TOGETHER, WE

TRANSFORM

TOGETHER, WE

CONNECT

TOGETHER, WE

INSPIRE

TOGETHER, WE

SAVE LIVES

TOGETHER, WE

FIGHT HUNGER

TOGETHER, WE

EMPOWER

TOGETHER, WE

MENTOR

Attend a meeting

Join us on a Wednesday convenient to you and experience the fun and friendship of the Rotary Club of San Jose!

Contact our Executive Director, Leslee Hamilton for more details and to RSVP at (408) 297-6101.

Join us

Fill out an application and join community leaders. Become a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose.

Take action

“Service Above Self”

Rotary is a service organization of business and community leaders united worldwide.  Rotarians are making a positive impact in our local and global communities.

The Rotary Club of San Jose

Benefiting the community and our world through action, integrity, service, and fellowship.

The Rotary Club of San Jose is the largest, most active and well-known service organization in the community. We are a leadership organization working together to make a difference. Our members include local business, nonprofit, professional and civic leaders. We form lasting friendships through our shared Rotary experiences including weekly meetings with interesting speakers, committee meetings and projects, social events and group service projects within our community and internationally.

Diversity & Inclusion

Having a diverse and inclusive Rotary Club means we value and welcome individuals of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, and races to our Club. We invite younger people, women, and minorities who support Rotary’s values, ideals, and mission to join our members in service to our community, and we strive to give all members equal opportunities to serve as leaders within our Club.

The Speaker for October 23rd: Chuck Cantrell

Why Does Race Matter?
Race is not a determinant of potential, but it often predicts outcomes. What can we do as individuals to improve outcomes for everyone in our community?
Thank you for your attention to this!

Chuck Cantrell has spent the last 30 years building a successful career as a strategy consultant, partnering with global and regional brands to create market-based strategies that blend the art of product development with the science of consumer conversion.

In addition to his role as founder and principal of Cantrell and Associates, Chuck is deeply committed to community service. He holds several leadership positions, including Vice Chair of the San Jose Planning Commission, Board President of Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, President of the Gardner Neighborhood Association, and Board Member of Save Our Trails. Chuck is also the researcher, writer, and producer of the documentary Dying to Stay Here, Chuck uses his economic background to explore and highlight the systemic disparities the Black community faces in Silicon Valley.

Chuck is a devoted single father of three who resides in San Jose with his wife and partner, Claudia. As a Rotary member, Chuck continues his mission to drive meaningful change through business and community service.


 


Lunch Order for October 23rd Meeting

Scott's Seafood will provide lunch ($30*) at Wednesday's meeting. The buffet lunch menu includes: 

Starters: Tomato Gazpacho (VGT), Watermelon Salad (VGT)
Entrees: Paella, Grilled Fresh Salmon, or Corn Poblano Saute (VGT)
Sides: Orza Pasta (VGT), Potato Gratin (VGT)


GF - Gluten Free, VGT - Vegetarian, VGN - Vegan

Please order by Monday, October 21st at 12noon.  Plan ahead and order early! Late orders will be charged an extra $5.

Important note: If you have a 10-pack, you still need to register, so we have enough food. Please look at payment options as they have changed.

Click here to place your lunch order. 

*Rotary is underwriting the Service Charge and Sales Tax.


World Polio Day - Bill Gates: Together, we can win this fight


Together, we #EndPolio Words of hope and gratitude from Bill Gates for the critical role Rotary members have played in polio eradication.

Your donation helps Rotary and its partners reach every child with the polio vaccine. Thanks to the Gates Foundation, your contribution will be tripled.

Click here to donate to end polio

Every Rotarian, Every Year


Rotary Mobile Medical Clinic Launch


On October 17, representatives from our club joined those from Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, RotaCare Bay Area, and the Order of Malta to celebrate the launch of the Rotary Mobile Medical Clinic, our inaugural Next Big Project.

(L-R) - Rotarians Tim Gill, Foundation President Audrey Fox, Ginger Sotelo*, Terri Chapman*, Brad Baron, Past Pres. Sal Pizarro, Next Big Project Committee Chair Vince Sunzeri*, Greg Kepferle (Catholic Charities CEO), Past Pres. Mike Blach. Attending but not pictured: Mary Curtis*, Steve Caplan, Jim Eller*, Vic Giacalone, Leslee Hamilton*, Sandra Jewett, James McCaskill, Jeff Pohle, and Irene Smith.  * signifies member of the Next Big Project Committee

 


2025 Membership Directory - Ad Space Available

We are working on the 2025 Membership Directory! You should have received an email from Tori with your current information. If any data is incorrect or missing, please either log into DACdb to update it or email Tori giving the updated information.  

Want to update your DACdb photo?
Our talented Photography Committee will be holding a "photo booth" before the meeting on both October 23rd and October 30th from 11:30-12noon. No need to reserve a spot! Just make sure to show up early and dressed to impress! All photos are due on October 30th.

Interested in advertising your business or service?
There is still space in the directory for a full-page ad or a business card-sized ad! Please reach out to Tori Berninger at Tori.Berninger@gmail.com if you are interested. The new deadline for commitment is October 25th. You must be a member to advertise.

Mobile App
Also, you can always access up-to-date directory information through the DACdb app, which is available for Apple and Android phones.

 


PAWS Pack Walk


Bob Kieve's Rotary Thanksgiving program

Bob Kieve's Rotary Thanksgiving program has been a part of Rotary's tradition since 1997. It was created because Terry Graff, who was president of the club in 1997, wanted to depart from the then traditional sermons which highlighted earlier Rotary Thanksgivings. The result was a program that featured ten Rotarians, who candidly told fellow members what caused them to be thankful. Among the participants in that first program were Dan Orloff, Chuck Reed, Leigh Weimers and Fernando Zazueta. If you'd like to participate this year, please contact Lenoir Kieve at lenkieve@gmail.com ASAP to save your spot and get instructions (written by Bob himself). 
 


The Meeting Summary for October 16, 2024

From the Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose, President Heather called the 5456th meeting of the Rotary Club of San Jose to order and welcomed fellow Rotarians and guests.

President Heather then gave us reminders of the following upcoming events:
  1. The International Feast is this Friday, October 19 at the Gordon House.  You still have time to reserve your tickets on the club website.
  2. The Climate Action Committee will be distributing plants on Monday, October 21 & Tuesday, October 22 at Martial Cottle Park to encourage native pollinators. Please see the club website for more information about your participation.  
  3. There is a “Paws Pack Walk” on Saturday, October 26 10 a.m. at Vasona Park. See club website for details.
  4. There is “Pickleball for Polio” event on Tuesday, October 22 at the JCC in Los Gatos from 6 p.m. to 8p.m. This event will raise money to eradicate Polio.
  5. Our Thanksgiving Program provides an opportunity to share meaningful moments of gratitude; please contact Lenoir Kieve if you are inclined to share your thoughts. 
  6. If you notice a Rotarian missing from meetings, think about reaching out and checking in. President Heather gave a shout out to Charlie McCollum who is currently facing some health challenges.
President Heather then kicked off THE LEIGH WEIMERS EMERGING ARTISTS AWARDS by playing the ceremony’s video jingle created by Pod Help the Outcasts, 2018 Emerging Artists winners. Rotarian Lisa Mallette then took over as mistress of ceremonies. Lisa gave a shout-out the Sarah Clish and her committee members who make this a signature art event for the community as well as our club. Lisa reminded us that 44 artists have thus far been honored by $206,000 in grants from the Rotary Club of San Jose. Then Lisa gave heart-felt introductions the following four winners who showcased their superior talents. (Details about the 2024 winners can be viewed at https://weimersawards.com/award-recipients)
1. Petra Persolja is a thrilling pianist from Slovania who now makes San Jose home. She will use her grant to purchase a keyboard. Ms Persolja transfixed the room as she played Rachmaninov: Prelude in G Minor.

2.  Alicia M.P. Nelson is an actor born and reared in San Jose. She self-describes as an actor, clown, and art educator. In order to reveal her versatile talent, she did a faux audition for the tragi-comedy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

3.  Yen Yi Chung is a visual artist who left her home in Taiwan to study painting in San Francisco. She found herself isolated during the recent pandemic and took that time to connect to the city through her bold and energetic geometric oil paintings.

4. Bennett Roth-Newell is a polished jazz pianist, composer and educator who has lived and worked in the South Bay for 15 years. His grant will be used to promote his new album, It Will Always Work Out. He had the the crowd cheering as he performed the title piece to that album accompanied by drums and an electric guitar.

President Heather gave special thanks to the management and staff of the Hammer Theatre, San Jose State University, Party Helpers, Lisa Mallette, Sam Wool and of course Geri Weimers, Sarah Clish and the entire committee. A donation to Trash Punx was made in their honor.
Next week our speaker will be Chuck Cantrell speaking on Why Does Race Matter?

This entertaining meeting was 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 & Jorge Taborga, Photography Committee.
Video is available here, thanks to Tori Berninger.


Calendar

Fun & Friendship Committee Meeting

More info

Red Badge Committee Meeting

More info

Leigh Weimers Awards Committee Meeting

More info

Program Committee Meeting

More info

Unhoused Impact Committee

More info

Membership Committee Meeting

More info

Los Amigos Washington School Meeting

More info

Red Badge Orientation

More info

Gala Committee Meeting

More info

Book Club Committee Meeting

More info

Fun & Friendship Committee Meeting

More info

RotaCare Committee Meeting

More info

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS

Chuck Cantrell, Researcher/Writer/Producer: Dying to Stay Here
Why Does Race Matter? Race is not a determinant of potential, but it often predicts outcomes. What can we do as individuals to improve outcomes for everyone in our community?
Oct 23rd 2024 12:15 pm
More info

Mark Purdy, Author, Past Sports Columnist
The San Francisco 49ers: An Illustrated Timeline
Oct 30th 2024 12:15 pm
More info

Larry Gerston, Political Analyst
Analysis of 2024 Election Results
Nov 6th 2024 12:15 pm
More info

Ahmad Thomas, CEO,Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG)
Nov 13th 2024 12:15 pm
More info