High Gear: August 25, 2014 Featuring Jo Whitehouse

President Mary called the meeting to order at the appointed time.   The pledge was led by Joe Camaroto, the invocation read by Rosalie McCloud.  The invocation was authored by Mark Twain and read with passion and conviction, of course.

 

Guests of Rotarians included Robert Doyle, younger son and chief technology assistant of President Mary.  Also present was Pete Wanger from the Rotary netherland, somewhere between Rotary Club of San Mateo and our own Burlingame Rotary.  They say females can’t make up their minds!!!

 

Guests of Rotarians included today’s speaker Jo Whitehouse, introduced by the lovely Frances Boscacci, Mrs. Joyce Bouquet introduced by Pierre Bouquet, Cheryl

Fama’s granddaughter Sofia.  Mike Heffernan introduced Vivian, last year’s Rotary scholarship winner.  Charles Voltz introduced his life partner, Mary Hunt.

 

Jim Shypertt gave a sunshiny report, stating all doing very well.  Not just well, mind, but VERY WELL. 

 

The Program Committee announced their 7:00A meeting on September 2.  Oops,

missed it! The best speakers are from our club really, and their talented significant others, I must say.  Program Committee is fun. Your reporter attended

once (probably up all night the night before).  When you hear the discussion of possible speakers, it prompts you to think of someone you know who would be an interesting speaker. Surely you know someone. Drop in; Lage makes coffee!

 

Dave Behling reported on the Spirit Run.  This is a highly anticipated family event in Burlingame; a happy success.

Doug McGeorge and Jan Petty survived the Napa earthquake as did their home.  It did wake and startle them.  Where am I, who am I?  Good you’re safe, kids.

Charlie Rosebrook encouraged members to pay up their October 20 Club Barbecue.  They got my money; that is one fun evening.  The golf tournament

precedes the barbecue, of course. Marilyn Orr will happily receive your money.

 

Robert Doyle assisted President Mary in running a video of Mary getting the ice bucket.  We used to throw Rotary Presidents in the pool, so this is the least she

can do.  The ALS Challenge has already garnered $100 million dollars.  There can be no greater cause.

 

Bob Doerr reminded about the Rotary Means Business (RMB) event in Foster City on Wednesday night.  Bill Chow is roasting a pig and Rotarians will chow down and make new business contacts.

 

Scholarship girl Vivian graduated Burlingame High School this year with a 4.121 average. No typo, she basically exceeded perfect.  Good thing, she’s studying pre-med.

 

Peter Comaroto updated us on the various Rotoract Clubs on the mid-Peninsula,

exposing teens to Rotary.  The Serra High School Rotaract has been active for three years, the Notre Dame Rotaract is in Year 2.  Unfortunately, interest in the Burlingame High School Rotaract is waning.

 

Peter and Maki Kobayashi, with an assist from Bob Doerr, are working on an International Student Exchange for three to five students. More later.

 

Pierre Bouquet delivered a newscast that defies description and will be our little secret.  No idea why his appearance had repeatedly been put off. We love you,

Pierre, but really…

Mike Heffernan done good.  Mike’s wife Jo Whitehouse was our speaker today.

Dr. Jo  is UCSF-trained in physical rheumatology, a USC cum laude in bio-chemistry, and has spent the last twenty years working on new drugs.  She is an

award-winning UCSF professor.  She is full of energy, profoundly generous, and

enthusiastic.  She’s pretty and nice, too!

 

Dr. Jo talked about her work in Borneo “Saving lives and saving rainforests”—in

ninety-degree humidity!

 

Borneo is in Malaysia and is home to ten percent of the world’s orangutans. Palm oil is the number one export.  It takes 150 years to re-forest a rainforest.

 

The glorious ASRI organization was founded in 2007 with a mission to balance the health of people with the health of the environment.

 

The ASRI clinic sees 45 patients a day, mostly for tuberculosis and malaria.  Organic farming is taught.   ASRI workers act as guardians to monitor and prevent illegal logging.  There is a seedling program.

 

ASRI teaches kids about habits of hygiene and the importance of clean water.

 

WHAT????????????   When a woman loses her husband, she is given a goat.  There, all’s good, you’re set.

 

There has been an almost 100% increase in family income due to organic farming.

 

There is hope that Rotary can assist these people with their basic needs.  It is required that there be a local Rotary Club available to guide the project.  Unfortunately, the Rotary Club in Malaysia is on Bali, has only 15 members, and is 500 miles from Borneo. 

 

Still Dr. Jo and her associates are on the case and Frances Boscacci is helping.

 

Thanks, Dr. Jo, it was riveting.

 

                              SEE YOU MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8!

Upcoming Programs:

            September 8:  Mike Hurley - Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency

            September 15:  Tom Mohr – Community College System

            September 22:  Dave Parker – Original Lone Ranger

            September 29:  Dr. Dan Ullyot – Hepetitis C, What’s New