July 21, 2006

Mel Bandanza named new president of Almaden Valley Rotary Club

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The Almaden Valley Rotary Club welcomed Mel Bandanza as its 37th president this month. Bandanza, a retired director of manufacturing with Burke Industries, has been an active Rotary Club member for about 15 years, and is a past president of the San Jose East Rotary Club.

“Mel Bandanza is a take-action-kind-of guy,” says Almaden Valley Rotary Club member Jeff Rosen. “He’s been a Rotarian for many years and still steps up to bat and works hard.”

Rotary’s motto is, “Service above Self.” An organization of business and professional leaders, it strives to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards and build goodwill and peace in the world. Founded in Chicago, Ill. in 1905, it is the world’s first service club and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.

Bandanza says he likes Rotary International because they really get things done. “We are a worldwide organization that has eliminated polio in all but a few countries in the world,” he notes.

Almaden Valley Rotary Club (AVRC), which was founded in 1969, aims to benefit the community by providing financial aid and hands-on assistance to schools, youth groups, senior services and more in the Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley, Cambrian and Willow Glen areas.

In addition to coordinating the AVRC’s project to renovate the Alliance for Community Care in San Jose, Bandanza planned the recent Silicon Valley Youth Classic, a high school all-star football game for Santa Clara County. The event is not only a showcase for players and cheerleaders from schools such as Pioneer and Leland, but also an AVRC fund-raiser, enabling the organization to aid numerous charities.

Dedicated to making a difference in the community, AVRC sponsors scout troops and school youth groups, and funds local, regional and international charities. Each May, the Club hosts about 3,000 children for its annual Kids’ Fishing Day at the percolation ponds in Campbell.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the organization provides food for needy individuals and families throughout Almaden and Blossom Valleys, including seniors at the Southside Community Center. Holiday monetary gifts include donations for student scholarships, Sacred Heart Community Service, Youth Focus and Casa Guatemala, a Guatemalan orphanage. “We try to support them the best we can,” says Bandanza.

Bandanza applauds the efforts of past president John Baker, and looks forward to continuing the club’s high level of service during his term. With the support of 12 board members charged with fellowship activities, fundraising and community service projects, he is well on his way. In fact, the AVRC recently completed a landscaping project at the South Valley YMCA. “I like being able to do this kind of thing,” says Bandanza, “and we have a lot of fun doing it.”

The AVRC also participates in the Almaden Art & Wine Festival, Cambrian’s Oktoberfest and Hoffman/Via Monte Neighborhood Thanksgiving and Christmas projects. “Our main purpose is community service and making life better for others,” says Bandanza. “We also have a lot of fellowship; the friends you make in Rotary are your friends for life.”

For more information, visit www.almadenvalleyrotary.org. The Almaden Valley Rotary Club meets Fridays at 12:15 pm at the Three Flames Restaurant, 1547 Meridian Avenue, San Jose.