Spinnings for March 29 2018

 

Pledge: Mike Peterson kicked us off with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Thought of the Day:  John DeRussy gave us a great thought.

Newscast:  Angel Riley delivered eggsactly the Easter jokes we were hoping for, she really cracked us up. It’s a thankless job.

 

Sunshine Report:  Bo Whitehill informed us that Aaron Hoffman has been moved to hospice.  There is also a card going around to Joan Norcross, Al Norcross’ wife.

 

Visiting Rotarians:  Jamie Cavagnaro from Foster City; Pam Frisella from Foster City; Craig Judy from Hayward; Hugh Jass from San Carlos.

 

Rotarians with Guests:  This is where I prove that I am not worthy to be an editor.  Too fast. 3 Rotarians had guests, couldn’t hear the names.

 

Birthday Table:  Carey Gorgolinski led the entire club in a rousing birthday song.

 

Announcements:  

Mike Peterson announced the Rotary Foundation Raffle. Drawing will be on May 10^th at Boston Private Bank.

Sheila Canzian announced highlights of the 101^st Airborne parade in support of the 101^st, along with a list of Rotary supporters.

 

Tony Villanueva was fined and recognized. 

Elizabeth Chalmers, honorary Rotarian, was recognized for a great lighthouse photo.

Rosemary Azem was recognized as driving a small bike with her granddaughters.

Vic Carboni was recognized for having no Facebook photo.

 

Today’s Speaker:  Catherine Chalmers

John Root introduced Catherine Chalmers, who is a photographer, artist, and collaborator with insects!  She has given TED talks, link available at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgiHXTrqRT8 .  She is a Guggenheim fellow, and is currently teaching a course at Stanford this year, which is a multi-disciplinary course.  Catherine also recalled being in the Rotary Exchange program in Toyonaka, Japan years ago.

 

So the question is: why collaborate with insects? We are completely dependent on insects for our ecology, soil, pollination, fertilization.  Man’s environment would collapse without insects.

 

Catherine discussed her experience with the Leaf Cutter ants in Costa Rica. Complex tunnels and chambers, a very complex habitat.  Insects are very similar to humans in the social ways they collaborate: language, ritual, war, art, culture.  They are extremely social and communicate in an interactive network using pheromones, sound, vibration.  They maintain massive societies.

 

Catherine relayed that her husband had made recordings of every creature in the jungle, and apparently you can tell what time it is based on what sounds you hear.  Leafcutters wage warfare on their own species. There is a striking variation in response to invading ants on their turf.  She showed us the amazing video titled “we rule” from Panama. She also showed us a Leafcutter ant “war film”.  Apparently every night at 6pm the war would occur.  It took three weeks to film.

Leafcutter ants fill their living areas with cut up leaves. The ants actually grow and eat mushrooms.  The ants are expert at farming the mushroom and actually fight off bacteria and prevent moisture issues via their mushroom growing environments. 

 

Apparently ants are also like people this way:  20% of ants are the most productive and finish tasks in minutes; 30% of ants are productive but take hours to finish a task; 50% of ants do absolutely nothing. Sounds really familiar.  I wonder if there is a Queen named Aynt Rand.

 

Thank you for a very interesting discussion.

Spinnings Editor, Chuck Cattano

 

Thanks to the Photo Editor of the week Peter Webb!