The Pulse for the Week of May 19, 2026 | Rotary Club of Sacramento

Tuesday’s meeting was held at the Sacramento Zoo, allowing members and guests a stroll across the lake to the sounds of children and families chatting and laughing as we arrived. President Kerry opened the meeting by thanking Chair of the Day Nancy Smith-Fagan and her Sacramento Zoo colleagues for hosting us.

Thought for the Day

Laura Heintz’s Thought for the Day compared the interconnection of life at the zoo with Rotarians’ shared purpose, diversity, and ability to unite. It was a delightful take on how each animal – similar to each Rotary member – plays their unique part (for instance, reptiles can be cool under pressure, chimps can get into mischief, and lions can emerge as leaders).

Club Announcements

Roadies gig at the zoo – PP Kevin Smith-Fagan encouraged club members to attend the “Zoo After Hours” evening affair on Friday, June 5 from 6-9 pm, an event featuring our own Roadies performing live music. $20 early bird tickets through May 26, then $30 per ticket.
International Services

An image of a wall placard on the wall over a green couch

In April, the donor wall was officially unveiled at the Ronald McDonald Room at Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, recognizing the supporters who helped make the space possible. Through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Sacramento’s International Services Committee and the Rotary Club of St. Catharines, Ontario, this important project has already made a tremendous impact. In just one year, the Room welcomed more than 36,000 visits and served over 32,000 meals to children and their families. The Club recently received a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the children and their families for our caring and generosity in helping support this incredible resource.

Featured Speakers Dan Simon and Katie Hallsten

Our luncheon speakers were Dan Simon, CEO of the Sacramento Zoo and Katie Hallsten (development associate and former primate keeper). Dan shared many zoo happenings including flamingo and giraffe babies, as well as the addition of hero rats – which we learned can sniff out a scent better than trained dogs. New initiatives at the zoo include orangutan habitat upgrades, a Summer Camp Inclusion Specialist, and a thick-billed parrot aviary coming in 2027. Speaking of 2027 – the zoo will hold a centennial celebration next year!

Dan also shared long-term expansion plans, citing that at the current 14.6 acres, the zoo requires more space to keep current and to bring back exhibits such as the large cats. Ultimately and with the help of the City of Sacramento, the zoo hopes to grow to 20.3 acres. Katie Hallsten gave a most interesting firsthand account of how she and a team of several other primate keepers nursed along a newborn orangutan in 2023 when his birth mom didn’t take to nurturing him. The team immersed themselves in the baby’s care, staying at the zoo in around-the-clock shifts. Ultimately baby Nangka was transferred to the Atlanta zoo and the care of an experienced foster-mom orangutan there. After Dan and Katie’s presentations, zoo personnel invited Rotary members to take short tours of the zoo.

A golf cart transporting several people on a walkway at the zoo

President Kerry made sure to thank the club members who helped make the meeting happen. Those included greeter Laura Heintz. The Pulse reporter was Rhonda Poppen with Steve Shiflett serving as photographer, and the Sacramento Zoo was wine sponsor.

Sergeant-at-Arms Sarah Hodge announced we will be dark next week in observance of Memorial Day. The next meeting will be June 2 at our customary location when the speaker will be our club member Peter Coyl, Director and CEO of Sacramento Public Library.