How We Started:
The Rotary Club of The Valley Of The Moon was chartered on April 25, 2000 as The Rotary Club Of Santa Rosa - Oakmont. In July 2002, we changed our name to The Rotary Club Of The Valley Of The Moon to more accurately represent the geographical area representing our club. Credit for the initial organization of our club is due in large part to long-time Rotarian, and Past District Governor, Norm Lawrence, and Dennis DeSousa, our founding Club President (See photos at left).
Who We Are:
Our club began with a very diversified group of people, some 11 women and 26 men from all walks of life. Our current membership is a combination of local professional persons, a few transfer Rotarians from the Santa Rosa downtown club, and numerous Oakmont Village residents with a Rotary background or interest. At the present time we number 49 members, and are growing steadily.
What We Do Internationally:
As all other Rotary clubs do, our club members actively participate in international projects by donating both time and funds. Our club has contributed more than $4,000, and many volunteer hours, to Rotary International's quest to eradicate polio world-wide through its PolioPlus program. Our fourth annual PolioPlus golf tournament took place in September 2004.
Currently, our club is sponsoring a student in Colima, Mexico under Rotary's Project Amigo program. Funds we contributed have been used to build a library and provide school materials to enable an underpriveged child to complete high school. For more information about our international projects, Click Here.
In addition, our club supported a local Maria Carillo high school student in completing a one year Rotary International Scholarship program in Switzerland. We have also created a scholarship program for deserving students about to graduate from Santa Rosa high schools. Since 2003, we have awarded several academic scholarships to deserving graduating high school seniors at Maria Carillo high school.
What We Do Locally:
Here at home, we have conducted several fund-raising projects. For two years we operated a "Fajita-Fun" food booth at the famous Kenwood, CA Pillow Fights competition during the 4th of July celebration. Our third annual PolioPlus fundraiser golf tournament was held August 12, 2002. Club members have also completed building a garden shed and classroom structure at the Sierra Youth Center, a Sonoma County juvenile facility. This activity was made possible through club funding and hundreds of volunteer hours. This was our major service project for 2002. We are also aiding R House, a community halfway house for troubled teens. At R House, our members assist the students through a variety of volunteer activities, from hands-on gardening projects to helping them prepare for entry into the work force by conducting practice interviews and providing resume and scholarship assistance. Our most ambitious, project was to build a "Tot Lot" playground in neighboring Kenwood, Ca. This was a multi-year venture, requiring up to $35,000 in funds to complete. The fund-raising kickoff for this project was July 4, 2004 at the Kenwood Pillow Fight competition in Plaza Park. On March 26, 2005, we held a dedication ceremony, with District Governor Bruce Campbell in attendance. Construction was completed in the summer of 2005.
Our club has also sponsored a Rotary Interact Club at nearby Maria Carillo High School. The students participate fully in our community projects, and we support them in their service endeavors as well. In June 2004, we assisted the Interact students in collecting toys and personal items to send to children in Iraq. More than twenty boxes were filled and dispatched by the students. For more information about Interact, Click Here.
In addition, we have financed and facilitated the shipment of 400 books to children in the Phillipine Islands and donate many volunteer hours at a local elemenatry school
In 2000 and 2001, our club raised the majority of our funds by conducting golf tournaments and rummage sales. In 2002 , 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 our major fund raisers were annual Rotary Crab Feeds held in February each year. Proceeds from these major events go toward local and international Rotary programs. On September 26, 2003 we conducted our first major golf tournament fund-raiser; making more than $8,500 to sustain our ongoing projects, and to fund new ones. On September 23, 2004 we held our second annual fund-raising golf tournament, bringing in more than $11,000 in support of our various local community and international service projects. On March 18, 2005, we held our Fourth Annual Crab Feed, raising more that $9,000 for community projects. On September 23, 2005, we held our Third Annual Golf Tournament, raising more than $10,000 for local and international charities. On February 17, 2006 we held our Fifth Annual Crab Feed, raising more than $10,000 for community and international projects. On September 29, 2006 we held our first Jazzy BBQ, raising more than $15,000 to provide support to local and international projects. Our sixth annual fundraiser, a Crab Feed, took place on February 16, 2007, and brought in more than $12,000! On September 29, 2007 we held our first Jazz in the Valley fundraiser, bringing in more than $18,000. On February 15, 2008 our 7th annual crab feed garnered about $12,000 income for distribution to local and international charities. On September 13, 2008 we held our second Jazz in the Valley fundraiser, garnering more than $23,000 for charitable distribution. On February 21, 2009 we held our 8th annual Crab Feed, which brought in more than $12,000 for distribution to local and international charities. On December 18, 2009, we held our first annual raffle, awarding an expense-paid river boat trip to Europe for two people in 2010. More than $30,000 was netted from this venture. On February 20, 2010 we held our ninth annual Crab Feed, netting more than $25, 000 to support community and international charitable organizations.
Fred Polkinghorn, Valley Of The Moon Rotary Club membership chairman, is the primary contact person for people in the local communities who are interested in becoming Rotarians. Call Fred at (707) 538-3738 for more information.
