Past President Marilyn Orr called the meeting to order at 12:28
Sean Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation:Alden Cunningham talked about the importance of strategic leadership and servant leadership. Leadership is some combination of direction as characterized by an organization’s vision and purpose, inspiration, and empowerment underscored by a certain humility—a combination of strategic and servant leadership. Since servant leadership is Rotary’s favored brand of leadership, Alden thought it important to share more about servant leadership. Its primary focus is serving others, prioritizing their growth and well-being over personal power or recognition, demonstrating humility, and fostering a sense of community within the organization. It is putting the needs of the team above one’s own to achieve collective goals. Servant leadership stresses compassion, character, and competence. To learn more about leadership, ask Alden for a copy of his leadership reading list. Thanks Alden!
President Phil Siegle returned to the podium to continue with the agenda.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Doug Person introduced one of the students who participated in our student exchange with the Edogawa club last year. Kenshiro Yamamoto has graduated high school and now is attending a university in Japan.
Announcements: Christine Krolik thanked everyone for attending the Centennial event and gave a special shoutout to all of the organizers. Nicely done!
Doug Person wants to put together a working committee to leverage the positive energy coming out of the Centennial event to increase our membership. There will be a brainstorming meeting on February 26 at 11 a.m., before the weekly lunch.
President Phil Siegle reported that Mike Kimball is in the hospital. He circulated a card for people to sign. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Mike!
Past President Fritz Brauner announced that we are partnering with Sonrisas Dental Health next week on February 26 after lunch to assemble dental hygiene kits. Please volunteer to help!
In honor of Presidents’ Day, Fritz asked if any attendees had been president of any group or organization. Several people raised their hands and talked about their experiences. Fritz then recognized the two other Rotary Past Presidents in attendance, Marilyn Orr and Bob Doerr, and asked them for some stories about their presidencies and for advice for our incoming President, Doug Person, and incoming President-elect Jerry Winges. Fun fact: William Li was President of the San Bruno club once upon a time.
Program: Doug Person introduced today’s speaker, Steve Adami, Executive Director of The Way Out, a recovery-focused homeless initiative of the Salvation Army of San Francisco. Steve spent over two decades in and out of jails and prison. He said that his recovery and transformation started in a pair of handcuffs. After being released from prison in 2010, Steve earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration; was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, a National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration; and received the Barbara Jordan Award for Academic Excellence. In 2014, Steve was hired by the San Francisco Adult Probation Department as a Reentry Services Coordinator, was promoted to a managerial position in 2017, and was appointed the Director of the Reentry Division in 2020. In May 2023, Steve was appointed the Executive Director of The Way Out, a recovery-focused homeless initiative of The Salvation Army. In this role, he advocates for effective alternatives to San Francisco’s status quo in terms of homelessness. Last March, Governor Newsom issued Steve a pardon. Steve was joined at the meeting by his colleague, Destiny Pletsch, who is Deputy Director of The Way Out.
According to Steve, the Salvation Army has been in San Francisco since 1883 and is now one of the top providers of recovery services in San Francisco. 51% of homeless people in SF suffer from addiction. 810 people died of an overdose in 2023. We are failing as a community at keeping the most vulnerable alive, safe, and well. A failed approach has led to needless deaths at exorbitant costs. We are not addressing the root drivers of homelessness. 21% of overdose deaths in SF occurred in permanent supportive housing sites.
The Way Out decided to take a recovery-based approach to help people reclaim their lives. Recovery housing improves sobriety, employment, and stable housing outcomes. It’s also 85% cheaper than permanent supportive housing. They have 255 beds across five programs to get people off the street, provide detox and drug treatment, and then provide ongoing support for up to four years. The programs are drug and alcohol-free, as opposed to some of the other shelters, where drugs are still present. Participants are connected to job opportunities to achieve financial independence. If participants relapse, The Way Out doesn’t return them to homelessness. They are moved to a more appropriate level of care to figure out what happened and get them stable again.
Participants’ results have been life changing. 76% of participants graduate drug-free, employed, and housed. The cost is $31,000 per participant per year vs. $50,000 per participant/year in permanent supportive housing. They have had zero fatal overdoses among their participants.
The Way Out is trying to expand their recovery system of care from 255 beds to 1000 beds over the next five years. The program is making a real difference in San Francisco.
Steve finished his talk by answering many questions from the engaged audience.
Phil closed out the meeting after thanking Steve and presenting him with a certificate noting that Burlingame Rotary is donating polio doses in his name.
Did you know that the health of your teeth and gums can affect your overall health and emotional well-being? For children, dental problems can even impact physical development and academic performance!
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and Dr. Bonnie Jue, Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF School of Dentistry and Community Engagement Director at Sonrisas Dental Health, will share helpful tips on simple ways to elevate your smile and support children in our community on their journey to better health.
Following the meeting, we will be assembling oral health kits to be donated to thousands of children in San Mateo County, helping them start the year with a focus on optimal oral health.
