Rotarian of the Month - February 2024

District Rotarian of the Month Rotarian of the Month San Rafael Evening Rotary Club
Congratulations to Erika Rosales-Shelfo of the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening for being selected as Rotary District 5150's Rotarian of the Month for February 2024!
 
Leadership: Since joining her Club in November 2018, she has gone above and beyond as a leader.
  • After just one year of membership, Erika earned her Club's Rotarian of the Year Award in 2019-2020.
  • Erika is a current Board Member, the President-Elect, and the Club Service Projects Chair.
  • She donates consistently to Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) and The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and is a Paul Harris Fellow.
  • As her Club's budget got leaner with the pandemic, Erika creatively solicited the support of colleagues to help underwrite food costs and collaborate so that her Club would not have to cut programs or raise membership dues. This allowed the Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening to continue fulfilling its commitment to consistently provide, make, and pack lunches for the St. Vincent de Paul Society to distribute those in need. Today, her Club is able to continue making and packing even more lunches. 
  • When needed, Erika did not hesitate to help organize her Club's Holiday Party.
  • Her Club's team in the Rotaplast Bocce Ball Tournament was short staffed, and Erika recruited one of her co-workers to help out.
Community Service: Erika connects Rotary to her community. Where others see obstacles, she skillfully develops resources, creates solutions, and provides opportunities to give back to others.
  • Last year, Erika learned that Venetia Valley School had a large number of students attending classes without basic supplies. She convinced her Club to dedicate funds to provide each student with a backpack filled with all the teacher-approved tools and supplies needed for a successful school year.
  • In September 2023, Erika presented to the Dominican University Leadership Studies Class on the impact and opportunities in Rotary and Rotaract. Her inspiration led to many students joining Rotaract. 
  • Erika founded the First Generation Scholarship Fund that awards scholarships to first generation students attending Dominican University. She is currently working with her Club to launch an annual scholarship.
  • In December 2023, Erika coordinated with her Club’s Youth Services Committee and St. Raphael’s Interact Club to co-lead a holiday card making project that generated 120 holiday cards. The cards delivered to local veterans and the retired sisters at Dominican generated a smile for all.
  • Erika has volunteered in the SF Spartan Race Team and Hot Chocolate 5K Race running team, securing personal and team sponsorships and co-leading two successful annual fundraising campaigns.
Erika went to school and has lived in Marin her entire life. She is dedicated to making Marin (and the world) more humane and equitable. She owns her own business, E.R.S. Immigration Services, and has two local offices committed to breaking barriers through education among immigrant communities with complex adversities. In 2023, she was awarded the Outstanding Recent Graduate of Dominican University of California Award. Erika is a newly appointed Marin Women’s Commissioner, serving District 3 in 2023-2026. She is also the Co-Chair of the Marin Latino Leaders and is the Chair of the New Beginnings Law Center Immigrant Post Conviction Relief Project.
 
Thank you, Erika, for all that you do and for inspiring and reminding us that no matter what is happening in the world around us, Service Above Self is always a value worth sharing! We are thrilled to recognize Erika for helping her Club and community adapt and evolve through the pandemic, and are grateful for her collaborative spirit, commitment to service, and solution-oriented leadership during the challenges (and opportunities) we are all still navigating. The Rotary Club of San Rafael Evening and Rotary District 5150 are honored to have Erika Rosales-Shelfo as a valued member. Erika is most deserving to be recognized as District 5150’s Rotarian of the Month for February 2024!