The meeting was opened by President Ramesh Dontha at 7 pm. John Abernethy led the Pledge of Allegiance and Bob Mange gave the Invocation.
Secretary Jim Padgett thanked Pat Geary for buying the bar. Pat bought the bar in remembrance of Dave Boldt and John Stroud.
Assistant Governor Ryan Jantzen and Club Membership Chair inducted Charlene Griffin into the club. Charlene was sponsored by Frank Woods and her classification is Adjunct Professor. She is an Adjunct Professor at William Jessup University. Please welcome Charlene into the club.
Charlene and Ryan
Henry Sundermier talked about all the projects that the club did this Rotary year. He thanked John Messner for leading projects and Chuck Thurman for providing beverages at the projects.
Chuck and Conni Thompson read a letter to President Ramesh about his successful term as President of the Rotary Club of Folsom. It included all the work done this year and President Ramesh was kidded about his use of power tools. The letter also noted the collaboration of the 4 presidents of the Folsom Rotary Clubs on projects and activities making all 3 clubs more successful. The letter thanked President Ramesh for his leadership.
President Ramesh thanked Subbanna and Usha Chenna for donating $200,000 to the Folsom Rotary Foundation. The Foundation completed a MOU to establish a student scholarship fund at NIT Karnataka India Engineering College (Subbanna's Alma Mater) to provide 10 need-based scholarships per year with the investment income proceeds from 60% of the donated funds. The remaining 40% will be used by the Foundation for students in and around Folsom. The exact details are to be decided by the Board of the Folsom Rotary Foundation in the future.
President Ramesh requested members who have not donated to the Rotary Foundation this year to do so as it is not too late for every member to be an EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year). Our club participation this year is 70% and President Ramesh would like to see our club at 100%. Go to
www.rotary.org and sign in and donate to Annual Fund. You can make a single donation or start donating on a quarterly or monthly basis.
Vicki Bencken reminded everyone of the Blood Drive hosted by the Folsom Lake Rotary on Wednesday, June 18 from 11 am to 2:30 pm.
President Ramesh encouraged members again to sign up for at least one shift selling fireworks. The club is NOT serving beer at the rodeo this year so there is no conflict with the fireworks booth.
Jim Ortega levied fines.
Vicki Bencken introduced our speaker, Jennifer Sparks, Program Supervisor of Jobs with Best Buddies. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Jennifer explained the programs offered by Best Buddies and focused on the integrated employment individuals with disabilities.
President Ramesh presented a box of chocolates including a chocolate Rotary Wheel from Snookâs to Jennifer.
After the presentation to Jennifer, President Ramesh thanked four Rotarians who will not be at the demotion on Thursday, June 19. He thanked John Messner for being a mentor, for the projects this year, and teaching him how to use power tools. He thanked Frank Woods for writing the Bullegraph and being our webmaster. He thanked Rich Pepin for heading up the dictionary project this year as he has for so many years. He thanked Vicki Bencken for the wonderful speakers we had and getting them to our meetings. Lastly, he thanked the members as being President of our club was a highlight of his career.
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