Hello Niles Rotarians,

WOW!!!  What a start to the year.  My very own parade with Mouseketeers, FASTPASS to the Teacup, and Mickey and Minnie too!  Very cool! Who said this is a Mickey Mouse operation?  I don’t know, but we are certainly Goofy!  Haha. Thank you all for the nice Welcome that ONLY Niles Rotarians know how to do.  It was a special day that I will never forget. Thank you all for such a wonderful induction ceremony into the Presidency.

So, how about that second meeting! Oh, Boy!  Nothing like getting ready for a great day then you find out your speaker had a different date.  Oops! The one thing I do know how to do is PANIC!!  Well, just a little.  I drew inspiration for my theme of “Let the Good Times Roll!” and therefore we did. It was wonderful to hear all about the great things Niles Rotarians are doing in our community.  Thank you for sharing.

People have asked me about my theme. The phrase is very powerful when you look at it as a whole.  My Grandmother and Mom are from Louisiana where this is a very popular phrase.  My Grandmother mainly spoke French when she was little and eventually learned English in elementary school.  She always had a slight French accent her whole life. The French version of the phrase is “Laissez les bon temps rouler” (Lay-zEh lay bAwn tawm rOO-lay).  I figured it would be too hard to get y’all to say it, so I went with the translation “Let the Good Times Roll.”    The spirit of New Orleans lives in the phrase. No matter what happens, “Laissez les bon temps rouler” was applied.  It reminds you to celebrate life in good times and move on from the bad. Celebrate success and don’t dwell on failures.  It’s always there to remind you to enjoy and celebrate life.

President Brian

The more you celebrate your life, the more there is IN LIFE to Celebrate. – Oprah Winfrey

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to a new Rotary year and the beginning of our time together.  It’s with great pride and honor I have accepted the role of President for 2018-2019! I’m super excited for this year.  We have a great RI theme “Be the Inspiration,” outstanding club theme, and the most wonderful and dedicated Rotarians in our club I have ever met. I cannot wait to get this party started!  But first, a few thoughts…

I want to thank Past President Rose for her insight, mentoring, humor and kindness she bestowed upon me as her President Elect.  Thank you so much and I’m looking forward to your social events.  I’m also thankful to Bruce Prescott, our President Elect. Many years ago someone said “Hell will freeze over” before Bruce would be President.  Just to let everyone know….there is NO global warming, just Hell is starting to freeze.  We all have 365 days until it is frozen solid.  Haha Bruce, it is a privilege to have you as my PE.

My main goal for this year is to not screw up!  I have been told this has been the primary goal of new presidents for YEARS, so why break from tradition!  Here is my vision – At the end of my presidential year, I would like to look back and see all of the fun and laughter we had over the year. I want to see new Niles Rotarians in the room. I want to reflect back on all of our speakers and how they enriched our knowledge about the people and services in our community.  I want to congratulate Bruce on another successful Elimination Raffle, which will have raised more money than ever before.  I want to see that all Rotarians and guests participated in wonderful events filled with smiles and laughter.  I want to see the successful community service results of our work, and to see the wonderful international service work we did. I want to see that we were the inspiration for new ideas, encouragement, and thoughtfulness.  I believe if we will have achieved those vision statements, it will have been an AWESOME year! Don’t you think so?  This best part is….We can do ALL of it!  It is just up to us to “Be the Inspiration” and make it happen.

In my first Pinion I felt it would be nice to re-introduce myself to the club.  It has been 10 years since my ice-breaker and we have several new members since then. I am a third generation Niles Rotarian. My Mom, Hattie Hughes, and Grandfather, Morris Hyman, are my predecessors.  I hope during my year I honor and cherish their legacy as Niles Rotarians.  They left some big shoes for me to fill.  Lucky for me I wear a size 12 ½. (tehehe).  I was born and raised here in Fremont.  I’m married to my wife Theresa and we have 2 daughters (Jessika and Heather) and 2 grandkids (Isabella and Joel Jr.).  I attended AND graduated from American High, and received my AA in Criminal Justice at Ohlone.  My first career job was with BART Police.  My biggest moment with the police was in 1989 with the collapse of the Cypress Freeway from the Loma Prieta earthquake.  It is something I will never forget.  After being laid-off in 1990 due to budget cuts, I needed a job so I went to my Grandfather.  Little did I know that 28 years later I would still be with Fremont Bank.  Currently I’m the vice president overseeing our Nonprofit Group and executive director of the Fremont Bank Foundation.  In my spare time I love being with my family, spending a day on the water, or traveling to my favorite places –  Disney parks and New Orleans!  Well….that is me a nutshell.

Thank you all and let’s have a great year!

President Brian

“All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney