9-5-07 Rotary Summary

(More photos available after text)

Rotarians and guests were greeted by Los Amigos Committee chaired by PETER PABST. 

President JULIE MATSUSHIMA rang the bell to welcome us to meeting #4668 of the Rotary Club of San Jose, followed by the singing of God Bless America led by RAY SILVA and PAUL TUMASON.  PAUL MASQUELIER delivered the invocation, then JOHN McLEOD reported the news and the usual “pithy witticisms.” 

The traveling microphones were handled by Red Badgers GREGORY KEPFERLE and WARREN HEGG as visiting Rotarians and Rotarians with guests were introduced.  PAT DANDO introduced a visiting delegation from Suzhou, China, part of the San Jose/China Economic Development Exchange Committee.  Pat noted that China has no Rotary Club and it is hoped that the relationship between our two cities will help establish a Club in that region.

President Julie then asked ROD DIRIDON, SR. and DAVID DOWN to introduce two new members to our Club: MARK NOVAK of San Jose State University, and CAPTAIN RICHARD LARSON of the Salvation Army.  Welcome to our new members (who nearly became older members awaiting David to complete his introduction).

President Julie also presented a Blue Badge to IRENE CARRION-UPSON.  Congratulations, Irene.

JIM NIELSEN noted the successful summer barbeque, thanking those who attended and those who participated in preparing the wonderful event.

STEW PARK opened the “Money Mike.”  Recall this is an opportunity for members to contribute $100 to the Rotary Endowment in exchange for one-minute to announce anything they want (legally, of course).  In this case, yours truly – BRIAN ADAMS – spoke on behalf of GARY SILVER who wanted our Club to acknowledge and pay tribute to Mrs. Jimmi Dawson, wife of LARRY DAWSON – a member of our Club since 1991.  As we have witnessed for several years, Mrs. Dawson has provided “service above self” in bringing her husband to our meetings each week.  She has touched our collective hearts with her loyalty, love and dedication, and our members expressed gratitude and respect with a standing ovation.

Following that moment, past-president MEL MATSUSHIMA was called upon by President Julie to note the August 21 birth of their granddaughter, Audrey.  Mel noted that Audrey was born the same day – although years apart – from their twin granddaughters.  “God must have known that our memories are failing,” joked Mel.

The aforementioned Pat Dando then introduced today’s guest speaker, Steve Poizner, California Insurance Commissioner.  Steve was sworn into office in January 2007.  Prior to his political journey, Steve was a highly successful businessman and entrepreneur.  As Insurance Commissioner, he oversees the California Department of Insurance, the largest consumer protection agency in the state.  CDI has more than 1,300 employees, a $200 million budget, and regulates more than one-seventh of the California economy.

Some highlights of Commissioner Poizner’s remarks:

• His teenage daughter is driving and wants her own car.  “As a father and insurance commissioner, I lose sleep over this every night,” he said.
• Since taking office nine months ago, among his involvement he has worked in cracking down on insurance fraud, has declared an insurance emergency when crops froze, and has spoken to 250 families in South Lake Tahoe who lost their homes through fires.
• Commissioner Poizner says the number one question he has been asked by his team is: “Why on Earth are you in politics?”  He explains that “California is at a crossroads” and that our economy is “in jeopardy.”  He went on to explain that in 1999, California was the 6th largest economy in the world, and last year it was number 8 and falling.  “This state has gone from first to worst in many categories,” he said.  In terms of poor infrastructure, he indicated that “just yesterday, California lost 500,000 hours of productivity” while motorists were in traffic.
• He recommends the book The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman as it addresses the global economy and its transformation, and that a series of events has caused significant changes.  “The {state} leadership and the legislature are oblivious to these changes,” said Poizner.  He then asked, “What does this have to do with being Insurance Commissioner?  Nothing 20 years ago,” when it was an appointed position.  Now, however, as an elected official, Poizner said he, “ can have a positive economic impact …”
• As priorities, Poizner said he will work to reduce insurance costs by attacking insurance fraud (citing $15 billion a year in insurance fraud in California); enforce the laws and help low-income families obtain auto insurance (he noted that 25 percent of all drivers in California are uninsured); and he has launched a PPO Report Card providing performance data on health insurance companies (he noted that health insurance in California has doubled in the past five years, growing at 9 percent each year). 
• Poizner called President Teddy Roosevelt his role model and said among his favorite quotes is: “Do what you can with what you have where you are.”  Based on his address to us today and his goals, that quote summarizes Commissioner Poizner’s outlook on his position.

During Q&A, we learned that Poizner supports immigration reform, and said that undocumented drivers are able to purchase auto insurance, that the prospects for Universal Health Insurance in California is “pretty close to zero, “ largely due to lack of consensus, and that in terms of what he may do in 2010, “a lot of people are encouraging me to run for higher office.”

President Julie thanked our speaker and noted that, in his honor, the Club has made a donation to the Wheelchair Foundation to a young man in Vietnam.  The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.

Next week: our program will be a visit from our District Governor, Dick Lohmiller.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Adams

Rotary Summary Committee

 

Photos Provided By: Paul Tumason

  

     New Member Mark Novak

New Member Captain Richard Larson with sponsor David Down  

Money Mike - Mel Matsushima & Pesident Julie

Money Mike - Brian Adams (Larry & Jimmi Dawson)

Pat Dando                          

                Speaker - Steve Poizner, California Insurance Commissioner