New president for Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has named Jim Carruthers as club president for its 2023-2024 Rotary year. Carruthers joined the club in 2017 and has previously led the club’s community service and governance committees.
“Leading our community grants process for the past few years has provided me with valuable insights as to where the need for Rotary service projects and grants can help make a difference,” said Carruthers.
“During the past twelve months, our club awarded more than $79,000 in grants to nonprofits and educational groups throughout Sonoma Valley, including Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen, the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, Comida Para Todos – Food for All, and Homeless Action Sonoma,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing both our impact and reach into how we as Rotarians can serve our community.”
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has several activities planned for this coming Rotary year, including its annual St. Patrick’s Day “Luck of the Irish Raffle” that funds grants to local nonprofit groups and various community improvement projects.
The club plans to continue partnering with other community organizations, like the Sonoma Ecology Center and Jack London State Historic Park, to support hands-on service projects.
“We will continue to partner with organizations to leverage our resources for the good of this community, whether it is the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters, Family Dog Rescue, or Transcendence Theater Company,” Carruthers confirmed. “We also continue to look forward to supporting projects that improve conditions beyond Sonoma Valley.”
The club led an effort last year to raise $75,000 from Rotary clubs around the world to provide new sanitation facilities for schools in remote western Nepal, and the club also supported the Sonoma Sister Cities Association with their fundraising efforts for Kaniv, Ukraine.
“Our club will be exploring opportunities to support local organizations in Sonoma Valley with their mental health programs, especially those programs focused on our youth,” added Carruthers.
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley meets at noon on Wednesdays at the Sonoma Golf Club. Visitors are welcome. Contact John Coulston at [email protected] to attend.
