As we enter into March, and with spring almost here, I am reflecting on the fact that my year as President is nearly 3/4 behind me. Every past president says the year goes by fast and it truly does. Molly Jean will be 1 year old this month on March 22nd!
I still love the job and appreciate every meeting, event, volunteer project, committee and social that I participate in with all of you. I have learned a lot this year about planning, preparation, and not to stress the small stuff. Even though I am super busy, I actually feel more balanced then years ago when I had less commitments and my life was not so busy.
Thank you to everyone who is helping me this year, I couldn't do this job without all of you. For those of you considering taking on a future leadership position in The Rotary Club of San Francisco, I encourage you to come on board. We have a great club and with your help we can be even better.
Read below to hear about our recent board retreat. Its 220 by 2020 baby!
Vocational speakers: Robin Azevedo (Mattress Manufacturing; McRoskey Mattress Company) told us her company slogan is You’ll Love Your McRoskey. Her family has been perfecting the art of sleep comfort since Edward McRoskey and his brother opened their doors in 1899. They’re the only company that designs and manufactures their own mattresses, to your order, right here in San Francisco. Tom Brunner (Healthcare: Non-profit; The Glaucoma Research Foundation) described their mission to prevent vision loss from glaucoma by investing in innovative research, education, and support with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. Since 1978 this national non- profit has been dedicated to finding a cure for glaucoma.
Recognitions: Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writer; GrantDog) donated $50 dollars in anticipation of a Panthers win in the Super Bowl. Robin Azevedo gave $100 for an article in The San Francisco Chronicle about her McRoskey Mattress Company. Kevin Waldeck (Financial Services- Morgan Stanley Investment Management) celebrated the birth of Audrey Claire Waldeck with $100. Fred Marschner (Insurance Companies - Special Agen; Northwestern Mutual) donated $100 in recognition of his and Cayo’s fiftieth wedding anniversary in December. Tara Kramlich (Financial Services; Atalanta Capital) is excited to announce that she is expecting a baby in August. John Dracup (Civil & Environmental Engineering; University of California) donated $200 before he heads off to Kenya again to work on 2 water projects. Audrey McKeague (Piano Sales; Retired) stepped in and also donated $100 on behalf of John’s projects in Kenya.
Sunshine Reports:Kay Clarke (Strategic Planning and Management; Retired) has been diagnosed with pneumonia again. Allan Herzog (Stocks and Bonds; Wells Fargo Advisors) is recovering from hip surgery
Luncheon Speakers: Dr. Jeff Boehme, Executive Director of The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, a nonprofit veterinary and teaching hospital for marine mammals: Patients at the Center suffer from malnutrition, infectious diseases, toxicities and even cancer. In addition, about 8 percent of the patients are under care because of human actions and carelessness, such as marine trash entanglements and shootings. The core work of the Center is diagnosing the illnesses of these patients, nursing them back to health and releasing them to the ocean.
Renay Conlin, Development Director, Museum of Craft & Design (MCD): Contemporary craft is a vibrant international art scene where skilled artisans work with glass, fiber, metal, jewelry, furniture, wood, clay, and other media. MCD was recently named "Boutique Museum of the Year" by San Francisco magazine. We're all invited to attend the club social at MCD on March 3, which will include a private tour of the exhibitions on view.
Jeff Adachi, San Francisco Public Defender,i is the only elected Public Defender in the state of California, responsible for running an office of nearly 100 attorneys: The Public Defender’s Racial Justice Committee released a 10-point plan for police reform in 2015 with key recommendations of increased training on implicit bias; an annual review for supervising officers that screens for racial bias, excessive force, unlawful search and false reports; and an increased effort to assign positions in black and brown communities to officers who live in the neighborhoods.
30th Annual Emergency Services Day: This year's celebration was attended by more than 100 Rotarians, Public Safety honorees, their colleagues and families, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White, US Coast Guard Executive Officer Tim Barrelli, Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, and Police Chief Greg Suhr. Thanks to Chair Jim Bradley (Insurance Agencies; Cal Insurance) and compliments to all that helped make this a spectacular day -- especially the honorees!
Last month several enthusiastic Rotarians gathered to develop core objectives for the Rotary Club of San Francisco for 2017 and beyond. On January 23rd members of the club’s Board (both current and incoming board members) met for an intensive seven-hour strategy session. They identified the club’s strengths and challenges. More importantly, they identified a strategy for building a powerful, influential and fun organization.
The key issues examined at the retreat included:
Membership: How to keep growing and expanding our offering to all age groups?
Retention: How to keep members involved in today’s hectic and demanding world?
Participation: What will engage members who are on the periphery?
Long-term strategic plan: Create consistent governance beyond our current one- and two-year cycles
Member access to club information: How to make connection and participation easy and convenient?
During the retreat the participants narrowed the club’s critical priorities to:
Induce a vibrant, growing, engaged membership.
Increase our public image and brand recognition.
Implement an ongoing strategic planning effort.
At the end of the retreat the board agreed to a specific goal that focuses these priorities:
220 in 2020 (220 members in 2020)
It seems to say it all: we want to grow the club … but not too far. We want to have an active membership… but always focus on service and fun. We want to be recognized … internally and in the public sphere. We have been a stealth club long enough. It is time to shine!
To make this happen we need your help. Each member of the club is essential to the success of the strategic planning process. We need all members to participate in a variety of ways to help the club make changes – both large and small. We have implemented some small changes, like making luncheons more welcoming by moving the reception table away from the entrance and having greeters in the hallway. An example of larger change is a something started last fall called Rotary Connect. The goal here is to partner with other Rotary clubs to share projects and fun.
The member engagement process will begin with a phone survey to ask you what is working for you and how you view your participation in Rotary. You will be hearing more in the next few weeks.
If you want to help in this process, please let us know.
Congratulations to us for setting a new fund raising record in this year's Super Bowl Pool. We filled the toteboard twice, for a total contribution to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International of $20,000! Congratulations to the winners, who receive a Paul Harris Fellowship: Cecile Chiquette, Laine Hendricks, Grant Hundley, Jim Kennedy, Christy Nguyen, and Lisa Stark. And a big THANK YOU to all those who participated:
World Wide Rotary Day honors the San Francisco Consular Corps as the special guests of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. One of the most popular programs on our club's annual calendar, WWRD was founded in 1997 to recognize our club's international service activities and the support of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Our featured speaker this year is Past Rotary International President Cliff Dochterman, widely recognized as one of the best speakers in the Rotary World. Cliff's talk is sure to be interesting and inspiring. As always, many members of the Consular Corps of San Francisco will attend as our guests. Please RSVP as early as possible so we can be sure to have enough seats for all who want to attend.
All club members are welcome to attend meetings of the International Service Committee. Please join the meeting to see what projects are coming up and how you can help, and/or to propose your own ideas for new projects. If you would like to find out how to submit a grant for a project, criteria for grants or completing a final report, this is the meeting for you.
Enjoy a private evening at the Museum of Craft and Design, including wine, snacks, and private tours of the exhibitions on view, Art and Other Tactics: Contemporary Craft by Artist Veterans and Without Camouflage: Dafna Kaffeman, Silvia Levenson. Afterward, some of us will share an informal dinner in the neighborhood. Friends and family welcome. Pre-registration required.
Jefferson Award Winner Sherri Franklin is the Founder and Executive Director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco. She'll tell us about some of the 3,400 senior dogs that Muttville has saved since she founded it eight years ago.
The board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation meets monthly to discuss the needs of the foundation and to approve funding for Rotary Service projects. Meetings of the Foundation Board are primarily for Foundation Board Members, but club members are often welcome to attend.
Enjoy two selections of films focused on the subject of peace at this festival organized by the Rotary Club of San Francisco. The festival, held in downtown San Francisco, is open to everyone.
Rotarians, families and friends are invited to join what has been dubbed the world's largest gathering of skiing Rotarians, benefitting the Rotary Club of Tahoe City's foundation.
Robert Heller chronicles his fascinating journey from the caves and cellars of war-ravaged Germany to his eventual rise to be a Governor of the Federal Reserve Board and President and CEO of VISA U.S.A. He had a ring-side seat during the collapse of the international monetary system and the near failure of Bank of America.
All club members are welcome to attend meetings of the Local Community Service Committee. Please join the meeting to see what projects are coming up and how you can help, and/or to propose your own ideas for new projects. If you would like to find out how to submit a grant for a project, criteria for grants or completing a final report, this is the meeting for you.
Everyone involved in Rotary leadership should attend this annual conference to learn how to work effectively under the leadership of District Governor Elect Jeri Fujimoto. This annual event is a must for all committee chairs and incoming leaders.
The monthly joint meeting of the boards of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, the governing body responsible for club operations, and Rotary Service, which oversees all of our club’s service projects. Members are welcome to attend, but please contact the Club Secretary to confirm time and location before attending.
Jefferson Award Winner Sherri Franklin is the Founder and Executive Director of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco. She'll tell us about some of the 3,400 senior dogs that Muttville has saved since she founded it eight years ago.
Robert Heller chronicles his fascinating journey from the caves and cellars of war-ravaged Germany to his eventual rise to be a Governor of the Federal Reserve Board and President and CEO of VISA U.S.A. He had a ring-side seat during the collapse of the international monetary system and the near failure of Bank of America.
Everyone involved in Rotary leadership should attend this annual conference to learn how to work effectively under the leadership of District Governor Elect Jeri Fujimoto. This annual event is a must for all committee chairs and incoming leaders.
Doniece Sondaval is the founder of Lava Mae, the San Francisco service that provides basic hygiene to the homeless with mobile showers.