Meeting Notes - December 6, 2016
Mountain View Rotary
December 6, 2016
Meeting Notes by Dick
DICK LUBMAN enlightened us about some significant happenings on this date in history and along with other quotes left us with this one by George Eliot:
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
The IMPRESARIO, PHIL ARMI, led us in a rendition of “Home On The Range.”
VOCATIONAL SERVICE PRESENTATION: JIM SPANGLER told us how lucky he was to be able to work with his father in the family business for fifteen years. He values the Rotary club as a respite from his hectic pace at work which he gets from being at the meeting with friends.
DAVE COLE reminded us that December 18 is the “Holiday Store” project with the Community Service Agency. If you can, plan to join other club members for an AM or PM shift for this very gratifying community project.
BRUCE BARSI brought to our attention the HOLIDAY SKI TRIP starting February 23 through February 27. A signup sheet was passed around during the meeting.
ALAN GOODMAN told us that the crab he had recently was very good and a great precursor for our ANNUAL CRAB FEED fund raiser on January 28, 2017.
PRESIDENT JERYLANN told us that at this time we have 21 members that have joined the President’s Club.
SANJAY DAVE introduced our speaker for today, JON HAVEMAN, PH.D.
Topic: City of Mountain View - Income and Poverty
Dr. Haveman presented these significant findings:
US prosperity is anything but shared—Massive transfers are being made from those at the bottom to those at the top.
The United States now has the highest percentage of low-wage workers.
-They make less than two-thirds of the median wage of any developed nation.
-Fully 25% of all American workers make no more than $17,576 a year. This income, as no surprise to those of us living here, is out of line with reality in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Federal Poverty Statistics are flawed for the San Francisco Bay Area. The Federal analysis fails to account for regional differences in the cost of living and also the declining importance of food in household spending.
He also referenced the long term effects of poverty related to Physical Health, Cognitive Abilities, School Achievement Outcomes, and Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes.
Policy Options he feels we have are: Providing Direct Assistance, Employment Services, Job Training, Improving Public Education, and Early Childhood Development.
Those of you that want more information about this topic can visit the Marin Economic Consulting website at: MarinEconomicConsulting.com
Next week’s program: Mental Health Needs In Our Community
Presenter: Michael Fitzgerald from El Camino Hospital
4fer for next week: HIRO KARIYA
Auction Item for next week is displayed below: A wine rack with 4 bottles of Red and 4 of White wine. Bring your checkbooks!
HOLIDAY PARTY THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 (6:00 to 9:00 PM)
LOCATION: RESTORANTE DON GIOVANNI’S
BRING A GIFT FOR THE GIFT EXCHANGE OF $20-25 IN VALUE.