–> 5/8/24 – Redwood Empire Food Bank – 2nd Wednesday of the month.  The next one is this week: May 8th – 5 PM – 7 PM

–> The Giro Bello is just around the corner! June 29, 2024.  Register to reserve your spot for one of the most scenic and fun bike rides on the West Coast – Now with a new start and finish, the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa.  Click here for more info and to register.

For pictures and descriptions of previous socials and other events click here.

For more details and additional events, see the Announcements section below.

More socials, projects, & events coming soon!

See the Announcements section below.

Opening Ceremonies

Today, Past President Jeff Kolin led our meeting for only the second time in person!  President Ann is out with a bug.  “Welcome to the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa that has fun while doing good in our world”

Rick Allen led us in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test. His Reflection was based on the shirt he was wearing which said, “We can agree to disagree and still be friends.” He got that shirt and wore it to play tennis since he and the other players often disagreed with calls during their tennis matches. It was causing some disunity in the tennis playing community. After wearing the shirt and discussing how the message applied to tennis, another member bought about 100 shirts and handed them out to the tennis players.  It certainly lightened the mood of all participants.  They did not have to agree or disagree a call during a tennis match, but they are all friends. He finished with a quote/story from Master Abdu’l Baha on diversity, “think of them as different colored roses each seeking diligently for truth…”

Visitors:

Oscar Chavez- guest speaker today and John Young- Director of Outreach for Quest High School

Sunshine Report:

Cecil Humes had a mild stroke that has made him a bit dizzy and is affecting his vision.

President Ann Gospe is out ill with some bug. Michelle Baine thanked all who called, sent cards, etc. since Steve’s death. She let it be known that he chose to have a medical assisted death; he had been sick for so long and was suffering.  She will be having a memorial at their home on May 18, 2:00 – 4:00pm.  Julia Parranto is going. Anyone else?

Opportunity Drawing:

Five marbles today and $96.00 in the pot.  Diane Moresi had the lucky number, but she pulled a yellow marble.  Oh well, more for next week!

Announcements:

1. The District is putting on a peace conference next year on January 24-25 in Rohnert Park.  A signup board was being passed around looking for volunteers to help find sponsors for the event.
2. The next social is May 9^th at Corrick’s from 5:00 to 9:00. Nona Lucas wants to know who is planning on coming.  Everyone should bring either an appetizer, dessert or beverage to share.
3. The Windsor Club is hosting Yappy Hour at Mutt Lynch Winery on April 24. The cost is $10.00, and the proceeds go to a mobile canine clinic to help rescue, spay and neuter stray dogs and pet dogs of low-income families in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.
4. The next Arundo Donax removal will be on May 11^th, 9:00-12:00 at Memorial Beach in Healdsburg. Contact Barbara Chesney at [email protected] if you would like to participate. Thus far Kris Anderson and Ann Gospe are going. The District 5130 environmental committee invites you to the next Arundo Donax removal day on May 11, 2024, from 9am-12:00.  See the details and sign up here:
   https://givingtime.org/sonoma/
5. Steve Marburger, who was out ill today, wanted to remind everyone to watch their plastic usage this week. What are you tossing? Next week, what are you doing to not use single use plastic?
6. Ray Giampaoli says that sponsorships for the Giro Bello are now at $15,000 (and we have 277 riders). Please do your best to get one or more $500.00 sponsors for the ride.
7. Signup Genius is now active. Karen Ball emailed everyone the link this morning. Everyone is to sign on and sign up anywhere that you can help.  If you have any trouble, Karen will assist you. Click here for Giro Bello Signup Genius Volunteering

Recognitions:

For those of you who are newer to Rotary, we gave up “fining” a few years back. Recognitions is a way to brag about something and donate to Rotary in a public way.  Your money can go to any number of places. Just to name a few: The Club budget, our local foundation (several scholarships, etc.), Polio Plus, or Rotary International.  Today:

Ginny Cannon gave $100 to The Club in recognition of her family vacation in Hawaii. Craig Meltzner went to Ashville, NC for his dance organization (he and Elaine do Contra Dancing) He donated $50.00 to The Club and $50.00 to the Foundation.

Karen and Dennis Ball went up to Washington to check out real estate…. just in case they want to move there when they retire (make sure there is a Rotary Club nearby). She gave $100 to the Club.  ah, Karen, you have to get club permission to move…

New Members Approved by the Board of Directors:

Guest Speaker, Oscar Chavez and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County:

The Foundation was started in 1983 to help the many nonprofits in Sonoma County.  They have raised about $300 million in the last 40 years due to the generosity of Sonoma County people. If you have a cause you want to support, they can help you to support it.  If there is a cause they already support, you can put your money to work with their ongoing projects.  You are in control of your money as much as you want to be. Hunger, housing, literacy are long term areas that they invest in.

As for Oscar, his father came here in the 1980’s on the Braceros program.  His father stayed and sent money home.  His mother left, and he and his siblings lived with their grandparents. Eventually his parents saved enough money for he and his siblings to move to the United States. Someone saw potential in Oscar and made sure he got to school and graduated from college.

Some of the challenges of living in Sonoma County is that we are “Graying and Browning.”  In other words, our population is aging, and more people of color are moving here. School enrollment is dropping all over the county.  Not that this is a bad thing, but it does change priorities.