Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club

10/31/2026

Thought for the day 💭
Measure the meaning, not the mass.

October 30, 2026

Our club was delighted to welcome fellow Rotarian, Randy Rascati to our meeting today!

A passionate photographer since the age of eight years old, Rascati‘s hobby has earned recognition and been featured in Rotary Magazine.

Every image she showed how a unique story: from flailing outside a car to capture bicycles in “Lake Ridge” to nearly capturing an osprey catching a fish. As Rascati reminisced about taking each shot, he captivated the members and never failed to make them laugh.

According to Rascati, the secret to better photography isn’t just the 12 inches behind the lens, but more importantly, having friends who will motivate you to get out there!

Thank you, Superman!
It was wonderful to hear about your spectacular hobby. We cannot wait to see more of your images appear in rotary magazine!

Here at Tahoe-Douglas, we get to hear from impactful local speakers!
Find out more about upcoming guests at portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/speakers


TDRC Speaker: Beyond the Lens with Randy Rascati

10/23/2026

Quick Quiz ⏱️
Which of the following is the name of our current governor of Rotary District 5190?
A.) Tim Williams
B.) Richard Forster
C.) Larry Harvey
D.) Kurt Raffetto

Hope you got it right because we welcomed a very special guest today: district governor, Kurt Raffetto!

October 23, 2026

Kurt Raffetto is a generational Rotarian who joined Placerville Rotary Club in 2014 and has since achieved notable milestones.

One of the many responsibilities of being the District Governor is visiting the 61 Rotary clubs across district 5190, spanning Northeastern California and Northern Nevada. Through those visits, Raffetto strives to strengthen existing clubs, form new ones, and encourage member recruitment and retention.

Raffetto began the meeting today by recognizing five Tahoe-Douglas Rotarians: Tim Williams and Stafford were honored as our Quiet Rotarians, while Gray Schorr, Therese Gray, and Debbie Jorgensen were High Flyers!

He then expanded on what the district can do for its clubs. Sharing available resources and updates, including data, showing a correlation between giving back to the foundation and staying members, it was an informative meeting.

Thank you, Kurt Raffetto, for visiting us, and for your service to our nation!

Check out what other special guests we will be having at future meetings at portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/speakers

10/23/2026

A “one in a million” mutation is spreading across South Lake and Northern California!
The blue eyes that transition to amber in coyote pups have been seen to persist into adulthood.

October 9, 2026

Explaining this genetic mutation and much more, Wildlife Care Manager Morgan Hester visited our club this past month!

Hester captivated our members by diving into everything about the “barking dog”: a generalist and opportunistic species in our local area. She explored how humans have influenced the western expansion of coyotes alongside the changes they have developed compared to their East Coast counterparts.

In Tahoe, hundreds of cases of injured or orphan animals, including coyotes, are reported each year. Hester shared Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care’s (LTWC) mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release those animals. LTWC also aims to inform coexistence strategies with wildlife.

At Tahoe-Douglas Rotary club, we not only hear the howls of coyotes caused by an ambulance, but we are also informed about organizations that impact our community. Learn more about our upcoming speakers at portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/speakers

Thank you so much to Morgan Hester for sharing the mysteries behind the coyotes we see every day!

To learn more about LTWC, be sure to look at their website at ltwc.org/what-we-do/

10/04/2026

How many people do you think live with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the US alone?
Read more to find out…

October 2, 2026

Tahoe-Douglas Rotary club got to welcome one of our local surgeons, Dr. Jeff Orr, MD. Working with Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Orr operates out of both Barton Memorial Hospital and Carson Valley Health.

Discussing Knee Replacement for the Aging Athlete, Dr. Orr shared how joints were down over time and the various strategies that are available to preserve, not reverse, the athletic performances of his patients.

Prior to surgical intervention patients can modify their activity, undergo physical therapy, and/or utilize anti-inflammatory medicine or injections. When it comes down to surgery, Dr. Orr expanded on his approach to maintain a natural feel. He guided us through his precise cutting and kinematic alignment, both made possible by the Mako Robot.

Dr. Orr shared with us his goals and expectations: TKA is continuously being developed through innovations that allow for patients to be capable of doing more in Tahoe‘s nature.

At our club, we had to hear from speakers that are directly impacting the health of our community! To learn more about our future guest, check out https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/speakers

Thank you to Dr. Orr and his staff for joining our meeting! Be sure to learn more about what Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine can do for you at https://www.bartonhealth.org/health-services/orthopedics/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=orthopedics_search_geo_google&utm_content=b&utm_term=doctor%20of%20physical%20therapy&utm_source_platform=paid_rsa&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=98762985&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIssn4lp-hlwMVkZHuAR2gPwGJEAAYASAAEgLcZfD_BwE

Answer: The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery estimates that 4.0 million adults in the US currently live with TKA. That represents 4.2% of the population 50 years of age and older!

09/29/2026

Did you know that September is designated by Rotary International as Basic Education and Literacy Month? 📖

Tahoe Douglas Rotary club participates by supporting ZCES‘ library with books and supplies, as well as through scholarships! So appreciative of everyone who showed up to Pasta With a Purpose!

September 25, 2026

We were lucky to hear from Heather MacDonnell, Minden-Tahoe Airport’s new airport manager, with more than 18 years of local government service.

Heather guided us through Minden-Tahoe Airport’s role as a critical coordination base for aerial firefighting and their future projects. Through various footage, we got to see the helicopter assets that protect this community that we care so much about.

One of the valuable events that we are looking forward to is the Minden-Tahoe SkyFest, which is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary from October 16-18, 2026.

If you’re interested in hearing more from influential local speakers (and getting teasers for upcoming events), make sure to visit our website at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/

Thank you so much to Heather for coming in today and striving every day to honor the past while inspiring the future!

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08/26/2026

We have an upcoming program you will not want to miss. This Sep 11, 2026 at12:00 PM in the Ballys convention center you will hear all about The Big Bang-the 1980 Harvey's Bombing
David and Gayle Woodruff have been using using deep research, rare images, and gripping eyewitness accounts, local authors and historians David and Gayle Woodruff unravel the astonishing true story of the 1980 Harvey’s bombing — a meticulously engineered extortion plot carried out by a disgruntled gambler whose homemade, 1,000‑pound explosive device shook Lake Tahoe to its core. This fast‑paced 50‑minute slide show brings the investigation, the personalities, and the unbelievable twists of the case vividly to life through dozens of historic and seldom‑seen photographs.

David & Gayle Woodruff have lived in the Lake Tahoe and Eastern Sierra area for most of their lives. They are the authors of eight books on local and regional history, and are also presenters of a variety of Chautauqua, living history, lectures and slide show programs. When not researching or writing, you’ll probably find them out hiking in their beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains.

And as a special treat here is a video with honorary and Tahoe Douglas Past President Ron Perini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuGh8GBMOU0

08/15/2026

Quick Question: When do you think Hands4Hope was established?
(Check your answer below ⬇️ )

August 14, 2026
Tahoe-Douglas Rotary was fortunate to hear from Jennifer Bassett, the founder and executive Director of Hands4Hope, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth to make a difference. Jennifer’s passion has led to the creation of over 11 student-led clubs from El Dorado to Placerville. Through service learning, Hands4Hope is creating awareness about community needs, and addressing them by having youth transform their passion into meaningful action.
This upcoming fall, Hands4Hope is expanding to South Lake Tahoe’s high school and middle school. Jennifer introduced us to two valuable guests: South Lake program coordinator Tinn Lee and STHS senior Maya Cisneros. Throughout this past summer, our youth have undergone leadership training to kickstart the first year the Hands4Hope Outreach Program!
Jennifer pointed out that Hands4Hope is not just like any other volunteer organization. Students are given the responsibility and power to make decisions, building lifelong skills for their futures in the process.

To learn more about Hands4Hope, check out their website at https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/

If you are interested specifically in the upcoming opportunities in South Lake Tahoe, contact Tinn Lee at [email protected] or (651)285-0640

Tahoe-Douglas Rotary Club gets to hear from speakers who are making an impact on our community!
See who else we get to hear from at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8368/Speakers

Answer: 2008, they’ve been for 18 years!

Much appreciation to Jennifer, Tinn, and Maya for coming in today!
We’re wishing Tim a fast exit from the boot!

06/30/2026

This past Friday, the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club was lucky enough to hear an incredibly educational presentation from one of its own members: Conrad Buedel. Conrad is an advocate for the application of Ma*****na as a health supplement or medicine. Because Ma*****na is not psychoactive until heated, it can be consumed raw in much the same way as spinach or a leafy green. Thus, Conrad has integrated Ma*****na into his green smoothies and has seen improvements to his wellbeing. These improvements can be traced back to the human Cannabinoid system that employs ligands and messenger molecules called Endo-Cannabinoids (similar to plant Cannabinoids found in Cannabis) to trigger cellular responses through specific receptor proteins found on the plasma membrane of certain cells. The Cannabinoid system is most well known for its effect on the central nervous system and the processing of pain. Plant Cannabinoids are molecules in Ma*****na that have the ability to bind to receptors in the Cannabinoid system and trigger the same cellular response. Therefore, Plant Cannabinoids can directly influence perception of pain and numerous other biological processes. Conrad seems to have taken advantage of this utility as seen by his reduction/loss of lower back pain. The green smoothies Conrad integrated into his diet flooded his system with non-psychoactive chemical messengers that amplified certain signal transduction pathways’ frequencies before his body could break down the plant Cannabinoids which resulted in his improved well being. Beyond this narrow application, Conrad believes that plant Cannabinoids could have a PLETHORA of alternative medicinal uses.

Thank you Conrad for helping us challenge our own assumptions and to strive for a broader understanding in this topic!

To learn more about the meetings and speakers the club hosts, as well as our community involvement, visit

Kicking off Rotary's 2026-2027 year with a high spirited, inspiring and meaningful first club meeting of the 2026-2027 Rotary Year at the Rotary Club of Tahoe Douglas. Lunch at Bally's Lake Tahoe Casino in Stateline (55 US-50, Stateline, NV 89449).

06/24/2026

President elect Bob Fores is doing the hard job of spreading Goodwill and better friendships. Thank you Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard.

06/01/2026

05.29.26
Douglas County's District Attorney Mark Jackson met with the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club on Friday to share a bit about what his role as our county's District Attorney entails, as well as the impact he and his teammates have on our community. He started by sharing that he has been a resident of Douglas County since he was five years old. Jackson left to further his education, but was ultimately drawn back to Douglas County's community and recreation, and has served as the county's District Attorney since 2006.

The Douglas County District Attorney's office values justice for victims, with Jackson depicting their dedication to this through the Special Victims Response Team (SVRT) that he created back in 2008 to help provide justice for domestic violence victims. Through implementing tools such as a 12-hour cool-down period, Jackson and his team have time to gather evidence and build the case while the suspect is in custody. Ultimately, he has helped raise the county's domestic violence conviction rate from 10-15% to an impressive 86%.

As the District Attorney's Office holds the title of the largest law firm in Douglas County, it is no surprise Jackson stated, "anything going on in the county goes through my office". As a pillar of community safety, his work has also gained national recognition through media coverage of some of the District Attorney's cases.

Operations for the District Attorney's Office are not without their challenges, however. Jackson described funding the SVRT, high-profile criminal cases, recruiting, and targeting fentanyl as among those challenges. Although their team runs extensive operations trying to minimize the impact of fentanyl in Douglas County, their estimations suspect that only about 1% of it is intercepted. Considering this, Jackson described ways community members can help keep Douglas County safe. As the bystander effect can have a strong influence on someone's likelihood of reporting, he stated, "see something, say something", to urge community members to report activity to local authorities.

The Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club was happy to welcome Mark Jackson, Douglas County's District Attorney, on Friday.
To learn more about the meetings and speakers the club hosts, as well as our community involvement, visit https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8368