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Citizen of the Year - Cathie Thermond!
Posted by Verna Wong
Citizen of the Year - Cathie Thermond!
Congratulations to Cathie Thermond for being named Saratoga's Citizen of the Year for 2023! Fellow Saratoga Rotarians have known of Cathie's passion for service as she chaired the Community Service committee; served as the President and CEO of the Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation (SRCF); served as Club President; and is presently serving as co-chair of TRF (The Rotary Foundation) with Jim LeBlanc and co-chair of the Rotary Art Show committee with Sheeba Garg. Outside of Saratoga Rotary, Cathie has also served in leadership and board positions within many nonprofit organizations serving Saratoga and the larger community. The list of these nonprofit organizations include, but are not limited to, the Saratoga Union School District, Villa Montalvo, Saratoga Foothill Club, and TheatreWorks.
 
Cathie was publicly acknowledged as Saratoga's "Citizen of the Year" on Saturday, September 9, by Saratoga mayor and fellow Saratoga Rotarian, Kookie Fitzsimmons, at Saratoga's "State of the City" event, which was held at Wildwood Park. Photos from that event can be found in the "Photo Albums" part of the bulletin.
 
The celebration continues at the Saratoga Country Club on Saturday, October 7, at 6:00pm. This event, sponsored by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, will include dinner, music, dancing and a silent auction.
Community Service Update
Saratoga Rotarians participated in the 2023 Back-To-School event with West Valley Community Services! The  event was a huge success…and that is all because of you, our volunteers, who gave their time, energy and assistance in helping prepare our community’s young people for academic success this fall.
 
Because of you, 295 children were able to receive brand new back-to-school clothes, shoes and a backpack full of school supplies.  But more than just shirts and shoes, the children received a gift that will build their confidence and self-esteem as they start a brand new school year.
 
“Thanks so much for all the clothes! Today was one of the best days in my life!” – Jake, age 7
“This event helps so much because I cannot afford to buy my kids new shoes or clothes.” – Bea, mom
 
 
Up Next in Community Service....
Preparations are on the way for our Operation Care & Comfort service project. We will be writing thank you cards & preparing care packages at our October meeting. Shinku Sharma & Lee Ann Payne are leading the efforts for this year’s project!
International Services 
International Service Projects
  • Kenya and India 2020-2021
    • Deliver easy access to potable water for the villages of Kaikol and Nkudet in Turkana County, Kenya. It will serve a total population of approx. 5000
    • Provide four ventilators to a COVID hospital in Bangalore, India.
  • USA 2020-2021
    • Refrigerated truck for Martha’s Kitchen
    • Sensorimotor room for children with special needs at Franklin-McKinley School 
Read more...
Community Service
West Valley Community Service Projects
  • Mobile Pantry/ Park-It Market at Saratoga Fellowship Plaza
    • On the 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Tuesday of the Month from 10:15 AM to Noon
 
Operation Care and Comfort Projects
  • Packing supplies for troops in October for the holiday season
 
Youth Service
Youth Service Events
  • Mentoring Interact Club of local high schools 
  • Enterprise Leadership Conference (ELC) for high school students
  • Scholarships for elementary, middle, high school and Community college students 
  • Speech Contest for the high school students
  • Rotary Youth Exchange Programs
                                                Read more .......
Fellowship Events
Fellowship Events
  • Super Bowl Chili and Corn Bread Cook Off
  • Fun at Bocce Ball Court
  • Halloween Spirit
  • Christmas Party
  • Annual Dessert Bake Off

Dates to Remember

Donate

Doing Good Together

1) TRF (The Rotary Foundation): Show your generosity and dedication to Service Above Self. Your dollars impact globally

2) SRCF (Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation) : Your dollars impact locally.

Fellowship

Holiday Gathering

Tuesday, Dec 12 (6:00-8:30PM)

 

 

Volunteer

2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesday (10am to Noon)  - Food Distribution to Seniors with West Valley Community Services.
 
Please click on this link for more information
Saratoga Rotary

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Fridays at 12:30 PM
Saratoga Community Center
19655 Allendale Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
United States of America
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Dec 15, 2023
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Dec 22, 2023
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Dec 29, 2023
Past Speakers
Rotary club of Saratoga
Dec 08, 2023
Breakfast with Santa Packaging
Shawna Shwarz
Dec 01, 2023
Foster Care System in Santa Clara County
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Nov 24, 2023
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May 4 - 5, 2024
President's Message 
member photo

Saratoga Rotary Club November 2023 Newsletter

Dear Saratoga Rotary Members,

As we step into the beautiful month of November, I am pleased to reflect on the inspiring guest speakers we had the pleasure of hosting in the past month. Their knowledge and passion have enriched our community and inspired us to keep the spirit of Imagine Hope Friday alive.

On October 6, 2023, we had the privilege of welcoming Matthew Dodder from the Santa Clara Audubon Society. His dedication to bird conservation and environmental awareness was truly enlightening. We thank him for sharing his insights with us.

The following week, on October 13, 2023, Geoffrey Tabin graced our virtual stage to shed light on the Himalayan Cataract Project. His commitment to providing eye care and combating preventable blindness in the Himalayas left us with a profound sense of purpose.

Carolina Cocciardi, the accomplished author of "Leonardo's Knots," joined us on October 20, 2023. Her literary journey and exploration of Leonardo da Vinci's genius captivated us and encouraged a deeper appreciation for art and history.

Closing out the month, on October 27, 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting a distinguished member of our own Rotary family, Larry Stone, County Assessor of Santa Clara County. His insights into the county's operations and his role as a Rotarian were both informative and inspiring.

In the spirit of Imagine Hope Friday, I invite all of us to harness the inspiration derived from these incredible individuals and carry it forward into the month of November. Let us continue to imagine hope, unity, and compassion, knowing that small actions can create lasting impacts in our community.

Each day, may we reflect on the lessons we've learned from our guest speakers and use them as a driving force to make a positive change. Join us in spreading hope and goodwill, as we believe that together, we can create a brighter and more connected world.

Stay tuned for more exciting events and speakers in the upcoming month. As always, thank you for your dedication to the Rotary Club of Saratoga and our shared vision.

Yours in service,
Renée Kazemipour Paquier, Ed.D
President, Saratoga Rotary Club
2023/2024

P.S. Don't forget to check our website and social media channels for the latest updates and news from our club. Together, we can imagine hope and make it a reality.

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