Rotary Celebrates the Women of Rotary And National Woman’s Day!

March opened to a full house as we celebrated National Women’s Day! Read on to learn about the pioneering Women of the American Railroad who inspired transformational changes that we all enjoy today.  PRESIDENT BOB MILLER (Vice President Business Services at First US Community Credit Union) thanked our greeters JOHN PHAIR and CLAYTON LEE who greet each Rotarian with a smile. Special thanks to our photographer JIM HENDERSON for his artistic photographic record of our festivities.

JOHN GORALKA (Attorney/President of The Goralka Law Firm) was our scribe and reporter for this event. NANCY SMITH-FAGAN (Philanthropy Manager / International Bird Rescue) was behind the bar with a radiant smile pouring some excellent wines from LANGETWINS FAMILY WINERY courtesy of our own TIM MATTHEIS. Cheers to TIM and NANCY. For more information about LANGETWINS WINERY click here http://langetwins.com

LEV KAGANOVICH  (Energy, LEED & Commissioning Consulting) delivered our thought for the day.

LEV noted that for the past few months, he was constantly searching the Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and American news channels and blogs trying to build a picture of what is happening in and around Ukraine.

LEV observed that, 81 Years ago, a German dictator invaded Soviet Union with the goal to demolish Soviet Army first and kill Jews. He found willing collaborators in many Eastern European countries such as Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine among others.

Now, the leftover from the former Soviet Union – the Russian Federation dictator invaded independent Ukraine and under the false pretense of denazification is bombing cities, areas around nuclear plants and even the Holocaust Memorial in Capital Kiev. The former comedian, 44 years old Jewish man and now the President of Ukraine – Zelensky was able to unite the Ukrainian people and the whole world to resist this unprovoked aggression. Along the way, President Zelensky was elected President of Ukraine with 73% voting support. His grandparents were murdered by German Nazis and now Russian dictator is killing Ukrainian people by stating that he is liberating them from Nazis. While seemingly stronger than fiction, this very real tragedy unfolds before our eyes. More than 1.7 million people already left their beloved Ukraine trying to save their families and many more are still trying to leave for safety in the free world.

Ukraine is getting political, economic and military support from the Units States and the free world. LEV asks his Rotary brothers and sisters to provide humanitarian assistance to people of UKRAINE.

LEV, with all that we see in the news today, thank you for this very timely and important reminder.

Our guests included JOHN “SPELS” LANHAM (California State Railroad Museum) , TIM SCHROEPFER (CA ST RR Museum Foundation), MEGAN VILLAPUDUA (CA ST RR Museum Foundation) , MAM STRONG , ANNETTE JUMPER (Director of Child and Family Program) , RACHEL HANN (Crisis Nursery Program Manager) , JERRY ZINK, JEAN YAKATOBE , ROBERT MIDGLEY. 

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to MEGAN WYGANT – Executive Director /CLARA Studios) who is our meeting sponsor. MEGAN provided some very important information about the critical services of CLARA STUDIOS. CLARA STUDIOS provides much needed arts education to our community.

CLARA — the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts — is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission of providing education and resources to unleash the creative potential of local arts and culture in Sacramento. This is done by:

CLARA’s programs provide the resources and supports necessary to keep local creative workers here at home, while also building the next generation of Sacramento’s creative thinkers.

Please see link below of Clara Studios presentation

RUTH TESAR –She slipped and fell on the ice and was in ICU.  Please send a care gram and hope for a speedy recovery.

LATOYA resigned and is no longer the (Executive Director – Rotary Club of Sacramento). LATOYA looks forward to continuing her Rotary membership. LATOYA – thank you for your extraordinary efforts. Please send any potential candidates to President BOB MILLER.

Please see link below for the presentation slides.

PAST PRESIDENT SUSAN SHERIDAN provided a reminder that our own SACRAMENTO CENTURY is on October 1, 2022. (Only 197 riding days away). What beautiful weather we all have to train for the Sacramento Century.

Last year/Rotary members raised:

$21,750 – from club members – thank you DIANE MIZELL for your extraordinary effort.

$47,000 -from the Challenge Champions led by KATHE NATION. Thank you for leading the Challenge Champions.

$30,000 – raised by Corporate sponsorship. Thank you TODD KOOLAKIAN for your negotiating these contributions from our Corporate  members.

ANNETTE JUMPER and RACHEL HUNN, accepted our check in the amount of $92,500 made payable to the Crisis Nursery. GREAT JOB ROTARIANS! To date this event has netted $587,000 over the past 8 years.

President BOB gave a big hello out to our guests here today from Isleton JEAN YAKOTOBE and JERRY ZINK.

JEAN YAKOTOBE and JERRY ZINK were very instrumental in paving the way so that we are able to have a lunch in Isleton to serve 400-500 riders. Jean helped with our lunch location, making a sign when it wasn’t clear to the riders where to turn. JEAN also enlisted someone to hold the sign direct the riders to make the correct turn.

Thank you both very much for all that you have done for us in Isleton.

We have been fortunate to partner with the Children’s Receiving Home. 2022 will be our 5^th year to work with them to benefit the Sacramento Crisis Nursery.

Much support emails throughout the year to our list of 3500-4000 email addresses of the riders over the years, the supporters and our club members. Many volunteers and of course, our very own TODD KOOLAKIAN (Director of Philanthropy / Sacramento Children’s Home), leads the corporate sponsor drive.

Welcome to our guests from the Sacramento Children’s Home.

ANNETTE JUMPER, Director of Child and Family Programs and RACHEL HUNN, the Crisis Nursery Program Manager.