Rotary International Director 2025-2027: Wyn Spiller!
The Zone 27 Director Nominating Committee selected Wyn Spiller to serve as Rotary International Director 2025-27 representing Zones 26 and 27. On December 4, 2023, RI President Gordon McInally officially declared her Director Nominee. Her term will begin July 1, 2025.
Wyn will follow current RI Director Dan Himelspach, representing our the 30 ‘Big West’ Districts which include 1668 Rotary clubs, 142 Rotaract Clubs and more than 65,000 members residing across 14 states and 1 Canadian province.
In addition to the President, President Elect and General Secretary, there are 17 Directors on the RI Board, each representing two paired Zones of the 34 Zones worldwide. Directors serve two-year terms; Wyn will be serving alongside District Governor Nominee Larry Harvey and District Governor Nominee Designate Kurt Raffetto during their respective Governor terms.
Wyn is honored to follow in the footsteps of past RI Vice President Jerry Hall, past RI Director Steve Snyder and immediate past RI Director Vicki Puliz, all hailing from District 5190.
Wyn is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley CA. Since joining in 1994, she has served in a variety of leadership roles including District 5190 Governor 2008-09. Wyn and her husband Steve have 3 grown children, 2 grandchildren, two grown Rotary Youth Exchange children and grandchildren.
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Cameron Park Rotary Bike Program
(article courtesy of Malachi Parker of The Mountain Democrat)
It is another year that Cameron Park Rotary partnered with Folsom State Prison to fix up old bikes like new to be given to youth in the region.
Through the work of Cameron Park Rotarians, spearheaded by Joe Ryan, bikes and bike parts are collected throughout the year then sent to Folsom Prison to be refurbished by those incarcerated, a program that began in 1986. On Dec. 19 some 165 bikes were rolled out in front of Folsom Prison for pick up. Imprisoned persons Charles Nix and Art Hernandez have been busy in the prison's bike workshop getting the two-wheelers road-ready.
Famous Rotarians by Vocation Part Three: US Government Officials
What do former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun and former Senator Dianne Feinstein have in common? Yes, they were both prominent United States Government officials. But they were also Rotarians! Rotary emphasizes the importance of its members' vocations -- their businesses, occupations, and professions -- and of having a diversity of vocations (classifications) in each Rotary club. This is the third in a series of articles featuring famous Rotarians as grouped by their vocations, this time featuring US government officials:
· Franklin D. Roosevelt – Rotary Club of Albany, NY – US President
· John F. Kennedy – Rotary Club of Hyannis, MA – US President
· Gerald R. Ford – Rotary Club of Grand Rapids, MI – US President
· Warren G. Harding – Rotary Club of Washington, DC – US President
· Woodrow Wilson – Rotary Club of Birmingham, AL – US President
· Ronald Reagan – Rotary Club of Pacific Palisades – US President
· Jimmy Carter – Rotary Club of Americas, GA – US President
· George W. Bush – Rotary Club of Washington, DC – US President
· Dianne Feinstein – Rotary Club of San Francisco – U.S. Senator
· Chuck Grassley – Rotary Club of Des Moines, IA – US Senator
· Richard Lugar – Rotary Club of Indianapolis, IN – US Senator
· Tammy Duckworth – Former Rotary International employee – US Senator
· Harry A. Blackmun – Rotary Club of Rochester, MN – US Supreme Court Justice
· Earl Warren – Rotary Club of Sacramento, CA – Chief Justice, US Supreme Court
· Byron R. White – Rotary Club of Denver, CO – US Supreme Court Justice
Needless to say, the above list includes famous Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, which is not surprising since Rotarians come from all political stripes and walks of life. It is perhaps also not surprising that most of the above individuals joined as honorary Rotarians after becoming famous government officials. But some of the individuals were actually Rotarians even before becoming government officials, including former President Donald Trump and Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, both of whom served as presidents of their respective Rotary Clubs.
In fact, because of his Rotary membership, Blackmun recused himself from participating in deciding the famous Supreme Court case which held that service clubs such as Rotary could not exclude women from membership: Rotary Int’l v. Rotary Club of Duarte (1987). (Justice Sandra Day O’Connor also recused herself because her husband was a Rotarian.) In 1986, before the Duarte case was decided, then-Mayor Dianne Feinstein had already been made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco. She remained a dues-paying member of the club until her recent passing.
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Doug MacDonald Honored by
Boy Scouts of America
(article provided by the Rotary Club of Nevada City)
Special congratulations to PDG Doug McDonald. Doug was recognized with the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Outstanding Eagle Scout Award. This award is a prestigious recognition granted by the local council’s (Redwood Empire Council, Santa Rosa) NESA committee to an Eagle Scout who has demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level. This recognition honors an Eagle Scout whose efforts has made a positive impact in the community. Those receiving this recognition have devoted a lifetime of service to their community and the Boy Scouts of America at a great sacrifice to themselves and their families.
Doug served as a BSA professional for over 35 years, beginning as a District Executive, followed by Senior District Executive, Field Director, Finance Director, and then Council Scout Executive of three different councils in California. As a BSA professional, he guided his councils and their volunteers to numerous achievements of the Quality Council Award and Journey to Excellence Awards. Doug was a peer leader to other professionals and volunteers during his long BSA career in various councils in California.
Our Rotarians and friends have reserved over half the staterooms on this voyage. There are only 19 staterooms remaining. It would be awesome to fill the remaining vacancies with our Rotarians and friends! Sign up NOW!
Come travel with us on the ELEGANT ELBE (Prague to Berlin)
November 11-20, 2025 during the European Christmas Markets!
The trip is 10 days – 4 days of hotel stays, 6 days cruising on the Elbe River on a Viking riverboat (longship) that has a capacity of only 98 passengers!
(*Viking clients deduct another $100)
- French Balcony Stateroom - $3874/$4074 pp *
- Veranda Stateroom - $4374 pp *
- Airfare (provided through Viking) starting at $799 economy class from Sacramento or Reno round trip
- Pre and post extensions available
- Travel protection insurance available
- Deposit of $25 per person good through January 31, 2024
- Full payment due June, 2024
- Anita will donate $100 in the name of each passenger to The Rotary Foundation
CALL ANITA DANIELS FOR MORE DETAILS & BOOKING
530-272-6036 home; 530-913-6036 cell
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News from Reno Sunrise Rotary
Reno Sunrise Rotary partnered with six Truckee Meadows Lutheran Congregations and Thrivent Financial Services to make Christmas brighter this year for 84 families. Every month 6 Lutheran congregations (St. Luke’s, Holy Cross, Good Shepherd, Faith, Lord of Mercy, and Our Savior) collect food staples and deliver a bag of cereal, mac n' cheese, powdered milk, and cans of tuna, vegetables, fruit, soup and chili to 84 low income households.
This month Reno Sunrise Rotary added to that apple sauce and sweet potatoes with a $376 grant from its Foundation. Thrivent Financial Services and Lord of Mercy donated funds to purchase hams and Lord of Mercy provided Christmas cards to each family. Sunrise Rotarians and Thrivent volunteers joined with the members of those congregations to fill the bags to be delivered.
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Visioning in Fernley
Fernley had 20 participants in their club visioning session in late January.
The visioning process is an all-day event lead by exceptional trainers in our District, who come to you. Visioning is great for new clubs, legacy clubs, and any club in between.
Clubs are guided through a detailed process to uncover club values, plans, goals, and other critical factors that play into the long term success and vitality of a club.
Even if your club has done the visioning process before, you can still get a lot of out doing it again. Especially if it has been awhile or if you feel like your club has slipped off the path set forth after your last visioning, get a new visioning session scheduled and get back on track.
Contact Wyn Spiller at wyn.spiller@gmail.com to schedule your club's visioning session today!
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Pet Network Humane Society
In the heart of Incline Village, Nevada, a beacon of hope shines brightly for animals in need - Pet Network Humane Society. Pet Network envisions a society where all companion animals receive love and respect as valued members of families and communities. Since inception, Pet Network has rescued over 12,000 animals including 94 last month. Pet Network serves as a safe haven for homeless animals by providing them with comprehensive medical treatment and nurturing them with love and compassion,
for as long as it takes for them to find a home. As an extension of their mission, Pet Network Community Hospital provides high quality and affordable medical care to animals in the Tahoe basin and beyond.
Pet Network is privileged to have two very highly skilled Veterinarians on their team - Dr. Marlène Tremblay and Dr. Nick Robl. Their dedication and expertise are instrumental in ensuring that both shelter animals and pets within the community receive compassionate, responsible and high touch care.
To read the full article and see related photos, click here.
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Global Grant Scholar Alum Update: Elijah Tangenberg
We have included several articles about Global Grant Scholar Alumni over the last several months. As you have read these you will realize how impactful these scholars are after they have completed their studies.
Please keep a lookout for future Global Grant Scholars. If you meet a likely candidate please contact: Bill Boon - WHBoon@sbcglobal.net or Ramona Delmas - RADelmas@gmail.com.
Elijah Tangenberg was a Rotary Global Grant Scholar for 2020-21 for his M.Sc. in Water Science, Policy and Management at the University of Oxford. After he graduated, he planned to start his PhD in water governance. But as he submitted his thesis about water managers in the American West, he began to rethink where he was going. He had researched water management for four years, and been around water managers longer. He had gone straight from undergrad to a prestigious water program and earned high marks. But he still had no experience working in the industry. To make an impact on water management, he needed practical experience doing it. As he came back to the United States, he began to look for a job where he could begin his career.
At the same time Elijah was working on his M.Sc, the City of Phoenix was reassessing its own direction. The City's Water Services Department is the water utility for the 5th largest city in the United States. For years, it benefitted from proactive water management in one of the hottest regions in the country. But then came the driest period in Colorado River's known history. As the river makes up 40% of the City's water supply, the drought threatened the livelihoods of 1.6 million people. In response, the City re-examined longstanding water conservation initiatives and hired new staff.
Elijah joined the City of Phoenix in 2022 as part of their water conservation revamp. Since then, he has started and managed several programs. These include water efficiency consultations, a cooling tower fund, and soon a grass replacement incentive. He also worked on projects ranging from water saving verification tools to educational games about drought policy. At the same time, he has represented the City regionally and nationally at meetings and conferences. He never imagined that he would be a part of one of the largest and fastest water conservation program redevelopments in the nation. He is getting exactly what he wanted out of his first foray in the water industry.
Elijah has now settled into into his home in Downtown Phoenix. He lives within a 15 minute walk to where he works at City Hall, and enjoys Phoenix's gardens and nightlife. He has also gotten involved in bicycle access projects, a longstanding passion of his. He is now a senior volunteer at several local bike charities, including a co-operative that helps unhoused folks, and a non-profit that gives bicycles to foster children. He also drives support vehicles for local bike rides, helping stranded riders and fixing bicycles as he goes.
Elijah would not be where he is today without the support of Rotary. He would like to thank the people who have supported him, and looks forward to coming back to Auburn this coming summer.
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Mental Health Toolbox: Anxiety 101
"Anxiety 101" with the wonderful Renee Dominguez was an insightful success! Renee shared insights on anxiety in an evolutionary context, its various components, how it shows up in life, and considerations for coping with it.
If you missed the live session, fret not! The full webinar is now available on our YouTube channel. Catch up on the wisdom shared - watch the webinar here.
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Elysian Ice Fishing
Reno Rotary Sunrise hosts an ice fishing trip to the Illipah Reservoir outside of Ely, Nevada, which has become a tradition over Martin Luther King Jr holiday weekend. They have been going annually for about 15 years and are now getting the kids and grandkids more involved in this fun getaway weekend trip.
Ed Basl's grandson, Jaxon, calls it - “the best trip ever!”.
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Rotary Club of Sparks
Shoutout to our friends at the Rotary Club of Sparks for their generous donation of a new informational welcome sign at Diedrichsen Elementary School.
District 5190 is stellar at supporting youth. Keep up the great work!
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Feeling left out because you don't have one of the cool shirts with the 23-24 District theme?
Well, you're in luck because you can order your very own Rotary from the Heart shirt here!
These are perfect to show your District 5190 pride at District Conference in May ;)
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