City Designates February as "Rotary in Pleasanton Month"

The City of Pleasanton has declared February “Rotary in Pleasanton Month” in recognition of decades of community service delivered by its three Rotary chapters in the spirit of their motto of “Service Above Self.”

Mayor Karla Brown presented the proclamation Feb. 11 at a meeting of Pleasanton North Rotary (PNR). Rotary District 5170 Gov. Richard Flanders, Rotary Club of Pleasanton President Bill Evans, PNR President Michael Cherman, and Tri-Valley Evening Rotary Representative Wallace Wong were on hand to accept the certificates.

The proclamation honored Rotary International (RI) for its 117-year history as the nation’s first and foremost service organization and the vision that has enabled its 1.4 million members and 46,000 chapters to deliver positive change around the globe. Pleasanton’s Rotary clubs share RI’s legacy and traditions.

The proclamation acknowledged the Rotary Club of Pleasanton’s sponsorship of college scholarships recognizing the academic achievements of the city’s graduating seniors. Since 1993, the club has awarded scholarships valued at $900,000. Its contributed $139,000 to the Rotary International Foundation just in the 2021-22 Rotary fiscal year.

Brown described how Pleasanton North Rotary (PNR) has raised over $2 million in its 35-year history through community-wide events, such as its annual Tri-Valley Turkey Burn Run/Walk. They support youth programs, including the district’s annual speech contest, local Student of the Month awards, international youth exchanges, and scholarships to the district’s Youth Leadership Academy, and local high school graduates.

The proclamation congratulated Tri-Valley Evening Rotary Club for supporting many local and regional service projects, including its Family Day BBQ at the VA hospital, coat collection benefiting local homeless shelters, East Bay Stand Down, an intensive rehabilitation program for homeless and needy veterans, and its Christmas Miracles event for 300 residents.

Brown emphasized the growing regional influence of Pleasanton’s Rotary clubs, especially the leadership of District Gov. Flanders, who is also a Pleasanton North Rotary member and Pleasanton resident.

Over the years, Flanders has helped raise over $2 million for The Rotary Foundation, the primary mechanism for funding international community service projects, $175,000 for Rotary Polio Plus to eradicate poliomyelitis, and $160,000 for wheelchairs from the Danville-based Wheelchair Foundation. Thanks to Flanders’ leadership, District 5170 will distribute more than 1400 wheelchairs to disabled children and adults during upcoming trips to Mexico and Serbia.

In addition to the mayor’s signature, the proclamation was signed by Vice Mayor Valerie Arkin and council members Jack Balch, Kathy Narum, and Julie Tesla.