Posted by Bob Hermann and David Dye on Apr 15, 2021
Past Presidents Eric Schmautz (2008-2009) (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo) and Stephanie Schmautz (2015-2016) (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) led today's meeting and welcomed everyone.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Ashok Gupta, August Reader, Jamie Miller, Jean Schore, Harmony Ma and her guests (Cecilia Bentley and Yajaira Carter), Karen Sommerich, Jeff Lerner, Salvador Farfan, Carrie Condran LaBriola, and today's speaker, Dr. Oral Moses.
 
A Bit of Rotary History
Past President and PDG Eric shared some history about our Club and some Rotary items that he came upon during his family's recent move to a new home.
 
Nancy GraydonMember Moment
Nancy Graydon (Development | Glaucoma Research Foundation) shared some interesting information about herself. She was born in Canada and moved to the United States for love and ultimately, marriage. Her spouse is a polio survivor. Nancy worked at UCLA in the Ophthalmology Department in development to raise money to fund a building and currently works in development for the Glaucoma Research Foundation. She looks forward to doing more in our Club.
 
 
Jeff LernerKaren SommerichNew Members Inducted 
Past Presidents Eric and Stephanie and our Vice President of Membership Terry Pickering (Financial Services | Retired) inducted Jeff Lerner (Retail: Home Improvement | Floorcraft) and Karen Sommerich (Sales: E-Commerce | Salesforce). Both are interested in serving in Community Service. Jeff is interested in helping those who face food insecurity. Welcome to both Jeff and Karen!
 
ALPS Update
Harmony Ma, Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) Program Manager, spoke on a project led by youth to survey mental health issues as a means to support youth in need at Gateway High School. The mission was to create some type of resource to help students not feel so alone and to understand that others shared their mental health struggles.
 
Presentation on Master PRLS
Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) talked about the Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (Basic and Master Series), their meaning, and their importance to our District with a variety of educational tools and learning for leaders in Rotary. Our Club will pay for a member's attendance at PRLS classes.
 
Recent Community Service Projects
Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) spoke about the recent distribution of over 2,000 gowns in the Bay Area with the support of our Club. See full story here.
 
Jilma Meneses (Nonprofit Management | Catholic Charities) and Carol Laughlin (Nonprofit Management | Catholic Charities) thanked our Club for funding and packing the hundreds of backpacks for the homeless. See full story here.
 
Dr. Oral MosesToday's Speaker
Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced today's speaker, Dr. Oral Moses. Scott and Dr. Moses have known each other for decades. Dr. Moses provided an overview of African American music, including the Negro spiritual, the Blues, jazz, gospel, and popular music. He introduced the audience to well-known artists of their day who have become historical figures in the development of this music. And he provided some short musical selections. David Dye (Management Consulting  | Retired) said that the audience was mesmerized when Dr. Moses sang. Past Presidents Eric and Stephanie Schmautz thanked Dr. Moses and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in his name.