Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Apr 04, 2023
President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Past President Casey Blair, Cynthia Bustos from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset, and Joel Valdes from the Rotary Club of Manila and his son, Carlos Francisco. Our guests were Tony Coen, Holley Arbeit, Jack Grippi, Jeffery Douglass, Robert Harris, Sam Moss, Patrick Marks, Gent Sturgeon, and today's speaker - President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced his guest - Mark Malaspina. Tom Christian was the guest of Dr. Elisa Stephens (Education Management | Academy of Art University) and Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art University).
 
Charlie MilesNew Member Inducted
President Christopher inducted Charlie Miles (Software Engineering | Charlie Miles Inc.) as the newest member of our Club. Welcome to Charlie!
 
Photo of the Day
Today's Photo of the Day showed Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) and Meagan Mod Thibodeaux (Nonprofit Administration | Smuin Contemporary Ballet) at the Wine, Women, & Shoes event on March 30, 2023.
 
A DEI Moment
President-Elect Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) shared his background from his birth in Delhi, India to his present career as a financial advisor. Sunny's mother passed away when he was just 7 1/2 years old. He, his dad, and his brother moved to Hayward, California where he grew up. Family remains the most important people in his life.
 
Supervisor Aaron PeskinGuest Speaker
Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) introduced today's speaker - President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin. Supervisor Peskin is currently serving his fifth non-consecutive term on the Board of Supervisors representing District 3 and is President for the third time. He was elected President of the Board of Supervisors on January 9, 2023, after 17 rounds of voting. 
 
Supervisor Peskin discussed the experiences and challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the economic and psychological effects that remain to this day. Challenges include poverty and homelessness, more crime, difficulty in hiring, and loss of tax revenue. Tourism is beginning to rebound, but downtown San Francisco still needs a lot of help. The City is considering converting unused office space as residential space and ways to reinvigorate the Downtown. The City is also focusing on safety and sanitation. President Christopher thanked Supervisor Peskin and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in his name.
 
Share Your Good News ($20 for Twenty Seconds)
  • Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) donated to express appreciation for the growth of her business and her new role as Director.
  • Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) donated to share about the Rotarian spirit that she had experienced when she lost her cell phone at the District Assembly and to announce a Rotarian tea party to encourage women to take leadership positions.
  • Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) donated to announce that his granddaughter had been recruited to Stanford rowing.
  • Meagan Mod Thibodeaux donated to share that she had won the key to the closet raffle prize worth over $10K at Wine, Women, & Shoes. 
  • JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) donated to express appreciation for Past President Casey Blair's attendance today.
  • Dan Joraanstad donated to promote the Rotary Day of Service on May 13, 2023.
  • Michael Petricca donated to announce that he and his grandson share the same birthday on March 29.
  • Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) donated to invite everyone to the Alliance for Smiles Gala on May 6, 2023.
  • Tom Brunner (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) donated to express appreciation for being at this meeting and to help our Club reach its fundraising goal. He pledged $550 if others would match the other $550. Joining him were guest Holley Arbeit, John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates), Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF), President-Elect Sunny Singh, and Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications). Mary Liu and Meagan Thibodeaux increased their above-mentioned donations to participate in this match.
Club and District Events for Rotarians
Club Events: Check the Club's calendar for upcoming Committee meetings and service projects for April 2023. 
 
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM
 
 
Meeting Volunteers
President Christopher thanked today's meeting volunteers: Alisha Marfatia (Information Technology: E-Commerce | EvolveWare) for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick for serving as photographer; Bill Poppen (Banking: Management | MUFG Union Bank) for managing the microphone; Kurt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; JT Forbus for serving as greeter; and Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.