UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

Socials, Meetings, & Events:

Social & Wine Tasting at Mark Burchill’s

January/February – Book of Why? Distribution to 3rd Graders
February 3, 2026 – 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Rotary Board Meeting @YMCA (Mtgs are 1st Tuesday the month)
February 12, 2026 – 7:00 pm – Rotary International’s Club Meeting  @ Jim Green’s house (Mtgs are 2nd Thursday of the month)
February 23, 2026 – 3:15 pm – Foundation Board Meeting @ Andersen, Zeigler (Mtgs are 4th Monday the month)
February 24, 2026 – 5:30 pm – Social and Wine Tasting at Mark Burchill’s residence. (click here for details)
March 2 & 3, 2026 – Read Across America Volunteer Days, Boys & Girls Clubs. See Past President Casey D’Angelo for details

Giro Bello – June 27, 2026

June 27, 2026 – Giro Bello – Register or Volunteer now (See Flyer)

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 stated at the opening, “Welcome to the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa where we are united for good in Santa Rosa and the world.”

Craig helps open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, Four Way Test, & Reflection

Craig Meltzner led us in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four/Five Way Test.

His Reflection was on Rotary’s Vocational Service Month:

“This month we focus on how our professions connect to Rotary’s mission of service. Rotary often talks about vocational service using our professional skills to serve others –but a simpler way to think about it is: Vocational service is the choice to treat our daily work as a public trust. Whatever our field, people rely on us not just for results, but for judgment, fairness, and integrity. Most of the choices that shape a community don’t happen in public – they happen quietly, in how we work, how we treat colleagues, employees and clients, how we respond to mistakes, and whether we choose convenience over conscience.

Rotary’s Four-Way Test isn’t meant to hang on the wall. It’s meant to guide those everyday decisions, especially when no one is watching.

Rotary’s insight is that service doesn’t begin after work hours – it begins within our vocations. When we choose excellence, fairness, and responsibility as part of our professional lives, our work itself becomes service – building trust, dignity, and opportunity in our community every day.”

Visitors:

Arthur Chaney, Edward Flores, Kyle Winn, Malia Nichols, and David Bjorkland

Sunshine Report:

Former member, Judy Glenn, suffered a stroke last week. Remarkably she is over the worst of it and is back home taking care of herself.

50/50 Drawing:

Fred Levin ran the drawing for today. We had 10 marbles in the bag and $44.00 in the pot. Ann Gospe’s number was called, but she pulled a yellow marble. The pot rolls over.

Joke of the Week with Michael Moore:

A little girl asked her mother, “How did the human race come about?”

The mother answered, “God made Adam and Eve, and they had children and so all mankind was made.”

Two days later she asked her father the same question. He said, “Many years ago there were monkeys, and we developed from them.”

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, “Mom, how is it possible that you told me that the human race was created by God and Dad says we developed from monkeys?

The mother answered, “Well dear, it is very simple. I told you about the origin of my side of the family, and your father told you about the origin of his side of the family.”

Gary Nichols Craft Talk:

Gary doing his Craft Talk

Gary was born in Denver and spent his early years in Nebraska and Kansas. As an adult, he practiced medicine and was in research. He worked in universities and pharmacies all over the place. When he got to UC Davis, he knew he would stay in California.  He retired in 2019 but still works part time at Sutter in elder medicine.

He loves motorsports of all kinds. He drives a Porsche GT4 and a Harley. He likes to play chess. Once he played with a five-year-old kid and lost!  However, that kid did go on to be a state champion. He likes geology, biology, physics and astronomy…pretty much all the sciences.

Report of the Redwood Reforesting Project:

President Julia went on the multi club planting of redwood seedlings out in the Jenner Headlands on January 8. The redwoods grow along with Douglas Firs, and redwoods protect the fir trees. She said the views were amazing and suggested that when this project comes up again, we should all consider helping.

Charitable Grants Money:

President Julia making several announcements

President Julia visited the Foundation Board meeting on Monday. She put in her request for the nondesignated funds to be used for club projects. There was $19,850 available since the Foundation paid for the Junior Livestock Auction last August. It is not final, but some will be used for last December’s Children’s Nutcracker and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. $4500 was requested from the Pluth Fund toward the Book of Why as well as $5600 Giro Bello funds. The Foundation told Julia and Peter Holewinski that they should estimate that the Foundation can give the club about $25,000 a year for club projects from the Undesignated funds. The Foundation will have the actual number after their fiscal year ends in June.

Announcements:

1. There is going to be a wine social at Mark Burchill and Mel Konrad’s home on February 24. It will be a blind Mark says that tuxedos and evening gowns are optional.  Please see the flyer on the tables, Facebook page, or website for the details, or click here
2. The “Book of Why?” is in and every team has picked their quota up. Please contact the schools immediately and try to get them all delivered in February. Past President Casey thanked Ted Wilmsen for the letters and labels and Sam McMillan, Steve Olson, Ray Giampaoli, and Nate Zaft for loading the books in each team’s car.
3. The Sonoma County Library is having Dr. Seuss Day on March 2 and 3. The library is looking for volunteers to read Dr. Seuss books to the kids at the library(s) that day. President Julia strongly urges us to do this project because kids in Sonoma County only have a 32% proficiency in reading by the third grade. You will be reading to prekindergartners to second graders. See Past President Casey D’Angelo for details.
4. Patty Kolin and Scott Bartley are working on sponsorships for the Giro Bello. They have contacted the four major health clubs in the area and Summit State Bank. Who do you know could be a sponsor?  Plus!, it looks like we will be featured on the electronic billboard in Rohnert Park.  She is dialing for dollars!
5. Patty Kolin is also taking Girl Scout Cookie orders for her granddaughter.
6. Grab some Giro Bello flyers and put them wherever you can.

Recognitions:

Soon-to-be District Governor Jeff Kolin donated $50.00 to the club for Patty’s Girl Scout solicitation.

Arthur Chaney (President of 100 Blackmen) introduced

Arthur Chaney – President of 100 Blackmen

Kyle Winn – First Tee Program

Kyle grew up playing all kinds of sports, but not golf. He learned the game and he was hooked! Kyle’s background includes competitive golf and a passion for teaching. He emphasizes the importance of integrity, respect, and perseverance in sports and life.

First Tee teaches kids to enjoy the challenge, leadership and social skills, and teamwork of golf. Only 10% will go on to play golf in college. Hitting a golf ball out of the rough or from behind a tree takes skill of the physical and mental kind. Perseverance is a core value at First Tee.

The program is like a three-legged stool:

1. They teach kids golf
2. They train physical education instructors so they can teach kids.
3. Do community outreach at Boys and Girls Clubs and other like locations.

The age range is from about 5 to 18. They have an alumna program.

Why is golf good for kids? Kyle used himself as an example. His mom would drop him off at the golf course. He played with people of all ages. It is the only sport where you police yourself. It teaches respect for the rules, the course, and your fellow golfers.

Special Election

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