On Tuesday, January 21, our lunch program will be autobiographies from new members Eric Taylor and Ron Parodi, and long-time member and past president Mark Capell!

Come learn more about some very interesting fellow Rotarians!

Eric Taylor is an attorney at Brix Law. His diverse business and real estate practice focuses on acquisition, disposition, and financing of various real estate assets, leasing, mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning and general corporate and real estate matters. He’s represented clients in large scale real estate financing transactions in variety of asset classes as well as affordable housing projects utilizing complex debt stacks incorporating both public and private funding.

Ron Parodi has lived in Bend for five years and he is the General Manager at KTVZ News Channel 21. He has served in the TV/Media business for over 25 years. Since moving to Bend from Scottsdale, Arizona, Ron, and his wife Lori have welcomed their two daughters with their families (yes, that means 5 grandchildren) to the community as full-time residents as well. Besides wrangling the grandkids and grilling at large family gatherings, Ron enjoys golf, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, road trips that include their two golden retrievers and riding horses “western style”. He and his wife still own horses in Arizona that are being used for therapy at an at-risk youth and horse rescue non-profit ranch.

Mark Capell has been a member of our club for 22 years. He is a past president and a past co-president. Mark is retired. He recently sold the IT business he started 22 years ago. Before that he worked in Sales Management and Planning for American Airlines. Mark spent 8 years on the Bend City Council. His family has been in Bend since 1916.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, our lunch speaker will be Jenny O’Bryan, Executive Director of the St. Charles Foundation.

Jenny is an Oregon native who has spent the past two decades working in the nonprofit sector, first with the Portland Rose Festival Association, and then as Senior Vice President of Revenue and Development at the Children’s Cancer Association in Portland. Over the past several years, the Foundation has provided funding for much-needed advancements for the region, including leading-edge equipment, scholarship programs, grants, patient services and multiple capital projects like the Bend patient tower, which houses St. Charles’ 24-bed Intensive Care Unit and 28-bed Progressive Care Unit.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, January 7, our lunch program will be our annual New Year’s Toasts, led by Neil Bryant. If you’d like to give a toast during the meeting, we’d love to hear what you have to say.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (Deschutes South, our usual room), and virtual. Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link. You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, our lunch speaker will be Anthony Poponi, and he’ll be talking about “Happiness & Resilience in the Workplace”. Anthony moved to Bend from Colorado in 2020. His career has included decades of work in the public and non-profit sectors. His experience specific to youth development includes serving as a school educator and working as staff for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawaii. Anthony has also been a foster parent twice and profoundly appreciates those who support youth in any capacity.

Currently, Anthony’s business, Focus on the 40, offers a mix of professional speaking services, workplace training, and workshops focused on the applied research of positive psychology: the study of human happiness.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, our lunch speakers will be Karen Brockway, Lisa McCoy, and Megan Minkiewicz from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Guide Dogs for the Blind is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in San Rafael, California and a 50-acre campus in Boring, Oregon, which opened in 1995. GDB is the largest guide dog school in North America and has been raising and training guide dogs since 1942. Its mission is to empower lives by creating exceptional partnerships between people, dogs and communities.

Our speakers will be Karen Brockway (co-leader/puppy raiser), Lisa McCoy (co-leader/puppy raiser), and Megan Minkiewicz (puppy raiser). Between Megan, Lisa and Karen they have over 75 years involvement with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Lisa has raised 8 puppies, Megan has raised 19 puppies as an adult, she and her family have raised 43 dogs. Karen is currently raising her 10th pup.

They’ll be talking to us about the history of the organization, where the main campus is, what the puppy raisers do, and opportunities to work with their organization. We’ll also learn about the Bend Puppy Raising Club.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, our lunch speaker will be Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO. Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders. Their mission is to create a diversified local economy and a strong base of middle-class jobs in Central Oregon.

Jon is responsible for leading the organization in accomplishing its mission to create a diversified local economy and a strong base of middle-class jobs in Central Oregon.

Prior to taking the role as CEO, Jon was on EDCO’s leadership team as Sr. Director of Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) where he his role included recruiting, retention, and expansion of traded-sector businesses and assisting them with issues such as business finance, site selection and zoning, facilities development, manufacturing processes, product marketing, workforce training, attracting and retaining a labor force, and incentives for expansion and relocation in the City of Redmond.

Jon is a past President of the Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA) and was honored with the “Economic Development Leader of the Year” award for Oregon in 2015. He served on the Redmond Chamber Board of Directors for two terms and chaired their Membership Committee in 2002. Additionally, he has played an active roll on the planning committee for Youth CareerConnect, the former Central Oregon Job and Career Expo, and the Bend Chamber Professional Development Council.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, November 12 2024, our lunch program will be on our club’s Bill Berg Foundation, presented by Kyle Frick. The Foundation continues to grow and support annual local scholarships, youth programs such as The Gift of Literacy in collaboration with the club, and World Community Service funding.

Kyle will be presenting the financials and sharing how our members can contribute to the club legacy and future funding needs.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, November 5, our lunch program will be a presentation from Katy Brooks, CEO, Bend Chamber of Commerce.

Her vision for the chamber is to catalyze an environment where businesses, their employees and the community thrive. The chamber supports a collaborative business environment and leads efforts to resolve on tough issues like the affordable housing and childcare shortage, assisting businesses with resources, and advocating for business at the local and state level.

Katy’s background in economic development, coalition-building and government relations enables her to understand public policies and issues in order to advocate for the businesses of Bend as well as forming partnerships and alliances that support a growing business community.

Her career has included over 20 years working in public affairs and economic development for the ports of Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. She has been a public affairs and strategic planning consultant for public and private organizations in Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and managed community relations for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Katy is a member of the Oregon State Early Learning Council and has served on numerous regional, state and city boards and committees. Prior to coming to Bend, Katy served on the public affairs committee of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, and the board of directors for the Washington State Business Association.

Katy received a BS at Southern Oregon University with graduate studies at Portland State University. She has received extensive training in facilitating public issues and resolving conflict. She and her family reside in Bend.

Location: We’ll be the Riverhouse Convention Center this week.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, October 22, our lunch program will be a review of candidates and ballot measures on the upcoming election, led by Neil Bryant.

About Neil Bryant

Neil arrived in Bend in August 1973 as a freshly minted Willamette University Law graduate with his wife, Mary, and a three year old daughter. He joined the firm of Gray, Fancher, Holmes and Hurley which morphed into the firm of Bryant, Lovlien and Jarvis. Neil practiced law for 45 years. The Bryants have two children and six adorable grandchildren.

Neil is a founder and past President of the Greater Bend Rotary, past President of the Bend Chamber, the Deschutes County Children and Families Commission, The Deschutes Children’s Foundation and Bend’s first urban renewal district. He has served on the board of OMSI, The High Desert Museum, the Oregon Progress Board, Partners in Care (hospice), and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Politically, Neil served in the Oregon Senate from 1993 to 2001. He was a moderate Republican and was elected to the board of the National Conference of State Legislators.

Neil chaired numerous local bond campaigns for the school district, the city of Bend and the Bend Parks District. He is an instructor for leadership Bend.

Location: We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, October 15, our lunch program will be a presentation from Jane Falls, District 5110 Polio Plus Chair. Jane will talk about the PolioPlus Society, and will share a brief history, where we are now, Rotary’s critical role, and why we cannot stop until polio is fully eradicated worldwide. For a PolioPlus Society Membership form, click here.

Jane’s older sister contracted polio just before the vaccine was available. Her younger brother came home at birth with casts on each tiny leg and by the age of 3, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Her parents and grandparents were educators. Not surprisingly, Jane followed their example of service and giving.

Jane’s career centered on teaching people with disabilities and their families to live, work and play in the community first in Eugene School District, then at UO College of Education. She helped state departments of education implement special education laws throughout the US and Pacific jurisdictions (think Guam, Samoa, the islands of Micronesia). During the last 3 years of her career, she served the Springfield School District as Principal of Gateways High School and also set up a new online program for K-12 students. Jane has trained people with disabilities, families, and educators around the world.

Jane has been a member of Springfield Rotary Club since 2011 and served as the President in 2018-19. She now supports clubs in the district as Assistant Governor and is the District 5110 Polio Plus Chair. Service is her passion.

Jane is married to Alan Kelly who retired from the UO Biology Department and is now a builder. Daughter, Hannah Joy, has a Master’s in Peace and Conflict Resolution. Step-son, Austin is a sound engineer in LA.

Jane loves to hike, backpack, rock climbing, dance and serve her community.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.