Speakers

Through our Aurora speaker we've heard about self-driving trucks, now our own Doug Brent will give us an overview of the self-driving cars we can get into ourselves, such as the Waymo taxis.

Los Gatos Rotarian David Wells will summarize recent recearch covering trends in philanthropic giving.

Highlighy successful Los Gatos High School football coach Mark Krail will discuss various topics related to football coaching.

Judge Stebbins, a lifelong resident of Santa Clara County, has over two decades of legal expertise and unwavering dedication to public service. Her distinguished career in criminal prosecution includes handling complex cases involving child molestation, rape, murder, domestic violence, and juvenile crime. She worked in the Santa Clara District Attourney's office and was recently elected Superior Court Judge for Santal Clara County.

In addition to her legal work, Judge Stebbins has demonstrated an enduring commitment to education and community service. She has shared her knowledge with attorneys, law enforcement, and community members on topics ranging from legal ethics to public safety. A passionate volunteer, she has coached youth sports, supported victim advocacy organizations such as the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), and mentored young people in the community.

Judge Stebbins has an interesting life story and is excited to share her journey with us at Los Gatos Rotary!

 

Nestldown is a unique (and beautiful) 180 acre event venue located near Los Gatos in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Owners Barbara and Mark Beck will talk to us about the venue, how they made it, and their plans going forward.

Santa Maria is a charity based in San Jose that provides food assistance, education, tex preparation, homeless support, and other services for those in need.  Our own Barabara Fishman is on the board, others in our club volunteer, and our club has provided grants to Santa Maria.

Santa Maria Excutive Director Lewis Powell will give us an update on the charity.

Los Gatos Rotarian Marty Fishman will talk about our club's project that is helping to restore vision to the blind in the Guatemalan highlands. 

Pam Klaus will speak about the growing challenges cancer presents in our community and how Cancer CAREpoint is meeting those needs with compassionate, practical support for patients and their families.

She will highlight the essential services that make Cancer CAREpoint unique in our region, including all services provided at no cost, professional counseling, support groups, patient navigation, resource referrals, educational programs, wellness and stress-reduction offerings, a wig boutique, and CARE Kits that provide comfort and critical supplies during and after treatment. Services are offered to anyone affected by cancer.  Pam will also share how these services bridge gaps in care, reduce isolation, and ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

Charles Pasternak’s tenure as Artistic Director of Santa Cruz Shakespeare began in 2023, before which he served as Artistic Director of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Co in Los Angeles for over fifteen years. He has had a wide-ranging career as an actor and director at theatres across this country.

He will give us an update on Santa Cruz Shakespeare, the 2026 season, and mayhaps provide a sample. After all, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players".