Recent Developments at Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport, by Manager Jon Stout
Our featured speaker for June 22, 2023, was Jon Stout, Manager of the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS). Jon provided us with his periodic update of the airport’s development. Jon has been the airport’s manager since 2002! He reminded us that the airport was first opened in 1939 as a general aviation airport, started commercial services in 1947, is owned and operated by the County of Sonoma, and is fully self-funded (except for federal funding for improvements. The airport has 23 employees and a budget of $20,000,000. 100% of STS’ electrical needs are met with solar power!
STS flies to 11 destinations, including Burbank, LAX, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Orange County, Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Redmond/Bend, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. Alaska, American, and Avelo fly in and out of STS. Jon mentioned that Redmond/Bend is the newest flight addition for Avelo. United Airlines recently left STS but hopes to return in the near future. Convincing airlines to serve STS requires significant effort, since profitability, rather than market share, is now the main concern of airlines. He’s currently working on expanding STS’s destinations to include Austin, Chicago, Denver, Boise, Eugene, and Minneapolis. STS plays a major role in the economics of Sonoma County. In 2021, its average of 10 daily departures brought $228.0 million and 1,769 jobs to the county. It represents .8% of the total Sonoma County economy! Since Alaska Airlines joined the airport, it has experienced a year-over-year increase in passengers, other than during Covid-19. 2022 was its best year ever, and 2023 will be even better. STS’s passenger profile is illustrated in the chart below:
In 2019 STS embarked on a 33,000 square foot renovation, including entirely new departure and arrival terminals. This phase of renovations is almost complete and Jon is looking forward in the next several weeks to getting the airport’s front door back (passengers are now routed south of and behind the restaurant to the airlines’ counters and new terminals). Upcoming improvements include new airline parking spaces, a consolidated rental facility, perimeter fencing, and a new air traffic control tower. Parking is still going to be a major impediment to the airport’s growth. Jon expects to help the parking situation with a shuttle to and from the SMART terminal.
Many thanks to Jon for the helpful and interesting presentation. The airport is looking great these days and Jon is no doubt the man behind all of its recent success!
Click HERE to see a limited time recording of Jon Stout's talk.
On a regular basis, our resident photo pro Warren Smith, submits pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.
Thanks for all the great pictures Warren!Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!
Posted by Carolyn Anderson, Merle Hayes, Rich Randolph
Dream ~ Plan ~ Achieve !!!
These 5 graduating seniors (the far left long since graduated) are this year's Service Above Self recipients. Each received a $1000 scholarship from Sunrise Rotary. Read more below and discover how community service and commitment is bridging the span between a dream and achievements.
The Friday June 23 edition of the Press Democrat featured a front page article announcing the gift of one million dollars from Bill and Cindy Gallagher to the Elsie Allen Scholarship Foundation.
To read the full article in the June 23 edition of the Press Democrat, click HERE.
This generous gift essentially doubled the foundation principal corpus. Gifted in Poppy Bank shares with an 8% annual return rate, this boost will provide direct scholarship support and grant writing resources to further build funding partnerships and inspire student achievements.
The Gallaghers were also present at the Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony. Their gift had not been publicly announced at that time. Present that evening were Lawrence and Susan Amaturo who also made significant new support to graduates, adding confidence and visibility to the remarkable students. The Amaturo's provide four renewable awards up to $10,000 per year. Sonoma Media Group has been a consistent foundation supporter.
Senior Max Calderon accepted his award from Foundation President Vince Figueroa at podium and receives a congratulatory handshake from former president Mike Lopez. Foundation Board member Merle Hayes and Board consultant Penny Cleary cue up for the next recipient. 84 student awards were made, representing distribution of over $120,000, and not including pledges for successive renewables.
Students themselves are the incubators of community support. They demonstrate perseverance, tenacity and resilience! Academically, athletically and in community service, they inspire our confidence to help them achieve their dreams for success. Those aspirations are our future.
Thank you Alana Minkler of the Press Democrat for your fantastic coverage!
Penny Millar Sunrise Rotarian guides student volunteers plant seedlings in front of the school. Building community, building constructive relationships in and out of the classroom, on or off the stage, court or field build trust and create our future.
what are your dreams and plans? Elsie Allen Lobos can fit well in both.
First it was "Fines". And when that was thought to be "negative" it became "recognitions" and after that "High Five". But Jack has announced a new twist for these moments, designed to fit every celebration as well as sorrowful news. And it does not have to be a "High Five". "Happy Dollars" and "Sad Dollars" can be whatever you want them to be. Or whatever you feel is appropriate.
Happy Dollars
Merle Hayes - The Elsie Allen High School Marching Band and Flag Team participated in the Healdsburg Future Farmers of America parade and won the Sweepstake Award. Merle personally altered fifteen pairs of pants!
Rich Randolph - Two announcements - 1) Xavier and Ana Lucia Foncesca received their Green Cards! 2) Our matching grant for two adaptive swings is still in play with the city's help in reaching our deadline.
Mary Banks - Shout out to Lifeworks! They received the Achievement in Nonprofit Excellence Award at the CVNL's 3rd Annual Heart of Sonoma County Awards luncheon.
Ken Petro - let us know his granddaughter graduated with a degree in Photography and she sold all her band photos at the art show!
Eloise Tweeten - Big shout out to everyone who helped, acted and attended the Debunking. It was a spectacular time!
MJ Girard - Gave full disclosure of his travels to Hawaii spending time with his new found sister. He brought a beautiful pineapple (pictured above), as a gift to President Jack.
Sad Dollars
Stacy Drucker-Andress -Announced Roy Johnston is leaving the club due to personal reason.
Shauna Lorenzen - Let us know Art King is having serious health issues and we should keep him in our thoughts. He is not wanting phone calls at this time, but healing cards are welcome.
More than half of the 1.3 million people killed worldwide in traffic crashes in 2022 were characterized by the World Health Organization as “vulnerable road users,” that is pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Mindful that children are among those most at risk, the Rotary Club of Tullamore & District revived its Be Safe Be Seen campaign, which was paused because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project emphasizes the importance of wearing high-visibility clothing, especially during dark winter months. Last fall the club worked with emergency services leaders and news organizations to distribute promotional materials to primary schools. Rotarians and first responders also visited schools to spread the message. The project continued for more than a month with frequent reminders and advertising on local radio. “The overriding aim of the campaign is to protect young people and educate them regarding road safety,” says Eoin Sheehan, club president and a consultant orthopedic surgeon at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. “Prevention is always the best way forward.”
This story originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise - Founded June 30, 1986
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More than half of the 1.3 million people killed worldwide in traffic crashes in 2022 were characterized by the