Meeting Sept 15, 2008 - Clark Kelso by Staff, RCS

John McIntyre Chair of the Day

Jim Craig Featured Rotarian

J. Clark Kelso comes to the California Prison Health Care Receivership with over fifteen years of experience in a wide variety of positions in all three branches of state government. Throughout this service, he has successfully improved state programs and operations while developing a well-known reputation for independence, integrity, and collaborative leadership.

In the 1990s, Kelso worked with the California Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts. His efforts in support of unification of the state's trial courts, led to his receipt of the 1998 Bernard E. Witkin Amicus Curiae Award, the highest honor given to an individual other than a member of the judiciary for outstanding contributions to California's courts.

In June 2002, Kelso was appointed to serve as the State's Chief Information Officer charged with restoring the state's crumbling information technology program. Kelso turned the state's information technology program around, in two years moving the state from 47th to 12th in Brown University's annual e-government report. Kelso also supported the development of state policies encouraging health information technologies and data sharing to improve quality, transparency, and accountability in public and private health care delivery systems. Meeting Recap Sept 8 2008 by Stephen Heath

Last Meeting...

At a time when most people are worried about the high cost of education, Hal Shipley worries more about the high cost of the lack of education.

Shipley, a long-time member of Elk Grove Rotary and past District 5180 Governor, was Rotary Club of Sacramento's guest speaker Sept. 8 for International Literacy day.

Introduced by Chair of the Day Roy Alexander, Shipley told Rotarians that the cost of illiteracy approaches $300 billion annually and hits in ways not always readily visible.

"About 49% of adults cannot read past the fourth grade level," said Shipley, who chairs the District's Literacy Committee. "That translates to about 14 or 15 million people in California."

Another way of looking at that: About 158,000 people in Sacramento County alone cannot read the state's driver's handbook (which is written at the 6th grade level).

"50% of adults cannot fill out an application for employment correctly," Shipley stated. "And 65% of the inmates in state prisons are functionally illiterate.

"Currently, 40% of the jobs in the state require only limited skills, but 49% of adults have only limited skills and are competing for those jobs.

"Worse, among newer jobs being created, only 27% require just limited skills. You can see what this means for the state's unemployment rate and economic future."

Shipley urged Rotarians to get involved in literacy efforts and to consider whether their own organizations might benefit from an in-house literacy program.

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President Tim Pinkney pinned three new club members, all three employees of Otto Construction and all three sponsored by Jim Craig: Carl Barrett, Allison Otto and Mike Feuz.

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Featured Rotarian was Ken Cross of Habitat for Humanity, who talked about his nonprofit's work and offered Rotarians the opportunity to take a tour of Habitat's new home.

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Next Monday's meeting also will be at the Radisson. Guest speaker is Clark Kelso, successor to Robert Sillen as health care "czar" for California's prison system.

- SRH Featured Rotarian - Sept 8, 2008 by RCS Staff

Ken Cross - Nonprofit-Habitat for Humanity

Our Mission:

To build a sustaining spirit of community through a dedicated partnership between empowered families, volunteers, community organizations, and businesses in the Sacramento Region. Building quality homes through these unique partnerships nurtures families, helps create a more secure environment for future generations, strengthens our neighborhoods and unifies our local communities. Golf 4 Kids - September 29, 2008 by Staff, RCS

You make a difference in children's lives.

Your generous donation supports physical and health impaired children in our area. Funds provide water therapy, adaptive equipment and materials, and much more. Some of these helpful programs would not exist if it were not for this Rotary club. Please consider a sponsorship today. Call Jenifer at 929-2992 for more information. Sponsorship Opportunities Rotary Youth Exchange Opportunity by RCS Staff

RCS would like to sponsor two outbound students in 2009/2010. This is a unique opportunity for a young person to be an ambassador of goodwill and become fluent in a foreign language. Students live with Rotary host families, attend school and have many in-country travel opportunities. Interviews will begin in November. Contact Thom Gilbert or the RCS office with names of any family member that would like to be considered for the program. Learn more at: Rotary Youth Programs Rotaplast Presentations by Staff, RCS

Learn about the RCS sponsored Rotaplast mission.

Susan Sheridan and Eric Solis will be discussing the Rotary Club of Sacramento sponsored Rotaplast mission that took place in El Salvador. If you previously missed this presentation, you have two make up opportunities.

September 12th West Sacramento Rotary Club Noon at the Pheasant Club

September 30th West Sac Centennial Rotary 7 am at Baker's Square restaurant 1235 Harbor Blvd.