Our Rotary Club gathered in the Burlingame Community Center with our call to order by President CaryKoh. He nominated Rotarian Marcia Wadell who was freshly back after a prolonged recovery from a broken back, now sporting a wonderful brace helping her sit and stand straight and look great. She accepted the call to lead the pledge, and the meeting was underway.
Our invocation (“thoughts for the day”) were prepared and delivered by Col. Alden Cunningham on the subject of “Passion.” Not that kind, the other life force that enlivens work and family and Rotary itself. Alden had several notable leaders and thinkers from over the centuries who observed that bringing “passion” to one’s endeavors can make all the difference in the world. Amen!
Jim Shypertt reported absolutely nobody calling in sick, so the Sunshine report was, uncommonly, sunny.
Visiting guests for this meeting included Jonathan Dhyne of Burlingame High School, brought and introduced by Jennifer Pence. Also, Mitch Speigle, who is a prospective member of the club. Then we had a visiting Rotarian from the San Francisco – Castro club.
First Announcement: to re-mark your calendar for our one and only fundraiser of the spring, back for its second year, by popular demand after a really smashing and fun first year: Burlingame’s Got Talent. It is on Sunday, April 21. Get a hold of the one person you think has got a talent, even the kind sometimes hidden beneath a bushel, until somebody coaxes them to give a shot to performing, namely at Burlingame’s Got Talent.: Lisa, who made a substantial presentation to us a little later.
Second announcement: we noted that Jonnie Dukes was brought into our club membership last week, known not only for his great food week by week, but for his personality, as well as his hard work for Rotary behind the scenes. President Koh seemed ready to fine him for being a new member, but it was revealed an anonymous donor had already paid the fine for him. Not to be outdone, he strode forward to give enough money to pay off the next two fines he might receive, whenever they may be.
Then – people realized that one of the great and notable things about this meeting was (are you ready for this?) the mushrooms. Jonnie must have sautéed three times as many mushrooms as usual for our entrée, and it was terrific—fabulous mushrooms everywhere, all over the food as if they were the real meal of the day. wow! Well anyhow.
Next, in a semi-orchestrated skit, but a real payment, President Koh noted that Dennis Zell was due to be fined (for some obscure regulation being broken perhaps, like talking back to the president?). So, as the president explained the meaning and value (?) of joining the president’s club, Rotarian Zell declared that he in fact did want to donate $150 to the Rotary Club, but he was constitutionally opposed to joining the president’s club. So, he volunteered that he is inspired by the work of Bobba and our club in helping build and aid the school in rural India where Bobba has been instrumental in raising the education and hope levels of families over these recent years. So, his contribution went there. Unclear whether this “counted” as a president’s club donation, or merely as a chance to humorously insult our president. Well done, Cary and Dennis.
Where in the world is our den-mother (Marilyn O.) to watch over us miscreants during our meeting? Mysteries abound, on this second Wednesday of February…
Next our visitor from the SF0-Castro club was invited forward to make a presentation requesting that our club join theirs and others in an effort to combat dysphagia through a project (Rotary Global Grant # 2458817) they are leading in Cambodia. Lisa educated us that dysphagia is a medical condition in which swallowing is difficult if not impossible for moving liquids or foods from the mouth to the stomach. Without proper treatment, it can lead to choking, malnutrition, dehydration, even death. Because of connections of members of their SF-Castro Rotary Club, they are focusing on a program to treat and prevent dysphagia in patients in Cambodia, where it is currently mostly untreated. Their plan involves identifying and training 30-45 health care providers on both how to treat this condition as well as how to train other health care providers on treatment plans, so that patients will become fully treated in this nation and no longer susceptible to the condition. She noted that their budget requires $144,582 for two years of work, and they seek funds from clubs in this district to partner with their club in this effort.
Jay Miller introduced the speaker for today’s program, Mark Simon, who is a noted journalist on the Peninsula for these past 45 years, with a blog “Moving Forward to Mark Simon,” which we are encouraged to check out. He is on three boards of community non-profits and is happily well immersed in the non-profit issues of this county. Jay’s point is that he is not a journalist with a single-issue agenda to work on us, but a co-struggler with the real issues that have many sides and confront our community with possibilities and problems.
Mark began by telling us the story of the USS Constitution in 1779 as an example of how we have lived in divisive times in every age, and that contrary to some commentators’ viewpoints, while we are in interesting times, they may well, or well not turn out poorly. History has many twists and has not been a steady story of one success after another even for our great nation. He pointed out one writer stated that we are living in the most problematic and divisive times since Gallup started polling. Mark took exception and reminded the writer that the Civil War was worse, and arguably the late 60’s and early 70’s likewise were at least as big a threat to democracy and civic stability as the present. The point is that just because something (a particularly upsetting candidate or position) is new to us, the fact of such an upset is nothing new to the story of our nation’s history.
Mark spoke of several of the current races in the politics of our county. First, he noted that Jackie Speier is as predictably set to win her race for the Board of Supervisors as was predicted when she announced her candidacy. The single candidate opposing her (Anne Schneider) has raised about $100 for her campaign, and Jackie has raised about $99,000 for hers. Clearly her candidacy changed the course of several similarly visionary local political leaders, including some from our club [hello, Emily Beech!]. He did note that that there was something of a rather unanticipated backlash against Jackie’s candidacy from younger voters who felt a need for generational change, despite the fact of Jackie’s proven effectiveness in working on issues of poverty, especially for women in the county (editorial comment; not part of what Mark actually said!).
Mark also spoke of these last few years of lawsuits being served upon virtually every elected public board in the state seeking more diverse representation through the electoral process by insisting on regional seats rather than all simply being general elections. He noted that in point of fact, these changes to district elections are having exactly the predicted effect and are proving to be a very effective way to increase several aspects of diverse representation on governing boards.
Mark also observed that increased portions of elected (local and national) are more interested in performing than legislating, and in fact some actually believe that it is a victory to have the government not take any action on much of anything. Also, he noted the decline in collegiality, going back to Newt Gingrich (R-GA) from decades ago. He cited locally some fighting words spoken at the Board of Supervisors meeting after it voted to cooperate with the appropriate law enforcement by ICE. [Ed. Note—I remember in the 1970’s when I was a Berkeley cop being called to respond code 3 to the city hall chambers where two councilmen were engaged in a fist fight, and we had to forcibly remove them from the room; so much for collegiality]
Questions included asking about a possible national third-party candidacy, perhaps of RFK, Jr: Mark pointed out these have never had a chance to win, but definitely, have a chance to cause somebody else not to be able to win (Ross Perot arguably causing George H Bush not to win a second term; also, Ralph Nader for arguably keeping Hillary Clinton from the White House.) Another comment from the speaker was of so many candidates who speak so glibly that it means nothing: “I stand for integrity. I support and defend democracy. I am a person who will get things done. I won’t get caught up in the chaos.” He also noted that “nobody ever went broke betting on underestimating people!”
Professor Michael Kimball noted that he liked the speaker’s comments on the importance of knowing (studying) history because that depth of perspective can give us hope.
On that fine note (!) president Koh presented a certificate for five polio vaccines to the speaker, and our club meeting was adjourned. To reconvene three days after the Super Bowl is done!
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.
Join us as Georgie Gleim, a third-generation jeweler, guides us through the dazzling realm of diamonds, gems, gold, estate jewelry, and beyond. Georgie may even bring a few samples. She will share insights on how to make savvy purchases in the world of gems and jewelry, and discuss the validity of the phrase, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
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 