Woodland Rotary - Photos - Annual

NOTE: TO SHOW THE MOST RECENT STORIES ON TOP OF THIS PAGE, STORIES ARE LISTED HERE IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (MOST RECENT ON TOP, EARLIER DATES BELOW).

In his last regular meeting, Club President Gary Wegener reviewed the activities and accomplishments of the Club over his year, and thanked the many members who did their part to make things happen.

President Gary presented Paul Harris pins today to President-elect Peter Holmes (1st), Tom Schwarzgruber (+2), and Jim McGibbon (+3).

Tony Delevati celebrated a birthday on June 14. Nick Roncoroni & Ellen Martin celebrate their wedding anniversary June 21. Seth Wurzel rang the bell for his June 25th wedding anniversary with Katie.

Tabb Randolph was excited to share news of last week's thrilling 14-13 victory by our softball team. The team is now 8-5; the first time they've won 8 games in 5 years!

Beverly 'Babs' Sandeen, City Council Member, City of West Sacramento, was our guest speaker today giving us a presentation about what's happening in West Sacramento. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this program!

Visiting us today were Rotarians Vicki Faye and Charles Mack from the Sunrise Club.

Guests of Rotarians today were Alan Flory's grandson Avery Campbell, and Helen Zuniga, guest of Dan Stroski.

Don Huff Jr 'rang the bell' with his 91st birthday on June 9. Bob & Ruth Moeller will celebrate their 67th anniversary on June 20.

President Gary announced that a check of $243 from contributions made by Woodland Rotary members was recently presented to Emily Eddy to assist with a TESTE visit to Zimbabwe, to assist young girls going to school. Emily spoke to the Club last month. Pictured from the left are Emily Eddy, the young child of the Zimbabwe couple hosting a send off dinner, President Gary, and Owen Christian Schubert. Emily, Owen, and Sabrina Lodhi (not present) will be going on the month long trip this summer.

President-nominee Mike Chandler can't believe he drew a free lunch today. ?

Steve Ramirez, Sports Manager with Special Olympics Northern California and Special Olympian Jonathon Sparks were our guest speakers today giving us a presentation on the Special Olympics program. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this inspirational program.

Wayne Ginsburg (Sunrise Rotary), Lori Ross and President Gary Wegener gave us a program today on Woodland United Way's Woodland Kids Read Project recently held at Woodland Community College. The Project was supported financially by our Club and several Club members volunteered at the event. Also attending was Isabel Herkenrath who told us about her experience at Rotary's Camp Venture in 2016.

Among the guests at today's meeting were Claudia Martinez (Jason Smith's guest), Helen Zuniga (Dan Stroski's guest), and it was nice to see Pauly Van Muyden as well.

Jim McGibbon announced he and wife Susie were married 49 years ago this week. Gary Bunch has been married 39 years.

UCD junior Emily Eddy was our guest speaker today, sharing with us her plans to travel to Zimbabwe, Africa this summer on a mission with the TESE Foundation where they will help residents of Masvingo, a small rural village, with a variety of health, education and safe water activities & services.

President Gary congratulated and thanked the Club on 100% participation (with a few members away on travel) on its recent Polio Plus challenge. Member contributions and pledges have totaled approximately $3,330. With the Club matching $26.50 for each of us, and the Gates Foundation matching contributions 2 for 1, the grand total will be just over $15,000 towards polio eradication. Feel proud of your efforts!!

Sunrise Rotarian Nick Ponticello visited us today, and took the Club's new photo. Thanks Nick!

President-elect Peter Holmes wants members to sign up for committees during his year which starts in July.

Club Scholarship Coordinator Shawn Seyk announced the 2017 Rotary Club of Woodland College Scholarships at the May 23rd meeting. The Woodland High School recipient is Juan Montoya Hernandez (4.32 GPA) who plans to attend UC Berkeley. The Pioneer High School recipient is Kate Rasmussen (4.38 GPA) who expects to attend UCLA. Shawn hopes to have these graduates visit the Club in the near future.

The Rotary Club of Woodland contributed $1500 and several of its members volunteered to help Woodland United Way's Woodland Kids Read program for over 100 Woodland first grade students at Woodland Community College on May 23rd.

Tim O'Halloran, General Manager of the Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, was our guest speaker today presenting plans currently being developed by multiple local juristictions for the management of groundwater within Yolo County.

The Rotary Grace Singers, namely Roy Holmes, Marc Faye, Roger Dorris, Steve Venables, Clancy Duppong, Dan Stroski & Jim McGibbon (mainly those in the Club that can carry a tune) were in full throated attendance today.

President Gary inducted former Patterson CA Rotarian Mary Martin, as a member of our Club today. Mary currently resides in Esparto and works for Monument Hill Memorial Park.

President-nominee Mike Chandler reminded us the Club's 2018 Dinner Auction will be held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the California Agriculture Museum. Dinner ticket prices have been increased $5 to $45 if purchased by August 1, 2017 or $50 thereafter.

Over 40 Woodland, Sunrise and West Sacramento Rotarians ventured to play the Mare Island Golf Club in Vallejo on May 10th in the annual Mystery Golf Trip. Mare Island GC was established in 1892 and is the 'oldest golf course west of the Mississippi River'. Chuck Maltese and Chuck Santoni co-chaired the successful event which concluded with a visit to the nearby Godfather wine tasting room.

Adrienne Moore Kelly, KOVR Channel 13 Newscaster and daughter of our own Chuck Moore, was our guest speaker today. She gave us a presentation about her career and work in television journalism. Thank you Chuck for arranging and introducing this great program!

President Gary Wegener and President-elect Peter Holmes presented a $20,000 check from the Woodland Rotary Endowment to the Yolo Food Bank at the Club's May 9th meeting. These funds were raised by the Woodland Rotary Club during its 2017 Dinner Auction in February. Kevin Sanchez, Yolo Food Bank Executive Director, and Don Sharp, Food Bank Capitol Campaign Chair, accepted on behalf of the Food Bank.

We hosted another successful Senior BBQ at Rotary Park with approximately 400 being served. Thanks to Aniek Ramsey for her expert leadership & coordination once again. Thanks also to the members who made it happen!

Chris Bain, with the City of Woodland's Community Services Department, and Mark Aulman were today's guest speakers giving us an overview of the City's recreational programs and offerings.

Dylan Rader of Edward Jones was Jennifer Ward's guest today. Also joining us today was Patterson CA Rotarian Mary Martin. Mary is relocating to Woodland.

Aniek Ramsey said we are ready to serve 400-500 people at next Tuesday's Senior BBQ at Rotary Park. Check 'Member Work Assignments' linked on this page (column on the right) for your contribution.

President-nominee Mike Chandler announced the Club's 2018 Dinner Auction will be held Saturday, February 24th at the California Agriculture Museum.

Angela Baltezore, Executive Director of the Woodland Opera House was our guest speaker today giving us an overview of recent facility improvements as well as current & upcoming programs. Angela also brought along (from left to right) Lela Rosendale, Alexia Vazquez, Collin Robinson-Burmester, Hayley Harrison and Maris Samsel, some of the Opera House's Broadway Bound students, who performed two songs for us. For more information about the Woodland Opera House check out their website. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this program!

Juan Barajas, co-owner with his family, of The Savory Cafe in downtown Woodland was our guest speaker today providing us a presentation on how his business incorporates the 'Farm to Fork' model of sourcing foods which are grown/produced locally. More about this can be found on their website at http://www.savorycafeonmain.com/home. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging & introducing this program.

Chuck Moore announced he will be a grandpa for the first time later this year.

George Berrettoni messing with Gary Bunch's jacket while Gary is leading Recognition.

For our program today President Gary provided us with a history of Rotary's End Polio Now effort, and updated us on how close the campaign is getting to reaching its goal. The President is proposing that the club commit to being part of the end game, with a personal funding commitment that we can support. If members agree he is asking that the Club bring and discuss ideas on how to formulate this commitment at next Tuesday's meeting.

Bob Nakken, Tabb Randolph, George Berrettoni and Alan Flory dug deep for Recognition today.

Sunrise Rotarian Ramon Orbano was our guest speaker today giving us a presentation on the Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network, a local organization serving and advocating for immigrants in Yolo County. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this important program.

Sunrise Rotarian Nick Ponticello and Lori Ross' guest, Jazmin Cortez also joined us today.

Rhonda Staley-Brooks, a 22 year veteran of Big Brothers Big Sisters-Greater Sacramento Area, was our guest speaker today, giving us a presentation on the organization and its current efforts to find big brothers and big sisters to partner with 15 young people in the Woodland area. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this program.

Lori Ross shared a story about our server Veronica Tejeda's daughter who plays basketball in some tall company.

Chuck Maltese gave us the details about the Mystery Golf trip on May 10th.

Sunrise Rotarian John Martin and some bearded guy who looks like Marc Faye joined us today.

Jesse Salinas, Yolo County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder/Registrar of Voters, was our guest speaker today giving us an overview of his office's responsibilities and requesting Rotary's help in related community involvement. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this interesting program.

PDG Karl Diekman and Foundation Chair Tom Schwarzgruber presented Mike Chandler (+5), Gary Wegener(+3) and Tabb Randolph(+3) with Paul Harris pins recognizing their recent milestones in personal contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Since our Club's founding in 1926 our members have donated over $350,000 to the Rotary Foundation, and the current Club membership has donated over $149,000 to RI.

PDG Karl Diekman recently returned from a trip to Africa where he attend a meeting of the Rotary Club of Nkwazi in Lusaka, Zambia. Karl presented their club's banner to President Gary today.

Luna Vista Rotarian Raylene Ewing was today's guest speaker presenting a program on her participation last Fall in a Rotary Cervical Cancer Global Grant project in Kenya, Africa. The project, modeled after the Nicaragua Cervical Cancer Global Grant our club recently championed, provided cervical cancer screening services, equipment, supplies and related training to a remote region in Kenya near Lake Victoria.

Mark Werum took the lead on Recognition today which resulted in stirring thoughts (and $$$) from, among others, Tabb Randolph, Jim McGibbon, Chuck Maltese & Mahlon Whittle.

Our guest speakers today were (from left-right) Danielle Wogulis (Administrative & Outreach Coordinator), Elvia Garcia (Restorative Justice Coordinator), and Kara Hunter (Executive Director) with the Yolo Conflict Resolution Center (www.yolocrc.org) who presented a program on the organization's purpose and programs.

Today's guest speaker was Jayne Williams, Executive Director, All Leaders Must Serve, who gave us a presentation on 'Preparing Young Adults for Success in the Workplace'. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this interesting program. A description of All Leaders Must Serve can be viewed here.

Micheal Rooke-Ley, a guest of Lori Ross, and Sunrise Rotarian Nick Ponticello joined us today.

President Gary Wegener won the $244 jackpot today, and promptly donated it to the Rotary Foundation.

More than 270 people had a great evening February 18th at the Heidrick Ag Center. While expenses are still being tabulated, the event generated a projected net income of over $35,000. The primary beneficiary of the event will be the Yolo Food Bank.

Gardner, Janes, Nakken, Hugo & Nolan –
David Janes, Robert Nakken, Jim Nolan

Silent Auction/Lucky Draw Donors

Thank You!!

Ariel Muller, Exercise Specialist, Woodland Healthcare was our guest speaker today, giving us a presentation on Woodland Healthcare's cardiac rehabilitation program.

Our speakers today were Michael Rooke-Ley(Community Impact Coordinator) and Lori Ross(Executive Director), both with Woodland United Way, who gave us a presentation about the AmeriCorps Vista program and an update on initiatives by Woodland United Way.

Scott Johnston provided the attached draft list of Oral Auction items being offered at this year's Auction. Check out what you and your friends want to go after.

Our guest speaker today was Nolan Sullivan, Branch Director, Services Centers, Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency who gave us an overview of the Safety Net of services provided by his organization. Copies of his handouts can be viewed at the links listed in 'Info on Past Programs', under the Programs tab on the left of this page. Thank you Dan Stroski for arranging and introducing this interest program!

Chagrined to learn that bald men have more fun, Bob Nakken drew a free lunch today.

Angel Barajas, Mayor, City of Woodland was our guest speaker today, giving us an overview of his background and issues the City is working on. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging & introducing this informative program!

Hans Clark, a visiting Rotarian from Anchorage (South), Alaska, exchanged Club banners with President Gary. Hans shared that he grew up in Woodland and was an outbound Rotary Exchange student in the early 1990s. He is visiting the area to celebrate his grandmother's 90th birthday.

Alan Flory's restored 1963 Chevrolet Impala Super Sport recently given to him

Our Dinner Auction, is set for Saturday, February 18th at the Heidrick Ag Museum. Get your dinner tickets from Alan Flory. Get your Raffle (Trip to Italy) tickets from Mahlon Whittle or Les Engelmann. Get Oral Auction items to Scott Johnston. Get Silent Auction items to Nick Roncoroni. Talk with Mark Ullrich about sponsorships.

Tickets available for sale from any Club member. Club members are encouraged to each sell two tickets!

In the past year PDG Karl Diekman and Luna Vista Rotarian Raylene Ewing have been engaged in a conversation with members of the Rotary Club of Kisumu, Kenya and have come to believe that there is a nearby village of Rakwaro Kalem that could benefit greatly from a long-term relationship with Rotarians here in Woodland. They are now attempting to assemble a team of up to 10 Woodland area Rotarians/spouses/friends who would travel to western Kenya in early May 2017 for a related fact finding trip. Details of the trip will be provided in an email being sent to members later this week. Please respond to Karl or Raylene as soon as possible if you are interested in going along. An organizational meeting is planned for 5:15pm on February 7.

Last August the Club contributed $1,666 (a combination of individual donations matched by the Club) to Wendi Locatelli, a local young mother who last year tragically lost major portions of her legs and arms to illness. This was part of a larger community effort to help the Locatellis with the enormous expenses associated with her situation. We recently received this thank you note from the Locatelli family.

Jane O'Meara, daughter of Don McNary, was inducted as the Club's newest member today. Welcome Jane!

Dan Bellini, City of Woodland Public Safety Chief, was our guest speaker today, providing us a facinating presentation on the 'Successes and Challenges of the Police Department'.

Don McNary was presented with a cake while celebrating his 94th birthday with us. Happy Birthday Don!!

Julie Kirby, Executive Director of Summer House, Inc., was our guest speaker today giving us a review of what Summer House does. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this interesting program!

President Gary and Foundation Chair Tom Schwarzgruber present Paul Harris Fellowship pins to Scott Johnston (+7), George Berretoni (+7), and Roy Holmes (+5) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Tom pointed out that our Club has donated over $350,000 to the Rotary Foundation since it was founded, and the current Club membership has donated $149,000 to RI.

Marc Faye, on a mission to improve the Club's rendition of Rotary Grace, today enlisted Roger Dorris, Steve Venables & Clancy Duppong to set the right tone.

Woodland City Councilmember & former Mayor Tom Stallard was our guest speaker today, sharing thoughts on various community issues including the impact of driverless vehicles as they come on the market in the near future.

Past President Chuck Maltese took the helm on Recognition today, finding many-a-pigeon in raising funds for the Club.

Sunrise Rotary President Keith Rhode was visiting with us today, lending his voice to an improved version of Rotary Grace.

Dennis Miller and his wife, accompanist Ruth Miller, were our guests today providing us with a variety of holiday music to enjoy and sing along with.

Foundation Chair Tom Schwarzgruber & PDG Karl Diekman presented Mark Werum (3rd) and Christian Sherrill (1st) with Paul Harris pins representing milestones in their giving to the Rotary Foundation.

Dennis Diemer, General Manager of the Woodland Davis Clean Water Agency was our guest speaker today, giving an overview of the new surface water project providing water service to Woodland, Davis and UC Davis.

Club Historian Steve Venables presents immediate past president Kris Kristensen with an album from his year as President of the Club.

President Gary presents Veronica Tejeda with a $357 tip from Club members for her dedicated service this past year.

In December, the Club unanimously elected a slate of new Club officers for 2017-18 year. Beginning July 1, 2017 the new officers will be:

Mike Chandler was elected President-elect for next year. He will serve as Club President in the 2018-19 year.

Our own Christian Sherrill, DC, QME of Premiere Chiropractic & Pilates was our program speaker today giving us a presentation on wellness & disease prevention.

Carla Sanborn was grateful that all her cancer has been removed and there will be no more chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

About 80 Rotarians and guests from the Woodland, Sunrise & Luna Vista clubs attended the December 2nd Holiday Party at the Yolo Fliers Club. Many thanks to Mark Ullrich for organizing this fun event.

Taro Echiburu, Yolo County Community Services Director, was our guest speaker today giving us a presentation on the Community Choice Energy Program currently under consideration in our area.

Kevin Haarberg was pleased to introduce his neighbor and visiting Davis Rotarian Cindy Spiro.

President Gary led us through a second act of the Club Assemby conducted last month.

The final report on the Nicaragua Cervical Cancer Project, a Rotary Foundation Global Grant Vocational Training Team effort sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Woodland and Leon, Nicaragua, has been released and can be viewed here.

Many thanks for the success of this effort go to several Woodland area medical professionals and Club members who volunteered their time & talents. These include:

Thanks also to our own PDG Karl Diekman for his leadership and coordination.

Our own PDG Karl Diekman was our speaker today, giving us a review of Rotary International projects this Club has been associated with over the past decade. He emphasized how small contributions can be leveraged at the International and District levels to help a local club like ours make an immense impact on third world countries.

District 5160 Foundation Chair Jane Louie and her predecessor Don Jenkins were our guest speakers today giving us a review of the Rotary Foundation.

PDG Karl Diekman and Club Foundation Chair Tom Schwarzgruber presented Seth Wurzel with his first Paul Harris Fellowship.

Dan Stroski was presented with a certificate from the District Governor recognizing Dan for his work in youth services.

Scott Johnston reported he enjoyed his Maui vacation, got a new card and turned 63 years of age on October 30. No wonder he only had $5 to his name today.

We were honored to welcome Fred Collignon, District 5160 Governor for 2016-17 and his wife Joan, on his official visit to the Club. Prior to the regular meeting the DG met with the Club's Board of Directors as well.

Jim Taylor brought his wife Ann as a guest today. Assistant District Governor for our area, Chris Jones (from Winters), was also with us today.

With his personal interest in youth services, DG Fred recognized several of our members for their related work: (l-r) Peter Holmes & Chuck Moore (FFA), Tim Pettit (and Christy Hayes)(Interact), Becky Martin (Scholarships), Lori Ross (Children's Literacy) & Jennifer Ward (Camp Royal & Camp Venture).

The District Governor presents Jim Taylor with his Paul Harris Fellowship pin.

Historian Steve Venables presented Immediate Past President Kris Kristensen with a book of memories from his year as President.

Local developers Ron Caceres and John Anagnostou were our guest speakers today, presenting a review of the different project they are working on in Woodland.

Dick Hoppin presented the Club with a check for $4100 representing its share of the earnings from the 2016 Beer Booth.

President-elect Peter Holmes announced that the 2017 Dinner Auction Committee recommended that the Club pledge to donate $20,000 from the Auction proceeds to the Yolo Food Bank. The Club then unanimously approved the recommendation.

Kevin Sanchez, Executive Director of the Yolo Food Bank was our guest speaker today giving us an update on the Food Bank, food insecurity in Yolo County, and the Food Bank's $6 million capital campaign currently underway. Thanks to Scott Johnston for arranging and introducing this program.

Sunrise Rotarian Don Sharp and our own Mahlon Whittle were our speakers today, giving us an overview of the current housing and the real estate market in Yolo County.

Last May Woodland Rotary Endowment presented a $25,000 check (funds raised at the Club's 2016 Dinner Auction) to Greengate School (part of the Yolo County Office of Education) for the acquisition & development of a Ruby Falls play structure at the campus. That play structure, part of a larger Playground Project, was opened and dedicated on October 5th. Students, teachers and parents got their first chance to see and touch the water features of Ruby Falls. Greengate School Principal Debra Johnsen and Yolo County Schools Superintendent Jesse Ortiz, Ed.D. thanked Woodland Rotary for their support .

On October 5th Will Jarrell, Principal of Cache Creek High School, along with WJUSD Superintendent Maria Armstrong and others, dedicated improvements made to the school's CommuniCare facilities where student health services are provided. The improvements were made possible by a $5,000 contribution from Woodland Rotary Endowment (part of the proceeds from the Club's 2016 Dinner Auction).