Life In The Library Economy
Posted by Jay Lowden on Mar 03, 2017
President Dan McVeigh opened the meeting by noting that today is the eight-month point in his term and that there are only four more months until Lemmon Time. He acknowledged Bob Daly (Financial Network Wealth Advisors), and Bob Miller (First US Community Credit Union) for joining him in visiting the local schools that are beneficiaries of the annual Golf Tournament where they distributed $30,000. He announced that at least for the remainder of his term we will continue to meet at the Dante Club and to a round of applause announced that the pre-meeting Wine Receptions will resume starting on March 7.
President Dan then thanked Aaron French (Zanker Recycling) for handling the Music, and Jeff Setzer (Setzer Forest Products Inc.) and Karla Weymouth (Homewood Suites by Hilton) for being today’s greeters.
Mike Miklaus (Integrity Mortgage) provided an opening thought that included a call for opening thinkers. If you have a thought to share contact Mike at miklaus@pacbell.net.
We had a slew of guests including Gary Kuntz, Matt Bartok, Vincent Beiderbeck, Chris Rockwell, Larry Dane, Laura McHugh and Aracelli Solis. We love having prospective members and joining us today were Sylvia Ambrogio, guest of John Frisch (Cornish & Carey Commercial); John Gzoralka, guest of Ron Crane (DCA Partners); Diana Spencer, guest of Luann Richardson (Re/Max Gold); Paul Ioanidis, guest of Ted White (Sacramento Delta Property) and Ted Kappel, guest of Rita Gibson (Rita Gibson Ins & Invstmt Svcs Inc.); John Toney, guest of Chris Ann Bachtel (First Northern Bank); and Ted Grebitus, guest of Ed Grebitus (Grebitus & Sons Jewelers).
Gary McDonalds from the E Club and Christine Cahill-Reams from the Point West Club joined us as visiting Rotarians.
President Dan continued with the introductions as he introduced the head table that included Past President Ken Noak (Newmark Cornish & Carey), our speaker Greg Lucas, Mike Miklaus, Elfrena Foord (Foord, Van Bruggen, & Pajak and April Javist (Sacramento Public Library Foundation).
Elfrena Foord was the sponsor of the day and she invited everyone to attend the Social Venture Partner’s annual Fast Pitch program on Wednesday, February 8th at the Golden One Center. Two of our club members, April Javist from the Sacramento Library Foundation and Jay Lowden from the YMCA will be among the ten local nonprofits competing for $80,000 in cash and in-kind awards. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.svpsacramento.org and if you use the special code “rotary” you can get a $20 discount on a $40 ticket.
Jim Leet stepped forward to recognize a number or Rotarians for their commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Recognized were Bonnie Plummer (SPG), for her 1st Paul Harris (PHF) and 1st Eddie Mulligan (EM); Linda Geery (Gilbert Associates, Inc.) – 2nd EM; Eric Solis (Solis Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors) – 4th EM; Tim Maurice (UC Davis Health System) – 1st PHF; Dr. Barbara Arnold (Barbara J. Arnold MD Inc.) – 5th PHF; and Jim Streng (Streng Bros Rentals, LLC) – 4th and 5th EM.
The highlight of any meeting is the numerous announcements. Elfrena Foord and Peter Dannenfelser (Architectural Arts) announced the Spring Fling on March 24 at the Elks Building; Jim Phillips (The Energy Savers) let us know that the Yosemite Snow Shoe Walk was cancelled due to too much snow; Elena Naderi announced a Networking night that by the time you read this it will be over and done with; Linda Geery gave a pitch for kids interested in attending Camp RYLA; Todd Koolakian (Sacramento Children's Home) invited everyone to the Rotary Speech Contest on March 7th. If you are interested in judging please see Todd or Elfrena; and special guest announcer Christine Cahill-Reames from the Point West Rotary Club invited everyone to their annual Festa di Vino on March 25th.
Roast, Toast and Boasts
Norm Marshall (Headwaters Construction Inc.) is a proud father of his son Parker who serves in the US Navy just received a Bronze Star for Valor; Linda Geery and Amin Ellmallah were as recognized for honoring Thom Gilbert (Gilbert Associates, Inc.) on his retirement; Tom Gilbert reminded us of the passing of Ludy Langer and the impact he made in the club; and Don Brown paid tribute to the California State Library for their Talking Books program for individuals with low vision.
Past President Ken Noack, President of the California State Library Foundation stepped to the microphone and introduced our guest speaker Greg Lucas, California State Librarian.
Mr. Lucas, provided a wonderful 60-minute presentation in a matter of 25 minutes with his fast paced, cliché filled presentation. He started out with what has to be one of the best openings to a Rotary presentation that the club has ever heard. Here is just a snap-shot of that opening: “THIS WILL NOT BE YOUR USUAL DOG AND PONY SHOW. WE WILL NOT RE-INVENT THE WHEEL OR HURT OURSELVES BY BRUSHING UP AGAINST THE CUTTING EDGE OR DROPPING TO THE BOTTOM-LINE… WE’RE NOT GOING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND ANYTHING OR TOUCH BASE. I’M CONFIDENT YOU WON’T VIEW ME AS A GOOD ROLE MODEL. SO, IF YOU WANT TO GO, GIRL, GO NOW… CLEARLY, I WILL NOT FEEL YOUR PAIN. THIS ISN’T A WIN-WIN SITUATION. WE WILL NOT BREAK DOWN BARRIERS. WE WILL NOT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. I WILL GIVE YOU NO INPUT AND – IN RETURN – I EXPECT NO FEEDBACK... WE WILL NOT INTERFACE. WE WILL NOT UPLOAD. AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM NOT USER-FRIENDLY. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE AND – AT THE END OF THE DAY – IT WILL BE PAINFULLY OBVIOUS WE’VE SPENT NO QUALITY TIME TOGETHER.”
Mr. Lucas then provided a wonderful overview of the State Library and the value that the library plays in maintaining a history of the State of California and the role of libraries as contributors to California’s invocation. California has the most libraries of any state – approximately 1,100, and the return on the investment that is made in our libraries is significant.
He talked about the diversity of our state and the fact that everyone from California is an immigrant of some sort and that is one of our strengths. Fourteen years ago it was estimated that 232 languages were spoken in our schools and that today, according to US Berkeley the number is closer to 300. California libraries reflect that diversity and today are more valuable than ever as they are that one place where you might find that needle in a haystack.
Mr. Lucas also busted the myth that good old fashioned books were on their way out. In fact, there are more books published today than ever before, approximately 2.7 billion last year producing net revenues of $28 billion.
For those of you that are Baby Boomers you are now outnumbered by the Millennials, and they are very much into the digital age and social media. YouTube and Netflix are more important than TV, and Social Media has overtaken Porn as the #1 activity on the internet. It took Radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, Television 13 years and the IPod only 3 years. If Facebook were a country, it would be the fourth largest in the World.
Technology keeps changing and the Library is changing to keep pace. In just the next month, the State Library is helping place 100 virtual reality stations in libraries throughout the state, and who know where we will be in 10 years. Remember the Star Trek Tricorder? Today’s smart phones do so much more than the Tricorder and that was supposed to be technology 200 years into the future. He talked about libraries as Maker Spaces, he thanked Rotary for the work we do in the area of literacy, and so much more.