Meeting Recap - January 19, 2016

Posted by Kevin Smith-Fagan 
on Jan 21, 2016
 
 
In calling the meeting to order, President David Cohen saluted the day’s sponsor of the wine reception, Dick Osen, and thanked the day’s musical directors Kevin Williams (KVIE) and Aaron French (Zanker Road Resource Management). Meeting sponsor John Wood (McGee & Thielen Insurance Brokers) presented a “Thought for the Day”. Shortly afterward John passed his sponsorship presentation into the hands of guests Gordon Fowler and Kim Tucker, who announced that the former Nonprofit Resource Center has been relaunched as “The Impact Foundry”.
 
President Dave called upon Jim Leet (Boutin Jones), Vice President of the club’s foundation, to present recognition pins to several club members who have made Paul Harris or Eddie Mulligan commitments. First up was 50-year club member Jack Bowker (his fifth Paul Harris); others recognized were Mike Bullington (Pacific Advisors) (first Eddie Mulligan); Rita Gibson (Rita Gibson Insurance & Investment Services) (third Eddie); Eric Solis (Wells Fargo Advisors) (third Eddie); Bob Gaines (fifth Eddie) and Past President Skip Lawrence (tenth Eddie).
 
Chair of the Day Randy Friedman (United States Navy) introduced the day’s featured speaker, Mike Wiley of Sacramento Regional Transit, who has served as general manager and CEO of Sac RT since 2007. Mike shared Regional Transit’s plans to seize upon the agency’s big opportunity presented by the new arena - $6.5 million in improvements to aged facilities upgraded to serve arena traffic; enhanced security at designated stations to protect riders and their autos; new station attendants to serve as ambassadors and assist riders; simplified fare paying; spruced-up RT cars; and extra trains to serve eventgoers. Mike also talked about the unclear prospects for a light rail line up to the airport, which would cost $1 billion. Mike trumpeted the success of RT’s blue line extension to Cosumnes River College last summer, and cited an aspiration for expanding light rail someday to reach American River College. Also on the wish list is a streetcar line running between Sacramento and West Sacramento, a project in the environmental study phase right now.
 
Turning back to club business, the rapid-fire Club Announcements included:
  • A trap shooting outing on February 13th at 10 am in Lincoln - Callee Setzer (Setzer Forest Products)
  • The Rotary International convention trip to South Korea and Japan May 23-June 9 Diane Woodruff and President-Elect Dan McVeigh (Downey Brand Attorneys)
  • A Fireside gathering January 21, 5:30-7:00 pm, at the home of Past President Susan Sheridan - Leesa Fons (HealthPoint Insurance)
  • A Networking Night on February 2 at The Rind (President Dave)
  • Membership Minute encouraging club ideas on how we can recruit new members Allison Cagley (California Musical Theatre)
  • District conference May 19-May 22 at the Berkeley Marina (President Dave)
  • A Yosemite snowshoe hike on February 27 - Jim Philips.
Celebrating an achievement of having traveled to 100 countries (101 for one of them), Bruce Hester, Elfrena Foord and Rick Davis each showed their gratitude at completing this undertaking with a pledge of $5 for each country visited!
 
At next week’s meeting the featured speaker will be Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee.