President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) opened the last meeting of 2019 at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Our annual Holiday Party will be held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on December 17. No luncheon meetings will be held on December 24 and December 31 due to the holidays.
Visiting Rotarians included: Rudolph Gesteiner, a 16-year member of the Rotary Club of Berne, Switzerland, who is in San Francisco for a convention of geophysicists; and Steve Ike from the Rotary Club of Fisherman’s Wharf.
Guests included: Bud Dillon, a singer and video producer, and guest of Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired); John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) introduced Josh Acoveria from Scholar Wines, a non-profit which raises money for college scholarships; inductee Ed Shenkan (Healthcare Consulting | Shenkan Advisors) introduced his wife, Amy; and Hana Xu Wang (Financial Services: Advising | Wang Wealth Management) introduced her guest, Theresa Malko, a local realtor.
President Casey recapped several recent Club events: diaper bag assembly and baby showers for the Homeless Prenatal Program on December 3 and 12, 2019 and bell ringing with the Salvation Army at Union Square on December 6, 2019.In addition to the baby showers and the Holiday Party already mentioned above, mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
- December 16, 2019: Holiday Dinner at The ARC. Enjoy a fun evening serving dinner and having a meal with clients of The ARC and their families.
- January 15, 2020: Fund the Future Benefit
- January 23, 2020: Welcome to the Club social event
- March 6, 2020: Carla Walter (Arts Therapy | Dance in the Spirit) is organizing a Club outing to the San Francisco Ballet. Stay tuned for more details.
Guest SpeakerJeffrey has been fascinated by Victorian England and the world of Charles Dickens since his childhood and developed several characters and some sketches based upon an imaginary tour of Victorian London. He took his Tours of London show to various theme parks around the country, and in 1978, he met Kevin Patterson, whose family owns the Renaissance Pleasure Faire and Dickens Christmas Fair productions. Jeff has been a part of both “immersive” productions ever since, although he continues his stage and film career as well. Among his other duties, he leads private tours of the Dickens Fair for groups, including schoolchildren.
President Casey presented Jeffrey with a certificate evidencing that 100 children had been inoculated against polio in his name.
New Members
Vice President Membership Dan Joraanstad presented four new members for induction into the Club. Meet our newest members here. Each of these new members received a membership badge, a copy of our Club’s history, and a certificate evidencing that $26.50 has been credited in each of their name toward their first Paul Harris Award.
Report from Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee presented a slate to fill upcoming officer vacancies for the term to begin on July 1, 2020. The Committee is recommending the following:
JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco), as President;
Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | Vanguard Properties/JM Real Estate Group) as President-Elect;
Terry Pickering (Financial Services | Retired) as Vice President Membership;
Bob Hermann (Information technology: Administration | Retired) as Vice President Community Service;
Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | Vanguard Properties/JM Real Estate Group) as President-Elect;
Terry Pickering (Financial Services | Retired) as Vice President Membership;
Bob Hermann (Information technology: Administration | Retired) as Vice President Community Service;
Susan Dean (Health Care: Nursing Services | Retired) as Vice President International Service;
Connor Krone (Education: Management | Student Investment Lab) to complete the 2019-21 term of Vice President Youth Leadership; and
Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) as Vice President Development.
Connor Krone (Education: Management | Student Investment Lab) to complete the 2019-21 term of Vice President Youth Leadership; and
Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) as Vice President Development.
Membership voting to approve the new officers will take place at the Annual Holiday Party meeting on December 17.
Check for the Foundation of the Rotary Club of San Francisco
Treasurer Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing), on behalf of the Club, presented a check from funds raised at the recent “Flying with the Foundation” event at the German Consulate during Fleet Week to the Foundation of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Altogether, the event raised over $10,000 for the Foundation. Thanks to Dan Joraanstad for spearheading the organizing committee and to Uli Suedbeck (Governmental Relations | Federal Foreign Office Berlin, Germany) and Frank Vollbehr (Engineering, Architecture and Construction) for opening their private residence at the consulate for the event and for personally underwriting a stunning array of food and refreshments for those in attendance.
Treasurer Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing), on behalf of the Club, presented a check from funds raised at the recent “Flying with the Foundation” event at the German Consulate during Fleet Week to the Foundation of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Altogether, the event raised over $10,000 for the Foundation. Thanks to Dan Joraanstad for spearheading the organizing committee and to Uli Suedbeck (Governmental Relations | Federal Foreign Office Berlin, Germany) and Frank Vollbehr (Engineering, Architecture and Construction) for opening their private residence at the consulate for the event and for personally underwriting a stunning array of food and refreshments for those in attendance.
Youth Programs
Connor Krone and Mary Liu talked briefly about youth leadership programs sponsored by our Club and the upcoming “Fund the Future” Benefit at the Salesforce Tower on January 15, 2020. This will be a great event with spectacular views, fine wines, a chance to talk with the high school students from programs we support, and great items available in an auction. Please go here for details and to buy tickets.
Connor Krone and Mary Liu talked briefly about youth leadership programs sponsored by our Club and the upcoming “Fund the Future” Benefit at the Salesforce Tower on January 15, 2020. This will be a great event with spectacular views, fine wines, a chance to talk with the high school students from programs we support, and great items available in an auction. Please go here for details and to buy tickets.
$20 for 20 seconds
Those participating included:
- Jianying (“James”) Chen (Healthcare: Acupuncture | American Institute of Zhizhen Therapy and New Qigong) donated in honor of his 60th birthday;
- Eric Schmautz (Banking Management | Wells Fargo) noted that the dinner in honor of Mat Caparas, who was instrumental in starting Rotary’s Polio-Plus Program, will be held on December 28, 2020. Contact Anita Stangl if you would like to attend.
- Tom Brunner (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) donated in honor of his first granddaughter, born a few weeks ago.
- Steve Ike, visiting from the Rotary Club of Fisherman's Wharf, thanked everyone for making him feel welcome.
Dan Joraanstad won today's door prize of a gift bag and a box of chocolates.
Thank you to the Sir Francis Drake Hotel
President Casey then presented holiday cards and gifts to the staff at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel who do such a great job for us all year long. Photos by Jianying Chen (Healthcare: Acupuncture | American Institute of Zhizhen Therapy and New Qigong)
Edited by Dora Dye (Education: Community College | City College of San Francisco)