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The High Cost of Good Intentions: Entitlements
Sep. 28, 2018
This Friday we will hear from John Cogan, a Hoover Fellow and a well-known authority on entitlements. John is the Leonard and Shirley Ely Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a faculty member in the public policy program at Stanford University. John’s research is focused on U.S. budget and fiscal policy, federal entitlement programs, and health care. He has published widely in professional journals in both economics and political science. His latest book, The High Cost of Good Intentions (2017) is the recipient of the 2018 Hayek Prize. The book traces the history of U.S. federal entitlement programs from the Revolutionary War to modern times. His previous books include Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: Five Steps to a Better Health Care System, coauthored with Glenn Hubbard and Daniel Kessler, and The Budget Puzzle, (with Timothy Muris and Allen Schick). John has devoted a considerable part of his career to public service. He served under President Ronald Reagan as assistant secretary for policy in the U.S. Department of Labor from 1981 to 1983, as associate director in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from 1983 to 1985, and as Deputy (OMB) Director in 1988-89. His responsibilities included developing and reviewing Reagan Administration policies in the areas of health care, Social Security, disability, welfare, and employment training. John has served on numerous congressional, presidential, and California state advisory commissions. At the federal level, he has served on President George W. Bush's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Health Care (the Pepper Commission), the Social Security Notch Commission, and the National Academy of Sciences' Panel on Poverty and Family Assistance. He has also served on the California State Commission on the 21st Century Economy and the California Public Employee Post-Employment Benefits Commission. John received his A.B. in 1969 and his Ph.D. in 1976 from the University of California at Los Angeles, both in economics. He received his M.A. in Economics from California State University at Long Beach in 1970. He was an associate economist at the RAND Corporation from 1975 to 1980. He has been a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution since 1984. |
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New Member Talks
Oct. 05, 2018
You will be in luck on Friday when you join us for one of our favorite programs: New Member Talks. This time around we will hear from two more wonderful additions: Rick Sommer and Michelle Williams. After receiving his Ph.D. in mathematics from UC Berkeley, Rick came to Stanford as an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics Department. With a developing interest in pre-college programs, he helped launch the Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) in 1995, and around the same time he became involved in Stanford's Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY). Rick has enthusiastically pursued these interests ever since, and now serves as Executive Director for Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies. In his spare time he enjoys international travel, running, gardening, and puzzles. Michelle is a leader in science, education and cognitive learning. During her 10 years as Associate Professor of Science Education at Michigan State University she received millions of dollars in National Science Foundation funding to develop learning technologies to improve STEM education among K-12 youth in the biological sciences. Earlier in her career, Michelle held several sales and marketing roles in corporate America working for Eastman Kodak and GTE Corporations. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Education in Development in Mathematics and Science from Cal. When she’s not disrupting science education, Michelle can be found enjoying time with her family. |
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November Ballot Measures
Oct. 12, 2018
Taxes and housing and water, Oh My! Here come the non-stop political commercials. How are we to make our minds up on the State and local measures on the November Ballot? This week please join us on Friday when we will again get the lowdown on the ballot presented by representatives of the League of Women Voters. We will have two representatives from our local league giving us some of the pros and cons for the State ballot measures and the Palo Alto measures. As time allows, and for the more interesting measures, we will discuss the title and type, the way it is now, what the prop will do, the effect on the budget, the pros from the supporters, and the cons from the opponents. The LWV is a tireless advocate for voters across the U.S. The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates. The speakers are Bonnie Packer & Ellen Smith. Bonnie has been a community volunteer in Palo Alto, for about 25 years, focusing on affordable housing, land use and planning issues, child care, art, Kiwanis, and, of course, the League of Women Voters. Ellen has lived in Palo Alto since the 1970's and been a League member for almost that long. Now retired from her career as a book editor in academic publishing, she has volunteered over the years - in addition to the League - with Learning Ally, Foundation for a College Education, Abilities United, and the Christmas Bureau of Palo Alto. Don’t count on the barrage of political advertising to give you an un-biased overview, get in the know for the election with us. As they say: “Because Democracy is not a Spectator Sport” |
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Oct. 13, 2018
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Oct. 18, 2018 7:00 p.m.
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RENEW - Prescription for Fatigue
Oct. 19, 2018
Join us Friday when our speaker will be Linda Hawes Clever, MD who wants us to “Be Better than Busy: Juggling Work, Volunteering, Family, Friends and Yourself”. Linda graduated from Stanford undergraduate and medical schools. She trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases, community medicine and occupational health at Stanford and UCSF. She and colleagues founded the not-for-profit RENEW 20 years ago. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and is author of The Fatigue Prescription: Four Steps to Renewing Your Energy Health and Life. Dr. Clever has Clinical Professor appointments at UCSF and Stanford. She served on a number of community boards, including the Stanford Board of Trustees for 14 years, and chaired the Boards of KQED and University High School. She also was editor of the Western Journal of Medicine. Dr. Clever likes good conversation, good walks, and good cookies. RENEW's vision is to reignite the human spirit to thrive and to make a positive difference. RENEW recognizes that people can get exhausted doing good and pursuing their dreams and yet they want to have whole, healthy lives for themselves and their family and friends. Its workshops, seminars, keynotes and Conversation Groups are aimed at hardworking, devoted people who have commitments to their professional and personal lives and who want to stay at the top of their games. RENEW is about reviving values, motivation and energy. The quest: meaning and joy. |
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WIRE for Women in Government
Nov. 02, 2018
Please join us on Friday morning when our speaker will be Carol Mayer Marshall. Carol is the founder of WIRE for Women — Women who Identify, Recruit & Elect — to help women get elected or appointed to offices in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. WIRE is a volunteer nonpartisan organization comprised of women and men who are committed to increasing the number of women in appointed and elected office in both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. They envision a world where more women hold elected and appointed office, bringing their unique experience and wisdom to focus on our community's greatest problems. WIRE believes that better public policy decisions result when all segments of the community are fully represented.
Carol began her political career at age 12 volunteering for Senator Robert Taft of Ohio. Later she was a Congressional Intern on Capitol Hill, and a Legislative Assistant to three Congressmen and two Senators. In 1969, she became the first woman ever to serve as an Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations in any Administration. She was later appointed by the President and confirmed by the US Senate as the first female Director of VISTA (the Domestic Peace Corps). In 1989, President Bush Sr. appointed, and the Senate confirmed her as the first woman Director of the San Francisco Mint.
Carol has run her own consulting business, practiced law, and been active in commercial real estate development. She has run for the California State Senate and has served on many local community and political boards. She founded a salon of women, now in its eleventh year, which meets monthly to discuss issues of national and international importance. She serves on the board of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, is the Chair Emeritus of the NARAL Leadership Council, has served on the national NARAL board, and on both the local and state boards of Planned Parenthood.
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Habitat for Humanity
Nov. 09, 2018
Please join us Friday when our speaker will be Kevin Dowling from Habitat for Humanity. At Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley, they believe in a world where everyone has a decent place to call home. Within that home a family can find the strength, stability, and independence they need to build a better life. Unfortunately, in the Bay Area the dream of homeownership is a farfetched idea for many families. That’s where Habitat steps in. Through innovative programs and services, Habitat EBSV is empowering families to change their lives while strengthening our communities. Kevin is an Individual Giving Officer for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. He previously worked for UC Hastings College of the Law and the San Leandro Boys & Girls Clubs. Kevin also served on the Hayward City Council for 12 years. Kevin was raised in and currently lives in Hayward attending local schools including Moreau Catholic High School. He has a B.S. from Santa Clara University in Political Science and Economics. |
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Club Action and Satisfaction Survey
Nov. 16, 2018
Please join us Friday when our Vocational Service Committee will ask us for input and insights into our causes, skills, interests, and satisfaction. The Vocational Committee will be conducting a survey of our membership for the purpose of: 1) Helping committees identify service projects that best combine the interests and skills of our members, as well as meeting the needs of the community; 2) Providing experiences for members to become better acquainted and creating opportunities for developing friendships through activities of shared interests; and 3) Gathering input for fine-tuning our club to make being a member an even more positive experience. The four questions on the survey will be: 1) Do you know of any charitable organization(s) within the community that could benefit from our club’s support through a financial donation, social event, or site improvement project? 2) What personal skills do you possess that might benefit our club on future projects? (a list of possible skills will be offered) 3) Do you have any interests outside the club where you would enjoy the company of other club members? (again a list of possible interests will be offered) 4) What could we do as a club to make your experience as a member even better? They are asking that each member consider these questions prior to the meeting to provide the most thoughtful responses. Ted Marston will be following up with members absent from the meeting on the 16th so that the survey results are truly representative of our club as a whole. |
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Women Entrepreneus in MENA
Nov. 30, 2018
Please join us Friday when our speaker will be Areen Shahbari. Areen has taught in the United States, Chile, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Turkey, and Mexico. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Cactus Int., a company that she founded in 2013 to promote women entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Areen is a social entrepreneur, a business consultant, and a lecturer on entrepreneurship, strategic management, marketing, and effective communication at Harvard University Extension School and Simmons School of Business. Areen provides consulting services to local and international entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial companies, leads workshops and training sessions on networking, negotiation, entrepreneurship, communicating across cultures, and persuasion, and instructs courses on women leadership and entrepreneurship. Prior to her teaching and entrepreneurial career, Shahbari worked in the media industry for ten years as a journalist, a TV programming director and a TV host. She hosted six TV shows and interviewed hundreds of professionals, half of whom are women. Areen is a highly rated instructor at Harvard University Extension School and Simmons School of Business where she received the 2016 and 2017 MSM excellence in teaching award. She is fluent in three languages, holds a BA in psychology and communication, and an MBA in entrepreneurship from Simmons School of Business, where she was a Fulbright scholar. Cactus provides MENA women with the tools they need to become successful entrepreneurs. Since the company's founding in 2013, the company has provided business courses, workshops, and counseling services to over 1,200 women from most of MENA countries. Cactus flagship course is its business plan course that teaches women how to identify business opportunities, write business plans, create pitch decks, and pitch their businesses confidently. The BP course includes online pre-recorded business training, live business training, and one-on-one consultation. So far 100+ women graduated from the business plan course with a success rate of over 60%. Cactus is based here in the Bay Area, and is made up of diverse team members from the US and MENA countries. Cactus vision is to enable women to build, develop and turn the universe into a safer, happier, and a better place to live in. |
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Peloton Technology
Dec. 07, 2018
Please join us Friday when our speaker will be Dave Lyons, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer for Peloton Technology. He will be joined by Jake Gregory, one of Peloton’s test drivers. Peloton Technology is an automated and connected vehicle technology company established in 2011 and headquartered in Mountain View. It is developing a vehicle platooning system that enables pairs of commercial heavy-duty trucks to operate at close following distances with a stated goal of improving safety and fuel efficiency. Peloton Technology was the first company to test a non-research commercial truck platooning system on public roads in the United States. Peloton Technology uses 5.9 GHz DSRC to establish Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications between pairs of trucks. Combined with commercially-available radar-based forward collision avoidance systems on each truck, this allows two trucks to operate with a shorter minimum safe following distance. The result is that trucks are able to platoon, improving aerodynamics to reduce fuel consumption. This implementation of these technologies together for the purpose of maintaining a constant gap between vehicles is sometimes referred to as Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control. Peloton’s system includes connection of each individual truck to a cloud-based monitoring and management system, which they refer to as the Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC is designed to monitor individual truck safety and geofence the use of the platooning system by approving the linking of pairs of trucks in specific order only on suitable roads under appropriate weather, vehicle and traffic conditions. Peloton’s version of truck platooning operates at SAE Automation Level 1, where drivers in both vehicles continue to steer while the following driver’s acceleration and braking is automated to immediately mimic the actions of the leading truck. Peloton’s platooning system has reportedly been tested over approximately 15,000 miles in several states, including Nevada, Texas, Utah, Michigan, and California. Unique from government and university-funded research projects, Peloton's system is the only commercial platooning system to have been tested on public roads with the intention of deploying to fleets. Peloton is engaged in several state and federally funded research projects related to truck platooning. The company is a partner in a Federal Highway Administration-funded “Partial Automation for Truck Platooning” project led by Auburn University that includes the American Transportation Research Institute, Meritor WABCO, and Peterbilt Trucks. Peloton also contributes to a second FHWA-funded platooning research project led by UC Berkeley PATH and including Volvo Trucks. Peloton is a partner in the US Department of Transportation-funded Smart City Challenge project awarded to Columbus, OH in July 2016. The California Energy Commission granted the San Diego Port Tenants Association a $5.9 million grant in July 2016 to fund 10 zero-emissions freight vehicles, which includes Peloton Technology as a technology subcontractor. Dave Lyons has led the development of some of the world’s most advanced products and systems. As employee number 12 and Director of Engineering, he led the development of the powertrain for the Tesla Roadster and was the initial lead of the Tesla Model S. Throughout the 90’s Dave was studio head at IDEO, the world-renowned design firm. Dave has also led engineering for a truck APU maker. Dave holds a BSME from MIT, and an MSME and MBA from Stanford University Jake Gregory has been a Test Driver for Peloton for the last 3 years. However, before that he was an FBI Special Agent from 1989-2013. He has garnered his truck driving and safety experience in summers during college, before and after FBI career. Jake holds a B.A. from Princeton University and JD from Golden Gate University. |
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Dec. 13, 2018 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Our Annual White Elephant Holiday Gift Exchange
Dec. 14, 2018
This week’s meeting will reprise PAUR’s joyful holiday gift exchange program. Once again it will allow us the perfect opportunity for the practical application of our beloved 4-Way-Test. It is essential for this to work that each of us brings a wrapped gift to the meeting. It can be something new, that costs around $10, or something gently used, (commonly known as a “white elephant”), that you may already have at home. The simple rules of the exchange will be explained at the meeting. Everyone who arrives with a wrapped gift is sure to leave with an unwrapped new treasure. Come join the festivities certain to be filled with fun and fellowship. |
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The US Electric Power System Infrastructure and Its Vulnerabilities
Jan. 04, 2019
Please join us Friday when our first speaker for the New Year will be our own Ted Marston. Ted will base his talk on a paper he did for the National Academy of Engineering this summer about the US electric power system infrastructure and its vulnerabilities. The US power infrastructure is one of the largest and most critical infrastructures in the world. The country’s financial well-being, public health, and national security depend on it to be a reliable source of electricity to industries, commercial entities, residential facilities, government, and military organizations. Considering the complexity and age of most of the equipment in the US power infrastructure, the lifetime reliability is extraordinary—and it has improved in the last ten years. Future system reliability may be challenged, however, by the effects of climate change, increasing supplies of renewable energy, and potential cyberattacks. Ted’s talk will expand upon the current high voltage transmission system, the effect of these factors, his conclusions, and his thoughts for next steps. Upon retirement from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) as its Chief Technology Officer, Ted established Marston Consulting in June of 2006. This firm is dedicated to the innovation, development, demonstration and deployment of new technology to address two key issues facing developed and developing countries in the 21st century: energy independence and management of global climate change. His clients include venture capitalists, commercial and energy companies, R&D organizations, and U.S. and international national laboratories. Previously, as CTO of EPRI, he directed multi-hundred million dollar, international science and technology programs to improve the generation, transmission, distribution and utilization of electricity and reduce the associated environmental risks. Earlier, he led a large international program to develop utility requirements for advanced nuclear reactors, design certification for advanced light water reactors, first-of-a-kind engineering and siting of nuclear reactors. In addition to his nuclear experience, he developed international, independent, fossil-fueled power generation projects. Ted has over 30 years of global experience in the assessment and management of risk in a broad range of industrial facilities, including nuclear and conventional power plants, refineries, chemical plants, railroads, and defense facilities. Ted received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1972 and is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. |
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Innovative Financial Inclusion
Jan. 11, 2019
Please join us Friday when our speaker will be Ken Singleton from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. This presentation explores some of the innovative ways that start-ups are overcoming financial frictions, reinforcing user engagement through social and business networks, and using data in novel ways to enhance the financial capacities of households and small businesses. Poor financial health is now an issue for nearly half the U.S. population. We will highlight some of the ways that FinTech has been addressing this challenge, and examine its past, present, and prospective social impact. Ken’s research focuses on econometric methods for estimation and testing of dynamic asset pricing models; modeling of term structures of government and defaultable bond yields; pricing credit derivatives; measuring and managing market, credit, and liquidity risks; and debt financing in emerging economies. He is the Adams Distinguished Professor of Management at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford. He has published widely on financial risks and their impacts on economic decision-making, including books on credit risk and dynamic asset pricing. Ken is currently a faculty advisor to, and serves on the Investment Committee of, the Stanford GSB Impact Fund; and is a faculty advisor to Stanford Angels and Entrepreneurs. He was the Executive Editor of the Journal of Finance from 2012 to 2016; served as a Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Stanford GSB from 2005 to 2008; was a special advisor to the chief economist at the IMF during the crisis in 2009; and co-led the Fixed Income Research group of Goldman Sachs, Asia while on leave from Stanford in the early 1990’s. He is President of the Board of the 501(c)3 nonprofit 1 Grain to 1000 Grains that leads programs for low-income communities through which families discover intuitive and actionable plans for more healthful eating and for building financial capacity. Ken holds a BA in Mathematics from Reed College and a PhD in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. |
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Our Mid-Year Club Assembly
Jan. 18, 2019
Our meeting this Friday will be the semi-annual Club Assembly, where we take stock of how and what we are doing as a club. At this Mid-Year Meeting our emphasis is on member engagement for completion of this year’s Rotary journey. There will also be a very important election for our President Elect-Nominee for Rotary year 2020-2021. Stephen Becker is the only known candidate (and an excellent choice by our past presidents committee) and is the odds on favorite to win. You will learn about plans for the 2019 Gala, progress on our Avenues of Service, and have a report on the outcome of our recent club questionnaire. Please come with your renowned liveliness and questions. The Assembly is a good time for self-reflection. It will be a very full Club-centric agenda, start thinking about our club and your place in it. The hallmark of Rotary is the opportunity to provide service to the community (both locally and internationally). Great service opportunities gives you the opportunity to get to know your fellow Rotarians better ... and is good for your health. IMPORTANT: Please note that due to an event at the Sheraton, the Club Assembly Meeting on will not be at the Sheraton but in the Community Room at the Lucie Stern Community Center Parking can be found on Middlefield Rd and on the Community Center Parking Lot reachable from Harriet St and Hopkins Ave (see attached map). We have the room reserved from 7 am - 10 am giving us time for the Board meeting that will follow the Club Assembly Meeting. |
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Tess Posner: Ethics and Diversity in AI
Jan. 25, 2019
We hope to see you Friday when our speaker will be Tess Posner, CEO of AI4All. Artificial Intelligence is the new electricity, says Andrew Ng. The global economic impact of AI applications is expected to reach $2.95 trillion by 2025, and we’re already seeing AI being incorporated into areas and tools like medical diagnosis, personal assistants like Siri, self-driving cars and Google Translate. However, as machines are getting closer to mirroring human-like abilities, they are also absorbing the deeply ingrained unconscious biases in our society. How do we address bias and other ethical risks in the development and deployment of AI technologies? Join Tess as she talks about how AI4ALL, her organization working to increase diversity and inclusion in AI, takes on challenges and comes up with concrete solutions. AI4ALL is a nonprofit working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence. They create pipelines for underrepresented talent through education and mentorship programs around the U.S. and Canada that give high school students early exposure to AI for social good. Their vision is for AI to be developed by a broad group of thinkers and doers advancing AI for humanity’s benefit. Our own Rick Sommer is a co-founder and board member of AI4ALL, which started with a program in his organization (Pre-Collegiate Studies) offered at Stanford (originally called Stanford AI Lab Outreach Summer (SAILORS), but now Stanford AI4ALL). Their flagship program is educating the next generation of diverse AI leaders in partnership with Stanford, UC Berkeley, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Simon Fraser and other leading companies and educational institutions in AI today. Tess has spent her career on initiatives that increase equity and economic opportunity in the education system and economy. She is passionate about working towards a future where all people have the chance to access education, find dignified work and reach their full potential. Previously, Tess supported the TechHire initiative—a national initiative to get more Americans rapidly trained for well-paying tech jobs—through collaboration with key stakeholders including state and local government leaders, workforce development programs, and education providers. Prior to joining Opportunity@Work, Tess was Managing Director of Samaschool, a social enterprise part of the SamaGroup that equips low-income people to find work in the digital economy. Prior to Samaschool, Tess led the employment and education programs at First Place for Youth, a nationally-recognized model that helps foster youth find housing, get their first job, and stay in school. Before First Place, she managed programs that taught competitive debate as a literacy and empowerment tool in underserved public schools in New York City. Tess holds a master's degree from Columbia University School in Social Enterprise Administration and a bachelor’s in liberal arts from St. John’s College.
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Lean in Latinas
Feb. 01, 2019
Please join us Friday when we will be hearing from Anna Dapelo-Garcia about her organization Lean In Latinas The mission of Lean In is to help women achieve their ambitions and work to create an equal world. They want a world where people of every gender can pursue their dreams without bias or other barriers holding them back. Where girls grow up to be confident, resilient leaders. Where more women run companies and countries. They are driven by the belief our society and economy would be better if women and girls were valued as equal to men and boys. Building on the Lean In mission, Anna became Founder and President of Lean In Latinas now 800+ members strong nationally and internationally. Lean in Latinas is one of ten non-profits, worldwide, with Lean In. Anna’s presentation on women’s rights and the women’s movement is a snapshot of a big and complex story. It doesn’t come close to capturing the full breadth of women’s experiences, challenges, or achievements —no summary could. But no matter how closely you follow the news or how much you already know about women’s progress, there’s research that will surprise you. It is presented in three categories—the Bad, the Ugly, and the Good, in that order, because while we need to face harsh truths, we also want to end with hope. Together, we can build a more equal and resilient world. Anna Dapelo-Garcia is a healthcare administrator for Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto and Founder and President of Lean In Latinas. Anna acquired a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in healthcare services administration from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in management from Saint Mary’s College. In 2012 Anna received the Future Financial Leaders’ Award from the National Healthcare Financial Management Association and in 2013 she was named as a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence. In 2017, she was named as the Woman of the Year by the Women’s Health Care Executives. She also served as a State Commissioner with the California State Senate for Cost Control in State Government. She’s currently vice chair and board member for the University of San Francisco Master of Public Administration program and 2nd vice chair and board member for the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. In 2015, she became the Founder of Lean In Latinas and was appointed as a Regional Program Leader by LeanIn.Org. Anna was recently featured in The New York Times for her role in creating Lean In Latinas, now a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. In October 2018, she received a Top Latino Leaders Award by the National Diversity Council in Los Angeles. She has also been featured in Forbes and National Public Radio (NPR). |
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Building Communities of Practice Around Environmental Open Data Science
Feb. 08, 2019
Please join us Friday when it will be our pleasure to welcome Blair Stewart’s daughter Julia Stewart Lowndes. There is huge potential for data science to accelerate research and generate solutions to pressing environmental problems on land and sea. But many scientists are excluded from efficient use of data science because they lack “downstream” basic skillsets, mindsets, or support in academia they would need to engage with such tools. Environmental scientists are a diverse community that ranges from climatologists to geneticists, but they are united by an enormous need to work efficiently with data – and by the fact that they seldom have formal computing or data analysis training of any kind. There is great opportunity to borrow from the work of software engineers and use collaborative open tools that facilitate better science in less time. However, a fundamental shift is needed in the environmental science community that prioritizes data science and provides emerging scientific leaders training in open science tools and practices to strengthen and accelerate their work. Julia will discuss her work to catalyze this shift through two programs she has developed and lead at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California at Santa Barbara. The first is the Ocean Health Index training program, which teaches international government and academic scientists how to channel the best available scientific information into marine policy using our scientific method and tools. And the second, she has recently launched in January 2019 as a Mozilla Fellow: Openscapes, a mentorship program that empowers environmental scientists with open data science tools and grows the community of practice. Julia Stewart Lowndes is a marine data scientist and Mozilla Fellow, working to increase the value and practice of open environmental science. She has been working in this space since 2013 at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) at the University of California at Santa Barbara. With the Ocean Health Index, she has led training programs for data-driven ocean policy efforts around the world and led a transformative publication in Nature Ecology & Evolution: Our path to better science in less time using open data science tools. She earned her PhD at Stanford University in 2012 studying drivers and impacts of Humboldt squid in a changing climate. |
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Feb. 08, 2019 5:30 p.m.
Friday February 8 is our next 2nd Friday event. It will be at the Four Seasons Hotel at University Ave and Highway 101. Please note that the traffic intersection at University and 101 is heavily congested during this time of the day. It is advisable to use Woodland Ave in Menlo Park to access the Hotel from the backside. Please see attached flyer for more information. See you there. Richard Schoelerman |
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Pelisa Energy Kongo: Igniting a Renewable Energy Revolution in Central Africa
Feb. 22, 2019
Please join us Friday when our guest speaker will be Kiazi Malonga. Kiazi is the founder and CEO of Pelisa Energy, a nonprofit startup aiming to bridge the energy gap for remote underserved communities in Central Africa by supplying decentralized small solar solutions to impact health, education, and livelihoods. Pelisa Energy was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area and focuses its efforts in Central Africa. ‘Pelisa’ means ‘to bring the light’ in Congo’s Lingala language. Pelisa Energy marries the market development, education and social goals of a non-profit with the sustainability and dynamism of the free market to meet its goals. It is the only energy initiative in the world targeting the Republic of Congo with small-solar technology. Kiazi was raised in the Bay Area with deep cultural connections to Central Africa. Kiazi received his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and received a dual Masters degree in International Affairs and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from American University in Washington DC and The United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. Pelisa Energy was founded in 2017 when Kiazi took the leap from working on green energy and sustainability issues for Pacific Gas and Electric and focused on Pelisa Energy full-time. Pelisa Energy has raised funds from individual donors and installed 90 solar systems in urban and rural village hospitals, schools and households in the Republic of Congo. If you want to see Pelisa Energy in action, (and practice your French), please click on the following link: https://www.facebook.com/pelisaenergy/videos/1927880207251269/ Kiazi will be providing greater insight into Pelisa Energy (in English) on Friday.
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A Photo Tour of Avian Courtship
Mar. 01, 2019
In the springtime, many birds take on new appearances and personalities as they attempt to attract mates for the coming nesting season. They grow new colorful feathers specifically for this event and perform elaborate courtship rituals to convince prospective partners to mate with them. The photos in this presentation will illustrate the wild and wonderful world of avian courtship.
In the springtime, many birds take on new appearances and personalities as they attempt to attract mates for the coming nesting season. They grow new colorful feathers specifically for this event and perform elaborate courtship rituals to convince prospective partners to mate with them. The photos in this presentation will illustrate the wild and wonderful world of avian courtship. Steve Zamek is a retired software engineer who has been a bird lover for decades, but more recently expanded this passion by attempting to capture these lovely creatures on "film". In 2008 he acquired a DSLR camera and began capturing these fascinating creatures. He enjoys photographing birds going about their daily activities, striving to create captivating images which convey both the beauty and behavior of the birds in their natural surroundings. He lives near some productive wetlands along the San Francisco Bay with his wife Jane. His photos are regularly published in Audubon and Sierra Club calendars. His articles, along with photos, have appeared in Birdwatching Magazine and The Journal of the Western Field Ornithologists. |
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PAUR Speaker for 3-8-19: Ian Winters: Towards Precision Oncology: From Cancer Genomics to Clinical I
Mar. 08, 2019
Please join us Friday when we will welcome Ian Winters as out guest speaker. Since the 1970s, we’ve known that cancer is a genetic disease: mutations in a cell’s DNA can result in aberrant cellular growth and the formation of a tumor. To study this process, mouse strains were genetically engineered in the 1980s to model human cancer. These strains have been instrumental to our understanding of cancer biology, and remain the gold-standard for “preclinical” cancer research today. However, despite massive progress in our knowledge of fundamental cancer biology, treatments have barely changed in 40 years. What we now realize—through exponential improvements in DNA sequencing methods—is that cancer is in fact a collection of highly heterogeneous genetic diseases. This necessitates a paradigm shift in how we think about treating cancer, away from universal cures and towards personalized therapies. However, generating more precise, gold-standard mouse models needed to develop these personalized therapies is intractable using conventional approaches. To overcome this bottleneck, we integrated recent genetics innovations such as CRISPR-mediated gene editing, DNA barcoding, and DNA sequencing into conventional genetically engineered mouse models of cancer—allowing for the discovery and development of genetically-targeted cancer therapies at scale. Dr. Ian Winters is Co-Founder & Director of Research at the precision oncology startup, D2G Oncology. Prior to D2G Oncology, he completed a Genetics PhD at Stanford University in Prof. Monte Winslow’s cancer genetics lab. As a PhD student, Ian contributed to various collaborations between the Winslow lab and Prof. Dmitri Petrov’s lab at Stanford to develop scalable and quantitative mouse models of human cancer. He got his undergrad in Honors Biology at the University of Richmond in Virginia. His family moved pretty often while he was growing up. They lived in San Diego; Washington D.C.; Lima, Peru; Rome, Italy; and a rural town in Australia called Armidale. In his free time, Ian can often be found spending time with his wife and two daughters, and good friends Okke and Brooke—either firing up some pizza or working on photography. |
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New Member Talks
Mar. 15, 2019
Join us this Friday for another one of our favorite programs, our new member talks. This week we will get to know a little more about two new outstanding members, Katie Hedgecock and Manon Janssen.
Katie Hedgecock is a US Army officer and current Stanford Political Science PhD student. A Rotarian since 2016, she is transferring from Clarksville Sunset Rotary in Clarksville, TN. She is married to a Blackhawk pilot and her West Point Classmate, Nate Hedgecock. They are proud dog parents to a goldendoodle named Penny.
Manon Janssen is the current VP of Business Engagement at HR firm Intellipro Group's office in Santa Clara. Her other interests include travel, art, exploring new things, and giving back. Manon's history is well integrated with Rotary, her husband was a Rotary member in Denmark and he was also a Rotary Scholar in L.A. Her parents-in-law were both Rotary members in Denmark, and her father is a PROBUS member in the Netherlands. (PROBUS clubs are organizations for men and women who have retired and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests. Each PROBUS club is sponsored by a Rotary club or another PROBUS Club and meets at least once a month for fellowship and to hear guest speakers. Today, there are over 400,000 members in approximately 4,000 PROBUS clubs worldwide)
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Hidden Women: Celtic Burgundy & Europe
Mar. 22, 2019
Please join us Friday when we will welcome back Jacqueline Widmar Stewart as our speaker. A little over a year ago we were fortunate to have Jacqui enlighten us about Celtic society and the importance of a woman’s role therein. However, her painstaking research was impossible to be compressed into a single book; luckily she will be back to fill in some of the rest of her exploration. Jacqui will be continuing her Hidden Women series with the 2nd book, Celtic Burgundy & Europe. New finds call for another look at women in European history. Ever more convincingly, buried treasures show that Europe’s ancient Celts valued females in ways that later empires did not. Archaeology is uncovering vast differences between these family-centric populations and the Roman Empire that fueled its expansion by conquest, occupation and enslavement of Celtic peoples. Over the past 2000 years, institutionalized sexism has carried Rome’s elitist male domination all the way to the present. Along with the riches that have been found in women’s burial chambers, excavations across the continent reveal a surprising consistency in technological capabilities, communication and trade networks of Iron Age Celts. Ancient tombs and treasure troves throughout Great Britain, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia give insights into a formerly vibrant culture that is no longer recognized. The Hidden Women series brings vantage views into this wealthy, productive, nature- loving, Iron Age civilization. As author, mother, education advocate and perpetual scholar, Jacqui pursues a wide range of interests that draw her back to her family’s European homeland. Her use of a variety of lenses – law, literature, languages, art, architecture, archeology, and genetics – brings a clearer picture of an obscured past. Those who need to look behind the scene will love her books that explore the how and why. A native of Beverly Shores, Indiana, Jacqui completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and German from the University of Colorado and a Master’s Degree in French from the University of Michigan. Following her marriage to our Blair Stewart, both earned law degrees at Stanford. Jacqui’s European studies include a classics program in Athens, Greece, German language at the University of Bonn in Germany and Slovenian language at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Their two children - Andy and Julia, (both previous speakers), also completed Stanford graduate programs. Twenty years ago Jacqui helped found the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation and then ran the organization for ten years. Since then she has written four books that focus on environmental triumphs: The Glaciers’ Treasure Trove: A Field Guide to the Lake Michigan Riviera, Finding Slovenia: A Guide to Old Europe’s New Country, Parks and Gardens in Greater Paris, and Champagne Regained. |