Doug Brent called the meeting to order at 12:30.
Barry Cheskin gave the flag salute.
Inspiration by Jeff Blum and Lissa Kreisler
Over Thanksgiving, while gathered with family in Las Vegas, Jeff serenaded Lissa with Elvis Pressley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love and then proposed. She said yes! As they embark this new chapter in their life they challenge us to always embrace the unexpected and embrace love.
We sang happy birthday to all the December Rotarians and noted all the Rotarian anniversaries - from Lissa Kreisler at 1 year to Julian Rodriguez at 35 years.
Marty Fishman encouraged us to donate to the Rotary Foundation before the end of the year. We are just shy of $60,000 (yay!), an increase from last year’s $46,000. However, 49 Rotarians have not yet contributed. Any amount is great in our effort to get 100% participation. Because of an anonymous matching donor, any one dollar given now means $1.50 goes to the foundation.
Thanks to all St Luke's Pantry volunteers who contribute so the Rotary club can feed people every single week. It’s extraordinary.
Drum roll… Our Rotary Club of Los Gatos won Best Non-Profit in Los Gatos in the Los Gatan ‘Best Of Los Gatos’ poll 2024! Thanks to all who voted. We also nabbed bronze for best outdoor event (The Great Race) and bronze again for best charity event (Crabfest). Congratulations all.
Doug Brent showed a quick photo slide show of our presence at the Los Gatos Holiday Parade this past Saturday. He thanked Greg Gentile who covered for him in the presidential car, chauffeured by John Pencer. See photos here https://losgatosrotary.org/
We had two Red Badge presentations
Nathan Pendleton is a 33-year Los Gatos resident, newly retired, and ready to get involved in the community. Peter Morris is the Executive Director of Los Gatos Terraces, was a Rotarian in Connecticut, and happy to join in Los Gatos now.
Suzanne Boxer-Gassman, representing the nominating committee, announced a proposed slate of officers for the 25-26 year. Next week we will vote to confirm.
New officers:
Vice President- Terri Trotter
Secretary- John Walker
Directors - Randy Cobb, Doug Carlen
President Elect- Rachelle Lopp
Scholarship- Martha Sterne
Investment- John Pencer
Continuing officers:
President (moving from president elect) - Paul Johnson
Immediate past president (moving from president) - Doug Brent
Treasurer - Ramon Ware
Assistant treasurer - Dan Snyder
Secretary - David Hubbard
Assistant secretary - Ane Troger
Directors - Nicolette Rodman Kelly, Cindy Gentile, Stefka Bonev
Doug Brent thanked Meghan Burton for organizing the fantastic Presidents Brunch earlier this month and showed photos. https://losgatosrotary.org/
Our last meeting of the year is this Tue., Dec. 17. We are not meeting again as a club until Jan 14 and there is no first Tuesday social in January. There is also no December board meeting. Enjoy the holiday break.
Volunteer opportunity! Chamber elves are needed needed this weekend to assist Santa at Los Gatos Old Town- see Lissa Kreisler’s email or sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/
Doug thanked the Pencers for hosting our December First-Tuesday Sociall and shared some photos. Everyone looked festive!
30 for 30
Andrew Howard gave a plug for his business, setting up Donor Advised Funds for clients to reduce their capital gains taxes and do good in the community.
Mike Frangadakis said he is happy that we now have a second Greek in the club, Peter Morris.
Hal Rosen gave a plug for being kind, being a Rotarian, and his upcoming Puerto Vallarta trip.
Guest Speaker
Antonia Dapena-Tretter, Art Curator at Stanford Children’s Hospital
Art can be a crucial part of the patient journery- mind, body, and spirit. The art collection is designed to help with healing and to give the children a sense of belonging.
She talked about the importance of green spaces to counteract the stereotypical long white hospital corridors. At Stanford Children's Hospital they have 4.5 acres of green space, because it’s been proven that green spaces help heal. Many windows overlook the garden, and rooms that don’t have art inspired by nature.
The hospital design is centered around ecosystems. They have ‘ambassador animals’ for each ecosystem, one for each floor of the hospital, and an artist created whimsical artworks for each animal. There is an indoor play area where all the art pieces are also play structures.
Art is also used to give a sense of place. Kids come from all over for long term hospital stays - so the art gives a sense of the beauty of California. All art is meant to be touched.
As the hospital is connected to Stanford, the collection also ties in the university. For example, there is a ball machine with Stanford monuments noting the 36 nobel prizes associated with Stanford.
They also chose iconic sculptures for wayfinding. Notable sculptures to help you find your way in a large and confusing place - i.e. ‘Go to the Mama Bear and turn right.’
There are 4500 births per year at the hospital, so lots of art centers on the theme of mother and child.
And finally, Stanford is a teaching hospital and the art reflects that by being an educational tool. What do you teach with art? You teach looking and thinking. It’s a lot like scientific inquiry.
See. Think. Wonder.
To conclude the presentation Ms Dapena-Tretter did an interactive seeing and thinking activity, encouraging us to draw conclusions about a piece: Folio by Terry Winters.
She offers art and garden tours every second Thursday at 1:30- sign up here: https://www.stanfordchildrens.