Hospice care is a compassionate approach to end-of-life support, offered free of charge and commonly accessible in many parts of the world. It focuses on enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing terminal illnesses by providing comfort rather than cure. This type of care addresses not only physical pain but also emotional and spiritual needs, helping patients and their loved ones navigate the final stages of life with dignity and peace.
The photo below displays a collection of educational materials used in Mexico as part of the “Niñas Sabinas” (Wise Girls) program, which is designed to teach young girls about their bodies in a respectful, empowering, and age-appropriate way. These materials serve as visual and interactive tools to facilitate open, informed conversations about female anatomy, hygiene, puberty, and overall health. By presenting this essential information in a culturally sensitive and supportive environment, the program helps to foster confidence and body awareness among young girls.
Our Westlake Village Sunrise Club had not met at the Yarrow Family YMCA since before the start of the Covid Pandemic. It is a state-of-the-art facility at 31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd in Westlake Village that opened only a couple of years before the pandemic. Many of our newer members had never seen it.
Marilyn Lippiatt is Co-Chair of Club Service this Rotary year and a board member for the Y. Marilyn was the key organizer for the meeting and introduced a fascinating presentation by Dani Hutchison, Chief Development Officer. Dani talked about the Y’s commitment to the community and how each branch of the YMCA adapts to the needs of its local community. She highlighted the Y’s California Strong program that supported firefighters, their families, and victims of the recent fires. At the end of the meeting, we had a tour of this amazing facility.
Over the past ten months, Simi Sunrise Rotary has been diligently planning a Vocational Trade show aimed at providing students with a meaningful and engaging experience. This initiative is grounded in our belief that early exposure to career pathways can empower students to make informed decisions about their futures. With careful planning and a clear vision, we are working to ensure the event is not only educational but also inspiring.
At Simi Sunrise Rotary, service isn't just something we do — it's who we are. Over the past year, our club has been hard at work making a real impact in our community through a wide range of service projects and events. From supporting those in need to beautifying our neighborhoods, we are proud to stand alongside our incredible volunteers to make a difference right here in Simi Valley.
One of our most heartwarming events was our Bike Building for Underprivileged Children. There’s nothing quite like seeing a child’s face light up when they receive their very first bike. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of our members and partners, dozens of kids now have a new way to ride, explore, and simply enjoy being kids.
At Simi Sunrise Rotary, we know that service and fellowship go hand in hand. As part of the Family of Rotary, we make it a priority not just to work together, but to enjoy life together—and this past year has been full of moments that brought us closer as a club and as friends.
From the glow of holiday lights to the warmth of summer barbecues, our calendar was filled with events that reminded us just how special our Rotary family is. We kicked off the holiday season with a magical boat ride through Ventura Harbor, where twinkling lights and laughter set the tone for a festive year ahead.
In a spirited display of community unity and enthusiasm, local leaders and volunteers gathered at Happy Face Hill to erect 11,000 flags in preparation for the upcoming Happy Face Music Festival. This vibrant event, which aims to celebrate local talent and foster community spirit, has garnered widespread attention, with news stations across the country covering the collaborative effort. The flags, representing a variety of colors and in yellow, blue, and orange, symbolize the diversity and inclusivity of the festival, setting a festive tone in the lead up to the event.
Youth Service Project in Celebration of Literacy and World Book Day
To celebrate Read Across America and World Book Day, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo visited Hawthorne Elementary to read to students during their library time. The books, chosen by the school librarian and focused on themes like kindness and self-confidence, were purchased by the Rotarians and gifted to the library after reading.
On Saturday, March 29th, Centennial High School's Interact Club (of Bakersfield East Rotary Club) volunteered at the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science's annual Spectacular World of Science event. Promoting science education and curiosity, CHS Interactors guided children and visitors around various science-related booths and led activities, ranging from showing how to use a microscope to sharing fun facts about fossils!
Come rain or shine, Westlake Village Sunrise Rotarians deliver. On a drizzly day in March, a group of Westlake Village Sunrise Rotarians delivered 150 bags containing self-care or hygiene products to Harbor House to be distributed to unhoused individuals in our community. The contents of each bag included such products as soap, lotion, lip balm, a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, lip balm, a comb, 2 ‘N 1 shampoo/conditioner and a protein bar.
These items were donated by the members of our club and the bags were assembled at one of our morning meetings in February. The assembly of the bags allowed our club to foster camaraderie while supplying essential items to unhoused individuals.
In 2022, near the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Daleiden saw an article about an area nonprofit’s need for help putting together Easter baskets for foster and at-risk children.
Chris, the community service director of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village, thought it would be a great club project.
She approached then President Mike Dutra, who got the club to allocate money. That money, along with donations from club members, enabled the Westlake Rotary Club to put together baskets for children supported by James Storehouse, a Newbury Park 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps children in foster care, young people aging out of foster care and exploited and at-risk children.
The Interact Club at Oak Park High School, with the supervision of Westlake Sunrise Rotarians Beverly Wisotsky and Dan Harutunian arranged a zoom call with Rotaract members from Yerevan, Armenia. They were able to tell us what children in their orphanages needed or wanted for Christmas.
The Oak Park high school Interact club raised money and included it in another grant. With that money, the Armenian Rotaract club bought items of clothing for the kids living in orphanages. The Armenian group is called “Magic in Action. It proved to be a very rewarding experience both to Zoom with Armenian Rotaracters and to provide clothing for the orphanages.
Rotary de Tolosa is growing again! Today the club welcomed Ben Arrona as a new member. Ben is a History teacher at Cuesta College and also owns Benny’s Pizza. Ben also volunteers for a number of local organizations around the community – we know stand at 95 members strong with an extremely strong retention rate and lots of new member interest, especially with those under 40.
Rotarians had the honor of serving as judges for today’s San Luis Obispo County 4-H speaking competition, and wow—these young people blew us away!
From elementary-age students to high schoolers, participants took the stage to present on a wide range of topics they’re passionate about—from raising chickens to the history of photography, to football strategy, anatomy, and even how to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookies.
Big thanks to Rate - Guaranteed Rate and Reach Central Coast for sponsoring our Rotary Business Social this week! It was a fantastic evening of great connections, engaging conversations, and plenty of fun.
These business socials are a chance for our members to see one of our other members place of business and invite potential members to an informal get together to spread the Rotary mission. A special shoutout to Donna Lewis at Rate and Russ Levanway for being such wonderful hosts—we truly appreciate your support!
Rotarians in action! Rotary de Tolosa teamed up with the amazing Mission Prep FFA crew and their dedicated teacher, Deanna Payan, to plant trees on Righetti Hill—leaving a lasting impact for future generations. Service, sustainability, and community—this is what Rotary is all about!
Keep an eye out for our signs on trails around town, thanks to The Sign Place, marking the spots where we've "planted it forward"!
Rotary de Tolosa was thrilled to hear from Coralee Macias that we were able to gain $28,000 from our recent fundraiser at the PAC to go to our charitable giving efforts that focus on youth. We welcomed our newest member JW Dobbe who was sponsored by Louis Summer.
Rotary Foundation Chair Lyle Meek shared the worldwide impact of The Rotary Foundation in eliminating polio and promoting health and well being. The club was inspired and raised a large amount of money for the Rotary Foundation by generously bidding on donated auction items.
The Rotary Club of Ojai had a Membership project involving new members which helped involve them in one of our Club’s weekly meeting activities, and was much more fun for them to do as a group.
Our Club meets for lunch weekly, and we have a different member each week who is assigned to be the “Finer”. The questions can involve almost any subject (not political or religious), and we often ask tricky questions about members’ lives in order to get to know them better.
The Rotary E-Club of One World is proud to share the success of our recent District Grant project, a collaboration with the Rotary Club of Accra-Spintex in Ghana.
In a heartwarming display of love and service on Valentine’s Day, the Rotary Club of Accra-Spintex and the Rotary E-Club of One World joined forces to support the Akosombo Inclusive Hub, a specialized school in Atimpoku, near Akosombo, dedicated to children with special needs.
The Los Olivos Rotary Club scheduled a Fifth Thursday at Community Clayworks where club members and their guests got a chance to get their hands in the clay and make pots under the tutelage of owner Veronica prior to going out to dinner at Industrial Eats.
Veronica graciously donated a beautiful pot to the club which was then used as a raffle prize to raise money for the club.
Every December, as the winter chill settles over Paso Robles, the Interact Club of Atascadero High School comes together to make a difference. Through the Coats for Kids program, they help ensure that no child in the community has to face the cold without a warm jacket.
Weeks before the event, the students work tirelessly—organizing coat drives, reaching out to local businesses for support, and spreading the word. On the day of distribution, they arrive early, setting up tables filled with coats of all sizes, cozy scarves, gloves, and even holiday toys for children in need.
Uganda FAST (Finance Accelerating Savings Group Transformation)
Westlake Sunrise Rotarians Dan Harutunian and Nick Frankle have been hard at work on the $800,000.00 Uganda FAST Village Savings grant that, in partnership with Vision Fund Uganda, will help the ultra-poor women of rural Uganda lift themselves out of poverty and hopelessness.
The proven FAST model by Vision Fund creates community-based savings groups that, seeded with the grant’s funds, will allow members to present business ideas, get startup funding and turn their business ideas into reality. Vision Fund Uganda helps facilitate the project by providing traveling support administrators and a mobile banking solution.
Mental illness touches all of us to some degree within our close friend and family circles. The Alma Rosa Winery in Buellton has announced its sixth annual fundraiser to support mental wellness: Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction on Saturday, May 17. The funds raised from this 4.5 mile walk through the rolling hills of the exclusive Alma Rosa Vineyards will be shared by Mental Wellness Center (MWC) and One Mind.
One Mind (www.onemind.org) advances cutting-edge neuropsychiatric research, bettering diagnostic tools and treatments for brain health conditions. The MWC (www.mentalwessnesscenter.org) serves individuals and families impacted by mental illness through 1) interactive fellowship for adults living with mental challenges, 2) housing, and 3) extensive mental health education.
A Distance Swim Fundraiser for a Cause Close to the Heart
The Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise is pleased to announce the Laps for Life Fundraiser. Our Past President, Jim Wisdom, will be distance swimming again in 2025 to raise funds for two causes near to his heart this upcoming April –– Swim with Mike and the humanitarian projects of the Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club.
Swim With Mikeprovides financial resources for the advanced education of physically challenged athletes to overcome their tragedies and realize their full potential. Over the past 42 years, the nonprofit has raised approximately $28,000,000 and provided scholarship assistance to 271 scholarship recipients at 142 universities nationwide since Swim With Mike’s inception.
On Martin Luther King Day, Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise with its fellow International City of Peace partners, co-hosted its second annual Peace Vigil to build bridges of understanding amongst neighbors.
The Peace Vigil included the passing of the peace baton, live music, meditation, a candlelight vigil, and screening of MLK’s infamous “I Have a Dream Speech’.
The nonpolitical and nonreligious gathering brought together dozens of residents to reflect and celebrate the concept of togetherness and thoughtfulness for one another.
The Rotary Club of China Lake is proud to announce the creation of the Community Scholarship Fair in Ridgecrest, CA! The fair was held on February 20th and hosted community organizations offering scholarships to local learners. Whether they were a high school senior, current college student, or considering college later in life, we created a one-stop shop for scholarship opportunities.
Attendees were able to meet local organizations offering scholarships for trade and vocational schools, community colleges, and 4-year universities; complete applications onsite; learn about the application criteria and process. Spanish bilingual translation was available; Financial Aid Reps were there to assist; and we encouraged parents to attend.
Picture yourself enjoying a culinary adventure in Tuscany, marveling at the Northern lights in Iceland, or relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. How does a tranquil retreat by the water in Costa Rica sound? If wine is your thing, indulge in a trip to Napa Valley for lunch aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train and then soar high with a hot air balloon ride. Or perhaps you’d prefer a Nashville experience with a tour of the iconic Jack Daniels Distillery. If relaxation is the goal, a 3-night escape at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad awaits you. And for baseball enthusiasts, there are tickets for a memorable view from atop the Boston Red Sox Green Monster or the Chicago Cubs Wrigley Rooftop.
Rotarian Ed Herrera volunteered his truck to take donations of supplies to the Wildfire Victims of Los Angeles. Donations were from Santa Rosa Catholic Church in Cambria and from Taft Rotary. Arrangements were made to deliver the supplies to St. Vincent de Paul in Los Angeles. Upon arrival at St. Vincent de Paul they were told that they no longer were accepting donations for the fire victims.
So new arrangements were made to take the items to Altadena to Sacred Heart Catholic Church which has a comprehensive fire victims' distribution center. They brought hygiene items and N95 masks, and Taft Rotary donated heavy duty trash bags which are really needed for putting clothing and personal belongings in them.
When the Los Angeles fires devastated countless families, Nancy Crawford, President of the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Noontime, knew they had to act. With compassion and a shared commitment to service, they organized a community donation drive to provide immediate relief.
With overwhelming support from local residents and neighboring Rotary clubs, along with partner Care Connection Transport Services, the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Noontime collected donations, including men’s, women’s, and children’s clothes, shoes, blankets, pet items, and essential supplies such as toilet paper, diapers, wipes, non-perishable food, N95 masks, and paper towels. Volunteers worked tirelessly to sort and bag the items, ensuring they were ready for distribution upon arrival in Los Angeles.
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.
The Rotary Club of Paso Robles is pleased to announce they will be giving out $100,000 in scholarships in 2025 to Paso Robles High School and Liberty High School students to further their education after graduation through trade schools, colleges, and universities. The Club set out to achieve this milestone 25 years ago with their annual fundraiser, the Winemakers’ Cookoff.
The Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff was a vision of the Club over 25 years ago, spearheaded by Rotarian and winery owner, Gary Eberle (also the 2025 Robaln of the Year). Now, a committee serves to run the event each year led by co-chairs Sharon Ross and Vicki Silva from the Rotary Club of Paso Robles. This year will be the 26th year for the event on August 9th at the Paso Robles Event Center. Tickets go on sale in April at winemakerscookoff.com. Attendees must be 21 years or older to attend and tickets to the event have sold out over the last several years, aiding in the scholarship fund.
Cambria Rotary's Secret Santa project is a favorite of many of our members. President Miguel Sandoval and his wife Judy pour their hearts and souls into it every year. Rotarians and community members helped create unforgettable memories for 51 children and their families this holiday season.
Nearly 100 elementary school children in San Luis Obispo received brand-new winter clothing at the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa’s 28th annual ChildSpree event. Held on December 7, 2024, at Kohl’s, Rotarians and volunteers paired with children to shop for essential items like coats, shoes, and socks, helping families who struggle with the high cost of clothing during the holidays.
“This event is about dignity and confidence,” said Geoff Straw, ChildSpree Coordinator. “Choosing their own new clothes gives kids a boost in self-esteem and readiness for school and life.”
Destination: Ak’ Tenamit, a boarding school of over 600 Indigenous Mayan students aged 12-18 in the Rio Dulce area of Eastern Guatemala. Numerous Rotary clubs from many districts throughout the US have built and supported this school for over 20 years.
Purpose: To gain an understanding of the needs of children in this region of Guatemala, and to provide assistance at the school, which is viewed as a model globally for its grassroots approach to vocational education.
The Rotary Club of Carpinteria is currently collecting donations to purchase goats for the Heifer International Project, which provides livestock to struggling families around the world to help them become self-sustaining.
The club met with veterinarians Dr. Laura Putnam and Dr. Matie McPeters, as well as their staff members Sarah Robinson, Catherine Malone. Tabatha Keller and Michele Alaniz, on Oct. 22 to formally announce joining the project, the Carpinteria effort was spearheaded by member Paul Wright. The veterinarians and their staff collected donations enough to purchase three goats.
On Saturday, October 19, the Rotary Club of Cambria held a 5K Walk/Run to Eradicate Polio. About 66 people laced up their sneakers and joined a community of like-minded people coming together for a great cause. It was a beautiful day along the Pacific Ocean, with waves crashing and seagulls soaring. In the end, $9500 was raised! With the 2 to 1 match provided by the Gates Foundation, this total escalates to $28,500 towards Rotary’s goal of ending Polio for good!
We “passed the hat” around at our October 10th meeting for the victims of hurricane Helene. This was after a plea from Rotary Zones 33 and 34 who were affected by the damage. We collected $3,095 dollars from our members that morning and added a $1,000 from our Foundation. The $4,095 was sent to the Rotary link (https://www.rizones33-34.org/disaster-relief/) as provided by Director Patrick Eakes from Zones 33 and 34.
John DeRohan, Hubble, and Jay Connor from Cops n Kids, along with Harry Walls, Walter Con, and George Dubois from the Rotary Club of Nipomo, gathered to present a check for $4,546.39 to District Attorney Dan Dow. This donation, the result of Human Trafficking Awareness seminars hosted by Rotary clubs across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties in partnership with Cops n Kids, will support the DA’s office in funding local training programs aimed at combating human trafficking. The collective effort highlights the commitment of Rotary and community organizations to addressing this serious issue and fostering a safer community.
Nipomo Rotary Supports Programs to Combat Human Trafficking
On Saturday, August 3 at 6:30 am, Bakersfield North Rotarians along with volunteers, shopped until they dropped with nearly 200 students from Standard and Beardsley School Districts, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County. It was North Rotary’s annual Back to School Shopping event which provides new school wardrobes for pre-selected 5-17 year old kids at Kohl’s.
A great day Saturday at Rotary Park where we planted trees, mulched, and cleaned up the area. Thank you to Bakersfield and West Rotary volunteers! A special shout out to our student volunteers from BC Rotaract, Centennial, West High, and Chloe from BCHS.
Saturday, September 28th - Day of Service at Rotary Park
On September 24, District Governor Sherry Sim received the Proclamation declaring September as ‘Service Club Month’ from the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors for our District. DG Sherry said, “It’s an honor. The Proclamation underscores our 17 Rotary clubs in San Luis Obispo County’s dedication to uphold Rotary International’s motto, “Service Above Self”, and commitment to carry out sustainable projects to impact communities positively”. Rotarians District Attorney Dan Dow, Region 4 Executive Assistant Governor Berni Ann Lennon Lewis, District Youth Chair / Youth Exchange Officer Scott Astrosky, District Chair for Environment Don Maruska and Brian Reynolds joined DG Sherry to accept the Proclamation.
San Luis Obispo County Presents Proclamation to Rotarians
Each year, the Director of Zones 26 & 27 convenes a Rotary Institute known as the Big West Zone Institute, which brings together members and guests from throughout the western United States and Canada. Last week at the 2024 Zone Institute in Spokane, Washington, Rotary District 5240 proudly participated in the activities, where our District's hard work and dedication were recognized on a grand scale! Mike Dutra graduated from Governor Elect Training and Margarida Eidson graduated from Governor Nominee training. Additionally, while recognizing achievements in Zone 26, District 5240 achieved several significant milestones for the 2023-24 Let's Have FUN! year that highlight our commitment to Rotary’s mission and values.
Here are the achievements that brought District 5240 into the spotlight:
First Place in the Percentage of Members Giving to the Rotary Foundation
To observe World Diabetes Day (November 14) and Diabetes Awareness Month (November), Rotary District 5240 is organizing a Multi-Activity Family Fellowship Meet-Up in Thousand Oaks California. DG Sherry Peckhoon Sim and Event Co-Chairs Jim Wisdom, Edwin Velarde and Kim Fly are inviting you to join this fun-filled family-friendly Sunday. The 3 year (2024-2026) theme of World Diabetes Day is Diabetes and Well-being.
The Cambria Rotary Club is asking you to help us raise vital funds that will eradicate and prepare us for a Polio free world. The event, which will be held on October 19, 2024, is a 5K Walk or Run, which is the equivalent of 3 miles, and we are going to be traversing Fiscalini Ranch, from Shamel Park. Outstanding ocean views as you walk with family and friends. The fee is $25 per participant. Registration is online or printed forms available at the Cambria Chamber of Commerce (767 Main St). and CambriaRotaryFundraiser.org
Both Simi Sunrise and Simi Sunset Rotary clubs recently demonstrated the true spirit of Rotary by coming to the aid of a local elderly citizen in need. Faced with a daunting weed abatement task and no means of assistance, this citizen turned to us for help. John Tolson received the request and immediately mobilized our members into action.
In the spirit of fostering peace and unity, PeaceBuilding through Rotary Service introduces the concept of "baton passing" as a metaphorical and practical tool for community building. This initiative symbolizes the seamless transfer of responsibility, knowledge, and enthusiasm from one individual to another, creating a continuous flow of energy and commitment within the Rotary Club and the broader community.
Our Membership Committee organized a couple of fireside chats for newer members at a local brewery. Our Fireside Chats are smaller, more informal gatherings which give us an opportunity to get to know these newer members. It also gives the newer members an opportunity to ask questions about Rotary. At this particular meeting we had a light agenda about a specific Rotary topic e.g. TRF What does it mean? What does it do? We also hand pick some long time members to show up and share about how they got into Rotary and to say what Rotary means to them. It’s always a super feel good event.
Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa had a spectacular day for the Rotary Foundation. Dave Juhnke, Rotary Foundation Chair, and our District Governor, Scott Phillips, presented 43 Paul Harris Fellow awards to club members on January 25, 2023. Scott Phillips then presented our program for the meeting where he encouraged members to “Get Loud” about the great work of Rotary International. The meeting ended on a high note with the following statement, “Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come for miles to watch you burn."
Rotary Club of SLO de Tolosa Supports The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks and its affiliated Thousand Oaks Rotary Foundation jointly provided $33,000 in funding to Gold Coast Veteran’s Foundation (“GCVF”), a local nonprofit, to purchase a van so it can increase its capacity to serve veterans in Ventura County through greater outreach efforts and veteran access. The van increases the capacity of GCVF to rapidly serve veterans in need, with one-on-one, peer-to-peer assistance, enabling the nonprofit’s Mobile Veteran Outreach Program to reach and change the lives of a greater number of veterans. The van is used to deliver food and to transport veterans to essential medical, counseling, employment and financial appointments. The van is also used for wellness checks of at-risk veterans...
In January 2022 the Grover Beach Rotary learned of Grover Beach Elementary’s efforts to provide a clean water project for a kindergarten in Viet Nam. This project is an educational fundraiser for the installation of a Gravity Water Project. The school that Grover Beach Elementary decided to partner with is a residential Kindergarten that has difficulty providing clean water for its students in the Ban Lien District of Vietnam. Grover Beach Elementary decided to partner with Gravity Water, (c) 3 non-profits focused on turning rain into safe drinking water through a rainwater capture and filtration system to clean the water of waterborne Illnesses and diseases...
A Peace Pole is an internationally-recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family. It stands vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four sides. There are estimated 250,000 Peace Poles in nearly every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace. The Rotary Club of Cayucos, in collaboration with the Cayucos Elementary & Middle School installed a Peace Pole on the school grounds in April 2023. The Pole's message, May Peace Prevail on Earth...
Membership growth and development were top priorities for Michelle Ramsey during her presidency at The Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise and it’s no surprise that socials played a crucial role in welcoming new members and integrating them into our vibrant Club culture.
We all know time is a precious commodity these days. Between family commitments, work responsibilities, and personal aspirations, finding availability can be a challenge for both new and existing members. But fear not! Our socials were here to enhance the Rotary experience while fostering connections.
To kick things up a notch, we added "New Member Socials" to our calendar. These events served as a delightful blend of getting acquainted and learning more about Rotary and our Club. Trust us, they were a hit!
Two standout socials deserve special mention. First up was "Introduction to Westlake Sunrise," where we dished out all the juicy details about our Club structure, esteemed board members, talented committee chairs, and ongoing and upcoming projects. It was an eye-opener!
Next, we had "Understanding the Rotary Foundation," led by our very own Nick Frankel. This informative session helped new members grasp the ins and outs of the Rotary Foundation. It was an enlightening experience!
But, we're not done yet! Our upcoming program will shine a spotlight on The Sunrise Rotary Foundation. It's a chance for our new members to explore the distinct roles of the Rotary Foundation and the Sunrise Rotary Foundation and understand how our fundraising efforts and their contributions can make a lasting impact locally and internationally.
Westlake Sunrise Rotary Club was well represented this year at RYLA. We sponsored one student, and we had three Instructors at RYLA. Our Past President and Past Rotarian Nadine Allen taught Leadership Fundamentals. Our current Treasurer ( and Past Rotarian of the District), Marilyn Lippiatt, taught Ethics, and Kelsey Wisdom ( daughter of Past President Jim Wisdom) taught Goal Setting. In addition, Jim Wisdom and Dan Harutunian ( Rookie of the Year last year, and on the Youth Services Committee this year) attended the Closing Ceremonies.
RYLA District 5240 can be a life-changing experience for not only students, but also the Counselors, Instructors and Staff. Below are the words of Kelsey Wisdom, who was a RYLA Student in 2009, and has been a RYLA Counselor for six years, an Instructor for one, and was the Co-Producer for the only virtual RYLA in 2021:
“Every year, it’s like reading a favorite book. I get to re-evaluate my life, re-evaluate my priorities, it’s a marking of time for reflection. Every year, it seems like everything we teach becomes more important. Not just for the students, but also for the instructors and staff. The type of community and support that the RYLA students get to experience is very rare.”
I asked Kelsey what percentage of RYLA students have life-changing experiences like she did in 2009. She said she wasn’t sure, but even for those who don’t immediately sense a life-changing experience, she said ( quote from Oprah) “The world talks to you in whispers.” Her point is that RYLA teaches you truths and things that you hear and may not always immediately accept and appreciate. However, sooner or later, it will become more clear in time that those things that were taught at RYLA were invaluable to you if you embrace them in your own life.
Attached are two pictures from RYLA: Jim Wisdom ( who has been a Counselor of RYLA for about eight prior years) with Nadine Allen, and Kelsey Wisdom with Cabin 6 on the final morning of RYLA.
Rotary Club of Cayucos is pleased to share that our club has inducted seven new members this year. Our first new addition, David Nygren is a 12-year Rotarian who relocated from Lake Arrowhead. We are so proud to share that Dave is our President-Elect Nominee and will serve as Club President in 2024-2025.
The other new members as pictured below are: Gail Riley, Larry & Laura Clark, Jennifer Gaviola, and Brian Beckham. All new members worked hard at our recent Masquerade fundraiser in March. Our club is looking to add one more member before end of this Rotary year.
If you have not been to Cayucos Rotary's Masquerade evening, please mark your calendar for 2024; it's usually held on the 3rd Saturday in March, to commemorate Cayucos Rotary's charter on March 25, 2008.
This Rotary year, Cayucos Rotary conducted our Masquerade fundraiser successfully and reined in about $75,000 from sponsorships, ticket sales, live auction, silent auction, desserts sales, raffle tickets and bar sales. The event is well supported by the local community, as residents stride in their favorite costumes or evening wear of their choice each year. Tickets typically sell out. In addition to dinner, guests are entertained by a DJ and dancing follows when the auctions are completed.
Cayucos Rotary also wishes to thank District 5240 Rotarians for supporting our club's annual fundraiser every year.
December is one of Cayucos Rotary’s favorite times. In addition to furnishing a Santa house with one of our members dressing up as Santa Claus to provide joy and photo opportunities to children in town, another member, with the help of a local contractor, will decorate the lamp posts along Cayucos Pier. When the lights come on in the evenings, it’s a spectacle to behold.
The Rotary Club of Cayucos had been decorating the pier since 2019. Local residents and visitors send their compliments as they enjoy their walks along the pier. The decorations stay on till the first week of the new year, so more will have a chance to experience the festive ambiance.
Cayucos Rotary hopes to provide this delight to the Cayucos community for years to come.
For the past 7 years, with the exception of Covid, Rotary Club of Cayucos has awarded three to four $1,000 scholarships annually to students majoring in music at Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo. This vocational service project is carried out in honor of our club mentor, Past District Governor, Chungsam Doh & aptly named the ‘Chungsam Doh Music Scholarship Fund’. The aim is to support students desiring to pursue music as a career.
Cuesta students must meet a set of criteria and have to undergo an audition to apply for Rotary Club of Cayucos’ music scholarships. Each student would have to perform their own recital to be selected. It’s a delight to watch each performance, as the students are talented.
This Rotary Year, District Governor Scott Philips had a chance to watch the recital, and opportunity to share Rotary with students at Cuesta College. District Governor Scott Philips also did the honors and awarded three scholarships to Regan Rowin, Daniel Gomez and Joseph Montano at Cuesta College.
On Saturday October 8, 2022, The RC of Camarillo had an awesome club social at Institution Ale in Camarillo. More than 40 people attended and had fun tasting every flavor of pizza available along with salads and all sorts of delicious beverages.
Since the club meets every Wednesday at noon for our club business, having a social/offsite meeting every so often allows the members to” let their hair down”.
In addition to just plain having fun, we gained two new members from that event!
Laurie Bennett, Club President and Max Copenhagen, Club Secretary, Enjoying the camaraderie
On Wednesday October 12, 2022 the RC of Camarillo was proud to give out eight Paul Harris Awards during District Governor, Scott Phillips, club visit.
CHRIS BANNON (Randy Churchill), LONI DRUMRIGHT (Dave Drumright), KEN EASTMAN (Laurie Bennett), ROBERTO MARTINEZ (Rotary Club of Camarillo), THOMAS McADAM (Mary Lingua), NICOLE MESSNER (Doug Messner), TONY TREMBLEY (Wendy Pazen), and MIKE MOSS (Al Lowe).
Left to right: Al Lowe, Mike Moss, Mary Lingua, Brenda Bravo (accepting for Thomas McAdam), President Laurie, Roberto Martinez, Randy Churchill, Chris Bannon, Dave Drumright, Loni Drumright, Wendy Pazen, Tony Trembley and District Governor Scott Phillips.
Rotary Club of Camarillo Awards Paul Harris Fellows
RC of Camarillo held their 51st community enchilada dinner on Monday, March 20, 2023. The event was held at the Camarillo Community Center from 5PM-8PM.
Over 700 enchilada diners were served between walk-in and sit down or pick-up and drive thru.
The Oxnard Union High School District Mariachi Band entertained the crowd as well as two pinada busting events for the young at heart.
This is a community event that Camarillans have looked forward to attending for generations.
The event raised a net of $14,000 +/- for our Foundation Community Grants and Scholarships.
RC of Camarillo along with RC of Camarillo Sunrise and RC of Oxnard sponsored our first ever YES! Event on Saturday, April 15, 2023. The Oxnard Union School District was our key community partner in making this daylong event a success.
Over 40 high school youth from the Oxnard Union High School District as well as Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and other areas of Ventura County participates in this OXUSD Youth Empowerment Summit fashioned after the YES! Programs of Kern and Simi Valley.
Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club’s Membership Chair, William Gordon and wife Nicole are expecting their first Baby! William Dean! For BBRC’s March Social, Club Social Chair, Holly Kuntz and Past President Denise Haynes arranged a couples “surprise” baby shower at the home of 2023-2024 President Elect Pat Thompson and wife Karen. A great time was had by all 20 plus BBRC Club Members that attended with catered food, mimosa’s, beer, and wine (lemonade for momma Nicole!).
The afternoon consisted of many baby shower games with some nice prizes. The weather shaped up, so some members spilled out onto the Thompson’s covered patio. Nicole and William were provided a bounty of baby gifts and loads of diapers! But best of all, we were Blessed with fellowship as a Club and in the support and celebration of little William Dean! Being a Club with many new, younger members, it’s almost assured we will have future Baby Shower Club Socials!
Well done Holly and Denise!! Congratulations! William, Nicole and Baby William Dean!!!
April 16th members of the Moorpark Morning Rotary Club set sail on one of our members yachts in Marina del Ray Harbor to celebrate our clubs 15th anniversary. We had a great time, sharing food and stories as we cruised around the harbor.
Rotary Club of Moorpark Morning Celebrates 15th Anniversary
On May 10, Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa hosted a special reunion meeting, bringing together 18 former members to lunch to catch up and network.
A list of inactive members was generated in ClubRunner from the past 10 years, and culled by by criteria, including: members left in good standing; had not joined another Rotary club; and hadn’t moved out of the area. Many invitees who couldn’t join us responded with a “thank you” and indicated that they would join next time.
Our former Rotarian guests were welcomed by the Membership Director and had a “Rotary Host” to introduce them to others. They were treated to a taco bar lunch provided by the club, while current members shared recent and upcoming projects, confirming the club's continued commitment to community service.
The program featured SLO Rep Artistic Director Kevin Harris, who shared details about the plans for the Downtown SLO Cultural Arts District, the long-awaited new parking structure, and the latest developments with SLO Rep's new theater.
The reunion was a great success, sparking interesting discussions and being an excellent opportunity for the former members to reconnect with old friends and make new connections. Everyone left feeling energized and inspired by the club's good work in the community.
President Cheryl thanked all attendees for joining us, and invited the former members to stay involved, inviting them back to join us any time. This was the first time we’d held such an event, but certainly won’t be our last.
For more information on Rotary de Tolosa’s Reunion meeting, please contact 2022-2023 Membership Director, Mary Verdin at mary@verdinmarketing.com.
The Lompoc Rotary Club inducted its newest member, Halle Bedford Dyer, on Wednesday, September 14th 2022, making her the 3rd generation from the same family to be in the club, simultaneously. She follows in the footsteps of both her mother and her paternal grandfather, joining the club to become active in the Lompoc community.
Halle’s grandfather, George Bedford, is a long time Lompoc business owner and philanthropist. He has co-owned Sunset Auto Center since 1988 and has devoted his life and energy to advancing the culture, sports, and non-profit entities of Lompoc. He served as Mayor of Lompoc, was on the City Council, was the President of the Lompoc Chamber of Commerce, has been active in Lompoc Elks Lodge and SB County Cattlemen’s Association and has made several large donations to many local entities such as: Youth Sports, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts, DARE program, Police & Fire Departments, amongst many others. In 1994, Bedford was elected Lompoc Man of the Year and in 2007 he was awarded by the Lompoc City Council with a tree in Recognition Grove at Beattie Park. Bedford has been a member of Rotary since 1983.
Halle’s mother, Heather Hudson Bedford, a Lompoc native, has been helping in the community most of her life. “I grew up with parents who volunteered at church, in the community and at our schools, so giving back to the community is something that is ingrained in my being,” she reported. “Every year we had so much fun working as a family at Brushes & Blues and Lompoc Valley Marathon (eventually the half marathon and most recently, The Hank Hudson Sprint Triathlon, named after her father), that I swore that I would instill the same values in my children. Community service is so important and its exciting to see the rewards of your efforts.”
She has been on several board of directors for non-profits over the years, both in Lompoc Valley and Santa Ynez Valley, where she travels back and forth to each as she co-owns Inklings Printing Company with an office in each location. In 2010 she received the “Super Star” award from the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, and in 2014 she received the “Volunteer of the Year Award” from the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce. Bedford currently serves as President of The Rotary Club of Lompoc (a member since 2019), the Vice-President of the Rancho Purisima Chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution and is a Director on the board of The Lompoc Theatre Project. In 2020 she started another local business, The Lompoc Company, which specializes in all things Lompoc: stationery with local photography, olive oils and vinegars, seasoning blends, flower seed packets, and assorted merchandise with The Lompoc Company logo on them.
Halle Bedford Dyer, Rotary Club of Lompoc’s newest member, is the recipient of this year’s Lompoc Valley Small Business of the Year Award. She is the owner of South Side Coffee Company in old town and loves to be a part of the community. “I just love my customers and all of the people who come into the café from the local non-profits. I see my company as a bridge to help people plan meetings, gather and do good things for Lompoc. I’m very fortunate to be able to help and I’m happy to do what I can,” she said. Dyer has made several donations to the North County Rape Crisis Center, the local sports teams, LHS Special Education field trips, has helped with many local funerals and has worked with The Food Pantry.
Dyer has been a member of The Rancho Purisima Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, a board member of the Development Committee for Family Service Agency and is exciting to start her relationship with Rotary. “Rotary is a great fit for me and I’m eager to get to work on some of our local projects as well as help with the international ones. I’m ready!”
The Rotary Club of Lompoc is a is a humanitarian organization which brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. It is a non-political and non-religious organization and the members are dedicated people who share a passion for both service and friendship. The club has made donations in the past several years to The Bridge House, Huyck Stadium, The Lompoc Hospital Foundation, Lompoc Theatre Project, as well as many others.
To become a member, visit their website: LompocRotary.com
Photo contributed by permission. Pictured left to right: George Bedford, Halle Bedford, Heather Bedford
Lompoc Rotary Inducts 3rd Generation of Civic-Minded Family Into Its Club
The Lompoc Rotary Club will have several $500 and $1000 scholarships available to Lompoc Valley graduates who are seeking to attend a 4-year academic institution or a vocational training school. The money can be used for tuition, supplies, tools, books, transportation and living expenses.
Any student from any high school or home-school are invited to apply by April 1, 2023. The applications are available at Lompoc, Cabrillo and Maple High Schools as well as online at LompocRotary.com.
Since its inception in 1925 the Lompoc Rotary Club has granted more than $50,000 in scholarships to college-bound high school seniors graduating from Lompoc area schools. This is the first year that scholarships will be awarded to vocational or trade school applicants.
“We have had a lot of success as a club with our academic scholarships in the past”, reports Heather Bedford, Rotary President. “But we can do better for people by opening up the process to include 2-year programs or vocational or trade schools. Many young adults are finding the benefits of these shorter programs, but they can be very expensive. Our scholarship process will help them.”
Rotary International reports that over 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Rotary supports education for all. Donations to the Lompoc Rotary Scholarship Fund can be made at: LompocRotary.square.site
Lompoc Rotary Club to Give Out Several Scholarships
The Lompoc Rotary Club made a $40,000 donation to The Lompoc Theatre Project on Monday, August 8, 2022. “We have been wanting to make a substantial donation for a long time,” said Heather Bedford, Lompoc Rotary President. “We chose them to be the biggest recipient of this year’s annual fundraiser, held February 27th, because they are going to be starting their capital campaign soon, and we want to help them reach their goals of revitalizing the downtown area,” she added.
“The Lompoc Theatre Project threw themselves whole heartedly into our event, selling tickets, getting sponsors, collecting silent and live auctions, and funding the VIP Bubbles Reception. On the day of the event, their board of directors showed up to help with everything from setting up to cleaning at the end of the night. We had a lot of fun working on the event with them and are proud of what they have accomplished thus far. The theater will bring much needed arts and education programs for all the youth of Lompoc, as well as having a positive economic impact on our local economy, “Bedford stated.
“We are very excited to receive this generous donation,” stated Barbara Satterfield, Lompoc Theatre Project President, “It couldn’t come at a better time as we are making significant progress in our fundraising efforts. It means a lot to us that their club has faith that we can get the job done.”
The Rotary Club of Lompoc is a is a humanitarian organization which brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. It is a non-political and non-religious organization and the members are dedicated people who share a passion for both service and friendship. The club has made donations in the past several years to The Bridge House, Huyck Stadium, The Lompoc Hospital Foundation, as well as many others.
To become a member, visit their website: LompocRotary.com
Photo contributed by permission. Pictured left to right are: Rob Klug, Anne Ramsey, Barbara Satterfield, Karin Hauenstein, Heather Bedford, Mark Herrier and Jim Lowsley.
Lompoc Rotary plays a major part by making a $40,000 donation to The Lompoc Theatre Project
Heather Bedford pounded the gavel at her first Rotary meeting as President on July 13, 2022. During her one-year term, Bedford will be focused on building new relationships and establishing collaborations with organizations within the community that share Rotary’s commitment to driving impact through humanitarian service. She has also made Rotary’s 4 Way Test the pillars of her platform: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"
As an entrepreneur and a volunteer charity board member of several organizations with more than 30 years of experience, Bedford will also use her new position to shine a light on the positive and lasting impact Rotary clubs are making to improve lives and strengthen communities. “This year, we are going to bring Rotary service projects center stage. We will work on dynamic plans that will put a special focus on visible, high impact acts of service, drawing attention to the incredible work that Rotary members are doing.” said Bedford.
“Following the results of the negative growth of Rotary, caused by the pandemic, we are looking forward as a club of welcoming new members, building better business relationships and developing lasting friendships.” Bedford added, “But most of all we are going to have fun!”
“I’m very excited to be President this year because for the first time in its 117 - year history, the President of Rotary International is a woman! She is Jennifer Jones, from Canada, and she will be working on her four initiatives; advancing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; creating a welcoming club experience; empowering girls; and expanding Rotary’s reach. I am happy to be working alongside her advancing these commitments in our community as she goes about it globally”, Bedford added.
The Lompoc Rotary Club meets the second and fourth Wednesdays at 6 pm at Events Mission Valley, 138 North B Street, Lompoc, California. The public is welcome to attend by contacting Membership Chair, Michelle Hodapp, at michelle.hodapp@excelpersonnelservices.com or on the website: lompocrotary.com
Rotary International is a humanitarian service organization which brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. It is a non-political and non-religious organization. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.
Heather Bedford takes office as President of Lompoc Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Ojai is helping to develop Prashanti International School (PIS) in Puri, Odisha, India. PIS is a non-profit school in a poor village area providing quality education focused on English language competency for 310 students K-10. Tuition is kept low for local poor families. PIS is adding grades 11 and 12 to prepare students for university and vocational training. PIS program includes a residential children’s home for 40 students from the most deeply impoverished backgrounds providing full scholarship with housing, food, clothing, medical care, books, education, and daily tutoring.
Since 2016, we have completed district grants, club grants, and a global grant, totaling over $115,000 to benefit the students of PIS. These grants have funded drinking water, computers, septic systems, restrooms, water storage tanks, flood mitigation, roads & boundary walls, security gates, a playground, classroom furnishings, plus teacher training in advanced English instruction, class management, and Education in Human Values. Our club has provided thousands of pounds of emergency food for families experiencing extreme food insecurity. We have a new 2023-24 District Grant to provide a backup diesel generator for PIS.
Our club has developed a strong sustainable relationship with the school and with local host Rotary Club Srikshetra, Puri, that will benefit the students for generations to come, and Ojai Rotarians have visited PIS on a yearly basis. The relationship between RC Ojai and PIS remains vibrant into the future, giving impoverished students better childhoods, brighter futures, and the opportunity to become leaders of their communities.
Prashanti International School Students
Ojai Rotarians Mike Weaver, Kay Bliss and Leslie Bouche meeting with Srikshetra Puri Rotarians Rabi Mohapatra and Biraja Dhal to create our Global Grant
Two PIS students with their mother who sells fish by the side of the road. These students come from very poor village families.
Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Project to Develop Prashanti International School in Puri, India
This Rotary Year, the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Foundation Board “kicked off” our Annual Rotary Foundation Pledge drive with a more personal, informative, and interactive means with which to impact Club giving to The Rotary Foundation.
In past years, announcements were made, and emails followed. But there definitely appeared to be a “disconnect” as to what TRF represents from some members, especially newer members. Also, there was some uncertainty as to the distinction between TRF giving and Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Foundation giving.
The solution: From mid-August through early November, we set-up a separate Foundation Pledge table for the purpose of assisting members with questions, providing information on TRF and BBRF programs and assisting members with payment. At least two Foundation Board members were on hand at the table at every weekly meeting to provide assistance. We even commissioned a vinyl banner (see attached) to hang off the front of the table. By being available, our Club’s Foundation Board was to provide better information and insight on the designated giving options between the “Annual Fund” and “Polio Plus”; needless to say, our members responded with a significant increase in designating giving to Polio Plus this year. Overall, it appears total TRF commitments also increased over Rotary year 2021-2022.
Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast Kicks Off Annual Rotary Foundation Pledge
The Rotary Club of Ojai is pleased to announce a celebration of our 75th year! Initially chartered on May 24, 1948, we are excited to finally come together for an evening filled with fun, laughter, good food, libations and fond memories as we celebrate 75 years of Service Above Self, now and into the future.
Our 75th Diamond Anniversary Gala will be held on June 3rd from 4-8pm at Boccali’s Ranch, 11675 Ojai-Santa Paula Road, in Ojai 93023. We would love to have District 5240 Rotarians join us in this celebration, so please secure your tickets today!
Tickets can be purchased at OjaiRotary.org or by check to Rotary Club of Ojai, P.O. Box 511, Ojai, CA 93024. For questions, contact Cheree Edwards at 805-340-7575.
On December 17, 2022, the Rotary Club of Ventura in cooperation with Boys and Girls Club of Ventura, Arise Church and a sponsorship from So Cal Gas, held a full-day holiday party for Ventura west end families.
We provided 347 children and their families with our club’s annual Coats for Kids, toys including prized large Disney plushes, food gift certificates and visits with the California Highway Patrol AND Santa!
Betza Guevara a Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patient who in a first surgery lost her right foot. Now she's undergone a second surgery and has been amputated just below her right knee. Betza is a former businesswoman who owned a hostel for University Students near Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and who as a result of Covid-19 lost her entire business and had to sell all her belongings.
As a result of her last surgery, Betza needed a wheelchair and approached me, and I was able to obtain a donation coordinated with the Rotary Club Vista Hermosa District.4250.
Thank you Richard Rivera from Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning for making it happen and Getting Loud for Rotary and your community.
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning Guatemala Chapter
The Rotary Club of Ojai held a Poster Design Competition for Ojai Unified School District students as part of its 75th Anniversary Celebration. Students were asked to design a poster that depicts how we can protect the Ojai Valley environment. From the over 50 entries that were received, 3 winners and 2 runners-up in each of the following three categories were chosen: Elementary Schools K-5, Matilija Middle School 6-8, and Nordhoff/Legacy High Schools 9-12.
The Elementary K-5 Winner is Meiners Oaks 5th grader, Hunter Rogers; the Matilija 6-8 Winner is 7th grader, Peyton Kennedy; and the 9-12 Winner is Legacy High School student, Adrienne Kearney. The winners at each level received a $100.00 at a Rotary Poster Contest Award presentation April 21 at 6:00 pm. at the Ojai Valley Museum. The winning posters and the runners-up posters are now on display in the Wilson Gallery at the Museum until Sunday, May 14.
Payton Kennedy, Matilija Middle School environmental poster winner, 2023.
Over a hundred Boys & Girls Club members along with community leaders and business professionals came together for the 33rd annual Back-A-Youth night at the Santa Maria Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast. Rotarians were paired with a youth for an evening packed with fun, activities and dinner. Participating Rotarians served as mentors to the youth as they participated in an art activity, sports, a STEM activity and character development.
Left to right in the photo are Rotarians Mark Jackson, Club President, Roberto Rodriguez, Kathy Simas, Steve Fuhring, Mike Gibson and Leonard Champion with their mentees (all of whom have signed photo releases). Missing is Rotarian Suzanne Levy and her three mentees.
Contact Roberto Rodriguez for additional information or questions.
Fourteen members of Westlake Village Sunrise met at Art Trek on Friday, March 3, 2023, to help with a Peace Project. While some members volunteered at Art Trek in the past, holding a regular meeting at Art Trek was an opportunity for newer members to learn about Art Trek.
Members had lots of fun while helping with a special project to create peace pickets that will be displayed around town. Some brought their artistic talent. Others brought their willingness to try something new and to color within the lines!
In addition to Westlake Village Sunrise and Art Trek, other collaborators for the Peace Picket Project include the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley, National Charity League, Villa Esperanza, Boys Team Charity, Ladera Elementary School, Art Trek Community Paint Nights, and Home Depot.
Terry Moerler, Beverly Wisotsky, Marilyn Lippiatt (Treasurer)
Beverly Wisotsky, Hays Englehart, Saleem Saleem, Nick Frankle (Foundation Chair)
On April 21st the Rotary Club of Nipomo participated in a Career Day at Nipomo Elementary School. Over 1,000 students participated at the event organized by Rotarian Aaron Meloncon. Many students asked probing questions to the roughly 60 adults ranging from a chemist to a rocket scientist, from an artist to a banker. It was an exciting day for the students and the presenters.
Every year the Rotary Club of Ojai awards the Fred Clapp Memorial Business Ethics Award to a non-Rotarian business owner in the Ojai Valley who exhibits a commitment to providing ethical service and improving the lives of people in our community. On March 17 Carolina Murillo of Flora Gardens Nursery received the award at a Rotary meeting, including a plaque that will be displayed prominently at her nursery. She also was featured in an article with photo in the Ojai Valley News. Together with her husband, Carmen, and her son Danny, Carolina has managed Flora Gardens for almost 14 years.
Carolina is grateful that her business allows her to pursue her love of plants. “I’ve had an insane love for plants since early childhood. I am a certified arborist with a strong background in pest management. I thank the many people who took the time to talk to me about their garden and share their dreams and goals while I poked around their garden,” Carolina said.
Rotary Club of Ojai is especially appreciative of Carolina’s advice and service in obtaining trees for the club’s annual Arbor Day tree planting. For the past 22 years the Rotary Club of Ojai has celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees with students at a local school. The Rotary Club meets at the school for lunch, and students put on an Arbor Day program and also learn more about trees from Rtn. Al West, retired Deputy Chief U.S. Forest Service.
Left to right: Al West, Clapp Business Ethics Award Recipient Carolina Murillo, Vocational Service Director Larry Beckett, Co-Presidents Marty Babayco and Kay Bliss
Rotary Club of Ojai Awards Business Ethics Award to Carolina Murillo
The Rotary Club of Goleta invites you to come out and join us for a day on the course at the 2nd Annual Goleta Golf Classic, which will be held on Monday, May 22nd at the beautiful Glen Annie Golf Club. The tournament, which draws Rotarians from around the district, benefits Rotary community service projects, including scholarships for local students. Mark your calendar for Monday, May 22nd with check in at 11:30, followed by a 1:00 shotgun start. Your registration fee ($175 or $700 for a foursome) includes dinner and awards on the lovely Glen Annie Patio and a silent auction. In addition to have a great time networking with some of the region’s finest on the course, you’ll be an important part of a fund-raising event that supports local non-profits, including the Food Bank of Santa Barbara County, United Boys and Girls Club, and Transition House.
For more information on playing in or sponsoring this event, see our website at goletarotarygolf.org.
Rotary Club of Goleta Invites You to 2nd Annual Goleta Golf Classic
On Saturday the 8th the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise kicked off its newest community service program called the Rotary Home Team with a very successful turnout of members. Too many to list, members showed up with their Rotary outfits and participated in an initial training course to learn how the Home Team would operate.
After a brief social over coffee and healthy, low fat, no sugar, non-gmo, organic, pasture raised, free range and no hormones donuts the crew spent a little over 45 minutes learning the proper way to work with seniors in their homes. From initial introductions and administrative paperwork, to looking at the repairs that have been requested to deciding on who does what, the Rotarians learned that for many seniors simple minor repairs that are performed are so necessary for the seniors to continue living at home.
Many questions were asked and answers given, and then teams were formed to go out to this months senior requests. Everything from light bulbs needing to be replaced and smoke detectors being checked, to leaking sinks and door bell fixes were performed at the seniors homes we visited.
In the end the seniors were so thankful for our work and just kept repeating what a nice program we have developed. I know the Rotarians that participated really enjoyed the work we did because we made a difference in the seniors' lives, albeit a small one, but one nonetheless.
A success all around, next Home Team date is on June 10th and we expect to have many more requests for help as the word gets around that the Rotarians from Westlake Village Sunrise are ready, willing and able to get the job done. Thanks to all that showed up and participated and to Senior Concerns of the Conejo Valley for being our partner in this much-needed community service project for our seniors.
Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise - The Home Team
Irish stew and St Patrick’s Day brew with bagpipes and fiddlers too! In partnership with local Topa Topa Brewery in support of the Ronald McDonald Family room at Ventura County Medical Center, the Rotary Club of Ventura East hosted a good time for a good cause on March 17. Topa Topa donated 10% of all beer proceeds and the club sold tickets that included food as well as a drink. As a kickoff event for the Ronald McDonald Walk for Kids on March 19th, it was well attended by families too! Lots of room in the beer garden, complete with an entertainment stage that hosted: Claddagh dancers, the local band “A Pint of Irish”, and the Ventura Firefighters Pipe Band. This was the first of what is sure to become a popular annual event!
We are happy to report that our club member Tim Gray, along with his wife Kim, became Bequest Society members with a $175,000 donation. Tim joined our club in 2007 and personally and through his company have made donations to our various projects and events.
Our club is always promoting and encouraging members to bring new people to our meetings and events so that they can see what we are all about. One such fun evening we called “Rotary Reunion”. We invited past members to join us to encourage their possible return, new potential members so that they could meet us in a more casual environment, and current members. There were more than 60 people who joined in.
Our club wants to help Simi Valley student entrepreneurs turn their business idea into reality or help expand an already existing student business by offering grans up to $500. We are offering grants to students that are starting a new business or want to expand their business. We believe that by providing funding to our students will allow their idea to take flight and to grab more opportunities that come their way to help their business grow.
High Students throughout Ventura County attended a one-day workshop in the Fall at Camp Rotary in Simi Valley, where were inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, made life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discussed the ethical and social issues they are faced with daily. The day included the following sessions that enhance personal growth and development:
• Ethics
• Team Building
• Diversity
• Blast (Building Life-long Acceptance through Social Tolerance)
YES! is dedicated to empowering young people to become life-changers by gaining a greater understanding of both personal and global issues, developing effective communication, decision-making skills and a greater understanding of the human connection.
The students arrive early in the morning – strangers mostly – and by the end of the day they are filled with one-of-a-kind experiences – have met lifelong friends and have learned a little more about themselves and their potential to make a difference in their world.
Our club helped Simi Valley become an International City of Peace. To encourage residents to promote peace in their lives and in the community, Simi Valley students were invited to design hand-painted rocks with uplifting words and art. More than 400 rocks highlighting themes of peace and hope were placed at Corriganville Park. International Cities of Peace defines peace as the consensus values of safety, prosperity and quality of life for all people in the community. The City of Simi Valley and its police department, school district and Chamber of Commerce, along with our two other Rotary Clubs, soroptimist International Simi Valley and the For the Need Foundation, all partnered in this effort to create an atmosphere of tolerance, foster a culture of goodwill through education and promote sustainable economic and social development in the community.
Laura Berger, Club President, and Dorina Timbol, Club Service director conducted a Club Assembly. President Laura talked about increasing participation and attendance by Rotarians in all of the Club's activities, programs, service projects and social events. The purpose of this Club Assembly was to share information with Club members – particularly those that are new to our club, identify issues and discuss future plans. This assembly was focused on the coming Rotary year, our projects and upcoming fundraisers. Club directors rotated to each table to discuss their plans for the year, answer any questions and to have members share their ideas and opinions.
You may have heard that Carpinteria Morning Club often tours the local farms in their quaint little seaside community, but did you know Carp has an ocean view farm of exotic animals…you almost want to have as pets?
Club members, families and friends of the Carpinteria Morning Club support locals farmers and their livelihoods. “It’s especially important to help our local ranches after the preceding 3 years of events”, Mary Layman, Vocational Chair explains, “Carp is not only known for Avocados, Cannabis, Orchids (and recently…celebrities), but the club is serving the coastal community with lots of good vibes, service activities and monetary support”.
If you get a chance, make a reservation and visit the Carpinteria Canzelle Alpaca Farm, you will not be disappointed!
At our meeting on March 24, Coast Union High School English Teacher, Ogo Agbo read the 3rd Place Peace Essay from senior Emily Reed who was unable to attend our meeting. Emily wrote about the journey to find peace after the death of her father.
Patricia Acosta, also a senior, submitted the 2nd Place Essay about finding peace in the outdoors. Patricia will be attending Boston College on a QuestBridge Scholarship.
Declan MacKenzie, a sophomore, received 1st place honors for his essay. Declan was home-schooled in Viet Nam, where his family lived due to his father’s job, until last year when he relocated to Cambria and enrolled in Coast Union. Declan entitled his essay “Interpretations” and came to the conclusion that “we must continue to do our best to strive towards peace, regardless of the challenges and pushback we might face. Whether that means cultivating your own inner peaceful disposition or promoting peace in your community, never give up on hope that one day all of humanity will be able to fully live in and experience a peaceful world”.
Rotary Club of Cambria Announces Winner of the Peace Essay Contest
During the month of March, our club was pleased to welcome 3 new members. John Kraetsch recently retired and relocated to Cambria. He decided to check out Rotary because he was looking to meet people and, quite frankly, found he was getting bored. John looks forward to volunteering his time and learning more about Rotary. John was sponsored by another newcomer to our club, Luanne Kittle who stood by his side as he was sworn in on March 10th.
Doug and Debbie Koerper are part-time Cambrians who are looking to give back. Doug spent his career as a heavy equipment operator and Debbie is a marriage and family therapist who also volunteers with equine therapy. We were thrilled to welcome them into the “family.” Doug and Debbie were sponsored by PE Bob Kasper and were sworn in on March 24th.
To get the year started, Carpinteria Morning Club instituted a Fall Rush, (remember those college days?) hosted by Mary Layman Vocational Chair, inviting the community to hear about the great events and projects planned for the year and enjoy a FREE enchilada dinner and mockeritas.
Each board member introduced their projects and guests were invited to visit each member’s table to sign up for future activities planned. As a guest and member signed up, they received a raffle ticket and at the end of the night, lots of gift baskets were given out.
This was a fantastic way to share the many service projects the club was doing and to invite the community to join in the fun! Some guests became Friends with the club on social media (invited to future activities) and others joined right away.
For Valentines Day, Carpinteria Morning Club hosted its annual fundraiser to raise money and honor young adults who needed to retrain after Covid in a new job.
“Thankful to have ‘Turned the corner’ we have strengthened a commitment in our community to support those young adults who need additional classes after having to change jobs,” shared Mary Layman, Vocational Chair.
After application review, Beth Cox (renowned as Carpinterian of the Year) and Carie Smith (PE) of Carpinteria Morning Club presented 3 scholarships to resilient hard working Gen Zs, (one applicant recently from Ukraine).
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning Valentines Day Fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise worked with Club Rotario Centenario in Ensenada to bring supplies to a clinic that provides cleft palate surgery for children, along with dental restoration, speech therapy and more. This clinic is open only 4-6 times a year with approximately 80-90 volunteers assisting more than 200 patients. The clinic provides life-saving surgeries and related health care for FREE to underserved children so that they can eat properly, speak normally, and be more accepted in their communities to live normal lives. Simi Sunrise brought supplies that the clinic will provide to their patients.
In collaboration with Club Rotario Ensenada Centenaria our club realized the need to assist with providing supplies to patients at the dental clinic in the city run by Thousand Smiles. Thousand Smiles, a 501(c)3 foundation, provides free maxillofacial surgery, dental treatment as well as, various associated procedures to children from financially challenged families in Mexico. This project is totally funded by donations including but not limited to Rotary International Grants, other foundation grants, Rotary Club donations, and personal donations. The project is completely managed and run by volunteers.
This April 15th will mark the Rotary Club of Carpinteria’s 14th annual Talent Showcase. Each year has been a sellout. The Rotary Club of Carpinteria partners with the Alcazar Theatre and event sponsors to raise funds in support of music education programs of the Carpinteria Unified School District.
Showcase acts have included singing, guitarists, pianists, dancers, storytelling, jugglers, magicians, comedians, ukulele bands, a cappella singers, and local school bands. Since its inception, Carpinteria’s Talent Showcase has hosted a total of 909 performers, which has included 431 kids and 93 seniors. It’s a small-town showcase that really is a big city variety show: There is something for everyone!
Historically, music program expenses served as a barrier to student participation and greatly limited the reach of School music programs. To date, over $200,000 in donations derived from the Showcase has allowed for the purchase of new and refurbished musical instruments and cases, sheet music and books, tuners and recorders, band uniforms, summer music camp scholarships, academic scholarships, and a visit to the symphony.
Recently, due to increased interest and the financial support provided by Rotary, the School District decided to hire another teacher to expand the music program into the elementary grades.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Talent Showcase, contact Barry Enticknap at barrycarprotary@gmail.com or Rotary Club of Carpinteria at carpinteriarotary.org
The Showcase is a win-win-win! The Carpinteria community gets a wonderful evening of entertainment; performers have an opportunity to share their music and talent; and students receive musical instruments and training that can change their lives forever!
This month as Vocational Chair of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club we had the opportunity to interview four mostly newer members of our club one of them being the new police chief for Thousand Oaks Jeremy Paris. Jeremy gave us some insight into his typical schedule during the day organizing staff and responding to emails and messages as part of his administrative duties for Thousand Oaks and surrounding areas.
He noted that the training for a police officer is never the same as a real life situation as first responders many times have to deal with situations that are not exactly the same as training exercises. Reacting in real time in real life it is impossible determine someone’s reaction until they are confronted with a live situation. Many times newer officers are left in the background to see how they handle themselves before being thrust into a face to face confrontation. He also discussed how new DNA databases such as 23andme or Ancestry can be subpoenaed by authorities to obtain a close match to a DNA sample which can then be used to narrow down potential suspects of a crime. This is how the authorities tracked the Idaho suspect of the college kids murders all the way back to Pennsylvania where he was living with relatives thousands of miles away from the crime scene. A database match was made of a relative and he was followed until a sample could be obtained from him and a match was made.
Although body cameras seem to be perceived by many to be somewhat controversial Jeremy said that most officers welcome their use as they can help sort out facts from fiction in confrontations with officers. He went on the say that the biggest challenge today is finding qualified personnel to fill vacancies at various departments.
Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks Vocational Service Story
In fall of 2022, Rotary Club of Nipomo held another successful fundraiser to benefit the youth of our community. We hosted an evening of fun at our Winner Winner Chicken Dinner drawing and live auction event, which benefited Nipomo Youth Soccer (AYSO Region 716) and the Drama Department at Mesa Middle School. We served barbecued chicken with all of the fixin's and offered an auction with many different items, experiences, getaways, and desserts for sale to the highest bidder.
Working together with those groups makes for an outstanding night! For our entertainment that evening, the drama students performed a selection of songs from their fall show, "Disney's Aladdin Jr.," prior to dinner service. Parent volunteers from both groups, as well as our Rotarians, assisted in different roles on the day of the event, as well as working to sell event tickets and solicit the donation of auction items prior to the fundraiser.
The proceeds from the event resulted in a donation of $9000.00 to each youth group. Nipomo Youth Soccer plans to install lights on their fields in order to facilitate later practice times in the fall, while Mesa Middle School Drama is hoping to replace 20 years-old stage infrastructure and to update its sound equipment.
Rotarians ready to BBQ (left to right): Howard Hess, Jim Harrison, Harry Walls, Sean Schurr, Chris Wise
Outside the Edwards Barn, Nipomo, at our Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Fundraiser
Presenting the donation to Youth Soccer (left to right): Rotarians Judy Henbury, Kelly Ricker, Cathy Cachu. From Youth Soccer, Josh Krebs, Sarah Mendoza
Presenting the donation to Mesa Middle School (left to right): Rotarians Judy Henbury, Cathy Cachu. From MMS, Marcia Geyer, Hanh Nguyen Hays. Rotarian Kelly Ricker
GRAND RAFFLE: How does a vacation on the beach in Bermuda, Los Cabos, Cancun or Costa Rica sound to you? Or a trip exploring the beaches and jungles of Belize or a wine train and hot air balloon ride in Napa Valley? Maybe checking out the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or New York’s Broadway are more up your alley. Whatever your preference, it's time for Cambria Rotary’s Grand Raffle! Enter to win one of 8 travel experiences! Winner will be drawn at our VIVA event "Spring Fling" on April 29th but the winner does not need to be in attendance to win. Purchase your ticket for $50 from any Cambria Rotarian or email us for more information at vivacambriarotary@gmail.com. Proceeds will help fund local and international projects including Feeding the Needy, Polio Eradication, Disaster Relief, Basic Education and Literacy, High School Scholarships, Promoting Peace, Sustainable Clean Water and much more.
BLOOD DRIVE: Once again, Cambrians answered the call to give blood at our March 2nd Dave Melendy Blood Drive. Forty locals rolled up their sleeves to help save a life. In the end, up to 120 lives will be saved thanks to the generosity of our friends and neighbors. And thanks to Cambria Pines Lodge for hosting the event. Our next Blood Drive will be held in August. Stay tuned for more detailed information as it becomes available.
Rotary Club of Cambria Offers a Chance at a Dream Trip and Offers Thanks to Community
The Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club celebrated the efforts of two Rotarians who established the Club’s book donation program that is still in place twenty years later. Club President Roberto Rodriguez and Orcutt Union School District Supervisor Holly Edds commended Rotarians Betty Miller and Doug Palmer on this project. In 2002, Betty Miller, the Club’s first woman President, established a program to honor each week’s speaker by donating a book in their name to one of the 26 local elementary schools in Santa Maria and Orcutt. Doug Palmer has selected and purchased the books which are hardback Caldecott or Newberry Medal books. After twenty years, the Club donated it’s 1,000th book and determined a celebration was in order.
Literacy, and reading in particular, has a great impact on an individual and on a community at large. Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary recognizes the positive impact of investing in literacy in our community. It was fitting that the celebration was held on a local school campus, Joe Nightingale Elementary School. The meeting ended with a tour of the school library for some Rotarians while others participated in reading books to a second-grade class.
Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club Celebrates 1,000th Book Donation
The Rotary Club of Cambria is proud to sponsor the Coast Union Interact Club and watch these students take action to make a difference each year. The Interact Club members plan various fundraising activities so they can raise money to donate to causes selected by the Interactors. In previous years, the club has donated to such causes as high school scholarships, Camp Ocean Pines, HART, Feeding America, Doctors Without Borders, St. Jude’s, Skate Cambria and FFRP.
One of their annual fundraisers is a Bake Sale conducted at one of Rotary’s February meetings. It is always one of our favorite meetings because the baked goods the students make are auctioned off and, invariably bidding wars break out as auctioneer Bob Kasper uses humor to encourage higher and higher bids. It is just another example of our motto: “If it ain’t fun, it ain’t Rotary”.
At our February 10th meeting, there were a lot of laughs, Rotarians got to enjoy some delicious baked goods and the 2023 Interact Bake Sale raised almost $4,500!
We gathered one Saturday afternoon at a club member's home to make 75 bagged lunches for the homeless and hungry people of Thousand Oaks. Our local non-profit works to get folks housed as well as helping people with utilities or whatever they need to stay in their homes. Partnering with local churches, they feed 70-80 people a hot meal every night and give them a lunch bag for the next day. We included messages and jokes in each lunch bag.
30% of foster youth end up homeless after they turn 18. District 5240 has a grant for "Open Table" a program that helps these young adults get on their feet. We need our Rotary clubs to partner with foster programs in their communities to continue this program. Training/materials are provided. Pictured is an aged-out youth (red shirt) with his mentors at " The Open Table" Each table lasts one year. For more information contact:Tracy@jamesstorehouse@gmail.com, 310-795-0161
Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks: Open Table Foster Youth Program
Emely Marquez was honored by the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise with the Alt Ed Student of the Month award for February 2023. The award is given to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic and personal achievement and who are nominated by their teachers.
La Cuesta teacher Norma Gallagher nominated Emely for this award for her hard work and determination. “Emely is a wonderful young lady. A few words to describe her are responsible, hard worker, motivated, caring and positive. She takes her schooling very seriously and goes above and beyond to stay on track. It's hard to have her in my study skills class because she is always caught up and has nothing to do in class.”
The presentation was attended by Sonia Amaral, Principal Alta Vista High School and La Cuesta High School, and Emely’s father, Filiberto Marquez. Ms. Amaral shared Emely is in dual enrollment at La Cuesta and Santa Barbara City College. She is studying Psychology and hopes to work as a therapist.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is very proud of Emely’s dedication to her studies and extends our best wishes as he continues his education. Congratulations, Emely!
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is committed to supporting youth organizations and youth-serving programs in Santa Barbara County. Beginning in 1999, the club sponsored the Student of the Month program at El Puente Community School until the school closed in 2013. The program resumed at La Cuesta Continuation High School for several years and is now includes the district's Alt Ed program.
Santa Barbara Unified School District offers two alternative education programs, Alta Vista Alternative High School and La Cuesta Continuation High School. Both schools are Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited and the diplomas that students earn are the same as the three traditional high schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Alta Vista Alternative High School offers independent studies options for 9-12th grade students that need a more flexible schedule and prefer a smaller school setting. La Cuesta Continuation High School is set up to support 10-12th grade students who need to recover credits in a smaller, more personalized setting.
Photo: Kathleen Rogers, Youth Services Chair; Sonia Amaral, Principal; Emely Marquez, Student of the Month; and Filiberto Marquez.
Emely Marquez Honored as Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Alt Ed Student of the Month
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has potluck fireside chats a few times a year. Here we are at Danny and Marissa's house. Excellent smoked beef by Danny. Great way to get to know each other when you have a big club!
The Carpinteria High School Interact Club worked hard to support Ukraine with badly needed solar lights and solar chargers. The club partnered with The Morning Rotary of Carpinteria, Unite to Light and Direct Relief International to sell lights and chargers and earn fund the project. Interact Club Advisor Christine Gilbert was proud of their enthusiasm as they planned and completed the Ukraine Project. Morning Rotarian Stephen Gerties gave the final totals of this year long project: 113 solar lights and 57 solar chargers were sent to Ukraine.
Please join us for a cross-sector collaboration forum designed to educate and inform the community on human trafficking on the Central Coast. You are invited as an individual, agency, educational or governmental leader who is essential in uniting the community on important topics. Whether or not you or an agency has joined the anti-trafficking movement, we are looking forward to collaborating with the hope of building a firm foundation for community action.
Thanks to the generosity of many in our community, 43 children in the Oceanside Apartments in San Simeon had a very Merry Christmas. On December 21, Santa (aka Rotarian Tom Tierney) along with a group of very helpful elves, delivered packages of gifts for each of the children and their parents. Cambria Rotary’s Secret Santa’s purchased 3 of the gifts the children asked for in their letter to Santa. An anonymous Cambria Rotary member donated a pair of shoes to each of the children. Cambria Connection and Cambria Rotary both gave each family gift cards for groceries, another anonymous donor gave each family a Target gift card, several San Simeon businesses chipped in so each family could receive household items (detergent, soap, shampoo, cleaning items, etc.) and Rotary donated a soccer ball to each of the kiddos. Needless to say, the children and their parents were thrilled, and the Rotary elves ended their evening with warm hearts.
At Cambria Rotary’s November 18th meeting, we heard from Branna Still of the San Luis Obispo Food Bank. She told us that 26% of households in SLO County do not earn enough to afford an essential cost of living, and 1 in 6 children may experience food insecurity in the US this year! The SLO Food Bank serves over 31,000 individuals each month. 28% are children and 25% are seniors.
Community Service Chair, Sandy Cha, was pleased to present Branna and the SLO Food Bank with a check for $500 to help families and individuals during this holiday season.
Part of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise's vocational service program this year is encouraging our members to recognize and honor their employees by inviting them to attend one of our meetings.
The Rotary Club Bakersfield Twilight over the past several years has sponsored the Mt. Vernon Elementary School in various education projects, and this year they supported the school’s inaugural Career Awareness Day. Organized by the school principal, Mrs. Xochitl Prieto (zoh-chee pry-eh-toh), and her staff, several Bakersfield Twilight Rotarians gave up their busy Tuesday morning to share their passion for the business occupations they take a part in.
At a recent Rotary Meeting, we heard from Paula Van Zyl of Compass Zambia. Paula is an amazing lady, born in Glendale, CA who has dedicated her life to help people in need in Zambia. Paula moved to Africa in 2003, Mwandi Village in 2005. They have built 199 homes for those most in need in the village with the help of volunteers.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise held an additional Board retreat this year. It was a mid-year retreat to reinvigorate our Board and support one another in achieving our goals.
The club members were invited to give feedback and joined a strategic planning session. We discussed our future plans regarding membership, retention, officer transitions, templates for future officers, integration of new members, fundraising, allocation of funds, Foundation goals, and future international grants and partnering.
Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Mid-Year Board Retreat
Just short of 3 months into our 2022-23 Rotary year and we welcomed four new members into our family. Each new member is invited to attend a casual evening Orientation, where new members get to socialize with veteran Rotarians and learn more about Rotary while sipping wine and enjoying some snacks before their formal induction at a Rotary meeting.
Members of the Rotary Club of Solvang stepped up to operate a food booth during this year’s Annual Danish Days Festival, which honors the 1911 founding of Solvang by Danish-Americans. Running from Friday, September 16th through Sunday, the 18th, it was the first Danish Days celebration since 2019. Solvang Rotarians, for the first time, cooked and served more than 400 “Viking Burger” meals, consisting of grilled pork patties with Swiss cheese and grilled onions, served on toasted egg dough cheese/onion buns. Chips and beverages completed the meal. YUM…! The event drew thousands of visitors both Saturday and Sunday, as reported by the Santa Barbara News-Press. In addition to many Danish costumes, the festival featured two parades, an axe-throwing contest, and a Lego Building Competition, for which the first prize garnered $500.
Ak’Tenamit is a boarding school of over 600 Indigenous Mayan students aged 12-18 in the Rio Dulce area of Eastern Guatemala. Numerous Rotary clubs have built and supported this school for over 20 years.
George Poulakos (RC Ventura) is looking for anyone interested in joining this trip on March 25 to April 2, 2023. Details and George's contact info is in the flyer linked below.
Julius Achon and Jim Fee's shared vision — to build and operate a health clinic in remote Northern Uganda — once seemed impossible to realize: construction, electrification, staff recruitment and equipment delivery would prove virtually impossible in a region so lacking in infrastructure and even passable roads. The need was great but so was the determination of Julius, Jim and the Achon Uganda Children’s Fund team.
Cambria Rotary was honored to get a chance to meet Julius in 2018 when we sponsored a run and barbeque at El Chorro Regional Park and a film/narration of “The Boy Who Runs, The Odyssey of Julius Achon”, organized by Bruce Howard, at the Fremont Theater The events raised $20,000 towards the purchase of an ultrasound machine for the health center. The next day, Julius attended our Rotary meeting and International Services Chair, Gerry Porter, presented Julius with a check for $1,795 for the purchase of a chemistry machine. An additional $1,000 was raised by club members at the meeting for the ultrasound machine and training. In 2022, our club donated a motorbike to the center so staff can deliver medications to those in need. We are proud to have played a small part in the success of the Kristina Health Center, now celebrating their 10th anniversary.
Through the efforts of its International Committee, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is planting 108 Milkweed plants in their yards. The Monarch Butterfly lays its eggs exclusively on Milkweed. When the caterpillars emerge, they eat the Milkweed and metamorphose into the beautiful Monarch butterflies which migrate between Canada and the Central Coast. Mark Shelton and Sandy Lee spearheaded the project after hearing about a similar project by the Passport Club. The plants were donated by a generous local, native plant breeder.
The conflict in Ukraine and the need for support of the Ukrainian people was taken head on by Bob Hather, a member of the Monday Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo. Bob owns many businesses, and one of them is a manufacturing plant that produces portable water drilling equipment. Bob needed to visit the plant, located on the east coast. Instead of taking a commercial flight to the manufacturing plant, as an avid motorcyclist, Bob came up with the idea of having the Monday Rotary Club members, and his friends and business associates, sponsor his ride by pledging money for every mile he rode. Through his efforts, Bob raised over $11,000 that was sent to the Rotary Foundation for Ukrainian Relief efforts.
Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo Raises Over $11,000 for Ukrainian Relief
Over recent weeks, the Rotary Club of Ojai has raised $5,510 to be sent to The Rotary Foundation to contribute to the worldwide Ukrainian Refugee Relief effort. Rotary will work with local Rotary clubs and international aid organizations in the impacted region to provide food, shelter, clothing and medical needs of the 2.5 million women, children and elderly who have been forced from their country because of of the unjustified Russian invasion.
Rotary Club of Ojai Raises Over $5,000 for Ukrainian Relief
It's hard to believe it is that time again! School is starting and the Rotary Club of Cambria was ready to show the local teachers and staff just how much we appreciate them for all they do for our local students. So, on Sunday club members gathered at the high school cafeteria to begin preparing breakfast items. There was ham to be chopped, potatoes and fruit to cut and dozens upon dozens of eggs to crack and scramble. The next day we gathered again, just after sunrise, to work on final preparations. The staff was treated to scrambled eggs, ham and cheese, potatoes, fruit, croissants, sweet rolls, juice and coffee.
The hard work is always worth it when the staff shows up with smiles on their faces. We know how hard they work all year, so it is our pleasure to do this annual breakfast as our way of saying thank you.
Simi Sunrise Rotary held a Pickleball and Picnic membership drive, during the membership month of August.
We had about 55 participants and met many new potential members; alongside enjoying our existing members. Fellowship and fun are one of our goals this year. We are gaining more interpersonal knowledge about our fellow Rotarians. We are building on our inclusive, family culture.
What a great way to kick off Rotary International’s membership month. The Rotary Club of Ventura South inducted 3 new members into the club on August 1. Cynthia Cordero, Daniel Cervantes, and Dustin Tondreau were inducted into the club. Rick Weber from CBC Federal Credit Union and Tony Suleiman from the Suleiman State Farm Insurance Agency provided introductions of the new members. Maria Prendiz from CBC Credit Union was not able to attend. The new members bring great experience and energy to the club. They are already taking part in a couple of our service committees.
The Rotary Club of Ventura South President Nkosi Khumalo (“NK”) is proud to announce the 2022 Senior Graduate Scholarship recipients from St Bonaventure High School ( Olivia Escobedo, William MacNeil, Maria Bernal, Jessica Sanchez ) and from Ventura High School (Juerta Pirraci, Iliana Macias, Ryan Palmisano, Jesus Alvarez Flores, Taylor Denger). Each graduate received a cash check of $2,500 towards their university tuition.
When David Drumright joined the Rotary Club of Camarillo in 1999, he was focused on networking. The insurance broker quickly realized, however, that community service was more valuable than gaining new clients.
“What motivates me is that I love the club, I love the people and I love what we do in the community,” said Drumright, 62. He was nominated by former presidents to assume a leadership role in 2006, and he said he has been dedicated to reviving important traditions while developing new strategies to serve the city.
The greatest challenge he’s faced as president is the pandemic, he said. Unable to hold long-standing events in person, the club struggled to maintain participation. “A lot of clubs have fallen apart, and I didn’t want to see our club fall apart,” he said. “I want to see it grow.” The club has roughly 55 members—five more than before the pandemic, Drumright said.
Money from the Rotary Club Talent Showcase and the Carpinteria Rotary Foundation is now in the hands of the Carpinteria Education Foundation (CEF), earmarked for student scholarships.
The money will fund seven scholarships. This includes two $2,500 scholarships for members of the Carpinteria High School Interact Club, in Doc Carty’s name; one $2,000 scholarship for a student pursuing music and the arts, in Nilo Fanucchi’s name; and five $1,000 scholarships for Career Technical Education students selected by the school staff.
School board trustee Sally Green accepted a check for the scholarships on behalf of CEF.
Rotary Club gives scholarships, funded by Talent Showcase
Cambria Rotary sponsors, mentors and guides the Coast Union High School Interact Club each year as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills. We could not be prouder of this year’s club and salute them for all they have accomplished.
President, Lisi Happel, Vice President, Caiden Kennedy, Treasurer Violet Wills, Secretary Emmy Johnson and Social Media Director Rory Cloward led the 2021-22 club which conducted monthly beach cleanups, volunteered at the Harvest Festival, Toys for Tots, Camp Ocean Pines Anniversary Dinner, Skate Day, San Simeon Easter Egg Hunt, Beautify Cambria’s Dark Skies and the Bee Festival.
In celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday in 2019, Bakersfield College started the first of many peace initiatives with support from the Patel Foundation, the Bakersfield College Foundation, and area Rotary clubs. The first of many proposed peace gardens on campus, with a Rotary Peace Pole, was dedicated on October 21, 2021.
A second peace garden will break ground soon. Bakersfield Breakfast Club Rotarians and Peace Committee members Cheryl Scott and Mindy Wilmot continue to be involved in the Peace Initiative on Bakersfield College campus. They were also involved in the Bakersfield College Peace Initiative President’s Seminar Series where the connection between Rotary and Peace were showcased. “BC and Rotary: Building Peace in Kern County” may be found at this link. Additionally, a video further discussing the partnership may be found on YouTube.
In February of 2022, a group of Rotarians from district 5240 and 5280, joined our leader and International Service Director, Diego Velasquez, on a rewarding journey to Paipa, Colombia! Aside from enjoy the enchanting beauty of Colombia, the mission was to discover inspiring international service projects at Colombia’s 7th Annual International Rotary Projects Fair. Our Club’s International Service Director, Mr. Velasquez, organized the Rotarians over the course of several months and ultimately departed from Los Angeles and arrived in Bogota, Colombia. From there they made it to the ultimate destination in the remote and lovely town of Paipa.
The three-day project fair gave these Rotarians the opportunity to see many projects which they brought home. At this projects fair, our group joined over 120 Rotarians from Colombia and 22 Rotarians from 5 different countries and enjoyed the local hospitality, tours, and recreation. Tours were offered and Rotarians enjoyed destinations including an underground salt cathedral, the historical city Villa de Leyva, thermal hot springs to bathe in, and see the Puente of Boyaca where Colombia gained its independence from imperial Spain!
On Sunday, April 10th the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise held their annual Bolio event at Harley's Simi Bowl in Simi Valley. This event is a fundraiser to support Rotary's battle against the Polio virus which has been eradicated in all but two countries in the world. It is an opportunity for fun and fellowship centered around 10 pins which one attempts to knock over using a 12 pound ball with 3 holes drilled in it for your fingers. Sounds primitive, doesn't it?
Reputedly the only memorial service that honors and remembers those who are lost at sea, Cayucos Rotary is proud to be the sponsor of this annual event since 2009. This is probably our club's most emotional community service project.
Each year, fishermen, veterans and civilians honor and remember all who fought, and anyone else who has been lost at sea. The ceremony has grown from about 100 curious eyes to almost 400 prior to Covid. Local agency officers, like County Supervisor Bruce Gibson, County Sheriff Ian Parkinson, and even past Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian had come to officiate the event. Today, the event is co-organized by the Lost-at-Sea Committee with representatives from Cayucos Rotary, Morro Bay Rotary, Cayucos Lions, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen's Organization. The Coast Guard is on hand to help as well.
Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary President Jim Wisdom reached out to Husam early in his year as President to gain some ideas about how to grow membership. While Husam and Jim talked at length about membership early in this Rotary year, and Westlake Sunrise attempted to incorporate some ideas to increase membership, our club had challenges in maintaining and increasing membership- in part due to challenges with COVID. We found that about a third of our members were not showing up on a regular basis to our meetings (either on zoom or in-person, because we have hybrid meetings).
To promote peace, Cayucos Rotary is gathering a group of school-age students to create peace posters and raise the need for peace in our community and the world.
The youths will be invited to our meetings to share their thoughts and their posters will be laminated and posted on the windows of local merchants, to demonstrate our support against the war in Ukraine, and anywhere else in the world. This peace activity will be promoted via our website, club's Facebook page, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
One of the fun projects that's unique to Cayucos Rotary is awarding music scholarships to college students looking to pursue a career in the music industry or related industries.
Five years ago, Cayucos Rotary created a "Chungsam Doh Music Scholarship Fund" to honor and thank Past District Governor, Chungsam Doh, for mentoring and supporting Cayucos Rotary. PDG Chungsam was so humbled that he personally contributed to the fund.
Established in 1978, we are a smaller more intimate club that is known locally for being mighty and getting wonderful things done locally and internationally.
We’re known for providing Thanksgiving meals that feed over 3,300 local children and families in dire need with respect and honor, providing K9s for Warrior, helping distribute over 11,000 wheelchairs to those who desperately need one, and starting the first local drive-in movie charity event!
Some recent projects we’ve undertaken during are helping finance and supply books for a literacy program called Little Free Library, stuffing backpacks with school supplies, participating in a global grant to bring clean water to Zimbabwe, helping the local Casa Pacifica organization with volunteering, and much more!
The Rotary Club of Conejo Valley invited back Anahita Dalmia to update us on her peacebuilding project. Anahita is the CEO of Alterea and daughter of a past president of the RC Delhi Premier (Aneesha Dalmia).
Anahita first presented her project to RC of Conejo Valley in March 2021. She explained that, when she was a student, she read that more polio cases are now caused by the vaccine than by wild viruses. She was concerned because she knew of her mother’s and Rotary’s involvement with the polio vaccine. After researching the subject, she realized that the statement was misleading and that much of the information accessible to students is misinformation or disinformation. Anahita wanted to help.
From Thurs. 4/28/22 through Sun. afternoon 5/1/22, Westlake Sunrise Rotary sponsored Jarrett Frey, a student here in the Conejo Valley. He learned many things at RYLA: How to take charge, how to inspire people, connect with teammates, and how to bring out the best in them. Because of the education he received in leadership, a winning attitude, perseverance, and ethics, he will be seeking a more active role in his Interact Club and spread his knowledge about how to improve both leadership and character. He wrote to WLV Sunrise President Jim Wisdom the following: “ It is frightening to think that without your support, I would not have experienced this life-changing opportunity.”
At Cayucos Rotary, every member is responsible to bring in potential members. Before we learn of Rotary International President Shektar Metha's initiative on "Bring One, Keep One", Cayucan Rotarians have been practising this mantra since our charter in March 2008.
As a small club in a small beach town, it is essential that we know our members and learn how to retain them. Cayucos Rotary is not unlike other Rotary clubs. Our club has our ups and downs. Members do leave. We depend heavily on our sponsors to mentor each new member and we get our new members going in our projects. Also as a small club, we need our members to participate in every way possible : donate and /or contribute in kind and work on projects.
Prior to Covid, Cayucos Rotary has organized “Paddle for Polio” in conjunction with the Cancer Survivors Group from the Morro Bay Dragon Boat Association to raise awareness of polio and fundraise for polio eradication. Participants included Group 11 Rotarians, who raised funds within their club. We were not able to do so for the past two years.
For 2021-2022, past president Sherry Sim adapted and did the “Peddle for Polio” by committing to wake up at 6:00 AM to peddle on her exercise bike for half hour daily for two weeks prior to World Polio Day. Sherry is not an early riser. She was penalized 4 days out of the two weeks, for failing to wake up on time to peddle and her ‘penalties’ added to her contribution to the PolioPlus fund. Club members supported her efforts and the club raised $400 last October. Participants from the club included Michele Lilley, club president; Emily Campbell, Past President; Donna Archer, Past President; Pamela Cookson and Sherry Sim, Past President.
On Fri. 5/6/22, Westlake Sunrise Rotarians gathered together at the beginning of their Rotary meeting at Los Robles Greens and assembled over 353 Teacher Appreciation bags filled with goodies and sweets to thank the teachers for their hard work during this COVID-challenged school year. Our President Elect and Community Service Chair, Michelle Ramsey, supervised the assembly process and helped us assemble the bags.
Once the bags were assembled, WLV Sunrise Rotarians delivered them to a number of schools in the Conejo Valley and surrounding area. We delivered these packages to Westlake High School; Oak Park High School; Westlake Elementary School and Westlake Hills Elementary School.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo was pleased to sponsor 4 students from San Luis Obispo High School to attend this year’s RYLA, the first in-person camp in several years! Three students completed the leadership camp (one became ill on the first day and had to return home): Katerina Harris, Kylee McNabb, and Dawson Sennes. Katerina and Kylee are juniors, Dawson is a sophomore and already involved in ASB leadership at their school. All three had an outstanding, life-changing experience, and made scores of new friends from all over the district. Kylee received two awards, one for talent show, and the other for Service Above Self.
Have you heard of the song “Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore/Norwegian Wood” or “Honeysuckle Hornpipe/Temperance Reel”? Probably not and nor had we until recently on Saturday, May 7th a band named Wrenwood Sessions here in Bakersfield featured them in an afternoon “Concert In the Garden” fundraiser for the Twilight Foundation.
After a 3 year hiatus, Bakersfield Twilight members were very excited about getting together with the public again to raise funds for the many causes our foundation supports. Our event was held in the Tejon Sculpture Garden at the Bakersfield Museum of Art with picture perfect weather and a group of attendees that truly enjoyed the lively music, unusual instruments (bodhran, octave mandolin, mandola, harp), and wonderful back-stories that went into creating these songs. Wrenwood Sessions is a local group of friends who gathered together in 2010 to form a group to share their mutual love of Celtic music. We can’t thank them enough and our enthusiastic members who all contributed to a successful event!
Ready to close up this great Rotary year and we look back to the small things that make a bi difference. There are times that showing up are enough but then there are the times that people need a take away. This year we provided all our members business cards to hand out inviting potential members to join us at our meetings. Something that can fit in your hand and remind you of the good that a community can do. All it takes is one small phone call and we have them hooked. Get them in the door to get them involved and word of mouth and excitement of giving back is all you need.
In addition to great speaker programs, Club President Michele Lilley decided to turn it up a notch this year to make our meetings more interesting. For certain months, we would have a "themed" meeting and every member is encouraged to participate and have fun.
We kicked off Club Pres. Michele's first meeting last July with a garden theme, and members came in garden garb and boots. Pictured above obviously is our "Halloween" meeting, and we rocked it. We endured covid and ended 2021 with a special Christmas social ~ all were dressed to impress. Soon we will get to "roast" President Michele under another theme.
For the past six years, Cayucos Rotary has supported PACE Universal by sponsoring the cost of educating at least two-three girls each year. This is one of our favorite international projects, and our club's delight to support Past District Governor Deepa Biwas' girls school at PACE Universal in Piyali, India.
Education & literacy, as Rotarians know, is one of the seven areas of focus for Rotary. Cayucan Rotarians believe education is the key to helping these youths lay the foundation to help them become more self-sufficient and more successful in life.
Despite covid, Club President Michele Lilley remained steadfast and continued to receive undeterred interest from school kids around town to join us in our bi-monthly beach clean-ups.
These youths are a joy to work with. They are enthusiastic and scour all over the beach and street to find that "treasured" trash.
Cayucan Rotarians started picking up way back when the club was first chartered in 2008-2009. The project has become an annual project since inception, and grown stronger from a quarterly clean-up to a bi-monthly sting.
Kudos to our club president Michele Lilley and our young aspiring Rotarians-to-Be. We appreciate them.
Sandy Cha, the new owner of The Cambria Business Center, is given an inspirational New Member Orientation at the home of Roger and Sue Robinson. Sandy was an Interact member in her youth. She and her husband, Johathan Mumper, have two young children, encouraging a renewed interest in pursuing family-oriented events and projects. Membership Chair, Donna Crocker, affixes Sandy's mini-me figure onto the Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary Cambria "Member Ship". Julian Crocker reads a Seventh Grader's prize-winning essay to teach Sandy about the 4-Way Test, and other members give Sandy highlights about Rotary's history and the projects they most appreciated & enjoyed. The "Artful Dodger" Otis Archie & Donna lead the attendees in welcoming Sandy with a rendition of "Consider Yourself One of Us" from the musical "Oliver". Although Otis is snowbound for this February orientation, he joins the event virtually. Cambria Rotary has welcomed 4 new members in the 2021-2022 term, all of whom are taking active roles in the Club. We are blessed.
On Thursday evening, April 21, 2022, the two Westlake Village Rotary Clubs ( Westlake Sunrise and Westlake Village Rotary Club) came together for a signing ceremony at Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks to sign a MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding ) in preparation for our 2nd Annual Holidays In The Village event on Sun. 12/4/22.
The enclosed picture identifies those on the planning committee for this event. They are as follows. From Left
Rotarians support peace when we address the inhibitors to positive peace which include lack of opportunity and lack of hope. To increase awareness of and to provide opportunities and hope to athletes who have suffered paralytic injuries, Westlake Village Sunrise formed a partnership with Swim With Mike, an organization that provides scholarships to injured athletes. The mission of Swim With Mike is to change the lives of student-athletes who have experienced catastrophic injury or illness by providing scholarships, creating community and instilling hope and purpose in their lives. Representatives from Swim With Mike spoke at club meetings. A fundraiser was held led by President Jim Wisdom who himself had suffered a serious injury as a teenager. An article on April 8, 2022, in The Acorn local newspaper provided public awareness of the club and the cause. President Jim participated in a swimathon to increase awareness and providing funding to Swim With Mike. Jim's 250 laps raised more than $2500 for Swim with Mike and the athletes it supports. Through these efforts, the Rotarians of Westlake Village Sunrise have increased positive peace in the communities and athletes served by Swim with Mike.
Rotarians are asked to serve their communities using their skills, strengths, and talents. Westlake Village Noon wanted to create Holidays In the Village (HITV), a European style Christmas Market, as an annual community event in early December that was family friendly. It was too big a challenge and needed more skills than they had in their Club. Solution – partner with Westlake Village Sunrise and the City of Westlake Village!
We pulled it off! On Sunday, December 12, 2021, HITV was an amazing success with thousands of attendees! The overwhelming feedback from attendees: We had a wonderful time! Please tell us you are doing it again next year! Well – we are! The second annual HITV will be on December 4, 2022.
The Rotary Health Center Jessore, Bangladesh It is a non-profit 50-bed general Hospital for the poor people in this region. Both outdoor and indoor medical services are provided for the poor in the community at nominal cost. Every year in the outdoor section 2500 patients receive medical consultation, treatment and medicine from an outdoor medical officer.
More than 1000 operations are conducted yearly in the indoor section of the hospital. The health center also offers arsenicosis patient management as arsenic contamination is rampant in Jessore.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise places a priority on neighbors in need.
From cleaning up yards for people who cannot do it themselves to installing smoke alarms in the homes of senior citizens and to coordinating with other local services to assist us in these efforts, our Rotarians are People of Action!
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Helps its Neighbors
The Rotary Club of Santa Maria Noon Interact Club held the 1st Annual International Food Faire May 3rd. There were 12 countries represented. Noon Rotary Youth Director Erinn Dougherty brought the group in. Club Advisor, Honorary Rotarian Jules Tuggle is a teacher at St. Josephs High School where the club is located. Jules put this 1 minute video together for our benefit.
The Food Faire activity was designed to introduce the entire 450 student body to other cultures. It was a peace building activity. $1000. was raised to send to a "sister high school" in Africa. A handful of the Interact Club members were brought in a van by Sports Coach Tom along with school Principal Erinn from the school to the Noon Club meeting May 10th.
The Rotary Club of Santa Maria Noon is in an area where farming is the top industry. Our Club had no active members in this Classification. Our Club Classifications Director Tom Allen asked us to focus on this area. We then had two off site tours during the year; one at a farm and one at a new Vocational Ag High School campus. We had one program at the meeting site in addition focused on "farm box vegetable service". Our programs were revved up in topics like economics and international peace fellows that have worked in farming as well as other areas.
The net result is that we have attracted two potential new members. One will be inducted later in May.
We’ve got two excellent youth service projects we’d like to share! One is working with Conejo Valley High School seniors and the other with a middle schooler that has an excellent passion project!
For several years we’ve sponsored our local Conejo Valley High School Interact. These young adults are not what most people think they are. Some of these students come from very challenging backgrounds without transportation to school. Others have basic needs that are not met and do not allow them to have an environment to grow. For example, some of the students must care for their siblings, thus they fall behind in academics in other high schools in the Conejo Valley.
Youth Service opportunities were limited this year, but the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise is proud to have sponsored three amazing students for RYLA this year.
All three students came to one of our meetings to share their experiences with us.
Their words were powerful. One of them said, “Coming here has inspired me to chase my dreams, have a voice and become a better leader.”
Through programs like RYLA and our scholarship awards for graduating seniors, the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise is proud to be helping our youth build a brighter future.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise maintains a Club per capita contribution of at least $200 to the TRF Annual Fund.
From awarding a Paul Harris Fellow to a new Rotarian this year to holding drawings for a PHF for contributing members , we are proud to support The Rotary Foundation, the work it does and the Rotary values it stands for.
In celebration of Arbor Day the Moorpark Morning Rotary Club planted a tree at Miller Park in Moorpark on April 30! It was great to have some of our newer members come out and help make the event happen.
Here are just a few benefits trees bring to our community:
• Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40%.
• Neighborhoods with trees are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without.
For the two years I have been President we have talked about bringing the Moorpark Morning Rotary and the Moorpark Rotary together for a group social. Cinco de Mayo was the day it finally happened. We made new friends, caught up with old and had a few drinks to celebrate the occasion!
Volunteers of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo recently completed the restoration of Eto Park at 170 Brook Street in San Luis Obispo, CA. The Park, originally constructed in 2002 by SLO Rotary, was built in recognition of Eto family who contributed to the development and culture of the community over the past century. The Park had fallen into disrepair and was restored by 46 Rotary volunteers this year.
In 1902, 18-year old Tameji Eto emigrated from Japan to California, settling in San Luis Obispo County in 1914, where he organized various agricultural organizations, was involved in the Co-Operative Farm Industry of Southern California, and serve as a leader of the Japanese community in San Luis Obispo.
We wanted to share our club's success regarding our foundation's hard work in the community. In response to Covid starting March 2020, our Foundation, Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset Foundation, Inc we rolled out the 93013fund. We raised over $200,000.00 between now and then. Please follow the website link below and select to read our article ran in our Coastal View newspaper July 2021: https://93013fund.org
We had a really special Book Club and Author Event during this Rotary Year. I am fortunate enough to know a woman who is a good friend of best selling author David Michaelis, who has written an extraordinary biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, “Eleanor”. It was a New York Times bestseller, and Pulitzer Prize winning author David Michaelis presenting a “stunning” (per the Wall Street Journal) breakthrough portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt, America’s longest serving First Lady.
All our Rotary Book Club members had read the book, and I think we were riveted by David’s incredible presentation of his many years of research on this remarkable woman. I personally am a real history buff, and learned a huge amount about her I had never known before. I think it was a very special and memorable event.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was pleased to bring back its annual Teen Track event for Central Coast middle schoolers on a beautiful spring day! Athletes in grades 6-8 gathered at Cuesta College to compete in all kinds of track and field events – races, relays, long jumps, shotput, high jump, and more! The students and volunteers had a great time and we were glad to see so many families gathered to cheer their athletes on.
The official launch of the Mentoring program was a huge success. Steve Gerteis, Interact Liaison and Mary Layman, Vocational Chair person talked to students about the program and invited them to become mentored by our Rotarians. About 45-50 students at Carpinteria High expressed interest which shows how hungry our kids are for help. The Rotary Student Program connects high school students with business professionals living their dream career.
By exploring the possibilities in the earliest stages of their career development and selection process, they have the chance to confirm or redirect their dreams. In live, virtual reverse-interview settings hosted by Rotarians, student participants gain rare access to professionals that are considered experts in their fields —from CEOs of global corporations to small-business owners and startup entrepreneurs.
In the Summer of 2021, the Conejo Valley Rotary Club, set out to continue and expand our Annual Thanksgiving Meal Distribution. The annual mission of the distribution is to help rebuild local communities by connecting families to their impoverished neighbors in need. We identified families in need through local charities including CancerFit, Conejo Community Outreach, and The Bumblebee Foundation.
In 2020, we had cooked and served about 1,260 meals and in 2021 we set out to double the meals cooked and delivered. All in all, with the help of Group 4 Rotary Clubs, other District 5240 Rotary Clubs such as RC Simi Sunset, D2 Giving Inc, and local Rotaract and Interact Clubs we nearly tripled our production and cooked and delivered over 3,300 meals.
The Rotary Club of Camarillo won an award for being the top fundraising team at the recent Walk for Kids benefitting the new Ronald McDonald Family Room at Ventura County Medical Center. Here is President-elect Laurie Bennett with the trophy.
Camarillo Rotary Receives Recognition at Walk For Kids Event
Dawn O'Bar, Charter member and Past President of the Rotary EClub of One World, has written and published a book called, COVID 2020- A Year Like No Other; a roller coaster ride of losses, challenges and opportunities.
The book started out as a memoir of her experiences during the start of the pandemic, but became a larger project as she interviews people from around the world including Rotary members from eight different countries. The chapters are framed with inspirational stories and there are reflection questions posed for the reader to process his/her own thoughts and experiences for future generations.
This year we are once again working with Jose Gonzales of the Lamont Chamber of Commerce to assist with Scholarships for academically qualified and financially needy High School Seniors graduating from Arvin High School. Lamont/Arvin is a rural agricultural area in Kern County with economic challenges. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend College.
Bakersfield East Helps Provide Scholarships for High School Seniors
The Rotary Club of SLO de Tolosa has a longstanding tradition of bringing together its seasoned, new, and prospective Rotarians for social events at members’ businesses. On April 27, the club gathered for an early Cinco de Mayo-themed event at Cerro Pacific Wealth Advisors. As you can see, we had a great time!
On Saturday, April 30th, Simi Sunrise Rotary attended the Simi Valley Chamber Street Fair. There were hundreds of visitors that walked a stretch of approximately 1/2 of a mile. The street was packed with community members; we were able to talk about our club and the activities that we are currently engaged in.
We delivered our Rotary elevator speech.
We sold tickets to our upcoming music festival, invited people to color a picture, and handed out cards to attend a meeting, as a guest.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in 1984, is currently 84 members. We aren’t looking to grow larger, but want to maintain this size.
For 2021-2022, our membership committee identified these goals:
· Attract Young Professionals (less than 11% of our members are under age 40) Our new Young Professionals Plan has a lower financial commitment, if needed. All members are asked to support the YP plan on their annual financial commitment form. Just at one meeting when announced, $1000 was contributed.
As Rotarians we should make every effort to have our clubs incorporate PeaceBuilding/Conflict Resolutions projects. Rotary Clubs in Kern County continue to do community service projects that could qualify as Peace Building projects. In 2020 Bakersfield College kicked off the BC Peace Initiative to create a Peace Garden on campus. Dr. Sonya Christian President of Bakersfield College at the time, indicated partnership with Rotary and other community groups working towards peace. Several seminars designed to engage small groups including women, veterans, educators and police in conversations about peace and how we can build it.
In October 2, 2021 Dr. Bharati Shah unveiled the BC Peace Garden on the birthdate of Mahatma Gandhi. Bakersfield East Rotary funded the Rotary Peace Pole the first in our area.
Paul Orfalea, the Founder of Kinko’s, was the Guest Speaker at the Rotary Club of Ventura South on April 25th. Paul Orfalea is an American businessman who founded the copy chain Kinko's in Santa Barbara in 1970 for 100 square feet and a $5,000 loan. He built the business to 1,200 locations and over $2 billion in sales and was named the best company to work for three years in a row by Fortune Magazine.
Some lessons from Paul:
“There are only 3 things you do in business 1) motivate your workers 2) understand your customers and 3) Balance your checkbook.”
Julius Achon had a dream to build a Medical Clinic in his village of Awake in honor of his mother Kristina who was shot and killed during the war in 2004. With the closest access to health care being 78kms away, there was a huge need within the rural northern Uganda community for a clinic to treat the local residents. Kristina Health Center provides primary medical care including triage and appropriate treatment, disease testing, inoculation, medication dispensing and education. The most common illnesses are malaria, typhoid, cough and flu, pneumonia and other serious conditions including internal organ issues requiring referral to Lira Regional Hospital.
As she began her tenure as Membership Chair, Donna Crocker pictured us on a Rotary Member Ship: Pas- sengers of all backgrounds sharing revolutionary ideas, culinary delights and camaraderie docking just to do good deeds and take on new passengers.
Turning her vision into reality, Donna placed tiny figures, representing each member of our club, on the ship. At new member orientations, the new members placed their “mini-me’s” wherever they wanted on the ship, which was adorned with Golden Jubilee signage, Rotary pins, photos of officers and a smoke-stack of “energy spent” on Rotary projects.
Cambria Rotary members always say, “If it ain’t fun, it ain’t Rotary!”
This past October the Rotary Club of China Lake was recognized with a ‘ShelterBox Hero Bronze’ award for their donation of $2,000 to ShelterBox international.
Established in the year 2000, ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and other aid items to people worldwide who have lost their homes as the result of a disaster or conflict. Each easily transportable “shelter” box contains a tent, tools, and cooking gear to support a family in their time of need. This was a new project for China Lake’s International Directorate, and was sufficient to fund two such boxes.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has socials throughout the year. We have Holiday Parties, Super Bowl Parties, Mystery Nights, Peace Fellowship Dinners and of course, our famous Fireside Chats. Fireside Chats are always fun, where small groups gather and bring potluck to a Rotarian's home. These usually last late into the evening and are quite loud! We have 3 sets of Fireside Chats a year. Next one to be in the Fall of 2022!
Thousand Oaks Socials are a Highlight of Club Membership
The Centro Medico Rotario de Margarita (CMRM) is a Health Foundation created and directed since 1996 by the ROTARY CLUB MANEIRO, Rotary District 4370, Margarita Island, Venezuela to provide quality health care at cost for low income people in the island of Margarita and to help prevent pathological diseases by utilizing an intense patient educational program and periodic screenings. To continue providing this important service and expand capacity, CMRM needed to replace old equipment, acquire new equipment, and increase the stock of medical supplies.
The Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise partnered with the Rotary Club Maneiro on Global Grant 2118572 to provide the needed equipment and supplies. The Global Grant was supported by six clubs in District 5240. Supplies were purchased in the United States and shipped to Margarita Island.
Covid restrictions limited Rotary Club of Ojai’s usual in-person involvement with youth while it dramatically increased basic needs among babies and young people in the Ojai Valley. Rotary Club of Ojai partnered with community organizations to meet some of those needs, utilizing D5240 district grants to double their relief efforts.
As a result of on-going COVID stressors, low-income families in Ojai and surrounding towns faced unprecedented need for free diapers and wipes. Secure Beginnings, a non-profit organization in the Ojai Valley that seeks to nurture healthy relationships for families with children 0-5, operates a Diaper Bank in Ojai twice a month. Pre-Covid, their Diaper Bank served 13 families a month. Now it provides diapers to over 400 babies a month. Rotary Club of Ojai helped meet this dramatic increase in need by donating $2000 for baby wipes, as well as Rotarian volunteers to help staff at the Diaper Bank twice a month during the spring.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks welcomed five new members in one big induction. Thank you to their sponsors- Darin Arrasmith, Mike Murphy and Herb Gooch. We have lots of work to do so welcome to our wonderful club. Our membership team will work with these folks to get them fully integrated into our large club.
Debra Weaver and Patty Evans from the Rotary Club of Goleta joined forces with Annie Vu (President), Taylor DeVries (Social Media), and Nathan Bero (Secretary) from the Santa Barbara Rotaract Club to create lovely flower arrangements the for the Dream Foundation’s Flower Empower Program!
We arrived at 8 am and suited up a crash course in flower arrangements. The Rotaract team has been supporting the Dream Foundation in this way for a while, so their bouquets were quite tremendous! Together, we made several spring bouquets that were whisked away by another set of volunteers to bring cheer to members of our community.
Join us for Spring Fling! One of the best runs you'll participate in! Our scenic course in picturesque Fillmore takes all participants alongside the wild Sespe River with beautiful mountain views. The 10k runners will enjoy running by avocado orchards on one side and lemon orchards on the other. Spring Fling costumes are encouraged!
After the run, grab a snack, relax and enjoy the sounds of our local DJ. Bring the kids for the Bounce House located at the Finish Line. There will be plenty of awards and raffle prizes for a great day of fun!
After more than two decades of hosting a successful crab feed fund raiser, the Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise is switching gears! Our first annual ‘Derby Day Wine Fest at Windfall Farms’ wine tasting event will be held on Saturday May 7, 2022, from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Windfall Farms foaling barn located at 4710 Flying Paster Lane, Paso Robles.
The event will be limited to thirty-six Central Coast wineries where they will showcase their most favorite wines.
Community Center on Monday, April 25 from 5pm to 8pm. Last held in January 2020, the dinner’s return was delayed by the pandemic and renovations to the Center’s kitchen. The event had been held every year since 1971 when Mike Loza, the founder of El Tecolote Restaurant, had the idea for a Mexican dinner fundraiser for local youth programs.
Admission includes an enchilada dinner, chips and salsa bar, mariachis, opportunity drawings and piñatas for the kids. A bar serving margaritas, beer and wine is also available. A “Grab and Go” drive thru will also serve dinners.
The collaboration between the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks and the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan over the past 14 years has resulted in millions of Global Grant dollars given to support many of Rotary’s Areas of Focus.
The most recent partnership involving the two clubs not only involved Thousand Oaks but many other clubs throughout District 5240. When the stories of Covid hitting India so hard and people having limited access to life saving oxygen emerged, our clubs (with the support of PDG Deb Linden) jumped at the opportunity to create a Global Grant to provide funding for oxygen generation systems to be used by two hospitals in Calcutta, India.
Rotary de Tolosa and Rotary Passport Clubs joined forces on February 5 to plant 15 live oak trees in the Terrace Hill Open Space in the City of San Luis Obispo. Rotary de Tolosa started the tree planting initiative to beautify open spaces, boost community enjoyment, and capture carbon.
Rotary de Tolosa seeks opportunities to work with additional Rotary Clubs and community partners to plant 100 trees per year for 10 years. At maturity the trees will have converted over 3200 tons of CO2 in the atmosphere to living carbon. Thus far, we’ve planted a total of 140 trees.
While we are constantly bombarded with news about violence and conflicts around the world, Cambria Rotary’s Peace Builders committee saw an opportunity to promote peace right here in our community. Several years ago, Rotary installed Peace Poles in the Peace Garden at the Vet’s Hall and on the campuses of each of our schools.
The Peace Poles are planted with the Universal Peace Message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. The time seemed right for finding a way to promote peace right here at home once again. It was decided to approach the local school district to see how the students might participate in a Pickets for Peace Project.
Yeeee – Haaaw! Join the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club at their annual Spaghetti-Western Fundraiser Saturday, May 7th 2022 at the SLO Veteran's Hall from 5 PM - 8 PM.
Join us for this family friendly event - Enjoy Cafe Roma Pasta, Top Sirloin BBQ, Wine & Beer, Cal Poly Country Line Dancing, Western Movies, Sweet Shoppe & Cake Walk, Carnival Games for the kiddos, and an AMAZING Silent Auction.
Silent Auction items include… local staycations & other vacation packages, TONS of local dining gift cards & wine, Fishing Trip, handcrafted jewelry & arts, spa packages, photography, golf packages at several area golf courses including the San Luis Obispo Country Club, and much, much more!
Today about 30 Rotary de Tolosans and family members brought their shovels, trowels, knee pads and gloves to plant 40 live oak tree seedlings at the South Hills Hiking Trailhead (intersection of Exposition and Woodbridge in SLO).
This event starts the Climate Action Committee’s plan to plant 1000 trees over the next 10 years in support of SLO’s desire to plant 10,000 new trees by 2035.
Interested in the next Oak Tree Planting, or in finding out more about Rotary de Tolosa? Email mary@verdinmarketing.com!
Community service is a driving force behind the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. This past Sunday our members were out at Transitions - Mental Health Association Growing Grounds Nursery, helping them maintain their facility that helps support so many others.
For over 35 years Growing Grounds Farm & Nursery has offered a supportive and empathetic environment for personal growth, recovery, and the acquisition of soft job skills for individuals with mental illness.
The Nursery is a wholesale business growing succulents, trees, and Mediterranean climate zone perennials including California native plants and the funds raised here are used to support the Growing Grounds social enterprise mission. For more information: https://www.t-mha.org/program-details.php?id=13
The Rotary Club of Tehachapi and the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District are sponsoring a “Humanitarian Concert for Ukraine”. All proceeds will be routed thought District 5240’s efforts to support the humanitarian crisis that is building in Ukraine and surrounding countries.
Four Bands and dancing! What could be better? April 24, 2022, 2-6 pm. Tickets are $25.
The Pismo Beach 5 Cities Rotary Club recently recognized essential employees at their weekly meeting. Vocational Chair, Eddie Salame, introduced each recipient being recognized and told of their hard work and commitment that led to the recognition.
Club President Karen Zappia then presented the recipients with a plaque and a gift card for dinner at a local restaurant. The employee’s supervisors and a guest were present to witness the recognition. It was a wonderful opportunity for the club to thank the employees, from various professions, that work hard to serve the public every day.
The Rotary Club of Goleta is volunteering with the City of Goleta as part of the City’s Beautify Goleta campaign. On Saturday, March 26th, the City hosted the first Beautify Goleta event at multiple locations around town. Close to 20 Club members participated, picking up trash and showing support for our community. Club and community members cleaning up the Old Town area of Goleta were treated to a BBQ lunch courtesy of Community West Bank. The City of Goleta will be hosting additional Beautify Goleta events throughout the year. For more information on Beautify Goleta: https://cityofgoleta.org/beautifygoleta
For more information about this event, contact Frances Gilliland, PR Chair, Rotary Club of Goleta, FranEG@msn.com or (805) 705-1686
On a beautiful Ojai evening, fireside fun and fellowship were recently on tap for new Rotary Club of Ojai members, pictured here from right to left, Kevin Davis, Fern Barishman, Sean McDermott, President Betsy Watson, Renee Halbrook and club membership co-chair Greg Webster (not pictured, new member Dominic Peno and membership co-chair Cheree Edwards).
Currently at 67 members, RC Ojai has inducted five new members this Rotary year with several more in the “pipeline” for membership in the coming month.
The Rotary Club of Taft started a tradition in 2006 of donating a dictionary to every local 3rd grade student in our area. We have a total of 8 schools that we serve. Each year we donate around 350 books…..which means we have donated approximately 5,600 dictionaries during the life of this project!!
We involve our entire club in this project by putting stickers of the 4-Way Test on the inside cover of each dictionary and distributing the books to each school. When we donate the dictionaries, we put on a mini assembly explaining what our club does for the community and going over the 4-Way Test. The kids have fun learning about words from our motto and it is a joy seeing their faces light up!
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks worked with the 5240 Rotary Next Generation Club in sending school supplies to the island of Anguilla, east of Puerto Rico, which has been impacted by natural disasters and COVID. The children of Anguilla were in need of school supplies. We helped by purchasing school supplies and promoting the project. 5240 Rotary Next Generation Club, who deserves most of the credit, raised a total of $4,000 in supplies including computers, laminators, backpacks, calculators, etc. Thank you to President James Hilser and the members of Rotary Next Generation Club for this project.
As we emerge from a difficult time in history, education has changed significantly. I wanted to recognize and congratulate Jimmy Cantillon, of the Camarillo Morning Club, for creating a program that enriches high school students in areas that the typical classes don’t offer.
Jimmy and his brother, Kevin are both passionate about education, and have created a program for high school students that bridges the gap in areas that kids are currently missing out on.
Nothing brings a smile like watching joyful children playing! Active play develops bodies and minds. But many children in slum areas in India do not have safe places to play, and this problem was heightened as Covid closed schools.
Since 2016, the Rotary Club of Ojai has had a close relationship with Prashanti International School (PIS) for low-income children in Puri, India. We completed several Club and District Grants plus a Global Grant in partnership with Rotary Club Srikshetra, Puri, funding drinking water and septic systems, computers, boundary walls, gates, restrooms, classroom furnishings, teacher training, etc. When the need for a safe playground at PIS became apparent, we jumped at the idea.
The nation is in the midst of a blood shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic, impacting the supply at San Luis Obispo County hospitals where patients depend on blood donated from community members. Hospitals receive blood from Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, and give it to patients every day—not only for emergencies but also as part of cancer therapy, surgery, and treatment for burns or blood disorders. Vitalant has seen a 10% decline in Central Coast donors in the past 12 months compared to the year before. There were 58,000 fewer individuals who gave blood in 2021 compared with 2020.
The Rotary Club of Cambria is proud to sponsor the Coast Union Interact Club and watch these students take action to make a difference each year. They plan various fundraising activities so they can raise money to donate to causes the club members select.
In previous years, the club has donated to such causes as high school scholarships, Camp Ocean Pines, HART, Feeding America, Doctors Without Borders, St. Jude’s, Rotary’s Neighbors Feeding Neighbors and FFRP.
The CEO of The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura Patti Birmingham was our club Guest Speaker on Monday, February 7, 2022 at The Tower Club and the Foundation Board presented her with a $4,000 check donation.
In the picture are Rotary Club Foundation Board members - Jackie Sanchez, Lee Gibson, Miriam Estrada, Ed Keay, Patti Birmingham, CEO, and Peter McClintock, Director of Resource Development at the Boys & Club of Ventura.
Ventura South Donates $4,000 to Boys & Girls Club
Bakersfield East Rotary participates in many community service projects. One of those projects is the Jamison Center located in Bakersfield California. This agency, supported by Kern County Human Services, provides temporary housing and care for children from neglectful and abusive home environments. They are housed, fed and able to live at the center until a qualified family member can take them home. This agency has saved many children throughout the years. The good work done by this agency is heart-touching.
Over 900 collaborative Rotary projects throughout the world have been submitted on the Rotary Showcase website this year, and Rotary Magazine's February issue included a spotlight of a Backpack Project for students coordinated by the 20 Rotary Clubs in Ventura County. District 5240's Groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 each coordinated these backpack stuffing events in collaboration with other nonprofit organizations and school districts in their communities.
RI President Shekhar Mehta challenged Rotary clubs to participate in Rotary Days of Service worldwide, and highly encouraged group collaboration with other clubs and other organizations. The Ventura Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters played a huge role in this project by arranging for 1200 backpacks to be donated through the NBA and NFL. These events were very successful and brought together club members and potential members.
20-Club Collaboration Highlighted in Rotary International Magazine
At age 72 most men think of perfecting their golf swing or cruising or traveling to exotic destinations. Not Art Fumerton. We Rotarians in Rotary Clubs of Santa Barbara North, Santa Barbara Sunrise, and Carpinteria have an incredible program collaboration with the Volcanes Education Project in Santa Barbara Sister City Puerto Vallarta. It is built and operated by an amazing Rotarian, Art Fumerton.
Art and his wife, Mayra, moved to Puerto Vallarta from California in 1994. Art became involved with the International Friendship Club and the School of Champions providing English and computer programs to underprivileged children in areas surrounding Puerto Vallarta. At one location, the Magisterio (former dump), they provided a hot breakfast and lunch to 250 children. But like all noble endeavors, funding became scarce and the program came to an end. However, two sponsors continued their support - Cafe Roma and The Hard Rock Hotel.
Solvang Rotary sponsored a Tour of the Career Technical Education Center and Agricultural Farm (“CTE Center”). Representatives from four Rotary Clubs (“RC”), the Santa Barbara County Education Office, Allan Hancock College Foundation, and Rotary District 5240 participated in a tour of the new CTE Center in Santa Maria on January 13th.
The tour was conducted by Dr. Paul Robinson, CTE Director for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District. Participants viewed and heard descriptions of the CTE Center’s Culinary, Machinery, Diesel, Construction, and Agricultural Farm areas.
High School is always a difficult coming of age time for any student, especially someone who questions what career pathway might be appropriate for them to pursue given their interests, talents and abilities. The Conejo Unified School District Career Technical Education department might have made this journey slightly easier for some students with a new website that went live in December 2021.
About 12 Rotarians from Bakersfield Breakfast helped to “ring the bell” for Salvation Army at the local Hobby Lobby store. We did this on a very cold December day (12/17) over a four hour period, engaging shoppers and promoting both Salvation Army and Rotary in general … helping to raise funds during a time when Salvation Army was short handed for bell ringers.
The Rotary Clubs of Ventura South, Ventura, and Ventura East collaborated with other service organizations for the Rise Against Hunger Guatemala Project. They packed 10,000 meals in 90 minutes destined for Guatemala even though they had to move inside when it started drizzling!
The Rotary Clubs of Ventura South, Ventura, and Ventura East collaborated with other service organizations for the Rise Against Hunger Guatemala Project. They packed 10,000 meals in 90 minutes destined for Guatemala even though they had to move inside when it started drizzling!
Look at all the individual seeds!! Santa Maria Noon Rotary sent 6 decorators down to the Phoenix warehouse near Pasadena. They found that the “Glue Man” was a very popular guy. He dispensed with several specific types of glue for specific jobs. At the end of the shift, Mr. Glue Man was pretty darn tired.
Rotary Club Bakersfield Twilight — Every other meeting of our club, we have either a “vocational moment” or a brief “two truths and a lie” presentation focused on one of our members. The objective is to get to know most of our membership. We are an age-diversified club with new, young, veteran and seasoned members, each with a story to tell. This year we are making a cooperative effort to develop our understanding of our newly found friends through attention to the Rotary objectives and the Vocational Avenue of Service.
The evening of December 18th, our club continued the tradition of delivering gifts of toys and clothing donated by club members to 45 children in San Simeon. Club members “adopted” a child (or children) and purchased and wrapped items that child asks for in the letter to Santa.
In addition, one of our secret Santa’s (who prefers to remain nameless) donated a pair of shoes for each child. San Simeon businesses and individual donors provided soccer balls and sweaters as well as household items and gift cards for each family. Some of the families were so overwhelmed they insisted on inviting the Rotarians delivering the gifts to come inside to see their Nativity Scenes and Posadas and then entertained us by singing Christmas Carols. What a great way to end 2021!
On the afternoon of December 18, we continued the celebration of our 50th Anniversary by burying a time capsule which included photos, a club roster, a Rotarian Magazine, a Peace Quote and a Rotary mask (Covid) among other things.
Thanks to the Cambria Historical Society, we were able to bury the capsule next to the town clock that our club donated to the town and placed on the museum property back in 2010. There was champagne, nibbles, camaraderie, some short speeches and lots of cheers. What more could you want on a sunny Saturday in December?
At a meeting of the Rotary Club of Cambria in early October, our Polio Plus Chair, Julie Jenkins reminded us that October 24th was World Polio Day and that RI was encouraging clubs to hold challenges from October 24 to November 24 to both create awareness of and raise money for Polio.
Our own “Rotarian Extraordinaire”, Otis Archie quickly volunteered to do “Push-ups for Polio”. In three weeks, at a buck each, the senior-citizen & stroke survivor’s athletics amassed $2,821 in donations from club members that will pay for an amazing 4,702 vaccinations!
Photo shows Polio Plus Chair, Julie Jenkins, counting some of Otis Archie’s pushups at a recent meeting.
During this holiday season the Rotary Club of Nipomo was able to collaborate with several other service clubs in our area to provide service to our community.
On November 22 the entire community came together to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner to all Nipomo residents. Due to Covid this was our second year in a row to offer a drive-up meal but we still managed to serve 1000 dinners. Our club responsibility was to cook and carve the turkeys.
Kern County Rotaract, in collaboration with the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Center, partnered with the Bakersfield East Rotary Club and the Twilight Rotary Club of Bakersfield in raising funds for and acquiring warm clothing to benefit the homeless population. The service project was titled “Help Warm Those in Need”.
The donated items were collected by the participating clubs over the course of a month and a half, beginning in mid-November to late December, along with financial contributions from both Rotary clubs.
Monte Vista Elementary School teacher Allison Heiduk has received the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Teacher Recognition Award for the 2021 fall quarter. Heiduk, who teaches third-grade, was presented with a plaque and $1,000 by the Rotary Club on Oct. 29.
"We celebrate Ms. Heiduk's continued dedication and commitment to providing meaningful engagement and learning experiences for her students and serving as an educational leader," said County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. "The Rotary Club's recognition program underscores the value our community places on high-quality education," she said. “Thank you to the Rotary Club for supporting teachers and our schools."
Back in February, 2020, the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning hosted a matching grant for a project called Unite To Light. Rotarian Mary Layman worked on this project which included the purchase of solar lights and batteries for an Orphanage in Roatan, Honduras. Mary’s son, David Cicleo is also working on this project.
Since the pandemic, the solar products were not able to be delivered. Months later, on Nov 12, 2021 we were able to meet and Mary and her son hand delivered the solar products to Roatan and visited the orphanage.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise provided funding for musical instruments for the children of Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. The municipality will maintain a music school where children, adolescents, and youth from the city can learn to play music. The city has instructors in place, a physical location, and some basic instruments, but they lack a larger variety of instruments to be able to develop the music training.
The grant funded the purchase of the following musical instruments and supplies: 18 guitars (15 clasica and 3 electroacoustic), 1 bass guitar, 19 guitar bags, 1 guitar strap, 2 cables, 12 classical guitar pedistals, 4 keyboards, 4 keyboard adapters, 4 keyboard pedestals, 4 keyboard bags, 1 bongo, 1 pedestal for bongo, and 1 Peruvian percussion box.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise presented the Santa Barbara Channelkeeper with a $3,500 grant for their Youth Environmental Science Education Program. Students from two classrooms from Harding Elementary School will participate in the program. Once the students complete this program they are taken on an educational kayak paddle in the harbor. Channelkeeper recognizes that today’s youth are the decision makers of tomorrow and that their environmental ethics are critical to our planet’s future. Photo: Diana Washburn, Community Service Committee Member, with Penny Owens, Channelkeeper Education & Community Outreach Director.
Michael Baker, President and CEO of the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, attended the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise’s recent meeting to thank members for their support of the Global Grant to operate a one-week camp, called Rotary Peacetime Adventures at Camp Whittier. The grant, developed and written by members Janet Napier and Luz Maria Ortiz Smith, with funding provided by District Designated Funds from two Rotary districts in South Korea, one in Mexico and our own district 5240, as well as $5,000 cash from the Sunrise Club and $2,500 from the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara, provided $47,500 to operate a five day camp for 62 children between the ages of 8 and 13 years old. Because of the coronavirus, it was unclear when the camp would be able to take place but, with increased vaccination rates and an easing of the rate of COVID, the camp was held August 3-7, 2021.
On Oct. 19, 1920, the Rotary Club of Oxnard held its first meeting. Its minutes show that over 20 people were in attendance. However, it wasn’t until December of that year that the club received its charter from the Rotary District Governor and became an official member of Rotary International.
The Rotary Club of Oxnard celebrated its 100th year of support of area children and its role shaping community leaders at a luncheon earlier this month.
After cancelling last year due to Covid, the Rotary Club of Nipomo was able to resume our major annual fundraiser, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner. With participation from two other local organizations, Nipomo AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) and LMUSD (Lucia Mar Unifies School District) Robotics Teams, we had our most successful event yet. After the final tally was in we were able to provide checks of $9,000 to each of our partnering organizations.
The NextGen Rotary Club of 5240 has announced its Charter celebration will take place on December 4th at 5:30 pm. The last time our district had a new charter was in 2016. NextGen has just completed their first fundraiser to support Rotary’s newest Area of Focus - Protecting the Environment.
Club President James Hilser is extending an invitation to Rotarians in the District to attend the charter celebration at the Palm Garden Hotel in Thousand Oaks.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (District 5240) and the Rotary Club of Morelia Experiencia y Juventad (District 4140) established a Twin Club relationship. Thank you to Wade Nomura for introducing the fantastic Mexican club to us! Members from the two Clubs have exchanged physical and virtual visits and plan to do many more in the future.
Each year the Cambria Rotary Club adopts about 40 children in a low-income housing complex in neighboring San Simeon and provides them with gifts to put under their Christmas tree. The kids fill out "Letters to Santa" listing what they would like for Christmas (usually toys) and what they need (clothing, etc.). Club members then adopt one or more of the children and donate some, if not all of the items they requested, wrap them and deliver them to "Santa" who will distribute the gifts to the families closer to Christmas.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is pleased to announce its virtual auction in support of The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation is now open for bidding!
The collection of auction items offered during this fundraiser include experiences, restaurant certificates, memberships, wine, artwork, and more. Please bid with your heart knowing it will benefit our local and international projects. These offerings and much more are available for bidding now through November 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. PT at https://paybee.io/@sbrotary.
The Rotary Clubs of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach have been long-time supporters of the Boys and Girls Club, so when we were challenged with a Day of Community project, we knew exactly what needed to be done. The landscape of the Boys and Girls Club in Oceano was badly in need of some tender loving care.
The Rotary Clubs of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach have been long-time supporters of the Boys and Girls Club, so when we were challenged with a Day of Community project, we knew exactly what needed to be done. The landscape of the Boys and Girls Club in Oceano was badly in need of some tender loving care.
District 5240 mourns the passing of Donald Joseph Sabol, a charter member of the Newbury Park Rotary and a Conejo Valley Pioneer Pharmacist. Don passed away at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks on Aug. 12, 2021, from COVID-related pneumonia after battling three cancers over the past 25 years.
The Rotary Club Bakersfield Twilight gathered together with its sponsored Centennial High School Interactors at the City of Bakersfield 911 World Trade Center Memorial to learn and appreciate our first-responders who risk their lives for us every day. It was ironic when we arrived to find that our host Fire Department had all of its personnel out on duty for a major gas pipe leak in the City.
It is with sadness we share the news of the passing Ari Larson, long time member of Rotary Club of Fillmore. For all who knew her, Ari was a strong and generous life force in her community and well beyond. Serving as President of Rotary Club of Fillmore in 2019/2020 she led her club in a multitude of programs and projects. Her passion in Rotary was Youth and Education and as a life long resident of Fillmore she dove into local annual projects, often coordinating with other organizations for the greatest impact.
The planning of this Rotary Days of Service project, the Back-2-School Backpack Drive, started in July 2021 in anticipation of completion to coincide with the beginning of the Fall semester. These backpacks were stuffed with the essential school supplies that are necessary for educational success. Our county has several organizations who work to assist children in need in lower income situations and are supported by our Rotary clubs in Groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 in District 5240.
Thirty-two local nonprofit organizations were recently invited to and attended a luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks. “The purpose was two-fold; the members of Rotary recognized the financial pinch these organizations are in, due to a halt in fundraising, and wanted to provide a bit of financial support, as well as letting these organizations know how important they are to people in need in our community,” said David Stowell, last year’s club president.
The Rotary Club of Montecito has opened applications for its 2021 community grants program, which awards grants to non-profit organizations located in Santa Barbara County. Grants range from $1,000 to $1,600 and can be used to fund future projects that help the Santa Barbara County area. The one-page, online application is available at montecitorotary.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 8.
Rotary Club of Montecito 2021 Community Grants Program
Calling all wine lovers! The 22nd annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff is returning for a night filled with quality wine, gourmet food and fun. Twenty of the region’s best winemakers and breweries will battle it out for the Judges’ Awards and People’s Choice. All proceeds will benefit the Harlow Ford Scholarship Fund for local high school seniors. The Paso Robles Rotary Club is dedicated to helping youth in the community. During the 2020 pandemic, our club donated more than $75,000 in scholarships. Help us continue supporting local youth and delight your taste buds with choice wine and excellent food at the 22nd Annual Winemakers Cookoff. We hope to see you there!
We all know that Rotary’s motto is ‘Service Above Self.' If you have an inkling to help others, Rotary is a great place to do it. However, Rotary is SO MUCH MORE than that. WIIFM? What is in it for you?.... VALUE! Rotary offers lots of amazing opportunities to meet influential business leaders in your community and professionally network with them. Rotary club members represent a cross-section of the community’s owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy.
The Rotary Club of Solvang is piloting a Santa Ynez Valley Leadership Program for residents who aspire to leadership roles in municipal government, public agencies and not-for-profit organizations. This is in response to requests for such a program that Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara County have had to develop community leaders for 30+years.
We are thrilled to be doing things a bit differently this year. For the first time, we will have 3 Co-Presidents who will share the duties of heading up our club for the next 2 years. We are proud to introduce the trio of amazing ladies who will be taking on that role the next two years: Patty Griffin, Christel Chesney and Linda Sherman.
On Friday, June 4th our Rotary Club gathered both in person and via Zoom to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! We were pleased to have Past District Governor Deb Linden attend via Zoom and say a few words about this special event.
The Rotary Club of Bakersfield East served up over 200lbs of tri tip that went into over 300 dinners served for their fundraiser Saturday night. Proceeds benefited several organizations including the Ronald McDonald House of Bakersfield, Valley Fever Americas Foundation, and Bakersfield East Rotary Foundation.
Welcome to the last month of our Rotary year, and what a year it has been! Challenging, weird, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming all at the same time. You - our members and clubs - have done an amazing job adapting to our “new normal” and finding ways to provide service and support to our communities and across the globe. I could not be prouder! And even though I did not get to visit you in person, I am so glad we had the technology that allowed me to be with you virtually. Although we cursed Zoom daily, imagine what we would have done without it this past year! And now, as our clubs are opening back up to in-person meetings and events, I urge you to consider hybrid meetings where members can join virtually when they need to so they can stay engaged and involved even when they can’t be there in person.
Since this is my last newsletter message, I would like to share some personal news. Husband Bill and I have decided to move to the Monterey area to be closer to our sons and our siblings and their families. We just purchased a home in Marina and will be physically moving in August. But, thanks to the support of my club’s leaders, I’ll be staying in my club and in the District. I will be attending club meetings remotely and contributing and supporting my club however I can. I will continue to serve on the District Board and PETS Committee for another year and starting July 1, 2021, I start a new assignment as the Zones 26/27 Communications Officer. And I’ll be coming back for our really cool events such as the District Conference in October! We are excited for this new chapter in our lives and to be moving closer to our families.
Speaking of Cool Events…
I am so excited to announce that registration is now open for Encore: 2020-2021 District Awards & Year-End Celebration! This FREE virtual event will be on Friday evening, June 25, 2021, at 6:00 pm. We will be giving surprise awards to clubs and members, honoring those we have lost this year, and celebrating the end of this very unique year. The event is free, but you must register in advance. Information and the link to register can be found at this link: https://rotarydistrict5240.org/sitepage/encore
Be sure to register for the 2021 Virtual RI Convention June 12-16, 2021! This is your chance to experience an RI Convention for only $65. For more information and registration information, click HERE.
This past week, DGE Dana Moldovan visited a Global Grant project she helped develop in Romania. The project, called Healing Little Hearts, provides life-saving heart surgery for infants and children. The project was developed by Rotary Clubs in Romania and USA and with two foundations, Gift of Life International based in USA and Save a Child’s Heart based in Israel.
19 years ago, Glenda Fae Woods had a dream. She saw the needless complications of diabetes and hypertension, no access to medical care or medications were killing her people. With a small inheritance from her father’s estate, she built a clinic and volunteer house for her people. This was 19 years ago. Since then, her dream has been realized.
Glenda was born and raised on Roatan, a 40-mile-long island, 30 miles off the coast of Honduras. She moved to Los Angeles where she currently works as a registry nurse on the obstetrics wards of several Southland hospitals and enjoys dual citizenship. She works tirelessly and makes 2-3 trips a year to the Island to serve her people.
Moorpark Morning Club President, Chris Barrett, was picking up his kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Moorpark when one of the staff noticed he was wearing a Rotary mask. She mentioned that they were hoping to start a gardening project for the kids, but wanted to know if Rotary had anyone who might know a source for building garden boxes. As a firm believer that we are people of action, Chris let the staff member know that Rotary would make it happen.
When his club heard the need, they quickly had a committee formed to make this dream a reality. After pricing to build the boxes themselves, they found a source who could make the boxes cheaper than they could get the wood for, so they ordered 8 boxes.
The Rotary Club of Conejo Valley along with 11 local Rotary Clubs, The Wheelchair Foundation, and friends distributed over 330 wheelchairs!
The need for wheelchairs around the World is tremendous. "It is estimated that over 100 million children, teens, and adults with physical disabilities worldwide need wheelchairs, though less than 1 percent own or have access to one." ~ Wheelchair Foundation
In 2020, International Service Director, Diego Velasquez, along with his Rotary Club of Conejo Valley, set out in their mission to distribute a container of 280 Wheelchairs to Ukraine.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo has distributed 1,000 16-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer to local non-profits and schools, as part of their local COVID relief outreach. Obtained through a special program by the California Medical Association, the Club was assisted by Transitions-Mental Health Association which contributed to the shipping costs and storage pending local distribution. Recipients have included Shower the People, PathPoint, CAPSLO, SLO County YMCA, Noor Clinic, San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Casa de Flores, and Transitions-Mental Health Association, each of which will utilize the hand sanitizer in connection with their local community programs. Delivery to the recipients was made by local Girl Scout Troop 40104, as part of their efforts toward their Silver Award.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo was proud to be the first club in our district to participate in the Little Free Pantries program. Similar to Little Free Libraries, these Pantries are built and stocked by volunteers. There is a tremendous need for easy access to food and personal care items, and the Pantries, being located in residential neighborhoods, are an important supplement to existing programs. Club member, Greg Gillett, approached the club with an urgent request for help shortly before Christmas, 2020. He provided the plans and materials list, and members sprang into action, building 5 Pantries in time for the holidays. Our members continue to keep them stocked, and have since built more Pantries which have been placed in a variety of locations throughout the county. The club project received widespread recognition, and was featured, with credit to Central Coast Rotary clubs, on the front page of New Times in the February 11-18, 2021 issue.
Photo: Joel Sheets, President-Elect, Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo, stocking one of the Little Free Pantries
Jesca Acipa is from Oduworo Village, a remote village in northeast Uganda. Upon completion of primary school she was selected by the Rotary Community Corps from the village to attend Lords Meade Vocational School in Jinja where she studied tailoring. She was then accepted to St. Peter’s Secondary School in Kampala. Upon graduation, Jesca decided she wanted to be come a nurse or midwife, applied to and was accepted at Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery in Apac, Uganda. She is now in her second year of Nursing School which was de layed one year due to COVID. If all goes well, she will graduate in 2022-23.
Because improving girls’ education can help pull families out of the poverty cycle, the Rotary Club of Cambria is proud to have sponsored Jesca for the past 6 years. It is reported that every additional year of education yields a 10-25 percent increase in the income of a woman, 90% of which is then reinvested into her family.
The simplicity of a Happy Face 100 foot in diameter on the hillside entering Simi Valley brings a smile on one’s face. Let us face it. It has been a tough year. People are looking for signs of joy. Simi Sunrise Rotary does maintenance on the hillside about every 4 months. The cars beeping in the distance on the 118 freeway as they go about their work fills their souls. The neighbors surrounding the hillside bring them water to drink. They want to say thank you to the ones doing the work. The club gives out a baseball cap with the Happy Face on the front and their Rotary logo on the back. The meeting speakers wear it immediately and the club knows it will be worn promoting the Rotary Brand. It has become an important part of the club. Club President, William Klepper says, "We say it jokingly we bring Happiness to the Community, but we know in our heart, we really do. It is our privilege."
My Stuff Bags is a project that the Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club completed in January for an organization called “My Stuff Bags”. It is a local organization with a nationwide outreach and the club has been working with them over the past several years to support their mission.
My Stuff bags are bright blue individual duffels filled with brand new age and gender, appropriate toys, books, a stuffed animal, school supplies, clothing, personal toiletries and a warm (often hand-made) "security blanket" that is all theirs to keep. My Stuff Bags provide things to do and to hold during a difficult time.
This year there was a particular need for fleece blankets for the many bags that are to be distributed. This need provided an opportunity to create a "hands-on" project in a safe environment while many of the club's members continue to remain at home during COVID challenges. And so was born the WLV Sunrise Blanket Brigade!
The Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime did a successful backpack program where they packed 288 backpacks in August. The project outline was to get school supplies for students in need, pack the supplies in backpacks and distribute them to the students one day a couple of weeks before the school started in August. The school district identifies who those students would be and provide Rotary with their needs. 40% of the students in Goleta are coming from low income families, most who do not have funds to pay for a new backpack or supplies.
Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary and Golden Valley High School Interact, along with neighborhood children, joined with the Arts Council of Kern and artist Alex Gallardo to paint a beautiful butterfly mural at Kern Bridges Youth Homes in Bakersfield. KBYH is a non-profit organization that provides a safe, stable, and consistent environment for children ages 0 to 21 years old. When a child is adopted through KBYH, a butterfly with his/her name and date of adoption is added to a wall inside the building. Reaching of butterflies in the mural signifies the more than 1400 youth hoping for a home. The mural covers a wall prone to graffiti and makes a welcome addition to the southwest neighborhood. It also encourages others to become interested in art and to beautify blighted areas of Bakersfield.
Sunrisers worked from their homes to prepare dictionaries that will be delivered to 600 third grade students at Santa Barbara schools. Club members would normally gather in one location for the assembly part of the project and teams would deliver the dictionaries in person to each of the class4rooms. With health restrictions the assembly was done by each club member at home and the dictionaries were dropped off for teachers to distribute to their students.
Each Student Dictionary includes the Rotary emblem sticker on the front and a book plate inside honoring the name of one of our speakers from the previous year.
For Earth Day, and to advocate for Rotary’s new area of interest in Protecting the Environment, project kits were distributed to 950 Second-Graders in Camarillo and Somis. The kits consisted of a bucket, shovel, packet of 100 carrot seeds, and a card with planting instructions and a QR code for more information. Each class was also given a bag of potting soil donated by B&B Hardware.
Mary Lingua and five Interactors prepared 1000 seed packets. New Rotarian Megan Cooper wrote a brochure about Rotary’s interest in the environment. To avoid waste, the brochure was not printed on paper, but was linked with a QR code (see below). A packet of 100 carrot seeds was attached to a card showing the QR code and planting instructions.
Happy May Day Fellow Rotary Members! May Day (usually celebrated on May 1) is a celebration of Spring. It symbolizes a time of rebirth and unity as the flowers begin to bloom, the weather gets warmer, and we begin to emerge from our COVID isolation.
Youth Service Month: May also marks Youth Service Month in Rotary when we turn our focus to the many programs and projects organized by our clubs and District to serve youth in our communities. We just concluded two of these programs – RYLA and the annual Four-Way Test Essay Contest. Our District organized its first ever Virtual RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) for over 130 high school students and it was a huge success! Congratulations to our RYLA Director Darin Arrasmith and his RYLA team for their willingness to adapt and for creating an amazing event. And Steve Geil once again led our District Four-Way Test Contest where nine outstanding students will be recognized and receive cash awards from their sponsoring clubs. Thank you Steve!
I would also like to welcome our newest Interact Club: The Vista Real High School Interact Club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Santa Paula. Forming a new Interact Club can be a challenge at best and even more so in the middle of a pandemic. I can’t wait to see what amazing things this club does for their school and community.
Because of the continued threat of COVID in many parts of the world, Rotary International has suspended in-person Rotary Youth Exchanges for 2021-2022. But that does not mean we are giving up on RYE! Many Districts are engaging in different types of virtual exchanges and this is something our District Rotary Youth Exchange Chair Barry VanderKelen is exploring for the upcoming Rotary year.
Rotary Foundation Donor Recognition: Registration is now open for the 2021 District 5240 Rotary Foundation Donor Recognition & Celebration, which is virtual this year on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 6:00 pm. The event is free, but you need to register in advance by clicking HERE. We will be recognizing YOU – our members who have achieved various donation levels to The Rotary Foundation – and we will have a special presentation by the CFO from Feeding America about the dramatic increase in food insecurity during COVID and how organizations like Rotary helped address the crisis. A flyer for the event is below.
Registration is Open for the 2021 Rotary International Convention: Registration is now open for the 2021 Virtual RI Convention June 12-16, 2021! This is your chance to experience an RI Convention for only $49 (promotional rate good until May 7, then $65 after that). You can also register for pre-convention events focusing on Rotaract and Inter-Country Committees. For more information and registration information, click HERE.
Save the Date for the District Awards and End of Year Celebration: On Friday evening, June 25, 2021, we will be coming together to honor very deserving Rotary members and clubs and celebrating their successes at our Virtual District Awards and End of Year Celebration. Despite the challenges this past year presented, our clubs and members have done amazing work deserving of recognition and celebration. We will also be remembering the members we lost this year and keeping them in our hearts. And we’ll be looking to the future as I turn over the virtual District gavel to our incoming District Governor Dana Moldovan! Please save the date and look for more details and registration information coming soon.
Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight (“Twilight Rotary Club”) joined members of Bakersfield East Rotary Club (“BERC”) and students from Centennial High Interact Club (“Interact”) for the District 5240 Rotary Work Day on Saturday, April 24th. The volunteers met at the Rotary Wheel area of Panorama Park, also known as Rotary Park, where they cleaned up the Rotary Wheel area and areas surrounding the pathway along the Bluffs. The volunteers enjoyed perfect weather as they fanned out in groups of three and four to pick up an eclectic mix of trash and debris that littered the pathway along the bluffs and pruned overgrown and dead shrubs around the Rotary Wheel area. When the volunteers were done, there was a large pile of dead shrubbery removed from plants and numerous large bags of trash collected by the Rotary and Interact members.
The Arroyo Grande Rotary Club has been staying busy throughout 2020-2021. We partnered with St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Monterey Park, CA to fund a clean water project for the Village of Wakiso,, Mukono District, Uganda. A well was dug to access clean water, underground piping was laid and an 8 foot high structure was built for three water storage tanks to provide water pressure and protect from the unwanted animals. Additionally solar panels were installed to power the well pump ensuring continual operations. Now the over 350 families of Wakiso Village have clean water and the children can spend their time in school rather than traveling daily to carry containers of water gathered from ponds they find.
In an effort to empower youth as informed peacebuilders, we reached out to Sarah Johnston, CUHS English teacher, to ask whether she was interested in coordinating a Peace Essay contest for her students. As the daughter of Rotarians, she embraced the idea immediately but needed to figure out how to work it into the year’s course work. A few ideas were sourced from Rotary’s website for Sarah’s consideration.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks created a grant to benefit James Storehouse that helps out young men and women transition from a foster program to being successfully independent. The club recently provided approximately $600 worth of cookware, containers, utensils, bathroom items, and more to get a young woman started in her apartment. Thank you to Deborah Kniss for organizing this. The club plans to set up 8 more apartments and provide 50 kitchen kits and 20 bathroom kits for these young adults. They are glad to be partnering with James Storehouse.
Members and Friends of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks participated in this year’s Coastal Cleanup. Because of COVID, instead of being at the beach, Coastal Cleanup encouraged the volunteers to clean up their hometowns. They cleaned up in Thousand Oaks. 18 individuals picked up approximately 800 pounds of trash from two locations. 15 volunteers cleaned up the wash that runs along the 23 Freeway between Janss Road and Paige Lane, which includes a homeless encampment and 3 volunteers cleaned up at Wildwood Park. Thank you to everyone who helped out.
Thousand Oaks (and Sister Tijuana Club) Rotarians Partner to Help Hearing-Impaired Children and Elderly
The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club is the International Sponsor of a Global Grant providing hearing aid devices, fittings and speech therapy to underprivileged children and elderly individuals in Tijuana, Mexico. The Tijuana Rotary Club (which has been the “Sister Club” of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club for over 15 years) was the local Host Club, and the grant project also involved the assistance of two medical services charities located in Tijuana.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic public gathering restrictions, fitting sessions were spread out over four months (from November 2020 through March 2021), with each session involving a small number of recipients, instead of two large fitting ceremonies as was initially planned.
Last Fall, after six months living through the pandemic, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa knew more support was needed for local charities as these organizations struggled from the lasting impacts of COVID-19. To meet this need, the Board of Directors voted to accelerate the club’s annual community grants program, which would normally have occurred in Spring 2021, and to focus specifically on COVID relief. A total of $25,000 was distributed by the end of calendar year 2020 to five organizations, each receiving $5,000.
The RC of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is working with the RC of Morelia Experiencia & Juventad District 4140 to provide an additional schoolroom at the Teodora Medina de Guijosa elementary school in the Senguio Community near Morelia in the state of Michoacan. The effort is to provide educational opportunities for youth with the aim of diverting them from joining gang life. Earlier projects undertaken with support from District 5240 RC San Luis Obispo Daybreak and RC Conejo Valley provided a new classroom, computer room, water, bathrooms, computers, desks, chairs, school supplies, and school uniforms. As a result, enrollment increased from 17 to 70 students, who are meeting in 2 classrooms (3 grades in each).
On March 13th of this year Rotary year, the Rotaract club of Conejo Valley worked with the local Manna food bank to sort food. When they arrived, they were shown around the facility and were told that Manna would soon be moving into a larger facility they had purchased. Rotaract was told about the precautions they had to take during COVID and how those in need would have to fill out a form to receive their food.
The Rotaract Club was instructed on how to check for dates to make sure items were safe to give out to the community members that needed them. While it got hot during their service project, they were able to stay cool by drinking water and wearing sunscreen. Overall, the club members had a wonderful time sorting the food and making sure they put the items in the correct locations. Current club president, Benjamin Wilson, is confident that their club will be back to help again and enjoyed the time bonding over whether the item belonged in the ramen bin or the pasta bin.
I can’t believe it is already April! Spring is here, COVID vaccines are more available, and there is a feeling of hope in the air. April also marks Maternal and Child Health month for Rotary which spotlights Rotary projects around the world that expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger. Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. Many of our clubs in District 5240 are involved in projects that address this tragic situation. You are making a difference in the lives of countless mothers and children!
PolioPlus Update Presentation: You are invited to a very special presentation - PolioPlus: Signs of Progress - on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at 5:00 pm via Zoom, presented by Michael McGovern, Chair of Rotary International’s PolioPlus Committee. Mike will provide a "hot off the presses" update on the progress being made worldwide to eradicate Polio and you will have a chance to ask Mike questions. The event is FREE but you do need to register in advance by clicking HERE. After you register, you will receive an email confirmation containing the meeting link.
Rotary Foundation Donor Recognition: Registration is now open for the 2021 District 5240 Rotary Foundation Donor Recognition & Celebration, which is virtual this year on Friday, May 7, 2021, at 6:00 pm. The event is free, but you need to register in advance by clicking HERE. We will be recognizing YOU – our members who have achieved various donation levels to The Rotary Foundation – and we will have a special presentation by the CFO from Feeding America about the dramatic increase in food insecurity during COVID and how organizations like Rotary helped address the crisis. A flyer for the event is below.
2021 District Training Assembly: This year’s District Training Assembly is virtual on Saturday, April 17, 2021. We are offering a wide range of classes open to all members in the District. And it is free to attend! Click HEREto see to the session schedule and descriptions. Click HERE to register.
2021 Rotary International Convention: This year’s RI Convention will be virtual due to COVID-19, which means it is accessible and affordable for everyone! The convention will be June 12-16, 2021. Event registration will open in mid-April and will include a promotional fee of $49 for 21 days, with an increase afterward to $65. For more information and registration information, click HERE.
Finally, I want to say Thank You for the creative ways our clubs and members continue to serve our communities even through the COVID challenges. We’re not out of the woods yet and there are significant concerns over additional COVID surges, so I urge everyone to still be careful and please get vaccinated as soon as you can.
At the beginning of the Pandemic, the Moorpark Rotary Club knew they were going to be be needed, now more than ever, so they developed a plan to focus on their local food pantry. They kicked off their plan by providing much needed school supplies, and throughout the pandemic held various food drives to help back fill the increasing needs of those who were food challenged. As Rotarian’s, they knew they could do more, so they asked the food panty what other critical items were needed. The food pantry quickly responded by sharing what they really needed: fresh vegetables and fruit. Moorpark Rotary Club President, Kelly Best, reached out to a local farmer and told him their food pantry was in need of healthier choices in food. He provided the Club with the opportunity to purchase local vegetables, and also connected them to a fresh fruit connection in Los Angeles. Each week Club members from the Rotary Club of Moorpark picked up several large boxes of fruits and vegetables from the farm and they delivered them to the food panty in Moorpark. They consider each delivery a win/win, as it provides healthier food choices for their families and a very rewarding experience from the heart.
Twilight Rotary Club of Bakersfield Sponsored Club
Submitted by CHS Interact President Makenna Moseley
On Saturday, March 20, Centennial's Interact Club held an Animal Shelter Drive collecting items for the local SPCA center. The students from the club participated in the drive through event at Riverlakes Ranch Park from 12-2pm, donating items such as dog food, cat food, treats, blankets, and toys to all be donated this week. There was a great turn out for the event, some students donating 20+ pound bags of cat/dog food! The SPCA is excited to work with Centennial's Interact Club and receive these generous donations for the animals. Thank you Centennial Interactors for such a great turn out and always giving back to the community!
Submitted by Ana Heron, CHS Interact Service Project Director
Our Interact Club at Centennial High School collected over 80 items for abandoned pets at the SCPA, a no kill shelter in Bakersfield. CHS Interact President Makenna Mosley and I, as well as members Abby Khoury and Will Foulk helping set up a table at Riverlakes Ranch Park from 12 to 2 while members dropped items off. One member, Jonathan Hernandez, brought 35 items by himself! We’d like to thank everyone for the incredible turnout. Makenna is delivering the the items on Monday, the SPCA has already expressed their appreciation for the donations over the phone.
One aspect of Rotary’s Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by sharing our unique skills and expertise which will help others discover new professional opportunities and interests. During this COVID-19 period, many people find themselves light on work or are embattled in unemployment situations. If you are an active, engaged Rotarian, you probably view vocational service as a way of life, even if you find it difficult to characterize a clear definition.
I have found myself to be a type-A person, with characteristics associating self-worth with achievements and always looking for something to do. This parallels the notion that “work is dignity,” where I’ve transitioned from career to career with the passion to engage in what I believe is important and what I find fun in “doing.”
The Rotary Club of Camarillo gave its first Exemplary Service Award to Kate Lewis, Chaplain at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital, in recognition of her "extraordinary effort and sacrifice for fellow citizens through this difficult time."
Nominations are being accepted from the community to recognize Camarillo's local heroes including first responders and other essential workers. Nominations can be sent to tsprinkl@aol.com.
Photo (L to R) is of President Dave Drumright, Kate Lewis and Community Service Chair Tim Sprinkles
Rotarians to read the names of loved ones lost during the pandemic year at the cross at Mount McCoy
Simi Valley, CA – Lighting the Cross at Mount McCoy in Simi Valley during Easter week has been a tradition for the Rotary Club of Simi Valley for nearly 60 years. Club members volunteer to light the cross from dusk until midnight and on many nights, they are joined by community members. Many of whom express their gratitude for this special gift to the community. Last year the Cross remained dark during Easter week due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We were disappointed that we had to cancel the lighting last year. I am happy to share that we will be resuming our tradition and lighting the cross March 29 – April 3,” said Lynne Kline, president of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley.
An Amazing Journey of International Cooperation March, 2021 - by Leslie Bouche, International Service Committee Chair
Prashanti International School (PIS) is a non-profit day school for Kindergarten through 8th grade in a poor village area outside the city of Puri, India. PIS provides a quality, values-based education for a current enrollment of 270 students at a very low tuition accessible by poor families. Enrollment is growing each year. The program also includes a residential children’s home for 40 of the students from the most impoverished backgrounds that provides housing, food, clothing, medical care, education and daily tutoring for them on full scholarship.
In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Rotary Club of Ojai created and successfully completed five District and Club grants to benefit the children of Prashanti International School. These grants provided drinking water purification units, laptop computers and related items, water storage tanks, washrooms tiling and fixtures, and a septic tank and sanitation system for the school. The grants ranged in value from $1032 to $10,937. Additionally, RC Ojai granted $1000 to PIS to provide emergency food items to local families who were unable to get basic foods at the beginning of the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in Puri. The projects totaled over $20,000, and they were very successful and completed on time and to budget.
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!
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.
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.
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 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!
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!
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.
February marks Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention month for Rotary, a cause that is a priority for many members and clubs. Nelson Mandela said, “Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference.” Through our many projects and efforts throughout the world, Rotary helps create this environment by providing opportunities for education, combating disease and food insecurity, and promoting peace through the Rotary Peace Centers and Scholars.
Save the Date - 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.
Rotary International Convention Going Virtual: The 2021 Rotary International Convention will be virtual this year due to COVID-19. This is a great opportunity for all members to experience an International Convention. Convention information can be found at this link: https://convention.rotary.org/en
Rotary Rose Parade Float Commemorative Patches: As you know, the annual Rose Parade was cancelled this year because of COVID, only the second time in history this has happened. To memorialize this unique occasion and to raise funds for next year’s Rotary float, the Rotary Rose Parade Committee created commemorative patches available in exchange for a $50 donation. The patch is dedicated to everyone who has been affected by COVID-19. You can purchase your patch and support next year’s float by clicking on this link: https://rotaryfloat.org/product/commemorative-patch/
All Things Rotary Podcast – New! Rotary International (Club & District Support Office) has launched a new Podcast series called “All Things Rotary” that will cover various Rotary-related subjects. A link to the podcast channel is included under the “Links” tab on the District website, and here is the direct link: https://allthingsrotary.buzzsprout.com
Finally, thank you all for the incredible service you continue to provide to our local communities and throughout the world. You make a difference every day and I am so proud to serve in Rotary with all of you!
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara presents the third lecture in the Inclusion in Action series, titled “The Way Forward: Let's Get Uncomfortable” with Myke Rousell on February 16, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST.
Myke Rousell will present a thought-provoking talk on the experience of being Black in America. By sharing personal encounters and experiences he will disabuse us of the belief that we live in a color-blind society. Mike is a Rotarian, a Texan, a CPA, a husband, and a father of 4 children.
He will share experiences that may not make news, but do leave scars. He doesn't think of BLM so much as an organization, but rather as a long-desired wish. Myke was inspired to speak for the benefit of his children and impress upon those of us who are not a visible minority that we as a nation can (and must) do better.
Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight joined together with local Rotary clubs and others in our community to make the holidays a little brighter for children and seniors in need by participating in two local projects to collect new toys for children in need and much needed sundry items for low income seniors. Twilight Rotary members donated generously to both the 17 Days of Christmas Project spearheaded by local news station KGET and Christmas for Seniors coordinated through the East Niles Senior Center. The donated toys were given to children at the Bakersfield Homeless Center and the Boys and Girls Club Kern County, while the donated sundry items were given to low income seniors through the East Niles Senior Center. Through the collective efforts of Twilight Rotary members and others in our community, children whose families are experiencing homelessness and other financial difficulties and seniors living on limited fixed incomes experienced extra holiday joy this year.
The Solvang Rotary Club is pleased to announce that they have recently partnered with two Rotary clubs in two different countries as their Sister Club. The premise behind a Sister Rotary Club is that you establish a partnership with another club to further international and cultural understanding and to foster goodwill through long standing fellowship and international service and relationships. Both partnerships were confirmed in November of 2020.
Solvang Rotary is pleased to confirm Aalborg City Rotary Club of Denmark as our Sister Club because of the long standing relationship with the city of Aalborg. The City of Solvang established a Sister City relationship with Aalborg, Denmark, on May 13, 1976. This relationship was cemented between Solvang and Aalborg because of the many Danish immigrants and the Danish heritage brought to our area.
Every Thousand Oaks Rotarian received a stack of these cards in the mail. The Thank You cards are passed out to postal workers, truck drivers, cashiers, baristas, anyone who is working hard with the public. The cards are lovely alone or with a little money or gift card attached.
Thousand Oaks Rotarians are recognizing 20 grocery stores in Thousand Oaks with a framed Certificate of Appreciation and a poster reminding customers to show their appreciation to all employees. We visit one store per week and the poster gets moved from store to store every week, so it doesn’t end up in the trash can.
A Rotary Club project that was originally designed by Rotarian Rhonda Brady just for members as a way to give back this past holiday season grew by leaps and bounds into a food project that included people from all over the greater Tehachapi area. There were donations of cash from local individuals and bigger donations from Terra-Gen and BHE Renewables LLC that allowed Rotarians to shop for food to fill the nearly 200 boxes. Many individuals in our community put together the boxes of food, many with extra Christmas surprises.
Since the Regional Stay at Home order went into effect in early December, local hotels and restaurants have had to layoff many of their employees once again. Over 100 families in Cambria and neighboring San Simeon, affected by layoffs, find themselves struggling to feed their families and to provide every day necessities. While both the San Luis Obispo Food Bank and Cambria Vineyard Church have regular bi-weekly food distributions and the Cambria Lions Club is providing a hot meal each week, families are still in need. So, Cambria Rotary has once again jumped in to help by providing gift certificates for our local market to the 100+ families identified as being in need. It was determined that providing gift certificates rather than groceries gives people the opportunity to purchase items that may not have been included in the various food pantries such as paper goods, over the counter medications and perishable items. The plan is to continue to provide gift certificates every other week until the stay at home order is lifted and people are able to get back to work.
The KernYES! Board of Directors met during the Holiday break and decided that in an abundance of caution to not hold the upcoming February 2021 event. The first priority is the safety of our students and volunteers and student education. As the pandemic rages on with students still not meeting in person, we felt it was not safe or prudent. We also took into consideration the burdens on teachers and counselors coupled with the difficulties they face even after they return to in-person learning; we could not add the challenge of coordinating KernYES! registration, it would be too difficult and a near impossible task. We will be meeting mid-August 2021 to plan our February 26, 2022 KernYES! event and very much look forward to continued collaboration in support of our youth.
On behalf of the KernYES! Board of Directors, we thank you for your support!
There’s room for everyone on the nice list when you are a volunteer with Rotary of Westlake Village. Their enthusiastic member Erin Culbertson, took the challenged to create a COVID safe event and she did it. On December 12, a simple Drive-In Movie Elf night idea turned into a sold-out EVENT. The Club's members all pitched in to help with every detail. Lynn Jacobsen created a colorful Candy House Village and Christina Ortega took it one step further to build an amazing Tunnel of Light. Mike Dutra dressed up as Buddy the Elf and Ventura County Sheriff Ayub was a jolly Santa. The local businesses, Home Helpers In-Home Caregivers, Reed Capital Management, PEDEGO, and The Arledge Group helped to offer this special event to the Conejo Valley Community. All the proceeds went to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Conejo Valley.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise had Team Rotary volunteers pack up 200 bags of groceries donated by Albertsons to be distributed to United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara families at Christmastime. Big thanks to Tina for her tireless work for UBGC and to all Sunrise Rotarians for lending a hand to help families during this holiday season.
Happy New Year Rotary Members! Thank you for all you did to serve your communities in 2020 during one of the most challenging years in recent memory. I know you and your clubs will make 2021 an even more memorable year, in a good way, with the help of the COVID-19 vaccine!
Vocational Service Month: January is Vocational Service Month in Rotary, which marks the intersection of your professional life with your Rotary one. Our members represent a wide range of professions and skills and Rotary opens opportunities for business networking and mentoring of others. To help inspire ideas for Vocational Service Month (or anytime), click here to see the Rotary Vocational Service in Action Handbook. Also, check out our District Rotarian Business Network webpage where you can list your business for other members to find: https://www.rotary5240.biz
Rotary DEI Webinar Series Throughout 2020-2021, Rotary International is hosting a webinar series called Accountability + Inclusion to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Rotary. Here is a link to the webinar schedule and the recordings of the webinars that have already been held. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how your club and members can create welcoming and inclusive Rotary clubs and projects: http://msgfocus.rotary.org/files/amf_highroad_solution/project_188/DEIWebinar-Sept2020-Description.pdf
Rotary and COVID: I have received some questions about Rotary’s role in the COVID education and vaccination program. Here is an official statement from RI staff regarding RI’s involvement in the COVID response:
Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have built a global health infrastructure that has brought polio to the brink of eradication and is now also being used to help protect communities from COVID-19.
Given promising new developments on effective COVID-19 vaccine candidates, many Rotary members are wondering whether Rotary and its partners can play a role in the eventual distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, utilizing the polio eradication infrastructure--including the polio vaccine cold chain. While there are conversations ongoing within Rotary and between the GPEI and other organizations involved in the pandemic response, a strategy to use the polio eradication infrastructure to distribute a future COVID-19 vaccine has not yet been decided. We will keep members updated with any developments as possibilities are explored.
When we hear more from RI, I will notify all members in the District.
During Covid 19 Pandemic, members from Rotary Clubs in Simi Valley got together to help out at the Simi Valley Senior Center. The clubs help in getting food and supplies to our seniors who have been impacted by this terrible virus. The Senior Food Share Program has been in existence for over 18 years feeding seniors in the Simi area who are financially unable to provide for themselves. There are about 70 folks who use this program. But when Covid-19 hit, the program doubled and the volunteers at the Senior Center were needing help from other volunteers. That’s when the Simi Clubs went into action. They are working every Sunday and Monday collecting food from three different stores. Every other Monday afternoon, they drive their trucks up to the Oxnard Food Share Warehouse and load their trucks up with all kinds of food which is donated by the big stores. On Tuesday, the group separates all of the food onto tables and load up approximately 140 shopping bags of food. There is usually extra eggs, milk, bread and desserts that are added in addition with the bags. At 8:30am, the distribution starts, the seniors drive their cars through a line and the bags are then loaded up into the trunks or back seats of the senior’s cars. All this work is being done utilizing Covid-19 PPE’s and procedures.
In recognition of Rotary Gratefulness Week, the Pismo Beach-5 Cities Rotary Club honored several essential workers at their November 17th meeting. This was a wonderful meeting that the club enjoyed because they were able to personally thank some very special people for the great work they do on a daily basis.
The workers recognized were representatives of their profession and their colleagues. Each was given a plaque to commemorate their recognition and all but one received a $100 gift card to an area restaurant. One honoree, California Fresh Market, received a check for $100, which they matched, to be used for a pizza party for all their employees before the start of the holiday rush. The honored essential workers are listed below with a picture of them receiving their plaque from club President Shannon Bowdey.
We’ve all learned during these times that we need to not only carry on, but also learn how to “reimagine” carrying on our events. It was with great enthusiasm that the Rotary Club of Ojai’s 2019/2020 “Rising Star” and Taste of Ojai Chair Tara Saylor did just that and more!
Along with a stellar committee effort led by Tara, the club’s annual fundraising event went both live at Ojai’s Topa Mountain Winery and online via Zoom, with a well-choreographed and beautifully filmed event highlighting local restaurants, ranches, wineries and breweries for the entire community to enjoy.
December in the Rotary world marks Disease Prevention and Treatment Month, a truly relevant focus since we have all been impacted by COVID-19 in some way. Today also marks Giving Tuesday, a global movement for good that began in 2012 on the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving. As I’m writing this message in the warmth and comfort of my home, I’m reminded how fortunate my family and I are compared with so many people in this world, and how blessed we are to be able to help others through Rotary. Today’s newsletter includes some ways you can Do Good on this Giving Tuesday and beyond.
Rotary and Giving Tuesday: The Rotary Foundation supports communities all over the world through local projects and global efforts such as Polio Plus. Here is a short video from Rotary in honor of Giving Tuesday: https://vimeo.com/474720383/b16d6743b7.
Honduras Relief Fund: Over the past few weeks, Honduras has been hit by two major hurricanes - Eta (Category 4) and Iota (Category 5) - causing widespread devastation. Buildings have been destroyed, bridges washed-away, and infrastructures obliterated. Many people have been left homeless or are simply missing. The 33 Rotary Clubs in Honduras have come together to start the Rotary Honduras Hurricane Relief Fund, in partnership with Florida-based Make It Count Foundation, to help provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need. Many clubs in our District have done projects in Honduras and our District participates in an Inter-Country Committee (ICC) with Honduras. Here is a link to the Relief Fund should your club or members wish to make a donation: https://rotary.themakeitcountfoundation.org
PolioPlus Fundraising – Thank You! As you know, our District participated in the Step Up for Polio project from August through October to raise funds for Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. We also raised funds for Polio during our Party for Polio kick off to the Virtual District Conference. I am thrilled to announce that our members and clubs raised $17,861 through the Step Up Campaign, and the Party for Polio donations and club pledges raised another $14,382, for a total of $32,243 raised/pledged for Polio! The even better news is that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is matching our donations $2-to-$1, which means our money will be tripled! Thank you all so much for your strong continued support of our PolioPlus fund. Our goal this year is 100% club participation in PolioPlus giving, so if your club/members have not participated, it is not too late. Here is the link to donate: https://www.endpolio.org/donate
$52.40 Annual Fund Challenge: Only one month left for clubs and members to meet the $52.40 Annual Fund Challenge! Help your club meet this challenge with a donation of at least $52.40 to the TRF Annual Fund. The Annual Fund makes our local and international grant projects possible! Click HERE for more information about the $52.40 Challenge.
Rotary Partnership with Toastmasters: Rotary International has formed an alliance with Toastmasters International to offer additional benefits to our members. As part of this alliance, Rotary is offering a series of leadership and communication courses to Rotary and Rotaract members. The first two courses, now available in the Learning Center, discuss fundamental leadership skills like motivation, integrity, and team inclusiveness. You will 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.
Meet our 2023-2024 District Governor! Marta Golding Brown from the Rotary Club of Oxnard has been selected as our District 5240 Governor for 2023-2024. Marta has been a member of Rotary for 15 years and served twice as President of the Rotary Club of Lancaster Sunrise. She has served in various positions in two Districts (5240 and 5300), including Education and Training Director, PRLS Director, Assistant Governor, Executive Assistant Governor, Group Study Exchange Area Coordinator and Director, and PETS Trainer. Marta participated in a 30-day Group Study Exchange to Brazil in 2005.
Professionally, Marta is the Government Affairs Director for the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS. She is married to her husband Forrest Brown and they have one grown daughter MacKenzie and a Queensland Heeler named Cairo. In her spare time (and pre-COVID), Marta loves to travel. Marta is a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation and is a Major Donor Level 1, Benefactor, member of the Bequest Society, and member of the Paul Harris Society. Congratulations Marta!
Members of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise presented La Casa de la Raza with 30 tablets and backbacks. The supplies will be utilized by the center for students in their after school programs and center staff. The La Casa staff gave a tour of the facility and described some of the many programs they offer.
Eric Ryan, President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, stated, “We were impressed with the number of programs that are run out of La Casa and with the potential of the facility.”
The Rotary club will be looking into ways to develop further partnership through their Community Service and Youth Service avenues of service.
Twilight Rotary Club of Bakersfield (“Rotary Twilight”) helped make sure the children of Mt. Vernon Elementary School in Bakersfield, California, enjoyed Halloween despite remotely learning from home because of the pandemic. As part of Mt. Vernon Elementary School’s Red Ribbon Spirit week of October 26, 2020, Rotary Twilight delivered an astounding 400 pumpkins (enough so each student picking up breakfast and lunch at the school could have their very own pumpkin.) All 400 pumpkins were generously donated by Rotary Twilight President Elect Robin Paggi’s husband, Pat, and his company, Daniells, Phillips, Vaughan & Bock. Rotary Twilight members, Robin Paggi, Laura Williams, Pamela Elisheva (with hubby, Irvin), PP Anselmo Moreno and Brad Henderson picked up and loaded the 400 pumpkins from Trader Joe’s and transported them across town to Mt. Vernon Elementary School where a very happy Principal Xochitl Prieto was there to receive them.
Happy November! This month in the Rotary world is special because it marks The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Month. And as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on all we are thankful for, let’s take a moment to be thankful for all the incredibly good things The Rotary Foundation has done throughout the world. TRF funds local and global projects ranging from huge efforts, like eradicating Polio, to small projects in our own communities through our District Grant program. Your support of TRF – especially the Annual Fund – makes this happen! And you will have a wonderful opportunity to support the TRF PolioPlus fund at our Virtual District Conference – see below.
Virtual District Conference & Party for Polio: The Rotary District 5240 Virtual Conference is less than a week away! It will be LIVE on November 6-8, 2020 so be sure to register now. We have amazing Keynote presentations and breakout sessions planned and be sure to visit the virtual Exhibitors on our Whova conference app. A detailed agenda and link to registration is on the Conference website at www.rotary5240dc.com.
The kick-off to the conference will be our Party for Polio on Friday evening November 6 featuring an interview with Jim Messina, live musical performances of his songs, a journey on a National Immunization Day (NID) in India, door prizes, and more. During the Party for Polio, we will be raising funds for Polio in a virtual version of passing the hat. In addition, we have a very generous donor who wants to remain anonymous who will match the first $3,000 donated, and the Rotary Club of Santa Ynez Valley has added another $1,000 to this matching challenge for a total of $4,000! Even more incredible is any funds we raise will be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation, so our donations will be tripled for PolioPlus!
We have set up a direct donation platform for the TRF PolioPlus fund and you can donate by clicking HERE anytime before or during the Party for Polio. We will announce the total raised at the Party.
Rotary Gratefulness Week Honoring Essential Workers – November 16-22, 2020: Our Rotary Zones (Zones 26/27 comprised of 30 districts) have developed a wonderful community service opportunity called Rotary Gratefulness Week to honor essential workers. All clubs are encouraged to do something to honor the essential workers in your community anytime during November 16 - 22, 2020.
A flyer is below with additional information and a list of sample projects. And please share photos and videos of your efforts on your club and District Facebook pages. Let's all come together during Rotary Gratefulness Week to show our essential workers how much we appreciate them!
Rotary Zone Institute: Each year, our Rotary Zones convene a Rotary Institute, which is similar to a district conference but bigger and open to Rotarians throughout the two Zones. This year, the Zone Institute will be virtual from Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 14, 2020 and is open to everyone! The cost is $49 per person.
Here is the link to the Institute website that includes registration and additional information, including a detailed schedule: https://zone2627.org/2020-rotary-institute. You will see that on Thursday and Friday, there are special classes in a variety of topics you can sign up for.
New COVID Order Regarding Private Gatherings: Unfortunately, COVID-19 remains a significant concern and risk throughout our District. On October 9, 2020, the California Department of Health issued a new order concerning private gatherings (such as those at peoples’ homes or gatherings of families/friends at parks, etc). The order can be found at this link:
Please continue to use caution and follow State and local regulations regarding COVID. We want to keep all our members and their families safe and well!
The world of those experiencing hunger and homelessness seems very far from the students at Centennial High School, Bakersfield, CA. To bring this issue to the forefront of teen awareness, the Centennial INTERACT Club is illuminating this plight through its early Canned Food Drive. The Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week will be recognized Nov. 15-22 this 2020 COVID year.
The Centennial Interact Club has sponsored a drive-thru Can Food Collection project, Saturday, October 24th from 11:00AM – 3:00PM. This school year, it appears the Kern High School District will continue its restriction on campus activities that are also a part of this Interact Club’s association and its contiguous social base.
On Wednesday, October 21st, Tehachapi Rotary donated 35 coats to the Tehachapi Salvation Army. These coats were purchased by monies budgeted by the club along with a donation from the Walmart in Tehachapi. Rotarians Rhonda Brady and Cathy Criger went shopping at the Burlington Coat Factory in Bakersfield and Walmart a few days before, choosing coats for teenagers at the request of Salvation Army. Tehachapi Rotary is happy to continue supporting the Coats for Kids drive and looks forward to its next service projects, Rhonda’s idea of a Twelve Days of Christmas food drive and participating in Salvation Army’s annual bellringing in front of different Tehachapi businesses.
Join us online for “An Evening to Experience ShelterBox”
An Evening to Experience ShelterBox THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET Join ShelterBox for an hour of inspiration, highlighting the lifesaving work you have enabled and the lives your support has transformed.
2020 Global Humanitarian Service Award presentation to Rotary International.
At the invitation of Mayor Karen Goh, Bakersfield citizen volunteers in their socially-responsible masks, banded together to help beautify Downtown Bakersfield, Saturday October 17th. Among the sea of red shirted Centennial Interact Club members were dozens of volunteer Rotarians from East, West and Twilight clubs, including several city representatives. Home Depot donated six flats of perennial flowers for the planters at 'H' and Eye streets.
Bakersfield West Rotary Club Facilitates Donation of Ambulance to Hospital in Guatemala.
The Hall Ambulance Company of Bakersfield has generously donated an ambulance as part of an international service project organized by the Bakersfield West Rotary Club. The Bakersfield West Club will ship the ambulance to Guatemala for use by a small hospital located in the highland community of Santiago Atitlán in the Sololá Province of Guatemala. Bakersfield West Rotary is partnering with the Guatemala City West Rotary Club, who identified the hospital’s need for the ambulance.
While Covid-19 has been difficult for everyone, it has been especially difficult for members of our community who are homeless. The Bakersfield Homeless Shelter is a lifeline for many families with children and other individuals who are faced with the challenges of being homeless while trying to stay safe during a pandemic. Rotary Twilight members came together during a drive by and drop off "event" staffed by several Rotary Twilight members (with face masks and proper social distancing, of course). They dropped off and gathered a significant amount of much needed hygiene items, new underwear for adults and children, diapers, hand sanitizer, and face masks for later donation to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. For those staffing the drive by and drop off event, as well as those driving by to drop off items for donation, it was a much welcome "non-virtual” experience. The collected items were subsequently donated to the Bakersfield Homeless Center by Rotary Twilight President, Li Gibbs, Past President, Nancy Pollard, and Community Service Chair, Laura Williams. Seeing the large number of items collected and donated was a reminder to all of us that small clubs can make a big difference!
The Rotary Council on Resolutions meets online every year to vote on proposed resolutions and urgent enactments. Resolutions are requests to the Board or the Trustees to take an action that is outside the purview of the constitutional documents. A resolution should affect the Rotary world, rather than address local or administrative issues. An urgent enactment is a change to the constitutional documents, proposed by the RI Board, that the Board has determined cannot wait until the next Council on Legislation, which is held every three years.
Representatives from all Rotary districts vote as a Council on Resolutions on proposed enactments and resolutions. Adopted resolutions are then considered by the RI Board or The Rotary Foundation Trustees. Urgent enactments that have been adopted will amend the constitutional documents, and will take effect one month after the Council on Resolutions report has been sent.
The 2020 Council on Resolutions will take place 15 October through 15 November. This year there is one emergency enactment and twenty-seven resolutions for consideration. As a Rotarian in District 5240, you have the right to review the proposals and provide comments to the District’s representative.
A list of the resolutions and instructions on how to read a resolution can be downloaded by clicking here. If you have comments or questions, please send them to the District 5240 Council Representative PDG Nick Frankle via email at nickdg1617@earthlink.net. Be sure to include your name, contact information, club name, resolution number and whether your comment is in favor of or opposed to the resolution.
All comments must be received by November 1. Results of the Council on Resolutions will be posted on the District 5240 website when they are announced.
World Polio Day Special Event: October is a special month in Rotary! On October 24, we celebrate World Polio Day when we join together to celebrate our success so far in eradicating Polio and raise funds to “Get to Zero.” Our Group 8 clubs have organized a very special event for World Polio Day and everyone is invited. Craig Needham, an attorney in San Jose, will share his amazing and inspiring story of being raised by him mother while she was confined to an iron lung after being paralyzed from Polio. Click on the flyer below or on this link to register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcocOmrpjIsGtecQY1o1iqPcOQiHbGA_5hH
Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week: October 5-11, 2020 is Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week, a special time to renew relationships with former Rotary program participants, including Peace Fellows, Youth Exchange Students, RYLA students, Rotary Scholarship recipients, and former Rotaractors and Interactors. Take some time to reach out to these Alumni and invite them back into the Rotary family. Invite them to your virtual club meetings or schedule a special virtual social to reconnect and hear their stories. Every Rotary Alumnus is a potential Rotary Member!
Virtual District Conference: We are SO excited for the Virtual District 5240 Conference, LIVE on November 6-8, 2020! A detailed agenda is now posted on the Conference website at www.rotary5240dc.com. Here is your Call to Action for the conference:
Register: Registration and info are now available at www.rotary5240dc.com. Cost is only $25 per person ($10 for Rotaract members; youth under 18 are free).
Share What Rotary Means to You: We want to hear what Rotary means to our members, and we will be compiling the responses into a cool video that will be shown at the conference. All you need to do is shoot a short video of yourself responding to the following question: “To me, Rotary is ____________________.” Your response should be a max of five words long. And be sure to hold your smart phone in landscape mode (sideways). Email your videos to Ron Regier at rsregier@gmail.com. Please share with your members and encourage them to submit videos.
Display Your Project or Fundraiser: Advertise your club projects, grant opportunities, or fundraisers with a free Virtual Booth. If you are interested, please contact Berni Ann Lewis at bernilewis1@gmail.com.
Rotary Newsletters: Did you know that Rotary publishes electronic newsletters in over a dozen topics, including leadership, membership, youth, service, and peace? You can subscribe for free for any of the newsletters and they will be emailed you on a regular basis. They contain super relevant and interesting information. To see the list of newsletters and to subscribe, click on this link: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/newsletters
Rotary Zone Institute: Each year, our Rotary Zones (Zones 26/27) convene a Rotary Institute, which is similar to a district conference but bigger and open to Rotarians throughout the two Zones. There are 30 Districts in Zones 26/27. This year, our Zone Institute will be virtual from Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 14, 2020 and is open to everyone! The cost is $49 per person.
Here is the link to the Institute website that includes registration and additional information, including a detailed schedule: https://zone2627.org/2020-rotary-institute. You will see that on Thursday and Friday, there are special classes in a variety of topics that you can sign up for.
In Memory of Staci Ingram: Finally, let us all remember and pay tribute to Staci Ingram who died late Tuesday night September 22, 2020, from a sudden and unexpected illness. Staci was a member of the Rotary Club of Ventura and an incredibly active and valued member of her club and her community. She was a wonderful mother and spouse and an accomplished professional at Roth Staffing Companies. She was generous with her time and her talents and she supported her Rotary club and the community of Ventura in countless ways. She has left a legacy that will live on long after her passing.
Staci’s family has set up a Go Fund Me account to assist with funeral expenses. Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-honor-of-staci-ingram. Please keep Staci’s family and the members of the Rotary Club of Ventura close to your hearts as they deal with this tragic loss.
The Rotary Club of Camarillo recently donated $7,000 to FoodShare of Ventura County to help feed people in need during the Covid19 pandemic.
The funds are being used to purchase thousands of cardboard boxes for food items being distributed at community pop-ups. This is the largest grant that Camarillo Rotary has given FoodShare.
As I finish my first two months visiting clubs virtually, I am blown away by the creativity and adaptability our clubs have demonstrated during these challenging times. Despite the impact of COVID-19, our clubs are continuing to serve their communities, getting creative in their fundraising, and recruiting new members. Rotary truly Opens Opportunities and you should all be immensely proud!
District Conference Registration Now Open! Our District 5240 Virtual District Conference is November 6-8, 2020, and registration is now open. You can find more information and a registration link at http://www.rotary5240dc.com. Here are some highlights:
Friday evening opening celebration: Party for Polio! Featuring Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, and Poco
Saturday and Sunday morning General Sessions with incredible keynote presenters.
Saturday Breakout Sessions – choose your own training opportunity.
Virtual Project Expo
Networking, virtual meetups, and more!
Only $25 for Rotarians & guests, $10 for Rotaractors, and free for Interact members or youth under age 18.
Promote your Business! Did you know that the District has a place where you can promote your business for other members to find? Well, we do! It is our online District 5240 Rotarian Business Network where you can add your business and where members can search for Rotarian-run businesses in our District. Let’s support each other! Go to https://www.rotary5240.biz for more info and to add/find a business.
Community Service Opportunity during COVID: Are you or your club looking for a community service activity you can do safely even with the COVID restrictions? The California Coastal Commission has an opportunity for you (and you don’t need to live near an ocean!). The Commission has designated every Saturday in September as Coastal Clean Up Day in your own Neighborhood. For safety reasons, there are no large, centrally organized cleanup sites this year. Instead, cleanups will be self-guided and close to home. Cleaning your neighborhoods, local parks, streets, and storm drains helps protect our coast. Trash travels through storm drains, creeks, and rivers to become beach and ocean pollution. Help clean the beach by picking up litter in your community with your household. And if Saturdays don't work for you, don't let that stop you! You can clean up any day, any time. Go to https://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html for more information, including a “Most Unusual Item” contest.
Step Up for Polio! Don’t forget…we’ve launched our District-wide Step Up for Polio project, a way you can raise funds for PolioPlus through a personal fitness challenge. Click on the Step Up for Polio flyer in this newsletter for more information. Let’s all get moving and Step Up for Polio!
Finally, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Past District Governor Loretta Butts’ husband, John Butts, passed away on August 19, 2020, of health complications related to cancer. Loretta was our District Governor in 2014-2015 and John was her "official driver" for her club visits and her #1 cheerleader, not only during her DG year, but throughout their lives together. Loretta and John were married for 25 years and friends for much longer. John was a generous and giving soul and would support and encourage Loretta in whatever she undertook. John’s wish was to be cremated and no services will be held. If you would like to reach out to Loretta with a card or note, you can mail them to her at 7400 Pinal Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset was asked by Make-A-Wish to support a local Simi Valley resident. Joey fell into a swimming pool when he was 18 months old. The accident dramatically changed his and his family's lives. Now at the age of 15, he suffers from a nervous system disorder which has left him confined to a wheelchair. He can communicate through a tablet and with smiles and noises. His wish... An adaptive swing! Many wish kids avoid large groups during COVID-19 as it could put their health at risk. Having this swing would allow him to enjoy being outside with his family.
As most of you know eradicating Polio from the face of the earth is Rotary International’s #1 objective. In 1985 that objective began. At that time there were 126 countries in the world endemic with 3 types of polio. 350,000 children and adults were paralyzed with one of the 3 types every year. Over the past 30 plus years, through the very hard work of those countries, Rotary, WHO, CDC, UNICEF and in 2007 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we can celebrate that all but 2 of those countries are polio free. The last countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only ones with wild polio cases. The good news is this week we have seen zero cases of Polio in the world. And even much better news Africa has been declared by WHO as completely Polio Free…this is such fantastic news, I felt I had to share it with all of you. Check out the links to Rotary and Time Magazine's articles:
The Rotary Club of Cambria recently purchased and delivered bags of cereal, juice, canned fruit, snack bars and other snacks to over 90 families identified as being in need. They were also made aware of the concern about the children in low income families falling behind in school due to the difficulties of distance learning. Many of these children are in households with adults that have little or no education and cannot provide their children with the educational assistance needed. They were able to purchase 186 age appropriate activity books and games to give them a head start for the school year. These were delivered along with the bags of food.
The Rotary Club of Moorpark gathered donations and purchased badly needed school supplies in support of students at the Moorpark Food Pantry Plus. Although they followed physical distancing guidelines, it provided them with an opportunity to be social as they filled 300 bags with school supplies. It was a fun community service project that made a big impact on the lives of their students. Club President, Kelly Best always says, "many hands make light work." They all look forward to another social gathering like this one very soon!
The COVID-19 virus has altered life for all of us. Many residents have found themselves unable to provide basic needs for themselves and their family. Local nonprofits have stepped up and are working hard to meet the huge surge in demand. However, the need is great with the increase in demand coupled with the loss of several nonprofits main revenue stream; thrift stores. These organizations are struggling.
The four Rotary Clubs in the Santa Ynez Valley; Buellton, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang, have united together contributing a total of $33,500 to local nonprofit organizations. The nonprofits selected are doing outreach in our community feeding hundreds of people daily with prepared meals and produce bags. These include home bound seniors and children out of school. Not only prepared meals are being provided, but help getting medications delivered, sewn masks and other needs. Our nonprofits are doing an incredible job by collaborating to be sure there is no gap in service to our community.
Membership Month: August is Membership and New Club Development Month in Rotary and now is the time we need your creativity! To reverse several years of declining membership in our District, we need to grow membership in our clubs and start new, innovative clubs. We are only constrained by our imagination! New, non-traditional clubs are being starting all over the world, including passport clubs, flex clubs, family clubs, caused-based clubs, young professionals clubs, virtual e-clubs, and almost any kind of club you can think of.
Want to learn more about new club models and club flexibility? Click HERE Want a whole bunch of resources and tools to help your club attract and retain members? Click HERE
$52.40 Challenge: The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund is the backbone of Rotary projects throughout the world. Contributions to the Annual Fund come back to our clubs in the form of District Designated Funds (DDF) that can be used to help fund local and international projects. Support for the TRF Annual Fund is an investment in our own clubs! In 2020-2021, to encourage support for the TRF Annual Fund, the District has created the $52.40 Challenge. Clubs that achieve a certain level of giving will receive special recognition. Click HERE for all the details!
Rotary and COVID-19: As you all know, we are experiencing a significant and dangerous increase in COVID-19 cases and many of the transmissions are being traced back to small gatherings, such as friends and families gathering together (especially those involving unrelated people). All four counties in our District – SLO, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern – are now on the State watch list and additional restrictions regarding gatherings have been implemented. Rotary International recently announced that the Rotary insurance will not cover claims for COVID-19 cases. I know we are all eager to convene our club meetings and socials in person, but I urge you to use caution and make safe, prudent decisions. The safest way to hold club meetings right now is virtually. In addition, the RI Board of Directors has declared that members shall not be penalized if they choose not to attend a club, district, or RI function because of the COVID risk. As such, it is important to have a virtual option for members who do not feel comfortable or safe gathering in person. District staff is available to any club who needs assistance in this area. Please stay safe!
District 5240 Facebook Page: If you want to learn about all the cool things our clubs in our District are doing, not to mention upcoming events and celebrations, be sure to join our District 5240 Facebook Group at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RotaryDistrict5240
District 5240's Past District Governor, Wade Namura, has been given the opportunity of being appointed to three Rotary International positions this year! He is now the Multidistrict PETS Alliance Chair for 2020-2021, he took over as the TRF Cadre Technical Coordinator Chair for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and he has been appointed as the Regional Organizer of all cadres of North America; one of seven globally! Below is a summary of what the roles entail including how clubs in our district can benefit.
Assistance Available for Global Grant Projects The Rotary Foundation has appointed PDG Wade Nomura as the global Chair of the Cadre of Technical Advisers for Water Sanitation and Hygiene. In addition, The Foundation has initiated a pilot program of Regional Organizers to help club and districts increase their humanitarian projects globally by utilizing the skills of the Cadres in the global grant application stages as well as throughout the project. There are seven Cadre Regional Organizers selected from throughout the world to assist with the implementation of this program, Wade being chosen as one of the seven to lead all TRF Cadres of North America plus English speaking Caribbean countries. This role incorporates grants for all Areas of Focus. Stay tune for more information and if you would like assistance from a TRF Cadre on any aspect of a grant or project, please contact: wade@wadenomura.com
Congratulations to Kati Buehler, President of the Montecito Rotary Club, for the excellent article in the Santa Barbara News-Press Life Section! Kati brought attention to Rotary International and its role in helping to eradicate polio as well as upcoming fundraising plans for World Polio Day!
The Rotary Club of Camarillo received their District Grant Round 1 and Round 2 totaling $1,970. Then one of their members promised to match up to $2,500 if they could raise $2,500. They were able to achive their goal in ONE Zoom meeting for a total of $7000. BOOM!!!
They decided to donate these funds to Food Share for the purchase of packaging materials for fresh produce for low income people in their community. Properly packing produce for distribution reduces the spread of infection, increases food safety, and provides for a quick efficient hand-out at the newly established drive-thru pop-up pantries.
On Wednesday members of the Rotary Club of Nipomo helped with the distribution of fresh produce courtesy of BerryMan at the Nipomo High School. Big thanks to the good turnout. Pictured are George Dubois, Lou Gomez, Lee Baggett, Harry Walls, Roger Ridley. (Not pictured Christine Ridley). On Tuesday Jim Harrison, a friend of his and Ed Harris helped with the food distribution at Dana Elementary school. The group helped unload the produce truck and distribute boxes of produce and bags of potatoes. Quite a work out!
Welcome to Rotary Year 2020-2021! The new year is certainly starting out differently than any of us could have imagined. You, our District 5240 members, have faced challenges and hardships that changed the very way we have been doing business. You have created new ways to serve your communities and to come together as clubs. I believe this experience will forever change the way we live Rotary.
2020-2021 Rotary International President Holger Knaack’s theme this year is Rotary Opens Opportunities. He selected this theme long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is so appropriate now.We have the opportunity to re-examine and re-create how our clubs operate, how we do our fundraisers, how we serve our communities, and how we engage our current and future members. Please take a few minutes to views this short (4 minutes) video message for our clubs from RI President Holger: Holger Message to Clubs
As we begin this new year, our focus will be on:
Growing Rotary, including:
Expanding our membership by starting new, innovative clubs
Making sure we are taking care of and retaining our club members.
Encouraging clubs to attract and retain members through service projects, large and small.
Click HERE to review the new 3-year District 5240 Membership Plan.
Supporting The Rotary Foundation - OUR Foundation - including:
Finishing the fight against Polio by organizing fundraising events and awareness campaigns for the Rotary Polio Plus fund. Click HERE to read how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Rotary’s Polio efforts.
Encouraging donations to The Rotary Foundation (Polio, Disaster Fund, Annual Fund) with the $52.40 Challenge (more info on this in August).
Supporting Rotary’s Peace efforts through the Peacebuilder club and Peace Scholar programs.
Enhancing our Rotary Brand, including:
Focusing on our member and visitor experience at our club meetings so everyone feels welcome, valued, and engaged.
Branding our Rotary efforts through media presence, social media, signage, and other creative ways to raise awareness about Rotary.
Enhancing our community impact by branding our community service projects. Click HERE to learn about public image grants available through the District Charitable Foundation.
As we continue the important work of Rotary, every Rotarian in every club must make sure we hold the basic tenants of Rotary in our hearts and reflect them in our actions. We need to consider how we conduct ourselves in our clubs and in every aspect of our lives. Rotary recently released a powerful statement which applies to all of us:
Finally, let’s all give a huge Thank You to 2019-2020 District Governor Savi Bhim and all our 2019-2020 Club Presidents and District staff for leading us through an incredibly challenging time, including helping our clubs begin online meetings and adjust their projects and fundraisers. Let’s carry on their great work in 2020-2021!
Norm Anderson was a dedicated, dynamic Rotarian with perfect attendance for sixty-four years. In fact, he participated in a Rotary meeting on his 89th birthday, two days before he died.
Norm was a very successful businessman with vision, imagination and energy which led him into many areas, but Rotary was always at the center of his life. We think about driving or flying to an international convention. When Norm wanted to attend the Lucerne, Switzerland, convention in 1957, he had to book passage on a transatlantic ship. That was his first of 29 international conventions!
Norm was an outstanding, creative District Governor, with his 1993-4 year highlighted by the great convention he produced in and around Solvang, California – appropriate for Norm’s Danish heritage. I remember much of his year, because I was his District Newsletter Editor.
And how that happened was typical of Norm’s style. One morning, shortly before his DG term began, as we were leaving a meeting of the Solvang Breakfast Rotary, Norm said “How would you like to be my newsletter editor?” I had a full life with family and running my business, but I told him I would think about it. I will never forget his next words, “Don’t think about it too long.” A few days later I understood his instruction when I received my copy of the district handbook, and saw that I was listed as the editor. Obviously, he had made that decision months before, and assumed I would accept.
Norm could assume that people would comply with his requests, because it always seemed to happen. He was a bright, thoughtful guy, and what he was asking for would seem reasonable and beneficial, and there was really no reason to refuse.
And in turn, whenever one needed help with a worthwhile project, there was no better person to ask than Norm. While our daughter was an army officer with the US mission in Kosovo she was appalled by the savagery with which villagers were driven out of their homes into the mountains with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing. The attackers even planted land mines in their schoolyards in case they returned. Winter was approaching, and our daughter and her unit asked us for help. The Santa Ynez Valley gathered 4000 pounds of clothing, but we had to find a way to ship it, since all military flights from this area were full.
In a situation like that the obvious person to ask for help was Norm. Fortunately, Norm’s large circle of friends included one who owned a transcontinental moving company. We boxed all of the clothing, hauled the boxes to Carpinteria, California, and were able to get everything into a partially full truck headed for Connecticut. All at no cost. And we knew that, if we could get the boxes to an APO box in New York, they would be shipped free to Kosovo.
But the Connecticut to NYC leg was still a problem. So Norm contacted the District Governor in Connecticut. That DG had a lot of reasons why it couldn’t be done, but we had Norm on our side, so it happened. Don’t waste your time saying no to Norm.
And in an interesting footnote to that adventure, the DG in Connecticut had a project providing goats for people in Haiti, and in the Rotary way he gave us an opportunity to help. So Norm and I spent the next month asking Rotarians and my clients to join us in the goats project. We funded several, and the City of Buellton employees donated enough money for a goat, and had a contest to name it.
Life with Norm was exciting and productive. As Rotarians in our district know, Norm was not shy about looking at Rotary needs and behavior, and offering critiques along with his help. But as I look back, he was usually right, and we are all so much better for his decades of service. Thank you, Norm.
By PDG Frank Ortiz, District Rotary Foundation Chair
As this Rotary Year winds down; I want to thank every Rotarian in District 5240 for their support by working to make our World a better place through our Rotary Foundation both locally and globally. Our collective efforts truly make a difference.
DG Savi Bhim and many District 5240 Rotarians have done a remarkable job with keeping the spirit of Rotary service alive and well through continued contributions to our Foundation, support for District & Global grant projects, and ongoing support for COVID19 related efforts in our backyard and around the Globe.
Should you desire to make one last contribution to the Foundation for the 2019-2020 Rotary year, you can use this link to get you to the needed forms, understanding that the contribution needs to be made by June 30, 2020. https://rotarydistrict5240.org/sitepage/fundraising-sub-committee
IMPORTANT: A reminder that District Grant FINAL REPORTS from 2019-2020 must be submitted by June 30, 2020. Failure to get your final report submitted will result in the loss of your Club matching grant allocation. Nobody wants that to happen! You can use this link for the proper final report form and information. https://rotarydistrict5240.org/sitepage/2019-2020-district-grants
The District Rotary Foundation Committee thanks DG Savi for her work and we are looking forward to her Virtual Step Down and Awards celebration on June 27. We also look forward to soon to be DG Deb Linden who takes the District Governor reigns on July 1. Thanks and congratulations to all!
Cayucos Rotary has donated $5,000 to support ‘Harvest Bag’ operated by Cayucos Community Church. The program is a collaboration with San Luis Obispo Food Bank to provide bags of groceries and produce to local families in need from Mondays to Fridays. For the past 10 years, Cayucos Community Church has been providing bags of food to families in need. Each bag, estimated to be worth about $20 in food, contains milk, bread, eggs, tuna, butter, peanut jelly, macaroni and cheese, and produce like tomatoes, potatoes and onion etc.
President Kelly Ricker and club members Lou Gomez, Ed Harris and Walter Con represent the Rotary Club of Nipomo in donating $2,150 to the San Luis Obispo Food Bank. Accepting the donation is Garret Olson, Chief Executive Officer of the SLO Food Bank (see the picture below with appropriate social distancing). On a side note, Garret is a Rotarian with San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Rotary Club and he is our speaker at this Wednesday’s meeting.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us. This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey. Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group. For the month of June the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Charlie Von Rueden, Rotary Club of Camarillo. In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Charlie will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
This has been a unique year. Just as we were entering the last stretch of the year things dramatically changed because of the COVID-19 crisis.
You watched helplessly as your well laid plans and hard work went down the tubes. It has been especially hard on clubs that have had to cancel their major fund raisers. Some of you are wondering how will your clubs continue your projects next year.
Then there is the mounting possibility of losing members who are uncertain of their jobs and businesses and will not be able to pay their dues and will have to leave their clubs. This will not be their first choice because more than ever at a time like this we all need our family of Rotary. Let us do our best to help them during the uncertain period.
With these concerns weighing heavily in the hearts of the District Board we have decided to see how best we can financially assist you.
As a result the board of directors voted to refund 58% of the paid January dues to all the clubs. We wish to thank each and every one of you for your outstanding contribution to your clubs and your communities during these challenging times.
There is no denying that 2019-2020 has been an eventful year.
There were the earthquakes that rocked the city of Ridgecrest and the wild fires of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Yet this year will be defined by the last four months.
When we faced COVID-19 and Rotary faced our greatest challenge, how to observe physical distancing and yet stay connected.
You responded rapidly and with ingenuity. You launched virtual meetings and kept the clubs connected. In our communities there were new and urgent needs and you sprung into action.
Our Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise recently participated in two projects in Ile, located within the Zambézia Province of northern Mozambique and we would like to share them with you.
It started out as a latrine project at a local school that did not have sanitary facilities for the students where one of our Club Member’s daughter Naomi was stationed with the Peace Corp. She brought the less than desirable conditions to our attention and our Club voted on supporting the construction of the two units with the projected cost of $846. As we neared completion, Naomi brought to our attention the need for better communication and resources relating to COVID-19 virus.
Empty grocery shelves and sold out essentials have provided a seemingly endless source for memes, advertising schemes and Saturday Night Live pandemic parodies. The lack of available toilet paper, masks and hand sanitizer created some precarious situations as families and essential businesses tried to keep their loved ones and customers safe from an invisible COVID-19 enemy. However, the Rotary Club of Morro Bay, recognized a hole that needed filling and a chance to support Morro Bay’s at-risk business community.
President Melissa Davis, 2019-20, hit a major roadblock and realized she needed help. Not only was she learning the protocols for managing a newly secured general manager position at a popular local eatery, Pizza Port of Morro Bay, homeschooling her daughter Stella was added to her list of daily duties.
With 80 Active members, 50-60 have been attending our weekly meetings, including honorary members we don’t always get to see, family members, guest community members and timely speakers.
With a member assisting the Pres. each week to handle slides, videos, awards, etc. it has all moved along smoothly with interesting & packed programs.
Zoom has allowed us to carry on committee and Board business, hold our Annual Scholarships program (awarding over $68,000 to High School Seniors), honor local non-profits & programs (awarding over $30,000 in Community Grants) and raise $4000 on a successful Funds/Food drive during these Covid-19 times.
The Rotary Club of Ojai has been working on an exciting new fog and water collection project, and we would love to share our progress with you! Utilizing modern versions of ancient technology, we are harvesting water from the offshore ocean fog and the mists that form in our mountain valley. With the aid of a district grant, multiple fog catching systems and weather stations have been installed in our local elementary and middle schools. Our students are learning about weather science, cutting edge design, and alternative methods of collecting potable water. What if you could gather the dew that forms on your cars every morning, and then use it to water a small vegetable plot? What if the fog from a cloud bank could be collected to serve the drinking water needs of an entire community? These are the questions we are asking, and the seeds of curiosity we hope to plant in our student’s minds. Collecting water from fog and rain has great implications locally and internationally, and we believe the possibilities are only beginning to be explored.
I hope this email finds you healthy and happy. Last week you emailed me a resume and to be honest, it was completely unexpected. My communications firm has been extremely busy lately and it never occurred to me that during these uncertain times, I might need to add to my team. As it turns out, I was wrong.
Lindsey’s resume was outstanding. As I studied her skill set and read about her need to affect positive change in the marketing and branding space, it didn’t take long before I knew that I really wanted her on my team. My business partner and I interviewed her two days later and just this morning, I’ve made her an offer.
People of action when they join Rotary immediately step up. Our Newest and Youngest member Ryan Valenica of Simi Sunrise Rotary did just that. Our First fundraiser out of the gate for 2020-21 is a drive in Movie night. Ryan was asked to head up with a seasoned Rotarian. He did not hesitate, blink or stammer...he just did it! Even though new to the club he was not new to the community. He filled the leadership role easily. Added his own ideas and was receptive to guidance. Projects seem to be the area one finds out the most about another Rotarian's character. Ryan's Character came shining thru and I know he will have a Great future in Rotary! Let's all give him a warm Rotarian welcome!
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us. This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey. Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group. For the month of May the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Mike McGuigan, Rotary Club of Simi Valley. In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Mike will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Mike McGuigan is the Rotarian's Rotarian ... his demeanor is grouchy, but peel back the layers and you'll find a kind and most generous human being. Mike is the go to guy for just about anything and has consistently supported the club's presidents year after year taking on tasks that no other members would volunteer for - from coordinating planting oak trees at Corriganville, and helping to maintain the Welcome to Simi sign, years of volunteering to barbecue for the hundreds of volunteers for the July 4th Fireworks and Share the Road charitable events.
The District Charitable Foundation gave out checks for $9036 to food banks throughout the region.
This is a letter from the SLO Food Bank:
Deb and the rest of our Hunger Heroes in Rotary District 5240,
Thank you so much for your incredibly generous gift to assist the SLO Food Bank in our battle against hunger. Your $9036 donation has incredible punching power! With that amount we can purchase 33,364 meals for our neighbors in need. When combined with food we source from grants, donations, and gleaning (picking) operations, your generous gift provides food for 63,252 meals. That’s enough food to feed three families of four for one year! Talk about Service Above Self… you’re walking the talk!
On behalf of our thankful team and the clients we serve, THANK YOU!
Your friend and fellow Rotarian, Garret Olson, CEO SLO Food Bank
District Charitable Foundation- Food Bank Donations
Here's how we roll in Cayucos. To celebrate Cayucos Rotary's Club President Steve "Lars" Larson's and Michele Lilley's birthdays this month, members of Cayucos Rotary decided a birthday parade would be in order, while practicing the 6-feet distancing.
Several members met at 24th Street in Cayucos, put on fun hats, armed ourselves with bubble guns, cow bells, whistles and banners, and marched towards President Lars' home on 19th Street. Others joined us in a vehicle by Lars' home.
I am pleased to announce the winers of the 4 Way Test Essay Contest!
Elementary School Level
1st Place: Stas Hite-Polansky, Joe Nightingale School
2nd Place: Addysen Clarin, Oceanview Elementary
Middle School Level
1st Place: Tanna Tartaglia, Santa Lucia Middle School
2nd Place: Arundhati Sharma, Lakeview Junior High
3rd Place: Arziz Haroun, Judkins Middle School
High School Level
1st Place: Isabella Palazuelos, Filmore High School
2nd Place: Garrett Leighton, Coastal Christian Nigh School
3rd Place: Elajae Lee, Ridgecrest High School
As you will see, the essays are always brilliant from the example below. This year was a difficult one with the Corona Virus event, however, it is very rewarding to be a part of the 4 Way Test Essay Contest. Hope you enjoyed reading the above winner’s entry as much as I did. I hope more Rotary Clubs participate in DG Linden’s year. Steve Geil
Rotary Giving by the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks
It took five days to hear back with RI approval for a covid-related grant for our local community.
The $52,000 grant is for PPEs, medical supplies, and equipment for two local free clinics (Conejo and Westminister) and the Hospice of the Conejo. We have history with them. We know first-hand their needs and how critical, effective, and urgent their response has been to the evil twins of viral threat and economic paralysis.
Rotary International promised to facilitate grants for covid-related needs in local communities. We took RI at its word and were delighted how helpful they were and stunned at how quick their response was.
Each quarter, Cayucos Rotarians lead Cayucos school students; many of whom are Interactors to clean the beach and Ocean Front Street in Cayucos. Armed with bags and gloves, both Rotarians and students set out to hunt for "treasures".
Featured in last winter's clean-up are past presidents, Sherry Sim and Steve Geil, and club secretary & Cayucos Interact advisor, Jessica Peterson.
On October 27, 2019, rotarians from three clubs, namely Cayucos, Morro Bay and Cambria joined hands with members of Central Coast SurviveOars and Central Coast Dragon Boat Association in paddling to commemorate World Polio Day on October 24, 2019.
For the past three years, Group 11 clubs have been organizing this event to raise the awareness of Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio and raise funds. Donations received from the three Rotary clubs were sent to The Rotary Foundation. Funds raised are matched ~ $1 with $2 from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio.
In addition to rotarians, spouses and family members and friends also participated. It was a fun way for members to promote polio eradication, and collaborate with another service organization.
Funding our Future: Auction for Student Scholarships June 1 - 10, 2020
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo online auction for Student Scholarships is taking place, June 1-10, 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo had to cancel its annual Spaghetti Western Dinner & Silent Auction, which funded the Challenge Scholarship Program.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo's Challenge Scholarship Program provides scholarships to local students who have faced significant personal challenges and excelled in their studies. Last year, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo awarded $39,500 in scholarships to 14 local students to attend college or trade school, thanks to the support and generosity of our community members.
You have the opportunity to bid on some incredible items, support our local businesses and support our local students - a win-win for everyone!
All four students have to complete a full year at Cuesta College, must be majoring in music and looking to pursue a music-related career, to be eligible for the scholarship. In addition, the students had to undergo an audition which Cayucos Rotarians participated and provided input to select the most qualified candidates.
In the past two years, the successful students performed at Cayucos Rotary's annual Masquerade fundraiser to receive their scholarship checks. Due to Covid-19, Cayucos Rotary decided the students could use the funds and the checks were sent to each student. All four students agreed to visit Cayucos Rotary soon, to perform.
The scholarship fund was created to honor and thank Past District Govenor Chungsam Doh for his support and mentorship to Cayucos Rotary, The project, named "Chungsam Doh Music Scholarship Fund" is dedicated to help aspiring college students who are preparing for a career in music. PDG Chungsam Doh had presented the scholarship checks to the successful students in past years. Please contact Cayucos Rotary if your club would like to participate in this project.
Receive, review, and vote on local charity/charities to receive up to $30,000 for Capital Project Project: Create Grant committee to receive, review, and vote on local charity ( or charities ) to receive needed funds for CAPITAL Project. 15 applications totaling, $322,945.00 in requested funds, were submitted to Grant Application Committee. Each applicant has a Rotarian recommendation. The Committee agreed to fully fund the amount requested to a single nonprofit in our community, that being Golden Empire Gleaners ( a food bank ). The funds will be used for capital improvement. The Gleaners’ building is very old and needs 54 broken windows replaced, new carpet, painting inside and out, and new phones. Nothing has been upgraded for over 10 years. There are health and security issues with the windows and the fact that birds or burglars can access the warehouse area. The building is becoming unsafe due to the windows issues, uneven floors, and worn carpet. The paint is peeling on the outside causing damage to the wood siding.
Due to limitations on travel, Rotary Club of Bakersfield will Utilize Love Water organization to assess water NEED in community of Uganda
Fund and Utilize “Love Water” organization ( a locally founded non-profit ) to assess a NEED in community of Uganda and provide a school or entire community with a new borehole and protected well.
Funding Complete !!!!!
Every 21 seconds a child will perish from a preventable waterborne illness. Love Water Video provided
Discussion for travel has been discussed, once the travel bands are lifted.
Rotarian & Student discussions of various scenarios involving characteristic and ethical practices.
Started by our Rotary Club of Bakersfield 34 years ago, includes ALL Local Clubs, and served over 200 students from Kern High School District The conference, now in its 34th year, provided students the opportunity to interact with businessmen and businesswomen from the Bakersfield community while exploring the leadership qualities and ethical practices they will need in their careers. Participants collaborated with Rotarians and Kern High School District representatives in roundtable discussions of various scenarios involving characteristic and ethical practices.
Rotary Club of Bakersfield Donated 73 HOURS of Service !!! Lyle Martin ( Rotarian and former Chief of Police ) delivered a Key NOTE speech that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Knocked it OUT OF THE PARK !!!!
This year, Rotary de Tolosa has placed a big emphasis on attracting great new members, and on Wednesday, 5/6, President David Fuentes inducted our 12th member for the year, and our first virtually! (Maybe the first virtual induction in the District?) New member Michael Gunther and his sponsor, Rotary PEN Ermina Karim created a hilarious COVD-19 inspired induction video.
Providing Meals to Frontline Workers During Covid-19 Pandemic
The Rotary Club of Simi Valley has been providing meals to our Frontline Workers weekly by choosing a local restaurant to deliver lunch. Deliveries include the Simi Valley Adventist Hospital, The Free Clinic of Simi Valley, Simi Valley School District, Simi Valley Parks and Recreation, Union Banks, Fire Stations, and Albertsons Grocery Store Employees. We are grateful to all who continue to make sure our community continues to function and stay healthy.
Rotary Club of Ojai, California – Helping our International Partners During Covid-19 Emergency
Rotary Club of Ojai, California, has had International projects in Niger and India for many years. During these challenging times of Covid-19 pandemic and economic disruption, we are focused on finding ways to help these communities face the threat of illness and food insecurity.
Niger: Wodaabe Nomad women annually cross borders to neighboring countries to sell their traditional medicines. They return home by public transportation. These trips are a huge risk of exposure to COVID-19 for their communities. RC Ojai supported the Nomad Foundation, Ojai, in providing 75 hand-washing stations, 75 barrels of soap, and two trainers plus transportation costs to help these communities understand the risks and learn how to protect themselves.
India: RC Ojai’s ongoing Global Grant in partnership with the Rotary Club Srikshetra, Puri, benefits Prashanti International School (PIS) for poor and underserved village families. India’s lockdown to slow the spread of Covid-19, means all schools are closed, and the children are back in their villages. Many families of these children and others in the slum areas live hand-to-mouth doing manual work, as servants, or even begging at the temples. They have little food and many fall through the gaps in government emergency ration programs. Normally, these families rely on cooked food given daily by churches and temples, which remain closed. On May 1st, with the help of PIS staff and alumni, RC Ojai and RC Srikshetra in partnership with World Family Foundation, Ojai, provided essential food items to 70 of the most needy families.
Our Superheroes have traded in their capes for surgical masks!
Bakersfield East Rotarians gathered at Mercy Hospital in downtown Bakersfield to feed the night shift Thursday evening, April 28. The club provided the groceries and Ryan Dalashmutt member, owner and chief pit master of Boss Hogg’s BBQ, oversaw the preparation. The entire evening staff received a dinner of barbecued beef tri-tip, rice pilaf and green beans doctored with tomato sauce, bacon and onion.
A group of 15 Bakersfield East Rotarians helped man the grill, plate the grub in to go containers, and distribute the meals to the hungry hospital workers. It seemed like a small effort to honor the men and women on the frontline. These folks labor at their vocations no matter the dangers they may face or the tasks that they perform. We especially wanted to recognize those workers who are on duty throughout the night.
Thanks to them and all others who continue to serve us during the Covid19 crisis. These folks are exemplifying the Rotary motto “Service Beyond Self”.
Bakersfield East Rotary plans to continue this effort serving evening staff at Adventist Hospital and Memorial over the next two weeks.
The Paso Robles Rotary Club set up a booth to talk about Polio and the Foundation in August of last year at the Winemakers’ Cookoff fundraiser with hundreds of patrons. Volunteers from the club included Doug Barth and Lacey Clifton. The booth was set up at the entrance to the event next to a booth selling Rotary-branded t-shirts to gain the most attention to the Foundation and the work Rotary does to eradicate polio. A plush Rotary piggy bank was at the booth and was carried around throughout the event to continue to encourage donations. Many visitors came up to the booth with questions; a top question being the necessity of a polio booster shot, which is not needed. Rotary member Lacey Clifton’s mother is a polio survivor so Lacey shared her Rotary “why” with visitors to the booth and passed out invitations to attend a meeting. The Foundation booth was well received and the Paso Robles Rotary Club plans to host the same booth again this August.
“The Rotary Club of Westlake Village held a career day for students of Westlake High School, November 22nd 2019. The Rotary members spoke with 40 students of The Academy program about their personal experiences with school and how they prepared for college or a career. The Rotarians that participated were from left to right, Brian Hynes – Owner Borderline Bar and Grill, Mary Olsen – General Manager KCLU, Mike Dutra – Owner Candu Graphics and Kelly Honig – Mayor of Westlake Village. With the many paths taken by the members to be where they are today, the students understood the options available and that while they may be striving for a career in one field, most likely that will change with schooling and life experiences. In addition one of the students became an employee of one of the participants, wanting to experience a work life that many students do not have during these times.”
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us. This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey. Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group. For the month of March the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Laura Willis, Westlake Village Sunrise. In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Laura will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE SUNRISE – LAURA WILLIS
Laura Willis has been a member of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise twice. She left many years ago when her Chiropractic practice moved and returned to the club a few years ago. She has been a spark to a 35-year-old club. Her intensity, enthusiasm, willingness to help on all levels, and devotion to Rotary is displayed continuously and in every aspect of leadership.
When she rejoined, she took it upon herself to meet, and get to know each member. She reached out, joined committees and served as a cheerleader for events, projects and regular meetings. She has been a spokesperson and major “instigator” sparking action and encouraging participation.
District Governor Savi has asked that I reach out to you to collect photos of your club's community service projects during these unprecedented times.
We know that so many clubs have been busy pivoting their efforts to help those in their communities with dire needs -- we have seen clubs provide supplies to the Salvation Army, collect food for seniors, and feed families in their communities.
What I would like are photos and a short description of what your club has been doing for your community.
This information will be used to create a collective story of our District's projects and to also let RI know of our efforts and commitments to keep the ideal of Rotary - Service Above Self - alive in our communities during these difficult times now and probably in the months to come.
Thank you so much for helping me organize this for DG Savi and I look forward to receiving your emails shortly!
Santa Barbara Sunrisers Help Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic by Making Masks
Members of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise are stepping in to supply personal protective equipment for those who are providing essential services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Practicing physical distancing, Rotary volunteers are sewing masks at home. The mask covers are made from cotton fabric in a variety of cheery patterns and colors with elastic that goes over the ears. The covers can be machine-washed and used repeatedly.
Judith McCaffrey, Past President and Mask Project Coordinator, purchased fabric and supplies, cut materials to specifications, provided easy sewing instructions, and safely delivered kits to each of the volunteer's mailboxes or doorsteps.
The first batch of completed masks were delivered to Peabody Elementary School and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County for their staff and volunteers for food distribution. Additional deliveries have been made to Sansum Clinic, Center for Successful Aging, and Vista Del Monte.
Volunteers will continue to sew and deliver masks as needed.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise extends its appreciation to all of the healthcare workers, first responders, and those providing essential services during this time of crisis.
Photo 1: Judith McCaffrey heads up the club's mask making project.
Photo 2: Ellen Chase stitches up masks at home.
Photo 3: Cheryl and Gary Jensen are the club’s highest producer of masks.
Photo 4: Judith McCaffrey delivers masks to Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
Interactors Join Carpinteria Morning Rotary in Shining the Light of Service
The Carpinteria Avocado Festival Booth manned by Carpinteria Morning Rotarians and the Carpinteria High School Interact Club members sold enough solar student lamps and solar cell chargers to replace kerosene lamps with solar lights in 7 homes in Cuba and provide 15 families and small businesses in Guatemala City and the Philippines with solar chargers for their cell phones.
In an AvoFest Booth, students explained the benefits of solar lights and solar chargers to AvoFest attendees from the, answered questions and made the sales. Solar lights and chargers were sold on a “BOGO” basis, that is, “buy one and give one”. The buyer keeps one solar device to use at home and Morning Rotary sends the other solar device to a needy person in a village or town without a source of reliable electricity or no available electricity at all. The Interact Club members learned presentation and business skills while providing a service to people around the world.
Rotary de Tolosa had an amazing meeting today(Feb 25, 2020) where we welcomed our District Governor, Savi Bhim, to help award 41 Paul Harris Fellows among our members, 21 to first time recipients, making us become A 100% Membership Paul Harris Fellow Club. Thank you to Cheryl Wakefield, our Foundation Chair, for rallying the members behind the cause. We would like to recognize her as Rotarian of The Month.
Last week, Lacey Clifton of the Rotary Club of Paso Robles was the guest presenter for her Club to teach branding and ways to display Rotary pride on personal and business social media sites including Facebook LinkedIn, and Instagram. The Rotary Club of Paso Robles has switched to holding meetings on Zoom during the Shelter-in-Place order which allowed Ms. Clifton to give a step-by-step tutorial to the Club remotely using PowerPoint and live demonstrations on each platform. Ms. Clifton is an expert in social media and search engine optimization marketing and regularly gives workshops in the San Luis Obispo area. She joined the Club one year ago and immediately began working with the Club on their branding outline and social presence by establishing social media accounts with LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram (they already had Facebook), but needed an opportunity to teach the Club more about hashtags, liking posts to boost visibility in the algorithms, and editing properties to display Club membership more prominently.
The tutorial was later distributed to everyone in the Club along with a survey asking members to share their Rotary Story for publication on the social media platforms and website. As members begin engaging more with the Club online, the community will become more aware of the service activities of the Club and membership opportunities for others who believe in service above self.
The Club Rotario de Tegucigalpa was the host club on GG1876286 and has been a partner of Operation Footprint for eighteen years. We visited their club meeting the first night we were in Honduras. From Left to Right: Oscar Castaneda – Tegucigalpa and Primary Contact on GG 1876286, Harry Walls – Nipomo, Edgar Garcia – Westlake Village Sunrise, Edwing Pavon- Tegucigalpa, Leigh Seaton – Simi Sunrise, Audrey Brown – Westlake Village, Nick Frankle - Westlake Village Sunrise
Infant Casting- Leigh Seaton (Simi Sunrise) and Audrey Brown (Westlake Village) assist in casting the legs of an infant to correct a clubfoot condition.
Operating Room- Visiting Rotarians were invited into the operating room to observe the surgeries and provide support as needed.
From Left to Right: Edgar Garcia – Westlake Village Sunrise, Leigh Seaton – Simi Sunrise, Harry Walls – Nipomo, Audrey Brown – Westlake Village
Evaluation- Leigh Seaton (Simi Sunrise) presents a beanie baby to a child waiting to be evaluated. Ty, Inc. donated two cases of beanie babies to the project.
Operation Footprint provides surgeons, training, medical equipment and supplies that enable doctors in Honduras to diagnose and treat children with deformities due to untreated clubfoot and unable to participate in normal childhood activities. In January 2020 surgeons from Operation Footprint Baja Project traveled to Honduras to perform surgical procedures that correct or mitigate impact on lives of Honduran children. The public Hospital San Felipe provides staff, equipment and four operating suites.
The Operation Footprint surgeons train local doctors in diagnosis and corrective procedures for the deformities. The result is children leading normal lives and local doctors better prepared to diagnose and treat clubfoot.
A Rotary Foundation Global Grant provided laboratory and surgical equipment and supplies to enable Public Hospital San Felipe to better serve their patients. The Rotary Clubs of Westlake Village Sunrise and Tegucigalpa, Honduras sponsored the grant. Eight other clubs in District 5240 supported the grant.
This year Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Westlake Village Sunrise, Westlake Village, Simi Sunrise and Nipomo accompanied the medical team. They interacted with the children, helped with casting, and spent time in the operating room. They presented the equipment and supplies to Honduran government at the Congress building. They made many new friends and had a life-chaining experience while seeing the Rotary Foundation in action. Many thanks to everyone who has helped give a child the ability to go to school, play, participate in family activities and look with hope to the future.
Primary contact is Nick Frankle, Email nickdg1617@earthlink.net, Cell: 805-402-6303. Let me know if you have any questions or need clarification.
It is a free, online training program that teaches you to help professional healthcare workers from your home or in the field. It requires no special skills.
Once trained you can choose to apply your new skills by providing phone or online support from your home or by assisting healthcare workers in the field.
If this is of interest to you please check out this link for more information.
Rotary’s Polio Eradication is on Thousand Oaks Club’s Radar
A special section on the website http://polioeradication.org shows how Polio Eradication learnings can impact how we deal with COVID-19. This reminds us all how important it was for Rotary to take on the challenge of Polio Eradication throughout the world. Our District is also making progress in the fight against polio. But the job is not yet finished.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has made a special effort this year to support eradication progress. There is still an active member in that club, Jere Robings, who was at the 1988 Philadelphia Convention that launched the project. Also, several TO club members have gone to India to get involved in NID projects.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group.
For the month of March the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Blake Goehring, Shafter Rotary Club.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Blake will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Blake Goehring, Shafter Rotary Club
2001 RYLA Participant
2006 became a member of the Rotary Club of Shafter
2010 National Immunization Day participant in India
2010-2011 Club President for Rotary Club of Shafter
2011 Basic PRLS graduate
2011-2017 RYLA Counselor
2013 National Immunization Day team leader in India
2013-2014 Assistant Governor for Group 3 under Jack McClenahan
2016-2017 Assistant Governor for Group 3 under Nick Frankle
2016 Zone 26 Emerging Leader Conference in Santa Barbara
2017-2018 Assistant Governor for Group 3 under John Weiss
Let me get right to the unfortunate news — the RI Board of Directors has decided to cancel the 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. We are all part of the Rotary family, and your safety remains our highest priority. Like the more than 20,000 registrants who planned to attend this year’s convention, I am very disappointed. However, this is the right and necessary decision to protect the health and safety of convention attendees, as well as those who call Honolulu home.
As I speak to our club presidents their greatest concern is how to keep in contact with their members giving the guideline that now limits social gathering to 10 or less.
One of the most effective ways is on-line meetings and Scott Phillips our 22-23 DG has worked out a fantastic deal for our district .
A huge thank you from all of us in District 5240 Scott !
The COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting every aspect of our lives in real time, and this puts Rotarians in an unfamiliar place. As People of Action, we are most comfortable when we are fully engaged in the world – moving freely, meeting openly, and offering helping hands. These are very difficult times for people who, like us, are at our best when we are learning, growing, and serving—together.
Our club recently held an offsite meeting at the Pereira Octagon Barn, which we and other Rotary clubs had helped renovate over the last year. This historically and culturally important structure was built in 1906 by three European immigrants, one of whom was a carpenter, and another a dairy farmer. This is reportedly the last remaining such octagonal barn on the west coast and is a remnant of a once-thriving dairy sector on the central California coast. One of our new Rotary de Tolosa members, Kaila Dettman, is Executive Director of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, which manages the Octagon Barn and its grounds for educational and other community events.
Business Socials
Our club held four business socials at Rotarian’s worksites in lieu of regular meetings. As with the Octagon Barn meeting, we all learned something about our member’s workplace while having a great time socializing. Sites included Rothman Investments in Atascadero, and Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center, the Nautical Bean coffee shop, and WineSneak wine bar in San Luis Obispo.
SPAGHETTI WESTERN FUNDRAISER POSTPONED TO June 20TH, 2020
Loads of Fun and Great Food at the Spaghetti Western Fundraiser
Annual Event Raises Funds for Local High School & College Student Scholarships
Join the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club at their annual Spaghetti-Western fundraiser at 5:00PM SATURDAY June 20TH, 2020 (Previously scheduled for 5:00pm Saturday, March 28th, 2020.)
On behalf of District Governor Savi Bhim, this message is being sent to District Executives, Club Executives and Club Directors regarding guidance for Clubs pertaining to the COVID-19 situation.
DG Savi has received a number of messages from Clubs and District Staff asking her if there has been a District position/guideline issued regarding the conducting of regular Rotary Meetings or Club Events during this COVID-19 situation.
We partnered with our local continuation high school to provide academically at-risk students the chance to shadow a Rotarian for a few hours at their workplace. These career exploration activities were designed to expose high school seniors to a day in the life of a career professional. Thirty Rotarians volunteered to serve as job shadow mentors. Students chose a Rotarian to shadow, spent several hours with the Rotarian at work, then wrote up a report on their experiences. Job shadows included visiting a drywall firm’s job sites, Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center during set up and a live band performance, a local realtor as she made her rounds of homes for sale, and a marketing/PR firm with involvement of the owner and several of her colleagues. Several students sent heart-warming thank you notes, grateful for the eye-opening experiences they shared with Rotarians.
A Pacific Beach High School student with her job shadow
mentor at the Verdin Marketing firm.
Verdin Marketing President and Rotarian, Mary Verdin (left) with Pacific Beach High School job shadow student (upper middle, black top) and the Verdin team.
Article By: Mark Shelton, Vocational Service Chair, Rotary de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo, CA, mshelton@calpoly.edu (805) 459-7863
By PDG Frank Ortiz, District Rotary Foundation Chair
The District Rotary Foundation Committee (DRFC) consists of five (5) subcommittees:
Today, the focus is the Grants Subcommittee.
Grants SubCommittee
This committee generally oversees the process for receiving District and Global Grants for Clubs within District 5240.
District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in our local communities and communities abroad. District grants fund a variety of district and club projects and activities, including: Humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts; Scholarships for any level, length of time, location, or area of study; Youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotaract, and Interact; Vocational training teams, which are groups of professionals who travel abroad either to teach local professionals about their field or to learn more about it themselves. There is plenty of freedom to customize your service projects.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group.
For the month of February the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Fernando Aguirre.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Fernando will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Fernando Aguirre, Bakersfield East Rotary Club
Background:
CEO iKnowTechnology, Inc. for 16 years
Currently President at HydraTech Network Solutions
Married to Lucy Aguirre for 48 years, three adult sons
Joined Rotary in 2003
Positions and Awards:
Basic PRLS 2003
Master PRLS 2004
Club Rotarian of the Year 2006
Club Community Service Director for at least five different presidents
Active in Community Service AOS both serving on committee and advising new directors
Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for seven years.
Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board in 2007
The will return for its 16th year on Saturday, June 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lavinia Campbell Park in Los Olivos. This sell-out event, presented by the Los Olivos Rotary Club, will showcase a variety of carefully selected wines from thirty local wineries. Each wine will be uniquely paired with fresh olive inspired appetizers created by local volunteer chefs.
Back by popular demand, Grammy nominated vocalist Denise Donatelli and her band will be on hand to lend their special blend of smooth jazz to the festivities.
Over the past 16 years the Jazz and Olive Festival has been the Los Olivos Rotary Club’s primary fundraiser that supports its charitable works. All proceeds raised go directly to local scholarships, well managed community projects, and nonprofit organizations.
This year’s event chair, John Matthews, states: “The Jazz and Olive Festival is an all-hands-on-deck event for our club. Every member is involved, keeping our costs low, and allowing us to maximize the proceeds that fund our charitable giving. We work really hard, but we know it creates tremendous impact.”
Special Feature Including The Rotary Club of Westlake Village, Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, and Rotary Club of Nipomo
At the beginning of the Rotary year District Governor Savi Bhim gave all the club’s a new member goal for our district - 1000 new members during her year of service! This worked out to 14 new members per club in District 5240. Membership growth is the engine that powers the vehicle of Rotary. Growth of our members is important because new ideas and new interests reinvigorate clubs – bringing in new energy and future leaders.
This past quarter, four clubs achieved the highest Retention and Membership growth for their respective regions. Reading more about their success might just give other clubs new ideas of how to share the gift of Rotary with new members.
The Rotary Club of Westlake Village
New Members: Malati Baker, Dwight Brown, Chris Clark, and Denise Arledge, and not pictured Rob De Geus, and Colin Doyle
The Rotary Club of Westlake Village’s commitment to making sure each of their current and new members feel special starts with the day potential members show interest in joining Rotary.
Potential members and guests feel the vibrant and warm culture of the Club because each Club meeting includes a welcoming of their “Family of Friends.”
Emphasis this past year has been placed on looking at what each of their members can not only offer to the Club, but what they want to get out of being a Westlake Village Rotarian. One of their goals has been to encourage that each member brings at least one of the 3 W’s to their organization; Work, Wealth, or Wisdom.
By using the 3 W’s as a guide, they ensure that each member gets involved in some capacity. This assists with members feeling connected and a sense of belonging so that as an organization they can continue to do the good work to the benefit their community.
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning
In order to meet the District goals and be a thriving club, Carpinteria Morning established a steering committee to reduce their membership package cost without meeting less than four times per month or sacrificing programs and trainings.
Their plan included reducing meal costs and no longer meeting on the 5th Wednesday of any month, designing new membership forms, creating a new approach, and rolling out a new membership package to invite people to join Rotary. Key objective: Invite people!
Inviting people is now an active conversation in their meetings and weekly newsletter. Invite someone to Rotary!
The new members are people who have been volunteering for their events all along, volunteering in other organizations in town, and people who liked to participate in their events.
They also invited back members that had left in the past and let them know they are always welcome. Several former members returned and are actively participating on committees.
One of their secret ingredients for being an attractive club is having fun events that people can dress in costume. (See photo below!) This may be something as simple as a “Halloween Hat” bonfire, our “Spaghetti Western” themed annual casino night or the “Oh So Royal” stepdown dinner. They found that everybody loves to dress up and be outrageous. Their ever-changing themes for playing dress up is part of their club culture and including everyone who wants to participate has been a winning formula to attracting new members.
Their plan seems to be a good one since Carpinteria Morning club has won this award for two quarters straight!
Rotary Club of Nipomo
Though they meet early, you won’t find them half-asleep! At their meetings potential members and guests enjoy a lively and friendly atmosphere where they feel welcome to join in the fun. While members like to joke and riff on one another, they also keep it lighthearted, with an approachable warmth for guests and new faces.
Their members are some of our most engaging speakers and during the Member Spotlight segment of the meeting members are encouraged to share their stories of how they joined Rotary or how their lives have brought them to the Central Coast. Instead of fining members, they pay for the “bragging rights” to tell the club about exciting events and celebrations of milestones within their families. It is in this sharing of themselves that they learn about each other’s experiences and interests, creating true bonds of camaraderie and long-lasting friendships.
This fun and engaging environment encourages their members to invite their friends to join their club – a strategy that has achieved great success. It can be that simple. Your friends know of Rotary through your acquaintance. You have been that example of Rotary’s service and fellowship to them. Your friends enjoy spending time with you; why not spend that time with you and in Rotary?
Remember to invite family and friends to your clubs’, social, fellowship and community events and activities. (See photo below.)
It is in this giving of themselves, by sharing their activities, events and experiences, that the Rotary Club of Nipomo has become something much larger than just the trappings and routines of their weekly meetings. It becomes a family, with kinship forged while committing to “Service above Self.”
Rotary Club of Wasco
The club had lost significant membership over the last ten years, but the club has incorporated these keys to their stability and growth:
They still have a large number of long-time members (15 + years). These members take great pride in the club and it's infectious. Long time members keep their influence in mind as newer members come in and want to carry on the legacy of the club.
They take a "it never hurts to ask" approach when it comes to prospective members. They really try to reach out and make contact with members of the community and some members seem to be especially good at this.
They give both time and resources, and believe the community has an even stronger appreciation of their support.
On Tuesday January 14, 2020, the Rotary Club of Moorpark and Moorpark High School jointly organized and conducted a vocational tour for high school seniors of 3 local Moorpark businesses. The first business visited was AeroVironment where students learned about unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) ranging from the size of a humming bird to one which was 100 feet long. The second business toured, and Rotarian owned, was Command Performance where students learned about culinary skills as well as job application and interview soft skills. The final business visited was PICNIC TIME where students learned about delivering manufactured consumer goods to consumers who loved outdoor dining lifestyles.
This Rotary combined Vocational Service and Youth Service activity was an outstanding way to help students better understand local career opportunities via real world examples. It also helped local businesses generate excitement from future potential employees in order to assist with future hiring. This activity was made possible through the Rotary Club’s deep networking connections with local businesses and the local school systems’ administration. It was great to see the enthusiasm and direction it supplied to students who may have otherwise been undecided in their career decisions.
Rotary Club of Moorpark Sponsors Student Career Day
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group.
For the month of January the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Mary Meyer Lundstrom.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Mary will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Mary Meyer Lundstrom, Rotary Club of China Lake
Mary is the member we feel best deserves to be nominated for the Rotarian of Action Award.
First, a little background on Mary. Mary is a 30+ year member who has served as Club President and has held several positions on the club board of directors. She is currently serving as the Program Chair, and really works hard to find great, informative speakers for the lunch meetings, and she is committed to making Rotary a welcoming, friendly meeting place. Mary is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and a significant contributor to the Rotary Club of China Lake Charitable Foundation. Mary is always ready to host club social events at her home and has hosted an official reception for a District Governor. She has been responsible for a successful international project that involved an R.I. International grant. Those are just a few highlights from her past Rotary involvement. What makes her a Rotarian of Action is that she is still extremely active in the club and community.
Mary is active in identifying and leading efforts for community service projects; including food drives for a local Food Bank, Coat Drives for winter for those in need, supplies and funds for the local animal shelter, and a book drive for a local long-term care facility. Mary’s most recent effort is to help organize the club’s Earthquake relief efforts. In all of these projects Mary:
1) Coordinates volunteers
2) Places donation boxes in strategic locations around town and then picks them up as they are filled
3) Coordinates with the local churches and Salvation Army for dates and locations to hand out the donations
4) Sorts the donations and gets them ready for distribution
5) Delivers the donations to the charity, or in the case of the coat drive, Is on hand on the appointed day to distribute the coats to those in need
6) If District Grants are involved, and there have been on at least half of her projects, Mary wrote the grant application and prepared and submitted the final report
By PDG Frank Ortiz, District Rotary Foundation Chair
The recent District Rotary Foundation Gala was held in January at the elegant Sherwood Country Club in Westlake Village. It was an event to recognize many of our contributors who have supported The Rotary Foundation within the past year. The event featured our keynote speaker, Past Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran. In addition, Brenda Cressey, current Trustee of The Rotary Foundation was in attendance and spoke to the value of including the Legacy of Rotary in your estate plan.
The event was primarily dedicated to our many Clubs and Individual Rotarians around the District who have made it a priority to support our Foundation.
Thirty-three (33) Clubs were recognized for their support in 2018-2019 with the End Polio Now - Countdown to History Campaign. The effort recognized club contributions of at least $1,500 towards polio eradication efforts.
Twenty-two (22) Clubs were recognized for their support in 2018-2019 as 100% Foundation Giving Clubs with total giving of at least $100 per capita and 100% member participation.
Nineteen (19) Clubs were recognized for their support in 2018-2019 as Every Rotarian Every Year Clubs with Annual Fund Giving of at least $100 per capita and 100% member participation.
The Top 3 highest per capita contributors in 2018-2019 in support of the Annual Fund were Ojai West ($384.21), Oxnard ($325.80), and San Luis Obispo ($320.11).
There were twenty-six (26) new Paul Harris Society Members recognized between January 1 of 2019 and January 6 of 2020. These members are dedicated to an annual commitment of at least $1,000 to Rotary’s Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an Approved Rotary Global Grant.
There were thirty-seven (37) new Major Donors recognized between December of 2018 and January 6 of 2020. Of those, there were six (6) Major Donor Level 2 recipients, and three (3) Major Donor Level 3 recipients. Those new Level 3 recipients were Matt Lallo and Vicki Arndt, both from the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks; and Ragner Storm-Larsen from the Rotary Club of Newbury Park.
There were twenty-five (25) new Bequest Society recognized between December of 2018 and January 6 of 2020. Of those, there were three (3) Bequest Society Level 2 recipients, and one (1) Bequest Society Level 3 recipient. The new Level 3 recipient was Jeff & Sally King from the Rotary Club of Pismo Beach-Five Cities.
Brenda and Dick Cressey from the Rotary Club of Paso Robles were recognized for their support as Arch Klumph Society members, and most recently as contributors to the new Rotary Legacy Society program.
Lastly; there were forty-four (44) Rotarians and Spouses recognized as new Charter Members of the District 5240 Triple Crown Donors Circle. These individuals are recognized for achieving levels of giving as Major Donors, Bequest Society, and Paul Harris Society members.
Thanks to all who worked to make the evening a success and to all who attended and participated with this year’s Foundation Gala.
On the International Service Section of the District website, we have created a tab for District Designated Fund (DDF) projects.
Our goal is to encourage small and medium size clubs with limited DDF allotment to post their project(s) in this section so that other clubs might be open to using their limited funds to support another club’s worthwhile project.
We know that every club has “their special project” but we also know that there is Strength in Numbers.
13 clubs have less than $500 in DDF allotment
11 club have $500 to $1,000 in DDF allotment
20 clubs have between $1,000 to $2,000 in DDF allotment
If you’d like to post your project on the website, please supply us a brief overview:
Club
Title of project (if you have one)
One to two sentences on the project
Funding goal
Any image or photo
A couple of important reminders:
The final Grants Qualification Webinar will be provided on Tuesday February 11, 2020 @ 5:30pm.
You can register for the final webinar from this link:
Club Qualification: 1) Clubs must have two members attend and participate in a District Qualification session. The session is done by Webinar and is about 60 minutes in length. One of the attendees must be the President Elect.
2) Club must be qualified and certified in order to receive District Grants and Global Grants.
3) An unincorporated club must agree and adhere to the provisions of the DRFC District and Global Grants Policy.
4) An incorporated club must agree and adhere to the provisions of the DRFC District and Global Grants Policy with a club resolution
5) As of Jan 15, 2020; a total of 49 Clubs have been Qualified through previous (3) sessions; and (8) Clubs have been Certified. To get Certified, these Clubs still need to sign and submit the Club Memorandum of Understanding.
We look forward to posting your project and spreading the word of good deeds throughout our district.
Regards,
D5240 International Service Committee: Jennifer Alton (RC of SLO), Susan Weaver (E-club of One World), Michael Jansen (RC of Thousand Oaks) and George Poulakos (RC of Ventura)
Appeal from District Governor of District 9570, Australia
Michael Buckeridge
In Australia, farmers are the lifeblood of the country and they are in crisis. Record breaking heat and lack of rain means farmers are struggling to feed sheep and cattle and keep crops alive.
District 9570 is in Central Queensland and is 600,000 square kilometers in area -- almost the size of Texas, USA. Since 2012 a large part of the District has been drought declared and at the start of 2020, the entire district is drought declared.
The drought has resulted in diminished crop growth and carrying capacity for livestock. Apart from the environmental damage and cattle dying, water quality continues to decline. The human cost includes financial loss and mental health issues, particularly suicide and depression.
We’re looking for 15-18 year olds that want to travel the world, learn another language and culture and make lifelong international friendships. The year abroad enables students to become more self-confident, self-sufficient and better world citizens. A Rotary Youth Exchange year abroad is valued at over $24,000 due to our volunteer efforts. Check out www.studyabroadscholarships.org to learn more. Children of Rotarians are also eligible.
E-mail Mary at paseta@att.net for an application. Don’t delay! Interviews and initial orientation are January 25th, 2020.
Ventura South Spreads the Rotary Word at Ventura’s Annual Holiday Street Fair
Twenty members of the Rotary Club of Ventura South turned out on a rainy Saturday, December 7, to set up and staff a booth at the Annual Holiday Street Fair on Main Street in Ventura. Working in 90-minute shifts, the Club members handed out literature about Rotary’s worldwide efforts to eradicate polio and build peace, and also invited those who stopped by to attend a Club meeting to learn more.
The Ventura South Rotarians also promoted the Club’s major fundraiser, the annual Mardi Gras event in support of Turning Point Foundation, on March 1, 2020. For more than 30 years, Turning Point has provided a wide variety of services for those struggling with mental illness in Ventura County.
Club members pictured in the group photo are (l to r): Sandy Warren, Bob Braitman, Melody Thurman, Larry Matheney, Rosa Duran-Ramirez, and Dennis Longwill. Melody went the extra mile in her outreach efforts with a Rotary wheel on her cheek, courtesy of the face-painter in the neighboring booth!
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group.
For the month of December the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Mike Gibson.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Mike will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Mike Gibson, Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary
Member of Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary 1989 – present:
President 1996 – 97
Helped found Christmas Parade of Lights in 1995 to present
Continues to coordinate Parade of Lights each year including:
Applications for parade entries, Advertising Parade order, Parade jobs – coordinating, Parade committee agenda
Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Barn Party fundraiser – helps BBQ and coordinating food purchase
Head of scholarship committee since 2002
Volunteers for numerous Rotary events such as Day in the Park, Special Olympics
Rotary Clubs sometimes struggle with where to hold an off-site meeting. Why not hold it at a local high school? Our Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise held its 7 a.m. meeting at Royal High School in Simi Valley, California.
We wanted to develop a stronger connection with a local school and learn more about the pathway programs the school offered and how our Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise could help. Career Pathway programs, developed by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Health, and Human Resources, promote the use of career pathways (high schools and colleges) to assist youth and adults with acquiring marketable skills and industry-recognized credentials. Many countries offer similar programs under different names.
Royal High School offers its students pathways in Building and Construction Trades Digital Arts, Education, Food Service and Hospitality, JROTC and Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Patient Care - Sports Medicine, Software and Systems Development.
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning President Kim Fly couldn’t help getting fired up talking to Past District Governor Sandi Schwartz about her Ride To Nowhere. If Sandi, could raise over $18,000, the Carpinteria Morning Club could certainly raise a couple thousand dollars.
Are you in a Rotary club that isn’t meeting your - or a few of your - members’ expectations? Are there members who like your club but can’t keep attending when it meets? Would you like to start a new club with a small, energetic group committed to community service? If you answered yes to any of these questions, starting a satellite club might be for you. It’s another available option to help Rotary membership grow.
Unlike regular Rotary clubs, which require 20 members to start, a satellite club can form with just eight members. Satellite clubs also give community members and Rotarians the chance to make a positive difference in a club environment that often differs from their current Rotary club.
Like all Rotary clubs, satellite clubs hold regular meetings, have bylaws and a board of directors, and get involved in community service projects. A local Rotary club sponsors the club and provides advice and support. Satellite club members are Rotarians. Officially, they are members of the sponsor club.
By Tim Trujillo, Executive Assistant Governor, Region 1
Strong family bonds are essential for everyone’s well-being. To make it easier and cost-effective for a family member to participate in Rotary programs and to enjoy the benefits of membership together, consider a Family Membership Plan.
Rotary’s Family Membership plan allows a second adult in the Regular Member’s household to have full Rotary participation in all meetings, events and training programs. The policy guiding this membership plan is as follows:
The Family Membership offering is a discount to a family household member of an existing member paying the Regular Member rate. Family members can join for $ XX per month. This applies as long as another family member is paying the Regular Member rate.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group.
For the month of November the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Gerry Porter.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Gerry will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Gerry Porter- Rotary Club of Cambria
This is what Cambria Club President Mary Ann Carlson has to say about Gerry :
• Dedicated Rotarians for 15 + years
• Attend all conferences, National, and District and most every educational offering
• Hosts Rotary meetings and receptions at his home • Instrumental in bringing Julian Asange from S. Africa to speak on Polio
• Instrumental in bringing speakers from Schools in India and Schools in Bangladesh
• Gerry has been President, has been international Chair, has been foundation president
• Always has projects for district DDGs – helps write and submit for them
• Working on a Rotary International partner Grant for teaching mothers in Bangladesh
• Brought the club foot project to club. Brought Lakota Tribe Electricity project to club.
• Financially supports a girl for the Pyali Girls School in India
• Works all events and attends nearly every club meeting, committee meeting and board meeting and helps any club member who need information or assistance
Gerry is an exemplary Rotarian and well deserving to be Group 11 Rotarian of the year.
Need an idea for a Fun fund raiser? Consider Totally Tables. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of China Lake, this new community fund-raiser generated $9900 for this year’s recipient, the Ridgecrest Regional Hospital Hospice House.
Tables of 8 were sponsored by individuals or groups (i.e. organizations, service clubs, etc). Each table was then uniquely decorated and set following a theme by the table sponsor. Typical themes included travel, sports, products. Our event had table themes of camping, Paso Robles wine, 4th of July, flamingos, roaring 20’s glamour, baseball, fall out, monopoly.
Our event started with social time followed by a catered dinner. There was a short program describing hospice and the Hospice House. Music, dancing, a 50/50 drawing and limited door prizes rounded out the evening. It truly was a fun evening.
For more information, please contact Betty Miller, 760 382 8295, millerbet@verizon.net.
Getting little ones, aged 5 or 6, interested in reading is a great way to ensure their success throughout their education years. Reading is such an important part of eventual learning and development in our school systems that it needs to be emphasized early. For kids it also needs to be made fun and enjoyable. So, Edutainment can be achieved by giving kindergartners a personalized book called “School is Fun".
Rotary Club of Ojai West salutes Richard MacArthur for his dictionary project. In sixteen years, Richard McArthur and the Rotary Club of Ojai West have distributed over five thousand student dictionaries to third graders in the Ojai Valley. The dictionary is a special edition with reference material on geography, American history, and weights and measures. Students are encouraged to write their name in the book and keep it with them throughout their education.
By PDG Frank Ortiz, District Rotary Foundation Chair
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment, offering individual and club recognition as well as naming opportunities that enable you to honor a friend or family member.
By Scott Farrenkopf, Executive Assistant Governor, Region 2
Can You Get Service when There is No One to Serve?
How many of you have been to a restaurant and waited and waited for your food as your stomach growled and your patience wore thin wondering where is your waitress or waiter? Guess what? If you had no server then you would never be served! Without people (ie. the server) then the restaurant would cease to exist.
The restaurant is just like Rotary. It serves. The waitress/waiter is just like a Rotarian. It delivers the service (a server). The client is just like the beneficiary. It needs served. Hence, what we as Rotarians must realize is that there is no “Service above Self” without the Rotarian! There is no action without the “Rotarian of Action!”
By Tim Trujillo, Executive Assistant Governor, Region 1
A Rotary Corporate Membership plan can be set up for Business Owners/Corporate Heads that are on the go. Either you, the Corporate Member or another representative you choose from your workplace is invited to all Rotary functions.
By Cheryl Scott, President, Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast
BAKERSFIELD, CA. On November 12, representatives from Rotary clubs throughout Kern County, along with District 5240 Governor Savi Bhim, helped break ground for an innovative housing project designed to provide permanent housing for 12 local veterans (and up to two dependents per veteran) who are currently homeless or at risk of falling into homelessness. The project is located in the Oildale area of Bakersfield and is funded, in part, by more than $26,000 contributed by Rotar
She is 92 years old and she has been baking cookies for the club’s annual fundraising dinner for as long as she can remember and she still does. Barbara’s cookies are sought after and the 10 to 15 dozens that she donates to the club is usually auctioned off anywhere from $500.00 and up.
The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that Scott Phillips from the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime has been selected to serve as District Governor during the Rotary year 2022-2023.
Scott is a member of the Goleta Noontime Rotary club since 2013. He went on to serve as the Club’s President in 2016-2017. During that year the club was number one in the district for per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund.
As Rotary nears completion of its goal of eradicating polio, many have asked: “what's next?” Where will the incredible talent and resources of Rotary be directed now? The challenge that has in recent years risen to the forefront is that of increasing peace and resolving conflict.
For many, the pursuit of Peace (with a capital P) seems amorphous, hard to get one’s arms around, difficult to know where to start and what exactly to do. The challenge of eradicating polio must have seemed equally daunting when the End Polio Now campaign began, but that didn’t stop determined Rotarians. And that same determination can be used to promote peace and resolve conflicts. The key in this, as it was in the fight against polio, is to enlist able partners and bring our resources to bear on the effort.
This emphasis on Peace is not new. It dates back to 1917 when Paul Harris said: "It is easier to interest men in war than in peace; it, therefore, requires more moral courage to talk peace than war."
By Tim Trujillo, Executive Assistant Governor, Region 1
You may want to consider a program the Rotary Club of Tehachapi has found to be a good way to boost membership – it’s called the Associate Member program. We’ve had it in effect for a couple of years and it has increased our numbers by 8 additional Rotarians.
Our Regular club membership dues are $70 per month and cover all costs including weekly meals, social events, paid registration for all District and RI conferences, conventions and Rotary training events.
The little town of Los Olivos celebrated another year of its fall festival “A Day in the Country” on Saturday October 19, 2019. The highlight of the entire day was the Los Olivos Rotary-sponsored Parade featuring plenty of tractors and old school cars. After the parade, the streets were filled with craft and artist booths, live music entertainment, and a Wine Roundup.
In recent articles, we saw how Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition points work using a 50:50 matching arrangement Click Here For 1st Article, and how clubs can use them to become 100% Paul Harris Fellow clubsClick Here For 2nd Article.
In this article, we’ll demystify the difference between the PHF “recognition amount”, and PHF “recognition points”, reported by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) via MyRotary. Click on “The Rotary Foundation” tab, then on Foundation Reports. Your Donor History Report is at top.
Once you’ve opened your report, look in the upper right-hand corner. You’ll see two numbers: the PHF Recognition Amount and Foundation Recognition Points (available for transfer). How are these calculated? Easy as 1-2-3!
First, add up all contributions you’ve ever made to TRF’s Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an approved grant, from all “Contributions” listed in the report’s Transaction Detail tab.
Second, add up all PHF points transferred to you (“Transfer In”) from all Rotary sources. The sum of these two totals is your “PHF Recognition Amount”.
Finally, add up all PHF recognition points you have transferred to anyone else (“Transfer Out”). Subtract this Step (3) figure from the Step (1) total to find your current Foundation Recognition Points balance.
An example should make this easier to understand.
Amanda has given $1,500 in total to TRF (Annual Fund and Polio Plus) in the past few years. She originally became a PHF when she received 500 recognition points from her club’s 50:50 match program. Recently, she used 1,000 of her own recognition points to honor a local community volunteer as a new PH Fellow.
Interpretation: (1) Amanda is now a multiple Paul Harris Fellow (PHF pin with one sapphire) since her Recognition Amount is 2,000. (2) She still has 500 Recognition Points available.
Check out a very interesting implication of this arithmetic ↙
Beth and Charlie are Rotarians who became PHFs due to $1,000 gifts each made to TRF. Each has a “recognition amount” of 1,000 and “recognition points” of 1,000. Beth and Charlie decide to help each other become a multiple PHF. First, Beth agrees to transfer 500 of her PHF recognition points to Charlie if Charlie contributes $500 to TRF (50:50 match). Next month, Charlie transfers 500 of his PHF recognition points to Beth, if Beth contributes $500 to TRF. Both Beth and Charlie have now each contributed $1,500 total to TRF, yet both have recognition amounts of 2,000 (1500 + 500). Therefore, they are now both multiple PHF (PHF + 1 sapphire), and both still have recognition points of 1,000 (1,500 minus 500).
They each contributed just $500 and yet both qualified for a new PHF pin. Talk about leverage!
Questions? Please contact the author at davcgor@gmail.com
Rotary Foundation / Paul Harris Fellow- Part Three
Our district 5240 is moving up mightily in Zone 25/26 and setting the stag for top honors in membership growth. During this first quarter District 5240 has experienced the largest growth in nine years. This is the greatest increase since July 2, 2010. Credit belongs to everyone who set membership as a priority goal for this Rotary Year.
Considering a 12 year comparison from October 2007 to October 2019 we have 30 growing clubs vs 18 growing clubs in 07. This is an amazing accomplishment in this era of declining membership.
Congratulation to the following Rotary Clubs:
Simi Valley – net positive for the 1st time in 6 years
Santa Barbara Sunrise - 3 consecutive years of positive growth
Lompoc - 2 consecutive years of positive growth
Bakersfield North - 2 consecutive years of positive growth
And 26 more clubs who were recognized at the District Conference with Outstanding Membership Certificates.
Out District Governor, Savi Bhim has set an ambitious goal of 1000 new members for the year. We are moving in very positive direction.
Hang tight, keep the focus and make Rotary relevant for current and new members alike. Way to go District 5240!
By PDG Frank Ortiz, District Rotary Foundation Chair
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
At the 1917 convention, outgoing Rotary president Arch Klumph proposed setting up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.” That one idea, and an initial contribution of $26.50, set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe.
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
The District Rotary Foundation Committee (DRFC) consists of experienced Rotarians who have shown a commitment to the Foundation as demonstrated through program participation and financial contributions. The Committee is led by a DRFC Chair that is appointed for a three-year term. The members of the District Rotary Foundation Committee serve in several capacities as well as sub-committee chairs for several key Foundation functions. Your DRFC team members are identified from the ‘DISTRICT TAB’ in the ‘Rotary Foundation’ subpage on the District Website.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group
For the month of September the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Amy Kardel.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Amy will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Amy Kardel - Rotary De Tolosa of San Luis Obispo
Amy Kardel embodies “Rotary Connects the World”. Despite being a local successful business owner; the Vice President of Strategic Workforce Relationships for Globally recognized Computing Technology Industry Association; a wife, and a mother of four amazing teens and twenty something, Amy by far has been the absolute most dedicated and active Rotarian in our club under my Presidency.
Amy has served with distinction on our board of directors for seven of the past nine years in demanding positions: New Generations Director, District & Global Grants Chair, Youth Services Director, and currently as our International Service Director. Also a Master PRLS graduate she has participated in two NIDs, one to Indian and one to Ghana.
Rotary International, along with the WHO, CDC, and UNICEF, voluntarily crusades to eradicate polio globally in places where it is still crippling and killing children. This poem, written by Carol Lewis, is dedicated to those who are the poem’s title -
On August 25th, Kern County Rotaract and Bakersfield East Rotary partnered together to paint the bedrooms of a Teen Safehouse. This safehouse is a place for girls and teens who have been rescued from sex-trafficking or similar situations. The bedrooms have not been painted since it first opened, and as you can imagine, with the dozens of girls coming in and out, it was time for an update! Bakersfield East Rotary provided all of the paint and painting supplies, along with members Fernando Aguirre, David Sullivan, Tom Burch, and Aaron Markovits to help throughout the day. It was a long day of work but the girls were so appreciative and it was worth every second! Bakersfield East Rotary and Kern County Rotary working to make a difference in the community.
A Notice from PDG Deepa Willingham & Curtis Reinhardt
Dear District 5240 Presidents and RYLA Coordinators,
I have been asked to share this information with our local clubs. It is an amazing opportunity for a local high school student to travel to India as part of a Humanitarian Student Trip Program. Should you know a candidate please share this info with them. All details are in the .pdf offered below. The timeline is very tight. Applications are expected by the end of this month. The trip is in February 2020.
Time is of the essence. So I apologize for sending to you all, but this mail list seemed the best to use to get the word out quickly. Please share with anyone in the club who may have suggestions for candidates.
For details or even more info please do not contact me. The contact is: Curtis Reinhardt Rotary Passport Club of the Central Coast 805-773-4173 curtis@curtisreinhardt.com
The District 5240 Multi-year Planning Committee has planned for a Reporter to gather, post, and market our Clubs' fundraisers, events, and projects. To start, we are looking for a candidate who would like to help "pilot" a test run for reporting from a few clubs. Once we have this reporter, we will plan a meeting to exchange ideas and discuss how this information can be presented for use by the District. If successful, we plan on growing this initiative by adding more reporters and scaling it district-wide. The reporter should be able to gather information from up to three clubs maximum to start. We are open to suggestions on various reporting techniques: visiting clubs, interviews, posting stories, etc. If you would like to help the District test this initiative or if you have any suggestions, please contact Ryan Mills: rmills@simisunsetrotary.org.
In a recent article Click Here for Article, we saw how Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition points can be used in a 50:50 matching arrangement to inspire contributions to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) via donations to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an approved global grant.
This article extends this concept by tying it to an award that may be earned by Rotary (and Rotaract) clubs: the 100% PHF club. Did you know that this TRF award is earned by a Rotary/Rotaract club just once in its existence? Thereafter the club is considered a 100% PHF club, even if new members join the club who are not yet PHF.
As of this writing, more than half (42 of 71) of D5240’s Rotary clubs are already 100% PHF clubs. 399 Rotarians in the remaining 29 clubs have not yet received a PHF pin. On average, each of those 399 members currently has already accumulated $117 in PHF recognition.
Therefore, D5240 could become a 100% PHF district if these 399 members jointly contributed $883 per capita ($1,000 for PHF, minus $117) to The Rotary Foundation, a total of $352,300.
Is it realistic to expect all members (often newer ones) who are not yet PHF to make $883 contributions to TRF? Probably not; at least not immediately and unaided. But here is where the magic of a 50:50 arrangement comes in!
D5240’s Rotary clubs collectively have accumulated 1,372,528 PHF recognition points to date, supported by their past contributions to TRF’s annual fund, to Polio Plus, or to named global grants. This figure is dwarfed by the 3,836,228 recognition points owned individually by D5240 Rotarians. (We have been generous in our support of TRF!) These recognition point totals surpass by comfortable margins the amount needed to make the district 100% PHF.
So, here’s a modest proposal for the 29 Rotary clubs in D5240 that want to earn their 100% PHF club banner this year.
Establish a 50:50 program in your club, using either club (or member) PHF recognition points. Challenge your non-PHF members to become PHF by pledging $s to The Rotary Foundation. For every donated dollar, match it with a PHF recognition point from your club, or from your club’s members who volunteer to participate. Always use signed TRF forms 102-EN to transfer recognition points.
It’s easy, and your club should do it. Recognition points do not earn interest. Their most important use is to provide an incentive to others to make new contributions to TRF. Points disappear (often) when a Rotarian resigns from the club or passes away. PHF recognition points should be used sooner, not later, as an incentive for contributions to TRF that help fund your club’s projects, for the welfare of your community and the world.
If your club isn’t 100% PHF, challenge it! Become a 100% PHF club by June 2020. Institute a 50:50 matching program and watch your club earn a well-deserved honor that never expires!
A list of 100% PHF clubs appears on the next page. Questions? Please contact the author at davcgor@gmail.com
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a paralyzing and potentially deadly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5, and is caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can then attack the nervous system. Years after recovery, post-polio syndrome may occur, with a slow development of muscle weakness similar to that which the person had during the initial infection.
Polio has been on the earth for thousands of years, with depictions disease in ancient art, such as in the carvings inside an ancient Egyptian pyramid, portraying a priest with a withered leg.
In the early 20th century, polio was one of the most feared diseases in the industrialized world. It paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children every year. Effective vaccines against polio were introduced by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, in the 1950s and 60s. Polio was brought under control and practically eliminated as a public health problem in the United States and other countries. As of 1979, the United States was polio free; in 1988 the global polio eradication initiatives began. Since then more than 25 billion children have immunized, Thanks to the cooperation more than 200 countries, backed by an international investment of more than US$11 billion. The timeline of the history of polio may be found at www.polio.org, as well as www.endpolio.org.
Today, only two countries have not stopped polio. They are Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many factors contribute to their inability to eradicate this disease. Rotary international, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been largely responsible for the success of polio eradication in all the other countries. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
We've helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. So far, Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion toward eradicating the disease worldwide. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.
You, as Rotarians, are important to the world - Please continue to fight for the eradication of polio! PLEASE CLICK to RED MORE for a letter you can use to send to prospective donors
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group
For the month of September the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Allan Jones.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Allan will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Allan Jones- Rotary Club of Solvang
Allan Jones of the Rotary Club of Solvang has a passion for bringing his Club into the future. As a Rotarian since 1995, he has offered leadership and inspiration through his Presidency in 2000-2001, his commitment through leading in Avenues of Service through his 24-year history and most recently, as Membership Chair since 2017.
Allan has fully embraced the importance of membership, not just as a number’s game, yet as a vital part of keeping his club alive, fresh and growing. He has brought energy to his position, inviting potential new members to club meetings and community events. With a sincere smile, a firm handshake and spot on his busy calendar if they’d like to “talk it over”, he truly engages them with a spirit of friendship. He takes his role a step further, directing newcomers to important resources and shepherding them through the process of becoming comfortable and engaged as Rotarians. In action, he is driven to maximize the potential of his club’s future and simply cannot recall exactly how many people he has sponsored into the club over the years.
On Monday, September 23rd, a few members of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset helped serve hot meals to people in need of food at the Samaritan Center in Simi Valley. This small but impactful project was organized by the club’s Community Service Director, Mike Kort. Mike contacted several restaurants to provide the meals who were more than happy to donate and coordinated the timing with The Samaritan Center. Thanks to Chick Fil-A, El Huarache de Mexico, and Smokin Steve's Pit BBQ at least 50 people in need were served.
Mike was able to pick up all the food and deliver the meals to the Samaritan Center where they were heated and prepped. Mike even prepared lemonade at his home the night before. When the doors opened at 5:30p, a long line of those in need were served, buffet style, by Rotarians who greeted them. To top off the evening, The Samaritan Center provided cake for dessert.
Here’s a question that comes up a lot. What are Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) recognition points?
Other questions frequently follow. How can these points be used? Can we use them to help fund a grant project?
The answer to that last question is, unfortunately, no. Let’s see why, and let’s answer the earlier questions as well.
Simply put, Paul Harris Fellow recognition points are assigned to a contributor to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) for dollar gifts given to the Annual Fund, to Polio Plus, or to an authorized Global Grant. Fresh contributions add to a donor’s recognition point total at the rate of one point per dollar given.
Can the points themselves be used to fund a new Rotary Foundation grant project? No, they cannot, as they represent prior contributions to TRF, in some cases made many years ago. Those dollars were used to fund projects then and are not available again to fund new projects.
So how can PHF recognition points be used? The answer lies within the name. Such points can be used to recognize any person – including a fellow Rotarian or a member of the community – as a new (or multiple) Paul Harris Fellow.
Some sad news regarding one of our Past District 5240 Governors... The text below is from Rob van Nieuwburg, Past President of the Rotary Club of Ventura.
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A little over three weeks ago I told you how my long-time friend Marc Vertin was fighting for his life. In the afternoon on September 12, 2019, he lost that fight. As usual, everyone will express their sorrow, offer prayers and thoughts for the ones staying behind and move on with life. That’s what we do. Sometimes events like this hit just too close for comfort. It takes more than just accept and move on. Tears won’t even do much to help with the pain and immensity of the loss. For me, this is one that is much too close.
In 1989 the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North (Club 673) embarked on a local project to help and support a Santa Barbara Elementary School, part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District (a disadvantaged School in the District)
The initial project came about because one of our Rotary Members Mr. Ken Compton, then the Administrator of The Samarkand (a local well known Retirement Community) and his wife Ellie Compton a teacher at Adams Elementary School initiated a project whereby our Rotarians would Volunteer at Adams and assist in tutoring the students. The Class ratio was one teacher to about 26 students.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group
For the month of August the Rotary Clubs selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Tammy Dobrotin.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Tammy will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition.
Tammy Dobrotin – Goleta Evening Rotary
Tammy is easily on of our most active and dedicated members and has been for several years! She can always be counted on to get involved in our numerous service projects, both in the planning and the actual work. Her level of commitment does not simply end with showing up on the day of the event but rather she typically takes on a leadership role simply because she is incredibly smart and committed to all things Rotary!
Rotary Clubs of Ojai and Ojai West Raise 10,000.00 for the "End Polio Now Drive”
President Cheree of the RC of Ojai and President Steve of the RC of Ojai West combined forces and created a spectacular evening of food, entertainment and inspiration for District Governor Savi.
It was held at the Boccali’s Pizza & Pasta Restaurant of Rotarian Dewayne Boccali who serenaded the audience while they enjoyed the food and the ambiance.
The theme was “Spaghetti Western” and they decided to have a polio drive which they appropriately named ‘A Fistful of Dollars’
President Cheree said they had to count the donations several times before she made the announcement to make sure she was accurate and not dreaming
They raised $10,000.00 in less than one hour for the ‘End Polio Now Drive’. This becomes $30,000.00 with the Bill & Melinda Gates 2 for 1 match.
The close to 100 attendees dug deep into their pockets to help Rotary keep its promise to the children of the world that they will live in a Polio Free world.
In Rotary, we believe in the marathon and not the sprint!
(Image from International Marathon Fellowship of Rotarians / www.rotarianrun.org)
Congratulations to the following Rotary clubs that have welcomed new members as of July 31. They are now part of an organization that is founded on the principle of the equal worth of every human being and the value of Service Above Self.
I’m writing you to introduce the Open World Program (a program funded by the Congress of the United States) that offers Rotary clubs in the US a unique opportunity to enhance international understanding and peace by hosting emerging leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Rotary International Recognizes Golden Valley High School Teacher Jennifer Yamauchi
Educator Receives Highest Honor Bestowed Upon Non-Rotarians
Jennifer Yamauchi, a teacher from Golden Valley High School in Bakersfield, was recognized today with the Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity, the highest honor Rotary International bestows upon any non-Rotarian. Fewer than 550 people around the globe each year are recognized with the award, making Yamauchi, one of a relative few world-wide that receive the highly-regarded honor.
"A Paul Harris Fellow is the recognition applied to the contribution of $1,000 or more by, or on behalf of, any person to The Rotary Foundation ("TRF")." Many such contributions help fund projects in the donor's community, and frequently these projects are funded through District Grants. It's part of human nature to contribute to projects done in our own backyard. The need is easily evident to us by virtue of getting to know our neighbors and the daily struggles they face as they work to improve their situation. Paradoxically, however, humanitarian needs are often greater in far-flung corners of our world that attract little outside attention.
Rotary Ventura South Serves up Support for 27th Annual Ventura County Veterans Stand Down
On a warm Saturday afternoon, July 27, a team of members and guests from the Rotary Club of Ventura South prepared and served dinner for more than 50 needy veterans at the 27th Annual Veterans Stand Down, a three-day event that provides a wide range of services to veterans from throughout the County, many of whom have found themselves without a permanent home.
District 5240 has no shortage of outstanding Rotarians whose service to humanity can serve as an inspiration to all of us.
This Rotary year, we plan on recognizing and sharing their inspirational journey.
Each of the 12 Groups in the District has been assigned one month in the Rotary 2019-20 year for the Assistant Governor and Presidents to select one Rotarian of Action in their Group
For the month of July the Rotary clubs of Fillmore, Ojai, Ojai West, Santa Paula, Ventura, Ventura East, and Ventura South selected as their Rotarian of Action to be Kay Bliss.
In recognition of “doing good in the world”, Kay will be presented with a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition .
Kay Bliss- Rotary Club of Ojai, Member since 2001
Kay has served as Past President, Youth Services Director, International Service Director and was our 1st Peace Chair, insuring our status as a Peace Builder Club in 2018/2019, with the completion of the Matilija Peace Pavilion- a beautiful outdoor pavilion at our Middle School designed for outdoor teachings & gatherings. The pavilion includes a time capsule and bronze plaques of quotes chosen by students by leaders of Peace in the world, in addition under the coordination of Past DG Wade Nomura, a Japanese persimmon tree from Hiroshima was presented to DG Sandy and planted at the Peace Pavilion. Kay currently serves as our Global Grants Chair, a new member mentor and on our Board of Directors as Member-at-Large.
One way to grow Rotary is to form new clubs, even in communities where Rotary is thriving. Here is the message that Rotary International President Mark Maloney has been sharing demonstrating how a single Rotary club likely does not serve all of the leaders in a community.
Deepening our impact by expanding membership is a top priority for us. Rotary International has put together a page with many resources – from Assessing your club, Engaging new members, Connecting with prospective members and much more. This information can be found at https://my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference/learn-topic/membership
The District receives many questions about flexibility options for clubs. Rotary has a page that talks about Rotary club models, guide to satellite clubs, guide to corporate membership and more. Take a look at https://my.rotary.org/en/club-flexibility for ideas and information.
Make sure your club has a membership committee and you are exploring all of the options available! More Rotarians means we are more impactful in our communities, around the world, and in our members’ lives!
New Video Series Spotlights Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Members Sharing Why “BBRC is the Place to Be”!
As Rotary International works to build its brand and membership numbers around the globe, Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club (BBRC) is doing the same with its new series of video testimonials featuring members sharing some of their favorite Rotary experiences.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset Provides Shoes and Back to School Clothing at their 17th Annual Shoes for Little Souls Project
Shoes for Little Souls is a community service project hosted by the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset in partnership with The Samaritan Center and Kohl's Department Store in Simi Valley. The goal is to help homeless (or at risk) families get back-to-school clothing for their children. Children who will be able to feel better about themselves when they return to school next month. The community also comes together to support parents in difficult times. The 17th Annual shopping spree took place on Saturday, July 20, 2019.
Arroyo Grande Rotary Club is Conducting a Charity Raffle - Win a 2019 Ford Escape SUV!
“Keys for a Cause” Raffle Drawing on August 25, 2019 at the Grover Beach Stone Soup Music Festival
Raffle Partners include Mullahey Ford of AG and Various Regional Non-Profit Organizations
The Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande and Mullahey Ford in Arroyo Grande are partnering in a charity raffle which offers the grand prize of a 2019 Ruby Red Ford Escape SUV! This is the second year of this partnership which was very successful in 2018. The grand prize includes CA sales tax and vehicle registration fees. Net proceeds will fund several local Rotary programs and scholarships as well as several local non-profit organizations.
Interested in showcasing your project at our upcoming District Conference?
We are asking any club that is interested in showcasing their international or local project at the upcoming D5240 Conference to submit their request by September 9th.
Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo Presents 19th Annual “Homes of Distinction” Tour to raise funds for Rotary Charities
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Guests will have an exclusive look into five beautiful and unique homes as the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo presents the 19th Annual “Homes of Distinction” Tour, Sunday, September 15 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each home has a unique ambiance where architecture, décor and landscaping tell the stories of their lives. All proceeds fund scholarships for local students & grants to support local non-profits.
As most of you know, our District had one of our biggest socials ever at Dodger Stadium recently. The feedback has been nothing but positive, which means, we should probably do this more often! David Brown from Los Olivos Rotary Club took a little extra time to thank the District and especially Mike Murphy, our District Club Service Chair for his time and planning. Dave speaks for a lot of us in his message. Thanks Dave for the message and thank you Mike for the hard work! See Dave's message below.
The Solvang Rotary Club inducted five new members on June 18th. Rotary District 5240 Governor, Sandi Schwartz was in attendance to participate in the ceremony. Ms. Schwartz addressed the inductees, “We admit you into the Rotary Club of Solvang, our fraternity, our friendship and our family. We further admit you into the Rotary International family throughout the world. As you embark on your Rotary journey, you will surely discover the true meaning of our principal motto; Service Above Self. We ask that you abide by Rotary’s Four-Way Test. This is our ethical code of conduct that will guide you through Rotary and in your personal and professional life as well.”
School’s out for the summer! San Luis Obispo Rotarians presented 14 well deserving local students with scholarships to support their future academic endeavors. In total, $39,500 was awarded to local students. The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo Challenge Scholarship Program provides scholarships to high-achieving students who have faced significant personal challenges during their school career. Its goal is to help scholarship recipients focus less on financial challenges and more on advancing their learning.
Individual scholarship amounts varied from $1,000 to $20,000 (awarded in annual distributions of $5,000 over 4-years). Award recipients were graduates from San Luis Obispo High School, Pacific Beach High School & SLO County Independent Living Program.
This project was a joint partnership with Shafter Rotary Club, the City of Shafter and Amvets. Shafter Rotary Club was responsible for contributing up to $15,000 to use towards installation of flagpoles, electrical, and lighting improvements plus concrete and walkway improvements. A dedication was held on Saturday, May 18th with several local dignitaries in attendance. The Shafter Rotary Club then hosted refreshments and food following the ceremony.
The Peace Academy of the Sciences and Arts is a non-profit educational program with the goal to inspire a community of lifelong learners who become caretakers and peace leaders for our world. Last summer, we provided an amazingly successful 4 week full-day enrichment program for over 40 children in SLO County.
For the summer of 2019, we plan to open our doors to serve 50% more students with new and exciting curriculum. New and returning children will embark on a 4-week learning journey, together, yet each in their own unique way, to become scientists, critical thinkers, authors, cooks, performers, coders, and problem solvers while having tons of fun!
To celebrate Past District Govenor’s support and mentorship, Cayucos Rotary instituted a new “Chungsam Doh Music Scholarship Fund” program to nurture college students wishing to major and pursue a career in music. The scholarship is being funded by the club’s annual fundraisers.
Besides music being the major, the selection criteria requires that scholarship applicants have must completed at least one year at the local community college, and perform at Cayucos Rotary’s annual masquerade event, if selected. Priority is given to students currently engaged in music pursuits, and community involvement. Students with financial needs are also considered.
Since 2017, Cayucos Rotary has been working to rehabilitate the pre-war cabins and facilities at Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School in San Luis Obispo. Our club’s goal is to create a state-of-the-art outdoor educational campus that focuses on environmental literacy while teaching the Rotary Four-way Test’s ethics and conflict resolution. The school serves about 10,000 youths annually from all over California.
In addition to contributing over $50,000 and labor to build three yurts, Cayucos Rotary has helped to build a new basketball court, install a new audio system, and new benches for the amphitheater re-built by the three San Luis Obispo clubs.
For the past ten years, Cayucos Rotary has hosted the “Lost at Sea” memorial on Memorial Day, to remember those who served as well as civilians who had been lost at sea. The memorial is held at 1500 hours every year at the Cayucos Pier.
Each year, there are devotional and ceremonial tributes following the national anthem and welcome remarks. Military veterans come dressed in their uniforms and are honored. Music follows the tolling of the bell, and the meaning of the “Missing Man” and the symbolism of the wreath are explained to the audience. Benediction continues and everyone marches out to the pier for blessings of the wreath. The wreath is then tossed into the ocean, and the rifle salute follows. The ceremony closes with the flyover of war planes. It’s an emotionally charged and touching event, and not to be missed.
Each quarter, Rotarians, friends and Cayucos Students gather to help clean the beach by Cayucos Pier. The clean-up has extended to Front Street that borders the beach, and South Ocean Avenue. Participants include middle-school students and Interactors from Cayucos Middle School, school teachers and members of Cayucos Rotary. Debri were picked up and cleared expeditiously. Retailers, visitors and drivers either wave, said "hi" and "honked" their thanks. Sometimes, they joined in.
Santa Barbara, CA – In partnership with the SBCC Foundation, Rotary Club of Montecito and its supporting foundation are pleased to announce the awarding of ten $1,250 scholarships to high-performing Santa Barbara City College vocational and career technology students. Rotary Club of Montecito has long prioritized education as a key area of focus by providing financial support to ensure Santa Barbara’s local youth are able to maximize their potential.
Recently the Rotary Club of Conejo Valley, collaborated with several organizations, including Rotary Club of Nuevo Leon, Gift For Life, Cardio Chavitos, international surgeons, and anesthesiologists to help perform life saving surgeries on approximately 31 children in Monterrey Mexico. Diego Velasquez, International Service Chair for Conejo Valley’s club, worked together with his club and the various groups to get a Rotary global grant approved to further support this incredible mission. Early November 2018, Rotarian, Diego Velasquez, along with numerous volunteers arrived in Monterrey Mexico amongst the captivating views of the mountains eager to get their project started to help these less fortunate children in dire need. They visited the world class Hospital Zambrano Hellion where surgeries took place and had a pre-surgery meeting with the local Rotary Club of Nuevo Leon, Gift for Life, Cardio Chavitos, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other volunteers. Children checked in and had an emotional, high-spirited meeting with the volunteers. All in all surgeries went very well and these lovely children got a second chance at life thanks to Rotary and the other amazing organizations’ contributions. As Rotarians toured the city after there was a sign on the street that summed up the trip, “Vivir Es Increible”, which means that "To Live Is Incredible!"
The Hap Rapp Memorial Track Meet is the oldest community service project of the Camarillo Rotary Club. The Meet began in 1959, when a group of local Rotarians created an organized track and field competition for Camarillo boys and girls at the elementary and junior high school levels. There were only a few schools then, and not too many entrants, but over the years, the Meet has grown to keep pace with the community. The Meet was named the Hap Rapp Memorial Track Meet in 1988, in honor of the late Rotarian Hap Rapp, who devoted so much of his time and talents to the event over the years.
Give this a try! Ventura Rotary has now attended its 4th Chamber of Commerce Business Expo with a booth and has garnered several prospective new (young) members interested in networking and building professional relationships. The Ventura Club hosts an expo booth with a large screen slide show of projects and showcasing the diverse membership as well as banners and personal invitation cards to the next lunch meeting. The professional networking opportunity has enticed several new members and, as we all know, even though the networking is a primary reason for joining, the new members stay once they’ve established personal relationships and develop a passion for the service they are able to help accomplish. So far, the Business Expo booth has initiated 9 new member prospects and 3 new members have officially joined.
The Rotary Club of Ventura is very excited to announced that the Rotary Eye Clinic has re-opened in Ventura. The new clinic opened last summer but had to close for one month to search for a new Optometrist. The clinic serves any member of the community who cannot afford eye care. Every week, the clinic opens its doors at the Salvation Army location in Ventura and a line of people are waiting. The need for eye care is abundant. Two retired optometrists who are members of Ventura Rotary donated all of the equipment to build and establish the clinic. A local optometrist staffs the clinic on Tuesday mornings with the help of Ventura Rotary members who serve as receptionists and eye glass consultants. We are always looking for more volunteers to serve these members of our community. We also always need more eye frames. Come join us! Learn more at https://venturarotaryeye.com
Five local high school students earn scholarships for their artistic “Perspectives on Peace”
Ventura, CA: The Rotary Club of Ventura, which this year celebrates 100 years of service to the Ventura community, has announced the winners of a new Perspectives on Peace Scholarship program. Five high school seniors are being awarded a total of $9,000 in scholarships, based on their outstanding original art submissions around the theme of “Perspectives on Peace.” They will be honored at Ventura Rotary Club on May 15th, and their artwork will have a special exhibit at the Museum of Ventura Country from May 18th – June 2nd.
When they learned that the Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise was organizing a Fundraiser built upon the theme of Senior Prom, the Rotaract Clubs of Cal Lutheran University and Conejo Valley sprung into action. Embracing the opportunity of selling corsages and boutonnieres to the Prom patrons to raise funds, they accepted Westlake Sunrise’s request for help. Knowing that both Rotaract Clubs had modest funds to work with, their flower supplies were sponsored by Felix Wang of the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks and their other supplies were sponsored by Westlake Sunrise. Sunrise’s Next Gen Chair Don Martin and his wife, Susan, were educated in Millennials musical tastes when they attended the corsage-making pizza party at Cal Lutheran, with over 10 Rotaractors from both clubs attending. At the Prom Event the following evening, 8 members from both Rotaract Clubs sold the corsages and helped to sell raffle tickets. By the end of the night, they were all dancing together. The 2 Rotaract clubs divided up the near $600 raised from this effort. This project was a success on many levels, especially in the cooperation and teamwork between the clubs involved.
The Rotary Club of Atascadero planned an effort that has spanned 6 years! The project has galvanized the city of Atascadero like no other project. They needed to raise $1,200,000 to complete the "Parents for Joy" project. CLICK HERE for details on the project. The project is now open thanks to a huge donation of land and money by the city and over $500,000.00 in local donations. Past President, Tom Zirk (2015-16) set aside $7,000 during his term for this project. This year, current president, Don Idler was also determined to finish his year by being a major donor. Their fundraisers this year “Cork & Cap Benefit” and the "Crab Feed and Auction" garnered enough to supply the balance to their foundation to write a check for the remaining $25,000! The Rotary Club of Atascadero pulled together and worked very hard to do this as this was not their only donation to the community and support of other clubs.
R/C of Atascadero Donates $25K to finish "Parents for Joy" Project
Like many clubs, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo has long enjoyed holding Vocational Offsite meetings at local businesses. However, as a large club (100+ members), it was difficult finding businesses that were able to host such a large group. So, our Vocational Services team created mini-offsites in order to solve this problem. We now hold Vocational Offsite days where members can sign-up to attend one of several smaller off-site meetings held at members’ businesses. There are usually nine or ten choices, ranging from the Botanical Garden to the local Police Station. The members gather in groups of 10 to 12 and the host business is given the opportunity to education the members about the business. This is a very popular program with our members.
On Monday, April 29, 2019, The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo, with the help of the United Way of San Luis Obispo County and Rotary Clubs throughout the area, led a project called Diversity in Action – SLO Reads to celebrate "Día", a national library program that fosters literacy for all children from all backgrounds. Día, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) is a commitment to include and celebrate all cultures through literacy. Rotarians and other volunteers went to all ten elementary schools in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District and read books of culturally diverse stories to children in kindergarten to 6th grade. The volunteers purchased and donated the books to the classroom libraries and made financial donations to purchase hundreds of additional books. The project was as rewarding to the readers as it was to the children, and the club plans to make this an annual project.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo has implemented a new Business Membership Program for 2018-19. The program allows up to three people from the same business or organization to “share” a membership. One person is the primary member and is an official member of Rotary. They may designate two “delegates” from their organization to attend meetings and club functions in their stead. The program is designed for businesses whose CEO has the desire to be personally involved in Rotary, and involve their staff as well, but may not have the time to attend the weekly meetings. Our first Business Member was inducted on October 22, 2019 – the very busy Superintendent of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, who is sharing the membership with his two Assistant Superintendents. It is a win for all involved!
During the summers of 2017 and 2018, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo has partnered with the Rotary Club of Compostela, Mexico and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to create and implement an English language teaching program in Compostela, Mexico for children and adults who want to improve their English language knowledge and skills. The Rotary Clubs of San Luis Obispo and Compostela have enjoyed a long-standing relationship (20+ years) and many projects have been co-sponsored in Compostela for the benefit of the community. For this project, the clubs funded a Cal Poly faculty member and several students who are in Cal Poly's teaching program to spend several weeks in Compostela teaching English through a series of volunteer classes for adults and children. The project was very successful and will continue each summer.
On April 6th, 2019, the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise got together to form a team of hardworking men and women. Our project for 2019 was to assist The Free Clinic of Simi Valley in getting ready to open their doors for business. The Free Clinic of Simi Valley has provided continuous charitable service since it's establishment in 1971 as a non-profit, volunteer-based community service organization. The mission of the Free Clinic of Simi Valley is to provide medical care, counseling, dental and legal assistance to individuals and families in need, regardless of their ability to pay. This includes those of all ages, ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic backgrounds, who are unable to use traditional sources within the community. Typically, the clients of the clinic are the uninsured and the underserved.
On April 26, 2019 the Rotary Club of Moorpark honored Officers of the Year -- CHP Officer Jaime Morado and Deputy Preston Furukawa. President Scott Hess presented them with a trophy and added their names on the Officers of the Year wall plaque. They were individually recognized for demonstrating through actions and deeds to be the most deserving of the Award. The Rotary club shared their appreciation with CHP Officer Morado and Deputy Sheriff Furukawa for keeping them safe and for their dedication, leadership, and heroism.
In photo: Officers of the Year: CHP Officer Jaime Morado (4rd from left), Deputy Sheriff Preston Furukawa (3rd from left), Rotarian's Moorpark Chief of Police Victor Fazio, and Deputy Sheriff Sargeant Darren Hendren, Deputy Sheriff Juan Ponce (former Officer of the Year), Rotary President Scott Hess, and Rotarian Dale Parvin
Rotarians have always been peacebuilders. Every project that we do locally or around the world both improves lives and contributes to more peaceful communities. When you assist the homeless, mentor students or support our troops, you are building peace. When you participate in an international project or give to the The Rotary Foundation Peace Centers, you are building peace.
The District 5240 Peacebuilder Club program is a way for you to remind the Rotarians in your club and the residents of your local community that Rotarians and Rotary projects build peace.
Becoming a Peacebuilder Club is easy. Go to the District Website Peace Page, download the requirements, complete the report form and forward the completed form to the district. Your club will be recognized with a banner and certificate identifying the club as Rotary Year 2018-19 peacebuilders.
Peacebuilder Reports are due no later than June 15.
“Unfurling the gifts of Autism” is the theme of Hidden Wings, a ten-year old non-profit school in Solvang, that serves young adults with autism and other developmental delays. The Rotary Club of Solvang is adapting its “job shadowing” model to assist Hidden Wings toward achieving its vocational program goals for its students.
Under the model format, Solvang Rotarians will seek to identify and “recruit” business and other community leaders to serve as “Hosts” to students who will visit, work, and learn to focus, “…on their gifts, not their deficits, which empower them to lead full and productive lives in society”. (Hidden Wings pamphlet)
The goal is for students to learn, not only job-specific skills, but also social skills. Successfully serving these special-needs students requires consideration of both activity-appropriate Hosts, as well as desirable vocational pursuits.
Camarillo Grove Park is getting some help from the Camarillo Rotary Club following the devastation caused by last year’s Hill Fire.
A Rotary Grove is being dedicated as a perpetual activity where the club will plant trees, allowing donors to honor and remember loved ones while helping with fire recovery.
Club members got the idea for a Rotary Grove when volunteers were called into action sandbagging trails and sites threatened by flooding after the fire. “Everyone tries to figure out what they can do to make a sustainable difference after a disaster. While sandbagging was important as an effort to save those trails, a Rotary Grove of trees will be a more long lasting benefit that we can enjoy and feel good about,” says Jay Berger, this year’s Rotary membership chair.
Tepehua is a Barrio in the Guadalajara-Lake Chapala area. The resident’s access to water is a sand pipe where the well is contaminated with arsenic and lead. This leads to renal failure in children and young mothers.
They drink soda because it is cheaper than buying bottled water. Drinking soda in large quantities causes health problems including diabetes. Residents can’t afford medical either. It is a sad cycle for the residents.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo Daybreak created a project that provides funds where residents can buy 5 gallon bottles ( Garrafons ) of water at cost for 13 pesos versus 30 -- pesos the full retail cost. They also purchased the Garrafons and racks for storage. The water is purchased from a legitimate purification vendor. There are many “pirate” vendors who sell for less but water quality is questionable.
All five Rotary Clubs and two Rotaract Clubs in District 5240's Group 4 participated in a Community Service Work Day. They worked with Conejo Recreation and park District to clear and cut in a two mile hiking trail in a canyon above Westlake Village Community Park. This area was completely wiped out by the recent Woolsey Fire. The entire canyon didn't even have a blade of grass left after the fires came through. It is now loaded with wild flowers.
They cut in a three foot wide hiking trail up the steep hillsides of the canyon for residents to enjoy this beautiful area. Thousands of Conejo Valley residents will wind up using this trail.
Written By Ing. Barbara van Goethem March, Governor 2018-2019 District 1580 (Amsterdam)
Dear colleagues,
Plastic waste in our environment is a major global problem.
Plastic, once warmly welcomed as a magnificent and extremely useful product, is becoming a threat for our planet: plastic waste ends up in our oceans, rivers, waters, beaches, forests, landfills and in our city parks and streets. Plastic does not disappear but just gets smaller and causes serious problems for living beings. And so it starts entering our food chain and our bodies.
Operation Footprint, provides training, medical equipment, and supplies needed to enable doctors in Honduras to diagnose and treat children who have deformities due to untreated clubfoot that prevent them from participating in educational, family and normal childhood activities. Each year in January, surgeons from the United States who are members of our cooperating organization Operation Footprint Baja Project travel to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to perform surgical procedures that will correct or mitigate the impact of clubfoot on the lives of children in Honduras. The local public Hospital San Felipe supports the project with staff, equipment and four operating suites.
On February 18th the Assistant Governors for Groups 10,11 & 12 hosted an opportunity for Club Presidents, PE’s and Club Service Chairs to hear directly from 2 District speakers. This effort was enthusiastically received with 30 local Club Officers and District Representatives in attendance. The response from those attending was very positive and opened many eyes to the deep District resources available to local Clubs. The most valuable take-away referenced by those in attendance were the hand-out materials and the opportunity to ask questions directly of District Area of Service, and Special Program Chairs. Others mentioned the great value in networking with District leaders as a resource for future projects. Finally, the opportunity for a frank exchange of ideas and the ability to share both successes and disappointments that Clubs experience in implementing service projects and job shadowing programs was appreciated. The event was so successful that our second Group 10, 11 & 12 Joint meeting with District speakers will occur on April 8th.
Bakersfield North put on a couple Community Service Projects...
The Wine Mafia is held each year as a fund raiser to augment the income from Dinner at the Derby. Dinner at the Derby nets about $120,000 each year and Wine Mafia $20,000 to $25,000. At the Dinner at the Derby, Youth Connection get the first $20,000 and then we split the rest. That makes their income around $75,000. 30% goes into their savings account (investments) and 70% is spent on charity and scholarships. The foundation has organizations that depend on their contributions; therefore, they need two fundraisers.
Their second, Trunk or Treat, is put out by the Sherriff's Department in Bakersfield for the neighborhood in Oildale, CA. It benefits Standard Middle School - the underprivileged kids there go to there local Kohl's Department Store and the club takes them on a shopping spree to get them some school supplies and clothes.
Hosted by Rotary Club of Pismo Beach/Five Cities in collaboration with Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Eco Clubs!
This much-anticipated event is a joint evening social the week the District Governor visits their Clubs. They have been doing to this since they chartered the Grover Beach Club -- over 15 years ago. It is hosted by their Charter Member Steve Curry – providing the BBQ and venue. Members bring the potluck side dishes and beverages and as you can see it is a Family event with their future Rotarians (their kids) and spouses alike. They hope that this is sort of a “thank you” for all that the District Governor sacrifices during their years of service and also provides them a warm welcome – and with four clubs participating it is definitely all about the Fellowship.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks is trying to raise $100,000 as part of a massive campaign to purchase a new building for Manna. Manna is a Conejo Valley food bank that has been providing food assistance to friends and neighbors in need since 1971. The Rotary Club is hoping to inspire Rotarians throughout the district to contribute by making a tax-deductible contribution through the Thousand Oaks club’s foundation.
Info about the current home: • Currently serving about 1,000 people a month in a pantry the size of a single-car garage. • Our facility has difficulty managing the more than 1,900 annual food drives. • We now rent warehouse space to hold much of our non-perishable food donations. • We have limited parking for clients, donors, volunteers and staff. • EVERYTHING happens at the front door! • Limited volunteer opportunities due to inadequate outdoor lighting.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset recently did their annual Reading By Nine community project.
The event took place on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at Arroyo Vista and Knolls Elementary Schools in Simi Valley.
This long time community project started with the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset getting a Rotary grant to help fund the purchase of hundreds of books for an elementary school. This year's club Community Service Chair, Stephanie Sieminski and club Secretary, Amanda Wilson, then coordinated with Simi's School District to find out which elementary school had the most need for new books. This year, the combined donations from the Simi Sunset Club and Rotary Grants helped provide enough books for TWO schools -- Arroyo Vista Elementary and Knolls Elementary. Stephanie then coordinated with the schools to plan a day where Rotarians can deliver the books to several classrooms, possibly read a story or two, and get the children excited about reading. One of Rotary's key causes is to support basic education and literacy.
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 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.
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
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!
Rotary Club of Ventura-East supports the Ventura Family YMCA Operation Ventura
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.
Posted by District Club Service Chair, Mike Murphy
On June 20, 2019, at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium, Rotary District 5240 will be holding its very first district-wide social event and fund raiser. On that date the Los Angeles Dodgers will be playing the San Francisco Giants. The Los Angeles Dodgers have offered us the opportunity to have our district social event at Dodger Stadium as follows:
We will be assigned 100 to 200 seats for the baseball game.
The event ticket prices are $75.00 per person. This discounted ticket price includes the following:
A game seat for each attendee at the loge dugout level in the stadium.
Access to a hospitality area assigned to just our attendees and guests where we can all meet and socialize before the game.
Each attendee will receive with the ticket price a dodger dog, soda, bag of chips and salad. The food will be served in the hospitality area.
If we end up having close to 200 attendees, the Dodgers will make available to us a special Fan Experience where we all may be invited to go onto the field for a special event created just for us. During the game, Rotary District 5240 will receive a special game board recognition no matter how many of us attend the event. Depending upon how many attend the baseball game, we may also be able to arrange to have buses take our club members to the game from a selected location.
In order to secure the date of June 20, 2019 for the game and the number of seats we will require to hold this event, the District must pay a 20% advance deposit to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the number of seats to be purchased for this event. Therefore, we need the club presidents’ assistance in promptly answering and sending to me a survey that was recently provided to them by their Assistant Governors so that we can proceed with the planning for this event.
Rotary District 5240 will also be holding concurrently a district wide charity fund raiser. We would like to request that each club in the district donate funds to help the victims of the Borderline shooting. The money collected from the clubs for this fund raiser will be deposited into the District 5240 Rotary Foundation. A check from the proceeds collected from the clubs will be issued to the charitable cause during District Governor Sandi’s step down lunch.
We look forward to having a wonderful district baseball game event. It is also awesome that our clubs can work together to raise funds and have a major positive impact on the lives of the victims and families of the Borderline shooting.
You don’t inspire future Rotarians by telling them about Rotary as much as you do by giving them a Rotary experience – even if it’s gluing split peas on a sign, one seed at a time.
Decorating a Rose Parade float as a volunteer is no small act of service, and the experience for Interactors and Rotarian chaperones too ☺ can be inspiring in many ways. Opportunities abound to meet and work with other Rotarians and Interactors and even meet master float builders like the specialists who work for Disney. A satisfying sense of accomplishment is felt, partly by seeing a huge work of art take on color and texture before your eyes, with your own hands; and partly through the teamwork spirit of eager, smiling volunteers. Being the inspiration isn’t necessarily easy work, but it can result in being inspired too… a wonderfully positive, reinforcing cycle.
Our group of 10 volunteer decorators in the Interact Club of Burroughs High School in Ridgecrest, CA journeyed to Irwindale, CA – the site where Phoenix Decorating Company is building the Rotary Rose Parade Float, a Princesses’ Trophy-winner in the 2017 and 2018 Rose Parades. The group’s 1 December, all-day, hands-on lesson was how to decorate a Rose Parade float. Chaperoned by their Math teacher, an Honorary Rotarian and the local, Rotary Club of China Lake president, the students prepared and applied dried flowers and seeds that make-up the natural, colorful, textured background for the fresh flowers that go on in the final hours.
So, when a giant, “duded-up” crocodile rolls-out and rocks-out on parade day, at least 10 Rotary inspirations from Burroughs High School will be able to watch with a very personal satisfaction knowing they had a part to play in that – and be inspired that much more.
Please find more information about the Rotary Rose Parade Float at https://www.rotaryfloat.org and enjoy seeing seeds of “service above self” being planted during the Rose Parade.
Paso Robles Sunrise Rotary is a dynamic group of early risers. Our participation in community projects and fundraisers is productive and diverse. We recently facilitated our “Peace is Possible” seminar, which was a resounding success. We’ve also welcomed several new members who have already demonstrated their commitment to our “service above self” mission. We’re thrilled they chose to become a part of our Rotary family.
Amy Edney is originally from New York and has lived in California five years. She worked in financial services for many years, and is now employed in recruiting. She joined Rotary to serve her community.
At its 30th annual Trivia Challenge fundraiser on November 7, 2018, the Rotary Club of Ventura South raised approximately $5,000 for the Ventura County Library’s Adult Literacy Program. Twenty-four three-person teams competed in the Jeopardy-like event, answering trivia questions ranging from science to popular culture to sports to history. Entry/sponsorship fees were $300 per team.
Teams were divided into divisions, and the trophy winners included Channel Islands High School Seniors (Youth Division), Rotary Club of Camarillo (Service Club Division), MJP Computers (Business division), Beat the Library/Court of Appeals (Community Division), and David Corona (Spectator Division).
***DUE TO MANY REQUESTS, WE HAVE PUSHED BACK THE DEADLINE SUBMISSION TO APRIL 1ST.***
Goal
To encourage students to consider how “The 4-Way Test” can be used in everyday decision-making. This is accomplished by expressing their thoughts in an essay that relates a case or story where they applied these principles in their everyday life.
Who is Eligible? All elementary school (1-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) students.
Awards 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for elementary, middle, and high school
First Place - $300 Second Place - $200 Third Place - $100
Winners will be selected by a District Review Team for the above listed cash awards. The cash awards will be handed out by the sponsoring Club President and the District Governor, or District Representative.
MY EXPERIENCE AT THE 2018 BIG WEST ROTARACT CONFERENCE
By: Yuan Xie
Hello! My name is Yuan Xie (pronounced like you and me). I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Santa Barbara, and I am currently president of the campus-based Rotaract club. We started the chapter in September of last year, and it’s been a blast ever since!
Fact 1: Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has sponsored two Rotaract Clubs – one at SBCC and one at UCSB.
Fact 2: UCSB is the last undergraduate UC to have a campus-based Rotaract Club.
UCSB, UCLA, UCSC, UCD, and UC Berkeley Representing at BWR Conference 2018
Dana joined Rotary International in 2002 and is an active member of Newbury Park Club, District 5240. She is Past President and was always involved in the Club in International and Local Community projects; she is the Club Grants expert. Dana served as the Club International, Grants and Foundation Chair, District Chair for the 100th Anniversary District Foundation Gala, District Country Coordinator for Youth Exchange. At the Rotary International Level Dana serves as Inter Country Committee - General Secretary and National Coordinator for USA. Dana is also part of Rotary International Action Group for Peace.
Why should you give to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund? Your contribution to the Annual Fund is the primary source of support for Rotary Club projects worldwide. “To ensure that the funds for the projects are there when needed,” says Past RI President Ron Burton, “all contributions to the Foundation’s Annual Fund are invested for three years.” When the three years period is up, the investment earnings of your gift go toward the operating expenses of the Foundation. Your principal is split 50/50, with half going to our District Designated Fund and half going into the World Fund, a pool that the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation use to match grants where they are most needed.”
To better explain how the TRF Global Grant process works, I want to tell you about a project that I am personally involved with that originated on my trip to India last January. Prior to joining the D5240 2018 NID team in Delhi, Kay Bliss, Susan Weaver and I spent five days visiting the Prashanti International School in the city of Puri, India. Puri is in the state of Odisha on the Bay of Bengal. Odisha is one of the poorest states in India - 80% rural, with many families living well below the poverty index, often on less than 50 cents per day.
Disney Parks and Points of Light are celebrating family volunteerism by rewarding nonprofits and schools in the United States with Disney 1-Day Park Hopper tickets for hosting – or participating in – family volunteering activities.Eligible organizations create and register projects, track family volunteers, and complete projects to receive complimentary park tickets from Disney. Projects can benefit the organization directly, or support another community effort or need. The more volunteers participating in your project, the more tickets you earn – up to 20 tickets! Tickets may be used to reward volunteers, as a contest prize, for a fundraiser, or in other creative ways.
District 5240 is putting together another team of Rotarians to India to participate in a NID (National Immunization Day) on February 3-4, 2019.
The trip will most likely start on January 28th and end around February 9th 2019. Besides the activities on Feb. 3rd, door to door immunization will be conducted over a few days starting on the 4th (we will do door to door immunization only for 1 day). This will entail some long hours and lots of walking (which means you need to be in good shape, physically and mentally).
Here are some guidelines that will influence the selection process:
The Paso Robles Rotary Club connected with their local Interact club to help clean up the Salinas River Bed this last Saturday. Rotarians and Interactors in Action, together, helping keep Paso beautiful.
The Council on Resolutions meets online each year. Representatives from all of Rotary’s districts vote on resolutions that clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the General Council or Conference of RIBI have proposed. The RI Board of Directors will consider all resolutions that the Council adopts. Learn more about the Council on Resolutions.
If you are a Council representative, sign in to vote.
In partnership with the SBCC Foundation, the Rotary Club of Montecito and its supporting foundation is pleased to announce a contribution to provide ten $1,250 scholarships to high performing Santa Barbara City College students. Montecito Rotary Club has long prioritized education as a key area of focus by providing financial support to ensure Santa Barbara’s local youth are able to maximize their potential.
“For more than 25 years, the Rotary Club of Montecito has provided scholarships for students in the Vocational and Career Technical Studies at Santa Barbara City College; the total amount of support provided during this time exceeds $100,000,” said Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation Treasurer John Glanville. “This year the club funded ten scholarships for a total of $12,500. These scholarships cover a range of vocational endeavors including a variety of medical studies, automotive and marine diving technologies, cosmetology, journalism, computer systems, and theatre arts. The club membership believes in the mission of SBCC to educate and provide opportunity to students seeking worthwhile careers in a variety of career technical fields.”
Chris Brashears of the Rotary Club of Ventura was looking for more to do one day and was thinking about helping people locally as opposed to internationally. He realized that his club sends money overseas when they have plenty of people in their own back yard that could use some help.
In Chris' Rotary Club he has three eye retired doctors (optometrists) so it occurred to him that if the club could find a space, they could open up a clinic to provide free eye exams and glasses to those in need. Chris is on the Salvation Army Advisory Board of Directors and contacted to Lt. Fabio Simoes at the Salvation Army and asked him to help find a space. The Salvation Army found a space in their Oak Street, Ventura location.
Each year the Ventura Rotaract club partners with California based non-profit Corazon to travel to Mexico and build a home for a family in need. With over 50 volunteers, plus additional help from family members and neighbors of the family, the house is constructed on an already finished slab to a turnkey house in a single day!
In the first half of the day, volunteers split up into groups focusing on different tasks. Rotaractors are encouraged to participate in jobs they may not have much experience or no experience in, from hammering walls together to painting large sheets of siding. Lunch is provided by the family, friends and neighbors and is always a welcome break from the hard work.
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks does something special for local inmates at Todd Road Jail that have children at home. For the last 5 years, members of the Thousand Oaks club select children books and take them to the facility. Once there, specially selected inmates are then allowed to record the story with their voice on CD and send it back home to their children. The role of the Rotarian is help guide them along with their book, should they need it, and remind them of the mentor in which they should be for their child.
Shoes for Little Souls, is a community service project, put on by the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset in partnership with The Samaritan Center of Simi Valley and Kohl's Department Store in Simi Valley. The goal is to help homeless (or at risk) families get back-to-school clothes for their children; this project builds incredible confidence in these kids. Imagine when they show up on their first day of school. The community also comes together to support parents in difficult times. On Wednesday, July 18, 2018, we had our 16th annual shopping spree. One of the best organized in years!
The Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School in San Luis Obispo recently had their official opening. District Governor, Sandi Schwartz was there to participate in the ribbon cutting event! The school provides hands-on learning opportunities for students to study science and ecology in a natural setting. The school has been providing outdoor education to students for over 40 years and more than 250,000 school children have participated in the school’s residential, summer, and day programs.
The Guatemalan Chapter of Carpenteria Morning runs a video conference every Friday Morning as their regular Rotary Meeting. By using computers and video chat, they are able to communicate with several clubs in the area. Common tasks such as ringing the bell, invocation, introducing guests, and guest speakers are all capable while utilizing this technology. Read more to see that notes on one particular meeting, the hope to be the INSPIRATION to all Rotarians.
On February 26, 2018, members of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo had a great time volunteering atHawthorne ElementarySchool in San Luis Obispo for Read Across America. Members read stories to classes of students and donated over 400 books to the school, many of which focused on diversity and cultural education. The students made wonderful thank you cards for the readers. It was an immensely rewarding experience and the club is committed to continuing and expanding this effort in future years.
School’s out for the summer! San Luis Obispo Rotarians presented 14 well deserving local High School Graduates with scholarships to support their future academic endeavors. In total, $36,000 was awarded to local students. The goal of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo scholarship program is to help scholarship recipients focus less on financial challenges and more on advancing their learning.
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue K9 MacGyver and his handler Rick Stein were honored with a Pup Harris Fellow (a.k.a. Paul Harris Fellow) recognition, Rotary’s highest honor.
MacGyver and Stein work side by side to find lost people. MacGyver, a 5-year old Australian Shepherd, is specifically trained off-lead to find live, and if necessary, deceased human scent. Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue dogs are owned and trained by their handlers, who are volunteers and not paid for their work. They are on call 24/7 and can be deployed 365 days a year.
June is designated as Rotary Fellowship Month. Rotary Fellowships are international, independently organized groups of Rotarians, Rotary partners, and Rotaractors who share a common recreational interest or vocation. This month is recognition of the opportunity to have fun, make new friends around the world and enhance the experience of Rotary that belonging to a Rotary Fellowship enables.
Wow! May was a great and crazy month!
Foundation Fiesta
On May 4th, Rotarians came together with our Director John Mathews and Mary Ellen and hundreds of Rotarians and Rotaractors in Santa Maria. Among the festivities was the honoring of the Rotary Foundation, Major Donors, and PHFs. On hand were Jim Lewis' Iron Lung and a keynote speaker Craig Needleman who spoke from the heart about his mother Jane who raised three children from an Iron Lung. After Craig moved everyone to tears, we presented him with a Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his mother. Tears of love for everyone!
Making a difference, three girls from PACE were on hand to share in excellent English their gratitude for Rotary and Deepa’s school in Piyali India. (Two of the girls actually live in a Safe House) What Inspiration, Rotarians and the Rotary Foundation Making a Difference!
Service Above Self
At the Rotary Fiesta Dinner, Past District Governor Deepa Willingham was presented a special Rotary Award: Service Above Self (an honor only 150 a year are presented). So deserving Deepa, we LOVE you!
First club Celebrates 100 years!
The first Rotary Club of our district Celebrated 100 years of service – Congratulations Rotary Club of Santa Barbara! 1918 was a much different time. Santa Barbara had a population of 19,000. You can read about this venerable club's history here. Today our district is better off with the many clubs they chartered including Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, and many others.
PHF and 4 new members evening!
Westlake Sunrise celebrated several Paul Harris Fellowship awards and the induction of four new members. What a blast! The PHF program was established in 1957 with 25,000 PHFs by 1978. By 2006 the Rotary Foundation had 1,000,000 members. More importantly, the Rotary Foundation has allowed Rotary to fund its fight to eradicate Polio, Ambassadorial Scholars, Peace, Rotary Exchange, and thousands of grants. You can read the history of the Paul Harris Fellow recognition here.
21 PHFs Making a Difference to the Rotary Foundation
San Luis Obispo Daybreak also had a Paul Harris Fellowship morning where 21 PHFs were presented. PDG Wade Nomura was on hand to officiate.
Tree plantings
Rotary Clubs throughout our district organized and funded tree plantings. On May 12th Rotarians from our district and Los Angeles (D5280) planted over 40 trees! Past District Governor Wade Nomura Helped organize this planting. Take a breath --- trees Making a Difference.
4-Way Test Essay Winners
Rotary Clubs organize and fund local 4-Way Test Essay winners at Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools in our district (which includes Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties). Students, faculty, and Rotarians work together to articulate the values of the 4-Way Test.
Left to Right: RC Ventura South Speech Winner; RC Pismo Beach-Five Cities Scholar; RC San Luis Obispo-Daybreak Scholars
Honoring 30 Years of Women in Rotary
The Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks invited Sylvia Whitlock shared, with her usual humor, her story of being the first woman in Rotary and the first woman elected Club President. Wow! One of the BEST decisions Rotary has made. Celebrate Women in Rotary!
Memorial Day Celebrations
Throughout our district, Rotary Clubs organize Memorial Day events from Moorpark to Cayucos to Bakersfield. In Bakersfield at the river Park 1,037 full size American Flags were carefully placed and enjoyed by hundreds, if not thousands of community members. What a great Celebration organized by the Bakersfield Breakfast RC. Good job Denise and club members and the City of Bakersfield. They even had their own Rosie the Riveter on hand!
Emerging Leaders Summit
On Saturday 2nd after two years of planning, Rotarians and Rotaractors are coming together to discuss how to respect, attract, and retain Millennials. This event is thanks to our tireless committee Kat Clowes, David St Amand, David Velarde and others. Also thanks to Santa Barbara City College which donated their facility for this special event of learning. More on this topic soon!
Clockwise from top left: Bakersfield Interactors and Rotaractors; Bakersfield Rotarians with Interactors; celebrating 28K meals delivered! AndBakersfield Interactors and Rotaractors filling backpacks for children in the Philippines.
Santa Barbara Sunrise Dolphin Dive Fundraiser
Santa Barbara Sunrise is conducting their primary fundraiser this month. Dennis Johns asked me to relay this message: "Of course you know although Santa Barbara is considered a wealthy town, it's pretty hard for the Rotary clubs to come up with a successful fundraiser when in competition with so many other non-profits in town. We've got kind of a unique idea this time in that we're reaching out to all the non-profits we've worked with in the past and trying to enlist their help by granting some of the funds raised directly back to them. This of course includes any District 5240 clubs that want to participate and receive 25% of their donation back to their club.”
Please find the brochure attached and a link to the Dolphin Dive Adoption Form below.
Nearly to the finish line for this Rotary Year
Christine and I have had a great journey this year and are looking to the finish line as we finish strong! We have completed 72 Rotary Club visits and 84 total Club visits including Rotaract and Interact. We have chartered an Interact Club and two Rotaract Clubs. We had a successful Interact District Conference for which we thank Greg Gillett, Li Gibbs, Joe Joyce, and David Saint-Amand (and many others).
On Saturday June 16th, you are invited to Celebrate your club and our amazing Rotarians in our district at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott (Buellton) for lunch. Sign up today!
What an HONOR to serve as your District Governor with my wife Christine! Thank you all for your love, cards, and expressions of support! Our gratitude forever!
The Rotary Club of Camarillo raised $10,000 for Thomas Fire Relief. Half was donated when they "passed the hat" at a meeting in January and those funds were matched by their Foundation. The check was given to the Downtown Ventura organization, the umbrella group that monitors funds directed to the Ventura Education Partnership for Thomas Fire victims.
KernYES! Youth Empowerment Summit, a Rotary Clubs of Kern County collaborative was nominated and last week honored as a finalist for the KHSD PEAAK Award! What a GREAT program. They didn’t win, but they felt like they did. It's a huge honor to be nominated and then chosen as finalist for Best Community Event their inaugural year! Being recognized is validating and what’s important, is the positive impact they are creating with their youth in their community!
Simi Valley High School Interact Club members dedicated themselves this year to bringing peace to their campus. They unveiled a Peace Pole in the quad. A Peace Pole is a monument that says “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in several languages. This story is covered in detail in the Ventura County Star.
After being approached by Greg Ellis of the local non-profit "One Cool Earth," the Rotary Club of Paso Robles Sunrise decided it was time to donate some "Sweat Equity" back to our community. The focus of our first project was to be the rejuvenation of the student gardens at Georgia Brown Elementary School. After conducting a job walk with Greg, we signed up our volunteers and equipment needed and went to work.
The Rotary Club of Ventura-South held their First Annual Speech-Off contest finals on May 17, 2018 in the Tower Club in The Topa Financial Center, Oxnard, CA. Students from three high schools in the Ventura Unified School District participated in a series of qualifying speech events culminating with the winners going head to head in the finals on the evening of May 17, 2018.
The Rotary clubs of Carpinteria planted 94 trees in the flood damaged Carpinteria Creek.
The project was funded by the Rotary clubs of Greater Los Angeles District 5280 and District Governor Cozette Vergari, who helped purchase the Sycamores, Toyons and Coast Live Oaks that were planted by the Rotary Clubs of Carpinteria, Carpinteria Morning and Carpinteria Sunset. Rotary club members from Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, El Segundo, San Bernardino, and Seattle were also on hand to help with the planting. Volunteers from the City of Carpinteria staff, Boy Scout Troop 50 members, Love Peace Harmony Foundation, Tree Musketeers Foundation, Dominos Pizza and Gran Vida also came out to help.
Established 2006 as a RI Centennial Celebration Project
Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club (BBRC) Members and volunteers planted 100 trees to establish a natural setting that could be used as a commemorative park by Bakersfield and Kern County Citizens as a place to honor the memory of a special person or pay tribute to a special occasion.
The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset partners with the Samaritan Center of Simi Valley and Kohl’s Department Stores to ensure that the children of families in need start their school year with confidence and enthusiasm.
Prior to the start of the school year, Rotarians meet with the Director of the Samaritan Center who identifies families with school age children in need of back-to-school shoes and clothes.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo has enjoyed a long-standing, 20+ year, relationship with the Rotary Club of Compostela, Mexico and we have partnered on many projects in the Compostela community. During a recent project needs assessment with the Rotary Club of Compostela, we learned that the Compostela residents had a strong desire to learn English, but available language teaching resources were very slim.
Youth Service shapes the future of Rotary with Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotaract finally culminating in Rotary membership. There are 516,764 Interactors in 22,468 clubs worldwide; 76 of these are in our district. Rotarators number 249,895 in 10,856 clubs worldwide; and we have 9 active clubs in our district.
This is the month we CELEBRATE our youth. When you consider Rotary, it is first about Friendship and Service, then PEACE, and support for our YOUTH! Of the sitting Club Presidents in our district, 75 percent say their first passion is Youth Service. And it shows in some respects.
The just concluded RYLA had 260 attendees supported by 50 volunteer staff. Every life involved was changed for the better. I HOPE that each club invites their students to their club as a program. It inspires the club members, staff, and more importantly, the students and the schools they attend. The difference is that obvious.
On Sunday I was given the opportunity to address the Closing Ceremony audience about Personal Responsibility. I learned from Darin (RYLA Chair) as he addressed the audience the importance of being thankful and to let others know that you "love" them. It was an uplifting day and camp experience. The feedback was inspiringly positive!
Last month we reported on the Interact District Conference of February 24th which changed lives, mine in particular AND each student and staff person in attendance.
A part of every RYLA and District Conference is our great Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program which amplifies the power of that special program. Each year about 9,000 exchanges take place. This year, our program needs students to travel abroad. If you know a RYE candidate, please reach out to Ronda Werner e-mail: tshirts@roadrunner.com or Mary Paseda e-mail: mpaseta@pegasustransit.com for more information or an application.
In addition to the areas mentioned above, there are several other ways we CELEBRATE our youth in various projects locally and internationally. This month we announce the winners of the 4-Way Essay Test winners. Hopefully your club is participating in this program to bring our Rotary 4-Way Test to our schools. My hope is to personally visit every club with a winner and personally present their district check. Please coordinate with my calendar scheduler COO (and DGD) Deb Linden: deljwt@comcast.net.
Rotaract Club Visits to Cal Lutheran and Conejo Valley
Rotaract is the bridge to Rotary and the greatest link in the Rotary career path. This year Rotaract is celebrating 50 years of service. In our district two new Roataract Clubs chartered: Santa Maria and at Cal Lutheran. UCSB Rotaract was also reactivated!
In April I visited two Rotaract Clubs - Cal Lutheran and Conejo Valley. Both clubs are active and well connected to local Rotary projects and projects of their own. Find the Rotaract Club nearest you and get involved --- you’ll be glad you did!
Emerging Leader Symposium Saturday June 2nd
Connecting Millennials – Emerging Leaders (Young Professionals) is our planned Symposium on June 2nd. Details have been sent to club leadership and more details will be forthcoming. Registration is open with the goal of having one Club Leader and one member under 45 years of age attend from each of our clubs.
Sister Districts D3721 and D3722 (South Korea) and D4140 (Mexico)
Each year our sister districts honor each other and CELEBRATE our mutual friendships and hospitality by hosting each other at our respective district conferences. This year, the district conferences overlapped. Due to my cancer treatments, it was recommended to send Past District Governors as my representatives. For South Korea, PDG Jack and Jane McClenahan not only delivered my message, but Jack did so in Korean! In Mexico, PDG Nick Frankle traveled and delivered a message of friendship and support to our friends there. District Governor Elect Sandi Schwartz traveled to South Korea and District Governor Nominee Savi Bhim traveled to Mexico. Others from District Staff included Scott Phillips and PDG Wade Nomura. My special thanks to all for extending your hands of friendship to our sister districts and Rotary hosts. Their hospitality is always amazing and the experience inspiring – wish I could have been there this year as I was last year!
Foundation Gala - May 4th
Hopefully, by now you are registered for our annual RI Foundation Gala called Foundation Fiesta. We currently have 175 registered and room for many more. Please register today (May 2nd)!
May District Governor events include:
May 3rd - Westlake Sunrise Charter night
May 4th – The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara CELEBRATES 100 years at lunch!
May 4th – Foundation Fiesta – Santa Maria Radisson
May 12th – Tree planting in areas most affected by the Thomas Fire or Montecito Mudslides. Wade Nomura is coordinating tree planting at three locations: Ojai, Carpenteria creekbed, and Montecito. Events in all locations are from 8 AM to Noon and Wade would like interested Rotarians to email him at wadedg1112@verizon.net. Participants are encouraged to bring a pair of gloves and a shovel if possible.
May 28th – Memorial Day 1,000 Flags (Bakersfield Breakfast)
Ten great months so far, two to go and Christine and I are having a great time visiting your clubs, meeting your members, and participating in your projects and events. All of you INSPIRE us!
All our best,
District Governor John Weiss and Christine
The District Governor's Message - May 2018 - Youth Service
Our Rotary International President, Ian Riseley has made promoting peace a priority this year. As you may know, he is convening a series of six global presidential peace conferences and a culminating event in Toronto, the Rotary Peacebuilding Summit. There is a preconvention event on Friday and Saturday, 22-23 June 2018, at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, the same location as our 2018 convention.
All children enrolled in the Moorpark Unified School District's Preschool Program were visited by the Moorpark Rotary club in March and each child was given a book to take home. Over 235 books were ordered and distributed in an effort to promote early literacy and future success in school. Rotarians Janice Parvin, Teri Williams, Sonia Burbach, Linda Plaks, Bruce Thomas, Scott Mosher, and other club members spoke about the importance of learning to read while they handed out the books to the youngsters. Books were purchased with revenue from club fundraisers and from a District grant.
Global Grant GG 1746339, for $121,000, was set up to assist the Conejo free clinic to expand their services to include dental care to the needy families that live in Ventura County. The clinic has been serving Ventura County since 1976, with Dr. Frank Dawson, as Medical Director. Our grant supplied most of the equipment and supplies needed to open the clinic. The Thousand Oaks and Tijuana Rotary Clubs partnered to write and support the grant. The Rotary Clubs that were instrumental in raising funds were: Westlake Village, Moorpark Noon, Newbury Park, Simi Noon, Bakersfield Twilight, and Coronado Bilingual Rotary Clubs. Also, DDF Funds were contributed from Districts 5240, 4100, 4140, and 3291. The grant was authorized by Rotary International during the first week of July, 2017. By mid-August 2017, the funds were sent to the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club’s bank account. The funds were transferred to the Conejo Free Clinic and the equipment was purchased and installed by Henry Schein Dental Company by the first week of September, 2017. Matt Lallo, a member of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, and his son Michael Lallo, were present during the week it took to install the equipment. All the equipment was checked in off the list by Rotarian Matt Lallo, Conejo Free Clinic Executive Director, Teresa Seeley, and Conejo Free Clinic Development Director, Susan Murphy, as it was being installed. During the installation the City of Thousand Oaks required a water supply backflow valve to be installed in the clinic. Frank Corrigan, a past Thousand Oaks Rotary President and owner of Accurate Backflow, assisted in this matter.
In celebration of Earth Day, Rotaract Club of Bakersfield, Interact Club of Centennial High School(Twilight Rotary Club of Bakersfield) and Interact Club of Golden Valley High School(Bakersfield Breakfast RC) teamed up for Keep Bakersfield Beautiful’s Great American Clean-Up on Saturday, April 21st.
The Rotary Club Ventura South held its’ April 17, 2018 Fireside event at the home of Club members John and Kendall Mattina. Club members and Board Members welcomed new club members, Katie Reich, Peter Barry, Carol Chapman and Peter Mac Clintock with time socializing followed by a catered dinner provided by Club President Bob Davis.
On March 24, 2018, the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club, along with the Five Cities Eco Rotary Club and the Rotary Interact Club from Nipomo High School, worked with members of the Tree Guild and City staff to plant 20 trees at Rancho Grande Park. Through the Recreation Services Department’s Adopt-a- Park program, the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club purchased the native species trees and necessary supplies for the project that was completed with assistance from the other groups. This project was a huge success and also assisted in reaching the Rotary International’s goal of planting 1.2 million trees worldwide by April 22, 2018.
The City of Arroyo Grande is grateful for community groups and members that take an active role in the beautification of our community and enhance the condition and quality of our parks and open spaces.
For more information on how to participate in the Adopt-a- Park Program, please contact Karen Beaudin, Volunteer and Program Coordinator at 473-5473, email at kbeaudin@arroyogrande.org, or visit online at http://arroyogrande.org/606/Volunteer-Program.
Tori Wilson has been involved in Rotary and Interact for 13 years now (she’s 17), and The Acorn and LeadYoung published two stories on her involvement this year. (See links below)
For the past 5 years, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has been sending a team of 6 to 16 people each year, to the Lake Atitlan area of Guatemala to volunteer with NGO, Mayan Families (www.mayanfamilies.org). This year’s team just returned from a very successful trip to help the indigenous Mayan population.
St. Joseph’s Hospital is in Northern Tanzania and close to Lake Victoria and the Serengeti Preserve. The hospital runs out of water in the dry season and therefore needs to close for over four months each year. The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo joined the Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe to complete a water storage project to keep the hospital open year around.
Rotary Monthly Theme for April: Maternal and Child Health
As I travel the district, and I have now visited all 72 Rotary Clubs in our district, I’m impressed by each club’s dedication to our youth. We have been working to eradicate Polio for about 30 years on a stage when 350,000 children a year in 1988 were being crippled or dying from Polio. Now it is but a handful. And yet our work is not yet done. So please continue to contribute funds to the Polio Plus. Consider this look back at our work to date: Historic Moments: PolioPlus turns 30.
We all greatly value our children, and for some, our grandchildren. It makes us proud as we relish the next generation. We work to make our place better primarily for the children of tomorrow. Maternal and Child Health is one of six areas of focus.
Rotary's members improve access to essential medical services for mothers and their children. These efforts are aimed at reducing the number of children under age five who die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation – a figure that is currently estimated at 7 million.
According to another estimate, more than 80 percent of maternal deaths can be prevented with access to reproductive health services and trained health care workers. Our members provide education, immunizations, birthing kits, and mobile health clinics to support these causes. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
Here are some helpful Links:
Join Rotary and help save mothers and children. Give now to support maternal and child health.
I encourage your club to invite organizations that support Maternal and Child Health to present programs at your meetings.
RYLA
Each year every district provides training for young people on the topics of leadership, diversity, public speaking, team building, and more. Our district has such a program and it takes place this month. Two hundred and forty or so high school students will experience the inspiring and transforming RYLA weekend from Thursday April 19th to Sunday the 22nd in Ojai. Each student is sponsored by a Rotary Club at an approximate cost of $400. If you have not attended a RYLA closing ceremony, you should. It will change your life as you witness the transformation of these students into amazing leaders of whom we can all be proud! Check it out at: ryla5240.org
Emerging Leader Summit
A new event has been in the work for almost 3 years will take place on Saturday June 2nd at Santa Barbara City College. It is an exciting program that promises to share ideas on attracting and retaining emerging leaders (Young Professionals). This program will ask each Rotary and Rotaract Club to send two club members, either the Club President Elect or Club President Nominee and a member 45 or younger. Details and a flyer will be forth coming shortly.
Awards and District Governor Transitions
An annual event will take place on Saturday June 16th for lunch at the Marriott in Buellton (a.k.a. Santa Ynez Valley). It promises to celebrate the rich traditions of our amazing clubs. I ask that each club collect its accomplishments supporting our communities and submit them to the link that has been already been sent.
I want to personally thank all 3,327 members fo your steadfast work as Rotarians, and in my case support for me as your humbled District Governor. I love and respect each one of you! Please come and join us on that special day.
Foundation Fiesta (Gala)
Each year, we celebrate our Rotary Foundation. This year we have scheduled this event on Friday May 4th. It will feature a Mexican buffet, music, and a Polio story of inspiration worthy of the price of admission, travel, and your time. We will honor Major Donors and those that have contributed to the Rotary Foundation, a foundation through which we do good in our own communities and the world. There will be a special award you surely won't want to miss, but you’ll just have to attend to witness it! Following is a flyer on this special event. You can register here: Foundation Fiesta Gala. Please come.
Rotaract Club of California Lutheran University
This past month the Rotary Clubs of Westlake Village were on hand as supporters and sponsors of the Rotaract Club of California Lutheran University. On hand were Club President Michael McGlashen and Lee Ginsburg, and Past District Governor Nick Frankle and many others. It was the second of two new Rotaract Clubs; these are exciting times. I ask you to visit your local Rotaract Clubs and invite them to attend your club. Joint projects and participation are vital to our success and organizational future. Rotaract clubs do in themselves plan and organize great projects of which we can all be proud.
10,000 Wheel Chairs
The small but mighty Rotary Club of Conejo Valley has given out 10,000 wheel chairs and making a difference. It is but one of the many, many great projects our clubs make happen! As your District Governor, Rotarian, and citizen, I’m proud of you and proud to say I am a Rotarian. That can also be said of the clubs I visited in March - Oxnard Sunrise, Bakersfield, and the other 69 Rotary Clubs earlier this Rotary Year.
Local Chamber of Commerce Mixers
I recently visited the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and found several attendees interested in Rotary. They had heard of Rotary, but admitted they knew little about our great organization. Four of those are interested in community service an expressed interest in visiting a local Rotary Club. Last Tuesday one of the four visited the San Luis Obispo Daybreak Club. It happened to be the day they hand out grants to local non-profits. Each non-profit had a representative speak for a few minutes about their community connections.
Community Giving San Luis Obispo Daybreak
Congratulations to the recipients of SLO Daybreak Rotary's 2017-18 Community Grant Awards, including First Tee of the Central Coast, Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center, French Hospital/Hearst Cancer Resource Center, HomeShare of SLO, Literacy for Life, YMCA, Restorative Partners, Pregnancy & Parenting Support of SLO, New Life K-9's and SLO Noor Foundation. We are pleased and proud to help further your important work in our community! These types of community contributions and grants are what make Rotary so special!
District 5240 Donation for Hurricane Harvey Relief
I recently received the following report from Houston Rotarian Richard Willingham on the donation our district made to the Hurricane Harvey relief effort:
"The monies provided by District 5240 are being distributed to two families to rebuild. The 501c3 overseeing the process is Avenue Community Development Corp. As best I can tell this is a very well run agency working closely with local city, governmental, and other charitable organizations to see that monies are properly distributed and utilized.
District 5240’s moneys are going to two families in equal amounts for basic reconstruction. The young woman in blue is living in a family home that has been handed down for two generations and now, in the words of the Avenue CDC construction supervisor “it was mucked out and gutted immediately after Harvey and is now essentially nothing more than 2x4’s. She would not have been able to go back to this home if it were not for this money.”. With Avenue CDC’s help in contracting and supervision he says it will again become a livable home. The young lady has two sub-teen twin boys and when she met us burst out crying. The other family is just as deserving.
I must congratulate University Area Rotary Club President Cindy and the other club members in getting the money to this organization. I think they hit 5240’s objective in donating right on target.
You will be receiving a more detailed discussion, additional information and pictures from the club as well as information on a follow-up after construction is complete."
Ventura Children's Shopping Spree
Christine and I were invited by Club President Ellyn Dembowski to participate in the Ventura club's annual children's shopping spree which was rescheduled due to the December fires last year. This event was organized by Rob Van Nieuwburg who has been organizing it for 29 years! (I've participated in a similar event in San Luis Obispo hosted by San Luis Obispo DeTolosa and the San Luis Obispo Rotaract.) There were 69 children who were immersed in love and care by Rotarians and Interactors from a local High School. It was held at JC Penny with excellent discounts being offered along with cookies and balloons. We had lunch at the school district campus making for a full morning.
I welcome invitations to your club projects and events. Just send me an e-mail at johnweissdg1718@gmail.com. Thanks!
Health Check-up
If your mom says get a physical, I suggest you listen. Listen to your body, family, and doctors. My original treatment, as you may remember, was two major surgeries plus many other medical calls and visits. My current treatment includes daily chemo tablets plus regular testing and doctor visits. By the way I’m up from 147 lbs to 195 lbs. While I itch and am fatigued at times, each of you is my inspiration. All said, I’m doing well and grateful for so much Rotary family love! Celebrate Rotary, friends, service, and health!
Meals on Wheels is an organization that helps deliver hot and cold food to people in need. One of our very own clubs (Rotary Club of Westlake Village) has been supporting Meals on Wheels for over 15 years and the local newspaper took notice. The article entails an account of just one members routine for their recent service. Please see the link to the article below:
Please join the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset and support Johnna’s Annual High Tea Party
Sunday, May 6th, 2018 1PM – 4PM at the Strathearn Historical Park, Simi Valley
This is Simi Valley’s premier Tea Party with scones, traditional tea foods, Mimosas, desserts, entertainment and more. This annual event raises money to support local cancer patients and their families and the Marcelle Erian Cancer Foundation. It all takes place with elegantly decorated tables beautifully arranged in the antique barn at the Strathearn Historical Park! If you missed it last year, sign up early so you don’t miss out! Seating is limited to 190 Guests. Sponsorship Opportunities available! New this year... London Vacation Raffle!!!
The Rotary Club of Ventura-East and The Rotary Club of Ventura South, as well as Ventura Rotaract and our friends and families were very adventurous on Saturday, March 10. We planted trees for The Ventura Land Trust after they lost nearly a thousand trees in the Thomas Fire around the Big Rock area and the Ventura River.
The 2018 Peace Fellowship application is online at the rotary.org website. If you know of an interested and qualified candidate, have them meet with your club president and contact the District Foundation Peace Chair, Mike Weaver (amweaver@pacbell.net). All candidates must receive an endorsement from the District before their application can be submitted to The Rotary Foundation. Applications must be submitted online by 31 May.
Each candidate will be interviewed by a district panel and the district must complete the online endorsement decision form and submit it to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July. The Rotary Peace Centers selection committee will review qualified applications, select fellowship finalists and alternates, and notify all candidates and their districts of the selection results in November. See this link for more information: 7-steps for submitting an outstanding peace fellowship application
March is Water and Sanitation Month on the Rotary calendar.
How often do you think about the clean water that comes out of the tap of almost every room in your home? In our district, we are fortunate to have refreshing clean water to drink, cook, and cleanse. Such is not the case in much of the world.
The UN has designated March 22nd as the day to bring attention to the importance of clean water, sanitation and hygiene. The UN theme this year is "The Answer is in Nature", encouraging nature-based solutions to the current water challenges. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 is that by 2030 everyone has access to safe water. This target includes protecting natural environments and reducing pollution. For project ideas go to http://www.worldwaterday.org/ and CELEBRATE a safe clean glass of water!
Club Visits
Only two Rotary club visits to go: Oxnard Sunrise (March 1st) and Conejo Valley (March 13th) and three Rotaract club visits (Conejo Valley – TBD, Cal Lutheran – March 20th, and Bakersfield – TBD). In all 74 club visits done and 5 to go!
You are all amazing! And so are your clubs! Amazing, dedicated, and kind members of our communities! Christine and I continue to be impressed by your hospitality when we visit and the club projects you share. Recent club visits remind us that our district has faced disasters and that our members are resilient. CELEBRATE friends in Rotary and Service projects united in doing good in our communities!
My club visit to RC Goleta Evening was inspiring as it is the only club in our district to have 6 years of positive net membership growth. And no wonder, the club while fun, works hard to invite community members to its projects. Just ask Stacy Alvarez (and they inducted a new member --- of course)! CELEBRATE Community Service with more club members!
Clockwise from top right: with RC Ojai West President Mike Caldwell at Centennial Park, RC Ojai West new member ceremony, Proud mom DGE Sandi Schwartz presenting PHF at RC Bakersfield East, Camarillo-Oxnard social, Charter Night at RC Bakersfield Breakfast, RC Goleta new PHS member, and RC Goleta new member
Rotaract News!
On March 1st, a Rotaract Club will charter at Cal Lutheran University with local Rotary support including the Westlake Village Clubs. This will mark the second Rotaract Club chartered this year (the other is Santa Maria Valley). With 7 active Rotaract Clubs (Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Conejo Valley), I am grateful for their community work Making a Difference! Several Rotaract Club Presidents made it to PETS (President Elect Training Seminars).
March marks 50 years of Rotaract Clubs with a total of 10,859 Rotaract Clubs and 249,757 Rotaractors are Making a Difference. Check out the informative articles on Rotaractors, their stellar members, amazing projects, and the opportunity to partner projects and develop Rotarians! It is a great read. CELEBRATE Rotaract and the good it continues to do for 50 years!
Youth Service in February
This past month of February, there were two very successful Youth Service events: KERN YES! And an Interact District Conference (IDC). Much thanks goes to the Event Organizers and the 75 attendees (Interactors, parents, Rotaractors, and Rotarians) of the IDC which featured ten teams of Interactors learning to plan a project and also a presentation by Opal Singleton who educated attendees on the challenges and dangers of Human Trafficking. CELEBRATE our youth!
Tree Planting
Tree planting events are being planned in keeping with our effort this year for each club to plant a tree for each member. Some clubs have already done so and some are in the planning stage. In that regard, PDG (Past District Governor) Wade Nomura is reaching out to club leaders to provide assistance for plant selection, planting information, and whole sale discounts. Additional information will be forthcoming shortly. CELEBRATE fresh air and oxygen from planting a tree!
Upcoming District Events
March 10th District Training for Club Board members in Oxnard
March 10th Ventura Tree Planting
March 24th District Training for Club Board members in Bakersfield
April 19th-22nd RYLA Youth Leadership Camp
May 4th Foundation Fiesta – Santa Maria – Amazing Polio story and Iron Lung.
June 2nd Emerging Leaders Symposium - Santa Barbara City College, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - This is a NEW DATE for this event intended for PEs and PENs.
June 16th Club Awards Luncheon and District Governor transition – Santa Ynez Marriott (Buellton)
Check your emails and the District Website for additional information on these and many other activities
Sincerely, District Governor John Weiss and Christine
Chas Wilson, RC of Simi Sunrise, recently traveled to Colombia along with a group of Rotarians from District 5240. The purpose of the trip was threefold:
Attend a Rotary Project Fair in Armenia, Colombia. The fair was attended by Rotarians from Colombia, Canada, and the U.S.
Check out progress of an ongoing $91k peace literacy grant in Bogota and meet with the local cooperating partners and the host partner, the RC of Bogota Centenario
Carry out three service projects in Medellin
The project fair featured 64 project proposals from Districts 4271 and 4281 and addressed each of Rotary's six Areas of Focus. These proposals will be assessed over the coming months.
The peace literacy grant partners are: MENCOLDES (a Colombian Mennonite community) and Mediators Beyond Borders (based in Montreal, Canada). The MBB team will train and assist the local partners to hold a series of 15 workshops for women to promote human rights and provide conflict resolution tools. These women have been displaced by armed conflict and experienced nothing but war for most of their lifetime. They will learn how to live in a conflict-free environment. Another series of 15 workshops will target youngsters with the same goals in mind.
The group was led by Conejo Valley Rotarian Diego Velasquez and included Rotarians Elisa Ballestas (RC Conejo Valley), Cindy Belmonte, Joe Grossman and Marin Kakacher (RC of Simi Sunset) and Frank Tripicchio.
The service projects in Medellin, organized and supported financially by the Rotary Club of Newbury Park included:
A visit to a Catholic senior citizen group home to donate money for food.
A visit to an orphanage that housed 80+ kids ages three to eighteen to donate much needed money.
A project at a large school where the Rotarians provided wooden toys to the kindergarten kids and backpacks for the older kids.
The Rotarian hosts were gracious. The food was delicious and plentiful. Diego was a terrific team leader. Don't miss out on future opportunities to travel around the world and to observe firsthand the work that Rotary does in our world.
Have you considered but have not yet gone on a Polio NID trip? Share the recent experience of our NID Team - Brenda Allison, Kay Bliss, Chris Bruney, Sandra England, PDG Jeri Fujimoto, Evelyn Garfield-Loker, PDG Anil Garg, Debra Hale, Maud Huey-Kenyon, John Kenyon, Judy Moore, Jeanne Potter, Michelle Velarde, Mike Weaver, Susan Weaver, Connie Young, and PDG Stephen Zabor - in this day-by-day photo diary.
Day 1- January 25th: Eighteen team members gather in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to participate in the first National Immunization Day of 2018 (there will be another in March). We represent eleven different Rotary Clubs - 6 from District 5240, one each from California Districts 5150, 5230, one from Colorado D5450, one from Canadian District 5080, and one from Ohio District 6630. One of our troup is a friend of Rotary, but not yet a member (operable word here is ‘yet’). For most of us, this is our first NID experience. This was Anil’s 18th NID. Maud and John Kenyon are also old hands. It was Steve Zabor’s 2nd time. On our itinerary for the day: visits to UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Rotary Polio Plus Office for briefings about the up-to-the-minute status of the effort to eradicate polio. Our heads are stuffed with statistics!
Day 2 -January 26th: We divide into teams and head out the cities where we will be actively involved in the NID activities. We travel by SUVs to Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, and Hathras where we are introduced to our local Rotary hosts. For the next four days we will stay in their homes, getting to know them, learning about their involvement in Rotary, and enjoying the hospitality and cuisine for which India is justifiably famous.
Day 3 - January 27th: In our various locales we spend the day attending the local Polio Parades to encourage participation in the innoculation program and later visiting local Rotary projects. It is inspiring to see the projects, and also food for thought about possible future grant collaborations between our respective clubs.
Day 4 - January 28th: We spend the day visiting the NID Booths in various parts of the cities. Each booth visit is a festive affair filled with balloons, colorful visors and flags. It is our first opportunity to administer the 2-drops of oral polio vaccine and to paint the pinkies purple of those innocculated, but our main mission is to let the staff and volunteers at these booths know how much their work is appreciated. We are here for one day. They have been working diligently for years. It has taken a huge and sustained effort to get to the point where there have been no new cases of polio reported in India since 2011. The day is filled with smiles and high-fives and Vs for victory and ThisClose hand signs. The children are enchanting.
Day 5 - January 29th: We spend this day accompanying the local polio workers and the WHO representatives as they go door-to-door noting the number of children in each household, tracking each one’s immunization record, administering drops to any child under the age of five who was not immunized at a booth on the previous day, making note of any child who cannot take the drops because of illness or absence and making plans for follow-up visits to make sure no one is missed. It is an arduous day. The accuracy and completeness of record-keeping is astounding. We are blown-away by the effort.
Day 6 - January 30: This is a travel day for most teams as we all reassemble in Agra. For the team from Bareilly it is a long day as a general strike closes some of the roads and requires them to detour. This evening we attend a three-club Rotary meeting where we are garlanded and feted as honored guests. We have a blast!
Day 7 - January 31: We are up and out of the hotel by 6 a.m. for a group trip to visit the Taj Mahal. It is a pleasant respite for us. Though the fog has been rather thick in the morning for the past few days, we catch a break and it lifts soon after we arrive at the monument. It is as beautiful as we had hoped, and by our early arrival we have missed the crowds. We return to our hotel to check out, eat lunch, and then get back on the bus for a trip to Fatehpur Sikri, capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to 1585, as red as the Taj Mahal is white. Then we are back on the bus for our return trip to Delhi. Along the way we stop to see the triple moon - blue moon, super moon, blood moon - a rare and beautiful experience. The half moon in India appeared horizontal, that is lit from the bottom not the side, a Chesire cat smile in the sky.
Day 8 - February 1: We visit St. Stephen’s Hospital, where polio corrective surgeries are performed and are inspired by the work being done by Dr. Mathew Varghese and his colleagues. Later we tour the Rotary Blood Bank. Rotary’s presence and visibility in Delhi is amazing. There is a whole lot of good being done here with Rotary dollars. We have the late afternoon and evening off to rest, to go shopping or to do some more sightseeing.
Day 9 - February 2: We are each off on our own after a remarkable and extremely rewarding experience. Armed with what we have seen and heard, we will be making presentations to our clubs and generally spreading the word of the remarkable work that has been and is being done.
To learn more about the on-the-ground local effort involved in the NID, please see the February issue of the D5240 Rotary Foundation Newsletter, and keep current on the numbers by reading the newsletter every month to see just how close we are to the goal of wiping polio off the face of the earth. And please, please, please give generously to Polio Plus!
For those of you going or are thinking of going to the Rotary International Convention in June, there will be a joint cruise/reception between District 5240 and our neighboring District 5280 (Los Angeles). Go Schmooze, eh! If you have not signed up for the convention yet, there is still time.
Rotary International President Ian Riseley has challenged every Rotary club to make a difference by planting a tree for each of its members between the start of the Rotary year July 1, 2017 and Earth Day on April 22, 2018.
As part of its Vocational Service contribution to the community, the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has been providing the Economic Outlook Forecast for the past 20 years. Chair of the committee, Pat McCoy, has been a significant factor in keeping the program going, and Cal Lutheran University has been a significant contributor, both in terms of venue and in terms of critically important speakers.
On Sunday, February 25th, the Rotary Club of Lompoc will host its 32nd Annual Wine Tasting and Auction. This hallmark event will feature fine wines from the Santa Rita Hills AVA, beers from local craft brewers and fare from some of Lompoc’s finest food establishments.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation presented a check for $20,000 to Camp Whittier, operated by the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County.
Peace & Conflict Prevention/Resolution February is a special month for CELEBRATIONS. I have a birthday tomorrow, but more importantly it is a month we CELEBRATE and think about Peace and being more Peaceable. We reflect on resolving conflict. Think about the following: FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service. Borrowed from the 4th Object of Rotary which I have discussed 65 times thus far at club visits (only 13 more club visits to go)! Think about it. Have you considered moving your club closer to peace by becoming a Peacebuilder Club. Information can be found on the district website Peace Page.
Rotarians to plant 1.2 million trees! One cool project that Rotary International President Ian Riseley has requested is for every club to organize and plant a tree for every member in each club, preferably by Arbor Day. How does it relate to peace? Long before I became a Rotarian I have always admired and felt more relaxed when surrounded by trees. Weather in a tree studded neighborhood or in a state or national park, trees are a good thing (they also provide oxygen for us to breathe). Obviously, there are many ways to promote peace and conflict resolution. Does a tree stop a war? Probably not. Consider the following…
District Tree Planting Request In that regard, I will be asking each Club President to help with this request by appointing a member or committee in each club to coordinate a tree planting with its members, adjacent clubs, Interact, and Rotaract Clubs at a location of each club’s choosing.
Ventura Tree Planting One tree planting opportunity already in place is being organized in Ventura on March 10th at 1PM in the afternoon following the District Training Assembly. This is just one opportunity for Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors to plant trees. If you are interested, details will be shared in early February with your Club President.
Montecito Mudslides Back on Tuesday January 9th we all witnessed the devastation of heavy rains on grounds that had suffered extreme fire. It happened to be the scheduled day for me to visit the Rotary Club of Montecito. My club visit has been delayed until February 20th. 21 lives were lost including a charter member from Goleta John McManigal and several lost their homes to the mudslides including Past District Governor Rich Abbott and his wife Sherry. While our hearts are hurting from the Thomas Fire devastation and the subsequent mudslides, I believe that our best days are just in front of us. Does the planting of a tree make a difference? Perhaps, but how much more if Rotarians come together to do a good thing like planting lots of trees! Yes, it promotes peace in so many ways!
New Interact Club chartered at New Tech in Nipomo On January 22nd, the Interact Club at New Tech High in Nipomo was chartered making it the 76th Interact Club in our district thanks to the Rotarians from Five Cities Eco and Morro Bay Sunset among others. To see an example of what an Interact Club can do, click here to watch a YouTube video. Please note: this YouTube video was produced by the Interact Club itself. Does your Rotary Club have an active Interact Club you work with? If not, please consider chartering an interact club. District staff is available to help. If you have an Interact Club that you have sponsored, please invite the interactors and their parents to attend the Interact District Conference on February 24th in Oxnard and offer to drive them. Carpooling is FUN (and good for the environment)!
Details on many district events will be forthcoming: February 10th -- YES (Youth Empowerment Summit) in Taft February 24th -- Interact District Conference at Oxnard’s Pacific High School March 10th -- District Training Assemblies (Oxnard) March 24th -- District Training Assemblies (Bakersfield) May 4th -- District Foundation Fiesta (Gala) Santa Maria – super Key note speaker will share his perspective as a son with a mother stricken with Polio living in an Iron Lung. Please plan to attend, you’ll be glad you did. May 19th -- Emerging Leader Symposium – San Luis Obispo TBD June 16th -- District Awards and District Governor celebrations Luncheon – TBD
District Governor Club Visits and Invitation to attend your clubs, projects, and events Christine and I have now completed 65 Club Visits and are truly amazed at the Rotarians and projects of each club (only 13 Club visits to go!)! Now that the completion of my club visits are in sight and I’m feeling pretty good, I welcome invites to your club’s meetings and events. Celebrate Rotary: your friends, SERVICE, and HEALTH! We love each one of you and are so honored to serve with you!
Sincerely, District Governor John Weiss and Christine
Rotary House Retreat is a six-day intensive outpatient retreat that provides First Responders the opportunity to learn and practice new coping skills while improving personal and professional relationships. RHR uses prevention and early-intervention models to address issues such as substance abuse, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, and other stress- and trauma-related symptoms. The goal of Rotary House Retreat is to enable First Responders to restore and resume his/her work in a highly productive manner and avoid negative outcomes such as family dissolution, chemical dependence, or suicide.
Before the sun rose on November 4th, fifty Rotaractors, Rotarians, and Interactors piled into a bus in a parking lot in San Diego. Their destination: Tijuana. Their mission: to build an entire house in one day for a deserving family.
January in the Rotary world is the month of Vocational Service, click here to link to the MyRotary page which contains The Object of Rotary, The 4-Way Test, and the Avenues of Service. Vocational Service is the second Avenue of Service.
May I suggest offsite club meetings at businesses of a few of your members or a vocational school program. Or to foster Vocational Service and Membership, may I suggest inviting non-Rotarian business leaders to talk about their businesses for two minutes. They are often good candidates for your club!
Goodbye to 2017
December marked the end of our calendar year and the mid-way point of our Rotary year. As we head into the New Year, it is worth noting that we are finishing the year up 27 net new members which is a positive trend.
December is traditionally a month of family reflection, and hope and, looking back, you can’t help but appreciate the time of year when many clubs ring the bell to help local families, enjoy festive music, and perhaps a light show in the neighborhood.
Foremost in our minds this year is the pain and suffering of so many because of the Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and recent relief that the fires have subsided. Rotarians and our communities have suffered great losses. Our hearts go out to each of you who lost your home and all of its treasures. Fortunately, loss of life was minimized and the spirit of so many was inspiring in the midst of such adversity. I’m grateful that so many Rotarians answered the call within hours to share their homes with others displaced by the fires. Thousands of dollars have been raised by individual contributions and the generosity of our district’s clubs! It’s not too late to give!
Recently I spoke to a good friend who celebrates all the acts of giving, kindness, and holiday spirit. It occurred to me how cool it is when we think of others. And is that not what Rotary is all about?
Christine and I have visited 50 (48 Rotary and 2 Rotaract) Clubs. The cool projects of our clubs are inspiring. If you have not already, I encourage you to visit other Rotary clubs for ideas, opportunities for joint service, and to develop friendships. Hopefully your clubs are thinking about and compiling this information for our annual awards which is June 16th this year.
Recently, I met in Pasadena with my District Governor classmates and the President of Rotary International Ian Riseley and his wife Juliete and our partners for lunch to discuss our service projects, club visits and the planting of trees. RI President Ian shared that Romania is providing 1.2 million trees and Rotarians in Romania will be planting them. Of course, the world-wide challenge is to plant 1.2 millions trees. With the recent fires that have devastated camps for our youth, tree planting is a part of these projects. If your club has not yet planted a tree for each member, an opportunity will be forthcoming --- details to follow.
Save the Dates
Mark your calendars for these events in 2018. Details to follow:
Feb. 24th Interact District Conference in Oxnard Pacifica High School.
May 4th Our Foundation Fiesta (right before Cinco De Mayo) in Santa Maria.
Best wishes for a Happy 2018! As with my own health, I’m convinced that in spite of what challenges we face, our best days are still ahead!
The 2018-2019 Club Grants Qualification Webinar will take place on January 9th from 6 to 7 p.m. PST.
This is your last chance to get your club qualified to submit grants for the 2018-19 Rotary year.
In order to be qualified, attendance is required by two Rotarians from each club. One of the attendees must be the President Elect (President in Rotary year 2018-19).
If your club is already qualified, you do not need to attend this webinar.
If you attended an in person training, you do not need to attend this webinar.
The Council on Resolutions meets online each year. Representatives from all of Rotary’s districts vote on resolutions that clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the General Council or Conference of RIBI have proposed. The RI Board of Directors will then consider all resolutions that the Council adopts.
What are resolutions?
A resolution is a request to the RI Board or The Rotary Foundation Trustees to take an action that is outside the purview of the constitutional documents. Ideally, a resolution should affect the Rotary world, rather than address local or administrative issues.
Who votes on the resolutions?
Representatives from all Rotary districts vote on resolutions proposed by clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the general council or conference of RIBI.
Representatives are chosen for three-year terms. The 2017-20 Council representatives will vote in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 COR
The 2017 vote took place from 15 October to 15 November.
Results have been published and any Rotarian can now view the resolutions and the results of the vote.
If you are interested in the results from Council on Resolutions, please visit the following link: https://my.rotary.org/en/cor/vote
RC Goleta Noontime International Service Co-Chairs PP Hans and Helena Dahlin share their experiences on their trip to Sri Lanka in July of this year in a video newly posted to YouTube. Acting as the sponsor club, Goleta Noontime has partnered with RC Colombo East on a Global Grant that funds early childhood learning in rural Sri Lanka.
Registration is now open for the District 5240 Mid-term Training Seminars. Mid-terms are specifically for Club Presidents, PEs and PENs to continue your important training for each club leadership position. There will be two offerings:
Saturday, January 6, 2018, 8:30am to 12:30pm – Santa Barbara City College (Santa Barbara)
Saturday, January 13, 2018, 8:30am to 12:30pm – CSU Bakersfield (Bakersfield)
You only need to attend one of the seminars, and your team does not have to attend the same one together. Check-in and continental breakfast will be from 8:30am to 9:00am. The training will begin promptly at 9:00am with a plenary session for all attendees. You will then break out into separate training sessions for Presidents, PEs and PENs. The agenda, maps, and parking directions will be emailed to attendees prior to the training.
The cost of the training (including continental breakfast and parking) is $20 and the cost should be covered by your clubs. The links to register are below. Each person must complete a separate registration; however, your club may send one check for all their attendees (please indicate who the check is paying for). Or you may pay by credit card and get reimbursed from your club.
As we conclude November and our first 5 months of this year, there is so much that I am grateful for: my family, my faith, my friends, and all of you: 3,314 fellow Rotarians in our great district! I’m thankful for my circumstances, my home club, my business and staff, my doctors and health care providers, my district staffers that make me look good! How about you?! What are you thankful for?
Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
This month Rotary’s monthly theme is Disease Prevention and Treatment. This is a meaningful aspect of being a Rotarian. We have worked collectively for about 30 years to eradicate Polio. Many of you have been on a NID (National Immunization Day), some on several! Some like Jim Lewis, Anil Garg, and many others are tireless in efforts for increasing Polio awareness. Others like District Governor Elect Sandi Schwartz and Club President Denise (Bakersfield Breakfast) are tuned in to health and wellness with leadership roles.
Interact District Conference is Saturday February 24th, 2018 in Oxnard.
Your district committee is hard working to make this 3rd Annual event special. We will offer an Interact version of PRLS (Practical Relevant Leadership Skills) with an introduction to Rotary. Interactive leadership skills. A special on child or human trafficking will be offered for students and parents. We hope that every Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary club will be involved at some level.
Membership
The other day I was considering the 55 new members I’ve recruited over the past 15 years. The first step is to love Rotary and be willing to talk about your passion with anyone you feel might make a good Rotarian. Some refer to an elevator speech. I refer to a conversational introduction. A smile goes a long way. Ask what they think of community work, helping others, volunteering time, donating time and fundraising. Ask if they get on the internet. Direct them to rotary.org, your club website, or club Facebook. Have fun with it. Role-play. Please feel free to talk with your club’s Membership Chair…
The new Council of Legislation of 2016 gives your club the flexibility to consider Corporate and family Memberships. Now you can have 2 to 3 members from a single company or organization. Now couples can be recruited together. It makes for more volunteers, more community event sponsors, and membership retention.
Forty-two club visits so far and 37 club visits to go (including Rotaract clubs). One of my club visits in November was with the E-Club of One World which has members from our district, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and other countries, too. If your club has members who find their work has changed, or they move, the E-Club of One World might be a great fit.
You can view the video of meeting on YouTube by clicking here
Christine and I have been so inspired by your warm welcomes, sharing of club projects, and sending of greetings and cards!
KernYes!, a Youth Empowerment Summit will be held February 10, 2018, at the the Historic Fort Taft. One hundred-twenty Kern County high school students from 30 schools will be attending. This multi-club collaborative is still in need of financial support. If your club is looking for a worthy Youth Service project to contribute to, look no further. Contact Li Gibbs at rotarykernyes@gmail.com.
On Saturday 28th, 2017, interviews were held for the position of District Governor for 2020-2021. In accord with our District and Rotary Bylaws, we are pleased to formally announce that the Nominating Committee selected Deborah Linden from the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo.
November is the month we give pause and reflect on our Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation allows us to collectively do good in our world. It means that your club can raise $20,000 and end up with a project of over $50,000. Our district has a history of extraordinary giving to the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects representing millions of SMILES! Additional information and cool stories can be found each month in “Changing Lives”, our district monthly newsletter featuring the Foundation giving and stories of clubs in our district.
With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world. So SMILE as you write that check or swipe your credit card. For ease consider the Rotary giving form 123EN attached below and accessible online here: https://www.rotary.org/en/donate.
Why should I donate to The Rotary Foundation?
Your donation makes a difference to those who need our help most. More than 90 percent of donations go directly to supporting Rotary service projects around the world.
How does The Rotary Foundation use donations?
Our 35,500 clubs carry out sustainable service projects that support our six causes. With donations like yours, we’ve wiped out 99.9 percent of all polio cases. Your donation also trains future peacemakers, supports clean water, and strengthens local economies.
What impact can one donation have?
It can save a life. A child can be protected from polio with as little as 60 cents. Our partners make your donation go even further. For every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $2. Which is to say that each dose with the match is about 20 cents.
District Conference 2017
My sincere thanks to our hard working committee, the communities in and near Ventura, to our sponsors, our sister districts from South Korea and Mexico, and to the 300+ Rotarians that were in attendance. I heard so many heart-felt thanks and positive comments. We featured our youth, local talent, Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Youth Exchange and so much more. Now we look forward to our next one in Bakersfield in October 2018!
40 visits and only 39 visits to go!
Christine and I are having a great time as we visit the amazing clubs in our district! At each club my goal is to listen to your members share the amazing projects your clubs performs. Some projects are simple like selling tickets for a worthy non-profit with a small number of members to an annual auction dinner requiring all hands on deck to help. Either-way it should be FUN and an opportunity to get to know your club members while we Make a Difference or Celebrate Rotary. Thinking about “Making a Difference”, how is your club doing on planting a tree for every club member (or more)? I had the opportunity to plant a tree with the Rotary Club of Nipomo. My driver was none other than the Club of Templeton Kathleen.
Celebrate your Friends, Service Projects while having FUN and Celebrating your Health!
I will be taking my second (and hopefully final) break of this year with a needed surgery. Thank you for all of your thoughts and super support. You all are my inspiration along with my wonderful wife Christine, district governor classmates, co-workers, and friends!
Interact District Conference - Mark your calendars : February 24th, 2018 (venue TBD)
Our Youth Service team lead by Darin Arrasmith (Thousand Oaks) and Greg Gillette (San Luis Obispo) are busy working to inspire and develop leadership skills and vital topics are working hard to make this a great event. Parents of all Interact students will be invited and encouraged to attend. Look for further announcements soon.
In 2016-17, eleven clubs in district 5240 helped fund a project ($50,750) that supported early childhood education by improving preschool teacher's training in rural Sri Lanka.
This was the 2nd Global Grant that the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime has completed and the grant is now helping 450 preschool teachers (who are currently in training) to get their diploma.
Since the project beginning in 2012, D-5240 together with three other districts has now reached these total numbers:
Number of teachers supported has grown to 3,500!
This project is benefiting 70,000 children annually.
The total grant value is $435,000!
Our club believes that this is a project worthy of our support, as it focuses on educating children in hard to reach rural areas so that they have opportunities similar to those available to children in cities as they grow. Also, the project already has local Rotary partners (PDG Dharshan John, Colombo East) that are prepared to work with us all to ensure the ongoing success of the project year after year.
We have just come back from our 2nd trip to Sri Lanka.
This year as District 5240 is one of the seven Southern California and Arizona Rotary Districts that are sustaining supporters of the Rotary Rose Parade Float, District Governor John Weiss was given the opportunity to select one parade participant. He selected Kaitlyn Alderete the President of the Rotaract Club of Conejo Valley to represent District 5240 as Rotary’s Future Image to eighty-three million people worldwide in Tournament of Rose Parade on January 1st 2018.
Kaitlyn Alderete is the 2017-2018 President of the Rotaract Club of Conejo Valley. She joined Rotaract in 2014, and this year under her leadership her club has inducted several new members and is continuing to grow. It is also helping to establish a new Rotaract Club on CLU campus alongside the other Group 4 Rotary Clubs. In 2016, Kaitlyn sat on the District Conference Committee and attended Rotaract’s Big West Conference in Phoenix Arizona and again in 2017 in Long Beach California. In 2017 she had the privilege of attending the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta Georgia alongside thousands of Rotarians and Rotaractors from all over the world. During the RI convention she experienced the true meaning of world peace, and now actively encourages club members to participate in Conferences and Conventions so they can experience it as well. Kaitlyn is honored to represent her District during the 2018 Rose Parade.
Born in 1991, Kaitlyn and her brother were raised by their parents in Thousand Oaks, California. She graduated from California State University of Sacramento in 2013 where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree and met her now husband, Bret. After graduation the couple moved back to Thousand Oaks to be closer to their families and start their life. Kaitlyn and Bret wed in July 2016. They purchased their first home in Moorpark, California, later that same year in December. Kaitlyn works for a life insurance brokerage as an account executive.
Kaitlyn attributes her success to the unwavering support from her husband and family. She truly believes that life has been exceptionally good to her and doing good for others and her community is just a small way for her to give back.
The Rotary Rose Parade Float is made possible by the generous support of Rotarians and the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee, the longest continuous running public image campaign for Rotary with 39 years of experience. With the Committee’s help Kaitlyn will be D5240’s poster person promoting the hands on approach Rotaractors bring to the Rotary experience during interviews and social events.
Introducing D5240’s Rotaractor Kaitlyn Alderete to the world
There is only one crossing between the Southern African country of Zambia and neighbor Botswana, which is in the town of Kazungula. The Zambesi River flows between the two countries, and all vehicles must be carried over on a pontoon. Commercial trucks wait in a queue for up to 10 days, during which time the drivers play cards, listen to music, and way too often, entice vulnerable young girls to “entertain” them. This is much easier than it should be in an extremely impoverished town with a history of sexual abuse and child marriage. The sexual abuse endured by these young girls and women provides sustenance for families that otherwise would have none. With no alternative source of income, many girls and young women become victims.
What Could Possibly Be Done to Help?
There is a ray of hope. Prominent civic leaders in Livingstone, Zambia—a nearby tourist destination—decided to take action. They identified 3 areas where trained young women can find employment—tailoring, computer work, and food preparation. They formed an NGO, and opened The Grace Center for counseling and training. In addition, the Grace Center hopes to provide funds for secondary school education.
They have ambitious goals, but so far, they only have enough funding for the tailoring program, which has enrolled 30 young girls and women. With additional funding, a small factory can be created in the existing space to produce school uniforms and retail clothing. Construction has begun on a food preparation school and a restaurant, a first for Kazungula! Skilled graduates can also find employment in surrounding tourist hotels and lodges. Finally, computers are being acquired, and trained graduates will be highly employable at the local customs offices, as well as tourist hotels and lodges around Livingstone.
The members of the Livingstone Rotary Club are very hopeful that they can find an international sponsor and initiate a global grant to fund The Grace Center. The Livingstone Club has a strong reputation for success—they’ve completed over 20 global grants and over 75 district grants.
If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact George Poulakos of the Rotary Club of Ventura at gjp@tribecacom.com (middle initial is a J) or 954-494-4387.
Slow River Crossing: Devastating Consequences for Girls in Zambia
Being in Rotary is about the “moments” that make a difference in our own lives, and possibly more important, are the “moments” that make a difference in the life of others. This is what YES! is all about!
YES! – Youth Empowerment Summit, which was started five years ago, is a one-day workshop for high school students where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues they are faced with daily. YES! is a joint project of the three Simi Valley Rotary clubs: The Rotary Club of Simi Valley, The Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, and The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset.
District 5240 is putting together another team of Rotarians to India to participate in a NID (National Immunization Day) on January 28 - 29, 2018.
The trip will most likely start on January 22nd and end around Feb. 4th 2018. the activities on Jan. 28th, door to door immunization will be done over a days starting on the 29th (we will do door to door immunization only for 1 ). This will entail some long hours and lots of walking (which means you need be in good shape, physically and mentally).
Here are some guidelines that will influence the selection process:
Looking forward to October and Remembering September
October is upon us and the Rotary Monthly Theme is “Economic and Community Development. I hope your club is presenting a program on one of this month's suggested topics - perhaps on Micro Lending or on local development updates. As many of you will remember, our district has an excellent history of supporting Micro Loan programs that make a real difference and offer sustainable hope for those who just need a helping hand. The first Microcredit Matching Grant issued by The Rotary Foundation was awarded to the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. You can read about this effort by following this link: TRF Funds Microcredit Grant for Local Job Creation
Christine and I have thoroughly enjoyed our (20) club visits in September!
We were greeted by bagpipes (Westlake Village), taken on a boat ride (Westlake Village), round of Golf (Westlake Village), two great club socials with root beer floats (Ventura East), a Facebook recording (San Luis Obispo), two songs in the District Governor’s honor (Ventura South and East), another autographed basketball (Santa Maria), and Green Jello (Westlake Village) followed by a steak! Each club visit also featured a Board Meeting and we learned about the club’s many projects:
Huge support for RYLA (all clubs visited)
College and Trade School Scholarships – Rotary really supports Youth! (all clubs so far)
Mexico Home Build with Rotaract and Rotary Clubs (Ventura and San Luis Obispo)
Vets Outreach
Coats for Kids (San Luis Obispo Rotaract)
4th of July family friendly Events
Architecture Project to teach students (Santa Ynez Valley)
Senior meals (several clubs)
School for girls to reduce Human Trafficking (PACE)
Local Free Dental Clinic (Thousand Oaks)
Fund STEM – Robotics for 150 children (Santa Ynez Valley)
Salvation Army Bell Ringing support local families
Storybook (reading) Project for inmates support children (Thousand Oaks)
Eye Care Clinic in Mexico, Jaws of Life, Teach English (San Luis Obispo)
Tanzania Hospital Water Collection system (San Luis Obispo)
El Chorro Outdoor Classroom Amphitheater (all 4 SLO clubs)
Clean up senior living quarters (SLO Daybreak)
Support Women’s Shelter (Santa Maria)
Holiday Parade supports many community non-profits (Santa Maria clubs and Nipomo)
Exchange Students (RYE does over 9,000 exchanges per year
Medium size club planting 100+ trees
Peace Building projects and district certification
Support Habitat for Humanity (Paso Robles Sunrise)
Water Sanitation education (Paso Robles Sunrise)
Annual ethics and leadership conference (Atascadero and Ventura clubs)
Kids Day in the Park – fishing (Santa Maria Breakfast)
Carpenteria Talent Showcase
Road clean ups include local Interact club
Amp Surf for disabled Vets (Grover Beach and Pismo Beach)
School Backpacks (several clubs)
Support local Boys & Girls Clubs (several clubs)
Trivia Challenge and adult literacy (Ventura South and others)
High School Speech Contest
Support Turning Point recovery programs (Ventura and Oxnard clubs)
Teacher Recognition programs (Oxnard)
Major Sanitation Projects India (Westlake Village)
Operation Splash – teach children to swim (Ventura East)
District Conference is just around the corner! Our Committee has delivered on an amazing weekend!
Registration is now closed, but those of you who have registered will be treated to:
Super speakers will talk about Emerging Leaders, Youth, Polio Survivor wins a Gold Medal, and Making a Difference
Marching Band Saturday morning (I love a marching band) and the 🎉Celebrate Theme: (Trouble Viewing? Click here for YouTube video
Rotaract – Rotarian Home Build
Sister District Rotarian leaders from South Korea (D3721 and D3722) and Mexico (D4140)
Super Live - Music Sgt Peppers band 1-2 hours of dancing!
Polio Fundraiser, booth and Inspirational Moment
100 steps from the beach and close to the Ventura Harbor
Experience the amazing collection at the Mullin Car Museum plus other great excursions!
Aloha Welcome Reception!
Project Expo – check out all the club projects!
So what does your district do for you?
Not an uncommon question to ponder. The Rotary district was the brainchild of Arch Klumph along with the Rotary Foundation and the position of District Governor. To start, the Rotary district provides training to club leaders with PETS (President Elect Training Seminars), President Elect Retreats, District Trainings, Mid –Terms for the club president lines, manages youth programs like RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) and RYE (Rotary Youth Exchange), PRLS (Practical Relevant Leadership Skills).
Your district staff also organizes Club visits, provides resources like Avenue of Service Chairs, and Assistant Governors. Please reach out if you have questions to your club leaders, district leaders, and yours truly your Governor John Weiss.
🎉 Celebrate a great October!
Christine and I are enjoying our visits, Club programs and Board meetings. Health-wise I’m feeling great and Celebrating each day. Remember to Celebrate your 🎉Rotary friends, 🎉Projects and Service, 🎉Fun and FUN, and 🎉your health! Next month, I plan to share Membership tips: How to recruit and sponsor 50+ new members with no fuss, just FUN!
Has your club submitted your certified list of club electors to Jeremy Swanson, the D5240 Parliamentarian? If not, what are you waiting for?
The District's annual business meeting will be held on Saturday October 7th at 11 AM at the Ventura Beach Marriott, and delegates will be called upon to vote on an update to the District By-laws. It is an important vote as we haven't updated the by-laws for three years. The proposed changes will facilitate the District's being more efficient & effective in assisting & supporting Member Clubs. They would also enable updating the the District Operating Manual & Leadership Plan in a timely manner. But this can't happen without your delegates casting their votes.
No proxies apply for this vote. Only your designated Club Delegates may cast a ballot. Please note, Club Delegates need not register for the District Conference in order to attend the business meeting to represent your club! For those coming only for the vote, there is free off site parking on the street or one can pay $7 to park on site. Though it is preferable to have submitted your delegates' voting documents to Jeremy prior to the morning of the 7th, delegates can present them to Jeremy before the start of the business meeting.
As of September 26, only 20% of the club delegates' documents have been sent to our Parliamentarian Jeremy Swanson. We need 67% positive votes of the delegates to approve the updated bylaws. For example, a club with 75 members would send 3 delegates i.e. 3 Rotarians (remember - no proxies for this vote).
Club Presidents, if you have any concerns on this, please reach out to your local Assistant Governor, Executive Governor or DG John Weiss.
For only the fourth time in the past 20 years or so, a D-5240 Rotarian has been named to a Zone-level Coordinator position. Past District Governor Jim Bell (Bakersfield Twilight) has accepted a three-year appointment as Zone 26 Public Image Coordinator (RPIC) for the 2018-2021 Rotary years.
Jim received news of his appointment from RI President Elect Barry Rassin, who has indicated his interest in strengthening Rotary’s use of digital tools to increase public recognition of the breadth and scope of the good Rotary is actively doing in the world.
Jim will be taking over the job from another D-5240 Rotarian - Michael Boyer (Pismo Beach-Five Cities) who has held the zone’s RPIC post for the past three years. Rtn. Brenda Cressey (Paso Robles) is currently serving as Trustee for The Rotary Foundation and previously served as Zone 26 Endowment/Major Gifts Advisor.
As Zone 26 Public Image Coordinator, Jim is expected to increase Rotary's public profile by assisting club and district leaders to gain the skills that will allow them to effectively share Rotary’s stories with the media, their communities, and with local civic and governmental leaders. He will also be developing training to improve local clubs’ ability to tell and visually communicate their stories using all the tools - print, broadcast and digital social media - at their disposal.
Jim comes highly qualified to the position of RPIC. A Past President of the Kern County (CA) Broadcasters Association, he holds a BA in telecommunications from Kent State University (OH) and has more than thirty years' experience in television and radio broadcasting, including having operated six radio stations in Bakersfield, CA, for Clear Channel Media and Entertainment.
As RPIC, Jim will be working closely with others on the Zone 25/26 team. He will be attending a training institute in Evanston in March along with 40 other RPIC’s from around the world in preparation for stepping into the position.
Rotary Club of Ojai and Prashanti School, Puri, India
Prashanti School (PS), in Puri, Odisha, India, was started in response to a Category 5 hurricane that devastated the area in late 1999. (We have certainly seen recently how destructive these storms can be!)The founder, Elizabeth Burnett from Ojai, California, had an ongoing tutoring program in Puri. After the hurricane, there were so many children left homeless, the local government asked if she could take in a few of them. In January 2000, twenty-one children were delivered to her! The non-profit Prashanti School was born. These children needed immediate 24/7 housing, food, clothing, medical care, and schooling. They were ragged, sick and traumatized. Back in the US, friends began a grassroots effort to provide funding to support these destitute children. Thus began World Family Foundation (WFF), based in Ojai, California, which in 2002 became a registered 501-c-3 non-profit to manage sponsorships and donations for the children of Prashanti School. WFF is an all volunteer service organization.Over the years, it became increasingly apparent that the need for programs like Prashanti School in Puri goes far beyond any single disaster. Many, many children in the poor village areas are still trapped in the cycle of extreme poverty and low expectations that has defined their families for generations. Lack of basic literacy is a core problem, especially for women, where, in the villages, the rate of literacy can be as low as 25%. Many women can’t even sign their names – they sign with a thumbprint.
Although the economy of India has been growing, the benefits often do not reach the lowest levels of society. In fact, recent studies have shown that the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” has simply grown wider.
Economic inequality in India may well be at its highest level in 92 years. Even as the wealth of the top 2% increases, India still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Rotarians know that peace grows when underlying causes of conflict are addressed, such as poverty, lack of access to education, and hopelessness. Peace becomes possible when people feel they have the opportunity to better themselves and their lives, and when they know their children can have bright futures.
Considered the premier culinary event of the year, the Rotary Club of Ojai proudly presents its 17th Annual Taste of Ojai at the world class Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. Taste of Ojai is a showcase of delicious creations from local restaurants, caterers, wineries and culinary specialists~all with that special signature Ojai touch!! For tickets visit: http://www.tasteofojai.com
When the hat was passed at a meeting last week, the Camarillo Rotary club collected $5,000 for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The Camarillo Rotary Foundation then matched the amount pledged during the meeting. Foundation President Al Lowe said, "I’m very proud of our Club. We will be sending a check for $10,000 to Houston for disaster relief."
Rotary Club of Camarillo Raises Funds for Hurricane Harvey
A Summer Filled with Gratitude, Pride, and Anticipation
Since I was a boy, summer has been one of my favorite times of the year. This summer has special meaning: Becoming District Governor of the greatest Rotary District in the world!
Health-wise I am feeling good and upbeat as my doctors continue to discuss my treatment which might include more surgery. Until then I look forward to continued service as your District Governor.
If you don’t remember green jello from my last Newsletter, you might find a copy and review --- there might be a test --- or at least a smile!
Hurricane Harvey Relief
Club President Bob Harrell for the Rotary Club of Camarillo Noon made me proud to be a Rotarian when he called me to ask where to send a donation by check for disaster relief for Hurricane Harvey. His club passed the money hat and collected $5,000 and his club Foundation matched the generosity of the club members sending $10,000.
If a person or club would prefer to mail a check, please do so to Rotary D5240 Charitable Foundation C/O Barry VanderKelen, 1212 Marsh St. Ste 3, San Luis Obsipo, CA 93401
Monthly Rotary Theme
The monthly theme for September is Basic Education and Literacy. Think about the education programs we as a district support. We provide scholarships to high school graduates for college or trade schools. We support RYLA. We support schools for girls in India (PACE). We support the schools in our communities. Perhaps your club might consider inviting local educators and literacy organizations. Perhaps invite your own club educators to provide a “Craft Talk”.
Membership
I’m very pleased to report that our district membership increased by 40 new members net. One added retention tool is our monthly polling which consists of one question: “How likely are you to recommend this Rotary club to a friend or colleague?” This Member Satisfaction Program is most effective if each club member replies and then club leadership listens and implements appropriate changes!
Human Trafficking
At a recent Human Trafficking task force meeting lead by Lee Cunningham (San Luis Obispo County Assistant District Attorney) were representatives from the FBI, CHP, and local law enforcement as well as social services. The keynote for their meeting was our own Past District Governor Deepa Willingham. Also present was District Governor Elect Sandi Schwartz and yours truly.
One request was for greater awareness in our Rotary district as this task force encompasses representatives from all four of our counties. This important topic reminded me of some keynote speakers at the just concluded Rotary Convention in Atlanta. Consider the following link featuring the famous actor Ashton Kutcher. See what you think…
On Saturday August 26th, our district chartered a new Rotaract Club! It was well attended by local Rotarians and the incoming six Directors and club members. They are sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Group 12 – Santa Maria and Nipomo. These Rotaractors are the bright future of Rotary lead by Club President Alex and future members of Rotary. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/SMVRotaract
District Conference
YOUR District Conference is really shaping up and is certain to be FUN, INSPIRING, and a REAL happening Event. Check out what’s planned in the following article. I look forward to seeing you all there!
Each year Rotary Districts in Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada along with many Rotarians sponsor, design, and build a float to promote a float in the Rose Parade which is seen by millions of viewers in person and on television worldwide. Each year a core group of dedicated volunteers raise funds for this unique marketing event. Our district has one spot left to walk in the Rose Parade which takes about 4 hours and 5 miles of walking. If you are interested in being that person, please send me an email suggesting why you should be chosen. A contribution to the Rose Parade Committee (through a Rotary Charitable Foundation) could help your chances! http://rotarydistrict5240.org/Stories/rotary-float-rose-parade-2017
District Governor Club Visits to resume
Words alone do not adequately express my gratitude to all of you for your love and support. Each of you has made me a better person and District Governor and I’m so grateful. I can’t wait to visit your club (7 done and 65 to go!) and meet and thank you in person. If not at your club, perhaps at an event or, in particular, our District Conference which will be all things CELEBRATE!
"If you were to ask me what 'Brand' is ... it really is a guide or a lens for the way you think, the way you act, and the way you communicate brought to life at every single point of interaction with your audiences, both internal and external." - Hayley Berlent
Meetings are a great opportunity to provide positive interactions with both internal (members) and external (guests) people. Please enjoy this humorous video that illustrating how many clubs "welcome" people to their club. :-)
Why is member satisfaction important? Members are the customers of each club, they are the life blood of all Rotary clubs. The success of a club is directly attributable to the satisfaction levels of the members of the club. If you have highly satisfied members, your club is prospering and attaining its goals. If members are not satisfied your club membership declines.
Your club is participating in a monthly 1-question membership survey. I ask that you participate and provide your rating of how your club is doing and PLEASE add any ideas or comments you have that will make your club better.
You never know when a great idea will come and your club needs to hear them all.
Remember every 1-question membership survey is 100% anonymous. Thank you!
The Rotary Club of Ventura East happily participated in a “Backpack” project for needy youngsters in the Ventura Unified School District. The project has been done by the Ventura Rotary Club for 17 years. This year it was a combined effort involving the three clubs from Ventura: Ventura, Ventura East and Ventura South as well as the Downtown Lions Club and other volunteers.
Register now for the 2017 District 5240 Conference and come Celebrate Rotary! October 6-8, 2017, at the Ventura Beach Marriott.
Highlights include:
Aloha Welcome Reception 🏝
Inspiring Speakers
Celebration Dinner with Sgt. Pepper Band 🎸
Project Expo
Excursions 🚌
Raffle to Eradicate Polio
Rotaract 50th Anniversary Celebration 🎉
Loads of Fun and Fellowship!
Go to www.rotary5240dc.com for more information and to register and make your hotel reservation. Hotel rooms are going fast and the room block is only good until September 15, so make your hotel reservation now.
A HUGE thanks to our conference sponsors:
Celebrate Rotary at the 2017 District 5240 Conference
Rotary District 5240 PRLS Class Schedule for the 2017-18 Rotary Year
So that you can plan ahead to take advantage of the excellent training provided by PRLS, here is the 2017-2018 schedule.
For more information contact Marta Brown, D5240 PRLS Director (Oxnard Rotary Club). To register, visit the District 5240 Events Calendar , select the class you want to attend from the calendar and complete your registration on the window that opens up.
2017
September 22, 2017 Introduction to Rotary, President-Elect Retreat, Santa Maria
October 6, 2017 Introduction to Rotary, District Conference
Do you collect Rotary lapel pins? The District has amassed quite a collection and we're looking for a good home for them. If you are interested, please email Deb at deljwt@comcast.net . The pins are free - the first to email Deb gets them!
Please note: Pins shown here are for illustration only and are not necessarily like the ones you will receive.
Collectable Rotary Pins - Free to First to Respond
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
International 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!
I want to start this message by saying “THANK YOU!” to everyone who has sent their well wishes and positive thoughts my way over the past few weeks. Your support and prayers have inspired me greatly. I continue to be in a very good place.
Needless to say, I didn’t plan on starting my DG year this way, but I feel so blessed to be surrounded by my caring Rotary family and friends. By the time you read this, I will be home resting after a short and action packed 6 days at the Hotel Sierra Vista (hospital). Things are going well!
I’m particularly excited about the seven club visits (and several socials) I was able to make before taking a “surgery vacation.” I visited the Rotary Clubs of Morro Bay (go Home Team!); Lompoc (can anyone say “evening wine”?); Morro Bay Sunset (with my daughter as President, so special!); Ojai (Smiling projects!); Fillmore (ever meet in a Corvette Showroom? – WOW!); Ventura (large club with a small club feel!); and Pismo-Five Cities (they do so many projects they budget $1,000 to help other clubs that need a little boost). All the clubs were so welcoming and fun!
My wife Christine joined me for 6 of my first 7 club visits (unfortunately the one visit she missed was unavoidable). For us, it was a wonderful opportunity to spend time together traveling, visiting, and having a truly grand time! We brought our grandson Jack to one of the socials, the night before my surgery. The social had tri-tip- and every great food you can imagine. I brought what I could eat: green Jell-O. Guess what Jack wanted? Green Jell-O like Grandpa! Everyone had a blast!
I’m so impressed with the great work being done by all the dedicated members in each club, and I was thrilled to be able to recognize some of them during my club visits. If these seven clubs are any indication, I know it is going to be a fantastic year! I also want to thank all the clubs that had to reschedule my visits at the last minute. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your flexibility and support.
Important reminder: Registration is now open for our 2017 District Conference in Ventura October 6-8, 2017, so be sure to go online and register and make your hotel reservation (there is a flyer in this newsletter). We’re going to have a blast! And for me, it will be a very special time for me to Celebrate Rotary with all of you, and to thank you in person for your support.
August is MEMBERSHIP MONTH and you will receive some exciting news about some membership innovations taking place right now. Passport and Sunset clubs, polling, district growth and retention, and monthly webinars taking place between Club and District Membership leaders. It is a great time to be alive, a Rotarian and to Celebrate Making a Difference!
I look forward to resuming my club visits as soon as I am able. Christine will join me whenever she can. Together, we look forward to seeing all of you real soon! In the meantime, continue Making a Difference in the world!
I am pleased to announce the 2017-18 PRLS Class Schedule is complete. A reference copy is attached and will be posted to the District website shortly.
This year's schedule includes several Introduction to Rotary courses through March 2018, the first step in the PRLS series. There are also 3 Master PRLS weekend seminars during the year. Participating in a weekend seminar will allow you to master your Practical Rotary Leadership Skills (PRLS) and the grants qualification class for your club.
If you have previously started the Master PRLS classes, you may also take just the classes you need to complete the program during a weekend event.
Please see the attached class schedule and share it with your club members at your earliest opportunity. Please contact me if you have questions regarding the information provided.
Third Annual Raffle Fundraiser to Support Local Charities 2nd Place Prize is a One Week Stay at a Las Vegas Condominium Resort
The Arroyo Grande Rotary Club is again partnering with Santa Maria Harley-Davidson® to raise money for local nonprofits. The grand prize winner at the July 29th drawing event will win a Harley-Davidson® 2017 Road Glide Special including CA sales tax and registration fees! 2nd Prize will be a one week stay at a condominium vacation resort in Las Vegas. A maximum of 1,000 tickets will be sold giving purchasers very good odds! Tickets are available via local retailers check www.RotaryHarleyRaffle.com for locations or directly from a member of the AG Rotary Club or by calling 805-270-3936.
The big Drawing Event will happen at the Santa Maria Harley-Davidson store on Saturday, July 29th, from 2pm until 5pm. The festivities will include food, drinks and a local live band favorite, The CliffNotes. Additionally, AmpSurf will be sponsoring a Veterans Therapeutic Ride and “Poker Run” that morning ending at the Drawing Event in Santa Maria.
The Santa Maria Harley-Davidson Dealership has again joined the AG Rotary Club as the Raffle’s Major Sponsor. Raffle Partners (and beneficiaries) are Dana Adobe, AmpSurf, CampFire, The Village of Arroyo Grande Association and RISE. Additional sponsors include Rabobank, David Tennant Insurance Agency, Oyster Loft, Burdine Printing, Russ Brown Attorneys and the Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery. Media sponsors are the Tolosa Press, El Dorado Broadcasters, Dimes Central Coast and Emerald Wave Media.
Started in the bicentennial year of 1976 the Push-em Pull-em Parade has grown to become a July 4 th tradition for many families in Ventura. The Push-em Pull-em is a non-mechanized parade to celebrate our nations birthday and practically all of the participants wear their “Red White and Blue” to mark the occasion. It’s amazing to see the wagons, strollers, bikes and yes even small floats that families decorate to celebrate the 4 th ! This year the parade was started by our parade participants singing “God Bless America” just prior to the start of the parade. Truly a great family event and a great way to start the 4 th of July festivities!
Camarillo, CA – On Monday, July 17th the Rotary Clubs of Camarillo will host the 25th annual Care For Kids Golf Classic at Spanish Hills Country Club with a field of golfers of all skill levels ready to enjoy a day of challenging golf in shotgun format. Organized by the Rotary Clubs of Camarillo to benefit Casa Pacifica and other Rotary charities, the tournament is chaired this year by Kevin Nunn and Kevin Estes, who along with their tournament committee have planned another exciting, competitive, and fun-filled day in honor of the tournament’s 25thanniversary. Each golfer will receive a wonderful tee-package, and in addition to the gross and net play competition, will have the option to compete in long-drive and on-course “Closest to the Hole” contests. After their great day of challenging golf, the players will enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception and awards dinner in the clubhouse, and raise more money for Casa Pacifica and the other charities through a large opportunity drawing and a live auction. The tournament is proud to have Advanced Motion Controls as its Title Sponsor this year.
Santa Barbara Sunrise Rotary- Teacher of the Year Award
“La Cuesta is a special community that provides students with a second chance. I am so fortunate to be on a team of educators that is united in our goal to support our students and families.” —Mike Mowers, Physical Science/Art Teacher, La Cuesta Continuation High School
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise honored La Cuesta Continuation High School teacher Mike Mowers with the La Cuesta Teacher of the Year award. The award recognizes exemplary teachers who contribute to quality education and inspire students from all backgrounds and abilities.
“Mike Mowers brightens any room and situation with his positivity, energy and sense of humor. He is an expert Physics and Art teacher. He brings enthusiasm and engagement to every lesson and activity,” says Elise Simmons, Principal, La Cuesta Continuation.
I want to thank every Rotarian in District 5240 for the good you have done in the world. Together, we have fought disease, provided clean water, saved mothers and children, supported education, grown local economies and promoted peace. We have looked for projects in our local communities that need to be done and we have done them. We have reached out to our youth, supported our seniors, assisted those in need. We have touched the lives of thousands of people – many of whom we will never know. In doing so, we have helped to create a more peaceful world.
Global Grant- Rotary Clubs of Santa Barbara North and Machakos Syokimau
The objective is to drill a water well in a rural area of Kenya near the town of Machakos where the local people have come together and raised funds to build a high school. Due to the high drop out rate of the high-school-aged children in the area, the families took on the job of building the school from donations. It has been recognized by the Kenyan government as a registered high school. The locals would like to make it into a boarding school because of the distance the students need to walk to get to school, and due to the danger of walking in the early mornings and late afternoons, especially for the female students. Walking long distances is necessary because the school does not have its own water source.
1st place (on photo R) - Lauren Boswell, 2nd place (in Middle) - Rain Galano, 3rd place (on photo L) - Melanie Badalian
On May 24, the Rotary Club of Camarillo awarded college scholarships to eight deserving students. Applications were invited from all high schools in the Camarillo area. We are happy to announce that:
Rotary Club of Oxnard selected as “Service Organization of the Year”
by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Kendall A. VanConas, President of the Rotary Club of Oxnard, is pleased to share that the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce has selected the Rotary club as the “Service Organization of the Year” by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. The club is proud of its commitment to community service, which includes scholarship awards to high school seniors, regularly recognizing the commitment of local teachers, and support of the Nyeland Acres Community Center, which houses a Boys & Girls Club for the children of Nyeland Acres.
Rotary Santa Maria South Supports Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds
May 6, 2017 was the date of the Rotary Santa Maria South’s “Run/Walk for Mental Health”, a third year fundraiser partially benefiting the Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds Program, which provides rehabilitation through horticulture therapy to individuals with mental health issues. This year’s event was designed as a 5K/10K Run/Walk, to offer opportunities for runners and longer distance participants. Fifty percent of the net funds raised will go to the Growing Grounds program of Transitions Mental Health.
Strategic Planning Committee is Alive and Well in Ventura
For the first time ever, Ventura Rotary has a Strategic Planning Committee thanks to the directive of Rotary International. President-Elect Ellyn Dembowski was inspired by the challenge from RI and set out to create a Strategic Plan for the Club. She amassed a strong group of active Rotarians (the majority of which are new members to the club) and followed the action items suggested by RI. The first task for the committee was to engage in a member survey.
Rotary Clubs Throughout Ventura Join Forces for Rotarians at Work Day
The Rotary Clubs of Ventura, Ventura East, and Ventura South partnered together for a Rotarians at Work Day project. The three clubs have each committed a significant contribution to the completion of the Ventura Botanical Gardens and on April 28, more than 50 Rotarians from throughout Ventura gathered together on the iconic hillside to give the Botanical Gardens a facelift – pulling weeds, cleaning trash, planting new seeds, and preparing a special are for a soon-to-be Rotary Gazebo.
Santa Barbara Sunrise Rotary Supports Bright Smiles for the 6th Consecutive Year
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise partnered with the Eastside Family Dental Clinic (operated by the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics) to sponsor Free Dental Day, free oral health treatment services for individuals who cannot afford to pay for major dental work. The event has been sponsored by Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise since 2012 and has provided dental procedures for hundreds of Santa Barbara residents.
Linda Johansen of Solvang spent her 68th birthday working at the Piyali Learning Centre, a girls school in an impoverished village in India.My trip to India in January was my 68th birthday present to myself. Little did I know, it would be one of the most difficult trips I have ever taken, but without a doubt and absolutely, the most meaningful and rewarding trip, and the best birthday gift I have ever received.Deepa Willingham, a fellow Rotarian and member or our community, by sheer tenacity and determination has accomplished the impossible by building a beautiful private girls school in the midst of poverty and squalor like I have never seen or experienced before. The Piyali Learning Centre is undoubtedly a true miracle.
Nancy Louise Falconer, District 5240 Secretary 4/19/1939 – 4/20/2017
A longtime Simi Valley resident, Nancy passed away after a brief illness. Nancy was born in Los Angeles Ca. She was always an excellent student, and received the highest marks in all her subjects. After graduating from Van Nuys High School in 1960, she headed straight to The University of Arizona to pursue her dream, which was to coach athletics. While at U of A, Nancy studied hard and excelled in several sports. Sadly, a knee injury sidelined her career. Nancy returned to Los Angeles and went to work in banking. She began her lifelong career at Security First National Bank, which later became Security Pacific Bank.
Cards can be sent to Robert Falconer 4212 E. Los Angeles Ave, #4766, Simi Valley CA 93063
Past District Governor Wade Nomura- The Passing of First Lady Roxanne Nomura
May 9, 2017
It is with much sadness that I share the news that Roxanne Nomura, wife of PDG Wade Nomura, a Charter Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, and a good friend to everyone in District 5240, left us on May 9th.
A Memorial Service for Roxanne is scheduled for Saturday, June 17 at the Boys and Girls Club in Carpinteria beginning at 11:00 AM. Additional information will be posted on the District website as it becomes available.
Cards and expressions of sympathy can be sent to 5410 Hales Lane, Carpinteria, CA 93013.
Donations can be made to The Carpinteria Morning Rotary Foundation for the Roxanne Nomura Scholarship Fund, or the Carpinteria Morning Rotary Foundation for the Tomol Interpretive Play Area. at the following address:
Morning Rotary of Carpinteria Charitable Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 703 Carpinteria , CA 93014
Please keep the Nomura family in your thoughts and prayers.
Yours In Rotary Service,
Nick
Message from Wade Nomura on Facebook:
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for Roxanne. She gave it a Great Fight but just couldn't beat the odds and passed on to her next life today. Thank you for being a major part of my life. I'll miss you, but you will always be a huge part of my life.
Rotary Club of Pismo Beach, completed its Global Grant this Rotary year at Hopeland High School, Uganda. This is one of two schools run by Valence Lutaisire of the Rotary Club of Lugzi. The school had no electricity and limited water. The Rotary Club of Mukono and Pismo Beach joined together to install water catchments on all the buildings and 4 large holding tanks for the water. We also installed solar panels on all the buildings, so that the interior and exterior had lights. That done, a new computer lab with 10 computers and desks were added.
Hap Rapp Memorial Track Meet- Rotary Club of Camarillo
Saturday May 13 from 8 am to 4 pm at Adolfo Camarillo High School Track
The Hap Rapp Memorial Track Meet is a Camarillo tradition. Rotarian Hap Rapp founded the meet for aspiring young athletes 55 years ago.The meet will be on Saturday May 13 at the Adolfo Camarillo High School Track. The meet is designed for 4th through 8th graders to discover their athletic ability. Over 300 students from 14 schools are expected to participate. Events include the 50 and 100-yard dash, high jump, long jump, shot put, relay and distance races. Dozens of volunteers will measure and time the events. Ribbons will be presented and high scores will be posted. The Guy Craig Memorial Award will go to the school that demonstrates the best overall preparedness, sportsmanship, conduct and cooperation. For more information about Rotary, see www.camarillorotary.org.
The annual Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival will be held on June 3, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Lavinia Campbell Park in downtown Los Olivos. This event produced by the Rotary Club of Los Olivos features wines poured by thirty local wineries along with food prepared by thirty chefs, plus olive products vendors, and, of course, world-class live jazz, with GRAMMY-nominee Denise Donatelli joined again by some of the biggest names in jazz and popular music, for an all-inclusive price of $65.
Enthusiastic attendees come from throughout California and other states, and, as attendance is limited to 650, we expect to sell out again this year. It is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance.
They may be obtained locally at the Book Loft in Solvang, by telephone at (805) 325- 9280 and on line at jazzandolivefestival.org
Headlines of Youth Service Activities in District 5240
The Youth Empowerment Summit (YES!) was held at Camp Rotary in Simi Valley for the third year in a row. The event is put on by the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, Rotary Club of Simi Sunset, and Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise. This is a One Day workshop for high school students where they will be inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues they are faced with daily. The day includes the following sessions that enhance personal growth and development: Ethics, Team Building, Diversity, and Leadership.
Rotary Club of Simi Valley Interact Club puts on a Charity Ball, a fundraiser that provides new soccer balls to children in poverty-stricken communities worldwide. The Royal High School Interact Club also was an integral part of FAYM 2015 and 2016. The funds raised here go to Dorrs of Faith Orphange in Mexico. Five of the Royal High School Interact Club members went to Mexico to deliver funds and spend time helping at the orphanage. This year the students raised over $4000.
Los Olivos Rotary Club New Generations Chair Ulises Castaneda and his spouse with six Los Olivos Dunn High School students in Gautamala where they assisted masons and family members build a housing structure.
Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North sent 4 students to RYLA camp: Erin Bies, Dan Willett, Zachary Guttentag and Anthony Luna. They will attend the Rotary meeting of May 10 to present their observations.
Pictured with Past President Susan Weaver, the Rotary E-Club of One World D5240 was pleased to sponsor Natalie Garza and Gerardo "Jerry" Aguilar from Arvin High School to RYLA 2017! Two more lives changed by RYLA!
As Rotary Year 2016-17 comes to a close, now is the time to meet with your club members and remind each other of all the accomplishments you have achieved this rotary year, all the good that you have done and all the hard work and effort you participated in to help make your community and our world a better place.
A great way to thank the Rotarians in your club for their successes and accomplishments is to complete the District Recognition Application and be able present your club members with banner patches and certificates that say "Thank You" from District 5240. As Rotarians committed to “Service Above Self” I know that we do not work for awards. We work for the joy we bring to others and we receive our "payment" in the currency of the heart.
Every year Rotary Club of Ojai works with local high school staff to bring a healthy dose of reality to 180 Nordhoff High School seniors in the last week of April during Rotary Senior Career Day. During the two-hour program, an inspiring keynote speaker was followed by a chance for students to meet in small groups with 48 local people from varied careers. For twenty minutes two or more adults met in a circle with 8-12 students who had indicated interest in their fields, and told the students what their jobs were really like. Students were matched to three groups according to their interests, so heard the stories of 6-9 adults. Presenters were encouraged to talk about their careers more like story telling than as a lecture, as if they were talking to a younger relative or friend in a personal way.
Rotarians and Unity Church Returns from Guatemala Service Trip
Sixteen people from the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara, Rotaract, and Unity Church recently returned from nine days of service in Guatemala. The group partnered with Mayan Families, a non-profit dedicated to educate, feed, shelter, and heal indigenous Guatemalans. In Guatemala, nearly 80% of the indigenous population lives on less than $2 a day and 50% of children are chronically malnourished. Additionally, over 3 million Guatemalans lack access to safe drinking water.
The groups were able to raise over $17,000 to assist families in towns around Lake Atitlan. Throughout the week they built 1 home, installed 12 stoves, assembled 6 water filters, installed 2 concrete floors, worked in preschools, and distributed school and medical supplies to local families.
When I was very young and Mother's Day came around, I used to ask my mother "when was children's day?" She, as all mothers do, told me that "every day was children's day!" While Rotary International has designated May as Youth Service Month, in truth every month is Youth Service Month. In my travels around District 5240, I am overwhelmed by the commitment of the Rotarians in our district to the youth of their communities. We have over seventy-five Interact clubs where each week, Rotarians help students learn about the joy of giving back. We hold ethics days and financial literacy days to help them prepare for the future. Rotary Youth Exchange offers the opportunity to learn about other cultures by living them. Our district's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards changes the lives of hundreds of future leaders. We build self-esteem and confidence by entrusting third graders with dictionaries - often the first book they have owned. We tutor, we mentor, we support, we engage. Now is a great time to recommit to your support of the Youth Serviceprograms of your club. Get involved. Make a We make a difference in the lives of the next generation and in doing help ensure a more peaceful world to come.
How to Get a Two Minutes and Twelve Seconds Rotary Commercial to 73 Million People under $200K
That was the challenge a group of dedicated Rotarians faced last year when the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee (RRPFC) meet to decide on a theme for the 38th consecutive Rotary entry in the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Parade. To be effective the message had to be universally understood and show the impact Rotary has on people’s lives around the world.
I met Nancy in 2005, just before going to India for an NID with PDG Anil Garg. I needed some D 5240 pins, and she asked me if I could drop by her house to pick them up. I said, “No problem”. When she met me at the door, I knew I liked her already! No nonsense, efficient, direct - that was Nancy’s style. She asked me to call when I returned, to tell her about my trip. I thought that was nice of her, and discovered then that she was very interested in Rotary's fight to end Polio.
ROTARY DISTRICT 5240 - 2016/17 “The 4-Way Test” Essay Contest Winners" The 4-Way Test of Things We Think, Say or Do • Is it the truth? • Is it fair to all concerned? • Will it build good will and better friendships? • Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Elementary Level 1st Place Karla Pacheco 4th Grade Battles Elementary Rotary Club of Santa Maria 2nd Place Selma Rahim 5th Grade Ocean View Elementary Rotary of Pismo Beach 3rd Place Erica Siegmund 3rd Grade Del Mar Elementary Rotary Club of Morro Bay Please click to the next page for the continued list of winners
Global Grant to Provide Toilets to Girls In Karnataka State
Rotary Club of Bangalore South (D3190) and Rotary Club of Westlake Village (D5240) have partnered on this project to provide 110 toilet units to villages in Karnataka State.
Without safe toilets, women and girls have to relieve themselves outdoors at night, putting them at risk of sex harassment and assault. Studies by many organizations in India have shown that literacy rate in India among girl students drops due to lack of access to safe toilets.
Indirect beneficiaries will include approximately 330 women living in the houses.
Other greater benefits include hygienic practice and awareness in the neighborhood that helps to develop good routine habits, and spark the necessary conversation about sanitation habits.
The total project budget is US $44,000, of which RC Westlake Village has committed $9000. (RC Moorpark in District 5240 has already pledged $1000. RC Bangalore South is committing $2000.)
How can you help? If you would like to support this worthy project, please contact us for the documentation. We can only accept the first nine donors at $1,000 each (plus the TRF fee of 5%, if donating for PH recognition).
With rain predicted,these incredible Rotarians from the SLO Clubs came out to Rancho El Chorro to construct the amphitheater today, Thursday, a WORK DAY, because Saturday is off the schedule due to rain!!! Are these Rotarians great or what?
As you can see, the site has been graded and decomposed granite laid, and now here they are putting in the piers and floor joists. And as you can see I am guarding the materials from theft. It’s an exhausting responsibility. WHEW!
For the Rotary Club of Compostela:
¡Rotarios!!!!!! Con lluvia predicho, estos increíble rotarios de los clubes SLO salieron a Rancho El Chorro para construir el anfiteatro hoy, el jueves, un día de trabajo, porque el sábado es el horario debido a la lluvia! ¿Son estos grandes rotarios o qué? Como puedes ver, el sitio ha sido clasificado y puesto de granito descompuesto, y ahora aquí están poniendo en los pilares y las vigas del piso. Y como veis estoy protegiendo los materiales de los robos. Es una responsabilidad agotadora. ¡UF!
Sua en Rotorio Yours in Rotary, Steve Geil Rotary Club of Cayucos
Thousand Oaks Rotary Club Global Grant - Hearing Aids for Forty Children in Tijuana
In Rotary year 2014-2015, the Tijuana Rotary Club partnered withthe Thousand Oaks Rotary Club on the hearing aids grant in Tijuana .Due to multiple corrections required by the international foundation, the grant was delayed until Rotary year 2015-2016.(The Thousand Oaks Rotary was instrumental in helping with these corrections.)After the corrections were made, the Rotary Foundation okayed the grant and the grant was funded - and the hearing aid installation date was set to March 1, 2017.
On March 1, 2017, The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club was invited to Tijuana to witness over 40 children receive hearing aids supplied by global grant GG1526506.This grant also included speech therapy and computers to train the children in their Spanish language.There were 4 of us from The Thousand Oaks Rotary Club who attended this amazing event.
The area of focus that enables Rotarians to save mothers and their children. If mothers are empowered and healthy, so are their families, leading to an alleviation of poverty and hunger. Rotary makes high-quality health care available locally and globally to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger. As Rotarians, we expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented. Within District 5240, examples of Rotarian community support include: Local free clinics that care for mothers and children including immunizations and cancer screenings; vision and dental screenings and corrective actions when needed; before school and after school programs for at risk children. Internationally, Rotarians in our district support midwife training, childhood immunizations, medical clinics, corrective surgeries, training for medical professionals. As a Peacebuilder District we know that the path to peace begins with elimination of extreme poverty. If mothers are empowered and healthy, so are their families, leading to an alleviation of hunger and poverty and a more peaceful world.
Ojai Rotarian Dr. Bob Skankey is happiest when he is using his years of training and experience as an obstetrician and gynecologist to improve the health of women – and the more remote and underserved the location is, the happier he is to work there.
After 28 years of delivering over 3000 babies in the Ojai Valley, Dr. Bob closed his practice in 1997 and expanded his horizons to teach health care workers and care for women in Bolivia, Tonga, Brazil, Nicaragua, Mali, Honduras, and Niger. He trained in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, to learn more about surgical repair of vaginal fistulas.
As a member of Rotary Club of Ojai’s active International Service Committee, Dr. Bob offered boots-on-the-ground expertise in maternal and infant health projects, as well as encouragement for other people’s projects. Dr. Bob’s favorite projects were when he found innovative ways to adapt medical knowledge and technology to meet local needs in a sustainable way.
The subject of Maternal and Child Health also includes poverty, abuse of women and child trafficking. This is an article of how Rotary, working in a strategic partnership with an US non-profit organization – PACE Universal of which I am a member, is tackling these issues and achieving sustainable results by implementing programs in the six areas of focus.
There are currently 62 million girls that do not go to school and more than 1 billion women living in poverty.
As was emphasized at STEPS, child trafficking is the second largest industry in the world and the fastest growing.
PDG Deepa Willingham started PACE Universal (PACE), Promise of Assurance to ChildrenEverywhere, in 2003. The goal was to establish the PACE Learning Center (PLC) in Piyali, a village 45 km from the city of Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), which was steeped in abject poverty and was one of the hot beds for child trafficking. At PLC PACE was committed to changing lives through education. Deepa’s goal was to enroll 20 girls.
There are now 250 students and the waiting list grows daily. It is a magical and empowering place. An oasis of hope, learning and love. This is how it began.
In Rotary Year 2015-16, District 5240 made a commitment to become a Peacebuilder District. We also made a commitment to wage peace wherever we can – in our local communities and in communities around the world. We are establishing Peacebuilder Club program designed to enhance Rotary’s mission of ‘advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace’ through the promotion of programs and projects aligning with the six areas of focus and in particular the #1 Area of Focus – Peace, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution. Priority will be given to youth and peace education projects and in gaining the assistance of the graduates of the Rotary Peace Fellowship program for local support.
What Is Peace? It is not just an absence of war. Peace is:
Rotary International has designated March as Water and Sanitation month. We in District 5240 are very fortunate. We turn on our taps and expect clean, drinkable water to be available to us. We have indoor sanitation that helps prevent disease. We learn good hygiene habits at an early age and use those habits to keep us and our families healthy. Others are not so fortunate. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to water and/or sanitation. More than one thousand children die each day from diseases caused by lack of sanitation and unsafe water. In District 5240, we take this problem seriously and have reached out to communities around the globe to improve water, sanitation and hygiene.
Water Harvesting in the Independence Aquifer, Guanajuato
District 5240 Rotarians meet with community members speaking about the importance of clean water. Note an existing cistern in the background.
A global grant by the Rotary clubs of Simi Sunrise and San Miguel de Allende Midday was approved in March of 2016 for $200,000 to build 314 ferro-cement cisterns in the Independence Aquifer in central Mexico. The grant is expected to reach 2400 individuals and to be completed in roughly 18 months. The materials for the cisterns are provided by the grant and are built by teams made up of the project's beneficiaries. Additionally, the grant provides for the development of training materials covering the water cycle, water contamination, and what is “safe” drinking water.
Las Mercedes Honduras Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project
For the past eight years, the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise (District 5240) and the Rotary Club of Real de Minas Tegucigalpa (District 4250) have been working together on water and sanitation projects in the country of Honduras. The current project, funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant is to provide safe drinking water, improved sanitation and better hygiene to the community of Las Mercedes in the Villa San Antonio Municipality of the Comayagua Department, Honduras.
The 34th Annual, Evening of Magic, sponsored by The Camarillo Rotary Club, at the High Street Theater
March 18, 2017, at 7:30PM
This annual event has brought in Magic Castle Magicians who have performed all over the world. This year’s cast includes, Paul Dwork, The Magic of Merlin, Mike Caveney, this year’s MC & and Comedy Magic performer known to keep crowds laughing and on the edge of their seats. Also included is Tina Lenert, whose fancy style, includes dance & Magic, bringing elegance to the stage and Stoil and Ekaterina, quick change artists from the Russian Ukraine. Finally, Television celebrity Christopher Hart, whose hands make magic, and was "Thing" in the Adams Family, will truly amaze with his magical routine.
When a Member, Visitor, or Press Journalist comes to your Club's website do they see a vibrant, active, happy, and productive club?
Is your branding updated so the Rotary logo is visible? Is the Annual Presidential Theme updated? Are some of your latest projects and activities featured?
As a Club Member we are so involved with "doing" that sometimes the "promoting" gets left to the wayside.
The District 5240 Training Assemblies are scheduled for March 18, 2017 in Bakersfield and April 1, 2017 in Oxnard. Each Assembly will run from 9:00AM to 12:30PM. Check-in and continental breakfast from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. The cost is free to all members. Training will focus on information for incoming Club Presidents, Officers, and Board Members (those who will be serving in 2017-18) although everyone is welcome.
In Rotary Year 2015-16, our district made a commitment to become a Peacebuilder District. We began by making a contribution to The Rotary Foundation to provide support for the next class of Rotary Peace Fellows. We were delighted to learn that two of our peace scholar nominees were among those selected to receive fellowships.
We also made a commitment to wage peace wherever we can – in our local communities and in communities around the world. We have established a Peacebuilder Club program designed to enhance Rotary’s mission of ‘advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace’ through the promotion of programs and projects aligning with the six areas of focus and in particular the #1 Area of Focus – Peace, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution. Priority is being given to youth and peace education projects and in gaining the assistance of the graduates of the Rotary Peace Fellowship program for local support.
To the members of my District 5240 Rotary Family,
My family and I would like to thank each of you for the support and love that you have shown to us over the past several weeks as we have struggled with the loss of Heather who to us was wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Many of you have been with us from the beginning four years ago when she was first diagnosed with the cancer that ultimately claimed her life. On those days when Heather questioned why she should keep fighting, your prayers, good thoughts and energy lit up her room and gave her the strength to go on.
To provide a training environment for Rotarians to learn effectiveness as individuals on a daily basis.
The goal of PRLS, begun in 1993, is to provide a set of training sessions wherein current and future Rotary leaders could learn to become more effective in their leadership roles.
Basic PRLS has been renamed Intro to Rotary and consists of a half day with 3 modules: Rotary Then and Now, Leadership and Leading a Meeting and Communications and Speaking in Public. This program was specifically developed to train individuals whose goals include a future leadership position in Rotary. They learn skills that will make them more effective in that role.
FAYM (Festival of the Arts Youth Movement) is a music and arts festival that was created by the Interact clubs of Simi Valley last year to promote youth creativity. Music and arts are promoted through the interactive music and vendors. This year we are collaborating with Interact, Key club, Rotary club and Kiwanis of Ventura County to make this event larger since we are involving these large divisions of key club as well as the Interact clubs outside Simi Valley. All the proceeds made from this event will be used to provide vital materials to the Door of Faith Orphanage in Mexico.
The District 5240 Training Assemblies are scheduled for March 18, 2017 in Bakersfield and April 1, 2017 in Oxnard. Each Assembly will run from 9:00AM to 12:30PM. Check-in and continental breakfast from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. The cost is free to all members. Training will focus on information for incoming Club Presidents, Officers, and Board Members (those who will be serving in 2017-18) although everyone is welcome.
Heather believed that the road to peace was based on improving the lives of others. She was an ardent supporter of The Rotary Foundation and its commitment to sustainable projects that resulted in permanent change. Heather was a pioneer in expanding the reach of Foundation grants around the world and locally in District 5240.
The Heather Frankle Project Fund will be used to fund Rotary projects in District 5240 and in communities around the world that lift people out of poverty and provide them with a better future. Emphasis will be in two areas of focus – Water and Sanitation and Economic and Community Development. Heather knew that that the health of a community began with clean water and sanitation. She was committed to economic development with a focus on microfinance as a means of empowering people to realize their full potential. She worked closely with the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) and Microfinance and Community Development (RAGM) to enable Rotarians to do good in the world. Your contribution to the Heather Frankle Project Fund will continue her commitment to changing the world one life at a time. A special fund has been set up for contributions for the continuation of Heather’s humanitarian work.
Donations will be accepted at the Heather Frankle Project Fund, C/O the Simi Sunrise Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 941101, Simi Valley, CA 93094-1101
The Conejo Valley Rotary Club Donates to the Wheelchair Foundation
The Conejo Valley Rotary Club has raised funds for 7360 wheelchairs in 12 countries over the last 10 years. Diego Vasquez resents a check for $42,000 to David Behring, President of the Wheelchair Foundation along with Derrick Issa, incoming President of the Conejo Valley Rotary Club.
Please send prayers for the passing of Heather Frankle, Wife, Partner, and Soulmate of our District Governor, Nick Frankle.
Heather passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday morning, December 23, 2016, after a four year fight with cancer.
The celebration of Heather’s life will be held Sunday, January 15, 2017, 10:00 AM, at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, 6150 Mount Sinai Road, Simi Valley, CA 93063.
ROTARY DISTRICT 5240 2016-17 MID-TERM SEMINARS Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect, Presidents-Elect Nominees
Each January, we bring together the President-line from the clubs in District 5240 to exchange ideas and to meet with the District Governor for their year of service. We call these meetings Mid-Terms. It is a chance for current presidents to talk with future presidents and build the leadership culture that sustains Rotary our District.
Mid-term meetings for RY 2016-17
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturday, January 7 at Bakersfield College
Saturday, January 14 at the Ventura Beach Marriott. (Requires $7.00 parking fee.)
In 2017 all of Rotary will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Rotary Foundation. Can you do this in your own clubs? Of course. But why not actually BE there in Atlanta with all the other Rotarians from the world over where the foundation was established in 1917. In the last 100 years Rotary has become a powerful moving force for giving the help that makes lives around the world more tolerable and provides hope for something better. It is a reason for all of us to gather at the convention to share with each other the reason for being Rotarians.
Atlanta is one of the premier cities of the South and will serve as the stepping off place to the wonders of DC and the beauty and intrigue of the East Coast where our country was founded. Do a Google search and discover the foundations of the United States from Georgia to New England. May through June is a great time to travel with perfect weather and no hurricanes!
The Rotary Foundation's 100th birthday party is open to all of us and will be held June 14th. Do you have a copy of "Doing Good in the World", the story of the Foundation's first 100 years? Or plan to buy one in the House of Friendship? The author, David Forward, will hold a book signing at the convention. As for how the Foundation became a global leader in humanitarian service, the Rotary Foundation Centennial exhibit at the House of Friendship will tell the story.
This is an opportunity that will come only once in our lifetimes. Join those of us who will be there in Atlanta and make your reservation now.
Rotary has Designated December as Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
As you know, Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio. Rotary, along with our partners, has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979. Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. For as little as $0.60, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.
Now, as we are in the end game, we need your help. Make a donation to Polio Plus. Your gift to the PolioPlus Fund is eligible for Paul Harris Society recognition. Maximize support for polio eradication within your club and your community by organizing a fundraiser. Follow the status of the polio eradication efforts at the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Educate your community on Rotary’s leadership role in the eradication of this dreaded disease.
What Does Rotary’s Monthly Themes Do for Your Club?
December’s Rotary theme is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. One of The Rotary Foundation’s six areas of focus. So how is that important to me and my Rotary Club, when I’m so busy doing all the things associated with the holiday season this time of year? As the District Club Service Chair it is my job to help build strong Rotary clubs in Rotary District 5240. But to do that we need to have well educated members who are proud to be in Rotary and willing to share their pride.
Wear your Rotary pins as we are meeting with family, friends and co-workers. We are busy out shopping and attending holiday parties and exchanging ideas. Use the opportunity to promote Rotary and The Rotary Foundation. In spite of all the negative news we are bombarded with every day, Rotary is doing something right. Use this month’s theme and start a positive conversation. Standup and be recognized as a Rotarian, talk about what your club is doing locally first. But also talk about that project your Rotary club is doing, providing cataract surgery to a nearly sightless villager in Mexico, clean water to a town in South America or maybe a NID you were on. If you need some ideas use this link.
In 2015-16, 10 clubs in district 5240 helped fund a project that supported early childhood education by improving preschool teacher's training in rural Sri Lanka. That grant is now helping 375 preschool teachers (who are currently in training) to get their diploma. This will benefit 7,500 children annually! However, there are still 15,000 preschool teachers that need a diploma.
The Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime has now submitted a follow up grant because of the success with the previous one.
We need commitment from clubs in District 5240 to reach a minimum of $10,000 in cash.
The Rotary Club of Los Osos, Cayucos, and Morro Bay PADDLE TO END POLIO- Past Event October 23, 2016
The weather was splendid in Morro Bay as the SURVIVEOars, a breast cancer support network, welcomed the Rotarians from six local clubs
onto their two Dragon boats for a PADDLE TO END POLIO. Each paddler pledged to raise $100 and awareness prior to World Polio Day.
We were honored to have polio survivor Julie Jenkins and Past District Governor Loretta Butts as well as three club Presidents, energetic Rotarians and guests to learn the art of paddling the Dragon boats.
Savi Bihm Selected as District Governor Elect Nominee 2019-20
I am pleased to announce that Savi Bhim from the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise has been selected to serve as District 5240 Governor for Rotary Year 2019-20.
Savi joined the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise in 2005. She has served her club in various areas including traveling to South Africa and South America to do International projects. In 2013-14 she served as president and because of the inspired actions of the 126 members, Simi Sunrise was recognized as the Best Overall Club in the district.
Savi has served District 5240 in many capacities including Membership Advisor for Region 2 and Group 5 Assistant Governor. She is currently serving as the District's Chief Operating Officer. After attending PRLS, she was touched by the dedication and expertise of the instructors and became a district and PETS trainer. She has chaired and collaboratively planned many district events including District Conferences, seminars, retreats and the District Training Assembly. In addition, she has spoken at and emceed numerous Rotary events.
The Rotary Foundation by Brenda Cressey, Trustee-Elect 2017-2021
The Rotary Foundation, with all its hopes and dreams, is because of each one of you. The Foundation was the very reason why I joined and now remain a Rotarian. In fact, the Foundation and its mission to eradicate Polio is the very reason why I joined Rotary 28 years ago.
Today, I am extremely humbled by my appointment to serve a four-year term on the Board of Trustees of The Rotary Foundation from 2017-2021. There are 15 members, each nominated by the president-elect and then elected by the board in the year prior to talking office. Four of the trustees are past presidents of RI.
As I travel around this big world of Rotary I’ve been privileged to meet people who I feel are true humanitarians, people who are “Doing Good in the World”.
This is a FREE event to Rotarians and Non-Rotarians!
This year STEPS will highlight Human Trafficking, an issue affecting people in poverty here and around the world. Keynote speakers are Opal Singleton, author of Seduced, The Grooming of America’s Teenagers, and Dr. M.D. Kinoti, a professor at Regis University who grew up on a tea farm in Kenya.Opal has trained thousands of government officials and school administrators about Human Trafficking. Dr. Kinoti is active in international community development, working with Farm Concern to address poverty in Africa. These presentations will inspire and help you understand how to protect youth and break the cycle of poverty.
Breakout sessions are designed to empower youth and increase understanding of the issues of poverty and how to develop sustainable humanitarian projects. STEPS will also include exhibits by non-profit organizations and Rotary clubs, and a Speed Project Fair, a fast paced exchange of project ideas.
STEPS 2017 will deliver the inspiration, connections and information to help you make a difference in communities here and around the world! STEPS is free to D5240 Rotarians. For more information and registration, see www.rotarystepsonpoverty.org
We have had a busy year, crafting and rolling out tools and resources for you to use to improve your club's public message!
The following 'how-to' articles and videos will show you an easy step by step process for accomplishing many of your goals.
You will be able to understand and package your entries for the Presidential Citation. You will be able to navigate and locate useful tools in Rotary Club Central.
And you can begin promoting your club website, as well as enter your Foundation Reporting -- just to name a few!
When you go to the website choose 'News & Resources'. This area will provide you with many videos and how-to articles to help you.
In the right-hand navigation you can subscribe to receive each new article directly to your email inbox when it is published.
Some highlights from News & Resources: Click on the links below for videos and info
Win a 6-day luxury week in Santa Barbara at the Belmont El Encanto Hotel, or a luxury ski vacation in Vail at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa. Thanks to generous donations, each prize includes fine dining, valuable perqs, and amazing activities.
We are cooperating with the Vail Symposium to conduct this raffle. Half of the proceeds from both raffles will go to our Foundation which funds the many service activities our club undertakes to improve our community and the world. I hope you’ll enter to win either or both luxury vacations atwww.getawayraffle.com.
A single entry donation is $25, or 5 for $100. You can enter until November 14, 2016; winning ticket is drawn on November 15th.
Special Message from District Governor, District 7020, Haresh L. Ramchandani
Friends, I know we have all been watching, and in some cases, been directly affected as Hurricane Matthew has made a devastating impact across Rotary District 7020. We are grateful that most of us were spared, however as we know South Western Haiti and the Bahamas took direct hits.
Announcing the 2nd Annual Cartagena- Colombia Projects Fair
February 3, 4, 5, 2017 in Colombia
The projects fair is organized by Rotary Districts 4271 and 4281 and will take place in Colombia. Rotarians are encouraged to attend and explore various projects planned by clubs in Colombia. The fair provides an opportunity to participate with clubs in Colombia for a Global Grant.
The Rotary Club of Ojai presents its 16th Annual"Taste of Ojai on the beautiful 10th Green at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Sunday October 23, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Festivities include tastings of local food and libations, silent auction, live music & dancing. Every year the Rotary Club of Ojai's premier fund raising event coupled with interest earned from the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation’s endowment provide more than $100,000 that is distributed as scholarships to graduating students in the Ojai Valley, as grants to local non-profit community organizations, and to several international service activities. Because of the Taste of Ojai event alone, each Spring a minimum of 25 scholarships are awarded to high school seniors entering college, university or trade school.
Congratulations! Brenda Cressey named TRF Trustee!
Brenda Cressey is currently serving in her third year as the Rotary International Zone 26 Endowment/Major Gift Adviser for The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and has been named TRF Trustee 2017-2021.
Hi Fellow Rotarian,
I am with Rotary Club of Ventura- Downtown and would like to share with the district and event we are helping with here in town.
The link to the event is: http://thecolorrun.com/locations/ventura-ca/
This year's Color Run event is approaching and I am looking for some volunteers to help out again. The event will be held Oct 15th at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
Downtown Ventura Rotary Club donates to Guatemala Medical Clinic
Club maintains connections with Rainforest Clinic
Ventura, CA - The Downtown Rotary Club led by President Betsy Chess, announced the second year of continued support of the remote medical clinic in central Guatemala. The club’s International Services team is being supported this year by assistant director Marty Armstrong and member Joe Schaaf. They will be transporting club donated medical supplies and equipment to a medical clinic in the small rural town of Santo Tomas la Union, Suchitepequez, Guatemala located 3.5 hours west of Guatemala City. The team will be heading to the clinic Sept 23rd-26th and look forward to sharing with our fellow Rotarians the journal of our travels and how Ventura Rotarians are making a difference in rural Central America.
The clinic is run by an American physician, Zachary Self, MD, who completed his medical school at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN and his residency training at the Ventura Family Medicine Residency in Ventura, CA. The clinic’s doors opened in 2015 and begin providing a preferential option of accessible high quality modern healthcare to the region.
Grant for Underprivileged Youth in Jaguariuna, Brazil
The Matching Grant done in Rotary year 2012-13 where the Rotary Club of Moorpark was the International Partner and when Scott Farrenkopf was President to setup a career center for under privileged youth in Jaguariuna, Brazil has progressed beyond what any of us would have imagined. This career center has turned into a Rotary sponsored private high tech. cooperative high school paired with local businesses. The students go half a day to school and half a day to work (and get paid which means a great deal to the families).
The Rotary Club of Jaguariuna covered the equipment with our help via the MG, their Foundation covers the building, and the local business partners they lined up cover the teacher's salaries. This school is top notch and is considered much better than the public school for both teachers (who are paid better) and computers (which we helped supply).
As children start back to school, we celebrate Education and Literacy Month in September. District 5240 is a leader in supporting education and literacy programs in our local communities and communities around the world. In the Rotary Year just completed, our district gave more than $100,000 in scholarships to enable people to attend four year colleges, community colleges and vocational training programs. Clubs have adopted schools and provide time, talent and treasure to enhance the educational opportunities provided to the students. We mentor students young and old in reading skills. We read aloud to the young children in our community to increase their love of reading. In fact, one of my favorite speaker gifts has been the opportunity to inscribe “best wishes for good reading” in books that will be donated to a school library.
Great story in the Ventura County Star about four Conejo valley Rotary Clubs working together to help students go back to school prepared.
Rotary clubs including Westlake Village, Westlake Sunrise, Thousand Oaks and Conejo Valley gathered recently to fill backpacks with school supplies for students.
Simi Valley Sunrise Club Honors Officer Tom Carney with a Paul Harris Fellow
In Appreciation for His Work Within Simi Valley
Simi Valley, CA -- Simi Valley Police Officer Tom Carney was recognized recently as a Paul Harris Fellow in special appreciation for the ways in which his life exemplifies the humanitarian and educational objectives of The Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation is one of the largest and most important programs of Rotary. Without the Foundation, Rotary could not continue its many humanitarian programs and its efforts to promote world understanding and peace.
Letter from Gil Igleheart, District Assistant Governor, Group 11 West
We now have Vandenberg AFB helping with our efforts! Major Steve Edstrom and his assistants will be promoting and helping with the awareness of the effects that dogs have on our Veterans with PTSD. We all want to help stop the 22 or greater number of Veterans that are committing suicide daily...This will be of great help to the Santa Barbara Rotary clubs. for the Veterans in Santa Barbara County.
We are very happy to announce another great supporter... Applebee's International! On Wednesday August 31, the two restaurants in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo will donate 15% of all meals (5-8PM) back to PFAC. Please support this great relationship that we have with them and our Veterans.
"Homes of Distinction" Tour brought to you by the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club
September 18 is your one-day opportunity to view five beautiful and unique homes in and around San Luis Obispo. Tour a cottage by the sea, the historic Avila house, a home built in a metal barn, a Victorian built in 1899, and a home inspired by a trip to Italy. Grab a friend and get ready for a wonderful afternoon as you help support the charities of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo. A brochure and tickets are available at www.slorotary.org.
Click on the Flyer to download and distribute to your club!
MPRLS Weekend: October 7-9, 2016
You may take one Master PRLS (MPRLS) class or all five in one weekend!
Class cost is $60 each or $250 for the weekend - a savings of $50
[Recommend previous completion of Introduction to Rotary] Register at by: Monday, October 1, 2016
At: http://www.rotarydistrict5240.org/SitePage/prls
WEEKEND CLASS SCHEDULE Friday
3:00 – 7:00 PM Leadership Saturday
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
8:00 – Noon Facilitation Skills
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Projects and Grants Sunday
8:00 – Noon Communications
All participants will be provided a PRLS binder and thumb drive
The Biking, Brews & BBQ Ride will be on Saturday September 24, 2016. This year's ride begins at the Camarillo Boys & Girls Club. The ride is open to individuals, families and teams, with courses for all levels: 5, 20, 56, and 100 mile events. The post-event BBQ will be prepared by the Pleasant Valley Lions Club with craft beers from local micro-breweries.
Ride organizer Debbie Herrera says "This will be a fun event with some of the same routes used in this year's Tour of California." This is the 3rd annual ride organized by the Camarillo Rotary Club.
For the latest information and to register, go to www.camarillorotaryridingforserviceaboveself.com or contact Debbie Herrera at debbie@dherreranpservicespc.com or 805/509-1961
I’m truly honored to serve the District as your Governor for 2017-18. We all owe our great appreciation to Past District Governor Nick Frankle for his leadership and passion during this past year as our District continued to evolve, and our clubs thrived. As we look forward to the new Rotary year, I hope we can all embrace Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s theme of Rotary: Making a Difference. Because that’s what our clubs and Rotarians do every day – make a real and significant difference in people’s lives throughout the world.
We are planning some amazing events during the next year, starting with our District Conference in beautiful Ventura October 6-8, 2017, where we’ll gather together to "Celebrate Rotary", my theme for the year. During the year, we’ll be supporting our high school students by convening an Interact District Conference, and bringing together young professionals with an Emerging Leaders’ Symposium.
We’ll be conducting training for our current and incoming club officers and celebrating The Rotary Foundation with regional Foundation Gala events.
My staff and I are always available to help our clubs with anything they may need during the year, from assistance with membership, grant or projects to providing speakers on all aspects of Rotary. Just ask!
I look forward to seeing all of you during my club visits as we Celebrate Rotary and make a difference around the world.
Who would feed the homeless? Who would stock the shelves of your food banks? Who would provide medicines and funding for diagnostic tests to your free clinics? Who would provide a disadvantaged child with their first backpack, a special meal at Thanksgiving or the chance to go shopping at Christmas to buy presents for their family? Who would mentor your youth and celebrate your senior citizens? Where else would the non-profits in your area find the extra time, talent and treasure needed to accomplish their goals? What other organization would offer leadership training to high school students through programs like Interact and RYLA and then provide the scholarships to help them live their dreams?
August is Membership Month. Take time this month to look around your community and make your own list of the good being done every day by you and your Rotary club – then share it with your friends and business acquaintances. Invite them to join you at a meeting, a social or a project. Wear your Rotary pin proudly and always be able to answer the question “why are you a Rotarian?” Make sure that your Facebook page, LinkedIn page and email signature identify you as a proud member of your Rotary club.
You are Rotary’s best ambassadors. Think of how much more your Rotary club could accomplish with one more member. Make a commitment to yourself and to your club to invite one person to a Rotary event.
Sometime in the past someone gave you the gift of Rotary. This membership month pass that gift on to someone else. It is the one gift that lasts a lifetime.
Registration is now open for all Presidents Elect to register for the President Elect Retreat on Friday, September 16, 2016 – Saturday, September 17, 2016, at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria. Click on the link below to register. Please be sure to select your choices of breakout sessions during the retreat as part of your registration.
Rooms are available at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria at a reduced rate of $120 per night (plus tax). Click the link below for the
hotel website to reserve your room and use the following special rate code: In the reservation section, click on the box that says “More Search Options” and enter the rate code ROT916 to get the special PE Retreat rate.
President Elect (PE) Retreat Sept. 16-17, 2016 -Register Now!
We Double Dog Dare You to Support Our Upcoming Dog Days Golf Tournament
An event benefiting the Simi Valley Police Community Safety and Education programs, the Simi Valley Police K-9 Team, and the
Simi Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation
The 23rd Annual Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise and Simi Valley Police Foundation Dog Days of Summer Golf Tournament on Thursday, September 1 at Moorpark Country Club promises to be more exciting than ever!
The community is invited to participate in a fun day of golf, barks and lots of memories with friends and associates all to benefit the Simi Valley Police Community Safety and education programs, the Simi Valley Police K-9 Team,and the Simi Sunrise Rotary Charitable Foundation.
Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside is raffling off a street legal, 6 passenger, electric golf cart with Blue Tooth sound system. This is one of their 2 annual fundraisers. Only 600 tickets are made available to be purchased by donating to the Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside Foundation at PO Box 275 , Cayucos, CA 92430. Last year’s winner was from Wasco, CA. All proceeds go to Rotary projects and programs. (see Cayucos Rotary website for project & program details) Tickets are $100 each and are tax deductible. The drawing is held December 10th downtown Cayucos at the Rotary Club’s Santa Cottage at 7:00pm. What a great Christmas gift! Please join in and help the Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside reach their fundraising goal for this year. For more information contact Steve Geil, President at 805.900.5221.
The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset, California, USA, was admitted to membership in Rotary International on 29 June 2016.
Congratulations to Charter President Gary Bright and Charter Club Secretary Stefanie Harrington. The club is chartering with 25 members and will be meeting on the first and third Wednesday evenings at 6pm (location forthcoming).
Our District has 'passed the hat' many times in support of providing relief during disasters around our globe. This time, the need is in our own back yard. I ask that you please consider 'passing the hat' at your next couple of Club Meetings, or making a contribution on your own in support of the needs that have came from the disaster effects of the 'Erskine Fire' still raging in eastern Kern County.
One of our District 5240 Clubs, the Rotary Club of Kern River Valley, has set up a relief fund for this purpose. You may want to send contributions directly to them, or another Rotary Club or Disaster Service group that are involved with relief efforts in the area.
Bakersfield East Gives Backpacks to the Community Youth
For over 15 years, Bakersfield East Rotary Club has partnered with other nonprofit community organizations to provide support to children who are homeless, foster or low income youth. Our first effort was to provide 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to The Bakersfield Homeless Center for their student residents. As the years have gone by we have continued to expand this program to include not only the Homeless Center but also C.A.S.A of Kern County, The Boys and Girls Club, The Forgotten Initiative, Rotaract and Interact projects along with three elementary schools. This year Bakersfield East Rotary Club will donate 1,000 backpacks adding to the thousands donated over those many years. Partnering with other nonprofits to fill the backpacks allows for community awareness of Rotary though our local media and the other company’s volunteers. Our member’s children love this event returning year after year to hand out backpacks and put a smile on those less fortunate faces.
Ojai Rotary Readers Program
Over the last several years, the Rotary Club of Ojai has provided volunteers who devote 1 to 4 hours per week helping students in Ojai Unified School District elementary schools learn to be better readers.
The program works like this: Ten volunteers devote a minimum of one hour once a week to a specific classroom. The teachers identify those students who are struggling to master reading and the volunteer gives undivided attention to those students, helping with reading comprehension, vocabulary, pronunciation etc. Typically, a volunteer will work one-on-one, or with a small handful of students, under the supervision of a professional teacher. The goal is to get students to become life-long readers and is in place at all four OUSD Elementary schools.
According to the volunteers, the hours devoted to helping students read and read better are enormously gratifying. As one volunteer remarked “…it is really wonderful when a mom stops me in Vons and tells me how much her child is enjoying reading”.
Frederick Douglass, who was born a slave and who taught himself to read, said, “…once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” If you are interested in learning more on this program, please call Randy Roth, Rotary Club of Ojai at 805 798 3925 or email randyroth@roadrunner.com
Rotary Club of Simi Sunset
“Shoes for Little Souls”
Every year, we provide a shopping spree for underprivileged children at Kohl’s Department Store in Simi Valley. The children are selected by the local Samaritan Center. This year we helped 18 children shop for new clothes and school supplies. CLICK HERE for full presentation
On Saturday, June 25, 2015, Rotarians from District 5240 gathered at the Moorpark Country Club for the 2015-16 District Awards and District Governor Step Down Luncheon. The following awards were presented:
At the 1917 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, President Arch Klumph spoke about his dream of creating a Rotary endowment fund. A century later, we're celebrating The Rotary Foundation and all the good work Rotarians have been able to do since then -- because one man dared to dream.
We're offering an extra-special early registration rate of $265 for the 2017 Rotary Convention, in honor of Arch Klumph's 6 June birthday, and the $26.50 first contribution to Rotary's endowment.
Join us in Atlanta next June. Register and pay today, because this special price of $265 is good only until 6 June 2016.
As mentioned by DG Jim above and addressed in the May newsletter, everyone is invited to the biggest barn raising this side of Bakersfield – the District 5240 Awards and DG Stepdown Shindig! Trot on over to the Moorpark Country Club on Saturday, June 25 to munch on some vittles, do some whoopin' & hollerin', and lastly help Jim into the saddle as we "give him the boot". Be sure to let us know iffin yer comin' so we have enough grub. Western dress encouraged.
Do you recognize any of these Rotarians/Rotaractors? They were chosen to represent our District at the Young Leaders Summit in Seoul, South Korea on Friday, May 27th and then attend their very first Rotary International Convention in Seoul. Here they are having just arrived in Seoul and having their first meal together. We are so proud of them! They are... Dominique Bredeson (RC of San Luis Obispo), Jonathan Broida (Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara), Rene Martinez (RC of Buellton), Shane Nazareth (Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara), and David Vo (RC of Santa Barbara Sunrise).
The following article appeared in the Santa Ynez Valley News on November 17, 2015:
Members of the Solvang, Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc and San Luis Obispo Rotary Clubs have returned home from a medical mission to Nicaragua where they served the communities of Ciudad Sandino and Nueva Vida.
The delegation worked at the Nueva Vida Clinic from Oct. 26-30, supporting the overworked and underfunded local staff by seeing hundreds of patients daily and bringing in needed medical supplies. The Clinic was established in 1999 in response to a refugee resettlement program after Hurricane Mitch devastated parts of Nicaragua and Honduras. The resulting barrio houses thousands of poor families. The Clinic serves those in the barrio and in the nearby community of Ciudad Sandino.
Linda Johansen, International Chair for the Solvang Rotary, organized the trip of 17 members.
Dr. Art Kaslow, Yomaira De Leon and Pat Gimmer worked in the dentistry unit. They treated over 80 patients and performed over 85 procedures.
The cardiac unit, with Dr. Claudio Bonometti and Jose Adorno, treated more than 200 patients and also donated a $10,000 electrocardiogram (EKG) machine, while Max Jensen performed over 200 EKGs.
Dr. Dennis Bales and Ron Jones, in the ophthalmology unit, saw over 80 patients providing eye exams and glasses that would otherwise not have been affordable to patients whose average income is less than $2 per day.
Carol Anders, retired RN, and Tom Bormes, handled triage and check-in.
Norm and Jan Clevenger and Johansen worked in the pharmacy saving staff 120 hours and dispensing $5,000 worth of medicines.
Rob Klug, Rich Saferite and Joe Brown helped service the Clinic's construction needs by assembling rebar for a new building, digging trenches, extending a suction line to the new surgical unit, installing a roof air duct for suction housing, laying tile in the surgical unit, and providing over 120 hours of manual labor while sharing their skills with the staff.
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital and Atterdag Village of Solvang provided many of the medical supplies the Rotary team took with them to Nueva Vida Clinic.
"We all returned home emotionally and physically exhausted but with touching memories of service to these lovely people," said Johansen.
Members of Four Local Rotary Clubs on Medical Mission to Nicaragua
The 40th annual Thousand Oaks Chili Cook-Off & Classic Car Show was held on April 24th, and it was a rousing success. When you can get to the 40th annual of ANYTHING, that’s pretty special – when it’s a Rotary fundraiser that’s gone this long, that’s extra special – and when 100% of the proceeds go to local charities, you’ve got an event that goes to the top of the “must-go-to” list.
For the first time, this well-attended event was held at Conejo Creek Park North, right across the street from our previous venue. We couldn’t have found a better location. The sprawling park grounds with its trails, bridges, meandering creek and sparkling lake was the perfect setting. If it was too warm for some, there was the shade of the tall oak trees and covered picnic areas. A cool partly cloudy morning gave way to bright blue skies and a gorgeous sunny afternoon.
So while being a great fundraiser in spectacular surroundings, it was loads of fun, too. With plenty of tasty chili, great food and drink, an endless array of classic cars, a spirited Kids Zone, and three stages of non-stop music and entertainment, one would be hard pressed to find anyone not smiling.
With “chili” in the name, you’d be correct in assuming the amount chili to sample would be bountiful. More than forty chili booths had lines snaking everywhere. An International Chili Society (ICS) sanctioned event, the cooks took their chili seriously. Between the ICS approved judges, and the general public as critics, there were hard choices to make with the peak quality of chili on display.
The line-up of Classic cars was no less impressive. When you see the parade of cars with ages that span several decades, you know these car owners have good reason to be beaming. When you see the endless polishing with some car aficionados using Q-tips to be extra pristine, you know you’re not just looking at older, restored cars, but ones with a rich history and a pride of ownership.
Then there was the music. Three stages to be exact. Run by the two sponsoring Rotary Clubs, and the popular destination, Borderline Bar & Grill, the music went on throughout the day. From several local favorite bands to the greatly anticipated featured group, Cover 2 Cover (covering all the hits, of course), an abundance of good vibes were spread all around. To close out the day, throngs delighted to the sounds of SouthBound, one of the best Allman Brothers tribute bands in the country.
In between the music there was a fashion show and a troupe of Shakespearean players. And we can’t forget the day’s opening with the Thousand Oaks High School marching band.
What else? There was the endless fun for the younger crowd at the Kids Zone. There were the bungie running, the inflatable climbing bounce house that resembled a horse, the petting zoo, the face painting, the ring toss, and the arts & crafts, just to name a few (or in this case, a lot). And we know the Kids Zone was also appreciated by the parents, as well.
The triumph of this family-fun event was achieved through the tireless efforts (maybe we’re a little tired) of the all-volunteer teams that are comprised of members and friends of the Thousand Oaks and Conejo Valley Rotary Clubs. Add to that the generous support of a multitude of local sponsors eager to give back to their community, and you’ve got a recipe for great success. For those that helped and participated, you have a lot to be proud of.
And for those that missed it, there’s always next year – Sunday, April 30th, 2017 to be exact.
We traveled to the Los Olivos Rotary Club on the 19th of May. This was our second meeting with the club and we renewed our friendships. John Mathews, President-elect was very gracious and gave us a presidental welcome. We spoke about all the updates that we have encountered within the last month. Some of these are still shocking to us...Applebee’s restaurant chain has offered to let us do pancake breakfasts and we pay them a nominal fee and we keep the rest. We can also pass out flyers to different clubs and they give them to their server and Paws receives 15% of the bill, no alcohol involved! This can happen once a week, for over 600 restaurants...as long as we can get the Rotary Clubs in these areas on board. You pass out the flyers, go to dinner on a specific night, and Paws gets the monies. Most of these involved us using Interact kids and we give them half the profit. They love helping Paws! We have done two BBQs with them, both at Minors Hardware, one in Morro Bay and the other in Los Osos. They, Applebee's, saw one of our brochures and THEY called us...the word is getting out.
We also went to Paso Robles Rotary in May and one Rotarian, who is connected to Idler's Home Center, is doing a Fundraiser during the Memorial Day Weekend. A percentage of these funds goes right to acquire the dogs. How nice is this...thank you to the Idler Family! We are making headway in the prison system...15 (trained) inmates training 6 dogs, 24/5. The other two days they go home with the staff for socialization. Another organization that has stepped up is Lemos Feed. We have donation jars and brochures in Morro Bay and Los Osos, and plan on getting them in the other 12 stores. These stores are located from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles. We are just waiting for approval from the managers, as they have some input, especially if they already have a local benefit on-going. All good news! Much more on these as they continue to develop. We also were speakers at the Community Health Faire and received two more speaking engagements from that event.
On a different note, we are making some headway but we are running out of trainers! So, we decided to contact Cuesta and Hancock Colleges to see if they are interested in doing a College program. There is only one university in the world that teaches Cynology- the studies of Canines. This will take awhile to become a reality but our Veterans are worth the time!
One of our contacts is from Vandenberg Air Force Base. We will be helping our Rotarians from Santa Barbara County to help put a dog and veteran together there. We have had numerous leads from there and have a commitment from them for money, veterans and fundraisers...stay tuned for more! We are very excited about our progress... we have only had this up and running since September of last year and have had a major impact in this area...both financially and more importantly, we’ve had an impact with our VETERANS!
We, Paws for a Cause, want to personally thank Neil Walker and Scott Phillips who were encouraging and helpful getting these newsletters out to YOU! Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!
The Hap Rapp Track Meet is a Camarillo tradition. Rotarian Hap Rapp founded the meet for aspiring young athletes 54 years ago. This year the meet will be on Saturday, May 21 at the Adolfo Camarillo High School Track, 4660 Mission Oaks Blvd, Camarillo. The meet is designed for 4th through 8th graders to discover their athletic ability. Over 300 students from 14 schools are expected to participate. Events include the 50-, 75-, and 100-yard dashes, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, relays and distance races. Trophies and ribbons will be presented and high scores will be posted online at www.episports.com
Los Altos School athletes at the Hap Rapp Track Meet in the early days with Rotarian Bill Bauer.
I would like to tell you about our Flower Empower event that we as a Rotaract club participated in.
Flower Empower is a volunteer-driven program put on by the Dream Foundation where volunteers spend the morning building bouquet arrangements for people who are in need. Volunteers then deliver the flower arrangements to hospitals, hospice care, cancer centers, and personal addresses. The purpose of this program is to let people who are in the places described know that they are not alone, and that their community cares. Referrals for recipients of the flowers are provided by cancer centers, doctors, hospice officials, and doctors.
For more information, please feel free to contact:
The Atascadero High School Interact Club started with a clean slate this year, with a new faculty advisor, a new Rotary advisor and many new student members. Faculty advisor Mike Melzer got us off to a great start by recruiting a membership of 24 students, up from about 10 last year. More than half of the members are freshmen, which bodes well for the livelihood of the club for years to come. Even the club president is a freshman, Haddie Daner, daughter of Atascadero Rotarian, Adam.
This year’s Interact group has been both ambitious and vibrant from the get-go. Every week, club members bring new community service ideas to the table and work diligently on projects in progress. This year’s activities have included campus trash clean-ups, a beach clean-up, participation in the Atascadero Color Run, and fundraising such as holding on-campus bake sales and leaving jars in every classroom for students to donate spare change. Additionally, Interact members got involved with Atascadero’s Rotarians by auctioning Valentine’s Day desserts, waiting tables at the Crab Feed and they will be serving ice cream alongside Rotarians during Children’s Day at the Park later this month. Atascadero Interact intends to donate 100% of its fundraising proceeds of approximately $2,000 to the North County Humane Society.
If Atascadero High Interact had one defining moment this year, it would be the remarkable turn-out at the Cal Poly women’s basketball game in late February. All Rotary-, Interact- and Rotaract Clubs on the Central Coast were invited, and the organizers promised recognition for the clubs with the most members in attendance. Not only did Atascadero High Interact win the competition- they actually had more representation than every other club COMBINED. This was a shining example of how dedicated these kids are.
Thirty years ago the Rotary Club of Ojai-West launched a small wine tasting event for Ojai Valley residents. From this humble beginning, the Ojai Wine Festival has grown into a leading regional event attracting nearly 4,000 people from throughout California and beyond. Overlooking beautiful Lake Casitas, this idyllic venue is perfect to showcase over 60 wineries and 30 craft beers.
The Ojai Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Ojai-West Foundation, which has raised over $1,000,000.00 since inception. Help us continue our fundraising legacy and purchase tickets to contribute in our premier event. Buy your tickets early and save $10 on General Admission, ($60 event day). General Admission includes a keepsake crystal wine glass, unlimited tastes of wine or beer, live music and free boat rides. Children under 13 years gain free entry into the General Admission area only with a paid adult, 10-20% Group discounts available.
VIP admission includes all benefits of general admission + early 11:30 am entry, premium shaded lakefront seating. Solely offered in the VIP Lounge is a supreme selection of fine wines and craft beers, fine liquors and scrumptious hors d'oeuvres. VIP pre-sale tickets are $120 and $150 on event day. You must be 21 years old to enter. For details contact Angela May at 1(800) 648-4881 or Angela@ojaiwinefestival.com. Visit OjaiWineFestival.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Pinterest.
Angela May
Ojai Wine Festival Executive Director Angela@OjaiWineFestival.com
Mobile: (805) 798-7902
Office: (805) 646-3794
OjaiWineFestival.com
Ojai Wine Festival Celebrating 30 Years June 12, 2016 at Lake Casitas 12-4pm
The Rotary Club of Camarillo awarded college scholarships to nine deserving students on May 25, 2016. Applications were invited from schools in the Camarillo area, including the two main high schools, the continuing education schools, the community college and CSUCI. We are happy to announce that:
The Bill Kohagen Memorial Scholarship goes to Arielle Mendoza from Adolfo Camarillo High School.
The Tish Taylor Vocational Scholarship goes to Collin Kirksey from ACHS.
The Elaine Petterson Turnaround Scholarship goes to Christine Khann Le from Frontier High School.
The CSUCI Rotaract Student Scholarship goes to Mirna Garcia.
The Active Interact Student Scholarship goes to Samantha Tovar from ACHS.
The Phillip Gore Scholarship goes to Idalis Daisy Perez from Gateway High School.
The Michael Lavenant Memorial Scholarship goes to Noah Amerault from ACHS.
The Scott Family Memorial Vocational Scholarship goes to Marissa Gonzales from ACHS.
The College Re-entry Scholarship goes to Julieanne Flores at Oxnard Community College.
Camarillo Rotary makes a special effort to award scholarships to students who exemplify the Rotary motto of "Service above Self." The Scholarship Committee interviews each candidate to see how they are involved in helping others in the community.
"Grades are important," says Past President Max Copenhagen, "but those with a need and a record of community service are considered favorably in our evaluation".
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders providing humanitarian service and building goodwill. Rotarians have served the needs of communities worldwide since 1905. Rotary clubs meet in Camarillo on Tuesdays for breakfast and on Wednesdays at noon. For more information about Rotary, see www.camarillorotary.org.
Rotary Club of Camarillo - Scholarship Award Presentations
The iconic polio story, a story told often and told well, makes a deserving headline. Rotary and its partners have achieved success beyond measure … success that should be shared far and wide, in every language and throughout the world. We can be proud of the results: only 76 wild polio cases in the world last year. We can be proud of the mobilization as the WHO leads an eradication effort that blankets the globe. We can be proud of the fundraising as all the partners including Rotary and Rotarians, WHO, governments, Bill Gates and others consistently meet the financial needs of the Polio Campaign.
BUT, as the world celebrates, we must not forget that the price for polio eradication is more than money. The headlines on January 13, 2016, read “Suicide attack … in southwest Pakistan kills 15, mostly policemen”. This hints at the rest of the story. So let us remind ourselves of the human cost to polio eradication. The January 13 murders, like so many terrorist attacks and tragedies in our world, were on the front page of the newspapers one day and gone the next in favor of another story. It’s easy to tell ourselves that the attacks happened somewhere else, somewhere over there, allowing us to gloss over this tragic cost … allowing us to numb ourselves to the result.
We must remind ourselves: No matter how noble the cause, the loss of even one life matters. And this was not a unique event: There were similar headlines on December 29, 2015, one life in Afghanistan; March 11, 2014, 11 lives in Pakistan; March 17, 2014, two more; February 2014, four lives in Pakistan; February 2013, nine lives in Nigeria ; and there have been many more. In Pakistan alone there have been almost 100 murders associated with the polio campaign. In addition to the killings, polio workers and their families are targeted with death threats, harassment and blackmail causing disruption to families. See link http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/150303-poliopakistan-islamic-state-refugees-vaccination-health/
It’s critical to remember the commitment and sacrifice made by the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria to help the world finish the eradication effort. I am not sure how we value their contribution. What’s a human life worth? What are 100 human lives worth? Clearly, the costs have not only been money but also human life and suffering.
So, if I debate with myself about a donation to PolioPlus … if I wonder if my donation should be $10 or $100 or $10,000 … then I should also wonder about the deaths of over 100 Afghans, Nigerians and Pakistanis. I should also wonder how their commitment to polio has affected their lives, their families and their communities. I should wonder how my financial gift will honor their sacrifice.
There is no doubt that we must stay focused on the goal of a polio free world, Rotary’s number one priority. We must stay committed to the children of the world. At the same time, we need to remember and be thankful for those, past, present and future, who have sacrificed their lives, rights and freedom for a polio-free world. They truly are a gift to the world … and we must never forget!
The Human Toll of Polio Eradication
Pat Killoran, Zone 24 West End Polio Now Coordinator
Preparing for the WHA: next week, health ministers from around the world will convene in Geneva for the annual World Health Assembly (WHA). Among other public health topics, delegates will review and discuss the latest global polio epidemiology.
Between April 17 and May 1, the type 2 component of oral polio vaccine (OPV) was removed from use through a globally synchronized switch from the trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine. This was the first stage objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and End Game Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to withdraw OPV in a phased manner following the eradication of the wild poliovirus type 2 in September 2015.
Thanks to the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders from Ministries of Health, health workers, volunteers, switch monitors, WGO, UNICEF and partners of the WHO, confirmation has been received that 155 countries have completed the switch.
A reminder, our NID Alumni Luncheon will be held at the Historic Santa Maria Inn on June 11th, from 11am until 2pm. See the flyer below. This will give the NIDers a chance to meet again and just have a good time. PDG Frank Ortiz will be the emcee for the event.
Please pass the word out that this event is going to happen and to encourage their NID Alums to attend. We only have 100 seats so if you want to attend, let me know and I will sign you up.
The Arroyo Grande Rotary Club recently purchased and presented new US and California State flags to 13 Lucia Mar Unified School District schools. With funds raised by AG Rotary's annual RotaryHarleyRaffle.com fundraiser, the club was able to afford to replace all the tattered flags at 12 schools and the District Office: Grover, Oceano, Dorothea Lang, Harloe, and Dana Elementary Schools, Mesa, Paulding and Judkins Middle Schools and Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, New Tech, and Lopez High Schools.
A staff member at Grover Elementary brought the need for new flags for the school to a Rotarian's attention. The school budget didn't allow for funds to replace the tattered flags. Upon research, AG Rotarians discovered 12 more schools needing new flags and at that point decided to take action.
Since 1945 the Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande has united business, professional and civic leaders for the common good both locally and around the globe. Arroyo Grande Rotarians are well-known for their various philanthropic and community activities including the annual Rotary Fish Fry during the Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival (September 23rd), the Rotary Relays for local Junior High athletes which occurs each May and the annual Christmas and Holiday Sing-Along show (December 18th) at the Clark Center. The club also funds international service projects and provides over $12,000 in college scholarships yearly. Rotary International is the world's largest and most notable philanthropic service organization. The motto of its 1.2 million members is "Service Above Self."
Additional information concerning the Arroyo Grande Rotary Flag program, please contact AG Rotary member, Janet Wood at 805-489-0864. For more info on the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club see: AGRotary.org. See the next article for more information on the Club's 2nd Annual Harley Fundraiser Raffle.
Flag Presentation at Oceano Elementary School
AG Rotary Club members flank 4 Oceano students left to right:
Drew Johnson, Cynthia Ramirez, Cristian Camacho and Jonathan Cervantes
School Principal Michele Johnson is to the immediate left of the students.
Photo Credit: Chris Garey
Margie Drube
RC of Arroyo Grande
Arroyo Grande Rotary Club Sponsors Flag Distribution to South County Schools
Twenty one of our District 5240 members attended the District 4160's final Conference that included a project Safari. This was the largest Safari group ever from our district to attend a Conference in recent years. This was the farewell conference for District 4160 as they will be merging with District 4150 to form the new District 4140. The group was treated to some great hospitality, cultural events and entertainment in the beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato. The group was hosted by the San Miguel de Allende Midday club for most of the stay, with other clubs stepping up to make sure our group had a great time. Part of the Safari group went on after the Conference to visit project sites in San Miguel de Allende and nearby Lagos de Moreno. Others went on to visit Patzcuaro, Santa Clara de Cobre, Michoacan, and Salamanca, Guanajuato.
The Conference and partnership of our district and D4160 started back in 1994, with a matching grant project, and became official in 2002 with the signing of an official Sister Districts agreement. This Sister District agreement has been in place ever since, with groups attending each of the District Conferences based on an exchange of the Governor line each year. This partnership has led to many projects being done both in Mexico and here in our district.
The list of attendees included members of many of our clubs: Governor Jim Bell and Donna (Bakersfield Twilight), Governor Elect Nick Frankle and Heather (Westlake Village Sunrise/Simi Sunrise), Past Governor Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith and E Russell (Santa Barbara Sunrise), Past Governor Wade Nomura - who organized the trip (Carpinteria Morning), Chas Wilson and his wife (Simi Sunrise), Anselmo Moreno and his wife (Bakersfield Twilight), Jeni Moore (Bakersfield Twilight), Pam Zulfa (Bakersfield Twilight), Robert Klug (Lompoc), Luz Polcik (Kern River Valley), Pat Connelly and his wife (San Luis Obispo), Joan Faubert and Bernie (San Luis Obispo), Will van Kranenburg (Templeton) and Georgia Vreeken (Templeton).
The Sister District agreement was officially signed by the District leadership again this year confirming the continuation of our two districts fellowship, project partnerships and friendship exchanges and part of our Object of Rotary; The Development of Acquaintances as an Opportunity to Serve. There are plans again for a Project Safari in conjunction with the D4140 District Conference on May 18-20, 2017 in Puerto Vallarta. For more information, contact Wade Nomura at wadedg1112@verizon.net.
2016 Mexico Project Safari and District Conference
Once again Rotary Club of Moorpark Rotarian Matt Miguelena traveled to India in March and April of 2016 to use his medical expertise to help those in need.
Matt was able to work in several government hospitals, a mobile hospital, and a free clinic. He also met with fellow Rotarians from 3 different clubs. It was also no surprise that he also met with longtime friend Dr. Matthew Varghese who runs one of the only hospitals in India which conducts Polio reconstructive surgeries.
Matt was even able to get Dr. Varghese to make a short video on a YouTube channel that goes out to millions of viewers (see the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5RgktbTHWM).
The photos attached say it all relative to the difference these sorts of trips make in the lives of those who are less fortunate!
Bruce Thomas, President
RC of Moorpark
Rotary Club of Moorpark Rotarian Matt Miguelena in blue T-shirt.
Moorpark Rotarian Visits India to Offer Medical Assistance
On April 22, 2016, thirty-five students and 10 staff members from Sequoia Elementary of Fresno County School District joined Cayucos Elementary School students with Cayucos Rotary Club members for a beach clean-up, and learning about Cayucos, the pier and community. A majority of the students had never been to the coast or ocean. The Club provided pizza and goody bags with Paws for a Cause T-Shirts, salt-water taffy, school supplies and snacks. The day was a great success.
Each year the Rotary Club of Camarillo has an essay contest for local students. The theme of the essay is the Rotarian's 4-Way Test - an ethical guide for making personal and professional decisions. The students examine and write about a personal dilemma and use the 4-Way Test in deciding what to do about it.
Congratulations to the winners of the essay contest, who also get cash awards. They are:
1st place - Michelle Lui from Adolfo Camarillo High School
2nd place - Sage Mertes from Las Colinas Middle School
3rd place - Nicoletta Bryan from Las Colinas Middle School
As Rotary year 2015-16 draws to a close, it's time for your District 5240 Newsletter team, Scott Phillips (President Elect, RC of Goleta Noontime) and me, to put away our quills, ink and keyboards as the new 2016-17 team, under the leadership of Becky Savell (RC of Simi Valley) takes control. Scott and I would like to thank all the loyal Rotarian readers, contributors and newsmakers who've made this year very memorable to us. A special thanks to District Governor Jim Bell for his stewardship and contributions.
Going forward, if you would like something published in the monthly newsletter, address your material to stories@district5240.org and make sure it arrives by the 20th of the month preceding the new newsletter (for example, all material for the July newsletter must be submitted no later than June 20th.) Late arriving material will either be filed or published in the following newsletter if the topic remains timely. The email address above will go to Cindy Jacoby.
If you want to inquire about the District 5240 website, send comments/questions to website@district5240.org. This email address will go to Becky Savell.
June is the month that is dedicated to ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS. This is one of my very favorite areas of Rotary. There are more than 60 "fellowships" that have been organized by Rotarian enthusiasts in such diverse areas as fishing, flying, golf, horseback riding, internet, cooking, lawyers, rowing, social networks, wine, yachting, scuba diving... I think you're getting the picture. I am a 10+ year member of the IFMR – International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians. One of my Twilight Club members is a long-time member of the IFRM – International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians. The fun part of the fellowships is to meet Rotarians in your area, your state, North America, and most likely from other countries who have the same passion that you do. Most fellowships stay in touch via their website and email newsletters. It's pretty cool and I highly encourage you to join a Rotary fellowship this month!
This is my final Governor Newsletter for 2016. I hope to see YOU at the District Awards and DG Stepdown on June 25th at Moorpark Country Club so I can personally thank each of you for being an awesome Rotarian. I promise it will be a "country-based" hoot and definitely, ON THAT DAY ONLY, more fun than the local law authorities will allow – but we will obtain a special permit! Sign up HERE for the luncheon on June 25th and join the fun! Yippy Ki Yay!!
In addition to thanking all of you who have made my Rotary year as District Governor so great, I especially want to acknowledge how grateful I am to my loving wife, Donna. She has been with me every step of the way, and her help, patience, energy and dedication has made this year possible.
Yee-Haw, Pardners! Y'all are invited to the biggest barn raising this side of Bakersfield - the District 5240 Awards and DG Step-Down Shindig! Mosey on over to the Moorpark Country Club on Saturday June 25 to strap on the feedbag, do some whoopin' and hollerin', and send DG Jim riding off into the sunset Cowboy style! Be sure to let us know yer coming so we have enough grub.
About 2 months ago, we did a demonstration for Los Osos Rotary. "Afterwards, Shirley Hulin, a past-president, told Igleheart that her husband, Bruce, was a veteran whose PTSD symptoms returned after his leg was amputated last year.
Rotarian Gil Igleheart encouraged her to talk to Nicole Hern (Director of Training-New Life K9s). Several other key components serendipitously materialized to move this project forward. " New Life K9s has been working with a yellow Labrador (Nickols) for over one and a half years but the dog showed some behavioral problems that would ban him from being a full service dog. "The bond was instant and Nickols was placed with Bruce before his graduation. All participants in the placement came together to celebrate Bruce and Nickols’ success story on April 1st during another Los Osos Rotary Club meeting.
New Life Founder, Jack Gould said, “Last time we demonstrated what a trained dog could do for a veteran. This time we can show you how Nickols has benefited a veteran.” From his wheelchair with Nickols by his side, Hulin said, Nickols will nudge me when I feel anxious. He picks things up that I can't reach and opens and closes doors with an attached rope."
The quoted material in this can be read in its entirety by going to their website: www. tolosapress.com. The article was written by Judy Salamacha, a Morro Bay Rotarian.
Upcoming Events
May 9th - County Mental Health -County Government Building- San Luis Obispo 6PM
May 12 - Paso Robles Rotary (noon club) Paso Robles Inn May 19 - Los Olivos Rotary 5pm
Please view the KSBY newscast link here to get a good dose of what we Rotarians can do!
The editor received the following email from Kanika Gulia, President of the Interact Club at Moorpark High School, who wanted to share some of their projects with the District. The future is in good hands!
Animal Shelter Drive
Our Moorpark High School’s Interact Club was involved in an Animal Shelter Drive as a way to help support the Shelter Hope Pet Shop, a non-profit volunteer-based pet shop that showcases shelter animals available for in-store adoption. In this volunteer, we cooperated with the Petco Pet Store to request donations from customers. This volunteer opportunity helped our students in many ways to communicate with local individuals, and on a whole, the community service was a stepping stone for our Interact members to bring them into the adult world in terms of character, social stability and management capabilities. This successful drive also benefitted our Moorpark community by encouraging local residents through simple acts of kindness from teenagers, and through communicating with local customers, in a way, this volunteer helped bring a community together in effort to help support the Shelter Hope Pet Shop. In addition, this event was triumphant success for bringing warm smiles and greetings to the donators and the volunteers.
Habitat for Humanity
Joining Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, Interactors participated in the construction and repair of a home in our community! Habitat's Goals were to create opportunities for all people to live in decent and durable shelters. This volunteer opportunity that allowed students to intimately experience directly serving the people in need in the community. This experience involved cooperating with fellow volunteers and other employees; constructing and repairing residents in ways such as painting; and laughing and enjoying working alongside peers and workers. Our students proved to the world and our community that despite their young age, young students are capable of working zealously in effort to bring aid to those who lack necessities.
Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat
Every year, around Halloween, our Interact members walk around the neighborhoods adjacent to the High School to trick or treat to ask for canned foods to donate to the Moorpark Food Pantry to benefit individuals and families in need in Ventura County. Throughout the few years of trick or treating so others can eat, we were often surprised with the exceedingly successful results. During these volunteering occasions, volunteers were required to interact with individuals they didn’t know, yet every year, both our neighbors and volunteers always exchanged warm and polite interactions. Due to this experience, students were able to improve their social skills and their character as advocates for beneficial change to our community and the world.
Front Row L-R: Eric Kardel (Taiwan) RC SLO de Tolosa, Kathryn Evers (Belgium) RC SLO, Mathew Sabin (So. Korea) Bakersfield East
Back Row L-R: Ronda Werner, YE Chair, Jordan Riley (Italy) RC Bakersfield Twilight, Andrew Berkovitz (Switzerland) RC Ojai West, Thalia Garcia-Young (France) RC Simi Valley, Haley Hall (Chile) RC Simi Sunrise, Anna Johnson (Germany) RC SLO de Tolosa
The April 23-24 Outbound Orientation was chaired by Ronda Werner. We host this event in Camarillo for all of the Southern California and So. Nevada Outbound Students. The event was attended by 108 outbound students, parents, inbound students, Rotex and RYE Committee members. The weekend orientation helps prepare the students for a safe and successful year abroad. On Saturday, each student gave an introduction in their host language. On Sunday, each outbound announced his or her goals for their exchange and received their official Rotary Youth Exchange patch and pin for their blazers. The group is very excited about their exchange year. This is the first year we have had TWO outbounds from Kern County -- Congrats! The Bakersfield East Club will be hosting a girl from Spain this coming year. Our District will be hosting at least 7 girls and 3 boys including our first-ever student from Nigeria (Santa Barbara Sunrise) as well as students from Germany (SLO de Tolosa, SLO & Simi Valley), Italy (Camarillo), Brazil (Simi Sunrise), Japan (Goleta Noontime), France (Ojai West) and Taiwan (SLO de Tolosa).
2016-2017 Rotary Youth Exchange Students Almost On Their Way
The Council on Legislation occurs only every three years. This is the only time that Rotary international and the Rotary Foundation can make changes in the governance documents. The Council is made up of representatives from all of the 534 districts worldwide. This year there were 523 certified delegates. Representatives are selected from within each of the Rotary districts and to be qualified, must be a past governor and in good standing with Rotary.
Each of the Council on Legislation has been known to have a special “personality” or trait. This Council has been more progressive in their thinking and willing to make change where needed. This Council also earned the reputation of focusing on and benefitting the members and clubs as their primary objective. It was also noted by veteran members and RI staff that the composition of this group was also younger, and with fewer years in Rotary service than in the past.
It was very interesting to see how international really is. There was simultaneous translation into 8 different languages, and the submitted enactments and resolutions often reflected specific issues that were cultural in origin. I was also pleasantly surprised at how “civil” discussion was during discussion, and respect was evident in almost every dispute.
The Council started on Sunday the 10th of April afternoon and went daily until Friday the 15th in Chicago. It should also be noted that $1.50 is included in every Rotarians annual dues to pay for the Council on Legislation.
I am certain most of us are aware of the earthquakes that took place recently in Japan and Ecuador. There was another “earthquake” recently, on April 12th, in Evanston, Illinois, at our Rotary International Council on Legislation (COL). Paul Netztel, the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Foundation called the changes both “evolutionary and revolutionary”. The COL meets once every three years to consider and vote on “enactments” which, if voted in, change Rotary International’s constitutional documents (the Constitution, bylaws, and the standard club Constitution). Each district sends a voting delegate so there are 534 voting delegates from around the world who attend. This very progressive, forward-thinking Council made several important enactments, a few of which I will bullet-point briefly for you here:
(16-21) Flexibility in Meetings/Attendance
How often a club meets is now up to the club except it must meet two times per month (there is no definition of “meeting”).
Attendance requirements are now up to the club.
(16-21) Allows clubs to remain the same or change accordingly.
(16-36) Kinds of Membership
Clubs may now have other types of memberships than the standard “active and honorary” memberships. This may include “corporate, associate, family,” etc. memberships.
(16-38) Revise Qualifications for Membership to a club
This enactment eliminates business and professional criteria from membership qualification.
(16-99) Dues Increase
RI dues are currently $55 per year. RI dues will increase $1 per year in 2016-17; increase $4 per year in 2017-18; increase $4 per year in 2018-2019; and increase $4 per year in 2019-20, reaching $68 per year in 2019-2020.
Rationale: investment returns are down; forecast shows deficits in next four years without a dues increase; more monies needed for upgrading the infrastructure (websites, etc).
(16-01) Requires written minutes of club Board of Director meetings
(16-02) Club Treasurer is added as an officer and board member, in addition to the Immediate Past President, President, President Elect, and club Secretary
(16-40) Rotaractors can simultaneously belong to a Rotary club.
(16-51) Transferring or former Rotarians are ineligible for membership in a club if they have debts to another club.
(16-82) E-Clubs - This enactment erases any distinction between regular clubs and e-clubs. Regular clubs can have an on-line meeting; an e-club can have an in-person meeting.
There are many more important enactments (click here for a brief summary) as well as proposed resolutions and enactments that were rejected. For a more in-depth look at the COL, our representative PDG Wade Nomura has a separate article in this newsletter.
In late February, we decided to have a contest for our Young Rotarians and Rotaractors (ages 19-35) to compete for a chance to attend the Young Leaders’ Summit (YLS) at the RI Convention in Seoul, South Korea on Friday May 27th. The main purpose of the YLS is to provide an opportunity for young leaders around the world to convene and interact with one another to develop a road map for the future by discussing both challenges and opportunities to serve the world as future Rotarians. The summit includes speeches by world renowned speakers, panel discussions, performances and more. But there’s more! Each of these attendees are being offered accommodations and the opportunity to attend the RI Convention from 5/28 thru 6/1. I am very proud to introduce to you our contest winners and soon-to-be District representatives/attendees to the Seoul YLS:
RENE MARTINEZ, RC of Buellton
DOMINIQUE BREDESON, RC of San Luis Obispo
JONATHAN BROIDA, Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara
DAVID VO, RC of Santa Barbara Sunrise
SHANE NAZARETH, Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara
ATTENTION: Club Program Chairs - each of these five people would make a wonderful program for your club!
Finally, here is a short 3-minute YouTube video to show you how easy it is to update your club logo, newsletter, website with our new imaging: click here
On February 6, 2016 local Rotary Club Members joined 125 volunteers of all ages to package 16,084 meals for the Stop Hunger Now humanitarian relief organization. Forty-two members of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo teamed up with the NGO, along with members from other clubs, Cal Poly, high school and middle school volunteer organizations and anyone else that was willing to lend their labor after a crash course in food prep safety.
A BBQ lunch was served for volunteers at the PG&E Training Facility in Avila Beach, but the meal packs they prepared for shipping are vegan, with a combination of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix that includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals. Participating organizations can buy the materials for the packs at $0.29 each and host events to get them put together and ready for shipment to disaster relief centers, school feeding programs, and orphanages. After packing, the food has a shelf-life of two years.
Christopher Romero, the northern California Program Manager for Stop Hunger Now noted that 90 percent of the aid is sent over-seas though partner organizations which run on the ground assistance in education and other methods where nutritional aid is an ancillary to their work. In short added, Parker Emerson with the Shelter Box program, aid is no longer dolled out in 50 pound bags thrown out of a moving truck. The food aid is being targeted with more care and respect than in years past.
For more information, contact Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo President Jeff Stulberg.
Photos & Article provided by Camas Frank - Editor. “Volunteers Gather to Fight Hunger.” SLO City News. 10 February 2016.
RC of San Luis Obispo Volunteers Gather to Fight Hunger
Please find in the attachment a short club story featuring the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo's "Hal Larsen Memorial Compostela Fishing Tournament". Our club is preparing for our Second Annual Tournament this fall, and raised more than $7,000 USD last year for the funding of a new regional public health clinic in Compostela, Mexico.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you!
The Rotary Club of Arroyo Grande is hosting our 2nd Annual Rotary Harley Raffle to raise money for local community nonprofits and Rotary projects. We have partnered with the local nonprofit AmpSurf to host a poker run the day of the event. We invite all to participate by buying a ticket or becoming a sponsor.
Join Us! Over Memorial Day Weekend 2016, the sparkling lake in The Park at River Walk will be surrounded by a sea of red, white and blue as 1,000 American flags are flown in tribute to all who have sacrificed – and who continue to sacrifice – to make the United States the greatest country in the world.
Come to the Park and experience this spectacular patriotic display and celebration. Take time to walk among the flags and remember the men and women who ensure our health, safety and liberty. Enjoy activities throughout the weekend. On Memorial Day, Monday, visit the patriotic fair with booths, bands and fun. Member of the brass section of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra will entertain the crowd with patriotic march music. From 11:30 - 1:00 pm, there will be a patriotic performances by our local groups followed by a very special presentation featuring a flag ceremony, dignitaries and invited guests. Sponsor one of these beautiful flags in honor of your loved one. Sponsors may pick up their beautiful flags after the event.
Sponsor one of the flags to be flown in honor of anyone, living or deceased, whom you wish to remember on this special day with a dramatic display of patriotism – perhaps a veteran, active service member, first responder, loved one, friend or any person who makes or has made our country a better place. Each flag comes with a special certificate suitable for framing and you're welcome to take your flag home after the event as our thank you. Order online or download the flag sponsor form.
In the days leading up to International Women’s Day 8 March, organizers of a Rotary event at the World Bank used social media and web pages to promote an event that was also streamed live. Thirteen times as many people watched the event online as attended in person, proving the value of the Internet in expanding an event’s reach.
Rotary members are among the first to reach out and offer help in times of disaster, including in Ecuador and Japan, where earthquakes have killed hundreds of people, injured thousands, and caused billions of dollars in damage. Rotary districts in both countries have established relief funds, and members are collaborating with governments and other agencies to direct assistance where it is needed most.
The 2016 Council on Legislation may well be remembered as one of the most progressive in Rotary history. Council members granted clubs more freedom to determine their meeting schedule and membership, and approved a per capita dues increase of $4 a year for three years to enhance Rotary’s website, improve online tools, and add programs for clubs. Read more about the Council, see photos, and download vote totals.
Rotary District 5240 has recently lost several esteemed and vibrant members. We are saddened at their passing.
EDWARD T. HAGER, M.D., (84) Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, Arch Klumph Society.
On February 23, the 111th Anniversary of Rotary International we lost a dear friend of Rotary in District 5240 and especially to the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks. A Rotary club member since 1999 and District 5240 Rotarian of the year in 2009-10, he was accepted into the Arch Klumph Society in 2010 and then reached the status of Arch Klumph Level 2 before his passing, a total contribution to Rotary International of well over $500,000. Without question he guided RC of Thousand Oaks into the big leagues of philanthropic giving. To the members of his home club, though, he will be remembered for his embracement of the Spirit of Rotary and his marvelous sense of humor.
Born February 16, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania, Ed had an outstanding academic education, including Mercer Academy, Middleburg College, Duke University and UC Berkeley. He received his MD degree from Baylor University. He practiced medicine in Santa Monica and Culver City, CA specializing in Internal medicine and Geriatrics. After 20 years as a physician, Ed became very involved in the field of investing, which led to his spending 6 years as a member of the Pacific Stock Exchange.
In Rotary, Ed found an organization that matched his passion for making a difference. In one instance, Ed initiated a matching donation drive that raised over $100,000 for the club's Rotary Foundation. Every year you could count on Ed to come up with some matching challenge program to make club member giving a success.
His favorite Rotary Foundation project was Polio Eradication. As a physician he understood firsthand what a terrible impact this disease has on both the child and their family. Ed believed that the Polio partnership with the Gates Foundation demonstrated that the world recognized what he had found: An appreciation for how effectively money is used and managed by Rotary.
Ed was equally involved in the community. In addition to his school alumni organizations and church activities he was very active in horticulture. A major financial contributor to the Botanical Gardens in Thousand Oaks, Ed was oftentimes found at the Gardens weeding and planting with other volunteers. He was a major contributor to Special Olympics and was instrumental in the establishment of the highly successful annual RC Thousand Oaks wine event fundraiser held every August.
Ed was quoted as saying “If someone ever brings peace to the world, it will be Rotary, because Rotary solves problems and brings people together.”
Ed was happily married to Andrea who preceded him in death after 34 years of marriage. He is survived by three adult children, Daniel, Robert and Christa.
Larry was eulogized in the last newsletter, although we had not received his obituary. It is shown here:
Lawrence A. Emrich, 70, of Ventura, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, following a lengthy illness. Larry was born June 9, 1945, in Highland Park, Michigan, to Philip and Louise VanEyck Emrich.
Larry graduated from San Marcos High School in 1963 and graduated from UCSB in 1970 with a Bachelor's Degree in English. He dedicated his life to education and began his teaching career at Fillmore High School where he also coached basketball. He was the principal of Ventura High School beginning in 1994 until his retirement in 2006. Larry was highly thought of by colleagues and students alike, and was known for his positive disposition, good judgement and fairness.
He was a dedicated member of the Ventura Rotary Club where he served on the board of directors and as President in 2009/2010. He was the recipient of numerous Paul Harris Fellowship Awards, given to Rotarians for service above self to the community and to Rotary projects.
Having survived polio as a child, Larry was an advocate for polio eradication and had participated in the National Immunization Day representing Rotary in India on two occasions. He was very proud to have his son Triston accompany him on one of these NID trips to India. On behalf of District 5240, Larry visited many Rotary Clubs promoting participation in Rotary's goal of worldwide polio eradication.
Larry was an avid surfer, a voracious reader and enjoyed playing cribbage.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Karin Emrich of Ventura; son and daughter-in-law, Tristan and Christi Emrich and grandson, Finn of Valencia; brother and sister-in-law, Bud and Mary Emrich of Santa Barbara; as well as nieces, nephews and many other family members.
Memorial contributions may be made in Larry's name to the Julius Guis Memorial Foundation, Ventura Rotary Club, P. O. 2100, Ventura, CA 93002-2100.
We spoke at the Central California Coast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America on the 11th of March! They wanted to hear about what we are doing for the local veterans. We told them about being 100% sustainable... our goal! We will accomplish this through tee shirt sales, donation jars and other fundraising efforts. Thank you all for helping us help our veterans...without your financial support this wouldn't be possible!
On April 1st, we will be presenting a dog to a Vietnam Veteran! This will take place at the Los Osos Rotary meeting in Baywood Park. If you are interested in attending please call 805-710-0332 because advanced reservations are required. This is the first dog being placed through the efforts of the local Rotary clubs (Cayucos, Morro Bay, Los Osos, the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo and Los Olivos Rotary)
NAME THAT DOG! On April 12th we will be at Cayucos Elementary School providing the local school kids with a chance to name our puppy . . . the symbol logo red, white and blue dog. These children will also see the dog perform its service dog duties!
On April 19th from 11am to 1 pm, we will be at Cuesta College to be a part of "the Veterans Community Providers Fair." We will talk to the Veterans and explain what we have to offer.
On April 29th, we take the show on the road! Cambria Rotary has invited us to come do our presentation...it's all about the veterans and the dogs. The only way to really see what these dogs can do for these men and women is to attend one of these performances.
Because of the large audience at Madonna Inn, we have been invited to do more and more of our talks and performances! We are now scheduled to speak at County Mental Health Services. We will be there on May 9th with the local director of Veteran Affairs, Chris Lopez. The location will be the County Government Building. This event will be shown on local television. Great things are happening! Come see for yourselves!
RC of Newbury Park's Treasurer and Youth Director (and District Youth Chair), JOE JOYCE, was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce at their Gala on March 4, 2016. Thanks to RC Newbury Park Past President, Patrick Miller, CEO of CBC Credit Union, for hosting the Rotary table at the gala. Pictured are various members of Group 4 clubs and their significant others, with Joe and his wife Annette to his right in the center.
Rotary, Oppenheimer, Global Partnership for Education, and the World Bank joined together to present an International Women’s Day event featuring two of Rotary’s Women of Action, Marion Bunch and Deepa Willingham. The event illustrated how women use innovative health and education projects to change the world and improve lives. Read Quenton Wodon’s article for a fuller understanding.
What can we learn from inspiring Women of Action?
Posted on March 7, 2016 in Rotary Weekly • By Quentin Wodon
Rotary is about service and fellowship. While some value fellowship the most, others place the emphasis on service as the defining characteristic of their Rotary experience. I tend to belong to the second group. I believe in the importance of thinking through the design of our service projects to ensure they have a lasting and measurable impact on those we are trying to help.
That is why I am excited about an upcoming event for International Women’s Day that will feature two women who have exemplified this in their tireless work on behalf of the less fortunate. Both Marion Bunch and Deepa Willingham have been recognized by Rotary as Women of Action, and for good reason. They will be featured in an event on 8 March from 14:00 to 15:00 Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) at the World Bank. The event will be streamed live, and a recording will be available later.
Marion Bunch is the head of Rotarians for Family Health & AIDS Prevention. Bunch acted on a heart-felt desire to extend health care to hundreds of thousands who lacked it, and has helped organize free Family Health Days in several countries in Africa and now South Asia. The health screenings are both effective and economical.
Deepa Willingham founded PACE Universal out of a desire to empower young women from impoverished areas through education, health, nutrition, and social development. I talked to Willingham recently, and was impressed at her commitment and dedication. When she left her native India to pursue a degree in the United States, she made a vow to return home and effect real change for girls there. She is keeping that vow, having returned to India to manage several different interventions including opening a secondary school in a village that lacked one and helping women earn a decent wage.
The Women’s Day event is an excellent opportunity to hear and learn from these women. Please share this information with Rotary members you know and your friends. Let’s be inspired to do great service through Rotary.
About the author: Quentin Wodon is a lead economist at the World Bank. He holds PhDs in economics and in theology and religious studies, and has taught at universities in Europe and the U.S. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., and is involved in several innovative global grants. He is also author of the Rotarian Economist blog.
Rotarian Inspiring Women of Action - Including 5240's Own PDG Deepa Willingham
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo is proud to announce that they’ll be adding a new category to their scholarship awards this year. $5,000 will be awarded to a student who is the first in their family to attend a four-year college.
This scholarship will be part of the $39,000 the club has set aside for scholarships in 2015-16. In addition to general academic and vocational scholarships for high school and college students, the club also awards the Billie Watson Memorial Music Scholarship, the James W. Braebeck Agricultural Scholarship, the Rizzoli Scholarship (for auto mechanics), and several scholarships for students attending continuation school and those leaving the foster-care program.
Winners in the 2014-15 Rotary year include (in alphabetical order): Andrea Albarran, Mia Alexander, Joshua Barnhart, Keaton Burcheri, David Callahan , Ruby Callahan, Kevin Conroy, Nicholas D’Acri, Felicia Gonzalez, Troy Hanson, Daniel Herrera , Will Kraemer, Jennifer Luck, Kelly McGuire, Bailey Maher, Avery Martin, Malea Martin, Lesly Martinez, Deep Mistry, Mauria Nakamura, Trevor Porter, Shelby Thomas, Sam Thompson, Jonathan Triguero.
For more information, contact Jim Salio, jsalio@msn.com.
New First-in-Family Scholarship Announced by the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo
On Saturday, March 19th, District 5240 held the first ever Rotaract Retreat in San Luis Obispo. Representatives from many Rotaract Clubs in the District gathered to discuss the strengths and challenges that each club is facing. Specific goals were to find ways to 1) foster communication and collaboration and 2) to identify ways the District can help support each Rotaract club. The day was spent brainstorming, sharing ideas and ultimately setting the path for the remainder of this year as well as the upcoming 2016-17 Rotary year with the following people running the ship: District Rotaract Representative, Madelyn Stringham, District Rotaract Chair, MacKenzie West, and MacKenzenzie’s successor, Ben Wilson. Rotaract Clubs in attendance at the event were Santa Maria Valley, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tehachapi and Conejo Valley. The event was sponsored by District 5240 and supported by the lineup of past, present and future District Governors who were all in attendance: Jim Bell, Nick Frankle, John Weiss, and Sandi Schwartz.
Looking to enhance your club membership experience? Do you want to find opportunities for growth in your club? Club and district leaders now have a set of updated Membership Assessment Tools (formerly Club Assessment Tools) to help them strengthen club membership and add value to your club membership experience, so that more people will join and fewer members will leave.
For your convenience, you can download the entire publication, or just the individual assessments that are most relevant to your club.
The individual assessments, which walk users through evaluation and development of an action plan, include:
Historical trends show that there’s an increase in membership soon after the new year, so this is the perfect time to consider how you welcome new members into your club. Read how one club is using our New Member Welcome Kits to enhance their welcome and orientation.
Our own member of D5240's Polio Plus Committee, Mike McDermott, has passed on to me the very compelling and informative article from The New England Journal of Medicine. Mike's brother is a MD and practices medicine in the state of Maine.
April is a very busy month in our District. We kick-off "PEDAL AGAINST POLIO," a month-long event to raise monies for Polio Plus. Pedal Against Polio is a very adaptive, simple plan that will be implemented in many different ways: stationary bikes in homes and fitness centers and/or actual rides in many cities (5k, 10k, 20k, 30k) around the District. Many clubs have chosen their approach to this very flexible and convenient way to support the eradication of polio. I'm so proud of you for taking on the Pedal Against Polio Challenge during April. A big shout-out to Dan Giordano and Jim Lewis for leading this charge.
With each April comes our District Training Assemblies. Please plan on your "continuing Rotary education" in Oxnard on April 2nd, or in Bakersfield on April 23rd. There are many 'elective' classes being offered this year. Our clubs get better when we get better, it's been said.
Also, in April, it's customary for us to visit our sister districts for their District Conferences. First up is our sister district in South Korea, District 3720. Donna and I will be accompanied by District Governor Nominee John Weiss and Past District Governor Chungsam Doh, our leader, interpreter, as well as the father of this district relationship. We are looking forward to the second week in April in Ulsan and Changwon in the southern portion of the country. This will be the last time we visit District 3720. Rotary in South Korea is growing rapidly and on July 1st, District 3720 is splitting into two Districts giving us two sister District relationships in future years. The last week of the month finds us in Mexico with a fairly large delegation from our District in San Miguel de Allende for District 4160's District Conference. Many local Rotarians are also going along to visit on-going grant projects that so many of our clubs have so generously participated in, and of course to continue the many friendships we have developed over the years.
Pedal Against Polio is a District wide fundraiser to assist with Rotary's goal of eradication of Polio. We are looking to the month of April 2016 to run the event.
Each District Club is encouraged to participate by putting together, in their area, both an outdoor and indoor bike ride.
Each District Club will have the discretion of determining the distances and locations for the outdoor ride. Each District Club will have the discretion of determining the location for the indoor ride.
Many cities in District 5240 have multiple Rotary Clubs and I would encourage these Rotary Clubs to work together to increase participation.
Think of what could be raised in April 2016 in the effort to eradicate Polio if all 74 District 5240 Clubs participated in putting on a Pedal Against Polio event.
For more information, please contact Dan Giordano at dgiordano@bak.rr.com or call 661-834-1065 if you are interested in participating in the Pedal Against Polio April event.
Welcome to March and the beginning of daylight savings time. Be sure to set your clock ahead on Saturday March 12th before going to bed.
One of the tremendous assets we don’t often talk about is the Zone 25/26 website. You can find it at www.zone2526.org. Across the top of the home page are eight drop-down menu choices. I’d like to bring two of them to your attention: Strengthen Clubs and TRF. When you ‘hover’ over Strengthen Clubs, the drop-down menu offers three choices. Please check-out Membership and then Public Image. These two topics apply to every club. Both of these support areas will go a long way in answering your questions and offering the help you need in both areas.
The TRF menu has one drop-down entitled TRF Resources. Within this one drop-down menu you will see eleven conveniently labeled folders filled with every topic you can imagine to strengthen your club’s TRF commitment. There are even videos to use for training and club programs. You will also find global and district grants information to help you. All of this is offered at no cost in order to help each Rotarian become more knowledgeable and, in the process, help their club become a “world-class” club!
Rotary District 5240 has recently lost several esteemed and vibrant members. We are saddened at their passing.
RICHARD A. REGNIER (1931-2016)
Richard Regnier of Oxnard Rotary will be remembered as a gentleman, a scholar, a true renaissance man. He lived by his guiding principles: duty, honor, country and the pursuit of excellence. Dick attended Harvard University, graduated from West Point and was commissioned in 1955 as a pilot in the Air Force. After graduating from Bolt Hall Law School at U.C. Berkeley, he took a position with the Ventura County District Attorney's office and practiced law for 53 years. Dick's three great loves were baseball, dogs and golf. One of his favorite stories, and he was quite a storyteller, was during West Point's exhibition games against the NY Giants, he struck out Willie Mays four times. Perhaps Dick's greatest attribute was his generosity. His favorite motto was "Be kinder than necessary.” With his wife Georgianna, Dick went on NID to India to help eradicate polio. Always generous with his time, Dick touched many lives as a mentor, teacher, role model and friend. As a masterful speaker, he entertained, encouraged, inspired and motivated. He will be remembered for his intelligence, whit, humor, generosity and integrity. Memorial services will be held at Padre Serra, 5205 Upland Rd., Camarillo on Saturday, February 20th at 1:00pm. Condolences can be sent to gregnieresq@earthlink.net
Oxnard Rotary Club President Mark Spellman’s Remembrance:
“We were blessed to know Dick and have the opportunity to learn from his unyielding passion to assist and educate everyone around him. Dick was one of the most attentive people I've ever met. Well-Spoken, eloquent, and an old-fashioned gentlemen; Dick was clear-eyed and focused for every endeavor he tackled. If Dick noticed a fire in your belly for a cause you believed in, he would go out of his to help you keep it lit and add the fuel that was necessary to sustain that feeling. I will sorely miss Dick Regnier, a true Renaissance Man of our times.”
Max Copenhagen, Rotary Club of Camarillo writes:
“Sadly we mourn the loss of Georgie’s husband and our good friend, Dick Regnier, whom we often saw at our club meetings over the years. Dick was a dedicated member of Oxnard Rotary. On several occasions, he was our program speaker, and his presentations were always memorable. Dick was a true gentleman and friend, and we will really miss him.”
EDWARD DAVID “SKIP” FARIA (1/21/1951 - 1/8/2016)
Edward David “Skip” Faria died on Friday, January 8, 2016 at his home in Simi Valley. Skip was born on January 21, 1951 in Los Angeles, California and was known as “Skip” throughout his childhood years.
Skip worked for Golden State Water Company for more than 39 years. He and his first wife, Linda Wegener Faria settled and lived in Simi Valley for more than 20 years. Skip was a past president of Simi Noontime Rotary and was actively involved in the community of Simi Valley. His involvement included the annual fireworks display, pancake breakfasts, and many other fundraising events and charitable causes. Skip served his community with distinction and was acknowledged for his service with numerous awards and recognitions.
Skip loved Corvettes and had his first “Vette” at the age nineteen. Along with his love for Corvettes, Skip also loved the water and became a Master PADI Scuba Instructor in 1986.
Skip leaves behind his daughter, Dana Kristine Faria, 30, and his son, David Edward Faria, 28. He was recently wed to Theresa “Tess” Faria. In addition he leaves behind his sister Valerie Wheeler.
PIERCE TROWBRIDGE WETTER, JR. (12/1/1925 - 1/12/2016)
December 1, 1925 - January 12, 2016 Pierce Trowbridge Wetter, Jr, 87 of Simi Valley, CA passed away from complications resulting from his battle with Parkinson's. Pierce was born in New York City to Pierce Cobb Trowbridge Wetter and Gladys Amy Mock. Pierce was named in honor of an ancestor, William Pierce who owned the barbershop where the Boston Tea Party was planned. Graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, Pierce taught himself electronics and control system theory in the early days of the Aerospace industry. Serving in the Army at White Sands, NM, he loved the friendliness and openness of the people of the West and resolved to come West in time for the California Aerospace boom. Working at Philco in the San Jose area, he met and married Mary Lou Smith on March 22nd, 1959 in Santa Cruz, CA. Pierce and Mary Lou moved to Southern California for a job at a company called Canoga in Canoga Park. They had a son, Pierce III on December 23, 1966. In 1969 with 7 others, Pierce founded Datron Advanced Technologies. Pierce worked there until he retired from his Chief Scientist role at the age of 84, and was beloved at his workplace; it was common for the employees to refer to him as "Uncle Pierce." A lifelong learner, Pierce evaluated people on their capabilities, not their credentials, race or gender. Pierce demonstrated the power of lifelong learning when he was granted patent #6,078,296 at the age of 75. Datron and its subsidiaries continue to employ hundreds of people throughout the Southern California area. Datron has had several CEOs who began their careers working hands-on as technicians, then engineering, then to executive positions, all at Datron. Hands-on experience has paid off; Datron has a reputation for building systems that work reliably in the toughest environments on the planet. Pierce is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Wetter, 79, his sister Billie Alban, 90, his son, Pierce T. Wetter III and his wife Deanna, and six loving nieces and nephews. Services were held Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 10am. Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westlake Village, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd. The family asks that you do something simple and personal to further education. Give a gift card anonymously to the schoolteachers of your family and friends for classroom materials.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 17, 2016
LARRY EMRICH (70)
Larry Emrich, a former principal at Ventura High School, has died. Emrich, 70, died Wednesday afternoon, February 17th at Community Memorial Hospital of leukemia. "He's been the patriarch of our family," his wife, Karin, said Thursday morning. "All the young adults in our family go to him for advice. He was a wonderful listener, insightful. And he had the patience of a saint, really."
Emrich was an assistant principal, then principal at Ventura High before retiring in 2006, said former Superintendent Trudy Tuttle Arriaga.
"He was a stellar principal," Arriaga said. "He cared deeply for students. And he was proud to be a Ventura High School Cougar. He kind of had that Cougar blood in him."
Emrich, who contracted polio as a child and walked with a slight limp, joined a local Rotary Club as an adult. In 2012, he joined the Rotarians on a trip to India where he helped immunize children against polio.
In addition to his wife, Emrich is survived by his son, Tristan; daughter-in-law, Christi; grandson, Finn; brother and many other relatives.
Emrich wished to be cremated. His family is planning a paddle out at Surfers Point in Ventura but has not yet set a date. Instead of flowers, his family asks that people donate to their favorite charity in his memory. By Jean Moore of the Ventura County Star
As we were going to press with the newsletter, we sadly learned about the February 23rd death of Dr. Edward Hager (84), Past Rotarian of the Year, 2009-2010, and member of the Arch Klumph Society. Dr. Ed was a member of the RC of Thousand Oaks. More on Dr. Hager next month.
After you view this video prepared by a talented and dedicated Ventura High School Interact Club, you will see one of the many reasons that future Rotary and world are in good hands.
(Click picture above to watch the video.)
Ventura High School Interact Club - A Video with Pride!
Save the lives of our veterans who suffer from PTSD! 22 veterans are committing suicide a day- that we know of!
WHO WE ARE
The Paws for a Cause Foundation raises funds for the training of service dogs and underwrites the costs of socializing companion dogs for veterans. We are partnered with Woods Humane Society, along with New Life K9s-who are partnered with Bergin University and now California Men's Colony (CMC).
WHO ELSE
On the military side, we work with the Central California Coast Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Vandenberg Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, and the Marine Corp League 680 to find veterans who would benefit from a service or companion dog.
CURRENT EVENTS
A kick-off luncheon for Paws for a Cause- K9s for Warriors (PFAC) will be at noon on March 11th at Madonna Inn. Lunch is $22.00 per person. Limited seating available, reserve a space by March 4. Call 805-710-0332 for more information about Paws for a Cause, or to book a seat for lunch.
For more information, contact Gil Igleheart (Rotary Club of Cayucos Seaside) at gil.igleheart@gmail.com.
When Kay Bliss signed up to take Rick Steves' Best of the Adriatic in 14 Days tour last year, she had no idea how the trip would impact her life. In her words, "my nice relaxing jaunt down the Dalmatian Coast ended up becoming my obsession for the next six months."
In an effort to keep Rotarians informed of the cadre’s activities, we are continuing distribution of Tech Talk, the cadre’s quarterly newsletter, to all district governors. I have attached the latest issue, February 2016, and encourage you to forward Tech Talk to the members of your district, add it to your district’s website, or include it in your district’s newsletter.
If you know of any Rotarians in your district who would make great cadre members, I encourage you to forward them the attached cadre registration form.
I appreciate your assistance in sharing this information with the Rotarians in your district. If you have any questions about the cadre, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christian Pepera
...................................
Rotary Foundation Cadre Specialist | Stewardship | Office of the General Counsel
Want a tip on how to turn more prospective members into actual members? New Jersey Rotarian Michael Bucca says it’s all about getting to know a potential member’s interests, and explaining how your club will help them pursue their passions. This process of personalization is especially attractive to younger members.
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa welcomed LeAnn Rimes to a sellout crowd at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Theater. The Valentines Weekend Event is its annual fundraiser. To begin the event the crowd was presented with a 5-minute video about the great work that Rotary provides both in its communities and abroad.
As pictured, Kyle Thomas (Rotaract SLO President) got to join his mom Melinda Thomas (President SLO de Tolosa) in greeting LeAnn Rimes to their town.
Proceeds of the event funds SLO de Tolosa's charitable efforts whose focus is on Youth Charities.
The Rotary Creates Magic Show, is coming to the Theater on High Street in Moorpark at 7:30 pm on March 19, 2016. The 33rd Annual Rotary Fundraiser will bring the Theater alive with magic featuring World Class Magicians from Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle, including:
Larry Wilson, Emmy Nominated Magician
Arthur Trace, World Class Magician
Funny Eddie Medrano, Magician and former Circus Clown
Shawn McMaster, The Master of Comedy Magic
Paul Dwork, The Magic of Merlin
This will be Paul Dwork’s 33rd year producing the charitable event. With all these excellent magicians performing in one show, their five different disciplines of magic will truly make this an amazing evening and a wonderful show for children of all ages.
Tickets are available for $35 at Merlin's Magic, 699 Mobil Ave., Camarillo, or call 805-388-7669, or email paul@magicmagicmagic.com. Seating is limited. Proceeds will benefit local charities thru the Camarillo Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
For more information, contact Max Copenhagen at mcsmok59@hotmail.com or 805-312-5506.
Please come for ALL or PART of a weekend of fun, food, melodrama and collegiate athletics all supporting the eradication of polio. Click on the picture below for a full sized version of the flyer.
Join the Fun to End Polio Now
Feb 25th - Farmer's Market - Meet Lady Mustangs
Feb 26th - Oceano Melodrama
Feb 27th - Cal Poly Lady Mustangs play UCSB
(Click on picture above for a larger version of the flyer that you can pass around to your club members.)
Polio Plus Weekend in San Luis Obispo - February 25, 26 and 27
We are excited to announce that the 2017 Rotary Peace Fellowship is now available online! We encourage you to promote the fellowship and have your district endorse qualified applicants who are dedicated to promoting peace.
Please go to our website to review the fellowship details, application process, animation video, and find additional resources for applicants and Rotarians.
Important reminders about the peace fellowship:
Districts are not responsible for funding applicants. Your district can endorse as many candidates as deemed qualified at no cost.
31 May 2016 District Deadline - Applications should be sent to DG Jim (jimbelldg1516@gmail.com)
a. Applicants must submit their application to the district by 31 May to seek endorsement.
b. Districts must interview and submit their endorsement forms to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July 2016.
c. Applicants can choose to apply online or with the PDF application. Both can be located on the website.
Linked to this email are extra resources to help recruit applicants, better understand the application process, and conduct interviews for applicants you are interested in endorsing.
We thank you for your dedication and support to the Rotary Peace Centers and the Rotary Peace Fellowship. By working together to recruit and select highly qualified candidates for the 2017 Rotary Peace Fellowship, we continue to build peace and work towards conflict prevention and resolution in our world.
Thank you to all members of Team Tony for your prayers and encouraging words! In less than 24 hours from now, Tony Falato will receive the gift of life from fellow Rotarian Rocky Rhodes, and the transplant process will begin!! We ask for your continued prayers and positive thoughts for Tony and our donor Rocky throughout the day tomorrow and in the coming weeks as they begin the recovery process. We will post updates on the Team Tony page as we are able. We thank for so much love and support through this process!!
Look at these smiles with their signed hospital gowns from the Rotary Club of Simi Valley! It says it all! The person giving the gift of life and the person receiving the gift of life. Praying for the perfect outcome today!! We love you Tony Falato and Rocky Rhodes!!
The day after surgery both Tony and Rocky are resting and recovering. Your continued prayers are appreciated! Thank you to all of you for your comments, prayers, and show of amazing support and love!!
The Four Way Test - "Will It Be Beneficial To All Concerned" - You betcha!!
Legend is an average-looking Labrador retriever with an extraordinary job. He is a therapy dog used to comfort court witnesses and victims, including devastated children, as they recall traumatic events.
On a recent assignment, Legend sat in the witness box of a Bakersfield, Ca. courtroom, his nose in the lap of a child as she explained how her stepfather shot her mother in the head. The child was understandably nervous; she had not seen her stepfather since the night of the shooting. Legend spent over an hour with the child on the stand as she described details surrounding that horrific event.
Deputy District Attorney Kenneth Green, a criminal prosecutor and Legend’s owner, works to make neighborhoods safer by keeping criminals off the street. Sometimes this requires the testimony of children. Child witnesses are glad to have a gentle, intuitive pooch stay near during a difficult time. For these children, Legend is a hero. A hero that brings relief and healing for vulnerable children who have undergone experiences so appalling they should never have lived through them, let alone be asked to explain them again to a jury. Legend’s comfort for children comes at a critical time. This calm creature soothes children in the witness box as they recount memories of rape, shootings and assault. To prevent swaying jurors’ opinions of the witness or their testimony, Legend is trained to stay hidden, and usually does.
Legend has always had a tender soul. Green initially took Legend as a puppy to train him as a guide dog. But when Legend, raised by Green’s family in a rural setting, failed a stressful performance examination on a busy Los Angeles street, a new purpose at court emerged. Legend was already a beloved court visitor when he was rejected as a guide dog – he spent days lying around Green’s office. Legend had already been present for most of Green’s time working with child molestation victims and was a natural fit because his calm nature had a soothing effect on children.
Months later, after many tests and a performance exam, Legend was certified as a comfort dog. Now, Green brings Legend to work with him almost every day. For his courthouse job, Legend was taught to take commands from far away without making eye contact with the handler, maintain positions for long periods of time and respond to witnesses’ emotional needs. Legend has a knack for these things. And it is for these reasons and more, that Rotarian John Fallgatter of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield West made Legend a RI Paul Harris Fellow.
Legend’s popularity has earned him his own Facebook page. Green and his wife are preparing to add another trainer and more dogs to the witness comfort program. Once the training is formalized, Green plans to expand the program to provide nuzzling solace for more child witnesses.
*Submitted by Rotarian Jacquelyn S. Jans as reported by Bakersfield Life Magazine, July 2015.
** Photos include Legend receiving his PH certificate, pin and medallion (which personally belonged to John Fallgatter when he was made a PH); along with RC of West President Roger Griess, Rotarian Jacquelyn S. Jans, Deputy Dist. Attorney Ken Green, Faith Green and Rotarian John Fallgatter.
Hear how a 33 member Rotary club in Worcester, Massachusetts brought in 82 members the year Satya Mitra was president. He now sits on the RI Membership Committee and speaks to clubs all over the world. We are delighted he will be in our area the first week of March.
Come hear Satya on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at noon at the RC of Thousand Oaks meeting, Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks. You’ll be glad you did.
We would like to take this opportunity as the new year starts, to remind you about Rotary Global Rewards, our member benefit program featuring special offers that allow you to do a lot more for a lot less—no matter what you’re doing.
Whether you’re working on your club’s community projects, enjoying a night out with friends or sharing your Rotary story with someone new, you can take advantage of discounts and special offers on airfare, hotels, vehicle rentals, and entertainment.
Would you like to offer discounts from your business to other Rotarians? Help build the program by adding special offers from your own company to the growing portfolio of Rotary Global Rewards. To learn more, visit Rotary.org/GlobalRewards.
Please share this exciting news with your members. You’ll find promotional tools on the Rotary Global Rewards website that will help you introduce your Rotarian friends to the program.
I’m pleased to report that National Geographic Online posted an article today about the future of polio eradication. The article heavily quotes our very own, Dr. Carol Pandak and highlights Rotary’s role in the fight against polio.
National Geographic Magazine Online gets 2,517,119 unique visitors to the site each month and this story is a wonderful way to reinforce Rotary’s amazing work to its readers.
I’ve posted the link and story below my signature, highlighting all of Dr. Pandak’s quotes.
Chanele Williams
Media Relations Specialist | Public Relations Group
Pedal Against Polio is a District wide fundraiser to assist with Rotary’s goal of eradicating Polio. We are looking to the month of April, 2016 to run the event.
Each District Club is encouraged to participate by putting together, in their area, both an outdoor and indoor bike ride.
Each District Club will have the discretion of determining the distances and locations for the outdoor ride. Each District Club will have the discretion of determining the location for the indoor ride.
Many cities in District 5240 have multiple Rotary Clubs and I would encourage these Rotary Clubs to work together to increase participation.
Think of what could be raised in April of 2016 in the effort to eradicate Polio if all 73 District 5240 Clubs participated in putting on a Pedal Against Polio event.
For more information please contact me, Dan Giordano at dgiordano@bak.rr.com or call 661-834-1065 if you are interested in participating in the Pedal Against Polio April event.
(On January 13th), a horrific bomb attack in Quetta, Pakistan, took the lives of 15 security officers and civilians outside a polio immunization center.
Unfortunately, we know that violent opposition to the brave work of polio health workers is not uncommon.
The Taliban and other extremists have waged a brutal campaign against vaccination teams, resulting in the deaths of more than 65 health workers and their supporters in Pakistan in the past two years. A local polio coordinator was killed by gunmen in the Swabi district of Pakistan in November.
This is why the commitment made following the blast by the police authorities in Balochistan, and the national government, to redouble their support of the polio eradication effort is an inspiration to everyone as we move forward past this sad day.
At Rotary, we must continue to demonstrate our commitment to ending polio in honor of those who risk their lives to reach every child with the vaccine. Vast improvements have been seen in Pakistan, with more than 80% fewer cases in the country than in 2014.
And our (post-blast) release of $35 million in grants for polio signals our determination to finish the job to which thousands of courageous individuals have committed themselves, and never forget the sacrifices made by those who were lost in attacks.
(January 13th was) not without a ray of hope. It (was) also the fifth anniversary of no new polio cases in India. This reminder of what can be achieved should give us strength to persevere, and bolster our resilience in the face of terror.
Last month I made the comment that our District is filled with "doers". That goes for the clubs too. We just completed our Million Dollar Brunch at Cal Lutheran University which included a presentation from The Rotary Foundation for awards earned for outstanding club performance during 2014-15. Our District had clubs recognized for excellence in three areas. I am so very impressed with these clubs' performances, I wanted to share those awards here with all of you:
Every Rotarian Every Year Award
This banner is awarded to clubs achieving a minimum of $100 per capita average with every active member personally contributing some amount to the Annual Fund during the Rotary year. I am very pleased to recognize those EREY clubs just awarded at the Million Dollar Brunch:
Cambria, Carpinteria Morning, China Lake, Conejo Valley, Fillmore, Goleta Noontime, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Daybreak, Santa Maria, Santa Maria Breakfast, Simi Sunrise, Simi Sunset, Simi Valley, Ventura, Ventura East, Ventura South
100% Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member Club Award
This banner is awarded to clubs with every active member of the club personally contributing $100 or more to the Annual Fund during the Rotary year. Here are the clubs in our District recognized for this achievement:
Carpinteria Morning, Lompoc, Paso Robles Sunrise, Santa Maria Breakfast, Simi Sunrise, Ventura
Top Three Highest Per Capita Annual Giving Clubs (in our District)
Simi Sunset $628.18
Paso Robles Sunrise $597.22
Thousand Oaks $385.34
Finally, Valentine's Day is just around the corner and falls this year on a Sunday. Please take time to remember all the "sweeties" in your life.
Congratulations to Sheri Horn-Bunk member and Past President (2014-15) of Bakersfield North Rotary Club . . . 5240 is proud of you! The following was taken from the January 19, 2016 blog written by Richard Beene, Bakersfield Californian president and CEO:
“It was good to hear that the Taft Chamber of Commerce is recognizing Sheri Horn-Bunk as its Woman of the Year for 2016. The ever-energetic Horn-Bunk is director of the Taft College Foundation and is one of the brains behind the successful West Kern Petroleum Summit that is held on the college campus.”
Please read the message below from RI President K.R. Ravindran. 8000 Rotarians are able to attend mass with Pope Francis at the April 30 event sponsored by Rotary District 2080 and the Vatican.
My Dear Friends,
I am pleased to bring you the good news that His Holiness Pope Francis will officiate at a Mass to Rotarians at St. Peter’s Square, Rome, on 30 April. We will have 8,000 seats reserved for Rotarians, as well as friends and family.
It is my great pleasure to invite you to join me in Italy on this day as we celebrate the Jubilee of Rotarians, a special event hosted by Rotary District 2080 and the Vatican.
In addition, local Rotarians will host special celebratory dinners and plan a service project for attendees.
I believe this event is a tremendous honor that will raise Rotary’s status across so much of the world, and it should bring us all great happiness to be a part of it, regardless of our own religions and beliefs.
For more information, please visit the Jubilee of Rotarians website, which has been provided by our friends in District 2080. Updates and additional information will be available leading up to the event. Registration will open 18 January. I ask that you also include mention of this event in your governor’s monthly letter.
This Jubilee, as established by Pope Francis, is known as the Holy Year of Mercy. It marks the time of forgiveness and reconciliation, of solidarity, hope, and justice. It is a commitment to serve with joy and in peace across the world.
As you work hard to Be a Gift to the World, I do hope you will make the effort to be in Rome with as many members of your district as possible.
Best regards
K.R. Ravindran
Rotary International President, 2015-16
Click the Read More link to learn more about the History of Rotary District 2080 Italy.
I am excited about the upcoming Rotary World Peace Conference 2016 that will be taking place January 15-16, 2016. It is the first of R.I. President Ravi Ravindran's 5 Presidential Conferences. This is the only one focused on PEACE and the only one scheduled to be held in the Western Hemisphere. His remaining conferences will be held in Cannes, France; Cape Town, South Africa; Kolkata, India and Pasay City, Manila, Philippines.
Our conference will provide attendees the opportunity to hear over 140 experts within the 13 TRACKS provided over the two days. The TRACKS include: Creating Peace Globally; Personal Issues; School Issues; Community/Youth; Community/Adult & Veterans; Workplace Issues; International Issues; Civil Rights; Diplomacy/War; Religion; Media/TV & Radio; Intl' Commerce; and Rotary's Part in the World.
Two Special Breakout Sessions will be provided in light of the recent global issues that have surfaced: One on the topic of THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS and the other on GLOBAL TERRORISM.
The OFFICIAL PEACE CONFERENCE PROGRAM is being developed by PDG Rich Dell'Acqua. Ads are being sold so that we may cover the cost to produce it. Won't you please consider supporting it? The printed program will be 5.5"x8.5". The costs of the ads are as follows:
A Full Page Ad is priced at $1,000; A One-Half Page Ad is priced at $500; A One-Quarter Page Ad is priced at $250; A One-Eight Page Ad (Business Card size) is priced at $125.
Make checks payable to District 5330 Rotary Peace Conference and mail to: W.R. Chase, PDG, 2075 S. Caliente Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92264.
(Note: E-mail your camera-ready artwork/business card to: frndshp97@aol.com)
We are also providing a House of Friendship for NGOs and For-Profit organizations to market their programs. You may find additional information about the booth fees on our website at: www.peaceconference2016.org. You may also register there for the conference.
Our KEYNOTE SPEAKERS include: Sharon Stone, Actress/Activist; Steve Killilea, Designer of the Global Terrorism Index; Bazzel Baz, CEO of the Association for the Recovery of Children; Claes Nobel, Economist and Great Grand Nephew of Albert Nobel; Sal Kahn, Founder of the Kahn Academy; Father Greg Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Industries; Gilliam Sorrenson, Chair, United Nations Foundation; Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Head of the Peace Corps; Hideko Tamura, a Hiroshima survivor; Colin Bruce, Chmn. World Bank; Ambassador (Ret) Mary Peters, CEO of the Carter Center; Barbara Winton, daughter of Sir Nicholas Winton; and Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger, Peace Activist, among a couple of suprises!
There will be a conference for Interactors taking place simultaneously at the Radisson Hotel all day Saturday, the 16th. We encourage all clubs to register their Interact students ASAP, and encourage their Rotaractors to register and attend as well!
We have also scheduled an amazing concert to be held on Saturday evening that will feature the world-renown 14-Piece Russian Violin Ensemble!
On Wednesday, December 16th, Bakersfield Breakfast Rotarian "Elves" appeared at the Bakersfield City School District's SEAL Center and threw a wonderful Christmas party for the 57 students who attend SEAL.
SEAL (Social, Emotional, Academic Learning) Center accepts the most behaviorally challenged students of the District. SEAL students have exhausted every other option available to help them overcome and manage their behavioral issues. In addition to regular academic learning, SEAL teaches the students social and emotional skills.
Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary began its relationship with SEAL 6 years ago by providing them with Halloween Costumes. Since that small beginning, Breakfast Rotary has provided a printer, 2,000 books for the library, school supplies for each student at the beginning of the past four school years, new shoes, field trips, dictionaries, end of the year party, and a Christmas celebration.
This year's Christmas party included hot cocoa and cookies, songs, a story, a picture with Santa and the highlight, Santa (aka, Stan Ferguson) distributing a gift to each child. There was a big smile on every child's face and on every Rotarian Elf's face, and all Rotarian hearts were melted.
Denise Haynes, Community Service Director & President-Elect Nominee
The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisors provides assistance and technical expertise to Rotarians planning and implementing projects, ensures the proper stewardship of Foundation grand funds, and assists Foundation trustees in the funding process. The cadre is composed of volunteer Rotarians from around the world who are familiar with the grant program and who also have technical and professional expertise in one or more of Rotary's six areas of focus.
Some of you can give to The Rotary Foundation by using your expertise as a Cadre member. Cadre members say that this is a very satisfying experience. There is a need for additional folks with very specific skills. For more information about the Cadre and how to become a member, visit www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/cadre-technical-advisers.
The Rotary Foundation - Cadre of Technical Advisors
Rotary's Young Professionals Campaign is a unique opportunity for our organization to develop innovative strategies to attract and engage young professionals and to equip and empower Rotary clubs to put those strategies into action. Through research, social media outreach, and the test of new creative concepts, Rotary is learning more about how young professionals view Rotary, why they volunteer, and how they make meaningful connections with other leaders. This campaign was made possible by a generous donation from a Major Donor. Click read more to read a letter that contains further information and the plan to send email in January to District and Club leaders.
The Rotaract Presidents of District 5240 are meeting for the first ever President's Retreat Saturday, March 19, 2016 in San Luis Obispo, CA. All Rotaract clubs in the district will be represented by either the current club president or a proxy to begin forming the Rotaract District Counsel led by the District Rotaract Chair, and District Rotaract Representative.
During this meeting, Rotaractors will discuss concerns and ideas for further involvement with Rotaract Clubs from a district level. Members will also talk over training opportunities, recruitment strategies, and how to transition Rotaract members to a sponsoring Rotary Club.
Now more than ever, District 5240 is putting together a plan to "bridge the gap" between our youth programs and Rotarians to continue the legacy of Rotary International.
In honor of Foundation Month, I wanted to share an interesting article, "How to Measure the Impact of Your Charitable Donations" from the November 2015 issue of Kiplinger magazine. Sandra Block writes about applying "the same due diligence to giving as you would do investing." She states that "Supporters of effective altruism tend to favor... charities that focus on the developing world because small amounts of money can make a huge difference in the lives of people who may live on less than $2 a day."
Year 2015 has been a very eventful year on the world stage. Rotary continues to reach out and make a difference in the lives of many who are on this "stage". Our District is filled with the "doers" who continually make good things happen. Donna and I look forward to the last half of this Rotary year, and we wish the best that life has to offer for you and your families.
International Service – "Experience of a Lifetime"
This year we have been invited by District Governor Ramon Medellin of District 4160 to visit his district and clubs following their District Conference in beautiful San Miguel de Allende, GTO. The dates of the Conference are April 29-30, which we are also invited to (information and cost will be available soon), with the Safari planned from Sunday the 1st and returning home on the 4th of May.
The Safari is sponsored by the Rotary clubs of District 4160. They will home host you (with hotels as an option at your expense), feed you and introduce you to their members and families. You will be able to see their local attractions and points of interests, community projects, and possibly do some hands-on projects while there. The objective of the Safari is to share the Rotary experience, create partnerships and lifetime friendships with these clubs.
It is District Governor Jim Bell and my pleasure to announce the appointment of Joe Joyce to the vacant position of Director of Youth Service 2015-16. Joe is actively involved with the Interact and Rotaract Clubs in his area. He has been a member of Rotary since 2003 and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Newbury Park. Welcome Joe!
The Harbor Restaurant - 210 Stearns Wharf - Santa Barbara, CA 93101
5:00pm - 8:30pm (dinner and live auction)
8:30pm - 10:00pm (band entertainment)
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Montecito
Benefit for the Mumosho Water Project
Honoring Larry Hammett
Dress Attire: Dressy Casual
Valet provided to attendees
Tickets $125 before January 1st, $150 starting January 1st.
Ticket holders get a lobster dinner, complimentary beer & wine, program provided by the Rotary Club of Montecito and live entertainment.
Enjoy a New England-style lobster boil, drinks, entertainment and a live auction with your friends and family! Our fundraiser will benefit the Mumosho Water Project, which will bring fresh, accessible water to the villages around E. Congo. We will also be honoring Larry Hammett, a long-time Rotarian who has sadly passed. Join us for a night of fun, great food and a good cause. Tickets are available at: rotarylobsterboil.eventbrite.com
Hope Tichaenzana Chichaya training citizens of South Sudan in non-violent protection
We are pleased to confirm that one of the candidates who was endorsed by DG Jim Bell on behalf of D5240 and E-Club of One World for the Rotary Peace Fellowship was successful in his bid to study at the Rotary Peace Centre at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand in June 2016.
Hope Tichaenzana Chichaya is very excited and grateful to Rotary for the opportunity of the Fellowship and will continue the connection with the E-Club of One World and D5240 throughout the course and beyond.
Hope exemplifies both the organization he works for in South Sudan; the Non Violent Peaceforce (NP) and the Rotary Peace Fellowship and we can be proud of our efforts in securing this opportunity for him to further his knowledge and skills in working for peace.
Hope is part of a team of peacekeepers operating in South Sudan, the world's youngest country, which is continuing to struggle with conflict and ethnic tensions and the aftermath of decades of civil war with the North. It is estimated that tens of thousands have died and 2.2 million have been displaced.
"The purpose of unarmed civilian peacekeeping (UCP) is to create a safer environment...for civilians to address their own needs, solve their own conflicts, and protect vulnerable individuals and populations," says Tiffany Easthom, the organization's director in South Sudan. By comparison, she says, traditional peacekeeping uses armed military actors and the threat of force as a deterrent to "keep the peace". "...Non Violent Peaceforce's extensive community reach is particularly important since the 14,400-strong UN mission in South Sudan has had no static presence in the opposition-held territories [and has]...largely constrained its protection presence to the protection of civilian sites on United Nation's bases."
Applications for the Rotary Peace Fellowship program will be available on the Rotary.org website in December and must be received by the Rotary Peace Center coordinators at Rotary International by July 1, 2016. Non lineal relatives of Rotarians who meet the qualifications are eligible to apply for this prestigious and highly competitive peace studies program.
Ojai is a very special place, because the human spirit is evident in much that we do. Below is the invocation given by Rotary member Rob Long at Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Rotary Club of Ojai West meeting. I am so proud to call Ojai home and be a member of Rotary.
— PDG Jack McClenahan, Rotary Club of Ojai West
Even as the black pall descends on the City of Light, let us, as Rotarians, resist the urge to gnash our teeth and join in the clamor for revenge. Instead, let us draw on our celebration of the end of polio to remind us what we, united in Rotary, are capable of accomplishing.
Think of terror as another unthinking, unfeeling disease, randomly killing and maiming innocent victims around the world, just like the scourge that was polio. Let us be resolute that, just as we did in ridding the world of polio, Rotary can make a difference and help stamp out terror, too.
From small community projects, like our own Club's project to benefit seniors in need, to Rotary International's Areas of Focus which include not only promoting peace in general, but specifically include a global mission to educate even the poorest teenage girl, without regard to what religion she was born into, immunizing her baby, and bringing clean water to her village in the remotest corner of Earth, Rotary is a vaccine against terror.
Thanks to Polio Plus NID's over the past 30 years, Rotary already has "boots on the ground," silently crossing political boundaries without headlines, knocking on every door until it is opened to us to deliver our new "medicine:" replacing ignorance with knowledge, fear with trust and hatred with love.
Though as individuals we are overwhelmed at such a challenge, by linking hands with our fellow Rotarians around the world, we will continue to be a beacon, shining a light that pierces the darkness, bringing hope where there is despair, until terror, like polio, becomes a thing of the past.
District Governor Jim Bell is pleased to confirm the District Nominating Committee selection of Sandra K. "Sandi" Schwartz as District Governor Nominee Designate who will serve as District Governor in Rotary year 2018-19.
Our District's PolioPlus Fundraiser for November through January is a beautiful Rotarian World Cookbook. The Cookbook includes mouth-watering recipes from all over the world...each created by fellow Rotarians.
These cookbooks will make wonderful gifts for family and friends and might even nudge those non-cooking Rotarians among us into the kitchen.
This project is designed to raise money for PolioPlus and also to help all of us keep our eyes on Rotary's #1 Goal - Polio eradication.
Here is what I would like to have your clubs consider. Order a case of 36 books at $11 a book, total cost per case is $390, this covers the cost of shipping the books. Sell them to your club members for $15 to $20. The profit raised will go to Polio eradication. If we have 50 cases ordered by the District the cost will only be $370 for the 36 cookbooks.
If you are interested in participating in this project, please send your order requets to:
James "Jim" Lewis
D5240 PolioPlus Committee Chair
2303 Teasley Street
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Please make out your check to D5240 Rotarian Polio Cookbook. I will send them to our District Treasurer.
Each week, TV Santa Barbara airs a half hour show named "Rotary Serving Our Community". The show focuses on different Rotary events, projects and clubs in the greater Santa Barbara area. The show is produced and hosted by Rotarian Wade Nomura.
"Rotary has brought me so many opportunities and connections in my life, and I wanted to share with the audience what Rotary does" says Wade. "I wanted this show to highlight to our community what Rotary is doing, and bring awareness to the efforts and changes Rotary is making in our community."
Production of the Rotary show first aired in August with a show featuring "Unite-to-Light", a solar powered light developed at UCSB and distributed worldwide by a nonprofit organization. Rotary has distributed nearly 12,000 of these lights. There have been other partnerships between the Rotary clubs and other organizations that have been featured, such as the local Boys and Girls clubs, that have Executive Directors that are Rotarians, CASA and CADA partnerships, and local City governments and elected officials that are Rotarians. There have been shows featuring the Rotary Rose Parade Float, the Rotary International World Peace Conference, water projects in Honduras from a Rotary Foundation Cadre's point of view, the $1 million playground initiated by the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, and other featured projects done by the local clubs.
"We hope this project will expand to other communities. Our plans are to expand outward in covering other clubs in our Rotary District this year, then reach out beyond our District into other areas of Southern California. Ideally, it would be our vision to have Rotary shows in all of our communities to highlight what Rotary is doing in these communities", says Wade Nomura. "Want to know what Rotary is and does? Watch our show."
Every three years Rotary International holds the Council on Legislation, which is the only time the Council meets to change or make recommendations for the changes in our Rotary International Constitution and By-Laws through resolutions and enactments.
Each district in Rotary International selects a representative to attend the Council on Legislation and vote/act on each and every resolution and enactment. I was selected by our District through a vote during our District Business meeting at the 2012 District Conference on the Queen Mary by a majority vote, and will be your representative for the upcoming Council on Legislation to be held in Evanston on April 10-15, 2016.
I would like to do the best I can to represent our clubs in making sound decisions that will benefit Rotary, our members, our project beneficiaries and the monies we generate. Please look over the accompanying Council on Legislation document to see if any of the action items are of interest or concern to you, and let me know your opinion. The first few pages list the enactments in numerical order so you can look at just those that are of interest to you.
It is important to realize that these enactments are initiated from clubs (in most part) from all over the world, and are not policies being "suggested" by our Rotary leaders. The Council on Legislation is in place to make certain decisions on our governing documents and are made by Rotarians and not just the Rotary International leadership.
I look forward to representing you in Evanston in April and will update you upon my return.
As I tour our clubs in District 5240, I am very excited about the renewed emphasis in our very first Avenue of Service - VOCATIONAL SERVICE. This is completely in line with Rotary International's desire to reignite an interest in this service area in all clubs.
Here is a quick tip on how you can help your club re-energize Vocational Service and also help those prospective Rotarians learn more about your members when they visit. Simply do this: When a member addresses the President in a meeting, have them begin with: Their Name; Their Vocation. It would sound like this: "President Gary, this is Jim Bell, Wells Fargo Bank..."
That's it! Simple. Easy to do. At no cost! Over time as your members learn to do this, remember, it's to help prospective members become acquainted with your members, and to encourage all your members to benefit from each other when they do business. After all, who better to do business with than someone you know and who cares about you from your Rotary Family?
District Governor Jim Bell is pleased to confirm the District Nominating Committee selection of Sandra K. "Sandi" Schwartz as District Governor Nominee Designate who will serve as District Governor in Rotary year 2018-19.
Sandi has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield East (BERC) since 1994 and feels fortuante to have had the mentorship of PDG Chungsam Doh (BERC President that year). Her decision to be a Rotarian was solidified during a National Immunization Day trip to India in 2004 led by PDG Anil Garg and a "rat pack" of attendees including PDG's Arnie Dowdy, Sally Adelblue, Deepa Willingham and Rotarian Jim Lewis. She served her club as Director of The Rotary Foundation, Sergeant at Arms, editor/publisher of "The RotoNews", Club Service Director, Blood Bank Chair, RYLA Coordinator, and twice co-chaired her club's annual fundraiser Vino Amore. Bakersfield East named her Rotarian of the Year in 2009.
When she was Club president in 2013-14, her club grew by a net seven members, earned the RI Presidential Citation, District Gold Club Status Award and "Best Medium Size Club for Vocational Service". BERC became an EREY club that year with per capita giving of $177. Individually, she received the RI Avenue of Service Citation in 2013 and the District 5240 Jock McKenzie Leadership Award in 2014.
At the District level, Sandi has served on the Polio Plus Committee, has been a RYLA counselor/nurse, 2014 STEPS committee member, served on the District Conference Planning Committee 2015, and is currently Chief of Staff for Governor Jim Bell.
Professionally Sandi is a Registered Nurse of 43 years with the last 25 years in the fields of Home Health and Hospice. She and her husband Richard are recently retired, but both remain very active in the Bakersfield community. Collectively they have 7 children, both biologic and "acquired", and are proud grandparents of 9. Sandi and Richard have a Golden Retriever "Sam" and a Beagle "Sophie". Sandi's hobbies include hiking, cooking, crochet, all things sports, and being a Gramma.
They are Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors; Sandi is a Paul Harris Society member.
About her goals, Sandi says, "We should continue expanding the use of social media to 'Celebrate Rotary' and our Club achievements. I want communities to know what Rotary is, to be thankful Rotary is there and subsequently want to be involved."
The Rotary Club of Camarillo was chartered 60 years ago. It all began in 1955, when Camarillo was just a small town. A group of prominent local business and professional leaders decided to start a Rotary Club.
The first meeting was held in the old community center on Ventura Boulevard. Sponsored by Oxnard Rotary, the main club in the area in 1955, Camarillo Rotary then sponsored a club in Thousand Oaks in 1958 and Camarillo Sunrise Rotary in 1985. In 1966, an Interact Club was established at Adolfo Camarillo High School and in 2005 a Rotaract Club was formed at California State University Channel Islands, giving students an opportunity to organize and carry out service projects.
Camarillo Rotary has been good for the community. The main fundraiser is a golf tournament each summer for Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families that has netted over $1.5 million in donations. The club also organizes a community dinner, Viva la Comida, each spring, serving over 35,000 meals since 1971. In addition to supporting Casa Pacifica, the Camarillo Rotary Foundation has given over $160,000 to other charities, causes and non-profit programs in the past 5 years, including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and scholarships.
The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight, better known as Twilight Rotary, the home club of District Governor (and Charter member) Jim Bell, held a dedication ceremony to honor the donation of 10 beautiful benches to the Kern County Museum on October 25, 2015. The project was the brainchild of Past Twilight President Sandy Foster. Special thanks to Twilight Rotarian Michael Foster and to all the donors who helped make the project a great success.
Bakersfield Twilight, the newest club in Bakersfield, may be new but it's full of vibrant Rotarians who are not new to Rotary. Chartered in 2009, the club has achieved 100% Paul Harris Fellow standing, and is the only evening club in Kern County. Make up or simply drop by the Bell Tower Club to enjoy a Twilight meeting Wednesdays at 6pm.
Let's celebrate #GivingTuesday! A Rotary District with the highest number of donors who contribute to The Rotary Foundation online on December 1, 2015 may receive a visit from TRF Trustee Chairman Ray Klinginsmith.
#GivingTuesday is an online movement for charities and individuals to come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. Although you give to your communities and our Foundation year round, #GivingTuesday is a great chance to reach new supporters by leveraging social media and the momentum of Foundation Month in November.
On December 1, 2015 celebrate giving and giving back with Rotary by participating in #GivingTuesday. Last year, our Foundation raised over $100,000 on #GivingTuesday to fund sustainable, life-changing projects. With your support on December 1st, we can transform even more lives this year.
November is Foundation month, the District Foundation team is available to come to your club to give you updates on the Foundation worldwide and in District 5240.
The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund helps Rotarians do good in their communities and around the world. On November 3rd from 10:00-11:00 CST, join Rotary volunteers and staff for an update on the Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) campaign. During this webinar, you will also:
Hear from PDG Sandra Schley (Rotary Club of Edina, Minnesota, USA) about why she supports the Annual Fund and how she encourages others to support it.
Learn tips from PDG Eric Wood (Rotary Club of Pine Rivers Daybreak, Queensland, Australia) for increasing giving in your club or district.
Our Rotary House Retreat has now launched our Crowdfunding campaign to raise funds outside of local Rotary Clubs to fund partial scholarships for First Responders to benefit from the assistance provided by our week-long retreat at Rankin Ranch. Click here for a PDF with details.
We at West are hopeful that anyone else interested may care to join our campaign website. At the District level, DG Jim Bell has been greatly helpful in directing CLUB donations for our Rotary House Retreat operations – but the crowdfunding is intended to be for individual Rotarians to support individual First Responders, as explained in the website.
Traditionally November is Rotary Foundation Month. The Rotary Foundation leads the charge in worldwide campaigns like End Polio Now and promoting Peace. And what better timing than to mention both of these now. Re: Polio — It looks like we will end this year with less than 70 cases of Polio in the world narrowed down to only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
This time last year we had 242 cases in the world. John Hewko, our General Secretary, just announced that Rotary will increase its polio funding by an additional $40.4 million to "slam the door" as he says on polio forever. Since 1979, Rotary has contributed $1.5 billion to polio eradication.
Now re: PEACE — January 15 & 16, 2016 brings us the Rotary World Peace Conference right here in our own backyard, at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. This is one of six world-wide events this year, and the only one in the United States, endorsed by Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran. This event will have more than 100 guest speakers for you to choose from. Simply put, if they are recognized as a leader in Peace, have written or spoken about Peace around the world, they will be at this event. Learn more about this amazing conference and register here: www.PeaceConference2016.org.
P.S. — We need to help Bakersfield Rotaract "empty their closet" of these one of a kind, memorable, commemorative", District Conference T-Shirts! What a GREAT stocking stuffer!! Click the picture below for a larger version that you can pass around at your clubs.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." This quote by John F. Kennedy illustrates the importance of helping our veterans. Veteran's Day is coming up on November 11th which is a day to honor and support veterans. They need our help now more than ever. Did you know that more than 22 veterans commit suicide every day? 1 in 3 combat veterans are diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD. 1 in 3 of our country's homeless population are veterans. Three organizations are coming together and uniting with a special purpose. The Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside, Woods Humane Society and K9's 4 Veterans are collaborating on a project to supply service dogs and companion dogs to Central Coast Veterans at no cost to the veterans with PTSD. This partnership needs support to be successful.
Cayucos Rotarians were introduced to this problem back in February of 2013 when a veteran came and spoke to the club regarding PTSD and of the severe problem with veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women were diagnosed with PTSD. These Americans were getting nowhere with the VA. There has to be another alternative.
This alternative begins with New Life K9's. They look for dogs from a variety of sources including breeders and animal shelters. The trainers at New Life K9's are working in conjunction with trainers at Woods to find these unique dogs. The ideal service dog is calm and amiable.
That's where Dick Mellinger and Gil Igleheart, two members of the Rotary Club of Cayucos-Seaside, came in to help. These two Rotarians set up the meeting and everything fell into place. Woods would invite Nicole Hern, director of training at New Life K9's, to help the trainers at Woods. Nicole's training is much more complex than for regular dog training. She is a service dog trainer. She will help teach the trainers at Woods, who have been between 120-150 dogs a month in what to look for in a service dog. These dogs are very unique (maybe 1 in 10 makes it). This process will provide New Life K9's with between 12-15 dogs each month.
It has been documented that animals help relieve all kinds of emotional problems, depression, stress, anxiety, and PTSD. Most of these dogs are rescued from a shelter, so the dogs are as thankful as the veterans. These unique animals are trained to sense when the veteran is having a difficult time or if they forget to take their medications or if they simply need a hug.
As you can see, our veterans need our help. They gave their lives for us, isn't it about time for us to give to them? Instead of just uttering words in support, let's express our gratitude in the form of a comforting canine.
On October 23, Rotary will kick off World Polio Day celebrations with a special event that will shine a light on Rotary's leadership in the fight to end polio.
The End Polio Now: Make History Today event, live-streamed from New York City, will provide a global update on the status of polio eradication from experts in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and will feature performances and appearances by celebrity ambassadors and other notables.
Time magazine Senior Editor Jeffrey Kluger is our moderator, and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake is a keynote speaker.
Watch the live program at endpolio.org on Friday, October 23 at 6:30pm Eastern Time and take part in the conversation using #endpolio.
If you can't join then, you can still be a part of this moment in history. A recording of the event will be available immediately following the broadcast. Use it to update your government representatives, or show it as a part of your local World Polio Day celebration or club meeting program.
Now that Nigeria has stopped polio, we are one step closer to a polio-free world. But our fight isn't over. There's still work to be done in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the two remaining polio-endemic countries. Donate today and your donation will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
With your help, we are "this much closer" to ending polio.
District 5240 is putting together another team of Rotarians to India to participate in a NID (National Immunization Day) on February 21-22, 2016.
The trip will most likely start on February 16th and end around February 28th, 2016. Besides the activities on February 21st, door to door immunization will be done over a few days starting on the 22nd (we will do door to door immunization only for 1 day). This will entail some long hours and lots of walking (which means you need to be in good shape, physically and mentally).
Here are some guidelines that will influence the selection process:
Team size will be limited to constraints of our host Rotarians.
A club sponsoring a participant can consider this as an international service project and should be prepared to explore worthy projects from the host districts in India. It is strongly suggested that the team member makes a presentation to the club on their NID experience.
Preference will be given to those who have not participated in previous NIDs.
Team members must be in good physical and mental health considering the stress and strains of long flying time and a busy and hectic schedule while in India. This requirement is very important.
The District expects that the team members will become ambassadors of the Polio Eradication Program in their respective clubs and their local communities.
A rough estimate of the total cost, including air travel, is around $3,000-$3,500, ($500 out of this amount is required to be sent with the Participation Form now). This does not including any shopping sprees. You can reduce your cost by sharing the hotel room with another team member. Once we have the team finalized, you will get a copy of the participants with their contact information. You can contact other people on the team and seek for roommates.
We will have a day or so to do shopping and sightseeing in New Delhi. We will also go to Agra for a day to see the Taj Mahal.
Once we are in India, the team will be split into teams of 3-5 people and each team will go to different locations. Some internal travel will be involved which will be arranged by us. Cost of that travel and the international travel is all inclusive in the total estimate.
Please make sure that your passport is current and does not expire within 6 months of the trip completion. Once we have the team in place, we will give you directions on how to obtain a Visa for India (you will need 2 passport size photos for this).
One, 3 to 4 hour's orientation program will be held on January 31, 2016 at my home, 655 Oldstone Place, Simi Valley, CA, for education on polio and other cultural nuances. It is mandatory to attend this session.
Our role on this trip is three fold: (1) To boost the morale of the workers who have been doing this for many years and they are getting fatigued and tired, (2) To increase the visibility of the immunization program, and lastly, (3) get a chance to give oral polio drops to the children.
Once the team is put together, you will be asked to send more funds/credit card info to purchase airline tickets. You will be paying for the hotel stay directly to the hotel when we are in India. Usually, our hosts will pay for our meals when we are in the field, but the meals taken in the hotel is paid by you. We will complete all the accounting at the end of the trip and any refunds due will be sent after we return.
We will be making all the arrangements for air travel to India, travel within India and the hotel stay.
Please complete the forms below as early as possible and send to the address below but no later than November 30, 2015. Please make sure that your Bio is more about Rotary and please don't send me your resume. I would prefer if the Bio is printed on the computer or typed. Hand written Bios are very hard to read. They will be sent to the hosts in India. All the material should be sent to me together and not in installments.
Chris Smith, son of Bakersfield Twilight Club member Amy Smith and Bakersfield North President Zane Smith donated his bone marrow today to someone he doesn't know, someone he hasn't seen and all because he showed up to an off-site meeting of Bakersfield Twilight at the local blood bank.
Chris who is afraid of needles not only donated blood that night, he signed up for the bone marrow registry. He recently was notified that he was a 100% match to a 60 year old lady with leukemia and would be be willing to donate his bone marrow. He of course said yes. According to his mother, he has undergone a battery of blood tests and bone marrow stimulating shots that really make your joints and bones ache.
He took the time out of his busy work and volunteer schedule to travel to La Jolla to donate his marrow. Not an easy procedure. He is back in his room resting and plans to return to Bakersfield tomorrow.
For those of you who attended the District Conference, Chris was the young man who spoke on his experiences at RYLA. He is not only afraid of needles, he is equally afraid of public speaking although you would not know it by his presentation at the conference.
Let's all send him our best wishes and kudos award as today Chris saved a life and is a real hero. You can contact Chris by emailing him at chris.z.smith94@gmail.com.
The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight, Home Club of the District Governor, will be having a Picnic at the Kern County Museum to dedicate 10 gorgeous new benches Twilight donated to the Museum. Prior to this, the Kern County Museum was bench-less!
This ceremony will be to thank all of the donors whom assisted Twilight Rotary in making this project a success.
It is our pleasure to announce Rotary's annual World Polio Day kickoff event on 23 October in New York City. We'll use this occasion to shine a light on Rotary's leadership in the fight that has brought us This Close to ending polio.
The Livestream event, co-sponsored by UNICEF, will bring together our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, government officials, and global health leaders from nongovernmental organizations and will mobilize more than 30,000 supporters.
July and August brought great milestones in the polio eradication effort. For the first time in history, Nigeria – then all of Africa – marked one year with no new polio cases caused by the wild virus.
We are closer to making good on our promise to end polio forever, but there's still work to be done. As we protect the progress made in Africa, we focus even more sharply on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Our World Polio Day kickoff event is our opportunity to update participants around the world on our progress and next steps and inspire them to share their voices, donate, or advocate for eradication as we near the finish line.
We invite you to join us and watch the event live, starting at 6:30 pm New York time or later – a recording will be made available. We also ask you to raise awareness of our polio eradication effort in your own community and build a local audience for our World Polio Day event. Visit the End Polio Now website to download resources that can help you raise awareness and funds. Share this information with your Rotary clubs, districts, communities, and elected officials.
Thirty years ago, we told the world what Rotary believes: that we can achieve the eradication of polio. Our dream is becoming reality. For every child, on World Polio Day, let's push ahead to the reality of a polio-free world.
District Governor Jim Bell, because of his very heavy travel schedule over the last month, was unable to provide his usual opening salvo for this month’s newsletter. Fear not, especially for all Facebook aficionados — there has been, and continues to be a wealth of information posted following most of Jim’s club meetings and special events throughout the District. Go to Facebook and search for Rotary District 5240or Jim Bell and you will stay up to date with Jim’s travels and all the fun things going on in the District. Jim promises a DG Message in next month’s newsletter . . . if he can catch his breath!
District Governor Jim Bell... At A Loss For Words!?
I want to share what we have accomplished during the first year of the $77,000 Global Grant your club helped fund that is providing vocational training for street girls in Ghana through Street Girls Aid (SAid). It is half finished, and we have learned a lot!
For the eighth straight year, The Rotary Foundation has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the largest and most prestigious independent evaluator of nonprofits in the United States. The rating, which is the highest that Charity Navigator assigns, reflects The Rotary Foundation's sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. Learn more about this and other recent announcements from Rotary.
Rotary Global Rewards is a new member benefit program designed to make membership even more rewarding for Rotarians. This exciting program includes discounts on products and services such as travel, car rentals, hotels, dining and entertainment. It's our way of giving back to those who give so much.
The Seoul 2016 Rotary Convention is your opportunity to visit an amazing country with 60,000 active and generous Rotarians, to meet other Rotarians from around the globe, connect with District 5240 friends, make new ones, and exchange ideas.
When I was young, my father taught me many things by using "sayings" or "quotes" to remember. One I remember to this day and used throughout my business career with all levels of management was: Readers are Leaders; Leaders are Readers.
I have probably repeated that quote a million times in the past 30 years in my attempt to pass along to others how important it is to be a reader. Little did I know until I joined Rotary how vast the pool is of those who are unable to read. I was unaware that 781 million people world-wide are illiterate.
Rotary International calls the month of September "Basic Education and Literacy Month". From youth not in school to adult illiteracy, Rotarians can make a difference in their communities. I urge you to check the many programs available by Rotary International to assist you through "My Rotary" at www.Rotary.org as you get involved to help solve this world-wide problem.
On August 7, the Rotary Clubs of Group 8 made history in a parade that celebrates history.
The clubs' entry into Santa Barbara's annual El Desfile Historico hosted the first real wedding on a float during the Old Spanish Days (AKA Fiesta) parade.
Lindsay Muse and James Reichlen said their I dos along Cabrillo Boulevard aboard a flower-adorned re-creation of the Santa Barbara Courthouse and Sunken Gardens.
Walt Stephens designed and managed the construction of the float, which inspired other Rotarians to make the most of Fiesta's 2015 Romantica theme. The vision for the float included re-enacting a wedding. Steve Kally joked that it should be a real wedding. Liz Alves asked, "Could we?" David Velarde said, "Yes." (Scott Burns checked with the Fiesta leadership, who also said yes. He is also credited with getting permission to display the Rotary wheel on the float.)
The proposed idea turned into a wedding proposal in less than a week. At the same time dozens of Rotarians contributed to the construction and decoration of the float. Thank you to everyone who helped create the float, spread the word, and cheer during the parade.
On parade day, the wedding was attend by the couple's officiant, two friends, the groom's mother, District Governor Jim Bell, Past District Governor Wade Nomura, Rotarians David Velarde, Michelle Velarde, Kim Bish, and Liz Alves, as well as Boris Alves and Rose.
One lucky couple will get married on the Rotary float in the El Desfile Historico (Fiesta) Parade on August 7th!
In the spirit of Fiesta Romantica, the Rotary clubs of Group 8 will host a wedding on their parade float.
the float, a replica of the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens – a truly lovely place to get married – could be the perfect venue for a couple who loves Fiesta, Santa Barbara, or lots of attention.
Thank you to all of the Rotarians who have helped with the design, construction, and decoration of the float.
Couples who are interested should email rotarydavidv@gmail.com with the following information:
Your names.
Why do you want to get married (or renew your vows) in the Fiesta parade? Why should we choose you?
If we make our decision Wednesday, August 5, can you be ready to get married on August 7?
How can we best reach you? Please provide phone numbers and emails.
If you have questions, please contact David Velarde at (805) 680-6575.
President Breven Baima from the Rotary Club of Grover Beach sends in this idea he wanted to pass along — his club has decided to "Honor a Vet" each week this year by inviting a veteran to their lunch meeting. Breven says they contacted the Honor Flite folks to get a lead on the World War II vets first. So far, it's been very warmly received by all. Not to mention the "side bar" stories that develop from the vets they did not expect who tag along sometimes. Breven encourages all of you to do the same. For more information you can reach Breven here: bbaima@farmersagent.com.
On Friday, July 24, 2015, we marked the one year anniversary since the last case of wild poliovirus in Nigeria!
There are lots of ways to share the good news at the link below. It includes samples to use on Twitter and Facebook. There are infographics, videos, pictures and even sample press releases that you can tailor to meet the needs in your community publications.
Membership and Retention, the most important part of Rotary. August is designated as the month we focus on this, but every day, all of us should be an example of an organization that our friends and associates would want to join.
Save January 15-16, 2016 on your calendar. The RI President has endorsed this first of five world-wide Rotary Peace Conferences that will be held at the Ontario, CA convention center. See www.peaceconference2016.org for more information. DG Jim Bell has decided that the District will support this conference in place of the annual STEPS conference. Early bird registration ends September 1st. Get a team together to represent your club.
August is Membership and Extension month. I'm glad Rotary International placed this emphasis on Membership early in our Rotary year. It's a good time to begin thinking how each of us can do our part in sharing this wonderful organization with those who have not yet experienced the joy of being a Rotarian. We learned this past year the two most significant reasons why people join Rotary: form new friendships, and to do good things in their community. I'll bet that's you too! So a good place to start is to develop or memorize the answer to the age-old question: "What is Rotary?" I'll share with you the one my club teaches: "It's a leadership organization made up of local business, professional and civic leaders who meet regularly, get to know each other better, form friendships, and through that, are able to get things done in our community". No "magic" here but something really good for each of us to know and have ready at that right time. Equally important is to be certain, week in and week out that our club is friendly, responsive, and looks inviting. Finally, let's also be sure we can answer these questions: How do I help my club go from good to great? How do I engage our current members? For your PhD in Membership (or just your Masters) log-on to your "My Rotary" account, and click on "Membership" on the "Learning and Reference" drop-down menu on the white bar at the top!
Have you ever considered applying to be a District Governor? Or you may consider doing this in the future? Maybe you need more information to help you make that decision and perhaps debunk some old school thinking about this prestigious position.
Save Saturday, August 22nd on your calendar for a meeting at District Governor Jim Bell's home in Bakersfield. Meeting time: 10:30am to 12 noon. Led by PDG Frank Ortiz and PDG Jack McClenahan, they will answer any and all questions that relates to how the process works; the monies involved; the time commitment; and answering the age-old question "Do I have to be a brain surgeon to qualify?" Email Nancy Falconer at nlfalconer@aol.com if you have interest in attending this meeting by Thursday, August 20th.
NOW is the time to register for District Conference 2015. Go here -> www.Rotary5240DC.com to register for the event AND to register for your hotel at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center. DG Jim makes the following promises:
Welcome to the 110th year of Rotary! There's great comfort in knowing that Paul Harris established a wonderful service-directed organization that continues to flourish around the world today because of your hard work and dedication.
I'm pleased to join our now 74 Club President-Elects in District 5240 who now become the new leaders of their clubs. As is the tradition in Rotary, we change "management" on July 1st every year from the top down throughout the entire Rotary organization world-wide. Although some may think this to be a cause of concern, it really allows for creativity, fresh ideas and the focus in each club to flourish under the guidance of a new club President and Board of Directors. Indeed, it is truly unique and a source of our strength.
Donna and I look forward to meeting each of you when we visit your club in the upcoming months. We have been very active in our visitations during the past year and welcome the opportunity to continue doing so. There is nothing that compares to visiting Rotarians in their club and hearing the stories, the projects, the pride of ownership of their club while there.
The District Staff has a simple goal for 2015-2016 – to help our clubs become "Bigger, Better, and Bolder" in the next year. If we succeed then it will be very clear that the best days of Rotary are still ahead.
Remember to keep submitting stories and photos of your club projects and fundraising events for the District website (see the How To here), engage in the District Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/groups/76317187164/, and be sure to let our District Newsletter Editor Neil Walker know of your upcoming club fundraisers and events by submitting them to nwalker1@bak.rr.com by the 25th of the month prior to the intended month of publication.
Finally, let me thank each of you now for your service to your club and your district as we begin this year together. We are very fortunate to be Rotarians! Together, we can make the world a better place!
On Saturday, June 27, 2015, Rotarians from District 5240 gathered at the Radisson Santa Maria for the 2014-15 District Awards and District Governor Step Down Luncheon. The following awards were presented:
Best Overall Club of the Year - Moorpark
Best Large Club - San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Best Medium Club - Moorpark
Best Small Club - Simi Sunset
District Rotarian of the Year - Edwin Velarde
Significant Achievement Award from Rotary International - Bakersfield North
Citation for Meritorious Service from The Rotary Foundation - PDG Wade Nomura
Robert "Jock" MacKenzie Leadership in Education Award - Jack Tingstrom
Dr. John Padilla Humanitarian Service Award - Heather Frankle
Samuel L. Greene Service Above Self Award - Savi Bhim
Avenues of Service Awards:
Club Service
Small Club - Simi Sunset
Medium Club - Moorpark
Large Club - Cambria
International Service
Small Club - Nipomo
Medium Club - Simi Valley
Large Club - Simi Sunrise
Community Service
Small Club - Nipomo
Medium Club - Santa Maria Breakfast
Large Club - San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Vocational Service
Small Club - Cayucos Seaside
Medium Club - Atascadero
Large Club - Thousand Oaks
Youth Service
Small Club - Goleta Noontime
Medium Club - Santa Maria Breakfast
Large Club - Ventura
Rotaract Service
Small Club - Tehachapi
Medium Club - Carpinteria
Large Club - San Luis Obispo
Gold Clubs
Atascadero
Bakersfield North
Bakersfield West
Cambria
Carpinteria Morning
Cayucos Seaside
China Lake
Goleta
Moorpark
Morro Bay
Nipomo
Pismo Beach-Five Cities
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Santa Maria
Santa Maria Breakfast
Simi Sunrise
Simi Sunset
Simi Valley
Tehachapi
Thousand Oaks
Ventura
Ventura South
Silver Clubs
Bakersfield Breakfast
Bakersfield East
Bakersfield Twilight
Conejo Valley
Five Cities-Eco
Goleta Noontime
Indian Wells Valley
Lompoc
Moorpark Morning
Oxnard
Paso Robles
Shafter
SLO Daybreak
Solvang
Westlake Village
Bronze Clubs
Grover Beach
Los Osos
Santa Barbara North
Vandenberg Village
Ventura East
Westlake Sunrise
Fillmore
After the awards were handed out, the transfer of pins occurred.
2014-15 District Governor Loretta Butts hands over the District Governor pin to 2015-16 District Governor Jim Bell
Donna Bell pins Jim with the District Governor pin
Jim Bell transfers the District Governor Elect pin to 2016-17 District Governor Nick Frankle
Nick Frankle transfers the District Governor Nominee pin to 2017-18 District Governor John Weiss
There's even a gavel that goes with the job too!
And finally the Home Club of the District Governor banner was transferred from the
Rotary Club of Atascadero to the Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight
It seems this year has flown by with all the wonderful projects and celebrations going on around our great District as you definitely lit up Rotary.
John and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time with you at club meetings, visiting your project sites and partying with you at fellowship events. We were constantly impressed by the generosity and kindness we were shown at each visit.
You have had a terrific District staff out there this year supporting your efforts and the results of your efforts have been outstanding. Our membership is up, we contributed significant amounts to The Rotary Foundation and, especially, to the effort to eradicate polio. Our District immediately rose to the aid of victims of the Nepal earthquake by providing desperately needed shelter through our longtime partner ShelterBox.
Wherever there was a need, our members stepped up to fill it. Rotary is so much stronger today because of your service and because of that we will continue to be the greatest humanitarian organization the world has ever seen.
It has been an honor to represent you as your District Governor and I will cherish these memories for the remainder of my life.
My plans going forward are to work within our organization to create a more peaceful world and I look forward to having some of you working right beside me.
Thank you for your support and affection. May peace always be with you.
We would like to welcome the newly chartered Eclub of Global Service District 5240, or as they call themselves, "The Global Eagles!" The club was officially recognized and chartered on May 8, 2015.
The focus of this club will be on Rotary education and a balance of community and international focus and projects.
The chartering president is Kurt Valentin, of Guatemala, with the incoming president and PDG from our district Marc Vertin, now living in Indiana.
The Club chartered with 31 new members (from four states, also the countries of Guatemala, Chile, and Canada), with a special thanks to PP Dick Strayer, Wendy Campanella, Allan Pacela, and Wade Nomura.
The chartering celebration was held in conjunction with the stepdown festivities of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, who was the sponsoring club.
On hand to welcome in the representatives of the newly chartered club were District Governor (and chartering Governor) Loretta Butts, Governor Elect Jim Bell, Governor Nominee Nick Frankle, Governor Designate John Weiss and Past Governor Wade Nomura, who served as the District's Special Representative in chartering the club.
Pictured: Allan Pacela (Newsletter and TRF), Wendy Campanella (President Nominee), Kelly Greene (Secretary), Les Esposito (Newsletter Contributing Editor), Wade Nomura (Honorary Member)
Longtime Lompoc Valley resident Edward “Chiefie” Everett passed away at the age of 95. Ed was the only child of Charles Everett and Maude Fodrill Everett. As a child, Ed acquired the nickname “Little Chiefie” because his father was Lompoc’s Fire Chief. Later it was shortened to just “Chiefie,” and to many that remained his name. Ed and his dad are portrayed on the mural on the side of the City Fire Station No. 1. Ed is the little boy sitting on the front seat of Lompoc’s first motorized fire truck.
Ed and his late wife, Louise, were always very involved in the community and enjoyed being so. They were active parishioners at La Purisima Catholic Church where Ed served as a Eucharistic Minister. They were members of the Cotillion Club, a group that met each month to dance and socialize. For many years Ed was a member of the Lompoc Rotary Club, serving as president in 1972-73. He was also an active member and president of the Pioneer Society, which later became the Lompoc Historical Society. He was a long time member of the Lompoc Valley Club, the Vaqueros de los Ranchos, Elks Lodge and Knights of Pythias.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the Rotary District 5240 Charitable Foundation. Proceeds will go toward the Rotary District 5240 Charitable Water Projects Grant Program. It's an easy way to become part of our efforts to alleviate the global water crisis.
Earlier this year on World Water Day (March 22, 2015), Rotary District 5240 (D5240) and the Rotary District 5240 Charitable Foundation (DCF) launched the Rotary D5240 Charitable Water Projects Grant Program. To learn more, see http://rotarydistrict5240.org/Stories/water-projects-grants-2015. Many Rotarians are excited to use this new program to support humanitarian water and sanitation projects locally and around the globe.
How to Support the Water Projects When Shopping at Amazon
Sebastien Dreckman saved the day for the Interact Club of Simi Valley High School.
The Interact club participates in many hands-on service projects while developing strong leadership skills, and those skills were put to the test.
One day last fall, at the last minute, the Interact Club was asked to run several game booths at a local pumpkin patch, including bean bag tosses and the pumpkin bowling station. An all-weekend event, the pumpkin patch would provide an invaluable opportunity to help the Interact Club raise money for charity. Due to the late notice, however, the club lacked enough support from its members to manage game booths on Saturday. Without enough volunteers, the opportunity was all but lost.
Annika Paseta, a member of Santa Susana HS Interact Club, asked Sebastien, a teenager at Simi Valley High School with autism (ASD), if he could help out at the event.
Congratulations to the third Master PRLS 5 graduating class of the 2014-2015 Rotary year! The Ventura program's graduates included six president-elects!
Don Tiliquest of Camarillo
Rene Schrader of Bakersfield East
Mike Murphy of Thousand Oaks
Bill Banning of Goleta Noontime
Dennis Longwill of Ventura South
Jeff Stern of Woodland Hills (District 5280)
Anastasia Pyrinnis of Newbury Park Interact
Odyesseus Pyrinnis of Newbury Park Interact
Yvonne Brooks of Woodland Hills
For their graduating project assignments, they worked on an ambulatory transport van project to serve Kern County. This project was focused on the underprivileged and the elderly, and would offer transportation to medical facilities that would normally be outside of their geographical area due to a lack of affordable means.
The second project was a One Day Music Festival to be held at a community park, and would include great music, games for kids, and a beer garden. Anticipated income to be generated was $30,000 to be distributed to the local community charities on behalf of Rotary.
80% of the projects during the MPRLS 5 graduating exercises come to fruition, and we look forward to seeing these benefit our communities and Rotary.
Thanks to instructors Mary Lingua, Wade Nomura, Dante Honorico, and site coordinator and PRLS Deputy Director Tony Huff.
In April, Amber Harden, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar who spent three years in the Republic of Georgia, shared her story with the Rotary Club of Westlake Village.
Amber recounted how she found a Rotary Club in Georgia to coordinate her visit and how she learned to live and thrive in a part of the world which had been off limits to the west for decades. While she was in Georgia, Amber received a Masters Degree in International Business. She also learned to speak Georgian and taught English both in the countryside and in the capital city of Tbilisi.
Amber’s Ambassadorial Scholarship was sponsored by the Crenshaw Watts Rotary Club, which has partnered with our club in supporting the Simon Technology High School, a grade 9-12 Charter High School in Watts.Our clubs have made a commitment to work together on other projects and set an example of inter district cooperation for other clubs to follow.
Pictured (left to right): Clarence Miller, principal of the Simon Technology High School; Amber Harden; Robert Ryans, incoming president of the Crenshaw Watts Rotary Club; Olivia Ryans, wife of Robert Ryans and a member of the Inglewood Rotary Club; Cresie Page, a past president of the Crenshaw Watts Rotary Club; and Jon Morse, a past president of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village.
Visitors to the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport can now view airplanes and the Rotary wheel emblem at the newly opened viewing area.
The Rotary Clubs of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo Daybreak, along with the Rotaract Club of San Luis Obispo and local businesses made the project possible. You can read more about it in The Tribune.
San Luis Obispo Clubs Thanked for New Airport Viewing Area
Boy Scout Jason Caldwell wanted to fulfill his Eagle Scout project at a park. He contacted the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast to see if he could contribute to the Rotary Centennial Park on South College Drive. He planned to create the Cliff Dochterman Award Recipients’ Memorial, which would include a plaque and a designated area in the park that honors Service Through Scouting & Rotary.
Kenneth J. Fay, Charter Member and the first full-term president of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West, peacefully slipped into God’s arms in Ojai, California on Sunday, April 26, 2015. He was 83.
Ken and his wife Louanne, an Honorary Member of Ojai-West Rotary, are recognized as Level Four Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to an Ojai-based nonprofit organization that you believe Ken would appreciate. A funeral service will be held for Kenneth at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Ojai on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m., with a reception to follow in the parish hall.
Click Read More for more about Ken and his accomplished life.
Posted by Dave Garth, President of San Luis Obispo Rotary Club on May 03, 2015
One of our members brought his brother-in-law to one of our meetings. His brother-in-law, Clint Norrell, had never been to a Rotary meeting before and knew little about Rotary, although he did have some preconceived notions. After the meeting, he wrote an email to our member about his experience. This email was so thoughtful, enlightening and well-written that I thought you might like to publish it.
Copied Below:
“I’ve got a Rotary meeting at noon. Would you like to come as my guest?”
The invitation comes as a surprise. My expression prompts a brief description of what I can expect.
“Sure,” I say, but don’t feel sure at all.
In the shower, I’m wondering what I’ll wear. I haven’t had on anything but work clothes in months. Oh well, how bad can it get. I can stand on my head for the length of any lunch.
“Ever been here?”
“No,” I answer, as I scan the exterior of Madonna’s. It’s an ornate restaurant/hotel south of San Luis Obispo where we’re visiting Kath’s sister & husband. Brooks is a long time Rotary member. I’m not. I thought it was another “good ol’ boys” club, a rich guys club, or a business networking group. Certainly the “silver Buick” set.
Brooks leads me through Madonna’s. Exaggerated carved wood and copper sheeting meet curved red velvet booths. Some eccentric left his mark. I’m glad to see it, despite it having bruised my senses.
We’re greeted by people in red vests, pay, and I follow Brooks to a buffet table where we build salads and select desert. We find seats at one of the round tables for nine. The settings include china plates and a half-dozen utensils. The water glasses are heavy red and blue goblets. The walls are covered with brag photos. The heavy beam architecture is somewhere between Snow White and The Hobbit.
Gold letters on blue banners frame the podium. They proclaim the club’s name and the equivalent of a mission statement about truth and service.
A bell is rung. Everyone stands for a prayer, a pledge, and a couple of patriotic songs. The main course is served during announcements and the introduction of guests. I’m one of many who stand in turn to polite applause.
Someone speaks of a veteran activist project. Vets are acknowledged. Someone speaks of fighting polio in Africa. Brooks frequently whispers explanations as others stand to present.
In attendance are the mayor, councilmen, judges, professors, professionals, successful businessmen, and accomplished artisans. 40% are women.
Various weekly meeting rituals are performed. One acknowledges someone’s good deed, they rise to explain, and contribute a hundred dollars for the privilege. I witness another as individuals rise to describe “Happy News”. Each donates $20 to do so.
The keynote is presented by a young councilman who describes his path to local politics. He’s quite impressive, with a longer than expected history of organizing discourse between opposing views. He ends his talk by explaining his greatest obstacle. “Don’t send me an e-mail. Bring you idea, problem, or complaint in person. Eye to eye. I’ll say, ‘How ‘bout I buy the coffee, and we’ll talk about it.’”
Through the hour plus lunch a new and more accurate impression of Rotary form in my mind. These are serious people as interested in service as any less accomplished idealist who criticizes from afar . . . like me. These people do things. They have earned their station and they’re using their positions to help others. They raise thousands and it goes directly to good. They get their hands dirty doing good. They are humble and grateful and I feel like an ass for categorizing them wrongly.
I had a good lunch in a room with down to Earth, do-gooders who pledge their resources to the betterment of man. I confessed these lessons to my brother-in-law on the way home. I tried to formulate a defensive explanation, but can’t, and admit that I was just flat wrong. Class envy perhaps. I don’t care what, but I assure you I will try to never again fault anyone, or question their sincerity, simply for being successful.
San Luis Obispo Club | Guest Meeting Review
Dave Garth, President of San Luis Obispo Rotary Club
Posted by Rotary Club of Los Olivos on Apr 29, 2015
The 11th annual Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival will be held on June 6, 2015 from 1 to 4 PM in Lavinia Campbell Park in downtown Los Olivos. This event, produced by the Rotary Club of Los Olivos, features wines poured by 30 local wineries along with food prepared by 30 chefs, plus olive products vendors, and, of course, world-class live jazz, for an all-inclusive price of $60.
The Rotary EClub of One World has a very unique fundraiser. As we are not a traditional club, the traditional way of fundraising doesn’t work for us.
One of our members from Russia has come up with this amazing idea and we want to invite anyone to take part. We just ask that you make a donation on our EClub website. Here’s how it works:
Forward a photo of yourself with the city, state and Country to this email address: nesynovnikita@yandex.ru. Nik’s father is a famous Russian sketch artist. He will provide a sketch of the photo and its yours!
Here’s my (Dawn O'Bar's) wonderful sketch with the palm trees and Santa Barbara Mission in the background. The dollar amount you choose to donate is up to you. Just click the “Yes, I’d like to donate button on the home page.” These would make great gifts for your program speakers.
One World Rotary Fundraiser - Personalized Sketches
Posted by Submitted by Bill Dutton on Apr 11, 2015
Members from the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Downtown shared a report from their international service trip to Guatemala. The late February trip marks the club's second year visiting NGO Mayan Families in Panajachel in the highlands of Guatemala.
Here's some of what they did:
built 8 ONIL stoves in Mayan homes
installed 7 water filters and stands, which should last 10 years
provided 2 pilas, or large sinks
donated food baskets for 10 families in addition to 100 pounds of corn for 3 families
delivered stuffed animals and medical supplies
gave a bed and a wardrobe cabinet to a family in need
Join the Rotary Club of Ojai West for the Ojai Wine Festival at Lake Casitas from noon to 4 PM on June 14.
General admission includes a keepsake crystal wine glass, unlimited tastes of wine or beer, live music, and free boat rides. Tickets are $60 on the day of the event, but read more to learn about available discounts.
The seven Rotary Clubs of Bakersfield come together to celebrate Rotary International’s 110th anniversary by launching an awareness campaign to “Paint Our Town Rotary” from March 15 through April 15.
The Rotary Clubs of Bakersfield North, West, East, South, Downtown, Breakfast, and Twilight will be launching a “Paint Our Town Rotary” Campaign on March 15, 2015 to bring public awareness to the organization of Rotary and the Rotarians that serve in our City. During the campaign, members will post signs that include the messages: “Change Lives,” “Building Community,” “Make A Difference,” and “Attend A Meeting.” The signs and Rotarians ask all that are interested to “Join Us” in making our world a better place. And all seven Rotary Clubs are welcoming non-Rotarians to join them at a meeting for a free meal between March 23 and March 27!
The Rotaract Club of San Luis Obispo, alongside other Rotary Clubs in San Luis Obispo County, are working closely with the Cal Poly women’s basketball team to raise money for the End Polio Now campaign!
When Cal Poly takes on UC Santa Barbara on March 7, Rotary will be the winner. Buy tickets for $4 at www.gopoly.com.
End Polio Now Cal Poly Basketball Game Fundraiser
Cal Poly vs. UC Santa Barbara
When: March 7, 2015
Game starts at 2 PM
Pre-game social at 1 PM upstairs in Mott Gym Room 201. This includes wine, beer, and snacks.
Where: Cal Poly Mott Gym
Cost: Tickets are $4 if you use the promo code ROTARY. You can buy online or at the door.
For $1, you can get on the court at halftime for the shooting competition.
All ticket sales using promo code ROTARY and all proceeds from the shooting competition will go toward the End Polio Now campaign.
Enjoy fun, fellowship, and athletic entertainment -- all for a good cause! If you have questions, please contact the Rotaract Club of San Luis Obispo at SLORotaract@gmail.com.
Posted by Liz Alves on behalf of Tusu Tusubira on Jan 31, 2015
Are the workings of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) mysterious to you? Tusu Tusubira describes how, while serving with Rotary in Uganda, he answered, "What is The Rotary Foundation?"
Spoiler alert: "It is not the staff in Chicago. It is not all the rules and regulations and policies. It is not the Trustees. It is dedicated Rotarians around the world, pouring themselves into service to help those who are in need."
If your Rotary club is working on an international service project with a community that could use some shirts, we have good news. PDG Wade Nomura has more than 2,000 new shirts that were donated. In past years, thousands of donated shirts have traveled to project sites in Africa and Central America.
These shirts are unused because they may have cosmetic blemished or a discontinued logo. The shirts cannot be distributed in the United States, so they can only be used at international project sites. Not all shirts are appropriate for all countries.
If you are interested in getting some free shirts for your club's project, please email Wade Nomura at wadeDG1112@verizon.net. Please tell him where you will be distributing them and approximately how many you would like for your project.
Projects - Free shirts for international district projects
“I had a life-changing experience in Mexico when I was doing a water project there with Wade," Roxanne said. "We were installing a water filtration system in Mexico, and needed tools and a ladder. I met an 11-year-old girl that lived in the village named Ericka who helped me find the tools we needed. I asked her if she was going to high school the following year, and she said that her family could not afford to send her because of the cost of the bus, uniforms, and books. The next year we saw her in town in a uniform going to school. She told me that because of the drinking water system, her family was no longer sick, they did not have to buy water, and she was now able to go to school.”
Edwin A. Velarde, a proud member of Rotary Club of Westlake Village since 1994 where he served as President in 2012-2013, has been selected to represent District 5240 in this year’s Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. Edwin will ride on the Rotary Rose Parade Float with the theme of Changing Lives Through Clean Water.
The Rotary Peace Centers is proud to announce that the application for the 2016 Rotary Peace Fellowship is now online, and we are more excited than ever for the upcoming year!
Why are we so excited? This year the Rotary Peace Centers Fellowship has a newly designed webpage with additional resources for you and potential applicants. Please go to our website to view the new animation video about the application process, stories from alumni, and many more amazing resources.
All PRLS classes are designed for Rotarians and non Rotarian friends and Rotaracters. They are designed to improve your skills for Rotary and in your chosen profession. Registration forms, directions and class descriptions can be found on the PRLS website at www.prls.org, or through a link at the Rotary District 5240 web site at www.rotarydistrict5240.org.
The PRLS staff is very proud to announce that we will have three Special PRLS sessions in December. On December 6th MPRLS 3 (Facilitation Skills) and on December 13th MPRLS 4 (Situational Leadership) and a Special evening session of Intro to PRLS (Basic PRLS rewritten)on December 11th (a Thursday).
Earlier this year 6 members of our club went to Guatemala to work with an NGO called Mayan Families in Panajachel, Guatemala. Our project was to build 9 stoves and provide clean drinking water for 7 families. This successful international project was completed in the Mayan villages around the Lake Atitlan area. We will be returning again in 2015 where we will be involved in a construction project. View project video under more.
This year, Rotary is participating in #GivingTuesday on 2 December, a global day of giving supported by 10,000 organizations worldwide.
Invite your club to get involved by giving online. Online giving is the easiest and most efficient way to give to the Foundation and the causes you care about most. As an added incentive, President Gary C.K. Huang will send special video messages to the club and district that make the most individual online gifts to The Rotary Foundation on #GivingTuesday.
Share why you support the Foundation on Twitter and Facebook by using the tags #GiveTheGift and #GivingTuesday. And replace your profile picture with our proud donor image!
You can also round out Rotary Foundation Month by adding this presentation, which highlights #GivingTuesday, to your weekly program.
During the 2013-14 Rotary year we had 31,202 donors make gifts online raising US $8.9 million online for The Rotary Foundation. See page 5 for data on contributions made through rotary.org in TRF Annual Report on Operations 2013-14
During National Immunization Days (NIDs) local Rotarians along with thousands of volunteers and health workers, together with Rotary and Rotaract members, canvassed the streets of India throughout the country in search of children to immunize. They traveled from house to house knocking on doors in shantytowns and rural villages.
backyard! Click on the picture of the starfish for more information
We will focus on successful, sustainable local projects benefiting members of our own communities, with financial help from international partnerships and the Rotary Foundation. While all concepts presented at STEPS in previous years have applied to projects abroad and at home, at STEPS 2015, we will showcase exciting projects benefiting our part of the world!
Nigeria has been a stubborn hot spot of polio — and that turned out to be a good thing when it came time to fight Ebola.
In late July, a patient with the deadly Ebola virus arrived from Liberia. Health workers knew what to do. The country has created a massive public health effort to wipe out polio; institutions and strategies were repurposed to fight Ebola.
On the other hand, anti-polio efforts in the countries hit hardest by Ebola are on hold — and that could lead to disaster.
November gives us the chance to build greater ownership and pride in our Foundation. We have so much to celebrate. The new grant model, Rotary’s website, our publications, and our new branding effort all focus on building a strong message — the importance of contributing to and supporting our Rotary Foundation.
Meeting the Needs of the Changing Rotary World Requires Working on Sundays
Rotary District 5240 leads the Rotary world in education and that sometimes means working Sundays. On Sunday October 26th six dedicated Rotarians came together to practice for a Rotary Foundation Meeting to be held on October 30. The fact that all the Rotarians were not in the same location or meeting face to face is not news worthy. Most of the time a meeting like this would go unnoticed as district staff has been using conference calls and Go-to-meeting for several years now. What sets this meeting apart from other meetings using online collaboration tools; it was hosted via Go-to-webinar from Citrix Online.
Starting October 30th Rotarians will not be asked to give up as many of your weekends to travel to a Rotary meeting somewhere in the district.
Past District Governor (PDG) Wade Nomura was recently named as the new PRLS (Practical Real-life Leadership Skills) Director at the District Conference in Monterey. Wade becomes the first PDG since Jock McKenzie to serve in this position.
Senior Rotary leaders gathered Tuesday at the White House to honor 10 women for their service projects, at an event attended by members of U.S. President Barack Obama’s senior staff. The Rotary members presented their projects in the hopes of creating new inroads for government partnerships and support.
District 5240’s community based Rotaract clubs of San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and San Diego Downtown all partnered together for their 3rd Annual Mexico Build on July 9. Crossing the border early Saturday morning and returning before dusk, the 3 Rotaract clubs built a home for a single mother and her two children.
Our PDG Jan Lindsay passed away earlier this week. A celebration of his life will be held this coming Friday, August 22nd, at 11:00 am in the Grand Salon on the campus of Channel Islands University in Camarillo. Please see the invitation from the Lindsay Family and directions to the University.
With a Sad Heart, Loretta, Loretta Butts, Rotary International District Governor, 2014-2015 855-466-2045
Forever in Our Hearts
Please join the Lindsay family to celebrate the life of
Jan Corwin Lindsay
Friday August 22, 2014 at 11 AM
California State University Channel Islands
Grand Salon
One University Drive
Camarillo, CA
“Donations can be made to GoCare Inc.,
Rotary International or a charity of your choice”.
We will be gathering immediately after the memorial to share our favorite memories and stories of Jan.
I had the honor of participating in the Santa Barbara la Fiesta parade last Friday. The parade turned 90 and the Rotary clubs in Group 8 have been showcasing Rotary International with a float for 38 plus years.
We had the opportunity to walk the route beside the float. Some of those hearty souls were PDG Wade Nomura, EAG Ross Ray, Santa Barbara North President Vanessa Patterson, Santa Barbara President Katarina Zamyatina, Santa Barbara Sunrise President Dana Goba, Carpinteria Morning President Art Fisher, brand new Rotary Club of Montecito member Conner Rehage . Christine Le Bon from Goleta Noontime and Helena Dahlin from the E-Club joined the group walking down State Street. We even had the little great granddaughter, Brooke, of the first President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara!
Each year your club has the opportunity of nominating a candidate to serve as District Governor from its members. If your club has a qualified member that is willing to serve as the Governor, we hope you would support and honor that individual by submitting his/her name.
RI President, Gary Huang, has selected ”Light Up Rotary” as the theme for 2014-2015. In his first message to our 1.2 million members in this month’s edition of the Rotarian magazine, he reminds us there are so many people who need help, we sometimes think the task is too overwhelming and we can do nothing. But we can do something. We can light a candle for those who are in darkness.
In my Rotary life, the story of the starfish has always resonated because it tells us we can make a difference even if it is only one starfish at a time. We can bring hope where there is despair and light the way through our Rotary service. It is the way of our District 5240. It is the Rotary way.
Deb Linden from the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo receives the honor of being named District 5240’s Rotarian of the Year for 2013-14.
As the 2013-14 Rotary year neared its conclusion of June 30th, District Governor Jack McClenahan’s with the help of Past District Governor Frank Ortiz presented District 5240 and Rotary International Personal and Club Awards at DG Jack’s Demotion and Luncheon. If you were not one of the hundred and sixty plus Rotarians and friends who attended the June 28th celebration at the Marriott Courtyard in Oxnard, a complete list of the receptions is available at the following link.Recognition Awards
Atascadero, CA (PRWEB) July 02, 2014 – Loretta Butts, Charter President of the Rotary Club of Templeton and current member of the Rotary Club of Atascadero, was installed as governor of Rotary International’s District 5240 during a special ceremony at Oxnard Marriott Courtyard, in the afternoon of Saturday, June 28th. Hundreds of Rotarians from throughout the district, which encompasses clubs in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties, attended.
"To all Rotarians in District 5240". A new and improved personal Improvement "PRLS" is scheduled to start June 21st., also known as "Practical Real Life Leadership Skills" professionally taught by Rotarians for members, Interact, Rotaract, families and friends of Rotarians. They will be held in each region of the District and will start in July of 2014 and complete in May of 2015, a totally new concept to help All Rotarians interested in honing their leadership skills in order to be ready for new challenges.
Do not miss this opportunity to become a "Master PRLS leader for your club and the District".
The annual business meeting of the district will be held on September 28, 2012 on board the Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA 90802 at 3:30 PM. Please note that on July 2, 2012 the board of directors of the district passed a resolution adopting the Amended and Restated By-Laws. A copy of these by-laws can be found under the link above for the District Annual Meeting or on the left of this page.
Article 13 of these by-laws provides that proposed amendments to these by-laws must be submitted to the chair of the district resolutions committee no later than 60 days prior to the annual business meeting. PLEASE SEND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO jan.gocare@gmail.com no later than July 30, 2012. Please note in the subject line that the electronic submission is a Proposed Amendment to the by-laws.
The District 5240 Grants Committee is available to conduct Grant Writing Workshops at the Club or Group level upon request for the 2012-2013 Rotary year. The committee wants to remind you that the sooner you get started on the Grant writing process, the quicker your project will become a reality for your Club. Information about Grants can be found on the District website at www.rotarydistrict5240.org. Click on the 'Foundation' tab on the top of the homepage, and scroll down to 'Grants'.
*UPDATE* Seating is limited and registrations are filling up fast. Don't be left out....register today.
Register today for the District 5240 Step Down Luncheon!
Plan to be at the Moorpark Country Club at 11:30am on June 23rd. This is the last official party of the Krewe of Nomura. This is not just our chance to kick another DG to the curb! Clubs and individuals will be recognized for their hard work and accomplishments plus DG Wade will pass the gavel of leadership to DGE Frank. Click here to register.
The Clubs in District 5240 made the Contest Committee's job very hard this year with such terrific entries! For those clubs that took the time this year to conduct the Contest, you have instilled the Four Way Test into the minds of children in your community, from Grade School through High School.
My goal for 2012-13, would be to have 100% club participation in this project. A message will be sent out in a week or so with stories from those clubs that participated sharing their experience. Please make sure your club's Vocational Service Chair/Director knows about this great annual contest.
And the winners are!
For the elementary school division:
First Place – Santa Maria Breakfast – Samantha Spallino
Second Place – Ojai – Emma Strickland
Third Place – China Lake – Chloe Telles
For the middle school division:
First Place – Simi Sunset – Brandon Freed
Second Place – Pismo Beach – Ryan Brennan
Third Place – Simi Valley – Haley Perkins
For the high school division:
First Place – Pismo Beach – Joanne Crandall
Second Place – Thousand Oaks – Shai Goldberg
Third Place – Ojai – Hannah Strickland
First Place winners will receive $300, Second Place $200 and Third Place $100. The District will prepare the checks and have them mailed to the winning club to distribute as they choose to the students.
The Contest Committee and I send our thanks to all the clubs that participated this year, and look forward to many more clubs getting involved next year!
On June 23th, Rotary District 5240 will celebrate another year of hard work, fellowship and great accomplishments by our clubs and hard working Rotarians. Mark you calendar for a luncheon event on June 23rd at the Moorpark Country Club. More details will follow shortly. Presidents -Make sure you have those award packets submitted to Laurie Small, District Awards Chair.
The event will also mark the passing of the reins from our DG Wade Nomura (aka Dusty Bottoms) to DGE Frank Ortiz(aka Lucky Day). Rumor has it the third Amigo DGN Jack McClenahan (aka Ned Nederlander) will ride in from the West.
2011-12 DG Club Awards Dinner and DG Gavel Hand-off!
“The Biggest Smile in Bangkok 2012”
Impact Arena Hall (next to the RI Convention Hall)
May 7, 2012 from 14.00-16.00 hrs.
Through 107 years of humanitarian service by Rotarians to people around the world, we believe that one smile can grow… to a thousand smiles. Bangkok Convention goers will have an opportunity to create the biggest smile in the record books at the 2012 Rotary International Convention.
23 February 1905: Rotary Club of Chicago the First of the Sixteen Clubs prior to the formation of the National Association of Rotary Clubs. First gathering, on Thursday evening, 23 February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. by attorney Paul P. Harris. Young Harris, fresh from a wild five years as a reporter, actor, cowboy, seaman, granite salesman, fruit picker and hotel clerk, five years building a successful law practice, then had an idea. It was regarding observations of success and respect which could come from organizing professional acquaintances. More years past. He had given this much thought by the time he and Silvester Schiele walked over to Gus Loehr's office, in Room 711 that cold winter night in 1905, almost 9 years from his arrival in Chicago. Several weeks later, Schiele was elected the first president of Rotary when the meeting was held in his office. Harris suggested several names, one of them being "Rotary."
Another group of Rotarians from District 5240 will be heading for India to participate in a National Immunization Day (NID) in the Uttar Pradesh region. The team will be led by PDG Anil Garg (Simi Valley). This is Anil's 12th NID trip to India. The trip follows exciting news recently released regarding no new polio cases in India for one year! In order to be certified as Polio free, there must be no new polio cases for 3 consecutive years. It is important that these NID trips continue in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a polio free world. The team leaves on Feb 14 and will return home on Feb 27. Good luck Anil and team!
The District Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that Loretta Butts has been selected as the DGND (District Governor Nominee Designate). She will serve as District Governor during the 2014-15 Rotary year. A biography will be posted shortly.
The District Nominating Committee wanted to thank everyone that expressed an interest in serving the District as District Governor. They also wanted to acknowledge those candidates that took the time to apply for this important position. Our District is strong and effective because we have wonderful Rotarians willing to accept leadership roles and volunteer their valuable time.
Please read this full story regarding two suggestions from Frank Ortiz, Community Service Director and GGN on how you or your club can participate in efforts to provide food, coats and other necessities for those in economic distress.
Click DISTRICT CONFERENCE RESULTS for a description of the events, a few photo shots, a list of attendance and, most important, the tally of the contributions to End Polio Now.
This very important event is the last opportunity for club and district leadership to gain valuable training. This will include your club Secretary, Treasurer, Avenues of Service, Membership, Public Relations, and Grants. Of particular note, we will haveLauren Marquez-Viso, The Rotary Foundation Grants Coordinator, at the Oxnard venue to present training from the expert at Rotary International.
The morning sessions will be focused on your leadership teams while the afternoon session will provide a variety of courses that may be of interest to many of your club members and leadership team such as: Risk Management, Social Media, Future Vision, PRLS Forum, Rotaract, and Club Programs. A single nominal fee will be charged to each club regardless of the number of attendees. So, maximum participation is encouraged.
The District 5240 Annual Business Meeting for 2010-2011 was deferred to April 9, 2011, 4-6pm, Pacifica High School, Oxnard immediately following the District Assembly. Click HERE for more information.
Arroyo Grande Atascadero Bakersfield Twilight Atascadero HS Interact Cal Poly Rotaract Cambria Cambria Sunrise Centennial Cayucos-Seaside China Lake (1) Goleta Grover Beach Los Osos Moorpark Morning Montecito Morro Bay Morro Bay HS Interact Nipomo Ojai Ojai West Paso Robles Paso Robles Interact Paso Robles Sunrise Pismo Beach San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Daybreak San Luis Obispo - De Tolosa San Luis Obispo HS Interact Lan Luis Obispo Rotaract Santa Barbara Sunrise Santa Maria Santa Maria Breakfast Santa Maria South Simi Sunset Simi Valley Solvang Breakfast Templeton Thousand Oaks Vandenberg Village Ventura Ventura East Ventura Rotaract Westlake Village Sunrise
Applications are now being accepted for District Governor for the 2013-2014 Rotary Year. Click HERE for details and applications. Applications are due by April 1, 2011. Interviews are scheduled for May 14 at the Bullton Marriott. For further information, plase contact PDG Anil Garg.
ATTENTION Presidents, Presidents-Elect, AND Presidents-Elect Nominees Hear inspirational speakers; enjoy fellowship with current and future leaders of District 5240; meet with your fellow classmates and respective District Governor for your year; and come away reinvigorated in enthused for the year(s) ahead!!! Two dates and locations: January 8, 2011- Oxnard Courtyard Marriott and January 15, 2011 - Bakersfield Sheraton Four Points. Click Mid-Terms Registration Form to register. Click HERE for the schedule and full story.
Nine students will win up to $1,500 in the 2010-2011 Annual Rotary District 5240 essay contest. There are three categories, grade school, middle school, and high school. Click HERE for more information. March 18, 2011 - Submit entries to the local Rotary Club. April 8, 2011 - Local Rotary Club submits winning essays to the District. Revised Date: May 15, 2011 - District winners will be announced to Local Rotary Clubs.
RI DISTRICT 5240 CELEBRATES THE ROTARY FOUNDATION with RI President Ray Klinginsmith as the Keynote Speaker
Special thanks to all those who supported and attended the "Celebration TRF Gala" on January 4th. This was an exciting and memorable event from all accounts and RI President Ray agrees. Please look at the photo album in the left hand column of the Home Page. I would like to acknowledge Rotarian Art Polan for serving as our "Images Chair" for the event so we could document the fun and excitement from the evening. If you have any photos from the evening you would like posted please send them to: Brenda Cressey
The New Generations committee is pleased to announce that this year the district will be sponsoring two young adults to represent our district at the annual Rotary International United Nations Day. This is a first for our district and we are excited to offer this opportunity to our young Rotarians during New Generations month in September. Nominations must be submitted by September 7. Please click here for full story and nomination details.
All Club Leaders should carefully read this story. If your club has not filed a 990 return with the IRS, you MUST do so before Oct.15; otherwise, your club risks loss of your non-profit tax exempt status! Click NOTICE from Mary Howard to read the notes of a coference call with the IRS Comissioner.
Also, there are IMPORTANT guidelines for Rotary International the fact that Rotary Clubs are non-profit but not charitable organizations by a special IRS ruling (foundations normally are ). Click 501(c)4 to read this letter. Non-tax deductible disclosure statements may be required on Fundraising Publicity and Invoices for Club Dues.
If you are a club membership chair, PR chair or just interested in growing your club, you won't want to miss the 2010 Membership and PR Workshops. Click here for more information. Membership seminars are scheduled for Aug. 21 in Bakersfield and Aug. 28 in Santa Barbara.
The District Website is in the process of being updated to take advantages of new capabilities of ClubRunner Version 2.0. Please contact Terry Beckett at tbeckett.rotary@yahoo.com to report any problems or suggestions. Click in the "more" link below for a description of some of the changes.
Thanks to the Rotary Clubs in District 5240 for the generous contributions to the Haiti Disaster via the District 5240 Charitable Foundation. The total amount received to date is $35,433.54. This represents a combination of donations from Clubs, from invididuals in many clubs, and even from community any youth organizations.
"Heal the World: End Poverty Now!" Saturday, November 21 in Oxnard.
This conference will address both international and local poverty, focusing on hunger and health. Included are outstanding speakers in the morning, with an optional networking lunch and afternoon "hands-on" service opportunity. Participants will leave with resources and projects for club involvement. There is NO REGISTRATION FEE, but PRE-REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY.
Click on POVERTY CONVERENCE EVENT for a complete description, registration information and details.
Is a joint project of the Rotary Club of Cambria, the Rotary Club of Cambria Sunrise Centennial, the local American Legion Post 432, the local Community Services District with the support of the County of San Luis Obispo Supervisor for the Cambria area, was officially dedicated on Saturday, January 11, 2014.
The Rotary Garden commemorates the 2012/2013 Rotary International theme, "Peace Through Service" and quest for world peace. Funds for the project included a successful District Simplified Grant application.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation and the local Santa Barbara Rotaract Club hosted the first ever miniature golf event at the Santa Barbara Courthouse recently. All the money raised will go to the CLF and its effort to maintain the artistic and historic elements of the iconic Courthouse.
The idea for miniature golf at the Courthouse came from members of the Santa Barbara Rotaract Club, which is a humanitarian organization for young professional dedicated to contributing to the local and international charity work. The Santa Barbara organization chose the Courthouse Legacy Foundation as it project for the year.
District 5240 consists of 73 Rotary Clubs organized into twelve Groups.
For the next several months, we will highlight each of the groups so that you can see how Rotarians are changing lives in their local communities.
Today’s featured group is Group 4 – home to 300 Rotarians in five Rotary clubs plus a Rotaract club all located in the Conejo Valley of Ventura County.
The Council on Legislation will meet April 21-26, 2013 in Chicago . I have the privilege to represent you at this very important Rotary event. I have prepared an overview of some of the proposed changes (Enactments) that potentially could affect your club and/our district. Also attached is the complete Proposed Legislation. I would like to have your input, hear your questions or concerns no later than April 15th. Yours in Rotary,
LuzMaria Ortiz-Smith, COL Representative, District 5240
Jim Bell (Rotary Club of Bakersfield Twilight) has been name to serve as our District 5240 Governor for 2015-2016. He was selected by the District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND) Committee on October 20th in Santa Maria. The proceedings were led by PDG Deepa Willingham, with oversight by District Parliamentarian Doug Hoffman. DGND Jim can be reached at jimbelldg1516@gmail.com
The District 5240 Group Study Exchange Program is with District 3220 in Sri Lanka. The Outbound Exchange will take place from February 2 to March 3, 2013. The selection process to pick the team members is currently underway. DG Frank has asked Rotarians to participate in the process by publicizing this info, and recommending candidates. Time is running short so please discuss this at your weekly meetings.
Qualification and Application materials can be accessed from the “Foundation Tab” at the top of the District 5240 Website Main Page. Deadline for submitting a TEAM LEADER application was November 2, and has passed. The deadline for submitting a TEAM MEMBER application is November 30. The TEAM MEMBER selection interviews are scheduled for December 6 in Santa Maria.
Questions? Contact Bill Pucciarelli, GSE Chair 2012-13, at pucciarelli49@gmail.com or phone: 805-264-4033
Rotary District 5240 Training and Qualification schedule has been set for the 2012-13 year. This is important training for club leadership to ensure they understand the new grant model for The Rotary Foundation. In order to qualify to be a Lead Club on a District Grant or Global Grant a club must send at least two experienced members to one of the Grants Management Qualification Sessions.
For more information contact PDG Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith, Future Vision Transition Chair luzmaria@smithandortiz.com. Dates and information on registration can by accessed from 'District Events' on the left side of the District's Website 'Main Page'.
Future Vision - The Rotary Foundation New Grant Model
On June 6th, DG Wade Nomura received a notification that we have chartered our 73 club! The Rotary E-Club of One World D5240, California, USA, was admitted to membership in Rotary International on 29 May 2012. This exciting new club will help us "Share Rotary" with interested individuals who might not be able to fulfill the schedule committment of particiting in a weekly club meeting.
2013 Council on Legislation Representative
Luz Maria Ortiz Smith
The Council on Legislation, Rotary's "parliament," meets every three years to deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions submitted by clubs, district conferences, the General Council and Conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, and the RI Board. The Council itself also makes proposals.
The Council comprises more than 500 representatives from every part of the Rotary world. Voting members include one elected representative of the clubs of each Rotary district. Some nonvoting members include the chair and vice chair of the Council, the RI president, members of the RI Board, and past RI presidents.
Important 2013 Council on Legislation Dates
The deadline for Club to submit proposed legislation to the District is midnight September 20th, 2011.
The deadline for the District to submit legislation with the certificate of endorsement to the 2013 Council on Legislation is 31 December 2011.
The next Council on Legislation will be in April 2013 in Chicago.
Congratulations 2010-12 Club President and all District 5240 Rotarians for an Outstanding Year!
It was such a pleasure to see and hear about all the outstanding things that were accomplished by so many clubs at the District Awards Ceremony. I would also like to commend the individuals that earned special recognition for doing so much on behalf of Rotary and District 5240 during the 2010-11 Rotary year. IPDG Deepa had an outstanding year as District Governor, and her leadership was evident in all that was accomplished this year as a District. My staff and I were busy in the back of the room taking notes, in hopes of replicating the successes of 2010-11.
Centennial Interact Club
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For many, the pursuit of Peace (with a capital P) seems amorphous, hard to get one’s arms around, difficult to know where to start and what exactly to do. The challenge of eradicating polio must have seemed equally daunting when the End Polio Now campaign began, but that didn’t stop determined Rotarians. And that same determination can be used to promote peace and resolve conflicts. The key in this, as it was in the fight against polio, is to enlist able partners and bring our resources to bear on the effort.
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Decorating a Rose Parade float as a volunteer is no small act of service, and the experience for Interactors and Rotarian chaperones too ☺ can be inspiring in many ways. Opportunities abound to meet and work with other Rotarians and Interactors and even meet master float builders like the specialists who work for Disney. A satisfying sense of accomplishment is felt, partly by seeing a huge work of art take on color and texture before your eyes, with your own hands; and partly through the teamwork spirit of eager, smiling volunteers. Being the inspiration isn’t necessarily easy work, but it can result in being inspired too… a wonderfully positive, reinforcing cycle..jpg)
So, when a giant, “duded-up” crocodile rolls-out and rocks-out on parade day, at least 10 Rotary inspirations from Burroughs High School will be able to watch with a very personal satisfaction knowing they had a part to play in that – and be inspired that much more. 
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Making a difference, three girls from PACE were on hand to share in excellent English their gratitude for Rotary and Deepa’s school in Piyali India. (Two of the girls actually live in a Safe House) What Inspiration, Rotarians and the Rotary Foundation Making a Difference!
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Last month we reported on the Interact District Conference of February 24th which changed lives, mine in particular AND each student and staff person in attendance. 
On March 24, 2018, the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club, along with the Five Cities Eco Rotary Club and the Rotary Interact Club from Nipomo High School, worked with members of the Tree Guild and City staff to plant 20 trees at Rancho Grande Park. Through the Recreation Services Department’s Adopt-a- Park program, the Arroyo Grande Rotary Club purchased the native species trees and necessary supplies for the project that was completed with assistance from the other groups. This project was a huge success and also assisted in reaching the Rotary International’s goal of planting 1.2 million trees worldwide by April 22, 2018.
make our place better primarily for the children of tomorrow. Maternal and Child Health is one of six areas of focus. 
Each year every district provides training for young people on the topics of leadership, diversity, public speaking, team building, and more. Our district has such a program and it takes place this month. Two hundred and forty or so high school students will experience the inspiring and transforming RYLA weekend from Thursday April 19th to Sunday the 22nd in Ojai. Each student is sponsored by a Rotary Club at an approximate cost of $400. If you have not attended a RYLA closing ceremony, you should. It will change your life as you witness the transformation of these students into amazing leaders of whom we can all be proud! Check it out at: 
living in a family home that has been handed down for two generations and now, in the words of the Avenue CDC construction supervisor “it was mucked out and gutted immediately after Harvey and is now essentially nothing more than 2x4’s. She would not have been able to go back to this home if it were not for this money.”. With Avenue CDC’s help in contracting and supervision he says it will again become a livable home. The young lady has two sub-teen twin boys and when she met us burst out crying. The other family is just as deserving.
I must congratulate University Area Rotary Club President Cindy and the other club members in getting the money to this organization. I think they hit 5240’s objective in donating right on target..png)
Christine and I were invited by Club President Ellyn Dembowski to participate in the Ventura club's annual children's shopping spree which was rescheduled due to the December fires last year. This event was organized by Rob Van Nieuwburg who has been organizing it for 29 years! (I've participated in a similar event in San Luis Obispo hosted by San Luis Obispo DeTolosa and the San Luis Obispo Rotaract.) There were 69 children who were
immersed in love and care by Rotarians and Interactors from a local High School. It was held at JC Penny with excellent discounts being offered along with cookies and balloons. We had lunch at the school district campus making for a full morning. 
The project fair featured 64 project proposals from Districts 4271 and 4281 and addressed each of Rotary's six Areas of Focus. These proposals will be assessed over the coming months.
The service projects in Medellin, organized and supported financially by the Rotary Club of Newbury Park included:
Have you considered but have not yet gone on a Polio NID trip? Share the recent experience of our NID Team - Brenda Allison, Kay Bliss, Chris Bruney, Sandra England, PDG Jeri Fujimoto, Evelyn Garfield-Loker, PDG Anil Garg, Debra Hale, Maud Huey-Kenyon, John Kenyon, Judy Moore, Jeanne Potter, Michelle Velarde, Mike Weaver, Susan Weaver, Connie Young, and PDG Stephen Zabor - in this day-by-day photo diary.
(operable word here is ‘yet’). For most of us, this is our first NID experience. This was Anil’s 18th NID. Maud and John Kenyon are also old hands. It was Steve Zabor’s 2nd time. On our itinerary for the day: visits to UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the Rotary Polio Plus Office for briefings about the up-to-the-minute status of the effort to eradicate polio. Our heads are stuffed with statistics!
travel by SUVs to Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, and Hathras where we are introduced to our local Rotary hosts. For the next four days we will stay in their homes, getting to know them, learning about 
their involvement in Rotary, and enjoying the hospitality and cuisine for which India is justifiably famous.
Day 5 - January 29th: We spend this day accompanying the local polio workers and the WHO representatives as they go door-to-door noting the number of children in each household, tracking each one’s immunization record, administering drops to any child under the age of five who was not immunized at a booth on the previous day, making note of any child who cannot take the drops because of illness or absence and making plans for follow-up visits to make sure no one is missed. It is an arduous day. The accuracy and completeness of record-keeping is astounding. We are blown-away by the effort.
being done by Dr. Mathew Varghese and his colleagues. Later we tour the Rotary Blood Bank. Rotary’s presence and visibility in Delhi is amazing. There is a whole lot of good being done here with Rotary dollars. We have the late afternoon and evening off to rest, to go shopping or to do some more sightseeing. 
This month Rotary’s monthly theme is Disease Prevention and Treatment. This is a meaningful aspect of being a Rotarian. We have worked collectively for about 30 years to eradicate Polio. Many of you have been on a NID (National Immunization Day), some on several! Some like Jim Lewis, Anil Garg, and many others are tireless in efforts for increasing Polio awareness. Others like District Governor Elect Sandi Schwartz and Club President Denise (Bakersfield Breakfast) are tuned in to health and wellness with leadership roles..png)
Forty-two club visits so far and 37 club visits to go (including Rotaract clubs). One of my club visits in November was with the E-Club of One World which has members from our district, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and other countries, too. If your club has members who find their work has changed, or they move, the E-Club of One World might be a great fit. 
Kaitlyn Alderete is the 2017-2018 President of the Rotaract Club of Conejo Valley. She joined Rotaract in 2014, and this year under her leadership her club has inducted several new members and is continuing to grow. It is also helping to establish a new Rotaract Club on CLU campus alongside the other Group 4 Rotary Clubs. In 2016, Kaitlyn sat on the District Conference Committee and attended Rotaract’s Big West Conference in Phoenix Arizona and again in 2017 in Long Beach California. In 2017 she had the privilege of attending the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta Georgia alongside thousands of Rotarians and Rotaractors from all over the world. During the RI convention she experienced the true meaning of world peace, and now actively encourages club members to participate in Conferences and Conventions so they can experience it as well. Kaitlyn is honored to represent her District during the 2018 Rose Parade. 
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asked if she could take in a few of them. In January 2000, twenty-one children were delivered to her! The non-profit Prashanti School was born. These children needed immediate 24/7 housing, food, clothing, medical care, and schooling. They were ragged, sick and traumatized. Back in the US, friends began a grassroots effort to provide funding to support these destitute children. Thus began World Family Foundation (WFF), based in Ojai, California, which in 2002 became a registered 501-c-3 non-profit to manage sponsorships and donations for the children of Prashanti School. WFF is an all volunteer service organization.
Over the years, it became increasingly apparent that the need for programs like Prashanti School in Puri goes far beyond any single disaster. Many, many children in the poor village areas are still trapped in the cycle of extreme poverty and low expectations that has defined their families for generations. Lack of basic literacy is a core problem, especially for women, where, in the villages, the rate of literacy can be as low as 25%. Many women can’t even sign their names – they sign with a thumbprint.
One request was for greater awareness in our Rotary district as this task force encompasses representatives from all four of our counties. This important topic reminded me of some keynote speakers at the just concluded Rotary Convention in Atlanta. Consider the following link featuring the famous actor Ashton Kutcher. See what you think…
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September 22, 2017 Introduction to Rotary, President-Elect Retreat, Santa Maria
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CLICK ON IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD FLYER
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As mentioned by DG Jim above and addressed in the May newsletter, everyone is invited to the biggest barn raising this side of Bakersfield – the District 5240 Awards and DG Stepdown Shindig! Trot on over to the Moorpark Country Club on Saturday, June 25 to munch on some vittles, do some whoopin' & hollerin', and lastly help Jim into the saddle as we "give him the boot". Be sure to let us know iffin yer comin' so we have enough grub. Western dress encouraged.
We traveled to the Los Olivos Rotary Club on the 19th of May. This was our second meeting with the club and we renewed our friendships. John Mathews, President-elect was very gracious and gave us a presidental welcome. We spoke about all the updates that we have encountered within the last month. Some of these are still shocking to us...Applebee’s restaurant chain has offered to let us do pancake breakfasts and we pay them a nominal fee and we keep the rest. We can also pass out flyers to different clubs and they give them to their server and Paws receives 15% of the bill, no alcohol involved! This can happen once a week, for over 600 restaurants...as long as we can get the Rotary Clubs in these areas on board. You pass out the flyers, go to dinner on a specific night, and Paws gets the monies. Most of these involved us using Interact kids and we give them half the profit. They love helping Paws! We have done two BBQs with them, both at Minors Hardware, one in Morro Bay and the other in Los Osos. They, Applebee's, saw one of our brochures and THEY called us...the word is getting out.
As Rotary year 2015-16 draws to a close, it's time for your District 5240 Newsletter team, Scott Phillips (President Elect, RC of Goleta Noontime) and me, to put away our quills, ink and keyboards as the new 2016-17 team, under the leadership of Becky Savell (RC of Simi Valley) takes control. Scott and I would like to thank all the loyal Rotarian readers, contributors and newsmakers who've made this year very memorable to us. A special thanks to District Governor Jim Bell for his stewardship and contributions.
In the days leading up to International Women’s Day 8 March, organizers of a Rotary event at the World Bank used social media and web pages to promote an event that was also streamed live. Thirteen times as many people watched the event online as attended in person, proving the value of the Internet in expanding an event’s reach.
Rotary members are among the first to reach out and offer help in times of disaster, including in Ecuador and Japan, where earthquakes have killed hundreds of people, injured thousands, and caused billions of dollars in damage. Rotary districts in both countries have established relief funds, and members are collaborating with governments and other agencies to direct assistance where it is needed most.
Looking to enhance your club membership experience? Do you want to find opportunities for growth in your club? Club and district leaders now have a set of updated 
Richard Regnier of Oxnard Rotary will be remembered as a gentleman, a scholar, a true renaissance man. He lived by his guiding principles: duty, honor, country and the pursuit of excellence. Dick attended Harvard University, graduated from West Point and was commissioned in 1955 as a pilot in the Air Force. After graduating from Bolt Hall Law School at U.C. Berkeley, he took a position with the Ventura County District Attorney's office and practiced law for 53 years. Dick's three great loves were baseball, dogs and golf. One of his favorite stories, and he was quite a storyteller, was during West Point's exhibition games against the NY Giants, he struck out Willie Mays four times. Perhaps Dick's greatest attribute was his generosity. His favorite motto was "Be kinder than necessary.” With his wife Georgianna, Dick went on NID to India to help eradicate polio. Always generous with his time, Dick touched many lives as a mentor, teacher, role model and friend. As a masterful speaker, he entertained, encouraged, inspired and motivated. He will be remembered for his intelligence, whit, humor, generosity and integrity. Memorial services will be held at Padre Serra, 5205 Upland Rd., Camarillo on Saturday, February 20th at 1:00pm. Condolences can be sent to 
Edward David “Skip” Faria died on Friday, January 8, 2016 at his home in Simi Valley. Skip was born on January 21, 1951 in Los Angeles, California and was known as “Skip” throughout his childhood years.
December 1, 1925 - January 12, 2016 Pierce Trowbridge Wetter, Jr, 87 of Simi Valley, CA passed away from complications resulting from his battle with Parkinson's. Pierce was born in New York City to Pierce Cobb Trowbridge Wetter and Gladys Amy Mock. Pierce was named in honor of an ancestor, William Pierce who owned the barbershop where the Boston Tea Party was planned. Graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, Pierce taught himself electronics and control system theory in the early days of the Aerospace industry. Serving in the Army at White Sands, NM, he loved the friendliness and openness of the people of the West and resolved to come West in time for the California Aerospace boom. Working at Philco in the San Jose area, he met and married Mary Lou Smith on March 22nd, 1959 in Santa Cruz, CA. Pierce and Mary Lou moved to Southern California for a job at a company called Canoga in Canoga Park. They had a son, Pierce III on December 23, 1966. In 1969 with 7 others, Pierce founded Datron Advanced Technologies. Pierce worked there until he retired from his Chief Scientist role at the age of 84, and was beloved at his workplace; it was common for the employees to refer to him as "Uncle Pierce." A lifelong learner, Pierce evaluated people on their capabilities, not their credentials, race or gender. Pierce demonstrated the power of lifelong learning when he was granted patent #6,078,296 at the age of 75. Datron and its subsidiaries continue to employ hundreds of people throughout the Southern California area. Datron has had several CEOs who began their careers working hands-on as technicians, then engineering, then to executive positions, all at Datron. Hands-on experience has paid off; Datron has a reputation for building systems that work reliably in the toughest environments on the planet. Pierce is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Wetter, 79, his sister Billie Alban, 90, his son, Pierce T. Wetter III and his wife Deanna, and six loving nieces and nephews. Services were held Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 10am. Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westlake Village, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd. The family asks that you do something simple and personal to further education. Give a gift card anonymously to the schoolteachers of your family and friends for classroom materials.
Want a tip on how to turn more prospective members into actual members? New Jersey Rotarian Michael Bucca says it’s all about getting to know a potential member’s interests, and explaining how your club will help them pursue their passions. This process of personalization is especially attractive to younger members.
The Rotary Creates Magic Show, is coming to the Theater on High Street in Moorpark at 7:30 pm on March 19, 2016. The 33rd Annual Rotary Fundraiser will bring the Theater alive with magic featuring World Class Magicians from Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle, including:
The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisors provides assistance and technical expertise to Rotarians planning and implementing projects, ensures the proper stewardship of Foundation grand funds, and assists Foundation trustees in the funding process. The cadre is composed of volunteer Rotarians from around the world who are familiar with the grant program and who also have technical and professional expertise in one or more of Rotary's six areas of focus.
Rotary's Young Professionals Campaign is a unique opportunity for our organization to develop innovative strategies to attract and engage young professionals and to equip and empower Rotary clubs to put those strategies into action. Through research, social media outreach, and the test of new creative concepts, Rotary is learning more about how young professionals view Rotary, why they volunteer, and how they make meaningful connections with other leaders. This campaign was made possible by a generous donation from a Major Donor. Click read more to read a letter that contains further information and the plan to send email in January to District and Club leaders.
The Rotaract Presidents of District 5240 are meeting for the first ever President's Retreat Saturday, March 19, 2016 in San Luis Obispo, CA. All Rotaract clubs in the district will be represented by either the current club president or a proxy to begin forming the Rotaract District Counsel led by the District Rotaract Chair, and District Rotaract Representative.
This year we have been invited by District Governor Ramon Medellin of District 4160 to visit his district and clubs following their District Conference in beautiful San Miguel de Allende, GTO. The dates of the Conference are April 29-30, which we are also invited to (information and cost will be available soon), with the Safari planned from Sunday the 1st and returning home on the 4th of May.
It is District Governor Jim Bell and my pleasure to announce the appointment of Joe Joyce to the vacant position of Director of Youth Service 2015-16. Joe is actively involved with the Interact and Rotaract Clubs in his area. He has been a member of Rotary since 2003 and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Newbury Park. Welcome Joe!
District Governor Jim Bell is pleased to confirm the District Nominating Committee selection of Sandra K. "Sandi" Schwartz as District Governor Nominee Designate who will serve as District Governor in Rotary year 2018-19.
Traditionally November is Rotary Foundation Month. The Rotary Foundation leads the charge in worldwide campaigns like End Polio Now and promoting Peace. And what better timing than to mention both of these now. Re: Polio — It looks like we will end this year with less than 70 cases of Polio in the world narrowed down to only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary Global Rewards is a new member benefit program designed to make membership even more rewarding for Rotarians. This exciting program includes discounts on products and services such as travel, car rentals, hotels, dining and entertainment. It's our way of giving back to those who give so much.
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On August 7, the Rotary Clubs of Group 8 made history in a parade that celebrates history.
Membership and Retention, the most important part of Rotary. August is designated as the month we focus on this, but every day, all of us should be an example of an organization that our friends and associates would want to join.
Longtime Lompoc Valley resident Edward “Chiefie” Everett passed away at the age of 95. Ed was the only child of Charles Everett and Maude Fodrill Everett. As a child, Ed acquired the nickname “Little Chiefie” because his father was Lompoc’s Fire Chief. Later it was shortened to just “Chiefie,” and to many that remained his name. Ed and his dad are portrayed on the mural on the side of the City Fire Station No. 1. Ed is the little boy sitting on the front seat of Lompoc’s first motorized fire truck.
Congratulations to the third Master 
Boy Scout Jason Caldwell wanted to fulfill his Eagle Scout project at a park. He contacted the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast to see if he could contribute to the Rotary Centennial Park on South College Drive. He planned to create the Cliff Dochterman Award Recipients’ Memorial, which would include a plaque and a designated area in the park that honors Service Through Scouting & Rotary.
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Join the Rotary Club of Ojai West for the Ojai Wine Festival at Lake Casitas from noon to 4 PM on June 14.
The 
In February 2015, the Nomad Foundation, with funding and staffing from the .jpg)
When Cal Poly takes on UC Santa Barbara on March 7, Rotary will be the winner. Buy tickets for $4 at 
23 February 1905: Rotary Club of Chicago the First of the Sixteen Clubs prior to the formation of the National Association of Rotary Clubs. First gathering, on Thursday evening, 23 February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. by attorney Paul P. Harris. Young Harris, fresh from a wild five years as a reporter, actor, cowboy, seaman, granite salesman, fruit picker and hotel clerk, five years building a successful law practice, then had an idea. It was regarding observations of success and respect which could come from organizing professional acquaintances. More years past. He had given this much thought by the time he and Silvester Schiele walked over to Gus Loehr's office, in Room 711 that cold winter night in 1905, almost 9 years from his arrival in Chicago. Several weeks later, Schiele was elected the first president of Rotary when the meeting was held in his office. Harris suggested several names, one of them being "Rotary." 
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