The Sonoma County Go Local board and Janeen Murray have announced Merith Weisman as incoming director, effective Nov. 1. Weisman succeeds Murray, who served in the role since January 2018 for the Santa Rosa-based co-op that assists more than 400 local businesses and organizations with marketing efforts.
Weisman takes the helm after more than 16 years at Sonoma State University, where she was founding coordinator and director of its Center for Community Engagement. In that position, she assisted local companies and organizations with accessing the university resources, including placing thousands of student assistants, student interns and faculty researchers in collaborative opportunities, according to the Sept. 17 news release.
Weisman began her career in the nonprofit sector, then shifted to building and supporting mutually beneficial partnerships between public higher education and the local community, according to the announcement. She has been an active member of the Sonoma County community since moving to the Bay Area from the East Coast in 2007.
Weisman holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Rhode Island, and a master’s degree from American University. She earned her Doctor of Education degree from California State University, Fresno.
Three Craft Talks from Three New Members: Bonnie Landers, Richard Zeigler, and Eric Johnston
On May 8, 2026, 3 new Sunrise members, Bonnie Landers, Richard Zeigler, and Eric Johnston, formally introduced themselves to the club by giving their craft talks. New members Bonnie, Richard, and Eric are amazingly articulate and accomplished, and we are very lucky to have them.
Bonnie joined the club in November. She was born in Keene, New Hampshire, a town of about 22,000 people. It was a wonderful place to grow up. Her high school teacher talked her out of attending the local university and convinced her to apply to schools she couldn’t afford, like Harvard. The town rallied behind her and many community organizations, including Rotary clubs, helped her to finance her Harvard education. Following graduation, she received a Rotary International Fellowship and studied international relations at the University of Dijon in France’s Loire Valley. The RI Fellowship was instrumental to her career because after receiving her master’s degree she applied for and received a Chase Manhattan international training position in Paris, in part because of her experience at the University of Dijon! This led Bonnie to a 40-year career working all over the world! Rotary changes lives.
Richard joined Sunrise in April this year and had previously been a member of a Rotary club in Palau, where he lived and worked for over 10 years! Richard was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He attended El Molino High School and SRJC. He started taking piano lessons at age 4 or 5! He studied piano pedagogy at Chico State and then moved to Los Angeles to attend the California Institute of the Arts and received a master’s degree in jazz piano! He is still very involved with piano and still loves his jazz! His professional music career was cut short when he and his wife were expecting a baby and he decided to make a more dependable living as a mortgage underwriter in the LA area. He did play with some musical luminaries, however, including Mariah Carey! The brutal LA commute eventually led him to move to Palau, his wife’s native country. Richard moved back to Santa Rosa in 2017 and is currently the Account Wire Services Manager at Redwood Credit Union.
Eric Johnson joined the club in May 2024. He has been in journalism and newspaper publishing for 36 years. His most recent position as CEO of Sonoma Media Investments ended this month when the company was sold to a new owner. As CEO, he managed seven community publications, including the Press Democrat, the North Bay Business Journal, and Sonoma Magazine. Eric got his start in journalism when he told his high school guidance counselor that he wanted to be a scientist. The counselor told him that “you stink at math” and asked him what he really likes to do. Eric told her that he liked his academic journalism class and loved writing stories and, especially, taking photos. He’s been a journalist ever since! Eric think’s his career can be condensed into a simple concept: creation and solution. He gave various examples of how throughout his career he was able to identify a problem and create a solution. For example, when working in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, James Mitchener’s birthplace, he found an old video of Mitchener and developed a way to turn that grainy video into something that could be posted online. Later, when working in Modesto, during the media frenzy created by the Lacey and Scott Petterson case, he found way to create a paywall so they could limit the amount of traffic coming onto the company’s site. When he came to the Press Democrat 2 ½ years ago, he found a newsroom that was in some respects like stepping into a 1995 newspaper. His goal was to modernize the operation so that it could stay competitive and relevant for another 5 or 10 years or more. He saw the problems and helped create the solutions that he thinks will help the paper remain competitive and keep the community engaged. Eric and his wife hope to stay in Sonoma County; we hope they do.
Click HERE for a limited time recording of these amazing craft talks.
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!
Hard Work Pays off for Santa Rosa Sunrise at the Rotary District Awards Assembly!
Congratulations to our club for receiving three awards at the District Awards Assembly on May 2-3, 2025. In attendance at the meeting to clap really loud when our name was announced were Cindy Gillespie, Penny Millar, Paul O'Rear, Eloise Tweeten and Bonny Landers.
In each category, 5 clubs were selected based on their submission of the District Awards Application. The first award we received was the Vocational Service Award. This award is given to clubs who work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. It also recognizes clubs who support further education by granting scholarships. Highlights from our club were the Golden Hammer lead by Leroy and Rob as well as the scholarships we gave to Elsie Allen High School and Roseland Prep this year.
The second award was the Club Service Award. This award is given to clubs that are thriving and anchored by strong relationships, active club membership and an annual plan. We had many examples to highlight here including meeting attendance, increased social activities, engaged board of directors, weekly bulletin and Engagement Moments at our weekly meetings.
Finally we were also selected for the Govenor's Citation Award which was given to clubs that met goals in 5 different categories: Membership, Projects or Event Activity, Foundation Giving, Something New and Meeting Annual Club Goals.
It was a great event, and we are so proud to have represented the club!
No matter how long we’ve been with Rotary, we all benefit from the energy and fresh perspectives of our young leaders. It is my privilege to place this month’s presidential message in the capable hands of one young leader, Vitor Joventino. In his column, Vitor reminds us how teamwork and inclusivity can spark transformative change. As you read his message, I encourage you to reflect on its insights, share in his excitement, and embrace new opportunities to learn. — Stephanie Urchick
I remember the exact moment when I realized the power of Rotary’s youth programs. It was a Saturday morning in Australia during my year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. I stood among a group of young leaders at a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards event. The organizers challenged us to stand on a large tarp spread across the floor and, without stepping off, find a way to fold it in half.
At first, the task seemed simple. But as we moved, strategized, and adjusted, the reality set in — it required teamwork, agility, and constant communication.
Rotaractors and Rotarians guided us, but no one dictated how to succeed. The decisions were ours to make. And then something remarkable happened. Without being instructed, we collectively decided that no one would be left behind as our space on the tarp shrank.
One of our teammates was a person who uses a wheelchair, giving us an opportunity to adapt, ensuring that he was fully part of the experience. We shifted, lifted the tarp, and reconfigured our positions, using our time to think, plan, and act as a team. In the end, we successfully completed the challenge together.
As we celebrated our success, one participant said, “Society works the same way — challenges will come, but instead of leaving people behind, we must find ways to include everyone.” It was such a profound thought for someone so young, yet it perfectly captured the essence of our experience.
Interact empowers young people to create service projects with real and lasting impact. Youth Exchange builds global citizens who return home with broader perspectives and stronger leadership skills. RYLA develops young leaders equipped to inspire and mobilize others. All of this is The Magic of Rotary, emerging through the actions of youth. These programs are the heart of Rotary’s ability to grow and adapt in a changing world.
But the success of these programs depends on more than young leaders — it requires Rotary members who believe in their potential. I encourage you to sponsor an Interact club, host an exchange student, and support a RYLA participant. Your involvement does more than sustain these programs; it multiplies their impact and ensures that young leaders are not just beneficiaries of Rotary but active contributors.
To those already supporting youth programs, thank you. Your mentorship and commitment make all the difference. And to those considering getting involved, now is the time! Because youth leadership isn’t just Rotary’s future, it’s Rotary’s present.
VITOR JOVENTINO Rotaract Club of Penápolis, Brazil
You can find all prior "RI President's Messages" at this LINK
There are moments in our journey to end polio when doubt and uncertainty may take hold, yet we must remain steadfast and, above all, hopeful as we keep our eyes on the goal. As Winston Churchill once said in a moment of crisis: “We cannot afford — we have no right — to look back. We must look forward.”
In Rotary, we always rise to meet the moment. No challenge is too great. In 1988, when we partnered with the World Health Organization to form the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, an estimated 350,000 polio cases occurred annually across 125 countries. Since then, the GPEI — which also includes UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Gates Foundation, and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance — has worked tirelessly with governments worldwide. Together, we have reduced wild poliovirus cases by 99.9 percent.
The journey has not been without challenges. Today in Afghanistan, vaccinators are prohibited from conducting house-to-house immunization campaigns, while in Pakistan, conflict, terrorism, and migration hinder access to children in certain regions.
Earlier this year, the United States announced its intention to withdraw from the WHO, froze USAID funding, and restricted interactions with the CDC. These developments present obstacles for our polio eradication efforts and other Rotary global partnerships and programs.
Yet we rise to meet the moment, just as we have done before. We did so in India when we faced spikes in cases before the country was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2014. In Nigeria, we also encountered obstacles, but in 2020, WHO certified the country — and by extension, all 47 countries in the WHO Africa region — wild polio-free..
We are meeting the moment once again in 2025. Know that Rotary is working behind the scenes, collaborating with governments, international agencies, and partners to address challenges, manage disruptions, and explore alternative funding. As a nonpolitical organization, we remain focused on operational solutions while serving communities and protecting public health.
My wife, Gay, and I have witnessed firsthand the urgent need of the moment in India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, where we administered vaccines to children. Looking into their eyes, I saw the future we are fighting for — and the responsibility we carry to finish the job.
The winds of change may shift, but with your help, Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio will stand strong until our mission is complete.
You can find all prior "Messages from the Foundation Trustee Chair" at this LINK
To celebrate the centennial of Rotary in Austria, two journalists and longtime Rotarians created a podcast to inspire members and nonmembers alike. Christian Haubner, of the Rotary Club of Freistadt, and Verena Hahn-Oberthaler, of the Rotary Club of Perg, launched the Rotary Reloaded podcast in December. The German-language show features conversations with well-known guests inside and outside of Rotary. “We are targeting both Rotarians and non-Rotarians,” Haubner says. “And we want to do so from a personal perspective. This is our differentiated approach, giving guests personal insights that show how meaningful Rotary can be in people’s lives. We also talk about Rotary still being modern and needed by society.” His co-host agrees. “With the momentum of 100 years of history, we look into the future of Rotary,” Hahn-Oberthaler tells Rotary Magazin, the regional magazine for members in Germany and Austria.
Australia
Athletes with disabilities can enjoy all the beamers, googlies, and dibbly-dobblies through the cricket-themed activities organized by Australian Rotarians and Dream Cricket Australia. “The program’s core mission is to foster inclusivity and promote physical activity” in a supportive environment, says Ankit Agarwal, a member of the Rotary Club of Adelaide and a board member of the cricket organization. In November the club capped a series of athletics outings with its first Dream Cricket Gala. Agarwal was among club members who organized the day and mentored participants. The club supported the activity with a grant of more than $3,000 and recruited volunteers from high schools.
This story originally appeared in the May 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.
.png)
.png)
To celebrate the centennial of Rotary in Austria, two journalists and longtime Rotarians created a podcast to inspire members and nonmembers alike. Christian Haubner, of the Rotary Club of Freistadt, and Verena Hahn-Oberthaler, of the Rotary Club of Perg, launched the Rotary Reloaded podcast in December. The German-language show features conversations with well-known guests inside and outside of Rotary. “We are targeting both Rotarians and non-Rotarians,” Haubner says. “And we want to do so from a personal perspective. This is our differentiated approach, giving guests personal insights that show how meaningful Rotary can be in people’s lives. We also talk about Rotary still being modern and needed by society.” His co-host agrees. “With the momentum of 100 years of history, we look into the future of Rotary,” Hahn-Oberthaler tells 
Athletes with disabilities can enjoy all the beamers, googlies, and dibbly-dobblies through the cricket-themed activities organized by Australian Rotarians and