Our meeting was cancelled as April 30 was the fifth Thursday of the month. Our activity was to attend the Choose Folsom Awards at Lakeside Church from 4:30 to 7 pm. Our club was well represented at the event and as some of our members are also members of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, they participated in the event.

Justin Raithel presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Matt Loughran.

Charlie Grows, 2025 Grand Marshall of the Folsom Rodeo and Brian Martel. also past Grand Marshall of the Folsom Rodeo presented Harry Elliott with the 2026 Grand Marshall of Folsom Rodeo Belt Buckle.

Solomon Chis presented Jodi De Smidt as Ambassador of the Year.

 And, the main reason that so many club members were at the event, Joe Gagliardi presented John Messner with the Community Impact Award. Among many comments, Joe said John embodies the Rotary motto of “service above self,” and has done so in ways that extend well beyond the local level. “That commitment doesn’t stop here,” he said. “It extends internationally.”

Jim Snook presented the inaugural Legend in Motion Award to Choose Folsom CEO Joe Gagliardi. For more than three decades, Snook said, Folsom has grown, evolved and defined itself as one of the most vibrant communities in the region. The award, he said, honored a man whose vision, leadership and relentless commitment have helped shape that journey and continue to guide where Folsom is headed next.

Snook said Gagliardi helped lay the physical foundation for a city built with purpose and connectivity. As CEO of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, he said, Gagliardi reimagined what a chamber could be — not just a business organization, but a catalyst for economic vitality and community pride. He founded the Folsom Economic Development Corporation, launched the Tourism Bureau, created the Tourism Business Improvement District and co-led 17 study missions.

Club members and spouses at the Awards.

After party at Plank Craft Kitchen and Bar.