Posted by Robin Azevedo on Sep 16, 2021
President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order promptly at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Attending in person today were two guests of Heidi Kuhn (Peace Building | Roots of Peace) - Rachel Donovan and Jeff Yih; a guest of Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) - Steve Redlin; and a guest of Jane Flout (Nonprofit Management | Catholic Charities) - Armando Zamaya. Attending online were Salvador Farfan from the Rotary Club of Long Beach, ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma, Anna Klink, and today's speaker — Laurie Thomas
 
David DyeUpcoming Events
  • President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) invited us to join the Blue Angels' Viewing Party, an exclusive Rotary Club of San Francisco event on October 9, 2021. Early bird tickets are $85 and available until September 27. Thereafter, tickets will be $100. Christopher announced the opportunity for sponsorships at $500, and immediately, five people raised their hands to be sponsors. The event will take place at the Academy of Arts building at The Cannery. The party space has spectacular views from the expansive balcony to see the air show up close and personal.
  • Past President David Dye (Management Consulting;| Retired) invited us to support World Polio Day on Sunday, October 24, 2021 by participating in an urban scavenger hunt at the Rotary Race to End Polio with Rotarians, Friends of Rotary, and local community members. 
  • Past District Governor Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo) invited everyone to attend a planning meeting for Worldwide Rotary Day to be held in 2022.
Complete details and registration for the above events can be found on our Calendar.
 
Reports
  • Heidi Kuhn spoke of the harrowing circumstances of the Roots of Peace employees still in Afghanistan working with the farmers during the height of the harvest season. These farmers have somehow successfully harvested 80 truckloads of dried fruit.
  • Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) reported on the fun and productive Vocational Event held on September 9, 2021 at the Hotel Nikko.
  • ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma updated us on the second pilot year of the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) and shared some impressive statistics including 21 successfully trained coaches. Through its leadership training, ALPS carries forward Rotary’s motto: "Service Above Self".  
Larry Booth, Marc Johnson, Darlene Wilson, and President Mary; also inducted online was Lance ScottNew Members Inducted
President Mary and our Vice President of Membership Nancy Graydon (Development | Glaucoma Research Foundation) inducted Marc Johnson (Financial Advisor | Northwestern Mutual), Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.), Lance Scott (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) as one of the members of our newest corporate member - The Arc San Francisco, and Darlene Wilson (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF). All share a common interest of giving back to the community and looking forward to doing so as Rotarians. Welcome to Marc, Larry, Lance, and Darlene!
 
Laurie ThomasGuest Speaker
Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced today's speaker — Laurie Thomas. Laurie is the owner of Nice Ventures, which currently owns and manages two successful restaurants in San Francisco: Rose’s Café and Terzo. She is also the Executive Director for the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. Laurie gave an astounding recap on what the restaurant industry has and is going through. She shared some personal outcomes, some observations, and some predictions and invited Rotarians to participate in the upcoming Eat Drink SF from October 15-24. See here for more information. President Mary thanked Laurie 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 Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | McRoskey Mattress Company) for serving as scribe at this meeting, to Peter Logan (Law: Insurance | Peter Logan Law Offices) for serving as photographer, to Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies  | Patrick & Co.) for managing the microphone, to Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) for collecting lunch tickets, to Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Fiduciary Administration), Margaret Miley, and Maureen O'Shea , who served as greeters, to Greg Grundstrom of the Academy of Art for managing the audio visual equipment during our in-person meetings, to Lisa Christian (Development) for managing those who were attending via Zoom today, to Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art) for doing check-in today at the Hotel Nikko, and to Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) for serving as cashier.