These included

• increasing Club membership count from 57 to 70,
• generous member contributions to unbudgeted projects like Peres teacher support, Christmas bikes, cooperation with the Kiwanis “Shop with Cops” program, and provision of new jackets and seniors’ bay cruise for the Salesian High School Interact Club,
• technology improvements related to Flywheel enhancements and Rotary Scribe self-scheduling,
• the first major gathering in the East Bay of representatives from the San Francisco-based foreign consular corps (occurred at the Richmond Rotary Club meeting on November 1),
• a successful joint mixer with the Richmond Chamber of Commerce,
• a re-start after several years for Club participation in the Rotary District’s Four-Way Test youth speech contest,
• the first-annual Richmond Rotary and Kiwanis Youth Fishing Derby at the San Pablo reservoir in cooperation with RPAL,
• record Rotary Foundation Paul Harris participation (12 new Paul Harris awardees and 8 new pin-level recognitions),
• successful startup and support of the RotoCare medical clinic in Richmond,
• and the second-largest Holiday Auction fund-raising totals in Club history.

Putting a punctuation point on her year as Club President, Liliane shared that, in an email received one day before the June 27 Club meeting, the Rotary District Governor advised her that Rotary International is awarding the Richmond Rotary Club a “Presidential Citation for Distinction” based on its overall performance in Rotary Year 2013-14. The award will be presented at the District gathering on July 12 in Woodland (about 60 miles up the road, north of Davis, west of Sacramento).

Liliane then asked Executive Director Larry Lewis of the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) to come to the microphone to introduce the following three recipients of special Richmond Rotary Club youth scholarships.

• Jessica Barragan, a recent honors graduate from Richmond High School, was class president for three years and will attend Sacramento State studying criminal justice.
• Susan Mireles, also a recent honors graduate from Richmond High, will attend UC Santa Barbara in pursuit of a double major (still deciding which ones).
• Malik Cuay spent some time in RPAL programs before entering Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated in May at the top of his class as a National Honor Society award winner. He will be attending the University of Nebraska starting in the Fall. According to David Brown, Richmond Rotary will pay $1,101 in college scholarships for each of these three students. Jessica and Susan will receive special one-time John Nicol scholarship funds as Richmond High graduates and Malik will receive regular Richmond Rotary Club funds. How pleasing and refreshing it is for Richmond Rotary to recognize and reward such deserving young people!

The following statement from Linda Young was read aloud regarding an update on her husband and our fellow Rotarian, Jim Young, who had kidney-cancer surgery on June 25: “Jim is doing well after the complete removal of a large tumor and whole [left] kidney along with lymph nodes. All tests of bones, lungs, and liver show no spread! Cards and notes welcome. Please no visits or calls.”

Dan Tanita again urged members to consider supporting the renaming of Portola Middle School for Fred Koremotsu, a local but nationally recognized activist who protested the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two.

In order to fully support Stacey Street as the new Speaker Program Chair, we encourage all members to recommend speakers. To that end, Nick Despota has prepared an easy-to-use speaker suggestion form. When a potential speaker comes to mind, please fill out and submit the form, which emails your suggestion to Stacey. You’ll find a link to it in the drop-down menu under The Flywheel link in the navigation bar near the top of this page.

 

 

MEETING OF June 27, 2014

Welcome

President Liliane Koziol called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club. Visiting guest Larry Lewis led the pledge of allegiance and Stoney Stonework asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Sid Chauvin offered this thought for the day: Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• John Hermanson of El Sobrante Rotary and his friend, Gus Petsas.
• Sid Chauvin’s guest, Joe Kelman.
• Liliane Koziol’s guests, husband Ken and friends, Josiane Siegfried, Becky Long, and Lou Perreria.
• Alan Baer’s guest, his daughter, Stephanie.
• Dan Tanita’s guest, Stanley Chagala.
• Larry Lewis from the Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL) and special youth scholarship winners, Jessica Barragan, Susan Mireles, and Malik Cuay.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Jan Brown recently celebrated a birthday and, on this very same Club meeting day, her 43rd wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Jan and Byron! Jan also offered some happy/sad dollars in memory of Norm Foley, who offered Jan her very first graphics project assignment when she moved to Richmond with her family in 1978.
• EJ Shalaby (yes, in person!) had a birthday on June 24th. He and his family had a great three-week vacation back East leading up to his big day, including the Indy 500 race in person and whirlwind sight-seeing in New England and New York City.
• Rich Alexander had a birthday one day before this meeting date and confessed that he’s older than dirt but still younger than “those guys” at the other table.
• Joe Bagley pointed out that Norm Foley would have been 89 on his latest birthday, also the day before this meeting date.
• Henry Moe had happy dollars for Arthur Bell, an Interact Club member who graduated from Salesian High School in 2013 and just completed his first year at UCLA with a 3.8 grade point average.
• Hank Covell had happy dollars for a happening that occurred in 1970.
• John Wilson had happy dollars for seeing Gus Petsas, son of Richmond Rotarian Nick Petsas.
• David Brown offered sad dollars while reporting in an obscure manner that previous indications of a spousal “yes” have now morphed into signs of “no” (apparently having to do with purchase of his own air plane).
• Larry Lewis offered happy dollars for the pleasure of knowing and working with Richmond Rotarians on various projects that serve Richmond youth. He reminded everyone that many young people are doing good things in their lives and there is a need to accentuate the positive.
• Nick Despota had happy dollars in recognition of Club members who serve as Flywheel Scribes in preparing Club meeting notes.

PROGRAM

Demotion!

Demotion of outgoing President, Liliane Koziol, proceeded with some fun-filled revelations along the way.

For example, not many Club members have known that, when current District Governor, Steve Lack (aka Crocodile Dundee), started his “Celebrate the Adventure” year, he painstakingly named all Club Presidents after fictional Super Heroes. Our own Liliane was dubbed “Storm”, a superheroine that appears in Marvel Comic Books as a longtime member and sometimes leader of the X-Men.

Storm, er, Liliane was born in the capital city of Madagascar and, according to photos from high school and university, had her warm, winning smile from the beginning.

She went to graduate school at Indiana University on a Fulbright Scholarship and met Ken during the first week on campus. We learned that Indiana “Hoosier” basketball fans were very sorry to see the Koziols eventually leave Indiana. It seems that when Ken and Liliane got married (1976), Indiana won their third national championship (after a dry spell of over 20 years). Then when daughter Tiana was born (1981), Indiana won their fourth national championship. Then when son Andry was born (1987), Indiana won their fifth (and last) national championship.

After earning a couple of Masters degrees and a Ph.D. in American Studies and Semiotics (the study of meaning-making), Liliane and her family moved back to the Southern Hemisphere where she became Chair of the English Department at the University of Madagascar.

After a few years’ time, opportunity beckoned back here in the USA. Liliane became Director of Programs at the UC Berkeley International House, a multi-cultural residential “living and learning” center for about 600 students and scholars from over 70 different countries. She later was appointed Deputy Honorary Consul of Madagascar and still serves on a number of local and national boards.

In concluding the meeting, Club Secretary Alan Baer presided over the official passing of the President’s gavel. Liliane was given her Past President Club badge and plaque. She rolled up her year’s podium banner and welcomed Stoney Stonework as new Club President for 2014-15. Alan Blavins was also introduced as President-elect for 2015-16.

Thanks, Liliane, for your excellent year of service as Richmond Rotary Club President!

- Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe