President Dudley Thompson
Call to Order - President Dudley Thompson
President Dudley Thompson called the 5,359th Civic Thursday meeting of the Rotary Club of Oakland to order at 12:30 p.m. He welcomed all Rotarians and guests as all previous presidents have done for 113 years.
Mike Mowery
Thought for the Day & Rotary Vision
Mike Mowery offered a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that related to the speaker's discussion of housing discrimination: “We are tired of living in rat-infested slums. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children."
President Dudley led the audience in the recitation of the Rotary Vision.
Gene Slater
Speaker for the Day - Gene Slater
Past-president and Speakers Committee chair Robert Kidd introduced Gene Slater, chair of CSG Advisors of San Francisco. Gene has 40 years of experience structuring financing, development programs, and real estate transactions for public agencies throughout the United States. His book, entitled "Freedom to Discriminate" is available through Amazon, Heyday Books, or at your local bookstore.
Mr. Slater reviewed the role played by realtors in segregating American communities and in shaping modern conservative ideology. In the early 20th century, neighborhoods were racially mixed. The first model for residential segregation was created by developer Duncan McDuffie in Berkeley. McDuffie imposed deed restrictions (covenants) on buyers of his high-end homes in Berkeley. These covenants included prohibitions on non-caucasians from living in the homes (except as servants).
In 1916, single family zoning was implemented in Berkeley which was used to establish low density neighborhoods only open to wealthier, white families. In 1917, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal for local government to use zoning for purposes of racial segregation but allowed restrictive covenants. In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that courts could not enforce restrictive covenants. In 1963, California passed its first fair housing law, the Rumford Act. This resulted in a campaign by realtors to pass Proposition 14 which nullified the Rumford Act and allowed property owners to continue racial discrimination. [Editor's note: the California Supreme Court later ruled that Proposition 14 was unconstitutional.
To defend all-white neighborhoods, realtors invented the concept of "colorblind freedom" that allegedly allows anyone to discriminate as a matter of individual choice. Conservative politicians used these arguments to lay the groundwork for many of the current conservative strategies.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Past-president and past-district governor Ed Jellen was unable to locate any visiting Rotarians or guests despite his best efforts to do so.
Marion Sims - In Memoriam
President Dudley announced the death of member Marion Sims and asked for a moment of silence. Marion was a three-sport athlete at McClymonds High School and a three-sport star at Santa Rosa Junior College. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Marion served as the executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland for 27 years and was a 24-year Oakland Rotary member.
Oakland Rotary Classroom
Professor Dudley presented his lecture entitled "Oakland Rotary Charitable Campaigns Made Easy." Dudley reviewed the differences between the club and the endowment and highlighted the fundraisers coming up this Rotary year. He also reviewed the differences between Rotary International and its charitable arm, The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary Club of Oakland is a nonprofit organization but not a charitable organization.
Oakland Rotary Endowment is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
October: Paul Harris Fellow Month
November: Rotary Foundation campaign
December: Feed the Hungry campaign (December 9th)
March: Oakland Rotary Endowment campaign
April: ORE Gala fundraiser
No homework this week but watch out for a pop quiz next week.
Paul Harris Fellow Recognitions
ORE president Leeann Alameda hosted the recognition of the club's new Paul Harris Fellows. The Paul Harris Fellow is named after Rotary's founder and acknowledges individuals who contribute or who have contributions made in their name of $1,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation. Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition is extended at subsequent $1,000 levels and those who reach the $10,000 level are deemed major donors.
President Dudley introduced and congratulated the following members:
Mona Hall - Paul Harris Fellow +1
Steve Nicholls - Paul Harris Fellow +5
Garrett Dailey - Paul Harris Fellow +5
Linda Chew - Paul Harris Fellow +7
Gail Uilkema - Major Donor, Level 1
Linda, Gail and Garrett spoke about the impact of their donations on world community service projects. Congratulations to all.
Activities and Opportunities
Lane College Food Pantry
The Laney College Food Pantry project is back. Kerry Hamill reported that an energetic group of members met at Laney College to pack 200 bags of food from the Alameda County Community Food Bank for distribution to Laney College students. Members must sign up in advance on the Club website calendar page. Then join this hands-on service project taking place every Tuesday from 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Coat Collection Project
Renia Webb announced that this year's We Lead Ours (WELO) coat collection drive has started. Please bring a new or gently used coat for a man, woman, or child to a Thursday lunch meeting in October, November, or early December. Hats, scarves and gloves are also needed.
Community Service Day at St. Vincent de Paul
President Dudley substituted for Community Service Committee chair David Kittner and urged everyone to save Saturday, October 23rd for a service day at St. Vincent de Paul in Oakland. Participants must be fully vaccinated. Sign up on the club website calendar page in the listing starting at 8:30 a.m.
October Meeting Food Information
After a brief digression to review the challenges of living with four cats, President Dudley announced that no pre-ordered food will be available for the October meetings in the California Ballroom. Feel free to bring a sandwich or partake of the pre-meeting reception snacks and cookies.
Bell Ringers
Robert Kidd, Wise Allen, Debo Sarkar, Ces Butner, Lorna Padia Markus, Stephanie Casenza, Joe Goralka, David Stein, Alex Poulsen, Dudley Thompson and Mike Melone for Marion Sims
Lorna Padia Markus for Karen Friedman
Fred Morse for Gene Slate
Joe Goralka for all Paul Harris honorees.
Adjournment
President Dudley adjourned another action-packed meeting at 1:32 p.m.
Linda Mandolini
Next Meeting - October 14 - Linda Mandolini - What is "Affordable" Housing, and Why is it so "Unaffordable?".
Sean Callum announced our speaker will be Linda Mandolini. She has served as President of Eden Housing since 2001 where she oversees affordable housing production, resident support services, and property management components of the organization, and a staff of more than 400 employees. She is guided in her work by Eden’s active volunteer board of directors.
Under her leadership, Eden Housing has become one of the most productive and successful nonprofit affordable housing developers and owners in California and is nationally recognized for its work. To date, Eden has developed or acquired more than 11,000 affordable rental apartments in communities throughout California, completed three portfolio mergers and acquisitions, and has launched a number of initiatives to increase affordable housing preservation and to promote sustainable practices.
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