Mike Grace was honored to introduce his guest Phil Ward. This is Phil's second time attending our club. The first was as our guest speaker. He was a Spec Ops Master Sergeant.
Guest - Justin Foster
Rachel Hock introduced her husband, Justin. He has visited the club on may other occasions. We are pleased to have him back again.
Guest - Andrew Ross
Tom Goode was asked to introduce the guest at his table. Tom forgot that Andrew, a very frequent visitor was actually a guest and not a member. He did go on to introduce Andrew, the Prez's son.
Show Me the Money!
Joelle Fondale - Bell Ringer
Joelle was very happy and excited to announce the reason she missed last week's meeting was because she became a grandma for the first time. Tatum John was born to her daughter. Joelle has been staying with them for the last week. Baby Tatum is doing great!... so is grandma.
Bruce Stimson - Happy/Sad Bell Ringer
Bruce was sad that he will be missing next week's lunch meeting but happy because he will be in in Monterey celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary. It is for that reason the bell is being rung.
Roy Vogel - Bell Ringer
Roy is Joelle Fondale's father. So, it came as no surprise that he might be ringing the bell for a similar reason as Joelle... not because he became a grandma, but because he became a great grandfather.
Lydia Wytrzes - Bell Ringer
Lydia is ringing the bell because she went to the Rotary Foundation dinner on Saturday night and she was thoroughly impressed with all that the Foundation does and is doing.
Rachel Hock - Bell Ringer
Rachel noted that she was saving her first Bell Ringer for a special occasion. She figured announcing that she and her husband are expecting their first child qualified. The new addition is expected in May 2026.
Christine Jensen - Bell Ringer
Christine announced that she had an amazing birthday weekend. She is so happy to be able to finally announce that she is going to be a grandmother. She could hardly wait for Rachel to finally announce her pregnancy.
Note: since we will have two new grandma's in the club the secret word is "grandma."
Rolundia Mitchll - Bell Ringer
Rolundia was very happy and excited to share that the doctors took her off all of her medications. Test show that there are no blockages of her arteries in any part of her body. Also, her heart rate, that was high right after the surgery, is now is back in a normal range. Her heart is pumping normally as attested to by an ultrasound. Rolundia can't say for sure, but she is convinced it had something to do with the Pope blessing her during her visit to the Vatican. Al Frumkin commented that he was disappointed that she did not present this good news in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.
Ryan Driffell - Bell Ringer
Ryan shared that he could not attend the Foundation dinner as he had his Delta Waterfowl banquet the same night and it would be poor form for the President of the Association not to attend. The banquet was very successful, raising about $48,000 for the cause. In short he did not want anyone to be "blind" sided by his absence as he was not "ducking" his Rotarian responsibilities to be at the Rotary Foundation dinner. He admitted that he would not be offended to hear anyone cry "fowl" because of his absence.
Tim Cahill - Happy Bucks
Tim was happy to give a shout out to Lydia for organizing the Rotary outing to the B Street Theater to watch Dog Mom. He also wanted to thank Lisa Asperger and Prez Matt Ross for helping at the Rotary House cleanup. We did a good job.
Tom Goode - Sad Bucks
Tom was sad because he and Angie had signed up to attend Dog Mom but the children in his household conspired against him and became ill, all in an effort to keep mom and dad home where they belong, spending time with them and not out having fun. They are all doing well now.
Linda Bigler - Happy Bucks
Linda is giving midterm happy bucks as her client for the Fast Pitch program made the finals last week. So now they are competing at the Sofia next Monday for the final, final. Jessica Alonzo, from Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance, will be presenting. She has spoken to our club in the past ,and will do so again in January.
Heather Wulfert - Bell Ringer
Heather shared that she recently had her annual mammogram. She got the news that they found something and needed to check things out more thoroughly. This added an additional layer of stress to an already stressful time as she is busy taking care of her dad. The good news is, she is okay and now they just want to keep checking on her every six months as a precaution. Heather took this as an opportunity to remind women and men alike to to stay current with their breast exams. Also, being called back for further breast analysis does not mean you have cancer. It just means that they want to take a closer look to see what the xray could not.
Prez Ross was very pleased with the Dog Mom Rotary outing as was Ryan Driffell. The preview show, the Dog Mom was amazing. For those who weren't able to attend, we had some 50 Rotarians and guests there, and it was an amazing show. The Prez added "The only thing I wish was if you saw the show, there were a couple people portraying dogs. I just wish that neighbor dog, that actor, had a little more energy. Holy cow." This was a vast understatement, as the actor portraying the dog was over-the-top, but in a very good and funny way.
Rotary Club Foundation Awards
Twenty Rotarians attended the Foundation Dinner. Our club won several awards.
We won an Annual Giving Award! We were second overall in giving. We were either 3rd or 4th in the giving per capita category. The new American River Rotary Club came in 1st in giving per capita.
We won for donations to Polio Plus Award to End Polio Now.
We were given this flag for our efforts in End Polio Now, even though it has nothing to do with that program... but we will take it anyway.
Additionally, Bill Hambrick was honored to be an official Major Donor.
American River Project
A few Rotarians met at the American River picnic site to finish repairing a couple of picnic tables.
Help Wanted
Santa Clause, no experience necessary.
Must be jolly with a hearty laugh... being fat is a plus.
The ability to wear a pillow is optional.
Benefits include bearhugs, squeals of delight, smiles of gratitude and sometimes... tears of joy.
The necessary uniform is provided.
Please contact the former Santa, Prez Ross, to apply.
Grinches need not apply.
It's That Time of Year Again! Coats For Kids
Carroll Cook noted that this is our 19th year collecting money and coats to help keep the children at Dyer Kelly Elementary School warm. For some children, this is the first new coat they have ever received. Rolundia Mitchell has once again engaged Macy's and has secured a $2,500 grant in the form of a gift card, for the purchase of coats from them. This money will translate into about 115 coats. We have averaged about 110 coats a year. Last year it took Carroll and Rolundia four hours to purchase all the coats and transport them to the school. Last year the club provided 90 coats through donations and money raised. We hope to include Aspire in our coat giveaway project this year. The hat was passed around collecting $535. Feel free to donate new coats or money towards their purchase.
News You Should Use!
Annual Poker Tournament
Tom Goode shared that Walmart is back as the Poker Tournament sponsor. The tournament will once again be held at Neilo BMW. This will be the 15th poker tournament and the committee has a few surprises in store. It's a very important fundraiser for us. If you would like to participate in any way, we'd love to have you.
Holiday Party
Please place the Holiday party on your calendar for December 13th at 6:00 pm.
Al Cady
Army, 3 years
"I blew up airplanes!"
Veteran's Day Recognition
The veterans present were asked to stand and share their name and branch of service.
Master Sergeant, Phil Ward
Spec Ops, 20 years
He jumped out of perfectly fine helicopters in Viet Nam
Al Frumkin "It is important that this Rotary Club know that a female elk is not a doe,
the secret word, it is a cow.
"Doe"
The Secret Word was doe, a deer, a female deer and a ray is a drop of golden sun.
Tim Cahill was asked to sing
the song for a donation of $20... he got most of the important words right.
Al had a choice of
beer or beer.
We are not sure which he decided to take.
As seen through of the eye of the Editor & Stenote.AI
## Summary:
Jeff Holden, a 35-year broadcast radio veteran, transitioned from traditional radio management to pioneering a pro bono podcast production studio dedicated to supporting nonprofits. Starting in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeff and his team created the Nonprofit Podcast Network to help nonprofits promote virtual events and share their stories despite volunteer and funding challenges. Despite personal health setbacks, including a life-saving heart surgery, Jeff remained committed to this mission, emphasizing the power of storytelling to give voice to those suffering in silence and those aiding them. The network evolved to offer weekly podcasts featuring nonprofit missions, operational insights, and impact stories, serving as a valuable tool for donor solicitation, volunteer recruitment, and grant applications. Its success led to partnerships with major community organizations and integration into educational programs. Recognizing the growing importance of video content, the network expanded to include video shorts distributed on YouTube and social media, amplifying reach and engagement. Looking ahead, the network plans to expand into other markets and introduce a premium subscription service offering leadership content for nonprofit leaders. Jeff highlights the urgent need for nonprofit collaboration, communication, and innovation amid impending funding cuts, positioning the network as a unique social enterprise focused on maximizing community impact through storytelling and connection.
Jeff Holden
Adult Learning and Literacy Supervisor
Sacramento County Public Library
Jeff Holden is a 35-year broadcast radio veteran (management, not on-air)
He formerly ran stations in Sacramento: KFBK, Talk 650, Y 92.5 FM with a couple of crazy guys in the morning, Paul and Phil. On May 1 2012, May Day He left the stations after 14 years. He started a company that did the programs you hear on the weekends, financial shows and home shows, etc. After a couple of years he realized there was a new radio demand product that was being delivered and developed and called podcasts. He pivoted from being a traditional radio studio to a podcast production studio.
As it was a new idea, it took the rest of the world some time to come around to the idea. It wasn't until the last couple of years and , most dramatically during the electyio0n that podcasting became a household word that people now understood what the heck he had been doing.
## Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
- March 2020: COVID-19 shutdowns affected nonprofit fundraising events
- Advertising agency contact requested help to promote virtual fundraisers
- Challenges:
- Lack of volunteer base (mainly seniors lost)
- No budget for event promotion
- Solution: Pro bono podcast production for nonprofits to promote virtual events
- Frequency: Approximately 1-2 podcasts per month throughout the pandemic
## Creation of Nonprofit Podcast Network
- Developed a creative and suggestive name: "Nonprofit Podcast Network"
- Provided nonprofits with podcasts distributable to their databases requiring minimal time commitment
- Program continued post-pandemic with growing interest
## Personal Health Challenge and Its Influence
- Jeff experienced a congenital heart condition leading to a heart attack and open-heart surgery in January 2022
- Near-death experience described as a personal 'Dante's Inferno' rather than peaceful imagery
- This event became a catalyst for renewed purpose:
- Focus on helping those suffering in silence and their helpers
- Use podcasting as a superpower to give voice to the unheard
## Evolution and Growth of the Program
- Continued pro bono podcast production with increasing intentionality starting in 2024
- Realized the program was generating more downloads than paid clients
- Shifted focus from event-based stories to operational and mission-driven stories
- Business model designed to keep the service free for nonprofits, supported by underwriting
## Community and Sponsorship Support
- Initial funding secured from:
- Captrust
- Runyon Saltzman Advertising
- Western Health Advantage
- Weekly episodes produced every Wednesday
- Format:
- Intentional questions about mission, purpose, and impact
- Tool for donor solicitation, board recruitment, volunteer engagement, and marketing
## Positive Outcomes and Testimonials
- Nonprofits reported improved grant success linked to podcast content
- Use as recruitment tool by having candidates listen to episodes before interviews
- Sacramento State certificate course uses podcast episodes for student nonprofit leadership reports
## Partnerships and Reach
- Collaborations with major nonprofit organizations:
- Sacramento Region Community Foundation
- Big Day of Giving
- Philanthropy Summit
- Impact100 (philanthropic women's group granting $100,000 to nonprofits)
- Developed website and launched newsletter in early 2023
- Added video services to podcasts for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram
- YouTube recognized as #1 platform for podcast discovery
- Nonprofits creatively use video shorts to promote content on social media
pplication windows, event registrations
- Frequency: Two newspods per month
## Social Media and Community Engagement
- Nonprofits actively share and promote their episodes on LinkedIn and other platforms
- Examples of positive feedback from nonprofit leaders and community members
## New Initiatives
- Introduction of "Nonprofit Newspods": short, 8-10 minute informational podcasts
- Purpose: Share timely news such as grant application windows, event registrations
- Frequency: Two newspods per month
## Future Plans and Sustainability
- Goals:
- Expand into other markets (Southern California, Bay Area, national top 50 markets)
- Launch affiliate agreements for local hosts and content
- Premium subscription service planned:
- $4.99/month
- Content includes interviews with nonprofit leaders, authors, service providers
- Designed to support nonprofit leadership with actionable insights
## Challenges and Opportunities
- Sacramento philanthropic giving low: 20% population tax deductions for nonprofit contributions vs. higher rates in other regions
- Potential to double giving by increasing participation to 40%
- Anticipated funding cuts (federal and state) in 2026
- Need for nonprofits to communicate, collaborate, and consolidate for greater impact
## Unique Role as Connector
- Podcast studio acts as a "combine of the confessional and the studio"
- Facilitates connections between nonprofit leaders and organizations
- Helps foster collaboration and community impact
## Closing Remarks
- Proud of the unique social enterprise model
- Aim to put Sacramento on the map for nonprofit success and philanthropy
- Acknowledgement of Rotary clubs' role in supporting the nonprofit ecosystem
## Call to Action
- Encouragement to share the existence of the Nonprofit Podcast Network with nonprofits
- Invitation to join the database and newsletter via QR codes
- Option to gift premium subscriptions to nonprofits
- Seeking business support for underwriting and sponsorship
The Prez thanked Jeff for an informative presentation. He then presented thim with a Certificate showing that $25 donation was made in this name to End Polio now.
President Matt thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting by ringing the bell and closing the meeting at 1:05 P.M.
Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,
Mike Grace
Reporter, Photographer and Editor
Hellen Weight
Ombudsman and Content Supervisor
DISCLAIMER - Some of the information provided in some of the articles and possibly included in some of the "quotes" from club members, may have been a fabrication of a demented mind. It is up to you to determine fact from fiction. Individuals objecting to all or any parts herein, are encouraged to go to Hellen Weight to lodge a formal complaint.
Club Information
Service Above Self
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Piatti
571 Pavilions Lane
Arden-Arcade, CA 95825 United States of America
