Rotary Club of Folsom - Valentine's Day Party February 12, 2026
The meeting of February 12 was our annual Valentine's Day Party. It was held at the Folsom Community Center. The theme was "Rotary Valentine's/Palentine's Italian Dinner Party". The hall was set up for 78 guests seated at two long tables. There was a table with olives and bread sticks and another table with lemonchello tasting. Of course, there was also a complimentary bar. For fun there was a bocce ball court set up. The tables were beautifully decorated with a Valentines and Italian theme thanks to Lynne Bailey and her volunteers. Dinner was an Italian buffet including pasta, sauce, salad, vegetables, and bread. Dessert was tiramisu.
After dinner, there was a pizza dough making contest with 8 contestants. The expert was Chef Litteral, owner of Pizzeria Classico in Historic Folsom. He gave the contestants a 5 minute lesson on how to toss pizza into a nice round shape. The contestant with the largest round pizza would be the winner. At the end of the contest, President Scott gave every contestant a prize. The contestants were hilarious trying to make their pizzas.
There were a few announcements before the fun began. Brian Martell announced that 2026 is a big anniversary year for the Folsom Rodeo. He asked members that have Folsom Rodeo memorabilia if the Folsom History Museum could borrow your memorabilia for a display honoring the many years that the rodeo has been in Folsom. I received an email from the museum requesting items for the display. I included the email below.
Ryan Jantzen asked for Youth Leadership Conference volunteers to be mentors to the students. He asked for the members to ask their friends to be mentors so we will have enough for every student.
President Scott thanked his wife and volunteers for the beautiful decorations.
Brian Martell levied fines.
Email from Folsom History Museum about Rodeo Display.
Next month, our exhibit Ride ’Em Cowboy! opens, and we need your help to bring it to life. This exhibit will tell the story of the Folsom Rodeo, from its earliest days to the community tradition it is today.
We’ll explore the first Fiesta-Rodeo in 1963, the creation of Dan Russell Amphitheater in 1966, the old cattle drive through Sutter Street, and so much more. This is truly a community-driven exhibit, and it wouldn’t be possible without the community itself.
If you have any of the following items:
Photographs or photo albums
Videos or film footage
Clothing: hats, shirts, jackets, boots, belt buckles, or rodeo gear
Riding equipment: saddles, ropes, spurs, or other items
Programs, tickets, posters, advertisements, merchandise, or souvenirs
Trophies, awards, or Rodeo Queen and court items (sashes, crowns, and outfits)
Items related to the cattle drive through Historic Sutter Street
Personal stories, letters, or diaries connected to the rodeo
We invite you to consider donating or loaning them to Folsom History.
If you have been part of the Folsom Rodeo in any way, from riding a bucking bronco to sitting in the stands, we want you to be part of this exhibit! Because this story belongs to the people of Folsom.
Together, we can ensure the history of Folsom’s Pro Rodeo continues to inspire for generations to come.
At the Folsom Lake Rotary Club meeting on February 18, 2026, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Folsom, Samantha Davidson presented a check to the club representing their share of the proceeds from our Third Annual Oktoberfest fundraiser — a collaborative effort between our two clubs.
Pictured receiving the check are Folsom Lake Rotary Club President Andrea Rohmann and Foundation Chair Sonny Da Marto. The continued partnership between our clubs is a wonderful example of Rotary collaboration in action, working together to maximize our impact in the community.
Samantha Davidson and Andrea Rohmann are serving as Co-Chairs for this year’s Fourth Annual Oktoberfest, scheduled for October 25, 2026. Planning is already underway — so mark your calendars! More details to come.
