A Jobs-First Solution to Impacting Poverty and Homelessness
Meeting for the week of April 20 - April 26, 2020
This Meeting at a Glance:
Program: A Jobs-First Solution to Impacting Poverty and Homelessness
Speaker: Geoff Ball
Is this your first time to visit us? If so, welcome to our weekly online meeting! To complete our meeting, please continue reading from here to the bottom of this page.Each Monday our week’s meeting is posted early in the morning, U.S. Pacific Time. These meetings are designed so that you can read and watch what we post anytime during the week. The entire meeting takes about 60 minutes to complete, with the video conference recording of the program being the bulk of the time.Note that you can easily read this meeting with your favorite device, so feel free to take our meeting on the go with you. Please also make sure to complete the attendance form at the bottom and leave a comment. Enjoy!To properly attend this meeting, please:
Read and watch the content below in its entirety.
Complete the attendance survey.
Everyone is also encouraged to leave a comment in the Disqus section at the bottom of the page.
Table of Contents
Welcome to the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley!
Here’s a message from Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville and the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley:
Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville and the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
Guests, we are happy to have you join us this week!
As we see it, our flexibility as an online, asynchronous club allows a special type of service to Rotarians around the world: we make it easier for anyone to strive for and maintain 100% attendance. That keeps you engaged with Rotary's events and ideas, and provides a moment of inspiration for devoting your creativity, talents, and resources to good causes.You are certainly not required to pay anything in order to attend our meetings. However, if you would like to make a small contribution to our service efforts, you are welcome to do so in our secure Happy Dollars section down the page. This could be what you normally pay at your own club's meetings for lunch, for example. Any amount is welcome, but first and foremost, we're happy you've joined us, and hope you will share with others who we are and what we do to help inspire Service Above Self.And don't forget to fill out our attendance form so you get an email you can pass on to your club's secretary!
The Four Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships.Of the things we think, say or do
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Members of the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley from around the world
🎂 🎈 🎉 🎁 🍾Happy Birthday!!
Sarah Tuberty (Apr 23)
From around the world,Wishing you all the best, on your birthday and always!
🎂 🎈 🎉 🎁 🍾
Members and guests, consider donating in their honor in our Happy Dollars section below.
Weekly Funny with the Lady of Laughter (LOL)
We believe laughter is an important part of life, and we should all make time to laugh a little. This segment of our meeting is meant to tickle you just enough. These funnies are curated by member Yvonne Kwan, our “Lady of Laughter!”
Earth Day is April 22! Take some time to take a breath of fresh air outside and appreciate nature. In the meantime, here are some earthy jokes for you!
What did the tree wear to the pool party?Swimming trunks!
How do you cut a wave in half?Use a sea saw!
Why are recycling bins optimistic?Because they're full of cans!
Weekly Inspiration
Every week we start our meetings with a short video highlighting innovation, inspiration, entrepreneurship, or social change.
Although it appears to be floating on the Mediterranean, Maiden’s Castle sits on a tiny island off the coast of Kizkalesi, Turkey.The structure dates back to the 12th century, but no one knows who constructed the ancient relic. Many tell a legend, however, involving a Byzantine king, his daughter and a fortune teller’s frightening prediction.
World of
Please welcome Rotarian Hung Wei from the Rotary Club of Cupertino who stopped by during a previous meeting!
Hung Wei, Past President of Cupertino Rotary and current District Membership Chair, enjoyed attending e-Club of Silicon Valley Meeting on March 15 via ZOOM. Cupertino Rotary loves a fun time together with fellow Rotarians, so we are going to learn to have fun together via ZOOM! Let's plan a fellowship ZOOM meeting soon :)
Through a Rotarian's Lens
Sometimes a photo can capture an amazing moment. In this section Member Keith Marsh shares his incredible photography!If you'd like to submit a photo for this section please contact Keith.
This photo is provided by eClub member Ferheen Abbasi who provided some background: Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture is known for its (fake) white sand beach and hot spring onsens. About 100 km (60 mi) from Osaka, it's the perfect vacation spot for many who want to escape city life. I decided to go on a solo adventure to Shirahama back in May 2017. One of the most famous places in this city is the Sandanbeki Cliffs, a "secrete pirate cave."You must take an elevator from the souvenir shop on top of the cliff all the way down. Once you've made your way through the dark tunnels, you'll arrive at a gorgeous hidden shrine to Benzaiten, the deity of all things that flow.This picture is of the lanterns in the shrine. The character "献燈" (kentou) represents a way for us to offer light to the gods. (Editor comments: There are several things I like about this photo. First is the dramatic Black and White composition that fills the frame.The lettering on the lanterns helps to give "a sense of place" along with the lower part of the image that helps to understand the setting. The exposure is very good considering the extremes of bright lights and dark lanterns. Well done, Ferheen!)
Learn Something New
This section is curated by members Shags Shagrin and Rushton Hurley and aims to teach our members and guests something new, fun and useful! If you have any ideas on a fun trick or skill you'd like to share please contact Rushton or Shags.
How to Make a Facemask From a Bandana
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, one good thing is to wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Here's a way to fashion one out of a bandana! Stay safe, everyone... (PS - Considering it's the week of 4/20 in the year of 4/20, may your inner dopamine-seeking spirit be blessed by whatever earthly delights tickle your fancy!Remember, all forms of life on this third rock from the sun have evolved in one way or another to avoid pain, discomfort, and disaster and seek out pleasure and delight -- so be an earthly critter and own it!)
Coffee With a Rotarian
A natural part of Rotary is the networking and the fellowship you get out of meeting other Rotarians. Coffee With a Rotarian is a monthly program of our club where we match participating club members for one-on-one virtual (or in some cases in person) coffee meetings, so they can learn more about each other. This program is organized by member Tzviatko Chiderov.
This week we have Shags from Walnut Creek, CA, USA reporting on a chat with Ferheen from Santa Clara, CA, USAI had the great delight of spending time with Ferheen this month. Since we live within an hour of each other, we were planning to meet in person over a meal, but then the Covid-19 pandemic convinced us to stay with Zoom.To borrow from ""The Walrus and the Carpenter"" by Lewis Carroll, we talked of many things, including world health, paella parties, Rotary, cooking, family, politics, and much more. I could chat with her for hours -- she's one of my favorite Rotary friends!! Her name means ""Happy"", and though these are trying times, she's facing it with a smile and positivity. Can't wait until we can get that meal together!!
We encourage all club members to participate in Coffee With a Rotarian. You can sign up here!
Relay for Life
Hello, Team Defeat Cancer!At this point, about a quarter of the club has joined in the annual effort to raise funds for research for a cure, support for caregivers, and programs to educate people about cancer. Our hope is to get everyone else involved in the coming weeks.Remember you can take part in many ways. Send Rushton a note of support like the ones below. It's a chance to remember those we've lost to cancer, and honor those who are fighting this terrible disease now.You can donate or buy a luminaria by going to our team's page (
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/rushton
). If you have any trouble getting a credit card to go through (a couple of our overseas members ran into an issue with that), let Rushton know.This is the one we all take part in - please step forward in the way that works best for you!
Service Report
Tell us about service you’ve done recently in your community.Click here to fill out The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Service Survey
On the first meeting of every month, we feature service reports from club members for the previous month. Thanks for your service everyone!
Help the vulnerable in your community during COVID-19
Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the most at-risk people in our community stay safe at home, while getting the supplies they need. It works by connecting local volunteers who can run critical errands, such as grocery shopping, with the most vulnerable members of our community. If you or someone you know needs help, fill out a request. If you are healthy and able to volunteer, please sign up to help. Together, we can help flatten the curve of COVID-19 by protecting our community’s most vulnerable.Additional resources:
Club Announcements
Haven't joined the conversation on Facebook yet? Consider joining the conversation by signing into our club members-only Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rotarysiliconvalley/
Our Events & Projects
We hold our meetings online, but we do regular service projects and social events in the Silicon Valley! This section is updated every week with our upcoming events. We welcome guests to all of the events and service projects listed here.
Past Events:
April Online Social
Upcoming Events:
All times are Pacific Time! (San Francisco time)
District 5170 Events
All times are Pacific Time! (San Francisco time)More events coming soon! All events are open to guests, unless otherwise mentioned. Feel free to join us! If you ever have questions, please email inquiries@siliconvalleyrotary.com
Happy Dollars: Do Good by Sharing Something Good
Each week we ask our members to share stories with the club and toss in a few dollars to support our efforts. The primary goal of this section is to provide a fun way of getting to know each fellow members and guests, while giving back to a good cause.
Happy dollars is an opportunity to share something positive that has happened in your life whether it is personal or business. Think of it as your opportunity to brag a little, but also put a little bit into a karma jar. The money donated through happy dollars is put to charitable use, and the message that you leave for happy dollars will be posted in our online meeting the following week for the entire week for folks to see! (Pending that it’s appropriate!)Here are the happy dollars contributions from last week!This section is usually updated on the early hours of Saturday, so contributions made over the weekend may not be listed here.
Rory Olsen made a $20 donation.Beautiful, sunny weather so far this week. Jazzy is on the back of my chair.
Please apply my gift to Polio Plus!
MONIQUE ZIESENHENNE made a $20 donation.For TRF-Annual Fund, please. Looks like spring outside my window!
Nan Herron made a $25 donation.I am happy to have people like Maker Nexus taking care of those who are taking care of us! Thank you!
Ferheen Abbasi made a $10 donation.Thank you to the Rotary Club of Santa Clara and Maker Nexus in supporting our healthcare workers!!
Tzviatko Chiderov made a $20 donation.For Maker Nexus
Chia Hui Ku made a $20 donation.Thank you for joining us, Colleen! Happy to support your club's initiative. :)
Kelly Ku made a $20 donation.Thank you for joining us, Colleen! Happy to support your initiative. :)
Selected Comments
Every week at the bottom of our meetings, there is a comments section for members and guests to tell us what they enjoyed about the meeting or to ask questions to the speaker. We select a few comments every week from last week’s meeting to be featured during this week’s meeting.
Here are the comments selected from last week’s meeting.
Celine Neal said:
Thank you for your wonderful presentation Nan. I enjoyed it and I will definitely be using your breathing techniques and continue learning new skills during this pandemic.I am also planning on sharing this week meeting with my Branch members of the Belize Cancer Society San Ignacio Branch.The COVID 19 topic is always brought up in our whatsapp chat group and a few members would express how scared their are. The information you have share can assist them during this time.
Sandy Stabile said:
Nan, thank you for your presentation. Sharing it with friends.The yoga technique you taught is wonderful. I felt so relaxed after just a couple minutes.
Keith, Loved this weeks photo.
María Sol Casas said:
Great programe! I really appreciate the breathing techniques, and the presentation of Nan. All very accurate to the time we are living. Thanks for sharing again.
Nick LaGarde said:
Thank you Nan! I found myself noticing my body when you talked about it. I appreciated everyone's approach on how handle their uncertainty and anxiety.
Great job hosting Tatiana!
Yvonne, I love the jokes again as every week. Thank you!
Be sure to leave a comment at the end of this week’s meeting after you watch the program below, and perhaps you’ll see your comment featured next week!
Program: A Jobs-First Solution to Impacting Poverty and Homelessness
Speaker: Geoff Ball
Every week we bring to you a new program on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education, and how those contribute to service to others. Special thanks to member Roger Plested for leading our club's Programs Committee in finding us amazing speakers each week.The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley seeks to explore perspectives on service from across the world. The views of the speakers in our programs are their own, and unless stated otherwise, are not necessarily reflective of the views of our eClub nor Rotary International.
If you have an idea for a cool speaker, please feel free to reach out to them directlyor submit THIS FORM so our Program Committee can contact them!
Our speaker today, Geoff Ball, has been in the not-for-profit sector for more than 30 years. His career has centered on Executive Leadership and Youth Development for the YMCA, and one year ago, Geoff became the Chief Development Officer for the Millionair Club.Geoff will provide an overview and short history of the Millionair Club Charity, based in Seattle, Washington. This not-for-profit has a legacy of supporting those experiencing homelessness for nearly 100 years. Currently, the Millionair Club provides a full array of programs and services geared towards preparing clients for employment. In order to offer jobs to nearly 1,100 workers, Millionair Club also operates a full service Temporary Employment Agency. Geoff will tell stories of individuals whose lives have been impacted by the opportunities at Millionair Club, share relevant statistics, and provide some insight to the future of the organization.Geoff is also a member of Seattle Rotary Club #4. When not raising awareness for money, he's busy with his five kids and one grandson, can be found struggling on the golf course, or gardening with his wife Teresa.Members and guests, please welcome Geoff Ball!
To learn more, go to: www.millionairclub.org
Share your thoughts or ask our speaker a question in the comments at the bottom of this meeting page!
Upcoming Program Recording Schedule
All of our guest speakers and programs are recorded live online over Zoom video conference. We welcome members and guests to join us in one of these upcoming recordings. Recordings are approximately 30 minutes long and are subject to change without notice.
Our online video conference room link for these recordings is always http://zoom.siliconvalleyrotary.com/. You are welcome to join us! Please note the timezone listed for all recordings is US Pacific Time (San Francisco, California, USA).If you can’t join the live recording, please send your questions for an upcoming speaker to programs@siliconvalleyrotary.com.
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