Member Login
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Rotary
    • Avenues of Service
    • Four Way Test
    • How to Join
    • Officers
  • How We Serve
    • Club Service
    • Community Service
    • International Service
    • Vocational Service
    • Youth Service
  • History
  • Story History
    • 2023
      • JAN - Craig Courtin
      • FEB - Alison Proctor
    • 2022
      • JAN - Mike Hoffman
      • FEB - Pam Frisella
      • MAR - Jamie Cavagnaro
      • APR - Mary Bates
      • MAY - Greg Kuhl
      • JUN - Diana Schroeder
      • JUL - Mark Watson
      • AUG - Linda Grant
      • SEP - Larry Kavinoky
      • OCT - Stephanie Masten
      • NOV - Rick Wykoff
      • DEC - Ann Ritzma
    • 2021
      • JAN - Curtis Chen
      • FEB - Shiraz Zack-Kanga
      • MAR - Jim Goell
      • APR - Noemi Avram
      • MAY - Rich Mozzini
      • JUN - Gigi Carter
      • JUL - Steve Okamoto
      • AUG - Patricia Player-Maxwell
      • SEP - Alvin Joe
      • OCT - Debi Williams
      • NOV - Stan Pond
      • DEC - Cyndy Simms
    • 2020
      • SEP - Rel Kempf
      • OCT - Marcia Cohn-Lyle
      • NOV - Jon Grant
      • DEC - Deborah Wilder
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Documents
    • Club By-laws
    • Grant Application
  • Members Only
    • Sunshine Reports
    • Edit My Profile
    • Email Message
    • Club Directory
    • Club Documents
2019-2020 Rotary Banner
Meeting Speakers Schedule:

March 22 - Karen Ferguson – Domestic Abuse – (BJ’s)

                CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse)

March 29 – NO ROTARY MEETING (Playground Trip)

APRIL 2023 – Maternal & Child Health

April 5 – Dan Joraanstad

             District 5150 TRF Endowment & Major Gifts Chairman

April 12– Tom Dana

             Assisting Community College Students w/Special Needs Learning

April 19 - Tracey Avelar & Mary Bates

             International Women's Day

April 26 - Interact Kids

             Hoopa Reservation Trip


 
Read more...
March 15, 2023 Speaker Chris HIrana - Filoli
Student of the Month - Emelin Perez Lopez
Phyllis Harrisson - Leadership Award
Rotary, My Story - Dave De Smidt

The following narrative is a continuation of a series of how a member was introduced to Rotary and subsequent memories. If you would like Rotary to be part of your life's story, please contact Alison Proctor at alisonproctor@gmail.com.) 

 

Dave De Smidt

Joined Rotary April 1, 1984

March, 2023


 

In 1984, on April Fool's Day, with the sponsorship of Edd McKibben, I joined the Foster City/Mariners Island Rotary Club in District 515. I had moved to Foster City in 1979 in the Sea Colony area.  Sea Colony had no phone service at the time so we had to go to Albertson's to make a phone call.  Marine World was in Belmont and we could hear the lions roar at night.  I served as President in 1984 and secretary prior.  Rotary met at Yetwa Restaurant on Foster City Blvd. 

I participated in One Warm Coat for many years, serving hot chocolate with a little additive. Rotarians still talk about my hot chocolate.  I housed exchange students from Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark. They were interesting people and appreciated joining our family.  It was good for my kids to meet other kids from different countries.  Funny how we all seemed to understand each other even with a language barrier.   I was involved in The Tree Lighting Ceremony, for many years serving cookies and hot cider.  The Children’s Christmas Party was a favorite of mine, purchasing and wrapping their gifts.  I attended many Rotary Conventions, one being Australia, plus adding a side trip to New Zealand to make it a three-week trip. We enjoyed thsee countries and learning their cultures. What a great opportunity it was! 

I enjoyed participating in our playground projects, taking down playgrounds needing to be upgraded, and reconstructing them for other children to enjoy.  I donated at the blood drive at the recreation center giving many pints of blood to our community. The Adult Christmas Party was another favorite activity, where we met at various members’ homes and at the Peninsula Golf and County Club.

I had some fun crazy moments with my Rotarian friends.  One summer we traveled to Don Nystrom’s condo at Lake Tahoe.  Four or five of us had a great idea to hide from Don so we grouped in the shower.  He eventually found us and was surprised to find a bunch of grown men in his shower!  Don was planning to take pictures of his condo and much to his surprise only had the option to taking pictures of his carpet.

I also enjoyed working at the Foster City Art and Wine Festival, working in the food and wine booths.  A memory of Rotarians coming together in a time of need when I received a call from Linda Grant in the middle of the night, in a panic, the booths at the festival had blown over. She gathered us to put the booths back together, so we were back in business the next morning.   

I participated in Rose Trimming with Nancy, known as the Rose Lady, at the Rec Center.  Many of us met at the Samaritan House to do bike repairs for kids in need.  I remember Gigi riding around on a tricycle.  A dear memory was painting over the graffiti on the PG&E boxes in Foster City to help keep our town clean. 

Early memories of the area.

∙ Hillsdale Blvd was a two-lane road ending at Foster City Blvd.

∙ Wilsey, Ham and Blair office was on Foster City Blvd.

∙ A sea plane landed on the lagoon lake.

∙ Foster City Fire and Police was one entity.

∙ There were no sound walls on Hwy 101.

∙ South 101 had an exit at 16th Ave.

∙ There was an auto wrecker on Hillsdale and Hwy 101.

∙ Hwy 92 was 19th Ave in San Mateo.

∙ Jon Grant had a boat shop on Norfolk, in San Mateo.             

 

Lobster Dinner Fundraiser
Join Us
 
 
Do you enjoy volunteering, helping families and children, helping people abroad?  If so, you have come to the right place.
 
Members have an opportunity to volunteer for our community service projects as well as international projects. Through our weekly programs and service opportunities, members are able to make new and lasting friendships through service and fellowship.
 
The Rotary Club of Foster City was chartered in 1977 and is a member of Rotary International, a worldwide service organization headquartered in Chicago. Rotary International has over 35,000 Rotary Clubs and 1.2 million members in over 200 countries and geographic locations. The Rotary Club of Foster City is part of Rotary District 5150, encompassing Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties with a total of 44 Clubs.
 
We would be pleased to have you attend one of our weekly meetings (now on Zoom) to host you as a guest.  
For further information, contact Alison Proctor at alisonproctor@gmail.com.
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile
45 Years of Service to Foster City and the World.
Foster City

"The Club That Cooks"

We meet In Person & Online
Wednesdays at 12:15 PM
BJ'S Restaurant
2206 Bridgepoint Park
Foster city, CA 94404
United States of America
PLEASE NOTE: Physical meeting: 12:15 PM Pacific Time ______________________________________ Join Zoom Meeting 12:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85708399334?pwd=RERNbm1TZ0V5MU1zUVVLSGpnS1hsdz09 Meeting ID: 857 0839 9334 Passcode: 736695
Join Us Online [Login to view details]
District Site
Venue Map
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Ron Karp
    March 6
  • Theresa Pope
    March 10
  • Pammie Frisella
    March 11
  • Bob Mike
    March 14
  • Pheebs/Phoebe Venkat
    March 14
  • Jack Piotrkowski
    March 21
  • Cyndy Simms
    March 23
  • Rel Kempf
    March 23
  • Steve Okamoto
    March 25
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Laura Caplan
    March 6
  • Diana Okamoto
    March 20
Anniversaries:
  • James Cavagnaro
    Suzy Niederhofer
    March 7
  • Edward Grohe
    Jan Grohe
    March 9
  • Betty Toguchi
    Roger Toguchi
    March 16
  • Roger Toguchi
    Betty Toguchi
    March 16
  • Pheebs/Phoebe Venkat
    Shawn Venkat
    March 22
  • Bob Miller
    Bonnie Miller
    March 27
  • Craig Courtin
    Jeanette
    March 28
 
 
<div>Custom Widget</div>
Club Executives & Directors
President
Shiraz Zack-Kanga
President Elect
James Cavagnaro
Immediate Past President
Curtis Chen
Treasurer
Larry Kavinoky
Secretary
Diana Schroeder
Executive Secretary/Director
Ann Ritzma
Executive Secretary/Director
Ann Ritzma
Membership
Alison Proctor
The Rotary Foundation
Bob Caplan
International Service
Betty Toguchi
Community Service
Cyndy Simms
New Generations/Youth
Noemi Avram
Vocational Director
Theresa Pope
Links
FACEBOOK
Rotary International On Facebook
Rotary on Linkedin
Rotary on Twitter
Rotary on YouTube
Rotary on Flickr
District 5150
Edit this page
Powered by ClubRunner © 2002–2023  All rights reserved.
Privacy Statement | Online Help | System Requirements