We live in a world of polarized views, where it seems that almost everything of personal importance has become politicized. The good news is that as Rotarians, we strive to transcend politics to meet people where they are and serve the common good, regardless of our political persuasion. However, we can’t help but hold our own biases and judgments about others who don’t think the way we do. Are you ready to awaken insights into your own natural inclination to have biases and make judgements about others? If so, please join us for an interactive presentation by two Braver Angels, Ellie Sears (San Francisco) and Paul Schwebel (Petaluma), and learn what inspires them to do this important work, breaking down barriers between “Blue” and “Red.”
Sunrise Rotarians who attended the Rotary Peace Conference in January had an opportunity to experience the work of Braver Angels, a nonpartisan organization with the mission of bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. While this presentation is more time-limited, we will all gain greater personal insights to help us better serve our community through Rotary, both individually and collectively!
Ellie Sears
Ellie joined Braver Angels in January 2021 after becoming exhausted from years of horrible rhetoric and generated by every political sector, the media and her friends! She began looking for a connection to sanity and goodwill and found the answer for her with Braver Angels. She did not want to be a bench sitter and went right to work. As a result, she has made many Red friends. After retiring from a 30+ year management career in Fashion retailing, she has been able to apply her business, creative and leadership skills to her BA work. She is happy, productive and feels the joy of partnership and collaboration. Her world has gotten bigger and much richer because of Braver Angels. Ellen is a graduate of the UCLA School of Music.
Paul Schwebel
Braver Angels Sonoma County and Purple co-chair of the Bay Area Superalliance
Paul joined Braver Angels in 2020 to find opportunities to engage with people who have very different political backgrounds and opinions. Through Braver Angels events, he has found, time and time again, that “those folks on the other side,” are thoughtful, and care deeply about this country. We have more in common than we think. Over time, he became more involved in the organization, training as an ambassador, organizer and debate chair.
Paul is a lifelong musician with a day job, which saw him involved in various roles in Information Technology. He retired from IT work a few years ago and continues to work and perform locally with other musicians in Sonoma County.
Our speaker was Jennifer Litwak, President and CEO of PEP Housing
Our guest speaker last week was Jennifer Litwak, President and CEO of PEP Housing. She supervised the development and renovation of over 8,882 units of affordable housing nationwide. In 2024, Jennifer was selected by the North Bay Business Journal for Forty Under 40. Jennifer comes from San Diego after being recruited through the help of LEAP Solutions. She has an extensive biography that was covered in last week's Club Bulletin.
Jennifer spoke about the history of PEP being in our community for 46 years. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that recently has earned 2 awards from the North Bay Business Journal for Sustainability and Environmentalism. They are the first senior living nonprofit in California to have a master plan for aging. There is a great need for PEP Housing and others who provide this type of service. The average rent charged is 30% of the average 76-year-old senior's income. This has come down to $402/mo for someone making $15k per year. 50% of unhoused in California are seniors over 62 years old. Each government funded project costs $30m for renovating an existing building or $34m for building one from the ground up. There is currently a 7-year waitlist for each project. Jennifer described projects that have opened or will open. She presented a map of Santa Rosa's affordable housing that demonstrates just how vast the need is.
Thank you, Jennifer, for bringing us up to speed on all the work that is being done to help our seniors with their housing needs in our community.
Click HERE to see a limited time recording of Jennifer's presentation.
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!
Rotary International Past President Bill Boyd, a Rotarian for over 50 years, died in January at age 91. Bill was RI President in my year, 2006-07, and I met him at PETS. He was a true humanitarian and inspiring leader. The theme he chose for his year was Lead The Way. "We are the ones who ask, Why not us? We are the ones with the skills and the desire to build a better future. And we are the ones who must Lead the Way." He understood Rotary must change and innovate and avoid complacency. He viewed challenges as opportunities.
His message back then still resonates today. As Rotarians, we are needed in this world to help make it a better place for all.
Honoring the Legacy of R. John Jones: A Beacon of Leadership and Service at Linkenheimer LLP
Our very own John Jones was recognized with great honor in this article filled with accolades. After 48 years with Linkenheimer, John will retire in July. He assumed the role of Managing Partner in July of 1986. The article covers many of John's attributes. Including A Pillar of Professional Service, Championing Community and Global Service (here it mentions Rotary), Leadership Within the Profession, and Cultivating a Culture of Trust and Inspiration. Congratulations, John! Click HERE to read the rest of the story.
As a first-grade teacher, I often hear from my students things going on in their family. Harry’s mother was expecting, and naturally Harry was very excited about it. When one day Harry stopped talking about it, I was concerned and questioned him why. “Well,” Harry said, “my mother told me I could feel the baby moving in her stomach, I think she ate it!”
Nobel laureate leads speaker roster for 2025 Rotary International convention
Yemeni journalist Tawakkol Karman promotes peace and women’s rights
By Etelka Lehoczky
The first woman from the Arab world to win the Nobel Peace Prize will address Rotary International’s 2025 convention, which takes place from 21-25 June in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tawakkol Karman has endured persecution and imprisonment for speaking out in favor of democracy and women’s empowerment.
“In the most trying circumstances, both before and during the Arab Spring, Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy in Yemen,” said Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, announcing the Nobel Prize in 2011. Karman shared the award with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee.
A journalist and human rights activist, Karman organized numerous protests against the repressive regime of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh from 2007-2011, acquiring the nicknames “mother of the revolution” and “the iron woman.” In 2005 she founded Women Journalists Without Chains, which trains journalists, reports on efforts to silence the media, and promotes women’s rights.
“‘Women’s rights’ means democracy, means freedom of expression, means freedom to choose your ruler,” Karman said at the 2023 Munich Security Conference. She says Western governments have supported anti-revolutionary efforts in the Middle East, undermining democratic movements in the region.
Karman also founded the Peaceful Revolutionary Youth Council. During the Arab Spring movement in the early 2010s, she called for peaceful dialogue rather than violence and worked for reconciliation between Shia and Sunni Muslims. She believes Islam should peacefully coexist with other religions and that it presents no barrier to women’s full participation in every sphere of society.
Time magazine included Karman on a list of 17 of “History’s Most Rebellious Women” and named her one of its 100 Women of the Year in 2011. Foreign Policy magazine has included her among its Top 100 Global Thinkers. The Tawakkol Karman Foundation builds schools, fights poverty, and supports health care in Yemen.
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Rotary International Past President Bill Boyd, a Rotarian for over 50 years, died in January at age 91. Bill was RI President in my year, 2006-07, and I met him at PETS. He was a true humanitarian and inspiring leader. The theme he chose for his year was Lead The Way. "We are the ones who ask, Why not us? We are the ones with the skills and the desire to build a better future. And we are the ones who must Lead the Way." He understood Rotary must change and innovate and avoid complacency. He viewed challenges as opportunities.
“In the most trying circumstances, both before and during the Arab Spring, Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy in Yemen,” said Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, announcing the Nobel Prize in 2011. Karman shared the award with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee.