2021 Rotarian Spotlight

Meet the Rotarians! This is the 2021 issue of Rotarian Spotlight.

In an effort to bridge the gap between Cal Rotaract and Rotary, Rotarian Spotlights is a new feature that helps members get to know Rotarians more. Read about Rotarians, their service passions, and career advice below!

If you’re interested in learning more about Cal Rotaractors and alumni, check out Humans of Cal Rotaract under the membership tab.

Directory

Bipin Kathayat

LinkedIn | Facebook | [email protected]

What made you decide to become a Rotarian?

I was introduce to Rotary International back in middle school. I joined interact club and became president. It was an unique experience. Learned a lot about Friendship, Personal Growth and Development, Leadership Development, and The Development of Social Skills. Then i joined Rotaract club. I love being part of it. Everyone was so welcoming and it feels like "one world". wherever you go there is someone who belongs to local Rotary. You get to learn a lot. It is a family now.

What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?

The Opportunity to Serve, Cultural Awareness and The Development of Ethics. Rotary is a service club. Its business is mankind. Its product is service. Rotarians provide community service to both local and international communities. Around the world, practically every religion, country, culture, race, creed, political persuasion, language, color, and ethnic identity is found in Rotary. It is a cross section of the world’s most prominent citizens from every background. Rotarians practice a 4-Way Test that governs one’s ethical standards. Rotarians are expected to be ethical in business and personal relationships.

Are you working on any service projects currently or previously that you would like to talk about?

Right now there are no projects going on because of Covid and under current conditions that we live in. However, In the past i have been part of Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) conference where we empowered youth and motivated them to improve their personal development and Vocational Skills. Traffic awareness program, polio eradication efforts and Nepal's earthquakes fundraising were major service projects that I was part of.

Describe your professional background.

Right now i work in Sales and Marketing industry. However, I graduated with History and Political studies Major and International studies minor. I love taking to new people and sharing ideas. It is a good industry if you are a people person.

When and how did you realize that you wanted to pursue this career?

Right after college when I got first job offer. I work couple of months and i started liking it. You learn a lot. yo learn to read people mind, deal with them and solve their problem. sometime you can sell them even things they don't need hahah. anyway you learn to become a people person and it is a good thing.

What is some advice for Rotaractors on transitioning from university to life after college?

Go with the flow. Don't worry about coming life. Focus on today, do your best. Tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow is a product of today. Be honest, have faith and enjoy today being fully conscious.

What's the most beautiful place you've seen or want to visit?

My Motherland, Tripurakot Dolpa -Nepal. I haven't been there since 2016. I will visit soon.

If you could trade lives with any person or celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?

Due respect, this is my life and I want to enjoy being myself. why would i waste my life being someone else even a day. life is short, be truly yourself and enjoy life. There is so much to learn and enjoy.

JT Harold Forbus

LinkedIn | Facebook | [email protected]

What made you decide to become a Rotarian?

I joined for networking after a Financial Advisor I know brought me to a few Rotary lunches.

What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?

My service passions are the community and the youth. I always wanted to do things for my community and spend volunteer hours making an impact but I never knew where to start. Once I learned more about my club's involvement in the community and youth it was easy for me to step in and begin volunteering. I needed that plug-and-play atmosphere for me to jump in quickly and appreciated it!

Are you working on any service projects currently or previously that you would like to talk about?

We have been working with the SF-Marin Food Bank and a group called TogetherSF. Our focus this year has been food insecurity and both of these organizations really get us to the heart of that matter. We are able to provide labor at the food bank to fill boxes for those in need and we are able to load similar food boxes at TogetherSF to get to them in the hands of the San Francisco African Faith-Based Coalition so they can distribute to their community.

Do you have any funny or interesting Rotary stories you'd like to share?

This Rotary year we partnered up the first five Rotary clubs in the world. We got Chicago, SF, Oakland, Seattle and LA together to do a joint service project in our respective cities. We handed out a total of 10,000 hygiene kits to the homeless. We have been trying to stay active in our community amidst a pandemic and it feels great! We have also coordinated First Five Rotary meetings that have featured RI Past President Mark Maloney, incoming RI President-Elect Jennifer Jones and our most recent one on April 22 will feature incoming President Shekhar Mehta. I have also been exploring the Clubhouse App with other Rotarians, that's been a lot of fun!

Describe your professional background.

I am a tax accountant in San Francisco. I prepare tax returns for high-net worth individuals that tend to be involved in tech.

When and how did you realize that you wanted to pursue this career?

I took basic accounting in community college and found it rather easy and decided to continue on to see if this was something I wanted to pursue. I eventually took a tax course at the encouragement of my first employer and 24 years later...looks like it was something I wanted to pursue.

What is some advice for Rotaractors on transitioning from university to life after college?

Don't wait to travel and it's never too early to start investing. I wish I had done both of those prior to marriage and kids. But also know that it's never too late to travel or invest. And finally, as my grandfather used to say, always be friends with the janitor! Why? Because they have all of the keys!

What's the most beautiful place you've seen or want to visit?

One of the few times I did travel, it was to the South of France. It was a group of friends and we drank, ate and hung out at the beach. The water is so beautiful there. That was such a good trip!

If you could trade lives with any person or celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?

Bruce Willis. Everyone in my club knows this. The man is a legend amongst legends...and yes Die Hard is a Christmas movie! He is my favorite actor and has a low key dry sense of humor that might match mine. I wouldn't mind being him for a day...but the younger version of him not the old man version, haha!

David W. Johnson

[email protected]

What made you decide to become a Rotarian?

The motto Service Above Self. Chance to join with other professionals in my community

What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?

My passion has been international service. I have worked with Global Grants in India and Ecuador.

Are you working on any service projects currently or previously that you would like to talk about?

Getting ready to work on a Global Grant in Hungary. Have traveled to a Rotary Dental Clinic over 40 times in Baja California flying and assisting Dentists

Do you have any funny or interesting Rotary stories you'd like to share?

Working with the children of Heroica Mulege in Baja California with my Dentist Buddy.

Describe your professional background.

I am currently a Professional Commercial Appraiser. Mostly retired but still teach Basic Appraisal at UCLA Extension. I hold an Airline Transport Certificate. I am also a Certified Flight Instructor for Airplanes, single, multi-engine, and Instrument. I have BS in Physical Geography from California State University at Los Angeles, I hold the MAI Designation from the Appraisal Institute (retired), The CCIM designation as a certified Commercial Investment Member of the National Association of Realtors. I volunteered for 5 years for the Appraisal Foundation committee, assisting in writing the examination questions for the National Appraisal Examination.

When and how did you realize that you wanted to pursue this career?

I was a flying charters out of Long Beach Airport. The owner of the charter company died at 40 years of age. I had a family and needed a new profession. It was necessity!

What is some advice for Rotaractors on transitioning from university to life after college?

Education is everything. No matter what happens to you, if you are well educated you will do well. You need to be doing what you like. A broad education is better than a narrow one.

What's the most beautiful place you've seen or want to visit?

The South Island of New Zealand. As a country it is most beautiful. I have traveled extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand with Rotarians. Hawaii of course has many beautiful sites and is always a great visit.

If you could trade lives with any person or celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?

Jimmy Carter. His work with habitat for humanity makes him a good candidate for Rotary.

Karl Kyler

Facebook | [email protected]

What made you decide to become a Rotarian?

I want to surround myself with others who shared the same passion of helping and improving our community and the world.

What are your service passions and how has Rotary helped you achieve your service goals?

My passion is helping the environment and the animals. Rotary has helped me by creating an Environmental Service Committee for my club and also helped to connect me with others who also wanted to make an impact.

Are you working on any service projects currently or previously that you would like to talk about?

My first project that I worked on what helping to fundraiser for an organization called stove team which helped impoverished communities in Central America acquire a type of stove that helped the community not have to cook over open fires. Cook over open fires cost lost of wood and increase infant mortality rate due to smoke inhalation. The current project I am working on is starting the Environmental Service Committee for my club.

Describe your professional background.

I acquire my real estate license in 2004 and have been practicing since. I have a heavy background in personal development and Neuro Linguistic Programing and coach real estate agents to grow their business. I am also the co-founder of a program/trainer called Full Time Agent. It is an online training platform for new agents getting into the business. I also got my BA and MA from SDSU in Philosophy.

When and how did you realize that you wanted to pursue this career?

I was roped in early. Fortunately my first job was door to door sales when I was in high school. My high school water polo coach was a real estate agent and I randomly showed interest in it. After I graduated high school, my water polo coach had me get my real estate license shortly after and that was where it started.

What is some advice for Rotaractors on transitioning from university to life after college?

Listening is a skill and a skill that isn't taught in many places. Listening is a skill that serves you and serves others.

What's the most beautiful place you've seen or want to visit?

Most beautiful place I have ever visited in Haiti.

If you could trade lives with any person or celebrity for a day, who would it be and why?

Tony Robbins. I'd like to see and experience the individuals he surrounds himself with most frequently and the type of conversations he has with them.