Call to Order
President Paul Johnson called the meeting to order at 12:30 and called on Suzanne Boxer Gasman to lead the pledge of allegiance.
Visitors
Martha Sterne introduced visitor Shalajah who is active as a Community Health and Senior Services Commissioner. She is seeking additional ways to be involved in the community.
Jean Marc introduced a well-known visitor to the club, his wife Monique.
Martha Sterne introduced visitor Shalajah who is active as a Community Health and Senior Services Commissioner. She is seeking additional ways to be involved in the community.
Jean Marc introduced a well-known visitor to the club, his wife Monique.
Inspiration
Jeffrey Barnett’s inspiration focused on the concept of community. We have an idea of what “community” feels like, but what is it really? A group of people? Shared interests? Collaboration or shared beliefs? Community is a sense of belonging, support, and collective action; we have the ability to get things done as a team. Real community is the understanding that our well being is tied to that of the larger group. Rotary is clearly an example of a strong community with an explicitly stated moral compass, the Four Way Test.
President Paul recognized this week's festive St. Luke’s eggs. They were spring eggs with some kitty helpers.
Blue Badge Bio
The members present had the pleasure of welcoming two new Blue Badge members to our club: Nitze Dormady and Jeannie ColClough.
The members present had the pleasure of welcoming two new Blue Badge members to our club: Nitze Dormady and Jeannie ColClough.
Nitze Dormady
Nitze Dormady is sponsored by Michelle Strachan. Nitze shared a bit about her background and family.She spent 20 years working in the oncology ward at El Camino Hospital.
- She is married to an oncologist, Dr. Shane Dormady.
- They have a blended family of seven children and also have a four year old grandson.
- She is board president at Fisher Middle School, a member of the Los Gatos Education Foundation, and coaches JV volleyball at Fisher for 6th and 7th graders who won championships last year.
- She has a 12 year old daughter who is passionate about volleyball.
- Nitze and her family are huge 49ers and Sharks fans and they try to bring some of their extended family group to every game.
Jeanie Colclough
Jeanie Colclough, sponsored by John Walker, also shared a bit about her background and family.
- Both Jeanie and her husband are immigrants. Jeannie immigrated here at the age of three and her husband at about age 20 from Manchester, England.
- Jeanie taught at Prospect High School for 19 years and has a passion for travel. This passion has been so significant that she started and runs a travel agency called Riveting Trips for corporate travel and retreats.
- Travel has also been important to her family and she has traveled with them to more than 20 countries. As one example, Jeanie recently celebrated her father’s 80th birthday with a week in Barcelona.
- Continuing with the Fisher Middle School connection, Jeanie has two children at Fisher, one in 6th grade and one in 8th grade. Her daughter plays volleyball and the piano and her son loves math and the stage.
- Her educational journey also took her both locally and around the world, attending Santa Clara University, American University, San Jose State, UCLA, Yonsei University in Korea and Centro Studi Italiani in Italy.
- Jeanie also loves to run, so please wave hi to her when you see her on the Los Gatos Creek Trail.
Paul recognized a great First Tuesday at Florentine Village courtesy of Nicolette Rodman Kelly. We got to see some photos of many people having a great time.
Service Opportunities
Please review the specific service opportunities, their status and their dates in Paul’s weekly newsletter. These include opportunities at Rise Against Hunger, The Grateful Garment Project and the upcoming Blood Drive. Paul also showed some photos of a recent volunteer stint at JW House and noted there is another JW House opportunity coming up.
Jeff Blum told us that we had 30 sign ups for the blood drive but need closer to 40, so there is still time and need to sign up. He also needs a few volunteers to help staff the canteen. See Paul’s newsletter or contact Jeff directly.
Rotary Grant Process
We got a quick review of where we stand in the grants process. New grant nominations are now closed and three committees are reviewing world service grants, community service grants and local grants. Any of these committee meetings are open to any club member and grant champions are encouraged to attend. Final grant amounts are recommended by the Charities Advisory Board and submitted for consideration and approval by the Charities Foundation Board.
We got a quick review of where we stand in the grants process. New grant nominations are now closed and three committees are reviewing world service grants, community service grants and local grants. Any of these committee meetings are open to any club member and grant champions are encouraged to attend. Final grant amounts are recommended by the Charities Advisory Board and submitted for consideration and approval by the Charities Foundation Board.
San Jose Firefighters Burn Foundation Recognition
Michelle Strachan and Elaine Ware, our Crabfest Chair and Auction Chair, attended the San Jose Firefighters Burn Foundation Gala on behalf of our club. In a moment of serendipity, months ago Elaine happened across a fundraising activity for the Burn Foundation and recommended them as the recipient for our Crabfest Fund the Need cause. The result was that the Burn Foundation was selected and our donations fully funded the Burn Camp for the foundation's campers for 2026. At the Burn Foundation Gala, our Rotary Club was recognized with a plaque for the very significant contribution our club made to the cause and the community.
30 for 30
Tina Orsi Hartigan noted that the Enterprise Leadership Conference begins on March 11. Ninety six high school juniors from twenty seven high schools in the area will get a crash course in entrepreneurship at an intensive three day learning and team building event at Asilomar, fully funded by three Rotary clubs including ours. At the end of the conference a panel of judges picks the winning team. On day one of the conference a young leader is selected to address all ELC attendees. Nineteen years ago her son Colin participated in ELC as a high school junior. This year he is the featured keynote speaker. A great full circle story.
Sue Heller mentioned that her husband Marshall is recovering from a health issue and donated $100 in honor of his expected full recovery.
Dan Snyder donated $100 to get Marjorie Brent’s chocolate cookie recipe for the triple chocolate cookies she brought to the meeting. Dan noted the recipe is only about half of the story of producing those cookies.
Martha Sterne has a child she hasn’t seen in two and a half years. She heard from her son who asked if she wanted to hike in Malibu. The next day Martha drove down to Malibu, went on a twelve mile hike, then drove back home. A long, tiring day but with the reward of spending time with her son.
Ryan donated $50 in support of Sue’s husband Marshall as well.