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Announcements   ROTARY DONATIONS & CONTRIBUTIONS   Use your credit card to make donations, contributions and other Rotary payments.   CLUB MEETING SCHEDULE CHANGES   WE WILL BE DARK:   TUESDAY, NOV 9 (Hotel has another event)   TUESDAYS, DEC 21 & 28 (holidays)   CLUB MEMBERS INVITED TO ATTEND SPECIAL DAVIS SUNRISE MEETING   7AM-8AM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5   UNIVERSITY PARK INN DAVIS OR VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM   READ INVITATION FOR DETAILS     Help us make this the 'go to place' for all your Rotary information.  Email comments or suggestions to Kris Kristensen, or call 530 304-5641.

 Rotary Theme 2021-22

Shekhar Mehta, 2021-22 Rotary International President

What is Rotary?

We improve people's lives, locally and globally, through service. 

View Full Size Video

Worth a look: 2 minute video showing where we've come from

and what we do. 

October 19th Meeting

Nice to know some things just don't change. Rotary Gracers Steve Venables, President Dan Stroski and Marc Faye did their thing again today. The familiar faces of Gary Bunch, Carl Rodegerdts, and Secretary Aniek Ramsay were together again at the back table.

Tom & Gail Schwarzgruber just returned from a vacation trip to the Northeast, visiting several states, as a surprise for Tom's 70th birthday. Yvette & Craig Roy joined the Schwarzgrubers on their trip and celebrated Craig's 60th birthday there as well. Gary Bunch, who led today's Recognition, just returned from a trip with wife Kathy to Ardmore OK to visit his father-in-law. Tabb & Nancy Randolph also enjoyed a recent trip to the Carolinas where lots of golf was played.

 Don Huff Jr. told the sad story of a huge, 250 year old oak tree in front of his home on Casa Linda Drive that had to be taken down recently. Mark Ullrich was happy to be reminded of his 15th wedding anniversary with wife Audre (Yolo Fliers) coming up on Oct 21. Lisa Martinez enjoyed the Club's Oct 2nd trip to the SF Giants game. Derrek Kaff was happy his mother-in-law was discharged from the hospital recently, and was especially appreciative and thankful for all healthcare workers doing the important work they do every day.

Yolo County Agriculture Commissioner Humberto Izquierdo was our guest speaker today, giving us a presentation on his department's responsibilities and challenges. More information about the Yolo County Agriculture Department can be found at their website.

Kenya WASH Project -

Phase One Dedicated

Our own PDG Karl Diekman was on hand October 13, 2021 in Karen, Kenya as the water storage and hand washing stations improvements in Phase One of the Kenya WASH program at the Karen C Primary School were dedicated.

View Davis Enterprise article.

October 12th Meeting

President Dan Stroski was at the helm again today. He presented a short video by Rotary International President 2021-22 Shektar Mehta and a Thank You to the Club from some of the students at the Karen C Primary School in Karen, Kenya in response to the recent completion of Phase One of the Kenya WASH Project which brought water storage and hand washing stations to the school.

President-elect Shawn Seyk is looking ideas on what to raise money for during the upcoming Club Dinner Auction next Spring. Contact Shawn with any thoughts you may have. Derrek Kaff is celebrating a birthday on Oct 15. Don Huff III was happy about his successful rice harvest and thanked Blair Voelz for a suggestion on when to get it done.

Chuck Maltese and Carl Rodegerdts talked about how and why they joined Rotary. Clyde Brooker managed to draw a free lunch.

 At the 2019 Sunrise Club Salmon BBQ Auction Gary Wegener purchased a Bruce Watts flight to the coast. Gary reported he and wife Joanie enjoyed the flight/visit to Little River near Mendocino last week, and thought Bruce did a 'masterful' job in landing back at Woodland Watts Airport in gusty (up to 35mph) winds this past Monday.

Patrick Blacklock, Executive Director of the Rural Counties Representatives of California (and until 8 months ago, County Administrative Officer of Yolo County) was our guest speaker today giving us a program about RCRC and its services.

 SF Giants Game Trip

Woodland Rotary took over 50 members, spouses & guests on a bus trip Saturday, October 2, 2021 to see the Giants game against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Though the Giants couldn't win the National League's Western Division today, it was still a great outing. Many thanks to Marie Galbo for organizing this event!

FFA Auction '21

Chuck Moore reported the FFA Auction held at the Fairgrounds in August grossed over $330,000 exclusive of the $64,000 raised for the Joe Gates Memorial Scholarship fund. There were only 108 lots sold (approximately 2/3rds of a normal year), but it was the highest dollar amount since he has been involved with the sale. The Auction supports FFA young people from around Yolo County and has been supported by members of our Club over the years.

Alan Flory - 1932-2021

Rest in Peace

President Dan Stroski informed the Club that long time Club Secretary Alan Flory passed away on Monday, August 25 at the age of 89. Alan was a member of the Rotary Club of Woodland for many years. Alan had worked professionally with the California State Board of Equalization before being elected Yolo County Assessor in 1986. Alan was equally active in the community serving as Woodland Community College's representative on the Yuba Community College Board of Trustees for 12 years. He also served the Woodland Methodist Church, Woodland Food Closet, Yolo Land Trust, Yolo County Historical Society, Woodland Clinic Foundation, Communicare Health Centers, Yolo County Fair and other non-profit organizations. In 2011 Alan was recognized with a Community Service Award from the City of Woodland. Alan was also an avid San Francisco Giants fan, regularly attending their spring training in Arizona. He will be missed.

Services will be private and for the immediate family only. The Club stood at its meeting Tuesday and toasted Alan for the wonderful Rotarian and friend he was.

Our thoughts are with Alan's wife Gerry and family.

View the Daily Democrat obituary published August 29, 2021.

Kenya WASH Project

At their October 2020 meeting, our Club’s Board of Directors approved Club participation in the Kenya WASH project to improve Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at the Karen C Primary School in Karen, Kenya. This is a Rotary Global Grant proposal sponsored by the Rotary Club of Karen (Karen, Kenya; http://rotaryclubofkaren.org/ Rotary District 9212) to make improvements needed at the Karen C Primary School in Karen which serves 1300 students, 50 teachers (established in 1958) and an adjacent girls high school with enrollment of 600 students (established in 2011) by installing water storage tanks, plumbing, wash stations, modern toilets, and training students and teachers and otherwise creating a communitywide awareness on hygiene, water usage and sanitation.

Karen is a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Karen Blixen, the author of the colonial memoir ‘Out of Africa’ owned a farm where much of the suburb now stands. While we in this country take clean water for granted, in Karen water is a precious necessity and scarce. Facilities at this school are basic & aging, and include urinal and pit latrines.

The project consists of two phases: Phase One involves putting up large, steel water storage tanks, connecting plumbing to and from tanks, and portable washing facilities. Phase Two buys new toilets and sinks, the buildings to house them, as well as a large capacity septic tank. Phase One costs total approximately $40,000, while Phase Two costs are estimated at $75,000.

Our Club’s approval includes agreeing to serve as the international sponsor for Phase One of the project and to contribute a maximum of $5,000 in a Phase One local match once the District & Global Grants are approved. Remaining Phase One funding is expected from the Rotary Club of Karen - $5,000 in a local match; Rotary Foundation Global Grant funding (applied for by both clubs) - $20,000; and District 5160 Designated Funds - $10,000. In addition to funding, our Club will also provide oversight, monitoring and managing the Global Grant and reporting the project progress to all involved. A Committee including Blair Voelz (chair), President Tabb Randolph, President-elect Dan Stroski, Karl Diekman, Tom Schwarzgruber, Gary Wirth and Jayne Williams will oversee the Club’s involvement in this project.

UPDATE: Blair Voelz reports Phase One of the Kenya WASH project will be complete August 31, 2021. Due to limited access to the local well, it is critically important that during the school's turn to use the well, they store as much water as possible. So, the primary improvement of Phase One has been the installation of a tower mounted 5000 gallon tank, and a 10,000 gallon ground level tank. The tanks are made with panels with an embossed design. The panels were hauled up to the towers, then bolted together and sealed; ingeniously avoiding the need for a crane to lift a tank and welders for assembly, just nuts & bolts. Phase One also includes hand washing stations for kids. See the related pictures below.

Phase Two work is expected to include to constructing toilets for boys and girls, and address wastewater disposal.

Berrettoni Scholarship Award

President Dan Stroski announced a $2500 award from the George Berrettoni Scholarship has been made to Ethan Horowitz of Woodland CA. George Berretoni was a long time Woodland Rotarian, a past Club President, and was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. This scholarship was established in 2018 in George's honor following his passing. This is the first award of the Berretoni Scholarship.

Ethan Horowitz, an Eagle Scout himself from Troup 464, graduated from the Da Vinci Charter Academy with a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Ethan plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall where he will seek a degree in mechanical engineering. Ethan was on hand at the Club's July 20th meeting to receive the award from President-elect Shawn Seyk.

President Dan said "Rotary always wants to contribute to both our community and other various international projects; all with the intent of helping to make this world a better place to live." It is anticipated that future Berrettoni Scholarship awards will be made annually.

Club Dinner & Auction -

A Big Success!!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS, DONORS, PRESIDENT-ELECT DAN STROSKI AND HIS COMMITTEE!!

Event pictures can be viewed in the Photo Gallery.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 SPONSORS!!!

Silver Sponsors ($1,000)

Dignity Health

Ernie Hodges & Roger Kohlmeier

Edward Jones - Kevin Haarberg, Craig Miyamoto, Jen Ward,

and Brian Dwyer

Gardner, Janes, Nakken, Hugo & Nolan - David Janes, Robert Nakken

and Jim Nolan

Matchbook Wine Co. - John & Lane Giguiere

Wilkinson International - Terry Wilkinson

Van Beurden Insurance Services - Aniek Ramsay

Bronze Sponsors ($500)

Akin Ranch - Dick Akin

Helene Dorris

Ullrich Delevati CPAs - Mark Ullrich & Tony Delevati

Wraith, Scarlett & Randolph Insurance Services, Inc. - Tabb Randolph

Yolo Federal Credit Union - Janee Rawlings 

Business Card Sponsors ($250)

Scott & Sheila Johnston

Tack Warehouse

Valley Ag Loans - Peter Holmes

Polio Plus Update

from Gary Wirth

Rotary District 5160 has decided more emphasis must be placed on our efforts to eliminate Polio right now. At this time the only two countries containing active Polio viruses are Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Polio virus has been mutating making it all the more difficult to keep ahead of the spread. We’re getting closer - just 3 weeks ago there had been no new cases for the previous 3 weeks. However, since that time a couple more cases have been reported in each country. To help stay on top of this outbreak a new modified vaccine has been developed to attack this “wild” form of the Polio Virus.

To focus member attention on the severity of the need, District 5160 has founded the PolioPlus Society and encourages all members who want to play a bigger part in the battle against this terrible disease, to join up. To join the Society you must simply pledge to donate $100 per year to the Rotary Foundation's Polio Plus program. These donations also count towards your Paul Harris status with Rotary.  Those interested please contact Gary Wirth for the form and proper methodology to guide the donation to your target.  Tel/text: 530 662-3429; email:gfwirth@sbcglobal.net  

Listed below are recent members of the Society:

Click to view Rotary International news