Claire Sarnowski from Lake Oswego, Oregon, will share her experiences and insights from her book, Remember My Story: A Girl, a Holocaust Survivor, and a Friendship That Made History. Claire, who attended River Grove Elementary, Lakeridge Middle School, and Lakeridge High School, graduating in 2022, will discuss her journey with Holocaust survivor Alter Wiener. In 2018, fourteen-year-old Claire stood with ninety-two-year-old Alter Wiener in front of the Oregon state senate to champion a cause they both believed in: making Holocaust education mandatory in the state’s public-school curriculum. Their friendship began unexpectedly—she was in elementary school when they met, and he was an aging Holocaust survivor whose memoir she had read. Together, they aimed to change the American education system.

Alter spent decades speaking to audiences about the Holocaust, teaching that “never forgetting” could help spread tolerance and prevent such atrocities. Claire recognized that hate crimes were still being committed, even in her own town and school, and she was determined not to let Alter’s efforts be in vain. From strangers to friends to law-changing history makers, Claire and Alter’s mission was always simple: Remember this story.

Claire will share a reading from her memoir, Remember My Story: A Girl, a Holocaust Survivor, and a Friendship That Made History. She will discuss her work as an author and activist, and the work that she has done since the book was published in January 2024. This memoir is a tribute to a man who survived the worst of humanity, an ode to friendship and community, and an empowering call to activism. Claire will bring copies of her book for purchase.

The Rotary Club of Wilsonville meets weekly Thursdays at noon to carry out its purpose of providing service and fellowship to members and the Wilsonville community. Guests are welcome. Lunch is available off the menu; please arrive and order by 11:45 a.m. if you are ordering lunch. For more information, email president@wilsonvillerotary.com.