Welcome Aboard!

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 

CLUB MEETING

Meeting called to order by President Jim Lisi

Flag Salute and Invocation by President Jim Lisi

Introduction of Rotary Club guest: Carl Lovegren member of Rotary Club of Puerto Vallarta Sur. Carl is the founder and director of the Puerto Vallarta “Kid’s with Cancer” program.

Introduction of Guest: Henry Duran San Marcos High School Interact member and immediate past-president, he attended the RYLA program for 2025. Marilyn Monroy attends San Marcos High School, is also an Interact member and attended the RYLA program for 2025. Carlos Monroy, proud father of Marilyn Monroy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jim Lisi welcomed our newest Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North member Amy Bankoff. Amy will be installed at our next meeting.

Tim Hardy, incoming President-Elect and finishing his 14th year as Treasurer repeated his last club meeting announcement recapping new dues structure. Our first quarter billing for Rotary year 2025-2026 will include lunches from the fourth quarter-Rotary year 2024-2025 plus Mega Bucks. The dues are “All Inclusive,” meaning your meals will be included in the $100/per month dues or $300/per quarter. The only added amounts will be the $50 Holiday Fundraiser and $25/per quarter Mega Buck. If you are unable to attend a meeting, send a family member or friend, their meal will be paid for. The First Quarter billing will be unusually high because it will include fourth quarter dues & expenses (2024-2025). 

Mike Bergquist announced the Annual Meeting of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North Charitable Foundation, Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM at his home. The Board will be reviewing 13 grant applications totaling $52,192 with only $16,500 to distribute. The current overall balance in the Foundation account is approx. $727,741.00.

Kathy Calabro announced two birthdays in the month of July - Lisa Gosdschan and Marti Correa de Garcia. Singing of Happy Birthday; birthday cards and small gifts were handed to them. Kathy also presented Donna Eyman with a certificate of THANK YOU for chairing RYLA (this was from the Step-Down event Donna was not able to attend). 

MEGA BUCKS

Blas Garza pledged a Mega Buck in honor of his wife’s birthday (Mary).

Amy Bankoff pledged a Mega Buck as a new member of the Rotary Club. She is an Attorney-at-Law specializing in Estate Planning & Gifts. Her vision is to establish a Youth Mental Health Facility.

Donna Eyman pledged ten (10) Mega Bucks to honor the students that attended the 2025 RYLA program, she is immensely proud of them!

Mike Bergquist pledged four (4) Mega Bucks: 1) 50^th wedding anniversary; 2)  his wife’s birthday (Jennifer); 3) trip to U.S.Mid-Northwest; 4) trip to Portugal and other European nations. 

Tom Jacobs pledged a Mega Buck in celebration of his retirement from the field of Architecture.

Gil Garcia pledged a Mega Buck in honor of Tom Jacobs’ retirement from architecture, pointing out that he too retired from the same field.

WEB-PAGE UPDATE

Jim Lisi, President

To get to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North web-page go to HOME PAGE / ROTARY CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA NORTH – ClubRunner, this will take you to the Home Page. On the Home Page you will see introduction to our club, a welcome from the President, upcoming programs & events, meeting dates & place of meeting and a link to Rotary International. You will need to log-in to get membership information. If you need help, call President Jim Lisi, he can be reached at 805-797-1710 or e-mail:  xbizo@yahoo.com

CLUB SURVEY

Jim Lisi, President

Opinion on lunch meetings – Majority answered to keep 2 per month.

What members like about Rotary:

• Lunch friendship
• Lunch programs
• Formal socials (holiday, step-down, etc)
• Community Service

58% of members want more socials.  *want 2 more dinner parties

75% would stay if cost go-up.

Do we keep invocations – Yes, but less on religion.

67% of members want to increase membership.

Majority of members not willing to move to evening slot.

60% of members would not like to merge with Santa Barbara Downtown Rotary Club.

For a more detailed report, please see President Jim Lisi.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards  (RYLA) participants 

Marilyn Monroy & Henry Duran

RYLA is 4 days of action packed, interactive and introspective sessions with and specifically for High School students. Activities are designed to help students to stretch and grow. It is an intensive leadership experience where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. Activities focus on team building, group problem solving, and interpersonal management.

Some remarks coming out of these two RYLA participants were:

• 4 days without insecurities
• Do not be afraid to ask for someone’s help.
• Ask yourself  - does it matter?
• Success in life is the struggle.
• There is not only one type of leader!
• Silence can be a good form of communication.

Marilyn Monroy & Henry Duran stated what every RYLA participant has said:  “RYLA has been a life changing experience.”