Community invited to Menlo Park Kiwanis Club May lunches featuring a variety of speakers
Guest speakers at Menlo Park Kiwanis Club meetings in May will touch on a variety of subjects — police and the media, challenges facing the California legislature, how San Mateo County’s Harbor District benefits residents, and planting trees at local schools and in neighborhoods. The Kiwanis Club will also award its annual scholarships to graduating seniors on May 24.
May 3: Menlo Park Police Chief Robert Jonsen will talk about “Police & The Media”. A 27-year law enforcement veteran, he worked assignments in custody, patrol and gangs with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He became Menlo Park’s Police Chief in 2013.
May 10: Catherine Martineau is Executive Director of Canopy, a Palo Alto based non-profit that plants and cares for trees where people need them most. She will discuss Canopy’s work in the local community and the many unknown benefits it brings to schools, neighborhoods and public spaces on the mid-Peninsula.
May 17: Virginia Chang Kiraly was appointed to the San Mateo Harbor District late last year, and she will serve through 2016. She will speak about the District’s charter to assure that the public is provided with clean, safe, well-managed, financially sound and environmentally pleasant marinas.
May 24: Kiwanis members and guests will welcome this year’s scholarship winners at the group’s annual Scholarship Awards luncheon. Scholarships are based on interviews with the students and on outstanding course work, community involvement, and a review of transcripts. Last year, more than $23,000 was awarded to local students.
May 31: Marc Berman grew up in Palo Alto and is currently a Palo Alto City Councilman. He’s also a candidate for the State Assembly replacing Rich Gordon whose term expires in 2016. Elected to the City Council in 2012, Berman serves as the development director for the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. He will discuss “Challenges Facing the California Legislature” and will field questions about issues confronting Palo Alto and the district he hopes to represent.
Kiwanis Club meetings are held every Tuesday at the Allied Arts Guild, from 12:00 – 1:15. Visitors are invited to attend by contacting the Club.
Photo of Chief Robert Jonsen by Scott R. Kline (c) 2013
