Events

An entrepreneur and innovator at heart, Anupam Pathak develops pioneering technology for people with various forms of disabilities. Recently, he founded Lift Labs, which created a high-tech spoon designed to stabilize itself for people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative tremors. Google acquired the company, and is focusing on the device and similar technologies to change the lives of the nearly 11 million Americans – and millions more worldwide – who suffer from debilitating tremors or other disorders. Pathak has also co-counded a non-profit called Explorabox focusing on developing hands-on learning experiences for middle-school children. The non-profit focuses on making science exciting and accessible to all children, and we have been mobilizing to help support our most vulnerable populations of children during the COVID crisis.

     Robert Merrick invented and marketed numerous products for 32 years as head of Merrick Industries, Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA. His company did no manufacturing in house. Rather it outsourced all production, concentrating on inventing, patenting and marketing. Simplicity was the key element in all his inventing and the reason for its self-financed success.

     His first big customer, the US Army, purchased a carload of his first invention, the military pay calculator. His proprietary commercial products were sold nationally in office supply stores such as Office Depot and Staples. His patented business-to-business promotional products were purchased by more than two thirds of the Fortune 500 companies. At age 67 he retired and sold his company to Moore Push Pin Company of Pennsylvania.

     During his working years he was active in teaching individual inventors how to capitalize on their new product. As a volunteer, he gave numerous presentations at college classes, inventor workshops and seminars. His best-seller book, Stand Alone, Inventor! published in 1997, has helped thousands of lone inventors prosper with their inventions. An eBook version was launched in 2011 which is available free online from Amazon.com.

     He graduated from UC Berkeley with a liberal arts degree in communications and then served four years active duty as a shipboard naval officer, including a tour as an adviser in Vietnam waters. He worked six years at Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation where he rose to Advertising Manager and helped introduce the world's first integrated circuit or "chip." Next he joined the Hal Lawrence Advertising Agency in Palo Alto as a partner. There, as an account executive, he created the advertising and PR for companies such as Memorex, Spectra Physics, Philco-Ford, Union Carbide Electronics and The California Wine Institute.

     He served ten years as a co-founder and director of Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan of San Jose, CA. He was president of the non-profit California Inventors Council and a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business.

     Currently, he is active in real estate development and management. He is widowed, has three grown children and lives in Monte Vista, CA.

Join us to review currently supported projects and recommend potential new ones.

More information about the Kick-Out Dinner with be forthcoming.

        In her current role as Director of Programs at Child Advocates Silicon Valley, Stacy oversees the agency’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. Child Advocates recruits, trains and supports CASA volunteers to provide critical emotional and educational support to children in the Santa Clara County court dependency system. In fact, Stacy is a CASA herself for a number of children.

        Stacy has a comprehensive understanding of nonprofit management and coordination among agencies and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management. Stacy has been an entrepreneur, is a graduate of Community Leadership San Jose, past member of rotary, has been deeply involved in county wide parent education classes, and is a past member of both the Child Death Review Team and the Domestic Violence Council.

        On the Child Abuse Council, Stacy has held many roles including past Chair, Vice Chair of Programs, Vice Chair of Administration, Treasurer, Chair of the Allocations committee, Chair of the Public Awareness committee, and has been a member of the Nominating committee.

Join us during the vivid colors of fall under the redwoods at Lincoln Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 29-30, 2020, for the Los Altos Rotary Annual Fine Art in the Park.

As one of the most prestigious open-air art shows in California, we will be hosting over 160 artists to exhibit and sell their juried works - from painting and sculpture to ceramics, jewelry and unique gifts.  

There will be delectable foods and snacks, beverages for the kids and a Fine Wine and Craft Beer area for the adults.  It will be an ideal venue for the family to shop, enjoy the day and see their neighbors.

The event runs on both days from 10 am until 5:30 pm (and if rescheduled by Kiwanis, starts immediately following the Kiwanis Pet Parade).  Parking is free and plentiful.

Throughout each year, all of the proceeds to Los Altos Rotary go to sponsor scholarships,  grants to local non-profit organizations, as well as fund sustainable projects both locally and internationally, through our Foundation (LAREF, a 501(c)3 organization since 1984).