Meeting on May 8th 2013

Posted by Farhad Taleghani 
on May 08, 2013
 

SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES (Per request by our ex member Heather F, living and loving Italy at the present with both Brownlees! )

  • The Sonoma Bike Event: We are the volunteers for the parking signs and parking directors; 1500 riders !! For our efforts, we were given about $5,000 of free website design for our own site
  • The August 17th Ride4Vets event on August 17th: We need sponsors for the funding.  The sponsorship levels are $250, $500, $1000, $2500 and $5000.  One of our anonymous members will match any amount for the top level of $5,000 if that amount (at least $2,500 can be sent in by next Wed Meeting). Get in your funds via an email to farhad@taleghani.com ASAP as he is coordinating this effort; the match will be coming from two of our loyal sponsors who have supported every Golf Tournament of ours over the last five years)
  • The Greek/Persian Festival on June 22nd.  All proceeds after costs will go to Meals on Wheels.  We have three members who serve as volunteers for this great service. 
  • Bark-in-Park event for a spectacular fun Dog Show for everyone organized by our Club to fund many of our present projects next year

GREETER: Past President graciously took over the role as yours truly had forgotten to remind Past Pres Bill C to do take  on the duties.  A metalltica version of the national anthem played at the last Giants Game when Buster hit a home run at the bottom of the 9th inning for a great win was played.  The inspiration for the date was: "If you don't stand up for something you will fall for anything"

The first person to identify this quote will get a FANTASTIC prize from me personally to be mailed to presented in person.  Hint, I have had a deal for the last 10 years with Brian, my Little Brother.  On my Birthday (60th on May 17th) I always give a gift.  The one condition is that you were not present at this meeting!!

GUESTS: Matrlee Johnson, amazingly talented and the power behind her husband Emerson

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Board (post meeting) approved Bark-in-Park Event on Aug. 31 was formally announced to the Club by our very own wonder woman: Dr Susan W.  She had been planning this event for almost four months with full blessing of Past Pres Herman and Past Pres Farhad.  It has taken an incredible number of hours as well as patience as the Mill Valley Community Center was very tough to deal with it but due to her persistent they gave in and our Club will be sponsoring this fun event with many other community organizations helping us.  This is for everyone and not a "real dog show"; there are only three categories: Small, Medium and Large Dogs with prizes for all!! Dr. Susan has already arranged for a food vendor who will be serving RotaDog for food at $5 each.  We expect to raise at least $10,000 for the Club if all goes well.  

The Interact at Redwood High School had a guest on Wed for the first time as announced by Cammie.  They are dong well especially after the successful April Event last month.  Kudos to Cammie and Lisa and of-course to the team at RHS who really deserve  recognition.

Past Prese Captan Alan announced the major fund raiser on June 15th for Call of the Sea in Sausalito.  The Educational Tall Ship and Call of the Sea have a new home at AutoDesk old digs with beautiful new offices to build a brand new Tall Ship; this is a first in Marin in decades.  Youth are involved as key part of this historical major undertaking.  They need our help to fund. Please contact Cap Alan directly to help as they also need hands-on tasks.  This is a long term project and only some one with Cap Alan's stature and incredible steely drive can do it.

Pres Chuck attended the District Meeting last weekend.  I worry about the time he is sparing for our Club as his wife must be very upset; so PLEASE step forward and start helping him as we are staring the new year a bit early with lot of activities.  We won two major awards:

  • Best Community Award for all the garden works as well as our very own most successful RotaCare in its 15th year Free Clinic for anyone without Insurance Coverage in Marin County.  Thanks to Past Presdients Hank and Ken for their leadership in this area.
  • Best International Award for the joint Micro Credit work in conjunction with Keith A of Marin Evening Club.  Thank you Barbara L

Past Pres Ken announced the wonderful surprise visit by our past Treasurer and member who started our Club on the new direction with the idea of Bike4vets.  Peter D daughter is a professional rider and was on the team at U C Berkeley and she is still riding every day to work.  That is almost a 50+ mile ride per day!!!  David met with Ken to clear his account as well as even give us an extra funds to help our projects.  THANK YOU Peter form all of us and if your business permits, please come back.

GOODTIMES:

Cammie's bithdate was celebrated for the 29th time.  I may have the number wrong but she does have so many fans that the year does'nt really matter does it?!

There are now only two marbles left in the weekly raffle!!  The kitty is over $200, Retired SFO SPD office and a hero of our club will gladly accept purchases if you wish to participate in this sure win.  But please be forewarned that there are a few crazy members who go nuts when the odds are this good!!

SPEAKER: Dr Ronald Simon on Educational state in US

This is was an incredible occasion to hear of all the work on evaluating the whole educational process. The college teaching as genuine scholarship.  The findings of Ernest Boyer ("Scholarship Reconsider: Priorities of the Professoriate").  It is a shame that we did not promote this meeting as so many of our educators would have really appreciated this speech.  The executive summary were the key measurable elements of:

  • Discovery
  • Integration
  • Teaching
  • Application

I could not help by think back on our last speaker, the professor from University of Dominican.  She matched each of these areas perfeclty with her directorship of Big History course for the students.