A new clean water source community project in Africa, which was awarded a Rotary District 5240 grant (round two) for $850.00, was recently completed. In a unique collaborative partnership, the DDF FY 2020-2021 project grant monies, were combined with Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight ($850.00) and Rotaract Club of Kern County ($2800.00) funds to benefit Ugandan residents with a clean and sanitary water source that includes establishing a community water committee and a repair savings account, and providing instruction on sanitation/hygiene and preventative maintenance. The $4,500.00 global community water source project now provides a clean community water source to approximately 500 villagers for the Naibinga community in Uganda. The global project was made feasible by the international community development non-profit Love Water Incorporated (LWI) which is based in Bakersfield, California. Since 2010, LWI has provided clean, potable water in developing countries to over 63,000 people.
Eric Ryan, President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, presented a contribution of $2,375 to Erik Talkin, Chief Executive Officer of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. The donation was made through the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation.
As thousands of families have struggled with food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, the Foodbank has stepped up to provide tons of nutritious food to community members in need!
As thousands of families have struggled with food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, the Foodbank has stepped up to provide tons of nutritious food to community members in need!

Dear Fellow Rotary Members,
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene Month: Rotary International has designated March as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene month to bring greater awareness and support for these critical needs. Clean water, safe sanitation, and healthy hygiene are basic human needs, but millions of people throughout the world – including in our own communities – do not have access to resources to meet these basic needs. Here are links to information If you want to learn more about how Rotary clubs and The Rotary Foundation are addressing these needs:
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Update:
This past month, Rotary International President Holger Knaack issued an update on RI’s efforts to ensure Rotary is committed to inclusion, diversity, and respect for all throughout our clubs and programs. You can read President Holger’s update HERE. To further DEI efforts in our District, the District 5240 Board of Directors has approved a new DEI Coordinator position to be a centralized resource to District staff and clubs on DEI-related initiatives, education, and resources. More information about the position will be coming soon. If you are interested in volunteering for the DEI Coordinator position, please email your interest and qualifications to me at rotarylinden@gmail.com.
This past month, Rotary International President Holger Knaack issued an update on RI’s efforts to ensure Rotary is committed to inclusion, diversity, and respect for all throughout our clubs and programs. You can read President Holger’s update HERE. To further DEI efforts in our District, the District 5240 Board of Directors has approved a new DEI Coordinator position to be a centralized resource to District staff and clubs on DEI-related initiatives, education, and resources. More information about the position will be coming soon. If you are interested in volunteering for the DEI Coordinator position, please email your interest and qualifications to me at rotarylinden@gmail.com.
Leadership Development Courses from Toastmasters:
As part of Rotary’s alliance with Toastmasters International, Rotary is now offering a series of leadership and communication courses to Rotary and Rotaract members. The courses, now available in the Learning Center, discuss fundamental leadership skills like motivation, integrity, and team inclusiveness. You’ll also discover how ethics, decision making, goal setting, and delegating help you develop the skills necessary to lead a team effectively. Watch this video to learn how to find the courses in the Learning Center and how to get the most out of them: Toastmasters Course Info Video. To access the courses, log into the Learning Center at www.rotary.org and search for Toastmasters.
As part of Rotary’s alliance with Toastmasters International, Rotary is now offering a series of leadership and communication courses to Rotary and Rotaract members. The courses, now available in the Learning Center, discuss fundamental leadership skills like motivation, integrity, and team inclusiveness. You’ll also discover how ethics, decision making, goal setting, and delegating help you develop the skills necessary to lead a team effectively. Watch this video to learn how to find the courses in the Learning Center and how to get the most out of them: Toastmasters Course Info Video. To access the courses, log into the Learning Center at www.rotary.org and search for Toastmasters.
Save the Dates:
District Training Assembly:
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 17, 2021, for the kick-off to our 2021 Virtual District Training Assembly. We will be offering a wide range of classes open to all members in the District. And it is free to attend! More info to follow soon.
District Training Assembly:
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 17, 2021, for the kick-off to our 2021 Virtual District Training Assembly. We will be offering a wide range of classes open to all members in the District. And it is free to attend! More info to follow soon.
District Rotary Foundation Recognition Event:
Our annual TRF Recognition event will be virtual on Friday evening May 7, 2021. Save the date and look for more info soon!
Our annual TRF Recognition event will be virtual on Friday evening May 7, 2021. Save the date and look for more info soon!
Tehachapi Rotary was happy to recognize 61 Jacobsen Middle School students with their SOAR award on February 18th. Student Outstanding Achievement Recognition was created in late 2019 to recognize those JMS students who had improved on their first quarter Grade Point Average (GPA) by at least .5 with no F grades. (The program was not done in the spring 2020 because of Covid-19.)
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning President Karen Glancy shows off the new signage for all three Carpinteria clubs; Carpinteria Morning, Carpinteria and Carpinteria Sunset. The updated signs hang at the community welcome kiosk across the street from Carpinteria City Hall.
Centennial Interact Club members hosted a drive up drop off event for the homeless teens in need in Bakers during the holiday season. They collected items such as clothing, blankets, hygiene products, shoes, games, etc. It was all donated to the Bakersfield Homeless Center teens the following day. The CHS Interactors love giving back to their community!
On Saturday February 13, Centennial Interact club set up a drive by Valentine’s Day card event for the Brookdale Senior Center! All cards were hand made by the Interactors and dropped off on Valentine’s Day. All the seniors were thrilled to receive such kind and thoughtful cards from the students. In total, the Interactors created about 225 cards for the 175 residents! A special recognition to Jonathan Hernandez for hand making 51 cards! Happy Valentine’s Day from Centennial Interact Club!
...and your Club can too.
Rotarian Mary Layman put the Carpenteria Club in contact with the Roatan Village Project on a small island off the coast of Honduras. Many villagers and local schools were without reliable electricity. Mary led the way for the club to support the schools and families there. She recruited other team members, and applied for a Peacebuilder Solar Matching Grant for solar powered lights and cell chargers from the Carpinteria Morning Rotary Club. The grant matched each solar light and solar cell charger with a free solar light and charger. In the first phase, 40 Unite to Light solar lights and 10 cell chargers were sent to Roatan.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks had the honor of hosting Brenda Cressey on January 21st. Brenda was the first female governor for district 5240 serving 2001 – 2002. She and her husband are members of the Arch Klumph Society, Major Donors, Paul Harris and New Legacy Societies. They established the Brenda and Richard Cressey Endowment for Peace supporting peace certificate fellows.
Brenda is the recipient of the RI Service Above Self Award, the Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and the Foundation’s highest recognition, The Distinguished Service Award.
She was kind enough to award Paul Harris pins and a Major Donor level 3 award at the meeting. Her program was focused on the Foundation and all it does on our behalf. She also spoke conflict resolution and the Peace fellowship.
Story By: Robert Fonarow, President of the Rotary Club of Paso Robles
The Drop your Drawers project is just one part of the overall effort of 4 Rotary Clubs in the North County to support ECHO, but it has already been a great success story.
Initially, a small group of Paso Robles Rotarians met with management of the new ECHO shelter that just took over a Motel 6 in the North part of town. The shelter has 60 rooms for homeless people to stay overnight in a warm, clean environment, including an evening meal. When asked what was needed at the shelter, our Rotarians got a list of about 10 things, with the most important one being new mens and women’s underwear.
Rotary District 5240 encourages clubs within the District to submit short articles, "Club Stories," to be published on the District Website and in the District Newsletter. Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to showcase your club's accomplishments. Here are the guidelines and the "how-to" for submitting your stories.
WHAT qualifies as a Club Story?
Club Stories are highlights of District 5240 Club-specific activities. The following examples illustrate activities that qualify as District 5240 Club Stories (upcoming or after the fact):
- Community Service Projects
- Youth Service Projects
- Vocational Service Projects
- International Service Projects
- Club Service Projects
- New Membership Highlights
- Club Fundraising Events
- Member Award Recognitions
HOW do I submit my Club Story?
After you make sure the story qualifies as a "Club Story," you may submit it by emailing ALL of the following items to stories@district5240.org:
- A short summary of the activity, minimum 50 words and maximum 250 words. Please submit as a Word doc and proofread prior to sending. If the content is copywrited/re-used from another source, permission must be granted and please reference the source.
- Include 2-3 of the best photographs taken from the activity. If there are individuals included in the photo, please include names and Club titles of each Rotarian. (If there is a YouTube video link taken from the event, please include as well).
- Include the contact information of the most appropriate Rotarian that others may reach out to regarding the featured story.
WHERE will my Club Story be posted?
The three most recently published Club Stories will be highlighted on the homepage of www.rotarydistrict5240.org, while an archive of previous Club Stories will be included and available to view under the menu tab, District -> Archived District Stories.
Your story may also be selected for the District Newsletter which goes out to our nearly 3300 active members.
WHEN will my Club Story be posted after I submit?
Depending on the amount of Club Stories in the cue, your article could take as short as 24 hours or up to 2 weeks to be published after all necessary information is received.
We hope that you take advantage of this promotional opportunity for your Club!
Questions about Club Stories? Please email stories@district5240.org for assistance.
Questions about the website? Please email website@district5240.org for assistance.