The first regular meeting of President John Lemmon (Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky) opened to the rock and roll strains of Chuck Berry singing “Johnny B. Goode,” and just kept picking up speed. Wine in the expansive bar at our new luncheon location, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, was provided by Ed Wright (Martensen Wright PC). Dr. Dick Wertz, played the piano, as Allison Cagley (California Musical Theatre) and Past President Susan Sheridan and her mentee Tamara Gutierrez greeted members and guests.
Jim Leet (Boutin Jones Law) gave us the thought of the day and Sergeant-At-Arms Callee Setzer (Setzer Forest Products) introduced many guests including participants in the Youth Incentive Program (YIP) founded by Past President Frank Poelman (Poelman Company Ltd), who received a standing ovation.
Gizzel Yanez thanked her mentor of 8 years April Javist (Sacramento Library Foundation) for the good advice she needed to finish high school and become a freshman at San Francisco State in the fall. “A mentor has to be someone you can count on,” she said. “I have gained a lifelong friend.”
President Elect Diane Woodruff shed tears along with Sandra Nava, her mentee, describing their close friendship through the YIP Program over the past ten years. Nava, who graduated from Sacramento State University one month ago, is headed for the Peace Corps. “I am so proud of her,” said Woodruff, who said being a mentor has been one of her most important Rotary experiences and joy of her life. Nava said, “You have someone with you. We love her so much.”
Eric Solis (Solis Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors) needs more volunteers to be mentors this school year. Lemmon concluded: “What we do matters!”
Seated at the head table were Lev Kaganovich (Energy, LEED & Commissioning Consulting), speaker Oleg Kaganovich (CEO of Wyndow Company), Lemmon, Leet, Norm Marshall (Headwaters Construction Inc.) and new member John Goralka (Goralka Law Firm). Marshall, sponsor of the meeting, spoke about his firm’s concrete products and new buildings like a recent one in Rocklin.
Past President Dan McVeigh (Downey Brand LLP) presented the Ludy Langer spirit award to Past President Sheridan for all the ways she has contributed to our club. “Whenever the staff called her, she came,” said McVeigh. She has been a director, trustee, co-chair of the program committee and a YIP mentor.
In announcements, Todd Andrews (Andrews Construction Inc.) rode his bicycle to the meeting, attired in all the stylish Century Challenge clothes for bike riders for the October 7 race. Sheridan said last year the race raised $80,000 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research. This year, the race’s proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Sacramento and the Foster Youth Program run by Volunteers of America. Volunteers are needed for race day.
Bob Miller (First USA Community Credit Union) and Michael Bullington (Pacific Advisors) said golf foursomes are needed for the upcoming Golf 4 Kids tournament and donations for raffle prizes. This Sunday at 3 p.m. is the annual swim party and BBQ at the Elk Grove ranch of Past President Hal Bartholomew (Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP) and Past President Beverly Brautigam (Brautigam Financial Services).
Guest speaker Oleg Kaganovich, introduced by his father, Rotarian Lev Kaganovich, spoke about the opportunities open to Sacramento to be a leader in the innovation of the technology revolution. He is CEO of Wyndow, a local firm that works with hotels nationwide to provide guests with nearby entertainment opportunities through its computer app.
The former director of SARTA, the Sacramento Regional Technology Alliance, Kaganovich said innovation is more than just creating something new, but a product that addresses an unmet need when the market is ready. The Silicon Valley does not have the monopoly on innovation. He pointed to projects like tele-medicine being practiced by UC Davis Medical Center, the development of autonomous vehicles and McClatchy’s Video Lab West are examples of the “innovation renaissance,” that can happen in Sacramento.
Thank you John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) for the photos!