Giro Bello

–> 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.

–> The Giro Bello Bike Ride, our major fundraiser for the year, is happening soon. We need all hands on deck to make this event work. Please click on the link below and sign up to help. Ask family and friends to work alongside you. Find multiple times and ways that you can participate. Together we can make this a successful event!

The areas that are in greatest need of help are:

• Route marking
• Site set-up
• Registration
• Truck drivers
• Equipment trailer driver
• SAG
• Lunch stop

–> Please sign up to volunteer for the Giro Bello HERE

UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

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!

Opening

President Ann Gospe called the meeting to order and led us in a moment of silence for the long-time Rotary Club member Steve Reuter, who first joined the club in 1998. Steve’s father was also a Rotarian in our club. The family has asked that the Rotary donation go to the foundation in lieu of flowers. The memorial service will be held at Paradise Winery on June 23, 2024.

Visiting Rotaract Members

Rick Allen introduced Rotaract President Ruben Garcia, and Jack Carson, Treasurer.

Rotarians with Guests

Steve Olsen introduced Ricardo Bolanos Lopez, who is attending to receive the Stanley Lance Scholarship.

Opening Ceremonies

Past President Julia Parranto led us in the opening ceremonies. Julia combined past and present events that have additional meaning for her. Her reflection was an acknowledgment of the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy and the current war in Ukraine. She acknowledged the work of Rotarians Kurt Groniga, Ann Gospe, and Jeff Gospe for their leadership in the Club’s effort to provide medical and electrical equipment to Ukraine. She thanked those veterans in the Club for their military service.  Julia’s connection is that her daughter was adopted from Ukraine.  She read a quote by Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1944.

Sunshine

Ginny Cannon passed two sympathy cards around the tables. One was for Steve Baime’s wife and family, and the other was for Steve Reuter’s wife and family.

She also acknowledged Secretary Debi Zaft’s return after hip surgery.

Opportunity Drawing

Keven Brown hosted the “raffle”. He asked the Rotaract President to draw the winning ticket. The Maria Carrillo student attending to receive the Stanley L. Lance Scholarship had the winning ticket but didn’t draw the lucky marble. However, he received $10 for his initial luck of the draw!

Birthdays

Keven Brown led us in singing Happy Birthday to our Club members with June birthdays.

He presented a Corrick’s gift card to each of the birthday honorees.

Rotarian of the Month

President Ann acknowledged Heather Thurber as Rotarian of the Month for her efforts on behalf of the Rotary Club to join the Greenway Parkway project. She has also agreed to be on the Rotary Club Board of Directors next year. Congratulations Heather!

Announcements

Keven Brown announced that the Santa Rosa Symphony offers a unique membership opportunity at 50% off the regular subscription price. In addition, a flexible program schedule is available at 42% off. Please see Keven or Diane Moresi for details.

Keven made a $500 Giro Bello Sponsorship for his time at the microphone!

Pepperwood Event

Jim Green fulfilled his opportunity to attend the Pepperwood event following his $1000 donation for two tickets. During the paddle raise, Jim made a $5000 donation from the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa. By all accounts, Jim boosted participation during the paddle raise and was acknowledged for his efforts by President Ann.

RYLA

President Ann thanked Rotarians Charlie Gibbon, Peter Holinski, and Tasisa Robles Henderson for recruiting two qualified students to attend RYLA.

Recognition

Jeanne Levin announced that on June 6th, she was giving birth to her daughter, Lara.

Jeanne donated in honor of June 6th being D-Day and the birth of her daughter, who is currently returning from an extended trip to Bali alone.

Giro Bello

Heather Thurber encouraged everyone to volunteer for Giro Bello. The link will be sent out. It is also here

President-Elect Announcement

Casey D’Angelo announced that July 3rd will be dark, and his first meeting will be July 10th.

He shared that his five weeks in Australia and his week at the Rotary Convention in Singapore were outstanding. He donated to Giro Bello.

Scholarship

Steve Olsen introduced the recipient of Rotary’s Stanley Lance Memorial Scholarship.

Giro Bello Sponsorship

Ray Giampoli is soliciting GB sponsorships. The Club recently received sponsorships from a health club and a winery. If you give Ray the name of a business, health club, or winery, he will call them for you. We need more sponsorships to meet our goal.

Wild Game Feed

On Sunday, August 25, at $250 per person, Ray will prepare his annual full-course wild game feed at Patty and Jeff Kolin’s home. There are only six seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program

Richard Lazovick introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Christi Camblor.

Compassion Without Borders co-founder Dr.Christi Camblor gave a short presentation on Compassion Without Borders, an international animal welfare non-profit she and her husband co-founded in 2001. She discussed the organization’s origins and what the group does for animals and community members in Mexico and Sonoma County.

For more information, go to https://cwob.org/.

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