Rotary Club of Folsom

At the Rotary District 5180 Conference in South Lake Tahoe this weekend, the Rotary Club of Folsom was named Club of the Year - Large Club Category, a recognition of our commitment to community involvement, service to youth, and the many ways our club shows up to make a difference.

This honor reflects the heart of what we do: hands-on service projects, meaningful local partnerships, support for youth programs and leadership development, scholarships, and a shared commitment to improving lives both locally and beyond our community.

Among 36 clubs in our district, this award recognizes the top overall large club, and we are incredibly proud of what our club has accomplished together.

“Service Above Self” is more than a motto—it’s a way of life for Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of Folsom was proud to attend the Community Awards and celebrate two outstanding members of our club: John Messner, recipient of the Community Impact of the Year Award, and Joe Gagliardi, recipient of the Legend in Motion Award.

Both of these Rotarians exemplify the values we stand for through their leadership, generosity, and commitment to making our community stronger. Congratulations, John and Joe—we are proud to celebrate you!

Members of the Rotary Club of Folsom have been proud to join the community effort to help rebuild Castle Park, a space that has created lasting memories for families for nearly 30 years.

Service is at the very core of the Rotary Club of Folsom, and projects like this are exactly what Rotarians love to be part of. With a shared passion for giving back and strengthening the community, our members are honored and excited to help bring new life to this beloved space.

The City of Folsom is currently seeking additional volunteers to help keep this important project on track. Community members of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

Volunteers may drop in anytime through Sunday, April 12, between 8:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., rain or shine. No pre-registration is required. Meals will be provided; closed-toe shoes are required.

This rebuild marks the next chapter for a treasured community landmark originally built by volunteers in 1996, a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community comes together. We’re proud to stand alongside so many others to help shape it once again for future generations.

The Rotary Club of Folsom was proud to award $17,000 in Teacher Grants during our March 26 meeting, supporting innovative classroom projects across the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

This year, 41 teachers from 14 schools received grants to help bring new ideas, materials, and opportunities to their students.

A special highlight of the evening was honoring longtime educator and Rotarian Bob Mange, whose career in education spans more than 30 years as a teacher, coach, principal, and district administrator. In recognition of his decades of leadership, service to students, and dedication to supporting educators, the Rotary Club of Folsom is proud to name its teacher grant program the “Bob Mange Teacher Grant Program,” ensuring that his commitment to educational excellence will continue to benefit teachers and students for years to come. Bob was also recognized with proclamations from The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and the City of Folsom for his lasting impact on education and our community.

For nearly three decades, our Teacher Grant Program has been one of the Rotary Club of Folsom’s signature efforts supporting education. This year, we were proud to partner with the Folsom Lake Rotary Club again to expand our impact.

Over that time, the Rotary Club of Folsom has supported local education, contributing over $500,000 to Folsom schools through teacher grants, scholarships, leadership programs, and more.

We are proud to continue investing in our teachers, students, and community.

At the Folsom Lake Rotary Club meeting today, on behalf of the Rotary Club of Folsom, Samantha Davidson presented a check to the club representing their share of the proceeds from our Third Annual Oktoberfest fundraiser — a collaborative effort between our two clubs.

Pictured receiving the check are Folsom Lake Rotary Club President Andrea Rohmann and Foundation Chair Sonny Da Marto. The continued partnership between our clubs is a wonderful example of Rotary collaboration in action, working together to maximize our impact in the community.

Samantha Davidson and Andrea Rohmann are serving as Co-Chairs for this year’s Fourth Annual Oktoberfest, scheduled for October 25, 2026. Planning is already underway — so mark your calendars! More details to come.

❤️🇮🇹 That’s Amore at Rotary! 🇮🇹❤️

What a bellissimo Valentine’s Day celebration! Our Italian-themed party was an absolute delight, and a huge shout-out goes to President Scott for planning such a fun and creative evening. His handcrafted gondola and full gondolier attire, complete with navigating the “canals of Venice,” had us laughing all night and set the perfect tone for the celebration.

A special thank you to his wife, Lynne, whose time, creativity, and attention to detail helped bring the vision to life. With the help of an awesome crew of Rotarians who jumped in to set up and decorate, the room was transformed into a festive Italian escape.

The festive decor, delicious Italian dinner, olive bar, limoncello, and tiramisu made the evening molto delizioso, and the music of the live accordion player added the perfect touch to the Italian ambience. And then there was the pizza dough throwing contest. Yes, flour flew, dough was flung, and champions were… debatable. All of our enthusiastic dough throwers went home winners with a lovely bottle of homemade limoncello.

It was a night full of laughter, creativity, and great memories. This is the kind of fun that makes being part of the Rotary Club of Folsom so special!

Grateful to partner with Folsom Lake Rotary and Rotary Club of Historic Folsom in support of HART of Folsom’s 2026 Winter Shelter, an organization dedicated to providing safe, warm nights for individuals working to rebuild their lives.

If you’ve ever considered helping, this is your moment. Volunteers are needed February 15 - 22. Even one overnight shift makes a meaningful difference.

Click HERE ⬇️ to Sign Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4CAAA92EA7F49-61466190-2026 #/

🍻Fifth Thursday Social = Brew-tastic Night!

What a fantastic Rotary Club of Folsom Fifth Thursday Social we had at Uncle Charlie's Firehouse & Brew! Our club loved coming together to support a fellow Rotarian-owned business, proudly owned by Rotarian Charlie Grows and his daughter, Taryn Grows.

Charlie treated us to an exclusive behind-the-scenes brewery tour, sharing the story, passion, and craftsmanship that go into every brew, such a fun and informative experience!

Dinner was an incredible taco bar from Sutter Street Taqueria, provided by fellow Rotarian Rosario Rodriguez. It was absolutely delicious and a huge hit with everyone.

And of course, a shout-out to Taryn, our brew-tifully fantastic hostess! She kept the energy high, the laughs flowing, and led a beer-themed trivia that had everyone entertained and engaged. 🍺✨

The night was filled with great food, great drinks, and even better company, proof once again of how special our Rotary community is. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a memorable evening!

This Thursday, our gathering will not be at the Robert H Miller III Rotary Clubhouse. Instead, we’ll be enjoying our 5th Thursday social at Uncle Charlie's Firehouse & Brew owned by Rotarian Charlie Grows and his daughter, Taryn.

UCFB is a local spot that’s always pouring on the community spirit and brewing connections to perfection. It’s a place that really knows the drill when it comes to community, where great ideas are best served with a little hop-titude, and where good times are always on tap. We’re happy to support a business that raises the bar when it comes to bringing people together! Cheers! 🍻

Our Rotary Club of Folsom had the honor of welcoming District Governor Megan Ellinghouse for her official club visit, joined by her husband, President Leroy Ellinghouse of the Passport One Rotary Club, and what an inspiring evening it was.

Megan shared her powerful theme, Expand Rotary, which echoes this year’s Rotary International theme, Unite for Good. Her message reminded us that when we increase our visibility, raise awareness, and amplify our impact, we do not just grow Rotary, we grow our ability to serve. She encouraged us to live Rotary more boldly and to inspire others to join us in making a real difference.

Megan was warmly introduced by Assistant Governor Ryan Jantzen, who serves as the vital link between the District and the four Area 5 clubs, Rotary Club of Folsom, Folsom Lake Rotary, Rotary Club of Historic Folsom, and Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills. In this role, he helps strengthen collaboration and ensure each club has the support it needs to thrive.

Ryan is also part of Rotary’s leadership line and currently serves as District Governor Nominee Elect. He will lead Rotary District 5180 as District Governor in 2028 to 2029, and his dedication to Rotary is truly inspiring.

It was an evening that truly captured the heart of Rotary, service, fellowship, and the joy of doing good together. Megan’s visit was a powerful reminder that when leaders inspire and members unite, Rotary’s impact reaches far beyond our clubs and into the communities we serve.

Supporting Our Community: Twin Lakes Food Bank

The Rotary Club of Folsom is proud to support Twin Lakes Food Bank with a $2,000 donation toward their Building Hope Capital Campaign—an exciting project to construct a new food bank to better serve our community.

We were honored to present the check to Twin Lakes Food Bank Executive Director Lisa Tuter, and grateful to play a part in such an impactful mission.

This donation was made possible through our “Wrappin’ Rotarians” gift-wrapping fundraiser, led by Rotarians Conni Thompson and Leslie Michaylo. For four Saturdays in December 2025 on Sutter Street in Historic Folsom, our awesome volunteers wrapped gifts with festive flair while collecting donations to support this vital cause.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, donated, wrapped, and helped us make a difference!