We meet 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the Month

12:00 PM

at the San Ramon Community Center
12501 Alcosta Blvd

Zoom on the 4th Thursday of the Month

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Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.

Weekly Program
Meeting Notes for August 19, 2021
by Tom Port
 
After enjoying our buffet lunch catered by the “Growler” Terry opened meeting #4, our first at the Community Center, with the “Shekhar Mehta is R. I. President and this year’s theme is: “Serve to Change Lives”.
 
Substitute Greeter Norbert Walz led us in the Pledge of “Allegiance”.
 
Welcome Song: “Arriba, Abajo, El Centro, Endentro: Bienvenidos”
 
Announcements:
 
    Colette Lay was awarded her Paul Harris +7.
      
    RSVP’s: Chris Gayler announced he would be OK with being billed for each luncheon even if    
     he did not attend. His monthly charge would be a donation. This would obviate the need for  
     R.S.V.P.ing each week. The list of those joining in so far includes: Hermann Welm,     
     Roberts, Norbert, Louise, Disch, Toby, Braga, Weber, Colette, K. Gailey, Chris Gallagher, Gary    
     Sloan, Kerry Richard, Dennis Garrison, Guy Greco, Patti, and Terry.
 
 
      Kenya Project and Trinity Projects are finally approved.
 
Good News: Colette’s superstar daughter made the U.S. Martial Arts team.
 
Hermann made it to his 80th birthday, but it cost him $40 to do so.
 
Guy Greco’s mother is 108 and doing well. Kathey Gailey’s hubby celebrated their anniversary of 32 years in Vegas.
 
Main Event: 
 
Karen Sakata, former Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools, spoke about the history of her family as Japanese Americans.  Her grandfather’s family name was Shigazumi and her grandmother’s was Tanase.  The Tenase’s were strawberry farmers in Holtville California, and the Shegazumis owned a dry cleaners in San Francisco. Throughout their experience in the U.S. they stressed the value of education. Her father had a business degree from U.C. Berkeley, and her mother, Florence, had a degree in pharmacy from U.S.C.
 
After the Pearl Harbor attack, her family was ordered to report to an Assembly Center as were someone hundred twenty thousand other Japanese Americans, most of them U.S. citizens. They had only a few days or hours notice so that many lost all their property as a result. At that time there were over 6000 Japanese-owned farms in the U.S. Her grandmother was sent to Tuna Canyon and then to Bismarck North Dakota; her dad to Topaz, Utah. Those designated “professionals” were paid $14.00 per month. “Non-professionals” were paid $12.00.
 
Japanese believe in “quiet endurance” and accepting adverse circumstances when there is nothing you can do. Nevertheless, few of those who were interred have wanted to talk about their humiliation. Fortunately for Karen Sakata’s parents' neighbors watched over their house and so it was still there when they returned. However, the Tanase family lost their farm entirely.
 
Karen went on to study psychology at U.C. Berkeley, rather than mathematics and science as preferred by her parents, and in fact she never told them of her personal decision. She went into the special education field and later became the first Asian principal of a general education school. Later she rose to become Superintendent of Schools for Contra Costa County another fist for those of her ethnicity.
 
Karen recommended three books for further information on these topics: “Facing the Mountain” by Daniel James Brown. Clark and Division” by Naomi Hirahana, and “ Impounded” by Dorothea Lange.
 
Raffle:   Colette won $20 and Michael Roberts won $10.
 
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