President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) welcomed Rotarians and today's speaker — Brennan Bowen.
Thought of the Day
Bridget Mahoney (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF) read today's Thought of the Day which was "In a world facing complex challenges, service is the simplest yet most profound way to bridge and conquer divides."
A Look Back
President Bob reflected on the work that our Club accomplished in the first six months of his presidency. In addition to the fun social events, our Members have participated in RYLA, Club Visioning, the DEI Film Festival, PRLS, Rotary Meadow, San Francisco/Marin Food Bank, Heroes Voices, Emergency Services Day, an Alliance for Smiles mission, Rotary Jeopardy, Homeless Prenatal Program, the Alzheimer's Walk, Friendsgiving, The Arc Thanksgiving, Rotaplast, and Family House.
A Look Forward
Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events. Please join us for the remaining events in December, including:
- our Holiday Party and Annual Meeting on December 17. Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) and Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) encouraged members to register so that we could meet the required quorum for our Annual Meeting. They were also seeking door prize donors. Please bring an unwrapped toy to benefit the children at Family House. New this year is the opportunity to spend the night at the Westin St. Francis Hotel for a special rate of $189 if you wish to stay in the City on Monday and/or Tuesday prior to the Holiday Party.
- the Salvation Army Bell Ringing on December 20. Please sign up with President-Elect Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.).
- the Catholic Charities Holiday Celebration on December 20.
- Kwanzaa. Stay tuned for more details.
- the Star, Stripes, and Songs Fun Raiser on January 11, 2025. Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) invited all to this event to raise money for our Club and have fun too! There will be a silent auction along with good food and music. Dan will be on the piano while Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices) will sing.
President Bob encouraged anyone who has not participated in any of these events to make an effort to get involved now and in 2025.
News from our Members
President Bob announced that Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) just got engaged to be married. Congratulations to Angelina!
News from our Members
President Bob announced that Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay) just got engaged to be married. Congratulations to Angelina!
Anita Stangl, Angelina Preza, Jessica Hansen, and Margaret Miley
Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) shared his experience at this gala along with other members of our Club. He described how our Club was honored for having funded Building Education's efforts to build schools in rural Nepal. Building Education is headed by Club Member Wendy Shew (Nonprofit Administration | Building Education).
EREY Spin the Wheel
This month's winner of the Every Rotarian Every Year Spin the Wheel contest was Brian Lan (Investor Relations | Meta). Brian received $25.
December 2024 Rotarian of the Month
President Bob announced that Eric Schmautz was the Rotarian of the Month (ROTM) for December 2024. While Eric is actively involved at both the district and international levels, his recent efforts in co-chairing our Emergency Services Day and the Thanksgiving celebration for The Arc were noted. Eric described the Thanksgiving meal prepared for The Arc: 195 pounds of meat, 160 pounds of carrots, 11 gallons of cranberry sauce, and 39 pumpkin pies for a grand total of 470 meals served to The Arc and the Salvation Army. Congratulations, and thank you, Eric!
$25 for Twenty Five Seconds
- Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) donated happy dollars to talk about his move to Marin County and how Rotarians had assisted him in both the home sale and the temporary relocation.
- Christopher Wiseman (San Francisco Rotary Foundation) donated happy dollars to announce that his husband, Eric, was retiring from his publishing and technology career. In celebration, they are taking a trip around the world.
- Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA) donated happy dollars on behalf of The Arc to thank our Club for the Thanksgiving meal.
- Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) donated happy dollars to announce the birth of a new grandson.
- President Bob donated happy dollars to thank Club Members for the wonderful first six months of his presidency.
Guest Speaker
Our guest speaker was Brennan Bowen from the Golden Gate Cookie Co. Brennan spoke about his international travel before moving to San Francisco where he was a teacher until he was laid off. He decided to pivot in his career and start his own business based on his passion for food, particularly dessert. Brennan brought chocolate samples for those attending today's meeting in person. The audience analyzed the look, feel, smell, and taste of three chocolate samples. While the audience described what they were tasting, Brennan provided information on each chocolate.
President Bob thanked Brennan Bowen and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in his name. President Bob also encouraged all to continue the chocolate discussion at this Cookie Making Workshop on December 8.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Bob thanked today's meeting volunteers: Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Retired) for serving as volunteer coordinator; Stacey Poole (Law: Family | Lerner Poole & Stewart, LLP) for serving as scribe; Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) for serving as greeter; and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.