Spinnings for August 24, 2017

 

 

 

 

Pledge: We all successfully pledged allegiance to the flag.

 

Thought of the Day:  Kitty Lopez talked about the small things that benefit life.

 

Song:  “Thank My Lucky Stars, God Bless the USA” by Lou Greenwood

 

Newscast:  Juan Raigoza gave us some news about the eclipse and a quote from President Trump that “the sun is equally to blame for the eclipse”.

 

Sunshine Report:  Bo Whitehill reports that John DeRussy’s wife broke her kneecap—surgery soon.

 

Visiting Rotarians:  Mike Heffernan from Burlingame

 

Rotarians with Guests:  Chuck Cattano introduced Amy Wright, Andrew Knaack (our two speakers), and Bill Olds.  Regrettably the list disappeared, apologies.

 

Announcements: The most widely read book in history, The SM Rotary Handbook, is ready and available for mass consumption.

 

Stanfurd Football Game Tickets:  Brian Sullivan is working on this, email him if you are interested.  Big Game (Cal versus Stanfurd) 11/25/17 and we will tailgate with the Foster City Club.

 

Jodi DeSmidt informs us that Rotary Means Business will be meeting 9/21/17. Location TBD.

 

The following people were victims of President Chris Eckert’s unmanned aerial drone program, which is unconstitutional on US citizens by the way.

 

“Carol for Council” button—old evidence of running for the City Council in the past.

 

Anne Campbell was recognized was recognized as a school official who won’t run again, after a long tenure in our school system.

 

Shawn DeLuna was recognized for his participation with Papa Dick at the car show at Pebble Beach.

 

Chuck Cattano, who recently visited Italy and Sicily with his familia, got “whacked” by Eckert, who made sure not to forget the cannoli.

 

Mitch Postel was recognized for gaining funding for the Lathrop House (in order to move it).

 

Today’s Speakers: 

 

Chuck Cattano introduced Amy Wright and Andrew Knaack from www.LifeMoves.org , whose mantra is “Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness”.

 

LifeMoves was formerly known as the Shelter Network, which was previously known in 1987 as Turning Point.  In 2012, Envision and Shelter Network merged, and in 2016 it became LifeMoves.org.  They operate 17 shelters between San Jose and Daly City.  The rise in home prices in the Bay Area only increases the need for LifeMoves.org.  There are currently 8,600 homeless in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

 

The primary reasons for homelessness are: family breakup, eviction, death, disability, mental health, job loss, and rental increases.  Family homelessness is a “hidden epidemic”—teachers in schools have a duty to report child homelessness though, which helps.  There are also a number of seniors facing homelessness, and it is increasing as rents increase.  LifeMoves.org also works with veterans, they work with the VA, etc.

 

In terms of homelessness, 13 of the 20 most numerous cases in the U.S. are IN the Bay Area.  Based on the median home price in the Bay Area, the average annual income is $190,000 to be able to afford a home in the Bay Area.  LifeMoves houses 700 individuals every night, with half being children.  They have an annual budget of $23MM, $8MM of which is privately funded.  The estimate for private funding is that it LifeMoves.org will increasingly be reliant on private funding as more Federal expenses get offloaded to the State and County levels.

 

LifeMoves provides the following areas of assistance:

They also have a summer adventure camp for kids called ACES that is STEM/STEAM based, from June through August.

 

Statistics:  93% of families and 72% of individuals returned to stable housing via LifeMoves.org.  The average is 113 days for clients in LifeMoves programs, and they have 16,000 volunteers every year to help in some way.

 

How to make an impact or to help: 

Thank you for a very inspiring talk on an effective program to help address a very complex social issue.

 

Spinnings Editor, Chuck Cattano

 

Thanks to the Photo Editor of the week Peter Webb