Rotary Club of San Rafael
District 5150, #409
93rd year of service
Chartered May 1922
1821 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
www.rotary-sanrafael.org
Please send your roster changes
to: [email protected]
Listening In
April 6, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Kitty Whitaker greeted the Club
Members and Guests.
The meeting was called to order at 12:15
PM by President Peter Thompson.
PLEDGE AND THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY
Nicole Pantaleo led the Pledge of
Allegiance, and the Thought for the Day
which was received with a round of applause
and Mary Alberigi and Fran White each
donated $50 to mini grants in honor of
Nicole’s timely thought for the day. “I refuse
to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of
racism and war that the bright daylight of
peace and brotherhood can never become a
reality ... I believe that unarmed truth and
unconditional love will have the final
word.” MLK, Jr.
VISITING ROTARIANS AND
GUESTS
Jeffrey Ehlenbach introduced the visiting
Rotarians, Gloria Violin, Novato and
Virginia Brunnini from Nevada City. Guests
included: Ryan Dufficy, son of Dan Dufficy.
Heidi Kuhn’s two guests from the Roots of
Peace. Joel Gumbiner, J.D., Guest of Otis
Bruce. Our two recipients to the Utsunomiya
Program: Sara Pendleton (granddaughter of
Don and Glori Violin) and Melissa
Horstman (daughter of Laura Bertolli).
Anniversary bells are ringing for Marilyn
& Rick Riede and Jerry Suyderhoud and his
wife, Ann Marie. President Peter presented
a bottle of sparkling Champaign to the Riedes.
BIRTHDAYS
In April the following Rotarians celebrate
another year! Matthew Briggs, Steve Easley
and Peter Thompson. All made donations.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark Your Calendars: EARTH DAY
- April 25th - Community Service Project for
our Club with the City.
In Rememberence: Stan Knoles passed
away in Santa Rosa last week after being a
long time member of the San Rafael Club and
an active Rotarian for many years. Check the
papers for details on upcoming services.
Our very own, “Mr. Wisconsin,” Oak
Dowling, was delighted to see that his
beloved Wisconsin held on until the last
minute over Kentucky and made a donation
to mini grants. Marilyn Riede was very
proud of her alma mater, Kentucky who had a
38/1 season. In their honor, she made a donation of $104 to the Utsunomiya Program.
Madeleine Austin shared some BIG
news: After an 8 year process, The US
Patent Office issued her firm, Smart
Receivables a SMART Pay Button icon. She
happily donated a bell ringer.
Otis Bruce has been selected by the Board
of Trustees from the State Bar of California
to help create a statewide mentoring task
force. The aim of the mentoring of young or
new lawyers is to increase competency, professionalism and ethics amongst these
lawyers. And, Otis has also been selected
for the 2014 Outstanding Supervisor of the
year for mentoring volunteers and diversity
in the employment base. Otis made a donation of $50 to mini grants and $50 to scholarships. Utsunomiya: Bill Goodwin introduced our Ambassadors for the Cultural
Exchange Program with the Rotary Club of
Utsunomiya, Japan: Sara Pendleton and
Melissa Horstman. Sara and Melissa are both
23 years old and are looking forward to representing the SR Club this summer in Japan.
Members: Check your personal info on
the Club Roster. Communicate edits to
Jerry Tallman.
New Rotarian: CEO
of the San Rafael Chamber,
Joanne Webster. Diane
Henderson provided a
heartfelt and warm introduction to Joanne as our
newest inductee. Joanne
shared that she has been serving the community for 23 years. She is the former owner of
Double Rainbow Ice Cream and joined the
Chamber in 2011 and last year was promoted as the CEO of the San Rafael
Chamber. Joanne is married and has two
daughters, Anna who is attending UCLA
and Megan, a Junior at Drake High
School. She is looking forward to serving.
MARBLE GAME
Brigette LaFauci announced that after
Jack Hunt’s grand victory and generous
donation last week, the pot begins again this
time with $160 and 42 marbles. Joe Shekou
pulled the winning ticket and took home a
bottle of his own Sirah that he so generously
donates to the Club.
PROGRAM
Former Mayor, our
very dear, Al Boro,
introduced guest speaker, Congressman Jared
Huffman, a long-time
colleague. In his earliest
days
of
politics,
Congressman Huffman was also a member
of our Club before his civic duties kicked in
to high gear. He was sworn in to the 113th
Congress in 2013 and prior to that served 6
years in the CA State Assembly. He has
authored over 60 pieces of legislation and is
recognized for his ability to reach across the
aisle and compromise. Congressman
Huffman is an avowed protector of our
water. While in the Assembly he chaired the
Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.
Today he spends much of his time working
to secure the water and protect wildlife, like
the salmon runs, from aggressive and illegal
marijuana growers who are using and abusing these valuable resources. The 2nd
District covers 6 counties and represents
over 720,000 Northern Californians. Prior
to politics, Congressman Huffman attended
the University of Santa Barbara and played
for the US Volleyball Team in 1987. He later
attended Boston College where he received
his law degree. He and his wife have two
children and live in the West End area of San
Rafael.
The Congressman shared a humorous and
spirited presentation which began with a
note that “no one died in the 113th
Congress” during one of the nation’s most
ineffective Congressional sessions. We all
chuckled to learn that “There is a precedent
for violence in the Congress. In 1804, VP
Aaron Burr challenged Alexander Hamilton
to a duel. Leading up to the Civil War in
1856, Charles Sumner made a disparaging
remark to Preston Brooks of S. Carolina
who beat Sumner with a cane.” Huffman
was happy to report that the 114th Congress
has begun with no caning and in fact some
actual work has been achieved. Homeland
Security has been funded and the “Medicare
SGR (sustainable growth ratio) was fixed
permanently over an issue that has vexed
Congress for decades. At the end of May,
the Highway Trust Fund will be discussed.”
Huffman is hopeful that a solution will be
found to pass the Highway Trust Fund. He
noted that the purchasing power of the gas
tax has declined while the need has been
increasing. The question on the table is if
the gas tax will be raised or another option
will be presented so that States can actually
plan for the transportation infrastructure.
Huffman’s hope is that a bi-partisan
approach will be secured soon.
The Congressman is feeling optimistic
about the future. He is addressing many
other issues this term including the Special
Education Funding (IDEA). Forty percent
(40%) funding was promised years ago
when it was passed but we have never
reached that level. Of course, Huffman is an
avowed “water man.” He pointed out that
“water is a state issue. He is committed to
making sure that Congress does not mess it
up. Agriculture needs to be held to the same
high level of stewardship as others.”
Congressman Huffman pointed out that
while he is hopeful, there is a great deal of
work to do which will require a bipartisan
approach. As an example, the national debt is
$17 trillion and growing. “Managing the debt
will become paralyzing if it is not
addressed. One way to do that is to bring
some of the tax dollars, which are in the trillions and parked overseas with US companies, back to the US by closing the loopholes.”
The Congressman concluded by taking a
few questions including his closing remark
about Iran. “I believe we should show the
world we are trying so that we are perceived
as giving peace a chance. We should support
the President. Let’s take the diplomatic
approach. Allow the President do his job. The
diplomatic path has to be our approach.”
Congressman Huffman is certainly an
example of thoughtful politics and service
above self.
Submitted by Toni Galli Sterling
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 20 – Pam Franklin, Marin School
Volunteers