Meeting on Sept 04 2013

Posted by Farhad Taleghani 
on Sep 04, 2013
 

GREETER: Barbara L offered this inspiration

     Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.
                       J K Rowling, (Harry Potter)

ROTARY MOMENT:

Trish G gave a short talk on "Why I joined Rotary".  

(Her husband) John was in the Central Marin Club.  I decided the time and location of RCMS was perfect.  I have had a lot AHs not just a single AHA moment.  The first was Bill R who met me upon arrival with an honest unpretentious welcome. Then meeting Dr Mike and finding out that he drives two hours each Wednesday just for the Wednesday meeting.  This must be a special club.  Next the Halloween Party at Maggie's and then the golf tournament dinner.   I was given the Secretary's job and then the Treasurer's so now I am hooked. The parking job for the Sonoma and the the Ride4Vets rides were key highlights for me as well.  Once Eric spoke to our Club, I became a very proud member and realized that we are all like acorns on a BIG TREE".

ANNOUCEMENTS:

Pres Chuck  met with Supervisor Katie Wright and will be meeting with Veterans Services and Blue Star Moms as well to get rolling on our project.  Lots of work but very fulfilling.

Jim C  shared a few moments to tell us about an initiative for Marine Corps that needs funding.  It is for packages of goodies being sent to active duty Marines in the field.  Please review his last e-mail and help if you can.

Cap Alan sponsored a very successful ice cream booth at the Sausalito Art Festival.  It netted close to $12,000 for the Educational Tall Ships and Call of the Sea programs

Rolando announced the open dates for RotaCare.  Please contact him as many slots need volunteers.

GOODTIMES:

Cammie dressed up and attended the opening night of the Symphony with Tony Award Winner McDonald on stage.  It was incredible. They even had banjos in the band because they knew Pres Chuck loves that music!

Bill R has just returned from Cancun.  He now believes that he has seen all the ruins in the entire Yucatan Peninsula. 

Jim C reported on his trip to Elko NV where he visited the incredible Lamoille Canyon.  It is a beautiful place with very few visitors!

Dr Mike shared a snake story (Racer Striker).  Not poisonous but a very nasty bite as they grew older!!

Ken and LeAnn went to Glen Ellen instead of the traditional Tahoe trip because of the heavy smoke up in the mountains.  He also enjoyed hearing about the great opening games by our local players at Cal and North Western.

SPEAKER

Ben Rowe graduated from the Cornell Hotel School and has an MBA from Stanford.  He is the Chief Finance Officer for Kimpton Hotels and lives in Corte Madera with his family.  

The Origin
In 1981, Bill Kimpton pioneered the boutique hotel concept in the United States. His dream was to provide weary travelers with a haven of comfort, service, security and style. Oh, and how about a nice glass of wine and a good meal at the end of the day, too? Today the Kimpton Hotels hold true to Bill Kimpton's legacy by offering personalized service, feel-good amenities like Hosted Evening Wine Hour, and their one-of-a-kind hotels and restaurants.

Staying True
Kimpton employees believe in a culture that includes people, one that celebrates the individuality of their guests and employees alike. They are equally devoted to the greater good and have led the hospitality industry with their innovative EarthCare program. Perhaps it's this unique mix of individual expression and social responsibility that inspires a strong emotional connection with their guests. According to Market Metrix Hospitality Index™, Kimpton has the highest customer satisfaction scores (93%+) and emotional attachment scores (89%) of any hotel company operating in the United States.  

 

NEWS FLASH:  (Except it isn't)   This just in from our Honorary Member Matt Kawajiri:

I want to share my thoughts with American friends about my bet on the selection of 2020 Summer Olympic site.  Please pay attention to news on Monday.  I bet that the IOC will not select Tokyo the 2020 Summer Olympics on Monday next week.  As you may know, the candidate cities are Istanbul, Madrid, and Tokyo.  I joined the petition organized by an international NPO to stop Tokyo from being selected. I made commented as below.
The radioactive contamination is spreading to all over Japan. Tokyo is only 100 miles away from Fukushima. Korea has declared that the country will ban all imported marine products from Japan. The government of Japan has done little to cope with the situation. Instead, under the leadership of (expletive deleted) Abe the country is trying to export nuclear plants to emerging markets such as Vietnam, Turkey, and countries in the Middle East. Japan has failed controlling nuclear accidents, regulating nuclear power companies, not protecting Japanese lives and properties. Fukushima residents will not be able to return to where they lived prior to the accident. Radioactive contaminated water is leaking to the underground water and to the Pacific Ocean. TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Co) and the government have being lying to the Japanese people that everything is safe.
In addition, I also commented the fact that the Abe regime has denied the historical facts of all atrocities that Japan committed to its neighboring countries during WWII, including the Nanjing Massacre and Korean comfort women incidents.

 For American friends, be aware!  As the current of the Pacific Ocean flows to the West Coast from Japan, as already witnessed that a lot of tsunami debris have reached the West Coast from Japan. Contaminated fish will be swimming to the West Coast. Very scaring.

Best regards,
Matt Kawajiri