Home Page | Rotary District 5240

WELCOME TO ROTARY DISTRICT 5240

Rotary District 5240 consists of almost 3,000 members in 68 Rotary Clubs. The District spans four counties in Central California - San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and Kern County – as well as a Chapter Club based in Guatemala, a Next Gen Club in Westlake Village, and the international-focused Rotary E-Club of One World District 5240. Our clubs are active in all aspects of Rotary, including community and international service, youth programs, and fellowship activities.

A Message from the District Governor

My District 5240 Rotary Family

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, I want to take a moment to wish you all a year filled with new opportunities, growth, and happiness. May this year bring you closer to your dreams, and may every day be a chance to learn, love, and create.

January is also Rotary’s Vocational Month, a time to reflect on the importance of work and service in our communities. It’s a reminder that our professional lives can make a meaningful difference in the world around us. Whether through mentorship, leadership, or simply doing our best in our chosen vocations, let’s all strive to make an impact.

We are also kicking off the second half of the 2024-2025 Rotary year with our District Foundation Gala! This is an exciting opportunity to come together and celebrate all the work we’ve done, and all that we will continue to accomplish.

Hope you’ve saved the date ~ 01.25.2025!

Registration is now open.

Don’t miss out on this special event.

Here’s to fresh starts, continuing on bold goals, and finishing strong on our 2024/2025 Rotary Year!

As always, thank you for all that you do.

Rotary Is Love + Service = Magic of Rotary!

District Governor Sherry Sim

January 4, 2025

ShelterBox Snippets, Volume 2

Join Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA, as she speaks with Sandra and Jose Valenzuela, members of the Rotary Club of Altadena, as they support their community in relief efforts after the Eaton fire in California. https://youtu.be/vP02bBVX-bE
The ShelterBox standard relief tent will hold up in bad weather. We know this because we put it to the test. https://youtu.be/FWX4cFIgLs4?si=62m-GeSWLU9vLXLp
Go Beyond the Box and see how ShelterBox has evolved in our first 25 years. https://youtu.be/rCPNXaLvyvc?si=90f0N7iwcUXVQ150

Learn More

Rotary District 5240 Focus on Rotarian Dr. Bob Skankey

Maternal and child health continues to be a primary focus of District 5240 Rotarians. In December of 2024 Dr. Bob Skankey contacted artist Leslie Clark to commission a series of paintings depicting their experiences working with nomads in Niger. Here is the back story.

In 1994 artist Leslie Clark traveled to Niger for the first time looking for exotic subject matter to paint. She fell in love with the nomads and their desert environment. She went down a rabbit hole that led to a life she never expected. After several return trips she bought a cow for a Wodaabe nomad to thank him for his generous welcome.

Magic in Action, Two Rotary Districts Team Up

Through careful coordination by Westlake Village Sunrise Rotarians Beverly Wisotsky and Dan Harutunian, Oak Park High School’s Interact Club teamed up with the Rotaract Club of Yerevan in Armenia to help displaced and critically ill children celebrate the holidays.

The students on both sides of the world met and worked together via zoom with the Oak Park team, headed by Sanjeevani Kumar, organizing a “Pomegranate Key Chain” sale and the Yerevan team, headed by Nare Abgaryan, organizing the kid’s letters to Santa” and gift distribution campaign. Pomegranates are a traditional symbol of hope and good fortune for Armenians and, in keeping with Rotary’s theme of “Magic in Action”, the collaboration produce both magic and hope.