Past Programs 2009

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Our Club has had a diverse and interesting group of guest speakers.   Below is a list of presenters, biographies and brief discription of their talks.
 
January 14, 2009  Amy Shin of On Lok Lifeways
http://www.onlok.org/
On Lok, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization founded in the early 1970's by a group of citizens concerned about the plight of elders and the lack of long term options in the community.  On Lok, Inc. serves seniors in the community in such ways as their housing, and comprehensive health care plans.

Amy Shin joined On Loi, Inc. in September 2003 with considerable executive level health plan management experience.  She oversees functions such as Marketing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Provider Contracting, Business Development, Information Systems, and oversees the operations of Institue on Aging, On Loc, inc.'s subcontractor for tow of its centers.

Amy holds a BA of Microbioloy and Immunology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California.  She completed her General Residency with an emphasis in Administration at the University of California Irvine Medical Center.


January 21, 2009  Eddie Wong became the Executive Director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation in May 2008.  From 2006 to 2008, he served as the Strategy and Investment Principal for Media and Advisor on Social Justice for the Democracy Alliance, a network of progressive donors.

From 1996 to 2006, he served as Executive Director of the National Asian American Telecommunications Association (now known as the Center for Asian American Media), a non-profit organization which funds, produces, presents and distributes Asian American and Asian films for PBS and produces the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. He was nominated for a regional Emmy award in 2004 as Executive Producer for the PBS series, "Searching for Asian America." He has also written, directed and produced several documentary films. Eddie is a UCLA graduate with a BA and MFA from School of Fine Arts Motion Picture and Television Program. He was also co-founder of Visual Communications, the nation's first Asian American film production company. In addition to his media background, Eddie has an extensive background in progressive politics. In 1988, he served as the National Field Director for the Jesse Jackson for President campaign. He was the Western Regional Director for the National Rainbow Coalition from 1992 to 1996 and supervised voter registration and mobilization efforts.

http://www.angelisland.org/calendar/IS_Reopens.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-01-27-angel-island-reopens_N.htm
http://home.moremarin.com/photos/2009_AngelIslandImmigration/index.htm

January 28, 2009  Brian McLeran grew up in Marin County and currently resides in Larkspur. He has been married to Laura, a first grade teacher, for the past 30 years. Brian has two adult children. Emily is married to Jess Perez and is a hair stylist in San Rafael. Marc works as a graphic artist for an advertising company in San Francisco.

Brian has operated his family business, McLeran Roofing Company, for over thirty-five years. He is now semi-retired and spends the majority of his time working on projects to benefit children, both locally and throughout the world.

Brian has been a member of the Terra Linda Rotary Club (San Rafael) for seventeen years. He has worked in Club Service, Community Service and International Service and served as Club President in 1997-98. Brian has worked with Rotary District 5150 in several different aspects, including Assistant Governor and he became District Governor in 2007-08.

            Rotary has given Brian the opportunity to realize his goals in helping others. Last year, he visited Vietnam, Ecuador, Venezuela, India, and Mexico. Projects included providing support for surgical teams, wheelchair programs and working with youth.

            Brian enjoys the company of family and friends, gardening, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

February 11, 2009 Judge Lillian Sing


Judge Sing made history when she was appointed as the first Chinese American woman judge in 1981.  Judge Sing held almost every type of assignment in both criminal and civil courts, and also pioneered Drug Court, where drug addicted persons receive treatment and counseling, has also served as San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner, San Francisco Civil Service Commissioner, and President of the Trustees of the San Francisco Community College. 

For her distinguished judicial and legal service, she has received several awards, including Trial Judge of teh Year Award by the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Associatoin, Outstanding Jurist Award by the San Francisco Women Lawyers Alliance, and Presiding Judge Award by the Lawyers' Club of San Francisco.  The comunity awards Judge Sing has received are the Women Who Could be President Award from the League of Women Voters, Women Making History Award from then - Congreswoman Barbara Boxer, and the Living Treasure Award from the Asian Pacific Democratic Club.


February 18, 2009  Paul Chin,  Retired San Francisco Assistant Deputy Chief (Fire Marshal)
    Paul was born in Pocatello, Idaho and moved to San Francisco when he was 9 years old. Paul attended Spring Valley Elementary, Marina Jr. High, Galileo High, and S.F. State before joining the San Francisco Fire Department in 1974.  Over the course of his career, he was promoted up the ranks from Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, and retired as an Assistant Deputy Chief (Fire Marshal).
    While in the department Paul had the opportunity to work with youth groups in Chinatown, including the "YMCA" summer camps, and the JCYC in Japantown.  He also started the first bi-lingual program for CPR, NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Training).  He also had an opportunity to teach inner city children how to swim at summer camps and participated as a "leader" in an international camp in different countries.  This Program allowed Paul to accompany children from the U.S. to meet with children from at least 12 other countries in a summer camp setting lasting for a month at a camp.
    Within the first couple of years as a member of the SFFD, Paul assisted in the formation of the Asian Firefighters Association, and in later years was elected as one of the Association presidents.   The Association's goal is to "give back to the community through service for seniors and youth groups. 
    Paul has been married to for 37 years, have a daughter and two grandchildren.  Thier son a doctor  working in the Emergency Room in Santa Clara.

    Though Paul has been retired for the last two years, he still enjoys working with the community, and most recently was asked to be a director with Kimochi, a senior citizen assistance and support organization much like "Self Help for the Elderly" in Chinatown. 

March 11, 2009  Microcredit Programs was presented by Keith Axtell, Past President of the Rotary Club of Marin Evening, Chairman of the District Grants Committee for District 5150, Served as District World Committee Service Chair for three years.  His International Humanitarian work has included projects in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Ecuador.   Keith explained how the microcredit program works and how individuals establish small businesses and make weekly payments.  There is a vested interest of all borrowers to make sure that everyone makes their payments or the pool of borrowers is responsible for any shortfalls.

March 18, 2009  David Chiu, President of SF Board of Supervisors. 
Talked about the challanges of working with different departments in the City, trying to streamline the process for businesses, working with different communities, and the need for volunteer organizations like our Rotary Club.
http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp?id=93808

March 25, 2009:  Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of San Francisco Unified Schools

Carlos Arturo Garcia was named Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District in
July 2007.  Prior to his appointment, he served for two years as Vice President of National Urban Markets
for the McGraw-Hill Education Group.  Before joining the private sector, Mr. Garcia was an experienced
superintendent.  He served as superintendent for five years of the 5^th largest and fastest growing school
district in the nation, Clark County School District located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Under his leadership, the district grew by over 12,000 students a year and he averaged opening a new
school every month.  Mr. Garcia was raised in Los Angeles and is proud to be a product of Los Angeles
Unified School District.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Claremont Men's
College in Claremont, California.  He earned a master's degree in education from Claremont Graduate
School and an administrative credential in educational administration from California State University at
Fullerton.

Mr. Garcia believes that the achievement gap is the greatest challenge facing American education and
therefore instruction and curriculum must be the driving force to address achievement, access, and
accountability.