Our President of the week is Mark Johnson, calling himself “a younger version of President Fritz”. He reported Fritz is still feeling under the weather and will return shortly. We do wish him the best.
Pledge of Allegiance—Past President Dennis Zell was asked to lead the club in the pledge, which he did without missing a single word.
Thought for the day, by Chris Ramirez—Chris reminded us that today was The International Women’s Day, when we are challenged to imagine a gender equal world. Thirty-plus years ago, a Supreme Court decision helped propel Rotary International into ending it’s male-only rules and to welcome women into the clubs, the leadership, the projects, etc. We recognized that Rotary is far stronger for no longer excluding half the population of the world, and applauded the women in Burlingame Rotary, both present and past, as we look toward the future.
Guests for our luncheon meeting included: (2nd visit as a guest of the Club) Ronit Malamud. She is an RN who is the daughter of two Rotarians from Haifa, Israel, and is excited to become a member and help us be of service to our community. Our other visitor is a guest of the Club for: Susan Baker, who is president and CEO of the Burlingame/SFO Chamber of Commerce. Both were warmly welcomed as we look forward to getting to know each as they become members among us.
One more (and very honored) guest of the Club: the honorable Anne Bouliane, joining us as a new Rotarian today! She has led a distinguished law career as Superior Court judge from San Francisco County and then serving up in Yreka courts. She has been sponsored by Col. Alden Cunningham, Rotarian evangelist extraordinaire!
Speaking of guests, but who are not really guests—we had one club member with us on zoom (Pierre Bouquet). Pierre is an ever upbeat and thoughtful long-time member who is at home regaining his health and would love to see anybody who might like to call him up or come visit him, in Burlingame on Occidental, just off Barroilhet. Also, the mysterious HITH alert was blinking red, meaning that it was happily confirmed that we had: “Heffernan In The House.”
Sunshine report was delivered by Bob Doerr about member Tom Chakos, who is recovering from surgery and is a very long-time member who is always cheerful, helpful, and thoughtful. At 93, recovery may take a little longer than for younger Rotarians, so members are encouraged to drop a line or make a call of encouragement to Tom.
Announcements featured Jennifer Pence reporting on the upcoming Burlingame’s Got Talent program on April 30. This event is a scheduled fundraiser for our Club, enabling us to continue our exceptional program of scholarships to local students so they can have a deeper (and longer!) education as they prepare to take their place in the adult world. YOU are a) invited to attend [your easy to do task on this right now is to mark your calendar for April 30, a Sunday evening]. And b) to consider anyone you might know who has a talent, homegrown or professionally developed, which they would like to share with our town in this public setting. Jennifer notes that song and dance routines are often the first things that come to our minds for this kind of affair, but there are several ways to broaden the scope—already there are people signing up to give poetry readings, for example. It will be a fun night, including a good meal, plus wines and the ever alluring and mysterious “signature cocktail.” Thus, it will be a friendly, encouraging, and appreciative crowd, so this needn’t be an anxiety producing time for performers. Like YOU!
We now move to our “main event” of the meeting, a presentation by past Club member, principal at Burlingame High School, school district assistant superintendent, and now founder of a non-profit working day and night to help us strengthen the ties that bind, here in our community… The one and only Dr. Matt Biggar. (applause!) Matt is a proud husband and father, and also the holder of three degrees from Stanford and also one from a certain land-grant university across the Bay. (semi-silence?)
Matt has founded a non-profit group: “Connected To Place.” Centered in San Francisco and San Mateo counties, but reaching out even beyond state bounds, this organization seeks to help communities enhance the collective well being of their people through integration of three areas of growth, value and life for us all: Social, Personal and Environmental. His passion is to help us forge communities in which big issues are addressed which enhance people’s life experience to do well within i) relationship with others (social), ii) inner life of thoughts, attitudes, and actions (personal) and iii) experiencing an environment that is positive and productive for all of the community.
Matt helped us assess some of the current problems not uncommon to communities like ours. He asked how the experience of community is doing—for example:
Social—Do we relate to others with trust, appreciation, respect? (For example--What about income inequality, gun violence, loss of feeling of being tied to the community?)
Personal—How do we feel about our own lives and our futures? (For example--What about chronic diseases, deaths of despair [suicide and alcohol & drug use, shortened lifespan?] Did you know that the happiest people in our culture tend to be those who watch less than an hour of TV each day!
Environmental—How is our world around us doing, is it thriving and healthy? (For example--What about climate changes, pollution, health of native species of plants and animals?)
Matt noted that there is a “crisis in how we live” for many people. He noted problems coming from valuing “stuff” over people, cell phone usage often replacing personal interaction, the global economy having problems (hello, Silicon Valley Bank)—and that from it all we are disconnected from each other. There is the issue!
Matt noted that too often there is less community and in-person interactions than we flourish with, so there is a placelessness that we experience. The solution lies in creating and enjoying connections to that which gives us purpose. In clear words: To be involved with people and causes that are bigger than us.
One final example of changing systems in a city to help create healthy social-personal and environmental relationships: Matt showed the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park. This is a mile and a half of JFK Boulevard which is now dedicated to pedestrians, cyclists, and others to not only go the distance, but to stop along the way for playgrounds, pianos (yes, the kind with 88 keys), people watching, park benches, picnics, pilsner at the beer garden, pictures of all sizes mounted as murals, and so forth. This project also revealed that the integration from so many angles helped people of all ages and stages to develop a healthy sense of connection to place.
Whew—a lot of heart and thought for one meeting! Mark thanked Matt and dismissed us at 1:28pm. Next week—same time and place: come and get to know at least one Rotarian you don’t really know well and listen for at least one chance to emerge for you to again place “Service Above Self!”
