Rotary District 5240 is made up of over 3,300 members from: 72 Rotary Clubs located in 4 counties of Southern California; The Rotary E Club of One World which spans over 6 continents; The "National Chapters" of The Rotary Club of Carpenteria Morning which connect local clubs to members in other states and countries. We meet regularly to form bonds and friendships and we also strive to improve lives locally and around the world.
District Governor's Message
DG Sandi at the Multi-Year planning meeting with PDG/DRFCE Frank Ortiz
When I turn on the shower, especially in the winter to warm the clean water in which I am privileged to bathe, I have a twinge of guilt seeing this perfectly drinkable water going down the drain for no good reason other than I am too spoiled to start my shower with cold water. So yesterday, in preparation to write this article, I measured the water I wasted. It totaled a gallon and a half. YIKES!! We live in a land where water is immediately accessible, whether we are
preparing our meals, watering our lawns, bathing, filling our swimming pools, and drinking the gallon of water we need every day to stay healthy!
We know that clean water and sanitation is a human right; but, not everyone is afforded that right. Rotary members are providing communities with sustainable access to safe water, improved sanitation, and hygiene management training. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, improved sanitation facilities, and better hygiene habits, they lead healthier and more successful lives.
During March – Rotary Water and Sanitation Month – Rotarians are encouraged to work towards Rotary’s goal of providing everyone with safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030.
From the RI website:
The Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) was formed in 2007 by a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International and focused on WASH projects. Since then it has facilitated many hundreds of projects – helping clubs find partners, ensuring sustainability, stressing the importance of a needs-driven approach, and developing best practices. They encourage a holistic, integrated approach in which water in not the end in itself, but rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly, WASRAG links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and empowerment of the community – especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education, and literacy, and, ultimately, child mortality.
World Water Day is March 22, 2019. If nothing else, plan to step in the shower as soon as you turn on the tap without warming it up. With 3,239 members of District 5240, that would be 4,939.5 gallons of clean water we save that day by one unselfish act.
Sandi Schwartz
District Governor 2018-19
Official District Governor Visit Moments
Kern YES!
Bakersfield East Rotary Club with PDG ChungSam Doh
Lompoc Rotary Club's Wine Tasting Festival
Avenue of Service Spotlight - Vocational
2019 Business Leadership and Ethics Conference
For 33 years students in the Kern High School District in Bakersfield have had the opportunity to participate in the Rotary Business Leadership and Ethics Conference.
In 1986 the Rotary Club of Bakersfield or “Downtown Rotary”, as a Club Vocational Service project, entered into a partnership with Kern High School District to offer training in leadership and ethics to local high school
students. Since that time, the conference has served over 6,000 students and has expanded to include participation by other Bakersfield Rotary Clubs, including West Rotary, North Rotary, East Rotary, Breakfast Rotary and Twilight Rotary.
The conference is designed for students that have leadership potential but, may not have not had formal exposure to ethics and leadership training. During the conference, students are broken into small groups and are given case studies that pose ethical and leadership dilemmas. With facilitation provided by high school staff, the students are challenged to discuss and debate the moral dilemmas presented to them in the case studies. Real-world leadership and ethics guidance is provided by volunteer Rotarians from the participating Clubs based on personal experience and the Rotary “4 Way Test”. Over the years, evaluations by students, facilitators and Rotarians have been overwhelmingly positive.
The chair of this year’s conference is Kat Clowes from Bakersfield Twilight Rotary. The balance of the leadership team includes Larry Reider-Downtown Rotary, Kevin Burton-West Rotary, Steve Richardson- East Rotary, Michael Turnipseed-Breakfast Rotary and Jake Slayton-North Rotary. This year, our conference will be opened by our illustrious leader, District Governor Sandi Schwartz, who will lead the flag salute. Speakers include, Joe Coughlin, owner of the very popular “Coconut Joes” restaurant who will share his insights on business leadership and ethics as the morning keynote speaker. Rotarian Katy Carrillo will give a short presentation on Interact and the afternoon keynote speaker will be Rotarian Lyle Martin, Bakersfield City Chief of Police. Lyle’s unique and exhilarating life experiences, once heard, will never be forgotten. Lyle has been invited back numerous times to share his inspiring stories about ethics and leadership.
The conference will be held March 12, 2019 at Hodels Restaurant, 5917 Knudsen Drive in Bakersfield from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please contact Larry Reider at lareider@kern.org for additional information regarding the 2019 Business Leadership and Ethics Conference.
Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara
The Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara has started doing a Saturday morning coffee and crafts/game time with a senior assisted living facility.
Rotary 5240 Business Networking Site
Discover and connect with great local businesses in your local neighborhood like dentists, hair stylists and more. Support fellow Rotarians.
In these webinar sessions, subscribers will get a guided tour of ClubRunner's features and how it will help you automate, streamline and enhance communication for your club. There are various specialized sessions available to help you get the most out of your level of site access.
During the tragic events of November 2018, Moorpark lost a hero in resident and Ventura County Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant Ron Helus.
In honor and remembrance of Sergeant Helus, The Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning with the support of the Helus Family is establishing a scholarship in his name. The Ron Helus Scholarship of Valor.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to a Moorpark student interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.
We are asking our fellow community members to help launch this endeavor with a donation as it is our hope to award the inaugural Ron Helus Scholarship of Valor this June, 2019.
With monies raised, the Rotary Club plans to setup an endowment allowing this scholar to continue annually fully funded.
If you are interested in donating to the Ron Helus Scholarship of Valor, you may make your Tax Deductible donation to the Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning HERE, or you may mail it to the address below:
The Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning Foundation 207 Los Angeles Ave. #212
The Rotary Club of Pismo Beach Five Cities is inviting all Rotary Clubs in District 5240 to come together for a Joint Club Fellowship and a hot diggity dog dinner.
Place: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church - 301 Trinity, Arroyo Grande
Time: 6:00 PM
Speaker: Wade Nomura (Past District Governor - 2011-2012)
Made the way you like it from their Rotary Service Bar. They'll provide the gourmet hot dogs, buns, chips, and all the toppings:
The Rotary Club of Camarillo hosted its annual Viva la Comida Dinner and Fiesta fundraiser Monday at the Camarillo Community Center. Guests were treated to a dinner of enchiladas that included rice, beans and salad, plus a salsa bar. There were 875 tickets bought in advance and more people purchased tickets at the door. All of the money raised goes toward scholarships and local charities, including the Boys & Girls Club.
President Jeff Hata presented Amy Bailey, Executive Director of the Ventura Family YMCA with a $6,000 donation to continue support of Operation Ventura. Operation Ventura started 10 years ago as a learn to swim program for homeless and financially disadvantaged youth. Over the years our partnership has continued and with this donation the Rotary Club of Ventura-East has donated $51,000 and will have touched over 2,200 children in our community. For the second year Ventura-East member Laura Shannon is contributing another $1,000 to the program!
The Rotary Club of Oxnard continues to recognize outstanding teachers in the Oxnard School District, the Oxnard Union High School District, and the Rio School District. For the ninth year, the Rotary Club provides a gift basket and marble “apple for the teacher” in recognition of the recipient’s outstanding teaching and service to students, parents, and school. In partnership with the County Schools Federal Credit Union, the recognition also includes a monetary award for the teacher to help cover the many out-of-pocket expenses teachers incur. An additional corporate partner, the Courtyard by Marriott-Oxnard, provides this special teacher a gift certificate for a one-night stay for two. The Teacher Recognition Program continues the efforts of the Rotary Club of Oxnard to thank those special teachers in our community who demonstrate outstanding Service Above Self, the motto of Rotary International.
.jpg?_=636868047906780560)
