President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. He noted that today was the anniversary of the founding of our Club in 1908.
Today's Guests
Our guests were Erick Brown, Eric Eisenman, Fiorela Martinez, Erica Nave, and Tonja Sagun. Our speaker was Meghan Freebeck. Welcome to all!
Thought of the Day
Anil Bhargava (Economist | Banyan Consulting) read today's Thought of the Day by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.”
November 2024 Rotarian of the Month
President Bob announced that La Carre Ivy (Retired) was the Rotarian of the Month (ROTM) for November 2024 and presented her with a ROTM pin. Since joining our Club earlier this year, La Carre has been active on the Membership Committee and on service projects with Catholic Charities and the Bay Ecotarium. Congratulations to La Carre!
La Carre Ivy and President Bob Hermann
New Member Inducted
President Bob invited Vice President of Membership Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) to lead the induction of our newest member. Margaret introduced Anil Bhargava and presented to Anil a copy of our Club's one hundred anniversary book as well as other new member materials. Anil comes from a Rotary family: his parents are past presidents of the Rotary club in Kent, Ohio. Anil shared that Rotary helped to develop his interest in international work, which is the basis of his profession. Members of our Club welcomed Anil and committed to support him in his Rotary journey.
President Bob Hermann, Margaret Miley and Anil Bhargava
Service Project at Family House
President Bob thanked the following Rotarians and guests for helping with the meals and cleaning the kitchen at Family House on November 7, 2024: Christopher Wiseman (San Francisco Rotary Foundation), Darlene Wilson (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF), Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired), President Bob, Bill Gregory (Philanthropy | San Francisco Playhouse), Eric Sleigh, and Nathan Brickley. This was a great project to help these families.
Rotary Flag Exchange
Vice President of Club Services Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation) returned from vacation to his native Turkey and shared that he had exchanged Rotary flags with his former club — the Rotary Club of Ankara Bahçelievler.
Grant Presentation to Catholic Charities of San Francisco
President Bob invited representatives of Catholic Charities of San Francisco to the podium to receive the $10,000 grant to fund the client holiday party on December 20, 2024 and other activities. President-Elect Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.) talked about the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) that currently manages $6 million in assets. This Rotary year, SFRF has distributed $240,000 in grants. Catholic Charities SF thanked our Club and the SFRF for the support.
Friendsgiving
President Bob thanked Margaret Miley for hosting the Friendsgiving at her home on November 8, 2024. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and great food as well as an excellent way to bring in the holiday season early.
Photos by Peter Logan (Law: Insurance | Peter Logan Law Offices)
Share Your Good News ($25 for 25 Seconds)
- Wendy Shew (Nonprofit Administration | Building Education) donated to invite everyone to this gala to benefit Building Education's 6th and 7th school rebuild project.
- Dan Joraanstad donated to thank all Club members who supported him while his brother underwent two open heart surgeries.
- Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA) donated to recognize Clifford Phillips (The Arc San Francisco).
Upcoming Events
- Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events.
- Dan Joraanstad reminded all to sign up for The Arc Thanksgiving on November 26, 2024.
- Save the date of January 11, 2025 for our American Music Fun-Raiser.
Guest SpeakerPeter Logan introduced today's speaker — Meghan Freebeck. Meghan is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Simply the Basics. She moved to San Francisco 13 years ago from Chicago where she had been working with homeless programs. From her experiences, she saw the effects of hygiene insecurity (inability to afford everyday hygiene products such as shampoo, toilet paper, grooming products, dish soap among others products). Meghan went on to talk about establishing Simply the Basics, whose mission is to provide for people, communities, and nonprofit organizations their most basic hygiene needs with Dignity so that they can focus on greater goals. Simply the Basics is making hygiene more Equitable and Accessible as the first National Hygiene Bank. Throughout her presentation, Meghan provided statistics, facts, and detailed information on how her organization works.
President Bob thanked Meghan Freebeck 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: Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Retired) for serving as volunteer coordinator; Frank Yoke for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) for serving as photographer; Peter Logan for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group), La Carre Ivy, and Clifford Phillips for serving as greeters; and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) and Ozan Yasavur for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.