We will discuss and vote on changes to the Club Bylaws as detailed in the letter from President Merle to all Members dated May 19, 2017. This action includes changes in annual fees and dues as well as specific minor wording changes in the bylaws. In order to vote on these issues members will need to be present at this meeting.

In addition, we will consider a proposal from the district to hold next year's District Conference in conjunction with two adjoining Districts at a location in the Reno area.

Suzanne provided Sunrisers with the latest info on the status of Transportation Funding and how that funding will be utilized in meeting the transportation needs of the County.

On a regular basis, our resident photo pros Warren Smith and Jack Strange submit 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 and Ross! Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!

Additional photos may be found on the SR Sunrise Facebook Page.

Above, Mihir Modi of the Rotary Club of Greater Rajkot accepts President Merle's Sunrise flag.  One of the highlights of the three day visit from the three State of Gujarat guests was a tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center.  Betsy Randolph, Museum Docent arranged and led the tour. Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa East, and Sunrise each hosted a couple Friday thru Tuesday morning. 

Earlier in the day the group enjoyed browsing at Oakmont's Annual Car Show, then Jack London State Park.  President Merle and daughter Kathy prepared a wonderful grilled portabello burger dinner complete with asparagus and barley salad and ***** strawberry pie!!  Thank You Merle!

Sunday the guests and hosts enjoyed the fame of Frances Ford Coppola Winery & gift shop and a pic nic with Bocce at Trione Winery.

The Friendship Exchange brings out the best in new friendships:  People share experiences, hopes, humor and discover similarities are stronger than differences.

Hosts Betsy Randolph and Sue Bisbee of Santa Rosa East get to know each other in the Schulz Museum lobby.

23 New friends celebrated their new acquaintance at Yeti Indian-Nepalese Restaurant.

Rotarian Manoj Kothari, Insurance Advisor and Industrialist presents on his area.

Mihir Modi, Entrepreneur, included a description of his club, Greater Rajkot's commitment to healthcare.  The club operates two hospitals, including a 16 station dialysis center.

Bhavesh Patel, an Ophthalmologist from Jamnagar enlightened the group on the beauty of the coastal area, and his club's water conservation successes.

A definite advantage for all Rotary Friendship participants is discovering the joys and attractions in your own area's backyard!  Try Trione Winery for a Bocce picnic!  Coppola also provided unique photo ops, such as an actual Tucker!

A little Bocce anyone?  Beginners luck brought humility to Sonoma County Rotarians!

The Friendship Exchange brings out the best in new friendships:  People share experiences, hopes, humor and discover similarities are stronger than differences. Goodwill and Better Friendships are just the Beginning!!

Would you like to get in contact with 5,000 Rotarians who meet each week in clubs from San Francisco to Eureka, to San Ramon to Weed?  Three Rotary Districts from our neck of the woods are planning to have a combined conference of Districts 5130, 5150 and 5160 in May 2019.

Two-thirds of all clubs in these three districts will need to vote in favor of this giant collaboration in order for it to take place.  Results are due by June 15, 2017.  Be ready to cast your vote at this coming meeting on June 1, 2017.

AKA Sonoma County Area Rotary Clubs met last Thursday evening at the Saddle Club to attract interest in Rotary's Peace and Conflict Resolution Fellowships

On the heels of local NewGen Peacebuilders Celebration recently, this monthly meeting of clubs was treated to food for the body as well as he mind. Petaluma Sunrise Rotarian Lily Goodman-Frietas presented the current scope of Peace Fellow and Certification Curriculum offered at 6 universities worldwide.  Designed to empower graduate skills to "wage peace", this highly competitive, collaborative graduate level program accepts international students from the military, civilian, NFP, educational and business backgrounds.

For more info on this popular program, check out Rotary Peace Fellowships.

Look carefully at the above close up photos and make a guess:

___  Is it Wayne Gretsky and Vladimir Putin?

___  Is it Warren Smith and Sidney Crosby?

___  Could it be Warren Smith and Vladimir Putin?

And if it is these two, who do you think would win the hockey match up?

John F. Germ

President 2016-17

Growing up in Chattanooga, Tenn., my brothers and I learned young to work hard. It was a lesson taught to us by our father, who had come to the United States, alone, as a teenager. He wanted our lives to be better and easier than his had been; he wanted to give us the education and opportunities that he had missed. We always knew, when he came home at 8 o'clock in the morning after working a night shift at the paper mill, that he was doing it for us.

Looking back, through the prism of many years, I see in my father's hard work not only an expression of his love for us, but the universal desire of each generation to care for and lift up the next. And looking back at this year of service in Rotary, I see that desire reflected in each of us who have chosen to be part of this great organization. It is natural for parents to want to make things better for their children. Through Rotary, we can do so much more: We can make things better, not only for our own children, but for all children. We have the opportunity to care for and lift up those who need us the most – whether they are in our own community or on the other side of the world.

As Judy and I have traveled the world for Rotary over the last two years, we've been reminded, again and again, of what motivates us in Rotary: the simple desire to be of assistance, to give a helping hand to those who need it. Whether it means building a blood bank in Uganda, delivering an X-ray machine to a village in Guatemala, or taking care of refugees in Lebanon, Rotarians are doing what is needed most for the people who are most in need. They're working hard for the communities they care about, helping the people of those communities lead better lives.

To me, that is the essence of Rotary: that desire to be of assistance, that willingness to work for the good of others. In Rotary, when someone needs help and you can give that help, you don't walk away. You don't turn your back. You say, I'm here for you. I'll do whatever I can. And I know that whatever I do, I'm not doing it alone – I'm doing it with Rotary Serving Humanity.

Kalyan Banerjee

Trustee Chair 2016-17

Working to ensure the Foundation's future

We've had a wonderful time celebrating all the extraordinary achievements of The Rotary Foundation's first 100 years. As we approach the end of this centennial year, it's time to turn our attention to the Foundation's future. What can we do right now to ensure that the Foundation will reach even greater heights in the next 100 years?

First, we must finish our work to eradicate polio. If we fail, we risk a global return of the disease – up to 200,000 new cases every year, within 10 years. But if we succeed, the world would enjoy a savings as high as $50 billion by 2035. There really is no choice: We must succeed.

What can you do? Raise money, advocate for government support, and share the inspirational story of Rotary's steadfast commitment to a polio-free world.

Of course, our work to end polio isn't the only compelling story we have to tell. Your club's district and global grant projects are successes that you should share with your local community and media. Tell them about the scholars you are sponsoring, the vocational training team that is visiting or traveling from your district, and the causes the Foundation supports.

After you've impressed people with the Foundation's many accomplishments, ask them to join us – as members, supporters, or volunteers. I believe that every Rotarian should make an annual contribution to the Foundation, because it is our Foundation, and we are ultimately responsible for its success – yet that doesn't mean that we shouldn't also encourage others to contribute. Telling others about our work providing clean water and basic education, fighting disease, and promoting peace helps drive interest in our Foundation and clubs.

Even though you and I won't be around to celebrate the Foundation's 200th anniversary in 2117, we begin to set the stage now. Working together, we can continue the Foundation's long tradition of good work and give future Rotarians even more reasons to celebrate.