2012: At the Rotary District 5220 Conference in Modesto, Sonora Sunrise Rotary was named Outstanding Club for Rotary Year 2011-12.
The district consists of 54 clubs from Central California communities including Stockton, Merced, Modesto and Tracy totaling some 2,300 members. Sonora Sunrise Rotary received its charter Dec. 23, 1987.
In April 2016, Sonora Sunrise Rotary members (from left) Dana Mayo, Chris Daly, Robin Phillips, Paula Johansen and Angie Fairchilds accepted an award from Columbia College Fire Academy program coordinator Shane Warner (right) for its monetary support of the program.
2016: In 2015, Sonora Sunrise Rotary held its seventh annual Celebrities Serving Dinner at Black Oak Casino Resort to provide funds for the academy to purchase much-needed additional training equipment — oxygen tanks, protective gear, etc. The event raised $21,000. On April 1 2016, the club held its eighth annual Celebrities Serving Dinner at Black Oak Casino Resort to provide funds for the academy to refurbish a fire engine donated to the Academy by the Hayward Fire Department. The event raised $25,000.
Recent Sonora Sunrise Rotary presidents were on hand to accept the 2011-12 Club of the Year award. These include (from left) Bob Hoyt, Jim Cherry, Chris Daly, Julie Kline (current president), Robin Phillips, Jim Barth, Sally Dunn and Del Hodges.
2013: Dogs in the Mother Lode have a new place to bark, sniff, and roam. Over the weekend the Sonora Sunrise Rotary Club had the official grand opening of a new dog park at 12865 Covey Circle. It is the first of its kind in the community. The park also features a rock climbing area for kids, and a community garden. The grand opening ceremony included a dog parade, garden tours, a ribbon cutting and hot dog luncheon.
In 2011, the Tuolumne County Supervisors approved a request by the club to allow construction of the park on an acre of county land. The property was given to the county over 30 years ago as part of a development agreement, and the stipulation was that it must be developed into a park. Funding for the effort was raised by club members.