ROTARY LUNCHEON: 50 Years After the End of the Vietnam War

Join us for a special lunch meeting at the Rotary Club of San Francisco as we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War with a panel of distinguished Rotarians whose work has left a lasting impact in Vietnam and among veterans. We’ll hear from Jessica Hansen, who helped transform lives through cleft lip and palate surgery with Alliance for Smiles; Richard Harrell, who has brought healing through music to Vietnam veterans; Heidi Kühn, founder of Roots of Peace, who led agricultural renewal efforts in post-war landscapes; and Eric Schmautz, past District Governor and Club President, whose water project aimed to prevent further harm from Agent Orange contamination. Through conversation and reflection, we’ll explore the personal journeys, service projects, and enduring goodwill of these remarkable leaders.

PANELISTS

Jessica Hansen is the Executive Director of Alliance for Smiles, a San Francisco-based nonprofit providing free cleft lip and palate surgeries to children around the world. With over 20 years of experience in humanitarian aid, she has led medical missions across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In 2025, she was honored with the Human Rights Award at the Women Changing the World Awards for her global impact. Jessica is also a podcast host and board member of several international service organizations, reflecting her deep commitment to equity, healthcare access, and global community service. Jessica is a proud member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.

Richard Harrell is the founder and director of Heroes’ Voices, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that brings the healing power of music and poetry to veterans coping with PTSD and other challenges. A seasoned opera baritone and director, Richard has performed with renowned companies such as La Scala and the Vienna State Opera, and has held leadership roles at institutions, including the Juilliard Opera Center and the San Francisco Opera Center. Since launching Heroes’ Voices in 2013, he has led programs like Guitar Corps and the National Veterans Poetry Contest, reaching over a thousand veterans nationwide. Richard is also an esteemed member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco.

Heidi Kühn is a proud member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco and an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of San Rafael, where she served as a Rotary Exchange Student to the Rotary Club of Utsunomiya, Japan in 1975. She was a 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee. In 1997, following her own battle with cancer, Heidi took on another silent killer — landmines. She founded Roots of Peace, a humanitarian organization dedicated to replacing fields of destruction with fields of life. Through the "Mines to Vines" initiative, Heidi has transformed war-torn landscapes into thriving vineyards and orchards. Kühn’s work has supported demining partners in Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Croatia, Israel, Iraq, Palestinian areas, and Vietnam, allowing local farmers safe access to irrigation canals and arable land for cultivation. 

Eric Schmautz is a Past District 5150 Governor and the Centennial (2008) President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. He began his Rotary journey in high school as an Interactor and has continued that journey for nearly four decades. Eric worked in corporate communications at Wells Fargo Bank. Through Rotary, he has led or participated in humanitarian projects across Vietnam, Ethiopia, India, and beyond, focusing on clean water, disaster recovery, and disease prevention. Eric has held leadership roles in Rotary at the district and zone levels, including chairing international convention promotions. A passionate advocate for service, Eric and his wife, Stephanie — also a past Club President — are raising their daughters, Molly and Katie, in a family deeply rooted in Rotary values.

Register here for In Person or Zoom attendance.

For in-person attendees: We welcome all attendees! The in-person registration cost for all adults and children is $45 until 11:59 AM on Friday, May 30, 2025. The meeting cost increases to $60 at noon and beyond on May 30, 2025 and includes any walk-ins on Tuesday, June 3.

The Hotel Nikko holds us to the headcount that we submit on Friday at noon, prior to our Tuesday meeting, whether those registered attend or not. In Rotary spirit, thanks for helping us to maintain a good relationship with our host hotel. 

For attendance via Zoom: For those who wish to participate via Zoom, there is a $15 fee to attend.

Parking: If you are driving to the Hotel Nikko for this meeting, please leave your car with the Hotel Nikko valet. Pick up a validation sticker available at our check-in table. The discounted parking is $25 for three hours.

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