 | The Palo Alto Tall Tree Awards have been announced by The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and Palo Alto Weekly. Betsy Bechtel, President of Palo Alto Rotary 2017-18, is being honored with the Outstanding Citizen award. She is well known in Palo Alto’s political circles for her service on the City Council from 1980 and 1989, which included stints as a mayor and a vice mayor. She also served on the board of the Foothill-De Anza Board of Directors between 2003 and 2016 and advised the district on several revenue measures. | |
 | Sherri Sager, President of Palo Alto Rotary 2011-12, who retired in January from her position as vice president and chief Governmental Relations officer at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, is well known for her advocacy on health care and on behalf of local businesses. She will receive the Tall Tree award in the Outstanding Professional category. In 2018, Sager won the Athena Award, which honors outstanding women in business. She described herself at that time as a “pragmatic idealist.” |
 | Julie Jerome is recipient of the 2024 Avenidas Lifetime of Achievement Award. Since 1988, Avenidas has been honoring community members for the contributions they make to the community with this award. Julie has been leading and influencing local civic institutions for over three decades. A former member of the Palo Alto Unified school board, she served as its president twice. In addition to being selected for the first class of Leadership Palo Alto, she also offered campaign support to local politicians. She has been the Board President of Palo Alto Community Fund, Adolescent Counseling Services, Palo Alto Community Child Care, and Co-president of Women’s Club of Palo Alto. She remains an active member of the Rotary Club of Palo Alto. In 2004, she received the Tall Tree Award as an Outstanding Citizen Volunteer. Julie and her husband, Jon, have lived in Palo Alto for 50 years and have one daughter and two grandchildren. |
Palo Alto Rotary donates $100,000 to Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Palo Alto Weekly
