Welcome to Rotary District 5150

Rotary District 5150 stretches across Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties of the San Francisco Bay area. Our Rotary club members are people of action and inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in communities, both locally and globally. Rotary International forms a global network of business, professional, and community leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve communities and form strong, lasting friendships in the process.  Join us!

District Governor Message - June 2025
We started the year at the District Assembly last March 2024 with the D5150 and RI themes for the year of putting our Hope in Action and sharing The Magic of Rotary. Our Rotarians in this district have done exactly that. Through last week, we have been working on, in various stages, 21 Global Grants. We have produced 55 District Grants. With our Interact Clubs and our brand-new Rotaract Club of San Francisco we have tackled 36 environmental grants. And in new pledges alone, we have committed another $3,065,000 to The Rotary Foundation that will provide in the future for an additional approximate amount of $76,000 every year – every year – to our District Designated Funds.
 
Think about that for a moment, if you would. That amount . . . 
 
Featured Events

Thank you to our generous sponsors! 

Platinum Sponsor

 


Vantage Wealth Management, LLC
VantageWealthMgmt.com

Silver Sponsors

 
 
First Federal of San Rafael
FFSavings.com
 
Cavalla Chiropractic
District 5150 Blog

Rotary District 5150 is proud to recognize Janis Jerman of the Rotary Club for Global Action (RCGA) as our Rotarian of the Month for June 2025. A Rotarian for more than 21 years, Janis exemplifies service, leadership, and a deep commitment to both Rotary and her local and global communities.

Janis began her Rotary journey in January 2003 with the Rotary Club of New Britain-Berlin in Connecticut. During her time there, she served in multiple leadership roles, including several terms on the club’s board, Foundation Chair, Speaker Chair, and as the organizer of a district conference and the club’s largest fundraising event at the time. Her impact was felt at every level of club service.

HOPE IN ACTION and THE MAGIC OF ROTARY
 
We started the year at the District Assembly last March 2024 with the D5150 and RI themes for the year of putting our Hope in Action and sharing The Magic of Rotary. Our Rotarians in this district have done exactly that. Through last week, we have been working on, in various stages, 21 Global Grants. We have produced 55 District Grants. With our Interact Clubs and our brand-new Rotaract Club of San Francisco we have tackled 36 environmental grants. And in new pledges alone, we have committed another $3,065,000 to The Rotary Foundation that will provide in the future for an additional approximate amount of $76,000 every year – every year – to our District Designated Funds.
 
The Rotary Foundation’s programs are how members transform donations into sustainable projects that change people’s lives. Each year, a district can nominate one member to honor their commitment, enthusiasm, and passion for these ideals. This year, our nominee Keith Axtell was selected by the review committee as a recipient of this distinguished award.
 
Keith, a distinguished retired HUD executive, has been a Rotarian since 1996. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Major Donor and A Service Above Self recipient 2008-2009. He has served as District 5150 Grants Chair, Rotary Microcredit Action Group member and trainer, and organizer of numerous community and international service projects.
The Cliff Dochterman Award honors and recognizes an individual Rotarian who acts as a role model and renders distinguished and dedicated service to Scouting through active service, leadership or other exemplary contribution. The Award is named in honor of Cliff Dochterman, a distinguished Rotarian, former RI President and dedicated Scouter. The honoree must also be a dedicated Rotarian and serve his or her club and district with distinction.
 
Jeff Lowenstein, of the Rotary Club of San Mateo, is our Rotary District 5150’s newest recipient of the Cliff Dochterman Award, given by the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians.
Cyndy Simms began her journey with Rotary in 1987 as the first woman member and president of the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, then onward with Rotary Clubs in Placerville CA, Mercer Island WA, Walnut Valley CA, and finally alighting in Foster City Rotary in 2011 as she continued her Rotary involvement while pursuing her career in school district administration.
 
Her wide-ranging Rotary club involvements encompass serving as Club President Colorado Springs (1999 – 2000), Walnut Valley (2010-20110 and Foster City (2016-
2017) Rotaries; Community Services Director (2013-2015, 2022-2025); President Foster City Rotary Foundation (2017-2018); RYLA Camp Counselor/Facilitator (2017-
2019), and Avenues of Service Award (2019).
Service Above Self has long been a hallmark of Rotarians who devote their time and energy to helping their neighbors — near and far — in significant ways.  Rotary created the Service Above Self Award to recognize members who fully embody our primary motto. While many Rotary members distinguish themselves through service, we want to especially recognize those who make it a way of life.  Each year, each district governor can nominate only one member whose service activities have had an impact on humanity. From this pool of exceptional candidates, just 150 recipients are chosen, and this year, from the Rotary Club of San Mateo we recognize John Barrett.

Congratulations to Harry Thomas of the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise — Rotary District 5150’s Rotarian of the Month for May 2025!

Harry Thomas has been a dedicated and tireless member of the Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise since July 2007. Over the past 17 years, he has exemplified Rotary’s values through extraordinary service, quiet leadership, and an unwavering commitment to his club and community.

Harry has served in nearly every capacity imaginable: from Club Treasurer and Board Member to Club President in 2012–2013. He’s held roles on a wide range of committees, including Community Service, Youth Service, Vocational Service, Fundraising, Bylaws, Investment, and Debunking. He has also been a long-standing member of the Club Administration team, ensuring the early morning meetings run smoothly and efficiently.

 

In Rotary, with everything that we do for others, for most of us the only thanks we’ll ever need is the joy and personal satisfaction we find when we help others as we do.  Yet, we also have a human need for recognition and to just hear “thanks” now and then.
 
Rotary recognized this need a while back, and through Rotary we have a recognition plan that most of our members have probably never heard of.  It has the very catchy name of the Membership Society, with differing levels depending on membership sponsorship.
 
Protecting The Environment
Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment.
More than $18 million in funding from The Rotary Foundation has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment gives Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
 

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