Welcome!
Past President Bob Hermann, Jr. (Information Technology: Administration | Retired) called the meeting to order and welcomed all on Zoom and in person to the October 13, 2026 luncheon.
Visiting Rotarian and Guests
- Today's Visiting Rotarian was Lalit Sahoo from the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India.
- Among today's guests were: Michelle Jong, Maureen Wong, and Sandra Wong.
- Today's speaker was Norman Wong.
Rotary Flag Exchange
Past President Bob and Lalit Sahoo from the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar in India exchanged Rotary flags.
Today's Agenda
Past President Bob displayed today's agenda:
Today in History
Past President Bob shared this historical event for October 13:
Rotarian of the Month
Congratulations to Todd St Vrain (Education: Administration | University of Melbourne) who was honored as Rotarian of the Month for October 2026. Todd joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco in April 2022. He served as our Vice President of Youth Development from 2023 to 2025 and has been our RYLA Director since 2025. Thank you, Todd!
Todd St Vrain and Past President Bob
Blue Angels Celebration Party
Thank you to Maureen O'Shea (Governmental Relations | Retired) for hosting the Blue Angels Celebration Party. All who attended enjoyed good food, good company, and a spectacular air show by the Blue Angels.
Roll Up Your Sleeves for the Bay
Dr. Kai Burrus (Education: University | San Francisco State University), Chair of our Rotary Climate Action Team, invited us to participate in this service project on October 24, 2026.
Kai Burrus
World Food Day
World Food Day is an international awareness day celebrated every year on October 16 to mark the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. Heidi Kühn (Peace Building | Heidi Kühn Global Peace Foundation: Pax Agricultura) recognized this important day and distributed white roses to those in today's audience.
From left to right: Club Members Milo Hanke, President-Elect Alisha Marfatia, Dan Joraanstad, Peter Logan, Past President Jim Patrick, Lisa Christian, Mary Fermi, Ruth Wenzel, Paul Vazquez, Margaret Miley, Past President Tim Hornbecker, Past President Bob Hermann, Heidi Kühn, Past President Anita Stangl, Past President Mary Liu, Todd St Vrain, and Visiting Rotarian Lalit Sahoo.
Walk to End Alzheimer's
Past President Mary Liu (Real Estate: Sales | JM Real Estate Group, Inc.) invited us to participate in the San Francisco Walk to End Alzheimer's on October 24, 2026.
Upcoming Events
Check the Club's calendar for upcoming meetings and activities.
Guest Speaker
Past President Mary Liu introduced today's speaker — Norman Wong. Norman shared his family’s connection to one of the most important citizenship cases in American history. In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Wong Kim Ark that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, was an American citizen under the Fourteenth Amendment. That historic precedent remains significant today. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court relied on the Wong Kim Ark decision in Trump v. Barbara, reaffirming constitutional birthright citizenship.
Past President Bob thanked Norman Wong and announced that 100 children would be inoculated against polio in Norman's name.
Past President Bob Hermann and Norman Wong
World Polio Day: October 24, 2026
As World Polio Day approaches, we are reminded of the continued effort to eradicate polio.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Volunteers
President Ozan thanked today's meeting volunteers: Grindings Editor Dora Dye (Education | San Francisco and San Mateo Counties) for serving as scribe; Dan Joraanstad (Financial Services: Advising | Retired) for serving as photographer; Kirt Burdick for managing the audio-visual equipment during our in-person meeting; Ruth Wenzel (Registered Nurse | Retired) for managing the microphone; Maureen O'Shea for serving as greeter; and Vice President of Club Service Ann Daugherty (Financial Services: Private Trading | IBN Financial Services, Inc.) and Paul Vazquez (Nonprofit Administration | Alliance for Smiles) for doing check-in at the Hotel Nikko.
A special thank you to Larry Booth (Engineering: Mechanical | Retired, Frank M. Booth, Inc.) for leading the Speakers' Committee.