Don’t miss lunch on Tuesday, June 2nd, for an enjoyable and inspiring program that promises to be one of the highlights of the year!

At this year’s Rotary Student Recognition Lunch, we will honor exceptional high school students who have been chosen by their respective schools as the epitome of the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.”

This is an excellent opportunity for us to recognize these outstanding students and celebrate their remarkable achievements. We hope that you will be able to join us for this special occasion.

We’ll be at the Riverhouse, in Deschutes South & North Rooms.

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, May 19, our lunch program will be our president elect, Neal Bordenave, who’ll be speaking to us about the California Wildfire insurance crisis. Is Oregon next?

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, May 5, our lunch speaker will be Peter Franc, Executive Director of Ballet Bend. For the past 20 years, Peter danced around the world as a Soloist and Principal Dancer for several renowned classical and contemporary ballet companies including Houston Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre.

Upon retiring from the stage, he next served as Artistic Director of Oregon Ballet Theatre expanding the company’s repertoire across 3 seasons presenting 18 company and world premieres. Always feeling most at home in the mountains, Peter now brings his passion for exciting and innovative dance works to Bend.

Ballet Bend is a professional dance presenting company providing access to world class performances and education to the communities in Central Oregon. From classical to contemporary, they feature world-renowned guest artists that celebrate, elevate, and advance the art form of dance.

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, April 21, our lunch program will be a talk entitled “Cascadia Subduction Zone – Earthquakes and Volcanoes” from Dr. Danielle McKay, Associate Teaching Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon.

Dr. McKay is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. She lives here in Bend, and teaches online geology courses throughout the academic year, and field courses in central Oregon during the summer.

Her research background is in physical volcanology with a focus on recent mafic eruptions in the central Oregon Cascades. She is also active in natural hazard preparedness, especially related to volcanic activity and earthquakes. She has worked with Deschutes County, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience, and the Red Cross on natural hazard preparedness and mitigation in central Oregon.

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, April 14, our lunch program will be autobiographies from Diana (Dee) Teem, Bob Spaet, Michael Baker, and Stephanie Wascha. Come learn more about our very interesting new club members!

Dee Teem is the Development Director at J Bar J Youth Services. In previous leadership positions—including Executive Director at the Olalla Center and Community Relations & Development Director at the Community Services Consortium—she built and sustained programs across Lincoln, Benton, and Linn counties in Oregon, consistently focusing on underserved populations, families in crisis, and inclusive community health services. She’s a former Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and enjoys hiking in the mountains, walking along the coast, or exploring new trails with her husband and their dog, Lucy.

Bob Spaet‘s expertise lies in toxicologic pathology in drug safety assessment with 45+ years experience. While at CIBA/Novartis, he held a series of positions of increasing responsibility to eventually become Director, Translational Sciences, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Dept. of Pathology. He is accredited by the International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology and is certified as a Diplomate, American Board of Toxicology.

Michael Baker is the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend, and has worked with the Boys and Girls Clubs for the past 38 years. He began his career with Boys & Girls Clubs in 1988, working in the housing projects of New York. For the past two decades, he has served as CEO at Clubs in Anaheim, CA and Santa Barbara, CA.

Stephanie Wascha is a licensed architect with over 18 years of residential experience, and is co-owner of RHiZO Architecture, a Bend-based design practice. She’s also the author of this book on home remodel advice.

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, March 24, our lunch speaker will be Frank Patka, speaking on changing patterns for the incarcerated. In 2010, Frank C. Patka IV faced a pivotal moment in his life when he, at the age of 26, was convicted of Robbery II. He was sentenced to 70 months in prison under Oregon’s Measure 11 “one strike and you’re out” mandatory sentencing act.

After spending the summer in solitary confinement, Frank got a new counselor who became his mentor. His counselor, Mr. Morrison, worked with him for almost 2 years before Frank earned his transfer to minimum prison. While at minimum, Frank was part of organizing and developing a grassroots movement to influence prosocial communication in both staff and prisoners.

Following Frank’s release from prison in November 2015, he began speaking about prison reform and reduction of recidivism. He intentionally directed energy into rebuilding relationships with his family and friends, fostering a supportive network to aid in his journey towards becoming a productive member of society.

In December 2017, with the help of strong community support, Frank founded Changing Patterns Inc. for the purpose of connecting returning citizens to employment opportunities, education, and community resources.

In February 2020, Changing Patterns launched its first mentorship program, only to be faced with its biggest challenge yet – a global pandemic. During the pandemic, Frank wrote The Returning Citizen’s Survival Guide. With the help of close friend, Ryan McCrone, the book was published and Changing Patterns resumed operations.

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, March 17, our lunch speaker will be Solar Energy Specialist Brett Gorbett of National Solar USA. Brett will be presenting on the pros and cons of solar. This discussion will dive into grid tied solar, how that relates to Central Oregon, and the future benefits and concerns around power company billing policy and integration of residential grid tied solar.

Brett has 20-plus years of experience as a carpenter and construction prior to the solar industry, six years of experience with three solar companies, and has helped 250+ families add solar to their homes.

He has been a Solar Energy Specialist with local Bend Oregon company, National Solar for three years. National Solar started in 2009 and was voted Central Oregon’s #1 Residential Installer in Bend in 2024 and 2025.

National Solar are partners with OSSIA (Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association), and are a Trady Ally & Partner with Energy Trust of Oregon.

Brett is passionate about the renewable energy industry and helping homeowners learn about solar with ethics, integrity, and honesty.

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.