MORAGA
ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
January 21, 2020
Next Celebration: January 28, 2020
12 noon – Loto Rickman speaking on
Measles in Samoa
At Michael’s Restaurant, Moraga (right
next to Safeway)
Greeter/Invocation – Dianne Wilson
Upcoming Programs:
Feb 4 – no meeting
Feb 5 – Joint Fab Five club meeting at the
Rossmoor Event Center
Wow. We were greeted by this beautiful
new sign at the entrance to Moraga
Rotary’s new digs at Michael’s
Restaurant. Thank you, John Erickson
for putting the sign together. It will stand
outside the restaurant whenever we
have a meeting. It will tell all who see it
that another special Rotary gathering is
taking place inside.
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Another very nice meeting at Michael’s
Restaurant. Lunch was pulled pork
sandwiches on large toasted buns,
French fries, cole-slaw and a big platter
of cookies. Our favorite bartender,
Gunnar Graham was there to take care
of us.
Guests at today’s meeting were today’s
speaker, Cynthia Battenberg, Moraga
Town Manager; Kathe Nelson,
Executive Director Moraga Chamber of
Commerce; Lauren Hewitt, Team
Member with Mark Hoogs’ Moraga State
Farm Insurance office; and Honorary
Moraga Rotarian, Clyde Wilson.
Linda May did the invocation reminding
us of several things:
• Keep your words soft and sweet
because you might have to eat
them.
• If you can’t be kind, be vague.
• If you lend $20 to someone and
they never return it – it was
probably worth it to be rid of them.
 • Never put both feet in your mouth
at one time.
• The second mouse gets the
cheese.
• A truly happy person can enjoy the
scenery on life’s detours.
• Some mistakes are too much fun
not to repeat.
Linda then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
~Announcements~
Al Simonsen is in the hospital and his
situation is very dire. The family is
gathering, and visitors are not
encouraged.
Stephanie Dickerson spoke briefly
about Measure M which is on the ballot
for the next election. This is an
extension of an existing school tax. The
measure would cost $192 per parcel
and Stephanie mentioned that a similar
tax in Lafayette is costing $509 per
parcel. A sign-up sheet was passed so
that people might indicate support for
the measure.
Co-President Evie Michon needs to
hear from you if you will attend the
February 5th Joint Fab Five club meeting
in Rossmoor. The lunch cost is
$35/person and we need to send a
check and list of attendees in advance
of the event.
Co-President Debbie Koo corrected
the last club newsletter. The editor got it
wrong. Funds collected for the
Lumumba Children’s Library & Learning
Center in the Congo total $50,000 at this
time – not $120,000. Getting to
$120,000 is this year’s goal. The
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$50,000 so far collected purchased the
land and covered the initial planning
work.
President Elect Brian South told us
that Larry Tessler was hospitalized but
is recovering swiftly. He is resuming
Chamber of Commerce duties and
feeling better.
• On the recent gun violence here in
Moraga, Brian said he can’t say
much except that the Town is
Safe. All the people who were shot
survived. He suggests everyone
sign up for Nixle Alerts. This is a
public safety alerting tool.
• Recently there were 170 illegal
withdrawals from the local Wells
Fargo Bank branch. They caught
the perpetrator who is part of a
larger ring of thieves.
• Brian also warned about skimming
devices locally. The ATM at Wells
Fargo Bank was skimmed and
there have been incidents of
skimmers at local gas stations. He
says before you use a card reader
at a gas station check to be sure
the state seal is intact, jiggle the
reader to be sure it isn’t loose and
look for a little camera that doesn’t
seem to belong to the pump or
bank ATM unit. Sometimes
cameras are used to capture PIN
numbers and card info.
Co-Pres Debbie Koo asked us all to go
out and find auction items for Night at
the Races. She reminds us that as
members we are asked to pursue or
produce auction items for a value of
$200. Alternatively, in lieu of an auction
item a donation of $200 works too.
Also please be on the look-out for folks
who might be good weekly speakers for
our meetings.
~ Happy Bucks & Recognitions~
Mike McCluer, the new Vice Mayor of
Moraga, travelled to Colorado for his
daughter’s birthday. They had a great
time at Breckinridge Ski Resort. Mike
spun the Wheel of Misfortune and paid a
“Happy Fine” of $8.
Co-Pres Debbie Koo had a bunch of
Happy Bucks:
• $10 Happy Bucks for Frank, Gary,
Tony and John setting up last
week’s big meeting at the Moraga
Country Club.
• $1 Happy Buck for this month’s
newsletter editor summarizing the
presentation of Paul Freedman on
the Congo project.
• $2 Happy Buck for the wonderful
meeting that Debbie and Paul
Freedman had with Cliff
Dochterman at Moraga Royale.
Debbie said, “It is always so
inspiring to converse with Cliff.”
• $1 Happy Buck for Jim Olsen
Past President Ron Mucovich along
with his wife, Yelena visited Chicago for
Christmas where they had a great time
with family. Ron spun the Wheel of
Misfortune which hit him with a huge
fine of $35!
Dianne Wilson traveled with husband
Clyde and some family members to
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Mexico. The Wheel was gentle this time
and assigned Dianne a fine of $8.
Rich Render and wife, Peg traveled to
Portland for a Christmas with their
daughter. They drove and it was a
wonderful trip says Rich. He spun the
Wheel for a fine of $10.
Stephanie Dickerson spent Christmas
in Ohio. Her Wheel fine was a gentle $5.
Alka Mulakaluri and husband Bhaskar
drove to Seattle to spend some time
with their grandson. The Wheel
produced a Happy Fine of $20 for this
out of state travel.
Debbie Roessler had $2 Happy Bucks
because she and Lou attended the
recent ARF Affair where Tony LaRussa
was a guest.
~Program~
Mike McClure introduced today’s
speaker, Cynthia Battenberg Moraga
Town Manager. Cynthia has been with
us for two years. She is a graduate of
U.C. Berkeley for her BA and then an
MBA from the Anderson School in Los
Angeles. She has a finance background,
has spent 16 years with the City of San
Leandro and now makes her home in
Oakland.
Cynthia said the Town of Moraga is a
wonderful place to work. We do have a
lot of things on our plate right now with
funding the recent sinkhole repair and
the Canyon Bridge replacement. The
Town recently received $5 million from
state and federal sources for these two
projects. A recent State of California
audit ranked our community better than
87% of California communities. This is
because Moraga has been conservative
on finances.
To get a better understanding of our
financial situation the Town undertook
four studies. Conclusions were:
• We are well off in the pavement
repair area. A 1% Sales Tax
approved in 2012 to produce
funds of $1 million has actually
generated $1.9 million. Over 50%
of our streets have been done.
• Repair and Maintenance of
Facilities show needs. Currently
there are porta potties at Rancho
Laguna Park because the toilets
are out of service and the Library
has heating plant issues. These
are just a few items. The survey
suggests we need $450,000 per
year for ten years to accomplish
necessary work. This is currently
unfunded.
• Pension Obligation Study shows
that money set aside with CalPers
based on an assumed interest rate
of 71/4% needs review. As interest
rates drop the amount needed
increases and 71/4% is not realistic
anymore. That number must be
lowered. The study suggested we
need to put an additional $1
million per year for 2 years aside
to help us with the unfunded
pension liability.
• Storm Drain Study and the
sinkhole at the gas station in
Rheem show we have a
deteriorating system. Drains were
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put in the ground with a 60-year
expected life and we are now 70+
years along. The Town had a
group of interns gather data on the
existing system identifying
manholes, catch basins, junctions
and the need for larger pipes to
avoid flooding. Since we have not
had a flooding issue the study was
shifted to de-focus flooding which
reduces the financial impact. Still
there is an estimated $540,000
unfunded for storm drains.
There’s been a lot of attention on ways
to save money here in the Town of
Moraga. Savings have produced about
a $1 million overall and we are looking
at whether we might get Measure K
money for storm drains. Perhaps money
could be diverted from streets where we
are looking pretty good.
Cynthia had lots of good things to say
about Moraga – particularly the Police
Department. She said,”The police
always catch the bad guys as we’ve
seen recently.” Last year we were rated
the safest city in the state but the Chief
(Jon King) says we won’t get that
designation next year. Our Moraga
police services cost roughly $174 per
capita. Both Orinda and Lafayette
exceed $200 per capita.
The permitting process has been
updated to allow lower rates for some
fees and permits. The Design Review
Board and Town Planning have been
consolidated to make permitting easier.
Recent business additions show we can
draw business to Moraga – Outdoor
Supply Hardware, the Rheem Theater
which is a jewel, and Canyon Brewery
show what we can do.

The State is doing a lot on housing what

with attacking the homeless issues and
allowing multiple housing units on what
were before single unit properties.
There’s a lot of work to be done keeping
up with these State developments.

The Town Website is being updated and

Cynthia invited all to subscribe to “About
Town” as a way to stay current on Town
developments. A Request for Proposals
has been released for a restaurant and
caterer at the Hacienda. Cynthia said,
“This is a gorgeous 9-acre piece of
property. A hidden jewel.”

The Town is still accepting your

feedback regarding prioritization on the
unfunded needs. Just go to the town
website at www.moraga.ca.org and
check out the “Update on unfunded
needs.” In this topic there is a link for
“Feedback on Unfunded Needs.” When
you complete the survey return it to
townclerk@moraga.ca.us or mail to
Marty McInturf, Town Clerk at 329
Rheem Blvd., Moraga, CA 94556
Left to Right – Co-Pres Evie Michon,
Moraga Town Mgr Cynthia Battenberg
and Co-Pres Debbie Koo
~Moraga Employee of the Month~
Mark Hoog introduced this month’s
Moraga Employee of the Month Lauren
Hewitt. Lauren is a Team Member at
Mark’s recently opened State Farm
Insurance office at 629 Moraga Rd.,
Moraga, CA. She was the first hired and
has been pivotal in the establishment of
the business and office administration.
Mark says, “Lauren can handle
anything.” The Moraga Chamber of
Commerce and Moraga Rotary Club
sponsor the Employee of the Month
Program. Kathe Nelson on behalf of the
Chamber and Co-Pres Debbie Koo and
Evie Michon presented Lauren with a
certificate and gift cards for local
merchants.

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Rotarian Mark Hoog, Chamber of Commerce Exec Dir
Kathe Nelson and Moraga Employee of the Month
Lauren Hewitt
~Upcoming Events~
Don’t forget to get your tickets, horses
and donations for Moraga Rotary,
“Nite at the Races” Just go to
www.moragarotary.org to link to
the Everbright site. Call Frank May
on 925 376-8195 if there are any
questions.
January 25th 6:30 pm Orinda Rotary
Annual Crab Feed Dinner at the
Orinda Masonic Center. Cost
$60/person. Tickets via Orinda
Rotary website.
February 8th (Saturday) 6:00 to 11:00pm
the 15th Annual Holy Trinity
Orthodox Church Crab Feed &
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Dance. Cost $60/person. Tickets
must be purchased in advance.
See reservation form attached.
February 14th Concord Rotary Annual
Dinner-Dance at the Clarion Hotel,
1050 Burnett Ave., Concord. Stay
tuned for updates as the event
gets closer.
February 28th Tahoe City Rotary 4th
Annual Ski Challenge at Northstar,
Lake Tahoe (continental breakfast,
registration, dual giant slalom
tandem courses with individual
and team awards. Ski the day with
fellow Rotarians, apres ski food
(chili, salad & sandwiches, two
drink tickets and awards). See the
website now
www.tahoecityrotary.org for more
info email: mdcgary@gmail.com
March 7 (Saturday): “A Nite at the
Races” annual dinner and event
at the Serbian Trinity Church Hall.
Tickets,donations and horses at
the Moraga Rotary website.
April 18th (Saturday): Moraga Rotary
E-Waste Recycling & Document
Shredding Event – 10 am to
4pm.
~Greeter/Invocator Schedule List ~
January 28 – Dianne Wilson
MORAGA ROTARY DIRECTORS 2019-2022
Co-Presidents Evie Michon & Debbie Koo
President Elect Brian South
Past President Ron Mucovich
Secretary Jennifer Brophy
Treasurer Rich Render
Club Administrator Debbie Roessler
Foundation Chair John Erickson
Youth & Community Service Chair Tony Schoemehl
Public Relations Chair Gary Irwin
Fundraising Chair Frank May
International Service Chair Dianne Wilson
Membership Chair Brian South
Director at Large Mary Sue Erickson
Director at Large Linda May
Advisor to the Board John Erickson
Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell
Advisor to the Board Cliff Dochterman

District Governor 5160 Tina Akins

President, Rotary International Mark Maloney

Newsletter Editor for January – Roger Gregory

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