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The Rotary Club of Pleasanton since 1965 has been a leader in the community in helping make Pleasanton a great place to live. They meet for a luncheon meeting from 12:15-1:30 p.m., every Thursday, at Hap’s Restaurant, 122 W. Neal St., Pleasanton. Cost for lunch is $17. For information, visit www.PleasantonRotary.org.
I am a 23 year member and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Pleasanton. If you would like to talk to me about membership you can call me at 925-462-5016.
Why are there two Pleasanton Rotary clubs? What is the difference? What is their purpose?
There are actually 3 Rotary clubs in Pleasanton. My club, the Rotary Club of Pleasanton, is the original club and helped sponsor the other 2 clubs. My club meets on Thursday noon, the Pleasanton North club meets Friday at noon and the Tri-Valley Club meets, I believe, on Tuesday night. There are more than one club in many cities because it gives the members different dates and times to meet to fit into their schdules and keeps the club size manageable.
Rotary International is the world’s largest non-governmental, non-religious service organization. There are over 32,000 clubs and 1.25 million members in virtually every nation in the world now that the Iron Curtain has collapsed. Every club is independent and every member has their choice in the projects they pursue locally, internationally and in serving seniors and youths.
For example, some of my club’s local projects have been:
1. Cleaning up the Arroyo del Valle
2. Cleaning up the city’s cemetery
3. Doing most of the preparation work for the Centennial Park at the south of main street.
4. Planting years at Sports Park (many years ago).
5. Providing the initially funding and direction for installing the “Blue Dots” you see on the street indicating there is a fire hydrant. This was done many years ago when there was much more open land causing more frequent and heavier fog days.
6. Providing park benches
7. Providing city trash cans
8. Helping with the Home Town Holiday Parade
Some international projects have been:
1. Working in conjunction with Rotary International and the World Health Organization to virtually eradicate polio world wide.
2. Providing goods and supplies to the citizens of Pleasanton’s Sister City, Tulancingo, Mexico.
3. Working with the Wheelchair Foundation we raised funds for and helped deliver over 3,000 wheelchairs to cities and many Latin American countries.
4. Raised funds for and help medical teams go to various countries to operate on children who have severe cleft pallets and/or lips.
Some areas of youth support have been:
1. Sponsored 2 Boy Scouts troops
2. Sponsor the Amador Interact service club.
3. Reading to and helping school age children read.
4. Mentor some of the students at Village High School.
5. Plan, organize and run the annual Father’s Day Spirt 5K-10K Run. This has raised up to $60,000 annually and is given to Pleasanton students who need financial assistance going to 2 year or 4 year colleges.
Some senior projects have been:
1. Providing a Christmas meal to 350 seniors annually.
2. Helping over 75 seniors annually with miscellaneous work around their residences.