Cynthia Gregory, MFA, is an award-winning writer and publisher. Her titles include LOVE NOTES from the Soul: Stories of Transformation and Hope, Journaling As Sacred Practice: An Act of Extreme Bravery, What is Possible from Here, and LOVE NOTES From the SOUL: Stories of transformation and hope. As a change-making creative thinker, Cynthia coaches impactful leaders as they develop their personal histories, works of fiction, and professional memoirs. As an executive coach, Cynthia assists high achievers develop a narrative that aligns with their life purpose and activates their leadership presence. Sourcing organically creative solutions; she enables innovators to play to their strengths, maintain clarity, and gain a healthier, more productive life-work harmony.
Neal Ramus and Alayza Cervantes from Sonoma Land Trust
Our speaker for April 10, 2025, was Neal Ramus, Director of Community Engagement and Education at Sonoma Land Trust. Also present from SLT was Alayza Cervantes, the Community Outreach Manager. Neal has been with SLT for over seven years and previously worked in leadership positions at the California Academy of Sciences, the Petaluma Wildlife Museum, and Sonoma State University. Neal is a Petaluma native and earned a master’s degree in business administration from SSU.
SLT’s mission is to help protect the open, natural, and working lands and waters of Sonoma County. It has been doing this for almost 50 years! It has conserved 61,000 acres of land in Sonoma County. SLT is a 501c3 funded by philanthropy and is supported by 40 staff members, volunteers, interns, and community members. SLT currently owns 19 properties, has another 47 easements on non-owned properties, and has transferred 12 properties to other public and private entities. It manages the natural resources for the properties it owns. It typically transfers properties it originally purchased with an easement that limits future development. When it holds an easement on properties, the easements carve off development rights and monitors and enforces those easements as needed.
SLT has 6 major areas of focus: protecting biodiversity, living with fire, adapting to rising water, securing freshwater flows, preserving nature nearby, and empowering our communities. Sonoma County is a biodiversity “hot spot” with rich but often threatened ecosystems. SLT purchases and stewards high priority land, restores land on its preserves, and removes barriers that inhibit wildlife movement. SLT works with the Sonoma Valley Wildlands Collaborative as part of its efforts to help “live with fire.” Much of its work involves introducing “good fire” to manage the fuels that power wildfire. Since 1950 we’ve lost 90% of the tidal wetlands in the San Francisco Bay. To deal with this problem, among other things, SLT’s goal is to purchase 10,000 acres of wetland and nearby property by 2028. To secure freshwater flows, SLT purchases land and stream conservation easements and protects and enhances groundwater recharge. SLT acquires parkland and open spaces for communities that do not have reasonable access to parks and other natural resources. For example, SLT partnered with the City of Santa Rosa to purchase the 47 acres for the Santa Rose Southeast Greenway! Another important SLT effort is to empower our communities by developing programs that support equitable access to nature, including youth and public programs with webinars, public outings, a high school Conservation Council, and working with interns and volunteers.
Glen Oaks where bulbs were planted, then flowers appeared and now they are done until next time.
Thank you, Neil and Alayza, for the wonderful presentation about all the work SLT is doing to preserve, restore and enhance the fabulous diversity in Sonoma County!
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of Neal and Alayza's presentation.
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!
Spend on what you want or must, but don't Bust! An important message learned!
Last Wednesday, Sunrisers assisted Redwood Credit Union in putting on a financial education event for Elsie Allen High School seniors. During the two-hour event each senior was given through a phone app, a career, monthly income, life partner, partner’s career path and different numbers of children. Once they digested their new selves, the visited eight tables each of which had volunteers ready and eager to upsell them on all the best things in life- nice housing, furnishings, a fast car, fine dining, entertainment, clothing, groceries and childcare- just like in real life. If the cost of their purchases exceeded their income, they “busted” and had to visit the RCU table for budget counseling and learning about the difference between what we would like to have and what we need and can afford to have. The app also threw financial curveballs (“You missed a credit card payment- see your banker”) onto some people’s apps just to mix it up. A roving RCU Fraud Manager made outlandish offers to students to see if she could get them to fall for common scams. Many did but, as in real life, on a couple owned up to it at the recap session when the event concluded. There were many “aha” moments for both the students and the volunteer salespeople. Oh, and there were (only) three rules to keep in mind- no returning of children, no putting children up for adoption and no abandoning of children. Sunrisers agreed that most students asked a lot of intelligent questions and were very engaged with the exercise. Assisting in the event were Willie, Steve (Herron), Bonny (and David), Kristine, Eloise, Merle, Mary, Steve (Zwick), Paul, Ken and Tom.
(Sorry, no pictures of kids interacting with Sunrisers due to privacy rules).
Sunrise Rotary with Stacy Help Feed the Hungry at Glaser Center.
Every Saturday morning starting at 6am our homeless neighbors start lining up outside the Glaser center downtown for a fresh cooked breakfast. We serve 100 - 200 people every week at a cost of $500 plus.
Eggs, French toast, quesadillas, waffles, potatoes, meatballs, hot oatmeal, cold cereal, pastries, fruit, orange juice, milk, and coffee is served.
All are welcomed with a smile and a mask to a warm environment.
It has been said that this is the best breakfast in town. I enjoy greeting each guest and handing them a bowl of hot oatmeal and a cup of coffee.
This is your Rotary dollars at work. Thank you for supporting this great need.
A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband is not in bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee in front of him. He appears to be in deep thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee. ☕️ 'What's the matter, dear' she whispers as she steps into the room, 'Why are you down here at this time of night The husband looks up from his coffee, 'It's the 20th Anniversary of the day we met'. She can't believe he has remembered and starts to tear up. The husband continues, 'Do you remember 20 years ago when we started dating, I was 18 and you were only 16,' he says solemnly. Once again, the wife is touched to tears. 'Yes, I do' she replies. The husband pauses The words were not coming easily. 'Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car' 'Yes, I remember' said the wife, lowering herself into the chair beside him. The husband continued. 'Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said, "Either you marry my daughter or I will send you to prison for 20 years' 'I remember that, too' she replied softly. He wiped another tear from his cheek and said, "I would have gotten out today."
As the chill of winter gives way to the warmth of spring, we have an opportunity to rejuvenate our commitments to each other and to the communities we serve.
A shining example is the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland in Ontario, whose members support a program providing hot meals to people facing homelessness and food insecurity. On any given evening, the Soup Shack run by Feed Windsor-Essex serves up to 130 people, offering nourishment and a sense of community and care.
Club member and Past District Governor Aruna Koushik got the club involved after seeing a news segment about the Soup Shack.
Koushik collaborated with club members to quickly approve the purchase of a stove, pots, and pans for its new permanent space. Soon after, club members met with the Soup Shack team, toured the new location, and presented a check for 3,000 Canadian dollars (about US$2,000) to support its efforts. They also committed to volunteering their time to prepare and serve meals once the facility is operational.
This exemplifies how Rotary members can come together to address community needs, foster engagement, and make a tangible impact. By identifying opportunities for service and mobilizing resources, we not only support those in need but also strengthen our bonds with each other and with the communities we serve.
As we embrace the renewal that spring offers, let’s take inspiration from the Windsor-Roseland club. Consider these ways to reinvigorate engagement within your club:
Identify emerging needs: Stay attuned to the evolving challenges in your communities. Engage with local organizations to understand where your club’s support can make the most difference.
Mobilize resources quickly: When opportunities arise, act swiftly. Leverage the skills and networks within your club to gather resources, from financial contributions to equipment to volunteer time.
Foster collaboration: Encourage members to take initiative and collaborate on projects. Empowering individuals to lead and contribute their unique talents enhances engagement and drives success.
Commit to ongoing involvement: Beyond initial contributions, pledge continued support.
Regular service keeps members connected and reinforces the club’s commitment to sustained impact.
By embracing these approaches, we can harness the energy of spring to renew our dedication to service and engagement. Let’s seize this season as an opportunity to revitalize our efforts, strengthen our connections, and continue making a positive difference in the world.
This is The Magic of Rotary — transforming lives, inspiring hope, and creating lasting change for the communities we serve.
You can find all prior "RI President's Messages" at this LINK
As my 26 years of Rotary leadership at the international level wind down, I’ve been reflecting on favorite memories and the extraordinary opportunities Rotary has given me. One stands out this month: the decision to establish the environment as one of Rotary’s areas of focus.
We had seen how Rotary members were already preserving waterways, planting trees, and reducing pollution. Environmental stewardship was clearly an essential part of our work. As RI president in 2019-20, I was proud to have proposed the addition of the environment as an area of focus, after years of advocacy by Rotary members.
I am even prouder of what that addition — and all of you — made possible. Since 1 July 2021, clubs and districts, supported by global grants, have expanded their work to protect our planet’s resources — restoring mangroves, saving forests, and cultivating coral reefs.
These grants hold endless possibilities, and I invite you to dream. Take inspiration from initiatives like Keep Mongolia Green, championed by Past RI President D.K. Lee, President-nominee Sangkoo Yun, and Rotary members in Korea. This major reforestation is combating Gobi Desert dust storms and creating Mongolia’s largest green zone.
I am also proud of our new strategic partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme. This collaboration empowers Rotary members to implement projects such as river cleanups and plastic waste reduction, leveraging global resources and expertise.
In November, I had the pleasure of leading a delegation of Rotary volunteers at the United Nations climate conference in Azerbaijan. You can read my account of it on Rotary 360 at blog.rotary.org.
So many opportunities are waiting for us. We know how much we can achieve together, so team up with your district and apply for a Foundation grant to support an environmental project.
Stewardship of the environment is deeply personal to my wife, Gay, and me. That is why we have established a named endowment fund through the Foundation, helping to ensure that future generations working on these projects will have the resources they need.
As we celebrate Environmental Month this April, I invite you to consider how you can make an impact. Every action matters. Explore environmental project ideas in Rotary’s new Service Project Center, take part in an existing initiative, or support The Rotary Foundation through a gift. In this way, members worldwide can protect our shared home.
I thank you, as always, for all that you do for Rotary and our Foundation.
You can find all prior "Messages from the Foundation Trustee Chair" at this LINK
Recognizing the link between renal disease and eye problems, the Rotary Club of Quito Luz de América — “light of America” — conducts free medical and eye screenings for people with chronic kidney disease. Common risk factors for kidney disease, like high blood pressure and diabetes, can damage blood vessels in the eyes, leading to poor vision and other problems. Most recently, 10 club members joined health experts in November to offer examinations for 100 people at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital in Guayaquil. Interactors assisted. Three medical professionals help with the screenings: a general practitioner, a gynecologist, and a project leader trained in optometry and visual therapy, says Olga Camacho, a past club president. “To conclude the day, we hosted an artistic show to bring joy and hope,” she says.
Bermuda
In October, Girl Scouts joined their parents and Rotarians in a beach restoration project along Bailey’s Bay in Hamilton Parish. “They collected over 1,000 pieces of microplastics, several tin cans, paper, large plastics, and rope that were on the beach near the mangroves,” says scout troop leader Cathy Bassett, a longtime educator who is president of the Rotary Club of Hamilton. The girls, ages 7 to 10, are studying the preservation of mangroves in Bermuda, Bassett says. The scouts have also conducted a geographical study of sand to learn what gives Bermuda’s beaches their distinctive pink color. The mangroves, shrubs, and small trees that dot shallow waters along parts of the 75-mile coastline support biodiversity.
This story originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.
Connect with Rotary on WhatsApp
Rotary now has a WhatsApp channel! It has updates on Rotary projects, useful news, and plenty of fun. It’s in English only for now. See the channel here and select “follow.” Or find it by selecting “Updates” or “Channels” on the WhatsApp menu bar and searching for “Rotary.”
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Recognizing the link between renal disease and eye problems, the Rotary Club of Quito Luz de América — “light of America” — conducts free medical and eye screenings for people with chronic kidney disease. Common risk factors for kidney disease, like high blood pressure and diabetes, can damage blood vessels in the eyes, leading to poor vision and other problems. Most recently, 10 club members joined health experts in November to offer examinations for 100 people at the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital in Guayaquil. Interactors assisted. Three medical professionals help with the screenings: a general practitioner, a gynecologist, and a project leader trained in optometry and visual therapy, says Olga Camacho, a past club president. “To conclude the day, we hosted an artistic show to bring joy and hope,” she says.
In October, Girl Scouts joined their parents and Rotarians in a beach restoration project along Bailey’s Bay in Hamilton Parish. “They collected over 1,000 pieces of microplastics, several tin cans, paper, large plastics, and rope that were on the beach near the mangroves,” says scout troop leader Cathy Bassett, a longtime educator who is president of the Rotary Club of Hamilton. The girls, ages 7 to 10, are studying the preservation of mangroves in Bermuda, Bassett says. The scouts have also conducted a geographical study of sand to learn what gives Bermuda’s beaches their distinctive pink color. The mangroves, shrubs, and small trees that dot shallow waters along parts of the 75-mile coastline support biodiversity.