–> Redwood Empire Food Bank – 2nd Wednesday of the month.  The next one is April 8th – 5 PM – 7 PM

–> The Giro Bello is just around the corner! June 29, 2024.  Register to reserve your spot for one of the most scenic and fun bike rides on the West Coast – Now with a new start and finish, the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa.  Click here for more info and to register.

SRJC Rotaract Fundraiser – You can make your donations here: Click here to donate

SRJC and Sonoma State Rotaract members support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. If you would like to donate, you can make a donation here.

For pictures and descriptions of previous socials and other events click here.

For more details and additional events, see the Announcements section below.

More socials, projects, & events coming soon!

Rotary Announcements

See the Announcements section below.

Opening Ceremonies:

“Welcome to the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa where we have fun while doing good in the world!” said Past President Kris Anderson, filling in for President Ann Gospe who is with her family at their cabin for Spring Break.

Natasha Perez led us in the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, the Four-Way Test, and her reflection: A quote from Barak Obama, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Visiting Rotarians:

Jean Herschede from Healdsburg, Mark Thayer from Cloverdale and Catherine Ristola from Holland, MI

Guests:

Lisa Trepel has been voted on to be a member of our club! Past President Kris told her President Ann would talk to her when she gets back in town to pick a date for installation. She was happy! Patty Kolin was also here today. She is about ready to be voted on by the board of directors. Her reference is impeccable! Lastly, Leslie Barnes came with her application complete. Casey D’ Angelo will meet with her shortly so we can get her into the club too. Girl power!

Sunshine Report:

Rose Frances is home, yay! She is walking and should be back at our meeting soon. Fred Levin is still in the hospital with undiagnosed health issues. Keep him in your thoughts. As stated last week, former member Steve Baime’s cancer is at a critical stage.

Raffle:

Only three marbles and $461 in the pot today. Karen Ball had the right ticket……and she pulled out the blue marble!!!!! Congratulations Karen!

Announcements:

1. SCARC is next week in Sebastopol on Thursday March 28.  Debi Zaft needs to know IMMEDIATELY if you want to go.  The topic of discussion is a county-wide Rotary project.  Come with your ideas.
2. The District Assembly is almost here. April 6 in Ukiah.  If you sign up and go, you will be reimbursed.  So, let’s go!  We can carpool and have a fun day.  It is usually over about 4:30, so you are not getting home late.
3. Giro Bello: Please ask around if anyone you know who would like to be a sponsor. Think of business owners that you know who rides a bike. We are up to 136 riders.
4. Giro Bello: Please ask around to see if anyone you know who would like to have a booth at the Giro Bello Expo. See Karen Ball for vendor packets, but they also have been emailed to all club members last week.
5. The “Book of Why” still needed 12 more volunteers. Casey D’Angelo would like us to distribute to the schools by mid-April.
6. Social at Corrick’s has been announced! It will be Thursday May 9. Nona will have sign-ups for food and beverage shortly. Put it on your calendar now.
7. Karen Ball now has lunch tickets in packs of 10. So, if you find it is a hassle to pay each week, now you are in luck.  You will still have to check in with the desk each week and let them know you are coming the next Otherwise, you will pay an extra $2.00.

New Member:

Lisa Trepel has been approved for membership by the board of directors to the rotary club of Santa Rosa.

Jean Herschede on Amigos de Guatemala, Working Together to Open Doors

In 2002, Jan and Bob Hatmaker, founders of Amigos de Guatemala (ADG), vacationed in Jabailito, a Mayan village on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Their visit piqued their curiosity about the indigenous Mayan people living in villages throughout the country. They learned that poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition were common in rural Guatemala. Upon learning that Jabailito village needed $3,000 U.S. to build a kitchen in their elementary school, Bob’s Groveland, CA Rotary Club financed the project. Amigos de Guatemala was born.

The Amigos de Guatemala co-director, Fredy Argueta, had a wonderful relationship with the indigenous people, and their trust in him enabled the scholarship program to become a reality. Over the years, Amigos de Guatemala program continued to help improve school classrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, wells, and play areas. Girls began staying in their village schools up to 6th grade, and parents began asking for scholarships to continue their children’s education in junior and senior high. Students are encouraged to cherish and preserve their Mayan culture, language, and history. Parents soon realized that education enriched rather than diminished family life, and education became valued rather than feared.

In 2010, Jean Herschede learned about Amigos de Guatemala through a video that Bob Hatmaker created to expand the interest in educating young Maya girls. Not being shy, Jean asked about being part of the volunteer team. This started her love of the people of Zacualpa that continues to this day.

Through the annual trips, Jean learned more about the local needs beyond education and helped expand the support to include health and community development. As the Hatmakers were looking to scale back their involvement, she stepped in to help guide and expand the program which included donated medical equipment, medical training, updates and expansion of schools, and computer labs to name a few.

Our Club has been funding students for several years.  Jean Spoke about the Seven Avenues of Rotary Service and how this ties into Amigos de Guatemala:

Education: Because homes do not have books, they give the students dictionaries. District Grants have been used to pay for schools, outfitting the classrooms, etc.

Maternal Health: Project Cure out of Colorado collects used and surplus medical equipment that has been shipped to 140 countries. A half million dollars’ worth of equipment went to midwives and neonatologists to triage babies at birth.

Disease Prevention: Babies get their vaccinations.  The library was used for a Covid vaccination clinic over the last few Covid years.

Environment: They have planted palm sprigs for reforestation of the area.  $3000 bought 5000 trees and 50 families helped to plant them.

Water and Sanitation: There was severe food insecurity during the Covid pandemic.  They put in a community garden that the kids tended.  An indigenous corn, black corn, has been kept alive. The town was expanded and improved last year.  They will build a water filtration plant this year.

Economic Development: Jean told the story of a young man who was trained to be a mechanic.  Two women have started something that resembles a credit union. Selling school supplies to help an orphanage. Jesse is now a regionally know artist

Peace:   By focusing on the first six avenues of service, peace is a byproduct.

Jean introduced us to a student who has gone to military school. He raises chicks and eggs to help pay for it. He is number one in his class.

The closest Rotary Club is 5-6 hours away, so local club participation is not possible for some of the Rotary grants.  A child does not start middle school unless they are sponsored.  Our club has committed to two students, and we will pay for their schooling until they graduate.  Middle school costs $400 a year and high school costs $800.  66 students are in the program this year, 80% are girls.  Over 150 students have graduated high school since this program was started.

Program Slides

Pictures of Jean and her slides