High Gear: December 1, 2014 Featuring The Big Lift Collaborative Reported By Rosalie McCloud

Posted by Scott Hartley 
on Dec 01, 2014
 
After a lovely Thanksgiving respite and lots of delicious rain, we assembled together to begin the Silly Season and anticipate 2015 in just a few short weeks.  Following the Pledge, the invocation was read by Delia Montano who quoted the writings of Mark Twain.
 
Visiting Rotarians included our speaker Anne Campbell of the San Mateo County
Office of Education.  Anne is a member of the Burlingame South club.  Also in
attendance was Nancy Bush, another Baja Burlingame member.
 
 
Guest of the Club and introduced by Cheryl Fama was Erica Wood of Silicon Valley Community Foundation who holds the position of Chief Community Impact Officer.  Marilyn Orr introduced Martin Jorgensen, Director of Operations, Burlingame Community Education Foundation.  Vidal Graupera introduced his lovely daughter Maggie who is in her senior year at U. C. San Diego.
                                                    WELCOME ALL!
Mary Murphy wished herself a happy birthday on December 8.  Ricardo Ortiz was a Christmas Eve gift, and yours truly got the birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper on the 22nd.
 
Mary Murphy noted that today is World AIDS Day. There are 34 million folks in the world with HIV and AIDS, with 1.2 million living in the United States.  There is no cure for AIDS, but it is now a manageable disease through drug therapy.
Mary also mentioned that polio is back!!!!
 
With that gloomy report concluded, John Delaney cheered us up with word of the Rotary Christmas party:
                                                       MONDAY, DECEMBER 15
                                        San Francisco Airport Marriott – Waterfront
                                                   First Floor – Bayside Ballroom
                                Convene at 11:30 A.M., lunch at 12:15 - $47.50 per person
 
We need a head count, folks.  Please call Marilyn Orr at 650-378-3628 or John Delaney at 650-375-6026.  They will take a credit card, count your head for you, and DONE!!  You’ll have extra time to practice your Christmas carols before the 15th.  You know you love Christmas Carols time with David Behling.
 
Call Marilyn or John today, please – it’s important.  Invite your significant other,
your friends, and your outlaws.  Good fun!
 
Suzanne Juptner reminded that this Friday, December 5, is the grand tree lighting at ye olde Burlingame City Hall.  Rotary Members will assemble at the parking lot between Mollie Stone’s and Walgreen’s – sort of – and parade over to City Hall in Santa hats, available at the aforementioned Walgreen’s.  Meet at 5:30/5:45.
 
Three cheers for the lovely Frances Boscacci who has lead a promising drive to
Fund Rotary projects in Borneo.  Somehow she got the Club Board to part with
$6,000, our club members are coming up with $6,000, and brilliant Jo Whitehouse, AKA Mrs. Mike Heffernan, is matching the $6,000 Burlingame Rotary Members Contributions…if we get there.  So, send your donation to Frances and let’s get those matching funds!  Congratulations, Frances, you are
a formidable advocate.
 
Sad news: our Dave Vaughn is in end stage melanoma; hospice is attending and
the family is pulling close.  No visitors or calls, please.  Cards would be appreciated.
 
                        Dave Vaughn
                        1210 Kenilworth Road
                        Hillsborough, CA 94010
 
The dynamic duo of Anne Campbell and Vicky Wood told us about the Big Lift Project.
Given that the United States is in the top 1% of earning countries in the world, we have an education problem in this country. Big Lift seeks to see that three- and four-year-olds receive quality preschool educations that will prepare them to go the distance in the 21st century world.
 
  • Children cannot thrive with sub-standard pre-school education.
  • Attendance is markedly lower among children from less affluent families.
  • Summer programs are important in providing educational continuity.
  • Families must be engaged and committed to children’s education.
These ladies, together with Carole Groom of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors comprise the Peninsula partnership leadership which looks to facilitate access to 21st Century Education.
 
The kickoff of the Big Lift Program was in May 2013 when 100 top leaders were invited to hear the program.  The question asked of these leaders?
 
                                                    ARE YOU IN?
 
By June 2013 the County was in with a $2 million commitment over two years for early intervention.  Twenty million was committed in 14 months.
 
An exciting program. We will look forward to updates.
 
Time to shop.  Remember: Diamonds go with everything.