Meeting Notes: August 7, 2025
Our meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance led by President Scott Bailey, followed by a heartfelt invocation from Bob Mange. Fines were creatively extracted by Justin Raithel, with the kind of good-natured mischief that keeps us both entertained and just a little bit lighter in the wallet.
President Scott updated us on the mystery of the missing Rotary Club of Folsom banner, which has been absent from the front of the room for weeks. Mystery solved! After several meetings of Scott announcing its disappearance, Henry Sundermier FINALLY piped up—turns out the banner has been comfortably hanging out at his house ever since he “borrowed” it to display at concerts our club was sponsoring. Rumor has it Henry was waiting to see how long it would take before someone noticed. (We’re just glad we solved the case before Scott issued a “missing banner” APB.)
We celebrated Charlene Griffin receiving her blue badge. Charlene is an adjunct professor at William Jessup University, and we are so glad she’s bringing her knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm to our club.
Vicki Bencken introduced our guest speaker, Annie Hallsten Narayan of The Experience Curator, a personal historian who helps clients capture and preserve their unique life stories for future generations. Annie conducts personalized interviews, then weaves them into beautifully crafted keepsake books. She handles every detail of the process, creating legacies that will be cherished for years to come.
Our club got a taste of Annie’s work by writing and sharing our favorite childhood memories, special family traditions, and moments from our Rotary journeys. It was inspiring to hear so many meaningful stories from our fellow Rotarians. If you’d like to learn more, visit theexperiencecurator.com
Don’t miss this week’s guest speaker – August 14:
Joanne Brausch, who is helping lead the effort to renovate one of Folsom’s longtime favorite parks, Kids Play Park (a.k.a. “Castle Park”), which has fallen into disrepair. She’ll share how we can help bring this beloved park back to life for children and families to enjoy. Let’s come ready with ideas! (Photo credit: Folsom Times)
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Upcoming Events:
Oak Hall Science Building Grand Opening | August 20
Join Folsom Lake College for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of the new Oak Hall Science Building on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 9:00–10:30 a.m., at the Oak Hall Courtyard, main Folsom campus. This 75,000 sq. ft., LEED-certified facility—the largest science building in the Los Rios Community College District—features cutting-edge labs, a science center, and modern classrooms. Free and open to the public; RSVP required by August 14. Contact: Kristy Hart, Public Information Office
Mastering The Rotary Foundation for Your Club | September 13
Learn how your club can benefit from The Rotary Foundation at this FREE seminar on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Rocklin. Topics include global and district grants, policy updates, and the 3 funds of TRF, with guest speaker Tabitha Sparks, TRF Major Gift Officer, Zones 26 & 27.
Register at: rotary5180.org/events/calendar (Select September 13 to sign up.)
The Sun Kings – Beatles Tribute Concert | September 20
Join the Rotary Club of Historic Folsom for a fundraiser featuring The Sun Kings, a high-energy Beatles tribute band, on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Zittel Family Amphitheater, 200 Wool Street, Folsom. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., show starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Bring a low-back beach chair and rock your best 60’s–70’s attire!
Click here for details and tickets » The Sun Kings - Beatles Tribute Concert | Rotary Club of Historic Folsom September 20
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Rotary is more than the meetings we attend—it’s the connections we build, the service we give, and the difference we make in our community and beyond. Every project we take on and every hand we extend reminds us that our impact has no boundaries. When we live out "Service Above Self," we become part of something larger than ourselves—touching lives, inspiring change, and leaving a legacy that reaches far and wide.
