Paul Coleman, International Money Laundering
Pete Ratto,
GGBC Editor In Chief
This is my first meeting since I returned from the American Public Transit Association’s
Mobility Conference. Of course, this was a virtual conference, so I was sitting at this same desk, at this same time, looking at this same computer screen. Just a different cast of characters. It was a good conference though, so I’m not complaining. My thanks to Bill Buchanan for writing this column in my absence.
This morning I logged-on just a couple minutes late and Tony Woodall, Hedy Kaveh and Hugh Tuck were already there. Tony and Hedy were sitting at their desks, but Hugh was already out walking through the neighborhood. Has perennial early arriver Arlen Kertz gotten used to sleeping in? This morning he appeared on-line at 7:40AM. And no, Arlen wasn’t sleeping in. He has a new computer and the learning curve is steep. We did have another early arriver to replace Arlen though; Tim Durkin. Tim did have an ulterior motive. Ethan Allen is scheduled to make a delivery. Our speaker, Paul Coleman, joined us at 7:02AM. Although in the Turks and Caicos it’s 10:02AM. So, President Craig Adams didn’t have to worry about delaying the start of our meeting. We did have a substitute ringer this morning. Since Bert Hill is in transit on his way back from Washington, Joel Panzer used his brass bell in place of Bert’s artillery shell cup. President Craig called GGBC Zoom meeting number fifty-four, or GGBC meeting 3,655 to order right on time. We started off a bit slower than usual this morning with only sixteen participants at the start of our meeting. Not to worry though. By the time the speaker was introduced, we had forty participants.
We had three guests this morning. Patricia Fripp hosted Brian Head, here for his second meeting. Brian lived in San Francisco on Geary (he didn’t say if it was Geary Street or Geary Boulevard) in ’85, although now he’s an educator living in San Diego. Susan Roane’s guest was Michael Schein from New York City. He’s the author of “The Hype Handbook”, which will tell you how to create, what else, hype. President Craig hosted Bob Bednarz, here for his sixth meeting. If we weren’t so close Bob’s air date, I would plug Bob’s Coffee Chat, as this week’s guest is Steven Campbell. Also, one of our mystery guests from the March 10th meeting has been claimed. Jim Simpson hosted “eseib”, who is Dr. Erwin Seibel, Professor Emeritus from San Francisco State University. Dr. Seibel isn’t a medical doctor, his PhD is in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science.
Excuses requested for this morning from Steve Shain for Jeannine Spencer, Johnson You and Stan Ellexson. Of course, since Jeannine, Johnson and Stan are no longer members, they really don’t need an excuse for missing a meeting. Steve also requested an excuse for Terry Cowhey, who is still a member and has a standing doctor’s appointment every Wednesday morning. Betty Taisch excused Rich Wank who is skiing.
Excuses requested for next week; Hedy Kaveh is bringing his Dad to Kaiser in San Rafael for some surgery. We also have a member who broke a tooth and is going to the dentist next week. Only problem, I can’t read my own writing, so I’m not sure who it is.
This week’s Zoom background highlights; Tony Woodall was using his official “Goal Getting Podcast” background featuring the Space Shuttle. Speaker Paul Coleman had his own “Coleman on Compliance” background. Guest Bob Bednarz had the verdant green hills of West Marin as his background. Two weeks ago I expressed my disappointment that Reg Young didn’t use his shot of one of Oranjestad’s (Aruba) double-decked, open streetcars which deprived me of a chance to display my unmatched store of obscure rail rolling stock knowledge. In order to humor me, this morning Reg used an even better shot of an Oranjestad double-decked streetcar. What makes these cars special? They are zero emission, hydrogen fuel cell/electric hybrids. Built in Chatsworth, California by TIG/m Modern Street Railways. Oranjestad has four of them, two double decks and two single decks. Plus, all of these cars are equipped with wheelchair lifts and are fully ADA compliant. Again, I have a SamTrans meeting where members of the tax paying public will be welcomed to participate. This warrants the use of another very current subject as my background to show them how we’re spending their tax dollars. Back on March 3rd I used a shot of Caltrain’s first complete set of Stadler KISS electric multiple unit cars on their way to the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado for testing. Well, they made it to the TTC and this morning’s background shows them under wire and running at 90mph on the high speed test track. Photo credit to Aaron Miller of Stadler-US.
We were joined this morning by Judge John Stewart who was using his first desktop computer. John likes the desktop for Zoom meetings. It’s much more user friendly than a smart phone. Now that John is officially retired from the bench, he’s followed in the footsteps of all the other GGBC’s retired judges and is now working for JAMS.
After Reg Young finished his self-introduction, Tim Durkin said Reg missed his calling and should have been a PA or radio/TV announcer. Reg didn’t quite miss it though, as he was the emcee for his weekly jazz show at the long gone Bistro Yoffi on Chestnut Street.
Did we get Zoom bombed this morning, as we were joined by “Cindy Carter?” Nope it was just Rickey Wilsonborrowing his significant other’s Zoom sign-on. Rickey reports Mike Hanlon is doing just fine minus a big toe and Rickey took Mike out to Salt & Stone in Kenwood for Mike’s birthday. After lunch, they took a tour around Mike’sneighborhood in Santa Rosa which is completely surrounded by fire damage. Rickey also pointed out all our female members owe a debt of gratitude to Mike and his fellow Judges. It was Mike who brought up that Judges and City officials cannot belong to a club that discriminates and doesn’t admit women. Even if your bylaws say women can be members, you actually have to admit them to qualify.
Patricia Fripp says she misses Mike’s “Year in Review” slide show, which was always the first program of the new year, right after Mike conducted the swearing-in of our new President and Board. Actually, it was a slide show without slides. You had to be there to appreciate it. My words cannot do it justice.
Members that have returned; Gary McKinsey is back from his trip to Disney World with the Grandkids.
Now that he’s found his lap top, Tom Jacobs was on-line uncharacteristically early. His car rally opposing changing the name both Sir Francis Drake High School and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard was this past Sunday. Since Tom had the most signs on his car, he got to be the leader. Tom didn’t take my advice about holding up flyers, signs or posters to your computer’s camera and expecting me to read them from that tiny Zoom box. He also greatly exceeded the four line rule this morning. Since Tom missed almost a year’s worth of meetings, he had a lot to say.
All Joel Panzer has to say is, “remember Army Street.”
Due to her balcony being torn down this morning, Susan Roane had to move to a different room to join our Zoom meeting. Susan is sad that her alma mater, the Illinois Fighting Illini, who was the number one seed, was eliminated from the NCAA Basketball Tournament by Loyola Chicago. Of course, Loyola had 101 year old Sister Jean giving the Malocchio (evil eye) to the Fighting Illini.
Michael Sera reminds us he will be our speaker on April 7th and gives us a good tip in light of the uptick in violent assaults. Always maintain situational awareness.
It has been a year since Hugh Tuck’s Brother passed and Hugh was finally able to have his funeral mass.
So, Marty Mijalski told us about Mr. Smith, who went skiing and got caught in an avalanche. Surprisingly, he was uninjured, but trapped by all the snow. Several hours later, he was found by a rescue party. To reassure Mr. Smith, they shouted down to him, “we’re from the Red Cross!” To which Mr. Smith replied, “sorry, I already gave at the office!”
Well, now that Sonoma County has clawed up into the red tier, Alan Garber says a lot more restaurants and wineries have opened up. Maybe this weekend, take a ride up to the Valley of the Moon, as they could use the business. Garber’swife Michele is in New York City. He misses her though, as now he doesn’t have anyone to argue with. Garber was mailing a letter at the post office and noticed his not-so-bright neighbor was talking into an envelope. He asked her, “what are you doing?” The neighbor replied, “I’m sending a voicemail.”
So, if we could award the Golden Chicken via Zoom, who would get it this morning; Mijalski or Garber?
Here’s a special event reminder; coming up on Tuesday at 5:30PM we’re having the GGBC’s first “Bourbon with Betty” hosted by Betty Taisch. Of course, it’s on Zoom. You can use our usual Zoom sign-on to join the festivities. Oh, and “Bourbon with Betty” isn’t the official name. That suggestion came up first and I liked it more than the other suggestions. You don’t have to drink bourbon either.
Mike Milstein really does like his bagels. Again, Mike recommends you try Midnight Bagel, which is a pop-up at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. They were recently featured in an article in the New York Times which says these are among the best bagels in America. Yes, better than New York bagels. Only problem, they are now so popular you must order on-line and the next available date to fill your order is June 5th.
Well, Tana Hope isn’t eating too many bagels. She’s already lost her COVID ten.
Tom Kowalski is ecstatic. Now that his cataract surgery is fully healed, he can now see well enough to read without glasses!
This week’s book recommendations; from Tony Woodall, “Humanocracy” by Gary Hamel. It’s about developing a new style of corporate culture. If you like poetry, Bill Buchanan suggests picking up a copy of “American Primitive” by Mary Oliver. It contains fifty poems about nature, the humanity in love and the wilderness of America. It’s also a Pulitzer Prize winner. Ylma Gutierrez really liked “How to Work a Room” by our own Susan Roane.
This week’s movie recommendation that’s not really a recommendation; from Betty Taisch, “Mank”. It’s about the screenwriter who wrote “Citizen Kane.” While it was nominated for a bunch of awards, everybody in Betty’s movie group watched it and none of them liked it. Betty suggests you just watch “Citizen Kane.”
I can’t believe it’s almost April and your Treasurer Ray Siotto is still reminding the membership that dues be due. Only $100.00 and you can even pay via Zelle at; RaySiotto@iCloud.com. Or you can send us a check, or you can break into your kids or Grandkids piggybank and pay us in dimes, nickels and pennies. We do not accept Bitcoin.
This morning Reg Young did not have any current member birthdays. But today is our old member and official magician of the GGBC, Heather Rogers’ birthday. Also, for all our GGBC San Francisco Giants fans, I’m going to include that Buster Posey’s birthday is on Saturday.
Even though I’m a bit late, I’d like to acknowledge the passing on March 6th of our former member, Richard “Chief Johnny” Jongordon at the age of 98. Chief Johnny was the last surviving crew member of the Cruiser USS San Francisco who was aboard during the naval battle of Guadalcanal. The USS San Francisco earned seventeen Battle Stars during World War II and Chief Johnny was aboard for all seventeen engagements.
During our self-introductions this morning, President Craig mentioned we were running short on time and to please limit your comments. Only that didn’t seem to make any impact and the long intros and comments continued. So I’ll say it again, just like two weeks ago. During self-introductions when time is running short and you’re asked by President Craig to limit your comments, do so. We never want to deprive our speakers of their full allocation of time and even though with Zoom we can run over; we have members that have to start work and need to log-off on time. When the speaker starts seven minutes late, that’s almost a quarter of their time. You can always save that golden nugget of a comment for next week.
