Events

Pioneer Park - 1-4:00pm plus setup and teardown

Nevada City Rotary will host our 3rd Annual Pumpkins for Polio and More Auction in partnership with the City of Nevada City, Chamber of Commerce and Nevada City.

Join us for silent and live auctions at Miners Foundry.

This year in partnership with the City and the Nevada City Chamber, we are expanding our Pumpkins for Polio project to include displays at shops and businesses in Nevada City.  Local merchants will be hosting pumpkins in their shop windows leading up to our Annual Pumpkins for Polio and More auction. Proceeds will go to support Rotary's End Polio Now campaign and local Club projects (aka "and More").

We are also expanding our base of painters to support the larger number of pumpkins in this year's project See information on Pumpkin Painting Workshops #1 on Saturday September 13, 2:30-5:30pm. and  #2 on Thursday, September 18, 5:30- 8:30pm.

Join Melissa and Kristen of Pawnie’s Home Care for aninformative presentation on the different types of non-medical in-home care available, services provided and the benefits for both the recipient and their families. Learn how these services support independence, safety, and quality of life for older adults and their families.

Melissa Jamison and Kristen Bardwell: 

When Co-Founders of Pawnie’s Home Care Kristen and Melissa met, they instantly bonded over their common profession of in-home caregiving. They had each started their journey years ago working in local skilled nursing facilities.  This led them to their shared passion and realization of the need to make it possible for everyone to have the opportunity to remain independent and safe in their own homes as they age.

Kristen, having started her own in-home care company (Advanced Home Care) in 2006, joined forces with Melissa to use their combined 35 years of experience to build the company known today as Pawnie’s Home Care.

Together, Kristen and Melissa have cared for hundreds of clients in Nevada and Placer counties. They have spent years perfecting their team building and caregiving skills to bring high quality home care to our senior and disabled community.

Here the latest plans for Nevada City Chamber of Commerce by Lynn, Nevada City Rotarian and Executive Director of Nevada City Chamber.

Besides being a Mortgage Broker, Noel loves "biking, going to the ocean, backpacking, and traveling. Everything I do is for my two amazing children, who give my life purpose every day.”  And whatelse?  Join us Thursday to find out!

Join your fellow Rotarians to share Holiday Cheer
with good food, fun games, and a gift exchange

When: 5:30pm, Thursday, December 11, 2025

Our annual Bellringing with the Salvation Army at SPD Nevada City.

Four shifts of  2-4 people:

• 9-11am 
• 11-1pm
• 1-3pm
• 3-5pm

See Walt for signup!

Mike Wallace, aka MikeTheBeeGuy, is a pollinator enthusiast living in Grass Valley CA.  He became interested in supporting pollinator species while living in Santa Clara County. In the Spring of 2015, he became aware of a complete absence of honeybees in his yard.  

With some research, Mike learned that honeybee and monarch butterfly populations were dwindling at alarming rates. Monarchs were on the verge of extinction.  Mike took this as a call to action.    

Since then he has not only become a hobbyist beekeeper, he is also a staunch advocate for the support of the monarch butterfly. With study and experimentation he devised a process for successful germination of milkweed, the plant which monarch’s rely upon for reproduction, and without which they will become extinct. Mike has a large following on Facebook with his Nevada County Monarchs and Milkweed group page.

He hosts hands-on workshops every winter to teach others how to successfully propagate milkweed, providing everything needed including all (4) varieties of Nevada County Native Milkweed, trays, 6-pack inserts & even the special soil & sand his techniques require. Mike enjoys mentoring and being a resource to the community.

🍯🐝 MikeTheBeeGuy 👨‍🚀
Mike T Wallace
MikeTheBeeGuy@yahoo.com

Learn more at Nevada County Monarchs and Milkweed.Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/748091220014992/. 

In just over two decades, support of the Kellermann Foundation has helped create a wider network of programs now offering new possibilities to the Batwa and their neighbors. Their first open-air clinic has blossomed into one of the most successful hospitals in Uganda and an advanced-level nursing school. The Batwa of this region now have access to educational support at all levels, permanent homes, gardens, spiritual outreach, literacy, economic development, and more.

Over the years, our Club has been honored to participate in projects in support of the Batwa people of Uganda and have watched the phenomenal expansion of medical, community development, and education services and facilities launched through the leadership of Dr Scott Kellermann and the Kellermann Foundation.  A fellow local Rotarian with 49er Breakfast Rotary, Scott will share latest updates and vision. 

Walt Disney Imagineering is the “think tank of the Magic Kingdom” and is responsible for the creation, design and construction of Disney Theme Parks worldwide.

My creations have brought a few smiles to people’s faces over the years, which actually brings a big smile to my own face. Often, my carvings and signs are the very first thing you see when you enter your favorite Disney attraction. I can’t take all the credit, of course – I’ve had the distinct honor of working alongside some of the very best.

In addition to many years as a woodcarver/sculptor for Disney, Ray creates beautiful family heirlooms and custom commissions for collectors.

Raymond and his wife, Marisa also host weekend retreats for beginning woodcarvers in his Northern California studio.

January is bulb planting season!  Join us as we again add to the bulbs at Penzance Park for Spring - Summer Blooms.

When:  9am - until complete (estimated a couple hours)

            Saturday, January 10, 2026

Where: Penzance Park - corner of Sacramento St and Prospect, across from the Chevron Station

Bring gardening, weeding, and general cleanup tools (hand trowls, rakes, gloves, knee pads if preferred.)

Cathy has the bulbs, bone meal, and possibly cookies. 

We will reschedule if it is too rainy.

Grant LaCosse, RYLA and former REGL student, will be our speaker. Many of you met Grant when he organized a team of Future Business Leaders of America from Ghidotti to volunteer with us at Paws and a Cause.

Following up on Mike The Bee Guy, aka Monarch Milkweed expert's talk in December, Bear Yuba Land Trust will share plans for creating Monarch Meadows around Nevada County.  More at BYLT Monarch Meadow Project

Annette Muller Communications Manager 

Annette joined BYLT with over 10 years of experience in the performing arts sector where she honed her skills as a grant writer and marketing manager. Having spent most of her career championing small community-based nonprofits, her aim has always been to support and make space for those around her in the actualization of the organization’s mission. Annette enjoys getting out from behind her computer screen and into the world as much as possible, traveling the crooked path wherever it takes her.

Julia Lakes| Development Manager 

Julia grew up in the Bay Area and escaped to the outdoors as much as possible. She has over fifteen years’ experience at community-based nonprofits, including as Conservation Director at Wallowa Land Trust in northeast Oregon and Director of Development at Beyond Emancipation in Oakland, California. Julia stumbled into fundraising because of her passion for helping people make a difference in their own community. In her spare time Julia can be found weeding in her veggie garden, cooking up a feast, exploring local trails, and dabbling in the arts. 

https://www.bylt.org/monarch-meadow-project/

Nicole McNeely has served as the Executive Director of Child Advocates of Nevada County (CANC) since the fall of 2022, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, fundraising, and community partnerships. During her tenure, she has strengthened board governance, guided long-term planning, and increased the organization’s budget through expanded donor engagement and government contract support.

Melinda Douros graduated from Stanford University with a degree in English Literature and an abiding interest in mentoring, nurturing, and educating young people. She has been active in various youth and educational organizations while raising five children, both biological and adopted, with her husband of 45 years. Acquainted with the challenges of trauma, loss, and grief in the lives of children, Melinda has pursued training opportunities in related fields of knowledge for over 25 years. Melinda served on the Board of Directors for Heartsent Adoptions, Inc. for 16 years and in 2010 joined the staff of Child Advocates of Nevada County. After directing the Child Safety Puppeteers program for two years, she moved to the position of Program Manager for CASA where she has served since. Her focus remains on providing a well-trained, supported, effective, and committed CASA for every child who needs one. Melinda also serves as chair of the Juvenile Justice/ Delinquency Prevention Commission for Nevada County and is a member of the Critical Incidents Citizen's Review Panel for the state of CA.

Anne Greco trained to become a CASA volunteer 14  years ago and has served 8 foster youth, aged 3 to 18, as a volunteer.  In 2015 she joined the staff of Child Advocates as a CASA Case Manager, where she supervised foster youth advocacy in dependency court.  In 2019, Nevada County joined one of the few programs in California to serve delinquency youth, which Anne developed with local judges, the DA’s office and probation.  Today, she is the Youth Justice Program Manager.  In addition to managing and continuing to build the delinquency side of the CASA program, Anne oversees a new program, called One 2 One, which focuses on prevention and serves at-risk youth who are referred by schools and community partners.

Celine Negrete is the General Manager of the Onyx Theatre in Nevada City, where she has led operations for the past 16 years. With a background in arts management and hospitality, she has helped shape the Onyx into a beloved cultural hub for film lovers.

She also serves on the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce board, the Nevada City Public Arts Commission, and the Rüdiger Foundation board, and previously served for more than ten years on two local school boards. She and her husband moved from San Francisco to Grass Valley in 2004, where they raised their two sons.

Steven Holt will entertain us with personal stories about his Travels to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. 

Steven is Chief Marketing Officer for Caravanserai Pictures , a motion picture company dedicated to creating films and series that inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide. At the core of our storytelling is a focus on cultivating themes of love, faith, and joy—exploring the human journey through authentic narratives.

Steven is a media, public relations and marketing executive with more than twenty years of experience. His passion for films and series spans the gambit including action/adventure, science fiction (on and off the planet), historical fiction and romantic comedies. AFI’s top 100 films are as often on the rotation as Netflix and Apple TV. 

Steven served as a senior communications executive with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for over twelve years, developing strategy and launching hotels in Lake Tahoe, Rancho Mirage and celebrity chef restaurants throughout the western U.S. He held Market Director roles in San Francisco and Los Angeles leading PR & Marketing for Northern California, Southern California, Hawaii and Colorado. Ultimately, he was named Regional Director, Public Relations, The Americas with responsibility over media relations, influencer, C-suite and crisis communications for the brand. 

Steven left The Ritz-Carlton to form his own consultancy and partner with a former CBS executive in New York City to join 360Bespoke, a bi-coastal PR/Marketing firm. He has written public relations, marketing and brand strategy across multiple industries including luxury, lifestyle, hospitality, entertainment, design, the arts, events and real estate. 

Steven, like a filmmaker is a master storyteller with a global perspective, from his hospitality-driven business experience to his American and European education. Steven is a lifelong foodie and loves to cook, developing that passion while working on the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen festival team for nearly two decades. He loves the mountain lifestyle and is an avid skier and hiker.