Welcome to the 2024-25 Rotary Year! I am indeed privileged, honored and humbled to serve our Nevada City Rotary Club as your President this year.  This transition time has caused me to reflect on my years in Rotary and the changes in myself and Rotary International that I have seen over the years.  

A bit about my Rotary History

I have just passed my 26th year Rotary Anniversary, having joined on June 9, 1998.  I first joined the Rotary Club of Dinuba, CA because my boss thought it would be a good idea. He encouraged me because he felt that the connections in the community that I would gain would be helpful to me and the Dinuba Unified School District. 

As I moved around the state with my vocation in school district administration, I joined the Clearlake, CA Rotary Club and served as the President during the 2005-06 Rotary International Centennial Year.  I attended the Rotary International Conference in Chicago.  It was a wonderful experience to meet Rotarians from all over the world and truly understand our global impact.

Later I joined the Rotary Club of Ripon, CA where I served as President in 2011-12.  My friend Dave Mantooth was our District Governor that year and he enlisted me into a speaking role at his District Conference which was a celebration of Women in Rotary. I proudly delivered the words of an early female Rotarian, “Men, please do not be afraid of women. Where is your self-confidence? If you strive, you CAN have women in Rotary and still be leaders.  Men, arise and awake! The new challenges are coming and women are coming into Rotary.” Here we are!

In 2013, my journey in school administration brought me to Nevada County as the new Superintendent of Nevada Joint Union High School District and I joined the 49er Rotary Club of Nevada City. After retiring from that assignment, I began to think of moving to the Nevada City Rotary Club and happily became a member of our club on December 8, 2022. I have many Rotary memories and we will make so many more together this year!

Looking to the year ahead

Leading during times of transition have often caused me to reflect this way. I strive to honor the past, assess the present, and plan for the future.  

In the interest of assessing the present, please watch your email for a membership satisfaction survey developed by Rotary International.  It will be a Google Form and the subject will be “Nevada City Rotary Membership Satisfaction Survey.”  It will take about 5 – 7 minutes to complete.  The survey is anonymous but I want to reward participation with a drawing on July 11 so I will ask you, “Four Way Test: Did you fill out the survey?” for a ticket to the drawing!  Then, at our August 1 social event we will do a group assessment where I will ask four questions for group discussion. We then may move forward with a more formal visioning process.

We have already begun planning for the future. I am grateful to our new board members and committee chairs who have stepped up to serve our club in this role. At our Leadership Retreat on the morning of June 22, 2024 I was energized by your enthusiasm, our rich discussions and the incubation of plans. It will be a busy and fun year!  I promise to serve you with diligence and heart as we feel “The Magic of Rotary,” as we “Make Beautiful Rotary Music,” and as we know that indeed, “We Are Rotary.”