Our speaker for Thursday, March 7 was Sherry Huss, Co-Founder of Maker Faire!  Sherry gave us an enlightening summary of her professional history, which includes book and software publishing, Java One, O’Reilly Media’s Web 2.0, Dwell Magazine, lots of events planning, and her early involvement with “Maker” events and organizing.  

She’s a lover and advocate of open source, sharing, community and transparency.  As she says, “If you can’t open it you don’t own it.”  The Maker movement is an interdisciplinary culture; it is playful, visionary, visualizing and understanding. Her role includes event strategizing, community organizing, Maker marketing, and general consultation. 

She also helped launch Gerard’s Paella y Tapas restaurant and held Gerard’s hand a few weeks ago when he presented to our club!  Sherry is a powerful speaker and advocate for the Maker movement.  We are now officially excited about the possibility of attending the next Maker Faire in the Bay Area (May 17-19!).  Thank you, Sherry for officially bringing Sunrise into pop culture!

Custom, practice, rule, tendency, frame of mind, dress:  All these words, under the definition of "Habit" describe Ross Andress to a tee!  

As founder and perpetual inspiration and promoter of Elsie Allen High School's Interact Club and Mentor to many, many students (some struggling), Ross' empowering leadership legacy was honored during the High School's Annual FIESTA Fundraiser for their Scholarship Foundation.

Ross' wife Stacy, attending with their son Eric accepted the Foundations gratitude and were witness to the hundreds in the appreciative audience, including alumna Jasmine who delivered a personal, insightful tribute to the positive influence Ross made in her life. As a student she learned how to broaden her horizon and gain enormous confidence helping place her as Campaign Manager for State Senator Noreen Evans when barely old enough to vote!  Below, Trinity, this year's  Interact President  shared her story with the audience. 

Representing Sunrise Rotary was President Rich with spouse Betsy, Paul O Rear and wife Penny Millar, Jennifer Adams, Stacy and Eric.

Scholarship Foundation Executive Director Manny Baldenegro introduced a video collage and narrative featuring Ross' pivotal inspiration in establishing the groundwork for what has become the school's Scholarship Foundation.  

For everyone, the results of Ross' vision, persistence, and above all else, his passion for the student's success was evident to all and especially those whose life he touched along their way.  

Pursue your Passion, Be the Inspiration, Do What Matters!!!

Rami was sponsored by Marty Behr and joins in the classification of Commercial Real Estate. He provided information on his personal and professional lives that includes an interest in fishing!

Welcome Rami – we are delighted to have you join us and look forward to ‘getting things done with you.’

Peter and Mary Banks, Tim Iler with West County Services, Rich Randolph and Kiwanian friend Ron Keith sliced, diced, boiled and toiled happily last Thursday at the Guerneville Veterans Building hosting the community shelter guests.

Spaghetti (vermicelli) with seasoned marinara, Italian Style, mixed green salad with choice of Caesar or Thousand Island dressing, french bread~ with butter of course and parmesan cheese.   Mary prepared a savory, cream sauce vegetable option.  Her baked biscuits were akin to dessert, and her breads are marketable treat.  Way to go Mary. 

The chocolate or white cake butter frosted cakes were a draw with Mary's white thumb fancies. On the nutrition scale, Mary's were over the top. All told, about 60 were fed, with ingredients coming from the Redwood Empire Food Bank where other Sunrisers were filling market baskets for senior's in the county. 

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Barry Rassin

President 2018-19

One of the things I appreciate most about serving as president of Rotary International is the people I get to meet. Much of my time is spent traveling and visiting Rotary clubs around the world. A Rotarian welcome is something quite special. But let me tell you, there's nothing so warm as the welcomes that have been rolled out for me by Rotaractors. These are young people who are committed to Rotary ideals, who are pouring their hearts into service, and who, in the process, don't forget to have fun.

One of the highlights of my recent travels was a trip to Ghana, where I visited a district that boasts some 60 Rotaract clubs. They aren't satisfied with that number, though — in fact, they're excited about a plan to double it. They'll do it, too.

Rotaractors are vaccinating children against polio. They're donating blood where the supply is dangerously low. They're providing handwashing facilities to schools where children previously had no way to get clean. In short, they're all about transformational service: carrying out projects that make a real difference in their communities.

In Nakivale, Uganda, one special Rotaract club is making a difference in its community — which happens to be a refugee settlement. These young leaders are turning what others might see as disadvantages into opportunities for service, building community and opening up new possibilities to those who are most in need of them.

In Turkey, Rotaractors are visiting children in the hospital every Wednesday to lift their spirits by playing games with them. They also are mentoring new students at their university and teaching them leadership skills.

Rotaractors are blazing the path for Rotary to be more relevant in this new century of service. And World Rotaract Week, which we're celebrating 11-17 March, is the perfect opportunity to get to know your local Rotaractors and talk to them about how your clubs can work together. If your Rotary club doesn't already sponsor a Rotaract club, know that you don't need to be near a college or university to do it: Community-based Rotaract clubs are a great option. And remember that Rotaractors are part of the Rotary family.

When Rotaractors are ready to leave their Rotaract club, we don't want them to leave that Rotary family behind. I'm asking all Rotarians to help them make the transition into a Rotary club or to start a new one: I'm happy to charter as many new clubs as we need to give everyone a place where they feel at home while making the world a little better. Service should be fun, it should be inspirational, and it should be open to all.

If there's one thing Rotary has always excelled at, it's diversity. In the past, that often meant diversity of profession, nationality, and outlook. We've made great strides when it comes to diversity of age and gender, and as we welcome more Rotaractors into our organization, we'll become even stronger.

Rotary is powerful. Together with Rotaract, it is unstoppable. Working side by side, we have the potential to Be the Inspiration in every part of society, to every person we meet.