Events

Cousins Peter Teahen and John Ockenfels, piloted a single piston-engine airplane around the world in 2023 to raise awareness and money for Rotary’s End Polio Now program. The flight took 90-days, made 37 landings in 19 countries, and involved 24 fundraisers. Only 702 pilots in history have ever achieved this feat, and less than 270 are alive today! Both Peter and John are longtime Rotarians and members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. They are both recipients of Rotary’s two highest honors, “Service Above Self”, and the “Service Award for A Polio Free World”. As pilots, they have qualified for the prestigious Circumnavigator Diploma from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. Peter and John departed Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 5, 2023 in their 1977 Cessna T210M airplane, and successfully returned home 90-days later on July 30. Today Peter and John will share their powerful story of: “Around the World: Flight To End Polio”.

Alzheimer's is a global health problem with more than 6 million people
living with the disease in the US alone. Tremendous gains have been made in
the understanding of the science and basic biology underlying Alzheimer's
and other dementias. These advances are leading to great strides in
strategies for prevention, detection, diagnostics, and therapeutic
interventions. The Alzheimer's Association is a global leader in research,
mobilizing the field to advance the vision of a world without Alzheimer's
and all other dementia.

Xiaorong got her PhD in Neurobiology from University of Southern California, researched on the effects of aging on synaptic plasticity. Postdoc in molecular biology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, studied the structure-function of a mechanosensitive channel. Followed by research in neuroscience for aged related diseases at biotech companies, Genentech & Scios.  Joined the Alzheimer's Association in 2012, and I’m currently Community Engagement Manager, Research Champion of Alzheimer's Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter.

Saratoga Public Library Children's Department

Assembling care kits for Cancer CAREpoint.

Alrie Middlebrook Biogrpahy:

I am committed to educating the public and promoting sustainability through native gardening and regenerative organic agriculture. Over the years, my workshops and speaking engagements at diverse venues have provided key forums to promote systemic changes in urban land use. 

I believe the most expedient way to resolve our climate crisis is to reimagine cities where most of our life cycle needs will be met near where we live. Only by allowing “wild nature” and regenerative agriculture to thrive where more than half of the world’s population currently lives, can we be assured that the life we cherish will be sustained for future generations.

Alrie's website: https://alriemiddlebrookdesign.com/about-alrie/

Corodata, Inc. 

A son's untimely passing

Community Service Project

In 2004, after raising money to build a school in Afghanistan and discovering how U.S. involvement in the country had impacted its people, MacKenzie founded Trust in Education, a nonprofit, grassroots, people-to-people organization, to help Afghans rebuild their lives and country. For twenty-one years he has provided aid to Afghan villages, children and  families.

He will share his experiences, observations, and the challenges faced in providing aid to the people considered the unhappiest and poorest in the world. 

Karyn Sinunu-Towery is a 30-year veteran prosecutor in Santa Clara County who has volunteered with the Innocence Center. She will tell the story of how she helped gained the freedom for Jeremy Puckett through the Center. Karyn Sinunu-Towery is the past president of the San Jose Rotary Club. 

The Innocence Center is an independent non-profit law firm dedicated to freeing the innocent from prison, educating the public on the causes of wrongful conviction, and assisting freed clients as they reenter society. 

The Innocence Center launched in 2023.  The Board and Staff have decades of innocence work under their belt, all having worked at the California Innocence Project as a staff or faculty member.  Collectively, the group has freed more than 40 people who have served 560+ years in prison for crimes they did not commit.  The team has been responsible for getting a dozen laws changed to prevent future injustices and make it easier to free the innocent.  The Innocence Center is a member of the Innocence Network.

They will be talking about the latest iniatives and partnerships with Rotary District 5170 Ambassadors of Compassion. 

Our very own Dave Eschelman will enchant, inform, and enterain us with the latest scientific fun facts. 

Matt Morley has served in a local government role for over 25 years. His time served includes both large and small organizations, including the West Valley cities of Los Gatos and Cupertino. He enjoys and values the customer service aspect of the work he performs in local government, making Saratoga a great fit for him.  And he has just passed his one year mark here with us.

 Matt grew up in and currently resides in Gilroy, where he and his wife Sonya have raised their three children, Emma, Grant and Devon.  He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Davis and during his career returned to school to earn an MBA. Matt enjoys hiking and backpacking in his spare time with a little wine tasting when time allows.

Today Matt will talk with us a little about his time in Saratoga and fill us in on what you want to know about the City of Saratoga!

DeAnna Pursai holds a Master’s in Education Policy Analysis in the School of Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Purdue University. DeAnna has named as a CNN Hero in April, 2022. She was the recipient of the 2023 Boy Scouts of America Silicon Valley Character Award, and she was named a 2023 Women Making Herstory recipient this past March for State Senator Dave Cortese’s District 15. She has been named an Architect of Change on the Maria Shriver blog DeAnna is active in the downtown Rotary Club of San Jose, as the Chair of the Rotary Neurodivergent Youth Empowerment Fund, and serves as the Rotary District 5170 Rotary Climate Action Council Chair, and as the Rotary mentor to the Rotaract Club at San Jose State University. She proudly served 6 years as a board member of Christmas in the Park. She is big sister to Angel Ellenberger, who happens to have Down syndrome and is an exquisite actress, entertainer and comedian. One of DeAnna’s bucket list items is to give a TED Talk on the subject of how to innovatively cast a wider higher education net to include adults with differing abilities who historically have not had access to higher education.

Brian Adams has been Vice President for Advancement at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, since January 2007.  He is also a former adjunct lecturer in the Communication Department at Santa Clara University. 

Prior to joining Bellarmine, Brian enjoyed nearly 30 years in local media and public relations.  He worked at KICU for 22 years, earning numerous regional and national awards, many in recognition of his entertainment programs and celebrity interviews.  His final year at KICU included working with its sister-station, KTVU. A two-time Emmy nominee, Brian is a member of the Critics Choice Association and of the Bay Area Broadcast Legends organization, which is now a program of the California Radio Historical Society. His movie reviews and entertainment reports are heard each week on KRTY.com.     

A third-generation resident of San Jose, Brian received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio/Television Broadcasting, with Distinction and with Honors in Theatre Arts, from San Jose State University, where he also received his Master of Science degree in Mass Communications.

A Rotarian since 2004, Brian is a past president of the Rotary Club of San Jose (2015/2016) and has served on its Board of Directors (2010-2013) as well on several committees.  He also served as District 5170 Assistant Governor for Large Clubs (2016/2017).  Brian is a Paul Harris Fellow and an Endowment Fellow at the Diamond level. 

Gita is the founder of AFEC (A Future for Every Child: https://afec.giving/our-work/#top) and has done an outstanding job of providing opportunities and changing lives for a number of youth in India.

Gita Gopal, President and Co-founder

After a successful decades-long career in the tech industry, Gita shifted focus to championing the cause of orphaned and adopted children. Through her roles as president of the Los Altos Special Education PTA and mentor for low-income students, she witnessed the challenges faced by vulnerable youth in their transition to adulthood. With a personal connection as an adoptive parent, Gita and her husband Madan founded A Future for Every Child in 2018.  Gita is dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for youth in need, ensuring they have a brighter future.

A Future for Every Child (AFEC) supports youth compelled by law to leave care homes (orphanages) in India upon turning 18. These vulnerable youth, having grown up in care homes due to the absence of a supportive family, face a bleak future navigating the challenges of independence without any additional financial assistance or adult guidance.

AFEC plays a crucial role in empowering these youths by offering career counseling, scholarships for vocational training or higher education, assistance in job placement, and mentoring for a duration of two years post-employment.  Our youth can train in 26 diverse industries, such as nursing, accounting, retail, mechanics, social work, and more. Since our inception in 2019, we have successfully enrolled over 1600 youths in 8 states in India. Almost 750 of them have secured stable employment, while others continue to pursue their training, marking a significant stride towards their self-reliance and a brighter future.

Ms. Harden has an extensive background working with aging seniors and adults facing terminal neurodegenerative disease diagnoses, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease. Her expertise covers analysis of financial well-being, personal budgeting, bill payment, insurance coverage and claims, long term healthcare planning, trust administration, healthcare advocacy, ethical will creation, housing assessment, caregiving management, and social well-being. Prior to founding Elder Edge Consulting, Ms. Harden worked in finance, operations, business development, and strategy for international Fortune 100 companies, such as GE Medical Systems and AT&T, and various startup companies in Silicon Valley. Ms. Harden received a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Stanford University. In addition, she has a certificate in gerontology, is a Certified Senior Advisor and a certified administrator for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly.