UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

Socials:

Giro Bello – July 12, 2025 – was a huge success. More details coming soon.

Rotary Board Meeting – August 5, 2025 4pm – 5:30pm @YMCA
International Committee Meetings – July 14, 2025 @ Jim Green’s house, 619 Scotland Ct, Santa Rosa

Fifth Wednesday Social – July 30, 2025 4pm – 7pm – Food & Beverages, Bocce, Croquet, and Darts! Please bring the beverage of your choice and some food to share. RSVP to RotaryMarkB@sonic.net See flyer below for more details:

5Th Wednesday Social Flyer – Click to enlarge

Upcoming District/International Events: 

July 31, 2025:  SCARC Dinner at Balletto Winery – Address: 5700 Occidental Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, Phone: (707) 568-2455
September 5, 2025: Rotary Youth Exchange Golf Tournament, Baywood Golf and Country Club, Arcata
April 4, 2026: District Assembly (most likely in Ukiah)
May 1-3, 2026: Far West Fest (District Conference for 5130, 5170, 5190, 5220, and 5230) at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV
June 13 – 17, 2026: Rotary International Convention in Taipei

Check back for new socials

SCARC at Balletto Vineyards – July 24, 2025 – Address: 5700 Occidental Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95401, Phone: (707) 568-2455

Like planning parties and having fun? Talk to Nona Lucas
Talk to Ann about joining the team leading hands-on service during the 2024-2025 year

More socials and events coming soon.

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

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

More socials, projects, & events coming soon!

Rotaract Fund Raiser
If anyone would like to donate money to GRA (Global Rotaract Alumni Club) they can donate the money on the GOSC site and include a note that it is for GRA. This would help us tremendously to continue growing as a club and be able to conduct larger scale projects. Here is the donation link: Donate Now – Global Offsite Care

Opening The Meeting

President Julia, “Welcome to the Rotary club of Santa Rosa where we are United For Good, here in Santa Rosa and the World.” 

Fred Levin led us in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four-Way Test.  His reflection was on the price paid by the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

There were 56 signers and they al faced various hardships during the Revolutionary War. 

Five signers were captures by the British and tortured before they died. 

17 signers had their homes and/or businesses destroyed by the British and Tories. 

All had significant financial losses and some became impoverished. 

Some lost sons who served in the American Army. 

Several signers and family members were imprisoned and abused by the British. 

Nine signers died during the war and many had battle wounds. 

You can read Michael W. Smith’s essay, “The Sacrifices Made by the Declaration of Independence Signers” for more information. 

Visiting Rotarians: 

Peter Anderson from the Rotary Club of Clarksburg 

Visitors: 

Jose Guillen is back and turned in his application.  He let us know that he would now like to be known as Tavo.  His middle name is Octavio (after his grandfather) and he was known as Tavo as a child. Once he came to the United States from Guatemala, he went by his first name.  Now that he is retired, he wants to go by Tavo.  Welcome back Tavo! 

Secret Greeter: 

President Julia is bringing back the Secret Greeter.  For those of you who are new, this is how it works. The President selects someone to be the greeter. Since we don’t know who it is, this encourages EVERYONE to say hello to everyone.  Give them a smile. Shake their hand, Give them a hug.  You never know who it could be.  

This week it was Tavo!  He said Kris Anderson greeted him with a big hug!  Next week Kris gets a free lunch! 

Sunshine Report: 

Ginny Cannon says all is good.  President Julia asked us to consider pooling our money to send one large check to a Rotary Club in Texas for the flood victims. A basket was passed and about $900.00 was collected. President Julia always remembers the large checks our club got after the Tubbs Fire. 

50/50 Drawing: 

Dan Balfe said there was $42,00 in the pot and 11 (eleven?) marbles in the bag. Sam McMillan had this ticket drawn, but he did not pull out the blue marble. His ten dollars went into the Polio Pail. 

Joke of the Week, by Michael Moore: 

An employer asked his new employee if he believed in life after death. “Yes, I do.” he said.  

“Good.” Said the employer. “Good thing, because she came to visit you while you were gone.” Not sure I got that right. 

Polio Plus Award to Ray Giampaoli: 

Doug Landin presented Ray with his Plus Eight pin.  That means he has given $9000 to the Polio Plus Society.  After the next $1000 he will be a Major Donor! Ray pointed out that it is really very easy to do. “$83.33 a month is $1000 a year through Rotary Direct.  Set it and forget it.”  If you too would like to set up regular contributions to Rotary, see Dan Landin for details. 

Announcements: 

1. “Far West Fest” is the theme of next year’s District Conference. This will be like a mini convention  with several Districts coming together in Reno at the Grand Sierra Resort. You should have gotten an email a couple of days ago.  If you sign up on or before July 12, 2025 the price is only $295. 

1. The District is providing $2300 for a matching grant. Julia wants to do something for Caritas Village. She will have more details soon. 

1. Rose Frances reported on the board’s decision to work more closely with Rotaract. We will mutually help each other’s projects and fundraisers. 

1. The SCARC meeting on July 31 is one of the most popular SCARC meetings of the year. Great Mexican food and wonderful wine.  Not to mention the comradery .  This is one  not to miss.  5:30pm at Balletto Vineyards, 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa. The cost is $60.00.  Contact Kathy Rogers, Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise at kathyrogers@westcounty.estate or call (707) 953-0517.  Debi Zaft will make reservations.  RSVP by July 28, 2025. 

Recognitions: 

1. Sam McMillan is very proud of his grandson who placed second in the State in Greco Roman wrestling. He donated $100 to the club. 

1. For Father’s Day this year, Ray Giampaoli and his 21-year-old son did the Rim to Rim Hike at the Grand Canyon.  It was 22 miles, 17 hours in 100-degree weather, Ray is just turning 60 and is still going strong.  Buy the way, He still has not made it to the top of Mt Shasta,  He donated $100. 

1. Bill Hatcher reminded us that on Sunday, July 13, at 10:00am we will be at the Santa Rosa Cycling Club to wash all the supplies we borrowed from them for the Giro Bello.  So come on out to help. 

Peter Anderson on his trip to India for a Rotaplast  Event: 

Yes, this is Kris Anderson’s little brother.  He joined Rotary a year after she did in 2003.  He was a member of the West Sacramento Club for many years, the President in 2019-2020, but since he retired from Caltrans, he has joined the local club in Clarksburg, CA. 

Peter is a graduate of the University of the Pacific with an engineering degree.  He is the guy I called to wine about the roads in California. 

Anyway, my brother has become quite adventurous at age 65. He went to Egypt and Jordan last year too.  A Rotary friend said, “I have an opportunity for you.”  His wife, Linda said “Go.” 

Since 1993 Rotaplast has conducted over 600  surgical and educational camps in 26 countries, serving more than 21,000 patients. Known mainly for surgery to correct clef palates in children, they now do surgery on burn victims.   Fun fact, Barry Silberg has participated in the past! One of the founders of the program was in India and he is 94 years old!  Of course he does not do surgery anymore (yes, Jim Green, you are not too old to go). 

This Rotaplast trip was to Nagamangala India.  See Peter’s slides, that are attached to see the whole story, 

Peter’s Presentation Slides:

Click on above image to see slides from Peter’s Rotaplast presentation

CREDITS