Oakland Rotary News

President Ces Butner called our 5,322nd “Civic Thursday” meeting in order and welcomed all of our Zoom guests.

Rotarian Lou Rigali shared thought for the day from the published works of Mary Parker Foley born in the late 1800s in Boston - 'We find the true man only through group organization. The potentialities of the individual remain potentialities until they are released by group life.'

President-Elect Dudley Thompson inducted the latest member of the club Jesse Bowdle.

Past president Jack McAboy highlighted 5 women who have been members of the Oakland Rotary Club for over 30 years. Gail Okana, Carla Betts, Shannon Hackley, Iris Brody Lopez, and Mary Retzer shared with us stories about what it was like in the 70s and 80s when women were not allowed to be members of the Rotary club and what the Oakland Rotary Club has meant for them.

Rotarian Kymberly Miller introduced our speaker for the day - Mayor of Oakland, Honorary Rotarian Libby Schaaf. She spoke about the state of the city and address homelessness as our club has chosen to focus on it this year.

Missed our meeting but interested in checking out the next one? Click here to learn more: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/calendar

#serviceaboveself #rotaryinternational #rotaryclubofoakland #rotaryopensopportunities

President Ces Butner called our 5,320th “Civic Thursday” meeting order and welcomed all of our Zoom guests.

Fred Mackay presented the thought for the day and suggested that after a difficult 2020, we should all strengthen our ties as humans in 2021.

President Ces led the attendees in reciting the Rotary Club of Oakland vision statement. He then shared a slide with the Rotary Foundation giving a "Thermometer." Seventy-two percent of club members have donated to the Rotary Foundation to date. Ces urged all members to donate so that the presidential challenge donation of $50,000 will kick in.

Winter Williams introduced Tinisch Hollins, associate director of Californians for Safety and Justice, and Oakland Rotarian Courtney Ruby, City of Oakland Auditor. The panel, moderated by Winter, engaged in a discussion of criminal justice reform.

Missed our meeting but interested in checking out the next one?

Click here to learn more: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/calendar

#serviceaboveself #rotaryinternational #rotaryclubofoakland #rotaryopensopportunities

We had another exciting weekly lunch meeting today - on Zoom! Our President Ces Butner conducted a 5318th club meeting, last before Thanksgiving!

Amani Soliman shared a thought for the day, "I wish this celebration was the international one, not just an American one. I think every country, every person in the world has a lot to be thankful for and I would like to wish you all on this occasion a very good and happy thanksgiving. Please stick to the rules and keep it limited I hope that everyone will come out of this situation safely and sound and we meet again for the next thanksgiving."

Rotarian Steve Nicholls introduced our special guest for today, a well-known magician for his spell-binding performances locally and internationally Mr. Dennis Kyriakos. Dennis showed his magic tricks through the zoom meeting. Everyone who joined had a fun time cheering for all of Dennis's performances.

Missed our meeting but interested in checking out the next one?

Click here to learn more: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/calendar

#serviceaboveself #rotaryinternational #rotaryclubofoakland #rotaryopensopportunities

We had another exciting weekly virtual Oakland Rotary Civic Thursday lunch meeting today - on Zoom! Our President Ces Butner called the meeting to order at 12:28 pm, a 5316th club meeting in our 111-year old history.

Rotarian Stephanie Casenza shared the thought for the day with us. 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.

The use of virtual applications like Zoom and other social media has become inevitable during this pandemic situation. To make sure every Rotarian knows how to use these applications to stay connected with each other, the communication committee prepared a detailed presentation.

Isaac Kos-Read and the communication committee members Sandeepa Nayak and Jack Iles divided the participants into separate breakout rooms to educate them on how to use the Zoom application.

Joseph Goralka highlighted the good work all the Rotarians are doing by being part of the Rotary Foundation. He further urged to donate for all the causes managed by the Rotary Club.

Rotarian Michael Bakal spoke about a project the Rotary Club of Oakland is doing in Guatemala focused on food production, growing an economy, local youth, and improving the environment.

Missed our meeting but interested in checking out the next one? Click here to learn more: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/calendar

#serviceaboveself #rotaryinternational #rotaryclubofoakland #rotaryopensopportunities