Rotary Club of El Cerrito

Upcoming Programs

Sep 9
Laurie Ann Lepoff, private dance instructor (Rotarian Host Nancy McCarthy)

Sep 16
Amanda Royal, League to Save Lake Tahoe (Rotarian Host Michael J. Dougherty)

Sep 23
M. Louise Stanley, contemporary painter (Rotarian Host Karen Nierlich)

Sep 30
Steven Van Yoder, Manila Poverty Project (Rotarian Host Marty Kaliski)

View previous Bulletins

Upcoming Events

Sundays January thru June
ONGOING Fundraiser at Golden Gate Fields

El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel May 7, 2009

 

El Cerrito Rotary
The Wheel
Editors: Gary Buffon & John Fergerson Jr.
Week of May 7th     
 
Pres Jack welcomed us to the friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Marty led the pledge and Pres Elect Tracy provided a thought for the day.
 
Introduction of guests and Visiting Rotarians: Visiting Rotarian John Vicars of Berkeley was on hand for today’s meeting. Mark S had a guest J.O. Myrick of Assembly Member Nancy Skinners office.
 
Announcements:
  • Pres Jack announced that GGF’s is paid up on our food booth work. 

  •   Pres Jack also announced that the band instruments are now on hand and will be turned over to the school as soon as the auditorium is officially released to the school from the contractor.

  • President Jack asked the club to consider hosting another exchange student next year. This would be a student from France.

  • Gary B announced the induction of Interact Officers will be either May 28th or June 4th. Either way, be sure and attend.

  • Detective Paul told us about the May 16th Bicycle Safety Day when you can come and enjoy festivities and get your bicycle checked out.
 
Happy dollars:   Lee had $2 for the enjoyment of attending the Contra Costa Civic Theatre and seeing Joan of Arc.  John Vicars had $5 for Tammies great chocolate Nobuko sold to us today and the contributions it makes to Rotary.  Kathleen is happy for the Kentucky Derby winner being an unknown.  Marty is happy he got to take a nice side trip when he was in Chicago on business.  Karen is happy she hired a friend to join her firm.  Jack is happy for his trip to Wash DC where he and Carol had a great time.
 
Sgt at Arms: Not on duty today
 
Today’s Program:  
Kathleen introduced Marilyn Langbehn, Audience Development Manager of the California Shakespeare Theater to tell us about this great organization. Cal Shakes, the organization’s nickname, is essentially an Arts Education organization that provides top of the line performance theater along with after school programs, two and five week camps for school children and adults and audience enhancement programs (teaching the people what the performances are all about) to the local communities. 

Marilyn shared with us the move away by the State of California from providing arts education in the public school system beginning in the 1970 when the requirement for art education training of elementary school teachers was eliminated. Since that time there has been a steady decline in this aspect of education. After providing us a number of interesting statistics Marilyn told us about the Cal Shakes and the various programs and projects in which it participates. 

Although the organization is well know for their theater performances in the beautiful Siesta Valley, however a great deal of what they focus on is the hands-on aspects of arts education. There is a strong emphasis on the camps for school children and adults that are either two or five week programs. In addition, there are the Grove Talks which are presented to people who want to learn more about the productions and substance of the performances presented. 

In addition, Cal Shakes provides the best possible venue for people to experience their performances. The site provides for picnics before the performance and an opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful scenic places in the Bay Area. This year the four performances scheduled are Romeo and Juliet, a Noel Coward play entitled Private Lives, Happy Days by Samuel Beckett and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
 
Marilyn Langbehn sharing the benefits of Cal Shakes
 
Thank you Kathleen for inviting Marilyn to tell us about a wonderful resource that many of us never realized we had.
 
Today’s Lottery Winner: John F had his ticket pulled for a chance at winning the pot and selected a cats-eye marble winning the bottle of wine.  Next Week the jackpot is worth $200. 
 
Interact Club Corner by Gary Buffon – Rotary Advisor to Interact: 
The Interact club has chosen the leadership for the new year and things are looking up for the club for another great year. 
 
Thought for Week:
Nature is a revelation of God; Art a revelation of man.
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow