Eli grew up in Sebastopol and attended Santa Rosa High School. After graduation, he moved to Sacramento to pursue a BA in History and a teaching credential from California State University, Sacramento. While living in Sacramento, he married his wife Nicollette, who also grew up in Sonoma County. After being married for a year, they decided to move back home to Santa Rosa to be closer to family and raise our children in the most incredible place in the world! Upon returning to Sonoma County, Eli got a teaching job in the Roseland School District as a high school Social Science and AVID teacher. After teaching for several years, Eli moved into an administrator role at Roseland Collegiate Prep and proudly helped lead that school through disaster (the campus was partially destroyed during the 2017 Tubbs fire). In 2022, Eli transitioned from direct educational services to the non-profit sector. He wanted to take the passion, skills, and expertise he had learned and apply them to an organization that was doing similarly aligned work with our “furthest from opportunity” students. This led Eli to 10,000 Degrees, where he has the unique opportunity to support high schoolers from all over Sonoma, Napa, and Lake counties. Aside from his “professional” work, Eli is deeply involved in the local Jewish Community, serving as Board Chair for Congregation Shomrei Torah as well as Hillel of Sonoma, proudly leading both organizations into the future.
Our speakers for Thursday, August 17, 2023, were Clio Tarazi and Pat Decker from the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. Clio is a retired urban planner who focused on affordable housing and financing prior to her retirement. She served on the Master Gardeners’ Board of Directors for 5 years and was the President for 3 years. Pat Decker is a retired executive from the wireless industry. She joined the Master Gardeners in 2008. She now leads the organization’s effort to develop the Children’s Garden at Los Guilicos.
The Master Gardener program started in Sonoma County 42 years ago. Its vision is to cultivate environmental stewardship “one garden at a time.” It provides science-based horticultural information to home gardeners. The members are UC-trained and operate an information desk, public workshops and lectures, demonstration projects, and Garden Sense, among others. The Master Gardener’s program is one of the many programs operated by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Master Gardener’s mandate is to provide practical help to local personal gardeners.
The Master Gardener program seeks to increase sustainable gardening by teaching gardeners to plant the right plants in the right place. They also teach gardening methods to nurture soil without tilling, adding mulch and compost to preserve microbial action in soil, using an integrated pest management system, protecting and encouraging wildlife, conserving energy, and conserving and protecting water. Their core teaching projects include semi-weekly articles in the Press Democrat, digital content such as You-Tube, library lectures, demonstration gardens, and resilient (fire-wise) landscaping.
A new and amazing project for the Master Gardeners is a garden at Los Guilicos for the Valley of the Moon Children’s Center. The previous garden was completely destroyed in the Glass Fire. The Gardeners have a 5-year license to build and operate the garden. Much of the work has been completed, including trenching and installation of irrigation and planting borders for a pollinator garden. The seeds for these plants were grown by individual master gardeners at their own homes. John Dennis, a well-known landscape architect, helped design the garden. They used 40 cubic yards of compost and mulch and planted 650 plants in themed beds. They are currently giving 10-20 pounds of vegetables to Valley of the Moon each week! The Master Gardener’s Youth Foundation Program will kick off at a Jamboree on October 14, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Clio and Pat seek to collaborate with Sunrise for the next phase of the project by helping the Master Gardeners build ADA compliant planters, a 3-bin composter, and a crew to construct a shade structure. (And they are already in discussions with Leroy!)
Thank you to Pat and Clio for the lively presentation of this important community resource. We appreciate all the work you do and look forward to future collaboration!
To VIEW a limited-time recording of Pat and Clio's presentation, click 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!
President Debra congratulated those who belong to the Woodstock, Summer of Love, Vietnam Protest, Barbie Doll, generation born after World War II, that has had a significant influence on American culture.
Jennifer Adams is lining up servers, cooks and scullery maids for the Sunrise Rotary sponsored Octoberfest at Finley Center on September 15. Sadly, it was also announced that NO BEER would be served.☹️ So, disregard the festive nature of the photo above.
Steve Zwick announced a very special occasion on August 29 from 4 - 6 p.m. But he seemed unsure of the worthwhile organization that would. be celebrating its successful capital campaign. Please check with him to sign up and confirm which esteemed charity will be acknowledging Sunrise Rotary's valuable contribution.
Del Raby, Sunrise gold standard bearer for Service Above Self is returning to Santa Rosa this week, taking up new residence at Valley View Board and Care in Rincon Valley. Team Del advocates in Rotary and Scouting have been working with Del in organizing this move. Generous support to cover Del's much increased housing and care expenses have been pledged by friends in Rotary and out, and to close the remaining need a GoFundMe account link has been established which will be distributed shortly. This update note is to keep you apprised of the plan and opportunity to share your continuing interest and support.
Tom Boylan our District Governor has been very supportive in assisting development our outreach. Specific financial questions may be directed to Penny Millar.
Above, Stacy Drucker-Andress and Merle Hayes take a breather after issuing to hundreds of the 1,100 eager new and returning Lobos their locker locks and keys. "Upper or lower"; "single or double" key sets? In the library Rich Randolph helped issue chromebook tables. Students today are provided portable electronic tools as early as Kindergarten. In fourth grade these tools may go home rather than stay in the classroom.
Students and visitors entering the Administration building are greeted with this principle from Stephen Covey. Throughout campus, inspiring quotes and displays can catalyze young minds toward their dreams.
Elsie Allen, the school's namesake has a prominent place in the library. Her portrait sits atop the display of her legacy woven baskets.
The library opens at 7:00 AM, 90 minutes before the first class bell. Library staff says students arrive as early as 7:15, enjoying the quiet calm.
New genre graphic novels are in. George Orwell's 1984 isn't so much sci-fi as history now. Walls in the library feature amazing murals. The one below, dedicated to Sonoma County Farm Workers was completed in 2012, started in 2005.
M.J. Girard is currently an on air personality on KOWSfm.com His “Roots of Rock” is broadcast every Sunday morning at 7 AM
As Lyn and I return from our Princess Cruise to Alaska, we must reflect upon what we learned. First and foremost, Life truly is a gift, a journey into the unknown where the unexpected can happen at any time and to anyone. Two of our fellow cruisers had to be med evacuated off the ship, one by helicopter, the other required our diversion into the nearest port. In both instances we hope that their lives are saved.
We took this trip to revisit the Glacier National Park, since it’s been nearly two decades since our last holiday to the 49th. state. Not much has changed, the Alaskans are still friendly and maintain the frontier attitude that is a requirement to sustain life at this remote outpost of civilization. The glaciers are receding, slowly “calving” into the sea. It’s been over two hundred and thirty years since the glaciers were at their maximum extent, the last mini ice age. The majesty of the scenery is breathtaking.
This ten-day expedition from San Francisco is an incredible adventure and brings back memories of Jack London’s stories of his travels to this wilderness. The “Call Of The Wild” certainly is appropriate and spot on! We are fortunate that London choose Sonoma County as his home.
The Roots of Rock will be live once again this Sunday, playing the hits from our youth to tickle our memories and bring a smile to our hearts and faces, special requests are always welcome. Text them directly to me: 707.391.9463 or email Girard.org
Life truly is a gift, and the present maybe all that there is, so enjoy the day, send some love into the universe, and count your blessings…
God Bless~
.MJ. Girard
Girard.org
Join MJ and friends at the proposed Mark West Area Community Park site to take a tour and see what can be with your donation and help!
When: Saturday, August 26
Time: 11am -3pm
Location: 4614 Old Redwood Highway
A food truck will be available to enjoy lunch while taking your personal tour of the proposed park site!
President Debra Adjourns Our Meeting with this Message:
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
Six members of the Lagos-based Rotaract Club of Gbagada spent three weeks and 810 hours on an extensive renovation of the washroom at the Apostolic Primary School in Ketu. Using about $1,000 from individual donors, the Rotaractors replaced part of the roof and two worn doors, polished the floor, painted, undertook masonry repairs, and hired a plumber to connect the dilapidated six-toilet block to the existing borehole well. “The toilet was in a dirty and deplorable state,” heightening absenteeism at the 500-pupil school because of illnesses such as diarrhea and cholera, says Michael Ekerin, immediate past president of the club. The project, completed in March, was among the club’s 20 service projects during the 2022-23 Rotary year.
This story originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
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Six members of the Lagos-based Rotaract Club of Gbagada spent three weeks and 810 hours on an extensive renovation of the washroom at the Apostolic Primary School in Ketu. Using about $1,000 from individual donors, the Rotaractors replaced part of the roof and two worn doors, polished the floor, painted, undertook masonry repairs, and hired a plumber to connect the dilapidated six-toilet block to the existing borehole well. “The toilet was in a dirty and deplorable state,” heightening absenteeism at the 500-pupil school because of illnesses such as diarrhea and cholera, says Michael Ekerin, immediate past president of the club. The project, completed in March, was among the club’s 20 service projects during the 2022-23 Rotary year.