February 28
Carmen Trutanich
"Why I Should Be Re-elected"

It was a full house on Valentines day! Probably because we are all so full of love =)

Diane Good led pledge, Art Henry gave the Invocation, also explaining "Valentine's Day"

Nevin Senkan's guests were introduced as well as Catherine da Gama, a Realtor, special guest, and visiting Rotarian from Woodland Hills. David Friedman introduced his brother Don, his mother Sunny, and David was fined for his daughter's recent engagement $100! Pres Dwight remarked "Who's happier on Valentine's Day than a jeweler?" David mentioned his daughter had to go to Israel to meet a boy from the San Fernando Valley ;)

Renaldo, our frequent visitor from the Beverly Hills Club is going to NY for one year and invited us to the New York Rotary Club there that meets on 44th St. every Monday for lunch. There are 100 members and many UN members, his # is (310) 739-1517 if we want to do a make up on the East coast!

Our Pres Dwight was also fined for his beautiful new granddaughter (Magdelena) $100. PDG Bill Goodwin agreed the President's immunity is not total. David Friedman, inspired to courage with so much family at the table, spoke up and was promptly fined another $50.

February Birthdays:

• Leo Tseng
• Lenny Friedman
• Art Henry
• Bill Goodwyn

PE Mark Rogo showed some amazing videos about RI and encouraged us to go to theRotary website, to check out all the activity! He then asked us all to kindly watch the slides on our website which will be shared each week of our members' activities.   We are ramping up our communication!

Foundation Chair Steve Day presented Paul Harris pins to: Sally Brant with one sapphire, Mark Rogo with four sapphires, and Jim Collins with two Rubies - thank you!!!

John Heidt shared his Rotary moment this week of his father-in-law being treated for lung cancer now at UCLA and has new hope with great treatment here!

Ed Jackson went to Uni High and shared that all our Rotary contests were filled and he worked with another former Uni student so it was a great Rotary moment.

Phil Gabriel shared that he and his daughter will be volunteering to help dog adoption at the Petco on Westwood just south of Santa Monica if anyone is looking to adopt or knows someone who is, they can be of help to you!

Program Chair Sally Brant introduced our speaker: Michael Galvin, Director of Special Projects: Port of Los Angeles 

The Port of Los Angeles, America's Port® and the premier gateway for international commerce, is located in San Pedro Bay, 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. This thriving seaport not only sustains its competitive edge with record-setting cargo operations, but is also known for groundbreaking environmental initiatives, progressive security measures, diverse recreational and educational facilities, and LA's emerging waterfront destination.

The Port of Los Angeles encompasses 7,500 acres of land and water along 43 miles of waterfront. It features 24 passenger and cargo terminals, including automobile, breakbulk, container, dry and liquid bulk, and warehouse facilities that handle billions of dollars' worth of cargo each year.

Against the backdrop of international trade and shipping, the Port of Los Angeles also boasts the World Cruise Center, quaint Ports O' Call Village, welcoming Vincent Thomas Bridge, signature Fanfare Fountains and Water Features, historic Angels Gate Lighthouse, vintage Waterfront Red Car Line, and new green space at 22nd Street and Wilmington Waterfront parks. The Port is now home to two historic U.S. Naval ships open for public tours: the SS Lane Victory and USS Iowa. Also new to the LA Waterfront are WWII-era warehouses that have been transformed into CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, a permanent craft marketplace, featuring local artists and designers.

Complementing its busy terminal operations with green alternatives, the Port of Los Angeles remains committed to managing resources and conducting developments and operations in both an environmentally and fiscally responsible manner. With an exceptional credit record, the Port maintains an AA bond rating, the highest rating attainable for self-funded ports. The Port also wields tremendous economic impact, generating employment for more than 3 million Americans nationwide. In California alone, nearly 1 million jobs are related to trade though the Port of Los Angeles.

Our speaker showed maps of the San Pedro bay port complex, explained how the Los Angeles Port differs from the Long Beach Port. They actually compete to make money out of leasing and development.

In 2012 they handled 8.1 million TEUs (20-foot containers) Los Angeles is #1 in US (Long beach is #2) and #5 in the world

The LA Port is on 7500 acres and provides 1 million jobs or 1 in 8 in Los Angeles. It is a Statewide and national asset to move goods and provide consumers what they need. As you can imagine, it has changed quite a bit in last 100 years. At one point it was the biggest tuna fishery, but no more because of over- fishing.

Photos were shown of the Finger Piers on Terminal Island in 1968 and Michael shared how it is changing from a manual workforce to a different kind of robotic and engineered workforce and soon to have automated terminals.

Most money is made in containers but also has significant infrastructure such as:

Rail, break bulk ( autos, fruit, cement), liquid (crude and refined goods), cruise, fishing for bait and squid not tuna anymore, commercial, tourism and recreation, 4,000 recreation slips, 500 live-aboards.

Our port has the best rail systems in the country - 40% of our country's cargo is coming thru these ports.

When the housing industry is booming so is the port, and so on in electronics, auto parts, apparel, etc. Michael then showed "the journey of Kevin's homework" -- exporting scrap to China for recycling which comes back to us as new finished products.

The Bridge to Breakwater initiative wants to bring waterfront recreational access from the St. Thomas bridge to create more of a tourist attraction.

He shared the Wilmington Master Plan Concepts, San Pedro waterfront trying to de-industrialize the area.

Fanfare Fountain is the centerpiece built by same designer as the Las Vegas Bellagio and meant to be a central representative of the port's recreational area.

The Port has responded to the community's needs for less emissions "Your port and the environment" shared the ports environmental initiatives and showed the progress already made.  Target pollutants are DPM, NOx, and SOx. He discussed Alternative Maritime Power, low sulfur fuel requirements, and the Port's five- year commitments to air quality. Also, all containers are screened for radioactive material-a big concern of the audience.

Next week, Eric Garcetti will tell us "Why I want to be Mayor."

-YYE Aly Shoji