November 20, 2007

 

OPENING

President Richard Short greeted everyone and asked US Navy Veteran (and Pearl Harbor survivor) Owen Smith to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Bruce Johnson giving thanks for all we have and enjoy, for each other, asking the Lord’s Blessing on those who serve overseas who are away from their families this Thanksgiving, our speaker, and our meal and fellowship. 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Bruce Johnson got his way (some say I pouted :-), so KJ abdicated and allowed him to bring the Thought for the Day:  Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. (Erma Bombeck)

 

PROGRAM NEXT WEEK

November 27   RYLA kids presentation

 

PATRIOTIC SONG BY CETA (who looked like Mr. Tedesco today)

Ceta (Sal) led us in “From Sea to Shining Sea.”

 

RECOGNITIONS

Although we had no recognitions today, we had a “reverse recognition” as Past President Bernie Kempen handed Treasurer Jerry Macy a $900 contribution from the CV Arts Foundation in recognition of the many sponsors from CV Rotary who purchased advertising.

 

SAL TEDESCO IS LOOKING FOR SOME DING-A-LINGERS!

We still need at least two more so that we have double coverage for each shift!  So, Sal is still looking for some talented musicians and let us all know that there is plenty of room for more CV Rotarians to help out as Salvation Bell Ringers on Friday, December 14, at Lucky’s (formerly Albertson’s) in Castro Valley.  Check out those who signed up below and contact Sal to either fill a vacancy or join others at a time you are available!  Email him at greenridge10@comcast.net . . . don’t hesitate to sign up where there is already two signed up as the more the merrier!

              9-10 am         Cliff Sherwood and Lynn Orne

            10-11 am         George Chouinard and Bill Nott

            11-12 pm         Dwight Perry and Al West

            12-  1 pm         Walt Schneider and Bruce Johnson

              1-  2 pm         Bob Quenneville and _________________

              2-  3 pm         Roland Williams and Dick Short

              3-  4 pm         Jeff Moore and Beth Moore

              4-  5 pm         Hafsa Burt and ________________

GUESTS

Sal Tedesco introduced our guest today: Dr. Jay Tontz from Hayward Rotary.

 

HELLO SONG

In honor of Thanksgiving, Mr. Tedesco led us in the traditional version of the Hello Song. 

 

DOUBLE SUSTAINERS AND THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DRAWING

“Dwight Wants You!”  No, this is not a military recruiting slogan from the 1950's when “Ike” was President of the USA . . . this is our Dwight (Perry), who reminded everyone today to be sure to get your drawing tickets soon as the drawing is Wednesday, December 5!  You don’t have to be present to win, but you do need to be entered to win!  Come prepared next Tuesday to get into the game (e.g., drawing!).

 

CASTRO VALLEY ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY

Al West reminded everyone (again!) to not miss out on our upcoming Club Christmas party at the Crow Canyon Country Club on December 11!  The party begins at 6:00 P.M. and will feature the talents of the Castro Valley High School Madrigal Singers!  Tickets are $75 per person (or, as Al West says, “$150 per couple).  More information will be coming by separate letter/email.  For information NOW, please contact either Al West, Dwight Perry or Walt Schneider.  Oh, and two more things: 1) Call Al at 510-889-6692 with your choice of entre (stead and shrimp or salmon and something else!); and 2) Bring your checks next Tuesday to Rotary!

 

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Mark Poniatowski, Chair of the Children's Christmas Party, announced that everything is a GO for the December 18 party beginning at 4:30 P.M. . . . he is collecting cash to assist in purchasing gifts for our guests . . . Cliff Sherwood is looking for some Rotarians to assist with the cooking end of event . . . if you can be there around 4:00 P.M. and know how to flip burgers, please email Cliff at csherwood@sherwoodandco.net . . . this is one of the most encouraging programs we can do for our community and everyone is invited to participate!  Please contact Mark at Ponlaw@ponlaw.com . . .

 

PROGRAM

Mark Poniatowski introduced Frank Mellon, EMBUD Director.  His district (Ward 7) includes Castro Valley and portions of San Leandro and Hayward, plus a portion of San Ramon in Contra Costa County. His term expires December 31, 2010.  Frank was elected to the Board in 1994 to represent Ward 7.   He was re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006. Mellon served as vice president of the board from 2000-2002 prior to serving as president from 2003-2004.

Mellon has a long history of community involvement. He is a former Scout Master (CV Troop 708), a former Cub Master (CV Den 722), and has been District Chair for the Tres Ranchos District of the San Francisco Bay Area Council as well as a Unit Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America. He is a volunteer Director for a retirement facility and is an experienced management trustee on Labor-Management trust funds.

Currently, he is employed by Kaiser Permanente Hospitals in Employee and Labor Relations as a management representative. Additionally, he has been an employee and labor relations consultant in the public and private sectors. He has provided management training on high-quality employee relations, and currently teaches labor law and safety at the California State University, East Bay in the Human Resources Certificate Program.

Mellon graduated from the University of Hawaii and received his MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga. His children are products of the Castro Valley public school system. Director Mellon resides in Castro Valley.

 

Mr. Mellon shared many exciting things with us, or, as he says, “the good and the bad.”  Starting with “the bad,” he re-stated what we have been reading in the papers that we are in need of water, and if the rain does not come, we need to voluntarily conserve water or else we are facing a ration.  This is something that, hopefully, will be handled by 2009 when a number of projects go on line to ease our water needs.  And we need a lot of rain – now . . . as he says, “the great rains in October were just a drop in the bucket”(pun recognized and he asked forgiveness :-).  If rain does not come, we will be asked to reduce our useage by 25%.  Storage of water continues to be a challenge with offers to store our water, but not for us to take it out later (huh? :-).  During his presentation, he covered the various uses of recycled water and what EBMUD is doing in that area.  He encouraged several ways to conserve, including buying front load washers as they use only 30% of the water used by top load washers!  He also gave us quite an education on various toilets that are out there, including the “double-flush” system that is available.  We received the history and outcome of “Water Wars” and the various joint projects that EBMUD are investing significant capital into, including the Heron Bay Project and desalinization.  We also witnessed Frank’s sense of humor when he described the relationship between MWD and EBMUD as he said it is like the 300 pound canary (Metropolitan Water District) walking down the alley calling “here, Kitty, Kitty” to organizations like EBMUD. 

 

Frank also updated us on the seismic improvement projects stating that we are “on time and on budget,” and that the Southern pipeline is done as is the Claremont tunnel project.

 

Great presentation by a true servant to the people he represents . . . for more information about EBMUD and on-going projects, please go to http://www.ebmud.com . . .

 

 

THE HUNT FOR THE CORRECT MARBLE

Bob Crossett’s ticket was pulled and with $52 and 19 marbles in the sack, reached in and won . . . .  $5.00 . . .   Congratulations!

 

FUTURE PROGRAMS

December   4   To be announced

December 11    DARK (Club Christmas Party tonight!  See information above)

December 18    DARK (but at 4:30 PM is our Children’s Christmas Party, Castro Valley Adult School!  See information above)

 

See you next week!