2018 04_26 Meeting - The Dam that Never Was

 
 
Story of the Auburn Dam
 
Another great meeting run by President Dan, who proudly announced his 59 years of wedded bliss to his Rotarian wife Sharon.  
 
Dan reported that there was a good turnout for Ed Page's memorial last weekend.  He opened the envelop containing Ed's last fine (happy bucks) for an unusual joke told on his behalf at the memorial.  The envelop contained a check for $1,000 to Lincoln Rotary.  Alan Lowe read a poem about Ed that was read at the memorial. Click here to read poem. Thank you Ed for all all that you did for Rotary and for your friendship with our members. 
 
Wildbill reported that the Lincoln Community Blood Drive last Friday was a near record - 50 pints of life-giving blood plus some double reds.  Truman reported that Camp Clay was a huge success with about 150 kids participating. Click for pictures.  Thank you Rotarians for supporting these service events. 
 
Joann Hilton reported that we are ready for the Lincoln WineFest, and thanked Richard Pearl for his military precision setup of volunteers for the event.  Thank you Joann and Richard and others who helped organize the event.  (It was a huge success - more to be reported next week - or if you are on facebook, check it out.)
 
Student of the Month awards were presented for the months of February and March.   Truman reported a special connection with one student as they have the same first name!
 
 
Bill Laube gave his 3-minute new member ice breaker talk.  Interesting guy who has done a lot of interesting things in many locations. Originally from NY, attended Cornell. He has been a Rotarian since 1985, moving to Lincoln SCLH last Novemeber. Talk to him about it!  No better way to get acquainted with a new member. 
 
 
Our speaker was Steve Hubbard. Steve Hubbard is a writer and filmmaker who specializes in environmentally related topics. His film, “Saving Auburn Ravine,” was an important factor in the struggle over the Hemphill dam on Auburn Ravine Creek. He is the author of two books, “Power to the People,” the history of hydroelectric power in the Sierra Nevada, and “The Legend of Roswell,” an intriguing novel about the early days of the CIA.  His current project, that he covered in our featured speech today was about the Auburn Dam, a project approved by the US Government more than 50 years ago, but has been hung up do to flooding, economic, seismic and other issues.  The dam would have been higher than the Hoover Dam and twice as wide.  But if it would have ever failed it would have resulted in complete flooding of Sacramento.