Past President John Delaney gaveled the meeting to order.  President Mary was off gallivanting.
 
Pledge:  Nicole Armstrong
 
Invocation:  Bob Doerr
 
Sunshine:   In Dave Vaughn we have lost a good friend, a warm, gentle human being and a long term Rotary member.  He will be memorialized at the Hillsborough Racquet Club on Friday at 11 AM.
We have been notified of the death in Japan of former member Saburo Kamata.  Saburo came to us from Brazil where he was the founding member of his Rotary Club there.  He was instrumental, along with Joe McKane and Dave Vaughn in creating our relationship with the Edogawa Club of Japan and our Pacific Rim committee that created many fine programs with the Pacific Rim communities.
Guests:  Noted local heart surgeon, Dr. Dan Ullyot was introduced by Cheryl Fama.  He should be a member.   An outstanding mechanic, he was even able to repair Stan Moore who, like the Tin Man, was transformed.  We would also like to have Tom Mohr back in the fold.  We were happy to see him visit.
Someone identified Francois X. Sorba for me.  I need to get to Rotary more.  Next time Francois I will introduce myself.
There were some announcements. 
 
Kelvin Chiu was semi-inducted as a new member by Nicole Armstrong.  Official induction will await the return of President Murphy.  Through clever questioning we learned that Kelvin’s childhood nickname was Cat.  The folks on Wall Street would be well advised to take that under advisement.  Kelvin is a principle and co-manager of Equipoise Capital Partners, LLC, and partner in several other investment groups.  He is a graduate of Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan among other institutions.  You can go to his blog, (Kelvinchiu.com) for some savvy financial tips.  He lives in Cupertino but travels all over the Bay Area.  Somehow Bob Doerr found him.  Welcome Kelvin.
 
Acting President Delaney read a letter from the children of Bob Davidson that came along with a donation of $6,700 to the service fund of Burlingame Rotary.  It is difficult this week to write of the loss of some very significant Burlingame Rotarians.  Bob was simply a prince.   He, like Dave is much missed.  Bob’s children also clearly have his generous spirit.
Speaker of the Day:  Michael Brownrigg has just finished his term as Mayor of Burlingame.  His presentation was on the state of the city.  Michael is a founding partner of a new financial services company called Total Impact Advisors (http://www.totalimpactadvisors.com).  Prior to participation in the financial investment world he served the United States in the diplomatic corp.  He has been a member of the council since 2009. 
 
He feels that historically Burlingame has been in the “outer” urban world versus today when we seem to be in the thick of things as Silicon Valley has crept up to enfold us.  The city budget was 35 million in 2005, 37 million in 2010 and 55 million today.  
The council has made some good choices recently in beginning to pay down the $80 million unfunded city worker medical insurance liability.  The pension liabilities are in better shape.  
1000 kids have been added to the public schools in the past 5 years.
A plan for the old drive-in theater site is getting closer to fruition.  Apparently there is an 800,000 sq. ft. office building proposal which may house the most innovative of businesses.
The 3700 hotel rooms in Burlingame are now the largest contributor to the budget, supplanting the auto dealers.
Michael sees it as a goal to expand the Burlingame Avenue energy to Howard and the surrounding streets.  There is a great opportunity to move in that direction as the old Post Office site is developed.  Another parking structure will be high on the agenda. 
Did you know we have a minor league soccer team?  The Burlingame Dragons.  We have become a little, big league.
We are 52% renters, so there is an economic mix.  Have you checked the rents lately?
Cannabis clubs in Burlingame? 
The Peninsula off-ramp is still too hot to handle.
Generous praise was given to City Manager Lisa Goldman and all her staff. Well deserved.
Thanks Michael.  Come back and speak of your diplomatic career.
 
 
Upcoming Programs:  
January 12:  The possibilities look good per most recent Program Grid. (Ed.)
January 19:  No meeting – MLK Day
January 25:  See January 12 above. (Ed.)