Rotary Club of Cameron Park

06/05/2026

At our next meeting on June 11, the club is excited to welcome Alan Ehrgott, founding director of the American River Conservancy and author of the recently published book The Elusive Conquest of Queen Califa.

Ehrgott spent more than 30 years leading conservation efforts in Northern California and helped protect thousands of acres of riverfront and wildlife habitat through the American River Conservancy. A conservation biologist, historian, and longtime outdoor adventurer, he is also known for a remarkable 1,200-mile backpacking journey through Baja California that inspired decades of historical research.

During his presentation, Ehrgott will discuss his book, which blends history, historical fiction, memoir, and Indigenous storytelling to revisit the early history of California and Baja California. The book explores the origins of California’s name, the impact of Spanish exploration and missionary expansion, and the resilience of Indigenous peoples of the Baja peninsula.

06/01/2026

What a great night of bingo hosted by the Rotary Club of Cameron Park last Thursday evening! Community members gathered for an evening of fun, fellowship, great food, plenty of laughter, and some fantastic raffle prizes.
A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors whose raffle prize donations helped make the event such a success: Nighthawk Home Inspections, American Pipe Bursting, Home Warranty of America, NHD, Farmers Insurance, N&G Floors, JoEllen Brooks – Your Next Door Realtor, Bryherr Construction, Gina Posey, U.S. Bank, and the Cameron Park Community Center.

We would also like to recognize the volunteers for their time and energy to make the evening possible. Volunteers included Chair JoEllen Brooks, Gigi Brooks, Leighton Allen, Dan and Annette Gott, Dave Sargent, Don Fuller, Adam Marshall, Marlyn Pino-Jones, and Bill Ettlich.

Thank you as well to everyone who attended, purchased raffle tickets, donated prizes, and supported this community event. Rotarians and spouses Gary and Dede Clarke, Gina Posey, Mary Chan, Sid Bazett, Linda Fuller, and Bill Ettlich also joined the bingo players, helping make the evening a memorable success.

Events like Bingo Night bring neighbors together, strengthen community connections, and remind us what makes Cameron Park such a special place to call home. We look forward to seeing everyone again at our next Bingo Night!

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06/01/2026

Rotary Club of Cameron Park Receives District RAVE Award for Vocational Excellence

During the Rotary District 5190 Conference held May 1–3 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, the Rotary Club of Cameron Park received the district’s RAVE (Recognizing Achievement in Vocational Excellence) Award. The honor is especially significant considering that District 5190 is one of the largest Rotary districts in the world, encompassing approximately 60 clubs across more than 96,000 square miles of Eastern California and Northern Nevada.

The award recognized the Rotary Club of Cameron Park Community Foundation and its commitment to helping students and adults pursue educational and career opportunities through two unique grant programs funded by proceeds from the Darol Rasmussen Endowment Fund.

The foundation’s primary program is the Rasmussen Vocational Grant Program, which provides approximately $20,000 annually to graduating seniors and adult applicants throughout the West Slope of El Dorado County. To qualify, applicants must have lived on the West Slope for at least two years, demonstrate financial need, and be pursuing vocational education, training, or retraining.

06/01/2026

Rotary Club of Cameron Park Awards Academic Scholarships

Pictured left to right: Emmett Clark, Grace Xu, Kyle Reagan, Lily Hinkle, and Zachary Pfeifer. (Not pictured: Gabriella Leal.)

On April 23, the Rotary Club of Cameron Park presented six academic scholarships to distinguished students from Ponderosa High School in recognition of their exemplary academic achievement, leadership, community engagement, and dedication to service.

Recipients were selected through a comprehensive evaluation process that considered academic performance, involvement in school and community activities, volunteer service, and demonstrated financial need. Each student received a scholarship award of $2,000, distributed in two annual installments beginning this fall. The scholarship is renewable for a second year, contingent upon continued fulfillment of eligibility requirements. The scholarship recipients were:

Emmett Clark, with a 4.30 GPA, plans to study electrical engineering at either the University of California, Berkeley, or California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

At Ponderosa High School, he was a member of the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club, the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), and the school soccer team. Emmet also demonstrated a commitment to community service, volunteering more than 20 hours annually.

Grace Xu, with a 4.41 GPA, will attend the University of California, San Diego, where she plans to major in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience while pursuing a pre-med track. Her goal is to attend medical school and become an anesthesiologist.

As a junior, she was selected by the Rotary Club of Cameron Park to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. At Ponderosa High School, Grace participated in speech and debate, served as an officer in Key Club, and was active in the CSF. She also competed in Math Steeplechase, attended the National Student Leadership Conference in the neuroscience cohort, participated in mock trial, and volunteered extensively at Mercy Hospital of Folsom.

Kyle Reagan, with a 4.29 GPA, plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he will study visual effects and filmmaking. He brings strong technical skills, and is also an accomplished piano soloist.

At Ponderosa High School, Kyle played tennis for four years and demonstrated leadership and initiative by founding the “BruinCast” podcast, providing a platform to share news, stories, and events from the school community.

Lily Henkle, with a 4.20 GPA, will attend New York University, where she plans to study history.

At Ponderosa High School, Lily was involved in the Associated Student Body (ASB) leadership for four years, and managed the student store for two years. In addition to her leadership activities, she is an accomplished piano soloist and volunteered through the Hands4Hope youth service organization, demonstrating a strong commitment to serving her community.

Zachary Pfeifer, with a 3.80 GPA, will attend Oregon State University, where he plans to study environmental science.

A self-taught guitarist, Zachary has developed his musical talents to the point of performing with his own band. At Ponderosa High School, he served as president of the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club and contributed numerous volunteer hours through Interact and the CSF, demonstrating leadership and a strong commitment to community service.

Gabriella Leal, with a 4.10 GPA, was unable to attend the scholarship ceremony due to a cheerleading competition. She plans to attend Vanguard University of Southern California, where she will pursue a degree in nursing with the goal of becoming a registered nurse.

At Ponderosa High School, Gabriella was active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program and participated in cheerleading for four years. She also served on the Link Crew, helping welcome, mentor, and support incoming freshmen as they transitioned to high school.

The Rotary Club of Cameron Park extends its sincere congratulations to these outstanding students for their achievements and wishes them continued success in their academic pursuits. Through its scholarship program, the club remains committed to supporting local students who exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to community service.

06/01/2026

What a great night of bingo hosted by the Rotary Club of Cameron Park last Thursday evening! Community members gathered for an evening of fun, fellowship, great food, plenty of laughter, and some fantastic raffle prizes.
A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors whose raffle prize donations helped make the event such a success: Nighthawk Home Inspections, American Pipe Bursting, Home Warranty of America, NHD, Farmers Insurance, N&G Floors, JoEllen Brooks – Your Next Door Realtor, Bryherr Construction, Gina Posey, U.S. Bank, and the Cameron Park Community Center.

We would also like to recognize the volunteers for their time and energy to make the evening possible. Volunteers included Chair JoEllen Brooks, Gigi Brooks, Leighton Allen, Dan and Annette Gott, Dave Sargent, Don Fuller, Adam Marshall, Marlyn Pino-Jones, and Bill Ettlich.

Thank you as well to everyone who attended, purchased raffle tickets, donated prizes, and supported this community event. Rotarians and spouses Gary and Dede Clarke, Gina Posey, Mary Chan, Sid Bazett, Linda Fuller, and Bill Ettlich also joined the bingo players, helping make the evening a memorable success.

Events like Bingo Night bring neighbors together, strengthen community connections, and remind us what makes Cameron Park such a special place to call home. We look forward to seei

06/01/2026

At last week's meeting, Cal Fire Pre-Fire Engineer Greg Schwegler and Wildlife Mitigation Coordinator Alex Bourriague provided an informative and important presentation on home hardening and wildfire mitigation, highlighting practical steps homeowners can take reducing the risk of wildfire damage from embers, flames, and radiant heat.

Among the most important recommendations were keeping roofs and gutters free of leaves and debris, maintaining a five-foot noncombustible zone around the home, and covering attic and foundation vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh to help prevent embers from entering. Homeowners were also advised to avoid using decorative bark or other combustible landscaping materials within five feet of structures and to use fire-resistant fencing or noncombustible materials where fences connect to a home.

The presenters emphasized that wind-driven embers are responsible for many home ignitions during wildfires and can travel more than a mile ahead of the main fire. Because of this, preventing embers from accumulating near or entering a home is one of the most effective ways to improve wildfire resilience.

The presentation served as a timely reminder that small, proactive measures can significantly increase a home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.

05/18/2026

Attn: This Thursday, we will not be meeting at the CSD. We are excited to be taking a field trip to Many Oaks Lavender Farm, 3684 Lily Lane, Shingle Springs. It is just a 6-mile drive from our regular meeting location. Owners Colleen and Geoff Revill, fellow members of the Chamber of Commerce, will serve as our hosts and presenters for the program. Our caterer, Diane, will provide gourmet box lunches. This promises to be a fun and enjoyable meeting you won't want to miss.

05/18/2026

On May 14, the Rotary Club of Cameron Park proudly recognized Jacob Jones, an eighth grade student at Camerado Springs Middle School, as its Student of the Quarter.

Jacob was selected for this honor by his school based on his outstanding leadership, academic achievement, character, and service to the school community. As Student Body President, Jacob serves as a daily role model for his peers, helping lead the school in the Pledge of Allegiance while representing the values and expectations of Camerado Springs Middle School.

Academically, Jacob excels in the classroom and is currently taking Geometry as an eighth grader, demonstrating his strong work ethic and commitment to learning. Beyond academics, he is actively involved in school athletics as a member of both the basketball and volleyball teams.

Jacob is also known throughout campus for his willingness to help others. Whether assisting staff members, supporting school events, helping with the elementary basketball jamboree, or serving behind the scenes at activities, Jacob consistently volunteers his time to make Camerado Springs a better place.

In addition to his leadership on campus, Jacob regularly represents Camerado Springs at Buckeye Union School District Board Meetings, where he confidently shares school updates with professionalism and maturity. He has also served as Master of Ceremonies for the school’s annual talent show and will be speaking during this year’s promotion ceremony.

“Jacob represents everything we hope for in a Camerado Springs student,” said Principal Doug Shupe. “He is a scholar, leader, athlete, role model, and an outstanding young man with wisdom well beyond his years.”

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Jacob received a Certificate of Achievement and a Barnes & Noble gift card from Rotary, and a gaming gift card from the Parents Club.

The Rotary club and school extends its sincere congratulations to Jacob on this well-deserved honor.

05/10/2026

At our May 14 meeting, member Laurie Edwards will present an engaging travel program on Iceland, and we will also honor an outstanding student from Camerado Middle School as our Student of the Quarter.

Laurie and her sister-in-law, Darla, participated in a winter photography workshop in Iceland from January 26 through February 6, 2025- one of the most dramatic times of the year to experience the island. They traveled roughly 800 to 900 miles, beginning in Reykjavik, continuing to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and then along the south coast to the Vatnajokull region.

With limited daylight and long winter nights, each day brought new opportunities to capture Iceland’s rugged landscapes, while the darkness provided ideal conditions viewing the Northern Lights. Laurie will not only share their photographs, but also the stories, challenges, and memorable moments from this unforgettable journey.

05/10/2026

At our last meeting on May 7, Jennifer and Zach Pfeifer, along with Rotarian and Interact advisor Dave Sargent, provided an inspiring update on the Interact Club at PHS (Ponderosa High School.) Their presentation, titled "New Beginnings," highlighted the successful relaunch of the club and the momentum it has already created on campus.

Jennifer, a teacher and faculty advisor, and her son, Zach, the club’s outgoing president, shared the story behind reviving the Interact Club and what motivated them to help bring it back. Together with Dave, also narrated a slideshow showcasing the club’s first year, including recruitment, activities and two featured service projects- sorting donated food at the Food Bank in the fall and assisting with Animal Outreach efforts in the spring.

They concluded by outlining goals for the incoming year- increasing membership, integrating into the PHS community, expanding fund raising efforts and adding larger-scale service projects. The presentation closed with an invitation for Rotarians to become involved and support the club’s continued growth and success.