flywheel text

Program for Friday March 21, 2003

Don Arnold - Indian Gaming in Richmond

Door Duty: Michael Fenley and Hans Shaper

* * * * * * * * *
Program for Friday March 28 2003

Gretchen Glover, EBMUD

Door Duty: Barry Gordon and Dan Sanders

* * * * * * * * *
Program of March 14, 2003

Joseph Samuels

Richmond City Police Chief Joe Samuels, Jr. was our guest speaker. Joe is also the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has over 119,000 members. He was sworn in as Chief in 1999, having previously served as Chief of Police at Oakland and Fresno. His career in law enforcement has spanned 26 years.

Chief Samuels spoke at length about the Israeli Police Seminar he recently attended with Chiefs from other major U.S. and international cities. In Israel, the National Police have the primary role of dealing with terrorism, vice the military.   He spoke of the goal of terrorists - to create as much fear and psychological harm as possible. And how these groups have become expert at creating incidents that will have maximum exposure through the news media. He noted how terrorists once focused on assassinations of political figures, which evolved to "blood and guts" incidents that bring major media coverage.   The forecast presented at the seminar, based on strong intelligence, is that the new focus of terrorism will be on horrific incidents involving chemical, biological and possibly nuclear weapons.

Chief Samuels also discussed the challenges his department faces dealing with terrorism and new security requirements within existing budgets. This was a sobering and enlightening presentation.

Recognitions
Oscar Lugo stood in for an AWOL Joe Bagley and provided fair warning to Rotary low lifes that don't wear their pins to meetings. Oscar is clearly being a good guy about this, but when Joe returns next week….   Donna Bell admitted to another birthday and contributed to Polio Plus. Tom Schneider had a 3 year anniversary and produced some bounty for the Club.

Happy/Sad $$
Leslie Levy had a happy $20 to expunge some guilt for missing several meetings and for completing a mediation course in time to counsel her son about driving infractions.   Tom Schneider had a happy 5, but I was enjoying my chili relleno and missed the donation - I do recall that Tom was articulate and generous in his remarks.   Stoney had more guilt money for missing the meeting last week while attending the Rotary PETS in San Jose - noticing the absence of cats and dogs, he discovered he was attending the esteemed President Elect Training Seminar. Only 3 months to go Stoney! Jim Young did another higher math calculation with happys and sads and netted 5 sad for school teacher pink slips. Herb great job last week Cole had sad dollars because he praised the Hardison/Brown Progressive Dinner to the extent that he has seriously inflated the price. Hank Covell drove the auction price higher with remarks about Don's lack of prowess as a waiter - seems he received a great deal of "whispered" coaching from Betty and Jan. Josh Genser had $20 in praise of his son who attended a peace rally and organized a school board protest against teacher cuts(Cal Berkeley here HE comes). Erle Brown reminded the Stanford supporters that Cal won the rugby match 98-0. Jonathan Lawlis had happys for a Disneyland trip. Jim Beaver vowed to attend more meetings now that Troy is back in the Club. Don Hardison then made it clear that he really wasn't very enamored with the waiter thing. Troy Pewitt had big money in honor of being back with the Club. Charlie Fender had $ for a long list of teams - in fact a pretty long list for only $2.

.

`

Last Week
Back from the tropics and looking relaxed, always polished Prez Dave opened the meeting by asking our favorite Boy Scout Tom Schneider to lead the Pledge.   Prez Dave provided the Thought for the Day: Saint Patrick was a gentleman…Who through strategy and stealth…Drove all the snakes from Ireland…Here's a drinkee to his health! But not too many drinkees…Lest we lose ourselves and then…Forget the good Saint Patrick…And see them snakes Again!

Guests

Visiting Rotarians
Prez Dave welcomed Michel Burleson from San Pablo Rotary.   Michel is a frequent visitor and a great lunch companion. Vice President Stoney then introduced past Club member Troy Pewitt. In the quickest induction ceremony this scribe has ever witnessed, Troy was re-inducted into the Club and issued his Blue Badge. Great to have you back in the Club Troy - I still remember that great wrestling match during (was it Joe Bagley's?) demotion. Thank you Stoney for your executive panache in assisting Troy back into the Club.

Announcements
Paul Hodgen reminded us that Christmas in April is the 26th of that month, and passed out a signup sheet (the sheet was filling up rapidly as it came by me).

Don't forget the Club meets on April 11th and 18th at
La Strada Restaurant in San Pablo.

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.

Don Hardison spoke about two recent Club members who have passed. Tom Sheehy, also mentioned by Joe Nusbaum recently, was the manager of the Chevron Refinery and belonged to the Club for 25 years. Don noted that, back in the old days, the higher management at the Refinery always had membership in Richmond Rotary.   Dr. Martin Mills also passed on recently - he was Medical Director for the City of Richmond and a 30 year member of the Club. Don told of Martin's prowess with the clarinet and his local band, the Fibulators. Thanks for the remembrances Don.

Dan Ercolini read even more pleasant Thank You letters from Peres students and teachers for the Club's contributions to the school.

David K provided an update on Father Chris -getting better - and reminded us that Paul Hodgen IS higher management at the Refinery.   Paul then noted that Tom Sheehy was not Refinery Manager when he joined the Club. Paul has every expectation of following Tom's career pattern.

Coming Speakers
April 4th - Artic National Wildlife Refuge
April 11th - Inspector Frank Falzon, SFPD- Retired
April 18th - Dr. Randy Schekman, Stem Cell Research
April 25th - Judge Laurel Brady

Raffle
Raffle. With $320 in the virtual bucket, web site master Jonathan Lawlis drew a white ball.

"France always has plenty of men of talent, but it is always deficient in men of action and high character"     - Napoleon Bonaparte

Semper Paratus