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| Press Releases |
Editor: McCarthy, Teresa
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In keeping with the membership drive, the San Jose Rotary Public Relations Committee under the leadership of Julie Scopazzi will develop regular press releases for the media to receive about the good works of the San Jose Rotary Club. The plan is to engage the press and inform the community. This will be an ongoing activity. Rotary Club of San Jose Committees are encouraged to send the Public Relations Committee information about their activities two weeks prior to a planned event. Information about each event is to be sent to this Email Link <----
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Rotary Club of San Jose Names Mineta Transportation Institute's Rod Diridon as New Club President
Diridon to Make Community Service and Membership Development the Main Priorities of his 2009-2010 Term
San Jose, CA July 13, 2009 – Executive Director of the Mineta Transportation Institute, Rod Diridon has stepped up as the new president of the Rotary Club of San Jose. Diridon was sworn in during a ceremony in front of a standing room only crowd at the Rotary Summit Center in downtown San Jose.
"I have always been proud to be a member of this club for the past 38 years," said Diridon. "I am now honored to serve as its president and to lead the club into its next 100 years of service to the local community.
"Diridon's longtime friend and colleague former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta served as keynote speaker at the ceremony. Diridon was sworn in by former Rotary president Bert George, a third generation Rotarian.
Known as the "father of modern transit service" in Silicon Valley, Diridon began his career of serving the public in 1971 as the youngest person ever elected to the Saratoga City Council. He served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for 20 years. Since then, Diridon's has chaired over 100 international, national, state and local programs related to transit and the environment including the American Public Transit Association (APTA) and the North American Vice Chair of the International Transit Association in Brussels. The historic central passenger rail depot for downtown San Jose, formerly known as the Cahill Depot, was restored and re-christened Diridon Station in 1994 in honor of the former Supervisor.
About the Rotary Club of San Jose
Organized in 1914, the Rotary Club of San Jose is the community's most active and well known service organization. During the past 100 years, Members of the Rotary Club of San Jose have volunteered more than 3,000,000 hours for community and international service. From installing the first city street lights in 1915 to donating $1,000,000 towards a meeting facility for community groups in 2003, San Jose Rotary has been at the forefront of efforts to build the infrastructure and social fabric of our community. In addition to being a major contributor to many important community projects, San Jose Rotary has also given more than $3,000,000 in direct grants to over 150 other community organizations. Rotary continues to grow the Endowment that supports these community programs.
As part of a global organization with over 1,200,000 members in more than 200 countries, San Jose Rotary has several committees dedicated to international service. We have provided more than 40 "Gift of Life" heart operations to young adults from developing countries, sent ambulances, mammogram machines and wheelchairs to international recipients, and contributed over $300,000 to Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio.
Most importantly, more than 3,000 business and community leaders have shared the fun and fellowship of being Members of the Rotary Club of San Jose while upholding the ideals of humanitarian service, high ethical standards, and the promotion of goodwill. |
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