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June 5, 2015

Richmond CA Rotary Posted on by

NEXT MEETING: June 5, 2015

From Nature to Neighborhoods: Developing Youth & Adult Leaders in Richmond

Blanca Hernandez, Program Director of YES, Youth Enrichment Strategies, comes to Richmond Rotary Club to provide an update and overview on YES and its programs. Since 1999, YES Nature to Neighborhoods has provided leadership pathways for youth, adults, and their families through camp and community programs. Each year, YES serves nearly one thousand Richmond youth, teens, parents and community members through four interrelated programs. The YES target audience are residents in Richmond’s Iron Triangle and North Richmond neighborhoods.

Blanca joined YES in 2008. Prior to that, Blanca worked for several years with the West Contra Costa Unified School District. It was then that she began to cultivate strong relationships in the community and developed a passion towards working for the well-being of youth and families in the city of Richmond.  In her current position, she has the opportunity to share her love of the outdoors by developing and facilitating programming in nature that restores individuals to their essential selves and empowers them to become active residents back in the community.  Blanca graduated from the University of San Diego with a B.A. in Literature and completed CompassPoint’s Next Generation Leaders of Color in 2012. She has served for nearly three years on the Health Richmond steering committee, is fluent in Spanish, enjoys painting, writing, and jogging with her dog, Bo.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • David Brown announced that Rotary dues of $200 are now due and payable and will be delinquent if not paid by June 30th. Send money to DAB via the usual methods including via PayPal  (hit the “Donate” button under ‘Pay Annual Dues’ on this page) and avoid the Summer Solstice rush! Members are also encouraged to pay the $100 donation to the Rotary Foundation. Same process or use the second PayPal button. Delinquent is bad. No more Mr. Nice Guy with delinquent dues.
  • Alan Baer said that the BARSHEEP Business Directory is being updated so if you want to be in it or if you need to update your contact information you can see Alan or Contact El Cerrito Rotary that hosts the Business Directory.
  • Jim Young reported that one Rotarian and three Friends of Richmond Rotary went to the sticker party at the Richmond Community Foundation for LiteracyLab and West County Reads. 3,500 copies of “There’s a Tiger in My Soup” were prepared for give away to WCCUSD TKs (Transitional Kindergartners) and Kindergartners before school ends so that they won’t fall into the too traditional ‘Summer Slump’ loss of learning that is a factor in keeping WCCUSD reading scores below average.
  • Prez Stoney held up a Recognition Plaque from Peres Elementary School that was given to school supporters at the recent tour for people in the community. Stoney talked about the club’s long tradition of support for Peres and said that the Board is considering restarting the dictionary giveaway program for Peres students.
  • Herb Cole extemporaneously reminded everyone that the land for Peres School was give to the school district by Phyllis Peres Brown’s “daddy” who was on the school board at the time.
  • Foundation Director Connie Tritt did a short presentation on Rotary Foundation Annual Fund giving showing the club sets low goals and sometimes meets them (2011-12). But most of the time the club impressively surpasses its goal and thanks to a few generous members exceeds average member giving for District 5160, even in 2011-12. Connie encouraged everyone to keep up the good work if the club is to match 2013-14 giving. The 2014-15 giving deadline (June 30, same as the due date foe Rotary Dues) is rapidly approaching. Connie also talked about Paul Harris Foundation Recognition Points which everyone has and can be given to others (relatives, friends, the person sitting next to you) to make/complete their Paul Harris Society & pin requirement. Checkout your PH points at this web site or Talk to Connie. (Note – The report does not consider all member giving to the Club and/or Rotary International.)

MEETING OF May 29, 2015

Welcome

President Stoney Stonework welcomed guests and Rotarians and called the meeting to order. Connie Tritt was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Stoney led us in the invocation, a silent prayer for Freedom, Peace & Justice on Earth. Today’s Chauvinism, fresh from the Emerald Isle, “There are two classes of people that need good memories: liars & politicians.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

  • Mack Porter visited from Solano-Sunset Rotary.
  • Jim Barnet visited from Alamo Rotary.
  • Alan Baer introduced his guest, Billy Zeier of the El Sobrante Boys & Girls Club.
  • David Brown introduced his guest, Franza Griffen, a private fiduciary.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

  • Joe “Joey Baggs aka Swampy” Bagley (no relation to Shana) started recognitions reminding us that the 25th was Ralph Hill’s 92nd birthday. Give this Grand Gentleman of Rotary a call or send him a card! No Asterisk, Ralph!
  • Joe then recognized Herb Cole for his 51st anniversary taking place the next day, on May 30. Since nothing had happened yet, Herb re-told the story of his and Normie’s 50th anniversary last year.
  • Josh Genser had Happy $$ because in spite of the aluminum foil headgear, para-normal crowd at City Council, Richmond is going to issue $3MM in Social Impact Bonds in conjunction with the Richmond Community Foundation which will do something tangible to reduce the 800 foreclosed and boarded up properties in the city while also creating local jobs.
  • Sid Chauvin had Happy $$ for being back home in his own bed but Sad $$ because he had to leave Ireland in order to do it.
  • Mark Porter (Solano Sunset) had Happy $$ because his buddy Billy Zeier is being considered for Richmond Rotary membership. “He’s doing a great job at the Boys & Girls Club of El Sobrante”.
  • Joe Bagley had Happy $$ because: 1) he took out-of-town guests on a tour of Richmond including the Home Front Museum at the Craneway and got to meet two real Rosies (the Riveters) and that was “…so cool” and 2) he visited his daughter in Hermosa Beach before the oil hit the beach.
  • Herb Cole had Happy $$ because Sid’s back from Ireland, and, because he is still being charmed by Pam Jones’ new granddaughter, “Penny Lane, who is soon coming to America”.

PROGRAM

Free to be Me: How to create your personalized Cancer Survivorship Plan

Prez Stoney introduced Oncologist Dr. Madhu Shetti who presented a program based on the need for (if you are a cancer survivor like me) and benefit from a Cancer Survivorship Plan.

This was one of our ‘You should have been there…’ programs because there was a lot covered and depending on your own motivation, the topic could have been anything from frightening to boring. Dr. Shetti provided a handout outline of the program that you can get from her at this email address, madhu@shettil.net, (or me) if you are interested, but I’m not going to cover it’s many important details because they are best discussed with a ‘cancer coach’  like Dr. Shetti.

Important topics covered during her presentation included the following:

  • Where to start/getting started (often the hardest part)
  • Plan Contents
  • Exercise
  • Nutrition
  • Stress Management
  • Screening, for your family and for men & women (it’s different)
  • The Long Term
  • Other Resources…

The best part of Dr. Shetti’s presentation was seeing that bright, talented young people like herself are helping all of us deal with life’s real threats. The program name says it all (Cancer Survivorship Plan) and on to the ‘new normal’.

Thank you, Dr. Madhu Shetti, on behalf of Richmond Rotary.


Jim Young, Rotating Scribe

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