June already? Time flies when you look forward to another great Rotary lunch of good fellowship and a great program The lovely Sheryl Young and the devastatingly attractive Joe Galligan took our cash or punched us. President Stan called Rotary Club of Burlingame Meeting #2756 to order. President Stan has kept meticulous records since 1925.
Pledge and Invocation
Emily Matthews was invited to lead the pledge. Charles Voltz delivered a warm invocation.
GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS
Emily Matthews had a full table of guests including the dashing Ben Matthews who accompanied mom today. Folks from the Team River Runner Palo Alto group included Chapter Coordinator James Ward, Fernando Cruz, Christopher Leo Ferris, Ret. Marine Corp, and his wife, Melissa, and Reese Levasseur who coordinates fundraising for Team River Runner.
For his second visit, we welcomed Doug Person, who is looking forward to submitting his membership application to join Rotary Club of Burlingame. See you next week, Doug. We were delighted to have as guest today Ms. Donna Colson, Burlingame City Council Member and generally friend of the Club and advocate for the City.
Announcements
A memorial to note the passing of our long-time member Jay Plank will be held on June 27, 2:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian, Burlingame. Jay was 96 years of age at passing and had been a member of our club since 1981, sponsored by Don Revfem.
It’s that time of year. The nominating committee has been seeking a leader for the 2018-2019 Rotary Year. An affable and environmentally friendly Marc Friedman has been chosen to lead us. His enthusiasm was a bit underwhelming, but he has a year to watch and observe President Stsn and President-Elect Mike, so he knows what not to do.
Mark your calendars, our 6th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament event will be held October 2, 2017, at Peninsula Golf and Country Club. This event has raised $50,000 which have been awarded in scholarships thusfar. Before the golf event, some $8,000 had been earned. Clearly, this is an important support mechanism for our scholarships program. You don’t golf? You probably know some golf-crazy guys and gals. Send them one of our great flyers. Besides golfers, we need silent auction items, live auction items. Hotel and golf packages are ideal. You may know someone with a connection. It couldn’t be a more worthy cause.
Just our style! There will be a “Thank You” Food Truck event in the backyard of the home of Peter and Sandy Comaroto, 1576 Cypress, Burlingame, from 4:30 to 7:00. It’s a free event, but a donation of $10.00 each would be appreciated. This is a “Thank You” from the committee who is sending four kids to our sister city in Edogawa, Japan for some cultural enrichment. Mary Murphy is going along to impress with The Queen’s English.
If you prefer to donate $11.00 or more, you will be accommodated.
Program
Emily Matthews introduced our speaker James Ward of Team River Runner(TRR). Here we thought Em was just being a show-off with her photos paddleboarding in white water! It turns out she has been involved with Team River Runner.
James Ward became emotional as he described the joy of exposing the injured to the water, thereby often opening paths to physical and mental freedom as well as a sense of independence. These programs get veterans out of their houses.
There are sixty Team River Runner Chapters nationally, with the newest one planned for Sacramento. The course is seven weeks long, one evening per week. There are techniques taught including a Kayak roll and a wet exit.
The VA hospital is supportive and the Palo Alto courses use one of their pools and allows 15 boats to be stored at the hospital.
Fernando Cruz is a veteran of the United States Air Force and suffers from severe arthritis. Guests David and his wife Melissa both grew up on Humboldt Street in San Mateo. Fernando joined the service and became a diesel mechanic. He was the victim of a terrible accident, suffering horribly painful nerve damage to his foot, putting him in a wheelchair. He suffered through 10-13 surgeries and reinjured himself, surrendering to three more surgeries. He was depressed and drinking too much.
Two years ago, he had some further medical issues, lost thirty pounds, and was introduced to Team River Runner. The idea of hanging upside down, bound, did not appeal. Still, Fernando completed the California 100; that’s 100 miles on the water in one day. Not to brag, but our Emily Matthews has completed it twice. Fernando is now a TRR volunteer. Fernando repeatedly creditied wife Melissa with her support through all his troubles.
Reese Levasseur served our country from 1992-2002. He suffered a post-service motorcycle accident. He is wheelchair-bound and works in fundraising for TRR.
TRR is a 501(C)3 organization and is operated 100% by volunteers with 100% of donations going directly to the program.
A program costs a minimum of $600 providing a helmet, a skirt, and a boat. A paddle would be extra as well as any required adaptation required for participant’s physical limitations. The VA will participate in the cost of adaptations.
Adaptive, therapeutic kayaking for post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, amputation, spinal cord injuries, sight impairment, and other disabling wounds.
Thanks, Emily, for suggesting we meet these folks.
NEXT WEEK:
Thursday, June 8 Food Trucks at Peter and Sandy’s House
Wednesday, June 14 Mark Simon, Caltrain/Samtrans at Poplar Creek
Thursday, June 15 Golf Committee at Boston Private 4:00
Tuesday, June 27 Memorial for Jay Plank at First Presbyterian Church, Burlingame
Apparently, our President Stan is carbs-loading in Positano. Tough duty. Leading us today was Mike Horwitz, President-Elect for the 2017-2018 Rotary year upcoming. Practicing on us, he was.
Uh oh, full house and new faces everywhere. No fellowship period, so no chance to circulate and meet everyone. We apologize if we missed someone. Corrections welcomed. Nice to see lots of old and new friends.
Pledge and Invocation
President-elect (P-E) Horwitz called the meeting to order at the stroke of 12:15 and invited Dennis Zell to lead us in the pledge. His “I’ was at the absolutely perfect pitch. We were inspired. Professor Mike Kimball spoke the invocation, wondering why we must tolerate P-E Horwitz when his domination doesn’t start until July 1. Darned good question.
GUESTS AND VISITING ROTARIANS
Visiting Rotarian from Switzerland was Bruno Staheli, here on vacation, visiting his daughter in San Mateo who works at Twitter. Also visiting was John Scarborough who identifies himself as “21 Fun Casino Parties.” Doug’s daughter is one of our kids going to Japan. Another guest was Tatyana Dorokhovo who is In the wealth business. Yes!! Guest Doug Ponder is Donor Relations Director for The Salvation Army in San Francisco. Guests of Sheryl Young were Lily Rey and Beverly Stern.
Announcements
Sunday, May 21, was the debut of Bistro Burlingame. It was deemed a success and earned an estimated $3,000 for our student exchange program with our sister city Edogawa. Bob Doerr thanked the club for its support and recognized his committee members. The planning time was very short, of necessity, so the committee was unusually challenged. Bob especially recognized Mary Murphy for the many tasks she performed with her usual high performance level.
We picked up another $150.00 selling Youth Exchange badges for $5.00 each.
Cary Koh of the Golf Committee reminded that this is our big fundraiser of the year and everyone should be thinking of someone who would like to play, then enjoy our scintillating company and a great barbecue at the beautiful Peninsula Country Club. Golf Committee Members are reminded there is a meeting tomorrow, Thursday, May 24, 4:00P, Boston Private Bank.
Mark Johnson announced the passing of our Jay Plank at 96 years of age. Jay was a longtime Hillsborough resident, a pilot by profession, a Burlingame Rotarian since 1981, having been sponsored by Don Refvem. Jay was incredibly generous and funded important scholarship programs. He was selected for the Wade Macomber Award in 2007. We will always miss you, Jay.
Rotary Club of Burlingame Wade Macomber Award Qualifications: When Dr. Henry (Wade) Macomber (1894-1983) died after more than a half-century of Burlingame Rotary membership, then-President Ogden White established a memorial service award in his honor. Each year the award has renewed and fulfilled his promise “that the kind of steady, loyal, selfless service epitomized by Wade Macomber will not go unheralded.” In order to qualify for this award, the member (1) must have been a member in good standing of the Rotary Club of Burlingame for not less than ten years, (2) must have, in a number of specifically-identified ways, contributed in person service above and beyond normal expectation, to the purpose, objectives and principles of Rotary, (3) must have made significant and unique contribution in personal service to the local community measured from the standpoint of personal time, effort, and actual accomplishment, (4) among peers, must be recognized as a leader, a doer and an accomplisher of special abilities, (5) must have personal attributes and characteristics which identify the person as a truly outstanding individual.Please submit nominations to Mark Johnson no later than Monday, June 5. Email markj@coldwell banker.com or phone 650-619-2828.
Program
Kudos to Sheryl Young and our Program Committee for another great speaker today. We were honored to meet James Higa who is sometimes described as Steve Jobs’ right-hand man. Higa, a Stanford University political-science major was working as a freelance photographer – hardly a typical resume for work at Apple – when he was called to photograph an Apple ad and met Steve Jobs. His first camera was a Nikon F. He refused the job, calling the project a “crap ad.” Jobs was impressed with clarity and truth. A thirty-year relationship was born.
In the mid-1980s, Higa worked for Apple setting up its business in Japan. In 1989 he joined Jobs’ second computer company, NeXt, and ran Asia-Pacific operations there until 1996, when Apple bought NeXt and Jobs returned to the company as an advisor. Higa did not return with Jobs, however; instead, he joined RealNetworks, the online-multimedia software company, as a senior executive in charge of its international and consumer businesses. In 2001, he returned to Apple at a critical point in its turnaround – that was the year that Jobs unveiled the iPod.
James Higa is well-known for having negotiated all the components that resulted in the iTunes Store.
James Higa was born in Japan and has lived in the Bay Area since 2000. He and his family currently live in Willow Glen.
Innovation always starts at the end of unreasonableness.
Execution of a concept is 80% person and 20% idea.
iPhone is not innovative; is based on LINUX. Appeal is in its usefulness/design for the consumer.
A convivial group gathered at beautiful Poplar Creek to enjoy each other, great food, and our own Paul Belzer as speaker for the day. The pledge was ably led by Professor Kimball, and Dr. Paul Nieberding treated us to a unique and lovely invocation:
AN AFRICAN BLESSING:
Walk tall, walk well, walk safe, walk free, And may harm never come to thee.
Walk wise, walk good, walk proud, walk true. And may the sun always smile on you.
Walk prayer, walk hope, walk faith, walk light. And may peace always guide you right.
Walk joy, walk brave, walk love, walk strong, And may life always give you song.
President Stan recognized Mike Horwitz for his sixteen years membership in Rotary. Jim Shypertt celebrates 16 years.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests of the Club
Stan introduced his guest, Aaron Moore, with SJC Financial in San Mateo. No relation to our Stan.
Announcements
Jennifer Pence reminded that Bistro Burlingame premiers this Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel in Burlingame. Many of our great Burlingame Restaurants are participating. It will be an early evening of fun and frolic. Live music, too. Easy, peasy, just go to Burlingame.org and sign up at the purple square. This is where Rotary raises the cash to support all our great programs. SUNDAY, MAY 21 – 4:30 TO 7:30 – Doubletree Hotel
Completing one of the tasks to earn her square badge, Mariya Shklovskaya took a few minutes to tell us about herself. This accomplished lady could have filled an hour. Mariya was born in Kiev, Ukraine. Mariya, her husband, and two children are residents of Hillsborough. The children will be attending Burlingame High School, so today’s program was an excellent preview. After a varied work background, Mariya is a real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Burlingame, She also uses her clinical psychology degree to do consulting, and is involved in the import of wine.
Mark Johnson reminds us to mark our calendars: June 28 is the date of the debunking of President Stan. That means July 1 begins the year of Mike Horwitz.
Program
Dennis Zell introduced the principal of his alma mater, Paul Belzer, Principal of Burlingame High School. Paul is also a member of Rotary Club of Burlingame. Paul received an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s Degree from San Francisco. He spent ten years teaching at Mills High School, then served as Assistant Principal of Capuchino High School. “May we live in interesting times.” Paul emphasized that a high school curriculum and mission in 2017 must prepare students for the new work force. We must meet students where they are. The world is new and changing daily.
New California standards encourage short questions and require long, written responses. Math questions require narrative response. Sixty-five to 75% of high-school graduates go on to four-year colleges. The University of California System requires a 4.1 GPA. Online and self-study increasingly popular…and effective!!! Teachers available on line for questions, monitoring.
Burlingame High School has a student population of 1,450. Languages taught include Chinese, Spanish, and Italian. Courses available in drama, ceramics, choir, music, Robotics. Mental health counselors support academic and social progress.
Thanks so much for the update, Principal Paul. A book is being donated to the Burlingame Library in your name.
Next week – May 24 – Poplar Creek
Sheryl Young and James Higa, f current Executive Director of the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
May 31 – Dark – Memorial Day Week
June 7 – Emily Matthews introduces Team River Runner; using paddling to rehab wounded vets.
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