At our February 12 meeting, we will welcome Natalie Moore, Executive Director of CASA El Dorado, and will honor an outstanding student from Pleasant Grove School as our Student of the Quarter.
A lifelong El Dorado County resident, Natalie completed CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) El Dorado’s training in 2017. Becoming a CASA volunteer ignited her passion for serving foster youth and set her on a path dedicated to child welfare advocacy. She brings extensive experience to her role, including a law degree from Pacific Coast University and five years serving as court-appointed counsel for youth and families.
Natalie is honored to serve this vulnerable population as Executive Director—leading CASA El Dorado in the very county where her journey began.
Dave Sundstrom, has served as an ambassador for ShelterBox USA for the past year and a half and is currently the only ShelterBox ambassador in Rotary District 5190. His passion for emergency sheltering grew out of more than 27 years of volunteer service with the American Red Cross, primarily focused on mass care—providing emergency shelter, feeding, and supplies. Dave has been deployed more than 30 times across the U.S. and internationally and is president-elect and secretary of the Reno Sunrise Rotary Club.
Dave explained that ShelterBox helps people rebuild their lives after disasters or conflicts by providing the supplies most critical to recovery. As a humanitarian organization, ShelterBox is impartial, neutral, and independent, ensuring aid is delivered based on need alone—without regard to ethnicity, religion, or politics. ShelterBox is also Rotary’s official and only disaster-response partner.
Founded 25 years ago as a millennium project of a Rotary club in Helston, Cornwall, England—with an original goal of helping just 50 people—ShelterBox has now assisted more than 3 million people worldwide. Dave shared sobering statistics, noting that according to the United Nations, more than 120 million people are currently involuntarily displaced, with the largest humanitarian crisis occurring in Sudan, where 10 of 14 million people have been forced from their homes.
Dave also emphasized that ShelterBox responds not only in developing nations but here at home as well, citing recent assistance following the Altadena fire and North Carolina floods. He described how ShelterBox aid has evolved, relying less on tents and more on durable, locally constructed shelters, working closely with local partners to tailor aid to each environment and community.
Dave concluded by encouraging Rotary clubs to consider contributing $1,000 to ShelterBox, noting that all donations will be matched through the end of June. For more information or to support this effort, members are encouraged to contact Dave directly.
Our club, in partnership with other local Rotary clubs, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, and Wally’s Pizza Bar, is proud to co-sponsor the highly successful Third Annual Ethics and Leadership Conference for junior high school students.
As in previous years, the conference will be offered in two sessions:
Session One
March 9 | 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Students from Oak Ridge, Ponderosa, and John Adams Academy
📍 Bayside Church, 800 White Rock Road, El Dorado Hills
Session Two
March 16 | 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Students from El Dorado Union Mine, Classical Conversations, Pacific Crest Community, and Community Learning Academy
📍 Green Valley Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road, Placerville
Rotarians are encouraged to participate as mentors in this outstanding conference and may volunteer for one or both sessions. The first two years were a tremendous success, and we are excited to expand the program even further this year.
No special skills or expertise are required to serve as a mentor. Mentors take part in guided discussions and activities alongside students in small groups. Your life experience, perspective, and willingness to engage are all that’s needed. Whether you are currently working or retired, your participation is valued and appreciated—and it truly makes a difference.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided - courtesy of Wally’s Pizza Bar. This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with some of the best and brightest students in El Dorado County and to positively influence the next generation of leaders.
If you can volunteer—or know a business or community leader who would be a great mentor—please feel free to share this opportunity.
To RSVP or ask questions, please contact Dan Dreher
Several of our members who have participated in past conferences can attest to how impressive and inspiring these young leaders are. We hope you will consider volunteering and being part of this impactful event.
1) "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it." Charles Windmill.
2) "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Mark Twain
3) "Be yourself. Everyone else has already taken." Oscar Wilde
Featured Rotarian:
N/A
Announcements:
Adam Marshall:
1) Card for Bob Dorr- Please sign the card for Bob Dorr who has been unable to join us of late. A small contingent of members will present the card and "Rotary of Lion Award" recognizing Bob's more than 40 years of Rotary Service, at a future date. Please contact Laurie Edwards, who is coordinating the effort.
2) Hacienda Dog Park Thank You- We received a heartfelt thank-you email letter from a local resident expressing appreciation for the Hacienda Dog Park and sharing how beneficial the park has been for both her and her rescue dog's socialization. Adam also extended thanks to the CSD, and the Scout troop who helped us refurbished the park this past year.
3) Chamber Mixer- On Thursday, March 5th at 5:30 PM, our club will be hosting the Chamber Mixer at the CSD. As a result, we will be dark for lunch that day.
4)Area 6 Foundation Dinner is Thursday evening, March 26. We will be dark at noon. Placerville Rotary is hosting it at the Shakespeare Club in Placerville. Social begins at 5:30 PM, followed by dinner at 6:15 PM.
5)The 2026 Rotary Multi-District Conference, called the "Far West Fest," will take place May 1-3 in Reno, Nevada, at the Grand Sierra Resort, bringing together Districts 5190, 5220, 5170, and 5240 for a joint event focusing on fellowship, project showcases (House of Friendship), and collaborative ideas, with early bird registration available. Attending so far from the club: Adam and Sally Marshall, Dan Gott and Gary Clarke.
Dave Sargent:
1) Scholarship Committee Update- Dave thanked members of the scholarship committee and provided an update: academic scholarship applications have been picked up, and vocational scholarship applications will be received soon.
2) Membership Moment- Members are encouraged to participate in the Chamber Mixer we are hosting on March 5th. It is a perfect opportunity to network and share the Rotary story.
Sid Bazett:
1) Defensible Space Town Hall - The CSD is hosting a Town Hall on defensible space on March 12 from 6:00-8:00 PM. The event will include a simulation demonstrating what a wildfire might look like in Cameron Park, along with presentations from fire personnel, insurance agents and vendors offering services and equipment to help protect homes.
2) Board of Directors Opening- There is an opening on the CSD Board of Directors until the election in November. Cameron Park residents who are interested should contact Sid for more information.
Gina Posey: Poker Tournament Fundraiser on February 21. If you know anyone who plays poker, please encourage them to participate in the Shingle Shingles Community Center Poker Tournament on February 21. This is a fundraiser supports refurbishing the exterior of the community center.
Joe Ryan: The Boys & Girls Club Heros Fundraiser is scheduled for March 14.
Happy (or Not) Bucks
Bill Hughes: $100 Happy 🔔 (Bell Ringer). Bill called in his contribution to celebrate Kathe’s birthday and their 63rd wedding anniversary this month. Congratulations to Bill and Kathe!
Shawn Khales: $50 Happy to celebrate starting a new job with the Franchise Tax Board and for being able to use fellow Rotarians as character references (Adam Marshall, Dave Sargent, and Don Fuller).
Bill Ettlich: $100 Happy 🔔 (Bell Ringer) for being “elderly,” the nice weather, and his grandson’s recent acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.
Marlyn Pino-Jones: $100 Happy 🔔 (Bell Ringer) in appreciation of Tom Elken for convincing her to purchase a new computer and getting everything set up.
Dave Sargent – $79 Happy for being honest with Laurie Edwards that his birthday was not listed correctly in this week’s draft bulletin. Despite what ClubRunner says, Dave is celebrating his birthday this Sunday—not on June 19!
Birthdays in February
Sarkis Matossian
David Tavernetti
Shawn Khales
Dave Sargent
-----Spouse/Partners----
Geoff Brooks
Mark Villanueva
Ali Foulk
Anniversaries in February
Vickie Christensen and Perry McLain
Rotary Join Date in February
David Tavernetti: 18 years
Upcoming Sergeant at Arms Assignments
Please arrive early, serve as greeter, take attendance via the sign-in roster at the front desk, lead the pledge, introduce guests, provide words of wisdom, and other duties as requested. If you are unable to serve, it is your responsibility to find a replacement and notify President Adam.
