Events

Members are invited to celebrate as the Castro Valley Rotary Club will welcome Area 2 Interact students for an evening of fellowship, appreciation, and fun at the Area 2 Interact Ice Cream Social on Tuesday, September 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Golden Tee Golfland, 2533 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley.

The event reflects the Club's 2026-2027 theme,"Be a Part of It," bringing together Rotary members and young leaders from local Interact clubs to celebrate service, leadership, and community connections.

As special guests of the Castro Valley Rotary Club, participating Interactors will be treated to ice cream and a complimentary round of miniature golf in recognition of their volunteer service. The free round of golf is being provided to Interactors who helped make the annual Taste of Castro Valley a success through their volunteer efforts.

"The students in our Interact clubs represent the future of service leadership in our communities," said Meera Parikh, Chair of Castro Valley Rotary's Youth Services Committee. "We are thrilled to welcome them as guests of the club and thank those who volunteered at Taste of Castro Valley. This event is our way of showing appreciation while creating opportunities for Interactors and Rotarians to build relationships and share the spirit of service. Our theme this year is'Be a Part of It,' and we invite Rotarians from throughout Area 2 to join us in celebrating these outstanding young leaders."

Rotarians, family members, and guests are invited to join us for the evening. Rotarians and their guests pay $20.00 per person, which includes ice cream and a round of miniature golf.

Interact, Rotary International's service organization for young people ages 12 to 18, empowers students to develop leadership skills, engage in community service, and create lasting friendships while making a positive difference in their communities.

Join the Castro Valley Rotary Club Community Foundation for an unforgettable evening at the Foundation's Gala, a premier celebration of community, generosity, and local impact.

Set for Friday, September 18, 2026, the cocktail reception and silent auction starts at 6:00 PM, with dinner served at 7:00 PM, followed by a live auction, and the unveiling of the “Light Up the Adobe” project.

This elegant and intimate event will bring together community leaders, supporters, and friends for a night filled with purpose and inspiration. With only 150 tickets available, guests will enjoy a truly exclusive experience.

Purchase tickets here.

District 5170 is sponsoring the Rotary Collaborative Impact Summit 2026 on September 19 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center.  The summit will feature inspirational speakers, multicultural entertainment, and more than 200 Rotary and community projects, all in one unforgettable day. 

The cost is $70 prior to September 8 and then $90.  The Club will pay the cost.

Click here to register for this outstanding District 5170 event.

Mariellen Faria, Director, Eden Township Health District

Presentation Summary:

Director Faria will introduce Club members and guests to the Eden Township Healthcare District and provide an update on past and current services provided by the District.

Bio:

Director Faria is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of healthcare experience both as a caregiver and an administrator. She has been the Director of Nursing at St. Rose Hospital, San Leandro Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente San Leandro. Her degrees are in Nursing and Sociology. She possesses a Masters Degree in Nursing Administration. She was instrumental in establishing the Silva Pediatric Clinic and the Chabot Student Clinic. As a lifelong resident of Hayward, she is active in the community.

She is currently a Planning Commissioner for the City of Hayward, a former Human Services Commissioner and is a Board Member for the Hayward Area Historical Society. She is a member of the Hayward Chamber of Commerce. She volunteers with the New Start Tattoo Removal Program and South Hayward Parish food giveaway program.

Join fellow members of the Castro Valley Rotary Club for our monthly Vocational Service Breakfast, a special gathering dedicated to strengthening relationships among Rotarians who are active participants in the Castro Valley business community.

Held on the last Friday of each month (except November & December) from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Canyon's Barbeque, this informal breakfast meeting provides an opportunity to network, share business insights, discuss community needs, and explore ways Rotary's Vocational Service avenue can support local professionals and entrepreneurs.

Whether you own a business, manage an organization, or are committed to serving the local economy, this meeting offers a valuable forum for collaboration, professional development, and building connections that benefit both our members and the broader Castro Valley community.

Breakfast tacos and fresh coffee will be served.

Come connect with fellow business leaders, exchange ideas, and discover new ways to put Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, into action through your vocation.

Presentation Summary:

Jaime Orfanos, Assistant Director of the Civic and Economic Development Departmentn for Alameda County, will discuss What the Department and Doesn't Do as well as curent efforts .

Bio:

Jaimie Orfanos is a UC Davis graduate with five years of private‑sector experience in facility, project, and construction management, followed by 24 years of dedicated public service with Alameda County. Her work has centered on advancing economic development, supporting small businesses, and delivering capital and infrastructure improvements that strengthen local communities in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County. She also leads and coordinates public events that foster civic engagement and promote regional growth.

Castro Valley to Niles Fremont / Classic Car Cruise — Flying A to Flying A

Start your morning at Philz Coffee and Canyons BBQ in Castro Valley, then hit the road for a scenic cruise to historic downtown Niles in Fremont. Take the back roads through Palomares Canyon, enjoying the twists, turns, and beautiful scenery at your own pace, on your own time.

When you arrive in Niles, park your car, enjoy a BBQ burger lunch, show off your ride, and spend some time with fellow car enthusiasts in one of the Bay Area’s most historic downtowns.

Every kind of car, every year. No judging, no trophies — just a good drive and good company.

Click here to Register — $50 per car - only 100 cars

Click here to see to see the schedule for the day

Presented by the Rotary Club of Castro Valley and the Niles Rotary Club of Fremont

Water, Conflict, and Peace

Presentation Summary:

Violence over freshwater resources is on the rise, with water and water systems as triggers, casualties, and weapons of conflict. This talk will address the long history of water from ancient Mesopotamia to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and Machiavelli to the present violence in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as how we might move from water conflicts to peace and cooperation over our most precious natural resource.

Bio:

Dr. Peter Gleick is a leading scientist and communicator on water, climate, and environmental security issues. He co-founded the Pacific Institute in Oakland, California in 1987, an independent research center creating and advancing solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. His work has focused on the human right to water, the consequences of climate change for the hydrologic cycle, and water, peace, and security issues, including defining, categorizing, and developing solutions for water-related violence and conflict. Gleick is a MacArthur Fellow and an elected member of both the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2018 he was awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Gleick is the author or editor of many scientific papers and fourteen books, including the Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water; The Three Ages of Water; and his newest book, When the Well is Dry: How Water Fuels Violence and Shapes Peace (The New Press, New York).

The Rotary Club of Castro Valley presents a free, family-friendly evening under the stars — games, snacks, and a classic movie, The Goonies, on the big screen in Adobe Park (San Miguel Avenue).

Games start at 6:00 p.m. followed by the movie at 7:00 p.m. with snacks throughout the evening.

Click here for more information.

Presentation Summary:

Assemblymember Ortega will describe highlights of the past Legislative Session, and share her thoughts looking forward to the 2027 session.

Bio:

A longtime labor and community leader, Assemblymember Liz Ortega has spent 20 years advocating for working families and healthy and safe communities across California. She represents Assembly District 20, which
includes Hayward, San Leandro, Union City, portions of Dublin and Pleasanton, and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, and San Lorenzo.
 

As Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, Ortega is the voice for over 19 million workers in California. Ortega also serves on the Assembly’s Standing Committees on Budget, Insurance, and Privacy and
Consumer Protection. In addition, as Vice Chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus, she champions civil rights for Latinos and for all Californians.

As a legislator, Ortega has focused on creating good jobs, expanding access to healthcare, and ensuring that every Californian who works hard can have a chance at a good life.Her contributions to the community have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Fighting for Poverty Award from the California Association of Food Banks of Santa Cruz County..

Assemblymember Ortega grew up in Oakland, where her parents worked hard to contribute to their communities. She had a passion for standing up for working people from a young age. She lives in San Leandro with her family and their dog, Noah.

Share an evening of friendship, pizza, and music by Route 66 Big Band with Castro Valley Rotarians, family, friends, colleagues and community members.  More specific details will be posted closer to the event. 

Presentation Summary:

"Do the Machines Need Us? How AI Changes the Way We Work and Learn

This talk briefly traces how we got to AI and highlights its main challenge via a true story that once baffled observers. We’ll get into the likely impact on businesses, innovation, and humans - and what employers should be looking for from an education today.

Bio:

Professor Roessler is an economist at Cal State East Bay, with previous appointments at the National University of Singapore, the University of Queensland (Australia), Erasmus University (Netherlands), the University of Vienna, as well as Rice University (TX) and Brown University (RI). A competitive chess player in his youth, Professor Roessler specializes in game theory, the study of strategic interactions. His research has been published in the “top five” economics journals, a distinction won only by a small fraction of professors in the field. His PhD is from the University of Melbourne (Australia); his recent interests include the economics of AI and decentralized networks.

Join fellow members of the Castro Valley Rotary Club for our monthly Vocational Service Breakfast, a special gathering dedicated to strengthening relationships among Rotarians who are active participants in the Castro Valley business community.

Held on the last Friday of each month (except November & December) from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Canyon's Barbeque, this informal breakfast meeting provides an opportunity to network, share business insights, discuss community needs, and explore ways Rotary's Vocational Service avenue can support local professionals and entrepreneurs.

Whether you own a business, manage an organization, or are committed to serving the local economy, this meeting offers a valuable forum for collaboration, professional development, and building connections that benefit both our members and the broader Castro Valley community.

Breakfast tacos and fresh coffee will be served.

Come connect with fellow business leaders, exchange ideas, and discover new ways to put Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, into action through your vocation.

What is TRF & What Does It Do?  PDG Jill Duerig

Presentation Summary:

Learn more about Rotary International's Foundation that helps Rotarians finance both local and global projects. Find out how The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is different from local foundations and hear about some of the success stories of projects spearheaded by clubs within our district.  And celebrate election day by donating to a real, tax-deductible charity — not all those parties or politicians "needing 7 more donors by midnite!"

Bio:

Jill Duerig joined Rotary in 2003 and has served in many leadership capacities, including most recently as Lieutenant Governor-Avenues of Service from 2021-2023. Jill is a retired General Manager of Zone 7 Water Agency in Livermore and a former General Manager/Chief Engineer for Scotts Valley Water District. It’s no surprise that her passion for potable water got her involved in the Haiti National Clean Water Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy (HANWASH, a partnership between Rotary’s WASH Rotary Action Group, other NGOs and the government of Haiti). She is also a current member of the Ohlone College Foundation Board, former member of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) board of directors, and former board president of the California Urban Water Agencies (CUWA). She is a member of the California Bar, a registered professional engineer, and a certified water treatment plant operator.  Her husband of fifty years, Tom, started out as her college sweetheart. They have three married children and six grandchildren.

Longevity Science!

Presentation Summary:

Dr. Robert Wolff will expalin what we know about how to live longer.  From diet to clinical work to prescriptions to supplements, he will explain the longevity therapeutics of the present and future.  How does your metabolic age compare to with your chronological age?

Bio:

Dr. Robert Wolff is an internationally recognized speaker. He took his medical training at Stanford University and later was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. He has been interested in Longevity for many years, ever since his mother died at age 54, and all other family members died in their 60s. Dr Wolff’s personal Journey of Longevity has focused recently, because it is his mission to have  an extended “health-span.” He is the Founder of the Longevity Futurist Institute. In addition, he is known as “The Longevity Futurist.”

November Mixeer at Cordial Cellar and Lounge

This month's Mixer is being held at  Cordial Cellar and Lounge in the Castro Valley Marketplace at 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Cost is $20 per member and guests.

Cordial Cellar and Lounge will provide grazing boards and appetizers. There will be a no host bar.

Consider inviting family, friedns, and colleague to share the Rotary experience and the holiday spirit. 

The Club will not meet for lunch on November 24 for lunch.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Club will once again be serving a Thanksgiving Lunch at both the Castro Valley and Hayward Senior Centers.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Carol Bigelow asap.