Meeting on May 1st 2013

GREETER: 

Past Pres Roland joined Pres Chuck in a YouTube version of the national anthem.  Then Roland provided several wonderful quotes and the one below was his choice for our bulletin

"There are many doors to goodness (Saying) "Glory to God", "Praise be to God". There is no deity but God' enjoining good, forbidding harm from the road, listening to the deaf  (until you understand them), leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one's legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help and supporting the weak with the strength of one's arms. All of these are (forms of) charity prescribed to you."

---Prophet Mohammad (s) in Figh-us-sunnah Volume 3 Number 98

GUESTS: 

Jeff Allen, Past Pres of San Rafael Club and present member of SR Harbor

Romy Mogrovejo, A colleague of Melody and Guest of Jirayr who met Romyat a social function

Dr Mojgan Behmand, Professor at Dominican University and Guest Speaker

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Pres Chuck and Emerson announced that even though we typically do not have  a speaker when we have our wonderful annual RotaCare Dinner, we will this time.  The speaker is coming from out of town for our benefit and he had been cancelled once already.  

Past Pres Jim C announced the event on May 18th, the evening of the Petaluma Ride at ST Patricks. The Fund Raiser is for the Fisher House which provides temporary housing for  injured service members and veterans and their families who need medical help far from home. (www.fisherhoiuse.org).  The theme is "An Afternoon at the USO" and will feature USS Hornet so prepare to Swing.

Please mark down our first social on June 22nd with the Greek/Persian Festival at Whistle Stop form 12:30 to 4:30 (Music, Dance, lots of Food and great time to see the two great cultures compete for your attention!)

Pres Chuck Announced  the June 12meeting will be a social event at another venue... to be announced soon.

Will Announced the Celebration of his bank's 50th anniversary on June 12th as well; by invitation.

Members spit into four groups to write down  potential sponsors for solicitations for our Club Rid4Vets;  the papers were collected to be copied.  The original will be sent back to the individuals as a reminder to start  fund raising.  A few brochures and a sample elevator pitch will be sent as well.

We have our first Major Sponsor;  Past President of San Rafael Club, Jeff Allen on behalf of Minto and Wilkie Insurance Firm,  THANK YOU Jeff.

GOODTIMES:

Dr Melini announced two great movies for all to see.

Past Pres Dianne announced that she is now legally permitted to drive her own car again.

Past President Farhad reviewed his retreat with Nahal at Deepak Chopra Center in La Costa resort.  He was having so much fun that he lietrally got sick the 3rd day!  Apparently there were 500 attendees but only 30 of them were men!!

SPEAKER:

Dr Mojgan Behmand has a PHD from Germany.  She started her career at Dominican in English Literature and then became interested in the larger history of the world called Big History. It examines how all history is related. She noted that regardless of our backgrounds, we are all connected when you view cultures from a longer, comprehensive view point. d. She is the key course designer and Director of the Big History Program at the University.  

Big History is a universal and trans-disciplinary narrative that examines the timeline of our Universe on the largest possible scale. Coined by historian David Christian, the term “Big History” means “a modern, scientific creation story…based on the best findings of modern science…a history that includes all human societies and places their histories within the larger histories of the earth and the Universe as a whole” (Christian, Brown, Benjamin 2010). Big History begins with the Big Bang, the creation of stars and planets, the emergence of life on Earth, and extends to human beings and societies that have existed up to the present. This is by nature a multi-disciplinary study, employing astronomy, anthropology, biology, ecology, geology, literature, economics, political science, and sociology, among other fields, in its approach to understanding our collective past and possible futures. While Big History is taught in higher education at universities around the world, Dominican University of California is the only institution that has utilized this content for a one-year course.

She explained how the root of so many issues is not religion or country but the social-economic. using Iran as an example and showed a film in which ssues with young abused girls in Iranian society is a direct testimony to the complicated societal problems in Iran and not just a religious issue.  Three short bios of young girls given a second chance to start their live over again was shown.  The NGO that supports this entity is named OMID Foundation; it means Hope.  Its Board of Trustees are in London with offices in Washington DC.  It is an approved NGO for donations by State Department of US Government. 

Dr Behmand was very eloquent and it is no wonder she was voted as the Teacher of the Year for 2010 by students at the University.