High Gear, September 26, 2016
Posted by Rosalie McCloud on Sep 26, 2016
The Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront was particularly welcoming on this day of blistering heat. Mike Kimball says he likes the heat. Strange, that one. At the welcome table was the lovely Sheryl Young, whose presence we have not been graced with for many moons. Ably assisting were Stephanie Lichaa and Jeanne Berube.
Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation
Professor Kimball led us in the pledge and Julius Aires delivered the invocation.
Francesca Boscacci introduced her guest, Dr. Jo Whitehouse.
Guests & Visiting Rotarians
For the second week, we enjoyed the company of Frank Keck, former District Governor in Illinois and currently a member of the Champaign, Illinois Rotary Club. Several of us inundated him with information on the golf tournament. He’s a long-term golfer, of distinction, too! Hope you will join us, Frank.
Announcements
Jim Shypertt announced that the daughter of San Mateo Rotarian Bill Kenney and his wife, Sue, has died. A card of condolence was passed.
President Stan reminded about our simply social event at 4:30 on Wednesday, September 28, when we will convene at Steelhead Brewery for Billiards and Brew.
Ricardo Ortiz’ photo was in the San Mateo Daily Journal discussing the upcoming election which will consider Proposition R – as in Rent Control.
Maggie Mac Isaac distinguished herself by being mentioned 14 times in the San Mateo Daily Journal enthusiastically supporting a bond measure on the fall ballot to provide $56 million for schools, which officials claim is necessary to build classrooms for new students and modernize local elementary and middle schools, among other efforts. For these activities Ricardo and Maggie both joined Stan’s President’s Club.
President Stan called attention to the upcoming Foundation Dinner at the Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront. All members are invited. Those having completed 25 years in Rotary will be treated to the evening by the club. Wow! Thanks, guys.
Get your foundation tickets money in to Marilyn Orr or John Delaney. And, remember, all ticket sales count toward your Paul Harris Award.
Program
Frances Boscacci introduced our first speaker, Dr. Jo Whitehouse, also known as Mrs. Mike Heffernan. Another fabulous presenter right out of our Club. Dr. Jo updated us on the progress of the Health in Harmony community hospital and training center in Borneo, which Rotary helped to finance.
At Dr. Jo’s last visit, we learned of the work of ASRI, Health in Harmony’s partner, an Indonesian non-profit co-founded by Dr. Kinari Webb, Dr. Hotlin Ompusunggu, and Dr. Antonia Gorog. The Indonesian name of the organization means “healthy nature everlasting” and the acronym ASRI means “harmoniously balanced.” The name “Health in Harmony” is self-explanatory. ASRI’s current projects are focused on health care and conservation. ASRI practices radical listening to provide innovative solutions that are win-win for people and the environment so that no one has to choose between their long-term and short-term well-being. ASRI’s stated mission is to engage community-led solutions for human health and the health of the planet. Rotary’s generous contribution of $30,000 toward the Health in Harmony Hospital is most appreciated.
Rotary’s participation was part of $1.5 million raised. ASRI found its beginnings in West Kalimantan, Indonesia (on the Island of Borneo), where poor health and grinding poverty push villagers to engage in illegal logging in Gunung Palung National Park,, home to 10% of the world’s remaining Bornean orangutans, in order to survive. When families must log tropical forests to pay for basic needs such as health care, the impacts are manifold on the habitat for rare species like orangutans. At this time ASRI’s Community Hospital and Training Center is complete and poised to serve 100,000 people living in the regency. This hospital will allow ASRI to develop a training center so what has been learned can be shared while the hospital continues to learn from others. healthinharmony.org Rotary contributions came from clubs in Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, South San Francisco, and…Montana? It’s all good. Dr. Jo was enthusiastic to announce a new CEO who will start in January. His name is Jonathan Jennings. He has a wife and two kids and will live in Portland. Thanks, Dr. Jo, for the update. We will look forward to hearing more about your projects. Congratulations, Rotarians on your generosity.
Suzanne Juptner introduced our second presenter, our very own Maggie Mac Isaac, Ed.D who is Superintendent of Schools in Burlingame. Accompanying her was Tim Ryan, Director of Facilities. Tim gave us a Construction Update. These folks have been busy! Where did the money come from? This summer the Burlingame School District managed construction projects at every site using Measure D Bond money, Prop 39 Clean Energy Jobs Act funds, the Deferred Maintenance Fund, and the General Fund.
IMPROVEMENTS
Burlingame Intermediate School: Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit, New windows on six classroom buildings, New, secure entrance, Opened l2 new classrooms in Building 10 District Office, Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit Controls for HVAC. Franklin School: Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit, Site improvement, Removed portable classroom building, Reconfigured teacher locations. Hoover School: Opened a new, 12-classroom school, Lincoln School, Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit. McKinley School: Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit, Strip and re-stripe gym floor. Roosevelt School: Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit, New Windows, Site improvement. Washington School: Energy efficiency, lighting retrofit, Paint, stucco repair
Maggie serves 3,400 Burlingame students in K through 8th grades. All schools have had their perimeters fenced in the last six years. There are no cameras installed.
Burlingame repurchased Hoover School, which is a William Weeks Design. It’s re-opening has been a great asset to the neighborhood. On the first day, there were ten cars delivering kids; everyone else walked. Thanks for the report, Dr. Maggie and Tim
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Wednesday 9/28 4:30 Billiards and Brew at Steelhead
Thursday, 9/29 4:30 Board Meeting at City Hall
Monday, 10/3 Fifth Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament
5:00 – Cocktails, dinner, Live and Silent Auctions at Peninsula Golf and Country Club
Saturday, 10/8 Foundation Dinner at Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront – get your raffle tickets
Monday 10/10 Back at ye olde Hilton San Francisco Bayfront for another great program:
Dr. Patrick Hunt. Read his book.Fabulous!