Robots Everywhere-Land, Sea, Air and Space!
Dr. Christopher Kitts
Director, Robotic Systems Laboratory, Santa Clara University
In this talk, Dr. Kitts will describe some of the exciting work going on in Santa Clara University’s Robotic Systems Laboratory. This Lab develops and operates robotic systems and technology for robots that operate on the land, in the sea, in the air, and in space. Kitts and his students routinely work with government agencies, companies, non-profits, and other universities in order to design novel robotic systems and then deploy them in the field in order to perform exciting missions. Highlights of this work range from using underwater robots to discover proof of tsunami waves in Lake Tahoe, to having Santa Clara students perform all mission control duties for a series of NASA satellites.
Dr. Kitts has been at Santa Clara University for 20 years, and he currently serves as the Associate Dean for Research in the School of Engineering as well as the Faculty Director of the Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Prior to coming to Santa Clara, he served in the US Air Force and worked as a contractor at NASA Ames Research Center. He holds degrees from Stanford University, the University of Colorado, and Princeton University.
Christmas in the Park Event!
Please join us in an evening of fun, friendship and holiday cheer!
This magical, family friendly evening will begin with spirited "hot chocolate" and decadent desserts at the "88" residential building. As a group, we will then walk to Christmas in the Park to enjoy the traditional lights, trees, and exhibits!
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When:
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Wednesday, December 11th
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Time:
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6:00 - 7:30PM Dessert and Drinks
7:30 - 8:30PM Christmas in the Park!
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Where:
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The 88 Entertainment Lounge
(88 E. San Fernando Street, 5th Floor)
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Sign up for this FREE event by emailing Karen Philbrick. The deadline to sign up is Monday, December 9th.
For this year’s Fall Red Badge Project we are excited to be assisting with The Family Giving Tree’s Holiday Wish Drive.
The Family Giving Tree provides gifts for the Holidays to Bay Area children, families and seniors from low-income households. The Family Giving Tree expects to distribute around 100,000 gifts this year alone.
Our job is to be Santa’s Helpers. We will be sorting gifts donated from all over the Bay Area for delivery.
Red Badgers please sign up as soon as possible. While this is a Red Badge Project, we invite all members that are interested to volunteer with us.
Thursday, December 12
5:30pm-8:00pm
110 W. Tasman Dr.
San Jose 95134
We need 50 volunteers. To sign up, please contact Bill Schroh or Ginger Sotelo.
Thank you in advance for dedicating your time to brighten the holidays for many children, families and senior this year.
For more information,
click here to register and pay online.
This year President Karyn has selected Washington Elementary to be the recipient of the holiday luncheon Giving Tree. The RCSJ Los Amigos de Washington committee has supported the school community for over 20 years. Serving underserved students and families in the downtown, school supplies are a luxury for many of the students and families. Each teacher receives $300 per year for pencils, paper, and art supplies. The average class size is 30 students. The staff does an incredible job with the limited resources that are provided.
During the month of December, a big snowflake will be located in the lobby on Wednesdays. Please take a little snowflake, which has a request from a teacher at Washington Elementary. Return the item(s) at the luncheon or at some point during the month of December.
The teachers and staff at Washington School are very creative and resourceful in their approach to a rich classroom environment. The snowflake requests will help them make a difference in the lives of their students, and the greater community.
The continued generosity of our club and members is greatly appreciated.
Honolulu Hawaii
June 6-10, 2020
The 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA is where people of action from all over the world will gather to connect, celebrate, and collaborate to make a better world.
At the general and breakout sessions taking place during the convention, you can:
- Hear from world leaders, philanthropists, and other remarkable people during general sessions.
- Take part in breakout sessions to learn more about thought-provoking topics at in-depth seminars, workshops, and discussions.
For more information, please click here.
To register, click here. Registration fees increase after December 15th.
Register now!
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Where: Campo Di Bocce
565 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032
When: Sunday, Jan 12, 2020 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
Cost: $35 a person and includes food and wine.
A handling fee will be applied at check out for credit cards.
How:
1) Create your own team of four.
2) Get assigned to a team when you come.
Why:
1) Play to win and claim bragging rights against the likes of the Bocce Babes or the Fibbobocce's Numbers!
2) Play to drink wine!
Where Do I Signup? Click here to register and pay online.
President Karyn Sinunu-Towery opened the meeting at 12:10 p.m. She thanked the PAWS committee for pulling together donations for the Humane Society of Silicon Valley and Second Street Studios and the Rotarians who helped with the Pie Event at Lincoln Glen Manor senior community.
In a change from the normal meeting format, our guest speaker – composer, jazz bassist, big band leader, educator and social activist Marcus Shelby – provided the entertainment with a medley of church/blues music including “Wade In the Water” and “Amazing Grace.”
President Karyn thanked the Service to Seniors Committee for manning the greeting line and asked Brandon Bell and Sandra Madrigal – the Red Badgers manning the microphones – to introduce themselves. President-Elect Fernando Zazueta then introduced a contingent of Rotarians visiting from Mexico City. Victor Malpica – the president-elect of the club – thanked our club for working with them on a recent wheelchair trip to Mexico City.
On behalf of the Foundation Nominating Committee, Frank Begun was then asked to introduce the nominees for new positions with the Rotary Foundation Board and Trustees. Current trustees Andrew Bales, Sarah Clish, Pat Fox, Clarence Stone, Sue Smith and Kathy Wiley were nominated and approved for new two-years terms starting in 2020. Christine Burroughs and Tom Coombs were nominated and approved to serve two-years terms.
Sarah Clish was nominated as the new Vice-President of Grants; Chris Duke as new Vice-President of Finance; and Clarence Stone as President of the Foundation. All were approved.
The membership then approved a change to the club’s bylaws creating a seven-member Personnel Committee to evaluate the Executive Director and provide assistance on any Human Resource issues.
Cindy Faulkner, chair of Board of Directors’ Nominating Committee, announced that President-Elect Fernando had selected Rod Diridon Sr. to serve as Past President Representative on the Club Board. She then presented the nominations of Danny Bozzuto, Steve Ellenberg, Jeff Hare and Elizabeth Monley to be new members of the Board (2020-23). Darren Sparks was nominated to be the new Club Treasurer. All were approved.
She then announced that the committee had selected Steve Borkenhagen to be the nominee for Club President in 2021-22. After a standing ovation, the nomination was approved.
Judy Dixon, chair of the Service to Seniors Committee, announced that on Dec. 17, the group would once again bring a holiday dinner to the low-income seniors at the Morrone Garden Apartments. President Karyn reminded the members about the Holiday Lunch on Dec. 18 and on behalf of the Fun & Friendship Committee, Rafe Ann DuBois invited everyone to the Christmas In the Park event on Dec. 11.
After an introduction by James Williams, our speaker Marcus Shelby spoke eloquently about the relationship between music and social issues, beginning with a 1940 poem from Langston Hughes. He pointed out that some of the musical artists he most admires – Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington – “put themselves in the issues” of the day. He spoke about his creation of “Beyond Blues: A Prison Oratorio,” a commissioned piece that dealt with mass incarceration and the prison-industrial complex. He also talked – and often demonstrated with music – how music in the slave era, the blues era of the 1920s and the civil rights movement of the 1950s-60s “was the weapon of choice” for those fighting injustice. He finished his talk by playing part of Cannonball Adderley’s “Work Song,” first recorded in 1960.
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President Karyn then thanked Marcus for his remarks and adjourned the meeting at 1:20 p.m.
Summary submitted by Charlie McCollum, Meeting Summaries Committee.
Photos taken by Dick Conniff, Photography Committee. Please click here to see the full set.
