Chase and Emma Cianfichi are dedicated Sonoma County natives, Passionate about agriculture and animal science, Emma and Chase pursued their undergraduate degree at California State University, Fresno, where they majored in animal science. Continuing her academic journey, Emma completed a Master's in Agricultural Education at California State University, Chico in the Spring of 2024. In 2015, Chase and Emma established a family-owned and operated goat and sheep grazing business, Chasin Goat Grazing LLC. Specializing in contract grazing, the business utilizes sheep and goats for effective fire prevention services throughout California. Through their hard work and commitment to sustainable practices, Chase and Emma contribute to environmental stewardship while fostering a love for agriculture in their community.
Free To Be Teens, by Leslie Bisbee Jordan, Executive Director
Our speaker for January 23, 2025, was Leslie Bisbee Jordan, the Executive Director of Free To Be, a non-profit dedicated to building the confidence of Sonoma County teens and empowering them to make healthy choices. Leslie was supported by four high school students, Matt, Oliver, Kate, and Reese, who are 4 of the 17 Team Innovators in the program. Leslie told us that Free to Be was started in 1989, at a time when teenagers faced a multitude of external challenges, including drinking and driving, STDs, and teen pregnancy. Many of today’s current challenges are internal, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The emergence of social media has greatly contributed to a national teen crisis of depression, bullying, mental illness, and self-harm, and Sonoma County is not immune to this crisis. In fact, Sonoma County’s teen suicide rate ranks the second worst in the 9 Bay Area Counties!
Free to Be believes that instilling confidence in teens is the best way to fight off these internal pressures. Free to Be partners with youth organizations and local schools to reach as many students as possible. Three programs help accomplish Free to Be’s goals: Teen Innovators, Student Workshops, and Parent Resources. Teen Innovators is a leadership program aimed at positively influencing youth by sharing personal stories. Student Workshops is a 4-session, 4-week curriculum in which they go into the classroom to discuss 4 topics; healthy relationships, emotional health, life online, and positive choices. After these workshops, kids feel 90% better prepared to stand up to peer pressures and recognize that they are more likely to make healthy decisions when they are confident. Free to Be also teaches a certificated suicide prevention program.
The teens assisting Leslie were asked a variety of questions about their experiences with Free to Be, including their favorite activities. One student mentioned their work at the Sonoma County Food Bank and learning about the suicide prevention program. Another talked about their leadership training at Westminster Woods, including how their friendships grew and the workshops. Oliver (Harry Coffey’s grandson) talked about attending the fundraising gala and meeting donors.
A big thank you to Leslie and her youthful innovators for the wonderful presentation and discussion about the good work done by Free to Be!
Click HERE to view the recording of Leslie and the teen's presentation. It will be available for a limited time.
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!
Goodwill and Better Friendships continue to emerge: You know you are in a great place when pivotal people in your path appear!
Add a wonderful meal and you are celebrating!
Include cultural diversity and you are discovering!
Over 300 Rotarians and Friends assembled to learn the breadth and depth of Positive Peace.
From Conflict Resolution to sailing to Mediation to Ukrainian youth trauma recovery to Ugandan feminine hygiene to organic gardening in San Rafael to Santa Rosa Youth Symphony and Enmanji Temple Tycho drummers and much much more, the conference spot lighted the Attitudes, Institutions and Structures which contribute to stable compassionate civilization.
A strong partner with Rotary is the Institute for Economics and Peace. Their annual publication of the global peace index is sculpted from the foundation of the eight pillars of peace. Peacebuilder Michael Collins invites us to engage curiosity.
COLLABORATION, INTEGRATION, UNITY with diversity amongst cultures and perspectives through respectful conversation can be a creative path towards positive peace.
Standing room only participants gathered to dedicate a Peace Pole at the Doubletree hotel. The Peace Pole represents a pledge towards positive, peace and constructive community conversations.
At one of the smaller breakout sessions Braver Angels presented their dialogue promoting strategy and led an exercise in navigating an issue with polarized advocates: Deportation.
Through such a cooperative community collaboration, the conference was able to engage the Santa Rosa Symphony's renowned conductor and Musical Director Francesco Lecce Chong. With the visionary impetus of Sunrise Rotarian Marty Behr, the Symphony's Audience Development committee agreed to share Maestro Chong's passion for music as an ambassador of peace.
Above, Harry Coffee learns the intricate hand movements of their dance.
This multi–Rotary District conference assembled worldwide partners engaged in Positive Peace efforts. Sunrise Peace Committee headed by Eloise Tweeten is exploring opportunities, assessing unmet needs and has discussions underway for collaborative partnering. If you are curious and eager to engage, do!
“Sir you have got to help!” said the tearful man at the door. “There is a family that I know very well that is in desperate need of money. The Father has been out of a job for over a year, they have five kids at home with barely a bit of food to eat. The worst part is, that they are about to kicked out of the house and they will be left on the streets without a roof over their heads!” The man concluded with one last heart wrenching sob.
“Well,” said the man at the door, “that really is a sad story. Why don’t you come inside, and we’ll talk about it a little more.” “So how much money is needed exactly?” asked the man when they were both seated.
“Oh, it’s really terrible”, said the man starting up again, “why just for the rent $3000 is needed by tomorrow otherwise they’ll be kicked out onto the streets.” “How do you know so much about this situation?” asked the man as he reached for his check book.
“Well,” said the man breaking down once more “they are my tenants.”
A cavalcade of 120 vintage vehicles, including tractors, steam lorries, and penny-farthing bicycles, rolled into the Mortimer Fairground in June for a fundraiser of the Rotary Club of Reading Matins. The Transport Through the Ages event drew about 4,000 people and raised more than $13,000 for charities. The idea came from similar shows held during celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III. “We are delighted at the success of the event and the amount of money raised for the charities we feel so passionate about,” says Club President Valerie Robinson. The resulting fanfare has encouraged the Rotarians to reprise the fundraiser in the future, says club member Carrie Wise.
India
After heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in India’s northeastern state of Tripura in August, the Rotary Club of Agartala City and the Rotaract clubs of Agartala City and Agartala Central mobilized to help. The clubs set up relief camps providing food, clothing, health care, and medicines in Agartala, reaching 400 people. During a second phase, club members distributed groceries and sanitary pads among 125 families in a remote village that was devastated by the floods. “Villagers lost all their belongings. Farms and agricultural crops were destroyed,” says Agartala Rotary club member Anannya Das. Rotary members also organized clinics in the region where patients could see pediatricians, eye specialists, dermatologists, and general practitioners, including Rotarian doctors.
This story originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
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A cavalcade of 120 vintage vehicles, including tractors, steam lorries, and penny-farthing bicycles, rolled into the Mortimer Fairground in June for a fundraiser of the Rotary Club of Reading Matins. The Transport Through the Ages event drew about 4,000 people and raised more than $13,000 for charities. The idea came from similar shows held during celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III. “We are delighted at the success of the event and the amount of money raised for the charities we feel so passionate about,” says Club President Valerie Robinson. The resulting fanfare has encouraged the Rotarians to reprise the fundraiser in the future, says club member Carrie Wise.
After heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides in India’s northeastern state of Tripura in August, the Rotary Club of Agartala City and the Rotaract clubs of Agartala City and Agartala Central mobilized to help. The clubs set up relief camps providing food, clothing, health care, and medicines in Agartala, reaching 400 people. During a second phase, club members distributed groceries and sanitary pads among 125 families in a remote village that was devastated by the floods. “Villagers lost all their belongings. Farms and agricultural crops were destroyed,” says Agartala Rotary club member Anannya Das. Rotary members also organized clinics in the region where patients could see pediatricians, eye specialists, dermatologists, and general practitioners, including Rotarian doctors.