LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 12, 2024: Jennifer Bernstein and Guide Dogs for the Blind

Posted by Frank Yoke on Mar 15, 2024
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Today's Guests
Today's speaker was Jennifer Bernstein from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) introduced Christian Hawthorne.
 
March Birthdays
The Club sang Happy Birthday to Members celebrating a birthday in March. See the birthday list here
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 12, 2024: Jennifer Bernstein and Guide Dogs for the Blind Frank Yoke 2024-03-15 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Meadow - A Hidden Gem

Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 10, 2024
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In the heart of bustling San Francisco lies a hidden gem where tranquility meets community, and nature’s canvas flourishes under the care of dedicated volunteers. Yes, we are talking about Rotary Meadow in Sutro Forest right behind UCSF Medical Center on Parnassus. Recently added trails provide easy access to Rotary Meadow where walkers, hikers, and bicyclists can enjoy the quiet but beautiful areas.

These areas are maintained by volunteers including our Rotary Club of San Francisco who participated. Rotary Meadow, as we learned from Illdiko Polony, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards, tells us the importance of removing invasive species of plants and preserving biodiversity in our urban landscape. This work is so important as we face evolving challenges with climate change in our world.
 
Rotary Meadow - A Hidden Gem Bob Hermann 2024-03-10 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 5, 2024: Shellena Eskeridge and the Homeless Prenatal Program

Posted by Larry Booth on Mar 06, 2024
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. We welcomed President Sunny back from his European trip, and he expressed his joy for being back. President Sunny thanked President-Elect Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) and President-Elect Nominee Frank Yoke (Development | Frank Yoke Consulting) for leading the February Club Meetings while he was traveling. 
 
Today's Visiting Rotarian and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarian was Joe Houston from Surigao in the Philippines. Today's speaker was Shellena Eskeridge from the Homeless Prenatal Program. Joining Shellena were Kristin Hatch and Arpana Vidyarthi. We also welcomed Iris Fluellen from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Wendy Shew (Nonprofit Administration | Building Education) introduced her guest - Lauren Neumann. Rounding out today's guest list was LaCarre Ivy.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 5, 2024: Shellena Eskeridge and the Homeless Prenatal Program Larry Booth 2024-03-06 08:00:00Z 0

Remembering Kay Clarke

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 06, 2024
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kay Clarke. Kay joined Rotary on July 1, 1987 and was a member of our Club from August 1, 1988 to November 1, 2018. Looking back at history, this means that Kay joined Rotary when women were first allowed.
 
Kay was very active, highly respected, and a much beloved member. She was the first to receive the prestigious Service Above Self award. See here for more information on Kay Clarke Lechner and her memorial.
 
Sharing Some Memories of Kay
Here are memories from some of our Club's leaders who had worked with and known Kay:
 
Remembering Kay Clarke Dora Dye 2024-03-06 08:00:00Z 0

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Answer the Membership Survey

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Mar 05, 2024
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President-Elect Bob Hermann recently sent out a membership survey. Your opinion matters, and this is your chance to make your voice heard. We want to know what you think about how things are going in our Club. 

One of the main questions in the survey is about adding an evening meeting to our schedule. Make no mistake: our schedule will still include two lunch meetings, but would also allow for an evening meeting. 

The survey is brief and can be found by clicking here. If we can achieve a 50% response rate for the survey, there will be a drawing for an Amazon gift card. You may be the winner! Together, we can make our Club even better and more accessible to everyone.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Answer the Membership Survey Daniel Joraanstad 2024-03-05 08:00:00Z 0

January 2024 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Mar 05, 2024
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on January 23, 2024 at the Hotel Nikko. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 10:23 a.m. Christopher Wiseman, Immediate Past President, recorded the minutes until Nancy Graydon, Secretary arrived.
 
In attendance were Nancy Graydon, Bob Hermann, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Scott Plakun, President Sunny Singh, Todd St Vrain, Christopher Wiseman, Ozan Yasavur, Emily Borland, Maureen O'Shea, and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Absent were Dan Davies and Bill Poppen. Nancy, Alex, and Frank arrived late and did not participate in any of the votes held at this meeting. 
 
Today's guests were District 5150 Governor Laine Hendricks and Assistant Governor David Dye.
 
January 2024 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2024-03-05 08:00:00Z 0

A Night of Festivity: Rotary Club of San Francisco's Lunar New Year Celebration of the Year of the Dragon

Posted by Mary Liu on Feb 29, 2024
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On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Rotary Club of San Francisco proudly hosted a vibrant Lunar New Year event at the Hong Kong Lounge, embracing the spirit of renewal, prosperity, and unity that this auspicious occasion represents. Amidst colorful decorations and the aroma of traditional delicacies, our members and guests were treated to an enchanting lion dance performance and a mesmerizing guzheng musical instrument.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the energetic lion dance performance by the San Francisco Jing Mo Athletic Association lion dance troupe, which captivated the audience with their graceful movements, synchronized choreography, and vibrant costumes. The lion, symbolizing good luck and fortune, danced its way through the venue, spreading joy and auspicious blessings to all present. Their lively performance set the tone for a festive atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation.
 
A Night of Festivity: Rotary Club of San Francisco's Lunar New Year Celebration of the Year of the Dragon Mary Liu 2024-02-29 08:00:00Z 0

Stuffing Diaper Bags and Making a Difference

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Feb 27, 2024
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Eight volunteers met at the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) on the evening of Tuesday, February 27, to stuff 50 bags with baby supplies and personal goods. The bags will be distributed to families in the Program at two baby showers on Wednesday, March 6th. 

The volunteers were: Margarita Baxter-Lazaro, Jim Patrick, Jo Patrick, Jane Mermelstein, LaCarre Ivy, Chris Davies, Rhonda Poppen, and Sue Adkerson. The volunteers worked alongside HPP staff member Sharon Bechtol.
 
On Tuesday, March 5th, our Club will present a grant to the HPP. Our guest speaker that day will be HPP Executive Director Shellena Eskeridge. To better understand the broad impact of this Program, please register and join us on March 5th and/or sign up to help at the shower on March 6th.
Stuffing Diaper Bags and Making a Difference Rhonda Poppen 2024-02-27 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: February 2024

Posted by Margaret Miley on Feb 27, 2024
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The following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club:
 
LaCarre Ivy (Retired)
Hyunjin (Stellie) Kim (Psychology | City and County of San Francisco)
Matthew Ramirez (Information Technology: Consultant | GovGPT)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed additions to our membership.
 
Membership News: February 2024 Margaret Miley 2024-02-27 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 13, 2024: Cycling and Walking in San Francisco – Then and Now, and where are we headed?

Posted by Frank Yoke on Feb 14, 2024
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President-Elect Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Today's Guests
We welcomed today's guests: Milo Hanke, LaCarre Ivy, Niko Kowell, and Eric Suba. Kimberly Leung and Mike Sallaberry were today's speakers.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 13, 2024: Cycling and Walking in San Francisco – Then and Now, and where are we headed? Frank Yoke 2024-02-14 08:00:00Z 0

A Warm Welcome to the Club

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Feb 08, 2024
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On January 30, 2024, the Membership Committee hosted the First Quarter’s “Welcome to the Club Party.” Margaret Miley, Vice President of Membership, orchestrated a successful event with about 35 attendees, including new members since July 2023 and 10 prospective members exploring our Club's values and opportunities and meeting some of the Club’s leadership.
 
The evening featured light appetizers and wine, fostering networking and connections in the charming office of Lynn Luckow. A small group exercise added a creative touch, encouraging participants to discuss past and desired projects. The ideas generated were both innovative and stimulating.
 
A Warm Welcome to the Club Daniel Joraanstad 2024-02-08 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 6, 2024: John Rothmann and Politics in 2024

Posted by Bob Hermann on Feb 06, 2024
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President-Elect Nominee Frank Yoke (Development | Frank Yoke Consulting) called today's meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
District 5150 Rotarian of the Month
Congratulations to Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for her recognition as the Rotary District 5150 Rotarian of the Month in January 2024. She was recognized today in our Club as there were limited meetings in January.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were PDG Leif Carlzon from the Rotary Club of Ludvika RC in Sweden, Frank Schulenberg from the Rotary Club of Chico, Lisa De Zordo from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Castro, and our own Past President Casey Blair, now a member of the Rotary Club of Boise. Other guests were Milo Hanke, Brittany Olson, and Pradeep Karumanchi. John Rothmann joined us today as our speaker.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 6, 2024: John Rothmann and Politics in 2024 Bob Hermann 2024-02-06 08:00:00Z 0

RYLA Student and Facilitator Applications

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Feb 01, 2024
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Applications are open both for student campers and new facilitators to be a part of the RYLA youth leadership camp. RYLA will be held from July 29 to August 2 at Redwood Glen Camp & Conference Center in Scotts Valley.

RYLA is free and open to all current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors living or studying in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. Students who are outside of our District, but who are relatives of our Club members may also participate in District 5150's RYLA. Student applications are open until April 15.

Facilitators work in pairs to guide a small group of campers through their RYLA experience. Facilitators undergo training and are part of a team of 40 volunteer staff. Facilitators must be on hand at the camp from Sunday, July 28 through Friday, August 2. You're welcome to encourage any friends, family, and colleagues to be a facilitator as well. Facilitator applications are due by March 1st.

Please visit www.ryla.camp to learn more. Watch the RYLA videos and access the student and facilitator applications. Contact Todd St Vrain, Vice President of Youth Services, with any questions.
RYLA Student and Facilitator Applications Todd St Vrain 2024-02-01 08:00:00Z 0

New Insights into Turkish Culture

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jan 28, 2024
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco recently hosted another event in a string of successful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion activities. On January 21, we celebrated Turkish culture through the film My Grandfather's People by Çağan Irmak. The movie, exploring themes of family and migration, was followed by a vibrant discussion.
 
The film’s premise focused on what happened when suddenly everybody living in Greece who originally came from Turkey was dislocated and forced to return to Turkey, even if they had lived in Greece for 400 years. Likewise, Greeks who had lived in Turkey for hundreds of years were forced to leave for Greece. There were many complex issues of religion, family, land ownership, ethnicity, all of which were supposedly settled by the compulsory exchange of Greek and Turkish populations. What was certainly true is that this ethnic cleansing brought heartbreak to many families.
 
New Insights into Turkish Culture Daniel Joraanstad 2024-01-28 08:00:00Z 0

November 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jan 25, 2024
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on November 28, 2023 via Zoom. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Nancy Graydon, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were Nancy Graydon, Bob Hermann, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Scott Plakun, Bill Poppen, President Sunny Singh, Todd St Vrain, Christopher Wiseman, Ozan Yasavur and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Absent were Emily Borland, Dan Davies, and Maureen O’Shea.
 
Today's guests were Brian Lan and Mary Liu.
 
Minutes
The Board reviewed and approved the October 24, 2023 minutes.
 
November 2023 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2024-01-25 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: January 2024

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jan 24, 2024
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The following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club:
 
Niko Kowell (Educational Services | Narwahl Divers)
Zunan "Phil" Ye (Information Technology - Administration | Snowflake)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed additions to our membership.
 
Membership News: January 2024 Margaret Miley 2024-01-24 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 23, 2024: District Governor Laine Hendricks

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jan 23, 2024
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. He shared photos from the December 2023 Holiday Party and thanked Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) for creating the slideshow.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Richard Swart from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Jenny Bates from the Rotary Club of Ignacio, Emily Charley from the Rotary Club of Mission San Rafael, and Donna Lee Gulley from a Rotary Club in Chicago. Our guests were Katherine Thompson and Karen Banks of Family House, Kai Parker, and Neeraj Miglani, a former member of our Club.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 23, 2024: District Governor Laine Hendricks Stacey Poole 2024-01-23 08:00:00Z 0

Grants Cycle Opens Earlier in 2024

Posted by Bob Hermann, President-elect on Jan 23, 2024
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As the leader this year of the Grants Review Committee, I am excited to announce that the 2024 Grants Cycle will open on Thursday, February 1, 2024. This earlier opening will allow our Club's Committees more time to seek grants from Club members in good standing.
 
This year the final date for any/all grant submissions will be on Friday, March 22, 2024 to allow ample time for the following reviews: the actual Committees (March/April), the Grants Review Committee (April/May), the Rotary Club Board (April/May), and finally, the Foundation Board for budgetary approval (June).
 
Grants Cycle Opens Earlier in 2024 Bob Hermann, President-elect 2024-01-23 08:00:00Z 0

News from Our Youth Services Committee

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Jan 19, 2024
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Thank You from Scholarship Recipients
This year the Youth Services Committee awarded nine $1,000 scholarships to students for their outstanding service to RYLA or Interact. The scholarships help students with costs associated with their education.  
 
Jenny ChenThis week we invite you to read Jenny Chen's testimony and Lizbeth Mendieta's testimony in which they thank the Rotary Club of San Francisco and share what RYLA and the scholarship have meant to them.
 
We look forward to featuring more scholarship recipients' thank you testimonials in future editions of Grindings and at Club meetings!
 
News from Our Youth Services Committee Todd St Vrain 2024-01-19 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 16, 2024: Shirmila Cooray and De Marillac Academy

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Jan 17, 2024
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:17 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. He shared a photo of himself riding a bicycle from the Bike Build.
 
Today's Visiting Rotarian and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarian was Richard Swart from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown. Our guests were Immanuel Baur, Lavar Ivy, Michael Ciaccia, and Cathy Tolentino. We also welcomed today's speaker - Shirmila Cooray.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 16, 2024: Shirmila Cooray and De Marillac Academy Robin Azevedo 2024-01-17 08:00:00Z 0

On a Mission to Eradicate Polio in India

Posted by Dan Joraanstad and Bob Hermann on Jan 15, 2024
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We recently participated at Rotary International’s Mega Polio Eradication Mission in India. Arriving late in the night into New Delhi, we joined with Rotarians from California, Colorado, Australia, and Norway, and became a team of about 18. On our first day, we saw a few of New Delhi's gems. We marveled at the Lotus Temple, a Baháʼí House of Worship and an architectural wonder surrounded by reflecting pools. A visit to Lodhi Gardens with historic buildings dating back to the 15th Century highlighted the grandeur of India’s past. The National Museum also showcased the cultural accomplishment of hundreds of years of Indian art and diverse cultural offerings.
 
 
On a Mission to Eradicate Polio in India Dan Joraanstad and Bob Hermann 2024-01-15 08:00:00Z 0

Kwanzaa Celebration

Posted by Scott Plakun on Jan 11, 2024
Dan Joraanstad and Maurice RiversA dozen Rotarians participated in a Kwanzaa celebration on December 29 at an annual community event sponsored by the OMI Cultural Participation Project and organized by the Executive Director of OMI-CPP, Club member Maurice Rivers.
 
We learned that Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday based on traditional harvest festivals held in Africa. It is focused on teaching children important values while giving respect to ancestors. Each of the seven days of the Kwanzaa holiday focuses on a different principle, identified in Swahili:
 
  1. Umoja - Unity
  2. Kujichagulia - Self-Determination
  3. Ujima - Collective Work and Responsibility
  4. Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics
  5. Nia - Purpose
  6. Kuumba - Creativity
  7. Imani – Faith
Kwanzaa Celebration Scott Plakun 2024-01-11 08:00:00Z 0

HIGHLIGHTS from December 12, 2023: Holiday Party and Annual Meeting

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Dec 14, 2023
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Welcome to the 2023 Holiday Party
Following the reception and wine auction, President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) kicked off the Holiday Party. He shared what the holidays meant to him and asked others to share as well.
 
Supporting the Ukraine: Next, President Sunny discussed how our Club came together and raised $10,000 in just one month. Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) matched the $10,000 and made an additional $5,000 commitment to support this important project, raising our total to $25,000 for the Ukraine. Thank you, Allan!
 
Membership: In the area of membership, our Club gained eight new members since July 1, 2023.
 
Comments from DG Laine: District Governor Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin) expressed how proud she is of her home Club. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS from December 12, 2023: Holiday Party and Annual Meeting Nancy Graydon 2023-12-14 08:00:00Z 0

An International Service Opportunity

Posted by Paul Vazquez on Dec 14, 2023
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Alliance for Smiles is one of our corporate members and will conduct a medical mission in Gazipur, Bangladesh from February 12 to 23, 2024. Our Club Foundation is a major funder for this trip, and we would love to send someone from our Club to participate! 

For this mission, there is an opening for a record keeper. Here is a summary of the duties. The record keeper registers patients at opening clinic; enters medical information into a computer database; creates simple spreadsheets; keeps track of patient info and surgery schedules; makes sure that all forms are filled in accurately by the medical team; and performs various other clerical tasks. Candidate must be well organized and very computer literate.

If you are interested, please contact Paul Vazquez
An International Service Opportunity Paul Vazquez 2023-12-14 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 5, 2023: Woody LaBounty and San Francisco's Past and Present

Posted by Larry Booth on Dec 05, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management), sporting a festive, holiday mustache, called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Today's Guests
Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced her guests - Lisa Covey and Katheyn Hyde. Our guests affiliated with The Arc San Francisco were Nasan Barkhurel, Peter DeHaas, Cynthia Kreuz-Uhr, and Mira Yoon. We also welcomed today's speaker - Woody LaBounty.
 
Anthony AliotoMembership News
New Member: Anthony Alioto (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities) was inducted as a new member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities. He formerly ran the family-owned US Restaurant and confirmed that all the Alioto's in San Francisco hail from the same Sicilian village, and they all consider each other cousins! He was welcomed with the traditional "We Will!"
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 5, 2023: Woody LaBounty and San Francisco's Past and Present Larry Booth 2023-12-05 08:00:00Z 0

Stuffing Diaper Bags for the Homeless Prenatal Program

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Nov 30, 2023
Rotarians and staff gathered this evening to stuff 45 diaper bags to be distributed at the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) baby showers on December 6, 2023. President Sunny Singh, Jim Patrick, Jo Patrick, and Rhonda Poppen of the Rotary Club of San Francisco joined Shellena Eskeridge and Sharon Bechtol of HPP in the assembly of diaper bags. This was an opportunity to give back to the incredible need of homeless or housing insecure families in San Francisco.
 
Sharon Bechtol, Sunny Singh, and Shellena Eskeridge
 
Stuffing Diaper Bags for the Homeless Prenatal Program Rhonda Poppen 2023-11-30 08:00:00Z 0

Thanksgiving 2023: the meal that kept giving

Posted by Eric Schmautz and Barbara Streett on Nov 30, 2023
The Rotary Club of San Francisco has a 16-year tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving with the participants of The Arc San Francisco. This year, a total of 515 meals were prepared for The Arc SF and The Salvation Army programs including Harbor Light and rehab services.
 
Past President of our Club and Past District 5150 Governor Eric Schmautz, along with John Scopazzi (Rotary Club of San Rafael), led this project to prepare hot meals with a festive Thanksgiving theme for The Arc participants experiencing food insecurity. The event was kicked off with a grocery run of epic proportions by Eric Schmautz and Chris Davies. Eric and ​Johnny then prepared the food before serving it to The Arc. 
 
 
Thanksgiving 2023: the meal that kept giving Eric Schmautz and Barbara Streett 2023-11-30 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: November 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Nov 30, 2023
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The following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club in January 2024 as an individual member:
 
Douglas Apple (Education-Commercial | Aquarium of the Bay)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed addition to our membership.
 
Membership News: November 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-11-30 08:00:00Z 0

Walk to End Alzheimer's: a success story and a big thank you

Posted by Mary Liu on Nov 29, 2023
In a remarkable display of community spirit, Rotarians from District 5150 and our Club (the second oldest Rotary Club in the world) rallied together for the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer’s on November 4, 2023. The event was graced by the presence of Past Rotary International President (PRIP) Jennifer Jones and her husband, Nick, who joined fellow walkers on this significant journey.
 
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the day was our Club's active involvement. Our members who participated donned our custom, bright neon yellow vests that became a symbol of our collective commitment and made us easily identifiable throughout the walk. A keen eye would spot me center stage proudly holding our Club's sign just behind PRIP Jennifer.
 
 
Walk to End Alzheimer's: a success story and a big thank you Mary Liu 2023-11-29 08:00:00Z 0

October 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Nov 29, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on October 24, 2023 via Zoom. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m. Nancy Graydon, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were Emily Borland, Nancy Graydon, Bob Hermann, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Scott Plakun, Bill Poppen, Maureen O’Shea, President Sunny Singh, Ozan Yasavur, Christopher Wiseman, and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Absent were Dan Davies and Todd St Vrain.
 
Guests included Ronald Bolden, Brian Lan, and Mary Liu.
 
Minutes
The Board reviewed and approved the September 26, 2023 minutes.
 
October 2023 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2023-11-29 08:00:00Z 0

Friendsgiving 2023

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 23, 2023
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On a rainy Friday night, almost 20 Club members and 8 guests gathered at the home of Margaret Miley to celebrate Friendsgiving. Among the guests was Alexander Kuch who is a Visiting Rotarian from New Zealand. Alexander was in San Francisco to attend the APEC conference.
 
Everyone brought a dish or two to share, filling up almost two rooms in Margaret's place with great food. Thank you, Margaret, for hosting. We are all thankful to be part of a great Rotary Club and among such good friends.
 
 
Friendsgiving 2023 Dora Dye 2023-11-23 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 14, 2023: Jessica Hansen and Alliance for Smiles

Posted by Frank Yoke on Nov 16, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's e-meeting to order at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarian was Chrissy Moses who is a member of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Today's guests were Malik Seneferu and Tammy McNaught.
 
Birthdays
President Sunny Singh recognized the Rotary Club of San Francisco on its 115th birthday and expressed how proud he is to be a part of our Club. President Sunny also congratulated Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) on her birthday today! Those present sang Happy Birthday to Emily.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 14, 2023: Jessica Hansen and Alliance for Smiles Frank Yoke 2023-11-16 08:00:00Z 0

Report from the Nominating Committee

Posted by Bob Hermann on Nov 14, 2023
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In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
 
 
2024-25 President: Bob Hermann
2024-25 President-Elect: Frank Yoke
2024-26 Vice President of Development: Maureen O’Shea
2024-26 Vice President of International Service: Anita Stangl
2024-26 Vice President of Membership: Margaret Miley
2024-26 Vice President of Community Service: Darlene Wilson
2024-26 Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Tim Hornbecker
 
Report from the Nominating Committee Bob Hermann 2023-11-14 08:00:00Z 0

Service Above Self at Family House

Posted by Bob Hermann on Nov 09, 2023
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A new grant partner for the Rotary Club of San Francisco is Family House, a home away from home to provide physical comfort and emotional support free from financial concerns to families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. On November 7, Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman along with his spouse Eric Sleigh and Club Members Alisha Marfatia, Dan Joraanstad, Bill Gregory, Nancy Graydon, Margaret Miley, and me (Bob Hermann) joined Family House Volunteer Coordinator Terrence Dixon to clean and sanitize kitchen and common areas, offload and distribute meals to those living at Family House, and interface with these families. Club Secretary Nancy Graydon even provided coloring books to the children.
 
Service Above Self at Family House Bob Hermann 2023-11-09 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 7, 2023: Ravinder Sehgal and Deforestation and Emerging Avian Diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Posted by Stacey Poole on Nov 08, 2023
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Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) was feeling under the weather but very appreciative of the well wishes and good thoughts sent to him.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarian was Alexander Kuch who is a member of a Rotary club in Germany. He currently resides in New Zealand and attends his Rotary meetings at midnight. Today's guests from Catholic Charities were Everett Highbaugh, Morgan McCarthy, Tony Alioto, and Elizabeth Driskill. Also in attendance was Malik Seneferu.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 7, 2023: Ravinder Sehgal and Deforestation and Emerging Avian Diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo Stacey Poole 2023-11-08 08:00:00Z 0

2023 World Food Prize Laureate Heidi Kühn

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 02, 2023
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Congratulations to our Club Member Heidi Kühn for winning the 2023 World Food Prize Laureate. She was awarded the World Food Prize for her efforts in turning “mines into vines” by demining war-torn land and turning it back into prosperous farmland for local agriculture to flourish. During the award, Heidi was surprised to learn that prize amount had doubled to $500,000. Previously the award was $250,000.
Read the full story here.
 
2023 World Food Prize Laureate Heidi Kühn Dora Dye 2023-11-02 07:00:00Z 0

To Eureka and Back

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 29, 2023
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Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Eureka (California) for celebrating its 100th birthday on October 10, 2023. Over a century ago, our Club played a role in the creation of the Eureka Club.
 
Let's go back to June 2020 when we were on COVID-19 lockdown. I was your Club Secretary at the time and received an inquiry from Kim Bauriedel, M.D., of the Rotary Club of Eureka. He was gathering information for his club's Centennial Celebration and had a setback: the Tubbs fire near Santa Rosa had destroyed his club's archives and he wondered if our Club might be able to offer some valuable information to help him piece together his club's history. Dr. Bauriedel began with a request for information on Leo Lebenbaum. Leo is credited with organizing and creating the Rotary Club of Eureka. I contacted our own Past President Harold Hoogasian who was keeping our Club's archives, and he was able to find that Leo Lebenbaum had been a member of our Club from 1915 to 1925. Leo was a hotelier in San Francisco and had managed the Herald Hotel and later, the Wiltshire Hotel now known as the Taj Campton Place. Leo moved to Eureka to manage the Eureka Inn.
 
To Eureka and Back Dora Dye 2023-10-29 07:00:00Z 0

SPECIAL EVENT Highlights October 17, 2023: Second Annual Rotary Fashion Show - Glitz and Glamour

Posted by Christopher Wiseman and Alisha Marfatia on Oct 25, 2023
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On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the Rotary Club of San Francisco – the second oldest Rotary Club in the world - hosted its Second Annual Fashion Show Luncheon at the elegant Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. This year's theme was “Glitz and Glamour,” and there were plenty of both.

The event began with a beautiful reception and wine auction that showcased wines. These wines were donated from a private collection that is stored for the Rotary Club of San Francisco at the Handlery Hotel. Special Hint: More wine auctions will be offered throughout the year!

Following the reception, Club President Sunny Singh welcomed attendees, showcasing his charm and wit to both the Rotarians and the many non-Rotarians. Attendees enjoyed a delicious three-course lunch, which was paired with complimentary white and red wine. President Sunny then introduced Vern Glenn, Sports Director at KPIX 5 TV and multi-Emmy® Award winner. Vern discussed his thoughts on the Super Bowl, San Francisco, Fashion, and life. After his exciting presentation, he led a Q&A, giving attendees an opportunity to ask Vern, a known celebrity, anything!
 
SPECIAL EVENT Highlights October 17, 2023: Second Annual Rotary Fashion Show - Glitz and Glamour Christopher Wiseman and Alisha Marfatia 2023-10-25 07:00:00Z 0

September 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Oct 25, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on September 26, 2023 via Zoom. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Dora Dye, Executive Secretary, recorded the minutes.

In attendance were Emily Borland, Dan Davies, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Scott Plakun, Bill Poppen, President Sunny Singh, Todd St Vrain, Ozan Yasavur, Christopher Wiseman, and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Absent were Maureen O’Shea, Nancy Graydon, and Bob Hermann. Also in attendance was Executive Secretary Dora Dye.
 
Minutes
The Board reviewed and approved the August 29, 2023 minutes.
 
September 2023 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2023-10-25 07:00:00Z 0

Blue Angels' Extravaganza: A Sky-High Celebration to Remember

Posted by Mary Liu on Oct 19, 2023
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Rotarians, along with their families, guests, and fellow visiting Rotarians from all over the Bay Area, converged for an electrifying spectacle on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Picture this: a dazzling, front-row vantage point providing jaw-dropping vistas of the bustling Fisherman's Wharf and the mesmerizing expanse of the San Francisco Bay. What was the catalyst for this extraordinary gathering? None other than our Club's third annual Blue Angels Viewing Party Extravaganza!
 
Under a canopy of San Francisco's finest weather, amidst the sizzling backdrop of a heatwave weekend, the heavens painted a picture of azure perfection, setting the stage for an unforgettable Blue Angels' performance. The skies thundered with their majestic maneuvers, and the synchronized choreography of the Blue Angels left the audience in a state of utter spellbinding wonder, their hearts racing with pure exhilaration. The event's location, spaciousness, delicious food, and decorations all contributed perfectly to the occasion.
 
Blue Angels' Extravaganza: A Sky-High Celebration to Remember Mary Liu 2023-10-19 07:00:00Z 0

PRIP Jennifer Jones to speak at the Rotary Club of Oakland

Posted by Sunny Singh on Oct 19, 2023
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Past Rotary International President (PRIP) Jennifer Jones will speak at the Rotary Club of Oakland on November 2, 2023. The Oakland Rotary Club invites our Club members to join this meeting on Zoom for free. Log in by 12:20 PM. The meeting will be from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. CLICK HERE to reserve your space for the Zoom meeting.
 
That evening, all Rotarians and guests are invited to a dinner at Scott's Seafood at 2 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 in Jack London Square. Valet and secure parking are available. The cost is $110 per person to cover the cost of the event. Reception begins at 6 PM, and dinner will follow at 7 PM. If you want to attend, please buy tickets immediately. Dinner ticket sales end on October 25, 2023.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Jesse Bowdle at 510-451-2120 or execadmin@oakland-rotary.org
 
PRIP Jennifer Jones to speak at the Rotary Club of Oakland Sunny Singh 2023-10-19 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Past Rotary International President Rick King

Posted on Oct 15, 2023
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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Past Rotary International President (PRIP) Rick King. Those who knew PRIP Rick know that he left an indelible mark and impact in Rotary that will continue to be felt. While he was never a member of our Club, he did speak to our Club on several occasions.
 
See here for more information on PRIP Rick King and his memorial scheduled for Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2 PM. Our deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Cherie; his family; and his club - the Rotary Club of Niles Fremont.
 
Remembering Past Rotary International President Rick King Dora Dye 2023-10-15 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 3, 2023: Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia - What You Need to Know

Posted by Eric Schmautz on Oct 07, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Senator Dianne Feinstein
President Sunny paid tribute to our member and US Senator Dianne Feinstein who passed away in her Georgetown brownstone on September 29, 2023. While mayor of San Francisco, she was among one of the first four women inducted into our Club. See more information on Senator Feinstein here.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 3, 2023: Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia - What You Need to Know Eric Schmautz 2023-10-07 07:00:00Z 0

A Moment in our Club's History

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 06, 2023
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Please take the time to read this story all the way to the end.

San Francisco is vying for the opportunity to host another Rotary International Convention. The RI Convention Visiting Team was in San Francisco in early September and will announce its decision in January 2024. Meanwhile, in mid-September 2023, Charlotte Harris of the Rotary Club of Tucson contacted our Club, because she had been organizing a storage area of historically significant items from her Club's 102-year history. Charlotte found proceedings books from 1938, 1947, and 1977 when the RI Convention was held in San Francisco and sent these books to me.
 
Upon receipt, I began reading these proceedings to discover the history. I now share the Welcome Address by Arch Monson, Jr. who was President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 1976-1977. President Monson delivered the following at the 1977 Rotary International Convention:
 
A Moment in our Club's History Dora Dye 2023-10-06 07:00:00Z 0

Member in the News: September 2023

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 30, 2023
Congratulations to Christian Kuhn who has married Megumi Faibisch. The wedding took place at Wright's Lake among family members. Christian, his brother Tucker, and his mother Heidi are with Roots of Peace and members of our Club.
 
 
Member in the News: September 2023 Dora Dye 2023-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Senator Dianne Feinstein

Posted on Sep 29, 2023
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein was a member of our Club from May 1, 1989 until her death on September 29, 2023. On July 1, 2023, our Club made Senator Feinstein an honorary member again; she had been an honorary member of our Club before women were allowed to join Rotary.

Senator Feinstein was a native of San Francisco and served for nine years as a San Francisco County Supervisor starting in 1969. The assassination of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978 forever changed her life. She went on to become San Francisco's Mayor and ultimately, California's first woman U.S. Senator. She dedicated the rest of her life to public service and to finding solutions to problems facing California and the rest of the nation. You can read more about Senator Feinstein's accomplishments in her biography
 
Remembering Senator Dianne Feinstein Dora Dye 2023-09-29 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 28, 2023
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We reach the month of October, and our Club Calendar is filled with Committee meetings. In addition to the regular monthly Committee meetings, there are two new ones in October 2023: the 2023 Holiday Party Committee meeting on October 9, 2023 and the Rotary Climate Action Team's meeting on October 12, 2023. Please join one or both of these two meetings or any of the other Committee meetings shown on the Club calendar.
 
We also offer special events in October: the Blue Angels Viewing Party on October 7, 2023 and the Glitz and Glamour Luncheon and Fashion Show on October 17, 2023. Rotary District 5150 offers a scavenger hunt on October 21, 2023 to commemorate World Polio Day; wear a costume to add to the fun.
 
With so much to do, we hope to see you soon at our Club's events.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2023-09-28 07:00:00Z 0

August 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 26, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on August 29, 2023 via Zoom. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Nancy Graydon, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Sunny Singh, President-Elect Bob Hermann, Emily Borland, Nancy Graydon, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Maureen O’Shea, Scott Plakun, Bill Poppen, Todd St Vrain, Ozan Yasavur, Dan Davies, and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Past President Christopher Wiseman was absent. Today's guests were Stephen Geisheker and Bridget Mahoney.
 
Minutes
The Board reviewed and approved the July 25, 2023 minutes.
 
August 2023 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2023-09-26 07:00:00Z 0

Create a Brighter Future: Your Role in Recruiting New Members

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 21, 2023
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As members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, we have a unique opportunity to help our Club grow. It’s exciting to help grow our Rotary family. How can you participate? It's simple – reach out to your co-workers, the merchants you do business with, your friends, and your relatives. After the many outstanding meetings, social events, and projects of the last six months, you know that we are part of something truly special. Ask your associates to join us at any of the events that we have: projects, meetings, or socials. Share these experiences with your cadre. New members bring new ideas and energy. Together, we will have more special times in helping others, making connections, and finding new friendships.
 
Here are some specific actions to take:
 
Create a Brighter Future: Your Role in Recruiting New Members Daniel Joraanstad 2023-09-21 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 19, 2023: Rodney Fong and a San Francisco Business Update

Posted by David Dye on Sep 19, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Today's Guests
We welcomed Shamrina Oshana, Maria Pechurina, and Danbee Song from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce who accompanied today's speaker - Rodney Fong. Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced her guest - Antal Runneboom. Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) introduced his guest - David Schleifer-Lee. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced his guest - Sal Baglieri.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 19, 2023: Rodney Fong and a San Francisco Business Update David Dye 2023-09-19 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 12, 2023: Understanding Hong Kong's Competitive Edge and Latest Strategic Initiatives

Posted by Frank Yoke on Sep 15, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. The audience sang Happy Birthday to the members who are celebrating a birthday in September.
 
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
Our Visiting Rotarian was Grady Mateen from the Rotary Club of Palo Alto. Today's guests from The Arc San Francisco were Esther Landau (on Zoom), Calvin Fitch, and Cynthia Kretz-Uhr. Hana Xu Wang (Financial Services: Advising | Wang Wealth Advisors, LLC) introduced her guest - Nilima Sabharwal. Today's speaker was Jacko Tsang; accompanying Ms. Tsang was Emily Ng.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 12, 2023: Understanding Hong Kong's Competitive Edge and Latest Strategic Initiatives Frank Yoke 2023-09-15 07:00:00Z 0

Serving our Community in August 2023

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 08, 2023
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Volunteering at the San Francisco-Marin Food BankOur Club completed two community service projects in August 2023. The first project was on August 26, 2023 when two members of our Club (Emily Borland and Victoria Lozano), two Visiting Rotarians, two non-Rotarians, and one RYLA alumna assembled and packaged food for distribution at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Emily even brought her older son for the experience. In 2.5 hours, this group of eight packed 1,100 bags of produce that equaled 26,400 pounds.
 
Then, on August 30, 2023, 10 volunteers (Rhonda Poppen, Robin Azevedo, Lisa Stark, Hana Xu Wang, Carrie Schucker, Jim Patrick, Bill Gregory, Jo Patrick and two friends) assembled diaper bags to give away to homeless or housing insecure families in San Francisco and stuffed invitations to the Homeless Prenatal Program's Annual Luncheon.
 
Thank you to all for your service to our community!
 
 
a job well done!
Serving our Community in August 2023 Dora Dye 2023-09-08 07:00:00Z 0

Welcome-to-the-Club Parties Return

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Aug 31, 2023
Charlies Miles, Stephen Geisheker, Donna Duensing, and Lynn LuckowWith camaraderie and community, the Rotary Club of San Francisco resumed its beloved tradition of hosting Welcome-to-the-Club parties. These gatherings, which had been a cherished fixture on a quarterly basis before the challenges brought about by COVID-19, have made a triumphant return to the Club’s calendar. The first of these parties was recently held on the evening of August 24, 2023.
 
Margaret Miley, with her signature warmth and hospitality, graciously hosted the event while the dedicated efforts of Dan Joraanstad and Margaret herself were instrumental in organizing an evening that proved to be nothing short of a smashing success. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Club leadership, both established and emerging, gathered to celebrate this auspicious occasion. The event was graced by a crowd of 35 new and prospective members as well as Club leaders, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of our ever-growing Rotary family.
Welcome-to-the-Club Parties Return Daniel Joraanstad 2023-08-31 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: September 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Aug 30, 2023
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The following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club on September 19, 2023 as individual members:
 
Ronald Bolden Jr. (Medical and Life Insurance | Freeman Insurance Services)
Paul Yep (University Administration | Academy of Art University).
 
In addition, the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on September 19, 2023 as a member of our corporate member - Alliance for Smiles:
 
Paul Vazquez (Nonprofit Administration | Alliance for Smiles).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed additions to our membership.
 
Membership News: September 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-08-30 07:00:00Z 0

July 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Aug 29, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on July 25, 2023 via Zoom. President Sunny Singh called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Nancy Graydon, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Sunny Singh, President-Elect Bob Hermann, Emily Borland, Nancy Graydon, Margaret Miley, Alex Omoko, Maureen O’Shea, Scott Plakun, Bill Poppen, Todd St Vrain, Ozan Yasavur, and Frank Yoke, constituting a quorum. Dan Davies was absent. Also in attendance were Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman, Executive Secretary Dora Dye, and Past President Mary Liu.
 
Minutes
The Board reviewed and approved the June 27, 2023 minutes.
 
July 2023 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2023-08-29 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 22, 2023: Miss Indian New Mexico, Inc

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Aug 24, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. Everyone observed a moment of silence in memory of 2017-2018 Past President John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates).
 
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
PDG Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) introduced his mother - Karen Schmautz from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida - and his daughters - Molly Schmautz and Katie Schmautz. Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) introduced his guest, Tamicia Wakefield. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced Bill Mathers and Peggy Mathers. Attending online were Brooke Nuwati and today's speakers - Nicole Johnny and Kari Vallo.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 22, 2023: Miss Indian New Mexico, Inc Ann Daugherty 2023-08-24 07:00:00Z 0

John Mathers' New Adventure

Posted on Aug 24, 2023
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We continue to pay tribute to 2017-2018 Past President John Mathers who passed away on August 6, 2023. At the August 22, 2023 Rotary luncheon, a letter written by John was read to the audience in accordance with his wishes. Present at this meeting were John's widow - Peggy Mathers and John's brother - Bill Mathers.
 
Below is the letter:
 
John Mathers' New Adventure 2023-08-24 07:00:00Z 0

An Evening at the San Francisco Playhouse

Posted by Sunny Singh on Aug 17, 2023
Members and friends of the Rotary Club of San Francisco gathered at the San Francisco Playhouse for drinks and dinner on August 17, 2023. After dinner, we watched the Broadway classic - A Chorus Line. A big thank you to Bill Gregory and Alisha Marfatia for organizing the delicious meal and the exciting show. I am extremely grateful for another memorable night with my Rotary family.
 
Front row (l to r): Maureen O'Shea, Anita Stangl, Bill Gregory, Hana Xu Wang, Mary Liu, Dora Dye, Mary Fermi, Donna Duensing, and Rae Sensa. Second row (l to r): Margaret Miley, Robert Hunter, Henry Rubin, Carrie Schucker, Dan Joraanstad, Lisa Stark, President Sunny Singh, David Dye, Ann Daugherty, and Georgie Evans (hidden). Third row (l to r): Markham Miller, Rich Martini, Bob Hermann, Alisha Marfatia, and Doug Spradlin. Angel Gang O'Neil took the photo.
An Evening at the San Francisco Playhouse Sunny Singh 2023-08-17 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Don Parachini

Posted on Aug 13, 2023
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Parachini. Don was a member of our Club from June 1, 1986 to March 8, 2020. He was a lawyer specializing in banking and financial institution regulatory law and solving problems with contracts and business transactions and had retired as a partner from Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger and Melnick, LLP. 

In Rotary, Don was very active, highly respected, and a much beloved member. For several years, he volunteered as our Club's legal counsel. See here for more information on Donald Parachini and his memorial.
 
Sharing Some Memories of Don
Here are memories from some of our Club's leaders who had worked with and known Don:
 
Remembering Don Parachini Scott Plakun 2023-08-13 07:00:00Z 0

Help the Victims of the Maui Fires

Posted on Aug 11, 2023
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By now, you have heard the news of the devastating fires in the state of Hawaii. The Island of Maui has been consumed by fire that has destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, claimed the lives of more than 80 people as of today, and displaced thousands more. 
 
Rotarians are People of Action, and the Rotary Clubs of Hawaii (District 5000) have created the Maui Fires Relief Fund to provide immediate relief and support for the long-term recovery of Maui’s communities. If you are inspired to help our Hawaiian neighbors, please give generously. Let’s Create Hope for Maui. See more information here.
Help the Victims of the Maui Fires Dora Dye 2023-08-11 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 8, 2023: JoEllen Arntz and SMUIN Contemporary Ballet

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 10, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:17 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Celebrating an Anniversary
President Sunny congratulated David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) and Dora Dye (Education: Elementary and Community College | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) on their 26th wedding anniversary today!
 
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
We welcomed Paul Vazquez visiting from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening. Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) introduced our guests from the Academy of Art University: Greg Grundstrom and Paul Yep, who replaced Michael Petricca (Education Management | Retired) at the Academy when Michael retired. Mary also introduced one of our Club's Honorary Members - Dr. Elisa Stephens (Education Management | Academy of Art University). Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) introduced his daughter-in-law, Christina, and his granddaughters - Collette, Vivienne, and Gabrielle. Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) introduced her granddaughter - Marley. Other in-person guests included Robert Hunter and Hian Jin (aka Stellie Kim). Jennifer Schwartz attended via Zoom. Our speaker today was JoEllen Arntz. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 8, 2023: JoEllen Arntz and SMUIN Contemporary Ballet Dora Dye 2023-08-10 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Past President John Mathers

Posted on Aug 09, 2023
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Past President John Mathers. John joined Rotary on March 1, 2011 and became our Club's president in 2017-2018. He had served as Club Treasurer before becoming Club President. He was also active on the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. See 2021 story here. In Rotary District 5150, John had served as Youth Service Chair and Organizational Development Chair. You can read more about John in this 2016 profile
 
However, John is best known and now remembered for spearheading the Rotary Climate Action Team to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of climate change. His efforts began at the Club level but soon spread Districtwide and worldwide. John touched the life of every Rotarian and human whom he had encountered. 
 
Remembering Past President John Mathers Dora Dye 2023-08-09 07:00:00Z 0

A Big Thank You to Those Who Made the 2023 RYLA a Success

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Aug 03, 2023
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130 new campers, 20 student alumni, and 30 adult volunteer staff took part in this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) Camp, held from July 31 to August 4. It was a transformative and joyful week. A story about the RYLA experience will be published in the near future. For now, we’d like to recognize and express our gratitude to the following members of our Club who led and served the 2023 RYLA Camp: 
 
  • Lynn Luckow, RYLA Camp Director, for his vision and countless hours over the past year. 
  • David Dye, RYLA Planning Committee Member, for serving as treasurer and RYLA Camp session speaker. David and his wife, Dora Dye, shopped for camp snacks and assembled the RYLA bead necklace for all campers, facilitators, alumni, and administrative staff.
  • Todd St Vrain, RYLA Recruitment Chair, for serving as facilitator and RYLA Camp session speaker.
  • Steve Lindstrom, RYLA Planning Committee Member, for maintaining the RYLA website and serving as an administrator.
  • Mary Liu, Bob Hermann, Lisa Christian, and Margaret Miley for serving as RYLA Camp facilitators.
  • Jim Patrick, Dan Joraanstad, Bridget Mahoney, Angelina Preza, and Frank Yoke for helping with RYLA bus drop-off or pick-up duties in San Francisco.
A Big Thank You to Those Who Made the 2023 RYLA a Success Todd St Vrain 2023-08-03 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 1, 2023: State Senator Scott Wiener

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 01, 2023
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President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed Avis La Grone and Patti van der Burg, both visiting from the Rotary Club of Los Gatos, and Dr. Angelo Capozzi, former member of our Club and now a member of the Rotary Club of Tiburon Belvedere. Maureen O’Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her guests - Michelle Andrews and Omar Rincon from Senator Scott Wiener's office. Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) introduced her guest - Ronald Bolden Jr. Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) introduced Sue Robbins from Catholic Charities SF. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest - Murrey Nelson. Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) introduced Jewel Harris from the National Park Service. Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) introduced his guests - Michael Moss, Lisa Moss, Sam Moss, and Laura Foote and his son - Andrew Booth. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced Margarita Baxter-Lazaro. Our guest attending online was Phil Ye.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 1, 2023: State Senator Scott Wiener Dora Dye 2023-08-01 07:00:00Z 0

June 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jul 26, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
Immediate Past President Mary Liu called the June 27, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:04 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were Gary Dales, Frank Yoke, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Mary Liu, Sunny Singh, Margaret Miley, Scott Plakun, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent were President Christopher Wiseman, Jeff Lerner, and Wendy Shew. Also in attendance were incoming Board members Nancy Graydon, Dan Davies, Bob Hermann, and Ozan Yasavur. 
 
Minutes
The Board approved the May 23, 2023 minutes. 
 
June 2023 Board Highlights Nancy Graydon 2023-07-26 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: August 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jul 25, 2023
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The following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as individual members:
 
Merve Yasavur (Information Technology: Computer Science | Self-employed) on August 1, 2023.
Margarita Baxter-Lazaro (Consular Affairs | Retired) on August 8, 2023.
 
In addition, the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club on August 8, 2023 as members of our corporate member - Catholic Charities San Francisco:
 
Thomas Bowen (Development | Catholic Charities SF)
Sue Robbins (Development | Catholic Charities SF).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed additions to our membership.
 
Membership News: August 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-07-25 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 18, 2023: Lunch with SFJAZZ

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 20, 2023
President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:18 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Bridget MahoneyNew Members Inducted
President Sunny and Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) inducted Bridget Mahoney (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF) into our Club. Bridget becomes the newest member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities San Francisco and expressed her excitement to participate in the many activities that our Club has to offer.
 
Hana Xu WangPresident Sunny and Anita welcomed back Hana Xu Wang (Financial Services: Advising | Wang Wealth Advisors, LLC) to our Club. Hana had been an active member of our Club for a decade, but left during the height of the pandemic. Said Hana, "I missed Rotary during my absence and am glad to be back."
 
A warm welcome to both Bridget and Hana! When you see either Bridget or Hana at one of our meetings or events, please introduce yourself to them.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 18, 2023: Lunch with SFJAZZ Dora Dye 2023-07-20 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp Visit: August 3, 2023

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Jul 20, 2023
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All Rotarians are invited to visit the RYLA Camp on Thursday, August 3, 2023 and join RYLA students and staff for lunch at 12:15 PM to 1 PM. Please note that lunch will be served only during this time period. Rotary District 5150 Governor Laine Hendricks from the Rotary Club of San Francisco will be present to speak to us during the lunch.
 
You are also welcomed to arrive at 10 AM to observe the RYLA students' team-building activities or stay after lunch for the Mental Health Matters plenary session from 1 PM to 2 PM. This plenary session will be led by Jenny Bates from the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Waves of Change Recovery Services and chair of the Mental Health Action Group in our Rotary District.
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp Visit: August 3, 2023 Todd St Vrain 2023-07-20 07:00:00Z 0

Connect in Rotary District 5150

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 19, 2023
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There is no Club Luncheon during the week of July 24-30, 2023. However, as members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, you are all invited to the Board meetings of our Club and of Rotary Service, Inc.
 
As members of Rotary District 5150, you are also invited to participate in these two events:
 
Vocational Service Virtual Session on SCORE - SBA’s Resource Partner for No Cost Professional Business Mentoring on July 25, 2023 starting at 12 noon. For more information and registration, click here
 
Sip & Savor Social in San Rafael on July 29, 2023 starting at 4 PM. For more information and registration, click here.
 
See the Rotary District 5150 calendar for many other opportunities to connect with Rotarians outside our Club. This is also an opportunity for you to connect others to our Club events listed here.
 
Connect in Rotary District 5150 Dora Dye 2023-07-19 07:00:00Z 0

Opportunities to Become Involved with Youth Services

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Jul 13, 2023
Our Club's Youth Services Committee is seeking advisers for Interact and Rotaract. Advisers can work in pairs or small teams to support each Interact and Rotaract Club.
 
Interact logoInteract: Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Our Club currently oversees two Interact Clubs in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown: one at Lowell High School and the other at George Washington High School. The adviser for each Interact Club must be available to meet in person either midday or after school once a month.
 
Rotaract logoRotaract: Rotaract clubs were created to bring together young people ages 19-30 to take action in their communities and develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Our Club currently oversees two Rotaract Clubs: one at the University of San Francisco in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown and the other at San Francisco State University in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco West. While Rotaract clubs can now operate independently, a Rotarian adviser is still recommended for guidance. The adviser must be available to meet once every 1-2 months either in person or online.
 
Opportunities to Become Involved with Youth Services Todd St Vrain 2023-07-13 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 11, 2023: President Sunny Singh

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 12, 2023
As members and guests arrived, David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) took a moment to look at the tables beautifully set and ready for our Club to begin a new Rotary year. Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the first meeting of the 2023-2024 Rotary year to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
photo by Dora Dye
 
Induction of New President
Joining Immediate Past President Christopher on the podium were our new Club President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) and our new District Governor Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin). DG Laine expressed her pleasure at attending her own Club's luncheon in person and inducted President Sunny.
 
photo by Jim Patrick
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 11, 2023: President Sunny Singh Dora Dye 2023-07-12 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: July 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jul 12, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on July 18, 2023 as our newest member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities San Francisco:
 
Bridget Mahoney (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF).
 
In addition, former Club member Hana Xu Wang (Financial Services: Advising | Wang Wealth Advisors, LLC) is rejoining our Club, also on July 18, 2023.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed additions to our membership.
Membership News: July 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-07-12 07:00:00Z 0

RYLA Bus Volunteers Needed July 31 and August 4

Posted by Todd St Vrain on Jul 06, 2023
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Two to three volunteers are needed early on the morning of Monday, July 31, 2023 from approximately 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM to help check in 60 students heading from San Francisco to the RYLA camp. 
 
Two to three volunteers are also needed to supervise the pick-up of the campers when the bus returns on Friday, August 4, 2023 estimated at 5:30 PM and staying until the last camper is picked up around 6 PM. 
 
The pick-up and drop-off location is the Academy of Art University, 601 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. Please contact Kristine Baltasar to volunteer and let her know which day(s) you can help. Please also copy me, Todd St Vrain, when you contact Kristine.
RYLA Bus Volunteers Needed July 31 and August 4 Todd St Vrain 2023-07-06 07:00:00Z 0

May 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jul 05, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the May 23, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Frank Yoke, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Mary Liu, Sunny Singh, Margaret Miley, Wendy Shew, Scott Plakun, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent was Jeff Lerner. The invited guests were JT Forbus, Carlos Valdes, Nancy Graydon, and Luis Moran.
 
May 2023 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-07-05 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in Rotary District 5150

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 04, 2023
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As members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, we are also members of Rotary District 5150. This year's District Governor is our own Club Member, Laine Hendricks. Her theme for this Rotary year is Connect.
 
See the Rotary District 5150 calendar for many opportunities to connect with Rotarians outside our Club. This is also an opportunity for you to connect others to our Club events listed here.
 
What's New in Rotary District 5150 Dora Dye 2023-07-04 07:00:00Z 0

Ending the 2022-2023 Rotary Year with a Fiesta

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 02, 2023
On June 30, 2023, the last day of the 2022-2023 Rotary year, members of our Club gathered at Nopalito to celebrate with tequila, mezcal, or any drink of their choice. Our Club provided the Happy Hour bites, and a good time was had by all.
 
 
Present were Dan Davies and his guest, Social Chair Alisha Marfatia who organized this event, Anita Stangl, Maureen O'Shea, Lisa Stark, Ann Daugherty, Bill Gregory, Margaret Miley, Ozan Yasavur, and Merve Yasavur.
Ending the 2022-2023 Rotary Year with a Fiesta Dora Dye 2023-07-02 07:00:00Z 0

A Message from the Editor

Posted by Dora Dye, Editor on Jul 01, 2023
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This issue of Grindings is the first one for the new Rotary year of 2023-2024. Our first meeting will be on July 11, 2023 when new President Sunny Singh and his Board will share their plans for the year ahead. Please plan to join us then and throughout the year to Create Hope in the World (this year's Rotary International theme) as we continue to find the new normal.
 
To inspire you, read the following story of optimism and hope about the Patrick family. Join a committee, read Grindings, and check our Club Calendar often to find events and future meetings and register. Happy New Rotary Year and Happy 4th of July!
A Message from the Editor Dora Dye, Editor 2023-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

A Grand 150th Anniversary Celebration

Posted by Dan Joraanstad on Jul 01, 2023
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Patrick and Co., owned by Rotarian and Club Member James "Jim" Patrick III, celebrated its first 150 years in business on Friday, June 23, 2023. The number of years celebrated indicates the kind of optimism we find in Jim. Asked about the demise of San Francisco, he points out that foot traffic in his store is up, more people are on the streets, and the restaurants are doing a good business. And historically, the City has gone through numerous cycles of boom and bust. He puzzled over why at this time our City has captured the attention of the national press with such an angry and negative portrait. The journalists should hang out with Jim just to catch some of his optimism.
 
More than 20 Rotarians were among the 200 guests who came to the Anniversary Celebration. We were treated to delicious food from three different food trucks. A pleasant cocktail hour high atop the Patrick and Co. building on Mission Street brought us beautiful views of San Francisco.
 
A Grand 150th Anniversary Celebration Dan Joraanstad 2023-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 20, 2023: Celebrating and Thank You to President Christopher Wiseman

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 22, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the last meeting of the 2022-2023 Rotary year to order at 12:13 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed Past President and now Visiting Rotarian Casey Blair from the Rotary Club of Boise. Visiting us via Zoom was Lisa Schwie from the Rotary Club of Burnsville Breakfast in Minnesota. Thank you to Lisa for facilitating the wine donation to our Club.
 
Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced former Club Member Xu Wang who returned to visit us. Donna Duensing (Education: Seminary | Retired) introduced Barbara Lowe. President Christopher introduced his husband - Eric Sleigh - on Zoom. Another guest today was Margarita Baxter Lozano.
 
Today's Meeting Recorded
You can view today's meeting by clicking here. Please note that you can only hear but not see the Fashion Show portion as the performers were not in front of the camera.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 20, 2023: Celebrating and Thank You to President Christopher Wiseman Dora Dye 2023-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 13, 2023: Awards Ceremony - Honoring our Club Members

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 15, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called this meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed four Visiting Rotarians today. First was Bill Stumbaugh from the Club Rotario Bahía de Caráquez in Ecuador. Bill is originally from San Francisco, but life's many opportunities took him to Ecuador. Next was Werner Sattlegger from the Rotary Club of Klagenfurt-Lindwurm in Austria who visits our Club whenever he is in San Francisco; it was great to see Werner again. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest - Rabbi Jay Miller visiting from the Rotary Club of Burlingame. Finally, Malinda Monterrosa from the Rotary Club of Los Angeles joined via Zoom.
 
Guests: Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced Club Member Kat Ebanks (Nonprofit Management), Kat's 6-month-old daughter, and Kat's mother-in-law Silvia Franceschini from Italy. Kat has been living in Italy. Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) introduced her guests: Ronald Bolden Jr. and Niko Kowell. Another guest today was Margarita Baxter Lozano.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 13, 2023: Awards Ceremony - Honoring our Club Members Dora Dye 2023-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

Partea for President Christopher

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jun 14, 2023
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On Saturday, June 10, 2023, more than 60 Rotarians, family, and friends gathered for an afternoon tea to celebrate Christopher Wiseman's tenure as the 2022–2023 President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Hosted by Dan Joraanstad and Bob Hermann at their lovely home in San Francisco, the tea included sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, petit fours, and, of course, tea and other beverages. The ‘partea’ was catered by one of Christopher’s favorite San Francisco spots - Lovejoy’s Tea Room. (Attendees were encouraged to dine at Lovejoy's on their own; just ask for Celine.)

In addition to the tea and treats, everyone enjoyed a surprise performance by Dan Joraanstad and Rick Harrell. Dan played the piano while Rick sang three musical numbers including a favorite of Eric Sleigh and President Christopher - Fly Me to the Moon.
 
Partea for President Christopher Nancy Graydon 2023-06-14 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 6, 2023: Lunch with San Francisco Mayor London Breed

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jun 07, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called this meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Carmel Ballroom in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
 
Our Visiting Rotarians today were Cristina Aquino from the Rotary Club of South San Francisco, District 5150 Governor Nominee Steve Wright from the Rotary Club of Pacifica, Past District 5160 Governor Jonathan Dwyer, Norma Faris Taylor from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Bayview, Brian Flaherty from the Rotary Club of San Francisco South of Market (SOMA), Lesley Kraechan from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Vanita Louie from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, James O'Donnell from the Rotary Club of San Francisco South of Market (SOMA), Jim O'Grady from the Rotary Club of Petaluma Valley, Elizabeth Ranieri from the Rotary Club of San Francisco International Airport, Brian Rusch from the Rotary Club for Global Action, Howard Weathersby from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Bayview, Mark Williams from the Rotary Club of Midtown Atlanta, and Bruce Wright from the Rotary Club of South San Francisco.
 
On Zoom were current Rotary District 5150 Governor Gary Chow, Past District 5230 Governor Joy Anderson, Past District 5170 Governor Richard Flanders, Past President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Casey Blair, Past District 5150 Governor Peter Lagarias, Past District 5150 Governor Chris Gallagher, and Karen Schmautz from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida.
 
Other guests were Matthew Hawes, Clavel Bascom, Margarita Baxter Lozano, Derrick Cooper, Nikki Cooper, Grace Kuth, Austin Louie, Dr. Toye Moses, Simon Yu, Michael Rabara, and Jean Rosenblum.
 
Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest - John Cremer. Barbara Streett (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) introduced her guest - Steffany Dignum. Past District 5150 Governor Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) introduced his mother-in-law, Jackie Herrin, and his guest - Neeraj Miglani. Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) introduced her guest - Christopher Kazas. Christopher Davies (Real Estate: Property Management | Self-employed) introduced his guest - Douglas Konecki. Carlos Valdes (Real Estate: Sales | Aeternum Holdings, Inc.) introduced his guest - Manny Posadas.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 6, 2023: Lunch with San Francisco Mayor London Breed Margaret Miley 2023-06-07 07:00:00Z 0

Homeless Prenatal Program Baby Shower Bag Assembly

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Jun 01, 2023
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Eight Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Francisco gathered to pack 50 Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) baby shower bags at Hoogasian Flowers on the evening of Thursday, June 1, 2023. The Rotarians (pictured from left to right) were Carrie Schucker, Bill Gregory, Margaret Miley, Andrés Vera, Luis Moran, Christopher Davies, and Donna Duensing. 
 
~ photo taken by Rhonda Poppen
 
Homeless Prenatal Program Baby Shower Bag Assembly Rhonda Poppen 2023-06-01 07:00:00Z 0

April 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on May 29, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the April 25, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:04 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Frank Yoke, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Mary Liu, Sunny Singh, Margaret Miley, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent were Wendy Shew, Scott Plakun, and Jeff Lerner. The invited guests were Ozan Yasavur, JT Forbus, Bob Hermann, and Dan Davies.
 
April 2023 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-05-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: June 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on May 25, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members:
 
Brizette Castellanos (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation)
Stephen Geisheker (Technology Support | Retired)
 
Brizette and Stephen will be inducted at an upcoming luncheon (date to be announced). Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: June 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-05-25 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 16, 2023: Lauren Kivowitz and Inclusive Arts

Posted by Robin Azevedo on May 16, 2023
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Past President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called this meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Our Visiting Rotarians today were District Governor Nominee (DGN) Steve Wright from the Rotary Club of Pacifica and Joel Valdes from the Rotary Club of Manila. Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) introduced her daughter-in-law - Ahna Azevedo. Nancy Graydon (Development | Glaucoma Research Foundation) introduced her guests - Allen Habel and Catalina San Augustine. John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) introduced his guest - Yuri Yasukawa whom John had met through Dan Davies (Information Technology: Consulting | North American Lighting). Other guests were Rose Chung, today's speaker - Lauren Kivowitz and her husband - Adam Weiner.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 16, 2023: Lauren Kivowitz and Inclusive Arts Robin Azevedo 2023-05-16 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 9, 2023: Eric Schmautz and Rotary International Conventions

Posted by Larry Booth on May 10, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order on time and acknowledged the upbeat attitude of the second oldest Rotary Club in the world.
 
Guests
Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) introduced her mother - Jackie Herrin. Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) introduced his guest - TJ Chartrand. Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced her guest - Margarita Baxter-Rosarios, formerly with the Consulate of Spain in San Francisco.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 9, 2023: Eric Schmautz and Rotary International Conventions Larry Booth 2023-05-10 07:00:00Z 0

Coming Together to Create a Successful Bike Build

Posted by Bill Poppen on May 10, 2023
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The 2023 Bike Build was held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the TogetherSF warehouse on Mariposa Street and one nearby block of York Street in the Mission District. This was our 13th Bike Build and our biggest one yet. Over 100 volunteers were involved during the event, including 20 Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Francisco and 4 from other Rotary clubs. 

Volunteers built over 180 bikes in just over three hours that morning. These bikes plus the pre-assembled bikes donated by the YMCA and their partners filled up almost one block of York Street, awaiting pick-up. The Bayview YMCA was a major partner in the event and coordinated the sign-up for over 200 kids from the Bayview who received the bicycles. Excited kids and their families began lining up an hour before the scheduled giveaway time, and by 1:30 PM, all of the bikes were gone! 
 
Coming Together to Create a Successful Bike Build Bill Poppen 2023-05-10 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 2, 2023: Lisa Grotts and A Tribute to Charlotte Shultz

Posted by Frank Yoke on May 05, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. Visiting Rotarian Cynthia Hamada from the Rotary Club of South San Francisco sang the Star-Spangled Banner to open the meeting.
 
Cynthia HamadaVisiting Rotarians and Guests
In addition to Cynthia Hamada, the following Visiting Rotarians were also in attendance: District Governor Gary Chow from the Rotary Club of South San Francisco and Loren Boyett from the Rotary Club of Fort Morgan in Colorado.
 
Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced his guests from the San Francisco Black Tie Club: Don Morrison, Stephen Weiner, Norm Dito, Arnold Dito, Ben Wong, and Dan Riley.
 
Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) introduced her guests: Vicki Potthoff, Lisa Essa, and today's speaker - Lisa Mirza Grotts. Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) introduced his guest - Brian Healy. President-Elect Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) introduced his guest - Carlos Valdes.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 2, 2023: Lisa Grotts and A Tribute to Charlotte Shultz Frank Yoke 2023-05-05 07:00:00Z 0

Anita Stangl Receives Rotary International's Service Above Self Award

Posted by Dora Dye on May 05, 2023
Congratulations to Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) for winning Rotary International's Service Above Self award. This prestigious award is for Rotarians and Rotaractors who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents and is the highest RI award for a volunteer.
 
RI Director 2021-2023 Vicki Puliz, RI President Representative John Smarge, and District 5150 Governor Gary Chow presented the RI Service Above Self Award to Anita Stangl on April 29, 2023.

Only a District Governor can nominate a candidate for this award. Our current District 5150 Governor Gary Chow nominated Anita to recognize her dedication to Rotary and her work to save children and communities impacted by "cleft lip and palate by providing free comprehensive treatment, while training and equipping local teams to sustainably provide quality, long-term care."
 
Anita Stangl Receives Rotary International's Service Above Self Award Dora Dye 2023-05-05 07:00:00Z 0

A Message from Your Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on May 05, 2023
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Dear Readers,
 
I am writing to invite you to submit stories for publication in Grindings. I am especially interested in stories on recent Rotary events that you have attended. The deadline is every Thursday at 5 PM, and this will be a hard deadline so that I can get the issue of Grindings done in time for release on Sunday. If you miss the Thursday deadline, your story will appear in the following Sunday's issue or a future issue.
 
Photos are welcome too, but photos alone without a story will not be published. I need a written explanation as well as identification of those in the photos. I am also following our Club's policy on photos: "By attending events of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, you are giving to our Club your permission to publish photos of you as an attendee at our events. If you have questions about this policy, please contact our Club."
 
All stories and photos must be sent to me via email only. If you have any questions, please contact me. I continue to enjoy serving as your Editor.
 
 
A Message from Your Editor Dora Dye 2023-05-05 07:00:00Z 0

March 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on May 02, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the March 28, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Frank Yoke, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Scott Plakun, Mary Liu, Sunny Singh, Margaret Miley, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent were Wendy Shew and Jeff Lerner. The invited guests were Ozan Yasavur and Charlie Miles.
 
March 2023 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-05-02 07:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: April 2023

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 26, 2023
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Todd St Vrain and Lynn Luckow were guests at the Northern California Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Luncheon on April 21, 2023 where they were cultivating a partnership between Junior Achievement and RYLA. Todd and Lynn met many high school students interested in RYLA and a few college students interested in becoming facilitators at RYLA Camp.
 
Lynn Luckow, Cristene Burr (CEO of Junior Achievement Northern California), and Todd St Vrain
 
Members in the News: April 2023 Dora Dye 2023-04-26 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: May 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Apr 26, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members:
 
Robert Beadle (Real Estate: Sales | Coldwell Banker)
Carlos Francisco Valdes (Real Estate: Sales | Aeternum Holdings, Inc.)
 
Carlos will be inducted at our luncheon on May 16, 2023. Robert will be inducted on a date to be announced. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: May 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-04-26 07:00:00Z 0

Join us for the 2023 Bike Build!

Posted by Bill Poppen on Apr 21, 2023
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We need your help at the upcoming Bike Build event on Saturday, May 6, 2023. This is our 13th Bike Build and promises to be our biggest one yet.

We'll be assembling 180 brand new bikes for distribution to kids in Kindergarten through 4th grade in the Bayview area of San Francisco. This event is a financial partnership among the Rotary Club of San Francisco, the Rotary Club of San Francisco Bayview, the Rotary Club of San Francisco Greater Mission, the Bayview Hunter's Point YMCA, TogetherSF, and the Academy of Art University. Also partnering with us on the event will be the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Firefighter's Union, and the Salvation Army Kroc Center. In addition, the SF Bike Coalition and YBike San Francisco will have representatives at the event.
 
Join us for the 2023 Bike Build! Bill Poppen 2023-04-21 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 18, 2023: Vern Glenn and Sports in the Bay Area 

Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Apr 18, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Past District Governor Chris Gallagher from the Rotary Club of Sausalito and Paul Vazquez from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening. Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) introduced her guest - Amy Heffner. Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced her daughter - Laura Handlery. Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) introduced her son - Robert Azevedo. President Christopher introduced his husband - Eric Sleigh and guest - Anthony Clifford. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced her guest - Robert Harris. Other guests were Rae Sansa and today's speaker - Vern Glenn.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 18, 2023: Vern Glenn and Sports in the Bay Area Alisha Marfatia 2023-04-18 07:00:00Z 0

Celebrating Passover

Posted by Scott Plakun on Apr 13, 2023
On April 11, 2023, members of our Club gathered at the home of Betty Newman to celebrate Passover with a traditional evening Seder, the special meal in which family and friends gather to retell (often in Hebrew) the story of how the Jews had fled from slavery in Egypt approximately 3,400 years ago. Those who celebrate Passover share stories of past Seders and think about how the redemption of the Jews from slavery so many years ago obligates us to build a better world.
 
Untitled photo
 
Celebrating Passover Scott Plakun 2023-04-13 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 4, 2023: Supervisor Aaron Peskin and San Francisco at the Crossroads: Opportunity, Challenge, and Resiliency

Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Apr 04, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Past President Casey Blair, Cynthia Bustos from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset, and Joel Valdes from the Rotary Club of Manila and his son, Carlos Francisco. Our guests were Tony Coen, Holley Arbeit, Jack Grippi, Jeffery Douglass, Robert Harris, Sam Moss, Patrick Marks, Gent Sturgeon, and today's speaker - President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced his guest - Mark Malaspina. Tom Christian was the guest of Dr. Elisa Stephens (Education Management | Academy of Art University) and Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art University).
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 4, 2023: Supervisor Aaron Peskin and San Francisco at the Crossroads: Opportunity, Challenge, and Resiliency Alisha Marfatia 2023-04-04 07:00:00Z 0

February 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Apr 01, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the February 28, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Wendy Shew, Frank Yoke, Jeff Lerner, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Scott Plakun, Mary Liu, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent were Sunny Singh, Margaret Miley, and Brian Lan. The invited guests were JT Forbus, Robin Azevedo, David Dye, Dan Davies, and Ozan Yasavur.
 
February 2023 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-04-01 07:00:00Z 0
In the News: Rick Harrell Dora Dye 2023-03-31 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 21, 2023: Ann Killion and Bay Area Sports

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Mar 29, 2023
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President-Elect Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) was on vacation. It was noted that both Sunny and Christopher shared a passion for the same drink in Mexico.
 
Happy Birthday
The audience wished Clifford Phillips (The Arc San Francisco) a happy 50th birthday.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Mary Fermi (Education | San Francisco Unified School District) introduced Becky Rudd, today's Visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Woodside/Portola Valley. Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art University) introduced his guest, Academy of Art University Athletics Director Brad Jones. Bill Gregory (Educational Services | Retired) introduced his guest, Donna Duensing who recently retired from the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Also attending as our guest was today's speaker Ann Killion.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 21, 2023: Ann Killion and Bay Area Sports Ann Daugherty 2023-03-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: April 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Mar 28, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club on April 18, 2023 as our newest members:
 
Donna Duensing (Education: Seminary | Retired)
Andrea Gung (Non-profit Administration | Duo Duo Project)
Nikki Moore (Law | San Francisco District Attorney's Office)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: April 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-03-28 07:00:00Z 0

A Message from Your Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 23, 2023
On March 18, 2023, Rotary District 5150 held its Spring for Rotary, a fundraiser for the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund. This event complete with a mimosa reception, silent and live auctions, brunch, and celebration, was held at the lovely Marin Art and Garden Center and raised over $100,000 for the Annual Fund. With the beautiful flowers, hats including fascinators, and spring clothes all around, it did appear that spring had arrived.
 
Pictured from left to right: Ann Daugherty, Carrie Schucker, Angelina Preza, Emily Borland, Bob Hermann, Dan Joraanstad, Sunny Singh, Dora Dye, and David Dye. Not pictured but attended were Eric and Stephanie Schmautz along with daughters Molly and Katie and District Governor-Elect Laine Hendricks.
 
A Message from Your Editor Dora Dye 2023-03-23 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 14, 2023: Jessica Hansen and Burning Man

Posted by Frank Yoke on Mar 16, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko on a very stormy and windy Tuesday. 
 
Today's Guests
Bal Raj Capur (Management Services | The BTI Group) introduced his daughter, Maya Capur. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest, Jack Schroeder. Other guests were Robert Hunter and Ronny Grooms.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 14, 2023: Jessica Hansen and Burning Man Frank Yoke 2023-03-16 07:00:00Z 0

January 2023 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Mar 08, 2023
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the January 17, 2023 Board meeting to order at 4:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Wendy Shew, Frank Yoke, Margaret Miley, Jeff Lerner, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Scott Plakun, Brian Lan, Mary Liu, and Stacey Poole, constituting the entire Board. The invited guests were JT Forbus, Robin Azevedo and Grace Reed.
 
January 2023 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-03-08 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 7, 2023: Mark Flegel and the Young Paul Harris

Posted by Margaret Miley on Mar 07, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's visiting Rotarians were our speaker PDG Mark Flegel from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park and his wife Shirley, Mary Kay Kennedy also from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, and Joel Valdez from the Rotary Club of Manila. Mary Kay is the wife of Jim Kennedy (Interior Design | James Kennedy Design). Joel and President Christopher exchanged Rotary flags. Our guests were Diane Stark from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Caylee Burditt, Charlie Miles, and Nikki Moore.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 7, 2023: Mark Flegel and the Young Paul Harris Margaret Miley 2023-03-07 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: March 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Mar 07, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on April 4, 2023 as our newest member:
 
Charlie Miles (Software Engineering | Charlie Miles Inc.).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: March 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-03-07 08:00:00Z 0

2023 Emergency Services Day: Honoring Bravery and Service

Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 03, 2023
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Emergency Services Day (ESD) honors the workers who protect and support our City and Bay including the Police and Fire Departments, the Sheriff's Office, the Coast Guard, and new this year, the Department of Emergency Management/911 and the Park Rangers. The Honorees for the 2023 Emergency Services Day held on February 27, 2023 were:  Sergeant Joshua Arnold of the San Francisco Sheriff's Office; Park Ranger Amanda Barrows of San Francisco Recreation and Parks; Battalion Chief Matthew Cannon and Paramedic Anthony Chiacco of the San Francisco Fire Department; Officer Raylene Larot of the San Francisco Police Department; Intelligence Specialist 3 Mason Kuri of the United States Coast Guard; and 9-1-1 Dispatcher Marissa Manalo of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.

There were members from nine different Rotary clubs, the honorees and their loved ones, and special guests in the audience. The audience was the largest ever for this special event. The sold-out crowd was in a jubilant mood as they entered the Academy of Arts sunlit Automobile Museum at Van Ness and Washington in San Francisco. The dazzling collection of antique cars framed 24 rows of dining tables running the length of the hall where the crowd enjoyed lunch. Special thanks to Club Member Michael Petricca and Honorary Member Dr. Elisa Stephens for the gift of this marvelous venue.  
 
2023 Emergency Services Day: Honoring Bravery and Service Bob Hermann 2023-03-03 08:00:00Z 0

A DEI Moment

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Mar 02, 2023
Since its first meeting more than one hundred years ago, Rotary has grown into an international organization with clubs in nearly every country and our membership sharing a singular passion for making the world a better place for everyone. We all come from Somewhere. We all have a Story.
 

Understanding our identities better helps us see how our biases were formed. I recall our Family Values being expressed through stories told with inherited gifts and visits to places of historic significance. While I like to think of myself as “Quintessentially American”, my ancestors were mostly Western European: English, Welsh, Scottish, and Scotch-Irish. My family's story is about immigrants coming to a New World in search of a better life, freedom, civil rights, and the opportunity to survive and later thrive.
 
A DEI Moment Ann Daugherty 2023-03-02 08:00:00Z 0

Grants and Grant Deadlines

Posted by Sunny Singh on Mar 02, 2023
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It's Grant Season! The San Francisco Rotary Foundation is slated to grant at least $194,851 in the 2023-24 Rotary year. The deadline to submit a grant application is April 7, 2023—no exceptions! Application and additional information are found here.
 
The Committees in our Club have until April 19, 2023 to submit recommendations to me, President-Elect Sunny Singh, on how to allocate the funds. I will then present these recommendations to the Club's Board. The Board will review and forward the final recommendations to the San Francisco Rotary Foundation.

Note: Anyone who received a grant for the 2022-2023 Rotary year (current year) must submit a final report by or before April 30, 2023.
Grants and Grant Deadlines Sunny Singh 2023-03-02 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 21, 2023: Semi-Annual Club Assembly

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Feb 22, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation) introduced his wife, Merve, to the audience.
 
Announcement
Weekly attendance at our luncheon meetings suggests that our Club has only a few members, but we have over 125 members in our Club. If there is a member whom you have not seen in a while, please reach out and invite them to a meeting.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 21, 2023: Semi-Annual Club Assembly Robin Azevedo 2023-02-22 08:00:00Z 0

2023 Super Bowl Party and Winners

Posted by Jim Patrick on Feb 16, 2023
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About 50 Rotarians, family, and friends gathered together to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 12, 2023. The crowd enjoyed laughter, fellowship, the game, and a potluck. 
 
In addition to watching the Big Game, everyone kept an eye on the board bearing the names of the players of our Club's Super Bowl Pool. $12,300 was raised for the 50/50 Campaign. The winners of the Pool (in order of their win) were: Dan Joraanstad, Scott Plakun, Allan Herzog, Jim Patrick, Robin Azevedo, Frank Yoke, Mary Liu, and Jeff Yih. Each winner will receive a Paul Harris Fellowship. Jim and Jeff will each receive two PHFs. Congratulations to all!
 
2023 Super Bowl Party and Winners Jim Patrick 2023-02-16 08:00:00Z 0

Sign up for the Monday Night Supper Club with The Arc SF

Posted by Barbara Streett on Feb 14, 2023
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The Monday Night Supper Club of The Arc San Francisco Friends Like Me Program returned to in person this past Monday, February 13, 2023. Nourishment and fun were had by all. The evening started off with everyone pitching in to dress the salad and heat up rotisserie chickens and Mac and Cheese. After dinner, everyone enjoyed games, dancing, and chocolate-covered strawberries. 

The Rotary Club of San Francisco funds the Monday Night Supper Clubs. Thank you to the following members of our Rotary Club for leading this evening's Supper Club: Christopher Davies, Clifford Phillips, and Barbara Streett. In addition to being a Rotarian, Clifford is also a participant and Barbara is also the Volunteer Manager of The Arc SF.
 
Sign up for the Monday Night Supper Club with The Arc SF Barbara Streett 2023-02-14 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 7, 2023: Jack McBrayer

Posted by Stacey Poole on Feb 07, 2023
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Immediate Past President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) opened the meeting. President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) was under the weather and participated via Zoom. After Immediate Past President Mary made opening remarks, Past President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) took over the helm and ran today's meeting held online and in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We had two visiting Rotarians: Melissa Cross - past president of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening and Joel Valdez from the Rotary Club of Manila. Joel and Past President JT exchanged Rotary flags. Joel told the audience that his Rotary club is 104 years old and the largest in Asia. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced her guest - Andrea Gung of the Duo Duo Project, whose mission is to end the dog and cat meat trade in China. Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her guest - Alicia Tos of the Smuin Contemporary Ballet. Other guests were Stephen DeLay, Jennie Held, and today's speaker - Jack McBrayer.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 7, 2023: Jack McBrayer Stacey Poole 2023-02-07 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 31, 2023:  Andrew Fraknoi and the James Webb Space Telescope

Posted by Bob Hermann on Feb 01, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. He announced that the Glaucoma 360 events from February 2-4, 2023 would take him away from today's Rotary luncheon; Past President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) would step in to conclude today's luncheon.
 
Guests
Today's guests were Marija Filmar, Dr. Arlen Hoh, Meagan Mod, Ildiko Polony, Eric Smith, and today's speaker - Andrew Fraknoi.
 
2022 Holiday Photos
President Christopher shared the 2022 Holiday Photo of Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) and her family. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 31, 2023: Andrew Fraknoi and the James Webb Space Telescope Bob Hermann 2023-02-01 08:00:00Z 0

2023 Super Bowl Program

Posted by Jim Patrick on Feb 01, 2023
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Invitation: Everyone is invited along with their families and guests to a big, free SUPER BOWL PARTY on February 12, 2023 starting at 3 PM. Doors will open at 2:45 PM and kick off will be at 3:20 PM.
 
You are also invited to play the 2023 SUPER BOWL POOL. See details below, and contact Jim Patrick by February 10, 2023 to purchase your square(s). 

Registration and Potluck: Please register here so that we know how many are coming and so that our Social Chair Alisha Marfatia can contact you about the potluck. For the potluck we ask that you bring a dish for 10 to share with the group. Soft drinks and wine will be provided at no cost to you. 

Location: We will meet at the Academy of Art Automobile Museum, 1849 Washington Street (corner of Washington Street and Van Ness Avenue), San Francisco, CA 94109. If you are driving, there should be ample street parking on a Sunday.
 
2023 Super Bowl Program Jim Patrick 2023-02-01 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 24, 2023:  Russell Low and Spirit of the Early Chinese American Pioneers: One Family's Story

Posted by Frank Yoke on Jan 27, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Guests
Today's guests were Marija Filmar, Charlie Miles, Meagan Mod and today's speaker - Russell Low. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced Peter de Castro (Financial Services: Advising | RBC). Peter is an active member of our Club who has been living in Paris.
 
2022 Holiday Party Photos
President Christopher continued to share 2022 Holiday Party photos that he has received. Thank you to Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation) for sharing his photos today with the Club.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 24, 2023: Russell Low and Spirit of the Early Chinese American Pioneers: One Family's Story Frank Yoke 2023-01-27 08:00:00Z 0

"Pal"entine's Happy Hour

Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Jan 20, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE for "Pal"entine's Happy Hour on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 from 5 to 7 PM. Grab a post-work, pre-dinner drink to celebrate our Rotary friendships on "Pal"entine's Day! We'll be hosting a low-key get together at a member's home with light bites and drinks included. Feel free to drop by or stay for the whole time. All Rotarians and their guests are invited. More information to come.
"Pal"entine's Happy Hour Alisha Marfatia 2023-01-20 08:00:00Z 0

October 2022 and November 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jan 19, 2023
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October 25, 2022 Board Highlights
 
Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the October 25, 2022 Board meeting to order at 4:01 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Wendy Shew, Frank Yoke, Margaret Miley, Jeff Lerner, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Lisa Christian, Scott Plakun, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent was Mary Liu. Club members JT Forbus, Dan Davies, Dora Dye, Rachel Donovan, and Jeff Yih also attended the meeting.
 
October 2022 and November 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2023-01-19 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: January 2023

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jan 18, 2023
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I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on February 7, 2023 as our newest member:
 
Meagan Mod (Nonprofit Administration | Smuin Contemporary Ballet).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: January 2023 Margaret Miley 2023-01-18 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 10, 2023:  Michael Conley and the Power of Music

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 12, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. Today's meeting was on Zoom only.
 
Today's Guests
Today's guests were Carolyn Broadus, Carol Ede, Alvin Huie, Meagan Mod, and our speaker - Michael Conley.
 
Today's Meeting Recorded
Today's meeting was recorded for all to enjoy. Click here to view the highlights.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 10, 2023: Michael Conley and the Power of Music Dora Dye 2023-01-12 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 3, 2023:  City Attorney David Chiu

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jan 04, 2023
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the first meeting of 2023 to order at 12:15 PM. He welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Assistant Governor Sylvia Barry from the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise, Rami Branbo via Zoom from a Rotary Club in Sweden, Past District Governor Peter Cheng from the Rotary Club of Hsinchu Silicon Valley - Taiwan, and Karen Schmautz - mother of PDG Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) - from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida. We also welcomed Charlie Miles and today's speaker - City Attorney David Chiu. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 3, 2023: City Attorney David Chiu Margaret Miley 2023-01-04 08:00:00Z 0

New Year's Resolutions

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 29, 2022
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After the restrictions of the pandemic lifted, the aftermath changed the way we were to such a degree that we are still trying to find a solid path on which to move forward. Working from home became the desire of many, affecting attendance at events outside the home. Our Club continues to offer a variety of activities and events in different modes. As part of your New Year's Resolutions, we hope that you will find a way to join us. Here are some ideas:
 
New Year's Resolutions Dora Dye 2022-12-29 08:00:00Z 0

Recap of the 2022 Holiday Party

Posted by Stacey Poole and Dora Dye on Dec 25, 2022
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco’s Holiday Party was held on December 13, 2022 at the Hotel Nikko. The festivities started early with fellowship, a chance to spin the wheel to win a prize, a make-up session with artist Lawrence Wu, fun at the photo booth, music by the Spencer Hoefert Quartet, and champagne. At 12 noon, President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) welcomed Rotarians and guests and wished everyone a happy holiday season.
 
Recap of the 2022 Holiday Party Stacey Poole and Dora Dye 2022-12-25 08:00:00Z 0

A Message from Your Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 17, 2022
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We have reached the final issue of Grindings for 2022. I will be taking a break. Grindings will not be published on December 25, 2022, but will resume on January 1, 2023. We have already started to plan the new year. Take a moment to view the Club calendar for events in January 2023 and beyond. Registration is required for all events so that we can plan accordingly and send you additional information as needed. 
 
The Club continued its hybrid (i.e., meeting simultaneously in person and via Zoom) meetings in 2022. With the help of Social Chair Alisha Marfatia, President Christopher collaborated more with other Rotary clubs. President Christopher also tried more in-person only events such as the successful Fashion Show and Friend Raiser and 2022 Holiday Party. As of the publication of this issue, I have not received all of the information on the 2022 Holiday Party. The full story should be published in the next issue of Grindings
 
A Message from Your Editor Dora Dye 2022-12-17 08:00:00Z 0

Highlights of the 2022 Annual Meeting

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 17, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the 2022 Annual Meeting to order on December 13, 2022. Club Secretary Stacey Poole (Law: Family | Lerner Poole & Stewart, LLP) certified that a quorum was present. President Christopher celebrated the current members of the Board and thanked each for their service.
 
Next, the audience was introduced to the candidates to fill upcoming officer vacancies for the term beginning on July 1, 2023. President Christopher called for voting members to approve by acclamation the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee.
 
Highlights of the 2022 Annual Meeting Dora Dye 2022-12-17 08:00:00Z 0

In-Person Supper Club Returns to The Arc San Francisco

Posted by Barbara Streett on Dec 15, 2022
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The Arc San Francisco Friends Like Me Program will return to in-person services beginning in February 2023. Friends Like Me is a recreational program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at The Arc SF. One of the programs that Friends Like Me hosts is a Monday Night Supper Club which is funded by the Rotary Club of San Francisco. 

Rotarians volunteer to help with meal set-up and then, sit, eat, and get to know our participants. Supper Club is a weekly event with 5-8 volunteers. We will be reserving the third Monday of every month (2nd Monday of the month if there is a Monday holiday) for Rotarians. If you are interested in volunteering for more nights, please contact Barbara Streett.
 
In-Person Supper Club Returns to The Arc San Francisco Barbara Streett 2022-12-15 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 6, 2022:  Reverend Glenda Hope and Women Transitioning out of Prostitution

Posted by Jeff Lerner on Dec 09, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. He welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. The meeting began with a holiday song to welcome the season of celebration and merriment. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Steve Sibulsky from the Rotary Club of Valle Verde-Green Valley in Arizona, Karen Schmautz - mother of Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo) - from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida, and Carrie Schucker from a Rotary club in Davis. We also welcomed Ilene Wolf and today's speaker - Reverend Glenda Hope. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 6, 2022: Reverend Glenda Hope and Women Transitioning out of Prostitution Jeff Lerner 2022-12-09 08:00:00Z 0

Our Club Opens a New Door: Meet Clifford Phillips

Posted by Timothy Hornbecker on Dec 08, 2022
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Clifford Phillips joined our Club in April 2022. He is also a participant of The Arc San Francisco, an organization that our Club's Foundation supports. What makes Clifford's membership notable is that he is our first member with intellectual and developmental disabilities, adding his unique perspective to our activities and conversations. Like all Rotarians, Clifford decided to join Rotary to help others and support the community – something he already does everyday in The Arc community.

A native San Franciscan, Clifford grew up in the Bayview and Western Addition. He now lives in an apartment in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. He is a lifelong volunteer and cares deeply about social justice. He is also a dynamic performer and public speaker and makes instant connections wherever he goes.
 
Our Club Opens a New Door: Meet Clifford Phillips Timothy Hornbecker 2022-12-08 08:00:00Z 0

Invitation to Join the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Posted by Sunny Singh on Dec 04, 2022
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The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce invites members of our Rotary Club to join by January 31, 2023 and receive a 10% discount in membership dues. The SF Chamber of Commerce attracts, supports, and grows business through advocacy, economic development, and business development. Your benefits will include:
 
  • opportunity to showcase your products at SF Chamber of Commerce events, programs, and marketing channels.
  • exposure through offering member-to-member deals.
  • networking opportunities with leaders from all businesses.
  • access to San Francisco Chamber Care for discounted health care for your employees.
Click here for more information and application. If you have questions, please contact Sunny Singh before January 31, 2023.
Invitation to Join the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Sunny Singh 2022-12-04 08:00:00Z 0

The Season for Giving

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 02, 2022
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This past Tuesday was Giving Tuesday, a movement to show generosity and support within our community and the world. On this day, I reflected on what it means to be a Rotarian and how I can support the activities and service projects in our Club. After the world returned to meeting in person again, I found that my jobs took more of my time. Many people did not return to work, and the labor shortage meant that I had to work lots of hours. That meant less time to be at Rotary events and service projects.
 
So I turned to giving more effort in serving as your editor and to donating more so that there would be funding to continue the projects that benefit our community. My husband, David, and I joined the Paul Harris Society. Recently, we were told that we have become Major Donors in Rotary. We see our dollars helping those in need. A great example is the recent Thanksgiving at The Arc San Francisco. On November 30, 2022, Barbara Streett wrote this thank you message:
 
The Season for Giving Dora Dye 2022-12-02 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: November 2022

Posted by Margaret Miley on Nov 29, 2022
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I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on January 3, 2023 as our newest member:
 
Carrie Schucker (Psychology | Retired).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: November 2022 Margaret Miley 2022-11-29 08:00:00Z 0

Notes from the 2022 Rotary Zones 26 and 27 Institute

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 24, 2022
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Congratulations to District 5150 Governor-Elect Laine Hendricks from the Rotary Club of San Francisco who completed her Governor-Elect Training Seminar (GETS) the week of November 6, 2022 at the Rotary Zones 26 and 27 Conference held in Salt Lake City, UT. 
 
In attendance from our Club to celebrate with DGE Laine were PDG Eric Schmautz, Past Club President Stephanie Schmautz, and their daughters, Molly and Katie, Past Club President David Dye, and Dora Dye. They were joined by other Rotarians from District 5150 including District Governor Gary Chow, Past District Governor Danielle Lallement, Past District Governor Mary Bates, Past District Governor Jayne Hulbert, Past District Governor Ron Gin, Past District Governor Jeri Fujimoto, Past District Governor Russ Ketron, and District Governor Nominee Steve Wright.
 
Notes from the 2022 Rotary Zones 26 and 27 Institute Dora Dye 2022-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

Thanksgiving Means Service Above Self for the Rotary Club of San Francisco

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 24, 2022
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One of our Club's favorite traditions, dating back over a decade, is to serve a Thanksgiving meal to the participants of The Arc San Francisco and The Salvation Army. Helping out this year were Eric Schmautz, Mary Liu, Greg Gutting, Tim Hornbecker, Peter Logan, Chris Davies, Sunny Singh, Gary Dales, Robin Azevedo, Emily Borland, Frank Yoke, Jim Patrick, JT Forbus, Stephanie Schmautz, Ann Daugherty, Rosemary Welde, Anita Stangl, Clifford Phillips, and Margaret Miley. Joining them were Visiting Rotarian Harry Eng, Visiting Rotarian Brandon Fleming, Past Club President Jimmie Jeffery, Erica Kaplan (Peter Logan's guest), James Wong (Mary Liu's husband), Rosie Liu (Mary Liu's guest), and special guests Molly and Katie Schmautz.
 
Thanksgiving Means Service Above Self for the Rotary Club of San Francisco Dora Dye 2022-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

Report from the Nominating Committee

Posted by Sunny Singh on Nov 22, 2022
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In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
 
2023-24 President: Sunny Singh
2023-24 President-Elect: Bob Hermann
2023-25 Club Treasurer: Bill Poppen
2023-25 Club Secretary: Nancy Graydon
2023-25 Vice President of Youth Services: Todd St Vrain
2023-25 Vice President of Club Services: Ozan Yasavur
2023-25 Vice President of Public Relations: Dan Davies
2023-25 Vice President of Vocational Services: Alex Omoko
 
Report from the Nominating Committee Sunny Singh 2022-11-22 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 15, 2022:  Meet the Hotel Chef

Posted by Margaret Miley on Nov 17, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. He welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices) played guitar and sang a song that he had composed on the tragedy of suicide among veterans. It was lovely and a touching tribute!
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Brandon Fleming from the University District Rotary Club in Seattle, Washington, Sharon Herman and Arnie Miller from the Rotary Club of Brookline, Massachusetts, Andrew Quinones of the Rotary Club of Pomona, Julia Spark from the Rotary Club of Busselton-Geographe Bay in Australia, and Carrie Schucker from a Rotary club in Davis. We also welcomed Christopher Kazas, Diane Laster, and today's speaker - Executive Chef Adam Mali. Andrew, the grandson of Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company), introduced Buster and Beau; they are two dogs belonging to staff members at the Hotel Nikko.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 15, 2022: Meet the Hotel Chef Margaret Miley 2022-11-17 08:00:00Z 0

Price Increase for Late Registration and Walk-in

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Beginning with the Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Club luncheon, the cost for in-person registration will remain $45 if you register early until 11:59 AM on Friday, December 2, 2022. When the clock strikes noon on Friday, December 2, 2022, the price will go up to $60. If you show up at the door on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 as a walk-in, you will be charged $60. 
 
This price increase will remain in effect for all future in-person meetings, meaning that each Friday before the next Tuesday luncheon, the price will go up to $60 starting at 12 noon. To save a few dollars, please register before noon on the Friday before. This is the cost that we pay the Hotel Nikko, and we must pass it on to you. The cost to attend via Zoom remains at $10. If you have questions, please contact President Christopher Wiseman.
Price Increase for Late Registration and Walk-in 2022-11-17 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 8, 2022:  John Rothmann and Election Day

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Nov 10, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation), sporting a new look and perfect vision, called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. He welcomed those online and those attending in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Brandon Fleming from the University District Rotary Club in Seattle, Washington, Jean Schore from the Rotary Club of Eugene, Oregon, and Jesse Bowdle from the Rotary Club of Oakland. Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her guest, Megan Mod. We also welcomed Troy Wilson and Yulanda Kwong from Cameron House and today's speaker - John Rothmann.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 8, 2022: John Rothmann and Election Day Robin Azevedo 2022-11-10 08:00:00Z 0

ROTARY CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS November 1, 2022:  Fall Membership Appreciation Lunch

Posted by Larry Booth on Nov 02, 2022
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It was a raucous and happy crowd of Rotarians and guests attending via Zoom or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko that President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called to order at 12:15 PM. Today's event was a Fall Membership Appreciation Lunch.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Tekwane Mwendwa from Nairobi and Carrie Schucker from a Rotary club in Davis. Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her neighbor, Rae Sansa. Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced her guest, Robert Hunter, who was the stage manager for our Club's first fashion show on October 18, 2022. Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) introduced Don Morrison, who has helped us over the years with our Bike Build Program. Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) introduced her guest, Ken Tang. President Christopher introduced his husband, Eric Sleigh. We also welcomed Patricia Davico.
 
ROTARY CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS November 1, 2022: Fall Membership Appreciation Lunch Larry Booth 2022-11-02 07:00:00Z 0

August 2022 and September 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 26, 2022
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August 30, 2022 Board Highlights
 
Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called the August 30, 2022 Board meeting to order at 10:47 AM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
Attendees in person or on Zoom included President Christopher, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Wendy Shew, Frank Yoke, Margaret Miley, Jeff Lerner, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Mary Liu, Brian Lan, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent was Lisa Christian. Club member JT Forbus also attended the meeting.
 
August 2022 and September 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-10-26 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: October 2022

Posted by Margaret Miley on Oct 26, 2022
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I am pleased to announce that the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of San Francisco unanimously approved San Francisco State University on October 25, 2022 as our newest corporate member. 
 
In accordance with our Club Bylaws, the following will be inducted as our newest members in November 2022:
 
Jaime Chaves (Education | San Francisco State University)
Kevin Simonin (Education | San Francisco State University)
Vance Vredenburg (Education | San Francisco State University). Some of you may remember Vance. He is a former member who wishes to rejoin our Club.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: October 2022 Margaret Miley 2022-10-26 07:00:00Z 0

SPECIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS October 18, 2022:  Fashion Show and Friend Raiser

Posted by Jeff Lerner on Oct 20, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) welcomed over 90 members, Visiting Rotarians, and guests to our Club's first ever Rotary Fashion Show and Friend Raiser inside the Monterey Room at the Hotel Nikko. 
 
October 2022 Birthdays
Today's special event opened with everyone singing "Happy Birthday" to members celebrating a birthday in October. See the birthday list here
 
Our Club's History
President Christopher shared with the audience our Club's history from its beginnings in 1908 to the present. He explained that our Club is a community to make the world a better place and that our members joined for fellowship and service to others.
 
SPECIAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS October 18, 2022: Fashion Show and Friend Raiser Jeff Lerner 2022-10-20 07:00:00Z 0

EREY Campaign is underway

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 18, 2022
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Our District 5150’s Annual “Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) Fundraising Campaign” is underway. Through this Campaign, we support The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund Share where almost half of the donations go back to our Club as District Designated Funds (DDF). Our Club makes the decision how to use DDF, either for a District Grant supporting community service projects, a Global Grant, or to contribute to other TRF funds. This year the EREY Fundraising Campaign sets a target for each District 5150 Rotarian to contribute $250. Through our Annual Fund Share contributions, Rotarians ensure that we will continue to “Do Good In The World.”
 
EREY Campaign is underway Dora Dye 2022-10-18 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 11, 2022:  Gary Schlossberg and Inflation

Posted by Larry Booth on Oct 13, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending via Zoom or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko. He began the meeting with some fun facts about inflation.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Werner Sattleger from the Rotary Club of Klagenfurt in Austria attending in person and Carol Hunter from a Rotary e-club in Toronto attending via Zoom. Other guests were Gio Franco, former Club member Esther Landau, Zenna Burge, and today's speaker - Gary Schlossberg.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 11, 2022: Gary Schlossberg and Inflation Larry Booth 2022-10-13 07:00:00Z 0

Polio & Abilities Awareness Expo

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 10, 2022
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The eradication of polio is one of Rotary International's longest standing and most significant efforts. This year World Polio Day is on Monday, October 24, 2022.

Rotary District 5150 is holding a Polio/Abilities Awareness Expo on Sunday, October 23, 2002. Our generous sponsors, Sanofi and PDG Russ and Kathy Ketron, have made it possible to offer to you “Buy One Ticket, Bring A Friend For Free.” The $20 registration fee includes lunch for the both of you. Please invite others, including the public, at this same discounted rate. If you have already registered and would like to bring a friend for free, please return to the Event Registration link below and click on “Manage My Account” to modify your registration.
 
Polio & Abilities Awareness Expo Dora Dye 2022-10-10 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 4, 2022:  Lewis Loeven and Fleet Week

Posted by Mary Liu and Dora Dye on Oct 07, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone attending via Zoom or in person inside the Carmel Ballroom at the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Past District Governor Mark Flegel from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, Dr. Lily Muldoon from the Rotary Club of Saipan, and Julia Spark from the Rotary Club of Busselton-Geographe Bay in Australia. Dr. Muldoon was a former member of our Club. Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF) introduced his guests: Lieutenant Jonathan Baxter, Louis Cid Rebolledo and Natalia Mashal. Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) introduced her guest, Shelby Taketa. Dan Davies (Information Technology: Consulting | North American Lighting) introduced his guest, Yuri Yasukawa. Other guests were Carrie Schucker, Captain Brian Quin, and today's speaker - Lewis Loeven.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 4, 2022: Lewis Loeven and Fleet Week Mary Liu and Dora Dye 2022-10-07 07:00:00Z 0

Committee Meetings in the week ahead

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 06, 2022
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Our Club's calendar lists all events and meetings including Committee Meetings. During the week of October 9, 2022 to October 15, 2022, the Vocational Service Committee will meet on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 5 PM. Register here.
 
The Membership Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 12 noon. Register here.
Committee Meetings in the week ahead Dora Dye 2022-10-06 07:00:00Z 0

July 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 05, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
President Christopher Wiseman called his first Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes
 
Present were President Christopher, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Wendy Shew, Lisa Christian, Frank Yoke, Margaret Miley, Jeff Lerner, Maureen O’Shea, Emily Borland, Mary Liu, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Brian Lan was absent. Club Member Scott Plakun also attended the meeting.
 
July 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-10-05 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Our Friend, Marian Sorbo

Posted on Oct 04, 2022
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marian Sorbo. Marian was never a member of our Club, but she was a dedicated Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club of Windsor/Windsor Locks. She was the widow of a Past District Governor in Connecticut and the mother of a local friend of our own Scott Plakun. 

Marian participated in several Thanksgiving luncheons at The Arc San Francisco with us. She visited our Club and generated a strong kinship within our Club. While attending Rotary International conventions, she made it a point to befriend members of our Club. See here for more information on Marian Sorbo and her celebration of life.
 
Remembering Our Friend, Marian Sorbo Scott Plakun 2022-10-04 07:00:00Z 0

Committee Meetings in the week ahead

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 29, 2022
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Our Club's calendar lists all events and meetings including Committee Meetings. During the week of October 2, 2022 to October 8, 2022, the Speakers Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 2 PM. Larry Booth is the new Chair of the Speakers Committee. Register here. 
 
The Community Service Committee will also meet on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 6 PM. Project leaders joining this meeting should be prepared to share information about their project. Everyone else is encouraged to join to learn about all of our latest local community service projects. Contact Emily Borland for additional information. Register here.
 
 
Committee Meetings in the week ahead Dora Dye 2022-09-29 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS Book Drive: a success

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Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) students Presley, Emma, and Mirabelle led a successful book drive for the Jefferson Elementary School District in Daly City. The goal was to collect used and unwanted children's books and redistribute them to a place in need.
 
ALPS Book Drive: a success 2022-09-23 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 20, 2022:  San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott

Posted by David Dye on Sep 22, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and shared some historical facts about the San Francisco Police Department.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were District Governor Nominee and Chief of Staff Steve Wright from the Rotary Club of Pacifica, Carrie Chinn and Rick Chinn from the Rotary Club of Millbrae, Julia Spark from the Rotary Club of Busselton-Geographe Bay in Australia, Marilyn Becklehimer from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset, and Rey Naik from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening. Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced her guests: Catherine Liang (our reigning Miss California), Daniel Riley, Debra Leylegian, Robert Beedle, and Torrance Bynum. Luis Moran (Real Estate: Sales | Coldwell Banker) introduced his guest, Blaire Jahn. Other guests were Carrie Shucker, Jackie Herrin, Guadalupe Valenzuela, Lilli Milton, Sergeant Vic Lee, and today's speaker - San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 20, 2022: San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott David Dye 2022-09-22 07:00:00Z 0

Champagne Tasting: Mix and Mingle

Posted by Wendy Shew on Sep 21, 2022
On Wednesday, September 14, 2022, our Club's Vocational Services Committee held its first networking event to kick off the year! The event was a Champagne Tasting with champagne from Chandon donated by Jason Nyeh, a start-up founder, and snacks and truffles provided by Trader Joe’s.
 
Club members who participated were CJ Albano, Jenny Campbell, Mary Liu, Wendy Shew, and Ozan Yasavur. Joining them were guests, bringing the attendance to 15 and professions in real estate, banking, life insurance, education, and engineering.

 
Champagne Tasting: Mix and Mingle Wendy Shew 2022-09-21 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 13, 2022:  Meet President Malinda Monterrosa

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Sep 15, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone attending via Zoom or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant at the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were President-Elect Leena Pem Sewpaul of the Rotary Club of Montebello, Mauritius and President Malinda Monterrosa of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Our guests were Clifford Phillips, Pamela George, Katherine Grillo, Isabella Montgomery, and Erica Nave.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 13, 2022: Meet President Malinda Monterrosa Robin Azevedo 2022-09-15 07:00:00Z 0

What's Happening Between the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the Homeless Prenatal Program?

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Sep 08, 2022
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On August 30, 2022, Rotarians met at the warehouse of Hoogasian Flowers to generously stuff 60 backpacks with adorable and top quality clothing and items for newborns of mothers taking classes at the HPP. Many thanks to Harold Hoogasian for offering his warehouse space to assemble the backpacks. Harold also generously donated his own time to deliver the backpacks to the HPP.
 
On September 7, 2022, Club members Victoria Lozano and Robin Azevedo respectively attended the morning and early afternoon baby showers at the HPP building where a dozen expectant mothers were honored. Each of these mothers received one of the Rotary backpacks and other baby items; each was recognized for completing the HPP prenatal classes.
 
What's Happening Between the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the Homeless Prenatal Program? Robin Azevedo 2022-09-08 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 30, 2022:  District Governor Gary Chow's Visit

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 01, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone attending via Zoom or in person inside the Carmel Room of the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were District Governor Gary Chow from the Rotary Club of South San Francisco and District Governor Nominee and Chief of Staff Steve Wright from the Rotary Club of Pacifica. Attending in his capacity as Assistant Governor was David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired). Our guest today was Zara Rowbotham.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 30, 2022: District Governor Gary Chow's Visit Dora Dye 2022-09-01 07:00:00Z 0

Committee Meetings in the week ahead

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 19, 2022
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Our Club's calendar lists all events and meetings including Committee Meetings. During the week of August 21, 2022 to August 27, 2022, the Vocational Service Committee will meet on Monday, August 22, 2022 at 5 PM. Register here. The Development Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 12 noon. Register here. The 2023 Emergency Services Day Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 6 PM. Register here. 
Committee Meetings in the week ahead Dora Dye 2022-08-19 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 16, 2022:  Dan Walters and California's State of the State

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 18, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) logged in from Stockholm, Sweden and called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM Pacific time. Today's meeting was on Zoom only.
 
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarian was Edgar Hernandez Delgado from a Rotary club in Morelia, Mexico. Today's guest was our speaker - Dan Walters.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 16, 2022: Dan Walters and California's State of the State Dora Dye 2022-08-18 07:00:00Z 0
Nomination for 2024-2025 Rotary International President Announced Dora Dye 2022-08-15 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary 101 August 9, 2022: Highlights

Posted by Margaret Miley and Dan Joraanstad on Aug 11, 2022
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Our new Rotary 101 classes began this past Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Dan Joraanstad led the first meeting covering the nuts and bolts of being a new member:  online resources, the structure of Rotary, the primary officers on the Rotary Board, how to get involved as a Club leader, and last, how to propose a new project. A few long-term members joined the meeting to lend assistance as well as new members interested in getting a broad overview. The people who attended were Rachel Donovan, Jeff Yih, Ozan Yasavur, CJ Albano, Bob Hermann, Anita Stangl, Nancy Graydon, Maureen O'Shea, JT Forbus, Dan Joraanstad, and Margaret Miley. 
 
Rotary 101 August 9, 2022: Highlights Margaret Miley and Dan Joraanstad 2022-08-11 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 9, 2022:  Kevin McCormack and how California is turning the promise of stem cell and gene therapies into reality

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 10, 2022
Past President JT ForbusPast President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called the meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) was on vacation and will return at our next luncheon.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Terry Chu from the Rotary Club of Shanghai and Sandhya Jaiprakash of the Rotary Club of Bangalore. Our guests were Rex Vokey; Derick Yih - guest of Jeff Yih (Retired); Dan Carico - husband of Esther Lerner (Law: Family | Lerner Poole & Stewart, LLP); Georgie Evans - guest of Bill Gregory (Educational Services | Retired); and today's speaker - Kevin McCormack.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 9, 2022: Kevin McCormack and how California is turning the promise of stem cell and gene therapies into reality Dora Dye 2022-08-10 07:00:00Z 0
Committee Meetings in the week ahead Dora Dye 2022-08-05 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 2, 2022:  Dmytro Kushneruk and an Update on Ukraine

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Aug 03, 2022
President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:17 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. Due to the large number of Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests today, President Christopher had all visitors in person and online stand for a big round of applause.
 
INatalie Ter-Agopovan Solidarity with Ukraine
What a moving meeting! The room and the agenda were packed full! Club members and guests stood in solidarity as the National Anthem of Ukraine was powerfully sung by Natalie Ter-Agopova, a soprano soloist, who is a choir mate of Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services). Brightening the room were two very large baskets of sunflowers (the Ukrainian national flower), thoughtfully donated by Harold Hoogasian (Retail: Florist | Hoogasian Flowers).
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 2, 2022: Dmytro Kushneruk and an Update on Ukraine Robin Azevedo 2022-08-03 07:00:00Z 0

November 2022 Assisi Global Climate Action Forum

Posted by John Mathers on Aug 01, 2022
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Climate Crisis and the Assisi Lifestyle: At the end of 2021, an in-depth study was done by the Kantar Group on concern and responses to the climate crisis. In the United States, 74% of respondents said they were concerned or very concerned about climate change. However, only 49% said they were willing to change their lifestyle to address the crisis. And when it comes down to specifics of what was “very important”: 32% said reducing energy consumption; 25% supported public transportation; 23% noted reducing travel by plane; and 18% identified reducing meat consumption.  
 
Clearly, there is the desire to address the issue but we (the developed economies) do not want to give up our lifestyle. Part of this is a function of education (what can we do and why), and part is simply inertia (we all have full agendas).  
 
November 2022 Assisi Global Climate Action Forum John Mathers 2022-08-01 07:00:00Z 0

June 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jul 31, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on June 28, 2022 via Zoom. President Mary Liu called the meeting to order at 12:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Mary, President-Elect Christopher Wiseman, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Lisa Christian, Ed Shenkan, Brian Lan, Nancy Graydon, Jeff Lerner, Miranti Ojong, JT Forbus, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent was Bob Hermann. Also in attendance were incoming Board members Margaret Miley, Wendy Shew, and Frank Yoke.
 
June 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-07-31 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: July 2022

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jul 31, 2022
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on August 9, 2022 as our newest member:
 
Cherry Albano (Insurance: Life | New York Life).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: July 2022 Margaret Miley 2022-07-31 07:00:00Z 0
Committee Meetings in the week ahead Dora Dye 2022-07-29 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Maria Victoria Lozano

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 25, 2022
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Maria Victoria Lozano joined our Club on July 19, 2022. She is not new to Rotary. At age 14, Maria became a member and former president of an Interact club. In 2013, she was a Rotary exchange student in the Philippines, and in 2019, she joined Rotaract at the United Nations as a volunteer.
 
Maria is from Venezuela and comes from a restaurant family in Rubio. While living in Caracas, she developed her skills as a pastry cook. Five years ago, she joined her sister in San Francisco and found work as a pastry chef. During the pandemic lockdown, she was out of work. To survive, Maria and her sister founded Andina, a pop-up Venezuelan kitchen serving such items as arepas and other Venezuelan foods. Her life and business were the subject of a San Francisco Chronicle story recently.
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Maria Victoria Lozano Dora Dye 2022-07-25 07:00:00Z 0

Rescheduled Celebration of Life for Past RI President Cliff Dochterman

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 22, 2022
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Clifford Dochterman, Rotary International President 1992-1993, passed away on November 23, 2021. Our Club immediately paid tribute to him. See Peter Lagarias' tribute and tributes from other members of our Club. 
 
Cliff's Celebration of Life was postponed due to COVID-19 and is now scheduled as follows: August 13, 2022, at 1:00 PM Pacific time at the Serbian Cultural Center in Moraga, California.

He was a one-of-a-kind man who knew how to bring joy to the world and who positively impacted so many lives with his inspiration and imagination. His family invites you to celebrate his remarkable life. Feel free to dress in accordance with Cliff’s cheerful spirit.
 
If you plan to attend, please RSVP so that there are enough refreshments. Please call (209) 931-4085, or email Claudia Mennuti by August 9, 2022. If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to honor Cliff, a Zoom link will be provided. Please send your email information to Claudia Mennuti. You will receive the link several days prior to the event.
 
Rescheduled Celebration of Life for Past RI President Cliff Dochterman Dora Dye 2022-07-22 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 19, 2022:  Dianne Easton and Leadership Perspectives

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 20, 2022
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President Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians included immediate past president Richard Swart from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown attending in person. On Zoom were president Steve Pomeroy from the Rotary Club of Los Altos, Stan Scardino from the Rotary Club of Los Altos, and president Taye Doherty from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Bayview. Also on Zoom were Interactors Nancy Deng, Jenny Lew, Nathan Tjong, and Erika Wu as well as today's speaker - Dianne Easton.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 19, 2022: Dianne Easton and Leadership Perspectives Dora Dye 2022-07-20 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: Making new friends in Rotary 

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 20, 2022
Dora Dye and Mary Fermi A month ago, I shared with you my experience as mentor to new member Mary Fermi. See story here. Mary and I continue on our journey together in Rotary. This past Saturday, she and I along with Rotarians from eight different Rotary clubs in Rotary District 5150 participated in the monthly San Francisco Rotary Clean-up. This particular Clean-up hosted by the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset was held at Ocean Beach. Not only did we get to hang out with great Rotarians and clean up the area around Ocean Beach, but everyone who participated that day was treated to free Ben & Jerry's ice cream, courtesy of Roger Kaufman of the Rotary Club of Fisherman's Wharf.
 
Membership News: Making new friends in Rotary Dora Dye 2022-07-20 07:00:00Z 0

Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition Training Opportunity

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A message from District Governor Gary Chow: Below is a quick 10-minute, online training opportunity to help our Rotarians recognize and safely act upon a potential human trafficking situation. The Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC) has presented at many of our Rotary clubs and Human Trafficking workshops over the past four years. Although this particular training focuses on activities at airports, the same awareness and procedures are applicable anywhere. You can report suspicious behavior 24/7 to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at: 1-888-373-7888.
 
Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition Training Opportunity 2022-07-18 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 12, 2022:  President Christopher

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 14, 2022
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Immediate Past President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Carmel Ballroom at the Hotel Nikko at 12:14 PM. She then introduced our 2022-2023 Club President - Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation).
 
Induction Ceremonies Led by District Governor Gary Chow
Our new District Governor, Gary Chow, joined in person to induct President Christopher and then, our Club's 2022-2023 Board of Officers and Directors. DG Gary brought out his bag of coins and gave President Christopher and each Board member present a Rotary Four-Way Test Coin.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 12, 2022: President Christopher Dora Dye 2022-07-14 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Fisherman's Wharf Social July 21, 2022: Meet Rotarians from Another Club in the District

Posted by Alisha Marfatia
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The Rotary Club of Fisherman's Wharf is having its first club social of the year on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 5:30 PM at the San Francisco Brewing Company in Ghirardelli Square. They have graciously extended the invitation to any of our Club members who are interested in joining. The event will be outdoors (weather permitting), and there is a $20 fee for food which will be included. Beverages can be purchased separately.
 
For those who would like to know more or attend, please email me, your Social Chair, Alisha Marfatia, no later than Wednesday, July 20th at 9 AM.
 
Rotary Club of Fisherman's Wharf Social July 21, 2022: Meet Rotarians from Another Club in the District Alisha Marfatia 2022-07-14 07:00:00Z 0

PRLS' History and Legacy: Leadership Training for Rotarians

Posted by Betsy Koefoed on Jul 12, 2022
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In 2009 when Past District Governor Bill Koefoed was being queried, he immediately went to his decades-long profession as owner of the Dale Carnegie Franchise in the San Francisco Bay Area to tell them that he wanted to bring a superior quality of leadership training to the Rotarians in Rotary District 5150. When he was subsequently selected as the District Governor for 2010-2011, he asked his Rotarian wife and long-time business partner, Betsy, to take the reins on this promise and bring it to fruition into District 5150.

After considerable research into Rotary-based trainings, it was determined that Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS), as developed in Rotary District 5240, had the “bones” of the training they wanted to bring to 5150. Wanting to experience the training at its source, Betsy, Michael Ford, and Bob Pope (initially chosen faculty members) drove down to Santa Maria, CA once a month to actually take the PRLS training in District 5240. Having themselves then graduated from PRLS, Betsy, as the designated 5150 PRLS Founder and Director, set up a faculty training program and the date for the first Basic PRLS class - May 1, 2010. The class was held at the Dale Carnegie Headquarters (at the time) in San Mateo and was sold out. Thirty excited Rotarians gathered that Saturday morning to experience the training that would become the hallmark of District 5150. The faculty conducted three Basic PRLS classes in 2010 followed by the establishment of the five Master PRLS class series in 2011.
 
PRLS' History and Legacy: Leadership Training for Rotarians Betsy Koefoed 2022-07-12 07:00:00Z 0

Dues Increase Effective in Rotary Year 2022-2023

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Jul 11, 2022
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At the June 2022 Board meeting, the 2021-2022 Board unanimously approved an increase in the membership dues by $100 for all levels. Our Club's dues have not gone up in over a decade. Increasing the cost of membership was extensively discussed in the previous year, but taking action could no longer be avoided. This increase will allow our Club to continue to have a balanced budget in the 2022-2023 Rotary year and in years to come.
 
Below is a table showing the increases for annual dues effective July 1, 2022.
 
Dues Increase Effective in Rotary Year 2022-2023 Christopher Wiseman 2022-07-11 07:00:00Z 0

A Word from the President:  July 10, 2022

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Jul 10, 2022
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This week, our Club kicks off the new Rotary year. Join me and the 2022-2023 Board as we share our goals and plans with you onImagine Rotary logo July 12, 2022. If you have not already registered, please register now for the July 12, 2022 meeting
 
 
A Word from the President: July 10, 2022 Christopher Wiseman 2022-07-10 07:00:00Z 0
July 2022 District Rotarian of the Month Dora Dye 2022-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

A Message from the Editor

Posted by Dora Dye, Editor on Jul 01, 2022
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This issue of Grindings is the first one for the new Rotary year of 2022-2023. In the past two years, we had to reimagine how to be Rotarians without being together physically. In this coming year, we will Imagine Rotary (this year's Rotary International theme) as we continue to emerge and live with a virus that will not leave us. Read the following message from your new president - Christopher Wiseman - as he takes us on a journey of new ways to connect and do good in the world.
 
Join a committee, read Grindings, and check our Club Calendar often to find events and future meetings and register. Happy 4th of July! 
A Message from the Editor Dora Dye, Editor 2022-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

President's Message, July 1, 2022

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Jul 01, 2022
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Dear Friend and Member,
 
Thank you for your commitment to the Rotary Club of San Francisco! We are on this journey together, and your contributions are invaluable to communities in San Francisco and around the world. The Rotary Club of San Francisco joins over 1.4 million passionate individuals as well as over 46,000 clubs worldwide. We are an international organization and a local community leader, leading change in our backyard and across the world.
 
President's Message, July 1, 2022 Christopher Wiseman 2022-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

May 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jun 28, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on May 31, 2022 via Zoom. President Mary Liu called the meeting to order at 12:02 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
In attendance were President Mary, President-Elect Christopher Wiseman, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Lisa Christian, Ed Shenkan, Brian Lan, Nancy Graydon, Jeff Lerner, Bob Hermann, JT Forbus, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent was Miranti Ojong. Also in attendance was Dan Joraanstad, representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation.
 
May 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-06-28 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: June 2022

Posted by Nancy Graydon
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club on July 19, 2022 as our newest member:
 
Victoria Lozano (Catering Services | Andina).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: June 2022 Nancy Graydon 2022-06-28 07:00:00Z 0

Fellowship with Rotarians

Posted by Dora Dye
Don Bowcutt, Dora Dye, Anita Stangl, Ann Daugherty, and David DyeAnita Stangl, our 2006-2007 Club President, remains very active in our Club and recently invited a small group of Rotarians to her home for a home cooked meal. As one of the lucky guests, I can absolutely say that "Anita can cook". The menu included marinated chicken, homemade potato salad, homemade coleslaw, warm bread, an eggplant dish, lots of wine, and berries and cream for dessert. Everything was delicious!
 
Fellowship with Rotarians Dora Dye 2022-06-27 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 21, 2022:  Celebration and Thank You to President Mary Liu

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 23, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called her final meeting as Club president to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Carmel Ballroom at the Hotel Nikko.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were District Governor Danielle Lallement, District Governor-Elect Gary Chow, Assistant Governor Liz Mark, District Governor Nominee Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin) on Zoom, District Governor Nominee Designate Steve Wright, Past District Governor Ron Gin, Past District Governor Ross Smith all the way from down under - Australia, Cristina Aquino (President of the Rotary Club of South San Francisco), Richard Swart (President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown), Mary Geong (President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Oakland), Yuhui Chen (District 5150 Vocational Service - Rotary Means Business Chair and member of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park) and Mukasa Nassar of the Rotary Club of Kampala-Nsambya in Uganda. Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art) introduced his guest, Brad Jones. President Cristina Aquino introduced her guest - Ricky Garcia. Other special guests were Jennifer Byrd of the Salvation Army and Cherry Albano.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 21, 2022: Celebration and Thank You to President Mary Liu Dora Dye 2022-06-23 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: Being a mentor

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 22, 2022
Dora Dye and Mary FermiI joined this Club in 2016. In almost six years, I have met some outstanding Rotarians in both our Club and the District who mentored and engaged me. Recently, I was asked to be a mentor to our newest member. I readily accepted this new experience. 
 
My mentee is Mary Fermi. At our first meeting, we learned that we both worked in private industry and then became educators. Next, we talked about the red badge requirements. These requirements are to allow a new member the opportunities to learn more about Rotary and our Club and to get to know more members in our Club. Once Mary completes these requirements, she will lose the red ribbon on her name badge now and become a full member.
 
I was also excited to teach Mary how to use ClubRunner to update her information. I look forward to accompanying Mary through her journey in Rotary.
Membership News: Being a mentor Dora Dye 2022-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

RotaCare Seeks Volunteers

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 22, 2022
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Interested in serving our Community? RotaCare Northern Peninsula Free Medical Clinic is seeking long-term volunteers. Ideally, a volunteer commits to working in person one to two times per month over a period of at least six months. Here are the current openings:
 
RotaCare Seeks Volunteers Dora Dye 2022-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 14, 2022:  Year-end Member Recognition and Awards Ceremony

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 15, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:18 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Nick Locsin from the Rotary Club of Manila and William F. Jones from the Rotary Club of Kona Mauka in Hawaii. President-Elect Nominee Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) introduced special guests Victoria Lozano and her sister, Maria Lozano.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 14, 2022: Year-end Member Recognition and Awards Ceremony Dora Dye 2022-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

Member in the News: June 2022

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 14, 2022
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Sally Swanson joined Rotary in 1991 and our Club in 2013. She is the Founding Principal and CEO of Sally Swanson Architects, Inc., specializing in architecture, planning, and accessible design. Sally has managed her own award–winning firm since 1980. Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm is a 100 percent Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and DGS-certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) dedicated to serving the design needs of K-12 school districts, community colleges, municipal agencies, and private clients throughout the United States. 
 
Member in the News: June 2022 Dora Dye 2022-06-14 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS  June 7, 2022:  Barry Posner and The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership and How They Make a Difference!

Posted by Jeff Lerner on Jun 07, 2022
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President-Elect Nominee Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Ryan Beil from the Rotary Club of Dallas and Narasimha Dwarakanath, an immediate past Rotary president from Bangalore, India. Andrés Vera (Entertainment | Self-employed) introduced his guests - John Ferguson and Dr. Amr Selim. Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org) introduced his guest - Sam Eriksmoen. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced Mary Fermi; Mary will be inducted into our Club next week. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced Caryl Ito, who happens to be a neighbor to both Dan and Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF). Other guests today were ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma who attended via Zoom and today's speaker - Barry Posner who attended in person.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 7, 2022: Barry Posner and The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership and How They Make a Difference! Jeff Lerner 2022-06-07 07:00:00Z 0

April 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on May 31, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Rotary Club of San Francisco Board of Directors met on April 26, 2022 via Zoom. President Mary Liu called the meeting to order at 12:01 PM. Stacey Poole, Secretary, recorded the minutes.

In attendance were President Mary, President-Elect Christopher Wiseman, Gary Dales, Sunny Singh, Lisa Christian, Ed Shenkan, Brian Lan, Nancy Graydon, Jeff Lerner, JT Forbus, and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Absent were Miranti Ojong and Bob Hermann. Also absent was Dan Joraanstad, representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. Guests at this Board Meeting were Club members Wendy Shew and Todd St Vrain.

The Board reviewed and approved the Minutes of the March 22, 2022 Board meeting with a minor correction. The Board also reviewed and approved the March 2022 Financial Statements. The Club remains strong financially from a liquidity position.
 
April 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-05-31 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: May 2022

Posted by Nancy Graydon on May 31, 2022
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members:
 
Dalila Dynes (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF) as a member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities San Francisco on July 19, 2022.
 
Mary Fermi (Education | Retired) on June 14, 2022.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: May 2022 Nancy Graydon 2022-05-31 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 24, 2022:  Diane Stark and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank: Its Challenges and Goals

Posted by Emily Borland on May 26, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Special Guests
President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) introduced his guests - Kenzie Ferguson, Beth Muzy, Roger Rajeshinhia, Cat San Agustin, and Allen Habel. Also present was Mary Fermi. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 24, 2022: Diane Stark and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank: Its Challenges and Goals Emily Borland 2022-05-26 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 17, 2022:  Janet Kessler and Citizen Coyotes of San Francisco: Where they are, Who they are, How to get along

Posted by Nancy Graydon on May 19, 2022
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President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:18 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Special Guests
Attending in person were Mary Fermi, today's speaker - Janet Kessler, and her husband, Albert Kessler. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 17, 2022: Janet Kessler and Citizen Coyotes of San Francisco: Where they are, Who they are, How to get along Nancy Graydon 2022-05-19 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 10, 2022:  Dr. Diane Birnbaumer and The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Where We've Been, Where We Are, and Where Do We Go from Here?

Posted by Mary Liu and Dora Dye on May 12, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) began the Zoom-only meeting at 12:15 PM. Past President Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) managed the meeting on Zoom and welcomed everyone as they joined.
 
Special Guests
Today's special guest was Christina Koetteritz, president of the USF Rotaract Club sponsored by both our Club and the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown. Also online was today's speaker, Dr. Diane Birnbaumer.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 10, 2022: Dr. Diane Birnbaumer and The SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Where We've Been, Where We Are, and Where Do We Go from Here? Mary Liu and Dora Dye 2022-05-12 07:00:00Z 0

Homeless Prenatal Program Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers Return

Posted by Emily Borland on May 12, 2022
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We are excited to announce that we are having two in-person events at the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) in June! Maybe you’ve heard about our support of HPP in the past, but you haven’t had a chance to get involved due to COVID. These are your opportunities!

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, we will gather at HPP located at 2500 18th Street in San Francisco at 5:30 PM to organize diaper bags for mothers-to-be. We have a limit of 12 attendees to make 50 bags of baby clothes, towels, health kits, hats, and other items. Afterwards, we will enjoy a brief tour of the facility so that Rotarians can better understand HPP’s services. Street parking is available near HPP.
 
Homeless Prenatal Program Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers Return Emily Borland 2022-05-12 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 3, 2022: Shawn Rosenmoss and San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan

Posted by Margaret Miley on May 05, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarian was Mary Kay Kennedy from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park; Mary Kay is the wife of Jim Kennedy (Interior Design | James Kennedy Design). Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation) introduced his wife, Merve. Other in-person guests were Victoria Lozano, Angelina Preza, and today's speaker, Shawn Rosenmoss. Online our guest was Dr. Hollis Pierce-Jenkins.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 3, 2022: Shawn Rosenmoss and San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan Margaret Miley 2022-05-05 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: April 2022

Posted by Nancy Graydon on May 01, 2022
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on May 17, 2022:
 
Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | BayEcotarium EcoXpeditions)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: April 2022 Nancy Graydon 2022-05-01 07:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: April 2022

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 30, 2022
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Wendy Shew joined our Club on March 1, 2022. On Friday, April 29, 2022, Wendy was the special guest on Sapiens Signature Event: The Silicon Valley Podcast with Host Shawn Flynn. If you would like to hear this podcast, please contact Wendy.
 
 
Members in the News: April 2022 Dora Dye 2022-04-30 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Todd St Vrain

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 25, 2022
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Todd St Vrain joined our Club on April 19, 2022. He is the North America Regional Manager for the University of Melbourne. Todd recruits students from the US and Canada to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees or study abroad as a visiting student at Australia's leading university. 

He lives with his partner in the Westwood Park neighborhood of San Francisco. Todd enjoys exploring cultures through food, movies with subtitles, music, and travel. He also likes to get out to experience nature hiking, kayaking, biking, and running. Todd has been in San Francisco for four years, but traveling extensively for work the first two years and mostly being at home the last two years. 
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Todd St Vrain Dora Dye 2022-04-25 07:00:00Z 0
Nature's Beauty at Rotary Meadow Csongor Czezar 2022-04-21 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 19, 2022: Celebrating Passover

Posted by Stacey Poole on Apr 20, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarians were Joel Valdez from the Rotary Club of Manila; District 5150 Governor Nominee Designate Steve Wright of the Rotary Club of Pacifica; and Jean Schore of the Rotary Club of Eugene. Jean attended via Zoom and was formerly a member of our Club from October 4, 1994 to June 26, 2017.
 
Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) introduced her guest - Mary Fermi. Christopher Davies (Real Estate: Property Management | Self-employed) introduced his guest - Jill Hodges. Esther Landau (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) introduced her guest - Kristen Pedersen. Also visiting us was Rachel Kaloian. Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA) reintroduced himself to the Club since it had been a while since he had attended a meeting in person.  
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 19, 2022: Celebrating Passover Stacey Poole 2022-04-20 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 12, 2022:  Celebrating Our Beneficiaries

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Apr 14, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarians were District Governor Nominee Designate Nancy Anderson from the Rotary Club of Seabrook in Texas and her guest, Robert Anderson; Joel Valdez from the Rotary Club of Manila; and Paul Vazquez from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening. Our guests were Todd St Vrain, Jean Rosenblum, and Colant Scholar Isabella Godillo. ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma joined the meeting via Zoom.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 12, 2022: Celebrating Our Beneficiaries Robin Azevedo 2022-04-14 07:00:00Z 0

Celebrate Earth Day 2022 with ALPS Youth Leaders

Posted by Harmony Ma on Apr 14, 2022
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Celebrate Earth Day and our Bay Area ALPS youth leaders on April 23, 2022! Join us at our youth-led beach cleanup at Ocean Beach to help the local community and learn more about the effects of climate change in this neighborhood. Come see what our youth have been up to, how they've used social media to educate their peers about climate change, and spend some time volunteering for Earth Day this year.
 
Celebrate Earth Day 2022 with ALPS Youth Leaders Harmony Ma 2022-04-14 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 5, 2022: Michael Sera and Why is Japantown important?

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Apr 08, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) kicked off the Zoom-only meeting at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarian was Christian Amsberry from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening. Also online were today's speaker Michael Sera, ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma, Ashley and Jason Boney, and three students from Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco:  Chrissy Collins, Amanda Tam, and Zoe Yee.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 5, 2022: Michael Sera and Why is Japantown important? Nancy Graydon 2022-04-08 07:00:00Z 0

Sock Donation at April 19, 2022 Rotary Luncheon

Posted by Susan Dean on Apr 08, 2022
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If you’re coming in person to our Passover Seder at our April 19, 2022 luncheon meeting, please consider bringing one or more pairs of new crew-style socks for men or for women. The Seder teaches us that the time we spent as needy strangers in Egypt compels us to care for people we don’t know. The socks will be donated to the young adults in the California Conservation Corp. who respond to natural and manmade disasters.
Sock Donation at April 19, 2022 Rotary Luncheon Susan Dean 2022-04-08 07:00:00Z 0

In Memoriam:  Samuel M. Yates

Posted by Scott Plakun on Apr 07, 2022
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Sam Yates was a member of our Club from March 15, 1988 to February 1, 2014. As Senior Vice President of Investments for RBC Wealth Management, he played an important role for many years in managing the funds held by the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. He was one of the investment managers who regularly provided a financial “prognostication” as the first speaker of the calendar year. 
 
Sam passed away on November 10, 2021. See his obituary. If you have a copy of A Tradition of Fellowship and Service: The Rotary Club of San Francisco at 100, you can find more information on Sam's contributions to our Club and to Rotary.
 
In Memoriam: Samuel M. Yates Scott Plakun 2022-04-07 07:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: March 2022

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 31, 2022
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In December 2021, we remembered Charlotte Mailliard Shultz who was a member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco from November 1, 1987 until she passed away on December 3, 2021. She was the Chief of Protocol for the state of California and the Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco. See story here.
 
On March 30, 2022, the top names on San Francisco's social and political register gathered to remember and honor her. See full story here.
Members in the News: March 2022 Dora Dye 2022-03-31 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 29, 2022:  RI Past President and Trustee John Germ on New Directions of TRF

Posted by Larry Booth on Mar 30, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Carmel Room.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's distinguished speaker was 2016-17 Past Rotary International President (PRIP) John Germ. Joining him was his wife, Judy Germ, who is also a Rotarian. We were honored to have a long list of visiting Rotarians:  District Governor Danielle Lallement, District Governor-Elect Gary Chow, Past District Governor Jayne Hulbert, Past District Governor Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo), Past District Governor Wyn Spiller (currently Zone 27 Endowment/Major Gifts Adviser), District Governor Nominee Designate Steve Wright, and District 5160 Governor Designate Dan Geraldi. Other visiting Rotarians attending in person were: Cristina Aquino, Yuhui Chen, Gene Duffy, Brian Flaherty, Ron Harness, and Mary Kay Kennedy. District Governor Nominee Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin), Past District Governor Chris Gallagher, Past District Governor Bill Koefoed, Past District Governor Brenda Cressey (also first woman Rotary Foundation Chair in 2018-19), Susan Angel, Jesse Bowdle, Salvador Farfan, Betsy Koefoed, John Marshall, and David Stompe joined via Zoom. Other guests were Angelina Preza, Joseph Christianson, and Janice Pavel.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 29, 2022: RI Past President and Trustee John Germ on New Directions of TRF Larry Booth 2022-03-30 07:00:00Z 0

February 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Mar 24, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Board of Directors met on February 22, 2022. A quorum was present, and Jeff Lerner attended as a guest. The Board reviewed and approved the Minutes from the January 25, 2022 Board Meeting.
 
Treasurer Gary Dales presented the January 2022 Treasurer's Report, noting that the Club was still in a strong financial position. The Board began to discuss the need for a second set of eyes to review the Club's financial books, but discussion was tabled until best practices could be determined.
 
February 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-03-24 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  March 2022

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Mar 22, 2022
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on April 19, 2022:
 
Aida Jones (Photography Services | Bay Area Headshot Company)
Todd St Vrain (College Recruitment | University of Melbourne).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: March 2022 Nancy Graydon 2022-03-22 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Wendy Shew

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 21, 2022
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Wendy Shew joined our Club on March 1, 2022. She is the Founder of Building Education, a non-profit organization that serves to eliminate extreme poverty by building 1,000 schools and sponsoring education to spark a legacy of change. On April 25, 2015, an earthquake hit Nepal and damaged 9,000 schools. Since then only 4,000 have been rebuilt. Wendy volunteered three months after the earthquake in disaster relief and from there, she founded Building Education in 2017 to help with relief efforts.
 
Prior to community service work, Wendy studied aviation, learned to fly single engine prop planes, and worked in the international aviation business as a jet engine specialist. After volunteering in October 2014 at a girl’s orphanage in India, she realized that her passion is making an impact in the world and the lives of others. Wendy quit her job in February 2015, sold all of her things, and left the country to travel the world all across Asia, Europe, and Africa for six years.
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Wendy Shew Dora Dye 2022-03-21 07:00:00Z 0

Doing Good at Rotary Meadow

Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 20, 2022
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Neither drizzly rain nor the "It's Saturday; I want to sleep in thoughts" could keep Rotarians away from a day of service in the environment. Spirits, laughter, and motivation were high as the group quickly banded together to do some good work outdoors. Our goals were clear: go out, clear, and propagate Rotary Meadow with Yarrow seeds. Yarrow plants are flowering plants that are usually disease-free, grown to encourage butterfly gardens and to pollinate species, which we all know is good for the environment. Along the way, we did have a butterfly sighting that Dan Davies was quick to snap, and of course, the salamanders greeted those who sometimes were surprised at how agile they are. The occasional snail or banana slug was in close proximity to our work.
 
Doing Good at Rotary Meadow Bob Hermann 2022-03-20 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS Gala 2022: Join to celebrate our guests of honor

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Mar 18, 2022
Dora and David DyeWe are proud and excited to honor Dora and David Dye at the annual ‘Fund the Future’ Gala and Silent Auction on April 1, 2022 for their constant leadership, support, and advocacy for ALPS and Rotary Youth Leadership programs. 

David and Dora Dye have been committed to youth leadership and development initiatives for almost a quarter of a century. David has enjoyed a rich journey with Boy Scouts of America, from his Eagle Scout honor as a 17-year-old-young man to parent volunteer, to in-school character-education program manager and employee. Dora is an incredible administrative asset to any organization with which she engages. She has volunteered as a summer camp counselor and merit badge counselor, served alongside David in each of these positions, and together they have positively impacted hundreds of young people through Scouts over the years. 
 
ALPS Gala 2022: Join to celebrate our guests of honor Rhonda Poppen 2022-03-18 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 15, 2022:  Rebecca Ennals and Shakespeare for the Community

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Mar 17, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarians were Nik Barr from the Rotary Club of Carmel and Stan Pond from the Rotary Club of Foster City. Stan was a guest of Peter Logan (Law: Insurance | Peter Logan Law Offices). Peter brought additional guests: Toby Leavitt and Craig Moody from the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and Phil Kohlmetz. Other guests were Angelina Preza, Harmony Ma, and today's speaker, Rebecca Ennals. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 15, 2022: Rebecca Ennals and Shakespeare for the Community Robin Azevedo 2022-03-17 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Ozan Yasavur

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 16, 2022
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Ozan Yasavur became a Rotarian in December 2019 and joined our Club in March 2022. He was previously with the Ankara Bahcelievler Rotary Club in Turkey. Ozan is a mechanical/structural engineer for Bioforcetech Corporation, and his main responsibility is designing machines which transform organic streams into renewable energy and biochar.

He has been married to Merve Yasavur for two years; she is an architect. Ozan's favorite hobby is cooking and considers cooking to be more of a passion than a hobby.
 
Every day he sees animals and humans suffering. He would like to touch their lives by way of service projects. Ozan feels that the Rotary Club of San Francisco is one of the best places to create and to participate in such service projects.
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Ozan Yasavur Dora Dye 2022-03-16 07:00:00Z 0

Emergency Services Day 2022: From where I stood

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Mar 12, 2022
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A breath of anticipation was in the air as arrivals at the Nikko Ballroom took in the beautiful setting for Emergency Services Day (ESD), held since 1987. Everyone was excited. Past attendees knew that tales of heroism and dare were on the program and that the Club would put on the dog for our special guests. A large stage was backed by draperies and lights; spotlights hung from the ceiling to light up the platform. 18 tables were topped with floral displays. There was a bar and a photo booth just inside the room. It was an EVENT!
 
Oversized portraits of the 10 honorees were displayed on easels in the lobby, popular for family and friend photos. Converging on the lobby area for registration were uniformed members of the Coast Guard, Sheriff’s Office, San Francisco Fire Department, and San Francisco Police Department, checked in, making quite an impression. For the first time in the history of this event, Healthcare Representatives joined us having given their all in battling COVID. ESD is a favorite of the Club and usually draws a large audience. This year 140 attendees enjoyed a riveting program, plus a fine three-course lunch if you attended in person. This year we offered an option for those to attend via Zoom if they could not attend in person.
 
Emergency Services Day 2022: From where I stood Daniel Joraanstad 2022-03-12 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 8, 2022: Emergency Services Day 2022

Posted by Larry Booth on Mar 08, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the 2022 Emergency Services Day celebration to order at 12 noon and welcomed the huge audience in attendance in the ballroom of the Hotel Nikko. Attending remotely via Zoom were more members and guests.
 
Rotary Governors and Special Guests
President Mary recognized District Governor Danielle Lallement; District Governor-Elect Gary Chow; Past District Governors Chris Gallagher, Ron Gin, and Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo); District Governor Nominee Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin); and District Governor Nominee Designate Steve Wright, who all attended in person. Past District Governors who attended via Zoom were PDG Jayne Hulbert and Peter Lagarias (Law: Franchise | Lagarias, Napell & Dillon).
 
President Mary introduced the following special guests: Deputy Chief Thomas O'Connor from the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), Chief Bill Scott from the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax, Coast Guard Command Master Chief Travis Cutler, Supervisor Connie Chan from District 1; Supervisor Myrna Melgar from District 7; and Office of City Administrator Carmen Chu.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 8, 2022: Emergency Services Day 2022 Larry Booth 2022-03-08 08:00:00Z 0

Remembering Audrey McKeague

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 07, 2022
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Audrey McKeague. Audrey was a member of our Club from July 12, 2005 to March 1, 2022 (the day she died). See here for more information. She was a registered nurse. When she moved to San Francisco, she changed her career and sold pianos. Audrey was an accomplished pianist and played the piano often at our Club's meetings.
 
In Rotary, she is most remembered for her work with the Salvation Army Harbor House. Not only did she believe in "Service Above Self", but she also lived by these words. Most of all, Audrey was proud to be a Rotarian. Below are the memories and tributes from two Rotarians who knew Audrey well.
 
Remembering Audrey McKeague Dora Dye 2022-03-07 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 1, 2022: Rodney Fong and San Francisco Business Update

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Mar 02, 2022
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President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. Ozan Yasavur from Ankara Bahcelievler Rotary Club exchanged flags with President-Elect Christopher.
 
Visiting Rotarian and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarian was Rudy Asercion from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Sunset who attended in person. Also attending in person were guest Merve Yasavur and today's speaker, Rodney Fong. The guests attending online were Aida Jones and Jeanne Gnuse.
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 1, 2022: Rodney Fong and San Francisco Business Update Nancy Graydon 2022-03-02 08:00:00Z 0

New! Payment for Rotary Luncheons

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 27, 2022
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Beginning with the luncheon to be held on March 29, 2022, everyone will pay in advance. You will select either In-Person Registration or Zoom Registration.
 
New! Payment for Rotary Luncheons Dora Dye 2022-02-27 08:00:00Z 0

Appointment of Vice President of Club Service

Posted by Mary Liu on Feb 25, 2022
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Thank you to Michael Petricca for serving as our Interim VP of Club Service since July 1, 2021. Michael graciously agreed to continue his role as VP of Club Service until a replacement could be found. The Board is grateful to Michael for introducing us to Greg Grundstrom and Jesse Austin, both from the Academy of Art University to help each week at the Hotel Nikko with setup and tear down of our AV equipment and being our tech support during the meetings. We are also thankful to Michael for securing the venues provided by the Academy of Art University for our Club and district events. 
 
Appointment of Vice President of Club Service Mary Liu 2022-02-25 08:00:00Z 0

John Dracup: A great Rotarian and humanitarian

Posted by Peter Lagarias on Feb 24, 2022
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Editor's Note:  John Dracup passed away on December 20, 2021. Below is a story shared by Peter Lagarias, President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 1992-1993. Peter went on to become District Governor in Rotary District 5150 in 2001-2002.
 
One day John Dracup came to our Rotary lunch at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, and by happenstance, he sat next to me. He was wearing his black horn-rimmed glasses and a pork-pie hat, looking altogether professorial. He was considering joining the Rotary Club of San Francisco because he had heard that Rotary was involved in water projects around the world. He added that he was an emeritus professor of civil engineering at the University of California at Berkeley. I told him that I was a Cal graduate. From that day onward, we became fast friends, and he steadily queried me for knowledge about Rotary with purpose. John was determined to serve.
John Dracup: A great Rotarian and humanitarian Peter Lagarias 2022-02-24 08:00:00Z 0

January 2022 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Feb 24, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Board of Directors met on January 25, 2022 for the first Board meeting of the year. The meeting was called to order by Past President JT Forbus at 12 noon as President Mary Liu was under the weather. The Board reviewed and approved the November 30, 2021 minutes with a few amendments.  
 
Treasurer Gary Dales reviewed the December 2021 financial statements. The Club remains in a strong financial position. Certain Board members are reaching out to members who have yet to pay their 2021-22 dues.
 
January 2022 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-02-24 08:00:00Z 0

Remembering John Dracup

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 23, 2022
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John Dracup was a member of our Club from March 11, 2009 to December 2, 2016. He was a civil and environmental engineering professor emeritus, who specialized in hydrology and water resource engineering and taught at both UCLA and UC Berkeley for more than half a century. At the end of 2016, John moved to Santa Monica to be near his family and joined the Rotary club in Santa Monica.
 
In Rotary, he is most remembered for building sustainable clean water systems funded by Rotary International in remote regions of developing countries. He conducted clean water projects in Kenya, Peru, Honduras, and Guatemala, and published a book entitled Clean Water for Developing Countries.
 
Remembering John Dracup Dora Dye 2022-02-23 08:00:00Z 0

ALPS: Support Bay Area Student Leadership! Coaches Needed!

Posted by Harmony Ma on Feb 20, 2022
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Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) is looking for new leadership coaches! Last school year, ALPS supported 12 unique youth-led community impact projects. Currently, we are halfway through the school year, and we have already supported 12 projects! Programs are growing quickly, and our capacity is largely limited by the number of leadership coaches available.

If you’ve wanted to make a personal, positive impact in the community and help cultivate ‘service above self’ leaders, becoming an ALPS leadership coach might be for you!
 
ALPS: Support Bay Area Student Leadership! Coaches Needed! Harmony Ma 2022-02-20 08:00:00Z 0

Vaccination Required for In-Person Attendance at Club Luncheons

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 19, 2022
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The State of California's mask mandate expired on February 16, 2022. San Francisco County dropped indoor masks for vaccinated people except in certain settings such as schools and public transit. However, California continues to require that people who have not gotten their vaccinations wear masks while indoors.
 
Vaccination Required for In-Person Attendance at Club Luncheons Dora Dye 2022-02-19 08:00:00Z 0

Homeless Prenatal Program: Bagging Housewares

Posted on Feb 17, 2022
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Our Club is pleased to announce that we are once again helping the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) organize housewares for its clients seeking housing. We will meet on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 6 PM at Hoogasian’s Flower Shop, 615 7th Street in San Francisco for the event. We need 10 Rotarians and friends to help, so we hope you will consider it! The event includes opening boxes of housewares, organizing them on tables, and then creating a kit of various houseware items for delivery to HPP.
 
In the past, we have created diaper bags of goodies for the new moms and have visited their baby showers at HPP. Our intent is to revert to the diaper bag program once HPP has fully opened its doors to the public. In the meantime, please join us on March 22 to help with housewares. Afterwards, the group usually walks down the street to a local pub and enjoys a meal together. If you have questions, contact Emily Borland.
Homeless Prenatal Program: Bagging Housewares Emily Borland 2022-02-17 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 15, 2022: Semi-Annual Club Assembly

Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Feb 16, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. 
 
Visiting Rotarian and Special Guest
Today's visiting Rotarian was Ozan Yasavur from Ankara Bahcelievler Rotary Club. Our guests were Aida Jones and Todd St. Vrain.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 15, 2022: Semi-Annual Club Assembly Alisha Marfatia 2022-02-16 08:00:00Z 0

SUPER BOWL PARTY: A big kick

Posted by Jim Patrick on Feb 14, 2022
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31 Rotarians and guests gathered at the Academy of Art building on Van Ness Avenue to watch the Los Angeles Rams walk off with the big Super Bowl prize. Our Pool was full of action as well with Peter Logan winning one Paul Harris and Wendy Ross winning three Paul Harris Fellows plus an autographed football. The effort raised $7,500 of which one half will go to the San Francisco Rotary Foundation and the other half to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. 
 
SUPER BOWL PARTY: A big kick Jim Patrick 2022-02-14 08:00:00Z 0
Action Leadership Program with Students: Asian American Mental Health Support Event! Harmony Ma 2022-02-10 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 8, 2022: Kate Sofis and San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development

Posted by Larry Booth on Feb 09, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone attending either online or in person inside the Anzu Restaurant. She noted that it had been over a month since we got together in person, and she was just coming off her personal quarantine for COVID. On each table were plated hors d'oeuvres and fresh ice tea, showing the appreciation of the staff at the Hotel Nikko for our return.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarian was Ozan Yasavur, a Rotarian from Turkey who is planning to join our Club soon. Additional online guests were Aida Jones, Jeanne Gnuse, and Paul Vazquez from Alliance for Smiles. Guests in person included Theo Ellington from the Salvation Army, Donald Brooks, and today's speaker - Kate Sofis.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 8, 2022: Kate Sofis and San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development Larry Booth 2022-02-09 08:00:00Z 0

Member in the News: February 2022

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 09, 2022
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Rick Harrell has won a Jefferson Award. This Award is given to people who build better communities and contribute to better a future for those around them. Rick's work with veterans in the Heroes' Voices Program is giving back to those who had put themselves on the line to protect our freedom and values.
 
Here is the news clip honoring Rick and his Program. Rick joined our Club on August 1, 2014. Through the years, he has shared his musical talent as well as his Heroes' Voices Program with Rotarians and has served as a speaker. Congratulations to Rick!
Member in the News: February 2022 Dora Dye 2022-02-09 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 1, 2022: Celebrating Chinese New Year

Posted by Stacey Poole on Feb 03, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) kicked off the Zoom-only meeting at 12:15 PM, wishing everyone a 恭禧發財 Gung Hay Fat Choy in celebration of Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Tiger!
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's visiting Rotarians were Ozan Yasavur, a Rotarian from Turkey who is planning to join our Club soon; Salvador Farfán, a Rotarian from Washington, DC; and Assistant Governor Liz Mark from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown. Cynthia Yee was President Mary's special guest.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 1, 2022: Celebrating Chinese New Year Stacey Poole 2022-02-03 08:00:00Z 0

Serving our Community at the SF Marin Food Bank

Posted by Bob Hermann on Jan 31, 2022
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It was another fine community service day. Dan Davies, John Dean, Susan Dean, Bob Hermann, Alisha Marfatia, Maureen O'Shea, and Christopher Wiseman of the Rotary Club of San Francisco each spent 2.5 hours at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank on Saturday, January 29, 2022. They were joined by other groups to pack 616 boxes of food onto four completely full pallets, totaling over 20,000 pounds of food. Just imagine the nourishing food of fruits and vegetables to be distributed to the thousands of needy in our communities.
 
Serving our Community at the SF Marin Food Bank Bob Hermann 2022-01-31 08:00:00Z 0

November 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jan 27, 2022
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Board of Directors met on November 30, 2021 for the last Board meeting of the year. The meeting was called to order by President Mary Liu at 12 noon. The Board reviewed and approved the October 26, 2021 minutes with a couple of edits.  
 
The October 2021 financial statements were reviewed by Treasurer Gary Dales who reported that the Club is in good financial shape. Lower attendance at in-person meetings has reduced certain costs. Gary sent out reminders to members who have not yet paid their dues. 
 
November 2021 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2022-01-27 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  January 2022

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jan 25, 2022
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on February 8, 2022:
 
Wendy Shew (Educational Services | Building Education)
Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical-Structural | Bioforcetech Corporation).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: January 2022 Nancy Graydon 2022-01-25 08:00:00Z 0

CLUB SURVEY 2022: Calling for your input

Posted by Mary Liu on Jan 24, 2022
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In preparation for our discussion at the Semi-Annual Club Assembly on February 15, 2022, please provide your input here. This survey focuses on your day-to-day experiences in the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Your input is valuable and will be used to make our Club even better. There are no right or wrong answers; we simply ask for your honest opinions.

Raffle: Members who complete the survey by or before February 7, 2022 may choose to enter the Raffle to win a $50 Gift Card to Amazon. If you have any questions, comments, or just want to chat, please contact President Mary Liu.
CLUB SURVEY 2022: Calling for your input Mary Liu 2022-01-24 08:00:00Z 0

2022 Super Bowl Pool and Potluck

Posted by Jim Patrick on Jan 19, 2022
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Super Bowl LVI will be played on February 13, 2022. (We're hoping to see our San Francisco 49ers in the big game). Our Club is holding its annual Super Bowl Pool and Social on this date, and you are invited. 

The Super Bowl Pool is our Club’s annual drive to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF) and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF). Rotary's mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Every Rotarian around the world is asked to donate to TRF every year. Super Bowl Pool winners receive a Paul Harris Fellowship.
 
2022 Super Bowl Pool and Potluck Jim Patrick 2022-01-19 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 18, 2022: Heidi and Gary Kuhn, Afghanistan Update

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jan 18, 2022
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called today's meeting via Zoom to order. Close to 80 members and guests attended. Among the visiting Rotarians were Ron Sekkel (Past District 5170 Governor), Brian McLeran (Past District 5150 Governor), Ginny Lear (from the Rotary Club of Palo Alto), Frank Yih (from the Rotary Club of Shanghai), Steve Pomeroy (from the Rotary Club of Los Altos) and Steve Wright (District 5150 Governor Nominee for 2024-2025). 
 
NEW: Fee for Zoom Meetings
Since March 2020, our Club has offered Zoom meetings and events for free. However, we cannot continue to do so due to costs associated with offering meetings in this manner. Beginning February 1, 2022, we will charge each attendee $10 per Tuesday luncheon meeting. When you register for a Tuesday luncheon meeting, you will be asked to make this payment. Please note that all Committee meetings such as Membership Committee or Community Service Committee meetings via Zoom remain free of charge, and we appreciate your service.
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 18, 2022: Heidi and Gary Kuhn, Afghanistan Update Nancy Graydon 2022-01-18 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 11, 2022: Dr. Michael Martin and Red Meat: Is it really bad for you?

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Jan 13, 2022
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President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called today's meeting to order. In attendance were the following guests: Dr. Michael Martin (today's speaker); Ozan Yasavur (a Rotarian from Turkey); Wendy Shew; Michael Morgenstern; Margaret Curtis; and Salvador Farfan (from the Rotary Club of Long Beach).
 
Weekly Holidays
We recognized some weekly holidays around the world:
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 11, 2022: Dr. Michael Martin and Red Meat: Is it really bad for you? Robin Azevedo 2022-01-13 08:00:00Z 0

A Successful Rotary Means Business Event

Posted by Sunny Singh on Jan 13, 2022
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Communication & Media for Business Professionals, a District 5150 Rotary Means Business event, was hosted by the Vocational Services committee of our Club. This was a virtual event. We had 38 attendees.
 
The first part of the presentation was a short description of the RMB fellowship, vocational service, and its role within Rotary. After that, our featured speaker, Amy Scruggs, did her presentation. In her presentation, she shared tips on how to communicate better in person and virtually.
 
A Successful Rotary Means Business Event Sunny Singh 2022-01-13 08:00:00Z 0

District 5150 Happenings and The Rotary Foundation

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad, SFRF President on Jan 11, 2022
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I have been newly appointed as Rotary District 5150 Endowment/Major Gifts Chair or EMG for short. I appreciate the opportunity to serve with the District Leadership Team and to start what will probably be a three-year term. In my role, I will help the many generous donors in our District to realize their goals in giving to The Rotary Foundation (TRF).
 
Consider how generous District 5150 Rotarians have been this year in their gifts. Our Districtwide goal of $1 million to TRF for the fiscal year has already been exceeded - $1.2 million has been given. District Governor Danielle Lallement’s new mid-year goal is to reach $2 million for TRF by June 30, 2022. It is a joy to consider the good work which these dollars unleash across the world, our country, and our own District.
 
District 5150 Happenings and The Rotary Foundation Daniel Joraanstad, SFRF President 2022-01-11 08:00:00Z 0

A Message from the Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 10, 2022
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The virus continues to place limits on our ability to get together. While our Club remains active, things can change on short notice. If you signed up for a meeting or an event recently, please check www.sfrotary.com or your email for any change that might have been made on short notice before heading out to the meeting or event. You can also contact a Board member listed here if you have questions.
 
A Message from the Editor Dora Dye 2022-01-10 08:00:00Z 0
New Online Application for Start of 2022-2023 Grant Season Daniel Joraanstad, SFRF President 2022-01-06 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 4, 2022: PDG Russ Ketron - Polio and TRF

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 06, 2022
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First Meeting of 2022
The recent spike in COVID cases prompted our Club to switch at the last minute from a hybrid meeting to a Zoom-only meeting on January 4, 2022. Past President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called the meeting to order. In attendance were the following guests: PDG Russ Ketron, Rob Strahan of Catholic Charities, and Ozan Yasavur, a Rotarian from Turkey. Joining them were almost 40 members of our Club.
 
Rotarian of the Month
Past President JT recognized Peter Logan (Law: Insurance | Peter Logan Law Offices) as the Rotarian of the Month for December 2021. Peter was nominated and approved by our Board for his service on the Membership Committee and on the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. He also sends out anniversary cards to members and is always helpful at our weekly luncheon meetings. Congratulations and thank you to Peter!
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 4, 2022: PDG Russ Ketron - Polio and TRF Dora Dye 2022-01-06 08:00:00Z 0

MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER:  Dan Joraanstad

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 03, 2022
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Dan Joraanstad was born and raised in North Dakota and had an 18-year career in college textbook sales and publishing. He shifted from the publishing world to the financial world in 1996 and became a financial advisor. His 20 years in the industry concluded at Wells Fargo Advisors when he was named a director. The next chapter of his life (volunteering and traveling) beckoned, and Dan responded by retiring in 2016.
 
Dan met his husband, Bob Hermann, in 1988. Both feel incredibly fortunate to have rewarding careers, supportive family and friends over time, and now a large extended family in the world of Rotary. 
 
MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER: Dan Joraanstad Dora Dye 2022-01-03 08:00:00Z 0

Change in Celebrations of Life for Cliff Dochterman

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 02, 2022
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The plans to celebrate Cliff Dochterman's life in person have been postponed due to concern over the current variant of the COVID-19 virus. We will let you know of the new dates later this year.
 
 
 
Change in Celebrations of Life for Cliff Dochterman Dora Dye 2022-01-02 08:00:00Z 0

A Look Back at 2021 and Welcome to 2022

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 29, 2021
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2021 began with many of us in search of the first shot of COVID vaccine. Who got the first shot was determined by age and health risk factors, but eventually, anyone who wanted a shot got one and then two. Our Club began 2021 on a high note: Past President Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin) was selected to serve as District 5150 Governor in 2023-2024.
 
We never wavered from the Rotary motto of 'Service Above Self'. In fact, we did many service projects by carefully following the health guidelines and limiting the number of participants. We expanded our reach to groups we had not partnered with in the past such as TogetherSF by loading food boxes for delivery to churches to feed those in need and by donating dictionaries in print for distribution to children who could not afford electronic devices to use for educational purposes. We delivered personal safety alarms to Asian seniors in our community.
 
A Look Back at 2021 and Welcome to 2022 Dora Dye 2021-12-29 08:00:00Z 0

MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER:  Peter Logan

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 28, 2021
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Peter J. Logan is a solo attorney advocating for clients against insurance companies. Says Peter, "It's great when I can help people collect what they are due." When not practicing law, his main hobby is playing drums in a rock band. He and his band love to get people up and dancing. Peter has a daughter who is a magazine and aspiring television writer living in New York City.
 
Peter joined our Club on April 1, 2011 and joined the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation in 2018. On the Board, he is a member-at-large and provides input on most matters that come before the SFRF Board. The input can cover the Foundation's rules, grant applications, and status reviews on projects already funded by SFRF.
 
 
MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER: Peter Logan Dora Dye 2021-12-28 08:00:00Z 0

Recap of the 2021 Annual Meeting and Holiday Party

Posted by Stacey Poole and Dora Dye on Dec 17, 2021
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco’s Holiday Party and Annual Meeting were held on December 14, 2021 at the Hotel Nikko. Members and guests were welcomed starting at 11:00 AM to fellowship, a photo booth, and a chance to spin the Rotary wheel to win a prize before the meeting moved to the main dining room.
 
President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) welcomed and reminded everyone of her eight goals for the year:  
  • hold a successful weekly hybrid meeting. (This has been accomplished.)
  • increase membership by 25 new members. (We have inducted 15 new members so far.)
  • encourage new service projects for grant funding.
  • raise $100,000 for the 50/50 Campaign. (We have raised $108,112 so far.)
  • earn District 5150's Best Club award. (We are only at 44% toward this goal.)
  • continue our work with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • collaborate with other Rotary clubs and organizations.
  • have fun.
Recap of the 2021 Annual Meeting and Holiday Party Stacey Poole and Dora Dye 2021-12-17 08:00:00Z 0

Celebration of Life for Past RI President Cliff Dochterman

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 17, 2021
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Clifford Dochterman, Rotary International President 1992-1993, passed away on November 23, 2021. Our Club immediately paid tribute to him. See Peter Lagarias' tribute and tributes from other members of our Club. 

There are now two Celebrations of Life planned that will take place as follows:
  • January 14, 2022, at 2:00 PM Pacific time at the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Moraga, California.
  • January 15, 2022, at 2:00 PM Pacific time at the University of the Pacific, Morris Chapel, Stockton, California.
Celebration of Life for Past RI President Cliff Dochterman Dora Dye 2021-12-17 08:00:00Z 0

MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER:  John Mathers

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 15, 2021
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John Mathers joined Rotary on March 1, 2011 and became our Club's president in 2017-2018. He is married to Peggy, and they enjoy traveling for fun and enlightenment. These days, many of us know John because of his work and active involvement with the Rotary Climate Action Team.
 
John joined the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) in 2017. On the Board, he is the Chair of the Nominating Committee and serves on the Executive Committee. When SFRF president Dan Joraanstad is unavailable, John stands in for Dan. John's goal is to support the fundamental purpose of the SFRF Board, which is to manage the monies and support the projects of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.
 
MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER: John Mathers Dora Dye 2021-12-15 08:00:00Z 0

A Message from the Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 14, 2021
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We have reached the final issue of Grindings for 2021. I will be taking a short break. Grindings will not be published on December 26, 2021, but will resume on January 2, 2022. We have already started to plan the new year. Take a moment to view the Club calendar for events in January 2022. Registration is required for all events so that we can send you additional information as needed. 
 
What a year! We started 2021 (Year 2 of a global pandemic) as we had ended 2020 and continued to meet via Zoom only except for an occasional service project in person in very small groups. During his term, Past President JT Forbus held only one meeting in person - his debunking in June 2021. President Mary Liu ushered in the era of meeting simultaneously in person and via Zoom. We continue to adapt and evolve, proving our resilience.
 
A Message from the Editor Dora Dye 2021-12-14 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 7, 2021: Bill Yenne and When the Other Shoe Dropped: Imperial Japan Attacks the West Coast 1941-1942

Posted by Sunny Singh on Dec 09, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone to the second oldest Rotary club in the world. This is our Club's 113th year. 
 
Special Guests
Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) introduced her guest, Rose Marie Cleese. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) introduced his guest, Michael Harrington. John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) introduced his guest, Tracy Roberts. Also present was today's speaker — Bill Yenne who introduced his guest, Hudson Martin.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 7, 2021: Bill Yenne and When the Other Shoe Dropped: Imperial Japan Attacks the West Coast 1941-1942 Sunny Singh 2021-12-09 08:00:00Z 0

2021 Annual Meeting

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 09, 2021
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Our Club gathers to celebrate the holidays on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. After a year when gathering together was not possible due to COVID and safety issues, we will treasure this moment even more. The Holiday Party is not the only reason for us to come together on Tuesday; very important is your attendance at the Annual Meeting happening at the same time.
 
2021 Annual Meeting Dora Dye 2021-12-09 08:00:00Z 0

Fund the Future Gala - Save the Date

Posted by Harmony Ma on Dec 05, 2021
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The Fund the Future ALPS Gala is back! This benefit and silent auction will be held on Feb. 16, 2022 at The City Club. All proceeds will go to helping expand the ALPS mission to empower youth with the confidence and tools to successfully lead change projects in their schools, communities, and world. Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) programs prepare youth to be ‘service above self’ leaders for healthy communities and a civil society.
 
Fund the Future Gala - Save the Date Harmony Ma 2021-12-05 08:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: December 2021

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 04, 2021
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Charlotte Mailliard Shultz was a member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco from November 1, 1987 until she passed away on December 3, 2021. She was the Chief of Protocol for the state of California and the Chief of Protocol for the City and County of San Francisco. Charlotte was married to former United States Secretary of State George P. Shultz from 1997 until his death earlier this year. We join the community in mourning her loss and appreciate her many contributions to the City and County of San Francisco.
Members in the News: December 2021 Dora Dye 2021-12-04 08:00:00Z 0

At the Up and Up Away with EREY Gala

Posted on Dec 02, 2021
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On November 20, 2021, Rotary District 5150 held its annual The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Gala at the Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae, California. The Gala was in person, but one could attend virtually as well. It was also the first occasion to dress to impress since the start of the pandemic. And dressed in their finest from the Rotary Club of San Francisco were President Mary Liu, Bob Hermann, Dan Joraanstad, David Dye, Dora Dye, Frank Yoke, Heidi Kuhn, Cecile Chiquette, Eric Schmautz and Stephanie Schmautz and their daughters Molly and Katie. Also from our Club was District Governor-Elect Nominee Laine Hendricks who served as emcee for the evening.
 
At the Up and Up Away with EREY Gala Dora Dye 2021-12-02 08:00:00Z 0

October 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Dec 02, 2021
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Rotary Club of San Francisco
The Club Board met on October 26, 2021; President Mary Liu called the meeting via Zoom to order at 12 noon. In attendance were President Mary Liu, Christopher Wiseman, Gary Dales, Nancy Graydon, Casey Blair, Sunny Singh, Lisa Christian, J.T. Forbus, Miranti Ojong, Ed Shenkan, Bob Hermann and Stacey Poole, constituting a quorum. Brian Lan and Michael Petricca were absent. Dan Joraanstad was present, representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF). Non-Board members in attendance were Jenny Campbell, Jeff Lerner, and Marc Johnson.
October 2021 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2021-12-02 08:00:00Z 0

MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER:  Robin Azevedo

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 01, 2021
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Robin McRoskey Azevedo is the CEO of McRoskey Mattress Company – the Bay Area’s trusted mattress retailer - founded in San Francisco in 1899 by her grandfather and his brother. She enjoys gathering with family and friends to connect and share experiences, and she certainly enjoys being a Rotarian, having been a member of our Club since July 2, 2004.

Robin joined the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation in 2019. On the Board, she is a member-at-large and serves on the Grant Review Committee which sifts through the grant applications received to see what should go to the Club level for approval and eventually to the Foundation. Her goals are to oversee the causes that our Club sponsors and share the far reaching impact that the Rotary Club of San Francisco and Rotary International can and do make.
 
MEET A FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER: Robin Azevedo Dora Dye 2021-12-01 08:00:00Z 0

More Tributes to Cliff Dochterman

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 24, 2021
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Editor's Note:  Clifford Dochterman, Rotary International President 1992-1993, passed away on November 23, 2021. The following members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco shared their memory of Past RI President Dochterman.
 
Cliff was an outstanding Rotarian and man. He impressed me repeatedly. At my PETS, he gave the often replayed speech about doing things that put Rotary in the public eye rather than just giving checks to non-profits. Cliff's words inspired me to be involved with Rotary Meadow in San Francisco.
 
Harold Hoogasian 
President, 2001-2002
Rotary Club of San Francisco
 
More Tributes to Cliff Dochterman Dora Dye 2021-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

My Rotarian Friend Cliff Dochterman

Posted by Peter Lagarias on Nov 24, 2021
Editor's Note:  Clifford Dochterman, Rotary International President 1992-1993, passed away on November 23, 2021. Below is a story shared by Peter Lagarias, President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 1992-1993. Peter went on to become District Governor in Rotary District 5150 in 2001-2002.
 
 
Cliff Dochterman was, and remains, a brilliant beacon of light about service and Rotary. I first met Cliff in 1985, when our Club’s then executive director, Bill Ecker, recruited me for PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar). I was not a President-Elect at the time; rather I was sent as a Sergeant-at-Arms. Cliff was one of the speakers, and his talk was “If I Could be President Again.” Over the years I heard him deliver these remarks at least ten times (including when I became President-Elect and then District Governor and beyond). His message was about service and what was available and possible through Rotary. During his talk he mentioned his years as an Administrator at the University of California and joked about Berkeley and also about a Rotary project by some Rotarians in Oklahoma where “they were trying to smuggle books into Texas.” 
 
My Rotarian Friend Cliff Dochterman Peter Lagarias 2021-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 24, 2021
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What's new? Actually, it's what has come back. Club socials returned in July; the next one is a historical walking tour in San Francisco's Chinatown. There are still tickets left.
 
After a year of silence, bells will ring once again for the Salvation Army. Sign up here.
 
Also back is our Holiday Party and Annual Meeting in person with a Zoom option. This is always the most festive and fun-filled luncheon of the year; don't miss it.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco Dora Dye 2021-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

News from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Nov 23, 2021
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The San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) Board met recently. Our invested funds continue their strong growth cycle. The funds are up $500K YTD, and now stand at the highest value ever, about $5.3 million. Also, the Colant Scholarship fund has risen to a record high of $509,000. Here is an update on our recent activities:  
 
2021-2022 GRANT REQUESTS
SFRF has been busy fulfilling the grant requests for 2021-22. Approximately $164,500 plus $28,000 in district-designated funds have been allocated to 19 projects. All Vocational and Community Service project requests to date have been funded. Up for consideration next will be requests for International and Youth Leadership projects.
 
News from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation Daniel Joraanstad 2021-11-23 08:00:00Z 0

Thanksgiving with The Arc Highlights: November 22 and 23, 2021

Posted by Barbara Streett on Nov 22, 2021
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving with the Participants of The Arc San Francisco. In 2020, we had to pivot from an in-person celebration to a virtual event. The virtual tradition was repeated in 2021 with the preparation of 300 hot meals delivered to 150 of The Arc Participants this past Tuesday, November 23. 
 
Past President of our Club and Past District 5150 Governor Eric Schmautz along with support from Rotarian Marti Sullivan, former Senior Director of Development & Communications of The Arc, and our Club's Vice President of Community Service Bob Hermann led this project to prepare, package, and deliver hot meals with a festive Thanksgiving theme to The Arc Participants experiencing social isolation and food insecurity. 
 
Thanksgiving with The Arc Highlights: November 22 and 23, 2021 Barbara Streett 2021-11-22 08:00:00Z 0

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Sowing the Economics of Peace

Posted by Heidi Kuhn on Nov 19, 2021
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For nearly 25 years, Roots of Peace, a humanitarian non-profit, has worked to cultivate peace through agriculture in war-torn lands worldwide. Now, they have expanded their business model for peace to include the Western Highlands of Guatemala seeking the "root" cause for out-migration in the Northern Triangle of Guatemala. Instead of investing in higher walls at the U.S. border, the Kuhn Rotarians seek to build longer tables so that families may stay home with the dignity to break bread with fruits grown in their homeland and income from exports to international markets.

See this ABC7 News segment to learn how Rotarians may become involved in sowing the "economics of peace" to solve the U.S. border crisis.
 
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Sowing the Economics of Peace Heidi Kuhn 2021-11-19 08:00:00Z 0

Report from the Nominating Committee

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Nov 18, 2021
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In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
 
2022-23 President: Christopher Wiseman
2022-23 President-Elect: Sunny Singh
2022-24 Vice President of Community Service: Emily Borland
2022-24 Vice President of Development: Maureen O'Shea
2022-24 Vice President of International Service: Frank Yoke
2022-24 Vice President of Membership: Margaret Miley
 
Report from the Nominating Committee Christopher Wiseman 2021-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

ALPS Project November 24, 2021:  Canned Food Drive

Posted by Harmony Ma on Nov 18, 2021
The Rotary Club of San Francisco and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation launched the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) in 2019. Below is an ALPS project where we can help by donating canned food. Any questions, please contact Harmony Ma, ALPS Program Manager.
ALPS Project November 24, 2021: Canned Food Drive Harmony Ma 2021-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: November 2021

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 18, 2021
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Sue Rokaw, Past District Governor (PDG) of Rotary District 5150 and member of our Club, sends her best regards and announces that she and her husband, Alan Test, recently moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Ocean Springs in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
 
Members in the News: November 2021 Dora Dye 2021-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 16, 2021:

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Nov 17, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone to the second oldest Rotary club in the world. This is our Club's 113th year. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Past District 5150 Governor Jayne Hulbert and Rotarian Gene Duffy (PDG Jayne's husband). Also in attendance were Jatinderpal Kaur Sahi, CEO of RotaCare Bay Area; Armando Zumaya from Catholic Charities; Clifford Phillips from The Arc San Francisco; Dorian Luey and Meshtli Villalta from the University of San Francisco; Hamid Ansari from Roots of Peace; and Victoria Cooper.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 16, 2021: Nancy Graydon 2021-11-17 08:00:00Z 0

Bagging Housewares for the Homeless Prenatal Program

Posted by Emily Borland on Nov 11, 2021
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Nine Rotarians and friends gathered at Hoogasian’s Flower Shop on October 26 to sort and bag housewares for the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP). It was a fun event and a change of pace from our typical projects in the past, when we bagged items for new babies.
 
This time, we bagged the housewares for 50 moms who are moving into new homes with their families. Items included bakeware, knives and mixing spoons, bowls, colanders, and other kitchen basics. 
 
Bagging Housewares for the Homeless Prenatal Program Emily Borland 2021-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 9, 2021: Carly Devlin and Ending Human Trafficking

Posted by Larry Booth on Nov 09, 2021
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On a rainy day, a small group of Rotarians ventured out to attend the Tuesday luncheon. Joining them was another group of Rotarians on Zoom. President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and introduced Jessie Austin of the Academy of Art University. Jessie now manages the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meetings, and we are truly grateful.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 9, 2021: Carly Devlin and Ending Human Trafficking Larry Booth 2021-11-09 08:00:00Z 0

Report on Vocational Meeting: Professional Portrait and Business Networking

Posted by Sunny Singh on Nov 07, 2021
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On November 3, 2021, a group of 15 people participated in our Vocational Service event - Professional Portrait and Business Networking. President Mary Liu offered her office at Vanguard Properties for this event. Pat Johnson, a well-known Bay Area photographer, took a professional headshot of each attendee.
 
Jenny Campbell, one of our Club's new members, led the networking during the event. Each attendee partnered with someone in the group and learned their elevator pitch. Next, each person went up to the stage and presented the partner’s elevator pitch. 
Report on Vocational Meeting: Professional Portrait and Business Networking Sunny Singh 2021-11-07 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS:  Promoting Healthy Habits for Young Children

Posted by Harmony Ma on Nov 04, 2021
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Having a safe space where young people may learn about the foundations of health and exercise is an important aspect of developing a healthy understanding of fitness and positive body image. This is what our latest group of ALPS leaders believes. In our current day and age of social media and competition/comparison-driven environments, our ALPS students have been striving to create a program that provides positive mentorship and role models as well as fun activities for elementary students. 

Since July, these student leaders have been planning a collaborative exercise program with their local elementary school. They’ve learned to work under COVID-19 guidelines, event and spacing logistics, and equipment loans and donations in order to plan safe programming.  
 
ALPS: Promoting Healthy Habits for Young Children Harmony Ma 2021-11-04 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS  November 2, 2021:  Jenny Kit Ching Campbell and Truth, Integrity, and Connection: All Roads Lead to Humanity

Posted by Margaret Miley on Nov 03, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Attending in person were the following guests: Saswati Mukherjee, a visiting Rotarian from India; Devon Kessler; and Angelina Preza. Online as guests were Beatrice Steele and Zelda Okia.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 2, 2021: Jenny Kit Ching Campbell and Truth, Integrity, and Connection: All Roads Lead to Humanity Margaret Miley 2021-11-03 07:00:00Z 0

A Spooktacular Evening of Halloween-Themed, Musical Bingo

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 28, 2021
On October 28, 2021, Club members and their families joined in a virtual game of Halloween-themed, musical bingo. Our Halloween costume winners were brothers JT and Daryn Borland-Wong, sisters Leyna and Emmy Blair, and sisters Leia and Mae Forbus. Our bingo winners were Casey Blair, Mary Liu, and Stacey Poole. It was a spooktacular event enjoyed by all!  

We hope to see you at our next Club social on December 4th.  
A Spooktacular Evening of Halloween-Themed, Musical Bingo Stacey Poole 2021-10-28 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS: Fostering Multigenerational Relationships

Posted by Harmony Ma on Oct 27, 2021
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A cornerstone of the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) is multigenerational relationships, and this group of participants really showed us what that is all about! By fostering a collaborative and positive group environment, ALPS students were able to execute their vision of bringing generations together through connection and song. 

Over the past few months, a group of five students gathered together to explore ways to show the seniors and older adults in their neighborhood that they are seen, valued and important members of our community, but especially that they are not alone. The students decided to show the seniors how much they cared through connecting in a way that was very personal and meaningful to them: song!
 
ALPS: Fostering Multigenerational Relationships Harmony Ma 2021-10-27 07:00:00Z 0

September 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 27, 2021
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September 28, 2021 Board Highlights
The Board met on September 28, 2021 with enough Board members in attendance to achieve quorum. The first Board meeting was that of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.

Treasurer Gary Dales reviewed the August 2021 financial statements. While he did not have any immediate concerns, our attendance at in-person meetings had been lighter than budgeted. In addition, many members still have not paid their annual dues. It was suggested that members be reminded to pay their dues invoice. 
 
September 2021 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2021-10-27 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  October 2021

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Oct 26, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on November 9, 2021:
 
Rachel Donovan (Engineering: Civil | California Department of Transportation)
Jefferson Li-Kuo Yih (Student and Musician).
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: October 2021 Nancy Graydon 2021-10-26 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS  October 19, 2021:  Laine Hendricks and Rising to a Challenge

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Oct 21, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone to the second oldest Rotary club in the world. This is our Club's 113th year.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Attending in person was ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma. Attending online were the following visiting Rotarians: Brent Ainsworth of the Rotary Club of Novato; Jenny Bates of the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening; and President Paul Ekstrand, Barry Hytowitz, Malinda Monterrosa, Christina Moses, and Jose Luis Sanchez (all from the Rotary Club of Los Angeles). Also online were the following guests: Daniel Catena, Rosa Santos, Christina Laird, Martha Ryan from the Homeless Prenatal Program, and today's speaker — Laine Hendricks.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 19, 2021: Laine Hendricks and Rising to a Challenge Nancy Graydon 2021-10-21 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS  October 12, 2021: Marc Pomerleau and The Roots of Anti-Asian Hate, San Francisco Chinatown, and Why this Legacy Matters Today

Posted by Frank Yoke on Oct 14, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone. 
 
Recent Events
Hispanic Heritage Month: The audience watched a video on Hispanic Heritage Month. This observation from September 15 to October 15 started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 12, 2021: Marc Pomerleau and The Roots of Anti-Asian Hate, San Francisco Chinatown, and Why this Legacy Matters Today Frank Yoke 2021-10-14 07:00:00Z 0

Memories of the Blue Angels Viewing Party

Posted by Jeff Lerner on Oct 14, 2021
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91 Rotarians, family members, and guests gathered together for a fabulous, front row seat overlooking Jefferson Street, Fisherman's Wharf, and the San Francisco Bay to view the Blue Angels in motion on Saturday, October 9, 2021. The maneuvers and the choreography of the Blue Angels left the audience in awe. The location of the event, the space, the food, and the décor were spot on.  
 
Memories of the Blue Angels Viewing Party Jeff Lerner 2021-10-14 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Ed Shenkan, Vice President of International Service

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 10, 2021
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Ed Shenkan joined our Club on December 10, 2019, but says that he has always had Rotary in his genes! Ed’s great grandfather and grandfather were Rotarians, and his father Sid has been a Rotarian in New Castle, Pennsylvania for over 60 years (previous club president and regional chair of Polio Plus). Ed proudly says that Rotary had a meaningful impact on his life by sponsoring him for a year of study in Épinal, France as a high school Rotary Exchange Student. For over 30 years, he has continued his friendship with his three French homestay families. 
 
As a result of the positive impact on his life from his exchange year in France, he and his wife Amy chose the French American International School in San Francisco beginning at age 4 for their daughter Maddie. Maddie is now in 12th grade and is preparing to graduate with the French Baccalaureate designation.
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Ed Shenkan, Vice President of International Service Dora Dye 2021-10-10 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS  October 5, 2021: John Rothmann

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Oct 06, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed everyone to the second oldest Rotary club in the world. This is our Club's 113th year.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
New member Esther Landau (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) introduced her guests - Barbara Streett and Kristen Pedersen. Joining online were Rosa Santos and today's speaker — John Rothmann.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS October 5, 2021: John Rothmann Ann Daugherty 2021-10-06 07:00:00Z 0

Rotarians Tour the Murals in San Francisco's Mission District

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 03, 2021
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Rotarians and guests met on September 30, 2021 to tour the Mission District murals hosted by the Precita Eyes Muralists Association (the Association). The Association was founded in 1977, originally as a community muralist workshop. It now supports nearly 100 murals in the Mission, many of which are in Balmy Alley. Balmy Alley homeowners have allowed muralists to beautify the privately owned passageway, and murals are occasionally refurbished and refreshed in collaboration with the original artist(s) and homeowner. The Association's mission is to support Chicano muralism’s original objective: to create public art that authentically represents a community’s history and culture.

See more photos here. We hope to see you at future social events!
 
 
Rotarians Tour the Murals in San Francisco's Mission District Stacey Poole 2021-10-03 07:00:00Z 0

July 2021 and August 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Stacey Poole on Oct 01, 2021
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July 27, 2021 Board Highlights
 
A quorum of the board members met for their first board meeting of the 2021-22 Rotary Board year. Dan Joraanstad was also present to represent the San Francisco Rotary Foundation.  
 
The Board spent considerable time discussing additional proposed changes to the By-Laws, which will be voted on at the December annual meeting. 
 
Treasurer Gary Dales spoke about the 2021-22 budget. While it has a slight deficit, Gary believes the Club is still in good financial standing given the surplus the year prior. He noted that invoices had gone out to the membership both via U.S. Mail and e-mail. 
 
July 2021 and August 2021 Board Highlights Stacey Poole 2021-10-01 07:00:00Z 0

Supporting the Homeless Prenatal Program

Posted by Emily Borland on Sep 30, 2021
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco is proud to be in its 7th year to support the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP). Martha Ryan, the Executive Director of HPP, will attend our lunch meeting on October 19 to accept our Foundation’s donation. Martha will also give us an update on the latest happenings at HPP.
 
While we were originally scheduled to bag diapers and attend quarterly baby showers this fiscal year, our Club will once again adapt to the Community’s needs due to the COVID Delta variant. HPP is not distributing diaper bags or holding baby showers at this time. Instead, they have asked our Club to bag personal care items for their clientele.
 
Supporting the Homeless Prenatal Program Emily Borland 2021-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

Supporting the Environment at Rotary Meadow

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 29, 2021
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A team of 17 Rotary volunteers gathered high atop Rotary Meadow in the foggy heart of Sutro Forest on Saturday, September 25 at 9:15 AM. The volunteers came from several Clubs, including the Rotary Clubs of San Francisco #2, San Francisco Castro, San Francisco West, and San Francisco Chinatown. With our primary meadow advocate, Harold Hoogasian, unexpectedly away on business, Bob Hermann led our merry crew. The work we do in this project aligns with the seventh principle supported by The Rotary Foundation: Supporting the Environment. The meadow is a great example of how our many work projects have improved life in the City of San Francisco for generations to come. 
 
Supporting the Environment at Rotary Meadow Daniel Joraanstad 2021-09-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  September 2021

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Sep 28, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on October 12, 2021:
 
Anna Klink (Information Technology: Administration | Autodesk)
Barbara Streett (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) as a member of our newest corporate member - The Arc San Francisco
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: September 2021 Nancy Graydon 2021-09-28 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Jessica Hansen

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 25, 2021
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Jessica P. Hansen joined our Club on April 14, 2020. She has worked in international social justice and humanitarian aid for over 20 years for organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Rescue Committee, Kiva, and others, covering anti-human trafficking, refugee protection and resettlement, as well as innovation in and access to education and finance. Jessica is now CEO and Executive Director of the international medical nonprofit, Alliance for Smiles, as well as a Senior Strategist for the Impact Travel Alliance and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the West African Volunteer Organization.
 
Jessica's family consists of her parents and her sister named Apple. Her father went from a farm in small-town Oklahoma to fight in the Vietnam War, where he met Jessica's mother, a waitress from Bangkok, Thailand. Apple is a skilled pachyderm-keeper who has worked with elephants, rhinos, and more.
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Jessica Hansen Dora Dye 2021-09-25 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 21, 2021:  John Mathers and Building RCAT to Tackle Climate Change

Posted by Larry Booth on Sep 23, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order promptly at 12:15 PM and welcomed those on Zoom and those in person who were enjoying a respite from the heat.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Joining our members attending in person and online were Idiko Polony who is the Executive Director of Sutro Stewards and today's speaker — our own Past President John Mathers.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 21, 2021: John Mathers and Building RCAT to Tackle Climate Change Larry Booth 2021-09-23 07:00:00Z 0

Service Above Self at the Fifth Annual Autumn Moon Festival

Posted by Mary Liu on Sep 23, 2021
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco had a display booth at the fifth Annual Autumn Moon Festival in the Richmond District of San Francisco on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Thank you to our members President-Elect Christopher Wiseman, Ann Daugherty, and Jenny Campbell and our guests James Wong (my husband), Jason Campbell (Jenny’s son), and Shirley Tan, who all joined me to represent our Club. Additionally, Vanita Louie, Cathy Cheng, and President Richard Swart (members from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown) were present to lend support.
 
Service Above Self at the Fifth Annual Autumn Moon Festival Mary Liu 2021-09-23 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Larry Booth

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 18, 2021
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Larry Booth joined our Club on September 14, 2021. He is a mechanical engineer and contractor and feels fortunate to be part of a 109-year-old California firm, doing business in the Sacramento and Bay Area commercial and institutional building markets. He currently works out of his South San Francisco office.
 
Larry is married with two children and three grandchildren. As a family, they enjoy cooking meals together with everyone participating. For hobbies, Larry likes to fish, cycle, and attend car shows.
 
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Larry Booth Dora Dye 2021-09-18 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 14, 2021:  Laurie Thomas and 2020 in the Rearview Mirror and the Road Ahead for the SF Restaurant Industry

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Sep 16, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order promptly at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
Attending in person today were two guests of Heidi Kuhn (Peace Building | Roots of Peace) - Rachel Donovan and Jeff Yih; a guest of Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) - Steve Redlin; and a guest of Jane Flout (Nonprofit Management | Catholic Charities) - Armando Zamaya. Attending online were Salvador Farfan from the Rotary Club of Long Beach, ALPS Program Manager Harmony Ma, Anna Klink, and today's speaker — Laurie Thomas
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 14, 2021: Laurie Thomas and 2020 in the Rearview Mirror and the Road Ahead for the SF Restaurant Industry Robin Azevedo 2021-09-16 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Esther Landau

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 15, 2021
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Esther Landau joined our Club on August 17, 2021. She is the Senior Director of Advancement for The Arc San Francisco and is responsible for all the fundraising and communications at the organization. She started at The Arc San Francisco in June of this year and prior to that, was in the same role at the Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center, a similar organization on the west side of the City. 
 
Esther is a serious knitter and crossword enthusiast. In her past life, she was a professional flutist, but these days she just occasionally grabs the pennywhistle and plays a few tunes. She is married to Caroline Pincus, and their daughter, Ruby, is a senior at Columbia in New York, where she is majoring in Yiddish.
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Esther Landau Dora Dye 2021-09-15 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Nat Crawford

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 11, 2021
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Nat Crawford joined our Club on August 17, 2021. He owns a tutoring company in Sunnyvale that helps kids to achieve their dreams for education and for college admission. He co-parents an 8-year-old son who loves to read, play soccer, and negotiate for chocolate. Nat joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco because he has lived in San Francisco for over 20 years and would like to spend more time building up the local community.
 

Editor's Note: In this column, we invite a new member in our Club to share with us. Please join me in welcoming this new member the next time you see him in person at any of our events.
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Nat Crawford Dora Dye 2021-09-11 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 7, 2021:  Jaxon Van Derbeken and How Investigative Reporters Do Their Research

Posted by Alisha Marfatia on Sep 08, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the first meeting of September 2021 to order at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following guests: Edita Cruz from SCORE, Anthony DiGiorgio, Greg Grundstrom, Dr. Elisa Stephens of the Academy of Art, and today's speaker — Jaxon Van Derbeken. 
 
Membership News
Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) and Matthew Madsen (Nonprofit Management | The Salvation Army) completed their red badge requirements and are now full members of our Club. Congratulations, Margaret and Matthew!
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 7, 2021: Jaxon Van Derbeken and How Investigative Reporters Do Their Research Alisha Marfatia 2021-09-08 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Bill Gregory

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 05, 2021
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Bill Gregory joined our Club on July 13, 2021. He is a first generation college graduate, and his college education at Northern Iowa University (formerly Iowa State Teachers College) is what made his life so meaningful. His general education courses exposed him to the world, and he discovered music, arts, and humanities.

Bill majored in speech therapy. He was a speech therapist in public schools for two years in Iowa. Then, he moved to California in 1963 and worked 32 years in the public schools under the Santa Clara County Office of Education. 
 
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Bill Gregory Dora Dye 2021-09-05 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  August 2021

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Aug 31, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on September 14, 2021:
 
Larry Booth (Mechanical Engineering and Design | Frank M. Booth, Inc.)
Marc Johnson (Financial Services: Advising | Northwestern Mutual)
Clifford Phillips (Program Management | The Arc San Francisco) as a member of our newest corporate member - The Arc San Francisco
Lance Scott (Program Management | The Arc San Francisco) as a member of our newest corporate member - The Arc San Francisco
Darlene Wilson (Program Management | Catholic Charities of San Francisco) as a member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: August 2021 Nancy Graydon 2021-08-31 07:00:00Z 0

Meet a Distinguished Rotarian:  Phyllis J. Nusz

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 28, 2021
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Meet Past District Governor Phyllis J. Nusz, a Rotarian for 30 years. She served as the first woman elected officer and Club President of the North Stockton Rotary Club in 1997-1998 and as one of the first 50 women District Governors in Rotary International when she served as District Governor for Rotary International District 5220 in 2001-2002. Phyllis joined our Club on May 28, 2007 and served as The Rotary Foundation Chair.
 
A native Californian, Phyllis received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Speech Communication with a minor in Choral Music from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She also earned an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL with a specialty in the field of Leadership Management Training and is known as a Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Scholar.
 
Meet a Distinguished Rotarian: Phyllis J. Nusz Dora Dye 2021-08-28 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 24, 2021: Doug Lloyd, Mobility Trends and the Future of Transportation

Posted by David Dye on Aug 26, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. This was our first Zoom-only meeting in the current Rotary year.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following guests: Keith Axtell of the Rotary Club of Marin Evening, Salvador Farfan from the Rotary Club of Long Beach, Alain Charlois, Marc Johnson, and today's speaker — Doug Lloyd. 
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 24, 2021: Doug Lloyd, Mobility Trends and the Future of Transportation David Dye 2021-08-26 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Nancy Graydon, Vice President of Membership

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 21, 2021
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Nancy Graydon's entire career has been dedicated to fundraising for wonderful organizations including the University of Toronto, UCLA, and now, the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF). She feels fortunate to work with an amazing team in her current role at GRF as Executive Director of Development and Chief Operating Officer. In January 2022, she will celebrate her 10th year working at GRF. 
 
Nancy is a very proud Canadian and has family from Vancouver to Halifax. During the pandemic, she bought her first house in Pinole, CA and lives there with Brian, her husband of 16 years, and a rescue dog named Scully. She loves doing crafts and giving old furniture new life with a coat of paint.
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Nancy Graydon, Vice President of Membership Dora Dye 2021-08-21 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Caryn Crump

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 20, 2021
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Caryn Crump joined our Club on August 17, 2021. She is a retired corporate executive and former adjunct Rice University professor who currently owns CPI, a small international instructional and consulting company. Caryn is also an adjunct professor at Norwich University in its MBA program. She loves to travel and work internationally and is the mother of two adult children. She currently has a home in Puerto Vallarta and has extended an invitation to our Club to stay at her home. Prior to joining our Club, Caryn had been a member of two other Rotary clubs and believes that "community service is one of the most rewarding things that someone can do".
 

Editor's Note: In this column, we invite a new member in our Club to share with us. Please join me in welcoming this new member the next time you see her in person at any of our events.
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Caryn Crump Dora Dye 2021-08-20 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 17, 2021: District Governor Danielle Lallement

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Aug 18, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following visiting Rotarians: District Governor Danielle Lallement from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening who is also today's speaker, Assistant Governor Liz Mark from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, and Karen Schmautz from the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida. Additional guests attending in person included: Greg Grundstrom, Molly Schmautz, and Jackie Herrin. 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 17, 2021: District Governor Danielle Lallement Nancy Graydon 2021-08-18 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Stacey Poole, Club Secretary

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 17, 2021
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Stacey Poole is a family law attorney representing individuals in the divorce process. She has been in practice since 1999 and has been a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2008. She also drafts and reviews prenuptial agreements. Stacey has been married for over 20 years to Bobby. When not working, she enjoys watching TV, reading, sports, and traveling to Hawaii.
 
Stacey joined our Club on August 28, 2007. She had already served twice on our Board as Vice President of Club Service and Vice President of Membership. In July 2021, she began her term as Club Secretary.
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Stacey Poole, Club Secretary Dora Dye 2021-08-17 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Bob Hermann, Vice President of Community Service

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 16, 2021
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Bob Hermann retired in 2018. He had worked as an Information Technology Program/Project Manager for over 26 years in health care projects including electronic medical systems. His family’s motto is to continually do good in the world to help others as we would want someone to help us if ever needed. The joys of giving back to others, be it through our time, our treasures, or our avocational experience, is something his family cherishes. Bob's continued hopes are to be transparent with work, engage and include others, and have fun while serving.
 
Bob’s passion to help others extended to the far reaches of Egypt to provide non-clinical support in helping pediatric patients with cleft lip and palate surgeries and recoveries to the domestic leadership of RotaCare and its Electronic Medical Record implementations.
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Bob Hermann, Vice President of Community Service Dora Dye 2021-08-16 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Miranti Ojong, Vice President of Development

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 16, 2021
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Miranti Ojong is a financial services agency builder currently spanning across 15 states and continuing to expand across the US where she financially educates clients and business owners in various demographics and communities. Her services include retirement planning, investments, life, health and disability insurance, estate planning, college planning, and business financial planning. She is a mentor and trainer to agents and independent business owners in her profession to help guide their success and reach their career goals. Her mission is to empower every individual with the right knowledge and tools to achieve financial independence. 
 
 
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Miranti Ojong, Vice President of Development Dora Dye 2021-08-16 07:00:00Z 0

A Mission To Build a Hunger-Free Future

Posted by Dan Davies on Aug 15, 2021
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Food insecurity affects children, seniors, and their families, and the pandemic has exacerbated the problem 1. This year, over 42 million people may experience food insecurity, possibly including 13 million children 2.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank has a mission to build a hunger-free future and distributes food at over 307 pantries in the San Francisco and Marin areas. They provide access to nutritious foods including over 50 types of fruits and vegetables, education on how to prepare healthy meals on a budget, and they also advocate for policy reform on local, state, and national levels to assist people at risk of hunger. Last year, the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank provided 80.2 million pounds of food to people in need.
 
A Mission To Build a Hunger-Free Future Dan Davies 2021-08-15 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Alex Omoko

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 15, 2021
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Alex Omoko joined our Club on April 14, 2020. He works for a non-profit that focuses on the undermined communities as well as the homeless population. Alex has been married for eight years to his wife Ajiri. Together, they have four children ranging in age from eight to three: an 8-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a pair of 3-year-old twins. Some of his hobbies include reading, traveling, and spending quality time with his family. Alex had visited different Rotary clubs in the Bay Area, but he joined our Club because of the way he was welcomed and received by every member of our Club, especially then president Casey Blair.
 

Editor's Note: In this column, we invite a new member in our Club to share with us. Please join me in welcoming this new member the next time you see him in person at any of our events.
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Alex Omoko Dora Dye 2021-08-15 07:00:00Z 0

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The Root Cause of Migration from Guatemala

Posted by Heidi Kuhn on Aug 14, 2021
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Rotary Club of San Francisco Members Heidi Kuhn and Tucker Kuhn, mother and son, embarked upon a Roots of Peace mission from July 24 to August 4, 2021 in the Western Highlands of Guatemala to determine the "root" cause of migration to the U.S. Border. They traveled to the remote regions of San Marcos, Huehuetenango, and Quiché — the regions with the highest concentration of "out migration" among youth under the age of 30 years old. 
 
Heidi Kuhn, CEO, Roots of Peace, partnered with ABC 7 News to provide exclusive news footage featuring the plight of families who live on less than an average of $5 per day. The ABC 7 News segment will air in early September 2021.  
 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The Root Cause of Migration from Guatemala Heidi Kuhn 2021-08-14 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Christopher Wiseman, President-Elect

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 13, 2021
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Christopher Wiseman is the Associate Director of Events and Engagement for the Glaucoma Research Foundation. He produces in-person and virtual meetings and events, which included 13 programs during the last fiscal year. Christopher oversees the national Ambassador Outreach Program that includes ophthalmologists from around the United States, and manages strategic partners and vendor relationships. He earned the Certified Meeting Professional designation in 2019 and the Digital Event Strategist certification in 2020. Recently, Christopher has taken the exciting step to enroll in the Harvard Extension School and is working towards a graduate certificate in Marketing Management and Digital Strategy. 
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Christopher Wiseman, President-Elect Dora Dye 2021-08-13 07:00:00Z 0

Helping Asian Seniors in Our Community

Posted by Mary Liu on Aug 12, 2021
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Hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2020-2021 National Report of the Stop AAPI Hate organization, 11.1% of Asian Americans who reported an incident were physically attacked. This is heartbreaking and personal, because the victims could be our grandparents, parents, siblings, children, other relatives, or friends. What can we do to help our most vulnerable Asian seniors? 
 
  • President Mary Liu submitted a grant proposal to our San Francisco Rotary Foundation to purchase $5,000 worth of personal safety alarms to distribute to Asian seniors in the various districts of San Francisco. The grant was approved by the Club's Community Service Committee, the Grant Review Committee, the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation.
Helping Asian Seniors in Our Community Mary Liu 2021-08-12 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 10, 2021: Joe D’Alessandro; San Francisco’s Resilient Tourism Industry: When Is It Coming Back?

Posted by Emily Borland on Aug 11, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following visiting Rotarians: Sandhya Jaiprakash from the Rotary Club of Bangalore attending in person; Salvador Farfan from the Rotary Club of Long Beach and Randall Scott from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, both attending online. Additional guests attending in person included: Caryn Crump, Greg Grundstrom, Robert Hunter, Marc Johnson, Dianne Madsen, Molly Schmautz, Diane Stark, and today's speaker — Joe D'Alessandro. Additional guests attending online were Steve Collins and Eoin Garcia.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 10, 2021: Joe D’Alessandro; San Francisco’s Resilient Tourism Industry: When Is It Coming Back? Emily Borland 2021-08-11 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Sunny Singh, Vice President of Vocational Service

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 05, 2021
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Sunny Singh is an independent financial advisor with 12 years of experience. He manages assets for individuals, families, trusts, businesses, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. Through long-term investment and a planning-based approach, Sunny helps clients to develop and implement strategies for building wealth and meeting their goals. His mission is to provide objective and timely financial advice and guidance — with the highest level of professional service — in building and preserving wealth for his clients.
 
Born in India and living in the Bay Area since he was 9 years old, Sunny enjoys watching and going to sporting events. His teams are the San Francisco 49ers, Warriors and the SF Giants. He is also a big fan of grilling and barbecuing. 
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Sunny Singh, Vice President of Vocational Service Dora Dye 2021-08-05 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Brian Lan, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 04, 2021
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Brian Lan is the Senior Manager of Investor Relations at DocuSign where the IR team highlights industry trends and crafts key messages for its shareholders and analysts. He helps to develop the company's investor communication strategy.
 
Brian currently resides in South San Francisco with his wife, Rose Hoang, who works for a startup in San Francisco. They enjoy traveling and trying new places to eat. His hobbies include singing, writing, watching movies, and learning new things.
 
MEET A BOARD MEMBER: Brian Lan, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications Dora Dye 2021-08-04 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Dan Davies

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 04, 2021
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Dan Davies joined our Club on December 8, 2020. He is an Innovation Manager for North American Lighting, a manufacturer of automotive headlamps. His role is to find and evaluate potential technology partners for the company. Dan likes to learn about San Francisco's history and enjoys visiting the City's historical sites and museums. Dan joined Rotary to meet and share ideas with people who want to help the community, and he wanted to serve on a great team!
 

Editor's Note: In this column, we invite a new member in our Club to share with us. Please join me in welcoming this new member the next time you see him in person at any of our events.
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Dan Davies Dora Dye 2021-08-04 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 3, 2021: Lucy Meyer, Acceptance Plus Inclusion Equals Progress

Posted by Robin Azevedo on Aug 03, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following special guests in person: San Francisco Supervisor for District 2, Catherine Stefani, and her legislative aide, Dominica Donovan. Additional guests attending in person included:  Larry Booth, Caryn Crump, Greg Grundstrom, and James Wong. Online were these guests: Esther Landau, Bridget Maxim, Charles Meyer, Elizabeth Owens, Cyril Unukevwere who joined us from Nigeria, and today's speaker — Lucy Meyer.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 3, 2021: Lucy Meyer, Acceptance Plus Inclusion Equals Progress Robin Azevedo 2021-08-03 07:00:00Z 0

MEET A NEW MEMBER: Moustafa Harfoush

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 03, 2021
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Moustafa Harfoush joined our Club on March 9, 2021. He is a real estate and estate-planning attorney. Moustafa loves traveling. He has a long list of domestic and international places to visit and can't wait for the pandemic to be behind us so that he can continue traveling and see more of the world. Moustafa joined our Club to meet like-minded people and to serve the community.
 

Editor's Note: In this column, we invite a new member in our Club to share with us. Please join me in welcoming this new member the next time you see him in person at any of our events.
MEET A NEW MEMBER: Moustafa Harfoush Dora Dye 2021-08-03 07:00:00Z 0

June 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 27, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called his final Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 p.m. A quorum was present. Also in attendance were members of the incoming Board: Lisa Christian, Miranti Ojong, Nancy Graydon, and Stacey Poole as well as Dan Joraanstad representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, and Past President Rhonda Poppen.
 
Dora, 2019-2021 Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
June 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-07-27 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  July 2021

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jul 27, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on August 10, 2021:
 
Nat Crawford (Education: Primary and Secondary | Improve Your English Tutoring).
Caryn Crump (Education: University | CPI (Consulting and Professional Instruction) & Norwich University).
Esther Landau (Nonprofit Management | The Arc San Francisco) as a member of our newest corporate member - The Arc San Francisco.
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: July 2021 Nancy Graydon 2021-07-27 07:00:00Z 0

Meeting in Person: What You Need to Know

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 26, 2021
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After 15 months of meeting via Zoom, our Club finally returned to in-person meetings with an option to join via Zoom. The first three in-person meetings were well attended with excellent programs, food, and fellowship. Here are some tips so that our meetings continue to run smoothly, and you continue to have a good experience.
 
MEETING DETAILS
Before you register for our meetings, click on the "More Info" tab that accompanies each meeting listed on our website at www.sfrotary.com. Here you will find out when the meeting starts and ends, information about the speaker and the topic, how to register, and other important information such as whom to contact with questions.
 
Meeting in Person: What You Need to Know Dora Dye 2021-07-26 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 20, 2021: Dr. Todd "Bowtie" Jenkins; Moving from Diversity to Inclusion

Posted by Margaret Miley on Jul 21, 2021
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President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) began today's meeting with a reading of Rotary International's Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She then talked about our Club's history and these milestones:
 
  • In 1909, the Rotary Club of San Francisco sponsored the next four Rotary Clubs to form: Oakland #3, Seattle #4, Los Angeles #5, and New York #6.
  • In 1911, the Rotary Club of San Francisco sponsored the first club outside of the United States in Dublin, Ireland.
  • Many of the 35,000 Rotary clubs in the world today can trace their roots back to Club #2.
  • The Rotary Club of San Francisco was one of the leaders in the movement to open Rotary membership to women.  
  • In 1987, women were admitted to the Rotary Club of San Francisco.
  • After 113 years of our Club’s founding, Mary Liu became the 7th Female Club President and the 1st Asian American President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 20, 2021: Dr. Todd "Bowtie" Jenkins; Moving from Diversity to Inclusion Margaret Miley 2021-07-21 07:00:00Z 0

RotaCare:  Its Mission and How You Can Volunteer

Posted by Bob Hermann on Jul 19, 2021
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Our Club's Foundation, the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, recently presented financial support to RotaCare Bay Area. This year, $7,500 was awarded to the Northern Peninsula Clinic. Started by Rotarians over 32 years ago, RotaCare has helped to fill the gap of healthcare services in over 10 medical ambulatory clinics. In the Bay Area, RotaCare continues to provide support to patients providing free healthcare to those who are underserved and uninsured. 
 
RotaCare: Its Mission and How You Can Volunteer Bob Hermann 2021-07-19 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 13, 2021: President Mary Liu

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Jul 15, 2021
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Seventy-five members and guests in person and online combined attended President Mary Liu’s (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) first meeting in the new Rotary year at the Hotel Nikko. Those attending in person were treated to red sparkling wine, courtesy of guest Shirley Tan.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following special guests in person: District Governor Danielle Lallement and Past District Governor Mary Bates and the following special guest online:  Assistant Governor Liz Mark. Additional guests attending in person included:  Anita Baker, Chris Bell, Larry Booth, Chato Calderon, Edna Casteel, Caryn Crump, Edita Cruz, Roselyn de Jesus, Bud Dillon, Tom Fox, Elaine Hom, Rosie Liu, Stanley Liu, Robert Melhorn, Shirley Tan, and James Wong. Online were these guests: David Alfon, Heather Atkinson, Jeff Pickett, and Aline Tong.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 13, 2021: President Mary Liu Ann Daugherty 2021-07-15 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS Canned Food Drive - A Success

Posted by Harmony Ma on Jul 14, 2021
ALPS Canned Food Drive on July 10, 2021Last weekend, hope4humankind, an Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) youth project that helps in easing and ending homelessness, held its first food drive! Eight students from Summit Shasta and Westmoor High School in Daly City came together, spending their summer organizing and coordinating a food drive to serve their local food pantries and community.
 
ALPS Canned Food Drive - A Success Harmony Ma 2021-07-14 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in Rotary District 5150 and the Rotary Club of San Francisco

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 07, 2021
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Coming up are the following District events:
 
July 15, 2021: Blood Drive or July 23, 2021: Blood Drive.
July 24, 2021: the Basic Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS), teaching leadership skills and techniques. Note: If any Rotarian has already completed this seminar and wishes a review or to take this seminar again as a refresher course, there is NO charge. 
 
Our Club invites you to participate in the following:
 
What's New in Rotary District 5150 and the Rotary Club of San Francisco Dora Dye 2021-07-07 07:00:00Z 0

2021 Club Picnic:  A Celebration to Remember

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Jul 04, 2021
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The 2021 Rotary Club of San Francisco’s annual picnic was a wonderful day to celebrate, socialize, and come together. The picnic was chaired by Christopher Wiseman (the 2021-2022 President-Elect) and a dynamic committee that included: Dan Joraanstad, Bob Hermann, Robin Azevedo, Stephanie Schmautz, Eric Schmautz, Mary Liu, Cecile Chiquette, David Dye, Dora Dye, JT Forbus, Kevin Leong, Sue Rokaw, and Jeff Lerner.
 
70 members attended and honored two Past Presidents - Casey Blair and JT Forbus - at the home of Robert Thomas, the father of Club member, Heidi Kuhn. The beautiful home in San Rafael was the perfect venue to celebrate the occasion.  
 
2021 Club Picnic: A Celebration to Remember Christopher Wiseman 2021-07-04 07:00:00Z 0

 May 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 30, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 p.m. The entire Board was present. Also in attendance were Lisa Christian, Christopher Eggers, Miranti Ojong, Nancy Graydon, Dan Joraanstad representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, and Past President Rhonda Poppen.
 
Dora, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Treasurer’s Report: Gary discussed the highlights of the balance sheet and the statement of operations as of April 30, 2021 and for the ten months then ended. The Board approved the Treasurer's Report.

Minutes: The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for April 27, 2021 prepared by Dora. 
 
May 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-06-30 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News:  June 2021

Posted by Nancy Graydon on Jun 29, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on July 13, 2021:
 
Jenny Campbell (Sales: Education | JennyKCampbell.com)
William Gregory (Educational Services | Retired)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: June 2021 Nancy Graydon 2021-06-29 07:00:00Z 0

From your editor

Posted by Dora Dye, Editor on Jun 28, 2021
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This issue of Grindings is the first one for the new Rotary year of 2021-2022. This year's Rotary International theme is "Serve to Change Lives". A new year brings a new start, hope, and opportunity. Please meet your new president - Mary Liu and the Club's new Board here. Join a committee, read Grindings, and check www.sfrotary.com often to find events and future meetings and register.
 
In the meantime, happy 4th of July! We have lots to celebrate, and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate in person again.
 
From your editor Dora Dye, Editor 2021-06-28 07:00:00Z 0

Club Service Team Rocks!

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 25, 2021
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Our first in-person with a Zoom option meeting on June 22, 2021 at the Hotel Nikko was a huge success and will be long remembered. However, it could not have happened without the hard work of Club volunteers. Thank you to the following:
  • Lisa Stark, Maureen O'Shea, Nancy Graydon, Ann Daugherty and Jane Mermelstein for serving as a Greeter.
  • Nancy Graydon and Bill Poppen for sorting the Club name tags.
  • Ann Daugherty for collecting the lunch tickets.
  • Dan Davies for helping with the microphone.
  • Bob Hermann, Gary Dales, and Casey Blair for handling check-in.
  • Stacey Poole for serving as the scribe. Her notes were used to create the written highlights of this meeting. READ HERE.
  • Lesya Pishchevskaya for taking these photos:  CLICK HERE 
  • Ed Shenkan for helping to take down the equipment at the conclusion of the meeting.
Club Service Team Rocks! Dora Dye 2021-06-25 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 22, 2021: Debunking President JT Forbus

Posted by Stacey Poole on Jun 23, 2021
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Seventy members and guests in person and online combined attended President JT’s first and last in-person meeting and our first meeting at our new location — the Hotel Nikko. Those attending in person especially enjoyed fellowship, hugs, and seeing people “in real life” after 15 months of Zoom meetings. The meeting was kicked off by President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) who asked for a round of applause for the fact that we were meeting in person. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Special Guests
In today's audience were the following guests in person: Bud Dillon, William Gregory, Bob Hunter, Esther Landau, Forrest Liu, and Eric Sleigh. Online were these guests: Salvador Farfan, Anne Marie Forbus (President JT's wife), Gabriel Kupeli, Rotary District 5150 Assistant Governor Liz Mark, and Malinda Monterrosa of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 22, 2021: Debunking President JT Forbus Stacey Poole 2021-06-23 07:00:00Z 0

Final Presidential Message

Posted by JT Forbus on Jun 22, 2021
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Well, today is the day! It has been about a year since I took office, and almost a year and a half before seeing each of you in the same room together. Today, we are celebrating so many things! Sure, we’re celebrating the obvious coup of my Presidency, but we are celebrating so much more.
  • We are celebrating seeing friends in 3-D, shaking hands, hugging, elbowing, meeting the new members, and finding out who ate too many sweets during the pandemic! 
  • We are celebrating being together, feeling normal, enjoying a new venue, and moving on from what hopefully is a once in a lifetime event. 
But while we transform into Phoenixes rising from ashes, let’s talk for a moment about where we’ve been:
 
Final Presidential Message JT Forbus 2021-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

ALPS Project July 10, 2021:  Canned Food Drive

Posted by Harmony Ma on Jun 22, 2021
The Rotary Club of San Francisco and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation launched the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) in 2019. Below is an ALPS project where we can help by donating canned food. Any questions, please contact Harmony Ma, ALPS Program Manager.
ALPS Project July 10, 2021: Canned Food Drive Harmony Ma 2021-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

Recordings from LinkedIn for Rotarians Workshop

Posted by Brian Lan on Jun 20, 2021
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The Public Relations and Vocational Service Committees of our Club presented a session on June 9, 2021 on why Rotarians should use LinkedIn and how it can benefit Rotary. If you missed any part of this session or just want to see the program again, below are the recordings:
 
Main Session & the Job Search breakout session - Why Rotarians should use LinkedIn and how it can benefit the Rotary Club. This video also includes a breakout session for Rotarians who want to learn how to use LinkedIn to search for a job.
 
Just The Basics breakout session - For Rotarians who are new to LinkedIn.
 
Exploring Further breakout session - For Rotarians who are interested in learning about some of LinkedIn's advanced features.
Recordings from LinkedIn for Rotarians Workshop Brian Lan 2021-06-20 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for June 15, 2021: How Our Club Changes the World

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 17, 2021
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President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) opened the final meeting of his term as our Club's president and welcomed everyone. He shared the following Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement from Rotary:
 
"As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
 
Rotary will cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which people from underrepresented groups have greater opportunities to participate as members and leaders."
 
Then, President JT led the audience virtually to the Empire Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel for one final visit. The Hotel remains closed from the pandemic and has also been sold. Our Club closes a chapter in its history of meeting at the Sir Francis Drake and begins a new chapter on June 22, 2021 when we will start meeting at the Hotel Nikko.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for June 15, 2021: How Our Club Changes the World Dora Dye 2021-06-17 07:00:00Z 0

Report on the Sock Project

Posted by Jane Mermelstein on Jun 15, 2021
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Last week, members of our Club sorted almost 1,500 socks and distributed them to the Homeless Prenatal Program, SF Police Department, SF Fire Department, and LavaMaeˣ.  

Our Club has been sharing socks with our partners who support the homeless since Emergency Services Day in 2018 when we supplemented flower arrangements with socks and then shared them with our first responders after the event. The San Francisco Rotary Foundation has provided grants for this program. We have also solicited corporate donations and received many socks from Bombas -- some as part of their 1:1 match (for every pair of socks they sell, they give one pair to share with the homeless). Last summer, Bombas gifted an extra 3,750 pairs of socks to our Club to distribute in San Francisco. 
 
Report on the Sock Project Jane Mermelstein 2021-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for June 8, 2021: Mary Liu and Serve to Change Lives

Posted by David Dye on Jun 08, 2021
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At this meeting, we celebrated the success of the 12th Annual Bike Build and thanked Bill Poppen (Banking: Management | MUFG Union Bank) for leading this event.
 
President-Elect Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group | Vanguard Properties) and the incoming Board of Directors presented the annual Club Assembly. They shared their plans and goals for the upcoming year. This meeting via Zoom was recorded. The recording will be shared with you when it becomes available.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for June 8, 2021: Mary Liu and Serve to Change Lives David Dye 2021-06-08 07:00:00Z 0

2020-2021 Interact Scholarship Winners

Posted by Sue Rokaw on Jun 05, 2021
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Our Club honored five graduating seniors with a Rotary Club of San Francisco 2021 Interact Scholarship Award at our June 1, 2021 Club meeting. Scholarship selection focuses on extracurricular interests, community service, and leadership experience plus their articulated personal goals and dreams. It was great to hear from the students during the meeting as to how their Interact Club participation has positively impacted their lives. Each expressed appreciation for our Club’s $2,500 financial support! Congratulations to them all! Now a little bit about each. 
2020-2021 Interact Scholarship Winners Sue Rokaw 2021-06-05 07:00:00Z 0

Save the Date - June 22, 2021 for President JT's Debunking

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 04, 2021
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SAVE THE DATE. Our first in-person meeting since March 2020 will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. At this meeting President-Elect Nominee Christopher Wiseman will lead the debunking of President JT Forbus. Registration will open soon. Lunch will be served, and how to make payment will be forthcoming. Don't miss this opportunity to thank our outgoing president for all he has done to make this a great Rotary year despite all the challenges presented by the pandemic.
 
 
Save the Date - June 22, 2021 for President JT's Debunking Dora Dye 2021-06-04 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for June 1, 2021: Sister ZsaZsa Glamour, SF 101: Getting to Know The Sisters of the Perpetual Indulgences

Posted by David Dye on Jun 01, 2021
President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) welcomed the month of June when he will "graduate" from his presidency of this Club. He led us to a past Pride Parade.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Robert Hunter, Erma Kurtovic, and the following Interactors: Owen Park, Justin Kwong, Victoria Aye, and Lana Nguyen. Also present was today's speaker, Sister ZsaZsa Glamour.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for June 1, 2021: Sister ZsaZsa Glamour, SF 101: Getting to Know The Sisters of the Perpetual Indulgences David Dye 2021-06-01 07:00:00Z 0

Academy of Art University Spring Show

Posted by Michael Petricca on May 29, 2021
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Everyone is invited to the Spring Show, the annual art and design exhibition showcasing the achievements of graduating students across 22 different schools at Academy of Art University. The Spring Show is happening now through June 14, 2021. Go here to explore the Spring Show. Any questions, please ask me.
Academy of Art University Spring Show Michael Petricca 2021-05-29 07:00:00Z 0

April 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on May 27, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 p.m. on April 27, 2021. A quorum was present. Also in attendance were Lisa Christian, Ed Shenkan, Nancy Graydon, Miranti Ojong, District 5150 Past District Governor Sue Rokaw, Dan Joraanstad representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, and Past President Rhonda Poppen.
 
Dora, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Treasurer’s Report: Gary discussed the highlights of the balance sheet and the statement of operations as of March 31, 2021 and for the nine months then ended. He also explained how to read the report to those in the audience today. The Board approved the Treasurer's Report.

Minutes: The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for March 30, 2021 prepared by Dora. 
 
April 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-05-27 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: May 2021

Posted by Terry Pickering on May 25, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on June 8, 2021:
 
Carmel Finnerty (Ros Hills Property Management | Self-employed)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: May 2021 Terry Pickering 2021-05-25 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for May 18, 2021: Frank Schulenburg, How to improve the quality of knowledge on Wikipedia

Posted by David Dye on May 20, 2021
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Past President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Emily DiLaura, Jamie Miller, Erma Kurtovic, Lance Scott, and Arturo Guillen. Lance and Arturo are from The Arc San Francisco. Also present was today's speaker, Frank Schulenburg.
 
New Meeting Place
Progress is being made on locating a new meeting place for our Club. Stay tuned!
 
E-MEETING Highlights for May 18, 2021: Frank Schulenburg, How to improve the quality of knowledge on Wikipedia David Dye 2021-05-20 07:00:00Z 0

News and Views from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on May 14, 2021
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The San Francisco Rotary Foundation has been looking at a number of issues over the last several months. Here is a quick update.  
 
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
We have three long-term members of the Foundation who come off the Board at the end of June including Cecile Chiquette, Tim Hornbecker, and Eric Schmautz. These three have served the Foundation for nine years. Bravo! All three have served as Presidents of our Club, and Tim has been President of the Foundation. In addition, Tom Briody is concluding his second year of service and will not be able to return. To all of these stalwart members of the Board, we extend a thank you for service and dedication to our Foundation. We have a great slate of new candidates to serve on the Board, and those who have been elected will be announced at the June meeting which will be on June 24, 2021.
 
News and Views from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation Daniel Joraanstad 2021-05-14 07:00:00Z 0
E-MEETING Highlights for May 11, 2021: Christopher Pollock, Golden Gate Park and its 150 Years of History David Dye 2021-05-12 07:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: May 2021

Posted by Dora Dye on May 06, 2021
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Congratulations to Club member Jianying (James) Chen and his wife, Estela, on the birth of their son, Abraham! Abraham was born on April 14, 2021, weighing 3.35 KG and measuring 20 inches in length. The whole family is doing well.
 
Note:  This column is where we invite members to share their professional, personal, or Rotary milestones. All entries are to be submitted to the Grindings Editor who reserves the rights to edit and approve the submissions before publication. Please note that once published, the information is available online to anyone.
Members in the News: May 2021 Dora Dye 2021-05-06 07:00:00Z 0

Lights...Camera...Action!

Posted by Terry Pickering on Apr 30, 2021
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Twelve Rotary Club of San Francisco members participated in our April 29 social event - Family Feud! We had two teams, women vs. men, competing for a cash prize of $1,000 to support a charity of their choice. The house was packed with friends and family cheering for their favorite team!

Laine Hendricks' composure and touch of humor made for an awesome emcee! Mary Liu was the perfect game show host personality! Quick wit and a perpetual smile served her well!
 
Lights...Camera...Action! Terry Pickering 2021-04-30 07:00:00Z 0

Rotaract Club at USF is back!

Posted by David Dye on Apr 30, 2021
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Our Club co-sponsors the Rotaract Club at the University of San Francisco with the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown. Once vibrant, this Rotaract Club went dormant for a while due to the graduation of members and COVID-19. 

Earlier this year, this Rotaract Club became active again. See the story here in this video clip. Dora and I were pleased to join these Rotaractors at the recent Earth Day clean-up with the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, the Rotary Club for Global Action, and the Rotary Club of Peninsula Starlight.
Rotaract Club at USF is back! David Dye 2021-04-30 07:00:00Z 0

March 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 29, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:04 p.m. The entire Board was present. Also in attendance were Lisa Christian, Dan Joraanstad representing the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, and Past President Rhonda Poppen. Dora, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Minutes: The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for February 23, 2021 prepared by Dora. 
 
District 5150 Awards for Club Excellence 2020-2021 Rotary Year: Dora reviewed the results of these Awards for our Club in 2020-2021 and announced that she would be submitting these results to Rotary District 5150.
 
March 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-04-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: April 2021

Posted by Terry Pickering on Apr 27, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on May 11, 2021:
 
Kevin Davidson (Social Justice | CANI-PAC)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: April 2021 Terry Pickering 2021-04-27 07:00:00Z 0
COVID Vaccine Now Available 2021-04-23 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for April 20, 2021:  Casey Fritz, Better at the Bin with Recology

Posted by David Dye on Apr 22, 2021
President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated the completion of taxes and led us virtually to a city tour bus. 
 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Josh Traeger and Katja Matthews of the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary who talked about how their entire club is virtually traveling the world to visit other Rotary clubs as part of their Chasing Sunrise initiative. See here for more information. Other guests included Randy Adams, Jamie Miller, Andrés Vera, Matthew Madsen, Anne Bello, Josh Goldberg, and Karina Alvarado Mendoza. Also present was today's speaker, Casey Fritz.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for April 20, 2021: Casey Fritz, Better at the Bin with Recology David Dye 2021-04-22 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for April 13, 2021: Dr. Oral Moses, An Overview of African American Music

Posted by Bob Hermann and David Dye on Apr 15, 2021
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Past Presidents Eric Schmautz (2008-2009) (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo) and Stephanie Schmautz (2015-2016) (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) led today's meeting and welcomed everyone.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Ashok Gupta, August Reader, Jamie Miller, Jean Schore, Harmony Ma and her guests (Cecilia Bentley and Yajaira Carter), Karen Sommerich, Jeff Lerner, Salvador Farfan, Carrie Condran LaBriola, and today's speaker, Dr. Oral Moses.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for April 13, 2021: Dr. Oral Moses, An Overview of African American Music Bob Hermann and David Dye 2021-04-15 07:00:00Z 0

50/50 Campaign: Managing Your TRF Donations

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Apr 13, 2021
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The 50-50 campaign is diligently tracking our generous donors. Because individual gifts to The Rotary Foundation (TFF) are not available for public view, we plan to include only the aggregate total in our gift giving for 20-21. If you wish to omit your donations to TRF from the total of the 50-50 campaign, please contact Christopher Wiseman as to what amount of cash to exclude, and we can subtract it from the aggregate of the total TRF funds raised from our Club. Thanks for keeping us informed. 
 
50/50 Campaign: Managing Your TRF Donations Christopher Wiseman 2021-04-13 07:00:00Z 0

Assembling Backpacks for the Homeless with Catholic Charities

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Apr 11, 2021
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A group of volunteers from the Rotary Club of San Francisco partnered with Catholic Charities on Saturday, April 10. Working steadily from 9 to 11:30 AM, we formed three assembly stations to do the following: (1) organize non-perishable food supplies into kits, (2) organize hygiene items and socks into kits, and (3) combine the two kits into yellow backpacks and add to large boxes for distribution. Event organizer and Rotarian Carol Laughlin of Catholic Charities indicated that the items are in direct response to needs expressed by those who will receive the kits.
 
Assembling Backpacks for the Homeless with Catholic Charities Rhonda Poppen 2021-04-11 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for April 6, 2021: Gary Kamiya, A Jaunt Through San Francisco

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 08, 2021
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President-Elect Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group | Vanguard Properties) led today's meeting and welcomed everyone.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Kevin Davidson, Eoin Garcia, Abdul Hadi (Rotarian), Joe Lamberson, Jeff Lerner, Patrick Marks, Jean Petro, Karen Sommerich, Andres Vera, and today's speaker, Gary Kamiya.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for April 6, 2021: Gary Kamiya, A Jaunt Through San Francisco Dora Dye 2021-04-08 07:00:00Z 0

Correction on February 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 05, 2021
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After the publication of these Board highlights in the April 4, 2021 issue of Grindings, we discovered an error and provide the correct language here:
 
ROTARY SERVICE, INC.
Adding Foundation member to our Board. The Board approved the addition of the president of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation to the Board of Rotary Service, Inc. The SFRF president would be a non-voting member on our Board. 
Correction on February 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-04-05 07:00:00Z 0

February 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 01, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 p.m. A quorum was present. Also in attendance were Lisa Christian and Past President Rhonda Poppen. Dora, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Minutes:  The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for January 26, 2021 prepared by Dora. 
 
District 5150 Awards for Club Excellence 2020-2021 Rotary Year:  Dora reminded the Board of the deadline to submit scores to her.
 
February 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-04-01 07:00:00Z 0

San Francisco Rotary Foundation Funds Gowns and PPE

Posted by Lily Muldoon on Mar 31, 2021
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Volunteering with Rotary can take you to unique places! For example, a small street tucked in the Mission has many small "maker" businesses - like the shop which did all the cutting and assembling of the gowns that Rotarians delivered to protect health workers. Covering the Bay Area from Pleasanton to San Mateo, and cities in between, the Rotary Club of San Francisco met the challenge of loading cars with over 2,250 gowns and distributing to welcoming hands across the Bay Area.
 
San Francisco Rotary Foundation Funds Gowns and PPE Lily Muldoon 2021-03-31 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: March 2021

Posted by Terry Pickering on Mar 30, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on April 13, 2021:
 
Jeff Lerner (Interior Design: Flooring | Floorcraft/Flowercraft San Francisco)
Matthew Madsen (Nonprofit Management | The Salvation Army)
Karen Sommerich (Brand Strategy | Salesforce)
Andrés Vera (Performing Arts | Self-employed)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: March 2021 Terry Pickering 2021-03-30 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for March 23, 2021:  Dr. Diane Birnbaumer, The Latest on COVID Vaccines

Posted by David Dye on Mar 25, 2021
AlcatrazPresident JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated Jonas Salk's polio vaccine in 1953 and led us virtually to Alcatraz. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Olgha Kniezeva, Murrey Nelson, Mugdha Varpe, Zeenah Haddad, Allison Ettenger, Toni Heineman, Kate Hecht, David Stein, Adi Kulkarni, Andres Vera, Brian Muldoon, Shashank Bharill, Jean Petro, Salvador Farfan, Jeff Lerner and Rotarians Audrey Kearns and Richard Kalungi. Audrey is President-Elect of the Niles Rotary Club of Fremont, and Richard hails from the Rotary Club of Kampala South, District 9211 soon to become Districts 9213/9214. Also present was today's speaker, Dr. Diane Birnbaumer.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for March 23, 2021: Dr. Diane Birnbaumer, The Latest on COVID Vaccines David Dye 2021-03-25 07:00:00Z 0

DJ Peter Logan and The Golden Age of Rock 'n Roll

Posted by Terry Pickering on Mar 24, 2021
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On March 18, 2021, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Francisco tuned in, listening to the sounds of “The Golden Age of Rock n’ Roll”. Celebrity DJ Peter “Drumhead” Logan spun disks and shared film clips from his broadcast studio, showcasing an all-star cast of artists. The playlist included Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, The Supremes, Elvis Presley, The Ronettes, The Doors, The Eagles, The Beatles, Steve Miller Band and on to Huey Lewis & the News.
 
DJ Peter Logan and The Golden Age of Rock 'n Roll Terry Pickering 2021-03-24 07:00:00Z 0

New Homer Wood Fellows

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Mar 19, 2021
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At the March 16, 2021 Club Meeting, we announced and honored the following new Homer Wood Fellows:
 
Robin Azevedo, Casey Blair, Tom Brunner, Cecile Chiquette, Gary Dales, Bob Hermann, Tim Hornbecker, Dan Joraanstad, Peter Lagarias, Kevin Leong, John Mathers, Don Morrison, Luis Moran, Bill Poppen, Wendy Ross, and Bob Schmitz. 
 
The above join those previously honored and listed here.
 
New Homer Wood Fellows Daniel Joraanstad 2021-03-19 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for March 16, 2021:  Valerie McGrew, Snapshots of the Story of the Irish in San Francisco

Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 18, 2021
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2021-2022 President-Elect Christopher Wiseman (Event Planning | Glaucoma Research Foundation) welcomed everyone to today's meeting and early celebration of St. Patrick's Day. He provided some fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day including that the original color was BLUE, not GREEN.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Jeff Lerner, Rich Moran, Maria Pohlman, Eric Sleigh, Karen Sommerich, Andres Vera, Andy Wang, Charley Vogt of the Rotary Club of Ignacio, and today's speaker, Valerie McGrew. 
 
E-MEETING Highlights for March 16, 2021: Valerie McGrew, Snapshots of the Story of the Irish in San Francisco Bob Hermann 2021-03-18 07:00:00Z 0

Follow ALPS on Instagram

Posted by Harmony Ma on Mar 16, 2021
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Check out the latest happenings in Rotary's innovative youth program, "ALPS", on Instagram! Follow us today to see what our students are up to! 
Follow ALPS on Instagram Harmony Ma 2021-03-16 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for March 9, 2021:  Cinthia Carvajal and Ammarah Maqsood, Global Fund for Women: How Philanthropy & Politics Impact Gender Justice

Posted by David Dye on Mar 09, 2021
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2018-2019 Past President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) welcomed everyone to today's meeting and celebration of International Women's Day.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Salvador Farfan, Jeff Lerner, Salma Nakhuda, Andres Vera, Moustafa Harfoush, and today's speakers - Cinthia Carvajal and Ammarah Maqsood. Also present from Roots of Peace were Carol Lustenader, Patricia Sheikh, and Linda Sussman. 
 
Chatterbox!
Here is today's question: The focus of our March 23 meeting surrounds COVID-19 vaccinations. In order to tune the talk to our interests, the speaker is asking for our more pressing questions and concerns about the vaccines. Everyone was asked to post responses on the Chat.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for March 9, 2021: Cinthia Carvajal and Ammarah Maqsood, Global Fund for Women: How Philanthropy & Politics Impact Gender Justice David Dye 2021-03-09 08:00:00Z 0

The Pandemic: One Year Later

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 08, 2021
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One year ago, our world completely changed when the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.
 
The Sir Francis Drake Hotel where our Club meets was boarded up and remains closed to this day.
 
We learned to Zoom and taught our members how to Zoom. Sheltered at home, Zoom became the only way to connect with our members, our job (if we still had one), some entertainment and activity, and our school.
 
We knew people who got infected. Sadly, some of us knew people who succumbed to this horrible virus.
 
After several surges and a year later, we are starting to see some light at the end of a long tunnel.
 
The Pandemic: One Year Later Dora Dye 2021-03-08 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary Meadow Work Project at Mount Sutro Forest with the Sutro Stewards 

Posted by Harold Hoogasian on Mar 08, 2021
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After an evening of light rain, the glorious sun shone on Rotary Meadow where we worked. Under the direction of Kelly Dodge (Sutro Stewards Volunteer Coordinator and Educator), we removed non-native plants and bramble and planted species of native plants. The new plants included: soap plant, pipevine, pokeweed, sticky monkey flowers, and purple melic grass.
 
The experience was exciting because we all knew that we would get to see these plants grow over time with each work project visit.  

In addition to Kelly, Gary Keener, Andres Vera, Dan Joraanstad, and Bob Hermann participated in today's work day. Thank you and thank you to the Rotary Club of San Francisco for its support of Rotary Meadow all these years.
 
Rotary Meadow Work Project at Mount Sutro Forest with the Sutro Stewards Harold Hoogasian 2021-03-08 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for March 2, 2021:  Alan Deardorff, International Trade and Trade Policy during the Pandemic

Posted by David Dye on Mar 04, 2021
President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated the first compact disc released on March 2, 1983 and led us virtually to Lombard Street in San Francisco. He also shared a video clip of the recent move in San Francisco of an entire Victorian house six blocks from its original location.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Moustafa Harfoush, Jamie Miller, Devin Lewis, Jeff Lerner, and today's speaker Alan Deardorff. Member Rachel Kantosky zoomed all the way from Trondheim.
 
Chatterbox!
President JT posed this question:  What was the first music album you purchased? He invited responses on the Chat.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for March 2, 2021: Alan Deardorff, International Trade and Trade Policy during the Pandemic David Dye 2021-03-04 08:00:00Z 0

Volunteers Make a Difference in RotaCare Bay Area

Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 04, 2021
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It’s been a difficult and challenging year for many programs and businesses; healthcare services in our country were no exception. Services at RotaCare Bay Area, like many others, had to pivot and realign to continue clinical care services to those in need. Rethinking and planning outside the box led to innovations used by the big healthcare providers in our smaller clinics. 
 
Volunteers Make a Difference in RotaCare Bay Area Bob Hermann 2021-03-04 08:00:00Z 0

January 2021 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 24, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4 p.m. The entire Board was present. Also in attendance were Jessica Hansen and Past President Rhonda Poppen. Dora, Secretary, recorded the minutes.
 
APPOINTMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
Susan Dean had submitted her resignation as Vice President of International Service. Mary introduced Jessica Hansen to the Board for consideration to finish out Susan’s term. Jessica expressed her interest in the position and her vision. The Board discussed the procedure to fill a Board vacancy and referred to the Bylaws. A motion was made and seconded to approve Jessica Hansen to serve as Vice President of International Service until June 30, 2022. The motion was unanimously approved.
 
January 2021 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-02-24 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: February 2021

Posted by Terry Pickering on Feb 23, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on March 9, 2021:
 
Moustafa Harfoush (Law: Estate Planning and Real Estate | Law Office of Moustafa Harfoush)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: February 2021 Terry Pickering 2021-02-23 08:00:00Z 0

Volunteering with TogetherSF

Posted by Bob Hermann on Feb 22, 2021
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Our Club recently distributed over 300+ dictionaries with TogetherSF to low-income, poverty-stricken neighborhoods, such as the Tenderloin in San Francisco. Today (Saturday, February 20, 2021), however, our project, led once again by project leader Maureen O’Shea, addressed food insecurity by providing boxes of nutritious food to ten churches to feed over 800 families in need. 
 
It was a cool and damp beginning but at the end of the morning, over 14 pallets of food were loaded onto five U-Haul trucks and three cars to provide nourishing meals to ten churches located in the Bayview Hunter’s Point area of the City. The boxes of food contained pre-packaged meats, dairy, vegetables and other nourishing grocery items to help sustain a family for a week. Each box weighed about 15 pounds to 25 pounds and through an assembly line was packed into these U-Haul vehicles for distribution. We were pumped, tired, but energized knowing the difference we were making in the lives of others.
 
Volunteering with TogetherSF Bob Hermann 2021-02-22 08:00:00Z 0

What's New in Rotary District 5150

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 18, 2021
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Coming up soon are two District events:
 
  • February 25, 2021: a Rotary Means Business Morning Event featuring interesting speakers talking about the business climate and other issues on the San Francisco Peninsula.
  • March 20, 2021: the First Virtual District Assembly, to celebrate our incoming club presidents, learn more about the different programs of Rotary, explore ways to become more involved at club and/or district level, and meet members from other Rotary clubs. Please attend especially to cheer for Mary Liu as she begins her year as our Club's President.
What's New in Rotary District 5150 Dora Dye 2021-02-18 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for February 16, 2021: Richard Harrell, Music, the Universal Language: Why Do We Love Music?

Posted by David and Dora Dye on Feb 18, 2021
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President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated Mardi Gras 2021. Due to the pandemic, there was no parade, but we did get to meet virtually at San Francisco's Painted Ladies.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Jeff Lerner, Dan Evenhouse, Carmel Finnerty, Moustafa Harfoush, and Blake Poppen.
 
Chatterbox!
President JT posed these two questions:  What is your favorite song? and What is your favorite music video? He invited responses on the Chat.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for February 16, 2021: Richard Harrell, Music, the Universal Language: Why Do We Love Music? David and Dora Dye 2021-02-18 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for February 9, 2021: Frederick Jordan, Little Known Facts About Black History

Posted by Bob Hermann (and edited by Dora Dye) on Feb 10, 2021
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As today was February 9, President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated the February 9 National Days: National Cut the Cord Day, National Bagel and Lox Day, National Pizza Day. and National Toothache Day. He then escorted everyone virtually to Pier 39. 
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Csongor Czezar (prospective member), Daniel Green (guest of PDG Sue Rokaw (Law: Insurance | Deans & Homer)); Jeff Lerner, Jessie Chin (representing Scott Lai of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office), and today's speaker, Frederick Jordan.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for February 9, 2021: Frederick Jordan, Little Known Facts About Black History Bob Hermann (and edited by Dora Dye) 2021-02-10 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary Global Grant Scholarship

Posted by Mary Liu on Feb 05, 2021
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The Rotary Global Grant Scholarship supports academic study in Rotary’s Areas of Focus. The scholarship is in the amount of $36,000.00 for graduate level academic study in a foreign country for the academic year starting Fall 2021. Scholarship funds may be used for travel, housing, tuition, books, supplies, and/or living expenses.
 
Rotary District 5150 seeks candidates with:
  • Excellent leadership skills and potential.
  • A proven record of success in their academic field or vocation.
  • A commitment to community service.
  • Well-defined and realistic goals.
  • Concrete ideas for advancing within their chosen field.
  • A serious interest in keeping a lifelong relationship with Rotary after the scholarship period.
Rotary Global Grant Scholarship Mary Liu 2021-02-05 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for February 2, 2021: Sharon Sayles Belton, Dare to Dream: A Vision for Community Engagement

Posted by David and Dora Dye on Feb 03, 2021
President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated Rue Paul's Drag Race that was launched on this date (February 2) in 2009. He then ushered everyone virtually to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL where Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be played on February 7, 2021. David Dye (Management Consulting  | Retired) was singled out as the lone fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, and he expects the Chiefs to win another Super Bowl.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Csongor Czezar (prospective member), Harmony Ma of the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS), Erica Hewitt from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening, Lisa Schwie, Kelly Barna, Moustafa Harfoush, and today's speaker, Sharon Sayles Belton.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for February 2, 2021: Sharon Sayles Belton, Dare to Dream: A Vision for Community Engagement David and Dora Dye 2021-02-03 08:00:00Z 0

November 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 27, 2021
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4 p.m. on November 24, 2020. A quorum was present. Also attending were Lisa Christian and Past President Scott Plakun.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Minutes:  The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for October 27, 2020 prepared by Dora Dye. 
 
Treasurer’s Report:  Gary Dales discussed the highlights of the balance sheet and the statement of operations. The Board reviewed and approved the Treasurer’s Report.
 
November 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2021-01-27 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: January 2021

Posted by Terry Pickering on Jan 26, 2021
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on February 9, 2021:
 
Csongor Czezar (Software Engineering)
Scott Lai (Governmental Relations | Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: January 2021 Terry Pickering 2021-01-26 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for January 19, 2021: Leslie Frates, Backstage Secrets of Jeopardy! 

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 20, 2021
To celebrate the inauguration of a new U.S. President and to welcome a new chapter in our country's history, President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) played Bruce Springsteen's song, Born in the USA. He then ushered everyone virtually to Crissy Field for a picnic lunch.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Csongor Czezar, Salvador Farfan (a former Rotarian from Long Beach, CA), Sangita Seshadri from the Rotary Club of Saratoga, Harmony Ma of the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS), and today's speaker, Leslie Frates.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for January 19, 2021: Leslie Frates, Backstage Secrets of Jeopardy! Dora Dye 2021-01-20 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for January 12, 2021: Geoff Cochran, An Overview of The Rotary Foundation and Annual Fund

Posted by David A. Dye on Jan 13, 2021
President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) welcomed everyone to the January 12, 2021 meeting held virtually at the Tadich Grill. He began the meeting with an inspirational poem, In Spite of War, by Angela Morgan. The message was that life continues even when terrible things happen and we are encouraged to look at the best surrounding us and not focus on the negative things in our world. President JT also announced that Disneyland would be transformed into a COVID-19 vaccination super site.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
In today's audience were Past District Governor Chris Gallagher, Csongor Czezar from Hungary, and Geoff Cochran, an Annual Giving Officer with The Rotary Foundation.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for January 12, 2021: Geoff Cochran, An Overview of The Rotary Foundation and Annual Fund David A. Dye 2021-01-13 08:00:00Z 0
What's New in Rotary District 5150 and the Rotary Club of San Francisco Dora Dye 2021-01-08 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for January 5, 2021: Rob Valletta, The U.S. Economy: On the Mend in 2021? 

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 07, 2021
Over 65 Rotarians and guests attended our first meeting in 2021. President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) invited everyone to enter the Chase Center virtually. 
 
This Day in History
88 years ago on January 5, 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge, ushering in the "hard hat area" in San Francisco. 
 
Agenda
President JT shared today's agenda and invited everyone to post their New Year's Resolution(s) on the chat.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for January 5, 2021: Rob Valletta, The U.S. Economy: On the Mend in 2021? Dora Dye 2021-01-07 08:00:00Z 0

Laine Hendricks Selected to be District Governor in 2023-24

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 06, 2021
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Laine Hendricks
On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, Mary Bates (2020-21 District 5150 Governor), along with Past District Governor Chris Gallagher (Chair of the Nominating Committee for the next District 5150 Governor Nominee Designate), announced to our Club that our own Laine Hendricks had been unanimously selected to serve as District 5150 Governor in 2023-2024. Laine served as our Club's President in 2014-15 while Chris Gallagher served as District 5150 Governor in the same Rotary year. Said PDG Chris, "I know what she can do. Laine will make an excellent District Governor."
 
Laine Hendricks Selected to be District Governor in 2023-24 Dora Dye 2021-01-06 08:00:00Z 0

Revised Grant Template and Final Form Now Available

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jan 06, 2021
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The San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) and the Grant Review Committee of the Rotary Club of San Francisco have updated and released the Grant Application Template and the Final Report Form along with the instructional guides. Many hands have helped to shape these documents on behalf of the SFRF. Thanks to all who have participated. But one person in particular has to be recognized for improving these crucial documents: Tim Allen. Tim’s career has been spent in grant making and his perseverance, expertise, and background were of great help. Thanks, Tim!  
 
Revised Grant Template and Final Form Now Available Daniel Joraanstad 2021-01-06 08:00:00Z 0

A Look Back at 2020

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 31, 2020
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
2020 for the Rotary Club of San Francisco began with new activities: Fund the Future Benefit to raise money for the Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) and assembling survival kits with Catholic Charities for distribution to homeless families.
 
Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) and the Speakers' Committee introduced us to a new speaker series.  
 
The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs played in the Super Bowl. At the Club's Super Bowl Party, David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) was the lone fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
 
A Look Back at 2020 Dora Dye 2020-12-31 08:00:00Z 0

Recap of the 2020 Holiday Party and Annual Meeting

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 24, 2020
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Over 90 members, guests, and visiting Rotarians logged into the first virtual Holiday Party and Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of San Francisco in its 112 years of history held at Nakatomi Plaza on December 15, 2020. We were at this Plaza virtually, because it is the site of a favorite movie of President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco), who welcomed everyone and then introduced Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle), Chair of the Holiday Party Committee. Stephanie went over the program for the day and was joined by Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) who managed the raffle and Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group | Vanguard Properties) who managed the technology for today's party.
 
Recap of the 2020 Holiday Party and Annual Meeting Dora Dye 2020-12-24 08:00:00Z 0

A Message from the Editor

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 24, 2020
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The last time we met was at the Annual Holiday Party on December 15, 2020 where I was on a computer screen dressed in a Santa suit. The party was virtual, but it drew the largest attendance our Club ever had since we began meeting virtually in March 2020. Many thanks to Stephanie Schmautz, Chair of the Holiday Party Committee. See the next story for the highlights from the party.

In this final issue of Grindings for 2020, you will find a list of those members celebrating their birthday in January 2021 as well as a list of members celebrating their anniversary in our Club in January. Help us keep these lists accurate by updating your information on ClubRunner.
 
A Message from the Editor Dora Dye 2020-12-24 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for December 8, 2020: Katherine Weinstein Miller and The Future of Juvenile Justice, San Francisco and Beyond

Posted by David A. Dye on Dec 10, 2020
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President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called the meeting to order at 12 noon. December 8, 2020 was National Brownie Day, and President JT baked some virtual brownies for us.
 
Today we met virtually at Lowell High School. Joining us were Daniel Gao and Issy Southern, both Interactors from the Interact Club at St. Ignatius College Preparatory that the Rotary Club of San Francisco co-sponsors with the Rotary Club of San Francisco West. Daniel and Issy shared the background of their Interact Club, who their leaders are, what this Interact Club does in a typical year, and how they plan to proceed during the pandemic. J Padilla from our Club and Ken Lai from San Francisco West serve as the Rotary advisors to this Interact Club. Following the departure of Daniel and Issy, President JT asked the audience members to share on the Chat the name of their high school and the year when they graduated.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for December 8, 2020: Katherine Weinstein Miller and The Future of Juvenile Justice, San Francisco and Beyond David A. Dye 2020-12-10 08:00:00Z 0

Rotarians in Action at the SF Marin Food Bank

Posted by Bob Hermann on Dec 08, 2020
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Wow! What a day of service or shall we say a few hours of service that provided the foundation for additional aid to those in need of nutritional food. Under project leader Maureen O’Shea, with support from the Community Service Committee of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Peninsula Starlight, the Rotary Club of San Francisco Castro, and the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, a total of 22 individuals tackled over a dozen pallets and packaged over 20K pounds of fruit. 
 
Rotarians in Action at the SF Marin Food Bank Bob Hermann 2020-12-08 08:00:00Z 0

Volunteer Opportunities at Catholic Charities

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Calling all Rotarians to help one of our corporate members, Catholic Charities and its clients, in the following opportunities:
 
Pantry Helpers at the OMI Senior Center, 65 Beverly Street, San Francisco, CA. You will work outside, following all COVID-19 protocols, to serve people at this Center. We meet every Thursday from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and would like volunteers to commit to at least three weeks each month. 

Sort Donations at Treasure Island. Regular volunteers to sort donations in a well-ventilated environment at our Treasure Island office, and do other small tasks with just one or two other people. Weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM; days and times flexible. 

Enjoy the feeling of community and camaraderie of volunteering while still being safe. To volunteer, please contact Carol Laughlin.
 
Volunteer Opportunities at Catholic Charities Carol Laughlin 2020-12-07 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for December 1, 2020: Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and the Union Square Holiday Windows 

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 03, 2020
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President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) welcomed everyone to today's meeting held virtually at The Overlook Hotel. (Do you remember which movie is connected with this hotel?) He shared how he had spent the Thanksgiving holiday.
 
Guests and Visiting Rotarians
Among today's guests were Csongor Czezar from Hungary, Margaret Miley (prospective member), Stan Pond who was visiting from the Rotary Club of Foster City as a guest of Peter Logan (Law: Insurance| Peter Logan Law Offices), Sara Willett, a guest of Miranti Ojong (Financial Services: Advising | Team Armada), Krista Maloney and Dr. Jennifer Scarlett of the San Francisco SPCA, and Dr. Kiran Dabholkar of the Rotary Club of Deonar, Mumbai, India.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for December 1, 2020: Dr. Jennifer Scarlett and the Union Square Holiday Windows Dora Dye 2020-12-03 08:00:00Z 0

November 2020 Highlights from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Dec 01, 2020
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The Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) met on November 19, 2020. President Dan Joraanstad presided and welcomed everyone. Below are some highlights from that meeting: 
 
Update on the 50/50 Campaign: Dan reported that the 50/50 Campaign has achieved over 76% of its $100,000 goal. Even better, total pledges paid are at 72%. Our members are not only generous but good for their word. Dan added that combining the fundraising for both Foundation and Club has sparked interest among several other Rotary Clubs.
 
November 2020 Highlights from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation Daniel Joraanstad 2020-12-01 08:00:00Z 0

Rotarian of the Month: Harold Hoogasian

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 01, 2020
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At the Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Club E-Meeting, President JT Forbus bestowed upon Past President Harold Hoogasian the honor of Rotarian of the Month. Harold has been a member of our Club and a Rotarian for over 30 years. He served as our Club's President in 2001-2002.
 
Harold is also the owner of Hoogasian Flowers, a family business started by his father. For years, he has contributed flowers to Club events and donated his warehouse space for Rotary and Rotary projects such as housing our Club's records; storing dictionaries and allowing our members to plate and prepare the dictionaries for distribution to third graders in the San Francisco Unified School District; and allowing our members to assemble diaper bags for donation to expectant mothers at the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP). Harold has even stepped up and volunteered to deliver the stuffed diaper bags and extra diapers to the HPP. 
 
Rotarian of the Month: Harold Hoogasian Dora Dye 2020-12-01 08:00:00Z 0

Thanksgiving with The Arc Highlights: November 23 and 24, 2020

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 29, 2020
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Celebrating Thanksgiving with the clients of The Arc San Francisco has been one of our Club’s favorite traditions for the past 13 years. The pandemic caused the cancellation of many events throughout the world in 2020, but it did not cancel our Thanksgiving with The Arc San Francisco.
 
Past Club President and Past District Governor Eric Schmautz along with Jonathan Scopazzi from the Rotary Club of San Rafael and some behind the scene work by Greg Gutting came up with a way to deliver not one, but two Thanksgiving meals to Arc clients for a total of 360 meals. The menu included: roasted chicken, vegetables, gravy, yams, rolls with butter, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce.
 
Thanksgiving with The Arc Highlights: November 23 and 24, 2020 Dora Dye 2020-11-29 08:00:00Z 0

October 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 25, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:04 p.m. on October 27, 2020. The entire Board was present. Also in attendance was past president Rhonda Poppen.
 
President JT announced that the signed Sister Agreement with the Rotary Club of Shanghai had been placed in today’s Board materials. The Board briefly discussed the history between our Club and the Rotary Club of Shanghai and the significance of this Agreement.
 
October 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-11-25 08:00:00Z 0

Members in the News: November 2020

Posted on Nov 24, 2020
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The journey in Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS) for Dora Dye and Susan Dean began in July 2019 when both took Basic PRLS. Next, they completed Master PRLS Courses 3, 4, 1, and 2. On Saturday, November 21, 2020, both Dora and Susan completed Master PRLS 5 and graduated from the series. Both received an impressive Master PRLS pin and a book by Dale Carnegie. Congratulations to both! For those of you who are not familiar with PRLS, it is a series of courses designed by Rotarians Betsy Koefoed, Bill Koefoed, and Michael Ford to teach Rotarians skills and techniques as they prepare to assume leadership roles in their Clubs. 
 
Kudos to Eric Schmautz for bringing Thanksgiving to The Arc San Francisco despite the challenges caused by COVID-19. A full story about this year's meal and celebration along with mention of those involved to make this event happen will be published in the December 6, 2020 issue of Grindings.
 
We have another author in our Club. Carla Walter has written and just released SACRED DANCE MEDITATIONS, 365 Globally Inspired Movement Practices Enhancing Awakening, Clarity, and Connection. For more information and to get a copy, visit here. Congratulations, Carla!
 
Members in the News: November 2020 Dora Dye 2020-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

Tribute Mural to Emergency Medicine Doctors

Posted by Lily Muldoon on Nov 24, 2020
This past summer Emergency Medicine doctors from San Francisco hospitals came together to paint a mural recognizing our patients and community during the challenging times caused by the global pandemic. On the outside wall of Zuni's Cafe on Market and Gough Streets, you will see a mural painted by ER doctors. I, too, was lucky to participate in this event.

"Over the past months, many caregivers and providers of health care witnessed the hardships that COVID-19 had on the health and well-being of our most underserved patients and families. Despite these hardships, we as emergency physicians experienced the incredible strength and resilience of our community in banding together - to shelter in place when possible, to make meals and provide groceries and food for our families, to provide public transportation to our essential workers, and so much more. 
 
Tribute Mural to Emergency Medicine Doctors Lily Muldoon 2020-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: November 2020

Posted by Terry Pickering on Nov 24, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on December 8, 2020:
 
Dan Davies (Management | North American Lighting)
Margaret Miley (Interior Design | Handlery Hotels, Inc.)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: November 2020 Terry Pickering 2020-11-24 08:00:00Z 0

Complete the Rotary Talent Survey

Posted by Sunny Singh on Nov 20, 2020
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A Rotary Talent Survey was sent out last week, and we encourage all members to take a few minutes to complete the survey. An average response has taken 3 minutes.

The objective of the Rotary Talent Survey is to help gather relevant information to connect you with committee and project leaders so that you can be involved in projects that align with your interests. The survey asks questions to identify your interests and to determine how your skill set can be used to support the Club.

We highly recommend that EVERY member complete this survey. Please reach out to Sunny Singh if you have any questions about the survey.
Complete the Rotary Talent Survey Sunny Singh 2020-11-20 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for November 17, 2020: A Day of Thanks

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 18, 2020
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Both President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) and Past President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) welcomed everyone to today's meeting held virtually at San Francisco's Dolores Park. Everyone attending quickly selected a social distancing circle to join. The theme was "A Day of Thanks" with President JT dressed as a pilgrim (pictured) while Past President Casey was dressed as a roasted turkey (not pictured). On the Zoom Chat, folks posted what they liked to do for Thanksgiving.
 
 
E-MEETING Highlights for November 17, 2020: A Day of Thanks Dora Dye 2020-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

Donations to the City's Homeless

Posted by Jane Mermelstein on Nov 17, 2020
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During the last few months, our Club received donations of 3,750 pairs of socks, 2,000 hygiene kits and 2,000 face masks to distribute to the homeless in San Francisco through our partners in the community. This distribution was part of the 4,500 hygiene kits distributed citywide and described more fully here.
 
We cataloged, sorted and assembled them to give to the City’s Healthy Streets Operation Center, Homeless Prenatal Program, Lava Maex, San Francisco Police Department and Community Housing Partnership. Thanks to Susan and John Dean for offering the storage space in their garage as they received boxes and boxes and more boxes of supplies! Rotarians involved with soliciting donations, organizing, sorting and distributing included Lisa Christian, Ann Daugherty, John Dean, Susan Dean and Jane Mermelstein.
 
Donations to the City's Homeless Jane Mermelstein 2020-11-17 08:00:00Z 0

Walk To End Alzheimer's A Success

Posted by Liam Sheridan on Nov 16, 2020
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The San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's kicked off. Although the Walk this year was everywhere, it was a successful event and a heartwarming day for all walkers! Altogether, the Rotary Club of San Francisco raised $590 for Alzheimer's research and awareness. 
 
Over the last few months, members of Rotary worked with the SF Walk Committee to raise awareness through social media, to raise funding for Alzheimer's research, and to distribute event posters to local businesses. The Walk day itself on Saturday, November 7, 2020 saw the Committee Volunteers setting up flower gardens and Walk to End Alzheimer's signage in three locations across San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. 
Walk To End Alzheimer's A Success Liam Sheridan 2020-11-16 08:00:00Z 0

Celebrating 112 Years of Service Above Self

Posted by Stephanie Schmautz on Nov 16, 2020
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Happy Thanksgiving, Fellow Rotarians! The Holiday Season is coming fast and furious, and the Holiday Party Committee has been busy planning a GREAT Party for all of you. This year’s party to be held on December 15, 2020 starting at 12 noon promises a lot of surprises that can only be possible in a virtual party atmosphere so we are taking full advantage of our situation. 

One tradition worth keeping is our Annual Holiday Toy Drive, and we found a way to continue the Drive this holiday season in a virtual manner. Read here for instructions. You must complete your donation by December 23, 2020.
 
Celebrating 112 Years of Service Above Self Stephanie Schmautz 2020-11-16 08:00:00Z 0

Holiday Toy Drive: Please Donate

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 16, 2020
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At the Annual Holiday Party in years past, members of our Club and guests donated unwrapped, new toys to the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Drive. This year we cannot bring our toys to the party, but the need is even more dire. Due to the pandemic and its effect on jobs and incomes, some children may not get a toy this holiday season. Here is how we can help by going online and following these steps:
 
Holiday Toy Drive: Please Donate Dora Dye 2020-11-16 08:00:00Z 0

URGENT CALL for Volunteers to Pack and Deliver Thanksgiving Meals

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 15, 2020
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For years the Rotary Club of San Francisco has prepared and served a Thanksgiving meal to the clients of The Arc San Francisco. This year, it will be different. This year our Club will deliver a meal to those most in need and food insecure this Thanksgiving.

We need volunteers to pack meals on Monday, November 23, 2020; or serve as organizers and runners on the morning of Tuesday, November 24, 2020; or deliver the meals in the late morning of Tuesday, November 24, 2020. 

Please go here for details and sign up. We thank you!
URGENT CALL for Volunteers to Pack and Deliver Thanksgiving Meals Dora Dye 2020-11-15 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for November 10, 2020: Jessica Hansen and Ethical, Sustainable Travel during COVID-19 and Beyond

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 11, 2020
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In today's meeting, President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) was dressed as Neo of the Matrix movie series, choosing between the red pill and the blue pill. He welcomed members, visiting Rotarians, and guests and led us virtually to the Four Seasons Total Landscaping. (Note: One of the advantages of virtual meetings is that we can meet in any location.)
 
E-MEETING Highlights for November 10, 2020: Jessica Hansen and Ethical, Sustainable Travel during COVID-19 and Beyond Dora Dye 2020-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

Become an ALPS Leadership Coach

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Posted by Harmony Ma on Nov. 11, 2020
 
The Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) is our Club’s newest, innovative youth leadership program created to serve the young people of our community and encourage opportunities for multigenerational leadership. We need Rotarians to join us as leadership coaches and content experts to:
  • build their own leadership and project facilitation skills.
  • guide high schoolers in cultivating their own leadership potential.
  • create impacts or give back to their local communities through service.
  • learn more about the different communities that exist within the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • get out of their comfort zone and expand their world view.
Become an ALPS Leadership Coach 2020-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

Save the Date - February 4, 2021: Action Leadership Program with Students: Fund the Future Gala

Posted by Brian Lan on Nov 11, 2020
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At Rotary, we’ve strived to serve the youth in our community for many years, and we feel now is the time more than ever to invest in our youth to become leaders in our community and world. As we reflect on our world today, we can understand how imperative it is for the younger generation to have the leadership skills to become the best version of themselves. 

To achieve this end, the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation provided $50,000 in seed funding to launch a year-round leadership program for high school youth in San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties. The Action Leadership Program with Students (ALPS) was successfully launched in 2019 and has since developed a framework that adapts to the needs and resources of students all over the Bay Area.
 
Save the Date - February 4, 2021: Action Leadership Program with Students: Fund the Future Gala Brian Lan 2020-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

Report from the Nominating Committee

Posted by Mary Liu on Nov 11, 2020
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In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
 
2021-22 President: Mary Liu
2021-22 President-Elect: Christopher Wiseman
2021-23 Secretary: Stacey Poole
2021-23 Treasurer: Gary Dales
2021-23 Vice President of Club Service: Christopher Eggers
2021-23 Vice President of Public Relations: Brian Lan
2021-23 Vice President of Vocational Service: Sunny Singh
2021-23 Vice President of Youth Services: Lisa Christian
 
Report from the Nominating Committee Mary Liu 2020-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

An Update on the Roots of Peace/Vietnam Global Grant

Posted by JT Forbus on Nov 11, 2020
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On September 15, 2020, the Club thanked Past Club President and Past District Governor Eric Schmautz for securing the required signatures for a past global grant. On October 20, 2020, Past Club President John Mathers called for Rotarians to give generously to help the village in Vietnam that was part of our recent global grant. In both cases, the Grant referenced was the one authorized during Rotary year 2017-18 to support Roots of Peace in its efforts to replace minefields with peppercorn vines to spur the economy in Vietnam.
 
An Update on the Roots of Peace/Vietnam Global Grant JT Forbus 2020-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

A Call To Serve With Our Partners

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 10, 2020
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“Service Above Self” is not just a motto; it’s a day-to-day practice for Rotarians. When each of us joined Rotary, we joined to contribute to the lives of others and enrich our relationships with others. Below is a list of leadership and service opportunities for Rotarians to work with our partners and serve the community.
 
A Call To Serve With Our Partners Dora Dye 2020-11-10 08:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for November 3, 2020: Prof. James Taylor; 2020 Elections Aftermath:  Where Do We Go From Here?

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 04, 2020
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As this was the first meeting post Halloween, President JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) shared photos of his and his daughters' costumes. For Halloween, he was dressed as Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n Roll, and mentioned that he had run in several Bay to Breakers races as part of a team of Elvis impersonators. President JT showed a video clip of the real Elvis performing.
 
Next, President JT led us virtually to the lobby bar at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and showed where we would all be seated. He welcomed guests and visiting Rotarians. Among the visitors today were Past District Governor Chris Gallagher and Jagpal Sran, president of the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening.
 
 
E-MEETING Highlights for November 3, 2020: Prof. James Taylor; 2020 Elections Aftermath: Where Do We Go From Here? Dora Dye 2020-11-04 08:00:00Z 0

September 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 29, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:02 p.m. on September 29, 2020. A quorum was present. Also in attendance were past president Rhonda Poppen and Brian Lan.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Minutes:  The Board reviewed and approved the Minutes for August 31, 2020 prepared by Dora. 

Treasurer's Report:  Gary presented the highlights of his written Treasurer’s Report as of September 29, 2020. Next, he gave an update on the audit called for by the Bylaws and discussed the options for a financial review that he had found within Rotary District 5150. It was decided to establish a Finance Subcommittee. The Board approved the Treasurer's Report.
 
September 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-10-29 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of San Francisco Participates in the Road Rally to END POLIO NOW!

Posted by Bob Hermann on Oct 29, 2020
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On Saturday, October 24, 2020, three counties participated in the first Rotary Road Rally to END POLIO NOW! Rotary District 5150 clubs from San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties supported Rotary International’s World Polio Day and in doing so, had a morning of fun and treasure hunting all while in their own vehicles.

In raising money and awareness for ending polio, participants followed fun, educational, and problem solving clues throughout their counties. For many of us, we learned more about the wonderful county in which we live. With geography and landscapes ever changing due to business operations and demands, courses had to adapt and pivot to get around obstacles.  
 
Rotary Club of San Francisco Participates in the Road Rally to END POLIO NOW! Bob Hermann 2020-10-29 07:00:00Z 0

Members in the News

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 29, 2020
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Heidi Kuhn was the Keynote Speaker at the Avenues of Service event for Rotary District 5170 on October 17, 2020. Here is a video of that session.
 
Mike Davies, a former member of our Club, passed away on October 18, 2020. For more information about Mike and his life, go here.
 
Note:  This is a new monthly column where we invite members to share their professional, personal, or Rotary milestones. All entries are to be submitted to the Grindings Editor who reserves the rights to edit and approve the submissions before publication. Please note that once published, the information is available online to anyone.
Members in the News Dora Dye 2020-10-29 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Brian Lan

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Oct 28, 2020
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Brian Lan says what he loves about Rotary “is the mission of doing service beyond just going through the motions, the ability to serve in a structured and meaningful way. I like the networking, but the real drive is service.” He had done what he calls “one-off” service projects like stints at the food bank, “but I hadn’t had the opportunity to be part of the community, to serve, to give back.” 

He says Rotary “is a good fit for what I believe in. I have a day job, but I want to be part of the community, service above self. . .Everyone wants to give back to the community they’re a part of, but Rotarians are dedicated, inspired, trying to make the world a better place. It feels great to be part of people trying to do good.”
 
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Brian Lan Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-10-28 07:00:00Z 0

Answers to Your Questions on the 50/50 Campaign

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Oct 28, 2020
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The 50/50 Campaign: Helping Neighbors Near and Far is an innovative campaign that showcases both the Rotary Foundation and the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. Every gift made to this annual giving campaign will be equally split between the two entities, allowing for a wider reach of support. 

Our Club, the second oldest in the world, is collaborative in this approach, as it allows one gift to be split between local projects and global initiatives. 
 
Answers to Your Questions on the 50/50 Campaign Christopher Wiseman 2020-10-28 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: October 2020

Posted by Terry Pickering on Oct 28, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on November 10, 2020:
 
Katie Cooney (Hospital Administration | UCSF)
Lesya Pishchevskaya (Real Estate Market Intelligence | IdealTarget)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: October 2020 Terry Pickering 2020-10-28 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 27, 2020
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Daylight savings ended today at 2 AM. We gained an extra hour, and today's issue of Grindings has extra stories and news for you to read and enjoy.

We began a new column entitled "Members in the News" and invite you to share your professional, personal, or Rotary milestones with our members. 

In this issue, you will find a list of those members celebrating their birthday in November 2020 as well as a list of members celebrating their anniversary in our Club in November. Help us keep these lists accurate by updating your information on ClubRunner.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-10-27 07:00:00Z 0
E-MEETING Highlights for October 20, 2020: Rob Byrne and Reanimating the Silent Era Dora Dye 2020-10-22 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for October 13, 2020: Glenn Pomeroy and Protecting Against Earthquake Damage

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 14, 2020
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President-elect Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group | Vanguard Properties) led this meeting and welcomed everyone. She shared photos from the recent Rotary District 5150 Beach Clean-up where 30 pounds of trash were collected in the two miles along Ocean Beach and Sloat Boulevard.

Mary issued a call to members to serve on either the Nominating Committee or the 2021-2022 Board of our Club. She posted on the screen the Board positions that were now open.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for October 13, 2020: Glenn Pomeroy and Protecting Against Earthquake Damage Dora Dye 2020-10-14 07:00:00Z 0

DISTRICT 5150:  Polio Summit

Posted by Bob Hermann on Oct 12, 2020
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Rotary District 5150 sponsored a Polio Summit on October 3, 2020. Our Club's past president Laine Hendricks served as emcee to this Summit. The Summit was a wonderful event with world class Polio experts who provided us with important updates about our fight against Polio.
 
Because of the efforts of Rotary and its partners, nearly 19 million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed are walking, and more than 1.5 million people are alive who would otherwise have died. The infrastructure we helped build to end polio is also being used to treat and prevent other diseases (including COVID-19) and create lasting impact in other areas of public health. 
 
DISTRICT 5150: Polio Summit Bob Hermann 2020-10-12 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for October 6, 2020: Dr. Tatjana Kobb, Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations

Posted by David A. Dye on Oct 08, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) welcomed everyone and thanked our Club's International Committee for organizing today's celebration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. He expressed how proud he is to be a Rotarian and praised our Club for its strong leadership support. He listed Rotary's seven areas of focus and referred to Rotary's motto of Service Above Self. Next, he introduced and thanked Mary Bates, the District Governor of Rotary District 5150; Danielle Lallement, the District Governor Elect of Rotary District 5150; Gary Chow, the District Governor Elect Nominee of Rotary District 5150; and Liz Mark, an Assistant Governor of Rotary District 5150.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for October 6, 2020: Dr. Tatjana Kobb, Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations David A. Dye 2020-10-08 07:00:00Z 0

August 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 01, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called the Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4:01 p.m. on August 31, 2020. A quorum was present. Also in attendance was past president Rhonda Poppen.
 
CLUB ADMINISTRATION
Minutes:  The Board reviewed and approved the Minutes for July 28, 2020 prepared by Dora. 

Treasurer's Report:  Gary confirmed which members of the current Board were authorized to sign for the bank accounts that belong to our Club and would be named on the resolution to be submitted to the Bank. The Board approved the bank signers as amended. Gary discussed the state of the budget. President JT mentioned the costs to return to meeting at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Susan asked about membership and dues owed. The Board approved the Treasurer's Report as well as the 2020-2021 budget.
 
August 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-10-01 07:00:00Z 0

September 2020 Highlights from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 30, 2020
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The Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) met on September 16, 2020. President Dan Joraanstad welcomed everyone. Below are some highlights from that meeting: 
 
Update on the 50/50 Campaign: Excitement and opportunity circulated around the fact that an announcement letter and pledge form were about to go to members via mail. This “snail mail” would be followed by an email blast to be sent the week after the letters were mailed. As of October 1, 2020, $57,000 in pledges toward the $100,000 goal had been received.
 
September 2020 Highlights from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation Daniel Joraanstad 2020-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

RotaCare:  Its Mission and How You Can Volunteer

Posted by Bob Hermann on Sep 30, 2020
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Our Club's Foundation, the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, recently presented financial support to RotaCare Bay Area. This year, $11,000 was awarded to not only the Northern Peninsula but also to the Coastside Clinic.
 
RotaCare: Its Mission and How You Can Volunteer Bob Hermann 2020-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Citation

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 29, 2020
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Congratulations to immediate past president Casey Blair and his Board for achieving the 2019-2020 Rotary Citation. The award arrived this week and is awarded only to clubs that have achieved their goals last Rotary year. 
 
Rotary Citation Dora Dye 2020-09-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: Fun Activities Planned for October 2020 and Beyond

Posted by Terry Pickering on Sep 24, 2020
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So many of us have enjoyed gathering for our Club's Sunday Socials; as we may all agree, one of the core essentials for Rotarians is fellowship. True to our nature, during COVID-19 protocols, we found and continued to create innovative ways to remain connected. And so, it is with great pleasure that I share with you a brand new monthly program series that the Membership Committee's Event Planning Team has created for us! Beginning October 28, we invite you to join fellow Rotarians and their children, guests, and of course, beloved pets, for a good old-fashioned Halloween costume party. This promises to be a "don't miss" event. There will be a prize for the best costume; our judges will be taking notes!  
 
Membership News: Fun Activities Planned for October 2020 and Beyond Terry Pickering 2020-09-24 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for September 22, 2020: Nancy Cushen White and English Spelling

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 24, 2020
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Before this meeting began, President-elect Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group | Vanguard Properties) moved each person who logged in early to a breakout room to mix and mingle with fellow Rotarians and guests. This was a great idea from past president John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) and reminded us of how we used to socialize before the Tuesday meetings actually began.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for September 22, 2020: Nancy Cushen White and English Spelling Dora Dye 2020-09-24 07:00:00Z 0

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:  Catholic Charities

Posted by Carol Laughlin on Sep 21, 2020
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Calling all Rotarians to help one of our corporate members, Catholic Charities and its clients, in any one or more of the following opportunities:

In-person help for outdoor pantry. Rotarians will pack bags of food. The need is for every Thursday, starting September 24, 2020 until March 2021, from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Ingleside neighborhood of San Francisco. The position is strenuous:  volunteers must be able to lift 30 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for three hours. Regular volunteers preferred. All COVID-19 protocols followed. For more information and to sign up, please contact Carol Laughlin. Catholic Charities will contact you before you serve.
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Catholic Charities Carol Laughlin 2020-09-21 07:00:00Z 0

Volunteering at Rotary Meadow

Posted by Bob Hermann on Sep 21, 2020
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Saturday, September 19, 2020 was a day filled with sunshine and pleasant weather; it was perfect for working outdoors. Led by Harold Hoogasian, the group of Rotarians and a newly relocated Rotaractor, Ambra Jacobson, made some significant headway in helping to garden a section of Rotary Meadow. Folks, although socially distanced, were able to talk and work together as they tackled brambles, English Ivy, and non-native grasses. Working to support the environment was this team's goal in helping to pave the way for native plants in the area that our group was assigned. We made a significant dent in the landscape as is evidenced by the photos.
Volunteering at Rotary Meadow Bob Hermann 2020-09-21 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 20, 2020
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The month of October 2020 is filled with events and new opportunities for members and guests.
 
75th Anniversary of the United Nations
On pages 20 and 21 of the October 2020 issue of the Rotary magazine is an article entitled "A partnership with a long history" about the partnership between the United Nations and Rotary. Our Club is celebrating this partnership on October 6, 2020 when our guest speaker will be Dr. Tatjana Kobb, who was appointed by Rotary International President Holger Knaack as a 2020-2021 Rotary International Representative at the United Nations headquarters.

If you have specific questions about the role of the UN in these challenging times or have questions about the role of Rotary in the founding of the UN, please submit them to Susan Dean and we will pass them on to Dr. Kobb.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-09-20 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for September 15, 2020: John King, Architecture and the City in Uncertain Times

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 17, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated the return of college football and his favorite team, the Auburn Tigers, from his alma mater of Auburn University in Alabama. He led us virtually to Jordan-Hare Stadium for today's luncheon. Today's guests included Salvador Farfan (a former Rotarian from Long Beach, CA) and John King (today's speaker).
 
E-MEETING Highlights for September 15, 2020: John King, Architecture and the City in Uncertain Times Dora Dye 2020-09-17 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING Highlights for September 8, 2020: Gwyneth Borden, What Will the Restaurant Industry Look Like After the Coronavirus Pandemic?

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 10, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated International Literacy Day today. This day was founded by proclamation of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is in line with one of the areas of focus of Rotary International - supporting education and literacy. International Literacy Day has been celebrated on September 8 every year since 1967.
 
E-MEETING Highlights for September 8, 2020: Gwyneth Borden, What Will the Restaurant Industry Look Like After the Coronavirus Pandemic? Dora Dye 2020-09-10 07:00:00Z 0

Pandemics and How Rotary Adapts

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 07, 2020
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Living during a pandemic for the past six months has been challenging and at times uncertain. However, this moment has also propelled us to adopt methods that had existed but were not as widely used until now to stay engaged, complete work, and move forward such as working remotely, taking online classes, dining outdoors, and meeting online.
 
Pandemics and How Rotary Adapts Dora Dye 2020-09-07 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Sunny Singh

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Sep 06, 2020
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Sunny Singh joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 2017 on the recommendation of an older work colleague who advised him “to surround myself with successful and well-rounded people.”
 
“I enjoy the aspect that we have so many members involved in long-lasting nonprofit projects,” he says. “That makes it easier to get involved in projects that the Club is already doing. There are so many projects in different categories, so it’s easy to find something you’re passionate about.” And he jumped right in, volunteering for such Club projects as the Bike Build, Alzheimer’s Walk, stuffing diaper bags for the Homeless Prenatal Program, and attending several Club social events. On July 1, he joined the Club Board as Vice President of Vocational Service, replacing Mary Liu, who became President-Elect.
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Sunny Singh Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-09-06 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 1, 2020: Kerri Murray, Global Displacement and the Importance of Shelter in Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 03, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) celebrated the 35th anniversary today of the finding of the wreck of the Titanic on September 1, 1985. He led us virtually to the dining room in the Titanic and showed us the menus. President JT welcomed Rotarian Kerri Murray (also today's guest speaker), Rotarian Bill Tobin, prospective members Liam Sheridan and Sharonda Grant, and all members of our Club in attendance.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS September 1, 2020: Kerri Murray, Global Displacement and the Importance of Shelter in Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 Dora Dye 2020-09-03 07:00:00Z 0

July 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 02, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
President JT Forbus called his first Board meeting via Zoom to order at 4 p.m. on July 28, 2020. The entire Board was present. Also in attendance was past president Rhonda Poppen. President JT welcomed everyone to a new Rotary year with the Four-Way Test and emphasized the high level of communication at these meetings.

The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club as listed on today’s Board agenda.
 
July 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-09-02 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: September 2020

Posted by Terry Pickering on Sep 01, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that this individual is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on September 15, 2020:
 
Liam Sheridan (Management: Customer Relationship | Salesforce)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: September 2020 Terry Pickering 2020-09-01 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 28, 2020
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The month of September 2020 offers several opportunities to serve our community:
 
September 15: Stuff diaper bags and organize diapers and wipes for giveaway to clients of the Homeless Prenatal Program.
September 19: Volunteer to do some gardening and weeding to improve and enhance Rotary Meadow.
September 21: Deliver pre-packaged dinners to The Arc San Francisco clients who are experiencing food insecurity.
 
Much care and planning have been taken to make all of the above in-person activities safe for everyone participating.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-08-28 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 25, 2020: District Governor Mary Bates

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 27, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) welcomed District Governor Mary Bates, Assistant Governor Liz Mark, Martha Ryan of the Homeless Prenatal Program, prospective members Liam Sheridan and Katie Cooney, and Club Members and led us virtually to the Empire Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. 
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 25, 2020: District Governor Mary Bates Dora Dye 2020-08-27 07:00:00Z 0

In Memory of Dr. Howard Denbo

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Aug 24, 2020
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Past President and Past District Governor Peter Lagarias describes Dr. Howard Denbo as “a Rotarian’s Rotarian.”

Dr. Denbo was a vascular surgeon at St. Francis Memorial Hospital, where he served as chief of surgery from 1982-85. He died May 24 at the age of 90 and was interred at the US Military Cemetery in Dixon, CA. He served with the US Army in Korea, was recalled briefly to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis and retired from the US Army Reserves in 1968. He was also a sailor and pilot. For more information, see his obituary.
 
In Memory of Dr. Howard Denbo Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-08-24 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 18, 2020: Brian Herbert and the Chase Center

Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 20, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and led us virtually to the Empire Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Today marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution granting women the right to vote. Today was also Bad Poetry Day. President JT commented on the heat wave in the Bay Area and then shared today's agenda.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 18, 2020: Brian Herbert and the Chase Center Dora Dye 2020-08-20 07:00:00Z 0
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 11, 2020: Jon Kaufman and Self-Reliant Villages Dora Dye 2020-08-13 07:00:00Z 0
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS August 4, 2020: Maria Goodavage, Doctor Dogs: How Our Best Friends Are Becoming Our Best Medicine Dora Dye 2020-08-05 07:00:00Z 0

June 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 29, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on June 30, 2020; a quorum was present. Also in attendance were past president John Mathers; the following incoming Board members:  Susan Dean, Bob Hermann, Terry Pickering, and Christopher Wiseman; and the following members:  David Dye and Sunny Singh.

The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club as listed on today’s Board agenda.
 
June 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-07-29 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 28, 2020
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Starting in August, The Arc San Francisco needs drivers on the first and third Monday of each month to deliver pre-packaged dinners to Arc clients who are experiencing food insecurity. To participate and for more information, please go here.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank needs our help to assemble and package food for distribution. To participate and for more information, please go here.

In August, there will be an e-meeting every Tuesday at noon. Our District Governor Mary Bates will be the speaker on August 25; you won't want to miss this important meeting.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-07-28 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 21, 2020: Patricia Frost, Children and Disaster: Being Aware and Prepared During COVID

Posted by John Dean on Jul 21, 2020
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President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. 50 participants joined this meeting via Zoom. There were no visiting Rotarians. Among the guests was Patricia Frost, today's guest speaker.

President JT commented on the return (i.e., "almost" return) of baseball. Last evening the San Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland A's, 6-2, in a pre-season game before ZERO fans at the Oakland Coliseum. This was not exactly a classic version of the national pastime, but it was a good start.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 21, 2020: Patricia Frost, Children and Disaster: Being Aware and Prepared During COVID John Dean 2020-07-21 07:00:00Z 0
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 14, 2020: Hans-Ulrich Südbeck, Europe Reopens John Dean 2020-07-15 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 7, 2020: President JT Forbus

Posted by John Dean on Jul 09, 2020
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Over 63 members and guests welcomed President JT Harold Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) whose term of office commenced on July 1, 2020. President JT opened the meeting by making a public service announcement to remind everyone that the IRS tax filing and payment deadline is July 15. He also thanked his wife Anne Marie and two daughters for their patience and support of his work with Rotary.
 
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS July 7, 2020: President JT Forbus John Dean 2020-07-09 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in Rotary District 5150

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 08, 2020
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To learn about and register for upcoming committee meetings, our regular meetings on Tuesdays, special events hosted by our District 5150, and socials, please look at our Club calendar. Coming up soon are two District events:
 
What's New in Rotary District 5150 Dora Dye 2020-07-08 07:00:00Z 0

Blankets for Homeless Prenatal Needed

Posted by Emily Borland on Jul 08, 2020
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Are you sheltering-in-place and have extra time on your hands? Do you crochet, knit, or sew? If so, we have a great opportunity for you! Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) is always in need of homemade baby blankets. The moms-to-be are very grateful to receive handmade items to welcome their new babies.
 
Blankets for Homeless Prenatal Needed Emily Borland 2020-07-08 07:00:00Z 0

May 26, 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 02, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on May 26, 2020; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, past president John Mathers was in attendance.

The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club as listed on today’s Board agenda. JT announced his plan to call a Zoom meeting for Club members over the age of 60 and hear their concerns and thoughts about reopening in-person meetings.
 
May 26, 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-07-02 07:00:00Z 0

News from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation

Posted by Jyoti Chokshi on Jul 02, 2020
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On June 24, 2020, the Board of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) held their final meeting of the Rotary year 2019-20. This was Tim Hornbecker’s last meeting as SFRF Board President, completing an outstanding tenure through challenging times. Tim navigated the Foundation meetings through COVID-19 with the use of technology and led the Board in approving funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) in lightning speed.
 
News from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation Jyoti Chokshi 2020-07-02 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Christopher Wiseman

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Jul 01, 2020
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Christopher Wiseman has built a career around event management and fundraising. On July 1, he joined the Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and became Vice President of Development.
 
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Christopher Wiseman Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 01, 2020
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Happy New Rotary Year! Our new Board spent a long Friday (June 26, 2020) afternoon via Zoom getting to know one another and setting some goals for the coming year. The 2020-2021 theme for Rotary International is "Rotary Opens Opportunities". The 2020-2021 theme for Rotary District 5150 is "Rotary Chosen Family".
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 23, 2020: Debunking President Casey Blair

Posted by John Dean on Jun 24, 2020
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Over 60 participants joined the June 23, 2020 meeting of the Rotary Club of San Francisco via Zoom – the final meeting under the leadership of 2019-2020 President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC). Among the guests were Assistant Governor Patrice Perillo as well as Casey’s parents, his wife Nicola, and their two daughters.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 23, 2020: Debunking President Casey Blair John Dean 2020-06-24 07:00:00Z 0

2019-2020 District Awards

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 22, 2020
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Rotarians in District 5150 gathered for the Awards Regatta that took place on June 13, 2020. Together we celebrated the winners of the District Awards and the accomplishments of the 2019-2020 Rotary year. Our Club earned the following awards:  Club Administration, Community Service, International Service, Public Image, Vocational Service, and Youth Service.
 
2019-2020 District Awards Dora Dye 2020-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: June 2020

Posted by Terry Pickering on Jun 22, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that this individual is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on July 14, 2020:
 
Sue Rokaw (Law: Insurance | Deans & Homer)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
Membership News: June 2020 Terry Pickering 2020-06-22 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 16, 2020: Emperor Norton and Special Awards

Posted by John Dean on Jun 18, 2020
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The June 16, 2020 virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of San Francisco was called to order at 12:15 PM by President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC). Over 62 members and guests participated on the Zoom meeting, including a visiting Rotarian from Scotland.
 
President Casey began the meeting by mentioning the United States Supreme Court decision announced on Monday, June 15, 2020, extending Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ citizens. This momentous decision by the Court impacts millions of Americans, including many members of our own Club.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 16, 2020: Emperor Norton and Special Awards John Dean 2020-06-18 07:00:00Z 0

George Washington High School Interact Club Contributes to Alliance for Smiles

Posted by Lilian Tsi-Stielstra on Jun 16, 2020
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Despite the shortened school year, the Interact Club at George Washington High School completed over 48 hours of volunteer service at a local food pantry, did a beach clean-up, provided support at marathons, and conducted bake sales to raise funds for a District International Service project. Together, they raised $850 and will be sending those funds to benefit Alliance for Smiles.

Jessica Hansen, Executive Director at Alliance for Smiles, expressed her gratitude.
 
George Washington High School Interact Club Contributes to Alliance for Smiles Lilian Tsi-Stielstra 2020-06-16 07:00:00Z 0

2020 Interact Scholarship Winners

Posted by Brian Lan on Jun 15, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco is proud to announce its 2020 Interact Leadership Award Recipients. For the past several years, our Club has awarded $2,000 scholarships to exemplary students from the Interact Clubs of George Washington High School (GWHS) and Lowell High School (LHS). The purpose of the award program is to encourage leadership development and participation in Interact as well as recognize outstanding Interact club members by supporting their higher education goals. Students were selected by the Scholarship Committee based on several criteria pertaining to academic, extracurricular, volunteer, and leadership excellence. This year's recipients are:
 
2020 Interact Scholarship Winners Brian Lan 2020-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 9, 2020: RI President-elect Holger Knaack

Posted by John Dean on Jun 10, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private trading | KCB Trading, LLC) called the meeting to order at 11 AM and welcomed Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack who was joining us as today's guest speaker all the way from Germany. Over 60 people–including a number of District 5150 leaders and members of other local clubs–attended today’s virtual meeting. President Casey began the meeting with a quote from the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "In the end, we will remember not the word of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Then, he presented and read a Statement signed by the presidents of all ten San Francisco Rotary clubs. The Statement expresses Rotary’s support for racial equality and social justice. Read the Statement here.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 9, 2020: RI President-elect Holger Knaack John Dean 2020-06-10 07:00:00Z 0

A Statement from the Rotary Clubs of San Francisco

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“Many doubt the justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see the repeated violation of their rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions.”
George W. Bush, June 2, 2020
 
The systemic racism in our country is on view today, in the midst of health and economic crises. Violence is not the answer, but all Americans must listen to the voices raised in protest and take action. Rotary has served the needs
A Statement from the Rotary Clubs of San Francisco 2020-06-09 07:00:00Z 0

Albert Tolf and a Magical Journey through San Frantasia

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 08, 2020
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Norm Lynde, a retired certified public accountant turned blogger, contacted our Club recently in search of a painting by one of our former members. That member was Albert Tolf (1911-1996) pictured here. Albert in his lifetime was well known for his paintings and cartoons about the city of San Francisco and its history. As I learned through three of our Club's past presidents: Jim Patrick, Scott Plakun, and Eric Schmautz, Albert Tolf is also the artist of the masthead that you see weekly at the top of each issue of our Grindings newsletter. Norm was kind to share his blog about his journey and experiences as he "traveled through San Frantasia"—the San Francisco that Albert depicted for us in great detail, building stories within stories. Norm also shared how he found hope in Albert's artwork for our City during this difficult period in all of our lives. Please go here and don't miss a single link.
 
Blog reprinted with permission from Norm Lynde
Albert Tolf and a Magical Journey through San Frantasia Dora Dye 2020-06-08 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE:  Bob Hermann

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Jun 08, 2020
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After a lifetime of community service in various venues, including volunteering on many projects with the Rotary Club of San Francisco with his husband, Membership Vice President Dan Joraanstad, Bob Hermann decided to join the Club in December 2017 in anticipation of his retirement in January 2018. Now he’s set to join the Board as Vice President of Community Service on July 1.
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Bob Hermann Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-06-08 07:00:00Z 0

2020-2021 Becoming People of Action:  Learning and Growth

Posted by Terry Pickering on Jun 07, 2020
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The Membership Committee continues its educational series in 2020-2021 entitled Becoming People of Action: Learning and Growth that will be delivered online to you. The objective is to provide insight and understanding of what it means to be a Rotarian.

Below are the upcoming programs scheduled every other Thursday starting in July 2020 from 12 noon and lasting approximately 45 minutes:
 
2020-2021 Becoming People of Action: Learning and Growth Terry Pickering 2020-06-07 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 2, 2020: Bouquets to Art

Posted by John Dean on Jun 04, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) convened the Club’s “virtual meeting” at 12:15 PM. Sixty-one participants joined the meeting via Zoom, including eight guests. In light of the current protests focused on racial equality, President Casey cited Rotary’s longtime commitment to peace and conflict resolution and presented a quote from the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS June 2, 2020: Bouquets to Art John Dean 2020-06-04 07:00:00Z 0

Check us out on Social Media!

Posted by John Dean on Jun 04, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco continues to expand our presence on all major social media platforms. Follow our Club on Facebook, Instagram, Twittter, or LinkedIn. Learn about upcoming Club events, community service opportunities, fun facts about our Club and fellow members, highlights of Club meetings, and more. This is a quick and easy way to stay informed about the Club.
 
Check us out on Social Media! John Dean 2020-06-04 07:00:00Z 0

Meet our Incoming District Governor and District Governor-elect

Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 02, 2020
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Over 45 Rotarians and guests from throughout District 5150 joined our Club's May 28, 2020 Educational Series to hear from incoming District Governor Mary Bates and incoming District Governor-elect Danielle Lallement. Also in the audience was District Governor-elect Nominee Gary Chow. Our President-elect JT Forbus introduced both speakers and welcomed everyone.
 
Meet our Incoming District Governor and District Governor-elect Dora Dye 2020-06-02 07:00:00Z 0

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:  Call for Translators

Posted by Carol Laughlin on Jun 01, 2020
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Calling all Rotarians to help nearly 8,000 immigrants in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties apply for emergency funds during the month of June. Catholic Charities, one of our Club's corporate members, is seeking translators. The biggest need is for translators who are fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Tongan, Tagalog, Spanish, or Vietnamese to assist immigrants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Call for Translators Carol Laughlin 2020-06-01 07:00:00Z 0

Donating See's Chocolates to our Charitable Partners

Posted by Bob Hermann on Jun 01, 2020
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In partnership with Jean Caramatti and the Rotary Club of San Francisco International Airport, our Club received over 500 pounds of assorted chocolates and pops from See's Candies to donate to the charitable organizations that we support. 
 
Donating See's Chocolates to our Charitable Partners Bob Hermann 2020-06-01 07:00:00Z 0

April 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on May 28, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on April 28, 2020; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, past president John Mathers was in attendance.

The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club as listed on today’s Board agenda. John Mathers would lead the May 5, 2020 e-meeting, because President Casey would be away. President Casey encouraged everyone to attend the First Five Rotary Clubs of the World e-meeting on May 7, 2020. The Club Assembly was scheduled for May 19, 2020.
 
April 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-05-28 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE:  Terry Pickering

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on May 27, 2020
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After serving as President of his Rotary Club and District Governor of his District, both in the Seattle area, Terry Pickering could have rested on his laurels. Instead, when he joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in July 2019, he immediately got involved and will serve on the Board as Membership Vice President in 2020-2022. 

“I was a terribly shy person,” he says, “and Rotary has given me the ability, both personally and professionally, in large and small groups, to help others.”
 
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Terry Pickering Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-05-27 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on May 26, 2020
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Despite the uncertainties brought on by the current pandemic, our Club has shown that it can pivot to the changes. Now we are almost at the end of the 2019-2020 Rotary year. Please mark your calendar for June 23 as we say THANK YOU to president Casey for leading us through this difficult year.

The month of June also brings an exciting line-up of speakers including Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack. Note the start time for this e-meeting only.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-05-26 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 19, 2020:  Club Assembly

Posted by John Dean on May 22, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. 49 members participated on this Zoom meeting.

John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) made a brief presentation on behalf of the Rotary Climate Action Team (“RCAT”). He noted that the media has been full of photographs and commentary recently showing the very positive environmental impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown. He presented several photographs showing wildlife roaming our cities, clean(er) air in major metropolitan areas from Los Angeles to Beijing, and fish returning to the waters of Venice. Hopefully, we have learned how much we impact our environment, and how altering our behavior can positively impact our environment. RCAT will be sponsoring a number of educational programs in the coming months. Stay tuned and get involved.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 19, 2020: Club Assembly John Dean 2020-05-22 07:00:00Z 0

Join the Club’s Weekly “Virtual Meetings” on Zoom

Posted by John Dean on May 21, 2020
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With the continued shelter-in-place orders and restrictions on large social gatherings, the Club has shifted in recent weeks to an online, virtual meeting format using the popular “Zoom” platform. Logging onto the meetings is simple and can be done from any mobile device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) or a desktop computer. Zoom allows you to utilize your device’s camera (if equipped), or you can simply use “AUDIO ONLY”. In addition, toll-free numbers are available which allow you to simply call in to the meeting using your phone and essentially be in “conference call” mode. 
 
Join the Club’s Weekly “Virtual Meetings” on Zoom John Dean 2020-05-21 07:00:00Z 0

Report on a People of Action Educational Session

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on May 21, 2020
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The People of Action Educational Series held its third offering on May 14, 2020 in this new, Zoom-based opportunity for learning. Anita Stangl was the speaker of the day on the topic of Local Clubs and Rotary International.  
 
Report on a People of Action Educational Session Daniel Joraanstad 2020-05-21 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 12, 2020:  Dr. Andi Tenner

Posted by John Dean on May 14, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco convened for another “virtual meeting” on May 12, 2020. President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM with over 55 participants joining via Zoom.  
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 12, 2020: Dr. Andi Tenner John Dean 2020-05-14 07:00:00Z 0

ZOOM! ZOOM!

Posted by Mary Liu on May 13, 2020
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Rotary Connects the World and in today’s new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place order, luckily, we have many online choices to stay connected with our members. One of the more popular choices is Zoom. Zoom provides video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars. Zoom isn’t new. It’s been around since 2011, and I’ve been using it since 2013. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that Zoom propelled to become one of the most popular platforms for virtual meetings mainly due to its free option to get started and ease of use. 
ZOOM! ZOOM! Mary Liu 2020-05-13 07:00:00Z 0

BOARD MEMBER PROFILE:  Mary Liu

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on May 11, 2020
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Mary Liu had a difficult start in life, but it seems to have just made her stronger. She was born in Hong Kong, moved to the United States at two-and-a-half, and grew up in San Francisco. Her cleft lip and palate led to bullying and low self-esteem.

“I had a lot of shame about my cleft. I had a hard time dealing with it,” she recalls. “I went through a lot of personal development work as an adult to get to where I am today.”
 
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Mary Liu Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-05-11 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 5, 2020:  Sheriff Paul Miyamoto

Posted by Dora Dye on May 07, 2020
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Past President John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) led and welcomed 52 members and guests to the e-meeting on May 5, 2020. Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices) pleased the audience with his singing of With a Little Help from my Friends.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS May 5, 2020: Sheriff Paul Miyamoto Dora Dye 2020-05-07 07:00:00Z 0

Innovation in Rotary

Posted by Dora Dye on May 06, 2020
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In response to the pandemic, Rotary International held a telethon on Saturday, May 2, 2020 to raise over $1 million dollars in the fight against COVID-19. The telethon was on Facebook Live and simulcast in eight languages. We heard stories from Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and Rotary Youth Exchange students from all over the world about what they are doing to help in their communities. We also enjoyed some wonderful music. If you missed the telethon, watch it here.
 
Innovation in Rotary Dora Dye 2020-05-06 07:00:00Z 0

Creativity in Challenging Times

Posted by Dora Dye on May 06, 2020
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We are all living in a very challenging time. It is good to see that the human spirit grows stronger in such times. A good example is our own Rick Harrell. Anyone who knows Rick knows of his musical talent. So what could be better than a song from Rick? How about Rick in a self-made quartet? Watch here, and enjoy!
Creativity in Challenging Times Dora Dye 2020-05-06 07:00:00Z 0

COVID-19 #RotaryResponds Livestream Telethon

Posted on May 02, 2020
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Rotary’s 1.2 million members across the globe have taken swift action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $3.4 million in Rotary Disaster Response Grants have already been put into action on the front lines to battle COVID-19. Additionally, millions more have been raised by our #PeopleofAction - they have responded quickly and are truly saving lives. Now, we need to do more and the need for additional funding is a priority.
 
 
COVID-19 #RotaryResponds Livestream Telethon 2020-05-02 07:00:00Z 0

March 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 30, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on March 31, 2020; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club members Susan Dean, Bob Hermann, and Connor Krone were in attendance. 
 
The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club as listed on today’s Board agenda. The April 7, 2020 e-meeting with Rotary International President Mark Maloney as the speaker was open to everyone. President Casey mentioned the RCAT meeting on April 6 and the Vocational meeting on April 10 and announced that the District Cruise Con had been cancelled.
 
President Casey asked for ideas to engage members during e-meetings. 
 
March 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-04-30 07:00:00Z 0

Club Members Practice Service Above Self

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 29, 2020
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“Service Above Self” is a day-to-day practice for Rotarians. When each of us joined Rotary, we joined to contribute to the lives of others. This week we salute those members of our Club who gave of themselves to help others in these challenging times.
Club Members Practice Service Above Self Dora Dye 2020-04-29 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: April 2020

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Apr 29, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on May 12, 2020:
 
William Funkhouser (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors)
Nancy Graydon (Development | Glaucoma Research Foundation)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
 
HELP TO OUR MEMBERS
Many challenges arise when things take a different direction than planned as in this period of the pandemic. The Membership Committee would like to offer help in two ways: First, if you or anyone you know is experiencing food insecurity, please let us know. We will offer a variety of ways to help supplement a household's food supply. Second, if you are experiencing difficulty with dues payments, we would like to hear from you. We advise not quitting the Club because of dues. Please be in touch with Dan Joraanstad or Terry Pickering if you have any concerns around either food insecurity or dues payment.  

We are stronger together. 
Membership News: April 2020 Daniel Joraanstad 2020-04-29 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 21, 2020:  Topher White, Rainforest Connection

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 23, 2020
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At the e-meeting held on April 21, 2020, we had an audience of 56 members and guests including a few who were outside the United States. President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) welcomed everyone.

Service Project
Major Raymond Erickson-King (Nonprofit Management | The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center) logged in live from the streets of San Francisco as he began another day of delivering meals to the homeless. Major Raymond issued a call for volunteers to help. Dora Dye (Education: Community College | City College of San Francisco) emailed all members that afternoon with information on how to sign up.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 21, 2020: Topher White, Rainforest Connection Dora Dye 2020-04-23 07:00:00Z 0

Remembering Marie Brooks

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Apr 23, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco lost one of its oldest members when Marie K. Brooks died April 4 at her home in San Francisco at the age of 94. She was one of the second group of four women to join the Club after membership was opened to women in 1987.

“She was an extraordinarily gracious and elegant person,” says Past President and Past District Governor Peter Lagarias, “just somebody who garnered complete respect.”
Remembering Marie Brooks Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-04-23 07:00:00Z 0

SERVICE PROJECT:  Feeding the Homeless

Posted by Raymond Erickson-King on Apr 22, 2020
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During the COVID-19 crisis, The Salvation Army is distributing approximately 650 fresh meals Mondays to Saturdays to over 40 homeless encampments across San Francisco as part of MealsInPlaceSF. We urgently need volunteers to accompany Officers and Staff as we distribute meals.
 
 
SERVICE PROJECT: Feeding the Homeless Raymond Erickson-King 2020-04-22 07:00:00Z 0

SERVICE PROJECT:  Assemble Face Shields

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 19, 2020
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A few weeks ago, Dr. Lily Muldoon, Club Member and Emergency Department Physician, applied for funding from The Rotary Club of San Francisco Foundation to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line healthcare workers. The equipment was fully funded and has arrived. 

Now, Lily is looking for dedicated Rotarians to volunteer to further support the cause, by assembling face shields at home. Rotarians would pick up a package of pre-cleaned supplies from her porch, learn how to assemble using an online video, and drop the assembled shields back off in 48 hours. For more information and to register, please go here.
SERVICE PROJECT: Assemble Face Shields Dora Dye 2020-04-19 07:00:00Z 0

Resources for you

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 17, 2020
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In these times of shelter-in-place and social distancing, here are some resources offered by our members and friends to help you stay connected and informed. 

ROTARY AND THE PANDEMIC:  Learn about what other Rotary clubs in the world are doing to fight COVID-19, and participate in the dialogue here. Last week, we shared with you our Club's contribution to those serving on the front line; here is the story again.
 
E-MEETINGS:  Our Club will have to meet online until businesses can slowly reopen. If you need help with registration or logging into the meetings, please feel free to contact our Connect and Support Team.
 
SOCIAL HOUR: The Membership Committee is hosting a virtual social hour on Sundays at 5PM each week through the end of May 2020. For information on how to participate, please contact Terry.
 
If you have resources to share with us, please send them to me for future posting. Laughter and friendship can and do strengthen immunity.
Resources for you Dora Dye 2020-04-17 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary Youth Protection Certification

Posted by David A. Dye on Apr 16, 2020
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Rotarians must be youth protection certified before working with youth involved in Rotary-sponsored youth programs or events. This includes working with youth remotely via conferences calls, video conferencing, or other means of electronic communication as well as working with youth in person.
 
Rotary Youth Protection Certification David A. Dye 2020-04-16 07:00:00Z 0

New Educational Series Begins

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Apr 16, 2020
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Never waste a good crisis. The COVID-19 crisis has thrust Zoom into everyone's reach. What a great platform for learning! Our Membership Committee has long talked of a series of educational sessions, and the technology of crisis handed us a great way to reach people.
 
New Educational Series Begins Daniel Joraanstad 2020-04-16 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 14, 2020:  Ricardo Baeza-Yates, Bias on the Web

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 15, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM. 61 members and guests were in attendance. 
 
YOUTH
President Casey discussed the executive session of the Board of Rotary Service, Inc. held on Friday, April 10, 2020 to look at youth programs and how to communicate within our Club.
 
David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) shared a couple of slides on the Youth Protection Certification program, required of Rotarians working in Rotary youth programs. See here to complete the certification process.
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 14, 2020: Ricardo Baeza-Yates, Bias on the Web Dora Dye 2020-04-15 07:00:00Z 0

Becoming People of Action:  Learning and Growth

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Apr 10, 2020
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The Membership Committee announces a new educational series entitled Becoming People of Action: Learning and Growth that will be delivered online to you. The objective is to provide insight and understanding of what it means to be a Rotarian.

Below are the upcoming programs scheduled every other Thursday through the end of May 2020 starting at 12 noon and lasting approximately 45 minutes:
 
Becoming People of Action: Learning and Growth Daniel Joraanstad 2020-04-10 07:00:00Z 0

Resources for you

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 10, 2020
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In these times of shelter-in-place and social distancing, here are some resources offered by our members and friends to help you stay connected and informed. 

SOCIAL HOUR: Leave it to our Club to find a way to hold a social hour. The Membership Committee is hosting a virtual social hour on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 6PM each week until further notice. For information on how to participate, please contact Dan.

COUNSELING: Kevin Ringstaff is a grief recovery specialist. He has generously offered a virtual counseling session every Wednesday starting at 12 noon for anyone who would like to share what is on their mind or any loss they are experiencing. Please contact Kevin if interested.
 
If you have resources to share with us, please send them to me for future posting. Laughter and friendship can and do strengthen immunity.
Resources for you Dora Dye 2020-04-10 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 7, 2020:  Rotary International President Mark Maloney

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 09, 2020
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Our Club held its second e-meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. and welcomed an audience of 120 people. In addition to our own members, there were many Rotarians from District 5150; several past District Governors including our current District Governor Sue Rokaw and incoming District Governor Mary Bates; president Phil Trompetter and members of the Modesto Rotary Club; president Jan Brown and members of the Richmond Rotary; and members of the Rotary Club of Indian Rocks Beach in Florida.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS April 7, 2020: Rotary International President Mark Maloney Dora Dye 2020-04-09 07:00:00Z 0

Heroes and Protecting Those on the Front Line

Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 09, 2020
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In times of crisis, heroes emerge. Dr. Lily Muldoon, a member of our Club and an emergency room physician, is that hero. She saw the short supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the urgent need to protect the front-line healthcare workers. Dr. Muldoon quickly put together a proposal for the following:
 
Heroes and Protecting Those on the Front Line Dora Dye 2020-04-09 07:00:00Z 0

SERVICE PROJECT April 1, 2020:  Report on SFPD Sock Delivery

Posted by Jane Mermelstein on Apr 02, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco has been purchasing socks for the last few years and distributing them through organizations that our Club partners with who work with the homeless including: Homeless Prenatal Program, San Francisco Fire Department's Paramedics, Catholic Charities, and San Francisco Police Department. Why? Socks are one of the most requested items by homeless people. Our partner organizations have been enthusiastic about the donations, including the San Francisco Police Department who have noted that having socks can help build rapport with homeless people.
SERVICE PROJECT April 1, 2020: Report on SFPD Sock Delivery Jane Mermelstein 2020-04-02 07:00:00Z 0

February 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 31, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on February 25, 2020; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club member John Mathers was in attendance. 
 
The Board reviewed the upcoming events in the Club and in the District and discussed the two events planned for March 6, 2020: (1) dinner and an evening at the San Francisco Ballet, and (2) the Gala for The Arc San Francisco.

President Casey presented what he had in mind for the Town Hall on March 17, 2020. He wanted to be able to call on several vice presidents to talk about the accomplishments of their service committee so far this Rotary year. President Casey added that lunch on March 17 would be an Irish meal and authorized Dora to purchase some table decorations.
 
February 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-03-31 07:00:00Z 0

Membership News: March 2020

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Mar 31, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on April 14, 2020:
 
Kaushal Chokshi (Management Consulting | Scaale Inc.)
Hayden Gubernick (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles)
Jessica Hansen (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles)
Alex Omoko (Human Services | Geo Re-Entry Services)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: March 2020 Daniel Joraanstad 2020-03-31 07:00:00Z 0

E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 24, 2020:  Town Hall

Posted by John Dean on Mar 26, 2020
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The first-ever “e-meeting” of the Rotary Club of San Francisco was called to order by President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading LLC). The meeting was conducted via Zoom, with over 65 members participating. President Casey noted that the Club leadership was striving to be “nimble” as we adapt and respond to the evolving reality of the coronavirus crisis. He indicated that Club meetings would be online through at least May 1, 2020; he added that the Sir Francis Drake Hotel had been completely closed and boarded up, and the entire staff had been laid off through the end of April. President Casey thanked the Presidents' Council, Dora Dye (Education: Community College | City College of San Francisco), and Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Wells Fargo) for their support and assistance in putting this e-meeting together.
 
E-MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 24, 2020: Town Hall John Dean 2020-03-26 07:00:00Z 0
Resources To Help You Stay Connected and Informed Dora Dye 2020-03-25 07:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 18, 2020
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Humankind has always been resilient, and we do not give up. So, when meeting in person becomes impossible, we use technology created by humankind to meet virtually and carry on the Rotary spirit. The Club will hold its first e-Meeting on March 24, 2020, and you are all invited. Many of you have already accepted the invitation. If you have not already done so, please register here so that you can get the details on how to log in or call in. Advanced registration is required.
 
During this time when we are to shelter in place, we have also set up a support group to help you stay connected with Rotary friends and enjoy some fellowship by phone or email. Please check your email for this message.
 
Last Minute Announcement: Be sure to check out this Vocational Service opportunity on March 26, 2020 starting at 4PM.
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-03-18 07:00:00Z 0

Diaper Bag Assembly:  Small Group Makes a Big Difference

Posted by Emily Borland on Mar 12, 2020
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In a time when we must avoid large gatherings, one small group bravely came out to make a big difference. On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, John Dean and friend Quincy Yu, Kevin Leong, Tricia Tran and her friend Rachael Rhree, along with coordinator Emily Borland stuffed diaper bags for the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) in San Francisco. HPP is a non-profit providing prenatal care, newborn care, and parenting classes to expectant and new parents, most of whom are “housing challenged” or dealing with housing insecurity (“couch-surfing,” single-room occupancy hotel rooms, homeless shelters, transitional housing, etc.).
Diaper Bag Assembly: Small Group Makes a Big Difference Emily Borland 2020-03-12 07:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 3, 2020:  Sunny Schwartz

Posted by John Dean on Mar 10, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading LLC) introduced several visiting Rotarians, including Jeanne Gnuse from New Canaan, CT, who is in San Francisco visiting for another month; and Donna Collins from Anesbury, MA, who has been a Rotarian for 32 years.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS March 3, 2020: Sunny Schwartz John Dean 2020-03-10 07:00:00Z 0

A Message from the President

Posted by Casey Blair on Mar 09, 2020
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Dear Members and Friends of the Rotary Club of San Francisco:

In response to the San Francisco Department of Public Health's announcement to limit outings and avoid large gatherings to disrupt the spread of the coronavirus and protect community health, we have had to cancel luncheons and other events in March 2020. I am quite sad to not be able to see all of my Rotary friends and share in the wonderful community service, youth leadership, and international projects for which our Club is known. In addition, we all are missing the social aspect and camaraderie that Rotary builds and fosters among its members! I’m especially sad to not enjoy everyone’s company on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 when we would have held a Town Hall, presented some very special awards with the help of our District, enjoyed a special meal for St. Patrick’s Day, and celebrated my daughter Emmy’s birthday!
 
A Message from the President Casey Blair 2020-03-09 07:00:00Z 0
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 18, 2020: Marc Johnson Connor Krone 2020-03-04 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary in Pictures March 8, 2020

Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 03, 2020
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In this story are photos from the February 26 Happy Hour and Social at Zingari Ristorante for Club members, guests, and friends. 
 
Also, Valentina Sacchi Beccarini shares the story about her that was recently featured in Rotary Italia, Italy's Rotarian magazine.
 
Many thanks to Rhonda Poppen, David Dye, and Valentina for sharing these photos. See photos here. Click on each photo to read the story.
 
Rotary in Pictures March 8, 2020 Dora Dye 2020-03-03 08:00:00Z 0

Call for Grant Submissions

Posted by JT Forbus on Mar 02, 2020
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Grant season has begun for the Rotary Club of San Francisco! This is an opportunity for Rotary members to request funds for projects (or events) that are centered around Rotary’s six areas of focus: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development. We are excited to see the new and innovative projects Rotarians will bring us this grant season! Be sure your grants provide plenty of Rotarian involvement because what better way to serve than to serve together?
 
 
Call for Grant Submissions JT Forbus 2020-03-02 08:00:00Z 0

Time To Talk To Paul

Posted by Paul Robertson on Mar 02, 2020
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Please see this warm invitation from Christopher Wiseman, your 2020 World Wide Rotary Day Event Chair! World Wide Rotary Day is a day to celebrate Rotary's strong international bonds with the international consuls general of San Francisco, enjoy an amazing lunch, and listen to a panel of experts discuss three of Rotary International’s pillars that benefit the climate.
 
Seating is limited. Please be sure to RSVP so we can be sure there are enough seats for everyone who wants to attend. NO WALK-INS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THIS EVENT.
 
 
Time To Talk To Paul Paul Robertson 2020-03-02 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: February 2020

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Feb 26, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on March 10, 2020:
 
Joseph Cresalia (Peace Building | Roots of Peace)
Steven Lindstrom (Software Engineering | Chairish.com)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: February 2020 Daniel Joraanstad 2020-02-26 08:00:00Z 0

January 2020 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 25, 2020
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on January 14, 2020; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club members John Mathers, Susan Dean, and Connor Krone were in attendance. 
 
The Board reviewed the upcoming events in January and February 2020 in both the Club and the District; the Board also reviewed and approved the minutes for November 19, 2019 prepared by Dora.

Gary presented the Treasurer’s report. He went over the balance sheet highlights, the statement of operations highlights, and the attendance at Club luncheons. The Board approved the Treasurer's report. Gary also mentioned that he would be discussing outstanding membership dues with the Membership Committee.
 
January 2020 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-02-25 08:00:00Z 0

Perception Connects Grant Consulting and Rotary Leadership

Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Feb 24, 2020
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“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.” — Stephen R. Covey, Leadership Author
 
Rotary is a place to belong, to serve, and to grow professionally. I’ve belonged to the Rotary Club of Cabarrus County NC and the Rotary Club of San Francisco CA. Professional men and women, of all ages, work as part of these clubs. They intensely give back to local and international communities.
 
Perception Connects Grant Consulting and Rotary Leadership Rhonda Poppen 2020-02-24 08:00:00Z 0

Club Members Complete Master PRLS 1

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 24, 2020
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From the Rotary Club of San Francisco with a classification of . . . Susan Dean and Dora Dye completed Master Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS) 1 on Saturday, February 22, 2020 along with other Rotarians from Rotary District 5150. Betsy Koefoed with the help of Bill Koefoed, Michael Ford, Richard Swart, and Ivana Hubertova facilitated the class.
 
Participants were assigned four oral presentations. Each presentation was more challenging than the previous presentation. The challenge was the "extemporaneous" aspect of the presentations. 
 
Club Members Complete Master PRLS 1 Dora Dye 2020-02-24 08:00:00Z 0

Time To Register for World Wide Rotary Day

Posted by Christopher Wiseman on Feb 23, 2020
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What: World Wide Rotary Day, launched by our Club in 1997, honors the San Francisco Consular Corps as the special guests of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Typically, representatives from about 35 countries attend. The event also recognizes the many international service activities of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and the broad global impact of Rotary International.
 
This year, we will feature a distinguished panel of leaders connecting the world to discuss three of Rotary International’s pillars that benefit the climate: fighting disease; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; and growing local economies.
 
Who: Rhonda Poppen, 2018-2019 Club President and Not-for-Profit Consultant, will serve as moderator. The panelists will be Dr. Michael Reyes, Professor, Family Community Medicine and Global Health Sciences Faculty Affiliate, UCSF; Dr. Martha Rutherford, Not-for-Profit Leader and Water Solutions Educator; and Bart Skorupa, Social Entrepreneur and Author. 
Time To Register for World Wide Rotary Day Christopher Wiseman 2020-02-23 08:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 20, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco has planned some exciting events and service projects for you in the month of March:
 
Back after two months of holidays on the third Monday is the popular Dinner Club at The Arc, an opportunity to plan and prepare a meal with the clients of The Arc.
 
This year's first Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers will include a tour of the Homeless Prenatal Program's facility.
 
On March 17, President Casey Blair and the Board will update us on the Club's many service opportunities and give you an opportunity to learn more about how to get involved. Also, members of Rotary District 5150 will be presenting special awards. Don't miss this chance to honor our winning members!
 
On March 24 is World Wide Rotary Day, one of our Club's signature events. Please RSVP well in advance so we can be sure to have enough seats for all who want to attend. NO WALK-INS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THIS EVENT. We also need Club members to volunteer to serve as hosts for visiting consuls.
 
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-02-20 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary in Pictures February 23, 2020

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 19, 2020
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Tim Hornbecker shared these photos of "the last hurrah" of Clif Thomas. Both Clif and Sue Farlow have decided to make their home full-time in Beaufort, South Carolina and are leaving our Club.
 
Anita Stangl, Tim Hornbecker, Migena Schroeder, Clif Thomas, and Cecile ChiquetteAt the February 18, 2020 Club Luncheon, Tim presented to Clif the Golfer Extraordinaire Award for Clif's participation in the Rotary Club of San Francisco’s Twilight Golf in 2019. After the luncheon, the celebration of Clif continued with Tim, Anita Stangl, Cecile Chiquette, and Migena Schroeder. We will miss you, Clif and Sue, and wish you the very best.
 
By the way, if you are interested, Twilight Golf starts again on June 24, 2020. Contact Tim Hornbecker for information.
 
 
Rotary in Pictures February 23, 2020 Dora Dye 2020-02-19 08:00:00Z 0
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 11, 2020: Deputy Chief David Lazar John Dean 2020-02-16 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 4, 2020:  Randall Scott

Posted by Kevin Leong on Feb 12, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading LLC) welcomed the following Visiting Rotarians:  Lorelei and Ron VerLee from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) introduced her guest, Maredeth Griffin. Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | Vanguard Properties/JM Real Estate Group) introduced her guest and sister, Jenny Campbell; Jenny will also serve as a RYLA counselor this spring. Next, President Casey thanked the volunteers for today's meeting.
 
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS February 4, 2020: Randall Scott Kevin Leong 2020-02-12 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary in Pictures February 9, 2020

Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 09, 2020
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In this story are photos from the Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala on February 6. Many thanks to Club Members Tom Brunner and Christopher Wiseman for welcoming our Club to this event.

The remaining photos are from the pre-PETS (Rotary Club presidents‑elect training seminar) on February 8.
 
See photos here. Click on each photo to read the story.
 
Rotary in Pictures February 9, 2020 Dora Dye 2020-02-09 08:00:00Z 0

Report on Fund the Future

Posted on Feb 07, 2020
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On January 15, 2020, the Foundation of the Rotary Club of San Francisco hosted its first-ever “Fund the Future” benefit for the Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS). High above San Francisco hills in the Salesforce Tower Ohana Room, more than 130 guests enjoyed breath-taking views from the City’s tallest building, nibbled on delicious appetizers, and participated in a fabulous live and silent auction.
 
 
Report on Fund the Future Janine Padilla 2020-02-07 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 28, 2020:  Rodney Fong

Posted by Ann Daugherty on Feb 05, 2020
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This was the third meeting of the calendar year with approximately 54 Rotarians and guests in attendance. Harold Hoogasian (Retail: Florist | Hoogasian Flowers) introduced one of our Club’s past presidents, Kline Wilson, Jr. Michael Petricca (Education Management | Academy of Art) introduced Sean Buford, president of the San Francisco Firefighter’s Union along with Dr. Ranatta Kiefer (who happened to email Michael and ended up attending as his guest). Carlos Infante (Banking: Management | Chase Bank) introduced Steve Katzin from Chase Commercial Real Estate; Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced second-time attendee Steve Lindstrom, who has now applied for membership; and Jyoti Chokshi (Management Services | Talent Anywhere) introduced her husband, who is also interested in joining our Club.
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 28, 2020: Rodney Fong Ann Daugherty 2020-02-05 08:00:00Z 0

Super Bowl Party and Winners

Posted by Peter Logan on Feb 03, 2020
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What a Super game and potluck this past Sunday! Past President David Dye enjoyed the fourth quarter VERY MUCH while the rest of us liked the first half better. But everyone had a great, congenial time with the warm hosting by Lilian and Scott Stielstra, and food from them and many others.
 
Super Bowl Party and Winners Peter Logan 2020-02-03 08:00:00Z 0

Giving the Gift of Dignity with Survival Kits for Our Unhoused Neighbors

Posted by Jane Ferguson Flout on Feb 01, 2020
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Catholic Charities is the Rotary Club of San Francisco’s first corporate member and one of the largest human services agencies in Northern California for more than a century now, serving 32,000 children, homeless families, immigrants, aging adults, and adults with disabilities, in San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo counties through more than 30 different programs. 
 
Giving the Gift of Dignity with Survival Kits for Our Unhoused Neighbors Jane Ferguson Flout 2020-02-01 08:00:00Z 0

What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco!

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 29, 2020
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The Rotary Club of San Francisco has been busy planning new activities for you.
 
In the month of February 2020, we are offering three social events:  Rotary Night at the Warriors Game on February 10; Happy Hour at Zingari Ristorante on February 26; and the Cal vs. Utah basketball game on February 29.
 
Save the date for World Wide Rotary Day on March 24, 2020. Registration is now open. Please RSVP well in advance so we can be sure to have enough seats for all who want to attend. We also need Club members to volunteer to serve as hosts for visiting consuls.
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-01-29 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 21, 2020:  Ted Drake

Posted by Jane Mermelstein on Jan 27, 2020
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services:  Private Trading | KCB Trading, LLC) welcomed Visiting Rotarians and guests, and thanked the Volunteers of the Day.

John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) reported on the success of the Fund the Future benefit. 130 people attended, and $53,200 net was raised. Both John and Janine Padilla (Real Estate:  Sales | Astral Management) praised the student participation and talked about the great silent auction. In recognition of her work to put together Fund the Future and her contributions to the Club, Janine Padilla was named Rotarian of the Month.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 21, 2020: Ted Drake Jane Mermelstein 2020-01-27 08:00:00Z 0

Welcome to the Club Gathering

Posted by JT Forbus on Jan 27, 2020
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Club Rotarian Lynn Luckow graciously extended his place of business for the Welcome to the Club gathering on January 23, 2020. There were snacks and wine which helped proliferate meaningful conversations about Rotary and our Club. 
 
Welcome to the Club Gathering JT Forbus 2020-01-27 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of San Francisco Kenya Trip

Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Jan 20, 2020
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Rotary Club of San Francisco members Dr. Lily Muldoon, Skip Brewster and Ryan Wilson celebrated World AIDS Day 2019 in Kenya with fellow Rotarians from Africa and the Rotary Club of Boulder Valley, CO. During the week-long trip (Nov. 26-Dec.2), the team recorded radio segments promoting health, development and Rotary that were broadcast on EK-FM, the only wind/solar-power radio station in East Africa, a project supported by a $5,000 grant from the Club in 2018. They also toured several Rotary agriculture, sanitation and water projects; met with local leaders and activists to exchange ideas; and helped with matching grant reporting.
 
 
Rotary Club of San Francisco Kenya Trip Carrie Condran LaBriola 2020-01-20 08:00:00Z 0

Dictionary Plating

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 19, 2020
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On a stormy night, eight Rotarians gathered to plate dictionaries to be distributed in the San Francisco Unified School District. Present were Harold Hoogasian, Mark Calender, David Dye, Dora Dye, Bob Hermann, Dan Joraanstad, Kevin Leong, and Kathryn McCall. Steve Lindstrom, a guest, joined us as well.
 
 
Dictionary Plating Dora Dye 2020-01-19 08:00:00Z 0

Open Positions in Our Club

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 17, 2020
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“Service Above Self” is not just a motto; it’s a day-to-day practice for Rotarians. When each of us joined Rotary, we joined to contribute to the lives of others and enrich our relationships with others. Below is a list of current positions open in the Rotary Club of San Francisco that call for leadership and service:
 
Open Positions in Our Club Dora Dye 2020-01-17 08:00:00Z 0

November 2019 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Jan 15, 2020
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DISTRICT LEADERS VISIT OUR CLUB
 
It is customary for the sitting District Governor to visit each Club within the District during the Rotary year. On November 19, 2019, District Governor Sue Rokaw and Assistant Governor Patrice Perillo met with the Board of our Club. After the Board members introduced themselves to DG Sue and AG Patrice, DG Sue identified some key people in the District and talked about the uses of the community service grant currently offered by the District. A lively discussion ensued on our Rotaract Clubs; our Club’s Committees such as Climate Change, Youth Services, and Nominating; and on membership and retention.
 
November 2019 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2020-01-15 08:00:00Z 0

Membership News: January 2020

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jan 14, 2020
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In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on February 11, 2020:
 
Tim Allen (Social Services Consulting | Allen/Loeb Associates)
Dan Hollerbach (Retail: Paint Supplies and Services | Behr Pro)
 
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
Membership News: January 2020 Daniel Joraanstad 2020-01-14 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 7, 2020:  Paul Saffo

Posted by Lilian Tsi-Stielstra on Jan 13, 2020
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It was the first meeting of the calendar year, and as President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | KCB Trading LLC) brightly reminded us, we still have six months of his regime.  

As a trader, President Casey was mystified when his wife said there were 36 cards in a deck at the 2019 Holiday Party. However, a holiday trip to Hamburg humbled him, and he learned that in his wife’s culture, there is a game where there are only 36 cards in the deck. He brought a set home to be a raffle prize for the day, which was won by Dr. Carla Walter (Arts Therapy | Dance in the Spirit) at the end of the meeting.
 
President Casey also pointed out that Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) and the Speakers Committee have a theme for the luncheon speakers from January to March 2020. The theme is “San Francisco STILL Knows How”.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS January 7, 2020: Paul Saffo Lilian Tsi-Stielstra 2020-01-13 08:00:00Z 0

Speaker Series: San Francisco Still Knows How

Posted by Scott Plakun on Jan 09, 2020
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What's happening to our beloved San Francisco? The news focuses on issues like homelessness, trash on the streets, endless construction on Van Ness, and the high cost of living. It's enough to make you think that San Francisco has lost its way. We'll explore another side to the story in San Francisco Still Knows How, a special series of luncheon speakers.
Speaker Series: San Francisco Still Knows How Scott Plakun 2020-01-09 08:00:00Z 0

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: Emergency Services Day Planning Committee

Posted by Emily Borland on Jan 08, 2020
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The Emergency Services Day Planning Committee is calling for volunteers to plan this special day scheduled for October 6, 2020. Emergency Services Day is one of our Club's special events in which we honor outstanding representatives of the public safety departments we depend on every day: Police, Fire, Sheriff, and Coast Guard.
 
For more information and to sign up, please go here.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: Emergency Services Day Planning Committee Emily Borland 2020-01-08 08:00:00Z 0

2020 Super Bowl Pool: The Rotary Foundation

Posted by Scott Plakun on Jan 07, 2020
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The Super Bowl Pool is our Club’s biggest annual drive to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF), whose mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Every Rotarian around the world is asked to donate to TRF every year. Super Bowl Pool winners receive a Paul Harris Fellowship.
 
2020 Super Bowl Pool: The Rotary Foundation Scott Plakun 2020-01-07 08:00:00Z 0
What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2020-01-01 08:00:00Z 0

Recap of the 2019 Holiday Party

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 24, 2019
Over 140 members, guests, and visiting Rotarians checked into the 2019 Holiday Party and Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on December 17, 2019. They were all greeted by our check-in team consisting of Dora Dye, Club Secretary; Michael Petricca, Vice President Club Service; Tim Hornbecker, Past President; Gary Dales, Club Treasurer; and Stephanie Schmautz, Past President and Chair of the 2019 Holiday Party Committee. Michael greeted and directed members and guests to pick up their badge. Dora checked in who attended and handed out meal tickets and table assignments. Tim and Gary passed out programs and a ticket for a free toss at the Wine Toss.
 
Recap of the 2019 Holiday Party Dora Dye 2019-12-24 08:00:00Z 0

Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers for Homeless Prenatal Program

Posted by John Dean on Dec 13, 2019
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On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, sixteen enthusiastic Rotarians and friends gathered at the Hoogasian Flowers warehouse on Seventh Street to pack diaper bags with baby clothes, towels, and toiletries for expectant mothers. This service project, coordinated by Emily Borland, provides new clothing and supplies to clients of the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) in San Francisco. HPP is a non-profit providing prenatal care, newborn care, and parenting classes to expectant and new parents, most of whom are “housing challenged” or dealing with housing insecurity (“couch-surfing,” single-room occupancy hotel rooms, homeless shelters, transitional housing, etc.).
   
Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers for Homeless Prenatal Program John Dean 2019-12-13 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 10, 2019: Jeffrey Weisman

Posted by John Dean on Dec 12, 2019
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) opened the last meeting of 2019 at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Our annual Holiday Party will be held at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on December 17. No luncheon meetings will be held on December 24 and December 31 due to the holidays.

Visiting Rotarians included: Rudolph Gesteiner, a 16-year member of the Rotary Club of Berne, Switzerland, who is in San Francisco for a convention of geophysicists; and Steve Ike from the Rotary Club of Fisherman’s Wharf.
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 10, 2019: Jeffrey Weisman John Dean 2019-12-12 08:00:00Z 0

Membership Corner: December 2019

Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Dec 11, 2019
Induction of New Members
Four new members were inducted on December 10, 2019. Please reach out, say hello, and get to know our newest members.
 
 
 
 
 
Membership Corner: December 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-12-11 08:00:00Z 0

Register Now for the Fund The Future Benefit

Posted by John Mathers on Dec 11, 2019
With Christmas approaching and the spirit of giving upon us, the Rotary Foundation is proud to hold the Fund the Future Benefit in January 2020.
 
Your ticket purchase benefits the Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS) in high schools. Not only will this Program prepare students to become leaders within our community, but it will also provide an opportunity for students to learn how to cultivate their own voice.
 
There is no other joy in the spirit of Christmas than to assist our youth in becoming leaders of our future. We kindly suggest purchasing your ticket here before January 1 as 70% of the ticket price is tax deductible.
 
See you at the Benefit on January 15!
 
Register Now for the Fund The Future Benefit John Mathers 2019-12-11 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary in Pictures December 9, 2019

Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 09, 2019
Past presidents Tim Hornbecker (on the harmonica) and David Dye at the bell ringing on Union Square on December 6, 2019This week's festive photos are from December 4-6, 2019 and were submitted by David Dye and Anita Stangl.
 
The first photo is of a tradition over 20 years old where the members who celebrate a birthday in the month of February come together to celebrate the holidays.
 
The rest of the photos are from our Club's annual participation in the bell ringing on Union Square. 
 
See photos here. Click on each photo to read the story.
 
Rotary in Pictures December 9, 2019 Dora Dye 2019-12-09 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 3, 2019: Laurel Botsford

Posted by John Dean on Dec 04, 2019
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President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) opened the meeting at 12:15 PM, noting that this was our first regular luncheon meeting in three weeks due to the Thanksgiving holiday and end-of-month Board meeting.  

A number of visiting Rotarians were in attendance, including: Josie McHale, District 5150 Public Relations/Public Image Chair; Joe Santos from the Rotary Club of Daly City/Colma Evening (and a former member of our Club); Rich Swart from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown; and John Goings, a Rotarian and former long-time member of our Club who now lives in Pacific Grove where he is an active member of the Rotary Club of Pacific Grove.  
 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS December 3, 2019: Laurel Botsford John Dean 2019-12-04 08:00:00Z 0

Thanksgiving at The Arc Highlights: November 26, 2019

Posted by Scott Plakun on Nov 27, 2019
Thanksgiving week is the time for one of our Club’s favorite traditions, one that dates back more than ten years: Serving lunch to clients of The Arc of San Francisco and others.

The day got off to an early start: Past Club President and Past District Governor Eric Schmautz met Lilian Tsi-Stielstra of our Club, her husband Scott Stielstra, and Jonathan Scopazzi from the Rotary Club of San Rafael at The Salvation Army’s South of Market commercial kitchen at 4:00 AM. They worked through the morning to roast 200 pounds of pork shoulder, cook 100 pounds of carrots, make a mountain of stuffing, prepare 5 gallons of gravy and decant 8.5 gallons of cranberry sauce.
Thanksgiving at The Arc Highlights: November 26, 2019 Scott Plakun 2019-11-27 08:00:00Z 0

Gifts for the 2019 Holiday Party

Posted by Stephanie Schmautz on Nov 27, 2019
The Holiday Party Committee is hard at work planning a fantastic party with a million dollar view. We can keep the costs down for this event with the help of generous Rotarians who donate wine and/or gift cards or who sponsor tables and/or ads for the printed program.  
Gifts for the 2019 Holiday Party Stephanie Schmautz 2019-11-27 08:00:00Z 0

Report from the Nominating Committee

Posted by JT Forbus on Nov 22, 2019
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In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
 
2020-21 President: JT Forbus
2020-21 President-Elect: Mary Liu
2020-22 Vice President of Community Service: Bob Hermann
2020-22 Vice President of Development: Christopher Wiseman
2020-22 Vice President of International Service: Susan Dean
2020-22 Vice President of Membership: Terry Pickering
 
Appointment of Connor Krone to complete the term for 2020-21 Vice President of Youth Services.
 
All members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting, to be held at the Holiday Luncheon on December 17, to vote on these nominations.
Report from the Nominating Committee JT Forbus 2019-11-22 08:00:00Z 0

LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 12, 2019: Dan Evenhouse

Posted by John Dean on Nov 21, 2019
President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) called the meeting to order. Approximately 55 members were in attendance.
 
President Casey highlighted several major, upcoming events:  
 
  • November 26:  Annual “Thanksgiving at The ARC” lunch event. Please sign up to help prepare and serve a holiday lunch to clients of The ARC and their guests.
  • December 17:  The Rotary Holiday Party at the Westin St. Francis. Don’t forget to register and check out the many sponsorship opportunities!
  • January 15, 2020, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM: The San Francisco Rotary Foundation “Fund the Future” fundraising event will be held in the spectacular Ohana Room atop the new Salesforce Tower. Help raise funding for the Action Leadership Program for Students (“ALPS”). ALPS was created by members of our Club and aims to provide leadership training and development opportunities to high school students across the Bay Area. Tickets are available now. 
LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 12, 2019: Dan Evenhouse John Dean 2019-11-21 08:00:00Z 0

2019 Holiday Party

Posted by Stephanie Schmautz on Nov 21, 2019
Do not miss the 111th birthday celebration of the Rotary Club of San Francisco happening on December 17, 2019 starting at 11 AM on the 32nd Floor of the Westin Saint Francis hotel.  

What’s not to love? How about the Jayden Clark Quartet? Jayden Clark has been praised by San Francisco’s “Classical Voice” for his well-crafted soloing and for possessing a thick, burnished tone on the tenor saxophone.
2019 Holiday Party Stephanie Schmautz 2019-11-21 08:00:00Z 0
Rotary in Pictures November 24, 2019 Dora Dye 2019-11-21 08:00:00Z 0

October 2019 Board Highlights

Posted by Dora Dye on Nov 20, 2019
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ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
 
The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on October 29, 2019; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club members Bob Hermann and Stephanie Schmautz were in attendance.
 
President Casey requested that any auction items or sponsorships for the Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS) be sent to Maureen O’Shea.

The date to assemble the survival kits with Catholic Charities will be January 30, 2020.
    October 2019 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2019-11-20 08:00:00Z 0

    Membership News: November 2019

    Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Nov 19, 2019
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    In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the following individual is scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest member on December 10, 2019:
     
    Steven Diller (Business Consulting | Scansion, Inc.).
     
    Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
    Membership News: November 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-11-19 08:00:00Z 0

    Membership Corner: November 2019

    Posted by Terry Pickering on Nov 14, 2019
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    Induction of New Members
     
    My name is Terry Pickering. It is a pleasure to fill in for Dan Joraanstad and to welcome our newest members to the Club!
     
    Two new members were inducted on September 10, 2019. 
    Membership Corner: November 2019 Terry Pickering 2019-11-14 08:00:00Z 0

    Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS)

    Posted by John Mathers on Nov 11, 2019
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    Lately, you have been receiving reminders to Save the Date and attend this event. What does it mean to Fund the Future? What is ALPS?

    Members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco created Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS) to provide training for today’s high school students and tomorrow’s leaders and the opportunity for Rotary to become a premier catalyst and provider of youth leadership development at the high school level for sophomores, juniors, and seniors in San Francisco and throughout Rotary District 5150.
    Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS) John Mathers 2019-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

    LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 5, 2019: Barry Deach

    Posted by David Dye on Nov 10, 2019
    President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options), wearing a golfing outfit in honor of today's guest speaker Barry Deach, Championship Director of the 2020 PGA Championship, called the meeting to order. As the theme of the day was golf, president Casey presented an award to Clif Thomas (Accounting | Clifton S. Thomas CPA) for being the winner of the 2019 Rotary Twilight Golf Tournament. Twilight Golf has concluded for the season.
     
    Casey welcomed past president Jimmy Jeffery; he also welcomed Count Hans Schimmelmann, a visiting Rotarian and a real count from Spain, and exchanged club flags with him.
     
    LUNCHEON MEETING HIGHLIGHTS November 5, 2019: Barry Deach David Dye 2019-11-10 08:00:00Z 0

    Walk To End Alzheimer's

    Posted by Terry Pickering on Nov 10, 2019
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    On Saturday, November 9, 2019, members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, family, friends, and Interactors from Lowell High School participated in a walk at Pier 27 on The Embarcadero to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Our group joined thousands of other walkers, and together we raised over $1,014,000 to fight this disease; our Club alone contributed $1,215 to the $1,014,000. The weather was also in our favor, and we all supported a good cause on a wonderful day.
     
    Walk To End Alzheimer's Terry Pickering 2019-11-10 08:00:00Z 0
    Rotary in Pictures November 10, 2019 Dora Dye 2019-11-06 08:00:00Z 0
    What's New in the Rotary Club of San Francisco! Dora Dye 2019-11-06 08:00:00Z 0

    September 2019 Board Highlights

    Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 31, 2019
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    ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
     
    The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on September 24, 2019; a quorum was present.
     
    The Board reviewed, amended, and approved the minutes dated August 27, 2019 prepared by Dora Dye.

    Gary Dales delivered a positive Treasurer’s report, mentioning that the Club is in a strong financial position and in the black in luncheons. We discussed unpaid Club dues and the payment of the District dues. Gary also requested resolutions to change the signers on our Club’s Wells Fargo accounts. The Board approved the treasurer's report and the signers on our Club's Wells Fargo accounts as proposed by Gary.
      September 2019 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2019-10-31 07:00:00Z 0

      Time To Talk To Paul

      Posted by Paul Robertson on Oct 31, 2019
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      Hi, Friends! We all know that throwing a house party is a lot of work! Well, how about throwing a PGA Championship? Watch this invitation video of our November 5, 2019 Rotary Luncheon speaker, Barry Deach, and see you at Rotary on Tuesday, November 5.
      Time To Talk To Paul Paul Robertson 2019-10-31 07:00:00Z 0

      Rotary in Pictures

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 30, 2019
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      We now begin a new story in our weekly Grindings newsletter. The story entitled "Rotary in Pictures" will feature photos of recent events where Rotarians have gathered. We hope that you will help this story continue by contributing your photos along with a brief caption. Please send photos and captions to Dora Dye. Photos can be about Rotarians at Club events or at Rotary-related or Rotary-affiliated, social events. Please note that once the photos are published online, others may choose to repost a photo in social media.

      This week's photos are from the week of October 21-25, 2019 and were submitted by Bill Poppen and Janine Padilla. See photos here. Click on each photo to read the story.
      Rotary in Pictures Dora Dye 2019-10-30 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: October 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Oct 29, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on either November 12, 2019 or December 10, 2019:
       
      Valentina Sacchi Beccarini (Student)
      Christopher Eggers (Building Security | Clavus Group)
      Miranti Ojong (Financial Services:  Advising | Armada)
      Ravinder Sehgal (Education:  University | San Francisco State University)
      Edward Shenkan (Healthcare Consulting | Shenkan Advisors)
      Tricia Tran (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles)
       
      Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: October 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-10-29 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 15, 2019: Jennie Scholick

      Posted by Susan Dean on Oct 24, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Service: Private Trading | Feis Options) called the meeting to order. We had 39 Rotarians in attendance, including a visiting Rotarian from Virginia in San Francisco on a business trip. We also had five guests (some for the second or third time).
       
      PRLS
      Last week, another module of the Rotary Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (“PRLS”) was offered. Three members of our Club attended: Dora Dye (Education: Community College | City College of San Francisco), Susan Dean (Health Care: Nursing Services | Retired), and John Dean (Education: Law | Dean Dispute Resolution).
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 15, 2019: Jennie Scholick Susan Dean 2019-10-24 07:00:00Z 0

      SAVE THE DATE:  Fund the Future

      Posted by Janine Padilla on Oct 24, 2019
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      SAVE THE DATE! Come join us as the San Francisco Rotary Foundation hosts a benefit for the Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS) on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Salesforce Tower–Ohana Floor. Tickets on sale in early November. Stay tuned..!
      SAVE THE DATE: Fund the Future Janine Padilla 2019-10-24 07:00:00Z 0

      Aquatic Park Beach Clean-up

      Posted by Jane Mermelstein on Oct 21, 2019
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      653 cigarette butts, 57 plastic wrappers, 4 spoons and a plastic dinosaur toy were among the approximately 800 items that members from the Rotary Club of San Francisco, family, and friends picked up on the morning of Saturday, October 19, 2019, during our beach clean-up at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park. David McGuire, Executive Director of Shark Stewards, hosted our group. 
      Aquatic Park Beach Clean-up Jane Mermelstein 2019-10-21 07:00:00Z 0

      District's Learning & Leadership Development 3-in-1 Workshop

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 20, 2019
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      On Saturday, October 19, 2019, Rotarians in District 5150 gathered in South San Francisco for a workshop on Membership, the Rotary Foundation, and Public Image. Yes, 3 sessions in one day! The presenters were PDG Ron Gin, the District's Membership Chair; PDG Jayne Hulbert, The Rotary Foundation Chair; and Josie McHale, the District's Public Image Chair.
      District's Learning & Leadership Development 3-in-1 Workshop Dora Dye 2019-10-20 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 8, 2019: Lewis Loeven

      Posted by Kelly Stieglitz on Oct 17, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) welcomed 43 members and 7 guests to today’s Club luncheon. The guests included a visiting Rotarian from Germany; a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Palo Alto University; Past District Governor Mark Flegel from the Rotary Club of Menlo Park and his wife, Shirley, founder of the Rotary Club of Taipei Precious Love; Valentina Sacchi, a law student at the University of San Francisco and this year’s recipient of a Global Grant; and Chris Eggers and Tricia Tran who are both prospective members.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 8, 2019: Lewis Loeven Kelly Stieglitz 2019-10-17 07:00:00Z 0

      Club Members Complete Master PRLS 4

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 13, 2019
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      On Saturday, October 12, 2019, District 5150 offered course No. 4 of the series of Master Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS) designed by Rotarians to teach Rotarians skills and techniques as they prepare to assume leadership roles in their Clubs. Michael Ford and Richard Swart facilitated the class.
       
      The course covered leadership development. Participants were given an opportunity to learn about and identify their own leadership style. They also learned how to communicate, how to lead and motivate volunteers, how to manage time, how to set goals, and how to establish a strategic plan in a Rotary club.
      Club Members Complete Master PRLS 4 Dora Dye 2019-10-13 07:00:00Z 0

      Bike & Hike to End Polio Now

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 06, 2019
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      District 5150 held a Bike & Hike to End Polio on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Point Reyes National Seashore. Rotarians from all over the District and even non-Rotarians met at the Bear Valley Picnic Area to check in and then either choose a trail to hike or participate in the 33-mile supported bike ride on public roads through the rolling hills of West Marin. No matter what you chose, you got a great workout.
      Bike & Hike to End Polio Now Dora Dye 2019-10-06 07:00:00Z 0

      Change in Communications Personnel

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 06, 2019
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      Scott Plakun has been the editor of Grindings and our webmaster for over four years. Having held the ultimate job in the Club – that of president in 2009-2010, Scott did not have to do any more, but he saw the need and stepped up to serve in Club communications and on the Board again. By the time you read this, Scott will have stepped down to pursue other Rotary projects. We would like to take this moment to thank Scott wholeheartedly for his dedication and non-stop work during his tenure. Every week no matter where he was, he would have to carve out some time to work on our communication tools. Says president Casey Blair, "It's impossible to tally the numerous ways Scott has touched so many aspects of the Club in a positive way."
      Change in Communications Personnel Dora Dye 2019-10-06 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 1, 2019: Fire Chief Nicholson

      Posted by Pat Gallagher on Oct 04, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) began the meeting by welcoming a visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Palo Alto University, who is checking which Rotary Clubs in San Francisco are potential fits for his son.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 1, 2019: Fire Chief Nicholson Pat Gallagher 2019-10-04 07:00:00Z 0

      Fund the Future Kick-off Cocktail Party Recap

      Posted by Janine Padilla on Sep 29, 2019
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      On September 12, 2019, Rotarians gathered together in North Beach for a cocktail launch party for an upcoming fundraising event, “Fund the Future”, a benefit for Rotary’s new Youth Action Leadership Program for Students (ALPS). Co-chairs John Mathers and Janine Padilla as well as Lynn Luckow, Vice President of Youth Leadership, hosted this cocktail event.
      Fund the Future Kick-off Cocktail Party Recap Janine Padilla 2019-09-29 07:00:00Z 0

      August 2019 Board Highlights

      Posted by Dora Dye on Sep 25, 2019
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      ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
       
      The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on August 27, 2019; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club member Susan Dean was present.
       
      President Casey announced that Rotary International President Mark Maloney will be in San Francisco to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter in June 2020 and plans to visit our Club then.
       
      The Board reviewed and approved the minutes for July 30, 2019 prepared by Secretary Dora Dye.
      August 2019 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2019-09-25 07:00:00Z 0

      Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers for Homeless Prenatal Program

      Posted by John Dean on Sep 22, 2019
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      On the evening of Tuesday, September 10, 2019, eight members of our Club met at Hoogasian Flowers to stuff diaper bags for expectant, homeless mothers. The diaper bags containing hygiene kits, clothing, towels, and blankets crocheted by Susan Dean were then distributed two days later at two baby showers organized by the San Francisco Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP).
      Diaper Bag Assembly and Baby Showers for Homeless Prenatal Program John Dean 2019-09-22 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 17, 2019: Asylum

      Posted by Tom Brunner on Sep 20, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone at 12:15PM. Visiting Rotarians from as far away as Mongolia and Kentucky were introduced as well as guests of members.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 17, 2019: Asylum Tom Brunner 2019-09-20 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 10, 2019: Wikimedia Peter Logan 2019-09-18 07:00:00Z 0

      Interact Update

      Posted by Connor Krone on Sep 12, 2019
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      The Rotary Club of San Francisco energizes and inspires young leaders ages 12-18 by supporting Interact Clubs. Interact Clubs teach leadership skills and the value of service, while offering opportunities for social engagement.
       
      Here is a fun fact about Interact: There are 12,300 Interact Clubs in the world, including the three our Club supports at Lowell High School, George Washington High School, and St. Ignatius College Preparatory.
      Interact Update Connor Krone 2019-09-12 07:00:00Z 0

      Saturday at Rotary Meadow

      Posted by Ann Daugherty on Sep 10, 2019
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      On Saturday, September 7, 2019, Club members Christopher Wiseman, Ann Daugherty, president Casey Blair and his daughter, Bill Poppen, Dan Joraanstad, Bob Hermann, and Harold Hoogasian met at Mt. Sutro to be instructed and guided by the Sutro Stewards on how to clear and weed around our historic Rotary marker while protecting the native flora. What started off as a cool and foggy day (perfect weather for gardening) turned into a warm and welcoming afternoon. 
      Saturday at Rotary Meadow Ann Daugherty 2019-09-10 07:00:00Z 0

      District Raffle for The Rotary Foundation

      Posted by Frank Yoke on Sep 02, 2019
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      Don’t miss your chance to win a gift card by making a pledge or a donation to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF) during the District 5150 Every Rotarian Every Year campaign.
       
      Whether or not you win, you’re donating to a great cause! The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International, supports humanitarian projects to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, save mothers and children, support basic education, and grow local economies across the globe. 
      District Raffle for The Rotary Foundation Frank Yoke 2019-09-02 07:00:00Z 0

      Bay Bridge Series

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 01, 2019
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      About 25 enthusiastic members of our Club met up at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday, August 26, 2019 along with six other Rotary Clubs from two Rotary Districts for a tailgate and the Bay Bridge Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's. The bet was on as to which one of the Rotary Clubs would go home with a check for its Foundation.
       
      Bay Bridge Series Daniel Joraanstad 2019-09-01 07:00:00Z 0

      Call for Candidates to Serve on the Board

      Posted by JT Forbus on Aug 31, 2019
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      The Rotary Club of San Francisco is seeking candidates for the following positions in 2020-2021:
       
      • President-Elect Nominee to serve as Club President in 2021-2022.
      • Vice President of International Service.
      • Vice President of Membership.
      • Vice President of Development.
      • Vice President of Community Service.
      • Vice President of Youth Service.
       
      In addition, our Club has an immediate need for a Vice President of Vocational Service. Once confirmed, the VP of Vocational Service will begin to serve right away.
       
      All candidates must be active members of the Club in good standing. Please submit your nominations and questions to President-Elect JT Forbus.
      Call for Candidates to Serve on the Board JT Forbus 2019-08-31 07:00:00Z 0

      July 2019 Board Highlights

      Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 28, 2019
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      ROTARY CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
       
      The Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco met on July 30, 2019; a quorum was present. In addition to the Board, Club members Terry Pickering and Stephanie Schmautz were present.
       
      The Board reviewed upcoming events for August 2019. Rhonda Poppen announced that the community-based Rotaract Club is looking for speakers, and she had agreed to be a speaker. Dan Joraanstad said that he would invite San Francisco State University, one of our Club's corporate members, to participate in the Rotary Meadow clean-up on September 7.
       
      July 2019 Board Highlights Dora Dye 2019-08-28 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: September 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Aug 28, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on September 10, 2019:
       
      Evan Fu (Event Planning | Socialhaus)
      Carlos Infante (Banking: Management | Chase Bank)
       
      Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: September 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-08-28 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES August 13, 2019: Zak Franet John Dean 2019-08-20 07:00:00Z 0

      Club Members Complete PRLS 3

      Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 17, 2019
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      Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS) are a series of courses designed by Rotarians to teach Rotarians skills and techniques as they prepare to assume leadership roles in their Clubs. The program was developed by Betsy Koefoed, Bill Koefoed, and Michael Ford, all former members of our Club. Those who complete Basic PRLS can go on to complete the Master PRLS series of five courses.
       
      Club Members Complete PRLS 3 Dora Dye 2019-08-17 07:00:00Z 0

      Rotarians at Golf

      Posted by Timothy Hornbecker on Aug 16, 2019
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      Rotary Twilight Golf has been a favorite pastime of our Club for several years. On the second and fourth Thursday of each month in the summer and fall, Club members gather to play nine holes at Harding Park's Fleming Executive Course. Harding Park is part of the PGA Tour's Tournament Players Club network of courses.
       
      This year's players are Tim Hornbecker, Leah Masuda, Michael Petricca, Tyler Sterk (before he moved to San Diego), Clif Thomas, and Frank Yoke. The players compete for the coveted Golf Trophy. The leader as of August 8, 2019 is Leah.
      Rotarians at Golf Timothy Hornbecker 2019-08-16 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES August 6, 2019: SF Rec and Park John Dean 2019-08-14 07:00:00Z 0

      Seminar on The Rotary Foundation

      Posted by Bob Hermann on Aug 11, 2019
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      On August 10, 2019, Bob Hermann, Dan Joraanstad, Sunny Singh, Phyllis Nusz, and Frank Yoke from our Club attended the District Learning and Leadership Development Seminar about The Rotary Foundation held at the Bay Model in Sausalito. The enthusiasm in the room was clearly evidenced by a full room of attendees from District 5150.
       
      Seminar on The Rotary Foundation Bob Hermann 2019-08-11 07:00:00Z 0

      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Gary "Buck" Dales

      Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Aug 06, 2019
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      After a career in finance and accounting, Gary “Buck” Dales says he’s now “dedicating myself to Rotary.” On July 1, he began a two-year term as Treasurer on the Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.
      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Gary "Buck" Dales Carrie Condran LaBriola 2019-08-06 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2019: Buck Institute

      Posted by John Dean on Aug 05, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) opened the meeting by welcoming Jagpal Sran, President-elect of the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening. She is visiting Rotary Clubs in the area in preparation for her upcoming term as president of her Club.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES July 23, 2019: Buck Institute John Dean 2019-08-05 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES July 16, 2019: Merola Opera

      Posted by John Dean on Jul 30, 2019
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      President Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading | Feis Options) opened the meeting and welcomed several visiting Rotarians. Brent Cunningham, a member of our Club from 2012 to 2016, was visiting from Reno, NV where he is a member of the Reno Central Club.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES July 16, 2019: Merola Opera John Dean 2019-07-30 07:00:00Z 0

      June 2019 Board Report

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 30, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen called the final Board meeting of Rotary Year 2018-2019 to order at 12:01 PM on June 25, 2019 at The Carlisle in San Francisco. Present were Jim Bradley, David Dye, Dan Joraanstad, Lynn Luckow, John Mathers, Kathryn McCall, Luis Moran, Scott Plakun, Sacha Shashi, Frank Yoke, Gary Dales, John Dean, Dora Dye, and Michael Petricca. Club Secretary Luis Moran recorded the minutes.
       
      June 2019 Board Report Dora Dye 2019-07-30 07:00:00Z 0

      Fun at SPARK Social SF

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 30, 2019
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      Over 30 Rotarians and guests gathered around the fire pit swing at the SPARK Social in San Francisco for an evening of fellowship, gourmet food and beverage from the trucks on site, and a chance to roast s'mores.
       
      Fun at SPARK Social SF Dora Dye 2019-07-30 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership Corner: July 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jul 23, 2019
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      Announcing the Membership Contest Winner!
      On July 23, the winner of Membership’s “Big Island Is Calling” contest was revealed. The award went to the person who introduced the most new members to the Rotary Club of San Francisco between January 1 and June 30, 2019. The winner by a landslide was Pam Hudson, who introduced four new people into the Club. Pam receives the week-long stay in Kona, Hawaii, courtesy of Harold Hoogasian. Congratulations, Pam, and thank you for moving our Club forward with vigor. A special thanks to Harold who has been very generous with the Club in supplying his Hawaiian home as a prize.
      Membership Corner: July 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-07-23 07:00:00Z 0

      Club Members Complete Basic PRLS

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jul 21, 2019
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      Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS) are a series of courses designed by Rotarians to teach Rotarians skills and techniques as they prepare to assume leadership roles in their Clubs. The program was developed by Betsy Koefoed, Bill Koefoed, and Michael Ford, all former members of our Club.

      Club Members Complete Basic PRLS Dora Dye 2019-07-21 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES July 9, 2019: Welcome President Casey! John Dean 2019-07-15 07:00:00Z 0

      Heroes' Voices Presents The Soldier's Journey

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 30, 2019
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      Since 2015, our Club has sponsored the Heroes’ Voices poetry and music program annually. For those of you unfamiliar with Heroes’ Voices, it is a program that connects Veterans to each other and offers workshops to engage them in music and poetry as a means of relief from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. Heroes’ Voices also offers a program that provides Veterans with free guitars and free guitar lessons.
       
      Heroes' Voices Presents The Soldier's Journey Dora Dye 2019-06-30 07:00:00Z 0

      May 2019 Board Report

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 29, 2019
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      The May Board meeting was held on the evening of May 28, 2019 at the home of President Rhonda Poppen and Bill Poppen. Present were Rhonda Poppen, David Dye, Jim Bradley, Sacha Shashi, Scott Plakun, Lynn Luckow, JT Forbus, Casey Blair, Frank Yoke, Kathryn McCall (via phone conference), Gary Dales, and Dora Dye. Bill Poppen participated during the membership portion of the meeting. Secretary-elect Dora Dye recorded the minutes as Club Secretary Luis Moran was absent.
      May 2019 Board Report Dora Dye 2019-06-29 07:00:00Z 0

      Celebration Picnic for President Rhonda

      Posted by Dora Dye on Jun 29, 2019
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      Over 30 Rotarians and guests, half a dozen children, and two dogs joined President Rhonda Poppen at her celebration picnic on Saturday, June 22, 2019 in Sunnyside Playground and Park.
       
      Celebration Picnic for President Rhonda Dora Dye 2019-06-29 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: June 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jun 25, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on July 16, 2019:
       
      Terry Pickering (Financial Services | Retired)
      Paul Robertson (Real Estate: Sales | Keller Williams)
      Warren Sheets (Interior Design | Warren Sheets Design)
       
      Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: June 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-06-25 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 18, 2019: Debunking Rhonda

      Posted by John Dean on Jun 21, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) welcomed members and a number of guests and visiting Rotarians to the final meeting of the 2018-19 Rotary year (and the last meeting of her term of office). Rhonda gave a special “welcome back” to members Eric Walter (Information Technology: Software | Apple) and Carla Walter (Arts Therapy | Dance in the Spirit), who are back in the Bay Area after Carla’s out-of-town work assignment.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 18, 2019: Debunking Rhonda John Dean 2019-06-21 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership Corner: June 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jun 17, 2019
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      New Members: In June 2019, we inducted four new members. Please reach out, say hello, and get to know our newest members.
       
      Membership Corner: June 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-06-17 07:00:00Z 0

      MEMBER PROFILE: Lily Muldoon

      Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Jun 16, 2019
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      Dr. Lily Muldoon says “it’s never too late to sign up” for the Rotary service trip she’s leading to Kenya in November. So far, she’s recruited four members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and four more from Rotary Clubs in Colorado. The group will be in Kenya on Worldwide AIDS Day, doing health screenings and HIV awareness training.
      MEMBER PROFILE: Lily Muldoon Carrie Condran LaBriola 2019-06-16 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from HPP: June 11 & 13, 2019

      Posted by John Dean on Jun 15, 2019
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      On June 13, approximately 20 mothers-to-be attended the morning shower (for Spanish-speaking moms) and 11 attended the afternoon (English-speaking) shower. Two moms delivered last week and two more went into labor on the morning of the showers... so attendance was impacted!
      Report from HPP: June 11 & 13, 2019 John Dean 2019-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 11, 2019: Astronomy

      Posted by John Dean on Jun 15, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing | GRANTdog) welcomed members and a number of guests and visiting Rotarians to the meeting. She presented a series of photographs submitted by Club members who attended the recent Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) reported that the convention was a wonderful experience, and noted that many Club members are still in Europe, having added post-convention trips. Rhonda urged members to begin thinking about next year’s convention, slated for June 6-10, 2020 in Honolulu. Earlybird registration, with substantial discounts, closes soon. Check the Rotary International website for registration details, and hotel deals.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 11, 2019: Astronomy John Dean 2019-06-15 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 4, 2019: HIV

      Posted by John Dean on Jun 10, 2019
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      President-Elect Casey Blair (Financial Services: Private Trading|Feis Options) led this week’s meeting in the beautiful Starlight Room atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Casey welcomed several visiting Rotarians, including our guest speaker, Dr. Jack Higgins, a long-time Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Los Altos. He also welcomed several visitors, including Tim Joehuk, from the Northern Germany Information Office in San Francisco; Lindsay Ward from the Arthritis Foundation; and Vonn Buckley and Mark Smolincki from Ending Pandemics.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES June 4, 2019: HIV John Dean 2019-06-10 07:00:00Z 0

      The Los Altos Story Video

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Jun 05, 2019
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      After Jack Higgins spoke to our Club about the Los Altos Rotary AIDS Project, many Club members expressed interest in seeing the Los Altos Story video that was produced by the Los Altos Club in 1989. You can find it here.
      The Los Altos Story Video Scott Plakun 2019-06-05 07:00:00Z 0

      Our Visit to Outer Space: May 30, 2019

      Posted by Stacey Poole on Jun 03, 2019
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      On May 30th, about 30 Rotarians and their guests were treated to a night under the stars at the San Francisco State University Planetarium. Our lecturer was Adrienne Cool, a member of our Club, professor in the Astronomy Department, and director of the Charles F. Hagar Planetarium. 
      Our Visit to Outer Space: May 30, 2019 Stacey Poole 2019-06-03 07:00:00Z 0

      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: John Dean

      Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on May 27, 2019
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      John Dean, who will join the Rotary Club of San Francisco Board on July 1 as Vice President of Public Relations, calls himself “a Bay Area lifer.” Born in Oakland, he grew up in the East Bay and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where he met his wife, Susan, who is also a member of the Club. While Susan finished her nursing degree, John earned a law degree at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, then opened a law office in Oakland where he lived out his dream as a criminal defense attorney. Under the mentorship of several experienced trial attorneys, he was able to get “a lot of very practical experience in state and federal courts in Northern California.”
      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: John Dean Carrie Condran LaBriola 2019-05-27 07:00:00Z 0

      Our Club Shines at the Rotary 4-Way Fest

      Posted by Dora Dye on May 27, 2019
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      This year’s annual District 5150 Conference was held in Reno, Nevada on May 17-19, 2019 along with three other Rotary districts; hence, it was called the Rotary 4-Way Fest and brought in over 800 attendees. Our Club was well represented at the Conference by Cecile Chiquette, Jeanne-Marie Cresalia, David and Dora Dye, Laine Hendricks, Heidi Kuhn, Mary Liu, Lynn Luckow, Donna-Lee Rubin, Eric and Stephanie Schmautz and their daughters, Molly and Katie, and Anita Stangl.
      Our Club Shines at the Rotary 4-Way Fest Dora Dye 2019-05-27 07:00:00Z 0

      Update on Kenya Service Opportunity: November 27-December 2, 2019

      Posted by Lily Muldoon on May 23, 2019
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      Several Club members have signed up for our service trip to Mfganano Island in Kenya, and some important details have been finalized:
       
      • The trip will take place November 27-December 2, 2019.
      • On World AIDS Day, December 1, we will be working in partnership with the Rotary Club of Mfangano Island to host a youth soccer tournament, health screenings and HIV/AIDS awareness activities.
      It's not too late to join us!
      Update on Kenya Service Opportunity: November 27-December 2, 2019 Lily Muldoon 2019-05-23 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: May, 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on May 23, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that these individuals are scheduled to be inducted into our Club as our newest members on June 4, 2019:
       
      Neeraj Miglani (Restaurant: Management | Zingari Ristorante)
      Kelly Stieglitz (Nonprofit Management | Clinton Health Access Initiative)
      Uli Suedbeck (Governmental Relations | German Consulate General)
      Frank Vollbehr (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction)
       
      Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: May, 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-05-23 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES May 14, 2019 - StrEat Food John Dean 2019-05-20 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership Corner: April-May 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on May 14, 2019
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      New Members: Our Club is growing once again. In April 2019, we inducted two new members; in May, we inducted four. Please reach out, say hello, and get to know our newest members.
       
      Membership Corner: April-May 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-05-14 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 23, 2019: Place Lab

      Posted by Brian Lan on May 08, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen opened the meeting by welcoming visitors, guests and members. Rhonda then displayed a mysterious and interesting gift the Club had received some years ago. The item is a Thomas Kincaid painting of a Rotary meeting. Rhonda asked if anyone had any information as to the donor, or the history of the painting. She will continue to reach out to past Club leaders and long-time members to see if anyone recalls the origin of the painting.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 23, 2019: Place Lab Brian Lan 2019-05-08 07:00:00Z 0

      A Look at our Partnership with Homeless Prenatal Program

      Posted by Emily Borland on May 06, 2019
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      In honor of Mother’s Day, we’d like to share some information with you about our Club’s work helping moms-to-be at the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP). Our Club is wrapping up its third year of assisting HPP in providing diaper bags full of goodies to its pregnant clients or to new moms.
       
      Typically, we meet on a Tuesday evening at Hoogasian Flowers on 7th Street, organizing and stuffing diaper bags. Each quarter, we’ve stuffed 50-65 bags. Our Club purchases the diaper bags, towels and health kits. Baby clothing, hats, wash clothes, and bibs are donated by a variety of other sources.
      A Look at our Partnership with Homeless Prenatal Program Emily Borland 2019-05-06 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from RYLA 2019

      Posted by David Dye on May 02, 2019
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      Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience for high school students. The 2019 RYLA camp was held April 26-28 at the Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Scotts Valley. Originally started in 1985 by the Rotary Club of San Francisco as “Camp Enterprise”, this leadership camp is now supported by Rotary Clubs throughout District 5150: 32 Rotary Clubs contributed over $80,000 this year, with our Club donating $20,000 as the lead sponsor.
      Report from RYLA 2019 David Dye 2019-05-02 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 16, 2019: Melissa Galliani

      Posted by Brian Lan on May 02, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen opened the meeting by welcoming visiting Rotarians from Finland and Honduras. The visitor from Honduras is the father of Sophia Valverde (Consulate Management; Consulate of Honduras). We also had several visitors from Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (“SFCD”) in San Francisco.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 16, 2019: Melissa Galliani Brian Lan 2019-05-02 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: April 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Apr 30, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the Board has accepted the nomination of these new members:
       
      Janet Krahling (Real Estate – Sales; Compass)
      Mary Liu (Real Estate – Sales; Vanguard Properties / JM Real Estate Group)
      Maureen O’Shea (Governmental Relations; Retired)
      Migena Schroeder (Law – International; Albanian Eagle Security System (AESS))
       
      We plan to induct these members at our May 14, 2019 luncheon meeting. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: April 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-04-30 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 9, 2019: ACT Brian Lan 2019-04-24 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2019: Club Assembly

      Posted by Brian Lan on Apr 24, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen opened the meeting by reviewing the Rotary “Four-Way Test”. 
       
      President Rhonda then provided updates on several events held last month, including:
      • The Homeless Prenatal Program (“HPP”) Diaper Bag Assembly on March 12, and the HPP Baby Showers on March 14. Rhonda thanked Susan Dean (Health Care Management; Retired) for crocheting over thirty baby blankets which were distributed by HPP to expectant mothers.
      • The “Welcome to the Club” Party on March 13, hosted by Dan Joraanstad (Financial Management; Retired).
      • The District Assembly on March 16, where President-Elect Casey Blair (Foreign Equity Trading; Feis Options) was introduced as San Francisco Rotary Club’s incoming president.
      • The tour of the Haas-Lilienthal House on March 26.
      • The Needle Walk Service Project on March 30.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES April 2, 2019: Club Assembly Brian Lan 2019-04-24 07:00:00Z 0

      Bike Build 2019

      Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 21, 2019
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      For the past 10 years, our Club has assembled new bikes and donated them to elementary school students in San Francisco. This year’s Annual Bike Build was held on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at Bryant Elementary School in the Mission District. Sunny Singh was our leader in the Build. Long before Saturday, he had set up this event, obtained the necessary permit, ordered the bikes, and visited San Francisco schools to work with the administration and find the kids who would like to have a bike. Three cheers for Sunny!
      Bike Build 2019 Dora Dye 2019-04-21 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from Dinner Club at The Arc:  April 15, 2019

      Posted by Jennifer Lee on Apr 17, 2019
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      Managed by Lance Scott, Director of Arts, Recreation and Socialization at The Arc, the Monday Night Dinner Group is part of the “Friends Like Me” socialization program, where peers gather for group board games, movie nights, drama workshops, and a weekly dining club get together. The “Friends Like Me” program was established to help alleviate social isolation among people with autism and developmental disabilities.
       
       
      Report from Dinner Club at The Arc: April 15, 2019 Jennifer Lee 2019-04-17 07:00:00Z 0

      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Michael Petricca

      Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Apr 13, 2019
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      As he prepares to join the Board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco as Vice President for Club Service, Michael Petricca sees a natural partnership between his job as director of security for Academy of Art University and Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self.
       
      “Both want to help kids and make the community better,” he says.
      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Michael Petricca Carrie Condran LaBriola 2019-04-13 07:00:00Z 0
      Dictionaries for Daniel Webster Elementary: April 5, 2019 Scott Plakun 2019-04-11 07:00:00Z 0

      SERVICE PROJECT:  Rotary Needle Walk, March 30, 2019

      Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 09, 2019
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      On Saturday, March 30, 2019, the Rotary clubs in San Francisco gathered at the Westfield Mall to do a needle and garbage clean-up. Representing the Rotary Club of San Francisco were President Rhonda Poppen, Bill Poppen, Anita Stangl, and Deborah Wakefield.
       
      Here is a video clip of the group and their efforts to clean up our streets.
      SERVICE PROJECT: Rotary Needle Walk, March 30, 2019 Dora Dye 2019-04-09 07:00:00Z 0

      People of Action - Impact Series: April 4, 2019

      Posted by John Mathers on Apr 08, 2019
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      On Thursday evening April 4, a number of Rotary Clubs from San Francisco and Oakland put on an event focused on entrepreneurs called the People of Action - Impact Series. Held at a wonderful Market Street venue provided by Wells Fargo, the evening was a great success, not only for the networking amongst attendees, both Rotarian and non-Rotarian, but for the experience of listening to entrepreneurs dedicated to supporting communities and our environment.
      People of Action - Impact Series: April 4, 2019 John Mathers 2019-04-08 07:00:00Z 0

      Baby Showers at Homeless Prenatal Program

      Posted by Dora Dye on Apr 02, 2019
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      One of our ongoing service projects is support of the Homeless Prenatal Program. HPP offers services focused on housing, prenatal and parenting support, child development, family finances and stability, access to technology, domestic violence and substance abuse, family unification, and emergency support of basic needs.
      Baby Showers at Homeless Prenatal Program Dora Dye 2019-04-02 07:00:00Z 0

      Tour of Haas-Lilienthal House

      Posted by Stacey Poole on Apr 01, 2019
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      On March 26, 2019, 20 Rotarians and guests got a tour of the historic Haas-Lilienthal House by our very own member Christopher Wiseman.
       
       
      Tour of Haas-Lilienthal House Stacey Poole 2019-04-01 07:00:00Z 0
      Club Member Heidi Kuhn Featured in The Rotarian Magazine Scott Plakun 2019-03-27 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES March 19, 2019: Worldwide Rotary Day

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Mar 26, 2019
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      About 120 Rotarians, Consular Corps members, and friends brought great energy into the room for Worldwide Rotary Day. Special guests included District Governor Jayne Hulbert, District Governor-Elect Sue Rokaw, DGE, District Governor-Elect Nominee Mary Bates, and Mary's Chief of Staff Gary Chow, as well as Pablo Castro and Mary Steiner from the UN Association, and visiting Rotarians from other nearby Rotary Clubs and from Switzerland.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES March 19, 2019: Worldwide Rotary Day Scott Plakun 2019-03-26 07:00:00Z 0

      DISTRICT ASSEMBLY:  First Impressions

      Posted by Dora Dye on Mar 25, 2019
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      On Saturday, March 16, 2019, Rotarians in District 5150 gathered for the annual District Learning & Leadership Development Assembly. This was my first time as I had always had a work conflict in the past.
       
      District Governor-Elect Sue Rokaw had chosen a nautical theme for the year 2019-20. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Rotarians in sailor outfits and hats. After checking in, we were handed the District pin in the shape of a sailboat for the incoming year, a program, and a list of breakout sessions.
       
      DISTRICT ASSEMBLY: First Impressions Dora Dye 2019-03-25 07:00:00Z 0

      INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITY in Kenya: November, 2019

      Posted by Lily Muldoon on Mar 21, 2019
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      Join Rotarian Lily Muldoon on a trip to Western Kenya for hands-on volunteering and Rotary fellowship!
       
      The Rotary Club of San Francisco is sponsoring a radio project in Africa that is focused on health education. This is an opportunity to visit the site and contribute to the work.
       
       
       
      INTERNATIONAL SERVICE OPPORTUNITY in Kenya: November, 2019 Lily Muldoon 2019-03-21 07:00:00Z 0

      March 2019 Membership Corner

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Mar 14, 2019
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      New Members: The March 2019 class of new members has been inducted. This is an impressive set of individuals. Some of the details about their background are highlighted below. Please reach out, say hello, and get to know our newest members.
       
      March 2019 Membership Corner Daniel Joraanstad 2019-03-14 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES March 5, 2019: Youth Leadership Brian Lan 2019-03-13 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from March 2, 2019 Board Retreat

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Mar 13, 2019
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      The Boards of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and Rotary Service met for a day-long retreat on Saturday, March 2. Those who are going off the board, those who are coming on to the board, and those who are staying on the board after June 30 all participated.
      Report from March 2, 2019 Board Retreat Scott Plakun 2019-03-13 07:00:00Z 0

      It's Time for New Club Project Ideas

      Posted by Casey Blair on Mar 11, 2019
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      If you have an idea for a great service project for our Club, and are looking for funds to help make it happen, now is the time to act!
       
      Start by reading our Grant Overview and the Grant Request Form. Then reach out to the relevant service chair (Local Community, International, or Youth Leadership) with your ideas and questions. You'll find contact information for the service chairs here. All grant applications for the 2019-2020 Rotary Year need to be in the hands of the relevant service chairs by April 15, 2019.
      It's Time for New Club Project Ideas Casey Blair 2019-03-11 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 19, 2019: Arlie Hochschild

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Mar 07, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing; GRANTdog) welcomed about 70 Rotarians and friends. Many of today’s visitors said they had come specifically to hear the speaker, including a Rotarian from Germany who asked her to sign two copies of her recent book, one published in German and the other in English.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 19, 2019: Arlie Hochschild Scott Plakun 2019-03-07 08:00:00Z 0

      Volunteering for RotaCare

      Posted by Bob Hermann on Mar 03, 2019
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      It was a rainy, foggy, and blustery day, but this didn’t stop volunteers from the Rotary Club of San Francisco in staffing the RotaCare booth this past Saturday at the Serramonte Mall. Present were Club members: Bob Hermann, Susan Dean, and guest Karen Tomczak. Also present were the Club’s Corporate members: Catholic Charities represented by Patty Clement Clark, Mike Clark, Jane Ferguson Flout, and Ross Lyon; and San Francisco State University represented by Destinee Lanns. From RotaCare was Regina Cruz.
      Volunteering for RotaCare Bob Hermann 2019-03-03 08:00:00Z 0

      Bowling for fun: February 26, 2019

      Posted by Stacey Poole on Mar 03, 2019
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      Eleven Rotarians and guests enjoyed an evening of bowling, food, and fellowship at Yerba Buena Bowl. President-elect Casey Blair had the highest score for two of the three games, while John Mathers tried to bet members that they couldn’t knock down an individual colored pin. It was a great opportunity for newer members and guests to mix and mingle with a few seasoned members and lots of fun was had by all. We hope to see you at a future social event!
      Bowling for fun: February 26, 2019 Stacey Poole 2019-03-03 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 12, 2019: Emergency Services Day

      Posted by Brian Lan on Feb 28, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen led today’s meeting, beginning with the introduction of a large number of distinguished Rotarians and visitors including District 5150 District Governor Jayne Hulbert, and Past District Governors Ron Gin, Chris Gallagher and Donna-Lee Young Rubin (Non-Profit Medical Services; Rotaplast), and District Governor-Elect Sue Rokaw. In addition, there were a number of Rotarians in attendance from the Greater Mission and Chinatown Clubs.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 12, 2019: Emergency Services Day Brian Lan 2019-02-28 08:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: February 2019

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Feb 27, 2019
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the Board has accepted the nomination of these new members:
       
      Sonya Brunswick (Pastor; Greater Life Church)
      Rachel Kantosky (Healthcare; UCSF Health)
      Leah Masuda (Real Estate Sales; McGuire Real Estate)
      Irena Matijas (Real Estate Sales; Alain Pinel Realtors)
      Maurice Rivers (Non-profit Management; OMI Cultural Participation Project)
      Christopher Wiseman (Non-Profit Management; Glaucoma Research Foundation)
       
      We plan to induct these members at our March 12, 2019 luncheon meeting. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about these proposed new members.
      Membership News: February 2019 Daniel Joraanstad 2019-02-27 08:00:00Z 0

      Service Project at Rotary Meadow

      Posted by Laura Burrus on Feb 25, 2019
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      34 volunteers including Club members – Laura Burrus, Harold Hoogasian, Kathryn McCall, Lilian Tsi-Stielstra, and Scott Stielstra – braved an unpredictable, stormy Saturday to work at Rotary Meadow. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit any work at Rotary Meadow, but the volunteers were divided into three groups and tasked with clearing an area into which a kiosk will be built, planting, removing weeds, or clearing trails.
       
       
      Service Project at Rotary Meadow Laura Burrus 2019-02-25 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 5, 2019 - Barbara Engdahl

      Posted by Brian Lan on Feb 20, 2019
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      President-elect Casey Blair led today’s meeting. He welcomed visiting Rotarians from Turkey (Istanbul) and Rwanda. We were joined by several prospective new members. A number of guests were also in attendance from the Glaucoma Research Foundation and The Arc San Francisco.
       
      President-elect Casey recapped several events from the past week. The “Mix and Mingle” social at the Academy of Art Automobile Museum on January 31 was very successful, with over 30 members and guests enjoying an opportunity to socialize amidst classic cars. The Super Bowl Party at the home of Lilian Tsi-Stielstra (Insurance Services; Wells Fargo Advisors) was a wonderful event (even though the game was a defensive struggle).
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES February 5, 2019 - Barbara Engdahl Brian Lan 2019-02-20 08:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES January 29, 2019 - Katelyn Cano Brian Lan 2019-02-15 08:00:00Z 0

      Super Bowl Pledges and Winners

      Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 05, 2019
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      Super Bowl LIII is now history, and so is our Super Bowl Pool. This year we raised $26,700 for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. If you made a pledge but have not yet paid, please send a check to Fred Marschner payable to The Rotary Foundation – or click below to pay by credit card.
      Super Bowl Pledges and Winners Dora Dye 2019-02-05 08:00:00Z 0

      An open letter from Tim Taylor, Superintendent, Butte County Office of Education

      Posted by Dora Dye on Feb 05, 2019
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      Many of you have asked how you can help the schools up here. We really appreciate everyone's support, kindness and generosity. I want you to know trucks of food, clothing and items are arriving to help us. For schools we need donations that our Foundation will give directly to teachers, administrators and staff so they don't have to worry about waiting for purchases. Please share this and thanks for everything--we feel your love!
       
      An open letter from Tim Taylor, Superintendent, Butte County Office of Education Dora Dye 2019-02-05 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES January 22, 2019: Jeff Kositsky, Homelessness in SF

      Posted by Brian Lan on Jan 30, 2019
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      More than 70 Rotarians and guests attended today's luncheon, including visiting Rotarians from Illinois and East Bay clubs, and guests from Alliance For Smiles, Catholic Charities, and The Salvation Army. President Rhonda introduced a friend of hers who was visiting today, Julia Pferdehirt from Because Justice Matters. After welcoming everyone, Rhonda went over several upcoming events including:
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES January 22, 2019: Jeff Kositsky, Homelessness in SF Brian Lan 2019-01-30 08:00:00Z 0

      January 2019 Membership Corner

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jan 30, 2019
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      Membership Contest:  On January 22, the winner of Membership’s “Big Island Is Calling” contest was revealed. The award went to the person who introduced the most new members to the Rotary Club of San Francisco between July 1 and December 31, 2018. The winner by a landslide was Marti Sullivan, who introduced five new people into the Club. She invited Catholic Charities to become a Corporate Member with five designees.  Marti receives the week-long stay in Kona Hawaii, courtesy of Harold Hoogasian. Congratulations, Marti, on your fine efforts in receiving this prize.
       
      January 2019 Membership Corner Daniel Joraanstad 2019-01-30 08:00:00Z 0

      Welcome to the Club Gathering

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Jan 28, 2019
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      On the evening of January 8, 2019, Deborah Wakefield hosted a “Welcome to the Club” party at her spacious, early 20th century-styled apartment in Pacific Heights. Her lovely home put everyone in good spirits. Conversation among the 35+ new and prospective members was lively and grew more animated as the first hour of the cocktail party progressed. We enjoyed excellent wine and lots of good appetizers. 
       
      Welcome to the Club Gathering Daniel Joraanstad 2019-01-28 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES January 15, 2019: State of the Club

      Posted by Brian Lan on Jan 24, 2019
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      More than 70 members and guests attended today's meeting, including visiting Rotarians from Tokyo and several local clubs.

      President Rhonda welcomed everyone back for the new year. She shared photos from last week's New Member Event on January 8 and thanked Deborah Wakefield (Concierge Senior Care and Family Support) for hosting, and Anita Stangl (Non-profit Medical Services; Alliance for Smiles) and Daniel Joraanstad (Financial Management; Retired) for coordinating.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES January 15, 2019: State of the Club Brian Lan 2019-01-24 08:00:00Z 0

      2019 Super Bowl Pool: The Rotary Foundation

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Jan 18, 2019
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      The Super Bowl Pool is our Club’s biggest annual drive to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF), whose mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Every Rotarian around the world is asked to donate to TRF every year. Super Bowl Pool winners receive a Paul Harris Fellowship.
       
      2019 Super Bowl Pool: The Rotary Foundation Scott Plakun 2019-01-18 08:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Price Change

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      The Club Board has determined that we must change the member prices for our luncheon meetings to better cover our costs. Beginning with the first meeting of the new year on January 15, 2019, prices will be:
       
      • $35 for members who register online in advance. Online registration closes at 5PM the day before each luncheon meeting.
      • $40 for members who do not register in advance.
      Tickets already purchased at the 2018 prices will be accepted. The price for visitors remains $40.
       
      Please contact JT Forbus (VP of Club Service) if you have any questions or concerns about this change.
      Luncheon Meeting Price Change 2019-01-08 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 4, 2018: Hong Kong

      Posted by Brian Lan on Jan 07, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen welcomed our guests and visitors, including Rotarians from France and Italy. She reviewed some recent events, including Thanksgiving at The Arc on 11/20/18 and the Ugly Sweater Holiday Party on 11/28/18.
       
      She also let members know that member luncheon meeting prices would be changing in order to better help cover costs:
      • $35 for members who register online in advance.
      • $40 for members who do not register in advance.
      These prices go into effect at the first meeting of the new year on January 15, 2019. Tickets already purchased at the 2018 prices will be accepted. The price for visitors remains $40.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 4, 2018: Hong Kong Brian Lan 2019-01-07 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 11, 2018: Brain Plasticity

      Posted by Brian Lan on Jan 07, 2019
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      President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing; GRANTdog) welcomed visiting Rotarians from France, Germany, the Rotary Club of San Francisco Evening, and Los Gatos as well as guests from Roots of Peace, Vietnam, the Consulate General of Honduras, the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Police Activities League.
       
      She shared with us events from last week including the Salvation Army Bell Ringing on 12/7/18 and noted that again the 110th anniversary t-shirt would be on sale through 12/21/18 and could be purchased via the Club website.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 11, 2018: Brain Plasticity Brian Lan 2019-01-07 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 18, 2018: Holiday Party and Annual Meeting

      Posted by Dora Dye on Dec 23, 2018
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      From check-in to check-out, the 2018 Holiday Party was a delight.
       
      The sound of The Salvation Army Band, led by our own Major Raymond Erickson-King (Human Services; The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Center), greeted guests as they stepped off the elevator, leading the way to the meeting room. Upon arrival, everyone was treated to a glass of champagne or other beverage to celebrate an outstanding year for our Club.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES December 18, 2018: Holiday Party and Annual Meeting Dora Dye 2018-12-23 08:00:00Z 0

      Salvation Army Bell Ringing

      Posted by Raymond Erickson-King on Dec 12, 2018
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      'Tis the season! December 7, 2018 was Celebrity Bell Ringing Day at Union Square for The Salvation Army. Rotarians volunteered to help raise funds for programs and services at The Army’s Kroc Center in the Tenderloin. In four hours, we raised over $250.
       
      Thank you for supporting The Salvation Army during the holiday season.
       
      Salvation Army Bell Ringing Raymond Erickson-King 2018-12-12 08:00:00Z 0

      Ugly Sweater Holiday Get-Together

      Posted by Lilian Tsi-Stielstra on Nov 30, 2018
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      Stacey Poole had a great idea for a Rotary Social event, and Lilian Tsi-Stielstra agreed to host the event. Even the weather gods agreed it was a good idea. There was a break in the rain right about the time the party started.
       
      Ugly Sweater Holiday Get-Together Lilian Tsi-Stielstra 2018-11-30 08:00:00Z 0

      Report from Thanksgiving at The Arc: November 20, 2018

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Nov 23, 2018
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      Thanksgiving week is the time for one of our Club’s favorite traditions, one that dates back more than ten years: Serving lunch to clients of The Arc of San Francisco and others.

      The day got off to an early start: Past Club President and Past District Governor Eric Schmautz met Jonathan Scopazzi at The Salvation Army’s South of Market commercial kitchen at 4:40 AM. They worked through the morning to roast 200 pounds of pork shoulder, cook 100 pounds of carrots, make a mountain of stuffing, prepare 5 gallons of gravy and decant 8.5 gallons of cranberry sauce.
      Report from Thanksgiving at The Arc: November 20, 2018 Scott Plakun 2018-11-23 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES November 13, 2018: Heroes' Voices

      Posted by Brian Lan on Nov 19, 2018
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      More than 70 Rotarians and guests filled the room for today's spirited luncheon meeting. President Rhonda Poppen (Grant Writing; GRANTdog) welcomed guests from Catholic Charities and San Francisco State University, our Club's first two Corporate Members.
       
      Rhonda noted that several members had asked about how to help victims of the wildfires that are raging nearby. She directed us to the Club website for information on how we can donate.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES November 13, 2018: Heroes' Voices Brian Lan 2018-11-19 08:00:00Z 0
      Historic Membership Induction in November 2018 Daniel Joraanstad 2018-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

      Welcome to Young Professional Members

      Posted by Mark Enis on Nov 18, 2018
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      Our Club has had a significant increase in young professional members recently. President Rhonda and her husband, Bill Poppen, decided it would be fun to see how many could fit into their small kitchen. In attendance were Casey Blair, Bill Poppen, Rhonda Poppen, Madison Pauly, Sunny Singh, Tyler Sterk, Carolyn Kooi, and Mark Enis.
      Welcome to Young Professional Members Mark Enis 2018-11-18 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES: November 6, 2018 - PDG Russ Ketron

      Posted by Brian Lan on Nov 13, 2018
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      About 70 Rotarians and friends attended today's meeting for an update on the effort to eradicate Polio and on other important work of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF).

      President Rhonda Poppen welcomed visiting Rotarians from Italy, Tanzania, and Ghana, and from South San Francisco, Central Marin, and Daly City. She also welcomed special guests from the Consulates of Vietnam and Germany.
       
       
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES: November 6, 2018 - PDG Russ Ketron Brian Lan 2018-11-13 08:00:00Z 0

      Camp Fire Update

      Posted by Carla Walter on Nov 11, 2018
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      Here is a report we just received from Jon Dwyer, 2018-19 Governor of District 5160, which includes the Rotary Club of Paradise, California:
       
      The first thing of course everyone has asked is “what can I do to help?”. While there will no doubt be a lot more information about many ways to help, to start with The Paradise Rotary Club has indicated that people can make contributions via their Club’s Foundation. 
       
      PDG Pam Grey and Brian live in Paradise, Brian is the current President of the Paradise Rotary Club. They will be accepting donations to be used to assist folks in the short and long term via the “The Paradise Rotary Foundation”. Since they are pretty sure that the Paradise Post Office is gone, they have asked that they be mailed c/o Scheer Memorial Chapel, 2410 Foothill Blvd, Oroville, Ca 95966. 
       
      Camp Fire Update Carla Walter 2018-11-11 08:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 23, 2018: John Rothmann

      Posted by Brian Lan on Nov 08, 2018
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      President Rhonda Poppen welcomed visiting Rotarians from Germany, Guatemala, India and Japan. We also had several family members in attendance, including the parents of Bill Poppen (Banking Management; MUFG Union Bank) as well as guests from the Salvation Army.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 23, 2018: John Rothmann Brian Lan 2018-11-08 08:00:00Z 0

      Report from the Nominating Committee

      Posted by Casey Blair on Nov 07, 2018
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      In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the 2019-20 Board of Directors:
       
      President: Casey Blair
      President-Elect: JT Forbus
      Treasurer: Gary Dales
      Secretary: Dora Dye
      Vice President of PR and Communication: John Dean
      Vice President of Club Service: Michael Petricca
      Vice President of Youth Leadership: Lynn Luckow
       
      All members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting, to be held at the Holiday Luncheon on December 18, to vote on these nominations.
      Report from the Nominating Committee Casey Blair 2018-11-07 08:00:00Z 0

      Getting into the Halloween Spirit

      Posted by Stacey Poole on Nov 04, 2018
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      On October 30, about 20 Rotarians and guests mingled at the Golden Gate Tap Room for drinks, food and fellowship. Several members got into the Halloween spirit by attending in costume, including the Schmautz family of bees and beekeeper, Groovy Rhonda Poppen, Equally Groovy Casey Blair, Superman Bill Poppen and Sheriff Dan Joraanstad.
       
      Getting into the Halloween Spirit Stacey Poole 2018-11-04 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News: November 2018

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Nov 01, 2018
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      I’m excited to announce that our Rotary Club of San Francisco is launching a new Corporate Membership program. Both for-profit companies and non-profit organizations that become sponsors of our Club can designate up to five individuals as individual Active Members. Our first two Corporate Members are both non-profits: Catholic Charities of San Francisco and San Francisco State University
       
      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the Board has accepted the nomination of eleven new individual members, nine of whom are designees of our new Corporate Members.
      Membership News: November 2018 Daniel Joraanstad 2018-11-01 07:00:00Z 0

      Volunteering at Project Homeless Connect

      Posted by Bob Hermann on Oct 27, 2018
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      On October 24, 2018, Rotarians Ryan Overton (who chaired this event), Rhonda Poppen, Dan Joraanstad, Bob Hermann, and Tyler Sterk joined Project Homeless Connect to provide comprehensive services to more than 1,000 homeless people at their 72nd Community Day of Service. Project Homeless Connect is an organization that partners with the community at large, various San Francisco City and County agencies, and several businesses to provide an array of support services for homeless people in San Francisco.
      Volunteering at Project Homeless Connect Bob Hermann 2018-10-27 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 16, 2018: Dan Devone

      Posted by Brian Lan on Oct 25, 2018
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      President Rhonda opened the meeting by reviewing Rotary Four-Way Test and asking that we live by these principles:
       
      Is it the TRUTH?
      Is it FAIR to all concerned? 
      Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
      Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 16, 2018: Dan Devone Brian Lan 2018-10-25 07:00:00Z 0

      Today is World Polio Day

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Oct 24, 2018
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      Today is the sixth annual World Polio Day, celebrating the progress we've made towards Polio eradication - and acknowledging the need to continue the effort until the job is done.
       
      When Rotary International committed to Polio eradication over 30 years ago, the world saw 1,000 new cases of Polio every day. There have only been 20 cases so far this calendar year. We are "this close" but we need to get to "zero".
       
      Today is World Polio Day Scott Plakun 2018-10-24 07:00:00Z 0
      October 2018 Membership Column Daniel Joraanstad 2018-10-21 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from Dinner Club at The Arc: October 15, 2018

      Posted by Peter Logan on Oct 16, 2018
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      Monday, October 15th was yet another fine "Monday Dinner Club" evening at The Arc, as Club members Gary Keener, Tim Hornbecker, and Peter Logan joined other volunteers, staff, and – most enjoyably – the clients.
      Report from Dinner Club at The Arc: October 15, 2018 Peter Logan 2018-10-16 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 9, 2018: Scott Wiener

      Posted by Brian Lan on Oct 15, 2018
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      President Rhonda Poppen welcomed us all to a special luncheon with State Senator Scott Wiener as our guest speaker. Rhonda began the meeting by introducing visiting Rotarians from Concord, California; Reno, Nevada; and China. Other visitors included Mary Qian from Shen Zhou Event, Jeff Lee and pianist Ryan Ahern from Productions 17, and Yulla Nicolas and Yasmin Khalili from Alliance For Smiles.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 9, 2018: Scott Wiener Brian Lan 2018-10-15 07:00:00Z 0

      Rotary in the Italian Heritage Parade

      Posted by Dora Dye on Oct 10, 2018
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      Each year, The Rotary Club of San Francisco celebrates Italian Heritage by carrying 150 flags in the annual parade, representing some of the countries where Rotary serves in the world. Blue Angels fly overhead, and this year as in years past, the sky was a perfect blue.
       
       
      Rotary in the Italian Heritage Parade Dora Dye 2018-10-10 07:00:00Z 0
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES October 2, 2018: Leah Garchik Brian Lan 2018-10-10 07:00:00Z 0

      New Video: How to Register for Club Events

      Posted by Bob Hermann on Oct 03, 2018
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      A video is now available on sfrotary.com that shows you exactly how to register for Club events, including our weekly Rotary Luncheon meetings. You can view the video here. Or go to sfrotary.com, where you'll find the link on the left side of the home page, just below the image that celebrates our 110th anniversary.
      New Video: How to Register for Club Events Bob Hermann 2018-10-03 07:00:00Z 0

      MEMBER PROFILE: Don Parachini

      Posted by Carrie Condran LaBriola on Sep 30, 2018
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      Don Parachini grew up duck hunting in the Sacramento Delta, near his native Antioch, and continued the sport throughout his adulthood until two years ago, when he was backed over by an off-road vehicle near Colusa, breaking his pelvis, scapula and 10 ribs. He was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Chico, where his pelvis was repaired with titanium screws. His wife, Mary Ann, moved into a Residence Inn nearby while Don spent four months on his back in the hospital and rehab before he could walk again. Now, after what he wryly calls “a novel experience,” Don describes himself as “recovered.”
       
      MEMBER PROFILE: Don Parachini Carrie Condran LaBriola 2018-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

      Membership News

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 26, 2018
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      In accordance with our Club Bylaws, I am pleased to announce that the Board has accepted the nomination of Mark Enis (Asset Management; The Key Group) to be our newest member.
       
      Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this proposed new member.
      Membership News Daniel Joraanstad 2018-09-26 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 18, 2018: Randy Arnold, Barefoot Wines

      Posted by Brian Lan on Sep 24, 2018
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      President Rhonda welcomed our prospective members, visiting Rotarians (including one from Germany), and guests.
       
      Rhonda announced that two valued members of the Club had recently passed away: Past President Jim Emerson (Clergy – Presbyterian; Retired) and Past President Grant Hundley (Hardware – Retail; EM Hundley Hardware). She held a moment of silence in their memory.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 18, 2018: Randy Arnold, Barefoot Wines Brian Lan 2018-09-24 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 11, 2018: John O'Connor

      Posted by Brian Lan on Sep 20, 2018
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      President Rhonda opened the meeting with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in honor of Patriot’s Day. Richard Harrell (Veterans Outreach; Heroes’ Voices) then led the Club in singing America the Beautiful. Rhonda welcomed prospective members, a visiting Rotarian from Germany, and other guests, including her parents, Ron and Ann Harvey, who are here from Virginia seeking shelter from Hurricane Florence.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 11, 2018: John O'Connor Brian Lan 2018-09-20 07:00:00Z 0

      Hurricane Florence: How We Can Help

      Posted by David Stovall on Sep 18, 2018
      The forces of nature, namely, Hurricane Florence, is causing, and has caused massive loss in the Southeastern States of the US. In the next few days, we will be assessing and responding to the IMMEDIATE needs for the bare survival of nearly 2 million people. As of this writing, roughly 1 million people are without power, and it’s unknown just how long it will be before power is restored, before people will be able to leave shelters to return to their homes, and months before life will take on any form of normalcy again.
      Hurricane Florence: How We Can Help David Stovall 2018-09-18 07:00:00Z 0
      Report from Homeless Prenatal Program: September 11 & 13, 2018 Emily Borland 2018-09-18 07:00:00Z 0

      September 2018 Membership Column

      Posted by Daniel Joraanstad on Sep 15, 2018
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      New Member Induction 
      We are enriched once again by the arrival of a new member in the Club. J. P. was inducted into membership under the category of Real Estate, working for Coldwell Banker. She was born and raised in San Francisco, and is now working in the City. She is also a member of the Junior League of San Francisco as well as the Urban Land Institute. She is interested in contributing her talents in the area of fundraising, event planning and marketing. And she wants to learn from others in the Club and connect in the common cause of serving others. Welcome! Her sponsor and mentor is Gary Keener.
      September 2018 Membership Column Daniel Joraanstad 2018-09-15 07:00:00Z 0

      A Sad Week for Our Club

      Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Sep 14, 2018
      It is with great sadness that I announce the loss of two valued members of our Club, both of them Past Presidents.
       
      Jim Emerson (Clergy - Presbyterian; Retired) passed away on Wednesday, September 12. Jim joined the Rotary Club of Denver in 1950 and transferred into the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 1979. He served as our Club President in 1990-1991. Jim was 92 years old.
       
      A Thanksgiving for Jim's life of faithful ministry and Christian love is planned for Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 1 PM at the sanctuary of the Calvary Presbyterian Church located at 2515 Fillmore Street, San Francisco.
       
      You can learn more about Jim in this profile, which was published in the May 2018 issue of Grindings.
       
       
      Grant Hundley (Hardware - Retail; EM Hundley Hardware) passed away on Thursday, September 13. Grant joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in 1984 and served as our Club President in 2004-2005. Grant was 67 years old.
      A Sad Week for Our Club Rhonda Poppen 2018-09-14 07:00:00Z 0

      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 4, 2018: Len Kuhi

      Posted by Brian Lan on Sep 13, 2018
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      President Rhonda opened our meeting by welcoming our visiting Rotarians from Houston and Minneapolis as well as our many guests and prospective members, and then highlighted several upcoming events: the Diaper Bag Assembly on 9/11 and Baby Showers on 9/13 for the Homeless Prenatal Program. Next month, the Club will have a Halloween social on 10/30 at the Golden Gate Tap Room. Rhonda also recapped several successful events from last month, including the Rotary 5150 Summer Picnic on 8/26 and the private guided tour of SFMOMA on 8/30.
      LUNCHEON MEETING MINUTES September 4, 2018: Len Kuhi Brian Lan 2018-09-13 07:00:00Z 0

      District Raffle for The Rotary Foundation

      Posted by Frank Yoke on Sep 12, 2018
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      Don’t miss your chance to win a gift card by making a pledge or a donation to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF) during the District 5150 Every Rotarian Every Year campaign.
       
      Whether or not you win, you’re donating to a great cause! The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International, supports humanitarian projects to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, save mothers and children, support basic education, and grow local economies across the globe. 
      District Raffle for The Rotary Foundation Frank Yoke 2018-09-12 07:00:00Z 0

      Eugene (Gene) Lee

      Posted by David Dye on Sep 05, 2018
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      Our Club has been blessed to have Eugene (Gene) Lee (Consulting-Technical Management, Retired) as a member for the past 42 years. He loved life and loved being a Rotarian. When he was no longer able to attend Rotary luncheons and events, members of our Club would visit him. During these visits, Gene would sometimes write a donation check or give bottles of wine to be used as a raffle or auction item. This way he was always part of us at our gatherings.
      Eugene (Gene) Lee David Dye 2018-09-05 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from the Tour at SFMOMA

      Posted by Stacey Poole on Aug 30, 2018
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      Rotarians and guests enjoyed a private tour of highlights of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) on Thursday, August 30. We learned the difference between modern and contemporary art, with a focus on the contemporary artwork in the museum.
       
      Report from the Tour at SFMOMA Stacey Poole 2018-08-30 07:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 21, 2018: Manuel Mollinedo

      Posted by Brian Lan on Aug 25, 2018
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      We welcomed visiting Rotarians and guests from around the world (China, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany) as well as the Bay Area, Nevada, and North Dakota.
       
      President Rhonda recapped several events from the previous week, including the very successful New Members Gathering on August 15 and the Rotaplast Bocce Ball Tournament on August 19. Around 150 Rotarians attended the tournament, which raised $4,000.
      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 21, 2018: Manuel Mollinedo Brian Lan 2018-08-25 07:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 14, 2018: The Arc San Francisco

      Posted by Brian Lan on Aug 22, 2018
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      In today’s luncheon, we welcomed visiting Rotarians from across the country and from India and Germany. Also in attendance were several staff members and clients from The Arc San Francisco as our featured guests, including new CEO Matthew Tarver-Wahlquist, COO Connie Tabas, CFO Marti Sullivan (Nonprofit Management; The Arc San Francisco), and guest speaker Kristen Pedersen, Chief of Employment and Education Services.
      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 14, 2018: The Arc San Francisco Brian Lan 2018-08-22 07:00:00Z 0
      August 2018 Membership Corner Daniel Joraanstad 2018-08-21 07:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 7, 2018: Homeless Prenatal Program

      Posted by John Mathers on Aug 17, 2018
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      We welcomed the following guests: Brenda Kahler and Tom Bondi from the local accounting firm of Armanino; Larry Meek from the 49er Rotary Club of Nevada City, CA; Angelita Cabrera; Jean Rosenblum who was past president of her Colorado Rotary Club; Sarah Cummings from Robert Half; as well as Denise Evans and Lily Nhep from the local Capital One Café.
       
      President Rhonda told us that today's program would focus on the impact our work with the Homeless Prenatal Project has on its clients.
      Luncheon Meeting Minutes August 7, 2018: Homeless Prenatal Program John Mathers 2018-08-17 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from TRF Seminar

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Aug 15, 2018
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      On Saturday, August 11, Phyllis Nusz, Frank Yoke, and I joined about 50 other Rotarians at a District 5150 Learning and Development Opportunity about The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF). The presentation focused on the wonderful work our foundation does around the world, including tools to educate and inspire us all.
      Report from TRF Seminar Scott Plakun 2018-08-15 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from Member Meet-and-Greet

      Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 15, 2018
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      About 25 members, prospective members, and Club Leaders packed the office of Lynn Luckow for the Quarterly meet-and-greet on August 15, 2018. There was an abundance of food and drink, and most important, goodwill and camaraderie to start the evening.
      Report from Member Meet-and-Greet Dora Dye 2018-08-15 07:00:00Z 0

      How We Can Help Carr Fire Survivors

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      The five Redding Rotary Clubs have joined together to promote the Shasta Regional Community Foundation’s (SRCF) Community Disaster Relief Fund. Rotary District 5160 has a long partnership with SRCF and is confident in its ability to steward donations and assist with Carr Fire recovery over the long term.

      Please consider a donation today. Donations should be marked #NorCalRotary and can be made by credit card online at http://www.shastarcf.org/funds/cdrf. Checks may also be sent directly to the SRCF at 1335 Arboretum Drive, Redding, CA 96003 or call 530-244-1219.
       
      Reposted from rotary5150.org
      How We Can Help Carr Fire Survivors Scott Plakun 2018-08-02 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from Patriot House Happy Hour

      Posted by Dora Dye on Aug 02, 2018
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      On August 2, 2018, members and their family along with prospective members gathered at the Patriot House gastropub for happy hour. A great time was had by all sharing pitchers of beer and tasty appetizers.
       
      Many thanks to Stacey Poole and Dan Joraanstad for putting together this social.
       
      Report from Patriot House Happy Hour Dora Dye 2018-08-02 07:00:00Z 0

      New Website Features

      Posted by Scott Plakun on Aug 02, 2018
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      We've made it easier to access the Club Directory and to update your profile information on our Club website.
       
      Click on the Club Business entry in the main menu, and then on Club Directory or Edit My Profile. If you're not already logged in, the system will prompt you to enter your username and password before taking you to your selection.
       
      If you haven't checked it recently, this is a great time to take a look at your Club member profile to make sure it's accurate and complete, and that your photo is up to date.
       
      New Website Features Scott Plakun 2018-08-02 07:00:00Z 0

      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Carla Walter

      Posted by Carrie LaBriola on Jul 31, 2018
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      Dr. Carla Walter joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in January 2017 and immediately got involved, ”because that’s how you get to know people.” She really enjoys the social events and has helped with scholarship evaluations for RYLA, as well as raising money for the Club. She’s just started a two-year term on the board of the Rotary Club of San Francisco as Vice President for Development.
       
      “Rotary is an organization that you don’t feel embarrassed to ask for money, that you can really get behind,” she says. “It’s a good cause, important. And I like making friends, hearing success stories.”
      BOARD MEMBER PROFILE: Carla Walter Carrie LaBriola 2018-07-31 07:00:00Z 0

      President's Column July 29, 2018

      Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Jul 29, 2018
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      Happy New Year and Happy 110th Anniversary Year!!
       
      It is an honor to serve as your president for the 2018-2019 Rotary year. Your welcoming enthusiasm, from last week's energetic meeting to the many emails and texts you have sent my way, is a sign of the great team we are! I am thankful.
       
      The Rotary International theme for 2018-2019 is Be The Inspiration. I relayed in our first meeting and wish to reiterate that our Club's plan to inspire boils down to several components. One is our formal plan on paper evidenced by our goals and our common desire to see our Club and surrounding communities thrive.
      President's Column July 29, 2018 Rhonda Poppen 2018-07-29 07:00:00Z 0
      ROTARY LUNCHEON July 24, 2018: District Governor Jayne Hulbert 2018-07-24 07:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Minutes July 17, 2018: Bebo White, Cryptocurrency

      Posted by Scott Plakun
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      About 50 club members and guests attended today's lively luncheon meeting. We were joined by visiting Rotarians from several Clubs across California, and by an unusually large number of guests.
       
      After the basic preliminaries, President Rhonda announced that a get-well card was circulating so that everyone could offer personal wishes to Immediate Past President John Mathers (Management Consulting; eVo Associates), who is having knee replacement surgery today.
      Luncheon Meeting Minutes July 17, 2018: Bebo White, Cryptocurrency Scott Plakun 2018-07-17 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from Rotary Twilight Golf

      Posted by Timothy Hornbecker on Jul 12, 2018
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      Frank Yoke and Tim Hornbecker are tied for first so far, with John Hoch second, but if Tyler Sterk, our guest and potential new Rotary member actually joins the Club, he could take over the lead in no time. Our tourney with trophies is open to all Rotarians in the Bay Area. All level of golfers invited. Special rules this year include no more than double par. So for a par 3 hole and you’re stuck in the bunker, you can’t get more than a 6! That speeds up the round and adds to the fun! We’re looking for more golfers to join us for 9 holes and libations every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month through September 13! Fun fellowship! 
      Report from Rotary Twilight Golf Timothy Hornbecker 2018-07-12 07:00:00Z 0
      Service Project Report July 11, 2018: Project Homeless Connect Daniel Joraanstad 2018-07-11 07:00:00Z 0

      Luncheon Meeting Minutes July 10, 2018: President Rhonda

      Posted by Scott Plakun
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      About 70 people attended President Rhonda's inaugural meeting today. After preliminaries that included a champagne toast to the 110th anniversary of the Rotary Club of San Francisco (thank you to the Sir Francis Drake for the bubbly!), President Rhonda gave an inspiring talk about her vision for the Rotary year ahead.
      Luncheon Meeting Minutes July 10, 2018: President Rhonda Scott Plakun 2018-07-10 07:00:00Z 0

      Report from the 2017-18 RI Convention

      Posted by Rhonda Poppen on Jul 01, 2018
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      A group of roughly 20 members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco attended the Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Ontario from June 23-27, 2018.
       
      The Convention allowed 24,000 Rotarians worldwide to come together in celebration of the past year’s successes and to look forward to the next year’s theme, Be the Inspiration
      Report from the 2017-18 RI Convention Rhonda Poppen 2018-07-01 07:00:00Z 0

      Celebrating our 110th Anniversary

      Posted on Jul 01, 2018
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      The Rotary Club of San Francisco, the second oldest Rotary Club in the world, was founded on November 12, 1908. Theodore Roosevelt was President, Ford Motor Company was manufacturing the Model T, and San Francisco was in the final stages of recovery from the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
       
      Since then, our Club has played a key role in the growth of San Francisco into a major city, and expansion of Rotary to 1.2 million members in more than 35,000 Clubs throughout the world.
       
      We are celebrating the 110th anniversary of our founding at our Holiday Luncheon and Annual Meeting on December 18, and with "time capsule" moments at our luncheon meetings throughout the 2018-2019 Rotary year.
      Celebrating our 110th Anniversary 2018-07-01 07:00:00Z 0