11/5 – Gina Bianco, Executive Director of the Oregon Wine Board
Much has been written lately about the declining consumption of wine and beer. The trend has had a definite impact on both Oregon grape growers and wineries. Gina Bianco, Executive Director of the Oregon Wine Board, brings her many years’ experience in the wine sector to discuss the current state of Oregon’s world renown wine industry.
Program Chair – John McCulley
Meeting Location: Cedar Hall, Main Salem Alliance Building
President’s Message
November: Celebrating The Rotary Foundation and
Our Progress Toward EREY Goals
Hello Salem Rotary Club members. Welcome to the month of November when we celebrate The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Rotary International has an initiative that encourages every member to contribute financially to the Rotary Foundation and participate in its projects. The program’s goal is to provide a consistent funding source for the Foundation’s international humanitarian and educational projects. This initiative is known as EREY – Every Rotarian Every Year. The monetary goal is $100 per member per year. A club can be recognized as an EREY Club if every dues-paying member contributes at least $25 and the club membership gives an average of at least $100 per member annually to the Annual Fund. When I set the club goals for 2025-26 our membership goal was 140. Therefore, I established a club goal of $100 per member at $14,000. Through October 31, 2025, club members have completed donations totaling $4,010 and nearing 30% of our annual goal. I know some of these donations are recurring monthly donations. During the month of November, Dawn Bostwick and other members of the Rotary International committee will provide donation information so you can get started if you are not currently making TRF donations. A monthly donation of $9 will accomplish the annual goal of $100. Or make it simple and make a one-time donation of $100.
The recent presentations by Marilyn Schuster (Ghana) and Howard Baumann (Haiti) have given us current updates and inside information about just two of several international projects our club is participating in. Sometimes our club takes the lead on an International project, and other District 5100 clubs join in. At other times we support other District 5100 clubs who are taking the lead on an international project. Either way these international projects are evidence of Rotarians UNITING FOR GOOD around the world.
On the home front, our club Hands-On committee chair, Alicia Bay, has informed me that her committee has plans for local hands-on projects each month through the end of 2026. These projects are ways in which small groups (6, 8, 10, or 12) of club members can UNITE FOR GOOD locally. Be listening and be aware of these local service opportunities. Your opportunity to UNITE FOR GOOD and be a ROTARIAN IN ACTION is just around the corner. Be ready to sign up when the opportunities are presented.
In October we highlighted Polio Plus. Our club contribution goal was $1,450. We are approaching that goal quickly. When I first looked at our progress a couple of weeks ago, we were at $466. Then, just prior to last Wednesday’s meeting, we had reached $856. Now, through October 31, we are at $1,156. A few more contributions directed toward Polio Plus will enable us to meet our club goal.
This week our Wednesday lunch program presentation is chaired by John McCulley and our presenter will be Gina Bianco who is the Executive Director of the Oregon Wine Board. I look forward to our lunch programs as a way of learning something new. Wine in Oregon is a big deal – the 4th largest wine-producing state behind only California, Washington, and New York. In Oregon, wine grapes are the 5th most valuable crop, behind only greenhouse/nursery products, hay and haylage, grass seed, and wheat. I look forward to hearing more about the wine industry on Wednesday.
See you on Wednesday!
President Doug Parham
Rotary Club of Salem
2025-2026
