Rotarian “A” came to our meeting and said to the other: “It seems strange not to see a really nice car right here inside the room with us!” Those two had been at last week’s Rotary party at The Candy Store. Rotarian “B” came in and said to another, “I heard today’s speaker lays out China’s plans to make war on free countries from Taiwan to Guam; can you believe this mess?” … "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
Charles Dickens (author of the above quote introducing “A Tale of Two Cities,”) was not in person at our Rotary meeting on December 6, but his wise spirit certainly was evident. Rotarians were aware of the deteriorating world scene and the Congressional failures at constructive leadership, BUT these same Rotarians were encouraging each other in the light of Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holy days which bring gifts of hope, strength, comfort, peace and even joy. Thank goodness we have Rotary Club where we can safely discuss, reflect, and help out our community, in thoughtful and constructive ways.
Well, let’s get underway here: We met together in the upstairs Burlingame Community Center room known as Elm, where we were led in the pledge by Maki Kobayashi. Then Mark Johnson came up to present the inspirational words of invocation after he identified this as Chris Krolik’s and Phil Siegle’s birthdays. Mark turned us to consider wisdom from: Mark Twain (The secret to getting ahead is getting started.), Walt Disney (All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.), Arnold Palmer (The most rewarding things to do in life are those that look like they cannot be done.), Steve Jobs (I’m convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”), Abraham Lincoln (Whatever you are, be a really good one.)
President Cary Koh thanked and congratulated leaders of last week’s party at The Candy Store: Mike &Jo Heffernan, Bob Doerr, Jennifer & Adam Pence, Fritz & Sue Brauner, and Mark Johnson. Below is a little video from that superior event.
Susan Baker gave an announcement that the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce is hosting a special event on Friday, January 19 at the Hyatt Hotel and has contracted Dr. Merrick Osborne (UC Berkeley post-doctoral Fellow) to speak on bias that can come with Artificial Intelligence. Tix are $120 until Dec. 15, then up to $135. Burlingame Rotarian and mayor Donna Colson will be on the program along with SM County Supervisor Dave Pine.
Burlingame High School Interact Club thanks us for being contributors to their work to assemble hygiene kits to be distributed to the needy from the high school this winter. Another Community Service project will be coming in the Spring and will be personally announced at a meeting in the new year by some of the students from Interact at the Burlingame High School chapter.
Burlingame High School - CSM scholarship recipient interviews were held last week by Jay Miller and Karina Perez-Vargas on behalf of our club. Jay reports that there is much interest in and appreciation for our scholarship program. Four of our recipients are continuing students at CSM and one is on the CSM basketball team.
Bob Doerr gave a trailing November Foundation Minute to remind us of how easy it is to make an impact for people around the world, by donating through the Rotary Foundation. It can easily be reached by going to our website and pushing a button for My Rotary Homepage | My Rotarywww.myrotary.org
Holiday gifts from the Club were given to Jonnie (from Sapore Italiano) who prepares and serves our lunches every Wednesday. And to Ray, the custodian at the Burlingame Community Center who regularly sets up our meeting room for us and tracks down everything from extra chairs to the American flag, to you-name-it. Much thanks to Ray and Jonnie for making our weekly meetings nicer than the “bare bones” ones of some years past (when local hotels still were able to host us regularly).
Program time! Nan Su is an investigative reporter for Epoch Times, a newspaper headquartered in New York City, which reports on China, and is especially noted for its warnings to readers of the global conquest plans which China is putting into place. His knowledge of many of the news events of China’s actions under the guidance of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ties together events that often seem disconnected to the Western reader.
Su noted that CCP regards Taiwan as a province of China and actively punishes those who do not regard it as such. For example, in April, Kevin McCarthy visited Taiwan despite knowing how tense the CCP is over any US attention to Taiwan and the Strait between it and mainland China. Within 24 hours, the Chinese military had 103 planes flying over Taiwan, and ships encircling it. As Taiwan fabricates about 70% of the computer chips used in the world, it is seen as a huge asset to the West. It also is located at the top of very significant shipping lanes running north-south and has a highly educated population which some call “the cream of the crop” of the workforce in eastern Asia. Thus, Su made the point that the West cannot afford to lose Taiwan.
Su then moved to the fact that CCP has laid claim to the seas just east of that country and is aware that not only fishing and mining rights are attached to a limit often set at 12 miles from a country, but also military dominance of shipping lanes is hugely important. CCP knows that nobody can claim a reef (above the surface of the ocean at low tide, but then under at high tide), so it is pouring thousands of tons of cement onto the reefs so that they have an above surface presence at all times, and CCP lays claim to the surrounding waters, and has militarized three of the reefs it has “turned into islands.” As recently as the Obama years, there were no such things nor military presence, but all that has rapidly changed now. As China attains increasing influence in East Asia, the economic life of Japan and South Korea are greatly threatened, as is the import-export businesses that connect Asia to the rest of the world. Many Western and American companies are relocating themselves out of the area, for their own safety, thus leaving even less presence of any counterbalance to the CCP. There is concern that expansion of China and its direct influence will shortly extend to the Solomons and Fiji. Already each is dominated by very powerful influence of China banks controlling money flow, and the Solomons having a Chinese police presence.
Su made further points that Russia, China and Iran are now actively forming an alliance (think: NATO style) and the one clear thing they have in common is antagonism toward the USA and the West. The area these three dominate is the Indo-Pacific region, which includes over 50% of the world’s population. Already there are technology and military aggressions against the USA: al the computers and internet services on the entire island of Guam were neutralized (made ineffective) by CCP for a period of time to test out their ability to shut down huge areas where American influence is strong. Also there have been scrambling of CCP military airplanes when one of our planes flies through international air space in a region that CCP would like to claim as its own—in documented encounters CCP planes flew (at jet speeds) within as little as ten feet of our USAF B-52s.
This whole program was meant to produce “shock and awe” (my words) in us, and it did a good job of that. There was much discussion once the program ended, and President Koh closed the meeting (due to time) noting that people could speak directly with Mr. Su following dismissal. Our gift of five polio vaccinations was given to Mr. Su in thanks for his presentation.
Next week (December 13) our “program” will be our party, transforming the Community Center into, well, a festive and happy place to be as we begin our three-week vacation from Rotary. After that, it’s, “See you next year. Be known for service above self!” And if you really want a New Year’s resolution of merit, memorize the Four Way Test, and be able to stand and recite it upon request at an unannounced January meeting of Rotary!
Our very own Burlingame Rotarian, Mark Lucchesi has started a podcast for the Burlingame Historical Society called "Burlingame is a Small Town." He has interviewed a number of Burlingame Rotarians as well as other prominent folks in our community. You can check out his YouTube podcasts here.
Our very own Burlingame Rotarian, Mark Lucchesi has started a podcast for the Burlingame Historical Society called "Burlingame is a Small Town." He has interviewed a number of Burlingame Rotarians as well as other prominent folks in our community. You can check out his YouTube podcasts