Michele Calbi introduced Kevin Hanley, Chairman of the Greater Auburn Fire Safe Council. The mission of the Fire Safe Council is to create coordination between and among all of our local fire departments and to promote fire safe practices within the community through outreach, education, and program development, and identify ways to protect the community from wildfire.
The Council meets the 3rd Friday of every month at 9:00 a.m. in Room 10 at the Auburn City Hall.
Kevin titled his remarks as “How to Prevent Catastrophic Wild Land Fire in Placer County” His focus was on pre-fire action. As a result of the Council’s advocacy it has been named as one of the best public/private partnerships in existence. It has received a $2 million dollar grant to treat fuel loading in south Auburn’s Baltimore Ravine and in the American River canyon.
Kevin shared many points:
We are in a war against catastrophic fire
Negligence has consequences
Death can result from negligence
We need to invest adequate resources to win the war against catastrophic fire. We need performance based budgeting.
A question asked was, “Can Auburn avoid the fate of Paradise?” While Einstein described insanity as insisting on doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome, Kevin noted that Auburn Fire’s Chief Spencer and other area fire service leaders seek to change the passive paradigm that we’ve seen for too long. Rather than being passive and wait to respond to fire, we can be pro-active and begin with construction of shaded fuel breaks and the creation of defensible space around our homes and structures.
We need to annually update and follow a Twelve-Step Program to develop and implement:
A Strategic Plan for prevention of catastrophic fire
Implement a comprehensive defense plan for every community
Enforce hazardous vegetation abatement ordinances
County should become a pro-active fire agency through contracts with CalFire & Placer County Fire
Become a pro-active fire agency; release the 2016 fire study
County should hire a forester to streamline CEQA mandates for development of shaded fuel breaks
Pro-actively remove dead trees, open rights of way, and improve fire truck access
Move from a passive to a pro-active chipping program
Develop a biomass program
Every neighborhood should become a Fire Wise Community like Neighborhood Watch
Ensure every Placer resident in the Wildland Urban Interface be informed annually by mail and social media of action steps
Measure fuel reduction results each year.
Kevin Hanley is commended for his leadership and passion that Auburn and Placer County lead the way in planning for the potential of catastrophic fire.
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Meeting Opener
Visiting Rotarians
Jim Gray – Former Auburn Rotary member and current Roseville Rotary member
Garrett Konrad – past president Passport Rotary Club, Auburn
Todd Jenson – Roseville Rotary
Valerie Mebust – President, Roseville Rotary
Guests of Rotarians
Jim Gray – ARD Director (and not the aforementioned Jim Gray)
Melissa – Don Ales’ daughter
Kevin Hanley – Greater Auburn Fire Safe Council
Weekly Trivia Question-
Five Normandy beaches in France were landing points for the Allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Two of those had code names of Utah and Omaha. What was one of the other three? The group queried failed to find a correct answer in the allotted 15 seconds. Any one of the following code-named beaches would have been correct: Juneau, Gold or Sword.
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Announcements
A trial of two stalwart Rotarians was conducted by President Kahl. It seems Bob Richardson was offering remarks to a gathering of professionals when he spied a small sign being held up by Rotarian and Monte Reynolds and cohort Steve Galyardt. The sign stated, FLY IS DOWN. Bob’s face flushed, and he checked. No, the zipper fly was appropriately closed. It was shared that Bob’s presentation actually improved once his stress was relieved. Moving to the present, thus began the trial of culprits Reynolds and Galyardt. The Rotary Four-Way Test principles formed the baseline for the prosecution, a position undertaken by Richardson himself. The jury of peers, all Rotarians present, summarily convicted Reynolds and Galyardt, who each were directed by President Kahl to spin the wheel. One after the other, each dialed up a fine of $20 for breach of the Four-Way Test, Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? …. On behalf of Auburn Rotary, President Kahl apologized to all for the actions of the perpetrators of the would-be joke.
Larry Rolufs was thanked for organizing a very successful Trap Shoot on June 2. Bob Santin was thanked for barbecuing lunch and Cathi Bianchi was thanked for coaching shooters in need.
Visiting Rotarian Garrett Konrad shared word of the Thursday, June 13, 2019 “Passport to Life” seminar being conducted at which attendees will learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation. Twelve individuals who were either donors or recipients of transplantation will attend. Auburn Rotary has reserved a table at the event. Cost is $35 per ticket. Reservations can be made by calling Becky at 707-980-3089 or RSVP to bit.ly/sierrapassportrotary
Don Ales paid $10 and received his Blue Badge. Congratulations, Don.
Steve Galyardt noted there was an error on the annual dues notice mailed to Rotarians. Steve says, “Ignore the notice for the fee of $200 for new Rotarians.”
A sign-up sheet for President Kahl’s Demotion Dinner, scheduled for June 26, 2019, is being distributed. The dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. Cost is $25 per person.
Leonard James announced he has a photo exhibit in San Francisco and another exhibit at the Umpqua Bank in Lincoln, CA.
Steve Galyardt, 2019 recipient of the McCann Award, contributed $100 to Fund D.
Betty Bennett and RYLA student Chloe Godfrind have headed out on a two-day backpacking trip.
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New Member Re-Introduction
Bob Dunstan reintroduced himself to Rotarians with remarks detailing his life story:
Grew up in Sacramento, CA in the house his grandfather built in 1915
Attended Kit Carson Jr. High; attended Sacramento High School
Graduated CSU Sacramento with a degree in Finance and took a job in Marysville, CA
Sport of choice was archery. Shot competitively for seven years. Gave up archery when a job, car and girlfriend came along.
Relocated from Marysville when he was offered a job by Placer County. Relocation fulfilled a desire to have his children attend schools with greater accountability than what he observed in Marysville during the era. His children are Colfax High School graduates and Bob is proud of son Chris, a CSU Chico graduate and now a professional brewer for a micro-brewery, and daughter Marie, also a university graduate and a professional software consultant.
First marriage ended in divorce. Married Phyllis in 2000.
Joined Rotary 30 years ago. Was Auburn Rotary President 2004-2005. During his term saw Project Auburn through its second year; saw the Scholarship Fund reach $200,000; chartered the Interact Club at Placer High School; has led two major international projects – the Casa Hogar Project in Mexico and the potable water project in Africa, a project that has recently come to its conclusion. Has attended three international conventions.
