Club Meeting November 12th, 2025

                        Meeting called to order by President Jim Lisi 

                    Flag Salute and Invocation by President Jim Lisi

VISTING ROTARIANS: Marna Coday, Rotary Member of Carpinteria Morning Club. Noel Kalunda, Rotary Club in Uganda, Africa (see more information below).

POTENTIAL ROTARIANS:  Sabrina Tinajero, Executive officer at Columbia Bank and guest of Gilbert Garcia.  Amber Asher, Administrator director of a new endeavor called Goleta Spot, potential Rotarian and guest of Cathy Calabro. Adriana Vasquez, potential Club Service candidate.

VISITORS:  Alice Sykes, spouse of Rotary member Joe Lanza.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Hurricane Melissa Response Fund has been created 

Nominations for PE & Treasurer are open

Elections and Bylaw update upcoming 

MEGA BUCKS

Phil Palmquist pledged a Mega Buck in honoring his 50 years of marriage to …..  He met her at Westmont College, they have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Jim Bish pledged a Mega Buck in memory of his Santa Barbara High School basketball coach, Dave Bregante and their winning CIF year.

Jim Lisi pledged a Mega Buck for recently presenting his published paper at the ISBA-NEBB Valuation conference.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER

Cathy Calabro – Happy Birthday!

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE

SPOTLIGHTING JOHN HOLEHOUSE

1. Rode my 10 speed bike from Florida to Canada in my youth.
2. Worked on the railroad, working with hot molto to put together railroad ties .
3. Fasted for 24 days in my college days.

Lie:  #3, only fasted 14 days.

OPPORTUNITY DRAWING

Congratulations to the winner of The Berry Man Inc. fruit basket, Michael Bergquist. Joe Lanza had the winning ticket for the second opportunity drawing . . . unfortunately he did not pick the right marble. 

GUEST SPEAKER

JOHN ROGER BATTISTONE

John “Roger” Battistone is an author, businessman, and philanthropist well known to Santa Barbara for his life work of service to the community. 
As a young man, John Roger worked part-time work for his Dad; Sam Battistone Sr., and Sambo's Restaurants. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, he attended Hotel and Restaurant School in San Francisco, the University of Denver and Westmont College, then served two years in the US Navy.
As an owner operator, he opened the 'number 100' Sambo's Restaurant in Goleta, and started his own restaurant chain, Restaurants Etc., which he grew to 30 restaurants in 7 Western States.
John Roger Battistone serves as leader of the Battistone Foundation, a Family Foundation Trust founded by his father, which offers Affordable Housing to the Senior Citizens of Santa Barbara County as well as serving on the boards of the Rona Barrett Foundation and County Firefighters Alliance Santa Barbara.

We were very privileged to hear John Roger speak on his father's legacy, what it was like growing up in the restaurant industry in it's golden era, and more.

We were very excited to see him present his book “An Illustrated History of Santa Barbara & Ultimate Coloring Book” 

Additionally, he let us know that future publications are in the works. 

So we will keep an eye out!