Mark Twain wrote “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
Past Rotary International President Cliff Dochterman has been known to ask the question, “When did you become a Rotarian?” People often reply by giving the date they joined Rotary. But that’s not what he means. He suggests that many who have joined Rotary only truly become Rotarians at some later date when they begin to live by and internalize The Four-Way Test and the motto of Service Above Self.
Understanding my life’s larger “why” helped me clarify my Rotary purpose. Knowing the “why” made my decision-making much easier including decisions regarding my engagement in Rotary. Whether it is deciding to help with a service project, attend a Rotary meeting, or go to a fellowship activity, I found that I got more out of the activity. When you identify your personal “why”, it is easier for you to clarify your Rotary purpose.
Thank You! I can never say that enough. When I became President-Elect, I developed great plans and dramatic ideas regarding things I could do as a Rotary Club president. I did not know that a few months before starting my term as president I would be going through cancer treatment and suffering the resulting side effects. Many of my plans went out the window.
If my year as president has been successful, it is due to the wonderful support from so many of you. In the past year, my Rotarian friends have stepped forward to offer help. Last summer, when side effects from the radiation treatment were the greatest, Past President Stephanie was a tremendous help. In the fall, when major projects began piling up, I felt confident in being able to rely on amazing Rotarians like Emily Borland, Rick Harrell, John Mathers, Lisa Stark, Tim Hornbecker, Eric Schmautz, Cecile Chiquette, Rhonda Poppen, Dan Joraanstad, Scott Plakun, and so many others.
Although she was not a member of our Club at the beginning of my year, my wife, Dora, was with me every step of the way. Most members probably are not aware of the many things she did behind the scenes. She stepped in to help Dan Joraanstad with membership and assist Scott Plakun with a wide range of things involving the website, the newsletter, and weekly bulletins. She set up the system to accurately track attendance at meetings. Every month she and I went to the Sir Francis Drake on a Saturday or Sunday to organize the Club storage cart and replenish supplies.
Thank you, Dora. And thank you to all the members of this Club who have given me the privilege of serving you during my term as president.
Rotarian of the Month: President David recognized Frank Yoke (Development; San Francisco Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America) as the April Rotarian of the Month. Beyond his role as a board member, Frank has lent his expertise to assist the San Francisco Rotary Foundation, and managed many of the program details to put on a successful recognition ceremony for our Paul Harris recipients.
Celebration: On May 2, the Rotary Club of San Francisco celebrated the achievement of a significant milestone. As of April 28, 2017, the cumulative total donated to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International (TRF) by our Club's members topped $2,000,000! Thanks to the efforts of Phyllis Nusz (Development; PJ Enterprises), this caught the attention of Rotary International. Paul Netzel, the incoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees for TRF, attended our meeting to congratulate us on this achievement and present us with a congratulatory letter from the current TRF board chair, Kalyan Banerjee. Also in attendance were Eric Schmelling, General Manager and Chief Philanthropy Officer of TRF, and Elizabeth Cruft-Anderson, TRF Senior Major Gift Officer.
This meeting was particularly auspicious for the number of members who received Paul Harris Fellow recognitions. District Governor Jeri Fujimoto and Past District Governor Riki Intner, who is also the current District Foundation Chair, assisted in the ceremonies where these awards were bestowed:
Paul Harris Fellow: Rick Harrell (Veterans Services; Heroes' Voices), Robert Thomas, Frank Yoke
Paul Harris Fellow and PHF+1:Dora Dye (Education; City College of San Francisco and Pacifica School District), Bill Poppen (Banking Management; MFUG Union Bank)
PHF+1: Luis Moran (Real Estate Sales; Coldwell Banker)
PHF+2: Jyoti Chokshi (Project Management; Talent Anywhere), David Dye (Management Consulting; Retired), Ben Lam (Banking Services; UBS Financial Services)
PHF+3:Laine Hendricks (Public Relations; County of Marin), Heidi Kuhn (Peace Building; Roots of Peace), Kevin Leong (Development - Colleges and Universities; University of San Francisco), Carla Walter (University Administration; Presidio Graduate School)
PHF+6: Casey Blair (Foreign Equity Trading; Feis Options), Tom Brunner (Non-profit research; The Glaucoma Foundation), Lilian Tsi-Stielstra (Insurance Services; Wells Fargo Advisors), Anita Stangl (Non-profit Medical Services; Alliance for Smiles)
PHF+6 and PHF+7:John Mathers (Management Consulting; eVo Associates)
PHF+7 and PHF+8:Wendy Ross (Banking Management; Bank of San Francisco)
PHF+8: Dan Joraanstad (Financial Management; Retired), Fred Marschner (Financial Planning; Northwestern Mutual), Kevin Waldeck (Financial Management; Morgan Stanley Investment Management)
Major Donor Crystal, Level 2 and Bequest Society, Level Seven:Phyllis Nusz
Major Donor Crystal, Level 3:Cecile Chiquette (Accounting Services; Retired)
New Members: We welcomed two new members into our Club in May. Allison Healy is the new Executive Director of Alliance for Smiles. Allison enjoys sailing, cooking, arts & crafts, and travel. Sunny Singh is a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors. He plays basketball, likes to barbecue, and is hoping to get more exercise with his new bicycle.
Member Moments:
Renée Scudder (Marketing; Scudder Advisors) gave a new member talk describing her journey from Marblehead Massachusetts to Sausalito California – moving from one sailing town to another.
Carla Walter, PhD, summarized her personal path from Joplin, Missouri to San Francisco. She has been a member of the faculty and administration of colleges from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri to Chabot College in Hayward, California. She is currently president of the Presidio Graduate School. Carla is the author of several books and is planning to write another.
District Awards: President David was pleased to announce that our Club won several awards at the District Conference, including Best Club, Community Service, International Service, Youth Service, Club Administration, Vocational Service, The Rotary Foundation, Public Image and Relations, and Membership/Extension.
Recognitions and Celebrations: Greg Gutting (Human Services; The Salvation Army) thanked Club members for the support and love offered after the recent passing of his father. Lilian Tsi-Stielstra celebrated the national exposure Wells Fargo gave to her story to raise awareness of heart disease in women. Luis Moran recognized Laine Hendricks and Jenny Bateson the purchase of their new home. Tim Hornbecker (Human Services; The Arc of Alameda) was pleased to announce that he is back to working for The Arc of Alameda rather than The Arc of California in Sacramento. Tim also announced the upcoming launch of the 2017 Rotary Golf series, and his pending inauguration as the President of the San Francisco Rotary Foundation. Scott Plakun (Management Consulting; The Plakun Group) thanked Don Parachini for some helpful legal advice. Alan Herzog (Financial Management; Wells Fargo Advisors) offered to donate $500 to the San Francisco Rotary Foundation if five other members pitched in $100 each to support Jim Kennedy (Interior Design; James Kennedy Design) in the AIDS LifeCycle Ride: Dan Joraanstad, Kevin Waldeck, Casey Blair, Fred Marschner, Eric Schmautz (Banking Management; Wells Fargo), John Hoch (Financial Management; Retired), and Anita Stangl all responded to the challenge.
Luncheon Speakers:
Ben Davis gave an inspiring presentation about promoting public art. As a driving force behind the lighting of the Bay Bridge, Ben’s efforts have inspired other cities to develop dramatic public art. Not satisfied with just one project, he is putting tremendous effort into getting all of the relevant city stakeholders to approve a project that will feature light-based art on Market Street.
Randi Tanksley, assistant program manager of the Homeless Prenatal Project’s Community Health Worker program, described the health services program they deliver under contract with the City of San Francisco. The program is so effective that city officials have said that city personnel could not have done a better job.
Kent Campbell, president of the Rotary Club of Mill Valley and strategist for Reputation X, presented insights into how people use the Internet to disseminate false information and profit from creating fake news sites. He also described the “Dark Web”, an untraceable part of the web, where individuals can buy and sell illegally obtained information, illegal services, and buy or sell illegal or stolen products.
Our Club has a long history of influencing the direction of Rotary. We can look back with great pride on many important projects that have been launched to the benefit of countless others. How do we accomplish so much good decade after decade? Don't we ever get tired? The answer, of course, is obvious: we are constantly refreshed by new members who join us. There are two things you can do to be part of the exciting changes brought by new people and new ideas.
First, you can welcome new people. Be curious about who these new folks are and invite a new member out to coffee, or join with you on a project, or simply be friendly at our lunches. You may be surprised when you reach out and perhaps find an interesting, new person with new ideas and energy. You might even find a new friendship.
Second, be part of the surge in membership by inviting someone whom you have long thought of as a candidate to be a Rotarian. Or invite the new person in the office, that friendly shopkeeper, or that new neighbor. Then, you too can enjoy the pride of bringing energy and ideas to an institution which we all love so much.
Just keep in mind that Rotary doesn’t just open the door to serving our communities at home and around the world, it also gives us the opportunity to serve each other through friendship and kindness.
Gene Lee (Technical Management Consulting; Retired), one of the oldest members of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, has lived a long and very interesting life. Born in 1927 in Livingston (“where Foster Farms chickens come from”), a small farming town in San Joaquin County, his father ran a garage and auto repair shop serving area farmers in nearby Cressey, a culturally diverse community where half his classmates spoke a foreign language at home. Gene later wrote a book, Cressey, Land of Sand and Stars. “During the day,” he says, “our feet were firmly planted in the sand of Cressey, but our eyes were always looking up to the stars.”
After graduating from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, Gene earned a master’s degree in theology at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, where he met his wife, Jeanne Marie, who received a master’s degree in religious education. Gene served as pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo for four years, then spent 18 years in Latin America, a year in Costa Rica to learn Spanish, then in Venezuela, where he pastored a small church, ran a rural center that included a clinic and a small demonstration farm, and helped young people earn a grade school diploma and go on to further study. In a valley of 1,000 people, he and his wife were the only ones who spoke English.
Then it was on to Mexico City, where the couple pioneered a new kind of ministry, serving as communication consultants in the countries bordering the Caribbean and Venezuela, Colombia and Trinidad, traveling extensively throughout Latin America. In 1966, the church asked them to go to Bogota “to take care of management problems with overseas personnel, 30 with graduate degrees. In two years, we solved all the problems except one.” Gene then spent a year at the New York City headquarters of the Presbyterian Church, working in the areas of budget and communications.
After earning a master’s degree at the University of Southern California, Gene moved back to Mexico City to take charge of the office of the American Management Association, which provides training for personnel in industry “from presidents to secretaries.” Meanwhile, Jeanne Marie remained in LA to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy at USC. In 1973, Gene returned to LA to become general manager of Pyramid Films, an educational film company that he says proudly “received two Oscars while I was general manager.”
The couple, who will celebrate 67 years of married life on August 20, moved back to San Francisco in 1975, when Gene became regional vice president of the American Management Association. That’s when he joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco, which he enjoys because of “the great fellowship and the opportunity to engage in international projects. I am very proud of The Rotary Foundation and the San Francisco Rotary Club’s history of spreading Rotary to other areas and countries . . . Out of that came Rotary International.” He also points to Polio Plus as a great Rotary achievement.
Gene wasn’t able to be active in the Club during the ten years he commuted from his home in Daly City to National Semiconductor, where he worked to change the culture in the marketing, sales, and engineering departments. After his retirement in 1982, he reengaged with the Club and is proud that he helped to launch the tradition of hosting the San Francisco consular corps at the annual World Wide Rotary Day. He also served as chair of the Community Relations Committee. Gene’s health has prevented him from being active in the Club for the past several years.
An afternoon of poetry and music exploring a variety of perspectives on war, peace and soldiers’ experiences before, during and after battle. This performance, at Fort Mason, is the West Coast awards celebration for the Heroes’ Voices National Veterans Poetry Contest. Discounted Rotary tickets include the VIP reception after the performance. Volunteers needed to help with setup, greeting, ushering, and more.
Steven Swain, Environmental Horticulture Advisor for Marin and Sonoma counties, will speak about tree planting in conjunction with the Rotary International initiative to plant a tree for every Rotarian by Earth Day 2018. Steve’s expertise will assist in addressing the optimum conditions for planting in California.
Dr. Paul Volberding, M.D., will discuss the Global Health Threats in 2017. Dr. Volberding is a Professor of Medicine at UCSF, Director of the AIDS Research Institute, Director of Research for UCSF Global Health Sciences, and Co-Director of the UCSF-GIVI Center for AIDS Research.
Join us at the service opportunity where club members and guests will stuff diaper bags with the supplies new moms need to help care for their babies. The bags will be distributed to pregnant women involved in Prenatal Classes at the Homeless Prenatal Project. Afterwards, we'll walk down the block to Mars Bar and Restaurant for food, fellowship, and fun.
Join The Rotary Club of San Francisco for a friendly round of golf and a chance to win our coveted Golf Trophy! Points are based on participation, not necessarily golf score, so all skill levels are welcome! Fellowship follows every outing. Tee time is 4:15 on June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, September 13, September 27, and October 11 at Harding Park Golf Course.
Join us at one or both of the Baby Showers at the Homeless Prenatal Program where we will give expectant mothers diaper bags filled with supplies. The party for Spanish speakers starts at 10:30 AM, the party for English speakers starts at 1:00 PM.
It's time to thank President David for a job well done at the traditional "debunking". Come and find out what President Elect Nominee Rhonda Poppen has planned to help us forever remember President DAVID as we say THANK YOU at the last Luncheon Meeting of his year as Club President.Club members, RSVP here|Guest RSVP | More info
Everyone who has joined the club since July, 2016 is encouraged to attend this training, which will focus on what to expect from Rotary. The training will begin right after the regular luncheon meeting and last about 30 minutes. Everyone is welcome!
Show outgoing Club President David how much we appreciate all the work he put in to make this such a successful Rotary Year by attending this special dinner at Fior d'Italia, 2237 Mason Street, San Francisco. Cocktails at 6PM and dinner starts at 7PM.
Join The Rotary Club of San Francisco for a friendly round of golf and a chance to win our coveted Golf Trophy! Points are based on participation, not necessarily golf score, so all skill levels are welcome! Fellowship follows every outing. Tee time is 4:15 on June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, September 13, September 27, and October 11 at Harding Park Golf Course.
This meeting was particularly auspicious for the number of members who received Paul Harris Fellow recognitions. District Governor Jeri Fujimoto and Past District Governor Riki Intner, who is also the current District Foundation Chair, assisted in the ceremonies where these awards were bestowed:
New Members: We welcomed two new members into our Club in May. Allison Healy is the new Executive Director of Alliance for Smiles. Allison enjoys sailing, cooking, arts & crafts, and travel. Sunny Singh is a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors. He plays basketball, likes to barbecue, and is hoping to get more exercise with his new bicycle.
District Awards: President David was pleased to announce that our Club won several awards at the District Conference, including Best Club, Community Service, International Service, Youth Service, Club Administration, Vocational Service, The Rotary Foundation, Public Image and Relations, and Membership/Extension.
Ben Davis gave an inspiring presentation about promoting public art. As a driving force behind the lighting of the Bay Bridge, Ben’s efforts have inspired other cities to develop dramatic public art. Not satisfied with just one project, he is putting tremendous effort into getting all of the relevant city stakeholders to approve a project that will feature light-based art on Market Street. 
