Join us for a pool-side cultural exchange with our 18 visiting Japaneese Rotarians. Drinks and a taco bar will be provided. Please consider bringing a salad, or appatizer or dessert to share.. We would also appreciate 3 volunteers to pick up our visitors at their hotel (AC Hotel by Marriott, 300 Davis Street) and return them after the event..
Please call Dave Lorenzen at 707-953-6005 if you can assist with the transportation.
Rob Schwenker serves as the Executive Director for Russian Riverkeeper. A decade-long veteran in business and non-profit leadership, Rob has spearheaded growth for various organizations. He’s run a media company, founded marketing and software development firms, and chaired non-profit boards. As an Executive Director, he understands the importance of private sector accomplishments for public good and the challenges of balancing administrative responsibilities with mission-based stewardship.
He’s a proud Dad, public policy and civics nerd, news junkie, podcast consumer, fitness enthusiast, and avid sports fan, Rob brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to his roles.
Santa Rosa Sunrise Eyeglass Mission to El Salvador
Our special guest speakers for Thursday, June 11, 2026, were members of the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club’s Eyeglass Mission to El Salvador. The mission, organized in partnership with People Helping People (PHP) and the Santa Tecla Rotary Club, focused on providing free vision screenings and eyeglasses to underserved communities in the Zaragoza area. The team of approximately 11 volunteers saw a record 1,800 patients over four and a half days, distributing eyeglasses, toys, and other support to community members who otherwise lacked access to basic vision care. The speakers were led by our International Chairman, John Jones, and included Steve Herron, Paul O’Rear, Penny Millar, Rebecca (Rich’s daughter), Mark Banks, and Scott Holder (who also read a statement from his sister, Cheryl.) We also heard from Lisselot, Steven, and Alex from PHP. The other team members included Kristine Burns, local optometrist, Yvette, and our long-term partners and friends from Nicaragua, Ninoska, and Rafael.
The mission took place in Zaragoza, El Salvador, over four and a half days, with the team working out of a local church. Between 100 and 200 patients arrived each morning, waiting patiently in the heat before being processed through a structured multi-station system. Patients first completed intake, then proceeded to the auto-refractor station operated by Steve and Mark, followed by prescription determination led by John, and finally eyeglass fitting conducted by Paul, Penny, Cheryl, and Rebecca. Local optometrist Yvette handled the more complex cases.
An unexpected finding was that approximately 40% of patients required minus (nearsighted) prescriptions, far exceeding what the team had experienced in Nicaragua. This led to critical shortages of minus lenses, requiring emergency procurement runs. The local optometrist ultimately sourced additional glasses from her lab at $4 per pair on a rush order. Custom eyeglasses were fabricated on-site by Scott Holder to supplement inventory and meet unique prescription needs. The team was supported by local translators Steven and Raul, as well as Ninoska, who assisted with distance testing. The Santa Tecla Rotary Club provided 150 backpacks for children, and a toy station and face-painting area were set up to engage younger visitors. Many patients experienced life-changing improvements in vision directly impacting their ability to participate in school and daily life. The team also established and strengthened relationships with PHP and the Santa Tecla Rotary Club for future collaboration. An estimated 10–15% of patients encountered during the mission were unable to read, highlighting broader literacy challenges in the region.
The mission was conducted in air-conditioned facilities in a church in Zaragoza, with strong logistical support from local partners. The team stayed in San Salvador, where the accommodations were comfortable and modern. However, approximately 30 minutes outside the city, the villages closely resembled those seen in Nicaragua; modest structures, wood-burning cooking, heat, and humidity. Steve Herron noted that the country presented a stark contrast between wealthy and impoverished populations, and that the security situation was notably calm, contrary to some prior perceptions.
What an amazing service our Sunrise team members and partners performed in Zaragosa, El Salvador! Because of our team, 1,800 people received vision care services that they would not have received without you! Hundreds of people have much better vision than before the mission, and these folks’ lives have been immeasurably improved.
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!
Through Rotary, a police officer expands her worldview
By JP Swenson
In her early days of policing, Joanne Serkeyn had to confront a barrage of distressing events. The 9/11 attacks had just happened. And after returning to work from maternity leave, she endured multiple months with a lot of calls for homicides and other tragedies. “I felt like I was the Grim Reaper.”
Image credit: Monika Lozinska
She was starting to become cynical when her commander suggested she join Rotary. She eventually became president-elect of the Rotary Club of Ancaster A.M. in Ontario and was sent to the Rotary International Convention in England. “I walked into the House of Friendship and was gobsmacked,” she says. “I could not believe the good that was going on in the world.”
Serkeyn, now a member of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, Ontario, has served for 28 years at the Hamilton Police Service. She works as the DNA coordinator in the forensics unit. Over the years, she’s noted a connection between missing persons cases and human trafficking. At a Rotary institute event, she learned about Rotary Action Groups and got involved with one devoted to a cause close to her heart: ending slavery and human trafficking. “Rotary Action Groups rejuvenate people,” she says. “They make people passionate about Rotary.”
In July, Serkeyn will become the governor of District 7090, which encompasses 75 Rotary and Rotaract clubs throughout southern Ontario and western New York. She’s focusing on a districtwide initiative against human trafficking. “People think they can’t make a difference with human trafficking,” she says. “But together, we can move the needle. We have a social responsibility to protect our young. We have an opportunity to be proactive.”
This story originally appeared in the May 2026 issue of Rotary magazine.
The Rotary Action Group Against Slavery works to equip Rotarians to eradicate all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking.
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Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club
