4th Annual Public Safety Awards Luncheon

On September 18, our evening meeting was replaced by the 4th Annual Public Safety Awards Luncheon, where we proudly recognized the outstanding men and women of the Folsom Police Department and Folsom Fire Department who exemplify extraordinary dedication to serving our community.

This year, eight individuals were honored for their professionalism, service, and commitment to keeping Folsom safe.

Folsom Police Department:

• Officer of the Year – Jon-Mikkal Personius

• Supervisors of the Year – Sgt. Brian Mendenhall and Sgt. Mike Grueneberg

• Dispatcher of the Year – Alyx Eichhorn

• Professional Staff of the Year – Laura DeHaan

Folsom Fire Department:

• Firefighter/Paramedic of the Year – Austin Cia

• Supervisor of the Year – Battalion Chief Ben Signor

• Professional Staff of the Year – Christina Thongthep

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!

A huge thank you to our incredible Rotarian volunteers who prepared and served the food, ensuring this event was a success. We are grateful not only for the service and sacrifice of our honorees, but also for our Rotary family that makes events like this possible.

To view additional photos: >> Public Safety Awards Luncheon

 

Folsom Zoo Project

On Monday, September 15, a crew of Rotarians spent the day at the Folsom Zoo, removing the roof from the Reptile House, making repairs, and preparing it for a brand-new roof installed by Straight Line Roofing and Construction.

To view additional photos: >> Folsom Zoo Project

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Folsom Community Service Day 2025

For Folsom’s 12th Annual Community Service Day, our club rolled up our sleeves and tackled not one, but two projects. 

At the Granite School, we planted trees and bushes, installed a drip system, and spread mulch to create a welcoming new space.

At Kids Play Park (Castle Park), we helped finish demolition work to make way for the exciting rebuild of this beloved community treasure.

Once again, our Rotarians showed what “Service Above Self” looks like. Because when we unite for good, we are always #BetterTogether

To view additional photos: >>  Community Service Day

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Oktoberfest 2025

Oktoberfest is almost here. We are asking members to please purchase four tickets, whether to attend personally or to invite others. We are also still in need of sponsors for this important fundraiser.

If you own a business—or know one—please consider partnering with us to promote your work while supporting a great cause.

For sponsorship questions, contact John Baciocco: john@insurancebrothers.com

Oktoberfest Sponsorship Information and Tickets

Let’s make this another successful Oktoberfest!

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Upcoming Rotary Events:

Friday Night Live Music at The Palladio: The Rotary Club of Folsom, in partnership with The Palladio, presents free live music in the Piazza every Friday night from September 19 through October 17, 2025 at 7 P.M. This week’s (September 19) performance features G-Ride, a funk cover band. Bring a chair, a friend, and your dancing shoes—because Rotary isn’t just about service, it’s also about community and fun!

Folsom Renaissance Faire – September 27-28, 2025:

Folsom City Lions Park, 403 Stafford Street

Don’t miss your chance to wander through history, fantasy, and festivity all in one enchanted village. Knights clash, minstrels play, jesters scheme, and the village comes alive for all ages. Our Rotary Club will be selling beer and mead—come out to support our club! Bring friends, and enjoy the festivities!

Sacramento Century Challenge – October 4, 2025

Presented by the Rotary Club of Sacramento, the Sacramento Century Challenge is the region’s premier cycling event, drawing more than 1,150 riders annually. Now in its 12th year, the Challenge will benefit the Sacramento Children’s Home Crisis Nursery program, which protects children from abuse and neglect.

The ride begins on Capitol Mall in downtown Sacramento and travels through the scenic Delta wine region to Isleton before returning to the Capitol. Cyclists can choose from four routes: 100 miles, 63 miles, 36 miles, or 16 miles. After the ride, participants can enjoy a Post-Ride Festival featuring live music, delicious food, and local beer and wine vendors.

Rotarians Ryan Jantzen and Josh Brannan will be riding this year—reach out to them if you’d like to join! Samantha Davidson will also be volunteering at the event.

Register here >> Sac Century Challenge

This Week’s Guest Speaker: Alenka Vrecek, Author

Alenka Vrecek is the author of She Rides: Chasing Dreams Across California and Mexico, a memoir about her solo, 2,500-mile mountain bike journey from Lake Tahoe to the Baja Peninsula. Her story chronicles the physical and emotional challenges she faced, including illness and injury, and celebrates resilience, courage, and the pursuit of long-held dreams.

Rotary Reflection:

As Rotarians, we do not just talk about service—we show up for it. Whether it is honoring our public safety heroes, helping rebuild a park, or raising funds for community projects, each act of service reminds us that together, we can transform lives. Service Above Self is not just our motto—it is our way of life.

A huge thank you to Frank Woods for capturing and sharing so many photos of the memorable moments from our service projects!