Join nutritionist Dr Ed Bauman to learn the secrets of people who live well at the age of 100 and beyond. These folks live in areas known as the Blue Zones, which include Sardinia, Okinawa, Loma Linda, CA, Icaria Crete and the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica. Dr Bauman will share the healing foods and nine health practices we can incorporate to live long and well
Peace Poles, presented by Fred Ptucha of Veterans For Peace
Our speaker for August 7, 2025 was Fred Ptucha, a member of Veterans for Peace, a national organization with 5,000 members headquartered in St. Louis. Fred grew up in New England and joined the Navy right after high school. He served 4 tours of duty in Vietnam from 1969-1970. Although he got through the conflict without a scratch, he suffered injuries to his spirit and soul. He’s worked for many years to help people understand the horrors and consequences of war. Fred was joined by his “wingman,” Terry McNeill.
The Veterans for Peace Statement of Purpose affirms its members’ responsibilities to serve the cause of world peace, both nationally and internationally. The Statement includes increasing public awareness of the causes and costs of war, restraining governments from intervening in the internal affairs of other nations, resisting racism and repression in the veterans’ home countries, seeking justice for veterans and victims of war, and abolishing war as an instrument of national policy. Fred is also a co-founder and current president of the Sister Cities program between Cherkassy, Ukraine, and Santa Rosa.
Peace poles were first created by a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. They are now in towns and cities throughout Japan. Peace poles traditionally contain the statement “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” usually in different languages. Over 300,000 peace poles have now been planted in more than 120 countries. In Sonoma County, Veterans for Peace is working to install peace polls in schools throughout Sonoma County. The idea is to help instill a moral compass in young students. Student groups are asked to decide where to put the poles and what languages to include with the “May Peace Prevail on Earth” statement. English, Spanish, Filipino, and Pomo are some of the most common languages. Student groups often plant the poles inside the school grounds rather than on the outside so that kids can see them throughout the day. The goal is to install a pole in every school in the county. (Note that Chops has its own peace pole, sometimes used as a gathering place for random Sunrise club members).
Fred asks that Santa Rosa Sunrise make the installation of peace poles a club objective. Financial help and volunteers are needed to expand the program. The benefits to a club include helping students build a moral compass, helping clubs develop relationships with schools, and having the poles include the Rotary logo. Fred also mentioned that we should consider becoming a Peacebuilder Club and joining the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP).
Many thanks to Fred for the insightful presentation and for all his work with Veterans for Peace and on the peace pole project.
Click HERE to view a limited time recording of Fred'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!
Sunrise Peace Builders Steve Zwick & Ezbon Jen are soon joined by Steve Amend and Willie Billiter.
Standing just in front of our weekly meeting site, Chops Teen Center is a Peace Pole, the subject of Speaker Fred Ptchua's presentation. Especially relevant is the concurrent commemoration in Hiroshima of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing there and in Nagasaki.
Just two days prior, the city of Hiroshima hosted the annual May Peace Prevail on Earth ceremony at the Atomic Dome Memorial. The text is from the address by Kazumi Matsui, Hiroshima's Mayor.
Representatives from over the world placed their national flags with an invitation to peace.
For more on the Peace Building concept, check out their website or contact the author.
Cider flowed freely with help from Sunrisers at the Craft Cider Tent!
During a glorious August weekend in Sebastopol, the 52nd Gravenstein Apple Fair took place. Penny Millar led the way for many of our members to volunteer by working the very popular Craft Cider Tent with proceeds going to support Farm Trails.
Peter Treleaven is a veteran - even at this event!
On Saturday, Penny and Paul were caught enjoying a break away from the Craft Cider Tent!
Stacy Drucker-Andress, as always, provides service with a smile!
On Sunday, Dan Rosaschi and Ericka Frey with Max Childs in the middle served what seemed a never-ending line of folks wanting a taste.
This year's event was a huge success! Over the two days, we raised more money for Farm Trails than last year by pouring 198.4 gallons of craft cider and we sold the last drop by 5 PM! The booth was well organized. Peter pointed out some of the improvements - having the back of the tent open allowing a nice cross breeze, and improved signage. Thank you, to Dana Glei, our fearless organizer, and all who participated in making this such a fun and successful event!
Rob Sanville and Leroy Carlenzoli installed a roof over The Garden sign with the help of their friend Garrett.
Who Ya Gonna Call? - The Golden Hammer, that’s who. Thank you, Leroy and Rob, for reinstalling the front gate sign at the Stony Point Community Garden which blew down in a windstorm a couple of months back. The Sunrise crew capped the job off this weekend, giving the sign a new roof and a new lease on life. Just in time for harvest season!
But he can't find a place to park. In desperation, he begins to pray. "Please Lord, if you help me find a parking stall right now, I promise to go to church every Sunday and never drink vodka again!" A moment later, he sees a beautiful empty spot right next to the entrance. "Never mind. Found one!"
August is Membership Month, but our commitment to growth and connection is year-round. When we focus on growing Rotary, we grow our ability to serve, to lead, and to bring lasting change.
Membership growth isn’t just about numbers. It’s about opening doors. It’s about inviting more people who are ready to give their time, talents, and hearts to a cause greater than themselves. When we welcome new members, we bring in fresh ideas and new energy. We expand our impact, strengthen our clubs, and ensure that Rotary continues to evolve with the world around us.
Remember, there is now great flexibility in fashioning nontraditional club models. I’m inspired when I see these innovative clubs thrive by offering new and prospective members more ways to connect and serve.
In Korea, the growth of satellite clubs has created opportunities for nearly 1,000 new members to find their place in Rotary. In Romania, the close collaboration between Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors has built a pipeline of future leaders. In India, some Rotarians gather around a shared interest — whether it’s professional development or a passion for service — and those connections deepen their commitment and their joy in being part of Rotary. And we’ve seen cause-based clubs thrive in regions as diverse as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.
There’s a common thread: Where clubs are growing, membership is a priority and there is a willingness to try something new. Rotary is not limited to one structure or tradition. We are a global network of people of action, and that means there is room for many kinds of clubs, many ways to serve, and many paths into our organization.
This spirit of innovation is also guiding our efforts to reach new communities. In places where there has never been a Rotary club — or where a club once existed and faded — Rotarians are finding ways to grow Rotary. They are identifying areas of potential and building clubs that reflect the character and needs of their communities.
Every member plays a part in this journey. Whether you introduce a friend to your club, support a new meeting format, reconnect with program alumni, or simply share your Rotary story, you are helping our organization grow stronger and more vibrant.
No one owns a Rotary club. It is a gift we pass on to the next generation. When we nurture that gift, when we invite others to share in it, we ensure that Rotary continues to be a force for good.
Let’s prioritize membership growth — not just in August but every month of the year. Together, through friendship, creativity, and shared purpose, we will grow Rotary and Unite for Good.
You can find all prior "RI President's Messages" at this LINK
When most people join Rotary, they know little, if anything, about The Rotary Foundation.
Membership Month is a great time to highlight the powerful connection between membership and our Foundation.
People who are drawn to Rotary care deeply about their communities and want to make a substantive difference. They’re looking for meaningful, hands-on ways to serve — and the Foundation helps make those opportunities possible.
Cause-based Rotary clubs are one exciting way new members are finding purpose in Rotary, and these clubs also bring fresh energy and activity to our Foundation. I invited Marisol Chianello, president of one such club, to share her perspective:
“As a nonprofit attorney, I long believed I didn’t have the time to be part of Rotary. But when I heard about a new cause-based e-club — the Rotary Club of Mental Health and Wellness District 5280 — I felt I had to be part of it.
In just three years, our club has done a lot to support mental health needs in Southern California and awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduate students in the field, including one this year to a student in Uganda.
Just a few months ago, we were approved for our first global grant to provide a mix of in-person and digital mental wellness support to survivors of the 2023 earthquakes in southeastern Turkey.
Through our service, we’ve attracted new members from across the United States, including women and younger members who might not have otherwise joined Rotary. Cause-based clubs like ours offer a meaningful entry point for people committed to a specific cause — backed by the global reach and Foundation support of Rotary.”
Marisol’s story reminds us what’s possible when Rotary service meets Foundation support. I wonder how many cause-based club members knew the full extent of Foundation resources when they began. How many existing clubs could partner with these groups on grants?
As we build new Rotary and Rotaract clubs and welcome new members, let’s keep The Rotary Foundation at the forefront. The Foundation enriches the membership experience, supports club growth, and deepens our impact.
The Rotary Foundation is more than just a source of funding; it is an invitation to endless opportunities. It’s a living expression of who we are as Rotary.
The Foundation, too, can be a vital part of every member’s experience when they join us or start a new club.
You can find all prior "Messages from the Foundation Trustee Chair" at this LINK
In December, the Rotary E-Club of Greece began delivering wheelchairs to archeological sites and museums throughout the country. Through May, the e-club and three other clubs — Halandri, Preveza, and Psychico — had distributed 17 wheelchairs valued at $2,600. Benefiting institutions included the Aegean Maritime Museum on Mykonos, the Archaeological Museum of Patras, the ESIEPIN Press Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art. “This is a large-scale project covering almost all of Greece, with deliveries planned for 14 museums and archeological sites,” says George Stavropoulos, immediate past president of the e-club.
Rwanda
The Rotary Club of Kigali Golf is passionate about more than just hitting the links. Within months of its formation, the club began supporting programs to foster entrepreneurship within the deaf community and other underrepresented groups. In November the club delivered more than a dozen sewing, knitting, and textile heat-press machines to the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf and to Empower the Future, an organization supporting mothers of former street children. The equipment, valued at about $8,500, was paid for with member donations as well as a golf tournament (naturally). “We look forward to building a long-term partnership with the Rwanda Union of the Deaf, Empower the Future, and other organizations supporting marginalized communities,” says Tabvi “Mellow” Motsi, a member of the club’s public relations committee.
This story originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.
Rotary projects make a difference in communities around the world.
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In December, the Rotary E-Club of Greece began delivering wheelchairs to archeological sites and museums throughout the country. Through May, the e-club and three other clubs — Halandri, Preveza, and Psychico — had distributed 17 wheelchairs valued at $2,600. Benefiting institutions included the Aegean Maritime Museum on Mykonos, the Archaeological Museum of Patras, the ESIEPIN Press Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art. “This is a large-scale project covering almost all of Greece, with deliveries planned for 14 museums and archeological sites,” says George Stavropoulos, immediate past president of the e-club.
The Rotary Club of Kigali Golf is passionate about more than just hitting the links. Within months of its formation, the club began supporting programs to foster entrepreneurship within the deaf community and other underrepresented groups. In November the club delivered more than a dozen sewing, knitting, and textile heat-press machines to the