Meeting Recap - March 08, 2016
Posted by Jim Culleton
on Mar 10, 2016
Big thank you to our set up crew Bob Daly (Financial Network Wealth Advisors), Bob Miller (First US Community Credit Union), and Nancy Teichert (Writer).
President Dave Cohen kicked off the meeting with a thank you to Tom Engel for the wine reception and to our greeters Becki Roberts (Sierra Vista Bank) and Tom Bacon (Kidder Mathews)
Mik Miklaus (Integrity Mortgage) gave us the thought for the day with an emphasis on "silence" especially in relationships that are near and dear to the heart.
John McIntyre (Mercy Foundation) introduced guests, prospective members and visiting Rotarians. Long distance winner was Clifton Warren, a Rotarian from Australia! President Dave promptly did a banner exchange.
Jim Leet (Boutin Jones) helped present a few recognitions:
Laura Heintz (Stanford Youth Solutions) - Eddie Mulligan 1st
John McIntyre - Eddie Mulligan 1st and Paul Harris 1st
Bob McLean (McLean & Tillotson Construction) - Eddie Mulligan 3rd, Paul Harris 4th
Jim McColm - Eddie Mulligan 6th
PP Susan Sheridan Eddie Mulligan 9th and 10th!!! Paul Harris 5th!!!!
Where leaders meet to serve and give!
Meeting Sponsor Jeanne Reaves (Jeanne Reaves Consulting) introduced Dr. Ronald Greenwood with Elica Health Centers, which treated 15,000 patients in 2015 - Health care to the Homeless.
Generosity kept its mojo with Kathe Nathan taking a new job at Merchant's National Bank of Sacramento and donating to her Eddie Mulligan. Laura Heintz also contributed to her Eddie Mulligan.
Announcements saw Brian Van Camp (ADR Services) - subbing for Frank Poleman (Poelman Company) - pitching the Rotary Ski Trip. No 7-11 sandwiches this time. Squaw Valley will treat RCOS right with discount tickets, a gourmet lunch and plenty of camaraderie for all attendees. Tom Bacon announced from his chair that the Fireside at Rita Gibbon's (Rita Gibson Insurance & Investment Services) is sold out and his chili will be on display. Norm Marshall (Headwaters Construction) showed off a fancy neck tie and made a generous contribution to the club for the privilege. President Dave introduced Assistant District Governor JR Springer to promote the District Assembly on 4/2 and the District Conference in May. Snowshoe walk led by Jim Phillips will be weather permitting. If you are signed up, Jim will let you know on Friday of this week.
Randy Friedman (United States Navy) introduced our speaker of the day, Felicia Marcus, Chair of State Water Resources and Control. Felicia touched on protecting drinking water, source to tap, and water laws which seemingly are only brought up or exercised in times of shortage. Her speech gave some dire statistics - 500,000 Fallow Acres, diminishing yields of our crops, 20,000 Agriculture workers displaced, ground water disappearing, drinking water disappearing, fish and wild life impacts, increased wild fires- their cost and devastation.
The Water Board Drought Actions were covered in a series of slides. El Nino phenomenon was touched on. Planning for the future with an action PLAN is our only hope. What are the Boards top priorities? Maximize everyone's interest and emphasize the sweet spot. Conservation is key.
Felicia went on to discuss variable hydrology, mix of sources, a mix of solutions, and drought statistics. Her presentation included population vs. precipitation, feast vs. famine, and Federal vs. State vs. local aqueducts, rivers, and diversions from some ecosystems. Salinity also plays a large role in her Board's decisions. She left us with two profound quotes:
“When the well is dry, we will know the worth of water”. - Ben Franklin
“I am a firm believer in people. If given the truth, they can be depended on to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts and beer”. - Abraham Lincoln