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P resident Stephanie and  PDG Chris Gallagher kicked off the month by announcing that our own John Dracup (Civil & Environmental Engineering; University of California at Berkeley) has been named Rotarian of the Month for District 5150. And at our last meeting of the month, Stephanie named Randy Katz (Finance - Mergers & Acquisitions; Business Team) as our club's Rotarian of the Month in recognition of his leadership of the Backpack Dash. Congratulations!
Our members shared many happy occasions in August. Harold Hoogasian (Florist; Hoogasian Flowers) was first to ring the bell to thank the 15 Rotarians who volunteered at Rotary Meadow atop Mount Sutro on August 1. Jian-ying "James" Chen (Acupuncture; Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine Japan College) celebrated the receipt of his license to practice needle-less acupuncture. Bob Linscheid (Business Associations; San Francisco Chamber of Commerce) honored the nomination of John Brodie for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jim Murray (Stanford University) announced the birth of Caitlin, their third child and first daughter. Jim Patrick (Stationery; Patrick & Company) rang the bell in celebration of 50 years of marriage to the wonderful Jo Patrick. Kevin Leong (Institutional Fundraising; University of San Francisco) became a grandfather when Andrew Galffy Leong was born in London on July 30. John Dracup rang the bell twice: once to celebrate his upcoming departure for Peru where he will be working on a Rotary water project and again to recognize his son's impending marriage; this is his son's third marriage and he his hoping that the third time will be the charm. Donna-Lee Rubin is heading to Boston where she'll be honored by District 7930 for her service as Past District Governor; she is particularly excited to have the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game!
 Kay Clarke (Strategic Planning and Management; Retired) rang the bell with $88 to recognize the anniversary of the date she joined our club in 1988. Melissa Galliani (Broadcast; Cumulus Media) added her own contribution in celebration of her recent award recognizing outstanding women in radio advertising. Stephanie Schmautz thanked her mother-in-law Karen Schmautz for taking care of Molly Jean for the last 6 weeks while she and Eric are working. John Mount (Statistical Consulting; Win-Vector) rang the bell because he is proud to be a Rotarian and to have the opportunity to surround himself with so many wonderful people in the club.
Past Club President and PDG Eric Schmautz (Banking - Business; Wells Fargo Bank) encouraged members to attend the RI Convention in Korea next year with the growing contingent from our club.
San Francisco Rotary Foundation President Anita Stangl (Non-profit Management; Alliance for Smiles) presented a check for $4400 to Shelter Box to support their important work.
Our vocational speakers were John Mount who gave an impressive overview of how his company crunches big data, JT Forbus (Accounting; Bogdan & Frasco) who clarified the capabilities of his firm, and Stacey Poole (Law Practice - Family Law; Lerner-Poole) who talked about the legal services she and law partner Esther Lerner (Attorney at Law; Lerner-Poole) provide with a specialty in family law: divorce, custody issues, and pre-nuptial agreements.
On a more serious note, Jim Murray asked us to keep his mother in our thoughts as she fights a tough battle with cancer, and we were saddened to learn of the passing of the mother of Andi Valo-Espina (Custom Tailoring; Andrea-E-Soci).
Jennifer Ji (Business Consultant), David Dye (Management Consultant), and Rick Harrell (Veterans Outreach; Heroes' Voices) talked about their recent visits to other Rotary Clubs while traveling in China, Tennessee, and Florida. They all agreed that it was great way to meet locals, learn about different Rotary Clubs and even get invited to experience exclusive events while traveling. David learned some ways for members to get involved on the membership committee: The Memphis club offers a week in a Florida condo to the member who brings in the most new members in a year. In response to this idea, Harold Hoogasian offered to donate his condo in Kona Hawaii as a prize to person brings in the most new members this year. The contest is on!
  Our speakers included Past Rotary International President Rick King who addressed a packed house, keeping over 100 of us in rapt attention as he talked about the wonderful things Rotary does in the world. He also presented Paul Harris Fellowships to Erik Quan for all his help with the Rotary Backpack Dash even though he is not a member (yet); Paul Murray, the young son of Jim Murray, Esther Lerner (Attorney at Law; Lerner-Poole: PH+1), John Dracup (PH+2), Jim Bradley (Insurance Agencies - Property; CAL Insurance: PH+2), Dan Joraanstad (Retail Brokerage; Wells Fargo Advisors: PH+), Kevin Waldeck (Financial Services - Investment; Morgan Stanley Investment Management: PH+6), John Hoch (Estate and Business Planning; Hoch Financial Network: PH+7), and Fred Marschner (Insurance Companies - Special Agent; Northwestern Mutual: PH+7). District Governor Leah Lambrecht told us about the exciting plans that are in place around here theme of Peace.
PDG Peter Lagarias (Law Practice - Civil Litigation; Lagarias & Napell) and a team of supporters told us about the wonderful work of Rotaplast International, including their most recent project in Tanzania. Allan Herzog (Stocks and Bonds, Wells Fargo Advisors) was so moved he offered to match $500 in contributions to Rotaplast if five others each donated $100. Mark Calendar (Insurance Broker; Calender-Robinson), Audrey McKeague (Pianos), Dan Joraanstad, Peter Lagarias. Fred Marscher, Tom Briody (Elder Care; Institute on Aging), and Ahmed Issa all took Allan up on his challenge.
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Posted by David Dye
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 Chris Boehner joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in January 2015, shortly after moving to San Francisco in late 2014. Chris grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, just outside of the city of Augusta. From there he went to Asheville, North Carolina, where he attended a private boarding school. He attended the College of Charleston, the oldest municipal college in the United States, where he earned a degree in corporate and organizational development. Immediately after college, he went to China where he spent the next 10 years. His interest in China was sparked by his grandfather who lived in Shanghai during the 1930s and 40s.
After a short stint as a teacher of business English in China he became a cycling guide, leading clients from Istanbul to Beijing and Cairo to Cape Town. Then in 2008 he worked for the Beijing Olympics in the area of transportation logistics. His job involved making sure that Olympic athletes, including Michael Phelps, got to the appropriate venue at the appropriate time.
After the 2008 Olympics, he formed a bluegrass band, known as the Redbucks, with other American expatriates and toured 16 cities in China for about a year. You can find music from this group on iTunes or Spotify. If you have a chance, ask Chris about mandolins. He can tell you about mandolins, the history of mandolin making, and mandolin orchestras.
For his remaining four years in China Chris served as executive director of Vericant, a company he co-founded in 2010. This company helped US high schools and universities verify the spoken English ability of their many Chinese applicants.
Chris now serves as president and CEO of Western Natural Foods. WNF acquires and consolidates health and wellness companies with an eye towards taking the group public. Chris is pioneering the idea of a Branded Benefit Corporation, which gives WNF the ability to protect the social missions of its brands, have a positive impact on the environment and on its employees, as well as making a profit for its owners.
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Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola
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.jpg) Rhonda Poppen didn’t waste any time getting involved when she joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco. She volunteers on the registration desk at the weekly lunch meetings, and she pitched right in when President Stephanie asked her to redo all the member badges.
Now Rhonda’s begun a two-year term as Secretary of the Board, which involves taking minutes at the monthly Board meetings and reporting Club statistics to Rotary International.
Rhonda grew up in Smithfield, VA, home of the famous Smithfield hams. As a community college student, she worked at NASA Langley Research Center, where she met her husband, Bill. They newlyweds moved to Texas, where she finished college at the University of Texas Arlington, majoring in marketing. She worked at a printing company, then in corporate health marketing for All Saints Episcopal Hospital, a career she continued at Carolinas Healthcare System following a move to Charlotte, NC.
After the birth of her two children, Rhonda “turned a hobby into a job” by opening a calligraphy studio in her home. Daughter Emily is a student at the University of Arizona Tucson, and son Blake, is starting his second year at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.
Rhonda’s leadership at her kids’ schools led to her election to the town council of Harrisburg, VA; as highest vote-getter, she became mayor pro tem of the town of 10,000, which meant she filled in for the mayor at meetings and ribbon cuttings. A position on the Board of the Cannon Memorial YMCA in Cabarrus County, NC, led to a job as the organization’s development director. After moving to San Francisco, she started GrantDOG, an independent grant consultancy.
“I enjoy the challenge that the diversity brings, the different focus areas, the different mission statements and the flexibility,” Rhonda says of her clients. “I enjoy meeting the needs of populations through my clients.”
Rhonda and Bill live across from Lafayette Park in what she calls “Nob Heights,” which she says is centrally located and allows easy access to many parts of the city, as well as restaurants and shopping – “and I love the view!”
Rhonda first joined the Rotary Club of Cabarrus County, VA, in January 2011, then transferred to the Rotary Club of San Francisco after her move the city in July 2014. As a newcomer, she was impressed with how “warm and welcoming” the members were and how they “reached out to others. I love the like-mindedness. We’re all different, but all the same at the core – people of integrity.”
In addition to Rotary, Rhonda volunteers at her church and with Because Justice Matters, a ministry in the Tenderloin for exploited women.
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 Hans Florine is a professional climber, speaker, author and thought leader in maximizing speed and efficiency. He has repeatedly set and broken one of the most coveted speed records in the world: The Nose of El Capitan. He holds numerous other speed records in Yosemite National Park and all over the globe. Hans challenges audiences to rethink what “speed” really means, sharing his experiences as a record-breaking speed climber and applies it to real-world scenarios.
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 All club members are welcome to attend meetings of the International Service Committee. Please join the meeting to see what projects are coming up and how you can help, and/or to propose your own ideas for new projects. If you would like to find out how to submit a grant for a project, criteria for grants or completing a final report, this is the meeting for you. |
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 Join The Rotary Club of San Francisco for a friendly round of golf and a chance to win the coveted Rotary Club of San Francisco Golf Series Trophy! Points are based on participation, not necessarily golf score, so all skill levels are welcome! Come out to Harding Park and join us for some golf fun and fellowship. Fellowship follows every outing. June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, September 3, September 17, September 25.
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Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo is an expert in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes risk in young adults. Her work focuses on racial, ethnic and income differences in manifestations of chronic disease, the intersection of biological, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence risk, and effective clinical, public health, and policy interventions aimed at prevention.
Due to her interest in local, national, and global prevention efforts, she has collaborated with investigators in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and China.
Club members, click here to RSVP ♦ Click here for more information
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The board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation meets monthly to discuss the needs of the foundation and to approve funding for Rotary Service projects. Meetings of the Foundation Board are primarily for Foundation Board Members, but club members are often welcome to attend.
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 Mrs. Deepa Biswas Willingham, a naturalized citizen of the United States, was born and brought up in Calcutta, India where she was educated under the stewardship of Mother Teresa. Mrs. Willingham’s professional life was spent in health-care management, education and entrepreneurship. Today, as an active Rotarian, Mrs. Willingham is meticulously “selling” the concept of allowing girls to be educated instead of being married in early childhood or being sent to work, or being sold for sex trade.
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All club members are welcome to attend meetings of the Local Community Service Committee. Please join the meeting to see what projects are coming up and how you can help, and/or to propose your own ideas for new projects. If you would like to find out how to submit a grant for a project, criteria for grants or completing a final report, this is the meeting for you.
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Join The Rotary Club of San Francisco for a friendly round of golf and a chance to win the coveted Rotary Club of San Francisco Golf Series Trophy! Points are based on participation, not necessarily golf score, so all skill levels are welcome! Come out to Harding Park and join us for some golf fun and fellowship. Fellowship follows every outing. June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, September 3, September 17, September 25.
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Peter V. Sellars, the current Deputy Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in San Francisco, will tell us about their history and how they give aid to those in need without recognition while pursuing projects for the benefits of all mankind.
Peter has served for ten years on the Odd Fellows Board of Directors, and As a Grand Instructor. He has written numerous historical pieces about the Odd Fellows as well as other areas of his interest.
Club members, click here to RSVP ♦ Click here for more information
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Final outing! Join The Rotary Club of San Francisco for a friendly round of golf and a chance to win the coveted Rotary Club of San Francisco Golf Series Trophy! Points are based on participation, not necessarily golf score, so all skill levels are welcome! Come out to Harding Park and join us for some golf fun and fellowship. Fellowship follows every outing. June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, September 3, September 17, September 25.
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The monthly joint meeting of the boards of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, the governing body responsible for club operations, and Rotary Service, which oversees all of our club’s service projects. Members are welcome to attend, but please contact the Club Secretary to confirm time and location before attending.
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