President Doug Person called the meeting to order right on time!! He called on newish member, Bret Johnson, to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Marilyn Orr then took the stage to deliver an invocation. Her topic was on kindness, sharing quotes from Tommy Lee Jones, Mark Twain, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Dalai Lama.
Visiting Rotarian Alan Cary, from the Woodside Portola Valley Club announced their "Taste of Woodside" fundraiser on September 7th. For tickets go to www.tasteofwoodside.com
The club welcomed new member Erika Monteverdi, who transferred from the Palo Alto Club. She shared her background in healthcare leadership, including her current executive role at Sutter Health. Jennifer Pence did the honors of presenting Erika with her pin.
Diego Ruiz, a scholarship recipient, presented an update on his educational journey, announcing his transfer to UC Berkeley to study molecular and cellular biology. He just completed his associate's degree at Cañada Community College.
Program:
Marilyn Orr introduced Immediate Past District Governor Steve Wright. Steve then introduced Past District Governor and current Foundation Chair Gary Chow.
Gary and Steve explained the benefits of donating to the Rotary Foundation, highlighting that half of the money donated to the Annual Fund Share comes back to the club after three years as District Designated Funds. They emphasized that these funds can be used for local projects or international initiatives through global grants, which receive additional matching funds from the Foundation. They also mentioned the current fundraising campaign with gift card prizes and encourage members to consider legacy giving through estate planning.
They highlighted the significant progress in the polio eradication campaign, with the reduction from 350,000 annual cases to just a handful, with challenges remaining in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Gary emphasized that the polio infrastructure has been valuable in fighting other diseases like Ebola, dengue fever, malaria, and COVID-19, and encouraged donations to the Polio Plus Society, noting that Bill Gates offers a 2-to-1 match. He also explained how clubs can use recognition points to honor non-Rotarians. Steve presented statistics showing that the club has room to grow in terms of per capita donations compared to district averages.
Join us for a special talk with John Leshy, Professor Emeritus at UC Law SF and former Solicitor of the U.S. Interior Department, as he unpacks how the U.S. came to hold over 600 million acres of public land — and what the future might hold for these vital shared spaces.
Leshy, author of Our Common Ground (Yale, 2022), will offer a powerful look at the history, purpose, and promise of America’s public lands.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn, reflect, and engage!
