NEXT MEETING: May 29, 2015

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

As more Americans are diagnosed and cured of cancer, the question of survivorship has become a critical component of long term health and happiness. Please join us for a discussion with Dr. Madhu Shetti on:

• How to create a survivorship care plan and with whom?
• What critical elements should a plan include?
• When should your child start screening for cancer?

Dr. Shetti has been Medical Doctor, Department of Radiation Oncology, at Doctor’s Medical Center since 2011, where she evaluates patients in consultation, designs treatment plans, provides follow up care and oversees all departmental clinical and administrative duties.  Prior to that, she served as Chief Operating Officer for Students Educating and Volunteering for Health Awareness, an international non-profit organization that increases health awareness and decreases tobacco usage among teenagers in India.

Dr. Shetti is a Board member for the American Cancer Society.  Dr. Shetti completed her residency in the Department of Radiation Oncology at University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals, and she graduated with honors from University of Michigan Medical School. She holds a B.A. in History from University of Michigan, where she also participated in the Inteflex Integrated Pre-medical/Medical Program.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• President Stoney called for the annual vote of Richmond Rotary Club officers and directors to serve in the upcoming year starting July 1, 2015. The following people were nominated and elected by a unanimous vote of members in attendance: Alan Blavins (President), Josh Surowitz (President-Elect), Stoney Stonework (Past President), David Brown (Treasurer), Jon Lawlis (Secretary), Sid Chauvin (Sergeant at Arms), and these Board directors (two-year terms): Jerry Feagley, Herb Cole, Dan Tanita, and Joe Bagley. Henry Moe and Felix Hunziker were each elected as Board directors last year and have one year left on their two-year terms.
• Stoney announced that the Rotary Interact program at “Camp Royal” needs chaperones. The busses leave for the program site in the morning of June 14, returning June 20. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please contact Stoney for more information.
• Jim Young made mention of the 5th Annual Richmond Summer Book Giveaway, which kicks off summer reading for pre-K and Kindergarten kids in Richmond. A sort-and-sticker activity for volunteers just took place to organize the over 4500 donated books. Talk with Jim about other opportunities to get involved. Jim also announced a unique concert event to be held at the Arlington Community Church in Kensington on Friday, May 29, at 7:30pm. Presented jointly with BACH (Bay Area Classical Harmonies), the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble from Russia will perform a variety of Russian sacred and folk music.

MEETING OF March 22, 2015

Welcome

President Stoney Stonework called the meeting to order at the Richmond Country Club and Dan Tanita led the pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on earth. Alan Blavins provided this thought for the day: “Never trust atoms. They make up everything.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Stacey Street introduced her soon-to-be-eleven-years-old daughter, Melissa, who, as a quickly recruited courier messenger, proceeded to surprise her mom with a check for $1,000 as a donation from the Richmond Rotary Club to the Richmond Community Foundation, Stacey’s employer. Thanks, Stacey, for all that you and your organization do for Richmond!

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Dan Tanita was recognized for celebrating his 31st year as a Richmond Rotary Club member.
• David Brown and Cheryl have celebrated 35 years of marital bliss, recalling that same day over three decades ago when Mount St. Helens, the volcano, erupted.
• Nick Despota and his wife, Nel, celebrated 42 years of marriage just last week. Nick got a kiss on the cheek that anniversary morning, which helped him remember which special day it was.
• Stacey Street had happy dollars for daughter, Melissa, who is entering Middle School next year, having a birthday this week, and getting her ears pierced for earrings. Stacey was also happy about attending her own 25th class reunion at Harvard University this week.
• Josh Genser offered mixed dollars, happy for recently spending the weekend at his cabin but sad for the low river water levels due to the drought. Although fishing in a couple of deep holes was good, the overall conditions are such that he has canceled an upcoming getaway weekend with some kids from the Police Activities League (PAL).
• Ric Ambrose also had mixed dollars, happy for a wonderful art exhibit finishing up at the Richmond Art Center but sad for his 90-year-old mother who’s not feeling well.
• There were happy thoughts and dollars all around for the Giants (swept the Dodgers!) and the Warriors (late-breaking news that they’re now in the NBA finals against Lebron and the Cav’s, one of those Buckeye-State teams typically beloved of our Club President).

PROGRAM

I-80 SMART Corridor Project

President Stoney introduced Ms. Dana Koefoed (that’s Danish) from CirclePoint, a communications firm in Oakland doing outreach for The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) related to the “I-80 SMART Corridor Project”.

As Dana explained (and many of us painfully know!), more than 270,000 vehicles per day use the 20-mile I-80 corridor between the Carquinez and San Francisco Bay bridges, one of the busiest highway sections in the Bay Area (statistically the most congested in nine of the last ten years).

The I-80 Project represents one of the most sophisticated Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) in the state. It is being implemented as a network of integrated electronic signs, ramp meters and other state-of-the-art elements to enhance motorist safety, improve travel-time reliability, and reduce accidents and associated congestion.

Real-time traffic information from new and enhanced road sensors will feed variable-speed and blocked-lane signs which will allow drivers to make informed decisions in the event of an incident. Additional improvements include real-time ramp metering at 44 on-ramps to reduce merging conflicts and manage traffic volume.

Once the system is activated in late 2015, the ramp meters and real-time message signs along the corridor should contribute to optimized roadway operations and improved safety. All of this will be integrated with and managed from the Traffic Management Center at the Caltrans Bay Area headquarters in Oakland.

According to Dana, a similar system has been used in San Diego and Seattle with these results: 10% overall increase in safety, 15% reduction in traffic incidents, and 20% improvement in motorist travel time.

Caltrans, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), in cooperation with the nine cities and two transit agencies along the corridor, are implementing the I-80 ITS Project with a total budget of $79 million from Federal, State, and local sources.

Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe