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Program for Friday April 4, 2003

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

(there's an opportunity here to reduce the price of gas, though this may not be the subject of the presentation)

Door Duty: Elof Granberg and Werner Schwarz

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Program for Friday April 11, 2003

Inspector Frank Falzon, SFPD- Retired

Door Duty: Joe Robinson and ?

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Program of March 28, 2003

Gretchen Glover

Mark Howe introduced our speaker, Gretchen Glover, Community Affairs Coordinator for the East Bay Municipal District. Gretchen provided a description of EBMUD activities. EBMUD was founded in 1921 and supplies water to 1.3 million people from Crockett, to San Lorenzo, to Walnut Creek and down to San Ramon. It also provides wastewater services to 642,000 people in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

Richmond is considered to be one of the charter members of EBMUD. Virtually all of the water used by EBMUD comes from the Mokelumne River watershed in Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties. East Bay reservoirs are used to collect additional rainwater and to store water from the Sierras. Because EBMUD water comes from pristine sources and protected watersheds, it is of very high quality.

Water consumption continues to increase with population growth. Per capita daily consumption is now 166 gallons. In 1928, consumption was only 60 gallons per person. EBMUD is earnestly looking for ways to increase storage capacity to prepare for future needs and drought cycles.

The District has approximately 2000 employees, most of whom belong to public employee unions. EBMUD's current fiscal budget is $334 million for the water system and $79 million for the wastewater system.


Recognitions
Once again, Dr. Herb stood in for a very busy Joe Bagley. Don Hardison was introduced as the Club's "most experienced Rotarian" - celebrating an anniversay Don donated to his son Steve's Paul Harris.   Gloria Johnson reported a pleasant trip to Napa and it was quite obvious that she lost track of the number of wineries visited. Gloria donated to her Grand Daughter's Paul Harris. Henry Kelman observed that Rotary still has not made it easy to select an appropriate donation fund, but was talked into a donation to Polio Plus. Paul Hodgen admitted he uses a stabilizer in his Chevron gasoline, but only for his lawnmower. Paul had a pleasant birthday doing what his wife likes to do. Paul made a donation to his Paul Harris.

Happy/Sad $$
Jonathan Lawlis enjoyed his weekend stay in the Twain Harte cabin that he bought at the Christmas Auction several years ago. He was even happier about selling some Hercules real estate.
Dan Ercolini was happy the Giants are now playing - does anybody know the names of the players on the Giants any more?
Jim Young was delighted that daughter Zura has been selected to attend the Globe Theatre acting program - the premier Shakespeare program in the country. He is REALLY happy that the program is a "full ride with a stipend".
Hank Covell was in good spirits to once again to be embarked on a trip to New York with 18 Pinole Valley High School students to take in the high culture of New York. Herb Cole was glad Hank is doing the chaperoning of these kids, instead of him.
Joanne Blum had a monetary contribution for the large success, once again, of the Project Seed funding project.
Paul Hodgen report his son made excellent grades at U.C. Santa Barbara, even if he is exercising independent thoughts about world politics.

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Last Week
Looking dapper as always, Prez Dave opened the meeting and asking the Club's blender of petroleum fuels Paul Hodgen to lead the pledge. Prez Dave then gave a quote by Will Rogers appropriate to the season: Income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf.

Guests
Jim Young introduced his daughter, actress Zura Young. There was a time, not so long ago, that Zura enforced the Queensbury Rules for the two Brandes boys when Mom and Dad went out for the night. Jim was a lot younger in those days too.

Visiting Rotarians
Past member Bob Miller was in town to have his teeth cleaned by Win Bowman, his taxes done, or both. Old habits are hard to break given that Win retired to Oregon some years ago. Bob is long time friend of this Club and past President of his Folsom Club. He brought his lovely wife Candy to the meeting.

Announcements
Dr. Werner provided a rousing soliloquy on the upcoming District Conference. It is close by in Fairfield this year, promises many interesting events AND PDG Dr. Cliff Dochterman will speak. Remember Cliff's great program at Richmond last year? And you can enjoy the conference and still participate in the Club's Christmas in April event on the 26th. Dial www.rotary5160.org for more information.

Christmas in April is the 26th. Contact Paul Hodgen to sign up.

The La Mirinda Rotary Club Golf Challenge. Demonstrating superb lawyering skills, Prez Dave convinced Josh Genser, no slouch in this area, to take on the project and coordinate a foursome for the competition.

Due to the war in Iraq, next week is a Bag Lunch at the Mira Vista. Our 4/11 and 4/18 meetings will see a return of hot food, but at the La Strada Restaurant in San Pablo.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships - application deadline is 31 March. For more information contact Richard Flanders at srednalf@pacbell.net or 925-469-9155.

District 5160 will have its Conference, "Festival in Fairfield", in Fairfield April 24th-27th complete conference details can be found @ http://www.rotary5160.org./conference.htm.

The RI Convention for 2003 will be in Brisbane Australia Registrants from our District are eligible for the Visa known as Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) provided they hold a US Passport. They can apply online or through a travel agent. To apply online have them visit: http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/index.html.
Both a Passport and Visa are required, and you don't want to be "stopped at the gate" because a Visa has not been ordered early enough for travel to Australia.

Coming Speakers
April 18th - Dr. Randy Schekman, Stem Cell Research
(Randy was my neighbor in El Cerrito and recently received a prestigious award for his research -the award is one notch down from the Nobel).
April 25th - Honorable Laurel Brady, Presiding Judge, CC County Superior Court.
June 13th - The long awaited Demotion of Prez Dave.

Raffle
Raffle. Dr. Don Miller won the chance to pull a ball from the treasure bag. Alas, he had to settle for a free Bag Lunch next week.

Remember: When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

Semper Paratus