Cate Steane is the founder of Make It Happen Preparedness Services. She enables businesses with 10 or more employees to outsource their emergency preparedness planning and training. By providing assessment, planning, and training services, she helps companies survive disasters and thrive after them.
While she works with clients in many industries, Cate is most passionate about helping organizations that serve vulnerable populations, especially assisted living facilities.
Her experience includes
20 years of leadership in risk management, facilities, HR, insurance, and safety for nonprofit organizations with up to 300 employees
Involvement in the response to the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Oakland Hills Fire, and Wine Country Fires
12 years practicing law, including service on the team representing the City of Oakland in the Oakland Hills Fire litigation
A Certified Associate in Project Management credential
Training in Community Emergency Response Teams and Wilderness First Aid
Cate earned her law degree at Yale Law School and her bachelor’s degree in English, summa cum laude, at Boston College.
Cate is a former member of the Hayward Rotary Club and is a double Paul Harris Fellow.
Cate serves on the board of directors of Daily Acts, a sustainability education nonprofit. She is a Certified California Naturalist and loves to hike and paddleboard around Sonoma County’s beautiful landscapes.
President Marty Behr Leads us Into 2020 and Beyond!
Last Thursday President Marty organized a Club Assembly to address key Club issues. Pres. Marty was in charge and took us through the big issues, with some help from his friends. Past President Harry Coffey presented the nominees for future Board positions, including President. Roy Johnston was nominated to be the President Nominee, Steve Zwick to continue as Secretary, and members Susan Glowacki, Max Childs and Cindy Gillespie were nominated for Board ‘at-large’ positions for next year. Each nominee was presented to the Club and unanimously approved! Roy Johnston will follow upcoming future presidents Paul O’Rear and Jennifer Adams to lead our club for the next few years. We are in good hands! Congratulations to each of the new Board members!
Treasurer Penny Millar presented the financial report in record time. Penny has our finances under control! Full details and financial summary is online.
President Elect Paul O’Rear provided an overview of an amazing gift to the Club’s foundation by acquaintances of John Jones. This is a donation of real property in Missouri appraised at over $70,000. Paul has worked hard to get the deal done. He intends to market the property and generate a very nice cash reward to our foundation! Scott Holder also announced a $25,000 donation to Polio Plus by way of a bequest from one of his clients. Well done Scott, John and Paul. Thanks for making these connections and talking up the benefits of Rotary management and use of charitable contributions.
Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotarian of the Quarter was Merle Hayes for all of her hard work and, especially, for her dedication to the students of Elsie Allen High School.
Doug Shureen provided a brief but powerful overview of the Club’s plan to update its bylaws and constitution. We will start by bringing the Club into compliance with a new constitution, as required by Rotary International, and then turn to modernizing the bylaws. Contrary to popular (Marty Behr) belief, constitutions and bylaws are fascinating and wonderful!
Finally, we heard from Board members about various ongoing projects and events that need staffing by members. Each speaker provided an overview of the work of the relevant committee and the opportunity for member engagement in those committees. Marty asked that each member provide a list of the positions he or she would prefer by completing the form provided. Don’t forget to do your form!
Thank you and kudos to President Marty and the Board for putting together a very thoughtful and well-organized Assembly. Thanks also to Harry and the Past Presidents for finding a fantastic slate of new Board members, and a new President! Finally, let’s make service a priority – so sign up for a job with the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise.
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!
Hunger in Sonoma County was struck a resounding blow last Thursday when over three tones of food was packed for delivery to Seniors around the county.
The 7,000 pounds of food~ milk, fruit, pasta, 292 boxes at 26 pounds each provide mmm mmm good nutrition and a hearty workout for the volunteers.
This week Ezbon Jen, Del Raby, Liz Colbert, Rich Randolph, Steve Zwick and Del Raby were joined by Matthew Crooks and Betsy Randolph. Many hands make light work, and with some Exchange Club adn other community volunteers, the 292 boxes were filled, sealed and on pallets for asap distribution.
Thanks to Jennifer Adams, Projects Director for finessing our premium spots on the Food Bank Food Line!
Do RI constitutional changes and recommendations need to be ratified by local clubs?
When venturing into the gnarly subject of "the constitution" and possible changes to be made to it, at the recent club assembly, president Marty Behr wisely passed the baton to past president Doug Shureen, with the warning that Sunrisers should endeavor not to fall asleep during his presentation. Doug responded that this was, without doubt, the worst introduction he had ever had!
However, the dilemma Doug presented invoked consternation and disbelief in all club members, particularly the many past presidents who had been totally unaware of their responsibility to incorporate constitutional changes made by RI into local club charters and by laws. With the support of Doug and other esteemed Sunrise attorneys, president Marty will look into procedures for incorporating changes recommended by RI and devise a way to bring Sunrise Rotary up to speed.
John Jones announced a bequest, made by one of his clients, to support the Sunrise Rotary medical facility being built and equipped in Nicaragua. John projected an areal view of the 14 parcel/18 acre lot which is conveniently located adjacent to a strip of popular country music tourist destinations. John, Paul O'Rear and M J Girard are brokering strategies to divide proceeds from this gift which would allow partial use of funds for other charitable Sunrise programs.
The announcement of this spectacular gift comes on the heels of two other significant fundraising activities: Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army, coordinated by Scott Holder; and matching gifts to Polio Plus organized by Randy Seeley. Congratulations and sincere thanks to these hard working Sunrisers for their diligence in bringing new means of support to our Club and the communities we serve!
Ordinary Rotarians can find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
This is the fifth annual appearance of What It’s Like, a proven favorite with readers inside and outside Rotary. If you’re a Rotarian with a great story — or you know someone connected with Rotary who’s got a fantastic tale — we want to hear it. Look for the best stories in future issues of The Rotarian.
Include “What it’s like” in the subject line of your email.
What it’s like to...
Evade capture in World War II
Seiji Imaizumi
Rotary Club of Kawagoe, Japan
My shoes were so worn that I had to tie rope around them to hold them together. Sometimes I had to eat small animals, even grass. But I kept walking, hoping to reach somewhere safe. I spent every day thinking I was probably going to die. Come tomorrow, I would say to myself, I won’t be in this world.
Most of my unit died during the battle in Imphal, India, which took place near the border with Burma (now Myanmar) in 1944. British soldiers surrounded them and killed or captured nearly everyone. I was not among them because I had been ordered to investigate how we could cross a nearby river. If the circumstances had been different, I would have died too.
The British were searching for any remaining Japanese soldiers, so I retreated into the Burmese mountains to hide. This was near the end of World War II, and Japan was losing steam, so our food and ammunition hadn’t been replenished in a long time. I had almost nothing left. I walked about 15 miles a day over very difficult terrain.
Finally, I found a house. It was one room. If you opened the door, you could see the entire house. But the family took me in. They gave me food. When British soldiers came, they told me to hide under the bed. Once the British moved on, they told me I could come out.
I stayed in hiding until the war ended. I kept moving, and everywhere I went, families took me in. I didn’t worry that someone would tell the British. I later heard many stories of local people hiding other Japanese soldiers. No matter where I went, I heard this kind of story. They were very kind to us.
I returned to Japan in 1946 and had to start over. For years, I struggled to farm on land that no one wanted to cultivate. Everyone was poor. It was a difficult time. But I knew from experience that if I wanted to live, I would find a way. I had the strength and will to survive. I also started thinking about how I would repay the kindness of the Burmese people.
I began dairy farming and my life stabilized, so I started the Imaizumi Memorial Burmese Scholarship Foundation. The scholarship is for students from Myanmar who study in Japan. In 1989, we awarded our first scholarships. Today, about 200 young people have received the scholarship.
I’ve mentored many of the students who’ve studied here in Japan, and my goal is for them to have the skills they need to bring prosperity to their country. Investing in the next generation was the best way I could think of to repay the strangers who took me in. And for my comrades to rest in peace, I hope this generation brings peace and prosperity to Myanmar.
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