NEXT MEETING: May 6, 2016

Richmond Rotary's Teen Moms Project

Now in its eleventh year, the Teen Moms Project offers words of encouragement to young women at Richmond high schools. We back up those words with gift bags stuffed with baby care essentials—diapers, blankets, baby shampoo and lotion, and more.
At this special meeting/workshop, we’ll roll up our sleeves, package the gift bags, and write personalized notes to each young mother.  This is a fun, hands-on project that you’ll definitely want to be part of. Richmond Rotary is grateful to Burt’s Bees, Project Linus, and Dr. Dan Tanita for their donations to this effort.

Now it’s our turn. Please be sure to attend this gratifying –and fun!– annual project meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Historic Preservation Commission has conferred its National Park Service Home Front Award to Jan Brown for her body of work over many years supporting the Rosie the Riveter Park. All are invited to attend the award ceremony on Wednesday, May 25th. Congratulations, Jan!
  The Ceremony will take place in the City Council Chambers, followed by a reception at the Richmond Art Center. Download award ceremony invitation.
• President Alan Blavins presented another amazing Holiday Auction sketch to Erle Brown.
• Swampy Joe Bagley announced that the Veteran’s Home project is Saturday April 30.
• David Brown said that Henry Moe’s District 5160 boat cruise for the Salesian Interact Club is now fully funded!
• Alan Blavins reminded us that the bocce ball tournament is this May and we should field two teams. Please contact Alan Baer or Pam Jones.
• Ric Ambrose announced that it was Sid Chauvin’s 12^th Rotary anniversary. Yipppeeee!

MEETING OF April 29, 2016

Welcome

President Alan Blavins called the meeting to order, asked a club member from the back of the room to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and asked Dan Tanita to lead us in a silent prayer for peace. Sergeant-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered the quote of the day: “If you don’t cuss while driving, then you are not paying attention to the road at all.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

George Egan’s guest was Marge Bottari

Don Lau brought Candy Souza

Jerry Feagley’s guests were J.R. Griffin and George Lyon

Nico Veran brought John Ziesenhenne

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Sid Chauvin had happy dollars to recognize Herb Cole for bringing him into our club so that he could play poker with him.
• Jon Lawlis was happy for attending Hank and Doreen Covell’s dinner party (a popular Holiday Auction item).
• Jerry Feagley was also happy for attending the marvelous dinner.
• Erle Brown was equally happy not only for attending the dinner party but for the sign that told him which fork to use.
• Ric Ambrose was happy that Don Lau sponsored him as member almost a year ago.
• Dan Tanita was happy for Jerry Goff being the NFL first draft pick. [Scribe’s note: Shana attended the same high school as Jared Goff and his parents. It is nice to see San Rafael High School receive credit for something other than inventing the slang term “4-20.”]

PROGRAM

The Y Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Program Chair extraordinaire Stacey Street introduced the legendary Don Lau as our speaker.  Don is the Executive Vice President of the YMCA of the East Bay.

The Y started out as the Richmond Youth Center and eventually joined forces with other local Ys to become the YMCA of the East Bay. There are now over 40 different locations for families to enjoy. Since 1983 when Don came on board, the Y has expanded to include childcare (7 sites, 350 children per day), mental health services (34 counselors and 16 interns to serve 670 children per day) the expanded learning program (1,000 students per day), a child development center, and a new location at Hilltop. The Y also partners with community programs including the holiday toy drive, Rosie’s Girls, and RPAL.

Learn more about the YMCA of the East Bay. Then help Zoe become President of the United States.

The YMCA isn’t just a gym, it is a community.

- Shana Bagley Howe, your rotating Scribette