Marlene Soiland is the President & Owner of Soiland Management Co., Inc., a business and property management firm she established in 1989. Additionally, Marlene owns and manages commercial real estate and is on the Board of Directors for her family’s business, Soiland Co., Inc. which operates Stony Point Rock Quarry, Soils Plus, and Grab N’ Grow Soil Products here in Sonoma County.
Marlene was the 2015 President of the Sonoma County Alliance and again served as their President from June 2020 through December 2021. The Alliance is a coalition of business, agriculture, environmental, labor organizations and individuals committed to protect private property rights, to encourage a healthy economy, to maintain a sound environment, to promote a responsive political process and a healthy community.
Marlene has been active in several community organizations in Sonoma County, including the Community Foundation Sonoma County, various Economic Development Board committees through the years, and was active in creating collaboration between diverse groups during Sonoma County’s Solid Waste discussions from 2009 through 2014, and in the Sonoma Clean Power discussion which followed.
Since 1997 Marlene has been a Director and Corporate Secretary for Exchange Bank, a community bank established in 1890, which has provided over $90 million in dividend payouts to the Doyle Scholarship Fund to benefit over 135,000 students attending Santa Rosa Junior College.
Marlene graduated Summa Cum Laude from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. She is married to Mark Stanley and has 2 grown sons who also live in Sonoma County. One of the great loves of her life are her four grandchildren which she spends time with every week.
Since March of 2022 Daniel Sohn has served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Sonoma County Alliance. Previously Daniel served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce where he led the organizations regionalization efforts. Most recently, Daniel was nominated by California Governor Gavin Newsom and then appointed by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as a Local Board Member representing the State of CA to the Nation’s Selective Service System. Prior to Daniel’s appointment he was elected to the Haverhill, Florida Town Council where he served as an at-large city council member from 2018 to 2020. Other past roles include Daniel’s service as a Chief of Staff for several prominent Florida Legislators along with his services as CEO of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, the South Florida Non-Profit Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of Democracy for America of Broward County. Daniel remains the Managing Partner and Senior Lobbyist for the Floridian Group, LLC – D.B.A. Pacific Partners, a Florida based consulting firm specializing in government relations, advocacy, community affairs, grants management and government procurement.
Dustin Valette: Chef-Owner of Valette's and The Matheson in Healdsburg
Our speaker for Thursday, April 14, 2022, was Dustin Valette, Chef-owner of Valette’s in Healdsburg and “The Matheson” on the Healdsburg town square. Chef Valette began his restaurant career at age 13 washing dishes at Catelli’s in Geyserville, worked as an apprentice at Chateau Souverain, and then traveled and worked in Napa, San Francisco, Honolulu, New York City, Napa, Italy, France and Henderson, Nevada. He returned to Sonoma County to accomplish his dream of opening a restaurant dedicated to showcasing the bounty of Sonoma County. He is married and has two daughters. He is, according to Michael Riel, “the best chef ever.”
Dustin’s restaurants are focused on using high quality local goods as key ingredients. This focus requires Dustin to support local microbusinesses, including farmers and vintners. These small producers often have difficulty selling their goods direct-to-consumer and welcome having local restaurants and shops as customers.
One of the key problems running a small, high-end restaurant is finding ways to make the business sustainable over the long haul. Economic problems like inflation reveal how difficult this can be. For example, before the pandemic he could buy high-quality scallops for $17.00 per pound. The current price is $45. Consumers can buy scallops at Costco for far less. Costco scallops, however, may not have the same flavor or be as sustainably raised. Dustin tries to find ways to showcase the products he sells as environmentally sustainable and important products to the local economy. His restaurants help keep local farmers and ranchers in business and are important to the local agricultural economy.
Valette Restaurant has 42 employees, and The Matheson has 110. He strives to hire good, quality people who want careers in the hospitality and restaurant industries. He knows that he can teach the nuances of the business, but he wants people who want to be industry leaders, who want to be successful. He believes that having such people is the one of the keys to success in his industry.
Thank you, Dustin, for the informative presentation and thank you for supporting Sonoma County’s small businesses! We look forward to seeing you at one of your restaurants!
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!
After celebrating Easter in San Francisco, and seeing all of the inclusivity and love amongst me, I thought it only appropriate to discuss our Heart Chakra in this issue of the Santa Rosa Sunrise Bulletin. The Heart Chakra rests at our spine at the heart level. The Sanskrit term is Anahata which means, "unhurt." It is associated with balance, calmness, and serenity. The Heart Chakra is the center of our love, passion, compassion, and empathy.
When our Heart Chakra is aligned, we are at peace. Our relationships with ourselves and others are harmonious. We are in a transformative state. We have all heard the phrase, "Open up your heart." When this chakra is fully in line, our hearts are wide open, and we exude unconditional love. I believe that as young children, our Heart Chakra is wide open. It is bittersweet that the challenges of growing older lead to guarded hearts.
When our Heart Chakra is blocked, it can lead to grief, rage, jealousy, and other dark emotions. In order to help align our Heart Chakra, mystics offer these helpful tips: for the yogis in the group, backbend poses are beneficial. Surround yourself with green and pink. Examples of this is donning a piece of emerald jewelry or displaying a rose quartz in a location where you see it regularly. This chakra is associated with the element of air, so meditation and calling on air to support you will lead to opening your heart.
I would like to leave you with a few questions to ask yourself. Who are you when you're in love? Have you committed deeply to loving yourself? When was the last time you felt at peace?
The Board met in the lap of luxury last Tuesday, at Landmark Vineyards with a wonderful spread provided by Steve Herron. Business was still conducted but it was difficult………………
In the Finance area, Treasurer Steve Herron gave a synopsis of Grant monies that have been approved this year and provisions for presenting checks were finalized. The following grants were approved- a $200 grant was approved for two Eagle Scout candidates who have been to several of our Redwood Empire Food Bank volunteer days; a $1,000 donation to the Santa Rosa Youth Symphony was approved; and $1,000 of funds $2,500 in previously approved funds for the Elsie Allen Interact Club were redirected to the Senior Breakfast in June.
In the area of Service, Paul O’Rear reported on the success of the Forget-Me-Not Farm project last week; the next Redwood Empire Food Bank day is April 28 and it was reported that a committee is being put together to take the Adaptive Swing project forward now that Rich Randolph has done the ground-breaking research on the project.
Membership Chair Stacy reported that Katherine Anderson will be joining the club (yea!) and there are one or two additional prospective members considering joining.
PE Debra Robertson gave an update on plans for the Super Raffle Grand Drawing April 23, and Steve Zwick reported on ticket sales which are galloping to the finish line.
International Chair Shauna Lorenzen reported that our Kagoshima partners will not be sending students to Santa Rosa this summer, again due to COVID-related restrictions. She proposed that the club look at putting the SRKSEP program on a hiatus unless and until we come up with an improved way to reach students interested in going.
International Chair John Jones proposed a $2,500 grant to support the Minmahaw School in Burma which was approved, funded by a savings in the SRKSEP allocation this year. He reported that the East/West club is putting together a support program for Ukranian refugees through a Rotary club in Ukraine, and a tentative matching donation program was discussed. Finally he gave an update on discussions with the bank that has taken over the Sabalos Lodge in Nicaragua.
Speaker Chair, Steve Amend, gave an overview on speakers for the rest of the year, and Clubrunner Editor-in-Chief Extraordinaire, Max Childs, put out a request for cub reporters.
The year is flying by and we're looking to celebrate in style! Please join us for this years' District Conference "Rockin' in the Redwoods!" The event is Rockabilly themed and will be held Friday and Saturday May 20th and 21st and the Fortuna River Lodge. A schedule of events is attached. To register please use the link below.
Register NOW for District 5130 Conference Registration or send your REGRET that you cannot attend by clicking here.
Bill walks into his boss’s office one day and says, “Sir, I’ll be straight with you, I know the economy isn’t great, but I’ve got three companies after me, and I’d like to respectfully ask for a raise.” After a few minutes of haggling. The boss finally agrees to give him a 5% raise, and Bill happily gets up to leave. “By the way,' asks the boss as Bill is leaving his office, 'which three companies are after you?” Bill replies, “The electric company, water company, and phone company.”
Rotary responds to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine
EVANSTON, ILL,. April 5, 2022 – Rotary announced today that it has raised more than $7 million to support locally-led relief efforts underway by Rotary clubs in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
“The need for immediate humanitarian aid is increasing with each passing day,” said John Hewko, CEO of Rotary International. “Rotary clubs in Europe and around the world, including our 1,100 members in Ukraine, have stepped up their relief work, with some on the ground helping those displaced by the war.”
In western Ukraine, Rotary members in Lviv are working with local authorities and major hospitals to provide urgent medical supplies and equipment.
In Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Rotary clubs have partnered with a railway company to offer transport to refugees and deliver essential items.
In France and Germany, Rotary members set up a central fund and working group to coordinate aid for Ukraine and border countries.
Rotary clubs in Poland have taken swift action to provide food, water, medical equipment, and transport and shelter for Ukrainian refugees.
Funds raised by the Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charity arm, go directly to those in need through local Rotary clubs in Ukraine and other countries where substantial aid is needed for refugees.
Rotary clubs are also coordinating with partners to explore effective solutions to increased humanitarian needs. Rotary’s disaster response partner ShelterBox, is collaborating with Rotary members in Eastern Europe to provide essential supplies and access to temporary housing for those who have left Ukraine, along with medical and shelter supplies for communities in Ukraine. Items include mattresses for people living in schools and sports centers, shelter kits with tools and rope, hygiene kits, winter jackets, solar lights, and water carriers to help people survive as they are forced to live in damaged buildings.
About Rotary:Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.
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