Slack!
Meeting for the week of June 08 - June 14, 2020
This Meeting at a Glance:
Program: Slack!
Speaker: Nick & Ferheen
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 President Tzviatko:
President Tzviatko
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!!
Brett Sham (Jun 14)
Caleb LaPlante (Jun 12)
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!”
Warm weather is ramping up for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere! Stay cool with these jokes!
What did the reporter say to the ice cream?
"What's the scoop?"
What do frogs eat in the summer?
Hopsicles!
Where do sharks go on vacation?
Finland!
Weekly Inspiration
Every week we start our meetings with a short video highlighting innovation, inspiration, entrepreneurship, or social change.
At 13 years old, Najiah Knight is a bull rider. She is the only girl competing on the Professional Bull Riders mini circuit for kids. Don’t let the term “mini” fool you into thinking it isn’t a dangerous sport. Knight is riding bulls that can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. They buck hard, they kick, and they stomp. She has the battle scars to prove it. But Knight also has a lot of awards and a work ethic that won’t quit. “My ultimate goal is to be the best bull rider in the world,” she says.
Member Spotlight
This week's Member Spotlight is Ferheen! Here is what they have been up to lately:
This week, I have been doing a lot of self reflection regarding racism towards Black people in the United States. I’ve attended protests, read books and articles, watched videos, etc. in an attempt to become a better ally. I, and many of you, wouldn’t be here in the US if it weren’t for the Civil Rights Movement, which directly lead to the Immigration Act of 1965 which opened up immigration to all Asian countries.“At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.”Rotary International released this statement regarding the protests against racism and police brutality that are erupting all across the WORLD. Rotary has not been free of racism. In 1982, the Rotary Club of Birmingham voted to retain a rule restricting membership to white men. There are many clubs where there is little racial diversity in their membership and their boards. Only 1 RI President was Black. Our club is more diverse than most, and yet our club is majority White and Asian.I ask you all to think about how you can be a better ally with our Black brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings. Educate yourselves about the issues black folks all over the world face daily due to the color of their skin. If you have a position of power, as a teacher, doctor, lawyer, judge, ask yourself how you can make sure that Black voices aren’t being shut out as they have for so long. As a Rotary club, we need to do better about amplifying those very same Black voices.
The last thing I want to say is in regards to the Four Way Test. It states:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
I write this Membership Spotlight in the context of this Test.
The TRUTH is that racism has taken the lives of so many innocent people.
Racism is NOT FAIR and that is why we must speak out.
By being an ally, it WILL build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS, especially with the marginalized Black community.
Finally, making sure that we are anti-racist is BENEFICIAL to all concerned, because no good comes from racism.
Standing up and supporting the Black community is what we must do as Rotarians, because racism is a human rights issue.
Black Lives Matter.
For more information on how we can be better allies, please go to our favorite Great Big Story’s guide on the subject: https://www.greatbigstory.com/guides/how-to-become-a-better-black-lives-matter-ally
World of Rotary
https://blog.rotary.org/2020/03/18/rotary-e-club-serves-as-think-tank-on-international-development/
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.
The Catedral de San Cristobal in Havana, Cuba was completed in 1777. For nearly 100 years, the remains of Christopher Columbus were kept here. On some evenings, the cathedral is illuminated with projected religious images. I was able to be there on one of those lucky nights in 2014.
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.
Chen Zhao's Three Minute PhD Thesis - Astrocyte: The Star of Motor Neuron Disease
Imagine this...you're studying abroad and learning in a language which is not your first. And with it being an additional language, there are natural impediments to the way you say things! Here's a link to a presentation by Chen Zhao for her PhD Thesis -- IN THREE MINUTES! I had never heard of this type of "competition", but it exists, and, even though I had to back-up several times to let what she said sink in, it was amazing how she explained her research in so little time! For those interested, here's the link to her talk about a year later on how she managed to pull it off, but please watch it later.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VPJpw3CRuo. And now, I present to you Chen Zhao.
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 Kelly from Munich, Germany reporting on a chat with Roger from Kamloops, BC, CanadaRoger and I are both Canadian from opposite sides of the country. It was nice to hear what life is like in Kamloops, B.C. and learn more about what industries there are in the area. It has changed over the years from mining and forestry to tourism, with plenty of hotels that welcome tourists from Vancouver and visitors who travel aboard the Trans-Canadian Railway. We had a great chat about a whole host of other topics as well, such as: travel experiences in Europe (fun fact: Roger hitch-hiked across Europe for 6 months), the health care system in Canada and the importance of being self sufficient. Funnily enough, we both exchanged stories about how we learned basic plumbing skills, which have really come in handy. Roger learned from his dad and I learned from YouTube. We encourage all our members to take part in Coffee with a Rotarian. It's a great way to get to know your fellow club members!
We encourage all club members to participate in Coffee With a Rotarian. You can sign up here!
Relay for Life
Thanks again to everyone who contributed messages, photos, and donations to help with our club's fight against cancer! The money raised ($1122.62) goes to research, education, and programs for patients and caregivers. It makes a difference, and we want to honor all 34 members who took part:
When the event rolls around in October (hopefully), we'll look to get as many of our members who are able to join our team for walking.
Keep spreading hope!
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:
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.Weather was great. My cats were in a great mood. The news was not. Please apply my gift to Polio Plus.
Mauri Okamoto-Kearney made a $20 donation.Amazing opportunity to see how this asynchronous rotary club meeting works. Expands my horizons! Will be back! Something good? I volunteered to give the inspiration for tomorrow’s Cupertino Rotary meeting. Tough during these trying times with Covid-19 isolation, ongoing reports of police brutality and rioting and looting. Through my search for something inspiring, I learned of Some Good News network started by John Krasinski. Love it Encourage everyone to get a good dose of it. Mauri
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.
Tzviatko Chiderov said:
Yvonne, thanks for the nice jokes, I have a feeling they will be popular with our group :)Marty, such a great program. I had no idea that a (fairly) simple surgery can restore the vision of someone who is blind from cataracts. This work must be so rewarding for you and life-changing for the people you serve. Thank you!
Mark Dohn said:
Tom's Diner and the creation of the MP3 - amazing. The video of all the vegetables and herbs that can be regrown was interesting as well. Thank you Marty for sharing your work. To be able to have such an impact within a day or two is incredible and speaks volumes about the technology available.
Heather Shaw said:
Loved the growing tips- so easy to grow your own organic veggies! MP3 interesting historyWhat a gift to enable someone to see again. Thanks for sharing it with them and us
Monique le Conge Ziesenhenne said:
Thanks for a great program! I like "Tom's Diner" but I don't know if I could still claim to love it after listening so many times. Ooof. Love the work that Marty is doing - relatively simple and so profound. Thanks for what you do. Have a great week!
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: Slack!
Speaker: Nick & Ferheen
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 directly or submit THIS FORM so our Program Committee can contact them!
Slack is a chat room for your whole club (or company…), designed to replace email as your primary method of internal communication and sharing. Its workspaces allow you to organize communications by channels for group discussions and allows for private messages to share information, files, and more all in one place.In this recording, Nick and Ferheen + Sandy, will be teaching you all how to use Slack!You should have been invited to Slack via email! Check your spam! If you still didn't receive an invitation, please email Ferheen.
Additional Resources:
Thanks to all who watched last week's Seeing Again Guatemala program. There was an error in the link that followed, and we invite you to take a look at their work via the corrected link: https://seeingagainguatemala.weebly.com
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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