Thank you to Danielle Nelson, Executive Director of the Janet Goeske Center for joining us today. And congratulations to President Elect Nick Lopez on leading his first meeting for Riverside East Rotary!
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Today we were joined by Carrie Ridgway, Executive Director of Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. It was great to learn more about the history and amazing impact that the center has on our community.
We were also excited to welcome two new members to our Rotary Club today: Suzette Marie Gutierrez and Stan Fry!
And last but not least, Daniel Smith got his member badge and Matt Barth got his “Past President” badge.
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Gary was able to maintain order for his first meeting despite promises of increased fines and lots of travel. He may need to find a Sergeant-at-Arms soon though to help keep things in line.
We were honored to welcome Francis Reyes as the newest member of Riverside East Rotary. She was officially inducted by President Gary Christmas, District Governor-Elect Richard Lemire, Executive Assistant Governor Cal Boothby, and Assistant Governor Matt Goatcher. Recently joined member Susan Freeman also received her official badge—welcome to both!
We also exchanged club banners with our friends from Redlands and held a Club Assembly to discuss plans and goals for the year ahead. It’s shaping up to be an exciting Rotary year!
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We had an amazing presentation from Dean and Zyan of Ohmio at our Riverside East Rotary club meeting!
Ohmio is at the forefront of the future of transportation, leading innovative projects not only here in Riverside but around the world. Their work is a great example of forward-thinking technology and global impact. We’re excited to see how they continue to shape the future of mobility!
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Gary Christmas and Richard Lemire proudly represented Riverside East Rotary at the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Alberta.
At the Zone 26/27 Big West Breakfast, Richard had the honor of presenting a beautiful drawing of Rotary trailblazer Sylvia Whitlock—created by fellow club member Ben Ziraba Nyende. Sylvia, the first woman in Rotary, remains a true hero and inspiration to Rotarians everywhere.
While at the convention, Richard also joined Bob Tincher (Redlands), Stacy Fifield (Indio), Francesco Arezzo (Rotary International President-Elect), and Cal Boothby (Redlands) for a group photo.
The Rotary International Convention is an extraordinary gathering that brings together Rotarians from around the world to celebrate service, share ideas, and find inspiration through powerful stories and global connections.
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Congratulations to Matt Goatcher for receiving the Riverside East “Rotarian of the Year” Award and to Ben Nyende for receiving the Riverside East “Rookie of the Year” Award! These awards were given out by Matt Barth at the Demotion Party on June 13th and at the Club Meeting on June 18th in honor of service throughout the year.
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We were honored to be joined by Erin Edwards at our Riverside East Rotary meeting to learn about the Blue Zones Initiative launching in Riverside.
The Blue Zones Project focuses on improving community well-being and increasing longevity by making healthy choices easier through changes in environment, policy, and lifestyle. The initiative aims to create a ripple effect of better health across the city.
Thank you, Erin, for sharing how this innovative program is helping build a healthier, happier Riverside!
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Riverside East Rotary gathered for our annual Demotion Party with a strong turnout of around 40 members and guests. Outgoing President Matt Barth took time to thank his board for their hard work and support throughout the year. We also welcomed Gary Christmas as our incoming president, and his new board was officially sworn in. It was a night of celebration, great conversation, and lively camaraderie. Congratulations to Matt Barth for a fantastic year full of achievements!
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Today we welcomed guest speakers Andrew Walcker and Brandon Ripley, who shared exciting plans for the upcoming Riverside Adventure Park.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming our newest member, Susan Freeman, to the club—great things ahead!
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On June 10th, Riverside East Rotary held its final Board Meeting of the Rotary year, which runs from July through June. As tradition goes, a new president and board take over at the start of each new Rotary year. This meeting marked the end of Matt Barth’s term as president, and we look forward to starting the new year next month under the leadership of incoming president Gary Christmas.
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