Ces Butner, President of Rotary Club of Oakland
Call to Order – Ces Butner
President Ces Butner called our Civic Thursday Zoom meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. noting this is the 5,327th meeting in our 111-year-old Club. We are committed to the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”. In order to remain focused, we recited our vision statement: Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. As part of our continuation of Black History Month celebration, today we will enjoy with a performance and discussion from award winning artist, Terrence Brewer. Please help us reach our goals by bringing in a new member.
Abel Guillen
Thought for the Day – Abel Guillen
Abel Guillen led us in the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of Presidents’ Day and shared this timely quote from Barack Obama: “Democracy doesn’t work if we constantly demonize each other. For progress to happen, we have to listen to each other, see ourselves in each other, fight for our principles but also fight to find common ground no matter how elusive that may seem.”
Presidents’ Day
Abel Guillen shared the history of Presidents’ Day. This day honors George Washington, the General of the Continental Army and the first President of our Republic. The holiday also recognizes Abraham Lincoln, who preserved the Union during the American Civil War and brought about the emancipation of enslaved peoples. As a military general, Washington held the army together through defeat after defeat as the Nation struggled towards independence from the British Crown. Historian Alan Snyder, notes that at one point when pressed by some to become America's King, Washington soundly rejected that offer by saying “that's not what we've been fighting for”. In 1968, Congress passed the uniform Monday Holiday Act that moved a number of holidays, including Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day and Labor Day to Mondays to give workers more three-day holiday weekends.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Past President Ed Jellen welcomed visiting guests and fellow Rotarians: Jennifer Geong, Danielle Geong, Patty Pringle (Rotary Club of Dublin), and Belinda Tarlach – guests of Mary Geong. Keith Uriarte’s guest was Allison Wooley. Matt Iverson-Comelo was in attendance as guest of Frank Pare, a visiting Rotarian. Dianne Dorn (Rotary Club of San Leandro and Assistant Governor for Area 4A in Rotary year 2021-2022) – guest of Jesse Bowdle was also present. WELCOME!!
Zeydi Gutierrez & Nancy Williams
New Member Induction – Zeydi Gutierrez & Nancy Williams
Isaac Kos-Read, Zeydi Gutierrez’ sponsor, introduced her to the club. Zeydi works as the Public Affairs and Strategic Director for AB&I Foundry. The Oakland-based foundry manufactures commercial fittings for industry and residential properties, removes waste from the Bay, melts guns from buy-backs and is involved with educating children during field trips. Isaac suggested we take a trip to the foundry when we are finished covid-ing.
David Kersten introduced Nancy Williams. Nancy is a franchise owner of Money Pages. She is committed to social justice in everything she does. A graduate of UCLA, she moved to the Bay Area in 2014. She noted that now is the right time for her to be joining Rotary.
President Ces inducted our two newest members into our club and discussed the requirements and benefits of being a member and practicing SERVICE ABOVE SELF. Welcome Zeydi and Nancy!
Mary Geong
Chinese New Year
President Elect-Mary Geong wished us Gung Hay Fat Choy or Gong Xi Fa Cai – “May you be Happy and Prosperous”. The lunar new year is the longest and most important celebration in Asia, with over 1.5 billion people across the globe celebrating the new year in China, Vietnam, Korea and Singapore for two weeks. The Chinese year 4719, the Year of the Ox begins on February 12, 2021. The Chinese use the lunar calendar with 13 months, which is why the lunar new year changes every year.
Mary also shared a folktale about how the signs of the Zodiac were chosen. The animals had a water race, and the hardworking ox was in the lead with a rat close by- the rat asked the good-natured ox for a ride on its back but then at the last second, the ungrateful rat jumped off onto land to cross the finish line first. The ox came in 2nd, the tiger was 3rd and so it went and the happy go lucky pig took his place as last and the Chinese Zodiac and its 12 signs were born.
At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children and single people crisp lucky money in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire and good luck, which according to legend, can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities also drive away evil spirits. Due to COVID-19, there will be no Chinese New Year parade this year, but the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco has commissioned 11 life sized statues of ox to celebrate the Year of the Ox. They are located around the city of San Francisco with one at the Oakland Airport.
In keeping with the celebration of Chinese New Year, our club will have Tea and Cooking with the President on February 18 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. and a special guest will teach us to cook spiced prawns and brew a cup of tea. A list of the ingredients will be posted in advance.
Terrence Brewer
Speaker for the Day – Terrence Brewer
Winter Williams introduced our guest, Terrence Brewer, by noting that artists need to be resilient. Terrence Brewer is an award-winning musician and educator whose musical influences derive from the blues, jazz and Africa. Terrence Brewer first appeared at one of our Rotary meetings around 20 years ago.
Mr. Brewer began by playing a Charlie Parker smooth jazz rendition on his guitar. The second song he played was from the Great American Songbook, “I'll remember April”. In that song we could hear the transition from Afro Caribbean beats to swing rhythms. Even on a zoom screen, it was evident that his music was enjoyed and appreciated. President Ces noted “while we are committed to service above self, we also like to have fun”.
Mr. Brewer responded to questions posed by Rotarians. He discussed the resiliency an adaptation that artists have found necessary in order to respond to a new way to perform during COVID-19. He personally used to perform 250 live shows a year and that has diminished 21 or two performances a month. His theme was music finds a way. He also noted that all forms of music—jazz, Blues, and rock and roll – are tied at the heart of the music to adaptation and resilience. The lock down has forced musicians to reassess the way they perform, how they perform and where they perform. It is now possible with the technology available to stream and perform music that can be seen all over the world in a way that is not possible when performing in clubs. Mr. Brewer talked about the fact that there is no culture that doesn't have music. Music forms the soundtracks of our lives. One of the factors that became evident during COVID-19 was the inequity of technology ownership among certain musicians. Mr. Brewer also made the point that everyone likes some form of music.
Click here to watch Mr. Terrence Brewer video segment.
President Ces thanked Terrence Brewer and announced that a donation in his name would be made to our Unhoused Residents in Oakland project and that he would receive Linda Hamilton’s book, “100 Years of Oakland Rotary.”
Bellringers
Executive Administrator Jesse Bowdle announced the following bellringers:
Mary Geong (2) in celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year and her 45th (sapphire) wedding anniversary,
Ruth Stroup and David Kittner for Mary Geong,
Ces Butner (2) for Mary Geong and Chinese Lunar New Year,
Abel Guillen for Karen Friedman’s birthday, and
Isaac Kos-Read for Abel Guillen -- to make it eight lucky bellringers.
Adjournment
President Ces Butner closed the meeting by ringing the bell eight times and his closing adage “and that’s the way it went” plus the reminder that Rotary Opens Opportunity for Service Above Self.
Birthday Greetings
Happy Birthday! Celebrating between February 11 and 17 are:
Ahmad Anderson – February 13
Catherine Coleman – February 14
Georgia Richardson – February 14
Membership Anniversaries in February
Thank you for your years of service to the Rotary Club of Oakland and the community!
L. Morris Johnson – 45 years
Ken Richardson – 38 years
Joel Parrott – 35 years
Shannon Hackley – 33 years
Sean Marx – 28 years
Rick Baskin – 16 years
John Weaver – 13 years
Bob Breecker – 9 years
Abel Guillen – 8 years
Brad Gill – 6 year
Jason Wizelman – 6 years
Renia Webb – 5 years
Bryan Morgan – 4 year
Emily Morgan – 4 years
Isaac Kos-Read – 3 years
Jim Ippolito – 3 years
Nicholas Williams – 3 years
Susan Schroeder – 2 years
Sam Miller – 1 year
Cory Nott – 1 year
Pauline Fox – 1 year
Rod James – 1 year
Proposed For Membership
The following individuals have submitted applications. If no objection is received within five days, the application will be submitted to the Board of Directors for action:
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Nik Dehejia
ZOOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION
Oakland Zoo / Conversation Society of California
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, Ca 94605
Sponsor: Joel Parrott
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Trisha Connors
EDUCATION
Pleasanton Unified School District
4375 Foothill Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Sponsor: Kerry Hamill
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Rebecca Kaplan
CITY GOVERNMENT
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612
Sponsor: Keith Uriarte
Jasmine Rashid
Next Meeting, February 18 – Jasmine Rashid
Celeste Gordon announced our speaker will be Jasmine Rashid, who will discuss Moving Money: A Financial Playbook for Racial Justice. She is a Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at the Candide Group. Previously she was a writer, strategy consultant, associate at the Lang Center for Civic & Social Responsibility, and the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of VISIBILITY Magazine — a publication dedicated to showcasing the creative work of traditionally marginalized voices.
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