This week’s program will feature Margaret Ervin and Laurie Heyman talking about hospice services and volunteering.
Margaret served in the USAF for 22 years in combat logistics and was deployed all over the world during her career. Her last duty station was at Beale AFB where she was a First Sergeant over the intelligence squadron. After she retired Margaret used her GI Bill and returned to college where she earned her BA in social work and then her Master’s of Social Work. She then took a position with Sutter Hospice and spent 20 years as a hospice social worker.
Margaret spends much of her time volunteering for charitable causes and has served several other non-profit boards.
For 19 years, Laurie Heyman has been a nonprofit fundraising professional with a passion for community engagement, relationship building, and creative communication. She serves as Philanthropy Development Director at Snowline Health. Laurie is known for her ability to cultivate strong partnerships, drive innovative outreach, and bring people together around causes that matter.
With a background in nonprofit and fund development, event planning, and marketing, Laurie has helped design and deliver impactful campaigns and events, including Snowline’s signature Battle of the Badges – 911 Chili Cook-Off, and raise millions of dollars for local children's and health care nonprofits. Laurie is passionate about community service, travel, hiking, arts and her boys.
Christine Fumiko Asoo Umeda shared her childhood experience of being incarcerated in America’s concentration camps during World War II. At just four years old, she and her family were forced into the Tule Lake and Topaz camps after the U.S. government ordered more than 110,000 Japanese immigrants and Japanese-American citizens to leave their homes and live in remote, military-style facilities. Stripped of their rights, they were removed without charges- an act that violated the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Of those imprisoned, 70% were U.S. citizens and 30% were immigrants. Euphemisms masked the injustice: “evacuation” for forced removal, “internment camps” for concentration camps, “non-aliens” for citizens, and “internees” for survivors.
Despite this, many incarcerated men served their country, joining the 100th Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service- units later recognized as the most decorated in U.S. military history. On December 18, 1944, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not detain citizens loyal to the United States. In January 1945, Christine’s family was released with only $25 and a train ticket. Returning home, they found their house vandalized and occupied by squatters.
Christine emphasized the importance of remembering this injustice so that it is never repeated. She has dedicated her life to education and advocacy, co-founding Jankenpo Gakko, a parent-cooperative Japanese-American cultural school, and the Florin Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). For over 20 years, she has also led the JACL Time of Remembrance program, preserving and sharing the history of Japanese-American incarceration.
Her message was echoed by Mana Nozu, who discovered her own passion for social justice after a bullying incident with a teacher in high school. That experience led her to join the Florin JACL, where she now serves on the Manzanar Pilgrimage Committee, working to educate others about Japanese-American history and inspire people to stand up against injustice. Together, Christine and Mana underscored the ongoing efforts of the JACL to ensure that the lessons of incarceration remain alive for future generations.
Save the date! Join us on Sunday evening, October 19, for a private gathering of Rotarians, neighbors and friends at the Observatory for pizza and fellowship, followed by an exciting evening of stargazing led by a talented team of dedicated docents. We'll also be welcoming Rotarians from the West Slope and the American River Rotary Club of Sacramento. The cost is $15 per person, with more details to come.
If the weather does not cooperate, the backup date will be October 26th.
Apologized for missing last week’s meeting, thanked Dan Gott for running the meeting and thanked members for their donations to sad bucks to cover the costs of lunches for the devoted and caring staff at Blue Oak School.
Congratulations to Gina Posey on her birthday and Dave Sargent for his 57th wedding anniversary.
On September 14, from noon through six, we are partnering with the Stage, Chamber, and Hands for Hope for the Jamboree- 50 vendors have signed up. Will have a Rotary booth selling margaritas. Need assistance with set-up, serving and clean-up.
Save the date- Rotary and Friends Night at the community observatory on October 19th.
We will honor Camerado Middle School Student of the Quarter at our next meeting.
Dave Sargent
Proud to announce that the Interact Club at Ponderosa High School has started with 17 new members. Excited to have Jennifer Pfeifer as the PHS advisor.
Don Fuller will be applying for District Governor 2028-2029. (Members unanimously endorsed his nomination after a resolution read by Adam Marshall.)
Cathy Dugan - There will be a Jamboree committee meeting following our luncheon meeting.
Don Fuller – Looking for volunteers to assist with this year’s Speech and Music contests.
Happy (or Not) Bucks
Ben Young - $100 happy that his schedule will permit him to attend more Rotary luncheons in the future.
Dave Sargent - $57 happy for his 57th anniversary with Carol.
Don Fuller - $20 happy for a family visit in France, and playing a French game called “cat.”
Adam Marshall - $25 happy for the start of an Interact Club at Ponderosa with his daughter Alina joining the club.
Birthdays in September
Don Fuller
Dennis Hamilton
Sabrina Ho
Gina Posey
-----Spouse/Partners----
Les Thompson
Anniversaries in September
Dave and Gina Crofut
Adam and Sally Marshall
Dave and Carol Sargent
Rotary Join Date in September
Jim Mog: 2 years
Upcoming Sergeant of 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.
Save the date! Join us on Sunday evening, October 19, for a private gathering of Rotarians, neighbors and friends at the Observatory for pizza and fellowship, followed by an exciting evening of stargazing led by a talented team of dedicated docents. We'll also be welcoming Rotarians from the West Slope and the American River Rotary Club of Sacramento. The cost is $15 per person, with more details to come.