Karen Wise is the Executive Director of The Museum of Sonoma County. Born in San Francisco and raised in the North Bay, Karen joins the Museum of Sonoma County from Los Angeles, where she has been working in the museum field since 1992. An independent museum consultant since 2017, she served for 25 years at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History in multiple capacities, most recently as Vice President of Education and Exhibitions. She spearheaded numerous initiatives that advanced the institution's mission, enhanced visitor experiences, and deepened community involvement.
Wise has a BA, MA, and PhD in Anthropology (from Wesleyan and Northwestern Universities), is a fluent Spanish speaker, and has a significant professional network in the national museum community. With this background, Karen is positioned to guide the Museum of Sonoma County as it continues to grow, expand its offerings, and serve as an educational and cultural hub for the region.
The Museum of Sonoma County (MSC) preserves and shares the diverse history, art, and cultures of Sonoma County. Exhibitions include Sonoma County Stories, featuring one-of-a-kind objects and stories representing the history of the region through the stories of diverse peoples and cultures of the county.
Last Week's Speaker Lora Unger, President and CEO of the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Our speaker for March 19, 2026 was Lora Unger, the recently appointed President and CEO of the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC). She has served for more than 20 years in nonprofit performing arts leadership, distinguished by her success in innovative fundraising, strategic growth, and community engagement. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) in Bellevue, Washington, where she reignited a multimillion-dollar capital campaign.
Lora spoke about her journey that led her to Sonoma County and her current position as President and CEO of the LBC. She was born in Moldova (which, at the time, was part of the Soviet Union). When she was a one-year old, her family left Moldova and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where there were numerous resources available for arts and education programs. Her interest in music led her to take up the viola and she was subsequently accepted to a performing arts high school in Louisville. While a junior in high school, Lora began playing with the University of Louisville orchestra (where she eventually received a full scholarship upon graduating from high school). Recognizing the limitations on making a living as a musician, Lora decided to minor in business with a focus on arts administration.
Her twenty years of post-university work experience led her around the country and eventually to California, which she loves. When looking for her dream job, Lora said that her wish list included that the position be in a field that she was passionate about and involved an organization that was cherished in the community – both of which were fulfilled by the LBC.
The LBC has so much to offer our community. Lora explained that in order to be financially sustainable, the business model for a performing arts center like the LBC is to offer many different things to the community they serve – rather than just focus, for example, solely on operas or symphonic orchestras. The LBC has a wide range of events such as comedy acts, dance performances, children’s theater, musical acts (rock and roll, blues, country, classical, etc.), and over twenty art educational programs. The LBC also has a 26 acre sculpture and art garden which attracts esteemed artists, as well as facility rentals for seminars, lectures, weddings and reunions.
The LBC has an annual operating budget of approximately $14 million. Lora’s current fiscal goal (or challenge) is to attain $1 million in new and repeatable revenue. The LBC competes with casinos and other commercial venues, which constantly requires booking new acts and programs throughout the year. However, unlike casinos and such other commercial venues, most of the ticket sales (90%) for a performance at the LBC goes directly to the artists. The remainder helps cover the LBC’s costs (along with donations, sponsorships, and grants). Lora stressed that the true benefit of the LBC is to provide a wide array of entertainment and programs that enrich the members of the community that they serve. Lora believes that the LBC is truly the heartbeat of our community.
Thank you Lora for the very informative presentation. The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts will surely thrive under your leadership. Lora was pleased by the club members past participation at the LBC. She encouraged our members to keep supporting the LBC to ensure its continued presence in our community.
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!
Flanking the Code of Conduct left to right are Angela Sanville, Melissa Stewart and Dan Roseachi. They are in the Fishbowl gathering place in CHOPS inner sanctum: Beyond the "blue line"
Further in the inner recesses, and with the heritage reminder of Lena's Ristorante in the Little Italy District now home to CHOPS. This classroom nourishes the curios young minds in their career direction.
And .. careers could include music performance or production, nurtured by experienced mentors.
Ready for a teen near you :-)
Mentors, role models are the guides on the side. Have yoou got a skill to share> Get in touch and have an impact!
The Rotary Club of Tokyo Hiroo embarked on a melodic mission in October, collaborating with the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills in California to bring the music therapy program Music Mends Minds to people with Alzheimer’s. Over several visits, club members brought drums, cowbells, and other percussive instruments to care facilities and encouraged participants to clap along as the Rotarians struck up tunes. “Music Mends Minds helps older adults with memory loss reengage,” says Miyuki Ochi, president of the club. “Watching older adults’ faces light up through music is one of the greatest joys of our service.”
This story originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
.png)
Penny and Paul's Home
Center Eastside (PACE) in Bellevue, Washington, where she reignited a multimillion-dollar capital campaign.
The Rotary Club of Tokyo Hiroo embarked on a melodic mission in October, collaborating with the Rotary Club of Beverly Hills in California to bring the music therapy program