Halfway through President Dave's year....
Is that a good thing? Is that a bad thing? Or... is it just a thing?
 
Also... Club Assembly? Yes, that is a thing, for sure. Feb 5th... See more below.
 
Coming Up | Looking Ahead
Jan 29: Santa Cruz High Interact Club
New Rotarians in the making! The vibrant Santa Cruz High Interact club will be joining us with eight of its members to discuss their club activities and accomplishments.
 
Feb 5: Club Assembly
President Dave will present the findings from the club survey that was sent out in December 2025. Find out what members feel about our meetings, our community service and how the club operates. What is going well, what can we do better, how is your club experience?
 
Feb 12: Dr. Brant Robertson, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, UCSC
How do galaxies and cosmological structures form and evolve? What is the nature of dark matter? How can deep learning better our understanding of astrophysical phenomena? Learn how Professor Brant Robertson in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz leverages sophisticated numerical methodologies and hardware technologies to help answer these important outstanding questions.
Recent Meetings
Jan 8: Red Badge Bios - Nancy Connelly, Jenny Call
Our club continues to grow and that means we get to listen to the always interesting and heart warming bios of our newer members.
 
Jan 15: A Tribute to Rod Caborn
Recommend you check out the meeting video, which includes Roger Swenson's slideshow of remembrances
 
Jan 22: Lee Butler & Bonnie Lipscomb
Downtown Santa Cruz - Preparing for Today and Tomorrow

Links:

Meeting Recordings are on-line on our website
Meeting Photos are also online
Club Website has lots of good info including the Club Calendar
Weekly Zoom (if you don't want to, or cannot, attend in person)
For those who are high on the Rotary Kool-aid, check out the District 5170 events calendar

Our Rotarian of the Month for January is DeAndre James. Thank you, DeAndre, for all that you do for the club, and for our community.
Member Birthdays
 
Rod Caborn 1/4
Penni Bengtson 1/5
Sean Venables 1/11
Patrice Keet 1/12
Bill McDermott 1/13
Jim Felich 1/22
John Flaniken 1/22
Dave Mello 1/29
Cassidy Caborn 1/31
Wedding Anniversaries
 
Romney & Priscilla Dunbar 29 yrs
Amanda Shaw & Mike Roach 13 yrs
Member Anniversaries
 
Christopher Smith 31 yrs
Dave Culver 27 yrs
Peter Truman 15 yrs
Patrick Rooney 13 yrs
Peggy Pollard 13 yrs
Camilla Boolootian 13 yrs
John Flaniken 13 yrs
Mark Boynton 4 yrs
Fernando Tapiz 3 yrs
Maureen Tapiz 3 yrs
Kara Capaldo 2 yrs
Club Happenings and Other News
Upcoming Socials & Other Dates 
-- Sigfrid Garman --
 
The Social Committee Meetings will now be held on the SECOND Thursday of each month immediately following the Sunrise Club Meeting at The Grille at Delaveaga.
 
Our next social is Tuesday, February 17 at 6p at Tramonti, 528 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz. Red badgers and prospective members are encouraged to attend!
Community Service Update
-- Tiffany Wise-West --
 
Lots of opportunities to serve. Sign Up Online for all at this link. 
 
River Health Day with Coastal Watershed Council 
Saturday February 14 | 10 am - 12 noon
Location on San Lorenzo River TBD
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Virtual Community Service Committee Meeting!
Friday, February 27, 2028 at noon (every 4th Friday of the month at noon)
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Rotary District 5170 Community Winter Farming Day!  
Saturday, Feb. 28, 9am - 1pm, lunch included
Common Roots Farm, 301 Golf Club Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Get a tour of the farm | Help fertilize perennial crops | Help with mulching & weeding| Weather permitting, sow annuals in the greenhouse
Let's have a good showing right in our own town!
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Jose Neurodiversity and Environmental Sustainability Committees
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March 7 is the Special Olympics Polar Plunge!
Beach Boardwalk Aloha Terrace at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
515 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 USA
Time:  10:30 - 1 pm
 
 
Mid Year District 5170 Leadership Celebration & District Night at the SC Warriors
-- Dave Price --
 
Mid Year District 5170 Leadership Celebration, Saturday 1/31, 8:30am-12:15pm
Fremont Downtown Event Center, 3500 Capital Avenue, Fremont, CA  
Address by RI President Nominee Larry Lunsford, Club leaders and board members. Register in advance
 
Upcoming District 5170 Rotary Night at the Santa Cruz Warriors - Saturday Night, March 21 - more details to come!
 
2026 Bike Ride/Firecracker Beneficiaries Application Process launches March 1 - Club members please spread the word to your favorite local non-profits!