The Meeting Summary for September 25, 2024
Before the 5,453th Rotary Club of San Jose meeting began, the Leigh Weimers committee greeted Rotarians as they entered the Summit Center; a video loop ran of last week’s meeting; and Jeff Pohle played the piano.
President Heather opened the meeting by welcoming Rotarians and guests.
Red Badger Susan Frazer and Chelsey Souza handled the traveling microphones for guest introductions. We were especially pleased to welcome, with a standing ovation, Marie Barlahan who is back from her leave.
Rotarians Fred Buzo and Leslee Guardino were awarded their blue badges.
Rotarian Sarah Clish invited us all to the best Rotary field trip on October 16th for the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists presentation which will take place at the Hammer Theatre. If you want to eat, you must arrive early. And most importantly you must register ahead of time at weimersawards.com.
Rotarian Ryan Sebastian described an upcoming event - Pickleball for Polio in Oakland. The first meeting of the Pickleball committee is September 26 at Quito Pickleball Court from 4 to 6 pm.
Rotarian Megan Toeniskoetter is co-chair of the Military Care Committee. Volunteers are needed to support “Stand Down 2024,” a free 3-day event designed to provide services and support to veterans and their families. The event runs October 2, 3 and 4 at the Santa Clara Fairground. On October 3 from 12 to 4, our committee will be volunteering. See Megan for further details.
Past President Jay Ross recognized the Next Big Project committee for the fine job they did on bringing to life the Rotary Mobile Medical Clinic. The Grand Opening of the van will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe church on October 17, 11:30 – 1 p.m. Jay also provided Chocolate Chip cookies to be on hand at the conclusion of the meeting.
President Heather reminded us that the International Feast date has been changed to October 18 at 5:30 pm at the Gordon House. You can register for this outstanding event on the website; attendance is free.
Rotarian Gay Crawford introduced our guest speaker Lissa Kreisler speaking on “Decades of Sunny Mornings.” Ms. Kreisler hosted morning radio KLOK for 10 years and KBAY 30 years. In 2015, Ms. Kreisler was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame.
Ms. Kreisler said that she was sure she had the best job ever even though she had to rise at 2 a.m. for 39 years. She claims she was paid to gossip and have fun. Ms. Kreisler is southbay born. She started at KLOK upon graduation from San Jose State University and credited her success to that school’s journalism department. Ms. Kreisler shared many amusing I-love-Lucy-type stories including (1) the time she was sent to cover Ronal Reagan and didn’t realize her recorder hadn’t worked until she returned to the studio; (2) the time Bill Clinton’s Secret Service detail let her through security even though she couldn’t pop the hood of her car; and (3) the time she told her radio audience that her daughter broke up with her boyfriend over the phone, not knowing that the radio show played on school buses throughout the district.
During the question-and-answer period, Ms. Kreisler received many accolades from Rotarians for her years of service to this community.
President Heather thanked our speaker Lissa Kreisler for today’s program and made a contribution to Trash Punx.
President Heather announced that our speaker next week will be astronomer Dr. Andrew Fraknoi. And she concluded by giving a hardy thanks to all those who serve on committees.
The meeting was promptly adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Karyn Sinunu-Towery, Rotary Meeting Summaries committee.
To see all pictures, click here, thanks to Hal Hendrickson, Photography Committee.
Video is available here, thanks to John Duhring, A/V Committee.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Mata is a Chicago native and has resided in San Jose for the last 28 years. He served as a police officer, detective, and command officer for the City of San Jose including becoming police chief in 2021 and is currently the Chief Investigator for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
During his time working in public service, he has developed strong relationships with businesses, the community as well as national and world law enforcement agencies and leaders. It is through these relationships that he will continue to keep our City well informed.
Tony’s passion is to empower our youth because they are our future and especially our inner-city youth because he shares their lived experiences. As an Enlace Mentor at Evergreen Valley College for the last two decades and as a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago and San Jose State University, he is an ambassador for higher education.
He continues to support our San Jose community by participating on community advisory boards and attending various community events. He will support San Jose Rotary’s mission by leveraging Rotary events with our entire community.
His recent position has allowed him to spend more time with his amazing wife and children by traveling and supporting his children’s college and high school journeys.
Standing in a beautiful pecan orchard, Yuhui (Hui) Guo was deeply moved by nature's gifts—sunshine, water, flowers and fruits. This experience strengthened her commitment to agriculture and sustainable development. Originally from Beijing, Hui came to the U.S. in 2009 to study at San Francisco State University, where she served as president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. She later earned her MBA from Santa Clara University.
Hui's community service experience includes her role as Project Manager at the China National Children's Center in Beijing from 2020 to 2022, where she led international exchange programs fostering cooperation and friendship among youth from diverse cultures. She also spearheaded biodiversity and climate change projects during COP 15 and COP 26. In response to the 2022 Pakistan floods, Hui organized a successful fundraising event with the support of UNHCR and environmental organizations, raising over 137,000USD (1 million RMB) in relief supplies to support disaster-affected communities and strengthen climate resilience.
As a former member of the SF Evening Rotary Club, Hui is excited to continue contributing to community service and sustainable initiatives.