Read on, read on. We have news, as always (like, come on, if we had no news, why would we send out this newsletter?).
More importantly, we have dates for you to put on the calendar.
The pres would like a good turnout at the session tomorrow, i.e. Tuesday, August 19th, at 9am at the County Supervisors meeting and next Tuesday, July 26th, at the Santa Cruz City Council meeting (11:30am) - the Club will be presented resolutions for the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Day at these meetings.
And, if you have been hiding under a rock, please know that the 40th anniversary bash is this coming Saturday and the last day to buy a ticket is this Wednesday (or maybe its Thursday... in any case, it is NOW!). We have over 100 people coming... don't be left out. Details below on all this.
Coming Up | Looking Ahead
Aug 21: District 5170 Governor Herb Ritter
President Dave really wants to have a good showing for this meeting so folks, please show up! :-).
DG Herb Ritter will visit our Club and give his District Governor's report of Rotary activities district-wide. As Dave says, "Herb is upbeat and all about helping each club be their best!" Be best. Be better. To Be or not to Be...
Board, Officers and Committee Chairs should plan to gather with Herb after the meeting.
Aug 28: Amazing AI Help
Come hear from Jon Winston's friend, Paul Regen, founder of
AmazingAIHelp.com, who is going to cover the practical uses of AI - you definitely want to make it and learn how to make AI work better for you. At Amazing AI Help, Paul's goal is to build a trusted network of collaborators — bringing in the right people at the right time so every project gets the attention it truly deserves.
Recent Meetings
Aug 7: Pajaro Valley Shelter Services
Pajaro Valley Shelter Services is a homeless services organization serving families in the Pajaro Valley; providing 136 beds of Emergency Shelter, Transitional, Long-Term Housing and supportive services to families with children.
Aug 14: Kids Monterey Bay and Bikes for All
We also heard from Bikes for All, a nonprofit that tackles the decline of hands-on, vocational learning in high schools by offering an after-school bike-repair program and distributing free, refurbished bikes as a byproduct of students’ work.
For those who missed it, we had the shortest ever Club Assembly and unanimously elected Tony Giannotti as the Club President for 2027-2028. He will make a great President!
(Tony, I got it right, yes? (Giannotti.. and not Gionnotti, right? Right?)
We also presented Mary Anne James and Allison B. Cruz from Kids Monterey Bay with a $12,000 check as the beneficiary of the Firecracker Run (they said it was the largest check they ever received).
Our Rotarian of the Month is, once again, the amazing Dave Mello. Dave was honored, once again, for his ongoing work with RYLA.
Member Birthdays
Matt Rohan 8/5
Curt Ridgeway 8/8
Chris Benkert 8/17
Mark Junod 8/22
Lisa Krigsman 8/23
Roger Swenson 8/25
Carol Ann Flint 8/26
Mark Boynton 8/27
Tony Gionnotti 8/28
Tom Knott 37 yrs
Randall Leonard 17 yrs
Tracy Cotten 13 yrs
Tony Gionnotti 12 yrs
Curt Ridgeway 8 yrs
Mark Davidson 7 yrs
Matt Bergdahl 1 yr
Club Happenings and Other News
Some Important dates to Put On Your Calendar
Besides the upcoming community service events and the upcoming socials - details of those below.
1. Rotary Bike Ride 9/25-9/27
2. We would like a good turnout at both the Tuesday August 19th County Supervisors meeting (9am) and the Tuesday July 26th City Council meeting (11:30am) - the Club will be presented resolutions for the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Day at these meetings.
3. Friday August 22, 7:15 am - Sunrise Board Meeting at West Coast Community Bank (75 River Street, Santa Cruz) - all welcome; good opportunity for Red Badgers to fulfill a Blue Badge requirement.
Upcoming Community Service Events
-- Tiffany Wise-West --
Bike Ride Finish Line Party: Saturday Sept 27 | 3 shifts | Wear a Rotary shirt and come join the fun!
Sat, Aug 23: Sign up at this link for the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary 40th Anniversary party, 3-7 pm at Roaring Camp. We are doing this in conjunction with SLV Rotary - it is their 40th as well. This will be a Western-themed bash to celebrate decades of service, community, and friendship. This is more than a party. It’s a milestone celebration honoring the shared legacy, impact, and friendships built over 40 years of Rotary in our communities. You can expect: Western vibes, festive tunes, and good ol’ Rotary fun. Your $40 ticket includes a BBQ chicken or Veggie Burger; Side salad, corn on the cob, and a roll; Beer, wine, and soft drinks; Free parking!
Oct 18: Rumors are that we may have a Cake Picnic hosted by yours truly.
Dec 10: Rotary Holiday Party, Mosaic, Downtown Santa Cruz.
Update on Sunset Sail on Oct 12, 4:30-6:30
-- Tom Hart --
The Sunset Sail is on, with an option to attend an after sail bite to eat (location to be determined) with the Cupertino Club. So far Sunrise has received 13 for the sail and 11 for the bite to eat. Please consider this amazing sail for 49 adventurous sea loving and social minded members, family and friends. Send me an RSVP by Tuesday (that's tomorrow) close of business so that I can report to the Cupertino Club with our total. If we can’t fill the 24 slots allotted to Sunrise, Cupertino can claim them or we may offer the opportunity to the Freedom Club since they had previously expressed interest in joining us.
The Rotary Ride is holding our the first-ever Online Silent Auction and is looking for stuff. Good items include vacation getaways, gift certificates, wine, services, or anything you all think other people would want to bid on. Be creative. Fill out this form to donate items. You can also contact Deb Dutra.
A brief descriptor: It's back and it's going to be the best ride yet! 2.5 days of pedaling from the Vineyards-to-the-Sea...Beauty, Fun and Fellowship. The open air adventure begins Day 1 in Healdsburg where riders pedal through lush vineyards along the Russian River, stop for lunch riverside at Rick Hofstetter's family home, and culminates in a restful evening of food, refreshment and a pool party in Rohnert Park; Day 2 continues through the tranquil Petaluma Dairy Farm Region, veers along Tomales Bay, then cruises down through the quaint hamlets of Marin into Sausalito for lunch (and a beer or two at No Names Bar), then across the towering majesty of the Golden Gate with a sparkling (or fog shrouded) view of San Francisco, up through Golden Gate Park to the Great Highway, then a left turn and sprint to the crashing waves at Pacifica; Day 3 meets us with a steep but short pull up to Devil's Slide, then a roly-poly straight shot into Santa Cruz along Highway 1 where the Uber-Festive Finish Line Party awaits at West Coast Community Bank on Water St.
Our Rotarian of the Month is, once again, the amazing Dave Mello. Dave was honored, once again, for his ongoing work with RYLA.
