On Thursday, October 10th, the 50 year celebration of the Early Childhood Mental Health Program was made even more special as our esteemed Rotary Star, Don Lau, received the prestigious Founders Impact Award.

Joined by Rotary President Henry Moe, fellow Rotarians, family, and friends, this momentous occasion honored Don’s unwavering dedication to transforming lives.

Richmond Chamber of Commerce 100 Year Anniversary Gala on Friday, October 4 from 5:30 to 8:30pm at Riggers Loft

Let’s celebrate 100 years of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce with a fabulous Gala event! The Richmond Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to mark its 100th anniversary this year! We have proudly supported our local businesses for a century, championed economic growth, and fostered a vibrant community.

Chevron will be hosting refinery tours and a classic car show on Saturday, October 5, 10 AM to 3 PM. Advanced registration is required by September 24. It will be a fun event for the whole family and a great opportunity for the community to learn more about their operations.

City of Richmond’s Economic Development Commission presents Restaurant Week, October 7-13th.

October 8th | 12pm-3pm | Lunch with I Love Granny’s Kitchen @ CoBiz Richmond
October 9th | 1pm-2pm | Lunch at Assemble + 2pm-on | Free Pickleball Lesson
October 10th | 11am-2pm | Lunch at Johnny Boi’s
October 11th | 6pm-9pm | Happy Hour & Dinner with Factory Bar, El Tucan, & Pra Jam
October 12th | 1pm-5pm | Wine, Jazz, & BBQ with Perfusion & Pickles N’ Smoke
October 13th | 1pm-5pm | End of the Week Celebration at the Backyard

Find out more at tasteofrichmondca.com

Join us for an evening celebrating 50 years of service to our community honoring our longtime supporters and special honoree guests, Rotarian Don Lau, Dr. Hunter Harris, Kadijah Johnston, and Dr. Gloria Castro.

An evening with wine selections from Riggers Loft and cuisine by chef Frank, inspiring speakers and hearing about the agency’s successes over the past 5 decade.

Visit the website to buy tickets: ecmph.org

Please join us at La Strada in San Pablo for a delicious dinner and drinks event, the Tequila Tasting Fundraiser, benefiting students at CCC on Thursday, October 10, from 6-8 PM as we continue to celebrate Contra Costa College’s 75th anniversary.

Sip on some of the finest tequilas (or wine if you’d prefer) paired with delicious food offerings.
Tickets are $75, with most of that donation going to support students.

It’s that time again!

Celebrate the 5th National Chess Day at the Richmond Chess Festival on Saturday, October 12th, from 11 AM to 4 PM at COBIZ Richmond!

Join the West Coast Chess Alliance for a fun-filled day of FREE, unrated, stress-free chess! Enjoy activities like Quad G30 (30-minute games), casual play, bughouse, and more!

Parking: Free at BART on weekends and available on the street.

Special Thanks: We would like to thank COBIZ and the Richmond Rotary Club for their support and helping us keep this event free!

Preregistration: We recommend pre registration as space is limited. Click the link below to register!

For more information, contact TC “the Black Knight” Ball at (510) 439-6311 or info@thewcca.com.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Join Us for Oktoberfest 2024!
Sunday, October 27, 1pm to 5pm

It’s time to celebrate for a great cause! The West County Salesian Youth Club invites you to our Oktoberfest Fundraiser, a day filled with lively music, our beer garden, great food and wine tasting!

Fun games and activities for the whole family!

Buy tickets online at wcsyc.org/events

Adults – $50 includes lunch & full access to wine tasting with three beer tickets

Kids – $15 includes lunch & full access to the kids’ activities area

Location:
West County Salesian Youth Club
2801 Moran Ave.
Richmond, CA 94804

Please join us this Saturday, September 21 at 9 AM for Coastal Cleanup day with free lunch at Shimada Park at Marina Bay.

Wear layers, a hat and/or sunscreen and closed toe shoes. All clean up supplies will be provided, but please bring a bucket, reusable gloves and a water bottle to help us reduce waste.

Pre-register at thewatershedproject.org

There was a full house at our Richmond Rotary meeting on August 9th. Congrats to Tom Herriman who received his blue badge (Go Blue!) and to Gerald Fay who received his Paul Harris plus 4! Service above Self!!

Happy 90th birthday to Fran Smith!

We are honored to welcome our new members, Ruthie Abelson Olivas, Michelle Denise Milam, Crime Prevention Manager at The Richmond Police Department, Sarah Wally, Ana Gutierrez, Ralph Payton, Executive Director of GRIP, and Ludmyrna Myrna Lopez, a former Richmond City Councilmember. A huge welcome to all!

At our last meeting of the Rotary Year, we were honored to recognize Club Member David Brown for his 20 years of service as Treasurer.

Calling all Richmond Rotarians! We are launching the ART FOR A CAUSE: Modern Children’s Art Exhibition Finale & Fundraiser.
Date / Time: Thursday, July 25th from 5pm – 7:30 pm.
Location: Richmond Museum of History & Culture.

Richmond Rotary members supporting the Latino Law Enforcement Association Crab Feed

Darlene put together a memorable celebration of Oscar Garcia’s Presidency. She sang a traditional Brazilian song accompanied with a saxophone player!

A great pic of our 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 club leaders. They make our club awesome!

Saturday, June 22nd
10am to 6pm
Richmond Juneteenth Parade and Festival
Honoring Police Chief Bisa French and Battalion Chief Rico Rincon
Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave, Richmond

Thursday, May 23rd 6-8pm

Join United Nations Association, East Bay Chapter, in collaboration with Berkeley Lions Club, for a dinner forum on the United Nations’ Role in nuclear deterrence.

Hear from three leading specialists, whose experiences includes leadership in United for Peace and Justice, advice to Mayors for Peace, Abolition 2000 Global Network, speaking to UN treaty-monitoring bodies and the International Court of Justice.

Doors 5:45, Dinner Reception 6pm, Program 7pm

UNA@ULC: 2425 College Ave, Berkeley (inside University Lutheran Chapel)

Calling all art enthusiasts

Join us at Bridge Art Space in Richmond for NIAD’s Win Win 12 Benefit Art Auction, the can’t-miss art event of the year celebrating and supporting NIAD Art Center.
This year, they’re shining a spotlight on two cherished members of the NIAD community: Studio Director Liam Golden and NIAD studio artist Felicia Griffin.

Prepare for an unforgettable event filled with great art, the best community, culinary delights, and Bay Area beats. Indulge in Reem’s culinary offerings while grooving to DJs Lamont and Billy Zillions.

Sunday, May 5th, 2024 10am to 5pm
The Cinco de Mayo Parade on Saturday is postponed due to stormy weather. While Saturday’s parade is postponed, the Cinco de Mayo festival set for Sunday, May 5 will continue as planned and is expected to draw thousands.
23rd Street between Rheem Ave and Clinton Ave

Richmond Rotarians: 23rd Street Merchant Association President: Gonzalo Ochoa and Senior Advisor Alan Baer

Wednesday May 15th at 5:00 p.m
RPAL, 2200 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond

Food will be prepared and distributed by youth completing the CCYSB Job Readiness Program.

Sandwiches, toiletries, and blankets to be distributed to unhoused Neighbors in need. First come,  first served while supplies last.

For more information email IMALAVE@wccysb.org

A heartfelt thank you to the Richmond Rotary Club, John Simon Ellis and Cheryl, Darlene Rios Drapkin, and the East Bay Pickle Ball Association for your unwavering support and encouragement at Free Family Day on Saturday, May 18th!

We’re thrilled to share the news of our recent Children’s Art Exhibition, held in collaboration with the Richmond Museum of History & Culture. This event marked the culmination of our program, and it was a resounding success.

The exhibit showcased the incredible artwork created by the talented young artists in our program, as young as 2 years. Seeing their work displayed in a museum setting was a truly moving experience for the families involved.

This exciting showcase is on view from May 18, 2024 – July 27, 2024, highlighting the artistic talents of the young artists nurtured at Children’s Art Studio Richmond.

Gallery hours: Thursday – Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm

We weres honored to host the Shimada Student Ambassadors for lunch on March 22nd. The exchange students visited Richmond for a week and brought maps and tour guides from the city of Shimada and other towns in the area.

On Saturday March 23rd, there was a well attended community conversation event at the Richmond Museum of History and  “From Underinvestment to Flourishing: Reinvigorating the Arts in Richmond”.
Left to Right are: 
Evelyn Santos (Executive Director of the Richmond Museum of History & Culture) and contributing panelists Michele Seville, B K Williams, Jenny Balisle, and Richmond Rotarians Maria Tuttle (moderator) and Tiffany Harris.

Saturday, March 16, 2024
Feast on delicious crabs while supporting the Salesian High School Interact Club.
Cocktails: 6PM. Dinner: 7PM
2851 Salesian Ave, Richmond
Tickets are $70 each or a discounted price of $630 for a table of 10.

Tickets must be purchased before March 8th

Contact Erle Brown for seating requests after payment. Contact Henry Moe for general information.

Saturday, March 16 from 10am to 2pm
Enjoy a day of networking and mingling with other powerful women in the Richmond community at Lavonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond

Saturday, March 23, 2024
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Richmond Museum of Culture & History, 400 Nevin Ave, Richmond, CA 94801

The Richmond Museum of Culture & History is launching their inaugural “Know Your Community” series, a series of roundtable discussions designed to foster community dialogue and celebrate the rich diversity of Richmond, California. The first panel discussion, titled “From Underinvestment to Flourishing: A Community Dialogue on Reinvigorating the Arts in Richmond,” features Richmond Rotarian Maria Tuttle.

Congratulations to our newest Blue Badge member, Rolanda Wilson

We had a blast!
BARSHEEP TGIFF mixer at El Sol Restaurant on February 23rd.
Members of our neighboring rotary clubs: Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, and Pinole.
El Sol Restaurant,
224 Pacific Avenue,
Rodeo

Feb 3rd
Richmond Rotarian, Tamara Shiloh received the Community Service Award at the NAACP Richmond Branch- 35th Annual Freedom Fund & Membership Awards- Elevate Richmond Masquerade Gala. Speakers included Rotarian WCCUSD Superintendent Kenneth Hurst, Sr.

Great job by the planning committee and congratulations to all the honorees! Our stunning Chief of Police Bisa French stole the Mardi Gras themed show.

BARSHEEP Sponsored by San Pablo Rotary Club on January 26. At El Agave Azul.
Good food, cocktail’s and definitely good company.
Meet the members of our neighboring rotary clubs: Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, and Pinole.

In the first month of 2024, Richmond Rotary welcomed several new members from the community and local businesses.
On January 12, we welcomed Richmond Police Chief Bisa French. Membership Chair Yenny Garcia conducted the induction ceremony. Secretary Pam Jones pinned Bisa. Don Lau was honored to be her sponsor.
On January 26, we welcomed our new Corporate Members. From Chevron, team leader Brian Hubinger sponsored by Don Lau and from Sims Metal, team leader Jill Rodby sponsored by Oscar Garcia. Club President Oscar Garcia conducted the induction ceremony, and also inducted an individual member, Neville Guard sponsored by Jonathon Lawlis.

Update your calendars, the Holiday Auction is Friday, December 8th.
Holiday Gift Shopping That Benefits Your Community
Visit our Holiday Auction page to browse other members’ donations and to add your own to the collection. For the benefit of all the local organizations we support, let’s make this a really successful fundraiser.

Oct 10
The fundraiser at The Multicultural Bookstore was sponsored by Contra Costa Youth Services Bureau. The First Annual Bisa French Contra Costa College Scholarship is for women seeking a degree in Administration of Justice. Thanks to Richmond Rotary who attended for their support! Yenny Garcia, Don Lau, Oscar Garcia, Tamara Shiloh, Shawn Dunning

We are pleased to welcome our new members of Richmond Rotary this year.

Our District Governor, Suzanne Bragdon, along with Club President, Darlene Drapkin, and Foundation Chair Erle Brown were pleased to recognize our multiple Paul Harris Fellows and their continued support of the Rotary Foundation: Gerald Fay, Jan Brown, and Henry Moe.

No Club Meeting on Friday, July 1st– it’s the 4th of July weekend.