NEXT MEETING: October 21, 2016

Manage Your Time Or It Will Manage You

No skill is more closely correlated to success in life as the ability to manage your time well.  Improve productivity and effectiveness through daily planning and prioritization; learn how multi-tasking impacts performance and key tools to manage your time for the biggest impact.

Julie Mathern of FocalPoint Business Coaching is passionate about helping organizations with social and environmental impact missions become financially sustainable. Julie takes a hands-on approach to helping clients clearly define and achieve their objectives using a vast toolkit of solutions that can be customized to meet her client’s need

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• NOTA BENE: Our October 21 meeting is back at Richmond Country Club.
• Don Lau introduced Amanda Elliot who announced the Richmond Main Street Crystal Anniversary Celebration on November 3, 2016, main event is 6-10 pm at the Rigger’s Loft in Richmond. Visit the Richmond Main Street website to join the party:
• Alan Blavins said that the annual auction hike and BBQ was rescheduled to October 30 at 3:00. Even if you did not bid on this item, it is open to all. Please contact Alan or President Josh.
• Dan Tanita presented a certificate and a beautiful Ural Mountain serpentine Egg to Alan Blavins for hosting the Russian Dentists during his presidency.
• Pam Jones reminded everyone to sign up for the District Conference (website) in Berkeley, March 24-26, 2017, as it is expected to sell out. One of the joint projects includes assembling and donating care bags for the CASA kids (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
• Don Lau announced that the Richmond Rotary Holiday Auction is on December 2nd. Visit the Holiday Auction page to browse what your fellow Rotarians have already donated, decide what you’re giving this year, then use the handy form (button on the page) to send us a description and, if you’d like, a photo.
• President Josh Surowitz emphasized that the Holiday Auction is one of our most important fundraisers as it helps us give back to our local community and to contribute to global projects. Here are a few examples of what we funded with last year’s Auction proceeds: Guatemalan Water Project; Visiting Russian Dentists; a Liver Ward in Monterey Mexico; New Library Books for Richmond Schools; Camp Royal and Camp Venture scholarships; Escape Club outings for Richmond high students; Kennedy-King Scholarships; Peres School teacher funds; Salesian student boat cruise; Fishing Derby (or Darby as they across the Pond); Buy a Kid a Bike with the Richmond Fire Department; Rotoplast; Rota Care community health clinics; the Pink Lilly Project for cancer treatment in Kenya; and the Monterey Mexico Wheelchair Project. That’s a lot of relief of pain and suffering and stress in the world.

MEETING OF Friday, October 7, 2016

Welcome

President Josh called the meeting to order and asked Mayor Tom Butt to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Dan Tanita asked for silent prayers for freedom, peace, and justice one Earth and Sergeant-at-Arms Sid Chauvin offered a quote for the day: “Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people on poor countries.” – Douglas Casey.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

• Alan Baer brought his nephew Donald Baer.
• Jon Lawlis, just back from Canada, introduced his daughter Alissa and his fiancé Darlene Quinville.
• Don Lau brought Amanda Elliot.
• Neville Guard was our visiting Rotarian.
• Wally Arakozie was a visitor who may soon become a new member.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Jon Lawlis had 20 happy Canadian dollars as he was glad to be back from a summer in Canada.
• Stacey Street was happy because the Richmond Community Foundation just won an Outstanding Grantmaker Award.
• David Brown was also happy to take Jon Lawlis’ Canadian “funny money.”
• Mark Howe and Neville Guard were both happy because the Cocktail Cruise (Rotary Auction Item) was fun.

PROGRAM

Supporting Housing for Those In Need

Program Chair Stacey Street introduced our speaker, Nikki Beasley, Executive Director of the Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services. Ms. Beasley retired from the banking industry to put her heart and soul into strengthening low-income families and neighborhoods through the promotion of affordable housing and financial literacy. They have helped with HUD foreclosure mitigation, addressed issues of urban blight, and are providing resources to young people to encourage success and to stay in Richmond.

For more information, visit the East Bay Housing Services website. If you want to help, there you’ll find volunteer opportunities.

- Shana Bagley Howe, Rotating Scribette