Our Regularly Scheduled Meeting was in a Change of Time and Space
It was President Cindy's Debunking
Our meeting was changed from Thursday at Chop's to Saturday at PEP Housing located on Acacia and Hwy 12. The club had an opportunity to show our appreciation for Cindy's strong leadership during her year, 2024-2025. Shauna presented to Cindy a plaque holding her gavel, her Past President Badge and pin.
Before hand, we were all entertained by members of our club performing a humorous reenactment of the way Cindy led her meetings. Our thespians, Stacy and emcee, Harry (as President Cindy), set the scene with Warren leading the pledge, the Canadian one, and Paul giving the thought of the day.
Following a delicious picnic style meal and Mom's Pies with ice cream, Cindy wanted to take some time to acknowledge her helpers along the way including her board of directors to give thanks.
She awarded Steve Amend and Shauna Lorenzen for all they did for the Santa Rosa - Kagoshima Student Exchange Program (SRKSEP) over many years. Finally, she awarded Steve Herron with the much-deserved Rotarian of the Year award for how he stepped up to successfully be the Fundraising Chair along with his many other contributions.
It was a delightful time of togetherness and a good time reflecting on the past Rotary year. Thank you, Cindy, for your leadership during a year full of changes, productivity and great contributions made to our local and international communities. Be sure to like and leave comments on our Facebook page posting by clicking HERE.
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!
It’s easy to think that America was widely known as the U.S. all the way back to Revolutionary times. Many people didn’t really call themselves Americans, they considered themselves citizens of their states, and their state was associated with others.
In the War of 1812, a contractor named Sam Wilson, a meat packer from New York, was contracted to supply beef and salt pork to the army. He marked the barrels “U.S.”
When someone asked Wilson what that stood for, he laughed and replied, “Uncle Sam,” which was his nickname. Within months, the reference went “viral” for the time and showed up in newspapers and cartoons. The first cartoon reference was in 1813.
Pretty soon, all government property was said to be owned by Uncle Sam and troops were known as “Uncle Sam’s boys.”
An artist named James Montgomery Flagg painted the iconic Uncle Sam for World War I posters — modeled on himself.
Uncle Sam was also related to Johnny Appleseed. Wilson married Betsy Mann, who was a cousin of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed.
Sources: The Greatest Stories Never Told by Rick Beyer
16,000 Rotary members and participants from 140 countries registered for the service organization’s international convention in Calgary
CALGARY (25 June 2025) – As Rotary’s international convention in Calgary draws to a close, Rotary members and participants from over 140 countries will bring home indelible memories, renewed connections, and an inspired sense of purpose for helping to create a healthier and more peaceful world.
Often described by attendees as a “mini-United Nations”, the convention served as a hub for Rotary members and participants to connect and learn from each other and a range of experts on how to take action to address issues in their communities.
Audience members dance to music at the second general session of the Rotary International Convention on 23 June in Calgary, Canada.
Welcomed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek and further inspired by Academy Award-winning actor Geena Davis and many others – issues addressed ranged from gender parity, children’s education, artificial intelligence, preventing and treating cervical cancer, ending polio, and furthering world peace and understanding.
“The world right now can feel divided,” said Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick. “But Rotary brings together people from every corner of the globe, not to erase our differences, but to celebrate them. That’s how we spread peace, because peace is more than the absence of conflict: It’s the presence of understanding.”
This week, Rotary announced the extension of its joint commitment of up to US$450 million with the Gates Foundation to end polio, a Rotary-led peacebuilding program to help strengthen communities affected by conflict in Colombia, and a partnership with Symbiosis International University to establish a Rotary Peace Center in India.
As the largest event yet to be held at the newly expanded BMO Centre, more than 240 booths showcased Rotary club humanitarian projects, Rotary’s global initiatives, partners, and vendors in a space of 30,000+ net square feet. The convention is expected to account for more than 30,000 hotel room nights, inject $81 million CAD to the local economy, and drive significant business for Calgary’s hotels, restaurants, retailers, and tourism attractions.
Organized by Rotary International in conjunction with local Rotary members, the event presents an opportunity to showcase Calgary's growing tech and creative sectors, diverse cultural representation and the gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. The Rotary International Convention in Calgary is supported by Tourism Calgary, The City of Calgary, the Calgary Hotel Association, Calgary Stampede, BMO Centre, Scotiabank Saddledome, and Rotary members in Calgary and from Alberta, across Canada, and around the world.
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, help mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over US $5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation to support these and other programs worldwide over the last 100 years.
Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world: including approximately 3,000 members in more than 100 clubs in Alberta and more than 20,000 members in over 750 clubs across Canada. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.
Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise - Founded June 30, 1986
.png)
