District Governor Jim Bell is pleased to confirm the District Nominating Committee selection of Sandra K. "Sandi" Schwartz as District Governor Nominee Designate who will serve as District Governor in Rotary year 2018-19.
 
Sandi has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East (BERC) since 1994 and feels fortuante to have had the mentorship of PDG Chungsam Doh (BERC President that year). Her decision to be a Rotarian was solidified during a National Immunization Day trip to India in 2004 led by PDG Anil Garg and a "rat pack" of attendees including PDG's Arnie Dowdy, Sally Adelblue, Deepa Willingham and Rotarian Jim Lewis. She served her club as Director of The Rotary Foundation, Sergeant at Arms, editor/publisher of "The RotoNews", Club Service Director, Blood Bank Chair, RYLA Coordinator, and twice co-chaired her club's annual fundraiser Vino Amore. Bakersfield East named her Rotarian of the Year in 2009.
 
When she was Club president in 2013-14, her club grew by a net seven members, earned the RI Presidential Citation, District Gold Club Status Award and "Best Medium Size Club for Vocational Service". BERC became an EREY club that year with per capita giving of $177. Individually, she received the RI Avenue of Service Citation in 2013 and the District 5240 Jock McKenzie Leadership Award in 2014.
 
At the District level, Sandi has served on the Polio Plus Committee, has been a RYLA counselor/nurse, 2014 STEPS committee member, served on the District Conference Planning Committee 2015, and is currently Chief of Staff for Governor Jim Bell.
 
Professionally Sandi is a Registered Nurse of 43 years with the last 25 years in the fields of Home Health and Hospice. She and her husband Richard are recently retired, but both remain very active in the Bakersfield community. Collectively they have 7 children, both biologic and "acquired", and are proud grandparents of 9. Sandi and Richard have a Golden Retriever "Sam" and a Beagle "Sophie". Sandi's hobbies include hiking, cooking, crochet, all things sports, and being a Gramma.
 
They are Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors; Sandi is a Paul Harris Society member.
 
About her goals, Sandi says, "We should continue expanding the use of social media to 'Celebrate Rotary' and our Club achievements. I want communities to know what Rotary is, to be thankful Rotary is there and subsequently want to be involved."
 
Sandi can be reached at sandischwartzdg1819@gmail.com
 
Congratulations, Sandi!