On a day warmed by a late-summer sun, Los Altos Rotarians made their way inside Garden House, and online, for another meeting of the Los Altos Rotary Club.
President FRANK ELMER rang the meeting to order at 12:15pm and immediately called upon BENNY LOEBNER to lead the gathered group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEVER FORGET
Before getting into things, President FRANK asked the club to take a moment in remembering those lost twenty-five years ago in the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. We must also never forget the religious zealotry that led to the attacks.
TODAY’S ROTARY FRANK TALK
President FRANK then thanked those that helped make the meeting a success, including our Greeters SANDY GAUDIE, DAVID GREEN, DIANA CARBONE, and LIZ NYBERG, along with the technical wizardry of LEE CODDING, MIKE KERR, STEVE POMEROY and PETER GREEN. Cookie Monster was HM SHARI ELMER. Sergeants at Arms this week were MARY JO LOMAX and ERIC WALUKIEWICZ. SCOTT HUNTER handled the words for this Rotator, STEVE SHEPHERD stepped in to snap some photos, PP CYNTHIA LUEDTKE edited the prose, and SUSIE MIELKE took on publishing duties this week.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
MANDY BACH stepped in for KATIE BOENNIGHAUSEN to share a seasonally transitional, Rotary adjacent quote from Anne Frank:
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
VISITORS
Moving ahead, SABRA ABRAHAM stepped to the podium and asked for any visiting Rotarians and heard from:
George Tyson, current President of the Cupertino Rotary Club.
SABRA then called for Rotarians with guests and heard from:
WYATT ALLEN, who introduced his wife, Alisanne
PP SAM HARDING, who introduced guest of the club Shanon Pestrong for her second visit
CAROL DABB, who introduced friends, Bob and Kay Lloyd
And, GREG DABB, who introduced today’s speaker, Frankie Brennen
Lastly, SABRA reminded everyone of next week’s guest speaker, Barbara St. Clair, who will speak on “Mental Health for All.”
MEMBERS ON ZOOM:
President FRANK then welcomed those members joining on Zoom, including:
RED BADGERS AMONGST US:
Next up, President FRANK noted the club’s current batch of Red Badge members are all around us and club members should reach out and greet:
SRIJOY ADITYA
DONNA ANTOSIAK
TONY BLAGROVE
JANE DUPERRAULT
DAVID DUPERRAULT
JOE FUSCO
TINA HUANG
BENNY LOEBNER
JAYANTI MALLICK
AMRI SHAHPURI
MARIA SANCHEZ
ERIK WALUKIEWICZ
and, JACKSON WISE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
PE JOE EYRE announced an upcoming special Rotary event sponsored by LARC and the Rotary Club of Palo Alto featuring former US Ambassador Michael McFaul, who’ll be speaking from Noon-1:30pm on September 28th at the Mitchell Park Community Center in Palo Alto. Signups are on the LARC website by clicking here.
PE JOE also encouraged Los Altos Rotarians to join the 21st Century and download the ClubRunner app to their phones. Ask JOE if you need help getting things set up. Don’t miss this chance to have Rotary follow you wherever you go.
BRANDON SMITH stepped up to let the gathering know the upcoming deadline for Fall Community Grant applications is coming up on October 1st. The application is available by clicking here.
Next, we found out what President FRANK considers a “fun” day and that would be the September 19th Rotary Collaborative Impact Summit 2026 being held from 9am-5pm at the San Jose Convention Center. And much like another president, President FRANK promised to give money to any LARC member attending, that is, in the form of a reimbursement for attending. I think FRANK’s promise is more likely to come true.
Sunshine Committee Chair, JOANNE KAVALARIS noted three ailing members of the club in need of well wishes: PP CHUCK LINDAUER, PAUL SCHUTZ and LAURA FAY. Reach out as you will.
Capping off club announcements, President FRANK reminded everyone of the Cuppa’ Joe breakfast held on the second Tuesday of each from 8-9am at Holders on Main Street. Also of note is the third Wednesday Happy Hour to next be held on 9/16 from 5-6pm inside State Street Market located, not coincidentally, on State Street. He then added ad-hoc announcements will be returning on September 17th, although he clearly has no idea how that will work.
NETWORKING NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
MANDY BACH returned to the front of the room to first remind everyone to complete a survey regarding the various outside events programmed by the club, before then informing everyone of the Networking Night at the Museum on September 23rd. The event is from 5-7pm and is sponsored by LARC, LAVA, the Chamber, Kiwanis Los Altos, and the History Museum. Please contact MANDY if you are able to help that day.
Register online so plans can be made for food and drink. https://portal.clubrunner.ca/4000/Events/networking-night-at-the-museum
MANDY stuck around with news of the next Rotary Wine & Cheese Night to be held at her house on September 25th beginning at 5:30pm.
And, if that isn’t enough food, wine and Rotary camaraderie, she also announced the next Rotary Dine Around will be hosted by ELLY WYATT and MADELEINE FACKLER on September 29th from 6-8pm at Urfa Bistro on State Street. Signups begin September 22nd. Seating is limited. Mark your calendars.
RECOGNITION
KAREN FOX appeared at the front of the room to first acknowledge that GAEANN SPENCE had joined the President’s Club the previous week, and then to wring some funds out of folks and the stories of “good things in their lives.” Aided by BENNY LOEBNER on duck bucket, and PP STAN SCARDINO on credit card machine, she grabbed some funds from:
Herself, KAREN FOX
MIKE ABRAMS (President’s Club)
KRIS OLSON
JAN PEPPER
TAMI MULCAHY
LINDSAY CARPENTER
LEE CODDING (President’s Club)
STEVE POMEROY
MARY ANN PETERS (President’s Club)
GREG DABB
PP WYATT ALLEN
CRYSTA KRAMES-WOO
BENNY LOEBNER (President’s Club)
JOANNE KAVALARIS (President’s Club)
and, visiting guest, Bob Lloyd who matched JOANNE’s donation.
TODAY’S FEATURED SPEAKER
GREG DABB was called to the podium to introduce our featured speaker for the day, Stanford University Women’s Tennis Head Coach (and Los Altos native) Frankie Brennan.
What follows is an AI summary of his presentation. (ed. - Let me be among the first to welcome our new AI overlords.)
The selected transcript follows Stanford women’s tennis coach Frank Brennan, who describes a three-generation family legacy in tennis:
His grandfather discovered tennis as a child, became a coach and string innovator, and formed a long coaching relationship with Billie Jean King. He later coached President Jimmy Carter’s family.
His father built successful tennis camps and became Stanford’s women’s head coach, winning 10 national championships over 21 years.
Brennan grew up in Los Altos, played multiple sports, competed in college tennis, and eventually joined his father’s Stanford staff. After decades as an assistant and associate head coach, he became head coach in 2024.
He credits Stanford’s success to coaching continuity, elite student-athletes, a strong “sisterhood” culture, positive coaching, quality-focused training, alumni support, and rigorous academics.
He explains college tennis as a fast doubles “sprint” followed by a longer singles “marathon,” with coaches actively advising players between points.
Stanford women’s tennis has won 21 national titles, making it Stanford’s most successful program and a leader in women’s college tennis.
Current challenges include injuries, athletes turning professional, international recruiting, transfer rules, NIL and revenue-sharing changes, and increased competition from programs investing heavily in athletes.
In the Q&A, Brennan discusses recruiting, Stanford’s new tennis facility, coaching professionals, maintaining a 100% graduation rate, and helping rattled players reset through breathing, conversation, movement, and consistent routines.
President FRANK ended the meeting noting our guest speaker has signed the book, “Trailblazers: The Unmatched Story of Women’s Tennis,” which will be donated to a local school.
He then sent off the congregation with his belief that “Our best days are ahead of us” and to go out and “Create a lasting impact.”
