Over the past years, the Rotary Club of Sebastopol has successfully implemented many significant and popular programs which have a measurable positive impact on the residents of our West Sonoma County Community, and provide opportunities for Rotarian hands-on participation. These programs are noted below. Our club is proud of the leadership role we bring to Western Sonoma County as we funnel energy and dollars back to the community.

Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center

In 2009/2010 the Rotary Club of Sebastopol and the Rotary Club of Petaluma joined forces for their District Simplified Grant application. They teamed up to bring needed help to to the Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center located east of Petaluma. The District awarded each club $1,100 and each club also provided and additional $1,000 for total funds of $4,200.

The funds were used to purchase supplies and pre-fabricated sections for a 30 foot long accessibility ramp. The design and labor to assemble the ramp were provided pro-bono by club members. Giant Steps serves people of all ages and a range of disabilities. In the coming year they will also be providing services to disabled veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ramp will allow the riders greater ease mounting the horses, and allow some riders to benefit from thearpeutic sessions who would not be able to mount horses otherwise.

Rebuilding Together

Each April, The Rotary Club of Sebastopol has participated in the 'Rebuilding Together' program. The goal of this program is, in one day, to rehab and repair the homes of elderly or disabled persons, many of whom are at or below the poverty line. Our club has "adopted" a home in the Sebastopol area each year and with the help of a House Captain and volunteers from the club has repaired roofs, installed bathroom fixtures, painted, upgraded electrical, installed a lift for one disabled person and done extensive landscaping.

'Rebuilding Together' is a national program with a chapter in Sebastopol. A local committee receives applications and then chooses the homes for the one day blitz. Our club is then assigned a home and a house captain who evaluates what can be accomplished in a day. Gene has organized the event, and Bob Carey and Greg Gill have served as past house captains.

In 2008, we had over 30 volunteers of all ages. It has proven to be a wonderful "hands-on" outreach for our club, and the impact on the home owner's lives goes beyond words. The club also donates from $3,000 - $4,000 each year to this project.

Community Grants

Our Community Grants Program allows us to funnel funds for a number of worthwhile and needy recipients throughout our community every year. Our second round of funding in February 2009 totaled $42,450. Projects include:

• Replace Playground Equipment at Ives Park, phase #2 ($12,200)
• Funding for a Drinking Fountain and Rotary Plaque at Sebastopol's new Skate Park & Community Garden
• Replacement of worn-out pool cover roller at the city swimming pool
• Music in the Schools Program
• Database software for Restorative Resources
• Palm Drive Hospital ER Equipment
• Reading Lab Kit for Special Education students
• Project Graduation
• Replace arson damaged soccer equipment

Click Here to see a comlete list of past projects or to get an application.

Sebastopol Rotary Speech Contest

Our club provides a venue for students of the three local high schools to develop their communication skills. On alternating years, the competition features either a speech presentation of six minutes to the club membership or an audio-visual film. The subject matter chosen for the contestants challenges the presenters to take a position on timely issues that reflect the principles of Rotary. Cash prizes are awarded to the first through third places ($125, $75, $50) but all participants will receive at least $25 for their effort.

On May 2, 2008, five Analy High School students competed in the Sebastopol Rotary Speech Contest. The topic for this year was "Climate Change: Societal and Local." The winner of the contest, Gordon Allen, received a $125 award. All of the speeches were well delivered and thought out, and displayed the excellent quality of education available at Analy High School.

The Teacher Mini-Grant Program

The Teacher Mini-Grant Program is a community wide program that provides school teachers with funds to complete projects that would otherwise not get done. One of the most urgent needs in our community is to provide funds for highly motivated teachers to allow them to give the best education possible. Grants in the amounts of $50 to $400 are available to teachers in four funding cycles per year. Funded projects include Robotics Kits, Wall Size World Maps, Veterans Dinner, Challenge Day, and Outdoor Activity Equipment. Our Mini-Grant Program is partially funded with dollars generated from our Crab Feed, put on with the assistance of our three Interact Clubs. Total funding for Teacher Mini Grants since its inceptionin 2002 is over $100,000.

Cool Kids Camp - www.rotarycoolkidscamp.org

The Cool Kids Camp program is dedicated to providing at-risk youngsters with a week of relaxation and fun at a quiet camp setting in the West Sonoma County Redwoods. Our club sponsored 3 children to the camp this year.

Read to Me Program

The "Read to Me Program" has matured from just 3rd graders at Pine Crest School to 4th and 5th graders, and then onto another school, Gravestein, for 1st through 5th grades. It grows and changes with the needs. The program was started by our own Rotarian, Patti Blount. We are proud of it. But more than that, it is program tht touches youngesters' lives, improves on their chances for a better future.

In the beginning, Mel Davis, a Sebastopol Rotarian and volunteer since the start, points out, "At first, we weren't told much about why the student had been selected". But now the Program Coordinator, Deborah Drehmel is permitted to share a student information form from the teacher. The volunteers are also being given more prep guidance. We're encouraged to ask the readers, "What does this word mean?" Or, "What is this story about?"

Sometimes there can be an unexpected result from the work with a student. Mel reports that "At the start of this last spring I asked about a student who is no longer assigned. Earlier, I had told the Coordinator the the boy would mispromounce the second word in every paragraph. For example, he would pronounce "Stay" as "Say." I spent weeks trying to figure out what was prompting this. I was baffled. Nor could the coordinator find an answer at first. But when I walked in the door this fall, Ms. Drehmel told me 'Yes, he has a unique impediment. He has been assigned a trained tutor.' It made me feel good that I had been part of that, giving him another chance."

The most shared reaction from the Rotary Volunteers are: "You soon realize that the kids you are assigned look forward to your visit. There's no stigma. They're faces light up, and they rush to get their books. It's almost as if it's a privilege for them to be assigned this special attention."

A new problem has been identified by Judy Skram wife of the Program Chair, Dave Skram. "A youngester having problems in reading told me that his father is not at home anymore. He's stationed in Iraq. That must cause stress for the child."

Judy Skram expressed a common sentiment of the volunteers: "The children are so special. I know some don't have time to read at home, or their parents cannot read or speak English. So I'm glad that they get attention from us. It's the one-on-one that makes a difference."

Deborah Drehmel, the Program Coordinator, thanks the Sebastopol Rotary Club for the $5,000 our club earmarks each year for Read to Me. Besides the coordinator's position, the funds go to create Read to Me Libraries, which has now built up to a hefty 800 volumes at each school. Rotary has also paid for 20 literacy games and plays that encourage the children to think. The games challenge the volunteers as well. Ms. Drehmel points out, 'I notice that the Rotarians aren't hesitant to join in the games. Often, it is the students who win, though!' "

If you'd like to spend an hour or two a week to be a volunteer, call Deborah Drehmel at 829-3886. Rotarians and non Rotarians are welcome. We need more volunteers for a weekly commitment of an hour, or as standby volunteers.

Learn To Swim

Learn To Swim strives to teach every second grade child in Sebastopol basic swimming skills. While our immediate goal is water safety instruction, the program also alleviates the fear of water found in about 20% of the students. We employ student water safety instructors who are teamed up with Rotarians, spouses, and community volunteers. Classroom teachers and parents of students supervise some of the activities making this a truly intergenerational program. Through the years Sebastopol teachers have always fully supported and look forward to this program for their students. Learn to Swim educates 250-300 youngsters per year and involves around 50 support personnel (15 to 20 Rotarians, 20-25 community volunteers, plus teachers and pool staff). We are proud that since its inception 20 years ago, over 6,000 students have gone through this program since its inception. We wonder: How many drownings have we prevented? Our annual cost for Learn to Swim is $5,000.