There was a certain mood in the room as we began this weeks journey through the Land of Fullerton Rotary!  A giddiness of sorts, almost relief was waiving its hammer of “job well done” throughout the room.  Our President, Jeff Hutchison, is rapidly on his way to his induction into the “Past Fullerton Rotary Club President’s Club”.  Meanwhile, back at table 101, our President Elect, J., initial only please, Richey is busy planning his take over of the highly esteemed club.  While this is not a hostile uprising, it is obvious that like all the other well worn folks that traveled that lonely road of leadership before him, Jeff is anxious to fling the keys to the Empire at that guy with an initial as a name.  So, with two weeks to go let’s see where this weeks meeting took THE Fullerton Rotary Club!

President Jeff Hutchison called the meeting to order with the heavy handed bang of the hammer against the bell at precisely 12:26.07.  Keep in mind that prior to the ring we were treated with a fabulous faire of Boneless Chicken Breast bathed is a very light sun dried tomato basil cream sauce!  This delightful decadence was accompanied with a green summer salad, mashed potatoes and sautéed summer veggies of zucchini, both green and yellow, onion and mushrooms in a very nice buttery garlic juice.  Dessert consisted of an array of cheesecakes of different flavors and size. Just in case that was not enough, the fruit tray was loaded with an assortment of fresh sliced fruit that looked good enough for even the most carnivorous of the gang.

Mr. Big, Phil Silverman, led us respectfully in the pledge to our country followed by Leroy Fulton.  How appropriate it was to sing God Bless America followed by an irresistible Smile.  As always only when with us, the talented Don Ludwig did a wonderful job on the piano.  Hannah LaRue, Zoot’s daughter was the new voice in the crowd and you can tell, she lives with parents who love to sing!  We look forward to seeing you soon, Hannah.  Mitch, I’m glad school is out, Hovey was in charge of the invocation.  Mitch was as eloquent as always thanking the good Lord for all the blessings we encounter each day.  He recognized our club, the food we were partaking and that it would bring us strength.

We must keep our eye on President Elect, initial only, J.  He has that look of terror in his eyes.  Could that be sheer terror or the confidence of an Estate Planning Professional preparing to guide t his ship through unchartered waters.  We’ll see.  Meanwhile, Pastor Greg Hickman did a superb job in recognizing and announcing all the guests present.  Say Amen!  Zoot graced us with the presence of his lovely daughter Hannah.  Hannah can really sing and let us know with no uncertain terms that she was six years old.  Rick Crane introduced Larry Broy and Keith Mills introduced his confident Grandson, Graham Mills.  Just so everyone knows, school’s not out forever!  Phil Silverman had a special guest, past member, Chief of Police and Judge Marty Hairabedian.  Joe Lins had his lovely daughter Stephanie with him and Marty Burbank introduced Charles E. Geitner.  Bill Heaton’s guest was Dr. Julie Schoenack, and yes, Bill did check the box that he would pay for lunch!  Last but certainly not least, Mitch Hovey introduced John Albert.

Was that Deacon Jay doing his stuff on the piano during lunch.  What a great way to begin our meeting while lunching with fellow Rotarians/Friends, listening to Jay’s fingers dance on the piano in the corner.

At this time during the program a line begins to form on the left side of the room.  After pushing his way to the front of the line Jim Williams reminded us about Demotion Night on June 30.  I think this is the night we kick President Jeff to the curb and prepare for the coming of “initial Only” J!  Should we hang J lights outside our homes in anticipation of this grand event.  Mike Oates is again begging for money, his Sister City Project needs money for air travel to Korea.  Once there everything is taken care of.  With a $50 donation you can enjoy a dinner at the Muck while being entertained by the Jazz of Jung!  Dan, I like to wear shorts, Kiernan is raising money to cover the shortage incurred while painting the barn.  Rick Crane pitched the Armed Forces Family Night sponsored by the Orange County Flyers.  Check out their web site at www.orangecountyflyers.com.  Dr. Dick Jones proudly announced the appointment of Phil Sanchez, Deborah Sanchez’s loving husband, as the new Chief of Police for the city of Pasadena.  Outstanding accomplishments for the Sanchez family!  Pat Hartnett is in charge of “End Polio” night at Angel Stadium.  This is a Rotary event that includes a Chili Cook off too!

Time for the Fine!  Rick Crane was “da man” for this portion of the meeting and had everyone clutching their pockets and running for the door looking for loose change in the parking lot!  (Now that’s a good idea, a treasure hunt)  Dan Kiernan, $2 for the big boo welcoming Rick to the podium, where a hush fell over the crowd.  Vern Andrews has retired from the Foundation Board after 12 years of service, that cost him $2.  Terry Prado and Kymberly Nguyen showed up at the Barn Painting Work Party as Cheerleaders, I don’t think there was a fine, only recognition.  All the volunteers of the Barn Painting Party received a pin for their efforts respectfully handed out by President Jeff.  Next on the docket was the public display of the newest nine, Rick thanked the ones who are doing their newest nine duties and charged the others $2 each.  Rick also recognized Cathy Gach because Fullerton High School’s Graduation was the next night, he wanted to make sure his daughter was still making the grade.  UCLA grads, dads, moms, aunts, uncles, etc. were all fined as a result of them beating CSUF at the Super Final Regionals.  Dan Kiernan got it again for the short pants.  Is it my imagination or are they getting shorter each week as summer wears on?  $2 to Dan the Man.  What’s up with Joe Lins, no bow tie, fined $2.  Don Bankhead immediately stood up and paid the fine for Joe because he thinks the ties are ugly and he is happy they are gone for the summer!  Bob Hillhouse is celebrating his 23^rd anniversary and had to pay a whopping $3!  Warren Weimer just dumped his wallet in the net for his birthday, anniversary, and his 36^th anniversary as a Rotarian, just $2… Bob Radde $2 for 55 years of wedded bliss while Fred Johnson, Bill Klinghoffer and Mark McGee were “No Shows” and will be hit next week I’m sure.  Dr. Dick Jones, Married 54 years to the lovely Norma next week, only $2?  Buck Catlin has done a fabulous job with the community awards is celebrating his 63^rd, yes folks 63, anniversary, $2.  Lee Myhre is dancing to the tune of 59 years with Jackie, that’ll cost you $2.  Dr. Bill Peloquin snuck in with 33 years with Wilma and he got off cheep at $2.  Nice job Rick, I think you got em all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s break it up a bit with a drawing and sports question.  Julie Schomack had lucky number 496050 and chose Chief (Once a Chief, always a Chief) Pat McKinley for the assist.  The question was;  “Who scored the most points in a basketball playoff game?”  And the answer is, Elgin Baylor against the Boston Celtics…………..

Our Program was about the California High Speed Train Project featruring Valarie Martinez, Chelsea Dickerson and Joe Sheldhorse.  Most of the following information was gleaned from their website…

 Will the high-speed train system create new jobs and boost our economy?

Yes. The statewide high-speed train project will require us to draw upon and expand California’s skilled workforce, creating nearly 160,000 construction-related jobs to plan, design and build the system. An additional 450,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created by 2035 as a result of the economic growth the train system will bring to California. High speed trains will further boost California’s economy by:

· Improving the movement of people, goods and services throughout the state;
· Generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue surplus;
· Reducing travel times for train riders;
· Reducing delays to air and auto travelers as freeways and airports are relieved of congestion;
· Reducing air pollution and related health care costs;
· Reducing auto accident fatalities and injuries and related health care costs.

What would be the cost of expanding our highways and airports to meet future intercity demands instead of building the high-speed train system?

To serve the same number of travelers as the high-speed train system, California would have to build nearly 3,000 lane-miles of freeway plus five airport runways and 90 departure gates by 2020 – costing more than twice the high-speed train system and having much greater environmental impacts. What’s more, the proposed high-speed train system will provide lower passenger costs than for travel by automobile or air for the same city-to-city markets.

Ridership

How many riders are expected and how many passengers are forecast to be diverted from airplanes and cars?

The most recent ridership forecasts for the California High-Speed Train Project estimate between 88 – 117 million passengers annually by 2030 for the entire 800-mile high-speed train network connecting Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. Of the 33 million air trips forecast to be made in the year 2030, over a third or 12 million would be attracted to high-speed trains, bringing the level of air traffic in the state back to the levels of 2000, slightly higher than it is today. In other words most of the growth in air traffic would be diverted, leaving airport capacity for international and out-of-state flights.

Of the 911 million auto travelers forecast in 2030 to make trips between the 14 regions, about 6% or 50 million would be attracted to high-speed trains. Within the regions that have several stations (Los Angeles Basin, the Bay Area, and San Diego County) high-speed trains will attract another 25 million auto trips, less than 1% of the local urban area auto travel.

Who produced the ridership forecasts and how were they developed?

Investment quality forecasts of ridership and revenue for the high-speed train system were developed for the Bay Area to Central Valley Program EIR/S by Cambridge Systematics (CS), a nationally respected transportation economics and forecasting specialist, over a period of two years (2006-7) through an independent $2 million contract funded and managed by the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The Authority partnered with the MTC, providing the basic inputs on high-speed train operations and fares.

Cambridge Systematics (CS) prepared a detailed (4,667-zone) model of California’s current and future population, employment, household characteristics, highway network, air and rail services, and transit systems following current best practices and methodology.

CS conducted over 3,170 state-of-the-art surveys with California travelers about recent trips and their valuations of travel time, cost, and reliability and combined that information with data from 3,700 similar recent surveys from Caltrans, MTC, and the Southern California and Sacramento Association of Governments to help develop specific California-based forecasts of diversion of trips from air, auto, or other rail service to high-speed trains.

As is standard, the model predicts future trip making from forecasts of population and employment, and then looks at each future trip by household. The model compares the travel time for each mode (both in the vehicle, and getting to, from, into, and out of stations/airports), the time between departures, the cost of that trip, the number of cars available, the household’s income, how many people are traveling together, the reason for the trip, and a number of other statistically significant indicators, and from this predicts how many trips will be taken on each mode.

The accuracy of the model was first checked and improved by using it to forecast current travel in the state, obviously without high-speed trains, just air, auto, and regular trains. The final model was then used to forecast future travel without high-speed trains, and then with high-speed trains, in each case using the expected future trip times, costs and other conditions of travel.

A peer review panel of local, national, and international travel model and high-speed train experts reviewed and commented on the modeling assumptions, methodologies, and results during each stage of model development.

How many people can be carried on a high-speed train?

Operating “trainsets” will have multiple cars and will be up to 1,300 feet long, depending on the type of train and the market demand. At peak travel times, trains can be lengthened, or trainsets can be connected, to operate as a single train. The high-speed train could be configured in many different ways either to maximize seating, which would provide seating for up to 1,300 passengers or to provide more space per passenger than a conventional airline seat and provide a café area and other amenities, in which case trains could carry around 950 passengers.

Will high-speed train travelers travel in comfort?

Passengers will be able to comfortably and safely stroll to a café car to purchase snacks and beverages. Seat restraints or belts will not be needed at any time. Laptop use will be allowed at any time. The precise configuration of seating and accommodation will depend upon market demand. With multiple cars, each trainset can provide different types of accommodation for different passenger markets. The same train can have business compartments for conferencing en route, theater-or-airline style seating, young family play areas, or even “Quiet Cars” where cell phones and loud computer programs are not allowed. Tables, power jacks, reliable cell phone service and video or audio entertainment can also be provided, depending on market demand.

How was the high-speed train fare structure determined for the ridership forecasts?

The Authority concluded that the capital costs of the high-speed train system would need to be largely publicly financed, regardless of the ticket prices for the high-speed train passengers. The Authority also “defined a practical approach to construct, operate, and finance an HST system that would yield solid financial returns to the state and provide transportation benefits to all Californians.” The fare structure used to produce the ridership and revenue forecasts used by the Authority was selected because it increased ridership (e.g., user benefits) while not losing significant passenger revenue, and therefore maximized the potential benefits of the system. Under this fare structure, HST fares were set to equal 50% of the average airfare (at the time of the analysis) for travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles. However, the HST system is expected to be priced based upon the distance traveled, as opposed to air transportation within California where shorter distance intercity trips are often charged substantially higher rates than the longer-distance trips between California’s major metropolitan regions. Higher high-speed train fares would actually increase system revenues, but would decrease total ridership and public benefits. Ultimately, it is very likely that fares will vary based on such factors as type of service (business, coach, express, skip-stop, etc.), time of day (peak, off-peak), advanced purchase, etc. – much like the airlines and high-speed trains in Europe and Asia operate.

For More information check out their website at www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov

President Jeff recognized our program speakers with a certificate of a gift of a wheelchair to those in third world countries in need.

President Jeff closed the meeting with a thought about his Dad, as Sunday is Fathers Day, whose 90^th Birthday is on his mind;  “Blessed is the man who hears gentle voices, and they call him Father”.

Meeting Adjourned with President Jeff Hutchison putting the hammer to the bell at precisely 1:33.09 pmpst