Next meeting
Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Wednesday April 12: China’s Global expansion, past & present
Wednesday April 19: History Of Our Rotary Club
Wednesday April  26: Constitution of the United States
Wednesday May 3: Santa Rosa Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Wednesday May 10: Story Of Survival And Resilience Hiding From The Nazi’s

Click here for the current calendar (Subject to updates).

UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

“Welcome to the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa where we imagine a world that deserves our best, where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”

Opening

President Kris welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Past President Julia Parranto opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Rotary Four Way Test. In her reflection, she expressed gratitude for her fellow Rotarians and her request for the member’s thoughts and prayers for Rose Frances’s upcoming surgery.

Sunshine

Rose Frances will be undergoing back surgery.

Red Badge Presentation

A Red Badge was given to Fred Levin, a RCSR Past President who is rejoining the club. Welcome back, Fred!

Raffle

Pete Lescure conducted the raffle, with Steve Olsen winning the consolation prize and Sam McMillian selecting a candy bar in the Second Chance drawing.

Announcements

Polio Update – President Kris announced a wild polio case in Pakistan after six months of no polio cases.

Giro Bello – Past President Ray announced that the Giro Bello sponsorship packets for 2023 were on the tables and available electronically. This year’s goal is $40,000 in sponsorships.  The current commitment is $3,000. The scholarship packet includes a description of the benefits to the sponsors and outlines the multi-tier sponsorships available.

Wild Game Dinner – Past President announced the upcoming Wild Game Dinner in detail. There are two seats still available at $200.00 per plate.

Social – Debi announced that there will be a Happy Hour Social on a Thursday in April. Those with a Red Badge can check off their “social” requirement if they attend. Debi will send out an email with details.

Youth Exchange Golf Tournament – Mary Graves announced that there is a golf tournament on April 22, 2023, at the Windsor Golf Course, supporting the Youth Exchange program. She also reported that Exchange Student Will Follksen’s Swedish dinner was well attended.

District Assembly – This weekend is the assembly. There is still room if you would like to attend. Contact President Kris for details.

District Conference – Five Rotarians are attending the District Conference. Again, there is still time to sign up.

Program

Program Chair, Susan Nowacki, introduced Rene Byck, co-owner of Paradise Winery.

Rene Byck was born and raised in Santa Rosa, where he graduated from Cardinal Newman High School in 1985. He then attended California State University at Sacramento and received a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 1990. After graduation, Rene traveled extensively. Rene worked for a private investigative firm in San Francisco when he returned. In 1994, he joined his parents and Sonai, his sister, in the plans to create a winery and event center on their 188-acre Santa Rosa ranch. Rene spent the early years in the tasting room, working events and doing the bookkeeping. He received his MBA in 2000. Rene was married in 2007, and he and his wife Holly have three children, Adianka Marijke, Brycen Russell, and Alexia Rae.

Rene gave his family’s history, acquiring the property now Paradise Ridge Winery and the sculpture garden. Vineyards were planted soon after his father and mother purchased the property in 1978.  Later, the Voight Family Foundation formed a relationship with Paradise Ridge Winery and, by extension, with the Burning Man Foundation.  There are a number of pieces on the property that represent the Burning Man Foundation artists’ works. All the sculptures on the property are for sale, and the money from the sales goes directly back to the artists. 

In addition, on the property, there is a historical exhibit with artifacts in remembrance of Kanyae Nagasawa’s role in the Fountaingrove area and the Paradise Ridge winery. Through a long relationship with the Japanese American Citizen’s League, they are adding a small tea garden and Zen garden.

Program Slides

One of the program slides from this week

Club Job Openings:

Still need a few bulletin writers. Need a person on the board for Vocational Service Recognition

Additional Pictures:

(Click on image below to view pictures from this meeting)

USEFUL LINKS

Visit our district at: http://www.rotary5130.org
Check out Rotary International at: http://www.rotary.org
Come see us at: http://rotarymeansbusiness

Governor, District 5130

Secretary

Debi Zaft P.O. Box 505 Santa Rosa, CA 95402

Board of Directors

Kris Anderson – President
Ann Gospe – President Elect
Casey D’Angelo – President Elect Nominee
Ray Giampaoli – Past President
Debi Zaft – Secretary
Karen Ball – Treasurer
Robert Pierce – Sergeant At Arms
Julia Parranto – Club Service- Membership
Andrea Geary – Club Service – Club Meetings
Matthew Henry – Club Service – Fund Raising
Charlie Howard-Gibbon – Club Services – Member Activities
Pete Lescure – Club Service – Records and Outreach
Casey Carter – Member Involvement
Mary Graves Community – Service – Youth
Tim Fawcett – Vocational Service
Scott Bartley – International Service
Paul Hamilton – Foundation Representative

DIGITAL EDITION No. 496 March 29, 2023  EDITOR: Diane Moresi PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeff Gospe PUBLISHER: Richard Lazovick