President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed Avis La Grone and Patti van der Burg, both visiting from the Rotary Club of Los Gatos, and Dr. Angelo Capozzi, former member of our Club and now a member of the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere. Maureen O’Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her guests - Michelle Andrews and Omar Rincon from Senator Scott Wiener's office. Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) introduced her guest - Ronald Bolden Jr. Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) introduced Sue Robbins from Catholic Charities SF. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest - Murrey Nelson. Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) introduced Jewel Harris from the National Park Service. Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) introduced his guests - Michael Moss, Lisa Moss, Sam Moss, and Laura Foote and his son - Andrew Booth. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced Margarita Baxter-Lazaro. Our guest attending online was Phil Ye.
New Member Inducted
President Sunny inducted Merve Yasavur (Information Technology: Computer Science | Self-employed) into our Club. Merve has only been in the U.S. for a short period of time, but she has already become a very familiar face in our Club. She expressed her excitement to participate in the many activities that our Club has to offer. Her mentor is Dan Davies (Information Technology: Consulting | North American Lighting). A warm welcome to Merve! When you see Merve at one of our meetings or events, please introduce yourself to her.
Merve Yasavur, President Sunny, and Dan Davies
Red Badge Completed
Carlo Valdes (Real Estate: Sales | Aeternum Holdings, Inc.) completed his Red Badge requirements and was relieved of the red ribbon on his name badge with the help of his mentor, Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation). Congratulations to Carlo!
Ozan Yasavur, Carlo Valdes, and President Sunny
Paul Harris Presentation
President Sunny presented the Paul Harris + 5 pin to Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services). Thank you, Ann, for your dedication and generosity to Rotary.
Ann Daugherty and President Sunny
Spotlight on International Service Project
Ann Daugherty introduced a video on the Jerusalem Peacebuilders (JPB), an interfaith, non-profit organization with a mission to create a better future for humanity across religions, cultures, and identities. Immediately following the video, Vice President of International Service Frank Yoke (Development Consulting) proudly explained how our Club became an International Sponsor of JPB and now has a service project in Israel.
Guest Speaker
Larry Booth introduced Sam Moss, the Executive Director at Mission Housing, whose mission is to create and preserve high-quality affordable housing and provide supportive services for residents of low and moderate incomes in the Mission District and throughout San Francisco. Sam introduced today's speaker - California State Senator Scott Wiener who represents District 11 in the California State Senate. District 11 includes all of San Francisco, Broadmoor, Colma, and Daly City, as well as portions of South San Francisco. Sam praised Senator Wiener's staunch support for the creation of more affordable housing.
Senator Wiener began by thanking our Club for supporting JPB and thanking Sam Moss and Mission Housing. His presentation to the audience focused on two topics - housing and the mental health crisis. When discussing housing, he explained how politics made it extremely difficult to build housing. Even when the plans complied with every single requirement, the many hearings, the appeals, and other battles would delay construction for years. Senator Wiener also talked about the mental health and drug crises played out on San Francisco streets and the City's plans to manage these crises. After his talk, Senator Wiener answered questions from the audience.
President Sunny thanked Senator Wiener and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in the Senator's name.
President Sunny and Senator Scott Wiener
July 2023 Rotarian of the Month
President Sunny announced that Bill Gregory (Educational Services | Retired) is the Rotarian of the Month for July 2023. Bill was recognized for his philanthropy in the Arts, the Community, and our Club. He is the one who provided the tickets and reception for our August Social; there are still tickets left for anyone who would like to attend! Congratulations and thank you to Bill!
Bill Gregory and President Sunny
Share Your Good News ($20 for Twenty Seconds)
Here are today's donors:
- Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) donated to welcome Dr. Angelo Capozzi.
- Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) donated to thank the National Park Service and to express total appreciation for the Presidio Tunnel Tops Park.
- Avis La Grone donated to express pleasure for being present at today's meeting.
- Sue Robbins donated to express the same pleasure as Avis and added that Catholic Charities San Francisco has helped approximately 70,000 people transition to permanent housing.
- PDG Peter Lagarias (Law: Franchise | Lagarias, Napell & Dillon) donated to thank President Sunny for being gracious to Allan Herzog.
- David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) donated to celebrate the Rotarians from our Club who are working at Camp RYLA this week: Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) who is serving as RYLA Director, Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) who is a facilitator, Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) who is a facilitator, Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) who is a facilitator, Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) who is a facilitator, Lisa Christian (Development) who is serving as a facilitator, Dora Dye (Education: Elementary and Community College | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) who is providing program support, and David himself who is serving as RYLA treasurer, serving as a speaker, and providing program support.
Club Events for Rotarians
Club Events: Check the Club's calendar for upcoming Committee meetings and service projects. Vice President of Community Service Emily Borland invited everyone to join the Community Service Committee meeting on August 2, 2023, to volunteer at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank on August 26, and to participate in the Homeless Prenatal Program diaper bag assembly and tour on August 30, 2023.
San Francisco's Bid to Host an RI Convention
PDG Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) joined via Zoom to give an update on San Francisco's bid to host a Rotary International Convention. The RI Visiting Committee will be in San Francisco from September 6-8, 2023. Everyone is invited to join all Bay Area Rotary, Rotaract and Interact members at the San Francisco Giants Game on September 8, 2023.
The meeting concluded at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Sunny thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) for serving as photographer; JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) for serving as Zoom host; Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) for serving as greeter; and Gary Dales and Ozan Yasavur for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.