TOGETHER, WE

TRANSFORM

TOGETHER, WE

CONNECT

TOGETHER, WE

INSPIRE

TOGETHER, WE

SAVE LIVES

TOGETHER, WE

FIGHT HUNGER

TOGETHER, WE

EMPOWER

TOGETHER, WE

MENTOR

Attend a meeting

Join us on a Wednesday convenient to you and experience the fun and friendship of the Rotary Club of San Jose!

Contact our Executive Director, Leslee Hamilton for more details and to RSVP at (408) 297-6101.

Join us

Fill out an application and join community leaders. Become a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose.

Take action

“Service Above Self”

Rotary is a service organization of business and community leaders united worldwide.  Rotarians are making a positive impact in our local and global communities.

The Rotary Club of San Jose

Benefiting the community and our world through action, integrity, service, and fellowship.

The Rotary Club of San Jose is the largest, most active and well-known service organization in the community. We are a leadership organization working together to make a difference. Our members include local business, nonprofit, professional and civic leaders. We form lasting friendships through our shared Rotary experiences including weekly meetings with interesting speakers, committee meetings and projects, social events and group service projects within our community and internationally.

Diversity & Inclusion

Having a diverse and inclusive Rotary Club means we value and welcome individuals of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, and races to our Club. We invite younger people, women, and minorities who support Rotary's values, ideals, and mission to join our members in service to our community, and we strive to give all members equal opportunities to serve as leaders within our Club.

The Speaker for October 28th: Congressman Sam Liccardo

In his talk, "Updates on California's 16th Congressional District," Congressman Sam Liccardo will share his legislative priorities and recent initiatives since taking office in January 2025. This session offers San Jose Rotary Club Members and constituents an opportunity to engage with their new representative and learn about his vision for the district's future.

Congressman Sam Liccardo represents the 16th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. He’s focused on addressing the issues that matter most to residents, including homelessness, the rising cost of living, gun violence prevention, standing up for reproductive rights and preserving democracy. Prior to his tenure in Congress, Sam served as the Mayor of San Jose and as a prosecutor in both the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and in the Southern District of California. 

 


Lunch Order for October 28th Meeting

Scott's Seafood will provide lunch ($30*) at Wednesday's meeting.

The buffet lunch menu includes: 
Starters: Lobster Bisque Soup
Entrees: Miso Glazed Salmon, Chicken Madeira, Pasta Primavera
Sides: Sauteed Seasonal Vegetables, Jasmine Rice


Please order your lunch by Monday, October 26th by 12noon. Plan ahead and order early! Late orders will be charged an extra $5. Same-day lunch will be $40.


Important note: If you have a prepaid pack, you still need to register, so we have enough food.
 
Click here to place your lunch order. 

*Rotary is underwriting the Service Charge and Sales Tax. Your lunch reservation is non-refundable once the order is placed on Monday at noon.


In Loving Memory


2027 Membership Directory

We are working on the 2027 Membership Directory! You should have received an email from Marie with your current information. If any data is incorrect or missing, please either log into DACdb to update it or email Marie giving the updated information.  

Want to update your DACdb photo?
Our talented Photography Committee will be holding a "photo booth" before the meeting on November 4th from 11:30-12noon. No need to reserve a spot! Just make sure to show up early and dressed to impress! All photos are due on November 4th.

Interested in advertising your business or service?
There is still space in the directory for a full-page ad or a business card-sized ad! Please reach out to Leslee Hamilton at if you are interested. The deadline for commitment is November 12th. You must be a member to advertise.

Mobile App
Also, you can always access up-to-date directory information through the DACdb app, which is available for Apple and Android phones.


Next Big Project Committee Is Seeking Proposals

To submit a proposal, please fill out this form by Friday, November 6.
To submit a proposal, please fill out this form by Friday, November 6.


Saturday Hike sponsored by Fun and Friendship


Veteran's Day Parade

Save the Date for the Veterans Day Parade!

Instead of our regular Wednesday noon meeting, we’ll be joining the Veterans Day Parade or cheering on those who participate. Come out and show your support for our veterans!

More information to follow.


Bob Kieve Statue Unveiling

To RSVP, please contact Marianne.Salas@salasobrien.com


End Polio


Our Rotary Club’s PolioPlus champion, Sandra Jewett, will speak to our club on October 28th. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the campaign and make a donation to support this important cause.


Rotary Clothing


While in Lexington for the Large Club Conference, Pres. Elect Kathleen noticed an ED wearing a Rotary-branded blouse that offered an alternative to the usual polo or button-down shirts. 

She reached out to the company that the Austin club uses, and now there's a "Rotary Swag" link on our homepage, or you can use this link to peruse the catalog. You'll also find the usual polos, jackets, hats, etc. for men and women, all ready to carry the Rotary Club of San Jose logo. 


The Meeting Summary for October 21, 2026

The meeting was held at the Hammer Theatre. President Tim Gill welcomed us to meeting number 5542 at 6 p.m. It was a short business meeting, with most of the meeting focused on the Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards.
New member Ryan Alpers was introduced by his proud father Rick Alpers. Ryan’s membership was sponsored by Rick and Jim Nielsen. Ryan is a fourth-generation Rotarian. He teaches at Pioneer High School.

Robert Massey of Symphony San Jose gave a report on the downtown arts scene. He said the arts help form the economic backbone of downtown. He encouraged members and guests to view visual arts or to visit a performance of opera, theatre, ballet, or the symphony in coming months.
 
Two upcoming club events are a hike this Saturday in Saratoga and the Veterans Day Parade on Wed. Nov. 11. There will be an offsite meeting on Veterans Day, and members are encouraged to march in the parade or ride in a vehicle the club will provide.
Stephanie Bielanski-Fehr, chair of the Leigh Weimers event, told us about the 14th annual event, which was held this year for the first time in the evening. Five winners were awarded prizes. The event honors the memory of Leigh Weimers, longtime Mercury News columnist and champion of the arts, who passed away in 2012.  To date, the program has provided grants totaling $263,500 to 53 artists, including this year’s five winners. The program focuses on up and coming artists.
This year the committee received 146 applications, the most ever. The artists were introduced by Lisa Mallette.  Each awardee gave a short speech before their performance.
 
 
Yeonglee Kim performed on the violin. She was accompanied by Seungjin Han on piano.
Matt Locke, a musical theatre artist, sang two songs. He was accompanied by Jeremy Harris on piano.
Leisar Garcia Sandoval, a visual artist, presented a slide presentation of his artwork on Indigenous communities.
Alex Delgado spoke about being a nonbinary opera singer and performed a piece from Le Nozze di Figaro.
Delaney Ewert has been a member of New Ballet San Jose since 2023, and she danced The Grand Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire.
 
After the performances, Stephanie and Lisa were named Rotarians of the week by President Tim. The meeting was adjourned.




Respectfully submitted by Larry Sokoloff, Meeting Summaries Committee
To see all pictures, click here thanks to Carl Cilker and Kathleen Thomas, Photography Committee.
Video is available Leigh Weimers Emerging Artists Awards

 


New Member Dan Carter

Dan Carter owns a Senior Care Authority franchise, focused on helping people make informed decisions about senior care and living options. Most often working with the adult children, Dan strives to simplify an often complex and emotional process.
 
He grew up in Connecticut and was fortunate to jump on the personal computer wave in the early 80's. What started as assembling machines led to jobs in tech support and ultimately a successful sales career that brought him to Virginia, then California. 
 
Dan and his wife Karen will celebrate their 32nd anniversary in October, and their 2 kids are both engaged with weddings being planned for the spring.
 
So far he's joined the Service to Seniors committee, and looking forward to other opportunities to give back and help the community.



 


New Member Ryan Alpers

Sponsored by Rick Alpers and Jim Nielsen

Born and raised in San Jose, Ryan is a professional educator in the San Jose Unified School District. Teaching High School English since 2010, Ryan was awarded the Lincoln Foundation Teacher of the Year in 2016, the Pioneer High School Teacher of the year in 2024, and the California Teachers Association W.H.O. (We Honor Ours) Service Award in 2026. He is active in his local teacher union, San Jose Teachers Association, and currently serves on their Executive Board as well as a State Delegate for the National Education Association Representative Assembly.  He is father to two children, Aurora and Wyatt, and loves spending the day at the beach with them. His wife, Julia, manages San Jose State’s Alumni Magazine. Ryan attended Bellarmine (Class of 2003) before majoring in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. He obtained his Teaching Credential at San Jose State and completed a MS in Mass Communication at San Jose State in 2016. He currently mentors aspiring educators by serving as a Mentor Teacher for credential students at San Jose State in the Lurie College of Education. Ryan enjoys playing the piano, running, and is an avid outdoorsman. His father, Rick Alpers, inspires his BBQ activity, and has been “voluntelling” his time with the Executive Chefs since 2011. Currently living in the Japantown Neighborhood of San Jose, Ryan and his family love walking down to Jackson Street to enjoy the food (particularly ramen) and culture the area brings. Ryan is a 5th generation Californian and 4th generation Rotarian. 

 


Calendar

Red Badge Committee Meeting

More info

Refugee Support Committee Meeting

More info

Neurodiversity

More info

Leigh Weimers Committee Meeting

More info

SJSU Committee Meeting

More info

Sip & Swing Hosted By Fun and Friendship

More info

ELC Meeting

More info

Unhoused Impact Committee Mtg

More info

Paws to Consider Committee Meeting

More info

Book Club

More info

Environmental Sustainability Committee Meeting

More info

Fun and Friendship Committee Meeting

More info

Environmental Sustainability Committee Meeting

More info

Refugee Support Committee Meeting

More info

Gala Meeting

More info

International Service Committee Meeting

More info

Paws to Consider Committee Meeting

More info

DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS

Congressman Sam Liccardo
Speaker: Congressman Sam Liccardo
Updates on California's 16th Congressional District
October 28th 2026 at 12:15 pm
More info

Professor Dean Winslow
Speaker: Professor Dean Winslow
Providing life-saving medical care to Iraqi children with Rotarians' frequent flier miles
November 4th 2026 at 12:15 pm
More info

Veteran's Day Parade--no noon Meeting
Speaker: Veteran's Day Parade--no noon Meeting

November 11th 2026 at 12:00 pm
More info

Thanksgiving Program
Speaker: Thanksgiving Program

November 18th 2026 at 12:15 pm
More info