We are approaching the end of 2024. I will be taking a break. Grindings will not be published on December 22, 2024, but will resume on December 29, 2024 when I will reflect on this past year. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays!
In accordance with our Club's Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has selected these candidates for open positions on the Board of Directors:
2025-26 President: Frank R. Yoke, III
2025-26 President-Elect: Ozan Yasavur
2025-27 Club Treasurer: Gary Dales
2025-27 Club Secretary: Dora Dye
2025-27 Vice President of Youth Services: Stellie Kim 2025-27 Vice President of Club Services: Ann Daugherty 2025-27 Vice President of Public Relations/Public Image: Wendy Shew 2025-27 Vice President of Vocational Services: Hana Wang
All Club members are invited to attend the Annual Meeting, to be held at the Holiday Party on December 17, 2024, to vote on these nominations.
Thank you to the following members who served on this year's Nominating Committee: Frank Yoke (Committee Chair), Ann Daugherty, David Dye, JT Forbus, Bob Hermann, Mary Liu, Scott Plakun, Wendy Shew, Sunny Singh, Lisa Stark, and Christopher Wiseman.
Posted by Margaret Miley and Todd St Vrain on Dec 10, 2024
To get our Club into the holiday spirit, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Tim Hornbecker arranged for an evening of dinner and attendance at a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC).
On December 7, 2024, the evening began with a delightful dinner at Lers Ros Thai, where the food was as delicious as it was fun. In attendance were Lisa Christian and her husband — Charlie, Milo Hanke, President Bob Hermann, Dan Joraanstad, Margaret Miley, Todd St Vrain, Merve Yasavur, and Ozan Yasavur. Even though Margaret went to the wrong Ler Ros Thai (Did you know there are three in the City?), dinner was made with the speed of Uber! The vibrant atmosphere set the perfect tone for the rest of the evening.
Following dinner, the group moved to the Sydney Goldstein Theater for the highly anticipated holiday concert by the SFGMC. The performance was a beautiful celebration of diversity, featuring music that spanned the rich traditions of Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, and more. The concert provided not only stunning music but also choreography, dancing, and an abundance of joy and frolicking around the stage that reflected the spirit of the season.
As President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, I am incredibly proud of the work that we are doing alongside the volunteers and employees of Catholic Charities and the SF-Marin Food Bank to combat food insecurity in our City. Recently, we had the honor of being interviewed by KPIX TV at the Food Bank, where we spotlighted the impact of our partnership and the generous financial support from the San Francisco Rotary Foundation.
This funding, combined with the dedication of our members, enables us to provide essential resources and bring hope to individuals and families in need. This year, Catholic Charities is leading the initiative for our Club, which involves detailed planning, communication, and volunteer recruitment. As always, we share the outcome of the project with our Club, including photos from the experience.
President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) called today's meeting to order right on time at 12:15 PM. He mentioned that he had just returned from this KPIX-TV interview.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Today's Visiting Rotarians were Rhonda Poppen — Past President of our Club and now a member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento, Clif Thomas — a past member of our Club, and Buncha Patchana from the Rotary Club of Bangkok Ratchadapisek. Today's guests were Kwanchai Channoo, Father Andres Emmanuelli from St. Vincent de Paul of San Francisco, Inika Mehra, and Patcharada Promprasert. Our speaker was Karl Robillard. Welcome to all!
Thank You to the Hotel Nikko
President Bob invited the Hotel Nikko kitchen and wait staff to join us. The audience gave the staff a round of applause for their wonderful service every week, and President Bob had a gift for each of them.
Thought of the Day
Peter Logan (Law: Insurance | Peter Logan Law Offices) read today's Thought of the Day which was "What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal."
Our Club's journey into chocolate and cookies as well as cookie making began on December 3, 2024 when Cookie Master Brennan Bowen was our speaker. From the first moment that we met Brennan and dove into the fascinating history of the chocolate chip cookie to the savoring of the delicious samples and the nuances of the tasting process, every step of the experience was a delight. The preparation and the execution of the baking were flawless, showcasing Brennan's expertise and passion.
We also got history lessons and fun questions that made us think. Nestle bought the chocolate chip recipe in 1939 for $1 from Ruth Wakefield. In doing so, Nestle was allowed to print Ruth's recipe on the chocolate bar label and further give Ruth a lifetime of free chocolate that she baked with for the rest of her life.
Join us at the Westin St. Francis for this year’s Holiday Party and Annual Meeting. This is always the most festive and fun-filled luncheon of the year, so bring your family, friends, and business associates to celebrate with us!
This year, the kettles, cans, and bells will once again “invade and overtake” Union Square. Join your fellow Rotarians to ring bells, spread holiday cheer, and raise awareness for The Salvation Army and its Kettle Program.
Volunteer at the Catholic Charities Community Holiday Party to serve meals, celebrate the holidays, and spread cheer to clients from the Edith Witt Senior Community, the Maureen and Craig Resource Center, and the 10th and Mission Family Housing Program.
You are invited to a free Kwanzaa celebration and dinner hosted by the OMI Cultural Participation Project. Maurice Rivers, the Executive Director of OMI-CPP, is a member of our Club. The Rotary Club of San Francisco is a Community Partner for this event. All Club members, our families, and our friends are welcome.
Festus Ezeli inspires us today as he shares his journey through education in the United States to NBA Champion with the Golden State Warriors and then, to his current mission to help the community and uplift as many people as possible along the way.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of American music, food, drink, and friendship. All proceeds go to our own San Francisco Rotary Foundation (SFRF) and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF). This is the primary fundraiser for Rotary’s Gifts of Giving campaign, where your contributions make an immediate and lasting impact.
Join us for our Club's NEXT EVENING MEETING where we will conduct some Club business, have dinner, and enjoy Rotary fellowship. There is no charge to attend this meeting, but each attendee pays individually for food and beverages ordered at MoMo's. Please register yourself and your guests so that we can plan the space.
Our first film in 2025 is Lies and Miracles, a documentary that tells the story of Rotarian George Landau and his family who went from a peaceful life in Poland to unimaginable struggles and suffering in a Siberian concentration camp from 1939-1943 during World War II. After the film, you will meet and hear from George. This event is open to Rotarians, their friends, and family.
Ever wondered how a huge ship can dock so neatly at Pier 94? Captain Anne McIntyre, Business Director for the San Francisco Bar Pilots, will tell us how and more about piloting.
Calling all Rotary leaders and potential Rotary leaders! District 5150 presents its Introductory Potential Rotary Leaders Seminars (PRLS), the first course in a series of courses designed by Rotarians to teach Rotarians skills and techniques as they prepare to assume leadership roles in their Rotary clubs. The training is in person. Our Club will reimburse a member for the cost to attend after that member has completed the course.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
This year, the kettles, cans, and bells will once again “invade and overtake” Union Square. Join your fellow Rotarians to ring bells, spread holiday cheer, and raise awareness for The Salvation Army and its Kettle Program.
