President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. She noted that it had been over a month since we got together in person, and she was just coming off her personal quarantine for COVID. On each table were plated hors d'oeuvres and fresh ice tea, showing the appreciation of the staff at the Hotel Nikko for our return.
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarian was Ozan Yasavur, a Rotarian from Turkey who is planning to join our Club soon. Additional online guests were Aida Jones, Jeanne Gnuse, and Paul Vazquez from Alliance for Smiles. Guests in person included Theo Ellington from the Salvation Army, Donald Brooks, and today's speaker - Kate Sofis.
Question of the Day
President Mary asked the audience: "What did novelists James Patterson and John Grisham have in common?"
Answer: Both novelists mentioned and discussed Rotary meetings in their award-winning books.
Upcoming Events
Please check the Club Calendar for upcoming events and registration.
- In addition to the many meetings, service projects, and Super Bowl Pool and Potluck in February 2022, please register early for our 2022 annual Emergency Services Day on March 8, 2022 where the Rotary Club of San Francisco honors outstanding representatives of the departments that we depend on for our health and public safety: the Department of Public Health, the Fire Department, the Office of City Administrator, the Police Department, the Sheriff, and the Coast Guard.
- On March 19, 2022, we will gather at Rotary Meadow to do some gardening and weeding and enjoy some pizza afterwards.
- Rotary District 5150 is presenting the 2022 District Assembly on March 26, 2022; the assembly will be in person; everyone is encouraged to attend the trainings offered at the Assembly and to watch as the incoming club presidents are introduced. Join us to cheer on Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) as he starts his Rotary year as our Club's president. Note: Our Club will pay for your registration at the Assembly.
- The next Fund the Future Gala will be held on April 1, 2022 at the City Club of San Francisco – a classic venue for a critical Rotary cause. See here for registration.
- On April 14, 2022, the Vocational Services Committee needs your business expertise to evaluate San Francisco United School District student projects. Contact Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) for more details.
Super Bowl Pool
Past President Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.), our TRF Chair, explained how to participate in the Super Bowl Squares pool; each square costs $100. Many in the audience were eager to buy one or more squares as the big prize is a football autographed by Paul Harris!
Jim Patrick gets the audience to buy Super Bowl squares.
Jim Patrick shows the football signed by Paul Harris.
February 2022 Rotarian of the Month
President Mary recognized Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) as the Rotarian of the Month for February 2022. Lynn was truly surprised and gratified by this honor. Vice President of Youth Services Lisa Christian (Development) spoke of Lynn's work with Interact, RYLA, ALPS, and his passion for youth leadership. Lynn has greatly helped Rotary be the positive influence for tomorrow’s leaders. Congratulations to Lynn!
Grant PresentationsJessica Hansen (Nonprofit Management | Alliance for Smiles), Rosemary Welde (Healthcare: Nursing Services | Stanford Medical Center), and Paul Vazquez from Alliance for Smiles gave a presentation on the Global Virtual Education Initiative for which they received a grant for $7,500. They also provided information about the Congo Medical Mission and received a $10,000 grant. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired), President of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, awarded both grants.
Guest SpeakerKate Sofis, the Executive Director of San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, spoke on the City’s effort to use the COVID-19 crisis to build the City back and make it better. She is part of a musically talented family from Buffalo, who moved to San Francisco to help build our manufacturing base. While Kate listed the obvious challenges we have: high vacancy rates, slow economic recovery, street drugs, homelessness, and dwindling housing stock, the global allure of San Francisco with its vibrant art and cultural resources make San Francisco a worldwide destination. She described how the Mayor's focus on solving the urban problems while creating strategies to grow our amenities has galvanized all the civic agencies to get San Francisco into the top tier of internationally recognized cities.
President Mary thanked Kate and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in her name.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Editor's Note: Thank you to Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) for serving as scribe at this meeting; to David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) for serving as photographer; to Sunny Singh for managing the microphone; to Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) for collecting lunch tickets; to Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) and Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | McRoskey Mattress Company), who served as greeters; to Jessie Austin of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; to Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) for managing those who were attending via Zoom; to Jeff Lerner (Retail: Home Improvement | Floorcraft) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko; and to JT Forbus (Accounting | Fly Leasing) for serving as cashier.