Our hike for April will be at Glen Oaks Ranch in Glen Ellen. This is very special hike on land owned by the Sonoma Land Trust and not open to the public. A Sonoma Land Trust staff member will be guiding us through the mid-19th Century history of the property and on the hike to a dramatic vista point overlooking the Sonoma Valley. Also, we will tour some of the work projects done by our Club. Details are below.
Rating
This is a MODERATE walk on an established trail. We gain 400 feet in elevation over two miles to a dramatic vista point for views of a wide swath of the Sonoma Valley. Total hike length is about four miles up and down.
Dog Friendly
No. Because this is a wildlife corridor, no dogs are allowed.
Organizer
Marty Behr -- 206-391-3427 for more information
Date, Time & Directions: Sunday, April 19 9a-Noon.
13255 Sonoma Hwy. From Santa Rosa, turn left into the ranch road just past the stoplight at Glen Ellen. Optional lunch at local Kenwood Restaurant afterward.
Bring
Good walking shoes. Water. Walking sticks. Hat and sunblock. Invite family, friends and prospective members to this special hike.
Kevin Hilgers has been a Rotarian since 1997, starting with the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, transferring to Rotary Club of Victoria-Harbourside in 2018. His wife and best friend is Janice McNeice. Daughters Char and Jasper were Rotary Youth Exchange students.
Kevin was in broadcasting for 15 years hosting radio shows in Western Canada. He is an entrepreneur with rental properties in Victoria, British Columbia.
Kev’s roles in Rotary include Club President, District PR and Marketing Chair, Rotary Friendship Exchange Chair, newsletter editor and Assistant Governor.
Kevin was District 5370’s youngest Governor in 2012/13.
Our Hidden Gem: The Museum of Sonoma County, by Karen Wise, Executive Director
Our guest speaker for March 26, 2026 was Karen Wise, Executive Director of the Museum of Sonoma County. Karen was raised in the North Bay but spent much of her career working at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History in various capacities, including as Vice President of Education and Exhibitions. Karen has a BA, MA, and PhD in Anthropology. She came back home to Sonoma County to join the Museum in January 2025.
The Museum building was constructed in 1910 after the disastrous 1906 earthquake. It was originally the Santa Rosa Post Office and Federal Building and was designed by the National Architect. It was built in the Roman Renaissance Revival style typical of federal post office construction at the time. The building was sold to the County in 1967 after construction of the new post office. It was moved from its former location on 5th Street to its current 7th Street location in 1979 to make way for the downtown mall. The Museum itself was created by the Bicentennial Commission and opened its doors in 1985. The Museum is a hidden gem; it has amazing programs but has not yet motivated people to visit often.
Karen asked us why museums matter. The consensus is that museums provide education in history, art, culture, science, and generational equity. Education matters; it is not happening in public schools which have no “hands-on” education in science or art. Education in the arts improves educational outcomes. The Museum provides field trips for local schools and art classes for kids. It is also a place to make connections with other people and with Sonoma County’s past. The Museum has some amazing exhibits, including the Artistry in Wood collection, which showcases fine woodwork and was created in collaboration with the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association. Sonoma County Stories is a permanent exhibition which has at its core the Oral Histories of Gaye LeBaron. The Museum will also host a couple of new exhibitions; “Disturbing the Peace: Sonoma County’s Early Punk Underground” from April 18 to August 23, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s: “Running Fence at 50 Years” from June 27 through November 2026. The Museum also features cultural festivals, including the Lunar New Year and Dia de Los Muertos.
Many thanks to Karen for the great reintroduction to the Museum of Sonoma County. We look forward to future interactions with Karen and Museum!
Have a Glass, Take a Bath ~ With Fresh Safe Water!!
Add Life!!
A six times multiplier: One $60 dollare (US$) flows potable H20 for six families.
Grateful Rotarian and residents near Tepic Mexico tke their water filtration system seriously. The filtratiion hub in the village center has been operating three years. Monitoring the impact reports a 60% morbidity rate reduction. Less contaminated water, less gastrointestinal disease. Healthier, more productive lives.
Cascading Sawyer filtration systems fill the local portable reservoirs.
This water filtering hub is the health center ed infracture. Through this basic and scalable projrct, goodwill across our border builds stronger local stability with enlightened international collaboration.
Sunrise Rotary and Sebastopol Clubs visited this and other sites on laast month's Friendship Tour. Ten other Rotarians have pledged support for filtration installations. For the cost of a dinner out, or nice llunch for two, $60 (USD$) you can provide a household of up to six with healthy H2)! This is about half a Santa Rosa average houehold monthly water bill. Current filters ahave been successfully operating for three years. That is just $1.67 per month and goes down as they continue to function. With a ten year useful span, that pencils out to 0.50 per month. Consider the comparison to a month's antibiotics (which are doubtful in these areas) or pepto bismol, also unlikely. This metric amplifies the adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
Eloise is taking pledges towards extending this Goodwill, Better Friendships health enhancing enterprise. Cheers to clear cool H20!!
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!
Barcelona selected to host Rotary International Convention 2029
Five-day event will welcome up to 20,000 participants from more than 140 countries and generate an estimated €68 million for the local economy
BARCELONA (Mar. 9, 2026) – Rotary International has announced Barcelona as the host of its annual international convention, to be held 2–6 June 2029 at the world-class Fira de Barcelona venue.
The membership service organization’s annual convention is expected to draw up to 20,000 Rotary members and participants. According to Rotary International, the event is projected to generate an estimated impact of €68 million for the local economy, with further benefits expected as delegates extend their stay in Barcelona and travel elsewhere in Spain and the wider Iberian region.
The 2029 convention will mark the second time Barcelona hosts Rotary’s flagship global event, following the city’s first Rotary International Convention in 2002, which attracted more than 16,800 registered participants from around the world.
Often described by attendees as a “mini-United Nations,” the Rotary International Convention brings together participants from more than 140 countries for plenary sessions, workshops, an exhibition of humanitarian projects, and cultural and networking events.
The 2002 convention in Barcelona featured Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. More recent gatherings have welcomed global leaders including Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights advocate; Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; and Graça Machel, internationally recognized for her work in women’s and children’s rights.
“Rotary conventions are places where ideas, service and collaboration converge, bringing together people from around the world to share experiences, work on solutions and build lasting relationships,” said Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. “We are pleased to return to Barcelona in 2029, a city with a strong international outlook and a proud history of welcoming our global Rotary community”.
The successful bid was led by Rotary members in Barcelona, with support from Rotary leaders across Spain and Portugal, local clubs in the metropolitan area, and key city partners including the Barcelona City Council, the Barcelona Convention Bureau, and Fira de Barcelona. “Hosting the convention is both an honor and a responsibility,” said Sergio Aragón, Chair of the Barcelona 2029 Host Committee and member of the Rotary Club Barcelona Diagonal. “Barcelona’s civic spirit, cultural diversity and commitment to social progress closely align with Rotary’s values, and we look forward to showcasing that to our international guests”.
The convention will add to Barcelona's strong tradition of hosting major international events. "The choice of Barcelona to host the Rotary International Convention once again confirms the attractiveness and solvency of the city," said Jaume Collboni, Mayor of the City of Barcelona. "The convention offers the opportunity to position Barcelona internationally as a city aligned with humanitarian, cultural and pro-diversity values, while showcasing the culture, innovation and experiences of visitors to the city, generating a significant economic impact that should contribute to the city's legacy and return to the territory."
In the Iberian region, encompassing Spain and Portugal, more than 7,000 Rotary members volunteer their time to support projects with immediate social impact. Examples of this commitment in local communities include:
Food Security: Rotary clubs in Barcelona help provide more than 1.300 free meals every week to community dining services, with support from local hotels and volunteers.
Emergency Response: Following the recent catastrophic floods in Valencia and Andalusia, Rotary members across the region mobilized to deliver emergency aid, humanitarian supplies, and clean-up support.
Health and Innovation: Rotary members in Catalonia support initiatives ranging from hospital-at-home care to donations of medical equipment and fundraising for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
These local efforts reflect Rotary’s global reach. Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, improve maternal and child health, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation to support these programs worldwide.
About Rotary:Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world, including more than 4,670 members across 250 clubs across Spain. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit rotary.org.
.png)
Glen Oaks Ranch
