After ringing the bell, President Doug asked Joe La Mariana to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. AV, William Li, was tapped to give the invocation. He alluded to an upcoming move to Southern California. After a collective gasp. he admitted it was an April Fool's Joke. He spoke of the spirit of this day, saying it was about fun, harmless pranks and jokes. He then cautioned that this can morph into misinformation which may not be so harmless.
Visitors: We had a number of visitors. Oliver Brown was present for his third visit. William introduced his colleague, Mandy Brown, Assistant City Manager of Hillsborough. Joe LaMariana brought along two members of RethinkWaste, John Mangini and KarinnaHammoud
New Member
President Doug invited Al Royse and Bob Doerr to come forward. Bob introduced our newest member, Philip Holsworth. Philip is a professional fiduciary. Al presented him with his pin and welcomed him to the Club. Philip then recounted his time at Ball State University, where he was in a singing group with David Letterman and Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield.
Announcements:
Jennifer noted that she could use a few more volunteers for the AVID Mock Interviews at BHS on April 23rd and April 30th.
She continued by announcing the time capsule ceremony on April 9th at the Community Center. Our Rotary brochure will be one of the items placed in the vault.
Jerry reminded us of the networking opportunity at the brand-new Town Square. “You Belong Burlingame” will be on April 25. There will be a table for the Rotary Club of Burlingame & Hillsborough. We need volunteers to help.
AI Lesson
Nimisha Melag and Jennifer Pence gave a demonstration of the “wonders” of artificial intelligence. Nimisha asked ChatGPT to translate a greeting from English to her native language, Gujarati. After requesting that it acknowledge the birthday of Rotarian MarilynOrr, she informed us that the app was right on! Jennifer then asked if someone had a suggestion for ChatGPT. Bob Doerr requested that it create a poem for Marilyn’s birthday.
Today we gather, voices in sync,
Before Marilyn tells us, “Please watch the clock and think!”
For no detail escapes her sharp, watchful eye,
Not a number, a name or a reason why.
Our finances? Flawless. Attendance? Tight
If it’s tracked by Marilyn _ it’s done just right.
Every penny accounted, each member in place,
She keeps Rotary running with order and grace.
Thank you, ladies, for showing us the power of artificial intelligence’s amazing applications. And a special thank you to Nimisha who baked and presented a birthday cake.
Program
Al Royse introduced our speaker, Laurie Adams. Laurie is a current Hillsborough councilwoman and former President and CEO of Pollinator Partnership; a national non-profit organization focused on pollinator conservation. Laurie stressed the importance of pollinators, highlighting that there are 200,000 species of pollinators including bees, bats, and other animals. She explained how honeybees work cooperatively in hives with specific roles, while native bees exhibit different social structures. Laurie noted that 95% of flowering plants require animal pollinators, with these plants providing nectar and pollen as food rewards for pollinators.
Laurie went on to discuss the critical role of pollinators in food production, explaining that one in every three bites of food in the Western diet comes from pollinated plants, which provide essential micronutrients. She highlighted the importance of pollinators for California's specialty crops, which account for 30% of what Americans eat, and mentioned that the top 10 antioxidant fruits all require pollination. Laurie also covered the broader ecosystem benefits of pollinators, including erosion control, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat, before briefly touching on studies showing the positive impact of nature on human well-being.
Laurie moved on to pollinator conservation, highlighting the decline of various bee species and the impact of habitat loss, climate change, and pesticides on pollinators. She discussed successful initiatives like the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, emphasizing collaborative efforts with agricultural groups and government agencies. Laurie provided actionable steps for audience members to support pollinators, including planting diverse native plants, reducing chemical use, and voting for elected officials supportive of conservation.
President Doug closed the meeting and presented Laurie with the Polio Certificate noting that we will be donating polio doses in her honor.
Take Control of Your Data: Know Your California Privacy Rights
CalPrivacy will instruct you on how to better protect your personal information and prevent fraud. Learn about your California privacy rights, how to exercise them, and how to use actionable tools to protect your information against scammers, including the newly released Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP).
