President FRANK ELMER called the meeting to order at 12:15 and asked PETE DAILEY to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. We saw photos of Famous Franks including Zappa, Sinatra, FRANKlin Roosevelt and Ben FRANKlin. There was no mention of Ball Park FRANKs.
President FRANK thanked today’s Greeters: KAREN GREGURAS, LINDSAY CARPENTER, BENNY LOEBNER and RON STEFANI. Thought for the Day: ELLY WYATT. Cookie Monster: LANA RALSTON. Recognition: Standing in for PP DONNA VERNA, was PP STAN SCARDINO. Sergeants at Arms: MIKE ABRAMS, MJ LOMAX and DAVID GREEN. Rotator Writer: JOHN MCBIRNEY. Photographer TOM JOHNSON. Publisher: PP CHUCK LINDAUER. Editor: PP CYNTHIA LUEDTKE. Today’s Tech Team: MIKE KERR and LEE CODDING. Website and Zoom: STEVE POMEROY and DAVID GREEN. He also acknowledged our members attending via Zoom.
TODAY’S THOUGHT from ELLY WYATT:
“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” From Eden Phillpotts, “A Shadow Passes”
INTRODUCTIONS were made by President FRANK. There were no visiting Rotarians but we had several guests.
PP SAM HARDING brought Mt. View YMCA Executive Director Shanon Pestrong.
JANET HARDING introduced her cousin, Lawrence Droxel.
LIZ NYBERG is here with Toby Emerson for her second visit. Toby is a volunteer with Peninsula College Fund.
BENNY LOEBNER brought Laurie Tanen for her 3rd visit.
Joining us via Zoom from Africa is Dr. JACK HIGGINS.
WORLD POLIO DAY is October 24th and PolioPlus is our opportunity to 
fight this terrible and tenacious disease. CINDY BOGART O-GORMAN gave us an update about the fight against Polio. PolioPlus Society members continue to support the effort until Polio is fully eradicated with $100/year, every year. Plus our donations to PolioPlus count toward TRF as well. There is a link on our Club website that makes donation easy for us. PolioPlus donations are matched 2:1 by The Gates Foundation for 13 years. So our club member donations of over $10,000 each year are tripled to $30,000!
Rotary began the fight against Polio in 1987 and has helped wipe out the disease except for a few stubborn cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A new and better method of vaccination is now used in both of those countries. An estimated 20 million lives have been saved since that effort began. CINDY’s passion has led her to collaborate with colleagues all over the world, including at the recent World Rotary Convention.
ALTA VISTA MOCK INTERVIEWS
LINDSAY CARPENTER brought us up to date about Alta Vista mock
interview workshops. This program has been so well received that it has expanded from just one grade to include the entire school. They need more volunteers to maintain the program on this scale and LINDSAY is asking for our help. Please take this opportunity to help make a real change in a young person’s life. After a brief training session, there will be one-on-one sessions with the students, preparing them for critical job and university interviews. Student feedback has been extremely positive. Contact SUSIE MIELKE or LINDSAY CARPENTER if you’re able to help with the next event from 10:00 AM to 12:30 on Tuesday, November 17th at Alta Vista High School.
FAITP
CAROL DABB has already begun recruiting artists for next year’s Fine Art In The Park and credits BROOKE SCHILLER along with our marketing team with this year’s success, increasing our reach through social media and raising show attendance and revenue. CAROL is asking for help with her tech team to recruit artists for our show next year. If you can step up, please contact CAROL DABB directly.
COMING NEXT WEEK: Realizing the Promise of Organ Transplantation with Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President FRANK showed us a picture of Rotarians on the Go, as our club members attended the District Impact Summit several weeks ago. Another photo showed proud PP HARRY PRICE winning a sausage eating contest at the recent LAMVCF Octoberfest celebration.
Last week Mike McFaul gave a talk to a joint meeting of our club and The Palo Alto club with 200 people in attendance.
SHARI ELMER spoke about the incredible progress of the projects in
Guatemala. She needs a few more people to join the upcoming Guatemala trip on April 3-11, 2027. They will be putting finishing touches on a brand new school there which will serve the local children. It will include work in the mornings and cultural exchange in the afternoons. Contact Shari for more information and to join this special trip.
President FRANK listed our 11 members with October birthdays (plus Red Badge member Amri Shahpuri on the 16th). We saw a photo of the recent Dine Around at Urfa Bistro with a table full of happy Rotarians and friends.
The next Dine Around will be hosted by LINDSAY and Craig CARPENTER on Tuesday, October 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Pompei Ristorante, 100 State Street. Only 12 seats are available and sign-ups via Clubrunner begin October 6th.
As always, we can join Rotarians for Cuppa Joe, which will take place on October 13th from 8:00-9:00 with PE JOE EYRE.
Join your Rotary friends at Happy Hour every 3rd Wednesday (October 21st) from 5-6 PM at Holders Restaurant.
RECOGNITION with PP STAN SCARDINO
STAN requested anyone with a Rotary Pin or activity badge to stand, and about 15 members stood up. He reminded us about how displaying our Rotary connection is a powerful way to market the club and raise interest in our community.
PP STAN asked for recognition volunteers and the first was LIZ NYBERG who gave $20 in honor of her guest Toby Emerson.
SALLY CHAVEZ gave $20 and reminded us of an event at her home to build book cubbies on October 10 from 9:00 til 3:00. Volunteers are needed!
VIVIEN D’ANDREA proudly announced the completion of medical graduate programs by both her daughters, who will begin practice in San Diego and San Francisco immediately. $20.
JACKSON WISE relayed that at a recent event where he gave free chiropractic care, a patient gave $40 for our club. JACKSON added another $20 because he couldn’t remember the man’s name.
PP STAN joined the President’s Club in honor of PP DONNA VERNA who is sick with pneumonia and could use our prayers and love as she heals.
ANNE ARJANI joined the President’s Club and expressed her gratitude for all of us and for the club’s ability to evolve to include women and to confront contemporary issues head-on with programs such as PolioPlus and Climate Action.
PP MARY PROCHNOW echoed that love of our club and gave $20.
SABRA ABRAHAM gave $20 to acknowledge her 50th wedding anniversary this week.
GARY MAGGARD loves the Rotary camaraderie, $10.
PP FRANK VERLOT honored PP CHUCK LINDAUER with a $20 donation.
CLARI NOLET joined the President’s Club because of all the amazing people she’s met here and around the country and world during her travels for Rotary events.
WENDY WALLEIGH highlighted the club’s help with Nepal flood victims and reminded us of Allart Ligtenburg’s projects to enhance quality of life for those without electricity or safe cooking. This is being carried on by KAREN BERNER.
TODAY'S SPEAKER
John Poch, was introduced by LINA BROYDO. He is a tireless promoter
of sporting events in the Bay Area with emphasis on expanding access beyond ticket-holders to the general public. He does this through the San Jose Sports Authority, which he has led since 1998. He has helped make San Jose a premier events destination, including three Olympics and three World Cup Soccer Championships.
The 2026 Olympics included free watch parties with huge screens for
thousands of fans and there were 6 million views on social media. John created “Game On San Jose", which gave free clinics for Boys and Girls Clubs.
Coming in 2028 is Women’s World Cup Soccer and there is a new San Jose women’s hockey team.
Questions: Q: Why is boxing only in Vegas now? A: Las Vegas is the largest venue for competition and hotel rooms and the biggest draw now is Mixed Martial Arts.
Q: (PP CRYSTA) The public transportation for the San Jose sporting events is overwhelmed. Will that improve? A: There are solutions in the works, but nothing is imminent.
Q: How long has San Jose Sports Authority been around? A: Since 1991 to recruit tenants for arenas, including the Sharks.
Q: How about women’s tennis events? A: Women’s Tennis took a hold after COVID and three consecutive years were sold out. Unfortunately, a merger between two organizations resulted in a collapse of the program.
LINA BROYDO expressed her thanks to Mr. Poch for leading this organization and for all it has accomplished.
President FRANK thanked Mr. Poch and showed us a book signed by him, “Stealing the Score”, donated by Linden Tree Books and to be presented to a local school library.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30
