President Frank Yoke III (Development | Serra Residential Center, Inc.) called the November 4, 2025 meeting to order and welcomed everyone attending either in person or via Zoom. Today's Program included Donor Recognitions and our speaker — Sean Elsbernd.
Today's Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were District 5150 PDG Mary Bates from the Rotary Club of Foster City, Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka from the Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden in Scotland, Gene Duffy from the Rotary Club of Ignacio attending via Zoom, and District 5150 PDG Jayne Hulbert from the Rotary Club of Ignacio attending via Zoom. Other guests were Mark Salazar and Monica Sather. Welcome to all!
Rotary Flags Exchanged
President Frank exchanged Rotary flags with Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka from the Rotary Club of Inverness Culloden in Scotland.
Rotarian of the Month
Ruth Wenzel (Registered Nurse | Retired) was honored as Rotarian of the Month for November 2025. Ruth joined Rotary in 2012 and served as 2016-2017 Club President for the Mission San Jose Rotary Club in Fremont. She joined our Club in April 2025 and has jumped in with both feet to serve on Committees. Many of us have seen Ruth in action, helping with Club Service duties. Ruth will be our Luncheon Speaker on December 2, 2025.
Congratulations to Ruth Wenzel!
Food Drives
Vice President of Community Service Darlene Wilson (Nonprofit Administration | Catholic Charities SF) talked about food insecurity which remains a major issue in our community. The current long federal government shutdown has compounded the insecurities. Now more than ever, we must support food drives. The first food drive took place on November 8, 2025, when our Club led by Alisha Marfatia (Information Technology: E-Commerce | EvolveWare) joined the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to sort and box food for donation. Darlene Wilson leads the next food drive on December 12, 2025 to pack dry goods for the clients of Catholic Charities. Sign up here.
Darlene Wilson and Alisha Marfatia
Donor Recognitions
PDG Mary Bates joined in person and PDG Jayne Hulbert joined via Zoom to honor the following members of our Club for their generosity:
Allan Herzog (Financial Services: Advising | Wells Fargo Advisors) who became a member of the Bequest Society.
David Shen (Healthcare: Dentistry | OrthoWorks Orthodontics Group) and President Frank Yoke who achieved Major Donor Level 1.
PDG Mary Bates and President Frank Yoke
Emily Borland (Engineering, Architecture, and Construction | Emily Borland Specifications), Cecile Chiquette (Accounting | Retired), Christopher Davies (Real Estate: Property Management | Self-employed), District 5150 PDG Peter Lagarias (Law: Franchise | Lagarias, Napell & Dillon), Don Morrison, and Dr. David Shen who each became a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Emily Borland, Christopher Davies, President Frank Yoke, and PDG Mary Bates
Christopher Davies, Susan Liston, Kathryn McCall (Law: Corporate | Trustly, Inc.), Don Morrison, and Dr. David Shen who are our Club's most recent Paul Harris Fellows.
To learn about the different levels of giving in Rotary and appreciate the donors and the impact that our dollars have made, click here. Our District and our Club were proud to recognize the above members and their generosity.
District 5150 Accomplishments
At the recent Zone Institute for Zones 26 and 27, Rotary District 5150 was honored for the following accomplishments:
Upcoming Events
- Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and events. President Frank pointed out future important dates at today's meeting.
- Dr. Kai Burrus (Education: University | San Francisco State University) invited all to this Save the Bay Project on November 14, 2025.
- President Frank shared an invitation to the Salvation Army San Francisco 22nd Annual Holiday Luncheon on November 19, 2025.
- 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) talked about 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.
Guest Speaker
Vice President of Development Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) introduced Sean Elsbernd, President and CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR). Sean talked about the goals of his organization and his passion to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient Bay Area. His insights were uplifting and inspiring. President Frank thanked Sean Elsbernd and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in Sean's name.
Sean Elsbernd
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Frank thanked today's meeting volunteers: Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for serving as scribe; Immediate Past President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) for serving as photographer; Past President and current District 5150 Chief of Staff JT Forbus (Accounting | SD Mayer and Associates, LLP) for managing the microphone; Kirt Burdick for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Mary Fermi (Education | Retired), Rick Harrell (Arts Therapy | Heroes' Voices), Tim Hornbecker (Nonprofit Management | Retired, The Arc CA), and Alisha Marfatia for serving as greeters; and Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services) and Gary Dales (Accounting | Fly Leasing) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.