Rotary Club of San Rafael

10/02/2026

ROTARY CLUB OF SAN RAFAEL had a special guest at its Sept. 21 meeting, Marin County Supervisor Mary Sackett, representing District 1. She made herself available and spoke to our club at a special meeting at Rotary Manor, where our residents were also able to attend. We presented EAH Housing Manager Sydney Burke with a check from District Designated Funds for $7,200 for our tenant emergency fund. President Justin Sommer invited Foundation Chair Lisa Wilhelm and Burke to the podium where Wilhelm presented Burke with the check. Burke thanked the club for our ongoing support of Rotary Manor and its residents in the face of rising costs.

Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, Rotary International, EAH Housing, Supervisor Mary Sackett, Marin County Government

09/21/2026

ROTARIANS HONOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPT. 11: Rotary Club of San Rafael members gathered with San Rafael Fire Department members and first responders at Lauren Place in downtown San Rafael to mark 25 years since the terrorist attacks that killed 2,977 people. Lauren Place is named for Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas (Aug. 31, 1963 – Sept. 11, 2001). She was one of the passengers on board United Airlines Flight 93, who made calls providing information about the hijacking of the flight, before it crashed in Pennsylvania. San Rafael Rotarians maintain Lauren Place in Catuzzi Grandcolas' honor all year.

Rotary International, Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, City of San Rafael - Government, San Rafael Fire Department

08/31/2026

WHAT A MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR! We were honored on Aug. 24 to have District Governor YuHui Chen from Rotary Club of Menlo Park with us as our featured speaker and Dan Giraldi, Rotary Club of San Ramon and past District Governor, District 5160 as well as AG Stephanie Olson with us. Pres. Justin introduced Louise Conroy, soon to be inducted in a Corporate Membership for By the Bay Health with CEO Skelly Wingard. Brian Powell introduced his guests, long-time (now former) member Joe Ayoob; Terra Linda teacher, coach and Chief TL Booster Joey Ayoob; and Kishor Shaw, a recipient of one of our 2026 scholarships for graduating SRHS seniors. Pres. Justin invited Joey Ayoob to the podium and thanked him for coordinating the Terra Linda High School teams and boosters who so ably served as our “delivery arms” scooping at our Ice Cream Booth. For the week of the Fair, the Booth is the face of our Club to the community. The County is glad we’re still there: we’re one of only two nonprofits still serving at the Fair, and the TL students at the Booth bring other highschoolers to the Fair too. After presenting our $5000 check with our big thanks for TL’s partnership, Pres. Justin also pointed out that Joey had thrown a paper airplane developed by NASA engineers farther than any paper airplane had ever flown. It’s now in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. Still the record-holder. Check it out! SUPPORT ROTARY! SUPPORT COMMUNITY!

Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, ROTARY MEANS BUSINESS 5150, Rotary International, Terra Linda High School Alumni,

07/24/2026

WELCOME RETURNING MEMBER, AND FUTURE DESIGN MUSEUM! Sherry Rogers was pleased to welcome Michael Sommer back into the Rotary Club of San Rafael. He is proud to have his return membership sponsored by his son, President Justin Sommer, who presented him with his pin and badge. The club rose and applauded our newest member, Michael Sommer. FEATURED SPEAKER was Llisa Demetrios, the co-founder and chief curator of the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, which launched in 2022. Her grandparents were the world famous designers Ray and Charles Eames. A sculptor and designer in her own right, Demetrios lives on the Petaluma Eames Ranch where she spent lots of time as she grew up. She has worked as a curator in several other organizations and served as a judge in several design competitions. Her presentation told her personal experience of her grandparents’ warm support for her early artistic growth and the importance of the time she spent in the Eames Studio as a girl where she learned design approaches by observing, listening, imitating and hands-on work. The Eames Institute and Archives now is located just across the Bay in Richmond. Tours are available. By sharing things the Eameses made and loved and their joyful and rigorous approach to life and work, Demetrios and the Institute seek to inspire creative problem-solving that can positively shape the world. Her images of the pieces on display there beautifully illustrated the spirit and design concepts embodied in the work. The Institute recently purchased the Birkenstock building and campus in Novato and is redeveloping it to become a home for curious problem-solvers, inspiring anyone to use design to solve problems. Opening in 2030, it will be an expanded museum that will bring innovative design programming and immersive art experiences to the public. For more information about the Institute and its plans, click here to view its 2025 Impact Report.

Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, Rotary International, City of San Rafael - Government, Eames Chairs,

07/17/2026

NEXT MEETING! Our speaker on Monday, July 20, will be Llisa Demetrois, founder of the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, which is redeveloping the Birkenstock building in Novato to house the Eames Archives and advance the legacy, methods and wide interests of designers Ray and Charles Eames. Rotary Club of San Rafael meets for lunch on Mondays at 12 p.m. at Dominican University's Creekside Room in San Rafael. You won't want to miss this one!

07/14/2026

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Washington's family and colleagues on his sudden passing. The probation chief, with his wide smile and calm demeanor, was a respected member of the Rotary Club of San Rafael, inducted in 2021.

The 52-year-old Fairfield resident was hired in 2020 after positions in Napa and Contra Costa counties.

07/03/2026

ALL THIS ICE CREAM SCOOPING IS MAKING US STRONGER! Come visit the San Rafael Rotary booth today on Day Three of the Marin County Fair! Terra Linda High football players and ASB members and their families who are working alongside us are doing a great job serving up delicious Silbermann’s ice cream for fairgoers. San Rafael Rotary also has a parking lot just past the Embassy Suites. ALL SALES SUPPORT YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. See you today! Happy 250 America!

Rotary International, Marin County Fair Giving Marin, Silbermanns Ice Cream,

07/02/2026

COME ON DOWN FOR A SCOOP! See us at the Marin County Fair.

07/02/2026

IT’S ICE CREAM TIME AT THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR!! Come visit the San Rafael Rotary Club booth west of the food court seating area to enjoy delicious Silbermann’s ice cream and support our largest fundraiser of the year! We are being assisted by great volunteers from the Terra Linda High School ASB and football teams. We are open day and night through July 5!

Terra Linda High School Alumni, Silbermann's Ice Cream, Marin County Fair, Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, Rotary International District 5150, City of San Rafael - Government,

06/29/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to 2026-27 Rotary Club of San Rafael President Justin Sommer (main photo, left) on your induction as the service club's new leader. Sommer was sworn in by Past President Otis Bruce (main photo, right) at a ceremony June 22 at Dominican University. Thank you to immediate Past President Matthew Briggs (second photo) for an outstanding year!

Rotary District 5150 Information Sharing, Rotary International District 5150,