Conference Forums
Forum 1 - 10:15 AM - 11 AM
Enhancing Club Membership through Non-Traditional Rotary Clubs
| The goal of non-traditional Rotary Clubs is to enhance membership by attracting a wider variety of individuals. It may be about the focus of the club, when or how the club meets, or whether the club is connected to another club. This session explores the wide variety of Rotary Club models in our district via a panel of members of eClubs, weekend, cause-based, and satellite clubs. We’ll also highlight cases in which these clubs, which tend to be smaller clubs, partner with larger clubs in the district and beyond. Panel moderator is Renee Johnson and panel participants are Terri Shinkel, Isable Chavez, Meghan Morse, and Jeanne Trang. |
Cheryl Lander (introduction) and Renee Johnson (panel moderator) both of Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary joined by multiple panelists from a variety of non-traditional Rotary clubs
Host: Cheryl Lander is the President of Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary Club, a charter member of her club, and is on the Board of the RI LGBT+ Fellowship. Panel Moderator: Renee Johnson is a Past President of Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary Club, a charter member of the club as well, Assistant Governor for Area 6, and the Board President of the Silicon Valley Rainbow Chamber. Panelists: Terri Schinkel is Club Secretary of Rotary e-Club of Silicon Valley, Isabel Chavez is President Elect of Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary, Meghan Morse, Founding President of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Satellite Club for Young Professionals, and Jeanne Trang is President Elect of San Francisco Bay Area Rotary.
Forum 2 - 10:15 AM - 11 AM
ShelterBox: Providing Life-Saving Shelter to Those in Need
| This session provides information about ShelterBox whose mission is to build awareness of global displacement and to facilitate providing families with life-saving shelter and essential tools and supplies that will enable them to rebuild their homes and transform their lives after disaster. Jim Carriere, ShelterBox Ambassador, will talk about the organization and how Rotary clubs can partner with ShelterBox. |
Jim Carriere, ShelterBox Ambassador and former USA Board of Directors
Jim Carriere joined Rotary in 2004, and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of San Rafael Harbor. Jim is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Novato. Jim has served Rotary District 5150 as the ShelterBox Chair, Area Membership Chair, Assistant Governor, District Administrator, and on the Grants Stewardship Committee. Jim is a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation and a twenty-year member of the Paul Harris Society. Jim learned of the ShelterBox program in 2007 at the Rotary International Convention in Salt Lake City. He immediately agreed to become an ambassador and has done presentations to Rotary Clubs and other groups throughout the Western United States. Jim was elected to the ShelterBox USA Board of Directors in 2010, serving as the organization’s Chairman in 2017 and 2018. Though his Board service has come to an end, Jim continues to serve on the SBUSA Finance and Audit Committee and he chairs the SBUSA Ambassador’s Council. Professionally, Jim is the Executive Vice President – Chief Operating Officer at First Federal Savings of San Rafael, overseeing Operations, Information Technology, Retail Banking, and Compliance. Jim and his wife Nancy live Oakland.
Forum 3 - 10:15 AM - 11 AM
Friends Assisting Our Mexico Amigos - About FAMA Foundation
| In this session, participants will receive an overview of FAMA Foundation from its President and Co-Founder Dr. Patricia Pérez. She’ll talk about the work that this non-profit has accomplished in different parts of Mexico. Participants will also learn about the different types of partnerships they have made over the years. One in particular they are very proud of is the partnership with Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary Club to build a school in a Mexico village where the residents are homesteading. Funds raised by Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary went toward the construction materials. |
Dr. Patricia Pérez, FAMA Foundation, President and Co-Founder
Dr. Patricia Pérez received her doctorate from the University of San Francisco in Organizational Leadership. She holds an M.S. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on urban teacher leadership, as well as an Administrative Services Credential. Dr. Pérez has over 30 years of teaching experience. Her interests focus on promoting educational excellence through equity in order to overcome institutional barriers that confront underserved students of diverse backgrounds. Dr. Perez is also the President and Co-founder of FAMA Foundation, a non-profit founded in 2012. The FAMA Foundation works to empower economically disadvantaged people in the underserved communities of Mexico by providing educational-, financial-, and health-related support with the goal of creating self-reliant and self-sustainable communities and households in these regions. FAMA is an all-volunteer board, which allows the donations to go directly to the projects.
Forum 4 - 11:15 AM - 12 PM
Irreverent Warriors - Bringing Veterans Together
| The mission of Irreverent Warriors is to bring veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent veteran suicide. Irreverent Warriors envision a united veteran community that drives healthy culture within its members. Irreverent Warrior Ambassadors Braulio Alvarado and George Calvo will talk about how their engagements, events, and strong veteran-based support networks are the catalyst for improving the veteran outlook. |
Braulio Alvarado and George Calvo, Irreverent Warrior Ambassadors
Forum 5 - 11:15 AM - 12 PM
Our Impact in Ukraine Through Collective Alignment and Collaboration
| Harbir Bhatia, Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce CEO and Rotary ambassador for Ukraine, will cover the tactics used to create scalable impact in Ukraine from the start of the war. She’ll also look at the state of affairs on the ground today in Ukraine. And she’ll explore where we go from here in the current condition? A group exercise will explore your current Rotary programs and where we can work together. |
Harbir Bhatia, Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce CEO and member of Santa Clara Rotary
Harbir Kaur Bhatia is the CEO of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Clara, where she has served in multiple roles. Community service and building bridges across diverse backgrounds have been central to her family’s values. Guided by Sikh principles of “betterment for all” and seva (selfless service), which align with Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self. “ Harbir is a technologist and civic entrepreneur at heart. She is widely recognized for her ability to collaborate and mobilize people, the public and private sector to find creative solutions for challenges such as hate crimes, inclusion, economic empowerment, education, and children’s welfare. With regards to Ukraine, at the onset of the war, Harbir became deeply committed to humanitarian efforts, participating in regular aid missions through Ik Onkar Bridges, Selectiva Charities, and Rotary. At the start of the crisis, she and her mother helped women and children escape the conflict. Her efforts have since evolved to focus on providing sustained relief in partnership with Rotary and other organizations. Harbir serves as the Rotary District 5170 Ukraine Aid Champion and also serves as a Board Member of Sister Cities International and Country Representative for Ukraine for Selectiva Charities.
Forum 6 - 11:15 AM - 12 PM
Affirming Trauma-Centered Support for the LGBTQ+ Community and Beyond
| In this session, Tessa Reynolds, Rehabilitation Counselor, County of Santa Clara, will share the history of the war on people who use drugs, what harm reduction encompasses, and what to do in the event of an opioid poisoning. You’ll also hear about the importance of having NARCAN at your workplace and on your person, and locations to get free NARCAN in Santa Clara County. Folks will learn how to identify symptoms of an overdose/poisoning, how to respond to an overdose/poisoning, and the steps to administering NARCAN and how to use Fentanyl testing strips. All attendees will be provided with NARCAN and Fentanyl testing strips following the workshop. |
Tessa Reynolds, Rehabilitation Counselor, County of Santa Clara
Tessa Reynolds (she/they) works for the County of Santa Clara as a Rehabilitation Counselor where they lead the Harm ReduQion Project, which focuses trauma-centered harm reduction support and services for people who use substances in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Tessa is a certified substance use counselor, and brings a client centered, trauma sensitive, and harm reduction approach to their work. They have worked for over 10 years with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and those who are unhoused, with a focus on substance use care. Tessa is an active member of DUHAC the Drug User Health Advisory Committee, of Santa Clara County and is passionate about making sure marginalized communities have a say in the care they receive
Forum 7 - 2:15 PM - 3 PM
Evaluating Service Projects To Improve Their Outcomes
| Wade Nomura currently serves as one of only 24 Rotary Cadre Technical Coordinators worldwide, requiring oversight of major projects in water, sanitation, and community and economic development, undertaken through The Rotary Foundation, which invests 250 million into humanitarian efforts every year. Nomura has been on more than 50 international project missions for Rotary, including a polio mission to India, a special passion of his as a childhood polio survivor himself. Nomura will present Global projects he has evaluated as a Rotary Foundation Cadre and share his experience and recommendations to these projects to greatly improve their outcomes and impacts. |
Wade Nomura, TRF Cadre Regions Coordinator (2024-2026) and former District Governor for District 5240
Wade Nomura, former Rotary District Governor for District 5240 (2011-2012), is based in Carpinteria, CA, where he also has served as city mayor and is the President of Nomura Yamasaki Landscaping, founded over 40 years ago, and still delivering award-winning landscape projects throughout Southern California. He's currently a TRF Cadre Regions Coordinator (2024-2026). He has also served as North American Cadre Regional Organizer (2019-2022), WASH Cadre Technical Coordinator (2016-2019), and TRF Cadre Long Term Planning Committee (2019-2022). Nomura is an international speaker and workshop leader who draws on his extraordinary experience as a global humanitarian, community leader, successful businessman, and champion athlete to educate and inspire audiences around the world. In the last 10 years, Wade has presented to over 200,000 people across 15 countries, illuminating on how to maximize success, create impactful projects, and enhance team performance, through presentations ranging from conference keynotes to hands-on workshops.
Forum 8 - 2:15 PM - 3 PM
Cybersecurity Best Practices
| Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks. In this session, you’ll hear from Mark Tanis, CEO and Founder of California Business Technology®, Inc., an industry expert about the state of cybersecurity, highlighting the types of cyber attacks we are seeing today, why you should care, and how you can protect yourself. |
Mark Tanis, CEO and Founder of California Business Technology®, Inc.
Mark Tanis is the CEO and Founder of California Business Technology®, Inc., a business he started in 2004 as Tanis Information Systems. Tanis bring his extensive and deep technical and business background to the table having had a successful career as an information technology specialist and manager in the aerospace and defense industry as well as in medical device manufacturing. During his career, Mark learned how to provide value to the various organizations of a large corporation such as finance, sales and marketing, manufacturing, engineering, operations, and human resources. He successfully lead and developed solutions that span a wide gamut of business applications. Tanis earned his M.S. in engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana campus and his M.B.A. from the Claremont Graduate University and sharpened his IT skills while completing an M.S. in Applied Computer Science at Azusa Pacific University. He served on the scholarship committee for the Rotary Club of Pleasanton from 2018-2023, and continues to serve on the advisory board at Las Positas College for their Computer Studies Program. More recently, Mark has engaged with the California Youth Apprenticeship Program, with a focus on cybersecurity.
Forum 9 - 2:15 PM - 3 PM
Supporting the Environment the Rotary Way - D5170 and Rotary International Environmental Projects
| Hear from DeAnna Pursai, District 5170 Climate Action Council Chair and Vice Chair of ESRAG Big West Chapter, about the latest and greatest environmental projects in District 5170 and Rotary International. Learn more about the fantastic opportunities to get involved with ESRAG Big West. Hear about potential program speakers, collaborative community projects, and ways to support the environment the Rotary Way. |
DeAnna Pursai, District 5170 Climate Action Council Chair and Vice Chair of ESRAG Big West Chapter
DeAnna Pursai is a proud dual Rotarian - a member of San Jose and Saratoga Rotary Club. She’s a founding member of the Rotary Climate Action Committee of San Jose, and now services as the District 5170 Climate Action Council Chair as well as the Vice Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group Big West Chapter. She is a trained climate ambassador with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and she’s a member of Climate Citizens Lobby and Mother’s Out Front. In her professional career, 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. She was named a CNN Hero in 2021 and has been named an Architect of Change on the Maria Shriver blog in 2015. She proudly serves on the 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.
Forum 10 - 3:15 PM - 4 PM
The Eclectic Style of Jazz Violinist Jeremy Cohen
| You’ll enjoy accomplished jazz violinist Jeremy Cohen in this special musical session. Classically-trained and a student of Itzhak Perlman and Anne Crowden, Cohen’s eclectic style reflects his respect for a wide range of violinists from Perlman and Fritz Kreisler to Joe Venuti and Eddie South. |
Jeremy Cohen, Jazz Violinist, Quartet San Francisc
Jeremy Cohen is from a family of five musicians. He has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras including the Virginia Symphony, the California Symphony, and the Reno Philharmonic. His recording credits include motion picture and television soundtracks including The Dukes of Hazzard and Jane Fonda's Dollmaker, and as concertmaster on recordings with Linda Ronstadt, Ray Charles, Aaron Neville, Howard Keel, and Cleo Laine. He appeared on Carlos Santana's Grammy-winning CD Supernatural and the original Star Wars compilation CD with John Williams. On the stage he was the solo violinist in Forever Tango and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. He has toured and recorded with the Grammy Award-winning Turtle Island Quartet. Cohen's orchestral arrangements have been featured by numerous orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, and the San Jose and San Francisco Chamber Orchestras. As an educator, he has served on the faculties of the Henry Mancini Institute (Los Angeles), The Jazz School (Berkeley, CA) and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. In 2004 Cohen released Jeremy Cohen and Friends Celebrate Joe Venuti—100 Years (VAI), a DVD tribute to Joe Venuti. Cohen and Violin jazz pay homage to violinist Eddie South in the 2010 release, The Music of Eddie South (Sono Luminous). Most of Quartet San Francisco’s multi-genre material has been composed or arranged by Cohen.
Forum 11 - 3:15 PM - 4 PM
Women's Health: Not Small Men. Big Economic Impact.
| In this session you’ll hear from a panel of experts about the science, the patient experience, and the solutions needed to enhance women’s health. Women are not small men – we are physiologically differentiated from men at the cellular level and our health care encompasses more than reproductive wellness. Women’s health traditionally has been underfunded, under researched, and misunderstood, leading to a lower quality of life. We believe that healthy women build goodwill and a better society – it’s also beneficial to all. Come explore these topics and consider what you can do to support the acceleration of research, awareness, and investment in women’s health. |
Sue McKinney (panel moderator)
Panel moderator: Sue McKinney, JD – CEO Altin Biosciences, Oakland Uptown Rotary Club. Panelists: Carol Johnson – Certified Patient Advocate, CEO, UterineKind; Women’s Health Advocates, Steering Committee; Susanna Mitro, PhD – TBC – Dr. Mitro’s new study published is so timely and especially noteworthy because the data from nearly two million Northern California women reveals hitherto unknown disease prevalence comparisons; Rich Godfrey, MD – Has participated for many years in medical missions in third-world countries where the lack of women’s access to healthcare has profound economic and social ramifications.
Forum 12 - 3:15 PM - 4 PM
Internet for All: San Juan Bautista Rotary Works to Close the Digital Divide
| Serving the needs of the western San Benito County communities of Aromas and San Juan Bautista, the San Juan Bautista Rotary Club members greatly value education. The COVID pandemic that forced schools to do all teaching via the Internet hit the schools in their area particularly hard. Many of the students live in remote areas that have no access to broadband. And many families are unable to afford expensive monthly broadband charges. The club’s Access Committee led fundraising efforts to purchase equipment needed to meet the emergency situation. And that was just the start. In this session you’ll hear about San Juan Bautista’s ongoing efforts, including partnering with other local non-profits and obtaining grants, to bridge the digital divide in their area. Their goal is to provide high-speed internet to all students living in the boundaries of their school district. |
Phil Esparza and Wayne Norton, San Juan Baustista Rotary Internet for All Project