Dr. Robert Eyler, Professor of Economics at Sonoma State University
Dr. Robert Eyler is interim Associate Vice President of Government Relations and Professor of Economics at Sonoma State University, where he has been teaching since 1995. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1998. He earned a B.A. in Economics at CSU, Chico in 1992. Dr. Eyler also serves on the board of directors of Redwood Credit Union, a $9 billion nonprofit financial cooperative. Robert has been a visiting scholar at both the University of Bologna and Stanford University. He is married and has one daughter and is a native of Sonoma County, California. His family have been sheep and cattle ranchers in Marin and Sonoma counties since 1910.
Jennielynn Holmes and Chief Scott Westrope Discuss the Santa Rosa Fire Foundation
Our speakers for January 27, 2022, were Chief Scott Westrope and Jennielynn Holmes of the Santa Rosa fire Foundation. Chief Westrope is the current Fire Chief for the Santa Rosa Fire Department. He started with the Department in 2000 and worked his way up to Chief. Jennielynn Holmes is the President of the Board of Directors of the Santa Rosa Fire Foundation. She is the Chief Program Officer for Catholic Charities, has a long history working with community-based volunteer groups, received her master’s degree in Public Health from the University of San Francisco, and has been recognized by the North Bay Business Journal as on of the top 40 business professionals under the age of 40.The Santa Rosa Fire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized to support the Fire Department and help the community healing process from the devastating fires we’ve suffered since 2017. The Foundation’s core areas of support include developing wildfire resiliency, enhancing health and wellness, and fostering community engagement. The Foundation was created to harness the financial resources offered by community members and organizations to support the S.R. Fire Department’s fire-fighting efforts. Due to governance issues, the Department cannot accept such community donations, so the Foundation can receive donations and community support and use them to help assist the Department with its goals.
The Department has recognized that its past business model is not particularly effective against the threat of area-wide wildfires. The Department is an elite urban force, but it has not traditionally been used to combat rural wildfires, even those that impact the City of Santa Rosa. The Department recognizes the need to change its model to better combat this “new normal.” For example, big wildfires require a recall of all active firefighters, but the Department does not have sufficient equipment to go around when all firefighters are recalled. The wildfires have also affected employees’ physical health and well-being, and those issues need to be addressed. These needs coincide with the Department’s Recruitment and Diversity Strategic Plan, which seeks to invest in the community by attracting local talent into the fire department. The Foundation can help leverage community involvement and donations to help the Department achieve its goals of effectively responding to, and preventing, wildfires.
Thank you Chief Westrope and Jennielynn for giving us this important update on how the Foundation intends to help the Fire Department in new and exciting ways. This government/community cooperation seems like the best way to address the new threats posed by wildfire.
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!
On Monday, January 31st we will have a new moon in Aquarius. This means the moon is directly between the earth and the sun. The sunlit side of the moon is facing away from the earth, so it gives us the illusion the moon has disappeared as we peer at the inky night sky. Symbolically, a new moon is a fresh start for each month. It gives us an opportunity to set out intentions, and manifest what serves our highest purpose. What makes this new moon special is the energy of Aquarius. Presently you may feel compelled to stand apart from the crowd and exercise your freedom. This month is about tapping into your higher consciousness without worrying about what others think of your beliefs. There is a sense of idealism in the air, and you may feel the urge to escape or rebel. People around you may be feeling this same energy.
As I highlighted last week, right now is a ripe time to be innovative and creative. Think outside the box! This is a great time engage in philosophical conversations, which might shed new perspectives to other people. It’s important to follow your own ideals and take your own path. This is less of a time of accomplishing things, and more of a time for reflection, planning, and imagining.
Here are some great questions to ask yourself as the moon is shrouded by earth’s shadow:
How often do you give yourself space away from others to recharge and reflect?
How comfortable are you with being experimental or thinking outside the box?
Are you able to be completely objective without judgment?
Here is a fun challenge for this week: consider doing something solely and uniquely about you and not connected to the expectations or beliefs of others. Perhaps this action isn’t “normal” or expected of you. Perhaps it’s living life on the edge. This is the perfect time to showcase your secret unicycle collection or go sky diving. Have you been yearning to compose a new song, or paint a mural? There’s no time like the present!
We produce 1.2 million plastic products per minute, or 1.73 billion products per day. 50% of these products are designed to be used once and discarded.
We use 5 trillion plastic bags per year
300 million tons of plastic waste is produced each year, equal to the weight of the entire human population
56% of all plastic ever produced was created since 2000
What do we do with it when we’ve used it?
9% of plastic is recycled while 67% goes into the environment
8 million tons of plastic go into our oceans each year, much of it flowing down rivers from inland areas
What happens to it then?
Since it is designed to be durable it doesn’t degrade; it can persist in the environment for centuries
You’ve heard about the Texas-sized islands of plastic swirling around in the oceans; did you know only 0.5% of plastic in the ocean is floating? The rest just drifts deeper.
At the current rate the weight of plastics in the ocean will exceed the weight of all fish by 2050, just 28 years from now
The waste just gets smaller and smaller until it gets into the food chain
What happens to us if plastics are in the food chain?
Each of us already has the equivalent of a credit card worth of plastic in our bodies, either through food or the air (from plastic that is burned)
Additives in plastics are detrimental to our hormones
Plastic in the body is beginning to affect reproductive capabilities in some parts of the world.
What can we do?
Avoid plastic, especially single-use plastic- bags, straws, fast food wrappers, water bottles
If you have to use plastic reuse it again and again if at all possible.
Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary had a fabulous showing last Thursday evening at the Redwood Empire Food Bank Blowout Extravaganza. 12 Rotarians (with no less than five Past Presidents and a Past District Governor) showed the rest of the volunteer community how potatoes and carrots want to be bagged, and how easy and graceful it can be to boogie with vegetables!
Jennifer and Steve Rogers, Jim Moir, Marty Behr, Stacy Drucker-Andress and friend Kevin, Brian Rondon, Rich and Betsy Randolph, Del Raby, Penny Millar and Paul O’Rear had a great time bagging for food distribution.
M.J. Girard is currently an on air personality on KOWSfm.com His “Roots of Rock” is broadcast every Sunday morning at 7 AM
I Protest!!! …ah the Sixties. So much happening in this turbulent decade, reflected in the popular music of the times. This month the Roots of Rock will be featuring the songs and artist that made the 1960’s not only memorable, but life changing. Many of us were still in school during this period, and music was nearly as important as our next meal, the songs feeding our actions and opening our eyes to what was occurring in the world, the U.S., and our own backyards.
Let’s consider who was producing the music that influenced us: Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Dylan, Elvis, Motown Sound, Everly Brothers, Franklin, Redding, Steppenwolf, Doors, San Francisco Sound, Zeppelin, mentioning some of the top performers, then the decade came to a close with two life changing concerts, Woodstock and Altamont.
So much occurred during this pre-internet onslaught that it is difficult to image how today’s youth are dealing with life in today’s hyper speeded environment! Think about it…Born in the seventies, and you’ve never been without “The Connection”. I’ve always said the World Wide Web is a mixed blessing, inevitable as progress continues to open many doors, sometimes to uninvited guest, but nothing will stop the forward march.
Taking a few moments to “Chill” and listen to the music of our past will help alleviate the angst that invades our lives. Previous presentations are available for your listening pleasure at both GIRARD.org and KOWSfm.com and request may be sent to me directly via text or email.
Life is to enjoy, as my Auntie Ida used to say, “People are about as happy as they allow themselves to be.”
A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question.
The driver screamed, lost control of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped inches from a shop window.
For a second, everything was quiet in the cab. Then the driver said, "Look, mate, don't ever do that again. You scared the living daylights out of me!"
The passenger apologized and said, "I didn't realize that a little tap would scare you so much."
The driver replied, "Sorry, it's not really your fault. Today is my first day as a cab driver — I've been driving a funeral van for the last 25 years." —Salil Gupta
Evanston, Ill. (Jan. 25, 2017) — Rotary taps fundraising expert, Eric Schmelling, to manage philanthropy and fundraising for the humanitarian service organization’s $1 billion charitable arm – The Rotary Foundation.
Eric Schmelling, General Manager and Chief Philanthropy Officer
As the Chief Philanthropy Officer, Schmelling will lead the area responsible for facilitating contributions to The Rotary Foundation. The foundation, celebrating its centennial, has a one-year fundraising goal of $300 million. It grants over $200 million annually to eradicate polio and funds projects and scholarships in communities worldwide.
“With over 20 years at Rotary, Eric brings a deep understanding to this role,” said John Hewko, general secretary of Rotary. “Under Eric’s guidance in his previous roles, we have seen tremendous growth in overall contributions, including in our effort to end polio. We look forward to continued success under Eric’s leadership.”
Schmelling began his career at Rotary in 1995 and has held several positions, including director of planned and major gifts. “It is truly an honor to work for an organization dedicated to making the world a better place,” said Schmelling. “I have invested much of my career here because I believe in Rotary’s mission to end polio and provide those in need with access to clean water, education, peace, healthcare and economic opportunities. As chief philanthropy officer, I am excited to help lead the organization’s efforts to make sure we have the financial resources to continue improving communities worldwide.”
Schmelling is an alumnus of Beloit College in Wisconsin and received his M.A. from Central European University in Hungary. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteers dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. To access broadcast quality video footage and still photos go to: The Newsmarket.
Media Contact: Chanele Williams: Email or call 1+847-866-3466
Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise - Founded June 30, 1986
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