As members and guests arrived, David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) took a moment to look at the tables beautifully set and ready for our Club to begin a new Rotary year. Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman (Nonprofit Management | Glaucoma Research Foundation) called the first meeting of the 2023-2024 Rotary year to order at 12:15 PM and welcomed those online and those attending in person at the Anzu Restaurant in the Hotel Nikko.
photo by Dora Dye
Induction of New President
Joining Immediate Past President Christopher on the podium were our new Club President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) and our new District Governor Laine Hendricks (Public Relations and Marketing | County of Marin). DG Laine expressed her pleasure at attending her own Club's luncheon in person and inducted President Sunny.
photo by Jim Patrick
Meet the 2023-2024 Board
President Sunny introduced the 2023-2024 Board. Each Board member in attendance was asked to talk briefly about their goals for their Committee.
From left to right are: President-Elect Bob Hermann (Information Technology: Administration | Retired UCSF), Club Treasurer Bill Poppen (Banking: Management | MUFG Union Bank), Immediate Past President Christopher Wiseman, Vice President of Youth Services Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne), Club Secretary Nancy Graydon (Development | Glaucoma Research Foundation), Vice President of Membership Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired), Vice President of International Service Frank Yoke (Development Consulting), Vice President of Development Maureen O’Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired), Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group), Vice President of Club Service Ozan Yasavur (Engineering: Mechanical | Bioforcetech Corporation). On Zoom was Vice President of Vocational Service Alex Omoko (Human Services | Bay Area Community Service). Not pictured were Vice President of Community Service Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications) and Vice President of PR and Communications Dan Davies (Information Technology: Consulting | North American Lighting). photo by Jim Patrick
DG Laine inducted and welcomed our Club's 2023-2024 Board.
Special Acknowledgments
President Sunny thanked the following for the important jobs they perform for our Club:
- Dora Dye (Education: Elementary and Community College | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for serving as Executive Secretary and Grindings editor.
- Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Frank M. Booth, Inc.) for serving as Chair of our Club's Speaker's Committee.
- District Governor Laine Hendricks, Assistant Governor David Dye, and Assistant Governor JT Forbus (Accounting | Bogdan & Frasco) for representing and serving as leaders in Rotary District 5150.
- Alisha Marfatia (Information Technology: E-Commerce | EvolveWare) for organizing and leading our Club's social events.
- Luis Moran (Real Estate: Sales | Coldwell Banker) and the entire San Francisco Rotary Foundation where Luis serves as president for supporting our Club's projects.
- The staff at the Hotel Nikko for their service.
- The President's Council consisting of Bob Hermann, Christopher Wiseman, Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group), JT Forbus, and Stephanie Schmautz (Elder Care and Senior Services | The Carlisle) for their guidance.
- Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) for serving as The Rotary Foundation Chair.
Meet President Sunny
President Sunny shared some interesting facts about his life.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
We welcomed John Picinich visiting from the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor in Washington. Mary Liu introduced the guests of Angelina Preza (Sales: Travel | Aquarium of the Bay): Ronald Bolden Jr. and Niko Kowell. President Sunny introduced his guests: Nehemiah Brown, Aurelio Lioi, Tina Lioi, Eric (Siu) Su, his First Lady - Arielle DeMarco, his brother - Govindeep Walia, and his father attending on Zoom - Charanjit Walia. Other guests were Bridget Mahoney, Peggy Mathers, Laura Navarro, and Stephanie Osman.
The New Rotary Year and Looking Ahead
President Sunny introduced this year's Rotary International Theme:
He urged every Rotarian to attend a Rotary International Conference and talked about the fun he had experienced and what he had learned in Melbourne, Australia. President Sunny then showed a brief video from new Rotary International President Gordon McInally.
Next, President Sunny shared the results of the Club's recent survey of the membership. While the responses were few, the results were clear as to what members wanted. He then talked about his goals to increase member engagement; to meet our Rotary International, District, and Club goals; to increase collaboration between and among Club committees; to increase our exposure in the media; and to share member success stories.
President Sunny closed by announcing the grants approved for 2023-2024.
Social Time
The audience was given time to chat and mingle. Suggested topics of discussion were:
- Share your 4th of July experiences from this year and/or previous years.
- What are some of your favorite summertime activities and pastimes?
- If you could be anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be?
Club Events for Rotarians
Club Events: Check the Club's calendar for upcoming Committee meetings and service projects.
Share Your Good News ($20 for Twenty Seconds)
Here are today's donors:
- Bill Gregory (Educational Services | Retired) donated to invite everyone to this entertaining event on August 17, 2023. Bill was the one who had secured these tickets for our Club.
- Luis Moran donated to thank Immediate Past President Christopher, welcome President Sunny, and announce that the San Francisco Rotary Foundation was seeking a secretary. Later, Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) stepped forward to accept the job as Secretary for the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. Way to go, Ann!
- Bob Hermann donated to thank Immediate Past President Christopher and welcome President Sunny.
- John Mathers (Management Consulting | eVo Associates) donated to welcome President Sunny and to tell everyone what an incredible experience RYLA is.
- Christopher Wiseman donated to celebrate President Sunny and the new Board and to express appreciation for Nancy Graydon for serving on the Board again.
- Anita Stangl (Medical Services | Alliance for Smiles) donated to thank Immediate Past President Christopher and welcome President Sunny. She also promoted the medical missions of Alliance for Smiles.
- Lisa Stark (Communications and Media | Self-Employed) donated to celebrate President Sunny who is from India and to talk about her experience as an exchange student in India and how she had come full circle.
- Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) donated to celebrate President Sunny and to express sympathy for First Lady Arielle DeMarco. He challenged ten people in the audience to match his $1,000 donation to the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. Todd St Vrain, Nancy Graydon, John Mathers, Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices), Frank Yoke, Stacey Poole (Law: Family | Lerner Poole & Stewart, LLP), Jim Patrick, Maureen O'Shea, Andrea Gung (Non-profit Administration | Duo Duo Project), Margaret Miley, and Robin Azevedo (Retail: Mattresses | Retired, McRoskey Mattress Company) who was on Zoom accepted the challenge. Thank you to all!
- David Dye donated to celebrate the District leadership in the house: DG Laine, AG JT, and AG David.
- Mary Liu donated to celebrate DG Laine and President Sunny. She also recommended Vet Tix for all veterans.
- John Hoch (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) donated to celebrate President Sunny and to ask that our Club bring back the Twilight Golf now that John is mobile again.
The meeting concluded at 1:32 PM with the ringing of the Rotary Bell by President Sunny. Today's meeting was recorded. You can view today's meeting by clicking here. Watch all the way to the end to see what happened to the Club's bell!
A view of the crowd. photo by Mary Liu
Meeting Volunteers
President Sunny thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye for serving as scribe; Jim Patrick for serving as photographer; Ozan Yasavur for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick of the Academy of Art University for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Nancy Graydon for serving as greeter; and Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) and Ozan Yasavur for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.