GUESTS:
Tom Bowman from Bowman Design Group brought Chelsea who works with him; he is our guest speaker. Jean brought Antoinette with him today. Dave introduced Melissa, who represents Diana from Van Nuys Airport. Peter introduced Visiting Rotarian Jeff Stern from the Woodland Hills Rotary Club. Robin introduced the group from Tierra Del Sol.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Paul Davis was welcomed to the club and he brought calendars as he had added an extra day to this year in the last calendars he had distributed.
Don had pamphlets, End Polio Now that he distributed. Don is our Rotary Foundation chair and he pointed out that 92% of the donations go to Rotary projects. Les added that he and Zoriada with Marie and her husband will be going to a 5280 District project- that has a Rotary International grant from The Rotary Foundation - in Guatemala. They are carrying backpacks and would be happy to accept any donations of school supplies to fill the 300 backpacks that will be given to school children in Guatemala.
Melissa announced the Young Achievers’ award program will be on March 26th at New Horizons. The Program will begin about 3:00 – so we can go right after Rotary that day to enjoy that special program where we are contributing to the scholarships.
Jeff Stern explained that Woodland Hills is partnering with Fleet Street and several other organizations to provide repaired bikes to needy children and some adults. The boys at Pacific Lodge in Woodland Hills repair the bikes that are donated from many different groups – including bikes that are recovered by the Police Department. Councilman Blumenthal will feature a bike repair day this Saturday at his office beginning at 9:00.
Our big Service Above Self Fundraiser will be April 2nd in the evening and we will be dark that day.
April 25th is the Track Meet. The school is sending out the notices to all the surrounding schools this year.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Paul Davis fined himself for trying to make this a leap year.
Dave has purchased a beautiful new car so that he can get suntanned as he drives!
PROGRAM:
Tom Bowman designs exhibits for trade shows and gets to “tell his clients stories.” In doing so, he has learned a lot and came to share his energy efficiency story.
He moved to Redlands in June of 1969 and about a month later his brother first saw the mountains that are so close: smog had shrouded them most of the time back then. Now air quality is better and he credits the fact that in 1972 the state of California had a study about power plant need, and found they would need to spend quantities for polluting plants to meet the energy needs. So the state pushed energy efficiency into law. Now Californians pay 20% less in electric bills than other states – we use 20% less electricity than other states. We have been the first to regulate car pollution and building and appliances. This has helped get the industries to produce better vehicles, appliances, and we strive to have homes have 0 “net energy “by 2020.
Our population in 1950 was 10.5 million; in 1990 it was 30 million; now it is 38 million and projected by 2050 to be 55 million. The energy grid is stretched thin, and no more dams can be built because of the “Clean Water Act.” The law is clean homes being built by 2020 and all new commercial will be 0 net energy by 2030. We need to conserve 40% by 2020.
Mr. Bowman started conserving at his business and in 2009 received the “Cool California Award” that he is very proud to have. He recommended we talk to Chelsea of Green House Gas Emission. He started with an efficient air conditioner for $7,000.00 (He needed one, and bought carefully.) The new photocopier used less electricity and he has power strips that cut 10% of an electric bill by not having appliances, like a TV pulling energy all day – even if they are not on. He bought a Hybrid car. AND he put out a press release pointing out that he had saved on his electric bill with these investments.
Energy Upgrade California has a website -
www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org and they can be followed on Twitter and Facebook. They will help find contractors and give simple tips – like the power cords or tank-less water – to reduce electric bills.
Tom was happy to sign our book to be given in his name to Casa Esperanza.
Honorees:
Today we had Tierra Del Sol case workers and clients visiting. Anna introduced Terry Harney who has been a client since 1978. She works well with kids and loves reading to babies. Sandra introduced Maria who has been a client since 1996. After working for 15 years with the Assistance League she is retired, but continues to volunteer.
HAPPY BUCKS:
Jeff Stern put in another $5.00 so we had $80.00 and Wynne held the happy ticket so got the $40.00 in the 50/50. There was also a gift from the airport to the next winner.
Written by Barbara Pampalone
