Program February 11, 2010

Karen Street is a member of Berkeley (Calif.) Friends Meeting.

On December 11, 2008, a report signed by ten national lab directors, Sustainable Energy Future: The Essential Role of Nuclear Energy, was posted on <www.change.gov>. Its appearance confirmed again what the scientific and policy communities had long ago concluded: there is a need for expanded nuclear power, and Yucca Mountain is adequate for long-term waste storage. Among these experts, this settled consensus on the need for nuclear power is closely connected to another long-established consensus: the overriding seriousness of climate change.

I am disturbed when I hear Friends express less fear of climate change than of using nuclear energy to help head it off. Friends whose love of the environment finds its main outlet in fighting nuclear power may be robbing the real fight of their energy and activism and helping to reduce our already inadequate options.

In my article "A Friend's Path to Nuclear Power" (FJ Oct. 2008), I shared feelings that arose when I read the latest reports on climate change—grief over the effects we can no longer prevent, and fear that we may lack the will and the clarity to save ourselves from the changes that are still preventable. Responses appearing in subsequent FJ issues assure me that my grief is shared, as is my dedication to doing all that can be done to slow or stop our movement toward ever more disastrous effects of climate change.

see Karen Street's article on this topic in the Friends Journal

El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editor:  Gary Buffon

Week of January 28, 2010     

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

President Tracy welcomed everyone to the Friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.   Ilhami  led the flag salute and Charlie provided the thought for the day.

Secretary John:   Announced we had no guests today.

4-Way Test Presentation:    Marty led us in reciting the 4-Way Test

Announcements:

Þ    Karen reminded us of the St Patrick’s day mixer at H’s Lordships on Mar 17^th.  There is a sit down dinner as well as music and lots of mixing.  Be sure and sign up for this great event.

Þ    Jack told us the crew for the Fed 21^st GGF concession stand effort is all set and ready to go and thanked everyone.

Þ    Pres Tracy reminded us ot the Rotary work day on April 24 where we will be assisting seniors with installation of smoke alarms and replacing batteries in the existing units.   

Happy dollars:  Gary B is happy to report the Interact members did 72 hours o tutoring for the Prospect Sierra students, Marty is happy for Alan being back at Rotary, Alan is happy to be back, Karen is happy about  her meetings with the President Elect’s of the I-80 corridor, Mark S is happy about a recent trip to Florida to attend a wedding and also happy that  his daughter is getting results from her chemo, Pat is happy about the stone given to her by her son, especially when she found out it was from a mine near the town in NV where her Mother was born, Don is happy to be expecting another grandbaby.

Nobuko announced she will be doing a candy fund raiser for Valentine’s Day.  Be sure and order some candy for your Valentine.

Sgt at Arms Nancy:  Conducted a quiz on 70’s Rock n Roll and Football trivia.  It was all good fun and raised $$ for the club treasury.

Today’s Program: 

Pres Tracy introduced Don and Jack to give us a presentation on our El Cerrito Rotary Foundation . 

Don detailed the history of the start of the foundation.  It all began in 1999 when Nobuko was our President.  After some hard times and planning in 2002 the foundation was officially turned into a 501 C3 non-profit.  Since that time the foundation has grown from 22.5K to a now 83.5K amount. 

Jack then took over and gave us a detailed summary of what the foundation does, how much money it has put to use and made some suggestions for the future of the foundation.  The foundation has made $91K of contributions to projects and handled a total of $169K over its life.  We were shown the individual projects along with the dollars for each.  Jack ended with the five things he believes are important  for the future of the foundation: 

1.     Creative fund raising

2.     Hands on projects

3.     Legacy financing (having members put  the foundation in their wills or trusts)

4.     Non Rotarian Gifts

5.     Friends of El Cerrito – encouraging people in the community to leave gifts for the foundation

Thanks to Don and Jack for a great presentation.

I hope you were able to make it to this meeting and learn about one of the great ways we as Rotarians have to make a difference financially. 

Today’s Lottery Winner:   Ilhami had his ticket drawn and pulled a catseye marble winning the bottle of wine.   Next meeting the pot is $175.

Thought for the Week:

 Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.

--Kahlil Gibran