ROTARY LUNCHEON: Ben Davis, Bay Bridge Lights

Our May 2 meeting will begin promptly at noon with a celebration to mark the Club's attainment of a new level of recognition in the Rotary world. The celebration will include some surprise speakers and the presentation of more than 30 Paul Harris Fellow awards to club members.

After that, we'll hear from Ben Davis, the visionary behind The Bay Lights, asking in September 2010, “What if the Bay Bridge were a canvas of light?” That question sparked a diverse community to action and led to Leo Villareal’s creation of The Bay Lights, a 1.8-mile wide and 500-foot high LED light sculpture to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Bay Bridge.

For more than a quarter century, Ben has led communications on civic mega projects and matters of public safety, public health, public transit, the environment, urban revitalization, and public art.  He managed public information for the $4 billion Boston Harbor clean-up project.

Upon moving to San Francisco in 1994, Ben founded the creative agency, Words Pictures Ideas, with the mantra of “Do Good. Have Fun. Learn.” He received two international Webby awards for best website in government. Ben helped name, brand, and communicate about infrastructure projects, including the development of names and visual identities of The Bay Bridge Seismic Safety Projects, Transbay Transit Center, and Presidio Parkway.

Ben has edited and published Everything Indicates:  Bay Bridge Poems and Portraits and is the artist behind Pi in the Sky.

Ben now works with a group called Illuminate. Their next project is Lightrail, a two-mile art installation reflecting the movement of people on the street and BART and MUNI underground by sending beams of colorful LED lights up and down Market Street.

We expect a large crowd at this special meeting, so you must RSVP to be sure there will be a seat for you. Please plan to arrive promptly for the noon start time of this meeting.

This is a weekly membership meeting for The Rotary Club of San Francisco, open to all Rotarians, visiting Rotarians, prospective members and guests.

Each luncheon meeting includes three-course lunch from Scala's Bistro. Individual lunch tickets are $40, or purchase a book of four tickets for the discounted price of $145. Cash, check and credit card payment options available. Tickets available for purchase at the door.