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September 6, 2013

Richmond CA Rotary Posted on by

The Flywheel
Archive issue

NEXT MEETING: September 6, 2013

Single Payer Healthcare in California

Pat Snyder, a former nurse administrator and current health care policy activist, will describe the efforts to adopt a single payer health care system in California. She will look at both the benefits and deficiencies of the Affordable Care Act, and tell us why many health professionals believe we must continue to work for a single payer health care system.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The end of summer signals lots of activities:

  • Ragin Cajun Gumbo Fest, sponsored by San Pablo Rotary is Saturday September 21. $28/ea. Call Dennis for tickets at 650-4094 or email SanPabloRotary@gmail.com.
  • Jim Young gave a Sunshine report that Michele Itigaki and Hank have tied the knot! (Yahoooo!) Jim also shared that Michele is facing a full hip replacement . . . send good thoughts Michele’s way.
  • President Liliane thanked all Rotarians, businesses and Interact Students who provided meals to RotoCare volunteers of Richmond RotaCare’s Clinic. La Strada and La Revolucion provided meals, Interact Students cooked under Henry Moe’s coordination, Rotarians Mike Winter, Bill Koziol, Richard Alexander and Ganzalo Ochoa were drivers. Dr. Dan Tanita was honored for his service as our Rotocare Rep. (https://www.brighter-beginnings.org).
  • Your contribution (if you promised one) to school supply spending money for 29 teachers at Peres School is needed now.  Send check to treasurer David Brown.
  • Rotary will have a big presence at the Solano Stroll on Sunday, September 8 and needs volunteers to help in shifts with setup, friendly table talk, and take down between 9am and 6pm (http://www.solanoavenueassn.org). A fun way to be a Rotarian. Let President Lilliane know of your availability.
  • Dr. Dan Tanita is requesting a home to house a visiting Russian dental student for 2 weeks in the New Generations Exchange. Josh Genser stepped to the plate (but alternates welcome).
  • Richmond Rotary needs just 12 fun-loving Rotarians to be at the Rotary Foundation Day at the Races! at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday Nov. 16, 2013. 10% of the net ticket sales will go to Richmond Rotary’s community fund coffers. CAN YOU BE THERE? $35 includes valet parking, admission & reserved Turf Club seating with an amazing Turf Club buffet that includes salads to mouth-watering carving. RSVP to our President.
  • The Rotary A’s game and fireworks organized by Alan Baer and Raphael Madrigal is now a memorable part of the Labor Day weekend.
  • Put the District Conference on your calendars. Rotarians will have hands-on activities at the Conference in Chico on Oct. 18-20 i.e. preparing 1200 meal packets for victims of landmine disaster relief.
  • ladee-rocketProud father Jim Young disclosed that the product of his son’s efforts will soon be shot to the moon.  Not his work alone, mind you. Zion Young is a member of a team of engineers and scientists who assembled and packaged a robot dedicated to the lofty objective of sniffing out dust on the lunar surface. Jim’s family album (PDF, 1.9MB) sports pictures of Zion and colleagues assembling the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer. LADEE will be launched as early as September 6th (that’s if all the stars are properly aligned, the magic dust duly distributed, and, of course, the weather fully cooperative).  Learn more about this impressive piece of engineering from NASA.

MEETING OF August 30, 2013

Welcome

President Liliane Koziol warmly welcomed a well-attended Labor Day weekend meeting. Rotary’s newest member Gonzalo Ochoa directed our attention outdoors to the stars and stripes on the patio flagpole for the traditional pledge. Hank Covel’s invocation was followed by a thought from Sid Chauvin that trailed off, but may have been “It’s not what you know, it’s what you use …”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Visiting us today, president of San Pablo Rotary, Mack Robinson.
Ric Ambrose of the Richmond Art Center was introduced by Jan Brown. Darlene Quenville was introduced by her sweetheart Jon Lawlis.
City Councilman, Jael Myrick was introduced by Raphael Madrigal.
John “Z” Ziesenhenne of MA Hayes and President of the Richmond Museum of History was introduced by Joe Bagley. Nick Veran of MA Hayes was introduced by Josh Genser. Jim Richardson, an Accountant was also introduced by Josh Genser. Henry Moe introduced Student Guests from Salesian Interact Club: Beatriz Portillo, Hannah Cho and Patricia Torres.

Welcome all to Richmond Rotary!

Recognitions and Happy/Sad Dollars

Joe Bagley kicked off recognitions to the tune of Happy Birthday to You:

  • Today was Jon Lawlis’ birthday! Happy Birthday Jon!
  • Connie Tritt celebrated a birthday last week (Happy Birthday, Connie!)– and for those who don’t already know, Connie is moving her CPA practice to 210 Washington Ave, Point Richmond, sharing the same address as Smith Office Solutions.
  • Joan Davis’ calendar conflict could be your good fortune. She is looking for a bidder for the October 26 South African Dinner with Heather Culp.
  • Josh Surowitz,  Jim Young, and Erle Brown all had happy pre-hangover dollars for the stellar Pub Crawl tradition organized by Bill Koziol. A Rotary Auction favorite.
  • Jim Young will be gone for 5 weeks, spending time with his son and NASA’s next great launch. (see last bullet in Announcements, above).

Norm’s Nonsense

A young fellow found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, so he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his fortune.

One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  “I may look like just an ordinary guy,” he said to her, “but in just a few years my father will die, and I will inherit $200 million.”

Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Program

Melinda McCrary, Executive Director of the Richmond Museum of History

President Liliane Koziol introduced our program speaker Melinda McCrary, the Richmond Museum of History’s (first) new Executive Director. The Museum was incorporated in 1954 and enjoys its historical home in a Carnegie library, the architectural gem that was once Richmond’s Library at 104 Nevin Ave. In 1980 the building was remodeled to add storage and exhibit space.

In 1988 the SS Red Oak Victory was acquired by the Museum and is the last remaining ship built in the Richmond Shipyards. The Museum is in transition as it rebuilds and expands its board, volunteers and staff. Ms. McCrary is eager to expand the Museum’s educational outreach and update its exhibits. Among the museum’s fascinating collections is a complete collection of the Richmond Independent newspaper from 1910 until after WWII.

The Museum remains focused on acquiring artifacts related to Richmond’s past (so keep it in mind when you clean the attic).  And according to Board President Mr. Z, the Red Oak Victory’s new ambitious goal is to set sail for Normandy on June 5, 2019! Thank you Melinda McCrary for carrying the banner of one of Richmond’s finest assets.

Be sure to visit the Richmond Museum of History: http://www.richmondmuseumofhistory.org


Jan Brown, pinch-hitting scribe

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