BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//github.com/ical-org/ical.net//NONSGML ical.net 5.1.4//EN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:One of Rick Laubscher’s earliest memories\, he said\, is of r iding as a 5-year-old with his mother on one of San Francisco’s old stre etcars down Market Street on the way to see a circus. Laubscher\, now 75\, says he doesn’t remember a thing about the circus\, but he vividly reca lls the rumble and roar and the gonging bells of the trolley that took him there. “The whole thing was just magical to me\, and I never forgot it\ ,” said Laubscher\, who has spent the last 42 years working to keep vint age streetcars and cable cars a working part of San Francisco’s transit system. Laubscher earned a master's degree from the Columbia School of Jou rnalism and received a Pulitzer Fellowship. Upon graduation\, he used the fellowship to spend a year traveling and reporting from different location s around the world. In 1977\, he returned to San Francisco to report for K RON-TV. In 1978\, Laubscher was one of the first reporters on the scene at the Moscone–Milk assassinations. His coverage of the event earned an Em my award. He also covered the Jonestown massacre the same year. In 1981\, Laubscher left reporting and transitioned to a public relations career as an executive with the Bechtel Group. After 18 years with the Bechtel Group \, he left to found his own communications company\, Messagesmith. In 1982 \, The City was planning to retire its surface streetcars in favor of new SFMTA trains and buses. Laubscher\, a fourth-generation San Franciscan\, w as chair of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s transportation commi ttee. He organized a streetcar festival as a visitor’s attraction. The h istoric trolley festival he launched with then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein the next summer was so popular that it ran for five summers\, and its service was later made permanent. Rick is the founding Board Chair of The City Clu b of San Francisco\, a business-social organization located in the histori c Stock Exchange Tower. He currently serves as Board Chair of Union Square Foundation\, supporting Union Square Alliance with arts\, music\, and saf ety activities. This is a regular membership meeting of the Rotary Club of San Francisco\, open to all Rotarians\, visiting Rotarians\, prospective members\, and guests. Meeting Schedule: 12:00 Noon  Registration & Netw orking 12:15 PM (sharp!)  Meeting begins  1:30 PM  Meeting adjourns   Register here for In Person or Zoom attendance. For in-person attende es: We welcome all attendees! The in-person registration cost for all adu lts and children is $45 until 11:59 AM on Friday\, March 28\, 2025. The me eting cost increases to $60 at noon and beyond on March 28\, 2025 and incl udes any walk-ins on Tuesday\, April 1. The Hotel Nikko holds us to the he adcount that we submit on Friday at noon\, prior to our Tuesday meeting\, whether those registered attend or not. In Rotary spirit\, thanks for help ing us to maintain a good relationship with our host hotel.  For attendan ce via Zoom: For those who wish to participate via Zoom\, there is a $15 fee to attend. Parking: If you are driving to the Hotel Nikko for this mee ting\, please leave your car with the Hotel Nikko valet. Pick up a validat ion sticker available at our check-in table. The discounted parking is $25 for three hours. Photo Policy and Disclaimer: By attending events of the Rotary Club of San Francisco\, you are giving to our Club your permission to publish photos of you as an attendee at our events. If you have questio ns about this policy\, please contact sfrotary2@gmail.com. Email Policy a nd Disclaimer: By registering online for events of the Rotary Club of San Francisco\, you are giving to our Club your permission to use your email to invite you to future events. If you have questions about this policy or wish to opt out at any time\, please contact sfrotary2@gmail.com. DTEND:20250401T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260830T162114Z DTSTART:20250401T190000Z LOCATION:Hotel Nikko SEQUENCE:1 SUMMARY:ROTARY LUNCHEON: Rick Laubscher on Market Street and its historic s treet cars UID:7e08b616-47e2-4f00-a132-ed8df5ffbf25 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Rick LaubscherOne of Rick Laubscher&rs quo\;s earliest memories\, he said\, is of riding as a 5-year-old with his mother on one of San Francisco&rsquo\;s old streetcars down Market Street on the way to see a circus. Laubscher\, now 75\, says he doesn&rsquo\;t r emember a thing about the circus\, but he vividly recalls the rumble and r oar and the gonging bells of the trolley that took him there. &ldquo\;The whole thing was just magical to me\, and I never forgot it\,&rdquo\; said Laubscher\, who has spent the last 42 years working to keep vintage street cars and cable cars a working part of San Francisco&rsquo\;s transit syste m.

\n\n

Laubscher earned a master'\;s degree from the Columbia Sch ool of Journalism and received a Pulitzer Fellowship. Upon graduation\, he used the fellowship to spend a year traveling and reporting from differen t locations around the world. In 1977\, he returned to San Francisco to re port for KRON-TV. In 1978\, Laubscher was one of the first reporters on th e scene at the Moscone&ndash\;Milk assassinations. His coverage of the eve nt earned an Emmy award. He also covered the Jonestown massacre the same y ear.

\n\n

In 1981\, Laubscher left reporting and transitioned to a pu blic relations career as an executive with the Bechtel Group. After 18 yea rs with the Bechtel Group\, he left to found his own communications compan y\, Messagesmith.

\n\n

In 1982\, The City was planning to retire its surface streetcars in favor of new SFMTA trains and buses. Laubscher\, a f ourth-generation San Franciscan\, was chair of the San Francisco Chamber o f Commerce&rsquo\;s transportation committee. He organized a streetcar fes tival as a visitor&rsquo\;s attraction. The historic trolley festival he l aunched with then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein the next summer was so popular th at it ran for five summers\, and its service was later made permanent.

\n\n

Rick is the founding Board Chair of The City Club of San Francisco\ , a business-social organization located in the historic Stock Exchange To wer. He currently serves as Board Chair of Union Square Foundation\, suppo rting Union Square Alliance with arts\, music\, and safety activities.

\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n

This is a regular membership meeting of the Rotary Club of San Fra ncisco\, open to all Rotarians\, visiting Rotarians\, prospective members\ , and guests.

\n\n

Meeting Schedule:

\n
12:00 Noon \;Registration &\; Netwo rking
12:15 PM (sharp!) \;Meeting begins \;
1:30 PM \;Meeting adjourns\n
\n\n

  \;

\n\n

< span style="font-size:20px\;">Register here for In Person or Zoom attendance.

\n\n

For in-person attendees: \;We welcome all a ttendees! The in-person registration cost for all adults and children is $ 45 until 11:59 AM on Friday\, March 28\, 2025. The meeting cost increases to $60 at noon and beyond on March 28\, 2025 and includes any walk-ins on Tuesday\, April 1.

\n\n

The Hotel Nikko holds us to the headcount that we submit on Friday at noon\, prior to our Tuesday mee ting\, whether those registered attend or not. In Rotary spirit\, thanks f or helping us to maintain a good relationship with our host hotel. \;< /span>

\n\n

For attendance via Zoom : \;For those who wish to participate via Zoom\, there is a $15 fee to attend.

\n\n

Parki ng: If you are driving to the Hotel Nikko for this meeting \, please leave your car with the Hotel Nikko valet. Pick up a validation sticker available at our check-in table. The discounted parking is $25 for three hours.

\n\n

Photo Policy and Disclaimer: By attending events of the Rotary Club of San Francisco\, you are giving to our Club your permission to publish photos of you as an atte ndee at our events. If you have questions about this policy\, please conta ct \;sfrotary2@gmail.com.

\n\n

< span style="box-sizing: border-box\; color: rgb(255\, 0\, 0)\;">Email Policy and Disclaimer : \;By registering online for events of the Rotary Club of San Francis co\, you are giving to our Club your permission to use your email to invit e you to future events. If you have questions about this policy or wish to opt out at any time\, please contact \;sf rotary2@gmail.com.

\n END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR