We basked in glorious sunshine as we assembled for Meeting 2,756 of Rotary Club of Burlingame. Short-timer President Stan called the meeting to order on this Flag Day, 2017.
President Stan invited Joe Galligan to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. President Stan read an invocation that’s a keeper. From Mother Theresa: People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For, you see, in the end it is between you and your own conscience. It was never between you and them anyway.
Guests and Visiting Rotarians
No visiting Rotarians today. Guest of Lisa Goldman was our speaker for the day Mark Simon, Chief of Staff, San Mateo County Transit District. Doug Person was with us for another visit; he will be applying for membership. Yes! Doug is the Donor Relations Director for The Salvation Army, Golden State Division. Basically he raises funds for Salvation Army Operations. We can expect interesting anecdotes from Doug.
Rotary Fun
Funmeister Fritz fascinated telling of Flag Day having been established during the Second Continental Congress, There were 13 stars on the flag, representing what? Yes, the first thirteen colonies.
Somehow talk turned to the Beetles; it’s a Baby Boomer Thing. Mary Murphy, of the British persuasion, shared that early the last century, she had seen the Beetles live in London. On another occasion she was in a shop when Yoko Ono appeared. For these 18 degrees of separation, Mary was awarded a really cool yellow submarine lunch bucket! There were War Babies before Baby Boomers, lest you forget.! That wild and crazy
Annoucements
Cheryl Fama delivered a topical and timely newscast. Too precious to keep to ourselves, so the Powerpoint is attached hereto probably, maybe, most likely, will try. Mary will fix it. Great presentation, Cheryl. Our dear friend and Rotarian Jay Plank passed away peacefully on May 16 at the age of 96. He is remembered as a kind, caring, generous man who contributed quietly to many causes and helped many people,
City Manager Lisa Goldman introduced our speaker, Mark Simon, Chief of Staff at San Mateo County Transit District, advising Director Jim Hartnett. Mark is a fourth-generation San Franciscan with a degree in Journalism from San Jose State University. Mark is a popular television personality who appears on television and radio regularly and, utilizing his journalism training, has been a reporter in his past with an emphasis on political reporting. As such, we were looking forward to his sharing his thoughts on the situation in which we find ourselves.
The San Mateo County Transit District is the administrative body for the principal public transit and transportation programs in San Mateo County. SamTrans bus service, including Redi-Wheels paratransit service, Caltrain commuter rail and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. Caltrain and the TA have contracted with the District to serve as their managing agency, under the direction of their boards of directors. The citizens and the Transit District are dealing with economic dislocators: coal mining is not coming back; manufacturing at anywhere near previous levels is not coming back. Fastest-growing demographic is seniors. Companies are growing in place. Facebook plans to hire 5,000 new employees and wants all hands on deck in Menlo Park. They are a concept company – don’t manufacture anything. They need all their employees to think up ideas, share ideas, with easy access to each other at all times.
Genentech is looking to fill 6,000 new jobs. Again, they want employees to think together, work together, create together; manufacturing can be done elsewhere. South City is “The Industrial City” no more.
The expectation is that the Transit District will keep folks moving. The traditional route to work in San Francisco is over; half are now traveling to the City from the mid-Peninsula and the balance traveling south to Silicon Valley. This presents the challenge of creating a new transit infrastructure. Shocking: millennials don’t care about having drivers’ licenses or cars. The teenage lust we had at 15.5 for that driver’s license is no more. There is a crisis of expectations. We have never had companies that grow in place. We never had kids not wanting to drive. Everyone, especially seniors, wants convenient public transportation – NOW!
SAMTRANS is tasked with serving a population that doesn’t want to drive. We will look to partner with driverless vehicles. The public also resists the cost to support enhanced services and modifications to existing infrastructure.
CALTRAIN express trains came on line in 2004, ridership doubled in 2005, and has increased another 185% since. There is no tax base for CalTrain. BART debt service is $20 million paid by VTA(Valley Transit Authority), SAMTRANS, San Francisco. Auxiliary lanes being designed.
We had to ask? What does Mark think of the goings on in Washington? Nancy Pelosi and Paul Ryan are not a matched pair. What about Governor’s race? Gavin Newsom is committed, high profile; but high profile candidates often become early targets, bloom too soon. John Chung a possible. Immigrants, especially Asian, want a voice and have the numbers. The City of Millbrae is 67% Chinese or Chinese descent.
Thanks for the update, Mark. We hope to see you back soon and regularly. A book to our Burlingame Children’s Library is being donated in your name.
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
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June 21 Linda Shively, Happiness Expert
