President Doug Person called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance: Jen Fong lead the pledge
Thought for the Day: Alden Cunningham offered a sobering plea for thoughts and prayers for the families of those soldiers who have recently been killed, for those who are now in harm’s way, and for the innocent civilians who have been killed or displaced in the new Iran War. He advised us to be vigilant and on-guard for anything we hear or see that could be a potential threat here at home.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Roger Royse, brother of Al Royse; Betty Ramirez, Rotarian from Palo Alto Sunrise Club.
Announcements:
Our Japanese Edogawa Club exchange students are about to arrive on March 7-14. Doug Person and others will be taking them for a tour of Stanford, while Marc Friedman and Cary Koh entertain the adults in Arizona for golf. There will also be a sendoff party on March 14th at home of Christine and Jeff Krolik. Please save that date and enjoy meeting these talented students. We will be sending our students to Japan next year.
Jerry Winges and Jennifer Pence reminded that our Club’s major fundraiser, the upcoming "Burlingame's Got Talent," will be held at the Community Center on April 19. This will be our third annual BGT event and it is so important to fund our scholarship programs. Please save the date and come enjoy this really fun evening full of music, dance and other local talent including a great dinner buffet from top local restaurants. If you have talented kids or grandkids (and of course they are ALL talented--) please let them know we are seeking performers—see the “Call for Performers” flyer on our web site. We hope all Burlingame & Hillsborough Club members will attend, and if not consider sponsoring or at least buying a ticket! Click on the link below for more information and to purchase or sponsor.
Burlingame will dedicate its new Town Square on April 25. This long-awaited landscaped plaza between Park Road and Lorton Ave. will become a focal point for community events and features benches, landscaping, a future restaurant, and the preservation of the original Post Office lobby. We plan to host a table with our banner, flyers and information on Rotary to market our Rotary Club. Other community groups will be there, so please plan to come and celebrate.
Burlingame High Musical
The agenda was adjusted to accommodate a special guest appearance by all 28 members of the cast of Rent, who performed 3 songs to promote their upcoming performance at Burlingame High School.
Musical Director Michelle Shannon introduced the cast of "Rent" and discussed the show's theme of a chosen family, drawing parallels to their own experiences in New York City and in Burlingame. They performed a song from the show, "Take Me or Leave Me," emphasizing themes of independence and self-acceptance. The performance highlighted the importance of community and support in building a sense of belonging. They also performed a song about the stigma of poverty and being different, asking questions like "Will I lose my dignity?" and "Will someone care?" The performance aimed to give a taste of the music in the show.
The cast offered free tickets to the Rotary Club as a token of appreciation for our support of the students.
Program
The “smartest guy in the room” today was our speaker, Inventor, Investor and Teacher Professor Ronjon Nag- President, R42 Group. He was introduced by Al Royse and gave a whirlwind presentation on AI and Aging: The Coming Aging Vaccine.
Professor Nag discussed his work on aging vaccines, AI applications in healthcare, and demographic changes, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to combat aging and extend human life. He also addressed concerns about AI's impact on jobs and education, suggesting that empathy and adaptability will be crucial skills for future generations. The conversation ended with a discussion on the challenges and opportunities in developing new longevity treatments, including the potential resistance from the pharmaceutical industry.
A few interesting points:
AI is not new, and actually started as long ago as 1936 with Allan Turing. The term Artificial Intelligence was coined in 1956.
We are getting closer to mimicking the human brain’s 100 trillion neuron connections.
The demographics of some countries have flipped, and he predicted that some may become extinct such as Korea and Japan. China’s once huge population boom has flipped to a loss in population, due to the one-child policy. Other parts of the globe like India and Africa will continue to grow rapidly.
Different organs age differently, and aging is not linear.
The pillars of Lifestyle Medicine: Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Social Connections Low Stress, Forgiveness and Gratitude, Avoid risky substances.
Researchers are using AI to search for a cure for ALL diseases.
The oldest person today is 116 years old. They forecast it is possible to extend life expectancy to 150 years.
President Doug adjourned the meeting after thanking Dr. Nag and presenting him with a certificate noting that Burlingame Rotary is donating polio doses in his name.
From Bean to Bar: The Story Behind Exceptional Chocolate
What does it take to build a chocolate company that lasts more than 150 years? Gary Guittard will give us a look (and taste) inside one of Burlingame’s most enduring family businesses, founded in 1868. We’ll explore the Guittard family story, the company’s deep Burlingame roots, and what it takes to make exceptional chocolate. Gary will share how he has led the company since 1989, championing “quality from the ground up” through meticulous sourcing, craft manufacturing, and rigorous in-house quality standards.
