When you joined Rotary, your potential to make a difference in the world grew exponentially. The top two reasons people join Rotary are to connect with and to give back to their communities. But simply joining is not enough. Step out and share your ideas with the Club and the leadership about a project you think we should pursue.
Consider helping to organize a service project or a social event. Through organizing with others, you get to know people and connect. Even more powerful would be to take on a new role. Join the leadership team by becoming a committee member or volunteer to fill a leadership position. We depend upon you to step up….and your experience of Rotary will step up, the more you volunteer.
Coming up in the New Year, we have several big projects where you can help out and become more involved. Here are a few of the events that need your help: Emergency Services Day in February, World Wide Rotary day in March, Build a Bike day in April. And along the way are many opportunities for projects to work on including the Homeless Prenatal Care project, the Dictionary Project, and the Monday Night Dinner club with clients of the Arc.
We celebrated our new members for December by inducting them at our Holiday Party. All four members are characterized by their skills and past accomplishments. And we hope and depend on them—like you—to take on roles in leading and connecting within our Club.
Mark Barmore has had two careers: one in the law and one in education. He’s sponsored by David Eastis and mentored by Anita Stangl. He brings a rich background in volunteer work. including San Francisco School Volunteers, the Huckleberry House and a tutoring program called First Graduate. He currently runs a nonprofit organization called Baykids Studios, which uses art to help enrich and guide the lives of students. He and his wife live in the Haight Ashbury and have two adult daughters. He wishes to focus his volunteering on the areas of health and education.Flora Burke, a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, works at the B of A Tower on California Street 
and lives in Belmont. Her pride and joy is an 11-year-old daughter named Savvy. Flora is currently a member of the San Carlos Chamber, the Auxiliary for Children, PTA Board, Girl Scouts and more. Flora suggests that she has deep strength in organizing, marketing and fundraising. She says that meeting folks who are involved with helping others is inspiring and motivating for her. Savvy, who accompanied her mother to the Holiday Party, won a gift certificate for $100. Savvy commented about her availability for future meetings: "I can come every Tuesday." That's the spirit! We look forward to seeing both Flora and Savvy in the future.
and lives in Belmont. Her pride and joy is an 11-year-old daughter named Savvy. Flora is currently a member of the San Carlos Chamber, the Auxiliary for Children, PTA Board, Girl Scouts and more. Flora suggests that she has deep strength in organizing, marketing and fundraising. She says that meeting folks who are involved with helping others is inspiring and motivating for her. Savvy, who accompanied her mother to the Holiday Party, won a gift certificate for $100. Savvy commented about her availability for future meetings: "I can come every Tuesday." That's the spirit! We look forward to seeing both Flora and Savvy in the future.
Bob Hermann has new vistas opening for him as he joins the Club. Bob has had a lengthy career in Healthcare Information Technology at Kaiser and the University of California San Francisco. But he is happy to have just retired from this rewarding career, so that his attention can shift to helping others. He is currently much involved in the electronic medical record conversion for RotaCare, a Rotary-sponsored program which provides healthcare to those in need. He hopes to build the connection with our Club and Rotacare. Like our other new members, Bob has a long list of organizations and projects with which he has been involved. Those include the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Old First Presbyterian Church, and the Blacktie Club. He says it so well in his application: “I hope to give and in giving, to receive in so many ways…” He also likes to travel with his husband, Dan Joraanstad, and go for walks with their Jack Russell terrier.Jane Mermelstein has done so much for others. She changed her busy career fueled by travel to a San 
Francisco-based position in real estate—working with Zephyr—so that she could be more available to help others. With a graduate degree from MIT, she has brought much to bear on behalf of the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club, Order of St John, Little Jim Club, Baykeepers, and Save the Bay. Being an avid swimmer and having a focus on San Francisco Bay, her passion for clean water projects is clear. She is open to many projects and committees within our Club and has leadership skills to offer.
Francisco-based position in real estate—working with Zephyr—so that she could be more available to help others. With a graduate degree from MIT, she has brought much to bear on behalf of the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club, Order of St John, Little Jim Club, Baykeepers, and Save the Bay. Being an avid swimmer and having a focus on San Francisco Bay, her passion for clean water projects is clear. She is open to many projects and committees within our Club and has leadership skills to offer.