Thursday, March 5, 2026 was a full and inspiring day for the Rotary Club of Folsom, centered on leadership, mentorship, and the bright future represented by students from the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. The day began with the 31st Annual Dave West Partnerships for Tomorrow Leadership and Ethics Conference, a long-standing Rotary program presented by our club that brings high school juniors together with local business and community leaders for a powerful day of learning, mentorship, and meaningful conversation about leadership and ethical decision-making.
Held at Lakeside Church in Folsom, the conference welcomed 64 students from Folsom High School and Vista Del Lago High School and paired them with 64 local business and community leaders who served as mentors for the day. The event is designed to give students a hands-on opportunity to explore leadership skills and ethical decision-making while learning directly from professionals who are actively making a difference in our community.
The day’s agenda focused on leadership development and providing an ethical framework for decision making. Students and mentors participated in a continental breakfast, general sessions, and several interactive breakout discussions designed to spark thoughtful conversation. Topics included business etiquette, the qualities that define strong leaders, and how to navigate ethical decisions in both professional and personal settings. The conference also included a working lunch where students and professionals were able to network and continue conversations in a semi-formal setting.
The conference also featured an inspiring keynote address from Kyle Draper, TV play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings and host of Kings Pregame Live and Kings Postgame Live on NBC Sports California. Kyle’s talk, titled “The Resilient Path,” delivered a powerful and deeply personal message. He spoke openly about significant hardships and trauma he experienced in his life and shared how resilience played a critical role in helping him overcome those challenges. His willingness to be honest and vulnerable created a strong connection with the audience, particularly the students. While acknowledging the difficult chapters of his story, his message ultimately focused on perseverance and resilience—encouraging students to keep moving forward, face adversity with courage, and never allow challenges to define or limit their potential. His story was both powerful and inspiring for everyone in the room.
This year’s conference was the largest yet, bringing together 128 participants in total. The program continues to be an important and impactful experience for students, offering them a rare opportunity to learn from the real-life experiences of business and community leaders. Through these conversations and activities, students gain insight into leadership, integrity, and responsibility while being encouraged to think about how they will one day lead in their own careers and communities.
While the conference is designed to inspire students, many of the adult mentors walked away just as energized and inspired. Spending a day with such thoughtful, curious, and motivated young people serves as a powerful reminder that the next generation of leaders is already developing the skills and values needed to guide our future. It was truly a meaningful day for everyone involved and a wonderful example of Rotary’s commitment to investing in youth and leadership.
Later that same day, our club meeting featured the Rotary Speech Contest. The Rotary Speech Contest is a global competition for high school students that encourages the development of public speaking skills while challenging students to think about ethical leadership and service. This year’s theme, aligned with Rotary International’s theme, was “Unite for Good.”
Three impressive students from Folsom High School delivered thoughtful and engaging speeches that reflected both creativity and conviction. Taking first place was freshman Neha Praveen, followed by senior Hana Haque in second place and freshman Pearl Shi in third place. All three students represented their school and community with poise and confidence, making the judging both challenging and rewarding.
As the first place winner, Neha Praveen will advance to the Area Final on April 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm in the Community Room at Folsom Lake College. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and support these remarkable students. Finalists from the Area competition will then advance to the District 5180 Conference at Caesars Republic in South Lake Tahoe on May 2, 2026.
Congratulations to Rotary Club of Folsom Speech Contest winner Neha Praveen. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and wish her the very best as she continues on to the next level of competition. We hope to see her representing our club at the District Conference.
Another exciting announcement was made during our meeting with the Rotary Youth Exchange “Country Reveal.” Vista Del Lago senior Elise Wiemerslage learned that she will be spending her exchange year in Brazil. After graduating, Elise will travel abroad to attend high school and immerse herself in Brazilian culture as part of Rotary’s international youth exchange program. We are incredibly excited for Elise and look forward to hearing all about her adventures and experiences when she returns home.
Upcoming Events:
District 5180 Conference – May 1–3, 2026
Caesars Republic, South Lake Tahoe
Registration Fee: $375
Join Rotarians from across the district for a weekend of connection, inspiration, and celebration. The conference will feature comedian Kay Frances, the Poker Run, Plunge for Polio, the Rotary Speech Contest, Dueling Pianos, Awards Night, guest speaker Nathan Gutierrez, and many opportunities to connect with fellow Rotarians.
A special Friday Night Reception will also be held and can be added during registration for $75 per person.
To reserve your seat, register here:
https://tinyurl.com/D5180Conference
Hotel registration ends on April 10, 2026.
Book your room here:
https://book.passkey.com/event/51058586/owner/14208/home
Time is ticking away—don’t be late. See you in South Lake Tahoe.
District Assembly – March 28, 2026
12 Bridges High School
2360 Fieldstone Drive
Lincoln, CA 95648
8:00 am – 3:30 pm
No cost to attend - breakfast and lunch provided.
The Rotary District 5180 District Assembly is our premier leadership training event designed to prepare incoming club officers and board members for a successful Rotary year. Held each spring, the Assembly brings together Presidents-Elect, Secretaries, Treasurers, Membership Chairs, Foundation Chairs, Youth Service leaders, and committee members from across the district for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.
Participants will gain practical tools to strengthen club operations, learn best practices for membership growth and engagement, explore strategies to maximize impact through The Rotary Foundation, connect with district leaders and experienced Rotarians, and build relationships with fellow club leaders from throughout District 5180. District Assembly is more than training—it is where vision becomes action and leaders are equipped to make a lasting difference in their clubs and communities.
All Rotary members are welcome — and club board members are highly encouraged to attend.
Click this link to register: District Leadership Assembly 2026 | District 5180
Upcoming Speaker
This week, our club will welcome guest speaker Steve Davies, a Sacramento native with more than 35 years of experience in the local real estate industry and two decades in leadership with RE/MAX Gold.
Steve also brings a creative background as a commercial photographer, junior college instructor, and small business owner in Folsom. Photography has remained a longtime passion, and he will be sharing highlights from a remarkable photography expedition to Antarctica. Members can look forward to an engaging presentation featuring stunning images and stories from one of the most remote and breathtaking regions on Earth.
Rotary Reflection
One of the things Rotary does best is create opportunities for generations to learn from one another. This past week offered a powerful example of that in action.
Throughout the Leadership and Ethics Conference and the Rotary Speech Contest, students shared thoughtful ideas about leadership, integrity, service, and the importance of working together to create positive change. Their curiosity, confidence, and willingness to engage in meaningful discussions about ethical decision-making were impressive.
Spending time with these students offers a clear reminder of why Rotary invests so deeply in youth programs. Listening to their perspectives, watching them challenge ideas, and seeing them step forward to lead provides a hopeful glimpse of what the future can look like.
The future is often talked about with uncertainty, but days like this tell a different story. The future is already being shaped by capable, compassionate young leaders who are learning how to make ethical decisions and unite for good.
And if this week was any indication, the future is in very good hands.
