El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel November 19, 2009

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editors:  Gary Buffon & John Ferguson Jr.

Week of November 19^th      

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

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

Secretary John:  Introduced today’s guests:  Debra Stevens, Kathleen Glenn, Kevin O’Neal, Bret Johnson and Pat’s Husband Davis Stonebraker.

4-Way Test Presentation:  - Not done today

Announcements:

Þ    Jane reminded everyone about the Rotary Holiday luncheon on Dec 10^th.  Be sure an bring a spouse or guest for this special day!

Þ    Gary announced that our Interact Club is holding a movie night at the ECHS theatre on Dec 4^th at 5p.  Rotarians who would like to attend can do so, just tell Gary and he will get you set up.  Prices for tickets are $4

Þ    Paul announced that the EC Police Dept employees association will be doing a fund raiser to get a K9 for the department 

Happy dollars:  Marty is $10 happy for his trip to Peru.  He will give us a presentation of the trip at a future meeting.  Jane is $5 happy about her new stint and beginning to feel better.  Frank is happy for having one of his best months in business.  Mark S is happy for his trip to Italy, Greece and other countries but is also happy to be home.  Charlie is happy to be making a trip to the Big Game being held at Stanford.  Sil had $10 info dollars about his EC office building (for the past 31 years) is being sold and he will have to move to the Pinole office.  Tracy is happy about the support provided by the Rotarians who attended Glenn Davis’s wife Helen’s memorial.

Rotary Foundation Chair Lee: 

Lee told us about the progress on the Foundation Giving 2 for 1 November special.  Things are going well.  He then provided some specific examples of the great work Rotary does around the world.

Sgt at Arms Nancy:   Did recognition of those who did not sign new member rosters from Paul and Frank.

Lend a Hand Awards:  Tracy had invited three members of the El Cerrito community: Kathleen Glenn of Glenn Framing, Kevin O’Neal of Well Grounded and Bret Johnson of CCCT to be honored.  Each of these three individuals are involved in promoting the arts in El Cerrito.  This has enhanced the culture and value of our community.  Each of the recipients was presented a crystal object as a token of recognition for their tireless work. 

L to R – Tracy, Kathleen Glenn, Devin O’Neal, Brit Johnson

Today’s Program: 

Paul introduced Sgt Shawn Maples to give us a program on the EC Bike Patrol and the officers who make up this vital law enforcement tool of the EC Police Dept.  Shawn thanked us for inviting him and told us about the last time he was at the club some 15 years ago. 

Shawn is in charge of the Bicycle Patrol program and have been involved in it since inception.  He gave a Powerpoint presentation summarizing the factors and effects of this law enforcement tool.  The main areas that it benefits include: education, information, enforcement and investigation.  Police officers on bicycles seem more accessible to the public than those cars because people are less apt to approach officers in cars.  In addition, having police on bicycles adds an element of law enforcement visibility that is a positive influence.

To become a bicycle police officer requires a training course that teaches a number of key things which cover both bicycle specific things as well as tactics on how to accomplish traffic stops and other types of arrests.  The EC police dept has 25 of their 45 officers trained on bicycles. 

This was an excellent presentation which generated a lot of questions.  Thanks Paul for having Shawn come and speak to us.

President Tracy and Police Officer Shawn Maples

Genie Stone:  Marty had his ticket pulled and won the magic stone for December

Today’s Lottery Winner:   Marty was double lucky today and had his ticket selected and drew a blue marble winning $2 and a bottle of wine.  Next week the pot is $135.

Thought for Week:

If you will help run our government in the American way, then there will never be danger of our government running America in the wrong way.

--Omar N. Bradley