NEXT MEETING: September 14, 2018
Club meets at Hilltop Mall on Friday. See below.

What's new at the West County Unified School District?

West County Unified School District Superintendent Matt Duffy will talk about the challenges and opportunities on the horizon for the District.

Matt is new to our school district. Prior to coming to Contra Costa, he served as the Assistant Superintendent in Milpitas Unified. There he was in charge of teaching and learning, leadership, enrollment, technology, Special Education, and Local Control and Funding Plan development.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Club will meet at the Conference Room at the Shops at Hilltop Mall this Friday, not the Richmond Country Club.
  Directions
  Use the main entrance by the Richmond Police substation. Park between Walmart and the old JC Penney. Take the elevator to the second level, and the conference room is to the left of the main Shops at Hilltop office. Map.
• Ric announced that the Richmond Art Center has new exhibits opening: “Califas: Art of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands”, “What Knot?” with California artists who work with fiber and textiles, and “Lia Cook: Inner Traces”.
• Oscar asked for more volunteers for tree watering every weekend Contact Felix if you’re interested.
• Tamara announced that her Multicultural Bookstore was having specials for Grandparents’ Day and a fundraiser dinner on November 2 to buy inventory for the holidays.

MEETING OF September 7, 2018

Welcome

Past President Connie called the meeting to order. Nick led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Herb asked for a moment of silence of peace, freedom and justice on Earth. Syd Chauvin had a thought for the day: “Birthdays are good for you; the more you have the longer you live.”

Rotarians with guests

Darlene introduced her five guests:
Sergio Rios
Nellie Rickert
Lucero De Leon
Ada Recinos
Eduardo Martinez

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

Ric presided over Recognitions and Happy & Sad Dollars.

• Bob Dabney confessed to celebrating his 88^th.
  

Happy & Sad Dollars:

• Josh G was happy to be back from safari in Africa.
• David wished everyone a happy Jewish New Year.
• Herb Cole was happy to hear the sound of “USC” out of someone else’s mouth.
• Tamara was happy for Grandparents’ Day.

PROGRAM

Oscar introduced our own Darlene Drapkin (rhymes with napkin). Darlene re-introduced her guests, who were among members of the steering committee for Calle 23, a program she manages whose aim is to revitalize the 23^rd Street business district

Darlene has been marshaling assets, cajoling cooperation from the business community and residents, and applying for grants, all to further a campaign to clean up 23^rd Street and attract more people to its retail shops. The key to the program is the involvement of all stakeholders and collaboration with the City and other agencies. An alley behind Portumex restaurant has already been cleaned up and paved.

Darlene hopes to put into place a façade improvement program, to install street furniture and streetscapes, to slow down traffic and in other ways, make 23^rd Street an appealing destination for shopping and eating.

- Josh Genser, Rotating Scribe