Events

Sarah will share photos from her adventures in wild places and stories from the field.  With an emphasis on native predators, Sarah’s photography highlights unique behavior and intimate portraits of species like wolves, bears, coyotes, bobcats, foxes and badgers.  Increasingly, as human development expands and traditional habitats shrink, many of these species are living in closer proximity to humans.  Sarah has spent years observing and documenting native predators in both suburban and wild environments and will share tales from the field as well as insights into how wildlife adapts to living in our midst.

The November election will have two incumbents and three non-incumbents on the ballot competing for three seats on the Mill Valley City Council. 

The incumbents are:
     Urban Carmel
     Caroline Joachim

The non-incumbents are:
     Leah Curtis
     Katherine Jones
     Mike Koo

This is an excellent opportunity for our members and guests to meet the candidates and listen to their perspectives.

The League of Women Voters will provide a moderator and a time keeper. Questions from the audience will be vetted and selected by the League representatives. 

The status quo can change quickly. At the beginning of 2024, no political pundit could have predicted where we find ourselves today. It’s been a year full of twists and turns. We’ll take a closer look and see what’s happened on the national stage during the past ten months and why. Dick Spotswood will then examine the short-term and long-term implications for the nation and the world depending on who wins the presidency or which party controls the two Houses of Congress.

Colonel Kearney will provide a fast-paced description of the foundations of the conflict between China and Taiwan. This will examine the contentious history between the two countries along with a review of China's increasingly aggressive posture in the Asia-Pacific. The possible "Road Ahead" in conflict resolution will also be addressed. 

The Mill Valley Middle School Chamber Orchestra conducted by Orchestra Director Steve Gardner will be performing at our Holiday Party. They are an award winning string ensemble who play a diverse repertoire of pieces. The students are mostly home grown talent, coming up through their amazing 4th through 8th grade program, which is funded by KIDDO! They are thankful for every chance to perform in our community.

This talk will examine the nuclear security landscape facing the new U.S. presidential administration, emphasizing key risks posed by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. We will explore how Russia’s aggressive nuclear posture and renewed deployment of strategic assets impact global stability, with particular attention to its implications for Europe and NATO. Shifts in China’s nuclear strategy, including rapid arsenal expansion and advancements in missile technology, add another layer of complexity, potentially destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea’s persistent nuclear advancements and tests underscore its ambition to become a credible nuclear power, raising challenges for denuclearization diplomacy. Lastly, Iran’s nuclear program and uranium enrichment efforts, alongside regional tensions, present immediate proliferation concerns. The talk will address these evolving threats and consider strategies for the U.S. to engage diplomatically, mitigate escalation, and reinforce global nuclear norms in the face of a shifting security environment.

From Jeeps that flew to tanks that shouldn't; from a wave-powered boat that took forever to reach its destination to a jet-powered train that nearly shook itself apart, an entertaining look at WETech inventions which showcase an inventor's talent for building something nobody asked for. This talk will be lavishly illustrated with rare photographs and brief film clips demonstrating that failure is not just entertaining, but has something important to teach us.

Rotarians are invited to engage with Mayor Stephen Burke and City Manager Todd Cusimano as they share their visions and plans for the City in the years ahead. They will highlight the city's next steps, following the passage of the Measure L sales tax, for infrastructure maintenance and enhancements, fiscal sustainability, and emergency preparedness. 

They will also address land use and affordable housing challenges, business and cultural vitality initiatives, the critical importance of public/private partnerships, community engagement, and Mill Valley's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, a Q&A session offers participants the opportunity to pose questions and share insights, enabling Mayor Burke and City Manager Cusimano to better grasp and respond to community feedback.