UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

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:

Heather led us in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four/Five Way Test.
Her Reflection was as follows:

Twas the Night Before the Rotary Lunch 

’Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the town,
The Rotarians were busy, no time to sit down.
The meeting room was set with the greatest of care,
In hopes that the Guest Speaker soon would be there.
The members were nestled all snug in their seats,
With dreams of eggnog and a few holiday treats.
The President stood with the gavel in hand,
To lead the Four-Way Test, the best in the land.
When out in the hallway there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from the table to see what was the matter.
Away to the door we flew like a flash,
Past the Sergeant-at-Arms and the pot for the cash.
What to our wondering eyes should appear,
But a sleigh full of grants and some holiday cheer!
With a driver so jolly, his spirit so bright,
I knew in a moment he had the “Service Above Self” light.
He didn’t bring toys for the girls and the boys,
But polio vaccines and some community joys.
He whistled and shouted and called us by name:
“On Secretary! On Treasurer! Keep winning the game!”
“To the top of the project! To the end of the hall!
Now fundraise away! Fundraise away all!”
And as he drove off, past the bell and the pin,
He yelled, “Happy Christmas! Let’s let the meeting begin! 

Guests: 

Shari Shamsavari (previous Rotarian and considering joining again), Nate Zaft (you mean he doesn’t have his blue badge yet?) and guest speaker Andrew Bailey 

Sunshine: 

Former member Jean Marie Foster passed away. She left the club in 1999 and has most recently been living in Texas. 

50/50 Drawing: 

Patty Kolin ran the show today.  $60.00 was in the pot and we had two prizes this week. Besides the the potential to win the pot, Michael Tonjum provided a wine country basket full of goodies! Nate Zaft’s number was pulled first, and he chose the basket. Diane Moresi got the chance to pull the blue marble. Alas, she pulled a yellow. Her $10.00 went into the closest Polio Pail. 

Joke of the Week with Michael Moore: 

 

An elderly couple had another couple over to their home for dinner. After dinner the wives went into the kitchen to clean up while the husbands stayed at the table.  The one man said, “We just ate at a new restaurant, and it was excellent! The other gentleman said, “Really, what is it called?”  The first man racked his brain trying to remember, “I think it was Rose something…”   He called to his wife, “Hey Rose! What was the name of that restaurant we went to last week?” 

The United Nations at Eighty: 

 Jeff Kolin and Kris Anderson went to the United Nations at Eighty meeting in San Francisco last week. Jeff gave us a report on the day. They were not sure what it was all about.  What would they learn? Will it be educational? Jeff said, “I knew there was a connection, but I never understood how deep that connection was.” 

In 1945, World War II was ending. The United States and 84 other countries were interested in starting an organization that would spur cooperation of countries in the world. The United States Secretary of State called upon Rotary for help since Rotary was 40 years old and was already connecting the world.  He asked for three people to help with the charter.  Rotary sent eleven! The United Nations was founded in San Francisco, and the charter was signed at the Veteran’s War Memorial Building, the same place where the meeting was last week.  Rotary has worked in partnership with the United Nations ever since.  

Laine Hendricks, Director of Communications, from Marin County District 510 was the Image Chair for the day.  First up was a panel: Vicki Puliz, Trustee (2025-2029) The Rotary Foundation, Rotary Positive Peace Activator, Melissa Fleming, Under Secretary-General for Global Communications, United Nations, and Cyril Noirtin Dean, Rotary Representative Network Rotary Representative to UNESCO and OECD. 

The second panel was John Hewko, General Secretary & CEO, Rotary International and Karenjot Bhangoo Randhawa, Ph.D., Professor of Peace and Conflict, University of California, Berkeley. The featured speaker for the morning session was Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. 

After lunch there were various panels to attend. Jeff went to a program on the environment and Kris went to one on Peace. Since Kris is writing on the bulletin here is her report: 

The topic was Peace: Strengthening Bonds Through Shared Understanding The panel consisted of: Linda Lowe, Executive Director, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, People of Action Honoree, Champion of Peace. 

Vicki Pulz, Trustee (2025-2029), The Rotary Foundation, Rotary Positive Peace Activator Lorena Rodriquez, Director of Regional Outreach and Partnerships, Rotary Peace Fellowship Alumni Association Founder, Cultures for Peace John Paul Lederach, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of International Peace Building at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame Senior Fellow, Humanity United (Google his name and go to his website.  He has a free book you can download.) 

Cyril Norton spoke again.  Then there was a discussion with Michelle LeBaron, Professor of Law, University of British Columbia and Michael J. Nyenhuis, President and CEO, UNICEF USA on the difficulties of funding. Michele Low spoke again to the whole audience. 

Barbara Gaughen-Muller, President, United Nations Association, Santa Barbara, CA Chapter and Douglas Roche, Canadian Author, Parliamentarian, diplomat and Peace Activist spoke about Barbara’s husband, a pilar in the peace world. 

Last up was a panel: Rose Cardarelli, ED.D., Rotary Representative to UNICEF CEO, Education for All Coalition, John Hewko, President and CEO, Rotary International, Michael J. Nyenhuis. President and CEO UNICEF USA, Collin Chu, Northwest Youth, Representative USA and Anu Marimuthu, Rotary Youth Advisory Council, Interact District 5170 Co-Head Mentor. 

A pretty heady group of people to hear from at this special gathering! Jeff and Kris were glad they went! 

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Scholarship Applications

The Scholarship Committee is excited to announce that the 2026 Scholarship applications are now available!

Diane Moresi handed out flyers for the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Foundation Scholarship Program.  Applications are now available from December 1 to March 1, 2026. A total of 14 scholarships are available and students can go to www.santarosarotary.comscholarships for details. The scholarships are available to a variety of students: continuing students, veterans, transfers, students with disabilities. 

We ask for your assistance in sharing the following information with friends, family, and anyone you know who may have connections to eligible students. The more applications we receive, the better our selection of qualified recipients will be. Thank you for your support! (Click here to view the letter)(Click here to view the flyer)

Announcements: 

1.  The Giro Bello contract has been signed!  This year we will be starting and ending at Balletto Vineyards on Occidental Road. This will save us over $6000 vs using the Luther Burbank Center.  All routes are changing.  Registration starts January 1. 
2. Casey D’Angelo says the sign up for dicitionary distribution will start January 7. Dictionaries will be here before the end of the month of Janaury. Everyone should sign up to deliver to two schools. 
3. Ray Giampaoli added that he has talked to Bob Rogers about adding “Pedal for Polio” as a fundraising opportunity for the Giro Bello. Stay tuned for more information. 
4. Kris Anderson announced the District 130 multi-club hands on project to plant redwood tree starts at the Jenner Headlands on January 24, 2026. This is to help restore depleted redwood forests and rejuvenate carbon-absorbing flora. All Rotary Interact and Rotaract Clubs are invited to participate. We will be working with Forests Unlimited, a nonprofit involved in the education of California forestry practices and reforesting burned/logged areas. 

We will meet at the Jenner Headlands Preserve, organize carpooling from Duncans Mills, at 8:30am. We will plant trees from 10:00 to 3:00. Lunch will be provided. Tools will be provided but bring a shovel if you have a favorite.  Don’t forget a hat and water!  Register no later than January 8th : by either copy or pasting from the email that was sent to you on Saturday December 13 at 10:30am from Paul O’Rear 

Enter your last name as “Rotary-(Name) so the host can identify you as part of the “Rotary Army” and check the “January 24” event date. This is the third such project that District 130 has conducted in the past few years. The first two were very successfully attended and thousands of trees were planted! 

Marcos Marquez and his Guitar: 

One of our newest members played the guitar and sang some Holiday songs for us: O Holy Night, Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. How fun! 

Recognitions: 

Heather Thurber had company calendars for 2026 for whoever wants them. But her big news is that she is the local president for the North Bay Association of Realtors for 2026! That includes all of Sonoma County, Napa County and Mendocino County. Congratulations! She donated $100.00 

This Week’s Guest Speaker: Andrew Bailey from Anova on Autism 

Andrew has been in the Autism field for 40 years and the last 25 with Anova. Neurodiversity is the correct term as the variations are so many! Back in the day 1-150 might have some form of Autism. Now it is 1-31. Are more people getting it? Or are they just better at recognizing it (in its various forms). 

No one knows what causes it. What Robert F Kennedy says are the causes is so out in left field, but bringing the topic up is good. The typical autistic person will need between 3 and 5 million for their care in a lifetime. 

The local school burned down during the Tubbs fire in 2017.  The new school just finished construction this year.  Many thanks to the Gallagher family and Poppy Bank for their support. Quattrocchi and Quock Architects designed a magnificent building taking in the needs of the neurodiversity of the students. 

This school has 145 students. Bigger than some school districts! 

The kids are smart but very nerdy. They may have sensory issues with sounds and smells. They will ask inappropriate questions. He mentioned the Temple Grandin is an American ethologist, inventor, and animal science professor at Colorado State University. She’s a prominent advocate for humane livestock treatment and a leading expert on animal behavior and autism. Grandin’s work focuses on animal welfare, neurodiversity, and livestock facility design. She is autistic. 

Then we ran out of time. Darn! A fascinating subject! 

Andres’ Presentation:

 

 

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