President Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.) called the meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed everyone attending either in person or via Zoom. He shared today's agenda, announced that there would be Fellowship Time immediately after today's meeting, and invited all to attend the Fellowship for cookies and beverages.
Today's Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were District 5150 Youth Chair Sylvia Barry from the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise who attended via Zoom, Assistant Governor Judy Johnson from the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise, John Swon from the Rotary Club of Minneapolis, and President-elect Johnny Wong from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown. Today's guest was Charlie Onorati. Today's speaker was Amy Everitt. Welcome to all!
Rotary Flag Exchange
President Frank exchanged Rotary flags with Visiting Rotarian John Swon.
John Swon and President Frank Yoke
Awards to Our Club
President Frank announced that our Club had won the 2024-2025 Club Excellence Award from Rotary District 5150 and the Spirit of Philanthropy Award on National Philanthropy Day. Stay tuned for more information on the presentation of these awards.
Celebrating the 2025 RYLA
President Frank introduced Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) who was the Director of the RYLA Camp that just concluded on August 1, 2025. Todd brought the experiences from our 39th Annual RYLA to our meeting today. Among the many experiences that he shared were the affirmation cards found on the place setting of those attending today's luncheon in person, the support that the Camp had offered to the students including the new Wellness Center this summer, and the transformation experienced by those who had participated in RYLA. Todd thanked our Club for its financial support and the following Rotarians from our Club who made this year's Camp a success:
Todd also expressed appreciation to the Camp Directors before him, including Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.), Jim Murray, David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired), Past District 5150 Governor Sue Rokaw, and Lynn Luckow (Development | LikeMinded.org).
If you would like to participate in next year's RYLA — the 40th , please contact Todd.
$25 for Twenty Five Seconds
Today's donations went toward raising awareness of climate change. Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) added that he would match every $25 donated toward RYLA. Donating to one or both of these causes were Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group), Todd St Vrain, Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management), Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA), Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications), Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Retired, Frank M. Booth, Inc.), Dr. Kai Burrus (Education: University | San Francisco State University), Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles), Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired), Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired), President Frank Yoke, and Margaret "Peggy" Mathers (Network Optimization | Retired).
Each donor at the Luncheon on August 5 and/or at the Luncheon today, August 12, was entered into a drawing to win the following prize:
Winner: The winner of the drawing was Tim Hornbecker. Congratulations, Tim!
Business Networking
President Frank reported on another successful Business Networking opportunity on August 6, 2025.
Hanlen Chang, Janet Beach, Thomas Estruth, Oluwademilade Ogunbade, Hana Xu Wang, Ozan Yasavur, and Merve Yasavur
Upcoming Events
Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events. Future events include Ukraine Updates from the Rotary Club of Kyiv-Balzac, social activities for Club members and guests, and youth programs.
Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT)
President Frank introduced Kai Burrus. Kai is now the Chair of the Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT), co-founded by 2017-2018 Club President John Mathers (1946-2023). Kai acknowledged the legacy that John had left behind and the big shoes to fill. At San Francisco State University where Kai teaches, she started the SFSU Climate HQ to cultivate climate justice leaders and seeks to "think globally but act locally." One of the first events involves today's guest — Charlie Onorati from Save the Bay. Charlie delivered a fascinating plan to use nature-based solutions to save the Bay. Kai and Charlie invited us to participate in this event:
For more information and registration, click here.
Charlie Onorati and Kai Burrus
Guest Speaker
Larry Booth introduced today's speaker — Amy Everitt, who is president of Golden State Opportunity (GSO), a nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty for Californians. Amy talked about the face of poverty in California and GSO's efforts in both advocacy and services to connect Californians with resources and lift them out of poverty. President Frank thanked Amy Everitt and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in her name.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:29 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Frank thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for serving as scribe; Dan Joraanstad for serving as photographer; Ruth Wenzel (Registered Nurse | Retired) for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Mary Liu and Sunny Singh for serving as greeters; and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) and Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.