Meeting Notes June 14, 2016

 

Mountain View Rotary Club

Meeting Notes by Bruce
June 14, 2016 (week 50)
                                                              
President Twana Karney rang the bell and called the meeting to order with the Mountain View Rotary mantra, “We’re More Than A Club…We’re a Family!!!”  She reminded us that our International call to action for 2015-2016 is to “Be a Gift to the World” and our club’s call to action this year is “Being the Best We Can Be.” 
 
Judy Hannemann led us to a Pledge of Allegiance to our flag on Flag Day.
 
Bruce Barsi shared some quotes of inspiration about the LGBT Community, focusing not on the recent tragedy in Orlando, but on the Celebration of Pride during the month of June. 
 
Songmaster Phil Armi led us in a patriotic version of “Anchors Aweigh.”
 
Carl Honaker from San Jose Rotary joined us at our meeting today.
 
General Club Announcements:
 
  • We received two letters of thanks for our Community Grants from Community Services Agency and Just Read.
 
  • Thanks to Bruce Barsi for providing dessert today.
 
  • President Twana thanked Walt Joyce and Phil Armi for organizing the Golf Tournament and BBQ dinner last Friday.  It was a small, intimate affair, but a very nice time was had by those attending. 
 
  • Saint Francis High School and Mountain View High School are sponsoring a joint Interact Fundraiser by holding a clothing and household goods drive on Friday, June 17th, and Wednesday, June 22nd.  If you have items to contribute, call 844-512-8802 to arrange for a pickup.  Be sure to give them the Donor ID # B0882714.
 
  • The Kick Out Dinner is Friday, June 24th, at Michael’s at Shoreline, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  This is a mandatory event and you need to sign up no later than this week.  Call Alan Goodman ASAP if you haven’t signed up and still want to attend.
 
  • There is a Board Meeting this Thursday, June 16th, at 5:00 pm at CHAC.  This will be a Joint Board Meeting with this year’s Board and next year’s Board, let by our incoming President, Jerylann Mateo.  All are welcome to attend.
 
District Announcements:
 
  • Camp RYLA will run from June 26th to July 1st at Mission Springs in Scotts Valley.  Heather Stenshamn is coordinating with the attendees sponsored by MV Rotary. The concluding BBQ and Graduation will take place on Thursday, June 30th at 5:30 pm. If you are interested in attending the BBQ and Graduation, please let President Twana know.
 
Personal Sharing:
 
  • Bruce Barsi told the Club that Suzanne and he had just returned from New York where they attended their son Chris’ graduation from his Medical Residency in Emergency Medicine.  Starting in October, he will be working for Kaiser in Walnut Creek.
 
SPEAKER: 
 
Dave Cole introduced our speaker Captain Tom Spink, USN (ret.), talking to us about the history of Moffett Field and the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum.
 
 
Prior to becoming a military base and airfield, the land where Moffett Field is located was used for orchards.  In the early 1930’s, The Whipple Family sold the land to the Navy for one dollar.  The base was initially called the Naval Air Station in Sunnyvale, but shortly after it was established, the Air Field was named in honor of Admiral Moffett,
 
The first building on the base was Hanger 1 which was constructed between 1931 and 1933 to house the USS Macon.  The dirigible was described as a flying aircraft carrier which patrolled the west coast.  Unfortunately, the USS Macon crashed in the area of Big Sur in 1935.
 
During the Second World War, a squadron of blimps tasked with patrolling the West Coast for enemy ships and submarines was housed at Moffett Field.  During that time, additional hangers were built.  After the war, the base was used for transport aircraft and it later became the Navy’s first master jet base.
 
In the late 1940’s, wind tunnels were built at Moffett Field to test future aircraft.  In the late 1950’s, NASA was established and Moffett Field became a hub for research and development in the space program.  More recently, the base hosted a fleet of P3 Orions which patrolled the West Coast to maintain national security and also performed search and rescue operations when called upon.  The California National Guard, 129th Air Rescue Squadron is also stationed on the base.
 
Much of the history of the base can be found in the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum including several aircraft.  The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
 
 
Next Week our meeting is on Tuesday, June 21st.  Our Speaker will be Carl Honaker, Airport Manager of Moffett Federal Airfield. He will be presenting on the future of Moffett Field.  Our 4-Fer Greeter for our meeting next week on June 21st is Bruce Barsi.
 
Remember to Be a Gift to Your Club, Be a Gift to the World!