President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) rang the Rotary bell at 12:15 PM and began today's meeting at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. He welcomed those online and those attending in person. He also shared today's agenda.
Thought of the Day
Lisa Stark (Communications & Media) read today's Thought of the Day by Anne Frank: "No one has ever become poor by giving. The true measure of a person's wealth is not how much they have, but how much they give."
Red Badge Completed
Sue Robbins (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF) and Yana Sharma (Software Sales | IBM) completed their red badge requirements and are now full members of our Club. Congratulations to Sue and Yana!
Yana Sharma and Sue Robbins
July and August Rotarians of the Month
President Bob announced that Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Retired) was the Rotarian of the Month for July 2024. Cecile has been our Volunteer Coordinator and is responsible for recruiting the volunteers to help at each Club meeting. She is very modest and prefers to complete the task instead of receive credit and acknowledgment.
President Bob also announced that Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) was the Rotarian of the Month for August 2024 in recognition of his eight years of dedicated leadership with RYLA. His commitment has empowered countless youth to become impactful leaders.
Honoring Lynn Luckow
Our Club honored Lynn Luckow for completing his eighth year as RYLA Camp Director. He will step down as Camp Director but will continue to participate in the Camp.
- Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) began with some history. In 1985, the Rotary Club of San Francisco started Camp Enterprise, a small leadership skills weekend camp for high school students. Jim Patrick led Camp Enterprise. Over time, Camp Enterprise was renamed Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). Jim still encounters former campers from Camp Enterprise who thank him for that weekend that changed and improved their lives. Jim presented Lynn with a plaque to thank Lynn for distinguished service with RYLA.
Jim Patrick
- Speaking next via Zoom was Past District Governor and former member of our Club, Sue Rokaw, who told the story of how Lynn got involved in RYLA and became the "change agent".
- Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) shared how Lynn had exceeded our expectations these past eight years. In addition, he amazed us when he was able to pull together a virtual RYLA during the pandemic and transition from a three- to five-day camp.
- David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) discussed how Lynn had transformed RYLA to a leadership camp based on Barry Posner's Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.
- Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) described his experiences at RYLA and how Lynn had made the curriculum current and inspiring.
- Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices) sang a song to honor Lynn.
PDG Sue Rokaw, Dora Dye, David Dye, Todd St Vrain, and Rick Harrell
Lynn also spoke to thank everyone and to share the highlights of the 2024 RYLA Camp. District Governor Steve Wright had recognized Lynn with a District Governor Citation at the Camp.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Randy Arnold from the Rotary Club of Oakland; Greg Knight from the Rotary Club of Oakland; PDG Sue Rokaw from the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs in Mississippi; Karen Schmautz from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida; and Diane Tea from the Rotary Club of Echternach & Moselle in Luxembourg. Our guests were Munkhbaatar Begzjav, Theresa Kirk, Dan Riley, and Rodney Tipton. Our speaker was Susan Tipton.
President Bob Hermann and Diane Tea
Games
Be sure to check our website or Club calendar soon for information on a game night.
Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY)President-Elect Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.) invited all to participate in EREY and explained the benefits.
Our Club is offering this lucky opportunity for all to participate and win with EREY:
Past and Upcoming Events
Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) reported on the gardening and weeding at Rotary Meadow on August 10, 2024.
Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events. New are these two Rotary Revealed Sessions. See August 27 and September 5, and join in.
Environmental Project
Rotary District 5150 is inviting Rotarians and their clubs to submit an initiative focused on environmental sustainability. Click here for details and application. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2024.
Guest SpeakerSpeakers Committee Chair Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) introduced today's speaker — Susan Tipton. Susan shared how she and her husband, Rodney, got to Lodi, how a white Chateauneuf du Pape wine inspired her to craft world-class white wines, and how k. d. lang's song — Acquiesce became the name of her winery. She also talked about the challenges of being a woman winemaker. To learn more about Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards, visit here. President Bob thanked Susan Tipton and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in her name.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Bob thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick for serving as photographer; David Dye for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) for serving as Zoom Host; Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA) and Clifford Phillips (The Arc San Francisco) for serving as greeters; and Gary Dales for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.