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. He announced that the Glaucoma 360 events from February 2-4, 2023 would take him away from today's Rotary luncheon; Past President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) would step in to conclude today's luncheon.
Guests
Today's guests were Marija Filmar, Dr. Arlen Hoh, Meagan Mod, Ildiko Polony, Eric Smith, and today's speaker - Andrew Fraknoi.
2022 Holiday Photos
President Christopher shared the 2022 Holiday Photo of Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) and her family.
Meeting Volunteers
President Christopher thanked today's meeting volunteers (listed at the end of this story).
Club and District Events for Rotarians
Club Events: Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and service projects for February 2023.
Super Bowl Party and Pool: Read the complete details here. Please contact Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) by February 10, 2023 to purchase squares. Join our Club's Super Bowl Party and Potluck here.
District Assembly: President Christopher invited everyone to attend the 2023 District Assembly on March 25, 2023 to cheer for President-Elect Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) as he begins his year as our Club's President.
District Conference: If you have not already registered, there is still time to register for the 2023 District 5150 Conference to be held in Monterey, CA from April 28 through April 30, 2023.
Grant Presentations
Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) awarded a $9,000 SFRF grant to Sutro Stewards. Accepting was Ildiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards. Ildiko expressed her deep gratitude to the Rotary Club of San Francisco for initially financing the restoration of Rotary Meadow back in 2004. Today, the Meadow is a habitat for butterflies and wildlife.
Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) awarded a $9,000 SFRF grant to Sutro Stewards. Accepting was Ildiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards. Ildiko expressed her deep gratitude to the Rotary Club of San Francisco for initially financing the restoration of Rotary Meadow back in 2004. Today, the Meadow is a habitat for butterflies and wildlife.
Ildiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards
Robin also presented a $5,000 SFRF grant to RotaCare. Accepting was Dr. Arlen Hoh from the RotaCare Northern Peninsula Clinic. Dr. Hoh spoke of the COVID challenges that impacted RotaCare such as the reduction of volunteers and patients. Over time, patients have started to return, and volunteer need has increased. Dr. Hoh thanked Ed Shenkan (Healthcare Consulting | Shenkan Advisors) for helping with video conferencing and Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) who implemented the electronic medical record technology still in use today.
Robin Azevedo, President Christopher Wiseman, and Dr. Arlen Hoh
Member Moment
Alex Omoko (Human Services | Bay Area Community Service) discussed his vocation in mental health services. He spoke on his passion to help others and how Rotary service projects give him an outlet to realize this passion. Alex joined the Rotary Club of Omole-Golden in 2016 and transferred to our Club in April 2020.
Alex Omoko (Human Services | Bay Area Community Service) discussed his vocation in mental health services. He spoke on his passion to help others and how Rotary service projects give him an outlet to realize this passion. Alex joined the Rotary Club of Omole-Golden in 2016 and transferred to our Club in April 2020.
Guest Speaker
Andrés Vera (Entertainment | Self-employed) introduced today's speaker - Andrew Fraknoi. Andrew Fraknoi teaches astronomy and physics at the Fromm Institute of the University of San Francisco and through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of San Francisco State University. He was educated at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley, and is the lead author of the most frequently used introductory astronomy textbook in the country, Astronomy.
Andrés Vera (Entertainment | Self-employed) introduced today's speaker - Andrew Fraknoi. Andrew Fraknoi teaches astronomy and physics at the Fromm Institute of the University of San Francisco and through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of San Francisco State University. He was educated at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley, and is the lead author of the most frequently used introductory astronomy textbook in the country, Astronomy.
Andrew Fraknoi
Andrew described the James Webb Space Telescope and shared some amazing images, showcasing new stars being born in the galaxies. He explained that some of these new stars could be new Rotarians. Andrew distributed to the audience attending in person a free pair of solar glasses that allow you to look directly at the sun during eclipses or at any other time. There will be an eclipse on October 14, 2023 and another one on April 8, 2024, both expected to be visible here in the Bay Area.
Past President Rhonda thanked Andrew Fraknoi and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in his name.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:31 PM
Editor's Note: Thank you to Bob Hermann for serving as scribe; to Jim Patrick for serving as photographer; to Andrés Vera for managing the microphone; to Kurt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; to Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA) and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) for serving as greeters; and to Jeff Lerner (Retail: Home Improvement | Floorcraft) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.