Speakers

Michele Rogers, Ph.D. is the Executive Director and Co-founder of the Early Learning Institute.  She earned her Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis in early childhood mental health/neurobiology from the University of Colorado, Denver.  Michele worked for several years on Sonoma County's Early Childhood Mental Health task force, focusing primarily on creating a system for care for children 0-5 that includes social-emotional supports.  Michele is a certified childbirth educator and lactation specialist; serves on the public policy committee of the Infant Development Association, and is a First 5 Sonoma Commissioner.  In celebration of all these efforts, Michele was honored as the 2015 Sonoma County Champion for Children.  Michele is married with three grown children and 4 sweet grandchildren. 

Favorite quote: "If not me, who? If not now, when?" - Mikhail Gorbachev

Alison's first experience in an undeveloped country was at the age of 12 when her father was the Peace Corps Director in Brazil. She did not know then that this would open her eyes and touch her heart in such a way that she would spend her teen years wondering how to help other people.

She has volunteered for many causes but is particularly committed to developing international friendships and understanding as a platform for world peace. AfS’ mission is built on this very premise.

Moreover, the cleft work of AfS changes not just the life of the children they operate on, but it also transforms their family and community.

Alison believes that the value of their work is much bigger than just the operation itself. It is this knowledge that gets her up smiling every morning.

She is happiest traveling the world, but when she is home, she lives in Sausalito with her husband and 14-year-old son, both of whom hail from Mexico.

Eric has been a Costume Designer for Sonoma Arts Live, and for over 6 years a performer, Costume Designer, Props Master and Director for the Transcendence Theatre Company. NYC performing credits include stage, television, film, and commercial work. Broadway: THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and Mel Brook’s YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. National Tours: THE BOOK OF MORMON, DREAMGIRLS, RAGTIME, CHICAGO, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, and THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. Eric has been a Guest Instructor at the University of Alabama, Birmingham and Siena Heights University and has taught workshops and masterclasses in New York City with the Broadway Student Lab, Broadway Artists Alliance, and the Broadway Classroom. He graduated with a BFA from the University of Michigan.

Two and a half years ago, when Barb Spangler learned that she would be District Governor in 2018-2019, she took a deep breath and made Rotary District 5130 a top priority in her life.

After many informal club visits and participating in a number of great club projects, Barb has come to love our District and describes the DG experience as the best job ever.

According to Barb, “It’s a brilliant opportunity to be with and work with Rotarians: Good people at their very best.”

The Rotary International 2018-2019 theme ‘Be the Inspiration’ gives all of us the opportunity to reflect on the people who have given us our core strengths and values, and those who continue to contribute to us by sharing their wisdom and by their actions.

Barb is firmly committed to District 5130 and and is convinced that this year’s District theme: ‘Do What Matters’ resonates with all of us as we face the challenges and opportunities in our communities and in our world.  We only need to reflect about the many ways we came together in our District over the past 12 months to know that Rotarians Do What Matters when it matters most.  We have much to be proud of!

In 2018-2019 the District 5130 goals and focus areas are:

Support and strengthen clubs
Focus and increase humanitarian service
Enhance public image and awareness

“When we do these things, we all become better Rotarians and we make our world a better place,” says the incoming District Governor.

Barb was born and raised in Boston and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in the sciences and business from schools in the Boston area.  Her career in Healthcare Technology Research and Development gave her many opportunities to travel, live abroad, and experience the world’s economic and cultural diversity.

She has been to all seven continents and recommends Boston for education, New York for fun, Paris for food, Africa and the Galapagos for nature and wildlife, Antarctica for beauty, and District 5130 for Rotary service and friendships.

In 2010, she retired from GE Healthcare as a Clinical Research Manager in International Cardiology and promptly joined the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club in Santa Rosa.  She has been a club president, Assistant Governor, District Training Assembly Chair, and a Zone Institute Emerging Rotary Leader Program participant.

When not at Rotary, Barb lives in Santa Rosa with her husband, Jim, also a Rotarian and their dog, Buddy – affectionately known as Puppyzilla.