President Merle and other members of her team will Review the accomplishments of the first hale of Merle's year and outline what we may expect for the second half.

Our surroundings changed last week to nearby Franchetti's.  Past President Harry Coffey (hair on face not head) orients newest member Rebecca Poon, front center to the watchful eye of Photographer Warren Smith.

Peter Banks asserted the consensus of his colleagues in the National Association of Astro-Physicists, and contributed generously for his academic freedom.

Jim, "Jeep" Gray ponders the fine assortment of beverages available.  Jim owned up to his recent new vehicle purchase and quickly offered its' versatility in transporting/hauling materials for the Club's Peace Wall Project.  Go Jeep!  

Also joining the new wheels club was Steve Herron:  A new Lexus rests in his stable!

Noel Glab describes her booty for President Merle, crafts from Southeast Asia, Vietnam.  Noel's son  teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) in Vietnam.

Merle discovers the instructions are not in English.

Carolyn Anderson, Foundation Chair announces the Club's invitation to use available credit points to fulfill your long awaited Paul Harris Fellow.  Ask her for details!

Speaker Rebecca Robinson confers with unofficial Sunrise Sommelier Steve Herron on some zinfandel notes.  

Penny Millar far right greets speaker Rebecca Robinson of ZAP, Zinfandel Advocates & Producers.

Within this panorama are Ross Andress, Cindy Gillespie and Ezbon Jen:  It is great to see Ross up and about!  Ezbon reported the recognition Santa Rosa Junior College received from the National Honor Society and Cindy is now a Grandmother to Grandson Weston.
 

On a regular basis, our resident photo pros Warren Smith and Jack Strange submit pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.

Thanks for all the great pictures Warren and Ross! Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!

Additional photos may be found on the SR Sunrise Facebook Page.

Rebecca Robinson, Executive Director of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers provided an informative and nutritious repast on the topic of Zinfandel, "America's Grape."

Established in 1991, ZAP is a 501c(3) not for profit organization promoting the cultivation of the grape and production of its' signature wine.  ZAP also offers viticulture scholarships and partners with UC Davis as well as provide philanthropic support to St Francis Hospital Foundation.  As a marketing agency, ZAP organizes four key Z-vents annually to showcase the delights inherent in the flavor of Zinfandel. The grand ZinExperience is ZinEx February 23-25 in San Francisco.

Rebecca's enthusiasm for the joy of Zin has developed an exceptional network of industry and community partners to showcase an exceptional wine through consumer engagement, media relations and trade.  See more of these culinary delights at http://www.zinfandelexperience.com.

After nearly six years of negotiating, planning and renegotiating, the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health, MINSA, and San Juan Rio Relief began their partnership through the efforts of Sunrise Rotarian John Jones and San Juan Rio Relief Representative and Nicaraguan Rafael Preslyn.  

MINSA and Sabalos Regional Clinic Staff pose on the site of the Surgical Center.

John and Rafael have championed this most favored International Project of Sunrise Rotary, with hundreds of hours of organizing and promoting collaboration between Rotary Clubs in Nicaragua and the United States. Now that construction has commenced, funded through local Rotary Clubs mainly in Sonoma County, the 2,00 square feet Surgical Center will ultimately be equipped with supplies and instruments provided via a Rotary Global Grant.

Stay tuned for regular updates on the construction status!

Congratulations John (kneeling) and Rafael on your groundbreaking patience and Service Above Self Vision!

John F. Germ

President 2016-17

As we enter 2017, we also enter the second year of the initiative known as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals, usually referred to as the SDGs, pertain to a list of 17 areas where the people of the world can come together to address our most pressing economic, political, and social challenges. It is a hugely ambitious list, and it has to be. The ultimate aim of these goals is nothing less than peace, prosperity, security, and equality for all of humanity.

How do you even begin to tackle such a project? At Rotary, our answer is simple: one step at a time. These goals are nothing new for Rotary: They're already reflected in our areas of focus. We also understand that all of these 17 goals, just like our six areas of focus, are interrelated. You can't have good health without clean water. You can't have clean water without good sanitation. Good sanitation in turn helps keep children in school, which improves education, which improves economic prosperity and health. When you are talking about the advancement of an entire planet, no one indicator, no one goal, no one country, exists in isolation. To make real and lasting progress, we must all move forward together.

The idea of sustainability is key to the SDGs – and to our service in Rotary. Sustainability simply means making progress that will endure. It means not just digging a well, but being sure that a community can maintain it. It means not just running a health camp for a week, but training local health workers. It means empowering families and communities to take charge of their own futures by giving them the tools they need to succeed.

Sustainability has always been at the heart of our thinking in Rotary. We've been around for nearly 112 years and intend to be around for many more. We've already seen the difference our work has made: in health, in education, in water and sanitation, and of course in our efforts to end polio.

Polio eradication is the ultimate in sustainable service: a project that, once completed, will benefit the world forever. And those benefits will go far beyond the eradication of a single human disease. The estimated cost savings we will see once polio is eradicated are about $1 billion per year. That is money that can be returned to public health budgets and directed to other pressing needs, carrying the good work of today forward for many healthier tomorrows.

Kalyan Banerjee

Trustee Chair 2016-17

January marks the start of a new year on many calendars, but in Rotary, we begin our year in July. That puts us at the halfway point – a good time to take stock of our progress and set goals for the remainder of the year.

An annual to-do list for The Rotary Foundation might include the following items:

• Contribute to the End Polio Now campaign to take advantage of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's 2-to-1 match.
• Start a simple or large-scale project in your community supported by a grant and keep the community informed.
• Recommend a promising candidate for the Rotary Peace Centers program.
• Host a Rotary Scholar or vocational training team.
• Enroll in Rotary Direct for easy recurring giving.
• Include a bequest to the Foundation in your estate plan.
• Apply for a Rotary International credit card, which allocates a portion of each purchase you make to The Rotary Foundation.

As you can see, there are many ways to support our Foundation and carry out its humanitarian mission. This year, we have another item to add to our checklist: Celebrate The Rotary Foundation's centennial.

Here are some of the ways you can observe this milestone:

• Work with your club to plan a birthday party, fundraiser, or event in your community to let others know more about Rotary and its Foundation. Download a promotion kit from rotary.org/foundation100 for ideas.
• Promote your club's Foundation grant projects to local media.
• Dedicate club meetings to the discussion of Rotary Foundation topics.
• Read the history of The Rotary Foundation in Doing Good in the World: The Inspiring Story of The Rotary Foundation's First 100 Years. Copies are available in hardback or e-book format at shop.rotary.org.
• Share your centennial plans and events on social media using #TRF100.

Of course, the biggest birthday party of all will take place in Atlanta from 10 to 14 June, when thousands of Rotarians will come together for the Rotary International Convention. I hope you will join me and the Foundation Trustees to make this the best party of the year.