President Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.) called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM and wished everyone attending either in person or via Zoom a happy Veterans' Day. President Frank explained why this day was particularly special to him:
- President Frank's great grandfather served in the War Between the States (aka The Civil War).
- President Frank's grandfather served in the Great War (aka World War I).
- President Frank's father served in World War II.
- President Frank's favorite scoutmaster served in Iwo Jima.
Opening Ceremony
President Frank introduced the Color Guard from the American Legion, Cathay Post 384. In marched Mickey Kwok, CJ Reeves, John Twadell, and Ernesto Ugarte, bearing the colors. Everyone then said the Pledge of Allegiance and applauded the Color Guard.
Happy Birthday to the Rotary Club of San Francisco (#2)
Our Club turned 117 years old on November 12, 2025. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting | The Plakun Group) presented some factoids about our Club:
- Our Club gave birth to the Rotary Club of Oakland (#3), the Rotary Club of Seatte (#4), the Rotary Club of Los Angeles (#5), and the Rotary Club of San Mateo (#6).
- Our Club hosted the founding of the United Nations in 1945. Posters showing photos of the founding events were on display at today's luncheon.
- Before women were allowed to join Rotary, our Club had admitted in 1986 former United States Senator from California and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein as an honorary member.
- Our Club was the first to form a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Bring a Veteran to Lunch
Thank you to Past President and current District 5150 Chief of Staff JT Forbus (Accounting | SD Mayer and Associates, LLP) for the idea to bring a Veteran to our luncheon held on Veterans' Day. Our Club was honored to welcome the following Veterans:
- Immediate Past President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) introduced Don Morrison who had served with the U.S. Army.
- Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) introduced Glenn Potter who had served with the U.S. Army.
- Ruth Wenzel (Registered Nurse | Retired) introduced her husband, Dick Wenzel, who had served with the U.S. Army.
- JT Forbus introduced his father-in-law, Dennis Monroe, who had served with the U.S. Navy. JT's father is a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
- Past President Jim Patrick (Retail: Office Supplies | Patrick & Co.) introduced himself as a Veteran of the U.S. Navy.
- Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) introduced Paul Newman who is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy. Gary's father is a Veteran of the United States Marines.
- Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) introduced Harry Thomas who had served two tours in Vietnam.
- Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Retired, Frank M. Booth, Inc.) introduced the members of today's Color Guard from the American Legion, Cathay Post 384: Mickey Kwok ( who served with the U.S. Army), CJ Reeves (who served with the U.S. Army), John Twadell (who served with the U. S. Navy), and Ernesto Ugarte (who served with the U.S. Navy).
JT Forbus and Dennis Monroe Dick and Ruth Wenzel
Today's Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were President-Elect Joyce Bartel, Jean Caramatti, District 5150 Assistant Governor Adele Della Santina, and President Barbara Gablin — all from the Rotary Club of Belmont-Redwood Shores and Harry Thomas from the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise. Janet Beach (Job Recruitment | The Job Forum) introduced Raymond Isola. JT Forbus introduced his wife, Anne Marie Forbus. Barbara Streett (Nonprofit Administration | The Arc San Francisco) introduced Aja Lawson. Other guests were Maryam Ghajar, Craig Peacock, and Yun Peacock. Today's speaker was Eric Wick. Welcome to all!
Member Moments
Congratulations to Jessica Hansen (Nonprofit Management | Alliance for Smiles) and to President-Elect Ozan Yasavur for their recent professional accomplishments.
Donor Recognition
Bob Hermann called for Don Morrison to come forward and be recognized for his generosity to our Club's Foundation and to The Rotary Foundation as a friend of Rotary.
Bob Hermann, President Frank Yoke, and Don Morrison
Friendsgiving 2025
Thank you to Vice President of Membership Margaret Miley (Hospitality: Hotels | Retired) for hosting this year's Friendsgiving. A fun time was had by all. See photos here.
Upcoming Events
- Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events. President Frank pointed out future important dates at today's meeting.
- All are invited to sign up to help with Thanksgiving at The Arc.
- On Thursday, December 11, 2025 all are invited to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the 1945 signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco. Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo will be present in San Francisco for this Celebration. See story and registration information toward the beginning of this issue of Grindings.
- Past President Sunny Singh (Financial Services: Advising | PK Wealth Management) is going on another Alliance for Smiles medical mission — this time in Guayaquil, Ecuador in January 2026. Sunny is collecting new socks and toothbrushes to take to Guayaquil. See him if you can donate.
- It's almost time for our Holiday Party and Annual Meeting scheduled this year on December 16, 2025. Sign up here.
- Janet Beach invited Veterans to a Military Career Fair on November 18, 2025.
Guest Speaker
Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices) introduced today's speaker — Eric Wick. Eric served in the United States Marine Corps from 1988 to 1991 and currently works at Swords to Plowshares, first as Peer Specialist in the Safe Haven Veterans Emergency Transitional Housing Program and for the past two years as Suicide Prevention Trainer for the SSG Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. He talked about his work in suicide awareness and suicide prevention. President Frank thanked Eric Wick and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in Eric's name.
President Frank and Eric Wick
Closing Ceremony
Rick Harrell sang God bless America to close the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 1:37 PM. Anyone who stayed a little after the meeting had a chance to participate in the unfurling of the American flag inside the Hotel Nikko.
Meeting Volunteers
President Frank thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for serving as scribe; Lisa Stark (Communications & Media) for serving as photographer; Carrie Schucker (Counseling | Retired) for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; David Dye (Management Consulting | Retired) and Larry Booth for serving as greeters; and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) and Gary Dales for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.