El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel August 6, 2009

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editors:  Gary Buffon & John Ferguson Jr.

Week of Aug 6      

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

President Tracy welcomed us to the friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Mike G led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Michael Change gave us the thought for the day.

Introduction of guests and Visiting Rotarians:  Secretary John introduced our guest today:  Frank Lee and Sonya Givens.  Jane introduced Jason Reiman, Principal of El Cerrito High. El Cerrito High Interact Board members Luke Twombly, Rebecca Phoung, Jessica Tran, Eric Mai and Julie Leong were introduced.  Visiting Rotarian Memory Woodard from the Concord club introduced Helen Kim, co-President of the Ignatio Valley High Interact club.

Helen Kim and Memory Woodard

Gary B introducted Nancy Tsai, past president of the first Interact Club at El Cerrito High School.  Nancy is going off to Harvard Univ to complete a Master program, It was great to see Nancy.

Nancy Tsai – President of Interact 2002-03

Announcements:

Þ    Tracy shared with us the concession stand opportunity that we will have at the El Cerrito Pool.  The operation of this venue will be done by Tracy to get things dialed in and then in cooperation with the Interact club we will determine how best to take advantage of this opportunity.

Happy dollars:    Nobuko is happy her dog is responding to chemotherapy.  Jack is happy that Joe got a new car.  Gary B is happy that Memory Woodard from Concord and Jason Rieman, El Cerrito High Principal could attend today.  Luke T is happy this year’s Interact Club is so active and doing things before the school year get started.  Sil is happy about the family trip he made to Laguna Beach for a wedding, to celebrate his anniversary and to take grandkids to Disneyland.  Don is happy about winning the Richmond Yacht Club race with the help of Tracy and Brody.  Tracy is $20 happy for having her last surgery and is very proud of Don for how he carries out his duties as Yacht Club Commodore.  Neal is happy to be spending a week at Tahoe with family from all over the world.

Sgt at Arms Nancy:  Not on duty today.

Today’s Program: 

Karen introduced our own Carl Penneypacker to speak to us about the progress being made with the Hands On Universe (HOU) and the teaming up of the new Kenya High School Interact with El Cerrito High Interact.   Carl began by communicating with Susan Murabana in Nairobi, Kenya.  We were linked with Susan via audio and video connection. He asked Susan about her efforts with the Kenya High Interact club.  It turns out that Susan is also working to form other Interact Club in her Rotary District.  This district encompasses a couple other African countries.  After the conversation with Susan, Carl gave us a presentation of the accomplishments of the efforts with the HOU mentoring project and how he expects it to play out during the school year.  Carl believes that transformative nature of astronomy provides an excellent format to help eradicate ignorance.  Through the use of the Internet and computers in conjunction with mentors a huge impact can be made worldwide on helping people develop their own countries.  Currently, there is a project in an Oakland school that Susan is helping with HOU and the girls there love the program and enjoy the mentoring of Susan.  Thanks to Carl for a wonderful presentation and thanks to our guest for coming to share it with us.

Tracy shows Carl the book being given to an

elementary school library in his honor

Today’s Lottery Winner: Don won the raffle and drew a cats-eye marble so he went home with a bottle of wine. Next week the pot is $65

Thought for Week: 

Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty & dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.

--James Madison