In April we had visitors from the  Albany – El Cerrito Kiwanis Club, and Everyone Home.  Former Assembly Member Nancy Skinner joined us to talk about her experiences in the legislature and member Todd and his wife share photos and stories of their recent trip to Louisiana.  We inducted another new member, Mary and awarded Mike another Paul Harris award.  Another good month for Albany Rotary.

March proved to be another busy month for Albany Rotary.  Our speakers covered material from affordable housing, climate change, Albany ‘s Waterfront, Hawaii’s history, and permaculture landscaping.  We welcomed a new member and honored our 2 new Paul Harris Fellows.  Our Little League team, the Red Sox, proudly carried their banner with our logo in the center in the parade.  We ended the month with a work party at the Albany Children’s Center painting their playhouse and other structures and making a cement pad for the new home of the playhouse.

  February was a most interesting month for Rotary.  We began the month with Atta Arghandiwal speaking to us about Afganistan.  Then we learned about life as the spouse of an Assembly member from Lance Brady.  We went to the theater and saw the play our very own Angela Mason is directing.  Jean Ellisen told us stories including one about an elephant and a hummingbird.  We ending the month learning about Options Recovery Services.

We started the new year off strong.  Albany Rotarian Val told us about immigration in Hawaii through the eyes of her grandmother who was a “picture bride”.  After a club assembly we returned to having speakers and learned about a project in Guatemala and straw bale homes.  The month ended with former Albany High student telling us about life as a staff member for Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

  Long time friends visited us in December.  Mike Burch, Pastor of Northbrae Community Church shared his views on college issues, Pam Jones inspired us to support RI Foundation and Fred Collignon talked about what is next after polio is gone.

Dean Rutherford spoke to us about his water project in Peru and City Treasurer Kim Denton explained her role in the City of Albany.  November 30 found Albany Rotary at Golden Gate Fields for Dollar Day, raising money for us and helping Albany Relay for Life raise some money also.

Lots more interesting speakers for Rotary in October – artist Tyler Hoare, former Albany Poet Laureate, Christina Hutchins, Kari to tell us about workability, and Ana Marie Jones who made us laugh while sharing important information regarding emergency preparedness.  We partnered with the Albany Chamber of Commerce to host a mixer at a local cafe.

                                               August was full of interesting speakers and successes.  Mike Lee, the coach of our Little League team came to tell us about the Challenger League and the wonderful season they just completed.  Damian Holzapfel – Exchange student from Germany told us about his life in German and about Rotex 1900. Past President Howard showed off our Presidential Citation. Dorothy Herzberg told us of her time in the Peace Corp in Nigeria 1961-1963 and her book called “Me, Madam”.  We inducted a new member, Rob at one of our meetings.  The month ended with Albany Fire Fighter, James Sanders, speaking to us about “Be the Match” Fire Fighters Challenge.

July started off with a Club Assembly outlining our goals and setting the path for the year.  The following week we learned about the United Nations from  Herb Behrstock President of the UN Association of the East Bay. The next week we had an interesting visit from Arthur Coddington, Freestyle Frisbee World Champion.   Our very own Reece Halpern reminded us about the necessity of estate planning with some very helpful tips of things to do when we got home that evening.  Our final speaker of the month, Tony Thurmond, described the wonderful programs at the Lincoln Child Center.  He is also a Richmond Rotarian.