President Misti Short:
A Life of Service to Others
In her opening address to the Club, President Misti Short demonstrated positive, motivational, inspirational leadership as she outlined ambitious yet attainable goals for both the Club and individual Rotarians. Throughout her remarks, Misti re-enforced and challenged members to live up to the Four Way Test (Service Above Self) and the Rotary International Theme (Unite For Good). Her presentation addressed the following key areas:
- An introduction to herself
- Her motivations for serving
- Her vision for the future of the Rotary Club of Castro Valley
- The role each member plays in achieving this vision
With her family present ("I met my husband, Brian, the summer before 10th grade in detention...we’ve raised a family of seven"), Misti described her background and involvement in and commitment to service to others, which eventually led her journey to Rotary. She explained that her experience as a foster child did not meet her expectations, noting she "found people who didn’t care" and subsequently made it her goal to become the kind of person she needed at that time. Over the years, Misti and Brian have fostered 86 children; 83 of these children were reunited with their families, while Misti and Brian adopted the other three. Click here to read more about Misti's wide-ranging background and commitment to serviceMisti’s Journey to Rotary
In her own words, “When I discovered Rotary, it was like finding my people. People who serve without asking for recognition. People who lead with their hearts. People who understand that Service Above Self isn’t a motto—it’s a lifestyle.”