The Pulse for the Week of February 10th, 2026

It was a history-rich meeting at the Rotary Club of Sacramento this week, as Past President John Frisch dusted off his presidential chops and presided in President Kerry’s absence. He opened the gathering by welcoming everyone and setting the stage for a program centered on stories of character, resilience, and Sacramento pride.

Liz McClatchy’s Thought for the Day reflected on the importance of studying historical figures and the consequences of their actions, reminding us that learning from the past helps us better understand the present. Quoting Sir Winston Churchill, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” she tied it nicely to our club’s ongoing engagement with Sacramento’s own rich story.

Members of Rotary Sacramento — Elizabeth McClatchy delivery the Thought of the Day.

The birthday kids this week were recognized by PP John, who wished each celebrating Rotarian a happy birthday – Matthew Romsa, John Phair, Tim Comstock, Dafang Wu and Rachel Dee Minyard.

Meeting Sponsor and President-Elect Paul Keefer used his three minutes to highlight the amazing results achieved in our region by Pacific Charter Institute schools. Through seven charter schools serving 4,000 students across 14 counties, PCI is providing high-quality, flexible learning environments that meet diverse student needs and help more children reach their full potential.

The “Know Your Rotarian” segment was a double feature this week. First up, John Wood introduced us to the life and times of Hon. Bill Shubb, a lifelong Oakland A’s fan who happened to be in the stands at Candlestick Park on October 17, 1989, for the “Battle of the Bay” when the big earthquake struck. As the stadium went dark and 62,000 fans wondered if the Bay Bridge had really fallen into the Bay, Bill stayed calm and kind, ultimately offering a ride home to a stranded father and daughter after BART shut down—an 11-hour odyssey back to Sacramento that ended with a grateful family safely delivered (and a story Bill has been telling ever since).

Next, Robyn Delong shared the story of Ed Melia, a lifelong adventurer who traveled extensively through Europe with his wife Barbara, making friends they would sometimes reunite with decades later. On one trip to visit family in Texas, Ed changed the return flight to a later departure so relatives wouldn’t have to drive to the airport at the crack of dawn. When he landed back in Sacramento, he learned that the earlier flight crashed, and his simple thoughtful act may well have saved their lives.

Eddie Mulligan & Paul Harris Fun

Rotarians then opened their wallets and their hearts, sharing milestones and misadventures while making meaningful gifts to their Paul Harris and Eddie Mulligans. David Brandenburger recounted a recent skiing mishap in which careened into a tree, walking away with a banged-up elbow but every intention of being back on the mountain as soon as he can firmly grip a ski pole.

Not to be outdone, self-professed nongambler Joe Quilici told how friends cajoled him to buy the last square in a $2,000 pool. He reluctantly parted with his “emergency” $20 bill, filled in that final square, and—you guessed it—won on the final score. Joe shared his winnings with Rotary and promptly restored his emergency $20 to its rightful place in his wallet. Craig Brown’s wife Jacque joined us to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary; tired of wondering whether Craig would stand up and mark the occasion, Jacque grabbed the mic herself and made a donation in honor of their golden year.

The room grew especially reflective when Sarah Hodge celebrated three years in remission from breast cancer. She shared how deeply it meant to have so many Rotarian friends walk with her through diagnosis and recovery. Fellow survivor Kathy Herrfeldt honored Sarah’s journey by making a gift to Sarah’s Eddie Mulligan.

Meeting Announcements

Hiking Club – PP Jim Leet invited everyone to lace up for the upcoming March 8 Mural Walk from 9:30 a.m. to noon, a roughly 2.5 mile stroll through the heart of Sacramento that will showcase dozens of murals and our city’s thriving arts scene.
Jean Runyon Award – Maggie Hopkins reminded members that nominations are open for the Jean Runyon Award, honoring the first woman to join our club back in 1988 and a champion for women leaders and regional change. The deadline is fast approaching, so members were encouraged to think of a deserving Rotarian who embodies Jean’s spirit of service and leadership in the community.
Rhonda Poppen gave a shoutout to our newest members who have completed the New Member Engagement Checklist—Rotarians who have jumped in with both feet and are already making their presence felt in fellowship and service.

Program: Sacramento’s Golden Story

Bob Rosenberg introduced entrepreneur, civic trailblazer, and Sacramento Historical Society leader Gregg Lukenbill. Gregg is best known for bringing the Sacramento Kings to town and launching the naming rights era in professional sports by securing the first naming deal for Arco Arena, a model that changed the financial landscape for major stadiums nationwide. But rather than focusing solely on his many business innovations, Gregg spoke from the heart about Sacramento’s beginnings and its outsized impact on the country.

Gregg traced the city’s origins at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers and its explosive growth as a Gold Rush supply and transportation hub, connecting Sierra mines to San Francisco and the national economy. Sacramento’s strategic location helped it become California’s permanent state capital in 1854 and later a national gateway as the western terminus of the Pony Express, he noted, and then the western starting point for the first transcontinental railroad—developments that shrank the country and bound California more tightly to the rest of the United States.

Gregg also highlighted Sacramento’s tradition of resilience, from the audacious effort to raise downtown streets above flood levels in the 19th century to repeated waves of redevelopment that have reshaped the urban core while preserving its historic fabric. He closed by emphasizing that Sacramento’s golden past—its role in the Gold Rush, state governance, national transportation, and modern sports entertainment—continues to shape its future and inspire those who call the region home to protect, celebrate, and build on that legacy.

Along the way, PP John thanked the greeting crew, which included Robyn DeLong, Ted White, and Kathy Herrfeldt. Christie Holderegger served as Pulse reporter, and John Swentowksy was our meeting photographer.

We are dark next week in observance of Presidents Day. Our next club gathering is the postwork Rotary After Dark on February 24 at Bike Dog in East Sac. Our next lunch meeting will be March 3 and will feature Wilton Rancheria’s chairman Jesus Tarango and COO Chris Franklin.

Click here to check out or club calendar and RSVP.