The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise BLOG

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It’s a flourishing garden in the middle of a sea of asphalt. A small space, dead center in the Santa Rosa City Schools District parking lot, that just a year ago was a stretch of dirt and weeds and a few sad-looking fruit trees.

Today there is a footbridge over a rock-lined drainage spillway that is gorgeous but also entirely functional. There are grapevines and trellises, a brand new equipment shed, dahlias and roses, and a smattering of flower beds and fountains.

And perhaps most beautiful, there is regular activity on Ridgeway Avenue, just east of Highway 101. It’s a sight to behold, but it lacked enough seating for the students and teachers from the school district’s 18--22 Transition Program who worked to create it, to actually sit and enjoy it. The transition program targets students with special educational needs who have matriculated out of high schools throughout the district. It works to give them tools for independent living and entering the workforce.

Click image to the right to read entire articlle.

From President Diana - here are our upcoming events:
 

October  8       Saturday      3:00 – 6:30 PM District 5130 Foundation Celebration South

October  8       Saturday      5:30 – 8:30 PM Maine Lobster Boil at Center for the Arts

October 15      Saturday      5:30 – 9:00 PM District 5130 Foundation Celebration North

October 16      Sunday         1:00 – 4:00 PM Bruce Campbell Celebration of Life

October 18      Tuesday        5:30 PM – District Governor Jennifer Strong

October 19      Wednesday 7:30 AM – District Governor's Club Visit

October 26      Wednesday 2pm – 4pm Volunteer at Redwood Empire Food Bank
 

September 17 Saturday
12:00 – 4:00 Sebastopol Rotary Club Picnic 

September 17 Saturday
5:30 PM – Ukraine Refugee Relief Fundraiser 

September 19 Monday
5:30 PM – Board Meeting

September 24 Saturday
2:00 – 4:00 PM Ukrainian Family Fund Concert

September 28 Wednesday
2pm – 4pm Volunteer at Redwood Empire Food Bank

October 8 Saturday
3:00 – 6:30 PM District 5130 Foundation Celebration

October 8 Saturday
5:30 – 8:30 PM Maine Lobster Boil at Center for the Arts

October 16 Saturday
1:00 – 4:00 PM Bruce Campbell celebration of life

October 18 Tuesday
5:30 PM – District Governor Jennifer Strong 

October 19 Wednesday
7:30 AM – District Governor Club Visit

From Michael McGlothlin -

On December 23rd. over 50 Rotarians and Community members gathered together to construct 300 Christmas Dinner Boxes for needy families in West County. The Dinner Boxes contained everything needed to make a Christmas Dinner for a family of four.  The box included a frozen chicken, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, onions, green beans, cranberry’s, chicken stock, sweet potatoes and a pie. Each box also had a hand written card wishing the recipient a happy holiday.

The Christmas Dinner Box giveaway was a joint venture of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise, The Rotary Club of Sebastopol, The Sebastopol Center for the
Arts, and VFW post 3919. This is the second year that these nonprofit organizations have teamed up for the giveaway.

The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise has put a Community Christmas Dinner for since 2002. The last dinner in 2019 had over 1000 people attend. Since the Covid-19 pandemic the club has created and distributed the Dinner Boxes. We received very generous support from Pacific Market in Sebastopol as well as support from Korbel Champagne Cellars and the Redwood Area Food Bank.

Hello Dear Rotarians, there is lots happening in our club. Check out the dates, grab your baseball bling and jump in!

Monday October 11^th at 7:30 am    Gather at the parking lot next to Hop Monk Tavern in Sebastopol for a morning  hike/social at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma.  We will ride share from there.  Consider joining the group and having fun.

Tuesday October 12^th at 5:30 – Membership Committee Join our active and effective Membership Committee chaired by Kathy Rogers. Meeting is on Zoom, link is on the club website calendar at sebsunriserotary.org

Wednesday October 13^th at 7:15.  Weekly Meeting.  Join us for breakfast arriving early if you are coming in-person to socialize and get part way through your breakfast before the meeting starts.  Wear something from your favorite baseball team. Show your pride!  Your team may or may not be in the playoffs but this is the Season!   

Our program presenters are Los Cien speaking on Building Bridges.  Herman Hernandez and Lisa Carreno will present Los Cien, a Sonoma County organization advancing belonging, trust and equity by engaging with our community, facilitating honest dialogue, and elevating Latinx pride and power in Sonoma County.  Los Cien members are some of the most important and influential people in our communities. 

Monday October 18^th 5:30 RCSS Board Meeting on Zoom. Have an idea? Have imput? Want to be a part of what helps our club build community?  Join us! The zoom ink is on the club website.

Rotary Exchange Student Recruitment  October is the time we seek Rotary Exchange Student Candidates for short and long term Rotary sponsored student exchanges.  We are looking for local students who will be aged 15 – 18.5 in August of 2022.  Know someone who might be appropriate?  David, Michael, PJ and Linton are on the team for you. Let us know if you have participant suggestions. Flyers are attached.  We are getting some responses for both programs from potential applicants. We are open to more. 

Do you have an idea for fundraisers we should consider?  Are you thinking about how we might grow our membership?  Want to contribute to our success and help Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise work better for all of us and do good things?  Start by sharing your ideas and supporting the people and things that you love. Reach out and stay in touch with others in our club.
We are better together.

Monday August 16th 7:00am Our newly formed weekly Monday Hiking group will walk about 4.5 miles in the morning. The hikes go up and downhill. Meet at the City parking lot by Hop Monk then ride share to the hike. Contact Dan Needham for more info.

Wednesday August 18th. 7:15am Hybrid Meeting: “Don’t miss the inaugural breakfast of our new caterer Sebastopol Sunshine Cafe this Wednesday! Those who have visited Esmeralda and Efrains’ restaurant on Main Street have become real fans. Let's give a big turnout when Sunshine comes to Sunrise. We want to make them feel welcome.

August 25th - 8:30am International Committee follows our regular club meeting - Mikel Cook

August 25th - 2:00pm - 4:00pm Redwood Empire Food Bank - Dan Needham

September 10th - 7:00pm RC Santa Rosa East West Wild West Virtual Fundraiser attend their fundraiser, some of them attended our recent auction.

September 18th - Apple Blossom Parade - Diana Curtis

October 8th - 9th. District Conference and Foundation Celebration. Your registration is paid. Meals and room extra as you can see below. Mix with Rotarians from clubs throughout our District 5130

Four stalwart Rotarians braved the mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, turkeys, jackrabbits, deer, and mountain bikers in Annadel Park this morning. Well, we saw a couple of mountain bikers, but other than that we had the trails to ourselves. 4.3 miles with stops for viewing valleys, Lake Ilsanjo, and delighting in the silence took us just under 2.5 hours. Join us next Monday when Charlie Judson has a 5.5 mile hike near Duncans Mills mapped out for us. Details to follow later in the week.

Don't let us be the only ones to enjoy these great hikes. Look how much fun we were having in the attached picture.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Dan

The Shiny Penny

• Each week we will ask three members to tell us one of their “Shiny Penny” moments.
• This is not to ask you to brag, but to share something that tells your story.
• It help’s us get to know each other a little better.
• You may get more than one chance this .
• This may not be your only chance to do this during the year.

Dan Needham and the team signing up volunteers for our Sebastopol Service and Action Coalition during Peacetown.

Michael McGlothlin (left) as "Carbine Miranda" - we've seen him as "Carbine" before, but this appears to be a new outfit.

Michael McGlothin and Kathy Rogers, as Julia Child (right).

Every year we celebrate the President's accomplishments and dedication at "debunking".

The theme of this debunking was "Women in History".

Congratulations Barbara on a terrific year - you made history.

David Mark-Raymond met with his incoming Board for a retreat and meal. David reviewed his goals and theme, "Building Community". We had sun, wind, and conversation in Freestone. As usual, fellowship was in abundance. It was a great start to the upcoming Rotary year.

Our members on March 17 2021 at Redwood Empire Food Bank packing potatoes and broccoli. Helping our neighbors in need!

Enjoy this Facebook Live video of the dedicaton ceremony for the Libby Park Playground.

Press Democrat Article: Sebastopol nonprofits spread Christmas Eve cheer in meal giveaway

We’re unable to host our traditional Christmas Day dinner gathering this year, but we will be preparing dinner boxes that will be available on the afternoon of Thursday, December 24.

Each box will contain the fixings for a family of 4: A whole frozen chicken, stuffing mix, gravy seasoning, potatoes, other vegetables, and dessert ready to thaw and cook on Christmas Day.

We received a thank you card from CASTLE Child Care for our grant for video hardware resources.

This is a joint project with the Rotary Club of Sebastopol.

Join our Zoom Meeting, 5:30pm November 19 via ZOOM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89698701278?

Meeting ID:  896 9870 1278

Passcode:  550146

Find your local number:  https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kexxx0H9bf

I have scheduled another Volunteer session at the Redwood Empire Food Bank on Wednesday November 18th, from 10:00am - 1:00pm.  The signup link is below.

Thanks, Michael McGlothlin

https://refb.volunteerhub.com/lp/SebastopolSunriseRotary/

Rotary DG Doug Johnson shares his thoughts about the challenges of fires and Covid-19 as well as the opportunities for Rotarians.

Thank you for all your hard work - let's stay together and get through this together.

I'm hearing so many good stories of things people have learned and that they can use in the future to make Rotary a better organization. So keep up the good work, stay together as a family, we are people of action.  

District Governor, Doug Johnson

After many years of riding a two wheel motorcycle racing dirt track and then pleasure riding, Steve Darling became disabled and unable to ride any longer.  

Missing this hobby, he decided to make a three wheel trike that he could ride with his physical limitations. This first project the Yaba Daba Doo – it is a Fiero back and originally had a Harley front. 

Steve recently replaced the Harley front with a Suzuki front due to needing a braking mechanism for the front wheel (safer to have front and  back brakes).  The Yaba Daba Doo is headed for Hawaii for him to ride there.  No worries, he has a second similar trike he is keeping here in California to ride!  Riding is a peaceful way to forget your troubles.  I am super proud of his creative talent. 

Laurie Darling

Come join District 5130 in celebrating a most unusual year of Close-Knit collaboration, creativity, accomplishment and do-goodery!  We will be celebrating the Rotary year 2019-2020 in virtual style.  We will honor our fine Rotary clubs and announce the winners of many awards. Our RI Vice President Johrita Solari will have a few words for us. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to celebrate with the District in the comfort of your own home.  It will be held on Saturday, October 24 (World Polio Day!!!). 

The District Conference celebration will be from 4-5 PM and the Foundation Celebration will be from 5-6 PM.

The Zoom Link will be sent to you a few days before the conference.   See you there!

Sincerely,

Kathy Flamson
District Governor 2019 - 2020

 

The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bukoba, Tanzania, successfully completed a water, sanitation and hygiene Rotary Global Grant project at Iluhya Secondary School in Bukoba.

The rural boarding school, 30 km outside of town, lacked sufficient water for the 600 students, faculty and staff.

Students had to rise at 5:00 am and hike 4 km to a spring and carry water back to school in five-gallon buckets each day before attending classes.

Continue Reading...

Please note: To the far right, Rotarians Dale Knight and Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise Past President, Jerry Meshulam.

Michael McGlothlin, Community Services Chair, and Barbara Barney, President, deliver local grocery store gift certificates to Jerry Slaby, President of the Sebastopol Inter-Church Food Pantry.  

The certificates will be distributed to pantry clients and can supplement other food assistance.  The clients can also purchase non-food items.  

Many households need items such as diapers, paper products, soap, and pet food.

Pinot and Pizza fundraiser https://globaloffsitecare.org/  is presented in partnership with Paradise Ridge Winery and Global OffSite Care, benefitting Dr. Jim Gude's Global Telemedicine Projects worldwide.

SAVE THE DATE!

Global Offsite Care is rolling with the times and hosting a virtual Pinot & Pizza fundraiser on July 25, 2020, 7pm.

Given COVID 19, we are unable to host a large gathering at Paradise Ridge Winery this year, and so we have decided to bring the winery and the event to you. Please join us this year for a fun night in our "Zoom Living Room" as we come together for a Live Auction and Fund A Need to raise much needed funds for global telemedicine. We will be bringing our Pinot & Pizza to your home with our "WOW Package."

When you purchase your ticket for $125, you will receive a "WOW Package" which includes (but is not limited to) the following items:

•     One bottle of Paradise Ridge Winery 2016 Pinot Noir
•     One wood oven pizza from Franchettis
•     Free Door Prize Ticket
•     Exclusive opportunity to bid on our Live Auction Items  on July 25, 7pm

Phyllis Meshulam - Sonoma County 2020 Poet Laureate Event.

This is a video of the ceremony honoring Phyllis as the new Poet Laureate of Sonoma County.

You may have to advance it a minute to get to the musical introduction and then the rest of the program.

Singing and dancing under the stars, under the sun, in a theater.  Not happening this month and perhaps not for a while but Northern California Rotary clubs will be doing their best to bring a piece of Broadway into living rooms to entertain audiences—and to support Rotary efforts to eliminate polio throughout the world. 

Rotary International District 5130–47 Rotary clubs located from the Wine Country to the Oregon border—is partnering with Transcendence Theatre Company as their Nonprofit Partner for their free online performance of Don’t Stop Believin’ on Sunday, July 12.  Featuring staged performances of theatrical musical numbers, Broadway hits, the classics and the contemporary, TranscendenceTheater has brought award-winning concerts to audiences from the majestic ruins of Jack London State Historic Park as well as from iconic locations throughout Wine Country’s Sonoma Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Press Release

Event Link

Barbara Barney Sebastopol Sunrise is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: SCARC
Time: Jul 30, 2020 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87399952323?pwd=WlBIakRYT1F5U3g1OCtPekxnYVBkdz09

Meeting ID: 873 9995 2323
Password: 887288
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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keEsoHUCo9

FLYER

The debunking of President Laurie Darling held via Zoom.

Youtube Recording

Rotarian of the Year - Judy Rice

Hi Rotary family and friends,

This will be my last message to you as District Governor.  It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it?  Many people have said they were glad they didn’t have to serve in such trying times.  But those of us who had the privilege of serving this year understand that the obstacles, and there were a few, are far outweighed by the reward of having served at a time when we can see the best in people.  We can see our Rotary family step up to donate to those in need of food, shelter and clothing.  We were able to create shelter for animals – some we’ve never heard of – who were burned in wildfires in Australia.  We were able to accept the generosity of other Districts to help with our communities in times of disaster.  We were able to share food and comfort when the days went dark due to PSPS events.  We were able to make masks, give food, support our seniors – both school-aged and Social Security-aged.  Most of all, we were able to serve those we know and love and those we will never meet.  And THAT’s what Rotary is all about.  We were able to be agents of do-goodery and create a close-knit world. 

During those times when we are seeing the not so good side of people, I ask you to use our Rotary tools to help understand.  We have our areas of focus to help us with our commitment to service, fellowship, leadership, integrity and diversity.  When we listen, we are listening with the 4-way test in our minds and in our hearts, not to judge others, but to understand. 

This year we had milestones, as well.  The Rotary Club of Napa turned 100!  The Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East turned 50.  There were many milestones in between.  We are not forgetting them, but waiting until we can properly celebrate them.

I want to thank all of you for being so flexible.  I think our virtual meetings allowed us to have a sense of normalcy.  We were able to see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices.  Although we were physically distanced we were all able to stay connected. And those who couldn’t join the virtual world were connected by caring club members who reached out by telephone or a drive-by visit. 

I want to quote a classmate of mine – “The privilege to serve others is a gift, the power to serve others is a blessing, the desire to serve others is success.”  Thank you for the privilege to serve you as District Governor.

Sincerely,

Kathy Flamson
District Governor 2019-2020

Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise President Laurie Darling and President-Elect Barbara Barney presenting Mary McAulay, representing the Sebastopol Inter-Church Food Pantry, with local grocery store gift cards.

The cards will be distributed to families that receive food aid from the pantry.  The families can use the cards to supplement the food received or purchase essential non-food items such as soap, paper products, etc.

The Pantry, located at St. Stephen’s Church, served 76 families during the first half of June and distributed over 7,500 pounds of food during the last six weeks.  It is supported by local Sebastopol churches.

Want to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience? Join a Rotary Fellowship! Rotary Fellowships are international groups of Rotary members, their family members, program participants, alumni, and even non-members who share a common passion.

From bowlers to jazz fans, scuba divers to history enthusiasts, photographers to lawyers, there’s a Rotary Fellowship for everyone. Currently, about 91fellowships unite members in fun and friendship.

This month, we’re celebrating Rotary Fellowships Month. If you’re not already part of a fellowship, it’s a great time to learn why you should join one. Look at a complete list of fellowships and watch a video highlighting just a few of them.

Although Rotarians in our District have been very giving, Rotary is still about $10.5 million shy of the $50 million goal for PolioPlus, which the Gates Foundation has pledged to match, and we have less than 3 weeks to try and make it up..

Go to https://www.endpolio.org/donate to donate $10 to help out.

President Laurie showed President-Elect Barbara the "ropes" while running our Zoom meeting this week.

Our speaker was Sheba Person-Whitley, Executive Director at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.

Joyce Oneko gave her "Who am I?" presentation.

Joyce showed this photo of herself with her gradchildren.  See our Youtube account for the Jun 3 2020 video of the full meeting.

On Saturday, May 23, members of Sebastopol’s two Rotary Clubs — the Rotary Club of Sebastopol and Rotary Club Sebastopol Sunrise — donned masks and brought their shovels to put the final touches on the new play structure in Libby Park, dispersing bark around the playground.

Sonoma West Article

District Governor Kathy Flamson reminds us that May is Rotary Youth Service Month.

Rotary International's Structured Programs for Youth Service are: Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Youth Exchange.

The month of May is designated as “Youth Service Month” to focus on all Rotary activities that support the development of young people up to the age of 30.

Our Zoom meetings are available in video form via the Club's Youtube channel. 

We will post them in the center column of the home page.

There is very little in the Youtube channel now, but going forward, you can use THIS LINK to access it.

Happy Trails!

Ana was our program speaker this morning.  She gave a lovely presentation covering her year as an Exchange Student from Brazil.  Her slideshow included photos of her friends, family, and Brazil.

President Laurie emailed out a new link for our Zoom meetings. 
Click the zoom logo to join the meeting.

 Happy Anniversary to all Women in Rotary!

On May 4th in the year 1989 the Rotary Council on Legistlation approved female membership.  This decision to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains  a watershed moment in the history of Rotary.  Read More

The Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise supports youth in many ways. 

We recognize a "Student of the Month" during the school year and one of those well-deserving kids is recognized as the "Student of the Year".

We host an exchange student each year, and also sponsor an outgoing Exchange Student.  This year, we are hosting Ana, from Brazil, and our outbound student, Julian, is going to Brazil in the Fall.

We also sponsor a Rotary Interact club at El Molino High School in Forestville, CA and support RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp at Wesminster Woods, in Occidental, CA, where our young men and women learn lifelong leadership skills. 

While it may sound cliché, the children of the world are our future, and we proudly nurture them, helping them become leaders, peace builders and world citizens.

Mark your calendars for 20-26 June for an exciting opportunity to gather online with the family of Rotary for our first online convention.

Now More Than Ever, Rotary Connects the World: The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention will join you with Rotary participants around the world during a time of unprecedented challenges.

Together, we’ll still experience the spirit of Rotary, be inspired by innovation, celebrate our resilience, and explore how clubs are addressing COVID-19. Experience Rotary in action during our Flag Ceremony, witness the power of connection during our general sessions, learn new ways to engage with Rotary during our breakout sessions, find inspiration from our global speakers, and much more.

We have never needed Rotary — and we have never needed each other — more than we do now. We hope to see you online, because Now More Than Ever, Rotary Connects the World.

LEARN MORE

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Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise
PO Box 2481
Sebastopol, CA 95473

We meet Wednesday mornings
7:15am – 8:30am
Masonic Hall
373 North Main Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472

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