Welcome to this week’s bulletin for the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley!
This week, Dr. Daniela Shebitz and John Evangelista explore the impact of Miyawaki microforests in restoring ecological resilience within urban communities. Discover how these dense, native plantings are being used to combat climate change, mitigate flooding, and boost biodiversity in formerly redlined neighborhoods.
Watch here and don't forget to share the meeting with your friends and family.
“Being of service to others is what brings true happiness.”
– Marie Osmond
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Rotary Minute
From Socrates to Rotary: a shared ethic of word and deed
Comparing Socrates’ three filters and Rotary International’s Four-Way Test reveals a surprising ethical continuity between antiquity and the contemporary world.
Socrates already proposed a discipline of speech based on three simple requirements: “Is it true? Is it good? Is it useful?”
Rotary adopts this same logic, extending it to the field of action: “Is it true? Is it fair? Is it a source of goodwill and friendship? Is it equitable and beneficial to everyone?”
The correspondence is striking.
Truth forms the common foundation.
Socratic kindness finds its extension in loyalty and the promotion of goodwill.
As for utility, it becomes the pursuit of a shared benefit.
In both approaches, speech is never neutral: it engages the responsibility of the one who utters it.
Despite a separation of more than twenty-four centuries, Greek philosophy and Rotary ethics converge towards the same ambition: to sustainably improve the quality of human relations.
Hi everyone! You should have received the first email from me about our work this year with Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society (subject line is "take aim at cancer"). If you haven't seen that in your inbox, please let me know. As every year, we hope to get everyone involved!
Daniela Shebitz and John Evangelista are our speakers this week, talking about the magic of "microforests." It's a great story of a university-community partnership making a big difference. As always, you can use the meetings page to get to this week's meeting and past offerings.
There are three (!) recordings this week, covering such topics as people who volunteer to fly those in medical need to appointments, policies in a French city designed to empower its citizens who are women, and a rather amazing story of converting a cave from a community problem to a point of pride. You can find the times, titles, and speakers for all our recordings in your email and at the events page.
For Relay for Life, we'll highlight the chance to share messages this week. Watch your email for info. How to donate and participate.
Kudos to Carey Lai! Last week she arranged for a chance to learn about and help at a meal-packing program for senior citizens in Menlo Park, and it was a great experience. Expect more opportunities with them going forward.
Have a great week, and give someone a special gift by pointing them to our club at rotary.cool.
In service, Rushton
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You can help protect the environment
April is Environmental Month in Rotary, when we highlight our focus on protecting the environment. Here are a few of the ways you can get involved:
On a recent river cruise starting in Budapest, Dave Andrews and his wife Laura (From Tucson, Az) met-up withViktória Griessmuller in her hometown.
Our Global Club thrives on Fellowship!
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Enjoying beautiful Buapest
District Learning Assembly 4/11/26
(L-R: Maxi, Martha, Sandy
Sandy presented about the Community Service committee, and Martha presented about the Public Image committee. Maxi attended several breakout sessions (Secretary, Treasurer, RISE & ARLA) as part of his preparation for president next year.
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Happy Dollars
Do you have a Happy Dollar thought? The link is ready to accept your donation. Let's hear your news and let those $$$ serve a good purpose in our club.
Chef Rick Bayless + Rotary members = A Taipei experience you'll love
Rotary is grounded in connections, and we have a rich history of building global friendships. In June, the Rotary International Convention will take place in Taipei, Taiwan, and we invited renowned American chef Rick Bayless to experience the city’s culture and cuisine. Local Rotary members acted as his guides, and he’s sharing what he experienced with our members around the world.
Whether you’re a foodie, a traveler, or simply curious about how Rotary connects people, this is your chance to experience the incredible culture and fellowship that awaits you at the convention. Play the video above
Are you willing to be a Brand Ambassador for our Club? We need your help
Every week, we post club news on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Substack. Please log in if you have an account on these sites, and follow us. Then, please share on your Social Media network. Particularly important: be sure to use #hashtags where relevant, and be sure to include any groups you belong to with @groupname.
We need all members to help spread the word about our eClub and Rotary, and continue to attract new members.
We would love to hear from you about your Rotary/Service/Fellowship news. Please send photos and a brief article telling us about your Rotary activities.
