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2024-25
2025
June
  Video of Scott MacDonald, San Jose State Deputy Athletic Director, presented at our regular meeting on June 26th. Scott leads all revenue generation for the athletics department, including oversight over development, sponsorship, communications, marketing and tickets. He serves as the sport administrator for football, men's golf, women's golf, and women's swimming and diving.
Almaden Valley-Willow Glen Rotarians celebrated their Charter Party at the Blue Sky Restaurant on June 28th. Also included was debunking of President Ken Tavernier by John Baker and presentation of Rotarian of the Year to Emilie Highley.
     
Almaden Valley-Willow Glen Rotarians in charge of BBQing at the OCC Poker Tournament on June 21st
 
 VIDEO of Shea Salinas presenting to our regular meeting of June 19th. He is the Head of Youth Soccer Partnerships and the San Jose Earthquakes' Club Ambassador. Shea is a former Major League Soccer (MLS) player who only recently retired at the end of 2022 after a 15-year career which included 13 seasons for the San Jose Earthquakes. Among all players in MLS history, Salinas ranks 10th in games played (374) and top-100 in MLS history both in assists (53; 43rd) and minutes played (20,623; 83rd).
 VIDEO of Dawn Coppin presentation to our regular meeting of June 12th on the San Jose Library Foundation. The mission of the San Jose Public Library Foundation is to support educational programs and resources through the public library, schools, and community-based organizations, and to create an educated, equitable, empowered and engaged community. The vision of the San Jose Public Library Foundation to envision a community where everyone has equitable access to lifelong learning to reach their full potential in school, career, and life.
VIDEO of Kelly Snider, Urban Planning Affordable Housing Consultant, presentation to our regular meeting of June 5th on Land Use, Community Building, Entitlement, and Planning & Real Estate Development Services. Kelly is a SJSU Professor and expert in Urban Planning and Affordable Housing.
May
 Francisco Valenzuela of the San Andreas Regional Center presented at our regular meeting of May 29th. The San Andreas Regional Center, based in Campbell, Calif., is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation that is funded by the State of California to serve people with developmental disabilities
 Deputy Chief Gina Tibaldi, Chief Executive Officer of the San Jose Police Department presented at our regular meeting of May 22nd. Deputy Chief Gina Tibaldi was born and raised in the City of San Jose. She attended the University of Southern California, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical/Chemical Engineering. She then received a Master of Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado Denver. She has worked for the San Jose Police Department for over 22 years.
VIDEO of Joosey Chamberlin of the California Native Garden Foundation presentation at our regular meeting of May 15th. Our Vision is a world where children have access to nature, people can grow their own food locally, and there is a balance between human activity and natural ecology. The Mission is to roll out a new land-use model in order to leverage urban spaces for education, workforce development and climate resiliency, through a variety of partnerships. In this way, we can build food security and food sovereignty for our communities, while restoring local ecology, and giving youth the ethic and the skills for a more sustainable future. Their website is https://cngf.org/
 Jennifer Estrada of Amnesty International presented at our regular meeting of May 8th. Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who are committed to creating a future where human rights are enjoyed by everyone. United by our shared humanity, we know that the power to create positive change is within all of us.
 VIDEO of Maureen Christopher's presentation of the Friends of the San Jose Rose Garden at our regular meeting of May 1st. Rolling green lawns and colorful showy blooms highlight the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, named "America's Best Rose Garden." Hardly a day passes when some species is not in full bloom, with more than 3,500 plantings and 189 varieties featured. Early May brings acres of fragrant, majestic roses at arguably their most beautiful stage. San Jose's 5 1/2 acre Municipal Rose Garden – a one-time prune orchard – is today one of the most attractive of its kind in the world, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
April
Gregg Consentino celebrated his 60th birthday at the Brittania Arms
    
VIDEO of END POLIO NOW | Thank you Rotary
 Bobbi Atak, Chair of District 9 Leadership Group presented at our regular meeting of April 24th. The District 9 Leadership Group is a group of community-minded volunteers working together to build stronger neighborhoods and promote the interests of District 9 residents by fostering neighborhood leaders and active associations,
 United States Representative Jimmy Panetta spoke at our meeting on April 17th. He proudly serves California’s 19th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. His diverse and beautiful district stretches from south San Jose in Santa Clara County, over the hills into Santa Cruz County, down the coastline of Monterey County, and into northern San Luis Obispo County. First elected in 2016, he is serving his fifth term in Congress. He currently serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means and House Committee on the Budget. He also serves as a Chief Deputy Whip in the 119th Congress.
FACEBOOK page submitted by Rep Jimmy Panetta on his visit to the Rotary Club of Almaden Valley-Willow Glen.
     
FCSN Fishing at Ed Levin Park
 VIDEO of UPA student thank-yous. Patty Wiggin participated in ELC this past weekend along with John Baker as a Mentor! ELC is a Leadership Training Opportunity that mulitple clubs come together to put on and host.
Members of the Rotary Club of Almaden Valley-Willow Glen had a great time at the San Jose Barracuda's game even though they got clobbered (not the Rotarians) by the Abbotsford Canucks from Canada on April 4th.
  
 Paul J. Gonzalez spoke at our regular meeting of April 3rd. Paul has been enjoying his career as an artist for over 18 years. Paul is a muralist, illustrator, ceramicist, art instructor and mixed media artist. You can see some of the 100+ murals he has painted in a variety of public places throughout the Bay Area. You can also check them out on his website pauljgonzalezartstudios.com
March
 Our illustrious President Elect 2N Glenn Belshaw shared with us his experience at the President Elect Training Seminar at our regular meeting on March 27th. This was Glenn's first official opportunity to represent our club as our incoming president.
 Rod Diridon, Sr. spoke at our regulaar meeeting on March 20th on the topic of membership. Rod is a key figure in modern transit development in Silicon Valley. After serving in the Navy and founding the Decision Research Institute, he became the youngest member elected to the Saratoga City Council in 1971. He later chaired the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and Transit Board for 20 years. Rod led several major transportation initiatives, including the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and co-founded APTA's High-Speed Rail Committee.
VIDEO of UPA Team Building as hosted by Patty Wiggin and Bob Carlson for a team building exercise.
St. Patrick's celebration at the Britannia Arms on March 17th.
  
 VIDEO of Cassie Kifer's presentation at our regular meeting of March 13th. Cassie is the author of Secret San Jose: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure and San Jose Scavenger. Her travel writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Delta Sky, Via/AAA Magazine, Thrillist, and other publications. She also shares stories and photos about food and travel on her blog, Ever In Transit.
 
At noon before Cassie's presentation, a sudden hail storm hit.
VIDEO of the opening celebration of San Jose's fourth all-inclusive playground located at Almaden Lake Park on March 8th.
   
VIDEO of Michelle Pualual, AKA "Bombshell", speaking at our regular meeting of March 6th about her experiences at The Burning Man Festival. Burning Man is a week-long event in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada that celebrates art, community, and self-expression. The event culminates with the symbolic burning of a large wooden effigy called "the Man"..
February
VIDEO of Almaden Lake Playgarden.
 VIDEO of Sage Hopkins presentation at our regular meeting of February 27. Sage in his 20th season as the head coach of the San Jose State University women's swimming and diving program. He was named to the post full-time in April, 2006, after serving the 2005-06 season as the interim head coach.
 VIDEO of the Campbell Park Project. A big thank you to our Club Representatives as well as Interactor Volunteers for all the work done this Presidents Day!
 VIDEO of the Q and A with San Jose City Council Member and Vice Mayor, Pam Foley. Pam Foley first earned her seat in November of 2018 to represent District 9, which includes neighborhoods in the southwest corner of San José. In January 2025, she was nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by her colleagues on the City Council to serve in the expanded role as Vice Mayor.
January
 Ms. Casey Rettid of US Drug Enforcement Administration spoke at our regular meeting on January 23rd. Casey is the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) San Jose office.
VIDEO of the Almaden Valley-Willow Glen Rotary Club celebrating the New Year at Mexico Lindo on January 19th.
        
        
 Michelle Peacock, Global Head of Public Policy for Waymo, presented at our regular meeting of January 16th. Michelle's career has centered on building and growing government relations programs for large, small, established and startup companies in financial services, high tech and transportation.
 VIDEO of Gretchen Feyer's presentation of Broadway San Jose at our regular meeting on January 9th. Gretchen is the General Manager of Broadway San Jose where Silicon Valley finds the New York Broadway Theater Experience. Performances take place at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, an historic 2,677 seat theater in the middle of Downtown San Jose. Whether you live in here or are visiting our city for business; whether you are with someone special for a romantic weekend or here with the whole family, Broadway San Jose has the theater tickets and special added experiences for the Broadway shows you want to see.
A couple of birthdays for two of our club ladies
2024
December
Southside Senior Luncheon
Willow Glen Senior Luncheon
Christmas Families Wrap Party at our regular meeting of December 5th.
      
    
November
 VIDEO of Stephen Samuel speaking about the U.S. Tech Education Center at our regular meeting of November 21st. USTEC supports current and returning veterans along with underserved communities. The unique program is accessible and beneficial to veterans with disabilities. Stephen is also dedicated to increasing and diversifying the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline by providing rapid workforce-based Computer Aided Design training.
 VIDEO of Ben Leech of the Preservation Action Council of San Jose speaking at our regular meeting of November 14th. The Preservation Action Council of San Jose was founded in 1990 and is a dynamic nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to preserving our unique and diverse architectural and cultural heritage. Through advocacy, education, and civic engagement, the Council promotes historic preservation as an essential tool for fostering equitable, distinctive, sustainable, and prosperous communities.
VIDEO of Mark Purdy, Sports Journalist/Author, presentation to our regular meeting on November 7th. Mark reported on the NFL for 43 years, including coverage of the San Francisco 49ers for 31 years as a columnist at the San Jose Mercury News before retiring in 2017. He was honored by both the Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal for writing one of America’s top 10 sports columns. He and Dr. Fitzgerald Hill wrote Crackback!, analyzing the challenges faced by Black college football coaches.
October
VIDEO of an Interact Park Project on Sunday, October 27th. A group of Interact volunteers came out and made a big effort in planting trees and laying bark. A big thank you to Waite Consentino for literally burning the late night oil and smoking ribs and BBQ'ing chicken for an OCC thank you to the volunteers who help OCC put together packages each week.
 Lucy Hsu, World Traveler spoke at our regular meeting on October 24th. She has officially visited 193 nations and joined the elite ranks of humans who have visited every nation on Earth which is the number of nations that are members of the United Nations.
Italian Festa at ASRC
District Governor, Jill Deurig, visit to our regular meeting of October 17th but at the Edith Morley Park.
      
 
 VIDEO of Pastor Ralph Olmos, Lighthouse Food Rescue and Distribution (LFRAD) presentation at our regular meeting of October 3rd. Pastor Ralph Olmos spearheaded the creation of LFRAD in 2020. In 2021, LFRAD officially opened their food pantry to the public as a non-profit organization. The organization operates as a free farmer’s market-style store, adhering to the poor and unhoused needs. Lighthouse Food Rescue & Distribution throughout the years has obtained multiple partnerships and gained the trust of the community.
September
VIDEO of Edith Morley Park Workday consisting of 16 Interactors from 4 of the Interact Clubs, UPA, Oak Grove, Del Mar and Silver Creek that are sponsored by the Almaden Valley-Willow Glen Rotary Club worked together to refinish the picnic tables at Edith Morley Park On Sunday September 30th They were joined by a handful of our West Valley RCC members as well as AVWGRC members.
 VIDEO of Chris Shay, San Jose Sharks SVP of Government Affairs presentation at our regular meeting of September 26th. Chris comes to Sharks Sports and Entertainment after a 25-year career that has spanned time at three Bay Area universities - Stanford, Santa Clara University and San Jose State University.
VIDEO of Deb Kramer, Executive Director of Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful at our meeting of September 19th. Deb has been involved with Coyote Creek since 2014. Our vision is that Coyote Creek is a resilient ecosystem for all living things to enjoy. Our mission is to Engage, Educate and Encourage – Bringing communities together to take action for, learn about and play along a healthy Coyote Creek.
VIDEO of Campbell Veterans Memorial Foundation presentation at our weekly meeting on September 12th. The Mission is to honor and support all veterans, to raise awareness of their contributions, and to provide support for their families. They accomplish this mission by fundraising to provide resources to veterans & their families, providing information on Veteran resources, and maintaining the Campbell Veterans Memorial in Campbell, CA. .
 VIDEO of Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Supervisor District 2 presentation at our weekly meeeting on September 9th. Cindy represents 500,000 residents in District 2. This is the most densely populated of the five supervisorial districts and includes portions of central, eastern, and southern San Jose. She was sworn into office in August 2013 following a special election and has been re-elected twice to full terms.
August
 Adrian Rafizadeh of Back to Basic Community Group presented at our weekly meeting of August 29th. Back to Basics is a community group designed to hold local government accountable for delivering real results on the basic issues that affect all of us. They believe in a city that can hire enough well-trained police officers to keep our neighborhoods safe. They believe in building the safe and decent shelter we need for all our unhoused residents and then requiring all of our homeless neighbors to come indoors. They believe in focusing on the basics like clean streets, a strong economy, and a government that works better for everyone. https://backtobasicssj.com is the Back to Basics WEBSITE
  City of Cambpell thanks Rotarians for their help with Parks Projects. Bob Carlson presents Thank You's on behalf of the City of Campbell to Glenn Belshaw, Ken Tavernier, Jessie Consentino, and Gregg Consentino.
 VIDEO of Hon. Julia Alloggiamento, Judge of the Superior Court presentation at our regular meeting of August 22nd. Julia was born and raised in San Jose, California. Judge Alloggiamento graduated cum laude from UCLA for undergrad and magna cum laude from UC Law SF for law school. Judge Alloggiamento was sworn in as a Superior Court Judge in January 2011. Her current assignment as of January 2023 is in a Civil Trial Department where she presides over a variety of civil matters including class actions, employment discrimination, and long cause trials involving probate, family law, civil harassment and more.
Thanks to all the members of the Rotary Club of Almaden Valley - Willow Glen who helped with the successful catering of the Ducks Unlimited Sponsor BBQ Fundraiser on August 15th.
      
 
VIDEO of our amazing opportunity to partner with Team Depot to beautify FCSN’s Southbay location on August 3rd! Together, we planted over 20 plants and herbs, 2 trees, and laid mulch in both the front and back of the center. A huge thank you to the 35+ volunteers from our Rotary Club of Almaden Valley - Willow Glen, West Valley Rotary Community Corps, The Home Depot Campbell 0642, City of Campbell and Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) who made this possible. It was a total success!
     
      
      
Theank you notes from the Camp RYLA participants.
   
July
Club members and volunteers were at the Almaden Lake on July 27th supporting the San Andreas Regional Center to promote donations to the All Inclusive Playgarden at the 8th Annual Superhero 5K Festival.
  
 VIDEO of Stan Acton presentation at our regular meeting of July 25th on ADUs. He has been a builder since he was 10 years old. It began the day he broke his father’s wooden mallet. The mallet was a family heirloom that Stan’s father had crafted himself on his own father’s antique Shopsmith lathe. Stan was devastated and rushed to grab a hunk of old firewood. He carefully took the wood, placed it on the antique Shopsmith–and in that moment, his passion for carpentry was born.
 VIDEO of Dr. Russell Hancock, President & Chief Executive Officer of Joint Venture Silicon Valley presentation at our regular meeting of July 18th. Russell is best described variously: as a civic leader, community gatherer, institution builder, civic entrepreneur, social scientist, and outspoken advocate for regionalism. Since taking the helm he has grown the size of the organization ten-fold; assembled a potent board filled with mayors, CEOs and university presidents; built strategic partnerships; recruited a highly talented staff; founded the Institute for Regional Studies, and launched initiatives that are delivering measurable results to the region.
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