Club member Mike, provided a craft talk. He currently teaches economics at the Community College Level. He was born in Iran, near the Caspian Sea area. From 1967-1978 his father traveled in Eastern Europe and behind the Iron Curtain. In1979 the family came to America, and that is where Mike save a Camel for the first time. He served in the US Army from 1991-1995, and upon his return went to college, then worked for a bank as his first job, a week before the SIC closed it. He took the closing as an opportunity to travel to Mexico and backpack. He moved to Japan in 1995 where he taught English in elementary and junior high schools. It's there he learned Kabookie, and became a Buddhist.
He returned to the US in 1998 and went to graduate school. He got a job in China teaching accounting, marketing to MBAs in China. This is where he met his wife. He started teaching in the US in 2004, where his philosophy in Economics is "You Are the one to learn". His non-traditional teaching methods actually provide interest and direction to his students. Mike says he can also do the boring classes, too!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
June 13 Irvine Rotary Club meeting notes - Rotary Paradise Found in Fiji
Congratulations to Dale Ford, he made his Paul Harris. And Doc made Paul Harris plus 5!
Gene Calvert, a rotary club member from Savusavu, Fiji Islands, talked about doing rotary service in Fiji, where he is developing land. Fiji is pretty remote, and is part of Rotary District 9820 which includes Toga, French Polynesia and other remote islands between Hawaii and Australia.The club has 18 members, mostly women!
The club members work with the local people to teach them a trade, it's mostly bush, and mostly very small business. The island has one foot in the old world and barely a foot in the new world.
The club is 15 years old, and has recently completed three potable water projects providing filtration systems. The club also renovated a school. Additional projects there include:
-Educational Projects: Books donated to the island and the club distributes the books, first sorting and cleaning them up.
Community Projects: Donating wheel chairs; installing a Solar water heater for the local hospital, they never had hot water there before this. Decorating the hospital.
The main focus of the club now is installing flooring for schools, the kids use to just sit and learn in the dirt floors. The average family has five kids and makes less than $3,000 annual income, most a subsistence living.
They also built a bus shelter, when it's hot or raining it's well used by the locals waiting for the bus.
Fiji is paradise. If you plan to attend the 2014 Sydney Rotary International Conference, stop over in Fiji on the way! You'll be welcomed by the club, and probably put to work on one of their projects.
Gene Calvert, a rotary club member from Savusavu, Fiji Islands, talked about doing rotary service in Fiji, where he is developing land. Fiji is pretty remote, and is part of Rotary District 9820 which includes Toga, French Polynesia and other remote islands between Hawaii and Australia.The club has 18 members, mostly women!
The club members work with the local people to teach them a trade, it's mostly bush, and mostly very small business. The island has one foot in the old world and barely a foot in the new world.
The club is 15 years old, and has recently completed three potable water projects providing filtration systems. The club also renovated a school. Additional projects there include:
-Educational Projects: Books donated to the island and the club distributes the books, first sorting and cleaning them up.
Community Projects: Donating wheel chairs; installing a Solar water heater for the local hospital, they never had hot water there before this. Decorating the hospital.
The main focus of the club now is installing flooring for schools, the kids use to just sit and learn in the dirt floors. The average family has five kids and makes less than $3,000 annual income, most a subsistence living.
They also built a bus shelter, when it's hot or raining it's well used by the locals waiting for the bus.
Fiji is paradise. If you plan to attend the 2014 Sydney Rotary International Conference, stop over in Fiji on the way! You'll be welcomed by the club, and probably put to work on one of their projects.
June 5, 2012 Irvine Rotary Club meeting notes
Welcome to our newest member and now blue badger, Kathleen Mellon.
Annabell also received all of her rotary accouterments--hat, jacket, etc. She's a red badger now!
Member Eric McGrath Craft Talk
"The journey of 1,000 steps starts with a swift kick", a quote from Eric's dad.
Eric's grandfather was a North Carolina Rotary Club president, that was Eric's introduction to service. Eric grew up in Raleigh, N.C. As a kid, soccer was his passion and played it through high school and college.
He's a business minded guy, and started a company while in college in the 1980s, a home bottled water treatment program. It was so successful, he built a sales team that went house-to-house testing water. He left college in pursuit of building the best company in his class. He moved to New Jersey, joined the top company, and expanded his role there to training sales staff around the country. While living in Des Moines, Iowas, he married, and together with a newborn, he and his wife moved to Las Vegas for his wife's job.
In LV, he started Spider Advertising, which he eventually moved to Southern California. His passion is his son, now 13, "he's the love of my life." The marriage ended, and he sold his company and went to work for the Rapport Leadership International company, where he met Mary, his bride of two years. Together, they started "Driven for Life", a training and motivation business catering to large companies. They help companies grow their culture, developing team, not just making money.
Annabell also received all of her rotary accouterments--hat, jacket, etc. She's a red badger now!
Member Eric McGrath Craft Talk
"The journey of 1,000 steps starts with a swift kick", a quote from Eric's dad.
Eric's grandfather was a North Carolina Rotary Club president, that was Eric's introduction to service. Eric grew up in Raleigh, N.C. As a kid, soccer was his passion and played it through high school and college.
He's a business minded guy, and started a company while in college in the 1980s, a home bottled water treatment program. It was so successful, he built a sales team that went house-to-house testing water. He left college in pursuit of building the best company in his class. He moved to New Jersey, joined the top company, and expanded his role there to training sales staff around the country. While living in Des Moines, Iowas, he married, and together with a newborn, he and his wife moved to Las Vegas for his wife's job.
In LV, he started Spider Advertising, which he eventually moved to Southern California. His passion is his son, now 13, "he's the love of my life." The marriage ended, and he sold his company and went to work for the Rapport Leadership International company, where he met Mary, his bride of two years. Together, they started "Driven for Life", a training and motivation business catering to large companies. They help companies grow their culture, developing team, not just making money.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
May 29, 2012 Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes--Learing More About Social Security
Frank Van Nostrum presented a program on the Five Biggest Myths About Social Security.
Myth #1-SS is only a retirement program---not a pension or savings program. It is an insurance program, insuring American workers against work loss. 70% of the checks go to retirees. 12% goes to widows and orphans. It is the largest source of income for children under age 12.
One of three workers die or are disabled before they become retirement age. Is is equal to $200,000 in insurance policy for most retirees. $300,000 insurance policy for widows and children. Many kids are afforded college thru these monies.
Myth #2--SS won't be there when I need it. One of five Americans get SS checks. Boomers will get it as promised. Too many Americans depend on SS, it will not go away completely. But will change for our kids and grand kids, anyone under age 40.
Changes must be made to SS. Under age 40, they'll need t collect later, pay in longer, take less.
SS has changed drastically over the decades to meet our needs.
Myth #3-SS wouldn't have financial problems if Congress had kept it as a retirement program, the way it was originally intended. SS started in 1935, during the depression, as a way to keep seniors out of poverty. Today less than 10% of seniors are in poverty.
1956 Congress enacted disability insurance under SS.
1965 Congress enacted Medicare.
1973 Congress enacted long term disability under SS.
Each program had taxes enacted to cover it.
SS challenges are demographic. The boomers are the single largest population in the US ever. Currently there is a record increase in disability claims. Record number of retirees, 10,000 boomers are retiring each day. We've flooded the retirement program. We are the Baby Bust generation, with less than two children per family. Thirty years ago, five workers pad for one retiree in SS. By 2035, two workers will be paying in for one retiree. Less people will be paying into SS.
There is an increase in longevity; there's a challenge in how to pay for the boomers on the backs of the younger generation.
Myth #4 -- As a personal investment plan, SS is a raw deal. The truth is most people don't take enough risk. It's not about deals and investments. It's an insurance program, insuring you won't live in poverty. Existing seniors don't live in poverty, they have food on the table and have a place to sleep. The more you pay in, the longer you work, the more you take out. Everyone gets to retire sometime.
Myth#5-- I don't have to plan for my retirement, SS will take care of me.
SS is not enough to live on. It replaces 40% of income for the average worker. It's one leg of a three legged stool--pension, savings and SS comprise Retirement Income. 26% of seniors working cause they didn't save enough to retire.
You have to plan for retirement. You can retire online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Visit it's the #1 rated government website.
Myth #1-SS is only a retirement program---not a pension or savings program. It is an insurance program, insuring American workers against work loss. 70% of the checks go to retirees. 12% goes to widows and orphans. It is the largest source of income for children under age 12.
One of three workers die or are disabled before they become retirement age. Is is equal to $200,000 in insurance policy for most retirees. $300,000 insurance policy for widows and children. Many kids are afforded college thru these monies.
Myth #2--SS won't be there when I need it. One of five Americans get SS checks. Boomers will get it as promised. Too many Americans depend on SS, it will not go away completely. But will change for our kids and grand kids, anyone under age 40.
Changes must be made to SS. Under age 40, they'll need t collect later, pay in longer, take less.
SS has changed drastically over the decades to meet our needs.
Myth #3-SS wouldn't have financial problems if Congress had kept it as a retirement program, the way it was originally intended. SS started in 1935, during the depression, as a way to keep seniors out of poverty. Today less than 10% of seniors are in poverty.
1956 Congress enacted disability insurance under SS.
1965 Congress enacted Medicare.
1973 Congress enacted long term disability under SS.
Each program had taxes enacted to cover it.
SS challenges are demographic. The boomers are the single largest population in the US ever. Currently there is a record increase in disability claims. Record number of retirees, 10,000 boomers are retiring each day. We've flooded the retirement program. We are the Baby Bust generation, with less than two children per family. Thirty years ago, five workers pad for one retiree in SS. By 2035, two workers will be paying in for one retiree. Less people will be paying into SS.
There is an increase in longevity; there's a challenge in how to pay for the boomers on the backs of the younger generation.
Myth #4 -- As a personal investment plan, SS is a raw deal. The truth is most people don't take enough risk. It's not about deals and investments. It's an insurance program, insuring you won't live in poverty. Existing seniors don't live in poverty, they have food on the table and have a place to sleep. The more you pay in, the longer you work, the more you take out. Everyone gets to retire sometime.
Myth#5-- I don't have to plan for my retirement, SS will take care of me.
SS is not enough to live on. It replaces 40% of income for the average worker. It's one leg of a three legged stool--pension, savings and SS comprise Retirement Income. 26% of seniors working cause they didn't save enough to retire.
You have to plan for retirement. You can retire online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Visit it's the #1 rated government website.
May 23, 2012 Program Notes -Irvine Rotary Club welcomes new member Beth
Beth, owner of Paradise Perks coffeehouse, is the newest member of IRC. Lucy introduced her to the club. She;s an OC local and graduated from UCLA in Political Science, and has an MBA from Claremont Graduate School. In 1984, she worked for the LA Olympics and from there became the special events coordinator for the City of Long Beach.
Beth parlayed this experience into a job at the Cityof Monterey Park as the assistant manager. After 4 1/2 years she ran for public office in 1992 and won. She administered the Cable Communications as public affairs maanger for Jones Intercable in Alexandria, VA. Her next stint was at Legg Mason and worked in the investment arena. While in VA she started fthe first Drumming Circle.
As the eldes daughter, she chose to move back to OC a few years ago to care for her mom. Needing more to do in her life, she began Paradise Perks, where "all my nerdiness comes out", says Beth. She's inflected some cool things into the coffeehouse including board game nights, networking and bringing people together, holding special events, participating in community events, and hosting a Comedy Night.
Please welcome Beth to our club!
Beth parlayed this experience into a job at the Cityof Monterey Park as the assistant manager. After 4 1/2 years she ran for public office in 1992 and won. She administered the Cable Communications as public affairs maanger for Jones Intercable in Alexandria, VA. Her next stint was at Legg Mason and worked in the investment arena. While in VA she started fthe first Drumming Circle.
As the eldes daughter, she chose to move back to OC a few years ago to care for her mom. Needing more to do in her life, she began Paradise Perks, where "all my nerdiness comes out", says Beth. She's inflected some cool things into the coffeehouse including board game nights, networking and bringing people together, holding special events, participating in community events, and hosting a Comedy Night.
Please welcome Beth to our club!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Irvine Rotary Club meeting notes - RYLA
Two Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) recipients brought us up to speed on the latest RYLA weekend in Idlewylld. Aly and Chelsea, granddaughters of IRC club member Ed, were apprehensive about attending, because their grandpa said they had to. But now they are delighted they attended, and have a new respect for "family","it was the best day of my life," says Chelsea.
The theme of this year's RYLA was "You Can Do It", and they shared with us the Boojum Institute of climbing trees to zip lining, bungee cord jumps and more, enabled them to "Do It". Their RYLA family of 10 became lifetime buddies now. The activities and family unit taught them how to trust each other, do things they never thought they could do, and be happy with others. The only downside, was the sad ride home. Chelsea and Aly plan to return to RYLA next year as leaders of the program. This was a great investment of our resources!
The theme of this year's RYLA was "You Can Do It", and they shared with us the Boojum Institute of climbing trees to zip lining, bungee cord jumps and more, enabled them to "Do It". Their RYLA family of 10 became lifetime buddies now. The activities and family unit taught them how to trust each other, do things they never thought they could do, and be happy with others. The only downside, was the sad ride home. Chelsea and Aly plan to return to RYLA next year as leaders of the program. This was a great investment of our resources!
Irvine Rotary Club meeting notes - Laguna College of Art & Design
Jonathan Burke, President of Laguna College of Art & Design brought us up to date on the amazing work this accredited four year college is doing. LCAD holds regional accreditation and national accreditation for its art programs, not all art department in colleges receive this level of accreditation.
The school follows classical tradition of art, with a vast range of representation of students of all economic strata. Each student must master great illustration, then be able to take an idea and make meaning of it.
The hottest curriculum at the school is a new major-Game Art/Entertainment Illustration and Art. It was a strategic move for the school, the majority of Game Art companies are located in Southern California. The students learn character design, background painting, storyboarding, environment design, animation. Gaming is story driven through animation. The faculty have worked at Disney, Warner Brothers and major studios in LA. Every second of animation takes 24 drawings. Graduate project is a 5-6 minute film. Students team with IT students at UC schools to be able to team to totally develop a game.
LCAD is located in Laguna canyon with vast housing, senior studios, teaching studios, main campus, administration, galleries, MFA Building. They are land banking for future growth of the students coming to the school.
The goal of teaching is each student has a comprehensive ability to design. For students, the most challenging is grants and paying for school. 44% of students receive Pell grants, which maybe reduced in the next round of state budget cuts. The school partners with corporations like Nike for internships and service clubs and others to provide grants.
We got to see our contributions in action, with Charlene-The Designing Machine, a graduating student who has received a scholarship from IRC, presented her variety of art projects including an App for volunteerism, package design for lighting, and a Game for kids in Haiti.
The school follows classical tradition of art, with a vast range of representation of students of all economic strata. Each student must master great illustration, then be able to take an idea and make meaning of it.
The hottest curriculum at the school is a new major-Game Art/Entertainment Illustration and Art. It was a strategic move for the school, the majority of Game Art companies are located in Southern California. The students learn character design, background painting, storyboarding, environment design, animation. Gaming is story driven through animation. The faculty have worked at Disney, Warner Brothers and major studios in LA. Every second of animation takes 24 drawings. Graduate project is a 5-6 minute film. Students team with IT students at UC schools to be able to team to totally develop a game.
LCAD is located in Laguna canyon with vast housing, senior studios, teaching studios, main campus, administration, galleries, MFA Building. They are land banking for future growth of the students coming to the school.
The goal of teaching is each student has a comprehensive ability to design. For students, the most challenging is grants and paying for school. 44% of students receive Pell grants, which maybe reduced in the next round of state budget cuts. The school partners with corporations like Nike for internships and service clubs and others to provide grants.
We got to see our contributions in action, with Charlene-The Designing Machine, a graduating student who has received a scholarship from IRC, presented her variety of art projects including an App for volunteerism, package design for lighting, and a Game for kids in Haiti.
Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes-May 2, 2012--Irvine Police Department Public Safety Awards
IRC has a partnership with the Irvine Police Department. For two years, on a Quarterly basis, the club recognizes and awards Irvine citizens that assist the police with solving crimes and catching criminals. We have the pleasure of hosting the police officers, police chief, and the citizens during a rotary meeting and presenting checks as their just rewards.
The latest award program presented tennis instructor Chuck Brymer with a check for $125 each for their involvement in solving a string of burglaries that was occurring around the South Lake Tennis Club during the daytime, over a four month period of time. A keen tennis instructor made the initial identification that a strange car was driving around the lot, and noticed his trunk was open. Chuck ran out to the car and tried to grab the suspect, wrestling with him. Police were called by other tennis members, but things moved quickly. When the suspect jumped in his car, with his three year old son in the car, the car jumped the curb and died. The suspect grabbed his son and started running away. Vested community members witnessed this, stayed a safe distanced and followed the suspect. The final outcome, the suspect was arrested for robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property. Wallets, jewelry and computers in his car trunk were identified from other burglaries in another community.
Chuck donated his check back to the rotary! What a great guy!
The latest award program presented tennis instructor Chuck Brymer with a check for $125 each for their involvement in solving a string of burglaries that was occurring around the South Lake Tennis Club during the daytime, over a four month period of time. A keen tennis instructor made the initial identification that a strange car was driving around the lot, and noticed his trunk was open. Chuck ran out to the car and tried to grab the suspect, wrestling with him. Police were called by other tennis members, but things moved quickly. When the suspect jumped in his car, with his three year old son in the car, the car jumped the curb and died. The suspect grabbed his son and started running away. Vested community members witnessed this, stayed a safe distanced and followed the suspect. The final outcome, the suspect was arrested for robbery, burglary and receiving stolen property. Wallets, jewelry and computers in his car trunk were identified from other burglaries in another community.
Chuck donated his check back to the rotary! What a great guy!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
IRC Meeting Notes - April 24, 2012 - Meeting Notes
Club member Tammy works at Grant Thornton International, and has traveled the world for her work as an accounting audit manager. Born in Taiwan, and raised in Hawaii, she graduated college from U of Michigan and moved to Washington DC in 2004where she began her work with GTI. She obtained a double major in economics and International Studies and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. She conducts audits for international companies including the US Marine Corps, she's travel around the world to Marine bases. In 2008 she moved to Hong Kong and lived in Asia for 6 months working with GTI, then moved to Beijing where she lived for 3.5 years. She shared her South Africa travel photos with us, what a treat. Where will Tammy go next? Welcome our Red Badger to the club.
April 17, 2012 Meeting Notes - IRC Supports Epilepsy Alliance
IRC member Diane Braasch advocates on behalf of children with multi-seizure epilepsy through the Epilepsy Alliance. Diane's granddaughter, Katlyn, has the disease. The statistics are staggering: 1 of every 50 children and 1 of every 100 adults are diagnosed with it. More than 50,000 people die annually from seizures. The Alliance provides support groups, community education, referrals to specialists, and education to empower people with epilepsy. Surgery may help relieve some or all of these symptoms. IRC made a donation to the alliance. Diane, we admire your perseverance.
The club also supports Cystic Fibrosis Society. Ed's grandson has CF, but he plays baseball, and deals with the disease. The test for CF is a sweat test. People with it do not absorb enzymes, mucus clogs up the body. The last two years there has been a big advance in drugs being approved by the FDA to affect the underlying causes. 30,000 Americans are impacted by CF. Lucy, Tom and Ed presented a $1,000 for CF research.
Richard was a teacher and today works in development for the Irvine Valley College. He's been a long time resident of OC, a resident of Signal Hill, and the last five years has worked at Mt. Sak College before coming to IVC. IVC has 45,000 students, with programs all around OC. 12,000 FT students at IVC with a diverse mix, 41% are Irvine residents. They offer 62 different degrees, and is the #1 transfer rate college in OC where students with an AA are able to transfer to a four year college to complete their Bachelor's degree. They acquired 62 acres in Tustin, being cleaned up now and will build the Advanced Technology Park, 50,000 sq. ft park where courses will be taught in high tech, clean tech, R&D, with corporate offices too. It's the College of the Future, right in OC.
The club also supports Cystic Fibrosis Society. Ed's grandson has CF, but he plays baseball, and deals with the disease. The test for CF is a sweat test. People with it do not absorb enzymes, mucus clogs up the body. The last two years there has been a big advance in drugs being approved by the FDA to affect the underlying causes. 30,000 Americans are impacted by CF. Lucy, Tom and Ed presented a $1,000 for CF research.
Richard was a teacher and today works in development for the Irvine Valley College. He's been a long time resident of OC, a resident of Signal Hill, and the last five years has worked at Mt. Sak College before coming to IVC. IVC has 45,000 students, with programs all around OC. 12,000 FT students at IVC with a diverse mix, 41% are Irvine residents. They offer 62 different degrees, and is the #1 transfer rate college in OC where students with an AA are able to transfer to a four year college to complete their Bachelor's degree. They acquired 62 acres in Tustin, being cleaned up now and will build the Advanced Technology Park, 50,000 sq. ft park where courses will be taught in high tech, clean tech, R&D, with corporate offices too. It's the College of the Future, right in OC.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Irvine Rotary Club meeting notes April 11, 2012
Irvine Rotary Club's newest member Jason Roberts provided a Craft Talk. Originally from San Luis Obispo, CA, born, raised and schooled there,, it's "Happiest Place in USA", and has some of the best wineries and a great tourist area, says Jason.
Jason works for Serve First which provides all solutions in electronic mobile payments for retail and ecommerce. He meets with clients and prospects and provides solutions. According to Jason there are no contracts, and he'll provide a free savings analysis for clients. The company is small, family owned and growing. He moved to Irvine just four months ago, and recently graduated from CAL Poly in business, packaging design and graphics communications.
He loves meeting new people, is an avid sports fan, anything having to do with the outdoors.
Welcome Jason!
Jason works for Serve First which provides all solutions in electronic mobile payments for retail and ecommerce. He meets with clients and prospects and provides solutions. According to Jason there are no contracts, and he'll provide a free savings analysis for clients. The company is small, family owned and growing. He moved to Irvine just four months ago, and recently graduated from CAL Poly in business, packaging design and graphics communications.
He loves meeting new people, is an avid sports fan, anything having to do with the outdoors.
Welcome Jason!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Rotary International Peace Progream - Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes April 4, 2012
Long Beach Rotarian Alex Cotton is a candidate for the Rotary World Peace Fellows Program. Two Rotarians are awarded the fellowship each year. Alex's discussed his work for Merlin and his aspirations as a Rotary World Peace Fellow.
Alex was born and raised in France, and the first time he heard of Rotary International he heard of the World Peace Initiative. Then his father's involvement got him interested in the notion of world peace.
Merlin (Medical Emergency Relief International, a British non-governmental, non-profit organization ) does magical work, which is long lasting. Merlin's actions are focused on: Building Field Hospitals; Mobile Clinics going into rural areas; and providing primary healthcare hiring local health coordinators who conduct education on disease prevention. Worldwide the company employs 74 health promoters.
Alex met the organization and it's work when he was a volunteer for a Sudan humanitarian project. Today Alex is Merlin's Regional Director. Merlin specializes in rebuilding critical health services and systems in hard-hit areas of the world, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. . Merlin focuses on recovery and the belief that "everyone has a right to affordable healthcare".
According to Alex, the key threats in the world are conflict, natural disasters e.g. Haiti; disease outbreak e.g. fever, cholera. Merlin maintains strong international connections, and comes into a stricken area and rebuild collapsed health systems. In Haiti, due to it's tight relationships with the Dominican Republic partners, Merlin was on the ground within 72 hours of the earthquake building field hospital, getting seven tons of medical supplies into the country, carrying out 392 life saving operations and treating 7,338 people in the first three weeks in Haiti. Hitting the ground running in a developing part of the world is almost unheard of. In addition to their partners, they hire local workers. In Haiti, some of their workers had lost loved ones, but it was all hands on deck helping all kinds of people.
Haiti operations included tents for post recovery, and surgical operations. Alex says these types of dyer situations brings you back to reality. As great as their hospital was, they were not able to handle everyone's need immediately.
"Creativity meets necessity", says Cotton. Merlin spent two years in Haiti and today the company supports 30 health facilities, performing 200,000 consultations, responding to two disease outbreaks; visiting 10,000 households visits; treating 13,000 people per month in mobile clinics.
From his volunteer stint in the Sudan, he pitched Merlin to hire him to open a US office, he was hired and has been with the organization ever since. Alex says you cannot get development if people are sick, that is why Merlin attacks the health system issues. This work brought him to desire to be a Rotarian Peace fellow, if he is awarded the fellowship, he will spend two years working for his degree.
The IRC club chose to support Alex's nomination for Peace Fellow.
Alex was born and raised in France, and the first time he heard of Rotary International he heard of the World Peace Initiative. Then his father's involvement got him interested in the notion of world peace.
Merlin (Medical Emergency Relief International, a British non-governmental, non-profit organization ) does magical work, which is long lasting. Merlin's actions are focused on: Building Field Hospitals; Mobile Clinics going into rural areas; and providing primary healthcare hiring local health coordinators who conduct education on disease prevention. Worldwide the company employs 74 health promoters.
Alex met the organization and it's work when he was a volunteer for a Sudan humanitarian project. Today Alex is Merlin's Regional Director. Merlin specializes in rebuilding critical health services and systems in hard-hit areas of the world, including Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. . Merlin focuses on recovery and the belief that "everyone has a right to affordable healthcare".
According to Alex, the key threats in the world are conflict, natural disasters e.g. Haiti; disease outbreak e.g. fever, cholera. Merlin maintains strong international connections, and comes into a stricken area and rebuild collapsed health systems. In Haiti, due to it's tight relationships with the Dominican Republic partners, Merlin was on the ground within 72 hours of the earthquake building field hospital, getting seven tons of medical supplies into the country, carrying out 392 life saving operations and treating 7,338 people in the first three weeks in Haiti. Hitting the ground running in a developing part of the world is almost unheard of. In addition to their partners, they hire local workers. In Haiti, some of their workers had lost loved ones, but it was all hands on deck helping all kinds of people.
Haiti operations included tents for post recovery, and surgical operations. Alex says these types of dyer situations brings you back to reality. As great as their hospital was, they were not able to handle everyone's need immediately.
"Creativity meets necessity", says Cotton. Merlin spent two years in Haiti and today the company supports 30 health facilities, performing 200,000 consultations, responding to two disease outbreaks; visiting 10,000 households visits; treating 13,000 people per month in mobile clinics.
From his volunteer stint in the Sudan, he pitched Merlin to hire him to open a US office, he was hired and has been with the organization ever since. Alex says you cannot get development if people are sick, that is why Merlin attacks the health system issues. This work brought him to desire to be a Rotarian Peace fellow, if he is awarded the fellowship, he will spend two years working for his degree.
The IRC club chose to support Alex's nomination for Peace Fellow.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
South County Outreach Presents to Irvine Rotary Club
March 28, 2012....Nora, operations director for South County Outreach shared information about the valuable services this non profit provides. Most interesting, in Oct. 1996 Nora had a brain aneurysm, lost her job, home and husband. She received a second chance at life by surviving and now thriving, giving back through her work at this organization.
They provide emergency assistance and tools for the homeless to help themselves. They provide clients with food for five days; rental assistance; run a computer learning lab (2,000 classes annually), and give homeless the skills to get a job or increase their income. The Laguna Hills Thrift Store, located on Ridge Route, sells clothes for kids.
It's not all homeless they serve. During the summer, an increase in teachers who normally work summer school shifts, need assistance. Their backpack program provides for 700 kids. A holiday program, adopting 1,000 families by teaming with the community is popular (The Jewelry Box in Lake Forest also provides donations through their battery giveback). Seventeen homes provide transitional homeless program, and the social services tailored for each family as they move from homeless to a new home. Other services include:
-200 Easter baskets to give to families
-Homeless Prevention Program-helping people just making ends meet
-Donate food for their pets.
-Purchase food from Second Harvest Food Bank.
-They see singles, seniors, disabled, military, all living pay check to pay check. $6.72 buys food for a family of four for six days.
-Volunteers: 250 regularly scheduled volunteers help the six full-time staffers. 8% are seniors. 38,000 volunteer hours a year.
-Visit their website for a list of supply items they need, you can donate.
SCO goal is to keep residents in our community, we don't have alot of shelters in South County, so keeping them in their home is a goal. They provide a hub of service to help however they need help.
The Irvine Rotary Club donated $500 to this worthy organization; with a commitment to donate more later this year.
They provide emergency assistance and tools for the homeless to help themselves. They provide clients with food for five days; rental assistance; run a computer learning lab (2,000 classes annually), and give homeless the skills to get a job or increase their income. The Laguna Hills Thrift Store, located on Ridge Route, sells clothes for kids.
It's not all homeless they serve. During the summer, an increase in teachers who normally work summer school shifts, need assistance. Their backpack program provides for 700 kids. A holiday program, adopting 1,000 families by teaming with the community is popular (The Jewelry Box in Lake Forest also provides donations through their battery giveback). Seventeen homes provide transitional homeless program, and the social services tailored for each family as they move from homeless to a new home. Other services include:
-200 Easter baskets to give to families
-Homeless Prevention Program-helping people just making ends meet
-Donate food for their pets.
-Purchase food from Second Harvest Food Bank.
-They see singles, seniors, disabled, military, all living pay check to pay check. $6.72 buys food for a family of four for six days.
-Volunteers: 250 regularly scheduled volunteers help the six full-time staffers. 8% are seniors. 38,000 volunteer hours a year.
-Visit their website for a list of supply items they need, you can donate.
SCO goal is to keep residents in our community, we don't have alot of shelters in South County, so keeping them in their home is a goal. They provide a hub of service to help however they need help.
The Irvine Rotary Club donated $500 to this worthy organization; with a commitment to donate more later this year.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Irvine Rotary Club Meeting Notes - March 7, 2012--What is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? Obamacare?
Lawyer Matt Kinley of a Downey Law Firm and member of the Long Beach Rotary Club, shed light on Obama Care and the Supreme Court Case to be heard later this year. Although he is not a supreme court lawyer or expert, he provided insight into The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the official title of what could change the face of healthcare and health insurance for every US individual.
PPACA is a living law, not only did no one know what was in the bill when it passed, it gave many bureaucracies, like the IRS, Health & Human Services, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the right to tens of thousands of pages of regulations.
This Supreme Court Case has the prospect of fundamentally changing the relationship between the states and the federal government. Not one Republican voted for this legislation. It is an intensely partisan manner compared to Social Security Act in 1935, or Medicare or Medicaid in 1965, or Medicare Part D in 2003. 26 states, all with Republican governors, have filed a class action against the US government to rescind the legislation; the first time ever this many states have joined in a case against the feds.
FYI, many states have filed amicus briefs in favor of the law, including CA.
The law does lots of things including: Insured can keep their children under their policy until age 26. No matter your health condition, you're covered, requiring insurers to offer the same premium to all applicants. Meaning insurance companies have to insurer the sickest along with the healthy. Also provides for a simplified enrollment in Children's insurance programs; requires rebate to purchaser of insurance if insurance companies fail to spend on certain things; co-payments are eliminated for preventive care; low income persons are subsidized; and minimum standards for health insurance policies are to be established and caps will be banned.
This is a unique law, called Individual Mandate, requiring all persons not covered by an employer sponsored health plan, Medicaid, Medicare or other insurance, to be covered or be in violation of Federal law.
For business, firms employing 50+ and not offering health insurance will also pay a shared responsibility requirement--about $2,000 per year per employee. Very small businesses will be able to obtain subsidies.
Effective Jan. 2, 2013: all employers with 200 or more full time employees must provide heath insurance. Under 200 not required.
The Act's provisions are intended to be funded by a variety of taxes and offsets. Major sources of new revenue include broadened Medicare tax on incomes over $200,000 and $250,000, for individual and join filers respectively. An annual fee on insurance providers, and a 40% tax on "Cadillac insurance policies.
Total new revenue from the Act will amount to $409.2 billion over the next 10 years. $78 billion will be realized before the end of fiscal 2014.
There are legal challenges: there are six cases filed against the law in federal court. The most significant is Florida v. US Dept. of Health & Human Services. Oral arguments are set for March 2012 with an extraordinary three days and five half hours for oral argument. At the time this is heard, there will have been over 150 briefs filed by parties and friends of the court brief.
Constitution and the Bill of Rights:
The Federal government can't do anything without authority to do so: Congress has certain enumerated powers. The constitution also has specific limits to what the federal government can do: Bill of Rights. These issues could redirect government in a way not seen since the New Deal.
The Administration's position is this is a $2.5 Trillion industry. It's an industry with particular need for federal intervention because if a state tries to reform healthcare, people who need healthcare move to that state. Classic intrastate commerce problem. Because there is mandated coverage, people can wait until after they are sick to buy healthcare.
The heart of the government argument is we must require people to buy insurance. And, we want to cover everyone, even people with preexisting.
The state's position: the young are the cash cows, needed to pay for all the sick out there. States argue the mandate is an inappropriate attempt to make people buy something or face a fine. If the feds can force you to buy something, what limits exist at all?
The Supreme Court has set 90 minutes for oral argument. If the court decides that the mandate is unconstitutional, the court will need to decide whether any of the rest of the ACA falls with it. Could Congress achieve its regulatory objectives without the minimum mandate?
So later this year we will know whether Obamacare stands or falls!
PPACA is a living law, not only did no one know what was in the bill when it passed, it gave many bureaucracies, like the IRS, Health & Human Services, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the right to tens of thousands of pages of regulations.
This Supreme Court Case has the prospect of fundamentally changing the relationship between the states and the federal government. Not one Republican voted for this legislation. It is an intensely partisan manner compared to Social Security Act in 1935, or Medicare or Medicaid in 1965, or Medicare Part D in 2003. 26 states, all with Republican governors, have filed a class action against the US government to rescind the legislation; the first time ever this many states have joined in a case against the feds.
FYI, many states have filed amicus briefs in favor of the law, including CA.
The law does lots of things including: Insured can keep their children under their policy until age 26. No matter your health condition, you're covered, requiring insurers to offer the same premium to all applicants. Meaning insurance companies have to insurer the sickest along with the healthy. Also provides for a simplified enrollment in Children's insurance programs; requires rebate to purchaser of insurance if insurance companies fail to spend on certain things; co-payments are eliminated for preventive care; low income persons are subsidized; and minimum standards for health insurance policies are to be established and caps will be banned.
This is a unique law, called Individual Mandate, requiring all persons not covered by an employer sponsored health plan, Medicaid, Medicare or other insurance, to be covered or be in violation of Federal law.
For business, firms employing 50+ and not offering health insurance will also pay a shared responsibility requirement--about $2,000 per year per employee. Very small businesses will be able to obtain subsidies.
Effective Jan. 2, 2013: all employers with 200 or more full time employees must provide heath insurance. Under 200 not required.
The Act's provisions are intended to be funded by a variety of taxes and offsets. Major sources of new revenue include broadened Medicare tax on incomes over $200,000 and $250,000, for individual and join filers respectively. An annual fee on insurance providers, and a 40% tax on "Cadillac insurance policies.
Total new revenue from the Act will amount to $409.2 billion over the next 10 years. $78 billion will be realized before the end of fiscal 2014.
There are legal challenges: there are six cases filed against the law in federal court. The most significant is Florida v. US Dept. of Health & Human Services. Oral arguments are set for March 2012 with an extraordinary three days and five half hours for oral argument. At the time this is heard, there will have been over 150 briefs filed by parties and friends of the court brief.
Constitution and the Bill of Rights:
The Federal government can't do anything without authority to do so: Congress has certain enumerated powers. The constitution also has specific limits to what the federal government can do: Bill of Rights. These issues could redirect government in a way not seen since the New Deal.
The Administration's position is this is a $2.5 Trillion industry. It's an industry with particular need for federal intervention because if a state tries to reform healthcare, people who need healthcare move to that state. Classic intrastate commerce problem. Because there is mandated coverage, people can wait until after they are sick to buy healthcare.
The heart of the government argument is we must require people to buy insurance. And, we want to cover everyone, even people with preexisting.
The state's position: the young are the cash cows, needed to pay for all the sick out there. States argue the mandate is an inappropriate attempt to make people buy something or face a fine. If the feds can force you to buy something, what limits exist at all?
The Supreme Court has set 90 minutes for oral argument. If the court decides that the mandate is unconstitutional, the court will need to decide whether any of the rest of the ACA falls with it. Could Congress achieve its regulatory objectives without the minimum mandate?
So later this year we will know whether Obamacare stands or falls!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Erin Runnion - Protecting Kids
The Rotary Club of Irvine hosted Erin Runnion, Founder of the Joyful Child Foundation. The Joyful Child Foundation was formed in the memory of Erin’s child, Samantha, who at age 5 was abducted, abused and found murdered the following day in July 2002. Erin’s mission is to inform the community about child abuse and abduction and to train children how to react and respond to attempts to do them harm. Her hope if that by making the public aware and training children how to react and respond abuse and abductions can be reduced or potentially eliminated altogether.
Erin Runnion - Protecting Kids
The Rotary Club of Irvine hosted Erin Runnion, Founder of the Joyful Child Foundation. The Joyful Child Foundation was formed in the memory of Erin’s child, Samantha, who at age 5 was abducted, abused and found murdered the following day in July 2002. Erin’s mission is to inform the community about child abuse and abduction and to train children how to react and respond to attempts to do them harm. Her hope if that by making the public aware and training children how to react and respond abuse and abductions can be reduced or potentially eliminated altogether.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Long Beach Grand Prix
Connor DePhillippe, age 19, has been racing since he was five years old. He'll be racing in the Long Beach Grand Prix, and you're invited (more than 170,000 people are expended to attend) to join the weekend of fun which includes Practice, Sat., qualifying and the race on Sunday. Connor shared his long road to racing success.
From age 5-14 he raced go carts, at age 14 made the transition to race cars. He's worked his way up the circuit and this past May he won on a smaller oval near the Indy track, the night before the Indianapolis 500. When he won, he was given the opportunity to speak before the crowd, one of his most memorable races. Mazda is motor racing's major sponsors of racing. Connor raced in the Star Mazda race last year and won a $60,000 scholarship, which provides a transition and foundation from kart racing to auto racing, and got him to where he is today.
Auto racing is growing and provided the demographics nationwide. As the racers move up the ladder, win sponsors, they have the opportunity to race with more powerful race cars. Connor is looking for sponsors, unfortunately he did not win the most recent scholarship. But he has sponsors that are allowing him to race in Long Beach.
Auto racing requires physical and mental endurance, requiring the driver to be focued every minute and sustain durability, about 2 hours on a 3 mile racetrack with 17 corners. Connor endures 1.5 hours of training daily to get ready for a race. Formula cars are the pnnacle of the racing series. The cost is $400,000 per car to get to the game. Watch and route for Connor!
From age 5-14 he raced go carts, at age 14 made the transition to race cars. He's worked his way up the circuit and this past May he won on a smaller oval near the Indy track, the night before the Indianapolis 500. When he won, he was given the opportunity to speak before the crowd, one of his most memorable races. Mazda is motor racing's major sponsors of racing. Connor raced in the Star Mazda race last year and won a $60,000 scholarship, which provides a transition and foundation from kart racing to auto racing, and got him to where he is today.
Auto racing is growing and provided the demographics nationwide. As the racers move up the ladder, win sponsors, they have the opportunity to race with more powerful race cars. Connor is looking for sponsors, unfortunately he did not win the most recent scholarship. But he has sponsors that are allowing him to race in Long Beach.
Auto racing requires physical and mental endurance, requiring the driver to be focued every minute and sustain durability, about 2 hours on a 3 mile racetrack with 17 corners. Connor endures 1.5 hours of training daily to get ready for a race. Formula cars are the pnnacle of the racing series. The cost is $400,000 per car to get to the game. Watch and route for Connor!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Life in The Ukraine
Lucy's sister, Colleen and her husband are Missioniaries who have lived the last 17 years in the Ukraine helping poor and former Soviet countries build churches where there are none. The church is a place for families to get help, where people can come together. The villages where they help build churches are so poor, the average family income is less than $400/month. These people do not have a mindset for humanitarian care.
In 1994, after the Soviet Union separated, they and their two young daughters moved to a small village in the Krimea (a peninsula of the Ukraine which was owned by Russia). It was a barebones existence, with bare shelves at the grocery stores, long cold winters--they spent days in the kitchen (a separate building) which was the only room in the home that was heated. They also were at a deficit because they did not speak the language.
Before moving to Ukraine, she was a realtor in OK, her husband Jeff was an engineer. They decided to change their lives after Jeff went on a short term mission to Ukraine; he was a Russian linguist in the military.
They eventually moved to Kiev, to be near an airport. The perception of Russians of Americans is not positive, there is alot of antimosity to us. Today she teachers "Summertime Ar Classses", she learned art in college. The themes are teaching ladies to create prayer scapbooks to strengthen their faith.
Twice a year she tours the US visiting churches to share their story of Missionary work with others, and to raise money to continue their works around the world.
In 1994, after the Soviet Union separated, they and their two young daughters moved to a small village in the Krimea (a peninsula of the Ukraine which was owned by Russia). It was a barebones existence, with bare shelves at the grocery stores, long cold winters--they spent days in the kitchen (a separate building) which was the only room in the home that was heated. They also were at a deficit because they did not speak the language.
Before moving to Ukraine, she was a realtor in OK, her husband Jeff was an engineer. They decided to change their lives after Jeff went on a short term mission to Ukraine; he was a Russian linguist in the military.
They eventually moved to Kiev, to be near an airport. The perception of Russians of Americans is not positive, there is alot of antimosity to us. Today she teachers "Summertime Ar Classses", she learned art in college. The themes are teaching ladies to create prayer scapbooks to strengthen their faith.
Twice a year she tours the US visiting churches to share their story of Missionary work with others, and to raise money to continue their works around the world.
Breaking The Cycle of Poverty Thru Education
Irvine Rotary Club member Alex Ureche has a passion for helping children around the world, and he's put his passion to work to make a major different in many lives. In 2003, he and his wife created a non-profit organization to help educate children in developing nations. Alex says, "Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty." His program teaches English and literacy skills to help underserved kids compete in today's world. His organization has projects in Mexico, USA, and a special emphasis with projects in rural areas of Romania.
It all started with a toilet, says Alex. In 2004 in a village his grandparents lived in Romania, he got stuck in Romania on a trip. First they help build a toilet, and it went onto build a computer lab in the small local school. He was hooked...In 2005, the big project, $2000 seed money from a friend led to building a school in Romania. The school was finished (total cost of $20,000) in Oct. 2005; locals were hired to help build the school, workers make so little money they were thrilled to contribute and make some money doing it; parents of the kids worked hard and also pitched in.
Additional projects in Romania include English programs for 250 kids; 2008 an English Lab was dedicated; 2009 - 12 English Labs were built, funded with matching rotary grants. The Rotary Club in Romania has sister clubs- Romanian Kids have an opportunity to join Rotaract where they can share with kids from around the world thru Rotary.
In 2009, Give A Smile: Dental Screening in Romania provided 200 kids appointments with a dentist, some had never seen a dentist before. Dentists came from Holland and Bucharest to join in the event.
Twice a year, a Shopping Spree for Kids gives them the opportunity to buy presents for others; the poor are good at giving to others.
The results of the English programs: Mentoring 25 kids from school to college, otherwise they have no opportunities at all. These kids have become the shining stars, successful kids are going to top schools.
Mobile Media Center: Last year Alex's organization gave the Romania's a Bookmobile for kids, taking the show on the road, including internet access and books they can borrow.
Upcoming projects vary including: building a rugby field, leadership camps for kids, building a community center, literacy projects, and empowering and finding work for parents.
Visit www.children-aid.org to learn more.
It all started with a toilet, says Alex. In 2004 in a village his grandparents lived in Romania, he got stuck in Romania on a trip. First they help build a toilet, and it went onto build a computer lab in the small local school. He was hooked...In 2005, the big project, $2000 seed money from a friend led to building a school in Romania. The school was finished (total cost of $20,000) in Oct. 2005; locals were hired to help build the school, workers make so little money they were thrilled to contribute and make some money doing it; parents of the kids worked hard and also pitched in.
Additional projects in Romania include English programs for 250 kids; 2008 an English Lab was dedicated; 2009 - 12 English Labs were built, funded with matching rotary grants. The Rotary Club in Romania has sister clubs- Romanian Kids have an opportunity to join Rotaract where they can share with kids from around the world thru Rotary.
In 2009, Give A Smile: Dental Screening in Romania provided 200 kids appointments with a dentist, some had never seen a dentist before. Dentists came from Holland and Bucharest to join in the event.
Twice a year, a Shopping Spree for Kids gives them the opportunity to buy presents for others; the poor are good at giving to others.
The results of the English programs: Mentoring 25 kids from school to college, otherwise they have no opportunities at all. These kids have become the shining stars, successful kids are going to top schools.
Mobile Media Center: Last year Alex's organization gave the Romania's a Bookmobile for kids, taking the show on the road, including internet access and books they can borrow.
Upcoming projects vary including: building a rugby field, leadership camps for kids, building a community center, literacy projects, and empowering and finding work for parents.
Visit www.children-aid.org to learn more.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Irvine Community Service Awards
The Irvine Police Department came out in force to our meeting today for the IRC Community Service Award. Chief, Dave Maggard, also President of the California Police Chief Association, Commander Barry Aninag, Sergeant Amy Quiorz, Officer Tanya Ayalde and Dan Young, a special coordinator for the Irvine Police Department Community Partnership with Irvine Rotary, were on hand.
Young explained that Irvine Police Department has a program designed for public safety to help families register people that might be susceptible to danger wandering off with dementia. It is called the Return Home Registry. They get the endangered person’s name, personal information, description and emergency contact information of those caring for the vulnerable population. Also a juvenile run away program too. It is a new program that is successful.
Sergeant Amy Quiorz discussed an incident on 12/27/11, Tuesday night, in Irvine. Officer Tanya Ayalde and Sergeant Amy Quiorz were working the Tuesday night shift called “alpha”, also known as the grave yard shift that they work Mon.-Thur. from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. Normally they have a briefing of the days events, assignments and boards of events from other local police agencies in O.C.
Of significance was a report of an 81 year old man with dementia, who had been missing for 18 hours from Santa Ana that his family had reported missing. At 10:30 p.m. on 12/27/11 a call went out to Ayalde and Quiorz that there was a suspicious person outside the block wall fence at the Husken’ family’s residence. The father Todd Husken’s called the Irvine P.D. because his daughter, Joli had heard some strange noises in the brush behind their home near Irvine Center Drive. There was an elderly man hidden in the bushes but he won’t respond to them. He was very cold and shaking. The police came to the Husken’s home and found the missing elderly man that was lost and disoriented. They called the man’s son and took the elderly man to the hospital. The Irvine P.D. later called the Husken family and thanked them for being such great citizens helping this disabled man. The conditions were such that this man would might never have been found as he was hidden by view of any road way or walk way.
The Irvine Police Chief said that there was a new project in Irvine’s Great Park the ground breaking of a 5,000 new residence plan. It would move more resources into Irvine even though Irvine is in good financial condition it is still difficult times.
There was a question about the movement of prisoners out of prison and also being transferred into County jails. There is impact in O.C. but the impact drastically varies from county to county. This was mandated by federal judge because the prisons were failing to give adequate health care to the prisoners. Some non-dangerous are released, others that need rehab are placed in facilities that help their addiction issues. The goal is less parole and more probation supervision. Like ankle braclets but it depends on the conviction. Releasing non-violent and non-sex offenders. So far the State has 35,000 people released from prisons into the communities of California.
Young explained that Irvine Police Department has a program designed for public safety to help families register people that might be susceptible to danger wandering off with dementia. It is called the Return Home Registry. They get the endangered person’s name, personal information, description and emergency contact information of those caring for the vulnerable population. Also a juvenile run away program too. It is a new program that is successful.
Sergeant Amy Quiorz discussed an incident on 12/27/11, Tuesday night, in Irvine. Officer Tanya Ayalde and Sergeant Amy Quiorz were working the Tuesday night shift called “alpha”, also known as the grave yard shift that they work Mon.-Thur. from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. Normally they have a briefing of the days events, assignments and boards of events from other local police agencies in O.C.
Of significance was a report of an 81 year old man with dementia, who had been missing for 18 hours from Santa Ana that his family had reported missing. At 10:30 p.m. on 12/27/11 a call went out to Ayalde and Quiorz that there was a suspicious person outside the block wall fence at the Husken’ family’s residence. The father Todd Husken’s called the Irvine P.D. because his daughter, Joli had heard some strange noises in the brush behind their home near Irvine Center Drive. There was an elderly man hidden in the bushes but he won’t respond to them. He was very cold and shaking. The police came to the Husken’s home and found the missing elderly man that was lost and disoriented. They called the man’s son and took the elderly man to the hospital. The Irvine P.D. later called the Husken family and thanked them for being such great citizens helping this disabled man. The conditions were such that this man would might never have been found as he was hidden by view of any road way or walk way.
The Irvine Police Chief said that there was a new project in Irvine’s Great Park the ground breaking of a 5,000 new residence plan. It would move more resources into Irvine even though Irvine is in good financial condition it is still difficult times.
There was a question about the movement of prisoners out of prison and also being transferred into County jails. There is impact in O.C. but the impact drastically varies from county to county. This was mandated by federal judge because the prisons were failing to give adequate health care to the prisoners. Some non-dangerous are released, others that need rehab are placed in facilities that help their addiction issues. The goal is less parole and more probation supervision. Like ankle braclets but it depends on the conviction. Releasing non-violent and non-sex offenders. So far the State has 35,000 people released from prisons into the communities of California.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Shari Friedrich, OC Treasurer
OC County Treasurer Shari Friedrich is responsible for a $6.5 billion investment pool for Orange County. The good news, she keeps our money safe guarded and is responsible for investment of public funds and collecting taxes. She sits on OC Pension board and is a member of the public finance committee. Her responsibilities also include banker for school district funds (writing checks for payroll) and some OC districts also use her funds as a safe investment vehicle for their district's money. Her goal is safekeeping by providing safety, liquidity and yield (no risk). She has an unblemished record of safety, never having lost one dollar of tax payer monies.
Shari oversees a staff of 97 and a budget of $18 million. She's made changes to continue safety including reviewing exposure to risk, hiring a dedicated analyst for reviews investment instruments daily; she's redesigned reporting structures; streamlined investment operations; reduced administrative costs over 10%. Unfortunately our yields are at rock bottom. She conducts an annual treasurer's conference, is reaching out to each OC city to assist them with their investments through a monthly conference call. She has brought best business practices to the treasury. Her staff is responsible for collecting on behalf of 200 agencies; $4.7 billion in collections (a 97% rate); and 54% OC taxes have been collected before the end of the calendar year. 40% goes back to schools; 19% to each city and 34% to the state.
For us taxpayers, although she does not set tax values, she is working to make it easier to pay our taxes through online services. She's brought cost-effective practices to government,including restructuring her office. Including a better customer service office.
Irvine is the sixth largest economy in the US with 3.1 million people, we are doing better than state in revenues. Taxes collecitng rates are up for Irvine, 1.45% in 2011; .87% for California.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
John Moorlach: OC - A Model During A Period of Municipal Meltdown
John W. Moorlach, Vice Chairman, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Second District predicted the biggest municipal disaster when OC defaulted on its debt. He talked about what elected officials in California and around the country are facing. The global reality is they are all mired in debt for municipal debt, deferred maintenance, pension funds and more. Although employees are paying more into their pensions, there's no raises and new tiers for retirement (including the ability for a municipal employee to opt out of the retirement plans), we are still mired in debt for the default 20 years ago.
OC reforms helped the county reduce unfunded liabilities, but all of CA is looking at OC to see how they handle the future. The majority of our general purpose revenue, $653 million, 87% of the county revenue comes from property taxes. 2011 was a balanced budget, every year we are laying off more and more municipal employees. But we inherited a retroactive salary benefit, worth $1.5 billion. In a bull cycle we enjoyed amazing growth, but there's a train wreck in slow motion about to hit OC.
OC Pension plans are doing fairly well, investments are bouncing back, but pension costs continue to rise, revenues are flat, and employees on pensions are living alot longer than predicted. The pension burden is $.31.5 per $1 in pension contributions. Irvine's unfunded liabilities alone are $1,823 per capita. We are running on fumes. If we don't see an uptick in the economy we'll run out of cash
What should CA do? Downsize, ratchet back regulations, roll back pension formulas, create hybrid pension formulas, freeze pension plans, privatize, merge and consolidate management, address the underground economy, report all debts, create a moratorium on bond debt and do something with public pensions.
There's a net migration out of CA. Watch what will be happening in other municipalities!
Two new members join Irvine Rotary
From left: Membership Chair Rick Topping, Alex Ureche, Bruce Lazenby, Club President Mark Brubaker.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)