Bulletins - 2009 - 08/26/2009

This Week's Bulletin Was Written By Dave McKee

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

President Karen Green brought the meeting to order promptly at 7:30 and enlisted the services of Chris McCain for the invocation which had as it’s theme “The pursuit of happiness as a state of mind”.  Jeramy Larson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Picking up on the theme of Chris’ invocation Linda Jalving and Jim Mulvaney led us in an enthusiastic rendition of “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands”.

SGT. AT ARMS

Scott Carr awarded the $74 raffle drawing to Chris Jacobs. Frank DeFrancesco made his weekly donation of gigantic garden zuchini and assorted veggies which were snapped up by the membership. Fines were collected from Johathan Stone who announced he had purchased a new home, construction to be completed in October and Joe Marshall who announced his wedding anniversary.

GUESTS

John Addams introduced Cindy Fritz and Shannon Kelly, teachers from the two first grade classes that were the recipients of our Rolling Readers program last year. The program requires a commitment of one hour per month to read to a first grade class. 

Prospective new members Shafiz Hasan, Allard Janzen, Oliver Welte and Bonnie Wasserman were introduced as were visiting Rotarians Jeanne Schmeher, Kevin Clark, Mark Tarasuck from Club 33. Out of town guest Michelle Williams was introduced by Tanya Reid and Maureen Eberle introduced last year’s Chinese ambassadorial student Quaran Zhao, who is leaving for home after a year of study here in the U.S.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Maureen Eberle and Sandra Shrift thanked all club members that attended the welcoming picnic at the La Jolla Cove for the incoming international students. The band Rockola performed and a great time was had by all.
• John Addams presented Dan Duncan with a check for $1000 for the SD downtown YMCA  from the youth services committee. Dan said the money will be used to support the many programs of the YMCA including the upcoming career days for middle school kids.
• Dave Ferguson announced we need five more foursomes to sell out the “Holes for Heroes” golf tournament scheduled for September 25th at the Admiral Baker Golf Course. In addition Gary Green announced that any member’s $500 hole sponsorship will qualify for a club matching donation toward a Paul Harris Fellow.
• Mel Gallegos reminded members of the upcoming District Foundation Seminar Saturday December 12th from 7:30 am to 12:30 at the Joan Kroc Peace center located on the U.S.D. campus (new location). The registration fee is $25 and will be paid by your SDDB Rotary Club for all attending members. This is a great way for Red Badgers to learn about the great work done by the Rotary Foundation and get credit toward their Blue Badge requirements!
• Pauline Lim-Endresen announced District 5340’s commitment of $50K to the Micro Credit program in Liberia and the SDDB’s $2500 donation toward that goal. Leah Swearingen introduced the Micro Credit blend coffee that is soon to be available at our sign in desk for $10 a bag, all proceeds to going to this great program.

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

Our speaker was, Tom Karlo, a Club 33 Rotarian and new General Manager of KPBS, San Diego’s soon to be 50 year old non-profit public radio, television and web media company.

Tom’s comments were focused on the rapidly changing landscape presently being experienced in the media industry and how KPBS has been a beneficiary of some of these changes. KPBS, currently the #1 ranked radio station in San Diego, has the largest local news staff in the county. Rapidly declining advertising revenues, the result of the fragmentation occurring in media today, makes it difficult to for his for profit competitors to continue supporting local news coverage and their declining commitment to “localism” has caused listeners and viewers to turn more and more to non-profit KPBS for their local news coverage.

KPBS is seeking to become the premier provider of local news in television, web and social digital media in addition to radio. They intend to accomplish this lofty goal by taking the content gathered by their staff and making it available through all four of their media outlets leaving the choice of how it is received up to their audience.

Funding for KPBS comes from several sources including individual memberships, corporate donations, vehicle donations and government grants. They have approximately 100 full time employees and 35 part-time employees. Tom reports that revenues for the year are down in these uncertain times but membership is up and the future looks promising.