President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) called today's meeting to order at 12:16 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko. He shared photos from the December 2023 Holiday Party and thanked Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group) for creating the slideshow.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Richard Swart from the Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown, Jenny Bates from the Rotary Club of Ignacio, Emily Charley from the Rotary Club of Mission San Rafael, and Donna Lee Gulley from a Rotary Club in Chicago. Our guests were Katherine Thompson and Karen Banks of Family House, Kai Parker, and Neeraj Miglani, a former member of our Club.
Welcome to the Club
Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) promoted the upcoming Welcome to the Club for New and Prospective Members on January 30, 2024.
New Member InductedElizabeth Driskill (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities) was inducted as a new member of our corporate member - Catholic Charities. Elizabeth was born and raised in San Francisco and is excited to get involved in our Club. Welcome, Elizabeth!
Grant Presentation
Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) on behalf of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation presented a check in the amount of $4,333 to Family House. Katherine Thompson and Karen Banks of Family House delivered a presentation on "Keeping Families Together". Family House serves as a home away from home for families with children who have cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and are being treated at UCSF. Family House was established in 1981, originally serving 10 families per night. Since moving to the Mission Bay Area, the new facility houses up to 80 families per night or 4,000 families per year, providing meals, lodging, transportation, counseling, and toys at no cost. They also provide events such as game night or movie night, passes to local attractions, and community to the residents. Family House is always seeking volunteers for meal preparation and art activities and also has two annual fundraising events.
Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) on behalf of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation presented a check in the amount of $4,333 to Family House. Katherine Thompson and Karen Banks of Family House delivered a presentation on "Keeping Families Together". Family House serves as a home away from home for families with children who have cancer or other life-threatening illnesses and are being treated at UCSF. Family House was established in 1981, originally serving 10 families per night. Since moving to the Mission Bay Area, the new facility houses up to 80 families per night or 4,000 families per year, providing meals, lodging, transportation, counseling, and toys at no cost. They also provide events such as game night or movie night, passes to local attractions, and community to the residents. Family House is always seeking volunteers for meal preparation and art activities and also has two annual fundraising events.
Super Bowl Viewing Party and Squares
Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) invited everyone to attend the upcoming Super Bowl Viewing Party on February 11, 2024 and to purchase Super Bowl Squares from him.
Glaucoma Awareness Month and Gala
Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) discussed his work at the Glaucoma Research Foundation. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. If you would like to attend the Glaucoma Gala on February 8, please contact Christopher Wiseman.
Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) discussed his work at the Glaucoma Research Foundation. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. If you would like to attend the Glaucoma Gala on February 8, please contact Christopher Wiseman.
RYLA
Robin Azevedo on behalf of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation presented a check in the amount of $50,000 to RYLA. Vice President of Youth Development Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) gave a presentation on RYLA. The 2024 RYLA is scheduled for July 29-August 2. Our Club has been supporting RYLA for 38 years. Up to 150 students from 45 high schools participate each year, experiencing fun, leadership, friendship, and personal growth. Approximately 20 alumni attend RYLA each year. Kai Parker, a senior at Balboa High School and RYLA alumnus, spoke about his RYLA experience.
Donating to Rotary
President Sunny recognized the following for their generous donations to Rotary:
President Sunny recognized the following for their generous donations to Rotary:
- District Governor Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin) and her wife Jenny Bates;
- David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) and Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties);
- Frank Yoke (Development | Frank Yoke Consulting);
- Stephen Geisheker (Technology Support | Retired);
- Dr. David Shen (Healthcare: Dentistry | OrthoWorks Orthodontics Group);
- Bill Gregory (Educational Services | Retired);
- Robin Azevedo;
- Fred Marschner (Financial Services | Northwestern Mutual);
- Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Retired);
- Wendy Ross (Banking: Management | Bank of San Francisco)
- PDG Eric Schmautz (Banking: Management | Retired) and Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle).
Frank Yoke explained the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) Program and encouraged everyone to participate with a minimum donation of $25.
Meet our District GovernorPresident Sunny introduced Assistant Governor David Dye, citing David's many accomplishments and commitments both within Rotary and other organizations. AG David then had the honor of introducing District Governor Laine Hendricks, a member and past president of our Club. Laine has been a Rotarian since 2007, first in Fresno and then she transferred to our Club in 2010. Laine is the Communications Director for the County of Marin by day and resides in San Rafael with her wife Jenny Bates, Buddy their dog, and Cruiser their cat.
Themes: DG Laine introduced the Rotary International Theme of “Create Hope in the World” which includes the new area of focus - mental health. She discussed how mental illness and suicide affected her family and why this area of focus is personal to her. DG Laine stated that her enjoyment of Rotary stems from the people involved and announced that District 5150’s Theme for this year is “Connect”. She encouraged people to connect both within Rotary and outside of Rotary, including city officials and organizations within the city to understand how Rotary can help. Laine provided Rotary International and District pins and explained the symbolism in the District pin.
Activities: First, DG Laine asked the audience to look within and think about what provides joy within Rotary. She then encouraged everyone to get to really know each other. Finally, she asked the audience to share if they had recently tried something new and encouraged members to find different ways to get involved in Rotary and to get out of our comfort zone. DG Laine concluded by announcing upcoming social events and the District Conference on May 17-19, 2024 in Reno.
The meeting concluded at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Sunny thanked today's meeting volunteers: Stacey Poole (Law: Family | Lerner Poole & Stewart, LLP) for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick for serving as photographer; Mary Liu for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Dan Davies (Information Technology: Consulting | North American Lighting) for handling social media; Robin Azevedo and Christopher Wiseman for serving as greeters; Christopher Wiseman for serving as Zoom host; and Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation) and Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.