Events

Dino Corbin will speak about the historic Stansbury Home.

Priya Tuvell, Co-Manager at Chico Velo

Priya found a love for biking during her time at UC Davis as an undergraduate student where that was her primary method of transportation. Though living on a farm after college didn’t lend itself to bicycling, Priya is excited for her move back to town and being able to get biking again. Priya’s background is in regenerative agriculture and environmental sustainability, and she has budding interests in improving public infrastructure to better support active transport as well as creating and supporting active communities. As a Lecturer at Chico State, education is important to her, and she’s looking forward to doing community education and outreach as well. She’s excited to bring her experience with grants and non-profit work to Chico Velo!

Presentation Description

Chico Velo is a bicycling non-profit located in Chico, CA and established in 1986. Our mission is to promote bicycling for transportation, recreation and health through public education, advocacy, and community stewardship. I will be presenting the many programs, projects, events, and initiatives that our organization provides to the community.

Butte County Sheriff Search and Rescue will present an update of team activities to the Rotary since we last presented in Feb 2024.  This update will include callout numbers for the past year, a rundown of three or four of our most significant calls, and a brief Operation Rescue Ready (our new building project) update. 

I will be speaking.  I am our team Public Relations Officer.  I have been with Butte County Search and Rescue (BCSAR) for four years, and my focus area is Swift Water Rescue.  My regular job is working in Human Resources for Chico State Enterprises and I am a retired Master Sergeant, USAF, 1996-2016.  My military occupational specialty was as an Explosive Safety Specialist and I deployed ISO global operations in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009, and served as a special advisor to the Commander of US Air Forces Europe and Africa from 2011-2016.  I enjoy serving the citizens of Butte County through BCSAR.

Ms. Virginia L. Guleff
Virginia Guleff was appointed the Superintendent/President of Butte-Glenn Community College District effective July 1, 2022. She was previously the vice president for instruction and accreditation liaison officer for Butte College, where she oversaw all instructional programs including the economic and workforce development arm of the college as well as all accreditation activities, for six years. Virginia began in the California Community College System in 1986 as a tutor at De Anza College. She has served as a classified employee at De Anza College; a part-time faculty member, a full-time tenured faculty member, an ESL coordinator, and as chair of English, communication and world language in the San Diego Community College District; dean of CTE, transfer and basic skills as well as vice president of education and student services at Mendocino College; and vice president of instruction at Solano College. President Guleff’s leadership at Butte College is focused on securing DEIA2 practices into the foundation of the college and creating a student-ready institution that serves the area’s intersectional communities. She is also dedicated to reinvigorating participatory governance at the college. After updating the mission statement, the college developed a new strategic plan and staff are working to achieve the collectively established goals.

Dr. Jolene Church is a leadership expert and keynote speaker who empowers individuals and organizations to lead with heart and purpose. She challenges audiences to uncover their unique strengths, define their values, and live their mission. Drawing on her own experiences of overcoming adversity and embracing authenticity, Dr. Church delivers inspiring and practical insights that help people unlock their full potential and create a lasting impact.

Megan Kurtz will be giving us a tour of the new science building at CSUC. CSUC President Steve Perez will also say a few words.

Joel Zimbelman worked in religious studies, international studies, and administration at Chico State for thirty-three years and is now retired.  He’s been a member of Chico Rotary since 2016.  He has been a member of our International Committee for eight years, and has worked with our Tanzanian partners on five trips.  He lives in Chico with his wife Linda.

Jennifer Moore is retired from banking management and has an extensive Rotary resume including a great deal of international service work abroad.  She has been a member of Chico Rotary since 2017 and was a member of the Bakersfield Twilight Rotary from 2012 to 2016.  She is the International Service Division Chair, and most recently led the Women’s Empowerment Project in Juanacatlan and Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico.

Mike Donnelly is a commercial real estate broker associate and loves working with business and economic and community development.  He has been a member of Chico Rotary since 2016 and chairs the International Projects Committee.  He and his wife have traveled much of the world, including visits to Tanzania and Mexico to work on Rotary projects.

Come check out what the future Rotarians are up to!

Andy Pickett is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Butte County and serves at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors, implementing Board policies, and overseeing the performance of appointed Department Heads. He is responsible for managing a $1.1 Billion budget, and 2,400 employees. The CAO also manages and coordinates the County's Emergency Services Function and provides legislative analysis for the Board and all County Departments. He is responsible for preparing Financial Reports and Multi-Year Budget Projections, as well as the County Budget. Furthermore, the CAO oversees the preparation and implementation of the County's Capital Improvement Program. He participates in and coordinate with various local, regional, and statewide organizations. The CAO's responsibilities also encompass the overall administration, management, and support functions for the County, including the Clerk of the Board and Community and Economic Development.

Andy and his wife Cindy are the proud parents of two adult children and three grand-dogs. The Picketts have lived in Chico since 2008.

Elaina Zinko is a dedicated health and wellness professional with over 25 years of commitment to the Chico community. She co-owns North Rim CrossFit alongside her husband, Chris Zinko, Chico Fire’s Deputy Chief. At their CrossFit box, they focus on fostering a supportive environment for individuals of all ages aiming to lead healthier lifestyles.  

Elaina’s expertise in fitness and nutrition has been recognized locally; she earned second place in the “Best Personal Trainer” category in the 2022 Best of Chico awards. She started her career in fitness in 1999 at In Motion Fitness and, after leaving there in 2017, coached for 7 years at Orangetheory Fitness. 

Beyond her work at North Rim CrossFit, Elaina serves on the board for Jan’s rails to trails Rescue Sanctuary where she started an equine facilitated services program. She has coached for four  seasons with Girls on the Run and has, previously, sat on their board further showcasing her dedication to promoting health and well-being in the region.  

Elaina’s enthusiastic passion for health, community engagement, and empowering others to achieve their wellness goals is palpable even within 5 minutes of talking to her. 

Are you 21-35 and looking to connect with great people, serve the community, and discover new growth opportunities? We invite you to discover Rotary’s programs for young changemakers.

Joe Chimenti is a husband and father of four.  He grew up in a law enforcement family and began his professional life as a police officer. After earning his MBA, Joe left law enforcement and joined the private sector. He spent 25 years in business development working with entrepreneurial companies across North America and in Europe.

After Joe retired from the business world, he assumed the role of Executive Director of the Shasta Builders’ Exchange and the Trade School.  He understands the need for a skilled workforce and the importance of the construction industry to a thriving economy.

Joe served on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors for 4 years.   When he left office, he chose to work with Emergent, the 3D concrete printing company, because of their mission to provide needed housing and innovative trade training.  He is the Director of Community Development. 

Sara Tracy is a Chico native who had the pleasure of spending 6 years in beautiful Colorado, but is now back where she belongs! She is a joyful mama to a fun one-year-old daughter, a dog mom to two pups, a passionate photographer, and a dedicated outreach coordinator. She often tells the joke that her day job, as an Outreach Coordinator, is to make friends and eat snacks. She brings warmth and connection to everything she does—whether she’s capturing life’s sweetest moments behind the camera or supporting her community through outreach and service. Sara volunteers weekly at her church, always showing up with a heart to serve and uplift those around her. With a gift for making others feel seen, valued, and loved, she blends creativity, compassion, and purpose into both her personal and professional life.

Description- 

Aging in Place and Knowing When it’s Time to Get Help

I will talk about some tips to safely Stay in your home as you age, common challenges of aging in place, different options for care and when it’s time to get help. 

The Military Minute is a project developed by Sean Farley as a way to honor and narrate the stories of past and present military members. Working to ensure that history is preserved, shared, and celebrated. Through storytelling, emphasize the importance of understanding military sacrifices, fostering empathy, and preventing future conflicts while bridging the gap between veterans and civilians.

Jesse graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Natural Resources. After graduating, he spent 4 years with CAL FIRE working in Mendocino County on The Jackson Demonstration State Forest and in Shasta County on The LaTour Demonstration State Forest. During his time with CAL FIRE, he was part of several research projects, forest inventory projects and assisted in Timber Harvest Plan (THP) layout and administration. He also worked on several fire suppression assignments throughout Northern California. In 2013, he joined Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) as a Registered Professional Forester working on the Stirling District based out of Chico, CA. In his time with SPI, he has helped to manage the Stirling Districts timberlands in Butte, Tehama, Plumas and Yuba Counties. His experience with SPI includes writing THP’s, administrating timber sales and contracts along with fuels reduction projects. Other roles include reforestation and wildlife surveys. In 2022, he became a district manager for SPI managing 250,000 acres of timberland in northern California. Additionally, he sits on Cal Poly’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) advisory council. As vice chair on the council, he is charged with Professional Development and Student Networking. Jesse lives in Chico with his wife and 2 children where he enjoys coaching baseball and watching dance. If there was any spare time, he would prefer to be fishing, surfing or relaxing with friends and family

Joe Wilson

The HIL provides quality forensic anthropology services to local, federal, and international law enforcement, medical examiners, and attorneys. 

The HIL is a unique and invaluable state resource. Our staff work to recover missing persons, analyze and identify their remains, present vital information to resolve criminal cases, and provide closure to families. The HIL has the ability to rapidly mobilize large, experienced search teams in emergencies. We also support state and federal partners on individual cases, both recent and long gone cold.

In these ways, we aim to serve the needs of our state while demonstrating our commitment to civic engagement and serving the public good. 

President Brandon will wield the gavel for one last meeting in which he'll recap his Rotary year.

Wave goodbye to President Brandon before he officially surrenders the bell gavel June 30!

There is no meeting this week due to the Rotary International Convention in Calgary

Happy 4th of July!

What's Rob's theme? What's in store for the upcoming year? Hmmm. 

There's only one way to find out. Come to the meeting, and you'll be "in the know."

Kathy Lanpheir Is the Director of the Chico Community Food Locker. She has been in the position for over six years and before that spent about ten years working as a volunteer at the Locker. Her role is to oversee the operations of the Food Locker and purchase foodstuff when needed. She also coordinates with other nonprofits, working hand and hand with them to serve those in need. Kathy came to Chico after retirement and is delighted to call it home!

Presenting with Kathy will be Christina Mueller, the General Office assistant to the Director of the Chico Community Food Locker and the Current Junior Vice President of The Catholic Ladies Relief Society Chico #3.  She assists the Director with the daily operations of the Food Locker.  Christina has lived in Chico for the last 26+ years and attended and graduated from both Butte Community College and California State University, Chico.

Kathy and Christina will be speaking to the club about food insecurity in Chico and the surrounding area and how the Chico Community Food Locker is working to help those in need.

Chico Rotary Foundation Board Chair Syl Lucena, Vice-Chair Anastacia Snyder, Financial Advisor Devin Potter, and Scholarship Committee Chair Heidi Musick will present an overview and update on our Fouindation and the support it provides to our community and via the scholarships awarded each year.

Colleen Cecil has been involved in agriculture for all of her life. The daughter and granddaughter of dairy operators, Colleen grew up in the dairy industry and cultivated a love for the Holstein breed. 

A career in agriculture was in Colleen’s future. After graduating from Modesto Junior College with an associate degree in Dairy Science and from California State University Fresno with a bachelor degree in Agricultural Education, Colleen was quickly hired at the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau as a programs manager. Colleen’s career in agriculture to her to the California Almond Board and hired as an almond buyer at RPAC, LLC in Los Banos.

Colleen met her soon to be husband and relocated to Chico where she accepted the Butte County Farm Bureau Executive Director position, which she has held for 18 years. Colleen advocates locally in the North State, in Sacramento and occasionally in Washington, DC, for the agricultural organizations more than 1000 member families on issues such as land use, labor and water. Colleen manages the day-to day operations of the 107-year-old Butte County Farm Bureau with guidance from the 20-member volunteer Board of Directors.

Colleen, along with her husband Jake, are raising two baseball loving boys, while maintaining their careers in agriculture and farming the walnuts they planted around their home in Glenn County. When Colleen is not at the office, she is driving to and from baseball games and practice, is president of the high school athletic boosters and is a co-key leader for her son’s 4-H club.

Colleen is a member of the CSU Chico Superior Ag Committee and the North Valley Chapter of California Women for Agriculture. In 2011 Colleen was named California Assembly District 3 Woman of the Year by the late Assemblyman Dan Logue and in 2024 was awarded the prestigious Common Threads North Award, recognizing outstanding women in agriculture.

James Gallagher has represented California’s Third Assembly District since 2014. Before joining the Assembly, he served on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors for six years. James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at UC Berkeley before completing an Assembly Fellowship in Sacramento and a law degree at UC Davis, where he graduated at the top of his class. He advocates for small businesses and farmers in his law practice and is a partner in his family’s farming operation. James is married to his high school sweetheart, Janna; the two live in Sutter County where they are raising their five young children.

Assemblyman Gallagher will be speaking to us about current issues at the state capitol.