Burlingame Rotary Club
Founded in 1925

High Gear Bulletin

 

Zoom Meeting - Wednesday, January 13, 2020

High Gear Editor:  Marilyn Orr

High Gear
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Editor: Marilyn Orr
 
President Emily Matthews began the meeting at 12:15 by ringing her great-grandmother’s bell.
 
The Pledge of Allegiance was enthusiastically led by Sheryl Young. It reminded her of the pride she felt in elementary school when she was selected to hold the flag.
 
Donna Colson then delivered her Invocation. She selected a very appropriate poem by beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti written in 2007.
 
Pity The Nation (after Khalil Gibran)
Pity the nation whose people are sheep,
and whose shepherds mislead them.
Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,
and whose bigots haunt the airwaves.
Pity the nation that raises not its voice,
except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as hero
and aims to rule the world with force and by torture.
Pity the nation that knows no other language but its own
and no other culture but its own.
Pity the nation whose breath is money
and sleeps the sleep of the too well fed.
Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erode
and their freedoms to be washed away.
My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty.”
 
Donna then followed with words of wisdom from her Great Aunt Lillian Wills Springer at 100 years of age. “I had the privilege of being associated with the finest of people - many of whom are still my closest friends.  God has been very good to me.  I thank Him each and every day for my many blessings; for my good health over the many years, for my family and wonderful friends, for the privilege of enjoying all of His wonders, and for the spiritual guidance of my parents”.
 
We had a number of guests. Three former Rotarians joined us, Jim Nantell, Bob Hortop and Dave GallegosJay Miller then introduced his guest.  Eric Berkovsky was the former president of the UC Berkeley Rotaract club. He recently graduated from Berkeley and has begun a Masters program at the University of Pennsylvania.
 
Announcements:
  • Happy Hour will be Friday at 5:00PM
  • Fritz Brauner announced the upcoming Pet O’Rama that he and Jennifer Pence will be hosting in two weeks. Email photos of your pet (living or not) to Nancy Bush (nancybush@gmail.com). Then wait for the fun.
     
  • Alden Cunningham informed us of a program by John Hewko, RI General Secretary, discussing how clubs can survive in the future. To watch that presentation use the link below.
  • There will be a Spring Golf Tournament on May 3rd.  Go to https://burlingamerotary.org/page/golf-tournament for details
 
Since our fellowship options via Zoom are rather limited, we again employed the Zoom Breakout Rooms.  With the flick of her wrist, Emily transported us to groups of 4 or 5 and we were able to chat for a few minutes.  This was done twice so we could “gather” with different Rotarians.
 
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Mike Heffernan introduced our very own Basil Emery who joined us along with his wife Annabelle. Last week we recognized Basil for reaching the age of 100 years young.  This week we are celebrating another milestone, 50 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Burlingame.  Thanks to Mark Johnson, Basil was able to participate answering questions put forth by Mike. Question #1 “What is your greatest memory of being in the Army Air Corp?”  Basil gave a brief history of his time, beginning in Louisiana where is group were charged with finding ammunition and fuel for the Air Corp’s war efforts.   He went on to mention his Air Corp group involvement with the campaign centered in India and flying over the “hump” to engage the Japanese who had invaded China.  Question #2 “What is your most memorable memory of Burlingame Rotary?” Basil had thought Rotary was an organization for just rich men.  He found out differently once he joined. He was the first Black member to be brought into the Club. He was happy to see the focus on education, health care and youth of the community. Question #3 “What do you think is the best thing that has happened in your 100 years?”  To Basil it was the opportunity to meet many people in business and to become more involved in the community. Question #4 “What would you like to see happen in the next 100 years?” Basil would like to see more minority and younger members brought into Burlingame Rotary.  Bobba Venkatadri then asked Basil what his secret for reaching 100 years of age. Basil felt it was because he was a God-fearing man and always treated others as he would want to be treated.  Amen!
 
Speaker
Donna Colson introduced our speaker. Jan Pepper, with over 30 years of energy and utility experience, with a focus on renewable energy contracting and financing, joined Peninsula Clean Energy as CEO in May 2016 as the first employee and has grown the organization to its current state.  Peninsula Clean Energy is the community choice aggregation agency for San Mateo County and will be expanding to the City of Los Banos in 2022.  The organization is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by delivering 100% clean, greenhouse-gas free, electricity to almost all of the residents and businesses in San Mateo County and working to transition transportation and building energy use to use this clean electricity. Jan explained their goals and how the agency works. They are designing a portfolio of power that is sourced from 100% carbon-free sources by 2025 and greenhouse gas-free by 2045 to match the State’s goal. PCE is the generator of the electricity and PG&E delivers it to customers. She then reviewed the sources of this clean energy.  The largest are two solar farms in Merced and Kings Counties as well as a wind farm in Solano County. There are two service levels from which customers can choose. ECOPlus is the program that rate payers are automatically enrolled in. This provides electricity generation that is 50% renewable and 100% carbon-free. As a benefit the rate is 5% lower than PG&E. The next level is ECO100 which delivers electricity that is 100% renewable and adds on average $4 to the consumer’s bill.  Anyone who would like to upgrade you can do so on the PCE website.  https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/
 
PCE is, also, investing in programs to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the community. They have begun programs to encourage and incentivize the use of electric vehicles.  The agency is investing in installing 3500 charging stations around the county. They are also creating initiatives to encourage more all-electric buildings. They just completed as All-Electric Awards Program.    PCE is committed to a sustainable world with clean energy for everyone.
 
Emily presented Jan with a certificate of appreciation noting that our Club would be donating 5 polio vaccinations in her honor.
 
Before adjourning Emily showed a short video highlighting Basil Emery’s long and fruitful life. To view click below.
 
 
 
 
 
 
To view this meeting use the link below:
 
Order a Home Flocking
The flocks have been flying! Below are photos of our first two flockings. Details about home flockings and order info on the website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Jan 20, 2021 12:15 PM
Jan 27, 2021 12:15 PM
A Surfer in the White House
Feb 03, 2021 12:15 PM
Redwood City Harbor Update
Feb 10, 2021 12:15 PM
White Hats vs. Black Hats - How Hackers Can Save the Internet
Feb 17, 2021 12:15 PM
Stories from her time in the army
Feb 24, 2021 12:15 PM
Mid-Peninsula Speakers Series (MPSF)
Mar 10, 2021 12:15 PM
The Business of Sports
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Program Committee Meeting
Zoom Meeting contact Rotary@nolamarketing.com for access
Feb 02, 2021 8:00 AM
 
Program Committee Meeting
Zoom Meeting contact Rotary@nolamarketing.com for access
Mar 02, 2021 8:00 AM
 
View entire list
Member Birthdays
Mike Heffernan
January 1
 
Duffy Offield
January 6
 
Marianne Kristofferson
January 13
 
Linna Golodriga
January 14
 
Ted Kruttschnitt
January 14
 
Bob Doerr
January 16
 
Michael Harvey
January 18
 
Jay Miller
January 23
 
Lisa Goldman
January 25