Membership is critical to the long-term health of Rotary Clubs, and Dr. Bill Wittich will provide an outstanding presentation designed to help our club attract new members. Emphasis will be placed on building a balanced membership that includes younger, middle-aged and older Rotarians.
The central theme of Dr. Wittich’s program is a shift in mindset – from recruiting members to attracting them. As a nationally recognized speaker and author in the field of non-profit management, Dr. Wittich travels approximately 100 days each year presenting to professional associations and Rotary clubs across the country. He holds a doctorate from the University of Southern California and he has authored a dozen books in the association and non-profit leadership. His most recent book, Stop Recruiting, Start Attracting is available at Amazon.com.
A dedicated Rotarian, Dr. Wittich is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Laguna Sunrise and has served as an Assistant Governor for District 5180. He has also been an instructor for Far West PETS for over ten years.
Scott Finley, a board member of the Friends of Stone Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Elk Grove, spoke to our club about the refuge and its vital role in supporting wildlife. A resident of El Dorado County for 37 years, Scott brings extensive experience as a birder and a deep passion for conservation.
Scott explained the mission of Friends of Stone Lake, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. He highlighted the refuge’s importance for a wide variety of species, including sandhill cranes, snow geese, and other waterfowl, and emphasized its critical role along the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds.
He also discussed how regulated hunting helps support the refuge and outlined several challenges it faces, particularly pressures from urbanization. Scott addressed specific concerns related to large infrastructure efforts such as the Delta Conveyance Project, stressing the importance of ensuring that the refuge’s integrity and ecosystems remain protected.
Scott encouraged both Rotarians and the public to visit Stone Lakes and other nearby refuges, noting the many educational and recreational opportunities they offer. He concluded by thanking us for our support and inviting everyone to visit the Friends of Stone Lake website for more information, as well as to read his article on snowbirds in the valley in the most recent edition of Around Here magazine.
The Rotary Club of Cameron Park Bicycle Program, chaired for many years by Joe Ryan, is a beloved community service project centered on recycling, rehabilitation, and restoring hope. Partnering with El Dorado Disposal and Folsom State Prison, the club rescues discarded bicycles and turns them into opportunities. Inmates refurbish the bicycles in a dedicated workshop as part of a vocational training and rehabilitative program. Bicycles that cannot be repaired are responsibly recycled, with proceeds used to purchase replacement parts and safety helmets.
The Rotary program also accepts year-round donations of bicycles, parts, and tools from the community, supplemented by regular contributions from Trek Bicycle in El Dorado Hills and Folsom along with other local bicycle shops. Recently, the Rotary Club partnered with second and third grade students at the Golden Hills School in El Dorado Hills, who collected 26 bicycles, along with parts and repair materials, during their B.L.A.S.T. (Bringing Leadership and Service Together) Day, bringing education and service together in a meaningful way.
At Folsom State Prison’s annual Christmas Bike Donation Program on December 11, Rotarians Gary Clarke, Don Fuller, Dan Gott and Marlyn Pino-Jones assisted in the distribution of 150 bikes to non-profits. Bikes were provided to the Folsom Moose Lodge, Union Gospel Mission, Lao Family Community Development, and Ukrainian refugees in Sacramento County, and to Euniece Law the Legacy Continues in Alameda County- just in time to bring holiday joy and reliable transportation to families who need it most.
This innovative program exemplifies Service Above Self, delivering environmental benefits, valuable job skills, and meaningful community impact.
The following is a press release from Golden Hills School re: its partnership with our club on November 25 for a school-wide bicycle and bike parts collection. Our members transported the donated items to Folsom State Prison where inmates will refurbish the bicycles. Once completed, the bikes will be picked up and donated to adults and children in our and several other communities:
"Golden Hills School Students Give Back During Annual B.L.A.S.T. (Bringing Leadership and Service Together) Day"
Golden Hills School, located in El Dorado Hills, is a fully accredited, private, non-profit school serving Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade. GHS is proud to continue its tradition of combining academic excellence with character development, social-emotional growth, and physical wellness. Each year, the entire GHS community participates in B.L.A.S.T. Service Day, which stands for Bringing Learning and Service Together. This schoolwide initiative engages students in meaningful acts of service throughout the local community.
“BLAST educates our students about areas of need in the local community and how they can help make a difference,” said Dr. Kimberly Waite, Head of School.
This year, GHS teachers, Shanna Schifferle and Jana Britt, and their 2nd and 3rd grade students partnered with the Cameron Park Rotary Club for a schoolwide bike collection. The Rotary’s well-known Bike Program, Pedal-it-Forward, collaborates with local organizations to rescue bicycles from landfills, provide mechanic training to inmates, and donate refurbished bikes to children and refugees. Thanks to the generosity of the GHS community, students collected 26 bicycles, along with bike parts and materials needed for repairs. Families further supported the effort by distributing flyers throughout the community.
This hands-on project not only supported a valuable local initiative but also gave students a tangible experience in service learning—highlighting how teamwork and compassion can make a real difference, one bike at a time.
Throughout the day, GHS students also participated in a wide range of service activities across the community, reinforcing the school’s commitment to developing engaged, responsible, and empathetic young citizens.
1) Lion of Rotary awards were presented at our Christmas Party honoring members with 40+ years of service in Rotary. Today, Don Mai, was given this honor celebrating his 54 years in Rotary. Congratulations, Don!
2)Area 6 Foundation Dinneris Thursday evening, March 26. We will be dark at noon. Placerville Rotary is hosting.
Happy (or Not) Bucks
Dan Gott: $10 Happy for the new year. Stuart Warner: $10 Happy for the new year. Kathy Thompson: $10 Happy for today's speaker, who like her is a birder. Thankful for the outstanding job Marlyn Pino-Jones does finding speakers. Adam Marshall: $50 Very Happy and proud to celebrate his daughter, Alina, who recently earned her blackbelt in martial arts and serving as an instructor for younger children. Dave Sargent: $10 Happy that all scholarship applications are due February 1. He jokingly advised that the scholarship committee to mark February off of their calendars, as they will be busy reviewing an estimated 60-70 academic scholarships applications.
Birthdays in January
Anne Eckert
Liam Roddy
Bill Ettlich
David Roth
JoEllen Brooks
Doug Shupe
-----Spouse/Partners----
Linda Grieco
Kathe Hughes
Anniversaries in January
Bill and Kathe Hughes
Rotary Join Date in January
Joe Ryan: 44 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.
