Our speaker was none other than our own District 5180 Governor for 2025-26, Megan Ellinghouse!
A native of Loomis, DG Megan has spent her career in the insurance industry, and she is currently with Albano Insurance in Orangevale.
She became connected to Rotary in 2015 and rose up fast! She served as President of the Folsom Lake Rotary Club in 2016–2017. When she moved from Folsom to Sacramento in 2017, she joined the Rotary Passport One Club, where she served as president in 2021–2022.
DG Megan implored us to share Rotary with those around us, and she gently challenged our club to spread the word! She began her speech with a few probing questions about visiting other clubs, inviting contacts to club meetings, raising Rotary visibility via your social media, and more.
This year’s Rotary International President Francesco Arrezzo, DG Megan noted, and his theme is “Unite for Good.” Called upon unexpectedly, Francesco took on this global role with just two weeks of notice, and he relocated from Italy to Rotary InternationaI’s hometown of Evanston, Illinois in order to best serve RI.
DG Megan urged us to sport the Rotary logo, create visibility, and enhance public awareness – to be more outward facing.
Of course she promoted the district conference on May 1-3, 2026 at Caesar’s Palace in South Lake Tahoe. There will be a polar plunge, poker run, live band, dueling, pianos, and lots of fun.
Making Beautiful Music Wow, did generosity flow today! Among others, donors included Judge Bill Shubb, Kathy Herrfeldt, Len McCandliss, Tim Comstock, PP Walter Dahl, Rachel Dee Minyard, Maggie Hopkins, PDG Fred Teichert, PP Bob Miller, PP Dan McVeigh.
Club Announcements
Daughters/Family Day encourages your signups for the December 16 postwork gathering. RSVPs are required. There will be a magic show, songs and games, noted Tim Comstock.
Fireside Gathering. This Thursday’s event at the home of PDG Fred and Nancy Teichert is full!
Theater Night. Coming up is Disney's Lion King on January 8 at 7:30pm, said organizer PP Todd Koolakian.
Club officers. President Kerry Wood reminded us to cast our votes online for our club leadership, with the polls closing on December 8.
Community Grants program. President Kerry mentioned that our Community Grants application is available online right now!
Jim Leet said pass the "Red Kettle!" Please donate to the Salvation Army this holiday season. Please bring an unwrapped toy that will be donated to one of 8,000 local children – or give money!
Ted White and Past President Jim Leet
Getting to Know Fellow Rotarians. Elfrena Foord highlighted Ted White's first foray into real estate. Jim Henderson dug deep into PP Dan McVeigh's photo vault and recounted some of Dan’s early attorney years.
Remembering Hal Strauch and Jim Phillips. A moment of silence was observed for Dr. Harold Strauch, who passed away recently at age 91. A club member since 1968, Dr. Strauch and his late wife Lilla established a club academic scholarship in their names. The club also remembered Jim Phillips, who died recently at age 95. A family member of Jim's will attend a club meeting in the near future to share a eulogy for this club legend who joined our group in 1979.
Harold Strauch
Jim Phillips
New Member Will Hodges PP Bobby Reed introduced new member Will Hodges. Will works at Dignity Health and sits on multiple local boards and chambers. Welcome, Will!
Meeting sponsor Buddy Hubbert introduced Michelle Bennyhoff, Director of Marketing & Development SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity. Michelle shared all of the exciting experiences at MOSAC and outlined some upcoming special events.
Hubbub for Shubb Judge William Shubb acknowledged that a courtroom got named in his honor at the federal courthouse! He started his journey in 1963 as a law clerk for the Eastern District, and eventually got nominated in 1990 by George W. Bush to sit on the District Court for the Eastern District. He served as Chief Justice from 1996-2003.
Meeting greeters included Kierstan DeLong, Jaydeep Balakrishnan, and Dan Fenocchio. John Swentowsky handled the photography. The wine reception was graciously hosted by Aaron Provencal.
Dave McKie’s Thought for the Day on happiness tied to Rotary's mission: Be social, do good. Nuff said.
Our meeting next week is a big one, the Annual Meeting. The Roadies will play some tunes, and we’ll hear the results of our board elections. And then a big reveal – you’ll find out the nominee for club president for 2026-27. See you there!
