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The World Health Organization’s African region is officially certified free of wild poliovirus.

Upcoming Speakers

Cecelia Babkirk

Oct 23, 2020

Experiences as a Rotary Peace Corps volunteer

Cecelia Babkirk has been a Rotarian since 1994. She has served twice as Club President and has served in many district positions, including Asst. Governor, International Service Chair, Vocational Service Chair, Lieutenant Governor, District Grants Chair and as the District Rotary Foundation Chair.

In addition, she is a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre ofTechnical Advisors, conducting audits and reviews of Global Grants to ensure good stewardship for The Rotary Foundation.

In January, 2018, Cecelia Received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor granted by The Rotary Foundation, for her service to Rotary District 5170 and The Rotary Foundation.

In June, 2019, she retired after 45 years in the mortgage business and joined the Peace Corps. This seemed like a logical extension of herRotary Foundation grant activities and a great way to kick off the next part of her life. She served as an 11 th grade English teacher in a rural village in Ethiopia until March, when she was part of the first-ever global evacuation of Peace Corps Volunteers.

Cecelia believes that the best way to experience the internationality of Rotary is to become involved in a Rotary Grant project that includes travel as a component.

Neil Swidey

Oct 30, 2020

Our College Sports System is Broken

Greg Giusiana

Nov 06, 2020

District Governor 2020-21

Past Speakers

David Troxel

Oct 16, 2020

Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Care - the Year Ahead

Dr. Abdulrahman Olatunji Funsho

Oct 09, 2020

Polio Eradication

Ryan Rowe

Oct 02, 2020

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene as a pathway to peace

View entire list...

Together, we grow, open opportunities and serve the community

Fellow Rotarians,

We were fortunate to be treated to a beautiful and thoughtful musical inspiration, thanks to Connie. The video showcased singers from 50 COVID-affected countries. This moving piece vividly demonstrates the unbiased nature of this pandemic as well as the collective hope of people wishing that the world recovers, while being thankful for what we have.

“This crisis offers us new possibilities to deepen friendships. Now the person who lives across the ocean can be just as much a part of your team as someone who lives down the street”…..Holger Knaack.

This month, we demonstrated just that, connecting with speakers from various countries: Chris Offer (British Columbia, Canada), Miriam Ibrahim (Cairo, Egypt) and Liset Morales and Abigail Palomares (San Jose). Rotary celebrates September as New Generations Month. We see how the young generation is figuring out innovative ways to identify and solve problems in their community. The Enactus team from Cairo University enabled a better life and opened opportunities for girls and women. Bright Futures, from San Jose, showed us how care and mentoring can dramatically alter the life of high-risk high school youth, radically altering their life trajectory.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay Connected.

Sesh

Community Service Project: Martha's Kitchen

What a great start to the week on an early Monday morning by helping someone? Its good karma! Martha’s Kitchen on Willow Street offers this opportunity ! A clean, airy, bright, hygienic and socially distanced work tables allows volunteers to make sandwiches,cut vegetables or whatever else is needed for the day. The food assembled or prepared there (lunch and dinner) is taken to several places in the South Bay to feed the homeless. Two weeks ago, ten of us Rotarians, spent 2-4 hours doing just that!
Kudos to Jamie, Terrence, Cynthia, Larry, Maria, Phil, David Guidry (w/daughter), Sangita, Sesh and Nada (w/camera). Our club intends to do this monthly – so if you are interested, please contact our 2020-21 Community Services Chair – Jamie Price.

Saratoga Rotary help feed the hungry in our communities

Immediately reacting to the immediate needs of the local West Valley Community, the members of The Saratoga Rotary donated $11,000 to West Valley Community Services. The needed funds are for the increased demand for food due to COVID-19. In addition, the club has donated an additional $1,000 for food to West Valley College students who are food insecure and now effected by COVID-19. In addition, Saratoga Rotarians have also donated $800 for meals that go directly to our medical providers.
Stay tuned for additional stories of volunteering at kitchens that cater to the homeless.

Saratoga Rotary Art Show

We are very sorry to announce that the 2020 Saratoga Rotary Art Show was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The 2021 Saratoga Rotary Art Show is scheduled for first weekend in May. Produced since 1957 by members of the Saratoga Rotary Club, the Saratoga Rotary Art Show raises funds for local and international charities under the guidelines of the Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation. To date, the Saratoga Rotary Foundation has granted over $2.5 million to local and international nonprofits serving the needs of our communities and those worldwide.

The Saratoga Art show is produced with 99% support from our club members, family members and friends. We raise the support funds, market the event, serve wine and beer, organize the entertainment, welcome the artists with food and beverage, and encourage the community to come and buy!

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