2nd Annual La Jolla Golden Triangle Wine Soiree
On May 16, join the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club in enjoying California and Baja Norte Wines while eating sizzling hot pizza from the outdoor oven.
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Oceanside Rotary Launch Oceanside Seeking Entrepreneurs Do you know of an entrepreneur or small business who may want to access to capital and community assistance? |
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District 5340 Youth Music Competition Results 2024-25The 2025 District 5340 Rotary Youth Instrumental Music Competition Finals took place on March 22 in Schulman Auditorium at Carlsbad City Library. And what a beautiful concert it was! More than sixty 14 to18 year old musicians competed throughout the district, in club contests sponsored by twelve participating clubs during the first two months of 2025. Our six distinguished Grand Finalist musicians represented fully half of the district's twelve participating clubs this year. Our $2000 Grand Prize Winner is violinist Ethan Zhou (sponsored by the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club), with Christina Grandinetti (sponsored by the San Marcos Rotary Club) placing second, performing on clarinet. The remarkable variety of instruments and talents was a delight to hear and see, with stellar performances on flute, jazz piano, violin, clarinet and piano, followed by a saxophone performance by last year's Distinguished Finalist, Ben Curley. RYIMC District Finals prize monies totaled nearly $5000 this year, subsidizing the studies and futures of six extraordinary young musicians. District 5340 proudly supports today's youth as they become tomorrow's leaders, and we feel certain that we will be seeing these names in prominent artistic contexts in the coming years.  2025 RYIMC District Finalists on March 22, 2025, at Schulman Auditorium: (l to r) Maggie Liang, Max Marchi, Chloe Li, Christina Grandinetti, Ethan Zhou and Bobby Latona  South Regionals contestants on Feb. 23, 2025, in Coronado: (l to r) Bobby Latona, Ged Patricio (& accompanist Christien Aguilar), Maggie Liang, Asher Bende, Felix Gray, (accompanist Forest Southerland) and Max Marchi  North Regionals contestants on Feb. 25, 2025, in Carlsbad: (l to r) Bodhi Landon, Chloe Li, Christina Grandinetti, Luke Mun, Daniel Kijoo Song and Ethan Zhou |
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Computer Lab & Digital Library for Students in LiberiaFor the second year in a row, the Rotary E-club of San Diego has formed a partnership with Destiny Hands International, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, USA, to deliver much-needed resources to students and teachers in Liberia. This initiative focuses primarily on improving educational access by equipping schools with computer labs and digital libraries, thereby helping students in underserved areas engage with technology and information that can enrich their learning experience. This year, the project was implemented at Foya Central High School, the largest public school in the district and the hometown of Liberia's President, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. It was on March 17, 2025, a remarkable delivery occurred at the school, featuring an innovative educational resource known as the SmartBox. This technology, developed by Innovative Education International, merges the functionalities of a computer lab with 20 laptop computers and a digital library into one compact unit, making it a valuable addition to the educational resources available at the school. The delivery of the SmartBox was spearheaded by Rotarian Benjamin Kettor, who serves both on the E-club and as the president and CEO of Destiny Hands. One of the standout features of the SmartBox is its ability to operate without an internet connection. This is incredibly important in regions where reliable internet access is often lacking, allowing students and educators to take full advantage of its educational materials at any time. In addition to providing the SmartBox, representatives from Destiny Hands also took active steps to address immediate community health needs during their visit. Over 75 schoolgirls received sanitary pads, which underscores a broader commitment to not only enhancing education but also addressing essential health concerns for young female students. Such initiatives are crucial—they empower girls to attend school consistently, allowing them to continue their studies with dignity. This project exemplifies an effective partnership involving several organizations, including Every Kid Plays Foundation, Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise, Compassion for African Villages, Link Aid and BETECH. The combined efforts of these groups reflect a shared commitment to improving educational opportunities for Liberian youth. This initiative aims to provide high school students with the technological skills essential for success in today’s digital world, ensuring they graduate equipped with the expertise needed for further education and their future careers. For organizations interested in being a part of this impactful educational project, there is an open invitation for collaboration. This initiative thrives on the notion that collective efforts can lead to substantial change, encouraging clubs and groups to participate and contribute in various ways. Those looking to get involved can reach out to Rotarian Benjamin Kettor at destinyhands21@gmail.com for information on how to help. Supported by this initiative, the aim is not just to provide technology, but to foster an environment where education can thrive. Building partnerships enhances the reach and effectiveness of these efforts, ensuring that students gain access to academic tools necessary to excel and develop critical skills that will serve them well in the future. The significance of this work is profound. In a world increasingly connected by technology, being computer literate is essential. By supporting these educational initiatives, we’re contributing to a brighter future for students in Liberia while also laying the groundwork for sustainable development in the area. Education is one of the most effective agents of change, and through collaborative initiatives, we have the power to uplift communities and democratize educational opportunities. Moving forward, the dedication showcased by organizations like the Rotary Eclub of San Diego Global and Destiny Hands International highlights the positive impact that compassion can have on communities. Future projects will continue to transform the educational landscape for many more students, ensuring their rights to education and growth are respected and upheld. Through collaboration and partnership, we can create lasting opportunities for students, paving the way toward a brighter future for them and their communities. Every effort, no matter how small, counts in creating meaningful change in the field of education.  |
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Rotarians Participates in NAMI Walk District 5340 had a great Rotary team participate in the annual NAMI walk in Liberty Station. Over 40 walkers raised $5,500+ for NAMI in San Diego and Imperial County. About 123 walking teams and 2500+ walkers participated today and combined raised over $190,000 for mental health. Additionally, the Wellness Expo had over 80 service providers with tabletop exhibits showcasing services and providing much needed education on mental health. For more information about our District Chapter of the RAH-Mental Health Initiatives contact alanturner.rotary@gmail.com. |
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District Governor's Dinner Join us for a magical evening celebrating District's 5340's 2024/25 accomplishments and the leadership of District Governer Dianne Crawford. |
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Rotary Reefs The Rotary Reefs project is an initiative aimed at restoring coral reef ecosystems through the creation of artificial reefs, providing habitats for marine life and combating the effects of climate change. Coral reefs are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. Some of their functions include:
These ecosystems are a vital part of our functioning planet. Unfortunately, coral reefs are dying due to climate change and Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Climate change impacts such as ocean acidification and warming waters and contributing to coral bleaching and death. The most recent mass coral bleaching in 2017 affected more than 70% of coral reefs. Rotary Reefs are sustainable because they are seeded with hearty strains of coral resistant to heat. These corals grow rapidly, providing habitat for other aquatic species and are substantially more resilient to heat and acidification. The heart of the Rotary reef is an innovative steel and concrete 200-ft reef structure designed in the shape of Rotary wheels. 7 large outer wheels (representing Rotary’s 7 areas of focus) and multiple smaller wheels and spoke structures. These structures provide ample surface area for (heat resilient) coral attachment, shelter for various fish species, and shade to protect developing corals. By fostering coral growth, the reefs enhance marine biodiversity and offer sustainable habitats for aquatic life. The Rotary Reef Program won 2nd place in the World by the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group. THREE COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. How can Rotary Clubs participate in the Rotary Reefs project? Rotary Clubs can get involved by sponsoring reefs, partnering with other clubs or organizations, or supporting reef construction financially. Sponsorship options include full or partial funding of reefs, with each small reef costing $2,500 and each large reel costing $5000. Clubs can also collaborate to sponsor a reef collectively. 2. What does the sponsorship support exactly?
3. What benefits does sponsoring a reef offer to Rotary Clubs? Sponsoring a reef allows clubs to contribute to environmental sustainability by restoring coral ecosystems. Benefits include having a reef dedicated to the sponsoring club and its president, receiving GPS coordinates of the reef's location, and obtaining updates on the reef's progress. Additionally, clubs receive educational materials to promote environmental awareness among members and the broader community. If you are a snorkeler or diver, you will have the opportunity to see your club’s reef through Rotary sponsored travel. 4. How does the Rotary Reefs project contribute to environmental sustainability? The project addresses the degradation of coral reefs caused by climate change and human activities. By creating artificial reefs, it provides habitats for marine life, supports biodiversity, and helps restore balance to ocean ecosystems. This initiative aligns with Rotary International's focus on environmental sustainability and offers clubs a tangible way to make a positive environmental impact. 5. May DDFs be used for these projects? Yes, this is an ongoing project and you will be able to show that your DDFs have been used withing the Rotary year. |
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A Family Gets a New HomeApril 18 was a very special day for a family of six. Rotarians changed the lives of six people in only about six hours. Members of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary, La Mesa Rotary, Chula Vista-Eastlake Rotary and Mt. Miguel Interact built a home for the Barocio Reyes family, in partnership with Project Mercy Baja - Community Development Projects Inc. Members of the family worked alongside Rotarians to build their new home. he family was presented keys to their new home. The happiest part of the day - handing the keys over to the parents. What was a long day, produced memories for a lifetime and an improved living environment for a wonderful and humble family.  |
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The Importance of Urban Forests When considering the benefits of trees and green spaces, large rainforests and redwood forests often come to mind. While these are important to the planet, the trees in urban areas also provide significant benefits for our health, our communities, and the environment. Expanding the tree canopy in San Diego can be an impactful club service project that encompasses all of Rotary's areas of focus while leaving a significant and lasting legacy. Read more to understand why and how. |
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Oceanside Independence Day Parade |
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Low Tide Ride and Stride Coronado Rotary’s Low Tide Ride & Stride is a fantastic, FAMILY FRIENDLY and fun 5K happening June 28th, 2025. Start Time – 8am. |
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Save the Date - Gallop for Rotary! Get ready for a day at the Del Mar Racetrack where the turf meets the surf. Gallop for Rotary promises a day full of exciting thoroughbred races and Rotarian fellowship. Mark your calendars now. More information will be forthcoming as we enter the summer season.
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BEERnardo Festival Coming in October! |
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Bowl for a Cause Join the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club for a evening of bowling and fellowship while supporting local causes. |
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Operation Flags for Vets Rotary District 5340 is very proud to announce the second annual “Operation Flags for Vets”. Rotarians from the district will place small American flags at gravesites at Miramar National Cemetery (MNC) to commemorate Memorial Day. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Provides Grant to Outside the LensOn Tuesday, April 15th, the Executive Director of OTL, Sarah Beckman, accepted a grant from the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary for $10,000 to be used to purchase MacBooks. Sarah, also, presented a program to the club. Outside The Lens (OTL) is a San Diego-based nonprofit that inspires young people to become storytellers and changemakers through media arts. K-12 and transitional age (18-24) students learn more than technical skills in digital photography, graphic design, filmmaking, and emerging media, they also develop expertise in critical thinking, creative expression, and visual literacy. For more than 20 years, Outside the Lens has made a significant impact on the lives of more than 27,000 youth through its adaptable curriculum and programs. OTL has targeted underserved communities, including San Diego’s Juvenile Court and Community schools, providing a platform for creative expression and media literacy.  Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary Members Donna Maytum, Susan Josephson, Aryanna Edwards, Bob Chalfa, Judi Copeland, Lee Kaminetz, Stan Vogelsang and Outside The Lens Executive Director Sarah Beckman. |
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Hillcrest Rotary Official 1st Meeting! On April 14, a few members of the Mission Valley Evening Rotary club attended their recently established satellite club - Hillcrest Rotary's first official meeting! |
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Post Your Rotarian at Work Day Projects & Photos Photo from March 2020: Operation Camp Pendleton with the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle April 26th is Rotarians at Work Day! Rotarians around the globe will engage in hands-on community service projects to make a tangible IMPACT on their communities. |
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EPIC Day of Service Slated for May 17! The EPIC Day of Service is a grassroots initiative, organized by Rotarians from participating clubs and districts. |
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District Training Assembly Presentations on Website We are very excited to share that all the presentations made at the District Training Assembly are now available for you to watch in the comfort of your home or office. |
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Please Welcome Our New Members Each month we will provide a new listing of all the members who joined in the prior month. Club presidents no longer need to submit their new members. The list will be generated from the district, leaving one less thing for President's to think about. |
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April is Environmental Protection Month Dear Rotary Family, April brings our attention to one of Rotary's most vital Area of Focus - Protecting the Environment. |
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District Training Assembly Exceeds Expectations On Saturday, District Governor Dianne Crawford kicked of Rotary District 5340's highly anticipated 2025 Training Assembly at the Liberty Station Conference Center. With over 300 energized and engaged Rotary volunteers in attendance, this was the most highly attended Assembly in District history—a clear sign of momentum as we prepare to welcome District Governor Elect Luis R Carranza to his term for the 2025–2026 Rotary year. Participants explored a wide range of Avenues of Service topics, including International Service, Youth Programs, Fundraising, Membership Growth, Public Image, and Digital Tools for Clubs. These breakout sessions were led by District 5340 Master Trainers and featured Rotary International experts Laura Mello and John Chase, alongside neighboring District Governors Albert Hernandez, Gilda Moshir, Dan Ouweleen, Craig Livingston, and Alex J Parajón, who shared valuable best practices. |
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Model UN a Great Experience for Student Participants Our District 5340 was the first Rotary District in the United States to implement a Rotary Model United Nations Program, started by our District’s Pathways to Peace Committee nineteen years ago. Rotary International has a long and proud association with the U.N, with Rotarians involved in its charter, and having the highest consultative status of any nongovernmental organization. We are partners with the U.N. in our PolioPlus initiative. Rotary clubs select teams of two high school students and one advisor, who can be a Rotarian, teacher or parent. A club can sponsor more than one team. Several months before the Conference, the students are given two current-day UN Resolutions to address and will undergo a day of training in analytical and negotiating skills, what to expect at the actual Conference and then the students select the countries to which they will become ambassadors. Advisors are also given training and advised of our District’s Youth Protection Policy. Being Rotary, we deliberately recruit students from a cross section of San Diego and Riverside County schools, including inner city schools, charter schools for underprivileged students and more recognized high schools, as well as students from many international countries to give our Conference a true UN flair. In this way, students from a variety of backgrounds get to interact and become friends with each other. MUN students can be from freshmen to seniors. This year, nearly 100 talented students from high schools across the district gathered at the City of Del Mar Civic Center on March 22 for the 2025 Model United Nations. In true UN fashion, students represented countries from all over the world and debated two very important resolutions:
Following all speeches, final amendments to the resolutions were presented and accepted by the group. Special VIP guest Jeffrey Dort, Deputy District Attorney addressed the students. Awards and flag exchanges followed. None of this could have happened without the extraordinary leadership of co-chairs Klaus Gubernator, Kevin Cahill, Gina Woodard and Issac Jackson. If you would like to be part of the team that makes this event happen, please contact any of the co-chairs to learn more. The District put together a very compelling video showcasing the event that you will want to see. Click here to view.
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Pancho Fights Polio! The Chula Vista Rotary club has found a fun way for members to keep the fight against polio front of mind. To kick off the year, naming rights for the piggy bank were won by the highest bidder and Pancho the Polio Pig was born. Every week, Pancho is circulated among members and guests for donations – there is even a QR code on one side for those without cash – and to date nearly $2000 has been collected. He has different outfits throughout the year, and some say he looks like the club’s President Jesse Fernandez.
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Online Access Now Available for Global Grants Seminar & Quiz The 2025-26 Global Grants Seminar and Global Grants Quiz are now posted on the District 5340 website. |
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Leading the Charge in Community Cleanups and Stewardship Rotarians help clean up their neighborhood one block at a time. Scott Horst, District Environmental Sustainability Litter Cleanup Ambassador, Escondido After 5 Rotary Club & Street Stewards, is leading efforts to tackle litter pollution around the San Diego Region and beyond. |
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World Immunization Week April 23-30 World Immunization Week is fast approaching on 24-30 April. This is a critical time to raise awareness about the importance of immunization and the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. |
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Join Us on the Rotary District 5340 Cruise
We are delighted to invite you to a 7-day Silversea cruise through the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska, all in support of the Rotary Foundation. Indulge in luxury accommodations, gourmet dining, and curated excursions as we sail through majestic glaciers and vibrant coastal towns. Secure your spot on this remarkable voyage and join us in making a difference!
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Baseball is Back - Support Our Padres Baseball is happening in San Diego. You will not want to miss out in joining Rotarians in supporting our Padre team. DODGERS GAME IS SOLD OUT! Tickets are still available for all remaining games. Don't miss out, purchase tickets now before they are sold out.
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Encinitas Rotary 22nd Annual Wine and Food Festival The Encinitas Rotary Club invites you to experience their 22nd Annual Encinitas Wine and Food Festival on June 7 from 4 to 7 PM. |
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La Jolla Receives a Gift from Rotary Rotarians from the Rotary Club of La Jolla wanted to do something special for the community. Realizing that there were no welcoming signs to their beautiful community, they decided to create one and include a lovely garden to accent its location. They wanted something that would bring smiles to traveler's faces as they enter the community from Freeway 52. That ugly word - COVID - stopped them dead cold. They had to shelve the idea for a while, but they never lost the dream of wanting to create a welcoming sign. The project was later resurrected, and this is the end result of their efforts. But they didn't do it alone. Someone offered to design the sign pro bono and a Rotarian from La Jolla Sunrise designed the garden, also pro bono, and procured the plants. Many community organizations, businesses and individuals joined them in contributing to the project, including the other three area Rotary clubs. The City Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to maintain the garden as part of its gas tax median efforts. The stand-alone Rotary wheel was used rather than the logo from the Rotary Club of La Jolla in acknowledgment of the contributions from the other area Rotary clubs - it was a true joint venture. You can see the welcoming sign at the intersection of La Jolla Parkway and La Jolla Shores Drive.
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Freedom Park Legacy BricksJoin your District 5340 Rotary and leave a legacy in Freedom Park at Navy Pier. Currently reserved are 64 bricks for clubs, and an additional 45 bricks for individual Rotarians to purchase. The individuals' bricks are first-come, first-serve. As a club, or a Rotarian, purchase your brick today! |
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Coronado Rotary Club - District 5340’s First 100% PolioPlus Society Club Congratulations to the Coronado Rotary Club, District 5340’s first 100% PolioPlus Society Club! DG Dianne celebrated the Club’s generosity with President Pat and Club members this week. A PolioPlus Society Club requires all members to commit at least $100 to PolioPlus each year until Polio is eradicated. For information, please visit https://rotary5340.org/sitepage/polio-plus-society. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 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. Rotary members have contributed over $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort. Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with seven cases reported this year. However, 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. As you know there has been an uptick in polio cases in war-torn areas of the middle east. We must remain vigilant. As we begin the last quarter of this Rotary year, let’s push to end Polio. Rotary International has asked each Rotary club to donate $1500 or more to www.EndPolio.org. We appreciate your consideration and thank you for all you do to make the world a better place. |
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9th Annual Golf Ball Drop and Silent Auction Have you ever watched hundreds of gall balls fall from a helicopter onto the greens of the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course! Now is your change. Participate and you could win up to $2000 while supporting the club's charitable organizations. |
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NAMIWalk Set for April 26 Once again, Rotary District 5340 is a major sponsor for NAMIWalks San Diego. The National Alliance on Mental Illness in San Diego (NAMI San Diego) is the community’s voice on mental illness. Join the District 5340 Team for a short walk that will be long on inspiration! |
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Special Guests Visit the Rotary Club of FallbrookDuring the week Feb 7-14 the Rotary Club of Fallbrook hosted 5 educators and 1 facilitator from Estonia in the Rotary Open World Program. These special guests were given a fun filled and very full week of presentations from 3 different local school districts and local non-profits on Educational/Societal Solutions for Children with Special Needs. This program, which is funded by the US Congress, brings current and future leaders from post-Soviet countries to the United States. The visitors stay in Rotarian volunteer’s homes. In addition to the Special Education aspects, the delegates received an introduction to U.S. family and community life.  |
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Rotary BeachFest Fundraiser on June 21 on Moonlight Beach! Switchfoot BroAM and the Beachfest June 21, 2025 6:00am to 5:00pm Moonlight Beach Join Brett Morey, past president of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Club and the founder and chairman of the Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship, for a huge surf and musical fundraising event which typically brings in over $200,000 for local charities. The band SwitchFoot, shown above, will be performing to make it a really exciting event.
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Sub-Regional Winners Move on to Next Round Photo: (L-R) Nicholas De Sena from Coronado High School, Mirshah Misirlioglu from the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Toby Whittaker and Vivian Nguyen both from Hoover High School. On Tuesday, March 18th, Old Mission Rotary hosted a sub-regional round of the District 5340's Four Way Test Speech Contest. All four participants were exceptional and did extremely well incorporating the Four Way Test into their presentations. The winner was Toby Whittaker who is a senior at Hoover High School. He was dressed in thrift store clothing including a burgundy sports coat and opened up with a song from Funny Girl. Toby presented a creative and compelling argument for purchasing and wearing secondhand clothes. Second place was Nicholas De Sena from Coronado High School. He methodically argued that the Inclusive Language Movement oversimplifies things and can lead to incorrect assumptions. Toby and Nicholas will be participating in the next round of the contest. There were two other finalists: Mirshah Misirlioglu is senior at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace and warned us of the dangers of false and malicious social media posting from teens that target other teens. She was the most natural and relaxed speaker. Vivian Nguyen is a senior at Hoover High School and discussed the challenges of immigrant children growing up in American society. She remembered her embarrassment when her Vietnamese mother picked her up from elementary school on her blue bike while the other children were picked up by parents in nice cars! Her very proud mom attended the contest. |
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Vines and Vittles Family Festival Looking for some for the kiddos. Come on out to Webb Park in Rancho Bernardo on Saturday, May 31 from 2-5:00PM. You will find bounce houses, face painting, bubble artists, music, a nationally renowned ventriloquist Joe Gandelman, lemonade, popcorn, ice cream and more. Kids are free!!!!!
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Water Sanitation and Hygiene Month Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: A Call to Action Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene is not just a necessity—it’s a basic human right. Yet, millions of people worldwide, including right here in the United States, face significant challenges in these areas. While we often associate these issues with developing nations, communities across our own country struggle with contaminated water, lack of sanitation infrastructure, and hygiene insecurity. Take, for example, Flint, Michigan, where lead-contaminated water created a public health crisis. In the Navajo Nation, many residents still lack access to clean running water. Homeless populations in our own communities often struggle to find safe restrooms and handwashing facilities, increasing their risk of illness. Closer to home residents of Imperial Beach are now complaining of illnesses as a result of the sanitation issues in the water. As Rotarians, we have the power to make a difference. Clubs can support water filtration projects locally and abroad, partner with organizations to provide hygiene kits for homeless shelters, and advocate for clean water policies. Hosting community education sessions on water conservation and sanitation can also create lasting change. This month let’s commit to action—because no one should have to live without these essential resources. How will your club contribute to this vital cause? |
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SDSU Invites You to Their 1st Annual Networking Event The SDSU Rotaract Club is excited to invite you to join them for their first annual networking event to be held on April 13, 2025, in Montezuma Hall on the college campus. The networking event will run from 5-7:00PM. We hope you will be able to join them for a night of facilitating new relationships, food, fun and activities. This event is open to Rotaractors, Interactors and Rotarians. For more information, please scan the QR code above.
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A Comedic Showstopper Slated for March 21 The Point Loma Rotary Club presents its 22nd Annual Comedy Night at The United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall, 2818 Avenida de Portugal, San Diego, CA 92016 on Friday, March 21.
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Backpacks for Human Trafficking Survivors The San Diego Human Trafficking Taskforce, of which Rotary is part of, is holding a backpack drive to assist survivors with some very basic needs and is seeking donations to further that cause. Please scan the QR code above to donate directly. If you choose to provide items listed above, please contact sdcommunityinfo@gmail.com for drop-off instructions. |
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Please Welcome Our Newest MembersEach month we will provide a new listing of all the members who joined in the prior month. Club presidents no longer need to submit their new members. The list will be generated from the district, leaving one less thing for President's to think about. Please welcome all our new members who joined in the month of February 2025:
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Join Us for the Model UN Conference The Model UN Committee invites you to attend the 2025 Model UN Conference being held on March 22-23 at Del Mar City Hall. The times are noted above. Don't miss your opportunity to see our student ambassadors engage in enlightening policy discussions. You won't be disappointed.
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Member Guide and Business Directory Now Available District 5340 is proud to announce that its new Member Guide and Business Networking Directory is now available.
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Don't Delay Sign Up Now for District Training Assembly It's time to register for the FREE District Training Assembly that will be held at the end of the month. The Assembly is promised to be a very worthwhile experience where you will take away some great ideas on how to make clubs better than ever. Infused with new energy and engaging topics, you will be thrilled you attended. |
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Ocean Beach Cleanup Scheduled for April 5 On April 5, please join us in helping protect our ocean, waves and beaches by participating in this public cleanup hosted by the Surfrider Foundation San Diego Chapter, the Point Loma Rotary Club, the San Diego Blood Bank, and local merchants. The time and location are noted above.
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You Are Invited to the Youth Instrumental Music Competition Finals Please join us in Carlsbad for an extraordinary concert on Saturday afternoon, March 22, at the 2025 Rotary Youth Instrumental Music Competition Finals Concert. |
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Dust Off Your Cowboy Boots Dust off your cowboy boots and round up your posse and join the Rotary Club of Escondido After 5 on March 15, 2025 for a fun wild-west themed party. |
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Rotary's Legacy of Peace Rotary's Legacy of Peace: 120 Years of Service and a Future of Possibilities As Rotary celebrates its 120th anniversary and marks February as Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month, we reflect on its enduring commitment to fostering peace worldwide. From its early days advocating for international understanding to its modern-day peace initiatives, Rotary has remained a steadfast force for good. The Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP) stands as a testament to this legacy, uniting Rotarians in the pursuit of a more peaceful world. A Journey Through Peace Milestones Rotary has played a critical role in global peace efforts. Some key milestones include: 1917 – Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph proposed an endowment fund, which became The Rotary Foundation, dedicated to humanitarian service and peace. 1921 – Rotary officially incorporated the promotion of peace into its mission at the Edinburgh Convention. 1940 – Rotary’s principles shaped the framework for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at its Havana Convention. 1942 – Rotary clubs convened in London to discuss post-war education and reconstruction, laying the groundwork for UNESCO. 1945 – Rotary participated in the United Nations charter conference, providing 11 official observers. 1985 – The launch of PolioPlus, Rotary’s largest global initiative, significantly advanced health security and peace. 1992 – The world’s first Rotary Peace City was established in Wagga Wagga, Australia. 1999 – The Rotary Peace Centers program was developed to educate leaders in peace and conflict resolution. 2002 – The first class of Rotary Peace Fellows began their studies. 2012-2015 – Rotary hosted multiple Peace Symposia and established key partnerships for global peace efforts. 2017 – Rotary International partnered with the Institute for Economics and Peace, emphasizing positive peace. 2018 – Rotary Peace Fellow alumni surpassed 1,000, working in over 100 countries. Milestones from 2019 to 2025 The years following 2018 have seen even greater strides in peacebuilding: 2019 – Rotary launched the Positive Peace Activator Program, training peacebuilders globally. 2020 – The Rotary Peace Fellowship expanded to include an additional certificate program in Uganda. 2021 – Rotary announced the seventh Peace Center at Bahçeşehir University in Turkey. 2023 – Rotary’s partnership with the United Nations marked 75 years, reinforcing global collaboration for peace. 2024 – Rotary surpassed 1,600 Peace Fellows, with alumni impacting over 130 countries. 2025 – The Rotary Action Group for Peace continues expanding its reach, connecting peacebuilders in over 100 countries. The Future of Peacebuilding in Rotary As we look forward, Rotary’s role in peacebuilding will only grow stronger. With new initiatives, expanded partnerships, and innovative programs, Rotary remains dedicated to its mission of creating a more just and peaceful world. The Rotary Action Group for Peace invites all Rotarians and peacebuilders to engage in this journey—whether by supporting Peace Fellowships, participating in peace projects, or simply fostering goodwill in their communities. As we celebrate 120 years of Rotary, let us reaffirm our commitment to peace and service. Together, we can continue making a difference for generations to come. |
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Unite for Good - New Presidential Theme Rotary President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo has revealed the 2025-2026 presidential message, Unite for Good. |
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DG Dianne Crawford Signs the Pollinator Resolution & Pledge PHOTO L-R: Carter Stafford, President of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club; Amelie Catheline, Chair of the District Environmental Sustainability Committee; Dianne Crawford, District Governor of Rotary District 5340; Jay Klopfenstein, Pollinator Ambassador for the DES. Pollinators are essential for human food security, but their populations have fallen catastrophically under the combined assault of habitat loss, pesticides, and disease. By signing a simple, non-binding Pollinator Resolution, District Governor Dianne Crawford shows her concern for the state of pollinators and aims at inspiring Rotary clubs and their communities to create pollinator habitats to help save and protect pollinators. The District Environmental Sustainability (DES) committee has included a Saving Pollinators topic under their Environmental Ambassador Program. Jay Klopfenstein from the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club is the Pollinator Ambassador in our District and can give presentations to Clubs. We encourage other clubs to sign the resolution and pledge to take action for the pollinators provided by the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG). Projects you do are based on your capacity and capability. No project is too big or too small. Rotarians have planted pollinator gardens, developed pollinator signs, and distributed seeds to others. For more information visit Operation Pollination. Pollinator projects are a perfect match for Rotary’s strengths: our talent for creating fun, community-wide service projects, our skill in building partnerships across every sector of society, and our District and international networks that make it easy to replicate effective projects. Pollinator gardens literally change the landscape, proving to communities that they have the power to protect the biodiversity we humans need to survive. |
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Holtville to Hold Pulled Pork Cook Off April is a great time to take a leisure drive to the town of Holtville. There is no better motivation than a delicious plate of pulled pork and a cornhole tournament. On April 12, join the Holtville Rotary Club for a fabulous afternoon of food, music and games. There will be cash prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, plus People's Choice and best side dish. Continue reading to learn how to enter the competition. |
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Newsbits on Hold Until Mid-March Please note that our Newsbits Editor, Sandy Pugliese will be having back surgery and will be out of commission for a brief period of time. It is our best guess that Newsbits will be up and running again mid-March. Any pertinent information sharing from the district will be sent via email. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
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30 Thousand High-Protein Meals Packaged by Rotarians Rotary District 5340 and Torrey Pines Church partnered with The Outreach Program on the Torrey Pines campus to package 30,000 high-protein meals to support LA fire recovery efforts. More than 100 volunteers worked on a hands-on assembly-line style project to package 30,000 meals in less than 2 hours. The nutrient-dense, shelf-stable, protein-rich, and easy to prepare meals are formulated in collaboration with Iowa State University’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. “Wherever there are people in need that’s where you will find Rotary” says Dianne Crawford, District Governor, Rotary 5340. Rotarians throughout California, the US and across the globe have responded to help victims of the wildfires. Whether it’s providing financial assistance, donating goods and services or providing temporary housing Rotary is involved in the recovery. By partnering with organizations like The Outreach Program we can quickly get meals to those in need and demonstrate the impact of volunteering.” “Joining the incredible response in Southern California to help families affected by the wildfires, we are providing a hands-on way for people to get involved and give back,” says Chris Romero, West Coast Regional Director for The Outreach Program. “By bringing volunteers together to package these meals, we hope to inspire more volunteerism and provide a way for people in San Diego to positively impact what’s happened in LA County.” Founded in the Midwest, The Outreach Program was the first to engineer the meal packaging process back in 2004 and has since helped volunteer groups across the country package and donate over 925 million meals to domestic and international feeding organizations. The Outreach Program, in partnership with donors and packaging associates across the US, supports the work of California food banks and has responded to natural disasters and conflicts with nutritious meals and food relief. |
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Rotary Creates Magic Come see five amazing magicians from the Magic Castle on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 7:00PM at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center Theater! This fundraising event for the Encinitas Rotary Club will prove to be a wonderment for all. |
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It's Time to Start Thinking About LEAD |
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Access to Storage Unit Now Available We are always looking for ways to improve clubs' "Rotary Experience." Clubs will now have access to check out equipment from the district's storage unit. |
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Trivia Night 2025
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El Cajon Rotarian Selected as Citizen of the Year It is with great pride that the El Cajon Rotary Club announces that one of its own members, Tim McDougal has been selected as the El Cajon Citizen of the Year for 2025. Tim is a natural leader with a long-standing history in his hometown of El Cajon and with the El Cajon Rotary Club. |
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February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month February is a significant month for Rotary, not only because it marks the anniversary of our first meeting on February 23, 1905, but also because it serves as a global reminder of our commitment to peace. This day, now recognized as *World Understanding and Peace Day*, reinforces Rotary’s mission to create environments where peace can be built and sustained. |
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Rotary Social Welcoming New Members District 5340 is rolling out the red carpet for all our newest Rotarians, and you’re invited to join the fun! |
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Expert Chats for February |
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Rotary Club of Holtville Celebrates its 100th Anniversary It was a wonderful afternoon of celebration and memories for the members of the Rotary Club of Holtville and the guests in attendance. Rotarians shared stories of the club and Rotarian Brooks Anderholt gave a beautiful tribute to all 51 of the club’s charter members which included a blacksmith, farmers, school officials and city leaders. Among the many projects the club has supported they are most proud of giving over $1 million in scholarships to students in the community since the 1950’s. The club received numerous proclamations from the City, County, School District and Chamber of Commerce. The District Leadership team attended led by District Governor Dianne who presented a certificate of recognition from Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick. Congratulations Rotary Club of Holtville, here’s to your next century of service!!
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Old Mission Rotary Awards Grants Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt members Donna Maytum, Judi Copeland, Aryanna Edwards, Shari Stauder, stan Vogelsang, Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa, Art Pratt President Lee Kaminetz and San Diego Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramirez. On Tuesday, January 21st, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $9800 grant to the Speckels Organ Society for a Pipe Organ Kit to be used for educational programs at local schools. A pipe organ kit is a set of various components like pipes, bellows, and keys that allow students to build a functional pipe organ that can be played so they can understand how a real pipe organ works. The grant was accepted by San Diego Civic Organist Raul Prieto Ramirez who reminded us that all public organ concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion are free! Also, the club's Art Pratt Foundation issued grant check of $8,114 to Media Arts Center San Diego for purchasing filmmaking equipment. The Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD) evolved out of the San Diego Latino Film Festival, which started in 1993 and has grown from a festival to a mid-size organization with diverse statewide programs and services for residents, visitors, and independent and amateur filmmakers. MACSD has been teaching media arts classes and workshops to youth for over 17 years both in and outside the classroom. The organization focuses on serving people of marginalized communities by using media as a tool for social change and artistic expression.  Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt members Susan Josephson, Shari Stauder and Judi Copeland. Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz and Art Pratt member Aryanna Edwards. Accepting the Art Pratt grant were Seth Gadsden, Programs and Grant Manager and Mizar Martin, Teaching Artist & Community Producer of the Media Arts Center of San Diego. Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa is behind them. |
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Over 1000 WAPIs BuiltUCSD Rotaractors have much to be proud of. Their 10 Annual WAPI project was a whopping success. Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors from throughout the district joined in to build and test water pasteurization indicators (WAPIs) that will be sent to resource-poor regions across the world. WAPIs are reusable wax capsules that indicate when heated water has reached pasteurization temperature before boiling point and is safe to be consumed. In some areas of the world, communities collect water from natural sources, which are often ridden with disease-causing bacteria. WAPIs allow these communities to access safe water more efficiently and save on resources. The event yielded over 1000 WAPIs and this year they will be send the country of CHAD.   |
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Enjoy the Sunset on a Cruise for a Cause Join the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club for Vino & Velvet Cruise for a Cause. Sip, savor, and sail for a great cause! Enjoy a glass of bubbly paired with a slice of red velvet delight as you cruise into the sunset. This is an evening of fun and fundraising.
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Connect with us on WhatsApp We’re on WhatsApp! Find updates on exciting Rotary projects, useful news, and plenty of fun. Visit the channel here. Then click ‘Follow’ in the upper right corner of your screen. (To read the channel in the future, click ‘Updates’ or ‘Channels’ in the menu bar.)
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Rotary's Response to U.S.'s Plan to Withdraw from World Health Organization On January 22, 2024, Rotary responded to the recent announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). We remain resolute in our mission to eradicate polio. As a founding partner of the GPEI, Rotary has for decades worked closely with all the GPEI partners, the U.S. government, and other governments to end polio worldwide. This effort has reduced the number of children paralyzed by polio by 99.9% since 1988. The global effort to eradicate polio has innovated many times over the years to come close to protecting every last child. |
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2025 Zone Institute Albuquerque Embark on a Rotary Journey Like No Other! From October 23-25, 2025, the Rotary Institute will take you on an unforgettable journey along Rotary Route 66.
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Wildfire Disaster Relief Fires across the Los Angels area have killed at least 27 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and charred more than 60 square miles. The Palisades and Eaton wildfires continue to burn as of this writing. Learn how you can help (includes local projects). |
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Join Us on the "Last Mile" To End Polio Polio continues to be Rotary’s top priority. Rotary and its partners have reduced the incidence of polio by 99.9% but unless we eradicate polio, within 10 years, as many as 200,000 new cases could occur worldwide each year. No child anywhere is safe until we completely eradicate this disease. Rotary needs your help - we have reached a critical point. |
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Governor's Dinner Slated for June 7 Mark your calendars today for District 5340's Governor's Dinner slated for Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Mission Valley Marriott!
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TIME SENSITIVE - Help Rotaractors to Reach Their Goal of 800 WAPIs Rotaract at UC San Diego extends an invitation to participate in their 10th Annual WAPI Project on Sunday, January 26th from 10am - 4pm (feel free to arrive and depart anytime throughout the event). As one of their bigger projects, they would like to have District 5340 join them to foster collaboration between the Rotaract and Rotary organizations while positively serving our global community. |
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Vocational Services Month January is Vocational Service Month. When we talk about Rotary as a service organization, many think about the community service projects that Rotarians champion around the world. However, Rotary’s roots are also deeply embedded in our Vocational Service, which calls on us to use our unique professional experience and skills to address community needs in novel ways. Additionally, Vocational Service is a way we can bring the high ethical standards of Rotary to our professions and help grow leaders in our industries. Tips on Engaging in Vocational Service Share the concept of the Rotary 4-Way Test with people in your professional network. Imagine the increase in communication, collaboration, and goodwill if we paused and applied the following in what we think, say, and do.  Introduce your professional contacts to Rotary!
Promote a vocational project.
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Rotary Podcasts Available to All Did you know there is an extension to the Rotary Magazine? It's a podcast called Rotary Voices. Rotary Voices features in-depth interviews with thought leaders, Rotary news updates, and immersive stories from Rotary magazine.
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The Service Project Center, Rotary’s new Digital Platform for Service Activities, has Launched. Rotary members and program participants are improving lives in communities around the world every day through thousands of service projects. Explore the good work that we’re doing locally and globally and share these projects through social media. |
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Jimmy Carter Remembered Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter spent his life fighting for peace: from brokering the 1978 peace talks between Egypt and Israel to paving the way for a nuclear pact between the U.S. and North Korea in 1994. Sharing his vision for peace, Rotary members often worked in tandem with organizations Carter supported. In remembrance of this great humanitarian, read this interview with Carter from the February 2018 issue of Rotary magazine.  Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of work resolving international conflicts and advancing human rights.
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This Will Be a Great New Year for Rotary |
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Free QPR Training for Suicide Prevention As CPR is for the heart, QPR is for the mind. We are proud to provide you with an opportunity for you to learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, effective ways to have conversations, and methods to provide help and hope to someone contemplating suicide.
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Donate Blood on January 10, 2025 Have you made a New Year's resolution? If not, or if you wish to include an additional one, how about adding donating blood to that list. |
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Membership Seminar Around the Corner Join us for an informative District Membership Seminar on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 9:00 - 10:30AM via Zoom. The seminar has a very engaging agenda so don't miss out.
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A Holiday Message from DG Dianne Crawford District Dianne Crawford shares the genisus of the Holiday Parade of Lights in St. Martin, a town where her mother made an impact. |
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Courage, Character and ConfidenceOn Tuesday, December 17th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $7000 to the Girl Scouts of San Diego for a new electrical breaker box for Camp Winacka near Julian. The aging electrical system from 1973, in the Morningside campgrounds will receive a much-needed upgrade. Girl Scouts Director of Philanthropy, Karen Cook, and Foundations Relations Officer, Tracy Browns accepted the funds and presented a fun and informative program on Girl Scouting in San Diego. They Light Up the World Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts lead the way as they discover who they are and how they can make the future a brighter place. Girl Scouts are supported by adult volunteers and mentors right here in our community as well as millions of alums around the globe. Thanks to generous supporters and community partners, Girl Scouts San Diego provides innovative programs and a wide range of activities for more than 24,000 girl and adult members throughout San Diego and Imperial counties. The San Diego council maintains programs and service facilities in Balboa Park, Escondido, and Carlsbad, as well as two mountain camps in Julian, CA. Camperships are available to help girls from struggling families participate in Day, Weekend and Summer Camps.  Photo: (L-R): Tom Sandler and Donna Maytum of the Art Pratt Foundation, Girl Scouts Director of Philanthropy, Karen Cook, Aryanna Edwards, Girl Scouts Foundations Relations Officer, Tracy Browns, Stan Vogelsang Judi Copeland, Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz, Old Mission President Bob Chalfa and Shari Stauder. |
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RI Foundation Annual Report.  John Hewko, General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer for Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation invites you to be among the first to read about the difference we’re making together in our 2023-24 annual report. |
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Time Sensitive: Photos for India Friendship Exchange Gifts In January 2025 members of the Rotary Club of Del Mar will go on a friendship exchange to southern India. As gifts, we’re hoping to make a desk calendar with pictures showing the beauty of District 5340. If you’d like to share a photo for the calendar, email it to Sharon Schendel (slschendel@gmail.com). All photos in the calendar will credit the photographer and mention their club. Please send all photos no later than December 27, 2024. |
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More Changes for Newsbits |
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Rotary Club Members Serve Holiday Dinner and Distribute Christmas Gifts to HomelessOn December 13, members of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club once again provided and served a delicious holiday dinner and distributed Christmas gifts to the families, children and single women who are residents of Project Hope in Vista. Project Hope – North County is a temporary shelter providing HOPE and a safe environment for families, children, and women that experience homelessness as they regain confidence, rebuild their lives, learn the essential skills to break the pattern of homelessness and gain the stability to thrive. Their drug and alcohol-free environment offer a safe space to reclaim healthy family dynamics, establish stability and rebuild lives. Supporting Project Hope – North County is an ongoing project for Torrey Pines Rotary Club.  Photo, left to right: Joe Marron (Club President), Jennifer Primsberger, Jerry and Tina Zampa, Henri Migala (Club Foundation President). |
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ClubRunner Mobile App Has New Features The ClubRunner Mobile App is your essential tool connecting with your Club and District 5340 using your phone. It is completely free to download and use, and it is available to all Rotarians and Rotaractors in District 5340. This app allows you to find key information while you are on the move. |
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Contruction of Rotary Float Featured on KTLA To View, click here. KTLA Morning News featured the Rotary Float as it is being constructed and will appear in New Year's Rose Bowl Parade. The program rich dialogue excellently explained why Rotary has a float and what Rotary is all about. Brett Morey, a member of the Rotary Parade Committee, shared in his Facebook post that the Surfers United Rotarian Fellowship will have their logo on the surfboard. He also shared that for the time Rotarians can dedicate a rose on the float to support the Rotary International Foundation. If you are interested in dedicating a rose, click here.
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Rotarians Spread Holiday CheerSpreading cheer to those in need is what Rotarians do. Listed below are three club's efforts to help those in need. Recently, members of the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club convened to assemble 120 mini stockings filled with candy and Target gift cards for the children at MCAS Miramar. Community Service Chair, Ralphmann, acted as Santa's helper and delivered the stockings to the base. This long-standing tradition has become one of the club's most cherished service projects, and they were proud to bring some holiday cheer to these remarkable families  La Mesa Rotary once again partnered with Christian Brothers to assemble over 170 bikes for elementary students. Mt. Miguel Interact and Grossmont Interact also participated in the effort. Club members appreciated that the students joined them in participating in a community service project.  Recently, members of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club collected or contributed to purchase of personal care items for inbound seniors served by Meals on Wheels. Once the items were secured, members made rounds around the table, filling bags with personal items, puzzle books, and other little goodies, totaling 48! Rotarian Sandy Pugliese played Santa's elf and delivered these Christmas Care Bags to on Wheels on Wheels, where they were received with delight!  Recently, local school students participated in the Escondido Christmas Parade. With the assistance of Escondido Rotary President Dave, they decorated John Boyce's company truck, transforming it into Rudolph, complete with a festive Christmas banner from the Sunrise Rotary Club. The Escondido Jaycees celebrated their 71st Annual Christmas Parade, marking it as longest-running community event in Escondido. What wonderful tradition to the holiday season!  |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to Sharia's ClosetIn 2017, Shamine Linton established Sharia's Closet with a mission to provide free emergency clothing to individuals in immediate need. This initiative was culmination of eleven years of work that began with her collecting and distributing clothing from her home to people throughout San Diego who were with homelessness, addiction, unemployment, and other financial hardships. Sharia's Closet is dedicated to empowering individuals with clothing to promote self-esteem and self- within the community. On October 8th, Shamine accepted an Art Pratt Grant of $4000. The funds were used to purchase for staff in the retail store.  |
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The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $5000 to the Copley-Price YMCAOn Tuesday, December 10th, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $5000 to the Copley-Price YMCA Executive Director Julian Villegas. Julian is also a member of Old Mission Rotary. The funds will be used toward membership scholarships to reduce joining, monthly, and program fees for families and to pay for deserving children to attend summer camps. The annual Copley-Price Holiday Celebration will serve 1400 mid-city children with gifts and entertainment, and members of Old Mission Rotary provided some toys and gift cards. The Art Pratt Foundation also presented a grant to pay for helmets for children to safely ride bicycles and skateboards that will be distributed at the YMCA Holiday Celebration. You cannot give away a or a skateboard without a helmet!  Photo: Members of Old Mission Rotary present Copley-Price YMCA Executive Director, Julian Villegas with a grant of $5000 from the Art Pratt Foundation.
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Youth Instrumental Competiton It's time to showcase stars in the making! That's right, your local high school may be harboring the next Itzhak Perlman or Louis Lortie! |
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Secret Santas Surprise a Three-Year Old Girl The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary has long supported Solutions for Change, a foundation dedicated to aiding homeless individuals in rebuilding their lives by providing them with an apartment for a year and assistance to regain stability. Solutions for Change is a nonprofit organization devoted to eradicating family homelessness through the Solutions University program. This program is a 1,000-day partnership that furnishes families with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to achieve remarkable life changes. It offers more than just housing; it's a comprehensive life transformation solution. The organization's goal is to foster resilient, self-sufficient families who can chase every aspiration they have, from nurturing a joyful family and forging a prosperous career to owning a home and ensuring their children's education. Each adult participant engages in a tailored program designed to achieve their individual goals. This year, we had the joy of organizing a surprise Christmas for a homeless mother and her three-year-old daughter. Our members filled their apartment with gifts and festive decorations while they were away, setting the stage for a heartwarming surprise upon their return. It was an immensely gratifying experience for our members to contribute to this cause and to make the holiday special for the young girl. |
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Green Friday Tree Planting Was Successful Members of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club (SBECO) teamed up with community volunteers to plant 25 native trees at the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve, guided by park rangers. This initiative aligns perfectly with SBECO's mission to collaborate with the community on environmental solutions. It benefits our local parks and serves as an outreach tool to engage others in the community who are passionate about service and environmental improvement. A grove of Sycamores and Cottonwoods was planted along a boardwalk. These trees will not only provide a cool, green, shady retreat in the summer and a vibrant tunnel of orange and yellow leaves in the fall but also enhance biodiversity by creating habitats within the local ecosystem and bolstering our community's resilience to climate change. The aspiration is for Green Friday to become an annual tradition, not only for SBECO but for other clubs too. Park services organize year-round events for tree planting, trash removal, and the eradication of invasive species, and they look forward to continued collaboration with Rotary members. |
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Holiday Message |
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Seniors Receive Turkey MealsThe Escondido East Rotary Club kicked off their Thanksgiving by donating 64 turkeys to Interfaith Community Services, a non-profit that aids the homeless in North County. They then collaborated with other Escondido Rotary clubs to deliver 107 turkey meals to homebound seniors who are either on a tight budget or lack family gatherings to attend. The participating members received heartfelt Thanksgiving wishes during their conversations with the seniors. This annual event consistently brings immense joy to the recipients as well as to the volunteer Rotarians.  |
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San Diego Themed Trivia Night Join us for San Diego Themed Trivia! Get ready to show off your knowledge of all things San Diego at our fun trivia night fundraiser scheduled for January 12, 2025, from 3:30-6:00PM- it's going to be a blast! |
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Zoo Trip for Students from Rosarito, MexicoThe La Jolla Golden Triangle Club, in partnership with Club Rotario Rosarito, sponsored a trip for 43 elementary school students from Rosarito, Mexico, to visit the San Diego Zoo on October 11, 2024. Over the past 25 years, this yearly event has enabled more than 1000 students to experience the San Diego Zoo.  |
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St. Madeline Receives Rotary-Labeled TablesOn November 16, 2024, members of the Rotary Club of El Cajon refurbished picnic tables that had been previously donated to St. Madeleine Sophie's Center. Some tables were so rotted they had to be replaced. After construction and refurbishment, club members painted them. Once dry, the Rotary emblem was stenciled onto the tables before they were returned to the center for use. Visitors to the center will mostly find these tables in the garden area. The Rotary Club of El Cajon has long supported St. Madeleine Sophie's Center.  |
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Boxes Readied for SantaOn November 23, the Santee-Lakeside Rotarians once again set out to assist the Santee Santas in preparing for the holiday season. The Santee Santas' hallmark initiative is their annual holiday toy and food drive, which aims to deliver the Christmas spirit to approximately 150-200 families within the Santee community. Numerous volunteers contribute to this community endeavor, but initially, thousands of boxes must be assembled to contain all the donations. This is where the Santee-Lakeside Rotarians come in, assembling the boxes with love and appreciation, embodying their motto "Service Above Self." This year, the Rotarians were joined by members of the newly established West Hills High School Interact Club and a few volunteers from Expressions Dance.  |
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Purse Bingo Slated for January 23, 2025 |
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Boat Rides with Santa |
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From Treasures to Transformation: Encinitas Coastal Rotary’s Auction Fuels Global ChangeCoastal Rotary’s Auction Fuels Global Change
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Torrey Pines Rotary Club Hosts Local WWII and Korean War Veterans Back row, left to right: Max Gurney (US Army), Roberta “Randy” Tidmore (Rosey the Riveter and US Marine), Andre Chappaz (US Army Corps of Engineers), Art Dioli (US Navy), Marshall Varano (US Army) Front row, left to right: Walt Travis (US Marine), Betty Ridenour (Rosey the Riveter), Dwayne “Bill” Ridenour (US Army The Torrey Pines Rotary Club celebrated its 19th annual Veterans Appreciation Day on Wednesday, November 13, aligning with Veterans Day, traditionally observed on November 11. Seven WWII veterans, comprising five men and two women—with four being centenarians—graced the Torrey Pines Rotary Club meeting for a luncheon held in their honor to express respect, admiration, and gratitude for their service. In addition, four veterans from the Torrey Pines Rotary Club, representing all military branches, were present, including the oldest, Max Gurney, who is 103 years old. Holly Shaffar, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Honor Flight San Diego, also attended the event. Honor Flight is a national organization that facilitates veterans' visits to national monuments in Washington, DC, free of charge. Initially serving America's WWII veterans, the Honor Flight Network has broadened its scope to include Korean and Vietnam War veterans. Their TLC program extends this honor to critically ill veterans from any service era. The Torrey Pines Rotary Club and the Sheraton in La Jolla sponsored the event. |
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Thanksgiving Message There is no better holiday than one that provides us an opportunity for us to be grateful for one another.
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San Diego Dance Theater Awarded a $5400 Grant Photo: (L-R) Donna Maytum, Susan Josephson, Aryanna Edwards, Judi Copeland, Shari Stauder and Stan Vogelsang of the Art Pratt Foundation, San Diego Dance Theater Artistic Director Terry Wilson and President of the Board of Directors Lisa Strickland and behind them Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa and Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz. On Tuesday, November 9th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a $5400 grant to the San Diego Dance Theater. This grant will fund the purchase of new chairs for their Lightbox Theater. Terry Wilson, the Executive Artistic Director, and Lisa Strickland, the President of the Board of Directors, accepted the grant on behalf of the nonprofit performing arts organization situated in Liberty Station's Arts District. San Diego Dance Theater is a contemporary dance company and school dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for dancers from diverse ages, backgrounds, and cultures. Their mission is to facilitate access to professional training, performances, and diverse programming. They conduct summer dance workshops, cross-border projects, and performances. A highlight of their calendar is Trolley Dances™, a highly acclaimed event. In partnership with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System for over two decades, they host annual tours where audiences are guided on and off the trolley to experience unique, site-specific dance pieces. The members of Old Mission Rotary were greatly impressed by Terry Wilson, Lisa Strickland, and the San Diego Dance Theater. Old Mission Rotary is honored to support such a vital cultural and artistic entity within our community.
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Chuck Pretto honored posthumously with Mental Health Advocate Award |
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Bringing New Life to Camp Pendleton’s Stables,
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Big West Rotary $500K PHS Challenge Do you enjoy a challenge? Do you enjoy making a difference. Then this offer is just for you!
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Choose Rotary on Giving Tuesday! You can start the holiday season on a charitable note by donating to the Rotary International Foundation on Giving Tuesday this December 3rd. |
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14 Years of RYLA, 14 Years of Rotary Working in and for My life There is a fable called The Starfish Story, which is a powerful reminder of our impact. The story goes, a young child throws stranded starfish back into the ocean one by one. When questioned about the futility of their efforts due to the vast number of stranded starfish, they pick up another and say, “It made a difference to that one.” If we can make a difference in just one person’s life each year through Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), it’s a worthy endeavor that I am committed to. |
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Anti-Human Trafficking Work Project |
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Save the Date for Trivia Night! |
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RI President Stephanie Urchick Discusses Business Networking After the recent "Coffee with the Boss" event on October 21, Rotarian Daphne Fletcher conducted an interview with RI President Stephanie Urchick, discussing Business Networking within Rotary. To access this inspiring interview, please click here. |
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Newsbits Club Activity Ad Guidelines |
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SDSU's Rotaract Raising Funds for Rady Children's Hospital SDSU's Rotaract Club is currently raising funds for Rady Children's Hospital through a charity called Dance Marathon, slated for February 22, 2025, at Montezuma Hall. See how you can help. |
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We Have a New Governor Nominee Designee The 2024-25 District 5340 Nominating Committee has selected Michael Brunker from the Rotary Club of San Diego to be District Governor 2027-28. |
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Rotary Exchange Student Information Night Have you ever thought of traveling the world and making long-lasting international friendships through an exchange program? |
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Full Tummies While Waiting for New SmilesOver the past weekend, the Rotary Club of El Cajon and clinical volunteers ensured the success of this quarter's Thousand Smiles Clinic. Rotarians prepared over 200 sandwiches for the patients and their families. The clinic welcomed more children than any prior weekends, keeping everyone very busy. On Friday, Rotarians received assistance from J. Serra High School students in San Juan Capistrano, who are members of the Thousand Smiles Club. The Rotarians showed great interest in learning about this new service club. Meanwhile, Rotarians learned that Francis Parker is in the early stages of establishing a Thousand Smiles clinic, inspired by the commitment of a student (in attendance at the clinic) whose father, a dentist, regularly volunteers his services at the Thousand Smiles Clinic. It was a awesome and inspiring weekend for all.   |
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As Bright as the Billboards San Diego Rotary President Nominee Will Hage took an opportunity while on a family trip to Japan to represent his club and the district. See him sporting his “Rotarians at Work” reflective jersey in Shibuya, Japan, the busiest crossing in the world. He proudly wears this colorful garment for all Club 33 meetings as part of his right of passage to assuming the top spot in the 10th largest Rotary Club in the world!
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Students Relaunched the Del Norte High School Interact Club Last year, students relaunched the Del Norte High School Interact Club, fulfilling all Rotary International requirements. Under the leadership of President Samhita Lagisetti, the club has supported various projects on campus, in the community, and alongside their sponsor, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo. On October 25, Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo's Vice President Ken Heinz and Rotarian advisor Tim Baird presented them with their new Certificate of Organization during a club meeting. |
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You Are Invited to a Veteran's Day Military Review Join us this Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2024, from 11:00AM to 12:00PM at the Army and Navy Academy's Bliss Stadium in Carlsbad to honor all who have served in our Armed Forces.
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November is Foundation Month November is Rotary Foundation Month. It's a time to celebrate and deepen our understanding of the powerful impact the Rotary Foundation has on communities worldwide. |
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trancenDANCE Youth Arts Project Receives Grant The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $10,000 grant to transenDance whose member's lives are transformed through dance. transcenDANCE is a nationally acclaimed creative youth development organization serving young individuals in under-resourced communities throughout San Diego. It engages participants from San Diego County, aged 7 to 24 years, with a particular emphasis on the Mid-City neighborhoods, Logan Heights, Southeast San Diego, Lemon Grove, and Spring Valley areas. Their programs transform students' life paths by fostering resilience, confidence, and creativity, and by cultivating transformative skills like leadership, teamwork, and civic involvement. transcenDANCE offers year-round dance classes at their studios in San Diego and Lemon Grove, as well as dance programs in public schools. The organization primarily aims to create a safe, creative, and supportive environment, offering adult mentorship and peer support through comprehensive programs and services.  Old Mission Rotary held an offsite meeting at the transcenDANCE San Diego studio on Tuesday, October 29th and members were very impressed by a program presented by Managing Director Steph Walsh and Director of Development and Operations Coordinator, Alejandra Carrillo. They explained how an Art Pratt grant of $10,000 was used to remodel the studio space. |
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A successful Rotaract District 5340 End Polio Now Walk The Rotaract District 5340 End Polio Now Walk was graced with sunshine and the enthusiasm of over 75 participants. They gathered in Balboa Park to embark on a shortened version of the "Seven Bridge Walk" associated with the park. On this day, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and friends crossed five of the seven bridges, united in the cause to end Polio. At the walk's end, participants were welcomed with mimosas and breakfast burritos, marking for a splendid morning of fellowship and pride.  |
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Pub Crawl Raised $2,500 to End Polio On World Polio Day, the Pacific Beach Rotaract Club organized a Pub Crawl fundraiser to aid the End Polio Now campaign. They have recently announced that their 8th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio raised over $2,500! But that's not all! Thanks to a 2:1 match for every donation, the total impact has been tripled to $7,500! Congratulations to everyone involved.
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Coronado Rotary Out Serving the Community Numerous service organizations in Coronado collaborated with the Coronado Rotary Club to donate a substantial amount of non-perishable food to the local residents through the Imperial Beach Food Pantry. The event, dubbed "Christmas in October," was a tremendous success, further amplified by coverage from the KUSI news team. October service also included Halloween. The Coronado Halloween Carnival was a delightful event that the club participated in. Take a look at those adorable ghosts and goblins! The Rotary booth was staffed by Rotarians Pat Freedom and John McCann (Peaky Blinders), with Sheriff Doug providing the banjo music.  |
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Vehicles of Change Receives Grant Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt members Tom Sandler, Stan Vogelsang, Donna Maytum and Aryanna Edwards. Vehicles for Change Director of Development Emilio Flores and Executive Director Ivan Corona. Art Pratt member Shari Stauder, Art Pratt president Lee Kaminetz and Art Pratt member Susan Josephson The Old Mission Rotary's Art Pratt Foundation has granted $10,000 to Vehicles for Change, earmarked for the purchase of new, state-of-the-art automotive repair tools. Ivan Corona, the Executive Director, and Emilio Flores, the Director of Development, provided a program overview and gratefully received the funds. Vehicles for Change in San Diego takes pride in offering professional education and training to individuals who were previously incarcerated, giving them a chance for a fresh start. The automotive skills training programs at their National City facility aim to foster success in both the personal and professional realms of students. The program equips them with the necessary skills and training for a career as an automotive technician, complete with ASE certifications in Engine Repair (A1) and Brakes (A5). Graduates, once employed, have the opportunity to positively impact the community. The program thrives thanks to the dedication of experienced instructors, the support of career placement partners, and the commitment of employers.
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Deadline Fast Approaching for Directory |
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Armed Services YMCA Operation Holiday Joy Needs Toys! District 5340's Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is promoting participation in an annual holiday event to help local military families. |
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Peace Plays a Role in Economic and Community Development Grace Van Zyl, Chair, Rotary Action Group for Peace highlights the role peace plays in Economic and Community Development. |
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Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club Shines at County Park Fall Environmental Festival The Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club maintains a cherished partnership with the picturesque San Dieguito County Park. They convene on the third Sunday of each month to tend to the park through planting, weeding, and general maintenance. Biannually, they host a booth at the Environmental Festivals. The October 13 event drew nearly 500 attendees to an educational workshop on nature and local environmental groups. This autumn, with Halloween approaching, the emphasis was on soil rejuvenation through decay (akin to compost's 'zombie' nature) and biodiversity, showcasing bats, various insects, and snakes. The festival featured child-friendly activities such as live reptile displays, owls and hawks, face painting, and costume parades. Their booth offered four interactive stations: educating children on plastic pollution solutions, worm composting, the importance of trees, and promoting their free-to-borrow reusable dinnerware sets to minimize waste. Additionally, two zero-waste stations managed to divert 96% of the event's waste. The event also served as an excellent opportunity for recruitment and enjoyment for everyone involved.
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Interact Club Making a Difference Recently, members of the Grossmont High School Interact Club assembled 375 meal bags to aid those in need.
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Rotary Commits Funds to Polio Outbreak Response in Gaza Photo curtesy of Reuters The recent detection of variant poliovirus type-2 isolates in environmental samples and the confirmation of a 10-month-old child who has contracted polio in Gaza is a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. The ongoing crisis in Gaza has contributed to reduced routine immunization rates and an increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio. The crisis also poses a significant challenge to fully implementing disease surveillance and vaccination campaigns. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers there to be a high risk for the spread of this polio strain within Gaza and internationally, particularly given the current situation's impact on public health services. A humanitarian pause allowed a two-round polio vaccination campaign to begin in Gaza. The first round was successfully implemented from 1-12 September 2024 and vaccinated 559,161 children, or an estimated 95% of eligible children at the governorate level, according to independently conducted post-campaign monitoring. The second round of the emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza began on 14 October. The campaign started in Central Gaza, vaccinating children under ten years old with nOPV2, where children aged between 2-9 years old were also offered Vitamin A. Rotary committed US$500,000 to bolster the initiative, channeling these funds through a dedicated Polio Outbreak Response Fund. This contribution represents Rotary's sustained support to the WHO in combating polio globally. Rotary will continue to work with its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and other agencies as vaccination efforts unfold. Financial contributions to the PolioPlus fund will help Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners achieve a world in which no child is paralyzed by polio again. |
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Nativity Prep Receives Rotary Grant of $8,305 Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation members Shari Stauder and Donna Maytum, Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa, Nativity Prep student Arianna, Art Pratt Foundation member Aryana Edwards, Nativity Prep Director of Advancement Kristin Haygood, Old Mission Rotarian Stan Vogelsang, Nativity Prep student Oscar, Art Pratt On Tuesday, October 15th, Nativity Prep Academy was awarded a grant of $8,305 by the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary for new furniture in their STEM laboratories located in the basement. Nativity Prep Academy is a private, independent, all-scholarship Catholic middle school and college preparatory program serving young men and women from historically underserved communities who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. A commitment of eleven years of support enables students to thrive in high school, college, and beyond, becoming exemplary figures and leaders within their communities. The academy operates with extended school hours from 8AM to 5PM and an 11-month academic year that includes summer programs. This structure underscores the significance of extra time with students to foster stronger relationships and elevate their aspirations. Students are guided to apply to Catholic or other private high schools, with Nativity Prep's staff providing ongoing support to ensure their success in high school, college, and up to graduation.
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Feeding San Diego Gets a Lending Hand Two East County Rotary Clubs, El Cajon Rotary and Santee-Lakeside Rotary, collaborated on the same day to support Feeding San Diego. In San Diego County, over 350,000 individuals face hunger, while 38% of food produced goes to waste. Feeding San Diego aims to ensure that everyone facing hunger has access to nutritious meals by optimizing food rescue. Typically, the food comes from large grocery stores that donate items unable to be sold due to shelf-life limitations, discoloration, irregularities, or surplus stock. This food is sorted to discard any spoiled items before being packaged for distribution. The El Cajon Rotary was responsible for sorting pears and, together with other volunteers, managed to prepare 9,200 pounds of pears, which will be distributed to 3,000 families. The Santee Lakeside Rotary took the afternoon shift, tasked with sorting apples, bagging them, and also sorting potatoes, removing any that were spoiled, and then boxing them for distribution. The club members, along with some members of the newly established Interact Club at West Hills High School, initiated by last year's RYLA students and supported by the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club, enjoyed discovering the unique shapes of many potatoes. Their combined efforts resulted in 3,000 pounds of potatoes and 2,200 pounds of apples, enough to assist 1,400 families.  |
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Foundation Seminar - Come See Your Donations at Work Join us for an exhilarating look at the power of giving and its impact in our communities and abroad! Come see your donations at work! |
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Give the Gift of Life This Fall |
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Let's Chat About Polio |
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Ensenada Elementary School Gets a Facelift An incredible Rotary project occurred a little over a week ago. 58 San Diego Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests were bused to an Ensenada elementary school where they were joined by many Ensenada teachers, parents and children, all helping paint. The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club members donated over 140 stuffed toys that were presented to the children. After the project, the bus took volunteers to Château Camou Winery for an awesome paella dinner, margaritas and wine. A very nice thank you for a job well done.
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Three Non-Profits Benefit from Golf Ball Drop The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club has recently allocated nearly $22,000 to three local nonprofits, thanks to the success of its Annual Golf Ball Drop and Silent Auction in May 2024, as reported in a news release. The recipients this year were Lifeline Community Services, Boys & Girls Club, and Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, each serving vital needs in the community. Representatives from these organizations were present to receive the donations and acknowledgment for their continuous efforts. Nicole Morquel of Lifeline Community Services outlined how the funds will advance their work against human trafficking and support services. Celina Rosillo from the Boys & Girls Club explained that the funds would sustain their crucial role in nurturing the growth and well-being of local children. Sandra Lehmkuhler of Warrior Foundation Freedom Station stressed the significance of supporting young veterans during their transition to civilian life. |
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Grow A Brighter Future Join the members of the Oceanside Rotary as they continue to make a difference by making a difference one child at a time! |
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El Cajon Rotary Provides Grants to Non-Profits Serving the El Cajon Area Twenty community organizations were recognized at the El Cajon Rotary Club's Annual Grant Night dinner, which took place on Monday, October 1, at Hooley's in Rancho San Diego. Each organization received a grant to support their efforts in enhancing the lives of individuals in the El Cajon community and its neighboring regions. The grants aim to address various issues, including homelessness, food insecurity, literacy, veterans' needs, youth services, maternity care, domestic violence, among others. Those organizations receiving grants were:
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Institute for Contemporary Art Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation board members Don Krupp, Stan Vogelsang, Judi Copeland and Donna Maytum. ICA Executive Director Andrew Utt. Art Pratt Foundation president Lee Kaminetz and Art Pratt Foundation board member Aryanna Edwards On Tuesday, September 17th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a $10,000 grant to the Institute for Contemporary Art. The Institute for Contemporary Art San Diego (ICA) showcases experimental art and learning, challenging the status quo. With locations in both Balboa Park and Encinitas, the ICA serves as a dynamic platform and a vibrant laboratory for art and ideas. It aims to surprise, excite, and challenge prevailing assumptions. ICA San Diego is a space for everyone, a place where the public can gather to question, learn, and shape the future. Andrew Utt, the ICA Executive Director, stated that the grant would be utilized to replace outdated furniture that children and students use for creating art. |
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Vietnam Veterans to be Honored at Free Fleet Week Concert District 5340's Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is delighted to announce a free Fleet Week concert. |
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Learn Some Great Public Image Tips A recently held Zone 26/27 Public Image learning session revealed some very useful information on the Brand Center and Canva in the real world. |
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The Power of Collaboration in Rotary |
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Are You Utilizing the Correct District Facebook Page? We require assistance with the correct usage of the Official District Facebook Page. Discover how you can contribute. |
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October is Community Economic Development Month This month, Rotary is concentrating on Economic and Community Development, a vital service area that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and fosters sustainable growth. Discover how Rotary tackles this challenge. |
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Del Mar Rotary Club's Inaugural Video Newsletter The Rotary Club of Del Mar introduces its inaugural video newsletter showcasing the club's fundraising, service projects and club news. It looks like that they may have just started a trend.  |
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Polio Update We regret to inform you that this week, four additional cases of paralysis caused by the wild poliovirus have been confirmed, all originating from Pakistan, with no positive environmental samples reported. To date, there have been 40 cases of wild poliovirus this year, with 19 in Afghanistan and 21 in Pakistan.  Last week, six children were confirmed to be paralyzed by the variant poliovirus type-2 in two countries: two in the Democratic Republic of Congo and four in Nigeria. Additionally, two positive environmental samples have been reported. There is still much work to be done, particularly in raising awareness. World Polio Day is on October 24. Promotional materials are available from Rotary's Brand Center where you can find several resources and obtain graphics. Don't forget to register your event at endpolio.org. Moreover, explore the numerous End Polio Now activities taking place throughout District 5340, which are featured under the News section in this publication.
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Rotarians Recoginized with the Phenomenal Woman in Action Award |
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Please Help Us |
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Reusable Dinnerware Kit Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club is offering a reusable dinnerware kit we hope will help more Rotarians and others reduce waste and environmental impact from gatherings. |
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Rotaract Hosting End Polio Now Walk Rotaract District 5340 will be hosting our End Polio Now Walk Saturday, October 26th at Balboa Park.
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Public Assistance Investigator Honored |
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Ride the Hidden, Unridden & Forbidden of Point Loma Point Loma Rotary club's 11th Annual Ride the Point is slated for November 9. See Point Loma like never before! |
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End Polio Now Campaign to Launch October 1 October marks the start of Rotary's End Polio Now campaign promotion. As Rotarians, it's vital to sustain the campaign's momentum. For over 35 years, Rotary has committed to eradicating polio, achieving remarkable progress in eliminating it globally. As a key contributor to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we have assisted in reducing polio cases by over 99.9 percent. Eradicating polio in the remaining two endemic countries and maintaining polio-free status in others is imperative. Concerning data from the conflict-affected area of Gaza also demands attention. Without continued eradication efforts, polio could potentially paralyze up to 200,000 children annually within a decade. As World Polio Day approaches on October 24, Rotarians are encouraged to utilize the new event templates from Rotary's Brand Center to promote their World Polio Day events. The Brand Center also offers social media graphics, videos, public relations templates, and more to support clubs in raising awareness and funds for PolioPlus. Check back regularly for additional resources available throughout September and October. Bill Gates recently shared an informative video on the current status of polio eradication and the ongoing challenges. It's a valuable watch and an excellent resource for Rotary club meetings or community education. To view the video, click here. Link for sharing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx2eHTvm648. Simply copy and paste to share.
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No Excuse End Polio Now Walk Slated for October 19 There is nothing like some hot coffee and donuts to gear you up for a wonderful no-excuse walk on a glorious October morning.
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Rotarians Graduate from Zone Institute Leadership Classes Congratulations to the graduates of the 2024 Emerging Rotary Leader Seminar who attended the Big West Rotary Zones 26/27 Institute, including District 5340 Chief of Staff Elect Sharon Schendel from the Rotary Club of Del Mar, Assistant Governor Michael Brunker from the San Diego Rotary Club, and Immediate Past President Malena Bennett from the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. The ERL Seminar aims to identify and nurture emerging leaders within our Rotary clubs, preparing them for future leadership roles both within the clubs and at the Big West Zone Institute. They also had the opportunity to meet fellow emerging leaders from the western United States, Canada, as well as Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and Rotary International President Elect Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo. Keep an eye on these remarkable leaders. Congratulations is also extended to District Governor-Elect Luis Carranza who graduated from the Governor-Elect training class bringing him one step closer to assuming his role as our district governor next year. He has one remaining training session to attend at the International Assembly in January before taking the role in July. |
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Service Clubs Unite for Community Day The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club saw an impressive attendance at their recent Rotary and Kiwanis Celebrate Community Day. Students from Santana High School's Key Club and Interact Club, along with West Hills High School's Key Club and the newly established Interact Club, joined Rotarians and Kiwanians for the event. Together, they cleared a significant section of Mission Trails, removing recyclables and trash.
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Zone 26 District Recognition Recently, at the Rotary Zones 26&27 Institute held in Spokane Washington, the District was recognized for its leadership. |
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Sailors Headed to Japan to Receive Care Packages On August 20th, numerous members of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club enjoyed supporting the District's Operation Gratitude to prepare care packages for the sailors of the USS George Washington in anticipation of the ship's relocation to its new home port in Yokosuka, Japan.
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Grito de Independencia Celebrated The Calexico Rotary Club successfully hosted a Grito de Independencia celebration, attracting 500 community members in a vibrant display of support for local students. Held at Crummett Park, the event showcased lively music, entertainment, and a palpable community spirit. Proceeds from the celebration are earmarked for scholarships benefiting students of the Calexico Unified School District and those pursuing higher education at SDSU Imperial Valley. The Rotary Club's dedication to education, coupled with the spirited participation, made the evening a festive tribute to Mexican heritage and a significant contribution to the future of local students.
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Restoring Dignity: Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake Serves Mexico’s Forgotten Seniors The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake members embarked on a journey to Casa Para Pobres Desamparados, a sanctuary for neglected elders in La Rumorosa, Mexico. Traversing a rugged, unpaved road, they reached the ranch-style facility that houses around 35 elderly men requiring urgent care and companionship. On Saturday, September 14, their committed volunteers began their day early, bringing along food, blankets, adult diapers, medical supplies, and clothing contributions. They eagerly engaged in repair work, upkeep, and delivered essential care to the inhabitants. It was a day of strenuous labor and touching interactions, as they contributed a modest, yet significant impact, on the lives of these elderly individuals. |
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Rotary Club of Fallbrook Celebrates 40 Years! Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Fallbrook who recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary!
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The Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego Shares Their Success During her visit to the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego last Tuesday, September 17, 2024, RI District 5340 Governor Dianne Crawford shared an inspiring account of her Rotary journey. This occasion also marked the handover of a valuable wheelchair and a bariatric folding walker by past president Richard Makau of the Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset for two deserving patients in Kenya, Africa. DG Dianne was briefed on the numerous successful community initiatives the club has launched and is actively pursuing. She showed a keen interest in the club's innovative micro-lending project in a Philippine town, which has supported over a hundred micro-entrepreneurs who were typically rejected by conventional banks due to the small size of loans and lack of creditworthiness. Despite the pandemic, there has been no delinquency, and loan repayments have remained at a steady 100%. The club invested $6,300.00 in a Credit Cooperative Bank in the Philippines, collaborating with the bank to facilitate a micro-lending scheme where the funds serve as collateral for loans as modest as $100.00. This deposit continues to accrue interest, which the club allocates to support the local endeavors of its sister clubs, including aid for the victims of the Taal Volcano eruption and, more recently, flood victims in Bulacan, Philippines. DG Dianne urged all members to continue to the good work they do and to spread and amplify the Magic of Rotary, especially among the youth, to perpetuate the principles and ethos of Rotary International. |
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Free QPR Training for Suicide Prevention When Rotarians and friends talk about Behavioral and Mental Health they often ask, "What Can I Do?" |
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42nd Oktoberfest in Carlsbad Come be a part of the 42nd Annual Carlsbad Rotary Oktoberfest Family Fall Festival on Saturday, October 5, from noon until 8 PM! |
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LEAD Registration Date Extended District 5340's LEAD event is set for October 12-13, 2024, which is less than a month away. The application deadline has now been extended to September 20th.
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A Brief History of Thousand Smiles Founded in 1985 by a group of committed Rotarians, the Thousand Smiles Foundation has expanded considerably over almost forty years. Initially aimed at delivering dental and surgical care to thousands of disadvantaged children, the Foundation's services now encompass dental, surgical, audiology, ENT, and speech therapy. Since its establishment, it is estimated that the Foundation has assisted more than 20,000 dental and 2,000 surgical patients, exceeding its initial objectives and spreading joy to numerous individuals. The Foundation's journey started with a visit to an existing clinic in Mexicali. In 1988, the Rotary Club of Ensenada Centenario officially invited Thousand Smiles to help establish a comprehensive field surgical clinic at the Red Cross Hospital in Ensenada, Baja California. Until that point, the Board had only considered donating supplies and equipment. The clinics, initially held three times a year, included about 100 volunteers, three general surgery rooms, and three dental chairs. By 2002, the Foundation expanded its operations by acquiring a dedicated facility in Ensenada. This new facility started with eight dental chairs but lacked surgical capabilities. Consequently, surgeries were conducted at either the Ensenada General Hospital or the Ensenada Naval Hospital from then onwards. In 2016, the journey began with the planning of a significant expansion. By 2021, they successfully added two operating rooms and enlarged our dental section. Now, the clinic features extensive dental, orthodontic, and medical services, complete with 12 dental chairs, ENT, speech therapy, and a cutting-edge audiology department. Every successful organization has standout leaders, and for the Thousand Smiles program, those leaders are Rotarians Bob Chaffa and Kim Muslusky. They have been pivotal in the program's success. Their expertise and dedication are immeasurable and without a doubt appreciated beyond measure. One of the key components of Thousand Smiles is the generosity of time and talent. All dental services provided by clinicians at the clinic are free of charge and the many surgeons, dentists, technicians, hygienists and dental students donate their time and talent to the cause. Rotary clubs have supported the clinic by donating equipment, proving grant funding, and hosting lunches during the quarterly clinics to volunteers and client families. Starting as a humble clinic and growing into a fully equipped medical facility, Thousand Smiles has always depended on donations and grants for funding. The ongoing generosity of donors propels their mission forward, allowing them to provide transformative care to an increasing number of children in need. As luck would have it, this month, in conjunction with the IGFR tournament, the Foundation is proud to host a silent auction, with all proceeds benefiting the clinic. The auction, featuring a wide range of items from jewelry and home goods to unique local experiences, is open for bids until September 25th. For a bird's eye view of Thousand Smiles remarkable endeavor, please view the video link. |
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Old Mission Rotary and Mission Valley Evening Rotary at the 35th Annual Clairemont Family Day Photo Caption: (L-R) Steve Nuñez Linda Case and Matt Risi were part of a team of Rotarians representing Old Mission Rotary and the Mission Valley evening club at the Clairemont Day celebration on Saturday, September 14th. Members from Old Mission Rotary and Mission Valley Evening Club joined forces to showcase Rotary at the 35th Annual Clairemont Family Day on Saturday, September 14th. Volunteers manned a pop-up tent, engaging with potential members about Rotary. The Clairemont Family Day, an annual event at South Clairemont Park, boasted a car show, complimentary pony rides, dance performances, live music, magic shows, community groups, local businesses, and much more. The Clairemont neighborhood prides itself on being a "small town within a big city." Steve Nuñez, Matt Risi, Shari Stauder, Tom Basham, Dave Blum, and Donna Maytum represented Old Mission Rotary, while Sesy Enriquez, Linda Case, Jessie Case, Christopher Romero, Arna Lewis, Debbie Krakauer, and Julia Ryan represented Mission Valley Evening Rotary. |
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Polio Plus Precursors A Rotary Minute - A Look Back in History We all know that it was in 1985 that Rotary International launched the PolioPlus program. However, many years earlier, Rotary-Clubs had taken initiatives to fight against this terrible disease. Thus, in 1915, the Rotary-Club of Toledo, Ohio, USA, was the first to invest in this field. In 1937, Porter Loring, member of the Rotary-club of San Antonio, Texas, USA, had offered an iron lung worth $2,400 and had been named " Friend of Humanity". In 1945, members of the Rotary Club of Deming, New Mexico, USA, donated an $1,800 iron lung to the local hospital. Then, in 1950, the Rotarians of Stoneham, Massachusetts, USA, offered a portable steel lung. These few actions identified are probably not the only ones and testify to the fact that Rotary International's efforts to fight polio began more than a century ago. |
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Thousands Raised for End Polio Now The Coronado Rotary Club’s End Polio Now wine tasting event raised thousands of dollars to eradicate polio globally. Over the past 17 years, the Coronado Rotary club has raised millions of dollars partnering with the Gates Foundation 2:1 match. This effort ensures that millions of children will be spared from the crippling effects of polio. Job well done!
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Upcoming Expert Chat Sessions We are proud to introduce the establishment of 30-minute Expert Chat Sessions to provide an opportunity for you to increase your knowledge and understanding of Rotary.
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Uniting to Combat Hunger Food Drive |
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Pub Crawl for Polio The Pacific Beach Rotaract is excited to present their 8th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio! Join us for an enjoyable time with excellent drinks and Rotary camaraderie. |
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A Taste of African Food and Tea |
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Grow Your Club Membership with Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Ever thought about how you could turn your hobby into a Rotary Fellowship to connect and grow the Family of Rotary? |
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Host Families Needed for IGFR Event Hosts Still Needed! The International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians (IGFR) will be hosted in San Diego from September 22 to September 27, 2024. Learn how you can help.
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Collecting Gently Used Halloween Costumes The Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club has chosen the Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) as their primary community service initiative this year and could use your help.
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Help the Rotary Club of Coronado END POLIO NOW! The Rotary Club of Coronado has launched its annual END POLIO NOW online auction, which will conclude on September 6th at 8 PM. This event provides Rotarians and the community an opportunity to bid on over two dozen unique opportunities, items, and experiences. With 26 local merchants contributing, this event is a highlight of the year. All proceeds will support the END POLIO NOW campaign by Rotary. For shopping and bidding, visit the Club's website and click "Read More" for a preview of the items available. |
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September is Basic Education and Literacy Month September’s theme is Basic Education and Literacy Month, an Area of Focus that embodies our commitment to a world where every individual has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. The lack of basic education and literacy skills is a profound issue affecting millions globally. For those who are uneducated and unable to read, life can be a daily struggle. Imagine navigating a world without the ability to read a medicine label, fill out a job application, or understand the simple instructions that many of us take for granted. Illiteracy often perpetuates a cycle of poverty, limiting access to stable employment, healthcare, and civic participation, and depriving individuals of the ability to make informed decisions for themselves and their families. Click "Read More" to continue with the article. |
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Israel Agrees to Pauses in Fighting in Gaza for Polio Vaccination Photo Courtesy of CNN Israel has agreed to a series of pauses in fighting in Gaza in September to allow young children in the enclave to be vaccinated for polio, according to United Nations and Israeli officials. The polio campaign, which will aim to vaccinate around 640,000 children across Gaza, comes after the highly infectious virus was found in sewage samples in the Strip in June. CNN has a seven-minute article on this effort. If you wish to read it, click here. |
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100 Backpacks Donated The Escondido East Rotary Club donated 100 backpacks to Farr Elementary School to kids who might need them on a fixed income. The club stuffed them with folders, and items that will be needed for school.
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A Change in How You Read Newsbits To enhance Newsbits' readability and attract more visitors to our website, we're making changes starting with this edition. Now, a brief teaser will accompany the headline image, and the main content of the article will be accessible by clicking on "READ MORE." The editor will no longer remind readers to use the "Read More" option; it will be the standard method to access the full article, which will be displayed on a full screen. Additionally, viewers can explore other content on the website via the menu bar at the top of the page at their convenience.
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Chat with the Expert Series This month marks the beginning of 'Chat with the Experts,' a series of brief online discussions. Open to all, these chats will cover a range of topics, including sessions for new members. The schedule will be released this week, so stay tuned for further details.
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You Are Invited to Hear Speaker The Rotary Club of Carlsbad invites you to join them at their October 10 meeting to hear a presentation on Mediators Beyond Borders International.
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San Marcos Rotary to Hold 16th Annual Golf Tournament The Rotary Club of San Marcos invites you to participate in their 16th Annual golf tournament.
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Four Global Grants Awarded |
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Readying a Space for a Nature Education Center A group of Rotarians from Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club spent Thursday morning with the San Diego River Park Foundation at the River Center at Grant Park helping prepare the space to be a nature education center and eco-park by digging holes and planting a tree.
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Rotary Clubs Cleaning Up Local Highway 14 volunteers from 3 different Escondido Rotary Clubs collected over 20 bags of trash and 1 bag of recyclables for a local highway.
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Encinitas Yields $87K from Wine and Food Festival Congratulations to the Encinitas Rotary Club for raising $87,000 at their 21st Encinitas Wine & Food Festival. Proceeds will benefit 14 local charities!
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Sunset Soiree Set for September 10 September 10 marks the return of the Rotary Club of Del Mar’s 20th Annual Sunset Soirée Gala and Auction. Mark your calendars for tastings and libations from the area’s finest restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries. |
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10th Annual Taste of Rancho Santa Fe Returns Sept. 29 The Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe presents the 10th Annual Taste of Rancho Santa Fe on the lawns of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe on Sunday, September 29, from 3:00 to 6:00PM. Would you like to join them? |
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Join Rotarians from All Over the World Embark on an exhilarating journey of connection and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary!
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Center for Community Solutions Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa, Art Pratt Board Members Aryanna Edwards, Donna Maytum and Tom Sandler, CCS Chief Development Officer Suzie Colby, Art Pratt Board Members Stan Vogelsang and Don Krupp, Art Pratt President Lee Kaminetz and Art Pratt Board Member Shari Stauder. The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a $9,919 grant to the Center for Community Solutions (CCS), received by Suzie Colby. This grant will fund new laptops for caseworkers, significantly enhancing their ability to respond swiftly to those in need. CCS, a nonprofit organization in San Diego, is committed to stopping relationship and sexual violence. Established in 1969, CCS offers trauma-informed, comprehensive services to support survivors in their healing and recovery journey. CCS provides a range of free services, including a 24/7 confidential crisis hotline, four domestic violence shelters, counseling, legal assistance, safety planning, prevention education, and more. |
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A Bit of Hawaii Under the Stars Join us for an exhilarating luau presented by the El Camino Real Rotary Club Oceanside! This festive event will take place at Heritage Park and Museum, offering an evening filled with traditional Hawaiian music, dance, and culinary delights. Prepare your grass skirts and leis for a memorable night celebrating under the stars. Seize this thrilling chance to embrace the spirit of aloha in Oceanside. For tickets, scan the QR code provided above.
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At Rotary's Core Are Our Members As August ends, marking Rotary's Membership and New Club Development Month, I wish to acknowledge the remarkable dedication and enthusiasm that propel our organization forward. At Rotary's core are our members—individuals united by a shared zeal for community service and friendship. This month has showcased the solidarity and vigor that characterize our Rotary family. Throughout the month, we have concentrated on expanding our membership and seeking new avenues for club growth. These initiatives extend beyond mere statistics; they signify our growing potential to effect change. Our collective commitment to taking action binds us as Rotary members. From welcoming newcomers to establishing the groundwork for new clubs, each action fortifies our service capabilities. Moving ahead, let's maintain this month's energy throughout the year. United, we can further our growth, foster innovation, and amplify our impact within our communities and the wider world. Share the MAGIC OF ROTARY! |
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Join Us in a Magical Celebration of 100 Years of Service You are cordially invited to celebrate a century of service to the Escondido community. |
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13th Annual Rancho BEERnardo Festival Supports Humanitarian Causes More than 900 people are expected to attend the BEERnardo Festival on Saturday, October 19, 2024, organized by the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club. Will you be one of them? |
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Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Presents a Record-Breaking $125K in Grants Photo: Sunrise Rotary Community Service Chair Elizabeth Engelberg, San Diego Oasis ' Chief Operating Officer Michael Craig and RB Sunrise Rotary President Marty Greenwald in April when Oasis received a $3,000 grant (courtesy of Marty Greenwald). The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Club has given a record amount in grants during its 2023-24 year, totaling $123.326 for local and international causes. Marty Greenwald, the club's outgoing president, said "it would not be possible without community support for the Rancho BEERnardo Festival held last October in Webb Park." The event, Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary's only fundraiser, brought in $150,000 this year. The event drew around 750 attendees, on the festival's largest crowds, and all festival sponsorships went towards the grants, with all overhead costs were covered through ticket sales and other revenues. "Instead of nickel and diming our members, we seek community support as sponsors," Greenwald said. "We've had huge success when soliciting local community members and even those from places such as Canada and Washington state with whom members do business. We get them to also be corporate sponsors." "The grant and donation process is very competitive, he said, with recipients falling into one of several categories. They are club service, community service, special projects, foundation, international services and youth services." Our Grant and Budget Analysis Committee vets all of them," Greenwood said, noting all have 5013c status or are rated by Charity Navigator. "We make sure they are very viable, and we turn plenty down. The grant recipients were: Under Club Service - $3,168 for Free Wheelchair Mission Under Community Service - $5,000 each to Poway OnStage, Feeding San Diego and the Kitchen Table; $4,000 to Riding Above Disabilities; $3,000 each to Solutions for Change, San Diego Oasis - Rancho Bernardo, Ed Brown Center for Active Adults; $1,675 to Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County, Inc.; $2,500 to Spirit of the Fourth; $1,500 to Rancho Bernardo Historical Society; $1,000 to Canine Companions for Independence; $978 to Valley Elementary's holiday party; $666 for Rotarians at Work Day tree planting at Poway High; $475 to give backpacks for Hoover High School students and $245 for Anvil of Hope at Christmas. Under Special Projects, $2,500 each as memorial gifts to the Rotary Foundation to honor district governor Chuck Pretto and Jim Dunny. Under Foundation Grants, $4,025 for the Rotary Foundation, $3,333 for Polio Plus and $1,500 for Maui Relief. International Services, grants helped those in many countries: Oasis Haven South Africa received $10,500, while Project Mercy received $7,800. Two grants went to Thousand Smiles - $4,000 to support the August clinic and $1,234 was designated for volunteer lunches. Pediatric surgery training in Africa received $3,000, while $2,100 was designated for international Peace Scholar and $1,500 for Interntional Disaster Relief. As for Youth Services, $15,000 was given to support Anvil of Hope - Bell Blazers baseball team; $5,500 was given to SoleEffects; $4,800 to support Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program and $3,000 was designated for the Kendra Jeffcoat Scholarship. In addition, Scouts BSA received $2,702; Toys for Tots was given $1,872; grants of $1,500 each went to the AI Linton Foundation and RB Gridiron-Men of Character program; Rotary's 4-Way Test Speech Contest and Rotary District Music Competition each received $776 and LEAD (youth leadership program) received $600. Greenwald said many of the grant recipients have received funding for several years, but there are also some new recipients. Riding Above Disability, a therapeutic horse program, is one. "A lot of times we find out about an organization because we have someone who is a good speaker at our meetings," he said. "The director spoke. We loved what we heard so much that we encouraged them to apply for a grant." Greenwald added that he is looking forward to visiting one of the international grant recipients - the Oasis Haven school that the club financially assist in Johannesburg, South Africa. "My wife and I are going in three weeks to visit the school," he said. Greenwald said the club's 57 members are already planning this year's Rancho BEERnardo Festival set for October 29 in Webb Park. Editor's note: you will find under "News" information about this year's festival. It has information on how to purchase tickets.
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World Polio Day Coming Soon World Polio Day is quickly approaching on 24 October! If your club hasn’t started planning its World Polio Day event, now is the time to begin. |
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Rotary Direct Supports Our Foundation The programs of The Rotary Foundation foster enduring, positive change both locally and worldwide. You can assist Rotary's ongoing charitable efforts by joining Rotary Direct, the Foundation's recurring donation program. In the previous year, the Foundation allocated funds to over 1,200 global grants, 480 district grants, and 105 disaster response grants, all made possible by our altruistic benefactors. Rotary Direct stands out as a convenient and secure method for donors to back the Foundation, with automated contributions eliminating the need for manual check mailing or annual donation reminders. Click "Read More" to continue article. |
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Wine and Food Festival a SuccessCongratulations to the Encinitas Rotary Club. They raised $87,000 at their 21st Encinitas Wine & Food Festival benefitting 14 local charities: Children’s Category Beneficiaries:
Community Category Beneficiaries:
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Tips for Membership Growth The primary challenge for Rotary clubs is increasing their membership. A larger membership equates to a greater impact both locally and globally. Adequate membership ensures sustained leadership, a steady stream of ideas, and the capacity to carry out service projects. Below are strategies to consider when developing a recruitment plan for your club. Like businesses, clubs must stay relevant to the community. Consider how you can position your club to successfully attract and retain members. Click "Read More" for tips to consider. |
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Guests at Fisher House Receives Pizzas Rotarians from the Coronado Rotary Club delivered 18 pizzas to their neighbors at Fisher House at Balboa Medical Center. Coronado Rotary provides monthly meals for the guests. This month all 18 rooms were filled. It’s not about the food; it’s about the love! |
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Foster Youth Supported by the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club On August 10, eighteen volunteers from the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club took part in the My First Home Program by Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT). JIT initiated My First Home to provide essential items to young adults exiting the foster care system, helping turn their living spaces into welcoming homes. The Club donated $2,500 to the program and helped five young participants select a variety of new and gently used items from JIT's well-stocked warehouse. They then transported these items to their new homes. The opportunity to meet these resilient individuals and contribute Rotarian's time and effort was an inspiring experience for everyone involved.
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Revived Vocational Services Business Mixer Slated for September We invite you to our revived Vocational Services Business Mixer on Thursday, September 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., located at the UCSD Faculty Club Lounge. This networking event welcomes all Rotarians across District 5340. Joining Rotary offers numerous opportunities, including growing your business through networking events like this. Bring your business cards and engage in fellowship while presenting your business to peers. We look forward to seeing you!
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Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is Taking a survey The District's 5340 Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is taking a survey of all veterans in the district so we can maintain contact, to honor you for your military service in support of our country, alert you to opportunities to assist and serve the veteran and military community, let your clubs know about events that they may interested in to serve our veteran community, and to honor you for your military service in support of our country. Click "Read More" to learn how to take the survey.
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D5340 Chapter of RAGMHI Creates Newsletter The Rotary District 5340 Chapter of the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives has created a newsletter that will periodically come out providing you with the action group's plans and dreams for how we, in San Diego and Imperial Counties can take action on behavioral and mental health initiatives. A variety of topics will be covered in each edition. We encourage you to join our mailing list, simply click here. To read our August Newsletter, click here to download. |
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Selection for 2026-27 Rotary International President Sangkoo Yun, a member of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, Korea, is the selection of the Nominating Committee or President to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-27. Yun will .officially become the nominee on 15 September if no other candidates challenge him. Yun received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Syracuse University School of Architecture in the U.S. and an honorary doctoral degree from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the founder and CEO of Dongsuh Corp., which engineers and markets architectural materials, and the president of Youngan Corp., which operates in real estate and financial investment. He is involved in many civic organizations and has a special interest in the preservation of cultural heritage. A Rotary member since 1987, when he was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Yun has served Rotary International as a director, trustee, committee member and chair, and RI learning facilitator. He served for eight years as co-chair of the Keep Mongolia Green Project, by Korean members of Rotary. His RI committee roles include the Board Administration Committee (2013-15, vice chair 2014-15), the International Assembly Committee (vice chair, 2020-21), and the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee (regional vice chair, 2023-27). He also served on The Rotary Foundation’s Executive Committee (2019-22, chair 2020-21) and Programs Committee (2019-22, chair 2020-22). Yun received The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 2021-22. He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, awarded the Friendship Medal by the president of Mongolia, and recognized for distinguished services by the president and prime minister of Korea. He is a veteran of the Republic of Korea Army and an emeritus elder at Andong Presbyterian Church. Yun and his spouse, Eunsun, are Rotary Foundation Benefactors, Major Donors, and members of the Arch Klumph Society, the Paul Harris Society, and the Bequest Society. They have two children. To learn more about Yun, read his interview and vision statement, which outline his goals for Rotary. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to American Academy of PediatricsOn Tuesday, August 6th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a $1500 grant to the American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3, in support of their Reach Out and Read Program. The San Diego Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has been a reliable advocate for children's health and well-being. Since 1961, they have not only provided services to local pediatricians but also managed numerous community projects aimed at promoting child health initiatives. The Reach Out and Read program leverages the special bond between parents and medical professionals to nurture essential early reading skills in children, beginning from infancy.  Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary President Bob Chalfa, Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz and Tara Milbrand, MSW who serves as the Associate Executive Director of the San Diego office of the American Academy of Pediatrics. |
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Serving Up LunchesA few members of the Del Mar-Solana Beach Sunrise Rotary club spent their lunchtime last week serving lunch to the campers at the Junior Adaptive Sports Camp put on by Angel City Sports on the Miramar College campus.  |
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Feeding Those in ServiceMembers of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club supplied lunches for everyone at the August Thousand Smiles clinic in Ensenada, including volunteers and families. This event presents a fantastic chance for newcomers to aid a variety of professionals—doctors, dentists, orthodontists, speech therapists, audiologists, health educators, nurses, and other volunteers—who dedicate their efforts to offering dental care, orthodontic treatments, and surgical corrections for cleft lips and palates to children in Mexico who would otherwise go without such services.  |
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LEAD Just Around the Corner! Just a reminder that this year's LEAD event (Leadership, Ethics, Aspiration, and Determination), a key initiative for introducing young people to Rotary values, is scheduled for October 12-13, 2024. The application deadline is September 8th. |
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Rotary Friendship Exchange to India, January 2025 The Rotary Friendship Exchange program gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to experience other cultures firsthand, by participating in reciprocal visits with Rotarians from other countries and their families. We have an opportunity for you! |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the San Diego Air & Space Museum Photo: Members of Old Mission Rotary visited the San Diego Air & Space on Tuesday, July 30th to present a $10,000 grant from the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary. In the crowd are Air & Space Museum President and CEO Jim Kidrick, Collection & Research Director Katrina Pescador and Collections Curator Becky Conrad. On Tuesday, July 30th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a $10,000 grant to the Air & Space Museum for the specific purpose of renovating their uniform and textile collection's basement storage room. The new state-of-the-art storage and shelving systems will enable Collections Curator Becky Conrad to organize and catalog the invaluable collection. President and CEO Jim Kidrick, along with Collection & Research Director Katrina Pescador, expressed their gratitude to Old Mission Rotary for the grant. Rotarians were honored with a lunch and a guided tour of the museum. Many attendees, having not visited the museum for years, were thoroughly impressed and resolved to return soon with friends and family. The San Diego Air & Space Museum, an aviation and space exploration museum located in Balboa Park, first opened its doors to the public in February 1963 and has been a beloved and ever-evolving San Diego attraction. The museum's missions are: - To preserve significant artifacts of air and space history and technology. - To inspire excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. - To educate the public on the historical and social significance of air and space technology and its future potential. - To celebrate the history and technology of aviation and space flight. |
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August is Membership and New Club Development Month August, designated as Membership and Club Development Month, is an ideal time to contemplate the numerous advantages of Rotary membership. Rotary is a worldwide network of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers dedicated to creating a positive, enduring impact on our communities and across the globe. The pillars of Rotary's success are our united efforts in service, leadership, and fellowship. Being a Rotarian comes with a wealth of benefits, including professional networking opportunities and avenues for personal growth. Members join a global network of 1.4 million Rotarians, which encourages connections that go beyond geographical and cultural boundaries. This diverse assembly offers a forum for idea exchange, collaborative projects, and the formation of lasting friendships. Moreover, Rotary's dedication to ethical leadership and service provides members with opportunities to enhance their leadership abilities and effect real change in their communities. Click "Read More" to continue article. |
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Past District Governor Passes We regretfully announce the passing of Past District Governor Frederick "Pat" Cromwell on August 1, 2024. Pat served as governor in 1993-1994, was a member of Club 33, and a retired civil practice attorney. A private service will be held shortly, with a public memorial planned for October. Condolences may be sent to his wife of fifty years, Maggi Crowell, at Casa de Mañana Retirement Community, 849 Coast Boulevard, La Jolla, CA 92037. We unite in sorrow over the loss of one of our own, a man with an immensely generous heart.
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Over 1000 Backpacks Provided to StudentsFor a decade, K-12 students have been receiving free loaded backpacks to kick off a successful return to school, thanks to the program known as SMOAC Buddy's Backpacks. Named in honor of its late co-founder Buddy Rabaya, the initiative has expanded rapidly over the years. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Buddy's Backpacks has gained fame and broadened its reach. Initially catering to the Santee School District, it now welcomes any East County student provided their parents and student can come to collect the backpack. Any leftover backpacks are taken to school district offices to be given to students in need. Starting in early summer, collection sites are set up across the Santee community for organizations and individuals to donate backpacks and supplies. These items are stored and organized at Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park, the base for the Santee Mobile Homes Action Committee, whose residents handle the initial preparations for this successful program. Community volunteers come together on the eve of distribution day to fill the backpacks with supplies. The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club has played a key role in supporting this initiative since its beginning. Rotarian Elana Levens-Craig, a member of the SMOAC Committee overseeing this project, has led the Club's efforts in gathering backpacks, supplies, and financial contributions to ensure students are well-equipped for school. Club members also assist with the packing activities and manage parking and distribution of backpacks to families at the school site. The Club proudly reports that they distributed 600 backpacks within the first 40 minutes and nearly 1,000 in total!   |
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Rotary Citation Winners Announced Former District Governor Don Fipps announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Rotary Citation, an award that honors the diligent efforts of clubs over the year. Actions taken to meet the citation's objectives enable our club to involve our members, maintain community relevance, and operate more effectively. We would like to offer our heartiest congratulations to the following clubs:
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Nominations Now Open for District Governor District 5340's Nominating Committee is now accepting completed application forms for the Governor of District 5340 for the Rotary Year 2027 – 2028. The application deadline is September 30, 2024.
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Do You Want to Learn Spanish? Are you looking to improve your Spanish AND want to support the RECSDG Madrinas Project in Guatemala? Then we have a great offer for you and you should read on! The Rotary E-Club San Diego Global has been supporting indigenous students in Guatemala since 2017, first through high school education and now through the university setting. One of the recent college graduates, Lilian, is now offering Conversational Spanish Language classes to support herself and her family and also to raise money for the Madrinas Project. For more information or to sign up click here. |
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RYLA Scheduled for April 25-27 |
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Operation Gratitude The District Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) looks for opportunities to support our military and veteran community. One such is occurring next month and we are offering information for clubs and individuals to participate if desired. Click "Read More" for further information on this service project. |
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Food Valued at $1,400 donated to the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center. This past week, members of the Coronado Rotary Club had the privilege of partnering with the San Diego Naval Base Commissary to deliver $1,400 worth of food to the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center. A big thank you to all the Rotarians who joined in. Together, we’re making a difference in our community! |
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District Governor Champions End Polio Now Campaign Rotary's foremost goal remains the global eradication of Polio. This year, there have been 17 cases of Wild Poliovirus, with 9 in Afghanistan and 8 in Pakistan. Eradicating a disease is an immense task, and your support is crucial as we continue to advocate, educate, and fundraise for this vital cause. Information and resources about our campaign to END POLIO can be found at www.endpolionow.org. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (www.polioeradication.org) offers comprehensive information on the collaborative efforts of Rotary and its partners to eliminate Polio. The GPEI has released a new technical brief titled "Building a Climate-Resilient Polio-Free World," which discusses the link between the climate crisis and polio eradication, providing valuable insights into how we can achieve a polio-free world while ensuring a climate-resilient future. Click "Read More" to continue article. |
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Escondido Rotary After 5 Scholarship Recipients Congratulations to our Escondido Rotary After 5 Scholarship Recipients from Del Lago Academy. These very deserving students will receive scholarships of $1,500 per year during their undergraduate programs:
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A US-based Liberian Immigrant and Rotarian Makes a Difference. Benjamin Kettor, a Rotarian and executive of the Rotary E-club of San Diego Global, hailing from Foya, Lofa County, Liberia, was unfamiliar with computer science until post-high school. His journey commenced in 1996 during his exile in the Republic of Guinea, where a kind donation of one US dollar ($1.00) provided him the chance to acquire basic computer skills. Over two decades later, Mr. Kettor, now involved with various humanitarian organizations and living in San Diego, California, is delving into computer science to enhance the educational landscape in his native Liberia. In March 2024, Ben, commonly known by this name, traveled to Liberia under the banner of Destiny Hands International, a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization he had previously established. He collaborated with his San Diego-based Rotary E-Club, as well as other like-minded individuals and organizations, to launch a computer project. The initiative aimed to equip and establish a computer lab and digital library at his childhood school in Foya, featuring a wireless system called SmartServer. The project was successfully completed with twenty laptops and a SmartServer, marking the first time a school in his hometown of Foya, Lofa County, District #1, had received such facilities. Having established Destiny Hands, Mr. Kettor brought together a committed team, successfully registering and incorporating BENDIS Technologies (BETECH) as a non-profit to formally conduct and execute projects in Liberia. BETECH stands for BENDIS Technologies, a non-profit organization in Liberia focused on educational innovation and dedicated to:
For those seeking a dependable partner for projects in Liberia, West Africa, and beyond, consider joining forces with Ben and the Rotary Eeclub of San Diego Global. Alongside partners such as Destiny Hands International and BETECH, they aim to equip Liberian students with essential computer skills before their high school graduation. If you are aware of any individuals or companies with refurbished computers that could benefit students in Liberia for an upcoming project, please contact Rotarian Benjamin Kettor to discuss a partnership via email at bendis4us@gmail.com or destinyhands21@gmail.com. Resources for more information: WWW.DESTINYHANDS.ORG and WWW.RECSDG.ORG.
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Rotary Clubs of North County Independence Day Parade 2024 Participating in the Independence Day parade in Oceanside on June 29, 2024, were members and friends from Oceanside, El Camino (Oceanside), Carlsbad High Noon, Carlsbad Evening, and The San Diego Coastal Rotary Clubs.
The clubs celebrated 100 Years of Service to a large crowd of cheering spectators lining the streets of Coast Highway! |
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Lobster Fest Slated for September You are invited to participate in the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary's Baja Lobsterfest fundraiser on September 28th. |
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Introduction to Membership Membership Seminar - Introduction to Membership Saturday, August 10, 2024 9-10:30AM Via ZOOM (Zoom Information will be provided to registered participants) This seminar will offer an overview of membership concepts, resources, and ideas. Participants will explore key areas related to membership, learn about the resources available to support club growth and success, and have the chance to share experiences and ideas with fellow Rotarians within the District. This workshop is intended for club presidents, membership chairs/committees and all Rotarians who want to learn how to help their clubs and Rotary grow and thrive! |
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6,500 Toys Donated at Del Mar Fair Over the past few weeks, the Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club has been assisting the Rotary Club of Torrey Pines with their Care 'n Share Toy Drive at the San Diego County Fair. They have facilitated the transportation of donated items from the fair to a Mission Valley site for further delivery to the ultimate destination. A remarkable total of 6,500 toys were gathered, enough to fill three single-car garages! By Tuesday, these toys were on their way to the border, destined for the children at Hospital Infantil de las Californias in Mexico. To view the CBS8 newscast covering this year's Care 'n Share Toy Drive as it wraps up its annual efforts, click here. The initiative, spearheaded by Rotarian Nancy Stokes, is gaining traction and generating excitement throughout San Diego. A heartfelt thanks goes out to all the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians who volunteered, contributing to the success of this exceptional District-wide service project. A special acknowledgment is due for Nancy Stokes' remarkable dedication, which has been instrumental in shaping the program's success. |
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It's Time to Think About Signing Up for the 2025 Rotary Convention in Calgary It’s time to start making plans to meet up with your Rotary besties in Canada at a convention with an epic backdrop: the Rocky Mountain foothills. The Rotary International Convention returns for a second time to Calgary, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics and a city known for its bicycling culture and strong Indigenous heritage. Clubs will use Rotary’s signature event 21-25 June to boost membership and interest in working with the organization, while exchanging ideas with attendees on how to do the same in their hometowns — whether that’s Toronto or Tokyo. You’ll leave renewed with Action Plan inspiration to make your club the place to be. Organizers will showcase inspiring community projects — you might be asked to help with one — to drive awareness of Rotary around the convention, last held in the city in 1996. It will be one of the largest events in the recently expanded BMO Centre. You’ll help spread the story of Rotary’s good work simply by attending. And you’ll find plenty of excitement in the city, known for its Calgary Stampede summer rodeo (search online for snapshots of cowgirl hat-wearing 2022-23 RI President Jennifer Jones in the parade). This gateway to the Canadian Rockies will tempt you to extend your travels. Many people visit Calgary to start or end a Western Canada rail tour. Calgary is an ideal launching point to explore a piece of North America. A stopover on your way home in sunny Hawaii or Mexico, toting a souvenir bottle of cherished Canadian maple syrup in your luggage, would be oh-so-sweet. To learn more, click here.
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Rotarian Help Families Receive Essential GroceriesIt's heartwarming to see the community come together to support those in need. Kudos to Rotarians Karen, Phil, and Jeri from the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps for their efforts with Feeding San Diego. It's amazing how events like these can make such a positive impact, ensuring that families have access to essential groceries.  |
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July is Maternal and Child Health Month It's wonderful to see Rotary's dedication to maternal and child health. Your efforts in reducing mortality rates, enhancing healthcare access, and promoting nutrition and prenatal care are truly impactful. By collaborating with local healthcare providers, governments, and NGOs, you're creating sustainable solutions that empower communities. Initiatives like providing clean water, supporting vaccination programs, and educating on nutrition are crucial for healthier futures. Supporting Rotary's efforts this month and beyond contributes to a global movement prioritizing the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure every mother and child has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you for your dedication and commitment. WE are the Magic of Rotary. Let's make this the best year ever for District 5340! |
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Escondido East RC Celebrating 50 Years of Service The Escondido East Rotary Club is Celebrating 50 years of service. It's a huge milestone worthy of much celebration. Enjoying wine, a BBQ dinner, and a Casino Night sounds like a perfect way to mark the occasion. We invite you to join us on September 7th from 5:30-8:30 PM at the Forgotten Barrel Winery in Escondido. For more information, scan the QR code above. |
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$26,000 Donated to Local Charities The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Community Service Committee's generosity is truly inspiring. Supporting such a diverse range of charities, from the San Diego Botanical Garden, St. Andrew's Church Breakfast Program, Solutions for Change, Shades of Pink California, Meals on Wheels to the San Diego Humane Society, shows their commitment to making a positive impact in the community. As a finale to the 2023-2024 Rotary year, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Community Service Committee donated $6,000 to local charities, bringing their total donations for the year to over $26,000! It's heartwarming to seeing Rotary coming together to support those in need.
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An Introduction to the Role of District Governor If you're interested in the qualifications required to become a District Governor, we offer an excellent chance for you to meet with former district governors as well as the current district governor line to learn directly about what the position involves. An Informational Social for individuals interested in learning about becoming District Governor will be held on August 14, 2024, at 6 PM at the residence of PDG Janice and Matt Kurth. A catered dinner will be provided, so please RSVP to PDG Don Fipps at donfipps@gmail.com.
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Santee-Lakeside Rotary "Gives a Sheet"! The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club has a longstanding tradition of supporting the East County Transitional Living Center. Among their cherished service projects is the collection of toilet paper, aptly named "Give a Sheet." The club donates the collected toilet paper to the faith-based emergency shelter, which serves both individuals and families. Additionally, the shelter offers transitional living and a range of social services, including transportation for healthcare appointments. The shelter program lasts for 90 days, while the transitional living provides a 200 sq. ft. room, equipped with beds, a bathroom, a refrigerator, and a TV, for a nominal fee. This includes all utilities and the option to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner at set times. This arrangement enables residents to save sufficient funds for deposits, the first and last month's rent, and other expenses associated with moving into a new home. One can only imagine how much toilet paper these families go through!
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New backpack Racks for Cabrillo Elementary School Students!Last week, Members of the Point Loma Rotary Club constructed durable composite racks with stainless steel hooks to replace the old wooden racks and damaged hooks as part of a Rotarians at Work project. The sight of the children's tidy backpacks adorning the new racks provides a gratifying reward for the Rotarians' diligent efforts. School Principal Rebecca Vogel and site lead Terrence Steward gratefully received the new racks from Point Loma Rotary Club members Lloyd Weaver, Leon Scales, and President Debra Gookin.  |
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Americana PersonifiedThe Rancho Bernardo Spirit of the Fourth parade was the epitome of Americana. Featuring marching bands, politicians, and a variety of entries, it was a festive occasion for the entire community. The club's new President, Terry Heck, was highlighted, and Rotarian Mike Fuqua served as one of the Grand Marshals. Rotarians cherish the 4th of July in RB! Heartfelt thanks to David Brooks, Resa Coopat, Don Glover, Cathy Glover, Jim Hyldahl, Cheryl Roop, and many other members of the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo for their efforts. Kudos also to Brett Morey and Karla Prieto Morey for adding their impressive Humvee to the parade lineup.  |
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Lifeguards Receive New Rescue BoardOn July 3rd, members of the Del Mar Rotary Club, including former lifeguard Brett Mattei, Community Services Chair Steven McDowell, Club President Matt Kurth, and President-Elect Toni Mecaro, presented a new rescue board to Lifeguard Aidan Goodman, who is also the Vice President of the Del Mar Lifeguard Association.  |
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Family of Four Experiences the Magic of RotaryIn a joint venture, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club, Santana High School Interact club, La Mesa Sunrise Rotary club, La Mesa Rotary club, and El Cajon Sunset Rotary club gathered funds to construct a house in Tijuana, in partnership with Project Mercy Baja - Community Development Projects Inc. On June 29th, these clubs fulfilled a family of four's dream by building an entire house in less than seven hours. The Rotarians managed to transform the lives of this family in a single day. Thanks to the generous contributions from club members, they delivered food, household essentials, and toys to the family in Tijuana. Moreover, the family received a surprise donation of a bed, dresser, fan, and mirror to furnish their new home. The volunteers' ages spanned from 18 to 76.   |
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Rotary Clubs of North County Independence Day Parade 2024Members and friends from the Oceanside, El Camino (Oceanside), Carlsbad High Noon, Carlsbad Evening, and The San Diego Coastal Rotary Clubs participated in the Independence Day parade in Oceanside on June 29, 2024. They commemorated 100 Years of Service amidst a large crowd of enthusiastic spectators along the Coast Highway!  |
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The Magic of Rotary - Reach for Great As your District Governor for 2024/25, I am thrilled to embark on this journey with you under the inspiring theme, "The Magic of Rotary." This year, we have unparalleled opportunities to serve more, to make a greater impact and implement new ideas. As we celebrate the end of another good year of service, we need to ask ourselves: Is this the best we can do? Is this all we can do? The world needs Rotary now more than ever, we need to do better than good. We need to challenge and push ourselves past good and REACH FOR GREAT! On this 4th of July weekend, let's ponder how our Rotary initiatives can further freedom and peace. By leveraging our varied skills and passions, we can forge a world where these essential values are accessible to all. Let's unite to make this year exceptionally magical by surpassing the usual and accomplishing the remarkable. Your commitment and dedication to positive change are invaluable. We are the Magic of Rotary! Let's ensure this is the most outstanding year yet for District 5340. |
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Why the Rotary Year begins July 1 The international convention was pivotal in setting the start date of our fiscal and administrative year. Rotary's inaugural fiscal year commenced on August 18, 1910, the day following the conclusion of Rotary's first convention. The fiscal year of 1911-12 also coincided with the convention, starting on the opening day of the 1911 convention, August 21. In August 1912, the Board of Directors mandated a financial audit of the International Association of Rotary Clubs. The auditors advised concluding the fiscal year on June 30, allowing the secretary and treasurer adequate time to compile a financial report for the convention and board, and to ascertain the correct number of club delegates for the convention. The executive committee agreed, and in April 1913, it officially marked June 30 as the fiscal year's end. This adjustment also facilitated modifications in the reporting schedule for club membership and dues. Correspondingly, The Rotarian magazine adjusted its volume numbering to align with the fiscal year, starting with volume 5 in July 1914. Rotary maintained the tradition of hosting its annual conventions in July or August until 1917. At the 1916 convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, the delegates passed a resolution to conduct future conventions in June, primarily due to the high temperatures in the host cities. Consequently, the subsequent convention took place from June 17-21 in Atlanta, Georgia. The phrase “Rotary year” has denoted Rotary's annual administrative cycle since at least 1913. An article in the July issue of The Rotarian remarked, “The Rotary year nearing its end has been marked by several highly successful joint meetings of Clubs, which are conveniently located for collective gatherings.” Following the executive committee's resolution in 1913, the closure of the Rotary year has consistently been June 30. |
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Creating Hope was Celebrated in StyleThis year's Governor's Dinner marked a significant triumph, as Rotarians from across the District convened to celebrate the transition of leadership and the virtues of Rotary. The event was filled with humor and a sense of pride. The attendees were captivated by the exceptional skills of our Music Competition finalists, who gave solo performances that earned them standing ovations. We extend our deepest gratitude to the outgoing District Governor, Don Fipps, for a remarkable year of growth and inspiration under his guidance. His Governor's message highlights the numerous achievements of the past year that have brought hope to many. His leadership has been pivotal, motivating us to embody our motto, "Service Above Self." (Click "Read More" to continue article.) |
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Last Governor's Message from Don Fipps This marks my final article for "From the Desk of District Governor Don Fipps." As of midnight today, District Governor Dianne Crawford will take over. I am fully confident that she will excel in infusing our District with the Magic of Rotary. It has been both a pleasure and an honor to serve the 63 clubs and over 2,900 members of Rotary District 5340. I extend my gratitude to all the Club Presidents, District staff, Committee Chairs, Assistant Governors, and the entire leadership of District 5340. This past year has been enjoyable, and together, we have achieved much. In the 2023-24 period, our members across 63 Rotary and Rotaract clubs have significantly impacted the communities we serve, with an estimated:
On behalf of everyone we serve, I thank you for Creating Hope in the World.  |
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2023-2024 Governor's Awards 2023-24 District 5340 Awards People of Action Award – Tom Miller – Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise People of Action Award – Luis Carranza – Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe People of Action Award – Michael Brunker – Rotary Club of San Diego People of Action Award – Bonnie Welch – Rotary Club of La Mesa People of Action Award – Val Myers – Rotary Club of Del Mar People of Action Award – Toni Mecaro – Rotary Club of Del Mar People of Action Award – Fernanda Torres – Rotary Club of San Diego Coastal People of Action Award – Bob Silvas – Rotary Club of Chula Vista People of Action Award – Gary Bryant - Rotary Club of Chula Vista People of Action Award – Sylvana Meeks – Rotary Club of Borrego Springs People of Action Award – Rick Clark – La Jolla Golden Triangle District Distinguished Service Award – Kay Barron – Point Loma Rotary Club District Distinguished Service Award – Elana Levens-Craig – Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside District Distinguished Service Award – Sandy Pugliese - Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside Most Improved Club – Rotary Club of Borrego Springs Best Small Club – Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club Best Medium Club – Rotary Club of Carlsbad Best Large Club – Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast Best Rotaract Club – Pacific Beach Rotaract Rotaractor of the Year – Eric De Haas, Rotaract Club of UC San Diego Rotarian of the Year – James Morrison – Point Loma Rotary Club |
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Kids Helping KidsWitnessing children at the San Diego County Fair donate their hard-won stuffed animal prizes to the Care 'n Share Toy Drive, bringing joy to ill children at a Tijuana hospital, is an extraordinary sight. Nancy Stoke has been remarkable in leading this initiative for 16 years, amassing over 110,000 stuffed animals for the children of Tijuana. What's truly astounding about this endeavor is that the children themselves, not their parents, choose to donate their prizes. Repeatedly this week, upon hearing our announcement, children aged 9 and 10 paused, contemplated, and then sought their parents' permission to contribute their beloved Cookie Monster, Mario, or Pikachu to aid the sick children in Tijuana. A teen girl donated her large pink bear to the drive, stating, "These kids need it more than I do, and I really don't like clutter!" In a touching moment, a young boy, initially hesitant after donating his colorful snake, was comforted by another child who offered his own toy to soothe him. This is the magic of children helping children. Our gratitude goes to Nancy for profoundly moving the hearts of donors, both young and old, the recipients at the Tijuana hospital, and us Rotarians, who are fortunate to witness the incredible magic of Rotary, aptly the theme for Rotary Year 24/25.  |
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Surfers Unite Fellowship Sponsors Switchfoot BroAMAn incredible event was held June 15 at Moonlight Beach. The 20th Annual Switchfoot BroAM! Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship is thrilled to be a Sponsor of this event each year with the partnership of Rotary District 5340. As if being on the sand with 17,000 amigos for the surf contest, surf jousting and live music wasn’t enough the fact is we are supporting the cause to benefit: A Step Beyond offering dance scholarships to children, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Feeding San Diego, Monarch School for homeless kids, Rady Children’s Hospital and Save the Music Foundation gifting musical instruments for disadvantaged children.  |
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Join Us for a Padre Game Padre tickets are still available for the August 20th matchup with the Minnesota Twins. Seize the final chance this season to enjoy fellowship with fellow Rotarians and root for the Padres. Tickets are priced at $58. To purchase tickets, click below. For ticket inquiries, please reach out to Patty Fortin at pfortin@rotary5340.org.  |
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Open World Program Needs Hosts for Upcoming Year Rotary International is excited to offer new hosting opportunities through the Open World Program for the 2025 calendar year, celebrating the twenty-sixth anniversary of Rotary's involvement in the program. The Open World Program invites Rotary and Rotaract clubs in the United States to foster fellowship and international understanding by hosting emerging leaders from Eurasian countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. For more details, please click "Read More." |
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Grant to Support Cancer ResearchThe Point Loma Rotary Club recently toured the UC San Diego Moore's Cancer Center, where they learned about the latest pancreatic cancer research from the esteemed doctors there. Additionally, they had the chance to tour the lab and meet the research staff. As part of their visit, the club presented to the physicians a check in the amount of $60,000.  |
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Care 'n Share Toy Drive Needs Volunteers This year, District Governor Don Fipps is championing the Care 'n Share Toy Drive as a district-wide initiative, and the response has been phenomenal! For the initial 20 days of the San Diego County Fair, we aim to cover 120 three-hour shifts. The Torrey Pines Rotary Club, along with the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club and the Mission Valley Evening Club, have all participated with remarkable enthusiasm. Yet, we are still in need of more volunteers. The Care ‘n Share Toy Drive is accepting donations of new and clean, gently used stuffed animals from June 12 – July 7 at the San Diego County Fair. We're also on the lookout for volunteers and promise a rewarding and enjoyable experience! Interested in helping out? Please take a moment to review the job descriptions posted here. You can also view the Master Volunteer Schedule. As this weekend comes to a close, we expect to have gathered over 1,200 stuffed animals to delight sick children in the area. Celebrating its 15th year, the drive has already distributed over 110,000 toys! |
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Man About Town a Wild SuccessThe Ramona Rotary Club hosted a delightful and triumphant fundraising event named Man About Town last Saturday, June 15, at the Lavender & Olive Venue in San Diego. The community showed immense support by generously donating money, desserts, and basket items, making the event a success through their kindness. The participants this year included Robert Krysak, Emanuel Pasternack, Lee Castillo, Vinnie Ciampoli, Peter San Nicolas, Jonas Dyer, Brandon Powell, Peter Bidegain, Travis Ross, Tim Connelly, Jared Domnitz, and Micole Moore, who all exceeded expectations and entertained the crowd to the fullest. They were indeed the Greatest Of All Time (GOATs) of Ramona. The Ramona Rodeo Queens also took part in the festivities. Keep an eye out for our Man About Town 2024 Calendar!  |
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Rotary Cruise Planned for October 2024 Enjoy a beautiful and fun-filled river cruise vacation with other Rotarians while improving lives! This cruise will be a wonderful opportunity to help raise funds for The Rotary Foundation. |
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Rotarian and WWII veteran Max Gurney in Normandy to commemorate 80th anniversary of D-Day. Max Gurney, a highly decorated WWII veteran and long-standing member of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club, was present in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, accompanied by Tim McCulley, president of the Point Loma Rotary Club. Following their visit to Normandy, Max and Tim went to Monaco to celebrate Max's 103rd birthday with Prince Albert, in honor of Max's role as the Honorary Consul for Monaco in San Diego. Max was interviewed by CBS 8 regarding his experiences.
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Flags Put Away Until Next YearFollowing the placement and retrieval of 17,000 flags by 400 volunteers for "Operation Flags for Vets" at Miramar National Cemetery, a team of 10 volunteers sorted, organized, and stored the flags in preparation for the next Memorial Day. Jim Frost, a member of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club and proprietor of Frost Lumber, kindly provided storage space at his lumberyard on Miramar Road. Flags will be brought out again for next year's Memorial Day flag placement.  |
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Don't Miss the Deadline for Grant Application Submission Please ensure that your club submits its District Grant applications by the August 1, 2024 deadline. For the upcoming year, District 5340 will award matching grants of up to $3,200 to qualifying clubs. If you're uncertain about your eligibility, review the policies on the District 5340 website. It's mandatory for clubs to complete and sign off on all previous District Grants. For any inquiries, please reach out to alanturner.rotary@gmail.com. |
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Global Grant DDF Increased for 2024-2025 During the June 10 meeting of the District 5340 Rotary Foundation Committee, it was decided to raise the amount of District Designated Funds (DDF) available to each eligible Rotary Club. For the 2024-2025 Rotary year, the cap for Global Grant DDF per club has been set at $20,000, marking an increase from the earlier policy limit of $10,000. It is anticipated that this enhancement will encourage our clubs to initiate a greater number of significant projects. |
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Join Us on the Last Mile to End Polio! Last week, Rotary Zones 26 and 27 provided an update on Rotary's ongoing efforts to eliminate polio. It is with disappointment that we report two additional cases of paralysis caused by the wild poliovirus, one in Afghanistan and one in Pakistan. This year, the total number of wild poliovirus cases has reached ten, equally distributed between the two nations. For context, there were 12 cases in 2023, 30 in 2022, 6 in 2021, and 140 in 2020. Despite this, we have seen overall progress. Now is an opportune moment to support Rotary's Polio Plus campaign. Every contribution aid in acquiring the necessary vaccines, transportation, and materials to combat polio. Consider donating today. Additionally, you may join the Polio Plus Society by committing to a yearly donation of $100. District 5340 is inviting you to join the District’s PolioPlus Society. Joining is easy!  |
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Snacks for Children Undergoing Cancer TreatmentThe Escondido East Rotary Club purchased and assembled snack bags for the Emilio Nares Foundation, which offers specialized services to low-income families coping with a childhood cancer diagnosis. These snack bags, prepared by the Rotarians, will supply nutritious sustenance for children undergoing chemotherapy.  |
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Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club Raises $57,000On May 11, 2024, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club hosted a Golf Ball Drop and Silent Auction at the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. The event aimed to raise funds and awareness for local charities aiding at-risk youth. The Boys & Girls Club Griset Ranch, The Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, and Lifeline Community Services were among the beneficiaries. The event saw 185 guests who witnessed the thrilling drop of 3,000 numbered golf balls from a helicopter, with the closest ball to the hole winning a $2,000 prize. Guests also enjoyed a selection of fine desserts, appetizers, and cocktails on the veranda, which provided breathtaking ocean views. The event was a triumph, raising over $57,000.  |
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Better Support for Interact Club Presidents Interact club presidents can now opt to share their name and email with Rotary International (RI). Those under 18 require parental or guardian consent. Upon sharing their email, they'll gain access to virtual training resources for leading successful clubs, stories and inspiration from fellow Interact clubs, plus chances for recognition and engagement. Distribute the Interact Club President registration form to your 2024-25 Interact club presidents.
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Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra Receives GrantOn June 4th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra a $9,655 grant for the purchase of robust timpani cases, ensuring the safe transport of these sensitive symphonic instruments. Since its inception in 1988, Mainly Mozart has united the San Diego community through exceptional orchestral music, intimate concerts, and outstanding music education for youth. The renowned Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival is recognized as the premier assembly of Concertmasters and Principal Players in the U.S., featuring elite musicians from the finest orchestras globally. The Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, a pivotal part of the organization since 1995, champions excellence in musical performance and education. Catering to students aged 3-18, it offers solo, chamber, and orchestral performance opportunities, including the unique chance to rehearse and perform alongside the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra. The program promotes the inclusion of students with cognitive and physical differences in its main ensembles. Mainly Mozart is set to present six extraordinary concerts from Thursday, June 20th to Saturday, June 29th, hosted at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego and the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. For more information, visit Mainly Mozart's website.  Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation Board of Directors member Tom Sandler, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Nancy Laturno is the CEO and co-founder of Mainly Mozart, Lee Kaminetz is the President of the Art Pratt Foundation, Don Krupp, Judi Copeland and Bob Chalfa all serve on the Art Pratt Foundation Board of Directors |
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Zone Institute Slated for September Summer is fast approaching, and hot on its heels is the Zone Institute. Don't miss the camaraderie, outstanding keynotes, and entertainment. The event is set for September 11-14, 2024, in Spokane, Washington. Spokane, as the crow flies, is the largest city within a 1,656-mile radius! It's also a healthcare epicenter with the highest concentration of hospitals, labs, clinics, health education, and research facilities in the Inland Northwest and Northern Idaho. Discover this Pacific Northwest jewel by joining us in Spokane this September. Register now before the registration fees increase on July 9th. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsThe Rotary Motto: Service Above Self The motto of Rotary International, "Service Above Self," reflects its commitment to community service and selflessness. More than a mere slogan, it serves as a core principle that motivates Rotary members globally to put others' needs before their own. This dedication to putting service first propels the organization's volunteer initiatives, encourages teamwork, and nurtures a spirit of servant leadership. By embracing "Service Above Self," Rotarians create significant positive change in their communities and the wider world, exemplifying the conviction that genuine satisfaction is found in helping others.
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Vines and Vittles Enjoyed by AllThe Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club enjoyed a delightful time at this year's Vines and Vittles fundraiser, which took place at Webb Park in Rancho Bernardo. The day was splendid, the turnout was impressive, and the vendors exceeded expectations. The Kids Zone was particularly popular. The funds raised will enable the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo to continue supporting young people, community groups, and humanitarian efforts globally.  |
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The 2024 Wine Vine Uncorked Carlsbad Tasting Event is almost here! Join the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Evening for an evening of food, fun & frolic with the best wineries, breweries, tasty morsels, live music and the most enticing auction items you’ll encounter this year. All proceeds go to charity, and tickets are discounted until 7/19. But don’t wait…seating is limited. BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY! |
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Message from District Governor Don Fipps As the convention concludes, a prevailing thought is the joy of spending time with individuals who are committed to making a positive impact in the world. Fellowship is a vital aspect of Rotary, underpinning our meetings and social events. It allows us to connect with those who share our enthusiasm for service and uplift our spirits. Returning from Singapore, we find it fitting to be greeted by June's theme of Fellowship. Rotary Fellowships are composed of individuals who share a common passion for recreational activities, hobbies, professional pursuits, or cultural identities. These groups contribute to skill expansion, vocational growth, and the enrichment of the Rotary experience by fostering interests and building global connections. Rotary Fellowships provide a chance for friends and family to get to know Rotary, nurturing lasting friendships that extend beyond one's club, district, or country. They present international leadership opportunities and contribute to enhancing Rotary's public image and identity. If your recreational or vocational interests aren't covered by current Rotary Fellowships, you can contact rotaryfellowships@rotary.org to explore starting a new group.
Please visit www.rotary.org/fellowships for additional resources on Rotary Fellowships. You may also enjoy watching this video to learn more. |
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Peace Pole Erected at San Marcos High School The San Marcos Rotary Club, in collaboration with the Interact Club at San Marcos High School, recently unveiled a Peace Pole on the campus. The ceremony was attended by the 2023-2024 President Chase Odom, the 2024-2025 President Diego Gonzales, Club Advisor Bryan Gonzales, and numerous club members. This striking peace pole features the school's Columbia Blue letters and the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in four languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Russian. It is prominently placed in a beautiful garden near the school's front gate. Congratulations to the SMHS Interact Club on this commendable achievement. |
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Convention Ends on Optimistic Note, Looks Ahead to Calgary After five days of fellowship, excitement, and cultural exchange, the Rotary International Convention in Singapore ended with a look forward. Speakers during the final general session previewed next year’s gathering, to be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Fostering understanding was a central theme of this year’s convention which highlighted Rotary’s history of promoting peace. Rotary Peace Fellows María Antonia Pérez and Clara-Valentine Tigenoah celebrated the 25th year since the Rotary Peace Centers program was announced. Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Graça Machel, co-founder of the global leadership group The Elders, and Nacho Dean, a naturalist and entrepreneur who walked 20,000 miles and swum between five continents. Read more highlights from the 2024 Convention. |
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Paul Harris Society Annual Pledge Due The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to any combination of the following:
The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. To join and make your annual pledge, click here. |
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DMCC Thanks Rotarians for Placing Flags The District 5340 Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is very proud to have coordinated the first annual Operation Flags for Vets (OFFV) on Memorial Day weekend, 2024. This first of its kind effort rallied 400 volunteers from over 25 clubs from across the district as well as volunteers from other organizations on May 25 to place small American flags at every gravesite at Miramar National Cemetery. After the weekend volunteers again came together to remove the flags and place them in storage for next year. Rotarian Rick Clark from the La Jolla Golden Triangle club was the inspiration for OFFV. A Navy Seabee and Vietnam veteran, Rick brought this project to the DMCC and asked for support. The barriers were formidable, but Rick persisted in bringing it to fruition. He worked closely with the administration of the Miramar National Cemetery and received the full support of our District Governor, Don Fipps. He searched for and found an American manufacturer of flags and authored a district grant to purchase 17,000 small flags. We wanted this to be an annual event so Jim Frost, another La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotarian volunteered space in his warehouse at Frost Lumber to store the flags and Rob Cenko from the Pt Loma Rotary Club asked his company, Northwestern Healthcare Solutions to sponsor purchase of storage bins. The entire DMCC contributed in various ways to include leading a group of section leaders, assigning the volunteers to sections, arranging for water at the sight, and promoting the event to local media. The DMCC wishes to thank all District 5340 Rotarians who gave generously of their time to both place the flags at gravesites and remove them after the weekend. You can be justly proud of your dedication and participation in this event. The feedback we received was universally positive and we believe we have started a tradition that will continue into the future. To watch news coverage of the event, click here. Gratefully, Mike Fuqua, Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, Co-Chairman Jim Mendelson, Fallbrook Rotary Club, Co-Chairman Rick Clark, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club Rob Cenko, Pt Loma Rotary Club Randy Large, La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club Bob Rutherford, Coronado Rotary Club Virginia Bayer, Coronado Rotary Club Marty Peters, Rotary Club of Del Mar Don Fipps, Rotary Club of Del Mar |
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$42,000 in Scholarships Awarded The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary has awarded $42,000 in scholarships to students from Carlsbad High School and Sage Creek High School this week. Warmest congratulations to all the scholars who applied, underwent interviews, and were awarded. The funds were generated by the club through its dedicated Scholarship Raffle.
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Alison Brown in Concert There's only one week left to secure your tickets for the concert of Grammy and Emmy award-winning Alison Brown. Alison, known for her frequent performances with actor/comedian Steve Martin, has been highlighted on CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine. Don't miss this extraordinary event featuring a world-class performance at the prestigious Conrad Performing Arts Center, all in support of Rotary's mission. Tickets are online at the box office.
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Building Beds for PetsThis past week, the Chula Vista Rotary club members came out and built pet beds for the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility. What a wonderful idea for a service project!  |
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Peace Pole Installed at Mt. Miguel High SchoolLa Mesa Rotary and Interact kids installed a Peace Pole at Mt. Miguel High School last week. There were lots of cheers for hope in the world!  |
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Miramar National Cemetary Blanketed in FlagsSeveral hundred Rotarians, friends, placing American flags on every headstone at Miramar National Cemetery to honor the fallen yesterday. This is first time that has happened at Miramar and Rotary District 5340 plans to keep this project going every year. This extraordinary effort was coordinated by the newly formed District Military Coordinating Committee. If you missed out this year, look for more information in Spring 2025 on date/time.   |
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Red Shoe DayChula Vista Sunrise Rotarians were out bright and early last week to collect donations for Red Shoe Day supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities. Funds help families whose children are hospitalized by providing support for families with housing, nutritious meals, and additional children activities and more!  |
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Celebrating 100 Years of Service The Oceanside Rotary Club extends an invitation to all North County Rotarians to participate in their Independence Day Float. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, June 29, on Main Street Oceanside at 701 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92054. Festivities begin with float decorating at 9:00 AM, followed by the parade at 10:00 AM. In celebration of the Oceanside Club's centennial year of community service, participants are welcome to bring a chair for seating on the float or comfortable shoes for walking alongside. For details on the staging area, please contact Renee Richardson at 760-518-5076 or rotaryrenee@cox.net. |
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Register by May 29 for Special Savings! We’re delighted to announce that the 2025 Rotary International Convention will take place in Calgary, Canada, 21-25 June 2025, and are pleased to offer a special discounted rate for those who register and pay by May 29, 2024. Calgary, along with breathtaking beauty, is a big city with a small-town feel that warmly welcomes visitors. More than 165 languages are spoken in Calgary, making it a perfect destination to bring together Rotary members from around the world. The 2025 convention theme is "Magic All Around," and from the moment you arrive, you'll feel it. The one-of-a-kind connections and friendships. The people with different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view. The energy of thousands of members with their spirits, hearts, and passions together in one place, creating lasting impact and changing the world. That's magic! Our special discounted rate for the 2025 Rotary International Convention is available for just a short time, so register now, and join us in Calgary. |
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Forever Balboa Park Receives GrantOn Tuesday, May 21st, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded a grant of $9172 to Forever Balboa Park to replace aging lockers in the Volunteer Room. Balboa Park opened over 100 years ago, in 1915, in honor of the completion of the Panama Canal. The people of the city of San Diego came together to host a phenomenal two-year party called the Panama-California Exposition. This international event celebrated innovation, architecture, culture, and the natural beauty of the city of San Diego. Today Balboa Park covers 1200 acres and hosts 4.5 million visitors per year. There are 17,000 trees in the park, over 60 miles of hiking trails and more than 20 gardens. The historic Balboa Park Carousel gives 125,000 rides per year! Balboa Park is so expansive and complex that the City of San Diego has partnered with Forever Balboa Park a non-profit dedicated to the care and enhancement of Balboa Park. Forever Balboa Park has a full-time staff of 15 but depends on over 350 volunteers to serve as Garden Stewards, Park Ambassadors, Visitor Center staff, Tree Stewards and a group just to care for the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden!  Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation Treasurer Jackie Carpenter, Forever Balboa Park Vice President of Planning Jacqueline Higgins, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Forever Balboa Park Vice President of Facilities & Operations Craig Batrez, Art Pratt Foundation members Tom Sandler and Judi Copeland, Forever Balboa Park Vice President of Institutional Achievement Phillip Sammuli and Art Pratt Foundation members Bob Chalfa and Don Krupp.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsGreetings from the city-state of Singapore the home to the 2024 Rotary International Convention. The Rotary convention is where friendship and learning come together to inspire. A Global Celebration Singapore, known for its vibrant culture, modern infrastructure, and rich history, serves as an ideal backdrop for this global event. The convention is taking place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, a world-class venue that exemplifies Singapore’s status as a global city. Delegates are experiencing Singapore’s unique blend of East meets West, with opportunities to explore its diverse culinary scene, iconic landmarks, and cutting-edge attractions. |
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Environmental Summit a SuccessDistrict 5340's Environmental Sustainability (DES) Committee held its inaugural Environmental Solutions Summit on May 19 at the beautiful San Dieguito County Park. There were approximately 75 to 100 people in attendance for this 5-hour event. There were Rotarians, RYLArians, Rotaractors, Interactors from the entire district as well as appearances from DG Nominee Luis Carranza and PDG Steve Weitzen. There were also plenty of people from the community who stumbled onto the event at this busy park and were excited to see the work of Rotary and other organizations. Everyone left with a bit more hope for the future of the environment. The core of the summit was made of five booths filled with great ideas for service projects and speakers and lead by Rotary Environmental Ambassadors (REA). The booths included Saving Pollinators with REA Jay Klopfenstein, Plastic Solutions with REA Mark O'Connor, Litter Cleanup with REA Scott Horst, Food Waste Solutions with REA Amelie Catheline, and Tree Planting and Revegetation with REA Jenny Parker. Each booth had representation from major environmental organizations in San Diego who partner with Rotary for impactful service projects and exciting educational speakers; the full list of organizations can be found on the summit website. The summit also had a showcase of environmental projects led by various Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors. The showcase included projects from The Escondido Rotary Club, La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club, Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset, UCSD Rotaractors, Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club and the Hilltop High Interact Club, and Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club. The Judges Choice Award for $600 was won by RC El Cajon Sunset for their project helping to plant fruit trees in Kenya. The Public Choice Award for $400 was won by the Chula Vista Sunrise RC and Hilltop High Interact Club for their food waste diversion and education program. The summit also involved a 1-hour service project to beautify the park and a wonderful tour through the park’s pollinator garden. Reusable cloth shopping bags (30) and metal water bottles (25) were collected to be repurposed with other charities. Plastic Beach collected a large amount of plastic film to be recycled appropriately. The event was, of course, a Zero Waste Event sponsored by Solana Beach Eco RC, EDCO and made possible with the help of Interactors and RYLArians of Hilltop High Interact Club and Youth for a Sustainable Future (Y4SF). The icing on the cake was the excellent vegan food and drinks from Scratch House San Diego. A huge round of applause for the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club and all organizers and volunteers from around the district who worked diligently to make this summit a success and inspiration for the community. A special thanks to Rotarian Amelie Catheline who was the driving force behind the summit. Lastly, this event would not have been possible without the financial support of Rotary District 5340, EDCO Disposal, Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club, Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club, Street Stewards, San Diego County Solar, and Jimbo’s.  |
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Making a Difference with Rotary Grants Through The Rotary Foundation, clubs and districts can get a variety of grants. You can use them to support service projects, offer scholarships, and pay for other initiatives that make a difference in communities worldwide. This new infographic, Making a Difference With Rotary Grants, gives basic information about four types of grants: district, global, disaster response, and Programs of Scale. Download it to share with other members.
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Important Changes to the Rotary Citation The Rotary Citation will become known as the Club Excellence Award starting in 2024-25. The RI Board approved this change to better convey the award’s purpose as recognition of club excellence. Although the name of the award is changing, the criteria for earning it are not. Also starting next year, Rotaractors will be able to set their goals and report their achievements in Rotary Club Central, and they’ll need to do so by 30 June 2025 to earn the Club Excellence Award. Write to our Awards staff at riawards@rotary.org with any questions.
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The San Diego Council on Literacy a grant of $10,000On Tuesday, May 14th the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded the San Diego Council on Literacy a grant of $10,000 to help fund the "Imagination Library " project. The San Diego Council on Literacy proudly coordinates Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library" program. Through this initiative, books are sent monthly to the homes of low-income children aged 0-5 in specific local zip codes. At an annual cost of $26.00, a child can receive 12 books. The program currently serves children living in the following zip codes: 92021, 92102, 92105, 92113, 92114, 92115, 92116, 92054, 92057, and 92058.  Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation board members Tom Sandler and judi Copeland, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz, San Diego Council on Literacy Executive Director Jose Cruz and Art Pratt Foundation board members Don Krupp and Bob Chalfa. |
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Message From District Governor Don FippsOver the past year, while attending Rotary club meetings in District 5340, I've made it a point to bring Rosebud along to spread awareness about Canine Companions and their invaluable work in training service dogs for lifelong partnerships with individuals with disabilities. Donna and I have dedicated several years to being puppy raisers. We ensure these specially bred puppies have a secure home, attend obedience classes, enjoy a nutritious diet, experience socialization, and receive abundant love. As my tenure as District Governor draws to a close, so does my time with Rosebud. She's embarking on a six-month professional training program at Canine Companions at the Oceanside Southwest Regional Training Center. Parting is difficult, but we send her off with our best wishes. We're hopeful that come November, we'll escort her across the stage to meet her permanent companion. Making a difference comes in many forms, but for me, this avenue has been immensely joyful and fulfilling. To discover more about Canine Companions, their expertise, and their esteemed reputation in service dog training, please visit their website.  |
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Football, Softball, Soccer Anyone?On Saturday, May 18, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary and the El Cajon Rotary Club collaborated to support the Special Olympics at West Hills High School in Santee. The clubs contributed to a non-competitive showcase featuring a football toss, baseball throw, and soccer kick. They also took some time to enjoy the activities themselves. The West Hills Drama Team supported the Rotary in the morning and were outstanding with the participants. It was the inaugural year for a Rotary event within the Special Olympics. Club members expressed immense joy in assisting the participants, which in turn provided a fulfilling Rotary experience.  |
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Soft Opening HeldThe Rotary Club of Hillcrest hosted a soft opening at the LGBTQ+ Community Center on Thursday, May 15. The event saw a significant turnout and garnered support from community leaders, friends, and fellow Rotarians throughout San Diego. The Rotary Club of Hillcrest aims to support local community initiatives, including the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.  |
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Plaques at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans MemorialOn Saturday, April 27, District 5340 celebrated Rotarian at Work Day, marking the 12th year that Torrey Pines Rotary Club members have cleaned plaques at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Annually, on the last Saturday in April, Torrey Pines Rotary Club members gather at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial to honor our veterans by cleaning their plaques on Rotarians at Work Day. The Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial stands out as one of the most distinctive veterans memorials in the United States. It is the sole memorial that commemorates veterans from the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terror with a personal image, listing each veteran's achievements during their service. Numerous current and former members of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club are honored with plaques at the memorial for their service, including Don Yeckel (Captain, US Marine Corps), Max Gurney (Technical Sergeant 4, also honored on the Return to Normandy for D-Day), George “Chip” Hayes (Commander, US Navy and Past Rotary President), Tom Ferrier (Captain, US Navy), Dudley C “Doug” Ray (Lt. Commander, US Navy), and Gordon Shurtleff (Airman 2nd Class, US Air Force), among others. A plaque for Jerry Zampa’s father is also present. Max Gurney, a centenarian member of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club, will join 50 other WWII veterans on an Honor Flight to Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6. Accompanying this text is a photograph of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club members who participated in the plaque cleaning at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial for Rotarians at Work Day.  Photo: From left to right - Gordon Shurtleff, Jason Ventetuolo prospective member, Merritt Haugen, Jennifer Preimesberger, Cynthia Schubert, Max Gurney, Joe Marron, Henri Migala and Jerry Zampa |
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Food Bank Benefits from Stomp Out HungerThe May 12th Stomp Out Hunger event in Santee, hosted by the Postal Services, saw an overwhelming amount of donations from community members. The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club has long been in partnership with the Post Office and the Santee Food Bank, ensuring that the Santee Community's contributions are delivered to the Santee Food Bank. Members of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club, along with postal workers, offloaded 14,473 pounds of food from the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. They emptied the postal trucks, filled a truck provided by the club, and transported all the food to the Santee Food Bank, where volunteers organized the donations.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsEmbracing the Power of Youth The youth are the heartbeat of our future. With boundless energy and fresh perspectives, they drive progress, innovation, and change. Their passion for making a difference and their fluency in technology are catalysts for positive transformation. Embracing their diversity and providing them with support and opportunities are key to unlocking their full potential. Let's invest in youth development to create a brighter, more inclusive future for all. We have chartered a new community-based Rotaract Club, the Rotaract Club of Chula Vista, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Chula Vista. Congratulations on for the formation of this new club! |
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15,500 meals of Minestrone Soup and Mac and Cheese Packaged Thanks to Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary club members and their families as well as friends from other Rotary clubs and the Allen School community who joined them last weekend for their food packing event! They packaged over 15,500 meals of Minestrone Soup and Mac and Cheese for the Outreach Project in less than 90 minutes! The delicious food will be delivered to those with food insecurities within San Diego County.
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New Rotary Club to Support LGBTQ2+ Community A new Rotary Club is forming in Hillcrest to support the LGBTQ+ community, provide goodwill, and peace through [the] fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Join Rotary District 5340's soft launch of the NEW Rotary Club of Hillcrest on May 15, 2024, at the LGBTQ Community Center. This will be part of the networking event from 4pm to 6pm and will be co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Hillcrest, The Human Dignity Foundation, and the LGBT Community Center. Come meet incoming new Rotarians, bring people interested in learning more about the club and looking to join! Existing Rotarian and Rotaractors are encouraged to join us. The event is free!!! |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center Photo (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Jackie Carpenter and Don Krupp, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Olivewood Gardens Associate Director Claire Groebner, Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz and Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Judi Copeland and Bob Chalfa. On Tuesday, May 7th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant presented a grant of $10,000 to equip their educational kitchen with a new range and oven. Olivewood educates children, adults, and families through healthy cooking, environmental education, and leadership development. Olivewood Gardens was established in 2008 and is a 7.85-acre educational garden located in National City. The property acts as a resource for community members to explore health education, environmental stewardship, and community connection.
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School Garden Renovated Rotarians At Work Day 2024 is now complete for the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. Volunteers met to serve their community by installing 45 plants, mulching, weeding, trimming trees, painting signs and so much more! Thanks to their Community Service Director Kelly for organizing this project and to the club's exchange student for participating in the workday. The garden at South Oceanside Elementary School is a labor of love by the teachers and students. Every student has the opportunity to connect with nature, explore the gardens and learn through doing. From fruit trees, edible plants and flowers, reading areas with books at the ready, to cooking with a celebrity chef - South Oceanside Elementary has created a place of inclusion and exploration! More than 30 volunteers and 3 hours later the club made a difference.
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Events App for Rotary Keep everything you need to know for #Rotary24 in your pocket. Plan your daily schedule, learn about speakers, download session handouts, and connect with friends through the Rotary Events app! Download the app:
Apple App Store ➡️ on.rotary.org/44BLa8T Google Play Store ➡️ on.rotary.org/44QWpdT |
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Army/Navy Academy Provided a Refresh of Campus Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary participating in ROTARIANS AT WORK on Saturday, April 27 by painting five historic buildings on the grounds of the Army/Navy Academy in Carlsbad. Teams were defined by building assignment and the gardening crew. Staff and cadets of the Academy also participated and when it was done the Academy had a much-refreshed campus. Thanks to all who participated - 50 volunteers - the largest volunteer group ever helping the Academy, according to Maj. General Peggy Combs.
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May is Youth Services Month |
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Attend the Environmental Project Showcase and Contest Join Rotary members on Sunday May 19, 10 am to 3 pm at San Dieguito County Park, in Del Mar for a day filled with fun and hands-on environmental activities. The summit is organized by the District Environmental Sustainability (DES) Committee with the support of Rotary District 5340, EDCO, Del Mar Solana Beach et Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club to make this event free and open to all. Bring your family and friends! What can you expect when attending the summit?
This summit is for any Rotary, Rotaract and Interact members who want to increase their environmental impact and/or showcase what they do. For more information, please visit the summit website. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsMay is Youth Service (formerly called New Generations) Month when Rotary clubs, around the world focus on youth services, Rotaract, RYLA, Youth Exchange, and Interact, a Rotary-sponsored service club comprised of 14–18-year-olds. For more information on what is going on in District 5340 click here. Last weekend District 5340 conducted its District Conference on the Royal Caribbean Navigator of Seas to Ensenada. Please have a look at videos and photos of the event. On Saturday, May 25 District 5340 Military Coordination Committee (DMCC) will be placing an American flag on the headstones of our veterans interned at Mira Mar National Cemetery. If you wish to volunteer to help, please sign up here. |
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Rotary Supports NAMIwalks Rotary District 5340 had a great turnout for the NAMIwalk 2024. This year, as well as supporting the great work of NAMI in San Diego and Imperial Counties, Rotarians walked to celebrate the memory of Chuck Pretto. The walk in Liberty Station had over 60 Rotary participants, and we were delighted that Kim Pretto and some of her family (including grandchildren) could join us. And those on the District Conference Cruise also formed a walking team, what a great way to celebrate Chuck. Rotary has raised $17,000 towards NAMI's programs in SD/IC. It is estimated that there were over 3,000 people at the walk and NAMI has raised a record $255,000. There were many Rotarians volunteering during the event. For more details or to sign up to the D5340 Chapter of Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives please contact alanturner.rotary@gmail.com For more info about NAMI visit https://namisandiego.org/   |
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Hygiene Bags and Bedding Supplies for ECTLCThe Rotary Club of El Cajon chose the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) as their recipient for this year’s Rotary at Work project. Members donated health and hygiene products and we assembled “Hygiene Bags” for the ECTLC participants. The Club also provided new bedding to help them equip five new rooms used to house families in their transitional living center located in El Cajon. Every day, East County Transitional Living Center’s programs house over 450 men, women, and children. Their loving, holistic process offers an end to homelessness and the promise of hope to future generations. The El Cajon Rotary Club has been a long-standing partner providing grants and conducting projects to benefit the Center's objectives.  |
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Seven Clubs Join Together for Rotarians at Work DayIt was a beautiful day in the valley as multiple organizations gathered at San Pasqual Academy for their annual Ag Day or "Rotarians at Work Day". A cool morning welcomed over 100 volunteers, and an announcement at 9:00 am declared that a record was set for the most Rotary Clubs in our District joining together on Saturday. Along with the Escondido Rotary Clubs, Coronado Rotary Club and La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club (seven in total) joined in. The morning progressed to the fields for weeding, fertilizing, planting, and even rock painting in their Serenity Garden. After a productive morning, a delicious lunch was served.  |
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Old Mission Rotary Supports District 5340 RYLAAt a club meeting on Tuesday, April 30th, Old Mission Rotary welcomed four of the nine high school juniors who attended District 5340's Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). Eight students were from St. Augustine High School and one was from the Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Tom Sandler has served as the RYLA Chairman for Old Mission Rotary for 20 years and is relieved to see that the program is slowly recovering after the pandemic. The quality of the training event was as good as ever.  Photo: (L-R) Old Mission RYLA Chairman Tom Sandler, Mirshah Misirlioglu (Our Lady of Peace), Carson Van Nort, Kendrick Vazquez and Jacob Kajmowicz (St. Augustine). Jerry Rey is a guidance counselor at St. Augustine.
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the San Diego Blood BankOn Tuesday, April 23rd the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $10,000 grant to the San Diego Blood Bank for purchasing sterile welding equipment. Sterile connecting devices produce sterile welds between pieces of compatible tubing to permit sterile connection of a variety of containers and tube diameters. The grant was made in honor of Past District Chuck Pretto who passed away after a valiant battle with Leukemia. Chuck's wife Kimberley and son Anthony attended our Rotary meeting.  Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Board Members Don Krupp, Jackie Carpenter, Bob Chalfa, Old Mission Rotarian and Blood Bank Development Manager Susan Josephson, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Board Members Judi Copeland and Tom Sandler, Kimberly and Anthony Pretto, Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz and San Diego Blood Bank Development Director Cheryl Castro-Lector.
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Fallbrook Rotary Club Supports Rally for Children’s ArtsFor Rotarians a Work Day, the Fallbrook Rotary Club got together to support Rally for Children’s Arts in the Park! Last Saturday, Rotarians gathered at Live Oak Park to cook cheeseburger and hotdog combos to feed families and raise Rally for Children funds. Everyone enjoyed close to 500 burgers and hot dogs!  |
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Next Year's RI Foundation Goals Mark Daniel Maloney, our incoming trustee chair, has set some Foundation-related goals he calls “Mark’s Magical Markers” for district leaders next year. Clubs will be asked to incorporate these goals into their action plans as well.
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Annual Governors Dinner - SOLD OUT!!! 2024 ANNUAL GOVERNORS DINNER MONDAY JUNE 24TH FROM 5PM TO 8:30PM SOLD OUT!!! To be added on waitlist contact Bonnie Welch at bawelch@pacbell.net 4:30pm Check-In/Registration Opens
5pm-6pm Cocktail-Garden Terrace (No Host Bar) 6:00pm-8:30pm Dinner and Program with Entertainment!!! (Parking is included but you must get parking ticket validated at the valet station) |
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SDSU International Scholar Seeks to Thwart Substance Abuse in His Native Zambia Story Credit: SDSU International Affairs Psychiatrist Brian Maila recently won a Rotary Foundation grant to further his academic research on interventions for substance use disorders in low-resource settings. Brian Maila’s academic journey to San Diego State University originated not in the classroom but at his father’s grocery stores in his hometown of Kabwe, Central Province of Zambia. As a young teenager, Maila began managing the family markets, spending considerable time at what he saw as an eventual career in business. His father, however, had a different vision for his future. “He came to me and said Sonny, I have looked at your results at school, and I am impressed that you are doing well. I would rather you focus on school than on business,” recalled Maila. “This business, let your young brothers and I focus on it.” That conversation sent Maila on a path to becoming the first member of his immediate family to earn a university degree. Now, he researches addiction, treatment, policy, and prevention in the Joint Doctoral Program in Interdisciplinary Research on Substance Use at SDSU and the University of California, San Diego. Maila’s academic endeavors were recently enhanced when he was awarded a $41,400 grant from The Rotary Foundation to finance his studies in the United States. Rotary District 5340, The Rotary Club of Del Mar and The Rotary Club of Nkwazi in Lusaka, Zambia jointly sponsored Maila for the 2024-25 academic year award. Maila becomes the fourth SDSU student since 2015 to receive financial backing through this specific Rotary program. Other recipients came from Uganda, Brazil and Sri Lanka. “Our district always chooses to support an international student, someone who is from a developing country,” said Janice Kurth, Rotary Foundation chair for the San Diego/Imperial counties district and a member of Rotary Club of Del Mar. “Our primary focus with this grant is to prioritize global and public health.” The district encompasses 60-plus Rotary Clubs in greater San Diego and Imperial counties. However, some individual Rotary Clubs also have their own programs supporting international scholars and projects. Old Mission Rotary, for example, has been a long-time funder of nutrition and other public health projects in rural Mexico for VIIDAI, a binational health and research collaboration between SDSU, UCSD and Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. An international student’s hometown Rotary Club must officially support the grant for the student to receive funding. While these hometown Rotary Clubs do not provide money themselves, their role is essential to fostering international collaboration and relationships, said Kurth. After earning his degree in Zambia, Maila traveled to Australia and South Africa for a six-week program on mental health and substance use, including opioid treatment. When he returned, Maila began implementing what he learned at the hospital where he worked. Those efforts helped him land a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship through the State Department’s Institute of International Education to study at Virginia Commonwealth University. Afterward, he returned to Zambia and put his education into practice again at the hospital. But Maila felt he needed key expertise. While well versed in treating substance use, he needed to learn more about prevention policies, community engagement, and theories underpinning both drug use and evidence-based interventions. “I needed to delve into research,” he said. “Research will help me address these issues at a larger scale, rather than address issues at the individual level.” Maila will complete his JDP classes at SDSU this spring and then relocate to UCSD in the fall to pursue further courses before commencing his dissertation. “I have keen interest in alcohol, opioids, and cigarette smoking,” he said. “It is high time we got researchers trained in this area to help address the substance use problem, because it is a growing concern in Sub-Saharan Africa.” |
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Mission Trails Gets a Clean UpIn recognition of Rotary's Enviromental Month, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club chose as their Rotarians at Work Day project - I love a Clean San Diego Creek Cleanup at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground in the Mission Trails Regional Park. The club went off trail cognizant of snakes and poison oak to get into the brush area for trash and debris likely caused by run off associated with recent heavy storms. They were accompanied by two park rangers who made sure they were safe and provided conservation and nature tips along the way. Interactors from Santana High School also joined in and were amazing company and hard workers.    |
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Welcome Home - 50 Years Later! Honor Flight San Diego has dedicated their April 26-28 24 Honor Flight to 90 Vietnam combat Naval Special Warfare SEALs, UDT and Boat Guys. These men served in an unpopular war and were treated poorly on their return to San Diego. Honor Flight is giving them the Honor and “Welcome Home” that is 50 years overdue. The charter Alaska flight departs San Diego on Friday 26 April, tours the Washington DC war memorials including the Vietnam Memorial Wall and will return Sunday 28 April. The Honor Flight is completely free to every veteran. Bring your patriotic Red, White and Blue and welcome those who served as the arrive at San Diego Airport, Terminal 2 Baggage Claim on Sunday, 28 April 2024 at 1pm. This is a family friendly tribute to those who served. Navy SEAL Rotarians past and present will be on this historic flight - come out, show your patriotism and welcome them home. Rotary District Military Coordination Committee is providing flight arrival details on their website via following link. https://rotarydistrict5340dmcc.com/upcoming-events/honor-flight-san-diego-homecoming-april-28-2024/. |
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Goat for Joe Golf Tournament and Mental Health Fair The annual Goat for Joe Golf Tournament and Mental Health Fair is a fundraising event orchestrated by Dana and Andrea Albert through the San Marcos Rotary Club Foundation. Their presenting sponsor is Lawyers Title San Diego. Hosted by San Marcos and Oceanside Rotary clubs, this event was created in memory of Joseph Aaron Nunez, Andrea's brother, who passed away by suicide in March 2017. There are several families in North County San Diego that may have a "Joe" in their lives that is struggling with mental illness such as suicidal behavior, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or any other debilitating mental disability. Please join them for this incredible event - register by going to www.goatforjoe.org.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsHistory of Rotarians at Work Day. In 1911, Rotarians adopted the motto "Service Above Self." Past RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, selected “Service Above Self” as the theme for 2005-2006. Through the vision of Past District 5340 Governor Bob Watson 2005-06, every Rotarian in the world had the opportunity to renew our commitment to this timeless message of compassion and generosity of spirit by participating in Rotarians At Work Day. The first Rotarians at Work Day was on April 29, 2006. 60 clubs within District 5340 came forward and identified one or more projects that they performed. Many clubs partnered with other clubs including those in Mexico in District 4100, and nearly all of the clubs integrated other groups to assist such as Rotaract Clubs and Interact Clubs. Rotarians planted trees and performed much-needed maintenance to our communities’ highways, senior centers, a variety of public buildings such as schools, and parks. All in one day! Today, Rotarians at Work Day is a Rotary International initiative spanning the globe. Not every District does it on the same day, but Rotarians can be seen globally wearing their Rotarians at Work shirts while performing service in their communities. This year, District 5340 is conducting its Rotarians at Work Day, April 27, 2024. |
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United Way Receives Funds from the Art Pratt FoundationOn Tuesday, April 16th the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $8540 to the United Way of San Diego. The United Way of San Diego focuses on ways to support early childhood and youth success and family stability. The funds will be used to purchase furniture for their newly remodeled outdoor break space for their staff. Nancy Sasaki is the President and CEO of the United Way of San Diego and she was present to accept the grant check.  Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Board member Tom Sandler, President and CEO of the United Way of San Diego Nancy Sasaki, Art Pratt Board member Judi Copeland and Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz. |
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Editor Attending District Conference |
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10 Things You Can Do to Build the Environment and Support Peace How Can Your Club Make a Difference?
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Rotary Nights at the Padres Rotary Nights at the Padres Join Rotarians from District 5340 for a Padres game! All seats are located in left field at The Point. Electronic ticket(s) will be emailed to you by Patty Fortin, 5340 District Administrator 30 days before the game. Click on the team's name to purchase tickets. There's plenty of tickets available. Come join us for a fun evening of fellowship and baseball! SOLD OUT! There's plenty of tickets available. Come join us for a fun evening of fellowship and baseball! |
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Sign Up for Operation Flags for Vets The Rotary 5340 District Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) is proud to be sponsoring the inaugural “Operation Flags for Vets” at Miramar National Cemetery this Memorial Day weekend. In cooperation with the cemetery administration, members of Rotary District 5340 will be placing a small American flag at every gravesite to honor our fallen heroes. This effort is one that the cemetery has no funding or personnel to complete so they are excited to welcome Rotary to what will be a long-term commitment. Click "Read More" for more information and how to sign up yourself or your club to help participate. To volunteer go to our new website rotarydistrict5340dmcc.com/volunteer. Operation Flags for Vets dates are listed in “Upcoming Events” for additional details. |
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World Immunization Week Time to start planning how you are going to support this effort. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 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. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary’s advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort. Today, we have four Wild Polio Virus cases this calendar year and twelve last year – equal numbers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 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. Rotary International has made strides in Polio Eradication through teaching the importance of protecting children through lifesaving vaccines. Learn more here. Help Rotary raise awareness for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April. Find a variety of resources to help spread the word at the End Polio Now Resource Center. |
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Register for Zoom Workshop on Developing a Membership Action Plan We all know that Rotary clubs everywhere struggle with attracting and retaining membership. Rotary Zones 26 and 27 are hosting a Zoom workshop to help clubs achieve their membership goals. Click this link to registrar for the Zoon link that applies to the date you choose to participate. Don't miss out on key discussions and insights that will help your club succeed.
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La Mesa Rotary to Hold Pickleball Tournament The La Mesa Rotary Club is having a pickleball tournament fundraiser on May 5, 2024 at the Hub, 9545 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 92077. Prices have been reduced from last year. Come test your skill or if you never have played, join the free clinic for first time players. Tickets are $70 for players and $40 for non-players. |
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Poway-Scripps Rotarians Are Busy BeesThe Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps has been busy this year providing Service above Self. They started in January with a blood drive. In February they donated 50 Hygiene kits to Interfaith Community Service follow shortly thereafter donating a lot of hygiene products to San Diego’s Your Safe Place. In March lots of items were donated to Poway Unified School Youth in Transition and helped them pack up 100 bags of items to hand out at their grab and go day to their needy families. Also donated approximately 100 baby items to STEP (Support the Enlisted Project) for their Baby on Board project. Working on several more upcoming projects as well as beginning to plan for the Poway Rotary parade, their annual fund raiser scheduled for Sept 14.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsThis weekend, District 5340 conducted Rotary Youth Leadership Awards for area high school juniors at Idyllwild Pines Camp. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership development program run by Rotary International and funded by sponsoring clubs in the district. It aims to empower young people by providing them with the skills, experiences, and resources necessary to become effective leaders in their communities and beyond. RYLA typically consists of a series of workshops, seminars, team-building activities, and networking opportunities. Participants engage in discussions on leadership principles, ethics, communication, problem-solving, and community service. They also have the chance to interact with established leaders from various fields who serve as mentors and role models. Overall, RYLA aims to inspire and empower young people to make positive changes in their communities and to become the leaders of tomorrow. Click "Read More" to get a pictorial look at this weekend's event. |
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Save the Date - Governor's Dinner Mark your calendars today! You won't want to miss this year's Governors' Dinner slated for June 24 at the Del Mar Hilton. This is going to be an evening of celebration. Stay tuned for more information, including the registration link as it becomes available.
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Car-Seats Distributed to Marine FamiliesOn Friday, volunteers from the Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton and Rotary Club of Carlsbad were at the Warrior Warehouse to distribute more than 120 car seats to active-duty Marine families in need. That makes over 360 car seats distributed this fiscal year!  |
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Wine Soiree To be Held on April 26, 2024 Friday, April 26 from 6 -10 pm The Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club, UCSD (parking included) $100pp Details and registration here: https://lajollagtrotary.org Lift a glass with the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotarians on April 26. Join us for our Wine Soiree FUNdraiser featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and live/silent auctions. Join us at the Faculty Club on the UCSD campus to enjoy a collection of wines from Sonoma, Paso Robles, Stag’s Leap District in Napa and more. Bid on some one-of-a-kind Experience Packages, all in support of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary’s local and international humanitarian projects. Unwind with friends and fellow Rotarians on a Friday evening and enjoy the creative pairings of UCSD’s chefs: Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Skewers, Tri-Tip Crostini, Meatballs, Beet Tartare, Garden Vegetables and a charcuterie board of fruits, cheeses, nuts and artisan breads. Click "Read More" for additional information on this upcoming event. |
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LEAD Program Scheduled for October Since 2009, the District LEAD Program has been an opportunity for clubs to provide a unique two-day leadership, confidence, and growth conference for area 8th grade students. Pre-selected for their DEMONSTRATED leadership skills, the students attend a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) camp developed, presented, and funded by local Rotarians, and hear from speakers who help further nurture these talented leaders at a most critical point in their development. Over 70% of clubs in the district have participated in LEAD. That means 30% have not availed their local students of the opportunity! Your club could make all the difference! Participating clubs can sponsor up to 3 pairs of students – 1 pair equals one boy and one girl - from their area-partner middle schools. The LEAD Committee is standing by to help those clubs who haven't made this commitment identify middle school administrative support - we can help you get connected - and provide a club-specific presentation at one of your meetings to help your club make this a priority. Click "Read More" to continue article.
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District 5340 Military Coordinating Committee (DMCC) Established San Diego County is home to more than 110,700 active-duty service members and 240,000 veterans, making it one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the country. San Diego is the home to 118,300 family members, of which 60.7 percent are children, which represents 7.6 percent of San Diego County’s total population. Unfortunately, incidence of divorce and child abuse among military families is considerably higher than the general population. Many veterans struggle with mental health issues and nearly 1,000 are experiencing homelessness, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Click "Read More" to continue story. |
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Florida Rotarian Paints Pet Portraits for Cleft Lip Surgeries George Lewis joined the Rotary Club of Venice-Nokomis, Florida, USA, well into his 70s, but quickly found his purpose in Rotary. Lewis took part in a service project to install stoves for Mayan families in 2006 and learned of their need for clean drinking water. Organizing water projects with the help of district and global grants became his passion. Recently, he has turned his energies toward putting together grants to provide cleft lip surgeries. He has painted hundreds of pet portraits to raise money for the grants. Learn more of Lewis’ story on Rotary Voices. Many of you have probably seen George on Facebook where he shares a number of his pet portraits and other art projects that he has engaged in for the benefit of supporting Rotary projects. George takes requests from all over - not just Florida. If you are interested in having a pet portrait painted by George, connect with him on his Facebook page.
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Rotary Model United Nations 2024 District 5340’s 20th Annual Model United Nations Conference was held last week on March 23-24, 2024 at the Del Mar City Hall. Congratulations to all 81 Student Delegates, 11 student Secretaries-General, and all Advisors, both Teachers and Rotarians, who participated in this year’s Conference! Once again, our outstanding high school students impressed us with their leadership and team-player abilities, their grace and strength under fire, their negotiations, conflict-resolution and coalition-building skills. Rotary International and the United Nations are globally recognized organizations and Rotary was intricately involved in the formation and Charter of the UN. This Model UN experience will be beneficial to our students in their college applications, collegiate studies and future career endeavors. In fact, many of our Model UN alumni have pursued careers in international relations and other humanitarian vocations. Others have gone on to pursue degrees as varied as pre-med, law, business, and engineering. Click "Read More" to continue article. |
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Rotarians Invited to Attend the Mr./Mrs./Ms. San Diego Awards Program San Diego Rotary Club 33 invites all Rotarians to attend the Mr./Mrs./Ms. San Diego awards program on Thursday, April 18 at 12 noon. Club 33 will honor the beloved late San Diego Padres Chairman Peter Seidler as the 2023 Mr. San Diego Award recipient. The award is given to a person deemed to have contributed outstanding community betterment to San Diego over an extended period. Seidler was notified of his selection and accepted the award in Nov. 2023, just before he passed away. Attendees are encouraged to dress in Padre's attire. Rotarians are encouraged to RSVP by April 15. Please contact jordan@rotary33.org or becky@rotary33.org to RSVP and to learn more. |
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Golf Ball Drop and Silent Auction Slated for May 11 Join the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club for the Golf Drop and Silent Auction. The date is May 11, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00PM. Tickets and golf balls are now on sale. Click here to purchase. Proceeds benefit youth at risk.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsApril is Environmental Month! Last weekend my Notes had an article about how April was Maternal and Child Health Month. Rotary changed its monthly theme schedule in March so that now, April is about Environment. The goal of Rotary Environmental Month is to mobilize Rotary members and communities to take action to protect the environment, address climate change, and promote sustainable development. By focusing on environmental issues during this dedicated month, Rotary clubs seek to make a positive impact on the planet and inspire others to join in efforts to preserve the Earth for future generations. Please attend First District Environmental Solutions Summit May 19, 2024, at the San Dieguito County Park, it is FREE. Click here to register! Access the new revised monthly theme document - Download 2024 Monthly Themes.
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Rise Up Industries Receives Rotary Grant Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Board member Tom Sandler, Rise Up Project Manager Michael Lucero, Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Board members Bob Chalfa and Don Krupp. Rise Up Industries is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that prepares the formerly incarcerated for careers as CNC machine operators in their full-service CNC machine shop. CNC (Computer Controlled Numerical Milling) Machines are highly technical computerized industrial machines. The program assists many former gang members who receive employment, classroom training, and real-world experience on contract work to give them the skills needed for a well-paying career. The $10,000 Art Pratt Grant is assisting them with tenant improvements in a new and larger facility. |
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Rally 4 Reilly Receives $5,198 Grant On Tuesday, March 26th the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $5198 grant to Rally 4 Reilly. The non profit offers comfort and support while offering resources and financial assistance to individuals and families in San Diego County who are affected by spinal cord injuries. The award was accepted by Mark Daggett who is the Founder, Chairman, & Executive Director of Rally 4 Reilly and funds will be used to upgrade computer equipment.
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Fisher House Grounds Get a Spruce UpChula Vista Eastlake Rotary Club joined the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club for some yard cleanup at the Fisher House. Fisher Houses provide “a home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. These homes offer free, temporary lodging to military and veterans’ families, allowing them to be close to their loved one during a medical crisis and focus on what’s important—the healing process.  |
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Third Graders to Get DictionariesMarch 23, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo a labeling party prepping for distribution of dictionaries to 3rd graders in Poway Unified School District. Each dictionary gets a label in the front cover that depicts the Rotary Four Way Test and a place for the student's name. Long time member and elementary school teacher Cathy Glover lovingly leads this project. Next up is the delivery to schools to get to the schools and get the dictionaries in the hands of the kids!  |
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Message from District Governor Don Fipps
Tomorrow is April Fool's Day. I have never been very good creating April Fool's Day practical jokes, but I fall for them all the time. Also, tomorrow starts Rotary's Maternal and Child Health Month. Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger. 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. Rotary Creates Hope in the World by providing education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. 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. This is the power of Rotary!
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Multifamily Housing Complex Becomes Service ProjectMembers of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake, wearing white protective suits, masks, and wielding sledgehammers, embarked on a significant service project within a multifamily housing complex in Southcrest. The community is closely connected with Balboa Elementary and Chavez Elementary schools. Positioned with St. Jude’s on a nearby hill as a backdrop, the volunteers tackled the work head-on with youth volunteers from the Urban League. The extensive damage encountered was a sobering reminder of the need for community involvement and support. The spirit of solidarity among the volunteers and local groups was inspiring. Together, they participated in demolition and debris removal, part of ongoing cleanup efforts. While the city facilitated the effort by providing dumpsters, it was the united effort of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake and other organizations that truly made a substantial impact. Special thank you to our coordinator and Rotarian Koko Fajardo. The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake has tackled a series of hands-on projects that showcases our capacity to mobilize for the greater good. "Rotary in Action" exemplifies more than just a motto; it's a testament to the remarkable outcomes achievable when communities come together in a united effort for positive change.  |
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Vines and Vittles Family Festival Date Set MARK YOUR CALENDAR TODAY Vines and Vittles Family Festival June 1, 2024 2:00-5:00PM Webb Park in Rancho Bernardo We're back on June 1. We look forward to a great day in the park. Join us for an unforgettable day of local flavors, crafts, and entertainment. For more information click here.  |
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Rotary to be Awarded 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award Join Us in Celebrating This Distinguished Award Rotarians, you have served California's Community Colleges' "best" and we want to thank you! Mira Costa College Foundation invites you and two guests to a special viewing party. On April 3, we will be streaming the Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award event. This year, the Newtwork of Community College Foundations will be presenting the Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award to the Rotary Foundation and California Rotary Districts for their exceptional philanthropic support across our state's community college campuses. Join us as we recognize them for their generous contributions and celebrate the impact of philanthropic commitments to our California Community Colleges. WHEN: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 TIME: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. WHERE: MiraCosta College Community Learning Center 1831 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058Community Room 127 |
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Rotary to be Awarded the 2024 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award Join Us in Celebrating This Distinguished Award Rotarians, you have served California's Community Colleges' "best" and we want to thank you! Mira Costa College Foundation invites you and two guests to a special viewing party. On April 3, we will be streaming the Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award event. This year, the Newtwork of Community College Foundations will be presenting the Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award to the Rotary Foundation and California Rotary Districts for their exceptional philanthropic support across our state's community college campuses. Join us as we recognize them for their generous contributions and celebrate the impact of philanthropic commitments to our California Community Colleges. WHEN: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 TIME: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. WHERE: MiraCosta College Community Learning Center 1831 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92058 Community Room 127 Complimentary appetizers and drinks will be served at the event. Speakers include District Governor Don Fipps and current MiraCosta College Foundation President Dave McGuigan. Specific clubs in our district that have been involved with MiraCosta include: Oceanside Rotary Club Carlsbad Rotary Foundation Rotary Club of Encinitas Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club Rotary Club of El Camino Real “Oceanside” Rotary Club of Del Mar Vista Rotary Foundation |
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How to Reserve the Rotary Blow Up for Your Event 8'x8' x 12" (H x W x D) Free to Use for Club Events Light and Easy to Set Up Outdoor or Indoor Events Four Outdoor Anchor Stakes Included: blowup, four outdoor stakes, patch kit and blower; not included: hammer (for stakes) and extension cord, To reserve the unit, send an email to District @Rotary5340.org that provides the following information:
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Bowling for a Cause Join the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club for an evening of bowling and comradery. Their fundraising event will be held at Parkway Bowl on May 10 from 5:30 to 8:45PM. Proceeds benefit the Club's charity and community projects. Tickets are: Individual - $60 Teams of four - $240 Cosmic team of four - $280 Scan the UR code above or click here to purchase online. By check: mail to La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Foundation, PO Box 3277, La Mesa, CA 91944.
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District-Wide Volunteer Event at the Fair For 15 years, Nancy Stoke at the Torrey Pines Rotary Club has been collecting toys at the Del Mar Fair. Each year, she and her team of dedicated volunteers set up collection boxes and collect toys and stuffed animals from willing participants. Volunteers interact with departing Fair guests to encourage donations of toys won at the Fair, answer questions, arrange for hand-offs of gently used donations that may be at home, and hand out bookmarks or some token item as a thank you for a donation which has Rotary contact info on the back. Volunteers get complimentary admission tickets to the Fair, so you can enjoy the Fair before or after your shift. Click "Read More" to continue reading about this membership initiative that we would like all clubs to participate in. |
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San Marcos Rotary Club Celebrates its Success The San Marcos Rotary Club is basking in the glow of recognition for its exceptional contributions to The Rotary Foundation during the 2022-2023 term. Past President Alan Geraci and Past Foundation Chair Steve Kildoo were recently commended by District Governor Don Fipps for their outstanding leadership and dedication. One of the club's crowning achievements was receiving the prestigious Every Rotarian, Every Year Club award, a testament to the unwavering commitment of each member to the Annual Fund. With an impressive 100% participation rate, the San Marcos Rotary Club demonstrated its unity and philanthropic spirit. Moreover, the club was lauded for its members' remarkable generosity, with a contribution of over $100 per capita. This level of support underscores the collective passion for giving back to the community and making a tangible impact. The Rotary Foundation, with its century-long legacy of transformative projects, has been a beneficiary of the San Marcos Rotary Club's dedication. Having invested over $4 billion in initiatives ranging from healthcare improvements to education and poverty alleviation worldwide, the Foundation continues to be a driving force for positive change. As the San Marcos Rotary Club looks ahead, its members remain steadfast in their commitment to effecting change both locally and globally. Join them in their mission to make a difference and be a part of something truly impactful. |
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Save the Date to Celebrate 100 Years The Rotary Club of Oceanside is reaching a very significant milestone - its 100th Anniversary! Mark your calendars today so that you can join in on the community celebration. The event will be held April 20, 2024, from 11am to 2pm at Heritage Park, 220 Peyri Drive, Oceanside. The event is free and on-site food vendors will be available. There will be a whole host of activities to enjoy.
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District Youth Music Competition Finals Set The Final Four have been chosen! Earlier this month, twelve talented high school student musicians from across the District competed in the North and South Regional Semi-Finals of the 2024 District 5340 Rotary Youth Instrumental Music Competition. The Regionals were held in Carlsbad and Coronado, each featuring the club-sponsored winners of this year's ten participating RYIMC clubs. Two students from each Regional will now advance to the District Finals to compete for the $2500 Grand Prize, and an invitation to play at the Governor's Dinner in June. Click "Read More" for additional information, including time and date of the final competition. |
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$5000 for Camp Scholarships Awarded to YMCAOn Tuesday, March 19th, The Old Mission Rotary Foundation awarded a grant of $5000 for camp scholarships for children living in the underserved community of City Heights. The Copley-Price Family YMCA opened its doors to the public in 2014 and proudly serves one of the most diverse communities in San Diego, offering a supportive environment for people in the City Heights, El Cajon, Kensington, Hillcrest, Talmadge, and North and South Park areas. Old Mission Rotary has a long tradition of supporting the Copley-Price YMCA and meets at their beautiful, state-of-the art facility every Tuesday at noon. Lunch is catered by the onsite UrbanLife Cafe which is a YMCA program that trains youth in food service and retail restaurant operations.  Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang and Julian Villegas of the Copley-Price YMCA. Julian serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for the YMCA San Diego Region.
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The Rotary Club of Coronado Presents Peacemaker AwardThe Rotary Club of Coronado annually presents a Peacemaker Award to an individual or group whose service promotes good will and exemplifies “people of action.” In recognition of his leadership in tackling the human trafficking epidemic, the club presented this year’s award to San Diego Club Rotarian Dave Oates. Active in this cause since 2019, Dave continues to spearhead preventative, education and survivor support initiatives in and out of Rotary to increase awareness of the scourge in the region and encourage active involvement in combatting it. In addition to his anti-human trafficking work within Rotary, Dave also serves on San Diego County’s Anti-Human Trafficking Advisory Council, which reports to the County Board of Supervisors on all matters relating to this issue.  Pictured above: Coronado Rotary Club President Bob Rutherford, Coronado Rotary Peace Committee Chair, Sharon Raffer, San Diego Rotary Club Peacemaker Award Honoree David Oates; Rotary District 5340 Governor Don Fipps and Coronado Rotary Club Past President, LuAnn Miller. Not pictured: San Diego Rotary Club President Michael Brunker
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Message from District Governor, Don FippsThis weekend, Rotary District 5340 conducted its 20th Annual Model United Nations in Del Mar with 42 countries represented by teams of two from 20 difference schools debating two resolutions; Specific Actions to Address Loss of Global Diversity and Counter Terrorism: To Build a Safer World. As Model United Nations delegates, students become exposed to and engaged in major world issues, while meeting and working alongside their peers from different socio-economic groups, cultures, and backgrounds. This experience is very similar to the situations encountered by actual delegates to the United Nations. Students will strengthen their leadership qualities while applying their studies in such areas as history, geography, and science to practical real-world situations. Most importantly, they will learn how to peacefully resolve conflicts and reach consensus on various issues – critical tools to become peacebuilders and community leaders. This is how we Create Hope in the World. To learn more visit: https://modelunrotary5340.com/
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Escondido Rotaries Go Wild Want to visit another club and get a good deal in the process? Well, you can! Simply attend the Rotary Club of Escondido's annual meeting being held at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park at the Hunte Pavilion and get a good deal. For only $48 you get parking, admission to the park, lunch and a special program. This is not a fundraiser, but the Club does need to meet a minimum headcount. To join in, scan the QR code above or click here to make your reservation.
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Entry Garden Built at San Dieguito ParkNine members of Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club were joined by 15 students from Torrey Pines High School Earth Club to plant an entry garden at the San Dieguito Park. The club has a regular workday at this park every month to plant or clean up. This was a special day of planting green in celebration of St Patrick’s Day. The club and friends were able to plant about 150 one-gallon plants and seven flats, mulch and water in just under three hours. The result will be beautiful blooms to see and smell and nectar for birds and bees for years to come. Please come visit and see the San Dieguito Park for yourself. The club invites Rotarians to join them for future events - usually the third Sunday of each month.  |
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Military Outreach Mission Receives $10,000 Grant Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Board Members Bob Chalfa, Judi Copeland and Donna Maytum, MOM President Sandy Carder, Art Pratt Board Members Don Krupp and Tom Sandler, MOM Executive Director Barbara Chavez and Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz. On Tuesday, March 19th, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Awarded a grant to the Military Outreach Mission of $10,000 to help replace their van. The Military Outreach Mission (MOM) serves a vastly underserved population of junior enlisted military in San Diego County with basic needs to help stretch their limited funds while they live in one of the most expensive areas in the country. Their services are free of charge and consist of:
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Message from District Governor Don FippsMarch is National Women’s History Month This month, let us celebrate women in Rotary. In 1987, the United States Supreme Court ruled that women could be members of Rotary International. The very first club President was Sylvia Whitlock of the Rotary Club of Duarte, California. The first woman Rotary International President was Jennifer Jones for 2022-2023. Stephanie Urchick will be our 2nd woman Rotary International President for 2024-25. Today, 40.3% of the members of District 5340 are female. Next Rotary year, 2024-25, Dianne Crawford will be our District Governor. Our District and Rotary International are much better organizations with woman as members and as leaders. Let’s celebrate women in Rotary and all of us Create Hope in the World. |
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Dine and Dance Under the Stars Saturday, March 30, 2024 5-9:00 PM Join the Rotary Club of Borrego Springs for dancing and dinner under the stars. Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit a host of local causes. To purchase tickets either scan the QR code above or click here. Admission includes tacos and all the fixin's, wine, beer, soft drinks and coffee. |
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Foundation Cruise Will Honor PDG Chuck Pretto As many of us heard at Chuck Pretto's Funeral and Celebration of Life, it is very important to enjoy every day of your life. Kim Pretto shared at both services how wonderful it was to go on the Rotary Foundation River cruise last April. It was only a few short weeks later that Chuck was diagnosed. Kim's point was that you never know when your last day is, so enjoy life every day. This October on the next Rotary Foundation River Cruise, we will dedicate an evening to PDG Chuck’s legacy and memory. Come and help us celebrate Chuck, The Rotary Foundation and LIFE on this cruise. For more information email 5340cruise@gmail.com. |
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Old Mission Rotary Hosts Subregional Level of the Four Way Test Speech Contest On Tuesday, March 12th, Old Mission Rotary Hosted a Subregional Level of the Rotary District 5340 Four Way Test Speech Contest. Pictured (L-R) Dante Salata of Coronado High School (Rotary Club of Coronado), Varun Venkatesh of Carlsbad High School (Rotary Club of Carlsbad), Angeline Rodriguez of Hoover High School (Club 33), Yana Patel of Brawley Union High School (Rotary Club of Brawley) and Celeste Rodriguez of Hoover High School (Club 33). The contest judges from Old Mission Rotary awarded first place to Varun Venkatesh and second place to Angeline Rodriguez. Both students will continue on to the next level of competition. |
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Have You Reported on Your Rotarians at Work Day Project? Rotarians at Work Day April 27, 2024 Now is the time to report on your Rotarians at Work Day event. Who's planning on joining the District wide NAMI Walk event for mental health? This important event in honor of Past District Governor Chuck Pretto will likely involve the support and participation of many Rotarians, however, we also know clubs have planned other events for April 27th. Please help your District Leadership team by reporting your clubs' activities using the following link below: Of course, if you get stuck or need help, contact the Rotarians At Work Day Chair for District 5340, Past President Brett Morey of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle at 858-602-2532. Most Rotarians in District 5340 realize that the last Saturday in April is known as Rotarians at Work Day encouraging club members around the world to conduct a hands-on project. Did you know that this was started here in District 5340 and has since been adopted throughout the globe? Well, you do now, and you can thank the late Bob Watson of the Rotary Club of Coronado. Just another gentle reminder about how we can change the world for the better with one small gesture at a time. Thank you in advance for sharing what your club is organizing for April 27th with the District Leadership Team.
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Medical and Dental Mission Philippines 2024The Rotary Club of San Diego-Paradise Valley traveled again on an important medical and dental mission. Their goal was to complete three missions in three locations in the Philippines. Their first medical and dental mission was in the urban area of Smokey Mountain Tondo, Manila, followed by a long land journey to the next two communities located in the small towns of Barili and Naga, Cebu. The last two communities required a tiring drive to a port using ferry boats to catch the other island to be there at a specific time. With perseverance and determination, dedicated Rotarians and volunteers safely arrived on time to setup what they came to do. The locals greeted them with open arms and are humbled to see them. Their smiles gave them the energy to complete their mission. Armed with compassion and medical supplies, they provided essential care to those in need. Rotarian club members and volunteers worked tirelessly, offering optical care, minor surgeries, dental services, medical check-ups and screenings to the underserved communities. This medical and dental mission not only addressed immediate health concerns but also empowered the communities with knowledge for long-term well-being. As the mission concluded, smiles replaced pain and the people's voices echoed with gratitude. Rotarians and volunteers helped a total of 5,409 people.  |
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New District 5340 Facebook Page We have launched our NEW Facebook “District 5340” page. Please take the time to go to the page and click "Like" and "Follow". Our old page (Rotary District 5340) is no longer active, and we need to build up our following on our new page. This is where you will see District events and activities posted and should be your go-to-page for District news. |
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Rotary Night at the Padres Join Rotarians across the District at Rotary Night at the Padres! Come see the San Diego Padres play the Colorado Rockies on May 14.
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NAMI Walk in Honor of PDG Chuck Pretto Saturday, April 27th, 2024 – Liberty Station and April 13th – Imperial Valley Mall Please join us on this walk and celebrate the memory of Past District Governor Chuck Pretto. Chuck made Adolescent Behavioral and Mental Health his primary theme and his family have asked us to dedicate our walking team and our donations in memory of Chuck. District 5340 will have a walking team at NAMIwalk on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at Liberty Station and on April 13 at the Imperial Valley Mall. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The event starts at 7:00am. The walk is from 8:00am to 9:00am and the Wellness Expo is open until 11:00am. All proceeds will be used in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Rotary also needs volunteers to support this walk. Click "Read More" for registration and volunteer contact.
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Attend the First District Environmental Solutions Summit Registration: MyEventRunner - Event Public Fill (crsadmin.com) Join Rotary members on Sunday May 19, 10 am to 3 pm at San Dieguito County Park, in Del Mar for a day filled with fun and hands-on environmental activities. The summit is organized by the District Environmental Sustainability (DES) Committee with the support of Rotary District 5340 and EDCO to make this event free and open to all. Bring your family and friends! Click "Read More" to learn what you can expect when attending the summit. |
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Youth Instrumental Music CompetitionRotary International District 5340 hosted an incredible event last weekend! On Saturday, March 9th, the 2024 Youth Instrumental Music Competition for the South Region took place at the Coronado Public Library. The competition aimed to identify and recognize the student contestant demonstrating the highest level of excellence in talent, training, and passion for music. Prize money was awarded at every level of the competition, with hopes of supporting today's young musicians in their dreams for tomorrow. The South Regional finalists were Asher Bende (French Horn), Mirren Fallon (Violin), Ava Patri (Tuba), and Enrique Wilcox (Vibes). Congratulations to all of them! We also want to congratulate Ethan Fairclough (Double Bass) and Caden Jiang (Violin) for advancing to the final round. If you want to learn more about the Youth Instrumental Music Competition and how it supports young musicians, visit the website.  |
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District Training Assembly Held YesterdayRotary International District 5340 Governor Elect, Dianne Crawford, convened the 2024 Training Assembly today at Liberty Station Conference Center. 2024 District Governor Don Fipps led the opening session then passed the baton to Dianne for a day of informative training sessions.  |
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Rotarian Earns High HonorWe are proud to report that Rotarian, Rotary Peace Fellow, Fulbrighter, RISE Sand Diego Fellow, Bogdan Bogey Matuozynski recently received the U.S. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is a celebration of unity, compassion, and a shared vision for a better world. It embodies the strength of a community committed to kindness, diversity, and service to others. Bogdan's experiences as a Rotary Peace Fellow, international educator, a student at the U.S. Naval War College, a Fulbright Awardee, and a federal law enforcement agent among other roles solidified his belief in kindness as the universal language of empathy. He expressed these experiences have taught him that true strength lies in vulnerability and that authentic connections are born from shared humanity. Community service, for him is a vital avenue for resolving conflicts and fostering positive peace. It's about actively engaging in our roles, formal or informal, whether in our jobs or as global citizens, to promote peace.  |
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$6,326 Grant Presented to Elder Law & AdvocacyOn Tuesday, March 5th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $6,326 grant to Elder Law & Advocacy. Since 1978, the non-profit has helped underserved seniors navigate the complex legal system and get equitable legal treatment. The funds will be used to purchase an "owl" virtual meeting camera to facilitate virtual meetings.  Photo: (L-R): Bob Chalfa and Donna Maytum of the Art Pratt Foundation, Lee Kaminetz president of the Art Pratt Foundation, Tom Sandler of the Art Pratt Foundation, Stan Vogelsang president of Old Mission Rotary and Jamie Levine who is the Executive Director and Supervising Attorney of Elder Law and Advocacy.
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Dianne Crawford Named as a Black Leader of InfluenceDistrict 5340 is honored to announce that District Governor Elect Dianne Crawford was selected as one of the 2024 Black Influential Leaders in San Diego! This recognition comes as she gets ready to step into her new role as District Governor for Rotary District 5340. Dianne says "It is truly humbling to be among the 50 exceptional leaders chosen for this honor." Dianne shared that as she embarks on his new chapter of her Rotary journey, she is reminded of the importance of serving our community and embodying the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self." She believes that by working together and serving others, we can create positive change and make a lasting impact on the world around us. She is very excited about her new role and the opportunity to lead thousands of passionate Rotarians throughout San Diego and Imperial County in serving their communities and the world. She see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsArgh. Today, we all lost an hour of sleep as most of the country transitioned to Daylight Savings Time. Several attempts have been made in California to end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. In 2018, California voters passed Proposition 7, which allowed the state legislature to establish permanent Daylight Savings Time (DST) if federal law, Uniform Time Act, is amended to permit such action. However, any change to Daylight Saving Time in California requires approval from the federal government due to existing federal law. Efforts to enact permanent DST at the federal level have faced challenges and have not yet been successful. There are various reasons for this, including concerns about the potential impact on interstate commerce, transportation schedules, and other logistical issues. Additionally, there is ongoing debate and disagreement about the benefits and drawbacks of DST, making it difficult to achieve consensus on a nationwide policy. As we adjust to the “spring forward” time change, let's use the daylight we have to Create Hope in the World. |
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3rd Annual Spirit of the Community Recognition Gala Held.On Saturday February 17th, Rotary of Escondido After Five held its third annual Spirit of the Community recognition gala fundraiser at California Center for the Arts Escondido. The Polynesian Themed Gala included a silent and live auction item, dinner, entertainment, and a special presentation of the Club’s “Spirit of the Community Award”. This year’s recipients were Cynthia and George Weir. The Spirit of the Community Award recognizes individuals that exemplify service to the community of Escondido. “The Weirs have been long time philanthropists in Escondido, supporting many community organizations and special projects. They were well deserving of this special recognition”. Stated Doug Clark, After Five’s Community Service Director. The award was presented by former Spirit of the Community recipients Al Owens and Rich Aeling. The nearly 150 guests, were treated to a Polynesian themed dinner, and entertained by Ho’okupu O Hawaii dance group. The silent and live auctions raised funds for the Rotary After 5 Foundation, which focuses on education, high school leadership training, underserved youth, youth sports, food insecurity, seniors, veterans, and other community need.  |
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Rotary Camp EnterpriseRotary Camp Enterprise, sponsored by Rotary International's San Diego Rotary Club, is an all-expenses paid, three-day workshop that provides a unique opportunity to learn from some of San Diego’s top business leaders in a fun and educational environment. Since 1976, Rotary Camp Enterprise has offered a select group of outstanding eleventh-grade students a series of panels, presentations, and group discussions that present a broad view and an exploration of the free enterprise system. During the workshop, Rotarians assist the students with planning and preparation, but do not advise the students on the details of their chosen product and business plan. This approach allows students to learn team building, collaboration, and the give and take process of business by doing rather than being instructed on creating the best plan. Each team presents their final plan to a team of judges, and every student is required to present a part of the plan before the panel and audience. Camp nominees from various schools are recommended by school counselors and are selected by the camp’s committee. Typically between 80-90 students primarily from San Diego’s public schools attend Camp Enterprise. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop essential business skills and network with like-minded peers.  |
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$20,000 in Scholarships Awarded to 11 StudentsThis past week the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo awarded $20,000 in scholarships to 11 students from Rancho Bernardo High School, Del Norte High School, and Mt Carmel High School. There was a great turnout of students, friends and family. Rotarians said they are always proud to award these scholarships and every single year leave optimistic for our future.  |
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Rotary Serves Up Hot Dogs and HamburgersLa Mesa Rotary Club served up over 400 hamburgers and 100 hot dogs to little league players and parents at Opening Day on Saturday, March 9.  |
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The Rotary Club to La Jolla to Hold Benefit Concert The Rotary Club of La Jolla is holding a benefit concert on June 12, 2024, featuring Alison Brown at the Conrad Performing Arts Center. Alison Brown was raised in San Diego and just happens to be the daughter of the Club's current Rotary President, Barbara Brown. She has been awarded both a Grammy (nominated four times!) and an Emmy. She frequently collaborates with Steve Martin and is a member of the Banjo Hall of Fame. Although she always wanted to play the banjo, she started her career as an investment banker. She is hugely popular and has played to sold out concerts throughout the U.S, Europe and Japan. One Night only! Wednesday, June 12th, 7:00 PM. The Conrad Performing Arts Center Tickets are now available online or at the box office. Ticket prices: $250.00 (includes reception and Q&A with the artist) Only the first 100 tickets purchased at this level will be able to attend the reception due to fire regulations. $175 and $100 10% discount for active-duty military and students |
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Competitive DDF Global Grant Proposal Letter of Intent Rotary District 5340 will support 3 competitively selected Global Grant projects in the Rotary year 2024-2025 with $20,000 of District Designated Funds (DDF). No cash contribution will be required. Rules:
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Uniting to Combat Hunger To recognize our Veterans, District 5430 has organized a food drive during our District Assembly Day on March 9, 2024. We are asking our participants to bring in non-perishable food items to the event. No glass items please. Click "Read More" for additional information and instructions. |
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the Rotary Club of La Mesa Foundation presented a $7,000 grant to the Camp Julian Oaks Camp On Wednesday, February 14th, the Rotary Club of La Mesa Foundation presented a $7,000 grant to the Camp Julian Oaks Camp. The check will be used for assisting the operations of the camp. Camp Julian Oaks serves as an outreach for children and teens who have been abused and neglected. These children have been removed from their homes and are desperately in need of love and hope. They are invited to camp for a week each summer, a weekend in the winter, and attend other gatherings throughout the year. Rotary Club of La Mesa President Becki Schwartz and Rotary Club of La Mesa Foundation Chair presented the check to Tina Massa. Tina and her husband Nick founded the camp in 2009. |
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Scholarship Established for Welding Program The Rotary Club of Carlsbad established multiple welding school scholarships at Palomar College in honor of their long-time member, Pete Rogers. Thanks to the Palomar College Foundation Board for their help, the Pete Rogers Welding School Scholarship is an endowment that will exist in perpetuity. The scholarships created for this full-scale welding program offer countless opportunities for students.
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Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego On Tuesday, February, 27th, the Old Mission Rotary Foundation presented a $4000 grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Diego. The funds will be used for scholarships for children to participate in Boys and Girls Clubs programs. Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang (L) presented the check to Michelle Malin who is a Senior Vice President at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego and an Old Mission Rotary Club member.
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Celebrate St Patrick's Day by Planting Green! On Sunday, March 17 the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club (SBECO) will be replanting a favorite entry garden at the San Dieguito County Park. SBECO has spent a decade improving the park each month. This entry garden was due for a major update. The bed was prepared in January with improved soft soil. The drought tolerant flowering shrubs we will be planting will bloom most of the year and provide food and nectar for a variety of birds and insects and a feast for human eyes for years to come. We will have about 150 1-gallon plants to put in the ground, then top off the area with mulch. Come help us beautify the park! Please email me to let me know if you can come: jenny@jparkermd.net. St Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17 from 9am-12pm. San Dieguito County Park at 1628, Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Del Mar, CA 92104. Park inside - it's free for volunteers. Wear Green, of course and your Rotary T-shirts/ hats, sunscreen and sturdy closed shoes/boots. Bring a reusable water bottle and gloves if you have them. |
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March is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month |
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Participate in Peace Corps' Virtual Service Make a lasting impact in communities around the world without leaving home. Rotary and Rotaract members are eligible to serve in the Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot. Participants donate 5-15 hours per week for 3 to 6 months to support organizations abroad with their community-level projects related to education, health, agriculture, youth development, and entrepreneurship. Apply your professional skills, language skills, and interest in both global friendships and cultural exchange to build capacity and sustainability through a short-term, virtual engagement. Learn more about Virtual Service opportunities and apply - https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/virtual-service-pilot/. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsMarch is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Month Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) form the bedrock of public health initiatives worldwide. While often overlooked, these fundamental elements play a pivotal role in preventing the spread of diseases, promoting overall well-being, and fostering socio-economic development. Water: Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet millions still lack this necessity. World Water Day is March 22. https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day. Sanitation: Proper sanitation facilities are indispensable for human dignity and health. Hygiene: Personal hygiene practices, including handwashing with soap, proper food handling, and menstrual hygiene management, are fundamental in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Water, sanitation, and hygiene are indispensable pillars of public health, underpinning efforts to combat diseases, alleviate poverty, and promote sustainable development. You want to help and get involved? Join the WASH Rotary Action Group and help - https://www.wash-rag.org/. The Beers Rotarians Enjoy Worldwide (BREW) Fellowship donates proceeds from their fundraising to WASH-RAG - https://www.rotarybrew.org/index.php. Drink beer while Creating Hope in the World. |
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Trivia Registration Deadline Approaching Thank you to those teams who have already registered for Trivia Night 2024. All teams registered and paid by February 9 will receive two free mulligans! Registration closes on March 1. Please visit www.cvsrtrivianight.org for registration details and more information! Can your team unseat last year's winners from the San Marcos Rotary Club? Get your winning team together now. If you aren’t sure of players at this point, you can register by putting “TBD” in the name spaces. Visit www.cvsrtrivianight.org to register! Please continue to share the flier with friends and colleagues to give yourself some new competition. For those of you already registered, you will hear back from us the week of the event with last minute suggestions and reminders. Thank you for supporting the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Community Benefit Fund. |
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Local Non-Profits Receive Grants from the Santee-Lakeside Rotary ClubEach year, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club provides grants to deserving organizations. Taking advantage of District Matching Grants, the grants were doubled allowing the club to do even more good. Many of the club members volunteer with these organizations and are featured in the photos below. This year, the club issued grants to the Santee Food Bank, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, Paws for Purple Hearts San Diego, Innovation Charter High School, Reading Legacies, East County Transitional Living Center and a malaria net project.  |
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10th Annual Mariachi Festival Route 78 Rotary club is proud to announce that Mariachi Los Camperos will be the featured performers at our 10th Annual Mariachi Festival on Sunday, April 7 at the Center for the Arts, Escondido. The pre-concert VIP "Tacos and Tequila" event includes a taco lunch, tequila tasting, Silent Auction and a live Tequila Auction. Those tickets ($100) sell out quickly. There are also general admission tickets for the concert only ($25 to $50) The QR code on the flyer will take you directly to the CCAE website to buy tickets or you can click here - type mariachi in search bar. |
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New Mailing Address for the District Please note that District 5340's address has changed to: Rotary District 5340, P.O. Box 712407, Santee, CA 92072.
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A Night of Laughter Join the Rotary Club of Point Loma for a night of laughter and fellowship. The Club is hosting its 21st Annual Comedy Night on Friday, March 15 featuring Stephanie Blum, Jim McDonald and Dewey Bratcher and with Host Tony Calabrese. You can purchase tickets online at pointlomarotary.org, or through any Rotarian or at the door. Proceeds fund local and international projects. If you have any questions, please contact Diana at dianalm13@hotmail.com or by phone at 619 733-0600.
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$4,000 Awarded to Mission Valley YMCA On Tuesday, February 20th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $4000 grant to the Mission Valley YMCA. The funds will be used for scholarships for individuals and families to participate in YMCA programs. Old Mission Rotary President Stan Vogelsang (L) presented the check to Mission Valley YMCA Director and Old Mission Rotary Club member Ron Sauvajot.
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Message From District Governor Don FippsCelebrating 119 Years of Rotary: A Global Legacy of Service This February marks the 119th anniversary of Rotary International, a testament to its enduring commitment to service and fellowship. Founded February 23, 1905, Rotary has grown into a global force for good, with over 46,000 clubs, both Rotary and Rotaract, spanning 200 countries. From eradicating polio to promoting peace, Rotary's impact knows no bounds. One of Rotary's most celebrated traditions is the "Sun Never Sets on Rotary," an online relay event commemorating the 119 years of Rotary. Rotarians from several countries are participating by showcasing their projects, symbolizing its global reach and the continuous work undertaken by Rotarians around the clock. The last Zoom event featuring Scotland ended yesterday morning at 6 am. The event was a 50-minute review of the activities and projects in District 1320 - South Scotland, home club of the late Gordon McInally's (Past RI president). If you search YouTube, you should find this event along with several others from across the globe. An interesting nugget that I came away with was that the wife of Paul Harris, Jane Harris, was born in Edinburgh Scotland and is buried there. As we celebrate this milestone, let's reaffirm our dedication to service and continue shining the light of hope worldwide. Let us Create Hope in the World. Happy Birthday Rotary! |
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Easier Access to Polio Vaccine Countries will soon have easier access to the novel oral polio vaccine type 2, also known as nOPV2, a crucial new tool for stopping outbreaks caused by variant poliovirus. The World Health Organization made this possible by issuing a key approval for nOPV2 in December. This is the first approval of its kind for a vaccine being used under the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing. With nearly 1 billion doses administered already, this next-generation vaccine will continue to play an important role in tackling type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, also known as type 2 variant poliovirus, and in protecting millions of children against illness and paralysis. |
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Continued Support for "Your Safe Place" Project The Anti-Trafficking Committee has received enormous support for their efforts. This time it was the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps who donated lots of hygiene products for the "Your Safe Place" project. |
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AYC & TETT Volleyball Tournament for Polio Awareness
 Recently Steve Brown, former Trustee for Rotary International, received news from Abdul Qayoum Almas, Jalalabad Rotary President 2018-2019 and In Country Program Director of the Afghan Youth Connect Project (AYC) and Teaching English through Technology (TETT) and a member of the Afghanistan National PolioPlus Committee, about a polio eradication awareness campaign undertaken in Afghanistan by his team. Their team has been involved in this effort for many years. Last year there were only six cases of polio caused by the wild virus in Afghanistan and this year there have not been any such cases. The AYC and TETT team members collectively carried out a volleyball tournament for polio awareness campaign voluntarily. Furthermore, it is substantial to imply that this volleyball tournament was held between following schools’ students on a much larger scale, hence fortunately the watchers of different ages participated. 1- Nangarhar Boys High School 2- Chicknawary Boys High School 3- Abdul Wakil Boys High School 4- Shahid Mohammad Arif Boys High School 5- Nasrat II Boys High School 6- Mia Omer Boys High School This volleyball tournament was arranged in Jalalabad - Sirajul Amerat playground, and after the government collapse and since Taliban ruling, this was the biggest volleyball sport activity for the polio awareness after many years. It is also important to indicate that at the start of the tournament, the students also presented and showcased the gymnastics and kickboxing moves and tactics to the audience which was appreciated and enjoyed by all. These young sportsmen also received cash amounts as a present from the Director of Nangarhar Education Department. All schools’ administrators and students along with the education department members participated in this tournament. This is our joint mission to eradicate polio and we therefore take full responsibility on our shoulders to assist under any circumstances. This was a grand celebration that successfully within two days this volleyball tournament was finished as pre-planned, and hundreds of people are aware now and will share the message with their friends, families and loved ones in the neighborhood about polio eradication, its prevention and significance of vaccination for their children. The sport tools which have polio messages and logos will be used in the future in different areas. There was also a PowerPoint Presentation created highlighting the volleyball tournament and the polio awareness campaign, Click here to download the PowerPoint photo presentation. A report out of this effort emphasizes the need for Rotarians to remain vigilant in keeping up the momentum of giving to the polio eradication campaign. |
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Join Us for a 60-minute Conversation About Empowering Women On March 8, 2024, Rotary International is hosting a 60-minute panel discussion as a way to celebrate and recognize International Women’s Day, and we would love for you to join us! The discussion will focus on the importance of not only including but being a champion of women in leadership — in the workplace and beyond. We will discuss the importance of identifying leaders early, establishing mentorship and sponsorship programs, supporting women in joining women-led professional organizations, and focusing on allyship. We’ll also announce and celebrate the recipient of the 2023-24 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award. This event is open to Rotary members and members of the public of all genders. Feel free to share with your networks. Click Read More for registration information. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsEarlier this month presidents-elect went to Presidents Elect Training Seminar (PETS). This was an opportunity for presidents-elect (and other future presidents) of all Clubs in our District to get together and share ideas and concerns to help prepare them for a successful Rotary year. Training is essential as it gives Club leaders the tools do accomplish their goals and achieve success during their year of leadership and for them to connect with their counterparts fostering a collaboration of ideas that can be generated year long. The District's Training Assembly (DTA) coming up March 9th at the Liberty Station Conference Center is another opportunity to connect and share ideas and methods for not only presidents-elect but for all Club officers. It is also an ideal opportunity for Rotarians who are red badgers to learn more about Rotary. This seminar is open to all and this year it is FREE! Come learn about Rotary programs, tips on program and project management and best practices from other Rotarians. DTA is also a great opportunity to meet and connect with other Rotarians. Let us inspire you to Create Hope in the World. |
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Showing The Beach Some Love After numerous winter storms created by atmospheric rivers and El Niño events, Rotarians and Rotaract members from across District 5340 joined forces in the Cupid’s Clean Up at Mission Bay. Lead by Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Founder Brett Morey and his wife Karla, both Rotarians in the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, more than 30 volunteers showed up to clean up the sand, the park, boardwalk and parking lots. Over a dozen UCSD Rotaractors participated along with members of Pacific Beach Rotaract & Rotarians from around the District representing Carlsbad Hi-Noon, La Jolla Golden Triangle, La Mesa Sunrise and San Diego Coastal. Many members wore NFL jerseys since it was Super Bowl weekend as well as Surfers Unite hats, shirts and sweatshirts which drew attention to those walking along the shore. The event not only removed debris but created new friendships and interest from non-Rotarians to join in on future volunteer opportunities. For those interested in participating in upcoming volunteer opportunities such as the teaching inner city kids how to surf with City2Surf and Hope Leadership Academy, volunteering as a family at the Switchfoot Bro-AM in Encinitas, assisting at-risk youth through the 100 Wave Challenge and Boys to Men Mentoring or assisting disabled children and adults with Life Rolls On at La Jolla Shores simply text “SURF” to 858-602-2532 or register at: www.surfersunite.org. Get more out of your experience as a Rotarian by joining this Rotary Fellowship with members in 32 countries too. |
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Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake Tackle Big ProjectMembers of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake, wearing white protective suits, masks, and wielding sledgehammers, embarked on a significant service project within a multifamily housing complex in Southcrest. The community is closely connected with Balboa Elementary and Chavez Elementary schools. Positioned with St. Jude’s on a nearby hill as a backdrop, the volunteers tackled the work head-on with youth volunteers from the Urban League. The extensive damage encountered was a sobering reminder of the need for community involvement and support. The spirit of solidarity among the volunteers and local groups was inspiring. Together, they participated in demolition and debris removal, part of ongoing cleanup efforts. While the city facilitated the effort by providing dumpsters, it was the united effort of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake and other organizations that truly made a substantial impact. Special thank you their coordinator and Rotarian Koko Fajardo. The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake has tackled a series of hands-on projects that showcases our capacity to mobilize for the greater good. "Rotary in Action" exemplifies more than just a motto; it's a testament to the remarkable outcomes achievable when communities come together in a united effort for positive change.  |
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Old Mission Rotary Club Hosts 4-Way Test Speech Contest Photo caption: (L-R) Reality Changer Achievement Coach Lizeth Araiza, Contestants Muquadas Delawarzai and Diego Maya, Old Mission Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest Chair Eric Benink, Contestant Andrea Dona, Reality Changer Achievement Coach Michael Alvarez Franco, Contestant Aimee Guiterrez and Reality Changer Achievement Coach Melanie Lopez. Old Mission Rotary hosted a Four Way Test Speech Contest on Tuesday, February 13th. Four high school students from the Reality Changers Program participated. Reality Changers prepares youth to become first generational college graduates and agents of change in their communities. The four contestants were all very impressive and the Rotarian judges selected Aimee Guiterrez to continue on to round two of the District 5340 competition.
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Personal Hygiene Supply Campaign a SuccessRotary District 5340 Members continue to answer the call to help human trafficking and domestic violence survivors. Thanks so much for the additional donations of needed personal hygiene supplies by La Jolla Rotary, Fallbrook Village Rotary Club, Scripps Ranch-Poway Rotary, and the Del Mar-Solana Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. The District estimates that Rotarians contributed nearly $10,000 in much needed items. You all continue to show those in need that they matter!  |
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Encinitas Rotary Creates Magic! On March 16, 2024, the Encinitas Rotary Club's Charity Benefit Magic Show featuring five professional magicians from the famed Magic Castle will be held at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center. These magicians have performed on Penn & Teller, Masters of Illusion, late night TV and Disney Cruises. The night will be full of magic and humor for the whole family! One of the magicians is a Rotarian who has been the showrunner for 38 years. Last year, the first for Encinitas Rotary Club and North County, was a blast! This year is on the way to being a sellout. Tickets make great presents. Show length is 2.5 hours long (including intermission), so may not be suitable for some young children. Tickets can be purchased here.
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Beach Cleanup a Success Surfers United expressed a special thank you to all their volunteers for the cleanup efforts on our shores yesterday. The had over 18 college students from Rotaract at UCSD, Rotarians & Rotaractors from five different clubs including San Diego Coastal Rotary Club, La Mesa Sunrise Rotary, Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club and Pacific Beach Rotaract. This is what makes Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship so special, bringing together generations of community leaders to make a positive difference in the world. Sign up for other upcoming events at: www.surfersunite.org/events.
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Community Resource Center in Encinitas Receives Donated ItemsThe Rotary Club of Carlsbad was happy to participate in collecting food items for the community. Rotary Areas 3 (Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos) and 4 (Encinitas, Encinitas Coastal Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Del Mar/Solana, Beach, Solana Beach Eco and San Diego Evening) presented collected items to the Community Resource Center in Encinitas. This is definitely Rotary in Action!  |
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Old Mission Rotary is Looking for Talent Old Mission Rotary is looking for talent to compete for prize money at our Saturday, May 18th So You Think You've Got Talent San Diego! Please pass along our invitation to anyone you know who has a talent. Acts can include musical performance, singing, dancing, comedy, magic, gymnastics and much more. For more information, please contact Don Krupp at gottalent@oldmissionrotary.org or call 360 561-7983. |
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Carlsbad Rotary Club Assists Thousand SmilesOur Smiles International Foundation partnered with Children's Lifeline International and the Rotary Clubs of Los Cabos, MX and Carlsbad, who together had another marvelous and successful week of providing longitudinal care for the disadvantaged children of Baja, Mexico suffering with their facial differences resulting from congenital Cleft Lip and Palate formation. Using specialized and safe pediatric anesthesia, 17 more of the 355 children treated at this clinic received a large number of reconstructive procedures over the week's comprehensive management. 59 total surgical procedures were performed taking advantage of the opportunity to provide more than one procedure at a time under this skilled specialty Anesthesia. Click on the picture and enjoy a video prepared by SIF vice president, Sra. Maribel V. Moses that shows the team in action with these children.  |
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District Hosting the 59th International Golfing Championship The 59th International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians World Championship is coming to San Diego on September 22, 2024 and you're invited! The International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians is a Fellowship within Rotary International. Their purpose is to promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship amongst golfing Rotarians. This year the event is hosted by District 5340. The venue for this event, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Hotel, is located on the 18th hole of the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course with majestic views of the Pacific Ocean. The course hosts the annual Farmers Insurance Open and the 2008 & 2021 US Open. Interact with attendees at the IGFR House of Friendship throughout the event and enjoy the hospitality provided by the Rotarians from District 5340, San Diego & Imperial Valley. Join us for what is sure to be an incredible & memorable event. For more information, click here. |
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Message From District Governor Don FippsFebruary is Peace Building and Conflict Resolution month. Peace building is not merely the absence of violence but the active cultivation of conditions that promote cooperation, harmony, and justice. It involves addressing the root causes of conflicts, whether they stem from political, social, economic, or cultural disparities. By fostering inclusive dialogue, promoting empathy, and empowering marginalized voices, peace building initiatives aim to bridge divides and forge pathways towards mutual understanding and respect. Conflict resolution, on the other hand, is the process of managing and resolving disputes through peaceful means. It encompasses a spectrum of approaches, ranging from negotiation and mediation to arbitration and reconciliation. Central to conflict resolution is the recognition of the humanity and dignity of all parties involved, as well as a commitment to finding win-win solutions that honor the interests and rights of each stakeholder. Peace building and conflict resolution are not abstract ideals but practical endeavors that require collective action and unwavering commitment. By embracing the principles of dialogue, reconciliation, prevention, collaboration, and long-term engagement, societies can overcome divisions, build resilience, and create a world where peace and justice prevail. This is how we Create Hope in the World. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsI am excited to share that this weekend presidents-elect from District 5340 as well as all Districts in the Southeast region will be participating in the 46th year of Southwest PETS (Presidents-Elect Training Seminar). PETS started in 1978 with six Rotary Districts. Today we have grown to nine Rotary Districts and are adding two additional Districts next year. Leadership has planned a full weekend of fellowship, education and inspirational speakers for attendees. Attendees will have an opportunity to visit all the District Hospitality rooms throughout the weekend and will have the opportunity to meet with fellow presidents-elect from District 5000 (Hawaii), District 5240 (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura & Kern Counties), District 5280 (Los Angeles Area), District 5300 (Pasadena, High Desert & Las Vegas Area), District 5340 (Orange Country), District 5330 (Inland Empire; Low Desert), District 5340 (San Diego), District 5495 (Central; Northern Arizona); District 5500 (Tucson; Southern Arizona) as well as your District leadership. Our incoming District Governor, Dianne Crawford and her team have prepared classes that will provide the president’s-elect with information they need to lead their clubs. They will experience courses ranging from Welcome to the Digital Age, Budget, Conflict Resolution, Diversity, Membership, Fundraising, Partnerships and so much more. To continue, click "Read More". |
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February is Peacebuilding & Conflict Prevention Month. Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Half of them are children. Rotary’s goal is to create environments where peace can be built and maintained through sustainable and measurable activities in communities worldwide. Peacebuilding remains a cornerstone of our mission as a humanitarian service organization. Click "Read More" to learn more about Rotary's Peacebuilding efforts.
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Beach CleanupRecently, the Pacific Beach Rotaract Club spent part of their weekend cleaning up Pacific Beach. Here's a glimpse of their effort.  |
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Hope Through Housing Photo: Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Board member Steve Nuñez, Old Mission Rotary Club president Stan Vogelsang, Stephanie De La Torre of Hope Through Housing, Art Pratt Board members Aryanna Edwards and Shari Stauder. The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary is happy to support another great organization: Hope Through Housing. A $10,000 Art Pratt Grant will be used to fund laptops for the technology center for low-income tenants at Encanto Village apartments. Hope Through Housing is a program that provides low-income youth and adults and veterans with a home and a community of support to get their lives back on track. So many marginalized and underserved community members slip through the cracks of Federal and State protections meant to provide support. It's through programs like Hope Through Housing that San Diego is able to be a nationwide leader in welcoming and caring for all people. Special thank you to Stephanie De La Torre who is the Lead Services Coordinator for Hope Through Housing in San Diego County. Members of Old Mission Rotary met at the Encanto Village Hope Through Housing community apartment building on Tuesday, January 30th. |
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Rotarians Harvest Pack Bulk Foodstuffs for the North County Food Bank.Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary, working with the food insecurity element so prevalent in today’s society, spent one extended club meeting packing Harvest Pack bulk foodstuffs for the North County Food Bank. Over 50 Rotarians, family members and guests proceeded to measure, weigh, vacuum seal and box meals for 20,000 children during the 2.5-hour project. It was an exercise in mass quantities of oatmeal, cinnamon and sugar to help children kick-start their day with a healthy breakfast. Food Bank employees were on hand to accept and deliver the boxes of prepared food to the North County Food Bank for distribution.  |
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Personal Hygiene Drive Still UnderwayRotarians are answering the call to provide personal hygiene products as part of an outreach effort associated with the District's Anti-Human Trafficking effort. This is just a small sampling of all the personal hygiene items donated by Rotary District 5340 member clubs that will help domestic violence and human trafficking survivors know that they matter and are supported. Thank you all and keep them coming! Please refer back to the News section of this edition of Newsbits. All items will go to onesafeplacenorth.org/ and https://www.sandiego.gov/yoursafeplace.  |
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2024 District Training Assembly FREE EVENT Coffee Hour 7:30-8:30 am Held only once a year, the District Training Assembly (DTA), offers training on a variety of subjects to Rotarians including club officers, directors and committee chairs to help them be effective club leaders. ALL Rotarians – especially Red Badgers – are welcome and encouraged to attend. Come learn about Rotary programs, tips on program and project management and best practices from other Rotarians. DTA is also a great opportunity to meet and connect with other Rotarians. Register by clicking the link below. Classes fill up quickly, so don’t miss out, register today! Two members of any club planning to apply for a District Grant MUST register and attend the District Grants Seminar. The Global Grants Seminar will be held from 12:10 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.—two members of every club planning to apply for a Global Grant are required to attend this Seminar.  |
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RYLA 2024 RYLA weekend will take place April 12-14, 2024, at the Idyllwild Pines Camp. This exciting program provides high school juniors from throughout District 5340 with a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to connect with other young leaders during an all-expenses-paid weekend. "Rylarians" will be inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today. These students then return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve, through Rotary and beyond. Click "Read More" for additional information related to registration, key dates, etc. You will also find a link to the new RYLA video that was just released. |
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Rainwater Harvesting System Invented by High Schooler Ron Feuchs, is a project coach working with a high school student in New York, Madeline Abrams. Ron relays that Madeline has created a unique way to use discarded water bottles to create an irrigation system for growing vegetables. By using empty water bottles, cutting them in half lengthwise, duct taping them with waterproof tape, Madeline has created a gutter system to capture the rainfall that comes off of a roof. She then uses water bottles to create a downspout to direct the water to a holding tank similar to a rain barrel. Madeline recently presented on Zoom to Rotary Clubs in Zone 22 in Africa with 25 members in attendance. Madeline will be presenting her water harvesting innovation again on Zoom on February 17. Ron is inviting Rotarians in District 5340 to view her presentation on Saturday, Feb 17, 2024, at10:00 AM Pacific Time. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83517790604?pwd=QjZzY3pCUWdraUdnaTlJbXdmK2Zndz09 Meeting ID: 835 1779 0604 Passcode: 565529. Click "Read More" for additional information on the project. |
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Promoting Rotary on Social Media Want to learn how to leverage social media to promote Rotary and your club? Check out the Learning Center in My Rotary. Simply log in and look for the public image box and then click Promoting Rotary on social media.  |
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The Rotarian Minute on Facebook Join the Facebook Rotarian Minute Group. You will find quotes from Rotary Leaders, history and news you can use in your club meeting and to educate your members about Rotary. To join, click on the photo above.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsThis past week Rotary International District 5340 said farewell to our Immediate Past District Governor Chuck Pretto. Many District Rotarians and Rotaractors attended his funeral and his last Rotary club meeting of the San Diego Rotary Club, a celebration of life. The best way to honor Chuck is to support what he loved, The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. Donations to the Annual Fund come back to District 5340 to fund our numerous District and Global Grants. These grants support Rotary’s worldwide effort to reduce human suffering and to make our communities vibrant and a better place to live. Here is the link to make your contribution to the Rotary Foundation. It is easy to donate in honor or memory of PDG Chuck Pretto. Let us Create Hope in the World. |
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Making Our Clubs Simply Irresistible President-elect Stephanie A. Urchick is calling upon Rotary members to make their clubs “simply irresistible” to community members seeking service and fellowship. She calls on members to use Rotary’s Action Plan to assess where they are and where they need to go. Urchick talks about her priorities in an interview with Rotary magazine. Tom Gump, presidential aide to Urchick, further breaks down the concept in his blog post for Rotary Voices.
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Rotarians Joined in on Clean Up Project The Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club's January Service project with the San Diego River Park Foundation was very productive! their volunteers chopped away plants encroaching on the sidewalk on Qualcomm Way, cut branches back on trees hanging over sidewalks, picked trash and pulled weeds to improve the area.
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San Diego Flood Victims Need Our Help Picture Source: USA Today The Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego is collecting gift cards for families affected by the recent floods in the Southeast San Diego area. The critical need is for housing, which is scarce. Without housing, meals are limited to whatever is quick. Gift cards for fast food meals are needed to fill in the gap. Cards for burgers, sandwiches, breakfast, and hot meals are needed. If you would like to donate to this effort, please contact the club at sesdrotary@yahoo.com. La Mesa Rotary Club members Mark and Nancy Matthews are volunteers with Disaster Aid USA, which is a Rotary Club Project managed and run by American Rotarians. They were incorporated in Washington D.C. on June 10, 2010. The Matthews are looking for Rotarians who would like to assist with clean up following the damage caused by the recent flooding. They assessed the affected areas and see the need for additional manpower in cleaning out the houses and is asking for your help. If you are interested, please contact either Nancy or Mark Matthews at 619 454-8694.
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Hygiene Kits Assembled by Rotarians Once again Rotary Club of Carlsbad members gathered to assemble much needed hygiene kits for their community. Working together 900 hygiene kits were assembled and a total of 1500 kits distributed (thanks to individuals in their community who participated in a kit matching campaign) to local nonprofit organizations serving neighbors in need.
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2nd Annual Binational Softball Game with Club Rotario Tijuana Independencia Postponed Due to Inclement Weather New date to be Determined. Co-hosts, the San Diego Coastal Rotary and Club Rotario Tijuana Independencia invite Rotarians, Rotaractors and family and friends from Districts 5340 and 4100 to participate and/or watch their annual softball game on March 2, 2024. Click "Read More" to get details. |
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Blue Hawaii Gala and Fundraiser The Rotary Club of Escondido After Five will hold their annual fundraising on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Center for the Arts Escondido. The Polynesian themed gala will begin at 5pm and include silent and live auction items, dinner, entertainment, and a special presentation of the Club’s “Spirit of the Community Award”. Live auction items include a special experiential day with Escondido Police and Fire Departments, as well as airline tickets. Click "Read More" for additional information.
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Time to Tee Off Grab your golf buddies to play Coronado’s beautiful course and see if you can take home bragging rights and cash prizes. You can win a $10,000 Hole-in-One prize on the 9th hole or sink a putt from 50 feet to be entered in a drawing for $10,000. You can also win prizes for closest to the flag on par 3's. While you’re having fun, you’re also supporting Rotary’s more than 60 community projects, including Camp Able, Coronado SAFE, Feed the Needy and Wounded Warriors. Click "Read More" for details. |
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Join the Effort to Collect Basic Supplies for Victims of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Rotarians! Make a difference to folks in great need to know that they matter and care. Support this hygiene drive through your clubs to support human trafficking and domestic violence victims. We're looking to compile a list of personal essentials to give to individuals who are just beginning their healing journey. Details on the flyer. Contact David Oates at david@publicrelationssecurity.com to coordinate activities. Thanks for making a difference!
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Message from District Governor Don FippsOn Monday, January 15, 2024, Rotary District 5340 lost an outstanding Rotarian, a dear friend and mentor, Past District Governor Chuck Pretto. We lost him after battling leukemia for 8 months. Chuck had a tremendous impact on all Rotary members, Rotarians and Rotaractors during his many years in Rotary. He and his family hosted Rotary Youth Exchange students that had a profound impact on the lives of Chuck and his family along with the students they housed. My heart goes out to his wife Kimerly and his two children Anthony and Liza. Rest in peace, dear Chuck. You will be deeply missed, but your spirit will forever resonate in the hearts of those who were blessed to call you a friend, a family member, and a loved one. I know Chuck's passing impacted many of you and if you'd like to attend his Celebration of Life, his family has provided the information below.  |
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Being a Rotarian - Incoming RI President Stephanie Urchick Incoming RI President Stephanie Urchick Every club is different. There’s not a cookbook that we can give to clubs and say, “Do this and you’re going to be fine.” Every club develops its own culture. Country to country, Rotary is done differently. You can have Rotary clubs in the same district that are very different. We need every club to take a moment, do an assessment, and look at the four priorities of the Action Plan. Then they must ask themselves, Is there something we can do a little differently, or are we already doing the best we can in this or that category? If you’re already irresistible, then stay that way. But we have to attract people to our existing clubs, and we have to start new clubs. That’s the way to grow Rotary and to have a future. It’s simply The Magic of Rotary. People can put any verb they want in front of it. Believe in the magic of Rotary. Spread the magic of Rotary. Build on the magic of Rotary. Celebrate the magic of Rotary. There are all kinds of words that we can use. |
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2024-25 Annual Theme Revealed Rotary International President-elect Stephanie Urchick announced the 2024-25 theme, The Magic of Rotary, at the International Assembly on January 8, 2024. The assembly is Rotary’s annual learning event for incoming governors and leaders. Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, called on members to use the magic of Rotary to recognize and amplify the organization’s power to save lives. She also called on them to make their Rotary clubs “simply irresistible.” Read more and see the theme speech.
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Model UN Training Session District 5340 Model United Nations Training Session was held yesterday where the student delegates selected the country they will represent and then learn about two resolutions (Biodiversity and Terrorism) to be discussed during the 20th Annual Model UN Conference March 23-24. The event is hosted by the Rotary Club of Del Mar.
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Car Seats for Military Families The Rotary Club of Carlsbad in early January provided car seats for active-duty Marines in need. Using social media, the club utilized this effort to encourage community members to consider joining Rotary.
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Passing of PDG Chuck Pretto It's with great sorrow that District 5340 announce that after a very long 8-month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and GVHD, Past District Governor Chuck Pretto passed away this morning. Chuck received his Bone Marrow Transplant on August 29th, but shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with graft versus host disease which caused a great deal of side effects to him, which is very common in most transplant recipients. The Pretto family would like to thank Rotarians for sending love, cards, words of encouragement and the tender way in which they supported the family on a personal level during these past months. We will post an update when we have information from his family on services/celebration of life.  Rest in Peace |
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January is Vocational Services Month It all began almost one hundred sixteen years ago on February 23, 1905 in the windy city of Chicago. At that time the Chicago Rotary Club’s constitution had two objects. The first was the “promotion of the business interests of its members” and the second was the “concept of friendship.” In 1910 at Rotary’s first Convention in Chicago, a quote of “As man comes into the light of wisdom, he comes to see that conduct toward others pays, that business is the science of human service and that he profits most who serves his fellows best,” became one of Rotary’s first mottos. Then two years later in 1911, at the conference in Oregon a second motto we all are familiar with -- “Service Above Self” was introduced. The idea of business as an object of Rotary was established in 1912 by the International Association of Rotary Clubs when it adopted a statement containing the 5 objects of Rotary. Both "mottos" were officially adopted in 1950. Click "Read More" to continue article. |
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New Years Cheer - The Paul Harris Society Thinking of a way to start the New Year off with a meaningful gift that lasts long past the holiday season? Here's the perfect gift that keeps on giving year-after-year - the Paul Harris Society. Joining the Paul Harris Society is one of the best gifts ever. It's easy. Just enroll in Rotary Direct to contribute monthly, quarterly or annually. Your generous contribution to the Rotary Foundation allows us to fulfill the promises we make to improve our communities here and around the world. If you need assistance, you may email James Morrison and he can walk you through the process. Let's lift a glass to Creating Hope in the World.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsLeap Year: A Symbol of Hope In the rhythmic cycle of time, a leap year emerges every four years, carrying with it an extra day. Beyond its role in synchronizing calendars, this anomaly symbolizes hope and possibility. The bonus day challenges us to break free from routine, finding beauty in the unexpected. It encourages us to dream big and embrace the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. The universality of the leap year unites us globally. This shared experience transcends borders, fostering a sense of commonality among diverse cultures. As we mark this extra day, February 29, 2024, let it serve as a reminder to Create Hope in the World. May it inspire acts of kindness, compassion, and unity, weaving a tapestry of positivity as we navigate the uncertainties of the future. Happy New Year. |
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Start the New Year Off with the Gift of Life Give the Gift of Life and Create Hope in the World. There is no better way to create hope that by donating blood. This lifesaving donation means everything to someone in need. Join Rotarians of the Poway Scripps Rotary Club in making a difference in someone's life on Thursday, January 18. Make a reservation by calling the number above. What a way to start the New Year off - being of service to others.
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Rotary's Float in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade - January 1, 2024 Every year, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee has a viewing audience of over 41 million households in the United States and 28 million households around the world in more than 243 countries/ territories. The Tournament estimates that more than 700,000 are present live on the parade route, over 22,000 view the floats as they are decorated; and almost 122,000 view the post-parade floats. That's what we call boosting Rotary's public image. Tomorrow, make sure you turn on the TV or your streaming service, whichever communication mode you use to see this year's float in all its glory. Shown below, you will find our District Governor and other volunteers doing their part to ready the float for public viewing.  |
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Membership Seminar Slated for January 20 Membership Seminar Saturday, January 20, 2024 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. VIA ZOOM Join Rotarians throughout the District for this informative seminar that will provide an opportunity to learn and engage in discussions about how to attract new members and enhance the club experience for existing members. Participants will be provided with a list of available resources and will participate in break-out discussions with other Rotarians who will share their thoughts and practices on membership. This seminar is for Club Presidents, Membership Chairs, and all Rotarians who would like to know more about how to help their clubs grow and thrive.  Zoom information will be provided to registered participants three days before the event. |
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Escondido East Rotary Club Plays Santa The Escondido East Rotary Club was very busy this holiday season. The club first stocked stockings for the kids at Escondido Community Child Development Center, a nonprofit pre-school for single parents or a family on a low income. Then the following week they had their very own Santa, Walt Cichocki and club members meet the kids at the school and Santa and elf (our club President Shelby King) pass out the gifts to the kids. Then the club adopted three families in need this Christmas. One family's daughter is in the hospital with leukemia; she is doing better; along with gifts she is being showered with prayers for her. The other two families were very surprised as Santa Walt delivered gifts to them at their home. The club also rang the bell for the Salvation Army's kettle in front of Major Market Grocery store, bringing in around $860 from passing by customers. |
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Happy Holidays |
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Newsbits Schedule Change Surgery Schedule:
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Big West Peace Fellow Your Endowment /Major Gift Advisers, Marge Cole and Steve Lewis are excited to share some fabulous news with regards to the selection of the latest Peace Fellow nominated from our two paired zones. After much effort this past year to fully fund ($500K+) our shared Zone 26 & 27 Named Endowment Fund #E10557 that was created under the leadership of PRIVP Jerry Hall back in 1987, we’re pleased to inform you that Isabel ‘Izzy’ Gutierrez was selected from District 5340 in Zone 26 as one of the 92 fellowships awarded in the 2023 calendar year selected from 42 countries. Izzy is our first Peace Fellow that’s being funded by our paired zones fully funded Named Endowment Fund! As a Foreign Service Officer in the United States Department of State, Izzy worked in overseas posts promoting peace and strengthening diplomatic relationships between countries. Izzy is one of 17 Peace Fellows attending the International Christian University (ICU) in Japan. ICU was founded in 1949 as a unique experiment in international education after the Second World War and is a recognized leader in international education and is known in Japan for its emphasis on academic excellence. As Izzy earlier noted “studying at the Rotary Peace Center in Japan will help strengthen my work as a diplomat by giving me a deeper understanding of international relations and how to most effectively make an impact.” Please review the three attachments specific to our Rotary Peace Centers and our Zone 26 and 27 Endowed Fund for Peace and Conflict Resolution as well as our newest Peace Fellow, Izzy Gutierrez. We’re happy to inform you that our named endowed fund balance has just exceeded $530,000 and continues to grow! To date, there are 17 Districts here in the Big West who have previously invested both cash and DDF into this fund since its inception and another 20 individual Rotarians who have generously made additional cash contributions to this Endowed Fund. Currently, our fund will allow us to fund one new Fellow every four years. Once our named fund hits $750,000 in total contributions, we’ll be able to fully fund a new Fellow every three years. To learn more about Peace Centers and Izzy, click here to download the summary. Listen to Izzy herself as she expresses her gratitude and conveys what she hopes to accomplish as a fellow.
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Over 4,200 Clubs Participated in World Polio Day Thank you to the more than 4,200 clubs that organized over 6,300 actions in 115 countries for this year’s World Polio Day! We also want to recognize and celebrate Districts 4455, 4170, 4700, 4590, and 4380 for having the highest percentage of clubs register a World Polio Day action. The dedication, passion, and generosity of Rotary members in polio eradication is unparalleled. Thank you for making World Polio Day a success! Polio Update - Closing in on Zero! Wild poliovirus is still circulating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Last year, the variant poliovirus was detected in a few previously polio-free countries — a stark reminder that if polio exists anywhere, it’s a threat everywhere. To get an idea of the recent progress made and challenges met, the Rotary magazine team sat down with Aidan O’Leary of the World Health Organization, Melissa Corkum of UNICEF, and Omotayo Bolu of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
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A Message from District Governor Don FippsAs the year comes to a close, people around the world are gearing up to celebrate the holiday season, a time of joy, reflection, and togetherness. While traditions may vary, one common thread unites us all—the spirit of happiness and goodwill. In this global tapestry of cultures and beliefs, the holiday season serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the importance of embracing diversity. Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, Eid al-Fitr, or Eid al-Adha, the underlying message is one of love, peace, and unity. As we exchange greetings of "Happy Holidays," let us celebrate the richness of our global traditions and foster understanding and respect for one another. Let’s Create Hope in the World. Wishing you a joyful and harmonious holiday season!
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Wheelchairs Donated For the second time, past president Richard Makau of the Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset, traveled and delivered for the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego, another wheelchair and a wheeled folding walker with seat for an indigent patient in Kenya, Africa. Members of the club led by president Marissa De Luna (fourth from left) are shown with past president Richard Makau (second from left) receiving the wheelchair and folding walker. |
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Internal Medicine Physician Joins the Rotary Club of Torrey Pines Torrey Pines Rotary Club met Wednesday, November 29, and held their bi-monthly meeting at the Sheraton La Jolla Hotel. The Club inducted their newest member of this nearly 60-year-old club. The induction honors were conducted by PDG Karl Kruse. Dr. Merritt Hougen (Internal Medicine) spend 41 years at Scripps Clinic and was responsible for establishing the General Internal and Urgent Care facility at Scripps. Merritt was joined at the podium by his wife (Linne) and President Leilani Sakai, and PDG Karl Cruse (see photo). It can be said of Torrey Pines Rotary Club that the Club is not only known as “the Wine Club” but can also boast that the Club has five members who hold doctorate degrees, a dentist, a medical doctor, and the Club’s oldest member, Max Gurney (Member Emeritus), 102+ years young, and a WWII veteran. Also, Torrey Pines Rotary Club is very proud of its Club Foundation, which distributes thousands of dollars each year to support such causes as veterans, youth, education, international and national crises, the Club’s Care ‘N Share toy drive, and other community causes and organizations. Torrey Pines Rotary Club will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this coming June 2024. |
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The Environment Gets a Great Assist from the Solana Beach Eco Rotary ClubDuring Thanksgiving week, Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club was able to assist in planting 39 native oak trees. Since this is the best time of year to plant trees, the club scheduled two service projects at San Dieguito County Park. They have a regular monthly third Sunday service project at the park. On Sunday, November 19, a group from the club planted 17 oak trees in their Native Plant Trail area. They came back with more members and Rotarians from San Diego Coastal Rotary Club as well as several members from the community to plant another 22 oaks around the park on Green Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). This was wonderful way to work off extra Thanksgiving calories and an excellent environmental project for multiple reasons. The trees will be well cared for by the park service and will survive to old age, making our community more lush, vibrant, welcoming to wildlife (humans included) and resilient to climate change for many years to come - a lasting Rotary legacy. Working with community and local families that enjoy the park showcases Rotary and helps teach the values of volunteering/ giving back to the next generation as well as the importance of trees and the environment. They may have recruited a few new Rotarians too! Working together in such a beautiful setting always brings fellowship - they had a great time. We are hoping that tree planting will catch on as a common Rotary event. If your club is interested in a similar project, there are multiple ideas all over the county and many eager partners to help. Please contact Rotarian Jenny Parker at jenny@jparkermd.net if you want more information.  |
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Santee-Lakeside Rotary Provides Holiday Cheer to Seniors Santee-Lakeside Rotary club members have been hard at work this holiday season. This past Thursday they made 70 "We Care Bags" for Meals on Wheels San Diego County. These bags will bring holiday cheer to local seniors in their community.  In addition, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club along with Santana Interact Club and family members and friends wrote holiday cards for seniors in the community. These cards were presented at their holiday party to John Hossick (green coat) who is the president of the Santee Mobile Home Association Committee and who will ensure these holiday wishes get delivered to the seniors who often times are alone for the holidays.  |
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Santa's Helpers Build Bikes for KidsCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club, its members and past presidents, came together yesterday to build this year’s bike/helmet/lock donations to some of Carlsbad’s children who would never otherwise get a bike. These children are in for a great surprise.  |
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Gifts of Love Across the BorderRotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake members recently visited friends at Casa Para Pobres Desamparados del Hermano Pablo, A.C. in la Rumorosa, BC. Residents received personalized gifts, blankets, and other provisions. More importantly, club members who participated in this visit said they treasure the opportunity to be of service.  |
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Maui Says Thank You to Rotarians After a devastating fire destroyed the historic town of Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii, on August 8, 2023, Rotary District 5000 created a fund to help the survivors recover and rebuild. Rotary members from around the world responded in a big way. Click below for a short video message from District 5000 Governor Mark Merriam who provides an update on the fund and thanks the donors.  |
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Platelet Shortage - Call to Action Past District Governor Needs Your Help Kim Pretto has asked for assistance in getting members to donate platelets. Past District Governor Chuck Pretto has been fighting cancer and is using them and there is a shortage. Interested platelet donors should contact the Blood Bank of San Diego or the American Red Cross to schedule a donation. Please make sure you tell them you are donating on Chuck's behalf. The process of donation typically takes 2-3 hours. It involves drawing blood, separating platelets and returning the remaining components to the donor through an automated collection device. The actual platelet donation itself usually lasts around 90 to 120 minutes. Keep in mind that specific procedures might vary depending on the donation center or organization.  Govenor Don Fipps Donating Platelets today for PDG Chuck Pretto
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Santee Santas Get a Helping HandOnce again, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club joined with the Santee Santa's Foundation in gearing up for its holiday outreach. The Santee Santas Foundation is a local non-profit 501(c)(3) registered organization, providing help to members of its community living within the Santee School District and in need of assistance. Santee Santas’ signature effort is an annual holiday children’s toy and food (grocery store gift card) drive focused on bringing the Christmas spirit to 150-200 families in our community. Their senior outreach program ensures seniors in our community who are living alone or in senior care facilities are not forgotten over the holidays. Their volunteers serve the Santee community throughout the year and have done so since 1953! The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club kicked this holiday effort off this past Saturday with their well-organized assembly line method of putting boxes together. They put a total of 800 boxes together in less than two hours. Several members also have signed up for packing food items into the boxes they have put together. Food is placed in boxes with content dependent on family size and toys are sorted and wrapped for recipient children from 0-11. Children 12-18 receive a gift card to purchase a special gift of their choosing. There is a myriad of tasks for volunteers who want to help. If you'd like to help here is the link to sign up to volunteer.  |
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A New Home for a Family in MexicoThis past week Governor Don Fipps was in Tecate Mexico with the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club and Rotaract of San Diego State University building a home for a family living on a dirt floor in a single room and one bed. By the end of the week, the group left the with keys to a home consisting of a concrete slab, lockable steel door, 3 windows, an internal loft and a roof. Govenor Fipps was joined by District Governor Elect Dianne Crawford and District Governor Nominee Designee Jeb E Bakke Rotary District 5340 Members. What a great Christmas present for this family.  |
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Low Ride and Stride Fundraiser Raised Over $142,000 This Year The Rotary Club of Coronado has partnered with Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) on two occasions in 2023. STEP is a 501(c)(3) that builds financial self-sufficiency among junior active duty and listed members, recently discharged enlisted veterans and their families facing financial crisis through counseling, education, and emergency grants. STEP was one of the beneficiaries of the annual Low Ride and Stride club fundraiser, which raised over $142,000 this year. |
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Message From District Govenor Don FippsWelcome to December. This month, Rotary International recognizes Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. This is one of the 7 Areas of Focus for The Rotary Foundation. Our most recent District Foundation Seminar mentioned some of the aspects of this Area of Focus. Eradicating polio globally is our largest effort, but there are other diseases that plague our global community, one such disease is malaria. There is a $6M program lead by The Rotary Foundation through its Programs of Scale, Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia. The project will add 2,500 community health workers to the national health system in Zambia, allowing for effective malaria diagnosis and treatment for more than 1.3 million people in ten of the most highly affected districts in Central and Muchinga provinces. This is the power of Rotary to Create Hope in the World.
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Chula Vista Rotary Decorates Trees for Veterans One of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista's favorite annual traditions is decorating Christmas trees at the Veterans Home of California - Chula Vista. This past Saturday the club put up 5 Christmas trees for the Veterans - located in the main lobby, three wings, and activity room. It's another way to Create Hope that the Rotary Club of Chula Vista is spreading joy and celebrating "Service Above Self".
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San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club
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RI Annual Report for 2022-2023 Has Been Released According to John Hewko, General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer for Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation recently relayed that Rotary International released its Annual Report. "Thanks to Rotarians' generosity, we can all reflect on another year with pride in our achievement and ambition for the future. The commitment of friends, leaders, and problem-solvers united in taking action makes a life-changing impact. This past year, 1,098 global grants supported large-scale projects, scholarships, and vocational training teams. Leaders who are building peace in the Middle East or North Africa will soon have the opportunity to get world-class professional development at the newest Rotary Peace Center at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul, Turkey. Our global polio eradication effort is intensifying through our joint commitment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Our progress in advancing important causes is possible because of your support. As you explore the stories, review RI's finances, and hear from RI's community of donors in this year’s report, I hope that you’re as inspired as I am by the change we’re making – change that adds hope to people’s lives today and makes a difference for years to come" |
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December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month December is Disease Prevention & Treatment month. Rotary is dedicated to fighting and preventing disease. Rotary and Rotarians are committed to helping people to live healthy lives. Our signature project in this area is Polio eradication, but polio is not the only disease or aspect of healthy living on which Rotarians have expended energies. They set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the people in the world who can't afford to pay for healthcare. The health and vitality of a person, a family and a community can be seriously impaired by what in many cases is a preventable disease. Disease prevention is really a keystone to progress in other areas as well because of the interplay with other areas of focus like Water and Sanitation and Maternal & Child Health. |
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Rotary Club Collects Books GaloreThe Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club is feeling thankful for an incredible Book Drive they conducted this past October, with books still coming in! More than 6,000 titles were dropped off to benefit the Friends of Santee Library. The collection generated roughly $5,300 in income. As a result of so many children’s books coming in, they have even partnered with a local nonprofit for a holiday infant-2nd grade book giveaway! This effort was coordinated by Rotarian Cheryl Cozart who is a retired librarian. It was also supported by the newly formed Interact Club at Santana High School. Rotarian, Elana Levins-Craig has extensive communication capability due to all of her efforts supporting various programs throughout the region. Her call to action on the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club's behalf was definitely fruitful. Up next for the club will be an activity on December 2 in support of the Santee Santas Foundation and a Holiday card distribution to seniors in local mobile home parks. More to come as these projects come to fruition.  |
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Support The RI Foundation on Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday, a Global Day of Generosity, is an opportunity to make a big impact with a gift of any size supporting projects you’re passionate about. Our Foundation helps Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. Consider making a gift this Giving Tuesday, November 28.
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Giving Thanks Through ActionOceanside Rotary Club members participated in a service project that supported the Tri-City Pantry. Over 300 bags of food were assembled for families for Thanksgiving. The Oceanside Rotary Foundation contributed $3,500 towards the project!  |
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Coronado Rotary Club Feeds 400!On the morning of November 15 and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, members from the Coronado Rotary Club were at Father Joe’s Villages serving 400 meals to those in need. In the words of one of the Rotarians - "the hands of God are often at the end of our own arms". Another good example that Rotarians are Creating Hope in the World.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsThis past week we celebrated Thanksgiving prompting us to reflect on all the good works Rotary has done throughout the year. This Tuesday, November 28 is Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that takes place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It was created to encourage people to donate to charitable organizations and causes they care about. Rotary International has embraced the concept of Giving Tuesday and encourages the use of this day as a fundraising opportunity for clubs and for The Rotary Foundation. Since 2017, Rotary has also used Giving Tuesday to reach out directly to prospective and current donors, and the campaign has grown each year. It is important that we all support this online giving opportunity since many clubs rely on grants provided by the Rotary International Foundation to Create the Hope in the World in their communities and throughout the world. I encourage you to make a donation and to encourage your friends on social media to consider giving a gift to the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund. All donations will help us provide all the support needed to make a difference in the world.
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Give to Rotary on Giving Tuesday! November 28, 2023 A Call to Action for All Rotarians. November 28 is Giving Tuesday, and we need your help to raise funds and awareness for The Rotary Foundation this Giving Tuesday. This Global Day of Generosity is an opportunity for all members to make a big impact, with a gift of any size that supports projects you’re passionate about. Here’s what we need you to do: • Watch our Giving Tuesday video with Southeast San Diego. • Donate to Annual Fund-SHARE on Giving Tuesday to support district and global grants. The Foundation will recognize the top three clubs in fundraising, donor participation, and online giving. Find out which clubs were recognized last year and set a giving goal for your club this year. Just be sure the gifts are made on November 28! |
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District Facebook Page is Down Currently, the official District 5340 Facebook page is down. We are unsure as to when it will be up and running again. In the meantime, please post to our Rotary District 5340 Members group page.
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This Holiday Season Give a Gift that Gives to the World! The Rotary E-Club of San Diego is selling a limited edition of beautiful convertible cross body/”fanny” packs from Guatemala. These make ideal presents for Rotarians who want to give with a purpose. Two Guatemalan college students, Nallely and Reyna, whom the EClub has been supporting tuition costs through District Grants and private donors, are selling their hand-made products to raise money for needed college expenses outside of tuition. Click "Read More" for additional information including cost and contact information. |
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Smiles International Pre-Thanksgiving Clinic a SuccessRotarian, Dr. Jeffery James Moses, Founder and President of Smiles International Foundation relayed that their pre-Thanksgiving Clinic where they served patients with cleft lip and palate issues was a blessing for the Smiles International Foundation's cleft mission team as well as their partner, Children’s Lifeline International. Patients benefitted from continuity treatment and long-term staged follow-up care throughout the course of the last 18 years by the team. The Rotary clubs of Carlsbad California and Tecate Mexico, Districts 5340 and 4100, and many young adults forming the ranks of SAVG (Smiles Action Volunteer Group) help provide logistic support along with pre-clinic advertising. During this clinic, 27 pre-screened children received specialty consultation, annual treatment planning and scheduling. 14 of them were deemed ready and received facial reconstructive procedures. These children were scheduled into an outpatient facility built by Rotary as a Centennial project of the Rotary clubs of Bakersfield, CA, and Tecate, Mexico. Patients benefitted from the precision pediatric anesthesia by their anesthesiology team led by Dr. Nick Pollard. Then, with a surgical team led by Craniomaxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Andrew Campbell, an estimated 50 combined surgical procedures were able to be performed over the course of this clinic. Multiple procedures are given to each child, where possible, taking advantage of the anesthesia time allotted. Many children with this congenital facial difference require several surgical procedures applied at various stages of growth in order to achieve the desired final outcome of them entering their community with enhanced abilities to properly eat, breathe, hear, speak, and smile. While the USA calculated value was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars if billed privately, due to the volunteers all donating their expertise, the value of care donated to these children and their family's is incalculable. Again, many thanks are extended to each volunteer and each sponsor for the opportunity to serve this deserving population.  |
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How Does Rotary International's Annual Fund Work? Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary and Rotaract clubs take action today to create positive change in communities close to home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, fight disease, provide clean water and sanitation, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies, and protect the environment. The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund includes SHARE, the World Fund, and our areas of focus funds. The Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative asks all members to donate to the Annual Fund each year and take part in at least one Foundation project or program each year. |
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Thanksgiving Meal Bags CollectedThis past week, the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary club collected 29 Thanksgiving Meal Bags for families in need within their community, which will be distributed by the Chula Vista Community Collaborative. Each bag includes the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving meal and two gift cards totaling $50.  |
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Toy Drive Underway The Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps is assisting STEP (Support the Enlisted Project) with their Toy Drive for military children in their community. If you'd like to participate or if you need more information, please call (858) 695-6810 or email barb.fiorina@teamstepusa.org.
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Coronado Rotary Club Recognized for Polio Plus Contributions At District 5340's recent Foundation Seminar, the Rotary Club of Coronado was recognized for outstanding club contributions to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Program. Over the past 15 years, with the Gates Foundation match, they have collectively donated over $3 million to Polio Plus. Congratulations, the Coronado Rotary Club is certainly Creating Hope in the World.
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Socks and Sleeping Bag Drive The Rotary Club of Eastlake is holding a sock and sleeping bags drive to assist the Dreams for Change/Safe Parking Program to assist the housing insecure during the holiday season. The collection drive will run from October 14 to December 9. For more information, please contact Miriam at 619 259-9810 or Stephanie at 619 851-2984.
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A Heart-Warming Journey to Renovate Casa Hogar Infantil Uriel Join the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake in a heartwarming journey as they renovate Casa Hogar Infantil Uriel, a children's home in Tijuana. Witness the transformative power of service and compassion in action. Special thanks to Fordham University student Sofia Hernandez for producing this video. Watch here.
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Save the Date - Trivia Night 2024 Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club is pleased to announce next year's fundraising event! Trivia Night 2024 will be held March 8, 2024. It's time to form your team so you'll be ready for Early Bird Registration which opens on January 8. For prices and more info, please visit www.cvsrtrivianight.org. |
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El Cajon Rotary Volunteers at Thousand Smiles ClinicMembers of the El Cajon Rotary Club traveled south to Ensenada to lend a hand at the Thousand Smiles Clinic. Tasked with shopping and providing lunches for the volunteers, club members provided sandwiches and all accompaniments on Friday and chili and salad on Saturday. Members also had the opportunity to meet and talk to other Rotarians and volunteers as well as get a glimpse of the many services provided to young ones who otherwise would never receive care. This particular weekend, with school out on Friday, the clinic registered over 120 children to receive care. Families lined up outside starting in wee hour of the morning. Children were screened and provided basic exams and education on Friday with approximately 20 children returning on Saturday for necessary surgeries or more complicated procedures. Volunteer professional staff included dentists, an ENT physician, anesthesiologist, audiologist, hygienists, dental students and nurses. Alongside Rotarians were community members both local and US based who provided meal preps, basic education and much more. The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club is likely to have a new Rotarian soon as a result of a first-time community volunteer who learned about Rotary and saw first-hand that Rotarians are People of Action! El Cajon Rotary Club has a long-standing relationship with the Thousand Smiles Foundation providing volunteers, purchasing a commercial grade stove and building picnic tables for outside breaks and dining.   |
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Holiday Drive for Military Children Join the Rotary Club of Carlsbad to help make the holidays a little brighter for some children? Please contact Kelly for drop off location at kjl_schafer@roadrunner.com.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsDaylight Savings Time ended today at 2 am. If you have not yet, set your clocks back one hour. I am a morning person, up at 5 am so I can be in the pool for my swim workouts at UCSD Canyonview Aquatics Center Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 am. As a result, I get up at the same time every day. I use the time in the morning for me. My Rotary Club of Del Mar recently had a speaker, Jarvis Leverson, The Morning Hero @the.morninghero talking about getting up early with a structured routine and being intentional with every minute of the day. I thought he was one of the better speakers I have heard for personal growth. November is Rotary Foundation Month and as part of this week's 2023 Rotary Zone 26/27 Insitute at the Town and County Resort, we will be celebrating on Friday the Rotary Foundation at the Rotary Foundation Gala, Disco Inferno. We are going to have fun. I hope to see you there! |
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Brewing Beer for the Holidays The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary club is brewing beer for the holidays again. This is open to all Rotarians and friends of Rotarians and will feature three types of beers you will be able to personally brew and bottle. The owner of Citizen Brewers (by Mission Gorge Rd. and highway 8) will teach everyone how to make the beers, and you will have the chance to do all the work. This is a unique opportunity to engage in a San Diego tradition. The beers that are made always taste professionally made. The labels will be created by all of us and display the Rotary logo so you can share them with friends and family as gifts over the holidays or drink the beers yourself. Contact Ivan Alba at mathispower@hotmail.com to sign up, but space is limited. After all the cases are claimed, those who still wish to make beer will be invited to the next brewing event very soon.
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November is Rotary Foundation Month Rotary Foundation Month is celebrated in November every year to emphasize the importance of and need for Rotarian support of The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation was created in 1917 by Rotary International's sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary "to do good in the world." It has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$1billion. It has one of the largest and most prestigious international fellowship programs in the world. The Rotary Foundation transforms donations into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since its inception more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent over $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. The Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. For instance, a donation as little as 60 cents can protect a child from polio, $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness, and $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children. To make a contribution, visit rotary.org/donate.
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Clean Up Day a Huge SuccessThe Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo's clean-up day this past week at Westwood in Rancho Bernardo was a big success. There was a huge turnout from the club including 30 students from Rancho Bernardo High School, Mt Carmel High School, Del Norte High School, and Poway High School, which made the work easy. More than 100 vehicles brought junk and donations to fill five huge EDCO Trash bins and provide gently used stuff for Interfaith Community Services, Rise Resale and The Assistance League Thrift Shop. Club members finished off their successful day with a wonderful Mexican lunch provided by Toni Craft from craftcateringllc.com.   |
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Jeb Bakke Elected to Serve as District Governor 2026-27Your District Nomination Committee met to interview candidates to serve as District Governor. Jeb Bakke from the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club was selected to lead District 5340 as Governor in 2026/27. Please join us in congratulating Jeb!  Jeb originally joined Poway Rotary Club (now Poway Scripps) in 1991, where he served in various offices and avenues of service. He moved to the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise club in 1994 where he was also active in a variety of capacities. He took a leave of absence to raise his young family, while keeping in touch with the many relationships he formed through Rotary. He returned to Rotary in 2017 to RB Sunrise where he served as President in 2020-21. He has served the district as International Service Chair from 2021-23 and is currently an assistant governor for Area 15 that serves both the Paradise Valley and Sweetwater Rotary clubs as well as four active Rotaract clubs - D5340 of SDSU, UCSD, Pacific Beach and City Heights. Click "Read More" to continue. |
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Spooktacular Benefits Seeds of HopeMembers of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club had a spooktacular time at their Halloween Party 2023 benefitting Seeds of Hope.  |
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The Rotary Club of Carlsbad Installs Peace PoleThe Rotary Club of Carlsbad installed their first Peace Pole on October 19, 2023, at Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Discovery Center in Carlsbad. It was the celebrated highlight of the Club's 84th year (established on 10/19/1939)! Agua Hedionda welcomes the public all year and serves over 8,500 children from 13 school districts in the community. The Peace Pole will be enjoyed by thousands for years to come encouraging thoughts and conversations about peace. May Peace Prevail on Earth!  |
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The Spooky Season is HereThe San Diego Rotary Club brought the spirit of the spooky season to their community! They teamed up with San Diego Youth Services to transform their Temporary Housing for Youth Center into a Halloween graveyard. It was a heartwarming experience, and members we're grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these incredible young individuals. As People of Action, this Rotary club will continue to work hand in hand to create a brighter future for all.  |
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Encinitas Rotary Club Raises Money for Alzheimer's San DiegoThe Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club members recently participated in the Walk4ALZ fundraiser, raising a total of $3,375 for Alzheimer's San Diego. This was the club's first participation in the event, and several members and friends walked in North County to show their support for the cause. After the walk, members gathered at Union Kitchen to celebrate their successful fundraising efforts. Alzheimer's San Diego aims to assist the 100,000 San Diegans living with dementia and their care partners. The funds raised from the walk will benefit the local community in San Diego County.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Cat Day! As most of you know by now, dogs have a prominent place in my Governorship. However, in our home we have a cat that “gets along” with our CC Puppy Rosebud. Cats make wonderful companions but don’t suffer from separation anxiety. All companion animals teach us to care for those that require our support. Rotary members care for those who need our help to Create Hope in the World. |
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Join the Polio Plus Society or Polio Plus Kennel Klub World Polio Day is October 24th. There is an excellent article in this month’s Rotarian that describes why your gifts are so important, how your gifts are being used, and why we need to continue our fight to eradicate Polio. To show our ongoing support, District 5340 is inviting you to join the District’s PolioPlus Society and/or The Rotary PolioPlus Kennel Klub. Joining is easy! Just commit to an annual contribution of $100 or more and receive a Polio Plus Society pin, End Polio Now wristband, and printable PolioPlus Society Certificate or an End Polio Now Doggie Bandana. Click "Read More" to get links to each membership and to view additional statistics.
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Join Us at the Zone Institute - November 8-12 Sunny San Diego is calling. There is still time to register to join us in person at the Town and Country Resort or on our virtual campus. Hear from our amazing keynote Leapfrog founder John Marggraff, Peace Corp Director Carol Spahn, Brainwise Founder Dr. Patricia Gorman Berry and Rotary International President Elect Stephanie Urchick, dance the night away as we raise money to support the Rotary Foundation at Friday’s Disco Inferno Celebration and Celebrate our incoming District Governors at the Saturday Evening Gala. Learn more https://www.zoneinstitute.org/2023-institute-schedule. |
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Romona Rotarians Distribute Dictionaries at Three SchoolsWhen they say a picture says a thousand words, they weren't kidding. The Rotary Club of Ramona recently distributed dictionaries to 3rd graders at three elementary schools - all of it caught on camera! Of special note, Superintendent Thurman was in attendance for all distributions, which is quite impressive.  Rotarian Eva Trieger was so excited about handing out dictionaries this morning to third graders in Mrs. Brisendine's and Mrs. Ramirez's classes at Mt. Woodson Elementary School! Superintendent Dr. Brian Thurman was there, too. At James Dukes Elementary School, Rotarian Traci Jones visited Mrs. Stewart's 3rd grade class along with Superintendent Thurman. Special needs student Daisy received her dictionary on her Chameleon, a portable braille display with local apps, like an editor and library.  Here's Mrs. Gibbs' 3rd grade class at James Dukes Elementary School with Rotary President Carol Fowler and Superintendent Thurman.  Rotarian Lee Castillo was at Barnett Elementary School to hand out dictionaries and tell the kids about the Rotary Club. Also present were Superintendent Thurman, Principal Meris, and teachers Mrs. Wrenn, Mrs. Youngdale, and Mrs. Rosenbusch. Another great Rotary day. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsHave you wondered what The Rotary Foundation is really about? What does it mean to me? Attend the District Foundation Seminar November 4th at 8:30 am until noon at the Sharp Prebys Innovation & Education Center in Kearny Mesa; come to be impressed and inspired. Breakfast will be included in this state-or-the-art training facility that opened earlier this year. Find out how you too can Create Hope in the World. Register Here. Tuesday, October 24th is World Polio Day, it is a time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and all who want a world free from polio to come together, recognize our progress in the fight to end polio, and talk about the actions we need to take in order to end polio for good. Learn more at: World Polio Day.  |
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2023 Camp LEAD a SuccessDistrict Governor Don Fipps and DG Designee Luis Carranza visited the LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, Aspirations & Determination) Camp at the San Diego County Office of Education, Cuyamaca Outdoor School. There were over 80 8th grade students enrolled in the two-day program. Congratulations to the committee of Paul Pierce, John Harmata, Jessica Long, Jim Czarnowski, Elizabeth Harmata, Jim Piburn, Gregory Harris & John Simonelli for a great 2023 program.  |
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Cyber Security Tips With the ever-growing complexity of the internet and the potential for abuse, one needs to know how to protect themselves from being hacked or scammed. This article is to give you some ideas on how you protect yourself from being a victim of cyber-crimes. Here are some of the top cyber security tips to keep in mind.
What is a VPN? A VPN or Virtual Private Network is a technology that allows you to create a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet. It works by routing your internet traffic through a remote server and encrypting it, making it difficult for anyone to intercept or eavesdrop on your online activity. VPNs are used for a variety of reasons, including:
How to avoid being a victim of email fraud. Email fraud, also known as phishing, is a common cybercrime that can lead to identity theft and financial loss. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of email fraud:
What to be aware of when using Zoom. Zoom is a popular video conferencing platform that has become increasingly important for remote work and online learning. Here are some security tips to keep in mind when using Zoom:
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Has Your Club Registered its World Polio Day Action yet? It’s Not Too Late!
 World Polio Day is 24 October, and even a small action can help your community understand how Rotary members around the world are working to make history and eradicate polio. Don’t forget that districts with the highest percentage of registered clubs by 24 October will receive a special video message from President R. Gordon R. McInally! |
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Young Musicians Opportunity As the 2023-24 Rotary Youth Instrumental Competition (RYIMC) kicks off, every club in District 5340 is once again invited to join in seeking out and rewarding the most musically gifted and dedicated high school students in our communities. This long-standing Rotary tradition annually demonstrates Rotary's commitment to today's youth and tomorrow's leaders by awarding cash prizes to local young musicians demonstrating the highest levels of excellence in talent, training and love for music. Click "Read More" to continue. |
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Why You Should Plant Trees Fall is a great time to plant trees in San Diego. The temperatures are cooling, reducing stress on the trees and the winter rains will nurture new roots. I’m going to give you some reasons why trees are so vital to our community and then give you tree planting events to join this fall. If you are a planner, note that San Diego Tree Week is April 22-28. There will be several tree planting events on Saturday, April 27 which happens to be Rotarians at Work Day. If your club does not already have plans, consider joining one of these events. Click "Read More" to continue. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsPlease join us for the Walk to End Polio fundraiser sponsored by District 5340 Rotaract Council on October 22. It is at Balboa Park starting at 8 am; we'll be walking five of the seven bridges with mimosas and breakfast burritos at the finish. What better way to start off your Sunday morning than to walk in the 4th Annual Walk to End Polio. Just click HERE. Today is Global Handwashing Day and reminds people around the world to wash their hands with soap. You might not think that by merely washing your hands with soap, you could be saving a life. It seems like such a mundane thing to do. It's something your parents or teachers have drilled into your head for years. "Remember to wash your hands." That's because washing your hands, with soap of course, is the best way to get rid of germs. My Apple Watch automatically starts timing my handwashing and alerts me when 20 seconds have passed. Yes, that is left over from COIVD-19 precautions. |
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La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club Spruces Up Ensenada SchoolA much-needed paint job and sports court refurbishment were given to Ensenada Benito Juarez Elementary School by our own La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club on October 7-8, 2023. Led by past president Ron Kohl, a veteran organizer of cross-border project trips, the efforts of over 100 people painted ten school buildings and installed basketball backboards, new rims, and new sports nets. Ron Kohl and the leadership team, Tony Grillo, Ranjan Lahiri, and Garry Kachkovsky geared up with a pre-project visit, budget calculations, and arranged for Baja fellowship and fun! 52 Rotarians and guests, arriving by a chartered bus, were joined by the Rotary Club of Ensenada Todos Santos, Ensenada Interact students, Rotarians from Tijuana, and over two dozen college students from SDSU and UCSD Rotaract Clubs! We also had school parents, teachers, and children help paint the buildings. The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotarians and Rotaract Students donated over 100 stuffed toys to present to the children at the school. The children each carried their new toys close to them the whole day, even while painting! Following the project, a delicious paella dinner was provided by the Ensenada Todos Santos Rotary Club at Chateau Camou Winery in Guadalupe Valley. Early Sunday morning, Rotary Surfers Unite leader Brett Morey took Rotaract Students surfing. So great to bless others down in Ensenada once again. Who wants to join us next October? For more information about our club or to join us on a future project, email info@lajollagtrotary.org or check out our website https://lajollagtrotary.org.  |
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Fall Gardening for Interact ClubSeptember 23 was a busy day at the La Mesa Community Garden. The La Mesa Interact Club volunteered to help in the garden, and Craig of Yard-to-Table Creations provided a great workshop about fall planting!  |
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Carlsbad Oktoberfest a SuccessCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary and Carlsbad Rotary produced a sensational 41st Oktoberfest at the Strawberry Fields this year with thousands of people enjoying this Family Fall Festival. Bill Baer and Kate Hanham chaired this massive event representing each of their Rotary clubs. German meals, music, beer (of course), dancing, contests, and loads of fun - thanks are extended to all Rotarian volunteers who made it happen.  |
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Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser Launches It's not too early to start thinking about the holidays. Order your poinsettias today. Your orders will help support the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo fund projects for the Marines and Sailors stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Payment instructions are above.
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Catamaran Cruise October 15! The San Diego Coastal Rotary club is holding a fundraising event on board the Triton, the largest catamarans on the western seaboard. Join them on Sunday, October 15 from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. The event will take place at 2700 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA. Tickets are $60 per person, and proceeds will go to the San Diego Coastal Rotary Foundation to help fund youth projects such as RYLA and LEAD. They’re asking that attendees submit the ticket payment via Venmo (@sdcoastalrotary) with their name and email listed, which they will use to send additional event details. |
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A September to Remember - Surfers Unite Rotarian FellowshipLast month was truly remarkable as Sufers Unite supported four major events locally including the 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring at Mission Beach, Life Rolls On assisting disabled children and adults at La Jolla Shores, the Supergirl Pro in Oceanside and City2Surf with inner city kids and Hope Leadership Academy (HLA). Unfortunately, due to weather the HLA team had to make a difficult decision to cancel the City2Surf event however we will hold it again next May in Del Mar as we have for almost a decade. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Hero Day and honors the people we look up to and who inspire us to be the best person we can possibly be. In an effort to Create Hope in the World, let’s be a hero to someone in our lives whether that person is one of our children or for many of us, grandchildren. Be the role model or mentor that had a positive influence in your life, pay it forward, be the hero!
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Students RememberedFor anyone who lives in Santee and its surrounding areas, the horrific shooting at Santana High School on March 5, 2001 is forever etched in their hearts and minds. This was the day that student Andy Williams shot 15 people, two of whom died. The two students that were killed were 14-year-old Bryan Zuckor and 17-year-old Randy Gordon. In memory of the two boys who lost their lives, a community scholarship fund was established, and the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club was asked to be the administrator of the fund. Two scholarships are awarded each year - one to a girl and one to boy. Rotarians interview and make the final selection. With an emphasis on bully prevention, eligible scholarship candidates (current students at Santana) were asked to write on the subject of bullying and how it has or has not affected their lives and things they can do to promote a non-bulling atmosphere at their school. The funds allocated have diminished over the years and the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club was set to retire the program. One past Santana graduate Kristin Dare who is also the Executive Director for the Santee-Chamber of Commerce learned of the depleted funds and initially started a Go-Fund-Me Account to keep the program alive. She said that Santana Students agreed that at the names of Bryan and Randy would be spoken, and their memory kept alive. Her efforts grew to become a Santana Class of 2003 20-year reunion class project championed by Kristin Dare, Lauren Gaines, Andrew McPortland and El Cajon City Councilman Phil Ortiz. On Thursday, October 5 these champions presented the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club with a check for $7,000 to ensure that Bryan and Randy's names are spoken and to honor them by keeping efforts around bulling prevention alive. This time the table was turned, and the community rallied to support the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club's efforts by ensuring they had the funds to administer the scholarship fund to deserving students at Santana High School. It was a unique picture of cooperation and support that exemplifies Rotary's theme of Creating Hope in the World. How fitting it was that this presentation occurred during the month of October which is National Bullying Prevention month.  Photo L-R: Andrew McPortland, Karen Flect club president, Lauren Gaines, Kristin Dare, club treasurer Bill Pommering and Councilman Phil Ortiz
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Dance-A-Thon October is National Bullying Prevention month and the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club is sponsoring over 75 Preuss students to participate in a dance-a-thon organized by Motivated to Act to raise awareness for youth mental health. The event is open to the public and features live multicultural performances, dancing, and a chance to meet former NFL players. Please join us on October 14 from 11 am to 6 pm. For more information visit Calendar - MTA - Motivated To Act - View Upcoming Events. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Homemade Cookies Day. A wonderful way to Create Hope in the World is to bake some homemade cookies, package them up and share them with neighbors, co-workers, and friends! This gesture will make anyone feel better. My favorite is chocolate chip with macadamia nuts. Have a home baked cookie and a great Sunday! |
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7th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio Saddle up, partners! Join us on Saturday, October 21 for a rootin' tootin' good time at the Wild West Pub Crawl for Polio through Pacific Beach. Dust off your cowboy boots and two-step with us for an unforgettable day of drinks, costumes, and community spirit. Come make new friends and enjoy PB's most famous bars and pubs, while doing good! These local bars will be slinging awesome drink and food specials, and a chance to win some awesome local swag and gift cards in our annual costume contest. Yeehaw! The theme is WILD WEST, and the best in creativity will sweep the competition. So, bring your boots, hats and chaps, because this crawl is going to be a trip! All proceeds fund the fight against polio.  |
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New Rescue Board Donated by Del Mar Rotary ClubClub members from the Del Mar Rotary Club Brett Mattei (former Del Mar lifeguard), Steven McDowell (Community Services Chair), Matt Kurth (Club President), Toni Mecaro (President-Elect) hand over a new rescue board to Lifeguard Aidan Goodman, who also serves as Vice President of the Del Mar Lifeguard Association. |
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Interactors Build Dog Beds for Shelter PetsChula Vista Sunrise Rotarians were joined by 33 Hilltop High Interactors at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility to make 21 dog beds for shelter pets. Former Mayors Cheryl and Greg Cox (also former County Supervisor) hosted the clubs and commented on how "friendly and focused" Interactors were. It's fantastic to see so many young people committed to service. The future is bright with this generation.  |
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Rotarians Build Community Garden On September 26, 2023, Rotarians of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club planted raised gardens at San Diego Oasis in Rancho Bernardo. The produce will be enjoyed by chefs at Shamily's teaching kitchen.
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Ride the Point November 11, 2023 Ride the hidden, unridden, and forbidden in the Point Loma Rotary 10th Annual Jim Krause Memorial Bicycle Ride the Point for pancreatic cancer research on November 11, 2023. The ride starts and ends at Liberty Station and includes exclusive scenic routes throughout beautiful San Diego. This local all-volunteer ride has raised over $300,000 for pancreatic cancer research at UCSD Moore's Cancer Center. Ride the Point has three distances to accommodate diverse levels of cycling experience. The 5-mile Family Fun Ride is a relatively flat course on bike paths along beautiful San Diego Bay and is perfect for cruisers, beginning riders, challenged athletes, and families. The 25 and Metric Century are street rides with exclusive routes and challenging climbs around scenic San Diego. The public is invited to the free healthy lifestyle expo at Oggi’s in Liberty Station from 9 am until 2 pm with local vendors, music, and refreshments. For more information visit www.RideThePoint.org, watch our YouTube Video, or follow us on Facebook. |
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October is Economic and Community Development Month Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities. The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable, and long-term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods by:
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Punctuation Day. This day commemorates all punctuation on September 24th. A period, a comma, a semicolon, a question mark, and an exclamation point are examples of some of the punctuation used in writing. They separate sentences and their elements to clarify meaning. Without them, meaning would be lost or up for interpretation. Do we overuse punctuation marks? Yes, we do! Rotarians worldwide, at the direction of our RI President, is working to Create Hope in the World! Is this possible? Yes, we just need to keep doing what we do every day; reducing human suffering and making our communities a better place to live. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. |
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Santee Youth Join In on Community ProjectThe Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club celebrated Community Week by partnering with the Santee Kawanis Club and West Hills High School Key Club along with the newly formed Interact Club from Santana High School. This new Interact Club was spearheaded by a RYLA student sponsored by the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club who was so motivated by his experience last year at camp that he went back to his school and found not one but three teachers who were willing to be their sponsor and a whole host of students who wanted to be involved. This is the first Interact Club started by the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club. The project itself was coordinated by Santee-Lakeside Rotary club president, Karen Fleck and Santee-Kawanian Dan Bickford. Their joint effort was the creation of a butterfly garden at Woodglen Vista Park in Santee. They planted 160 Monarch Butterfly friendly plants, bushes and trees. As you can see from the pictures below, there were a lot of students involved. Another outstanding example of Creating Hope in the World.   |
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San Diego Rotary Holds Week-Long EventFor the third year, Rotary International (San Diego Rotary), Kiwanis International, Lions International, and Optimist International worked together to celebrate and give back to our communities with a week-long service event. Rotary and Rotaract clubs were encouraged to partner with local Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimist clubs on a project that will have a long-term impact in their community. In San Diego, our #CelebrateCommunity project featured a project at San Diego's first high school - San Diego High School on Friday, September 22, that included presentations about each of our service organizations and the youth clubs we sponsor. They modeled doing more when we work together and affirmed when we harness the collective power of our four organizations’ 3.4 million members we can #CelebrateCommunity together. The visit ended with a QR code on the screen that led to a survey allowing attendees to ask for more information from the organization of their choice or all of the above. They had 85 responses within ten minutes! Each student in attendance received details how they can register for the next Student Self Leadership Program from Blanchard.com and 2,500 flyers were being distributed campus wide for all students, faculty, staff, and parents to enroll by the Sunday, September 24 deadline.  |
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El Cajon Rotary Distributed Grants to local Non-ProfitsOn Tuesday, September 19, 2023, non-profits throughout San Diego County were guests of the El Cajon Rotary Club for their Annual Grants Night event. Through fundraising efforts, the Rotary club distributed grant checks of various amounts to 20 non-profit organizations. Organizations included the American Legion Boys State program, El Cajon Police Department, Noah Homes, Saint Madeline Sophies Center, the Miglat Project - an anti-sex slavery project, Crisis House, Boys and Girls Club, 29 Eleven Maternity Home, Sonshine Haven, Meals on Wheels, Workshop for Warriors, Wreaths Across America San Diego, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, Fisher House Southern California, Home of Guiding Hands, Shelter Box USA, Proxteem Mobility and Esteem, Friends of the Water Conservation Garden, East County Transitional Living Center and Foothills Christian High School Football for a player scholarship. Each recipient was provided an opportunity to speak to the club about the programs that will benefit from these grants. It was clear in listening to them that these organizations and the El Cajon Rotary Club are indeed Creating Hope in the World.   |
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San Diego vs Hunger - Help Package 50,000 Meals The Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club invites you to join them in helping package 50,000 meals that will be donated to The San Diego Food Bank and the recovery efforts in Maui and Ukraine. This service project will be held on Saturday, November 18 and will have two shifts to choose from: 9-11 AM or 1-3:00 PM. Click here to register. There is a $65 cost (underwrites the cost of meals) to participate.
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District & Club Digital Marketing & PR Strategies Virtual Training District & Club Digital Marketing & PR Strategies Virtual Training September 27, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:15 PM Rotarian Amy Scruggs will lead a practical and engaging virtual discussion about how clubs and districts can create more effective and impactful digital marketing and public relations materials and campaigns. Amy is a professional television host, media coach, bestselling author, and hit recording artist who owns Amy Scruggs Media, a media coaching and consulting service. This is a free training opportunity organized by our Zones 26 & 27 Regional Public Image Coordinators. You must register in advance for this event. |
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Foundation Seminar Slated for November 4 Our District Foundation Seminar will be held November 4. Come for a morning of inspiration and fellowship as we share the great works that our clubs, district and the Rotary Foundation do in our community and the world. This is a fantastic event for newer Rotarians to attend to learn and be inspired through the work we do and long-time Rotarians to be reinvigorated and reminded and of the “why” behind all we do. A continental breakfast will be provided at 8:30 a.m. with presentations beginning at 9 a.m. This is also an opportunity to experience the beautiful newly completed Sharp Prebys Innovation & Education Center, which is a new community resource offered at significant discounts to non-profit organizations making a difference in our community. Thank you Sharp! Registration is now open. $20 per person. |
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Family Fall Festival Mark your calendars for October 7, 2023, from noon until 8:00 p.m. and be part of the 41st Annual Oktoberfest Fall Festival brought to you by Carlsbad Rotary clubs. Indulge in authentic German cuisine from Tip Top Meats, partake in activities for both kids and adults. Immerse yourself in live German music and, of course, relish in our vibrant Beir Garten! The garden will showcase a diverse selection of draft beers, including a special Oktoberfest brew, along with a variety of wines. Oktoberfest requires a $10 Entrance Fee to the Strawberry fields. Free parking. Cashless Event. Learn more and to purchase food tickets by clicking here.
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Ensenada Work Project Join the Rotaract Club of UCSD on October 7&8 for their Ensenada Work Project alongside La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club (LJGTRC) to revitalize a local school! It will cost Rotaract/Rotary volunteers around $78 to take part in this amazing opportunity. This would cover the chartered bus, snacks and drinks on the bus, volunteer event, hotel, food (dinner & lunch), wine and beer at dinner, a t-shirt, and surfing lessons. However, there may be reduced costs for Rotaractors due to subsidies from the LJGTRC or Rotaract District 5340! Passports required. Make sure to fill out this interest form for more details: |
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Collaboration Between Clubs Helps CommunityEncinitas Coastal Rotary and the Encinitas Rotary Club successfully collaborated with students from SDA to refurbish and paint seven picnic tables and student cubbies at the Boys & Girls Club Griset Ranch. This joint effort was a fantastic project completed with great enthusiasm and dedication. As community service enthusiasts and People of Action, the Encinitas clubs are committed to serving their youth and community. They look forward to more successful collaborations in the future.  |
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Message From District Governor Don FippsToday is National Constitution Day and Citizenship Day to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of the United States and those who have become United States citizens. On this day, members of the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787. That is 11 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Clubs should not feel bad when it takes a few months to rewrite and approve their constitution. I visited the best kept secret club in District 5340. That is the Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global. As an E-Club, they meet remotely monthly, and they do great work and help other clubs with their community service projects and on District and Global Grants. If you are an in-person meeting challenged individual but still want to do great work in Rotary by Creating Change in the World, this may be the club for you. Contact them at Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global (recsdg.org). |
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Residents at Operation Hope North County are Treated to a Mexican FeastAs People of Action, members Corie and Blanca from the Route 78 Rotary Club brought and served dinner to the residents at Operation Hope North County. Residents loved the tacos & quesadillas from Señor Grubby’s! They all came back for seconds! Thank you to Thrivent for funding this Action Team activity.  |
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2025 Council on Legislation Deadline The Council on Legislation (COL) is Rotary’s governing body that amends its constitutional documents. Every three years the Council on Legislation meets to debate and vote on proposed enactments. Each district sends one representative to the Council on Legislation, and any club or district may propose enactments. The next COL is scheduled for the spring on 2025 and I will be the representative for District 5340. If your club or district is considering proposing an enactment for the COL they must be received by Rotary on or before December 31, 2023. Detailed instructions on how to propose enactments can be found at https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/how-propose-enactments-council-legislation. You can also find additional information on the COL at https://my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference/about-rotary/councils. Note that these enactments must be to propose changes to the constitutional documents only, not to recommend decisions that can be handled by the RI Board or TRF Trustees. And, due to the extensive process for submissions, it is recommended to start this process way ahead of the actual deadline if you are inclined to do so. Feel free to contact me PDG Philippe Lamoise, COL Representative for District 5340 if you have any questions. |
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The Future is Bright with this Generation.Chula Vista Sunrise Rotarians were joined by 33 Hilltop High Interactors at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility to make 21 dog beds for shelter pets. Former Mayors Cheryl & Greg Cox (also former County Supervisor) hosted their clubs & commented on how "friendly and focused" thr Interactors were. It's fantastic to see so many young people committed to service. The future is bright with this generation.  |
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Point Loma Fundraiser a SuccessOn August 26, the Point Loma Rotary Club held its Peninsula Pints & Bragging Rights; Cornhole for a Cause fundraiser. This was a unique outdoor event for the community organized by the Point Loma Rotary Club and in partnership with Good Wood Customs. The event incorporated a cornhole tournament with divisions for beginners and advanced players, with a total prize pool of $1,500, while also offering local craft brews, a DJ, specialty food vendors, local small businesses for shopping and children's activities. For over 70 years, the Point Loma Rotary Club has provided support for local San Diego civic projects including: Boy Scouts, Peninsula YMCA, Little League, and Point Loma Library. They sponsor students at camps to develop leadership and public speaking skills. And. on an international level, the club funded ShelterBox survival kits for the international disasters; funded polio eradication; and clean water projects in Fiji. They definitely put their fundraising dollars to good use.  |
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Card Signing Party The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club held its meeting in the beautiful library in Lakeside. Besides getting a tour of the facility, Rotarians settled in and put on their creative hats to create cards of support for PDG Chuck Pretto who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant. There was a lot of lobe and support put into designing each card and we know that Chuck will fill the love behind them. |
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A Party with a PurposeWe are THIS close to ending polio!! Recently, the Coronado Rotary’s annual End Polio Now wine tasting at Rotarian Jim Kaufman’s home was another fantastic sold-out event. It’s the “party with a purpose” that they love! The club has raised over $1.2 million and given more than 22 million polio drops to children all over the planet that will never have polio.  |
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Blood Drive Held by Poway-Scripps RotaryThe Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps were very excited by the strong turnout at their recent blood drive in conjunction with the San Diego Blood Bank. The drive was held in a new location, the old Vons in Scripps Ranch and everyone was bowled over by 22 donors rolling up their sleeves to donate blood. Thanks to members Don, Jeri and Karen for handling this community service project. As for the second photo, well that deserves an explanation. Member Karen never met a stranger, and she went hog wild for this fellow who parked his Harley near the bloodmobile. She sidled up to him, asked to sit on his bike with him, yada, yada, yada, you can guess the rest. Club members teased that they hope to see this photo as her 2023 Christmas card. They added to their Facebook page a call to action: "We promise you, if you join the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps, you too can have this kind of fun."  |
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Sign Up to Help Decorate the Rotary Float Help decorate the Rotary float for the Rose Parade, seen by millions of people throughout the world. Signup began Saturday Sept. 2nd. Work hand-in-hand with Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors as we cover every inch of the float with flowers and other natural materials. This takes place in a large float barn, where you’ll see many other floats also being built. Join in - go to www.rotaryfloat.org and register today. Become an ambassador club and get entered into a drawing to ride the float! |
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Don't Miss the Boat! Registration is open for the District Conference Cruise to Ensenada, which will be a casual, fun, educational, relaxing and affordable weekend cruise on Royal Caribbean's newly remodeled "Navigator of the Seas." The 3-night cruise will depart from Los Angeles at 4pm on Friday afternoon April 26th, sail to and dock in Ensenada and return to Los Angeles at 8am Monday morning April 29th. Our planned Rotary activities include a Welcome Aboard reception on Friday, Saturday Day at Sea with two Rotary General Session meetings and the option to participate in Rotarians at Work projects in Ensenada and a paella lunch on Sunday. Don't wait to register. Cabins are going fast! After you register, join the District Facebook group dedicated to the District Cruise. You can share information and ask questions, etc. Important: Click "Read More" for some very vital information on the upcoming cruise. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsThe Rotary theme for September is Basic Education and Literacy. Also, today is National Grandparents Day. What better way to celebrate grandparents than to have them read to their grandchildren. Let us Create Hope in the World through education and literacy. The 2023 Rotary Zone Institute is in San Diego this year at the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley November 8-12, 2023. This is your opportunity to attend an event designed for learning, fellowship and fun! It is open to all Rotarians. Click here to learn more and to register. https://www.zoneinstitute.org/ The District 5340 Rotary Foundation Gala is November 10 during the Zone Institute: Click on the button below for more information and to purchase tickets:  Come join us for an evening of Disco Inferno and help raise funds for The Rotary Foundation. |
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September is Basic Education and Literacy Month September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary. This is one of Rotary’s six areas of focus. We all know how critical reading and writing are for success in life – for gaining information, communicating, making agreements, and so forth. Enhancing Basic Education skills and Literacy are essential in reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace. Improvements can reduce maternal death, improve childhood survivability, and reduce poverty. They can also enable success in business or a profession.
Projects undertaken by a Rotary Club can address low adult literacy, returning youth to school, enhancing student performance, or supplementing limited school resources. Listed below are examples of a number of projects in which clubs are engaged. Call to Action: Consider how your club is, or could be, MAKING A DIFFERENCE by supporting basic education and literacy in your community or somewhere else in the world. |
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“Disco Inferno - Buy your Ticket, Don’t be left out!” COME IN YOUR BEST DISCO ATTIRE! Let's Celebrate! Let's Party! Friday Night in San Diego! NO HOST COCKTAIL BAR: 5:30pm to 7pm LIVE SHOW BAND - FULL STRENGTH! SILENT AUCTION - JEWELS WITH A PURPOSE Dinner/Presentation/Dancing: 7pm to 10:30pm Ticket price: $175. Last Day To Purchase Ticket is November 1st! Opening Remarks: Rotary International President Elect 2024-2025 Stephanie A. Urchick Featured Guest: Rotary Foundation Trustee and Past Rotary International Vice President Greg Podd Master of Ceremonies: Inspirational Speaker & Equity Consultant Jordan Harrison, Join Us in Supporting the Rotary Foundation - Polio Fund!!! SPONSORED BY FUTURE LEGENDS |
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Create Hope in the World and Grow Rotary with Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Did you know District Governor Don Fipps joined Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship as a Lifetime member more than five years ago? Not only can Don throw a proper shaka he and his wife Donna quickly embraced Surfers Unite because it attracts members to Rotary while creating fun and relevant service projects in San Diego and across the globe. Surfers Unite now has members in 38 countries. There are four SoCal events you just might want to participate in and extend an invite to friends in the surfing community to join as well. All Surfers Unite events are open to Rotarians, family members, Rotaract, Interact and those who wish to make a difference. So, what exactly can volunteers do? Well for those who want to serve on our Life Rolls On crew we will take disabled children and adults surfing. Volunteers will be working the registration desk, handing out jerseys, assisting with wheelchair transfers, serving as photographers, assisting in the water and many other capacities. Know a teen or college student considering a career in the medical field? Let us introduce you to some of the best Occupational and Physical Therapists in Southern California and cheer folks on from the shore. Register today to serve on Team Pink with Surfers Unite at Huntington Beach August 26 or La Jolla Shores on September 23 and use the opportunity to invite surfers you know in your club. Know someone who has some mobility challenges? Get them set up as a participant in Life Rolls On. |
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Golf Tournament Benefiting Boys & Girls Club Calling all golfers. The San Marcos Rotary Club is holding its 15 Annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday, October 17, 2023. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club. Tee times are starting at 11:00 AM. Come join in on the fun. There will be contests, prizes and food. Register now by go to www.sanmarcosrotarygolf.org. |
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SD Downtown Evening Rotary Club Presents Sindashi SAVE THE DATE Join members of the San Diego Downtown Rotary Club for an evening of fashion on September 22 from 5:00 to 9:00 PM. Tickets are $80 per person. More information to come. |
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Thousand Smiles Major Beneficiary of Talent ContestSo You Think You've Got Talent San Diego is the fundraiser gala for Old Mission Rotary. President Stan Vogelsang reported that the 11th annual talent show generated a net profit of $28,514. The Thousand Smiles Foundation received $21,146 which is about 20% of their annual operating budget. Thousand Smiles is a permanent dental clinic in Ensenada Baja composed of doctors, dentists, orthodontists, speech therapists, audiologists, health educators, nurses, and regular volunteers who work to provide dental care, orthodontia, as well as surgical repair of cleft lips/cleft palates for children in Mexico who might otherwise receive no care. The Old Mission Rotary Foundation received $7,369 of the net profits. These funds will be disbursed to a variety of local programs and organizations. The show took place on Saturday, May 13 at Francis Parker School and we congratulate Michelle Malin who served as the chair of the event.  Photo Caption: So You Think You've Got Talent San Diego fund raiser Chair Michelle Malin presents a check for $21,146 to Bob Chalfa of Old Mission Rotary and Thousand Smiles |
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Old Mission Rotary Supports the STAR/PAL Back to School EventOld Mission Rotary is proud to support the STAR/PAL Program that connects at risk youth with San Diego law enforcement. Charlotte Cofield represented Old Mission Rotary at their Back-to-School event on Saturday, August 19 at Colina Del Sol Park where school supplies were distributed to kids from the local underserved community.  Photo caption: Charlotte Cofield is the Community Service Chair of Old Mission Rotary (front row second from right) and Vicki Yates is a Rotarian from the Oregon City Club and a great friend of Old Mission Rotary (front row second far right). |
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Rotarians Needed to Serve as Advisors for LEAD Can you find our current District Governor, Don Fipps in this photo? He was serving as a LEAD Advisor in 2013! Please consider volunteering to serve as an Advisor at the LEAD conference on October 14 and 15, 2023. You can make a difference in the lives of 8th grade students as you exemplify leadership and service. Please see the LEAD website at www.rotary5340lead.org for information (complete your registration application by clicking on “Advisors” then “Advisor Application Form”). If you have questions or want to discuss LEAD, please contact Paul Pierce at 760-942-9911 or pepjr@peplaw.com. For a 10-30 minute LEAD presentation at your club, please contact Jim Piburn at (619) 372-8474 or james.piburn_plrc@yahoo.com. |
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Down Time for Newsbits Editor Our Newsbits Editor is having knee surgery and will be recovering over the next couple of weeks. As a result, Newsbits will go dark for the next two weeks. In the meantime, continue to submit articles, etc. to sandyp304@gmail.com and articles will be posted as soon as possible.
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Just Because Day. This day offers up an opportunity to do stuff…just because. It is a Sunday! So feel free to celebrate this day any way you choose. Just because! Every day we all do things that are expected or required of us. Sometimes we even do things because we have to do them; we don’t know why. Well, on this occasion, that does not apply. This day is a chance to do something without rhyme or reason. However, it is my hope for this National Just Because Day, that you do something to Create Hope in the World, just because, after all we are Rotarians and Rotaractors!
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Designer Handbags, BINGO, Girlfriends' Night Out Get ready for a night of excitement and style with our upcoming Purse Bingo event! Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, for a chance to win beautiful designer handbags while enjoying a fun-filled evening with your girlfriends. Early bird tickets are available for just $55 until Sept. 15. But hurry, seating is limited! Plus, you'll be supporting three women-focused charities as all net proceeds from the night will go to them. Don't miss out on the chance to have fun while helping others! |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsUpdate on PDG Chuck Pretto:  Chuck goes back to the hospital on August 23rd to begin the process for his stem cell transplant. He expects to be in the hospital for five weeks. Then once home, he will need to “shelter at home” to rebuild his immune system. He very much appreciates everyone’s supports, prayers and well wishes. Once in the hospital, he can’t receive flowers, but he loves receiving the cards, emails and calls, when appropriate.Today is National Radio Day to recognize the great invention of the radio. Celebrate the news, information, music, and stories carried across the airwaves. You may be asking yourself, why does our District Governor care? I am an FCC licensed amateur radio operator, general class, with the call sign KJ6NQQ. I am a member of an organization that talks every night at 7 PM across the Western United States to be ready for emergency radio use when conventional communication is no longer available. Let’s hope that never happens. http://www.goldenbearnet.org/ |
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The Rotary Minute What is the best way to improve your members' knowledge of Rotary? One exemplary way is to dedicate 1 minute to it at every meeting. All Rotarian Minutes are available online: https://bit.ly/44MRlGi.
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Become Climate Friendly and Sustainable You're invited to join a webinar with RI President Elect Stephanie Urchick on “Become Climate Friendly and Sustainable.” The District Environmental Sustainability Committee is pleased to extend an invitation to join a keynote presentation by RI President Elect Stephanie Urchick on August 26, 2023, 7:30 AM. Pacific Standard Time. Are you concerned about the climate or other environmental issues? You and your club can easily be part of the solution by becoming more climate friendly and sustainable. How? Join the webinar and hear Rotary International President-Elect Stephanie Urchick, Synergy Rotary Fellowship Alliance, and ESRAG leaders share ways you can succeed. More information here. RSVP here to receive the zoom link or the recording of the presentation. |
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8 tips for Building a Strong Social Media Presence By Taiwo ‘Orbs’ Okunlola, assistant public image chair for the Rotaract Club of Surulere South, Lagos, Nigeria. Taken from Rotary Voices. As a brand marketing consultant and past assistant to my club’s public image chair, I’m consumed with a zeal for putting the Rotaract Club of Surulere South on the map. I want us to be known for the selfless services our members are rendering. I want to motivate others to join us in the work we do. You see, it’s one thing to carry out projects. It’s another thing to publicize them on Rotary Showcase and social media. Many of us know the importance of social media, but managing social media platforms effectively can be a challenge. Here are eight tips to build a strong social media presence for your club.
Remember to always keep your club’s mission and values in mind when creating content and engaging with your followers. Encourage members to get acquainted with the Brand Center to see all the ways they can use it to support and promote Rotary. Building a strong social media presence is crucial for Rotaract clubs to showcase their projects, attract new members, and build relationships with other organizations. By following these tips, your club can make a significant impact through social media and achieve your goals. |
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Mark Your Calendars for World Polio Day 2023 Join the global movement on October 24 as Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs around the world take action to promote awareness of polio and raise funding for Rotary’s polio eradication efforts. With poliovirus now being reported in previously polio-free areas, the past few years have truly shown that polio anywhere is a threat to children everywhere. In this critical year for polio eradication, we need your help to show the world the tenacity of Rotary members in accomplishing an audacious goal: a polio-free world. Visit our World Polio Day webpage for resources and tips on how you and your club can participate in promoting a polio-free world on October 24. The District’s Don’t Wait Vaccinate Committee (DWV) has joined forces with the District’s Foundation PolioPlus Committee. Since 1994 the DWV’s mission has been to educate the community on the value of all vaccinations for all ages, especially children, including Polio. The members’ efforts focused on engagement with high schools (Interact), participation with the Department of Health and Human Services attending fairs, distribution of materials and volunteer support when needed. Going forward the PolioPlus Committee will take the lead focused on supporting The Rotary Foundation to raise awareness and fundraising for PolioPlus and the DWV sub-group will continue to educate the community on the importance of vaccinations. Upcoming events 2023: Month of August – San Diego Health and Human Services Agency Promotes Immunization Month. October 22nd – District Event: Rotaract PolioPlus Walk in Balboa Park. October 24th – World Polio Day – Need ideas or Register your Club event at World Polio Day | End Polio. Let’s make polio history. Together, we end polio!  Contact information: Beth Garrow, District Foundation PolioPlus Chair – bethgarrow@comcast.net Jeanne Schmelzer and Cheryl Wilson– Don’t Wait, Vaccinate Subcommittee Co-chairs: jschmelzer@netzelgrigsby.com, cherylaw237@gmail.com Emily Chen – District 5340 Rotaract Chair -emilyluo.chen@gmail.com |
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First Generation College Students Helped by La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary ClubOur local La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club is gearing up for the school year at Preuss Charter School, located on UCSD’s campus. Every year these local Rotarians help Preuss School by providing scholarships, student awards, connecting with pupil peers in Afghanistan-sponsored schools, hosting an annual career day, sponsoring 150 pupils to participate in a joint Cygnet Theatre educational program, and engaging the students in Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, Model UN, and the Hands of Peace project. The award-winning Preuss Charter focusses on students from low-income families and first-generation college students and has an impressive track record of preparing and admitting students into UCSD and other colleges. The partnership with La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club means more students can make college a reality and be given the tools for success in life. Another joint venture between La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotarians and Preuss is the Interact program for high school age students. With meetings held on campus, Preuss students in the Interact Club become immersed in community responsibility through volunteerism. Similar programs can be established at other public schools, through a Rotary club sponsor.  Photo: Peace Pole Donated by La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club installed at The Preuss School UC San Diego in 2022 |
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Pickleball Tournament Slated for October The Escondido East Rotary Club is hosting their first Pickleball Tournament/Fundraiser at Castle Creek in Escondido. Proceeds will help out their yearlong of giving to their communities. You can scan the QR code above or sign up on Eventbrite. Space is limited so please do it soon. For more information, you can contact Rotarian's Kevin at 719-291-5286 or Don 760-807-5131. Hope to see you out there. They will have some fun club competitions. Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/686661481977?aff=oddtdtcreator. |
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Welcome Back BBQ for School Staff Welcome Back FUESD! On Thursday the Rotary Club of Fallbrook held its annual Welcome Back barbeque for the staff of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. FUESD staff took a break from preparing for the coming school year and were treated to a BBQ lunch at Ingold Sports Park. Just their way of thanking them for all they do to care for the children in their community.
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Community-Wide School Beautification Day Santee-Lakeside Rotarians were hard at work supporting Santee School District and Pathway Community Church on School Beautification Day. This annual event occurs prior to the beginning of the new school year. Beautification efforts were completed at all nine school sites. Projects included weeding, painting, spreading mulch and making each of the schools pretty for students' first day.
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Old Mission Rotary Awarded a Rotary Global Grant for the Thousand Smiles ClinicOld Mission Rotary applied and was awarded a Global Grant of $61,000 from the Rotary International Foundation. The funds will be used for the Thousand Smiles Clinic in Ensenada for solar energy and for vacuum pumps for the surgery suites.  Photo: Bob Chalfa (R) is an old hand at Rotary Global Grants and retired attorney Bob Self crafted the grant request. |
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Visit to the Old GlobeThe El Cajon Rotary club had an outing in beautiful Balboa Park this past week. They specifically came to tour the Old Globe Theatre. They were met with a very nice surprise. The volunteer leading the tour was none other than PDG Marge Cole! Marge has a deep appreciation for the arts, travel and Rotary. Rotarians were briefed on the history of the Old Globe, given a behind the scenes tour of the theatre itself and a glimpse into the story of the Shakespearean comedy - The Merry Wives of Windsor.  |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsI want to thank everyone that had already donated to the Maui Fires Relief Fund. From District 5000 Governor Mark Merriam: “The outpouring of support is incredible. My email is full of people wanting to know how to help. We are so grateful for all the care and concern. I have had multiple meetings with Maui folks, they are in shock, but it helps to know Rotary stands with them.” This is how we Create Hope in the World. Today is National Spirt of “45 Day that honors the can-do attitude of an entire generation affected by the trials and hardships of World War II. Observed every year on the second Sunday in August, communities around the country hold events and memorials. Each one honors those who have inspired us, sacrificed, and preserved our nation for future generations. The Greatest Generation has left us all a great legacy. |
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Maui Needs Our Help You have heard about the devastating fires in Maui, Hawaii. Rotary District 5000 in Hawaii has activated their District Foundation to collect donations and provide relief through the Maui Fire Relief Fund. Click this link if you wish to donate to this effort. |
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Upcoming Rotarian-Led Journeys into Cambodia Just a reminder here about the three upcoming Rotarian-Led Journeys into Cambodia: • 2023: Sat. Nov 11th to Mon. Nov 20th • 2024: Sat. Jan 27th to Mon. Feb 5th • 2024: Sat. Feb 17th to Mon. Feb 26th It’s been several years since we’ve done a November trip. November is beautiful in Cambodia… the rice fields are all a gorgeous green, before harvesting begins. It looks like we will have a smaller group traveling, too, which can lead to all the interactions being more personal. There’s still time to sign up for November. And of course, plenty of time before the January and February trips. Click here for informational brochure. Page 3 of the PDF details the trip costs (as low as $995/person, without airfare), and how to reserve. The cost to reserve the trip is $250 per single or $350 per couple (the balance of the trip cost is then paid by 75 days before the trip starts). To reserve online go to https://fundsustainablecambodia.org/trip-registration. |
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Route 78 Rotary Club Serves Lunches Last week Route 78 Rotary club made lunches on Friday and Saturday for all the patients and their families at Thousand Smiles Clinic in Ensenada. It was a very good clinic - seven cleft surgeries, four sets of ear tubes and over 130 dental patients!
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School Supplies for Needy Children With the help of pageant winners, The Fallbrook Village Rotary club just finished a project for the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). EFMP provides school supplies to families for special needs children.
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Uncorked Carlsbad Coming August 19 Mark your calendars today to join in on the fun at the Rotary Club of Carlsbad’s annual Uncorked Wine & Vine! The festival is on August 18 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the ViaSat Courtyard Plaza - 2446 Town Garden Road, Carlsbad, 92009. You can obtain tickets at www.givsum.com or click the QR code above. We can’t wait to see you.
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Del Mar’s 19th Annual Sunset Soirée. Come enjoy the Del Mar sunset from the top of beautiful Del Mar Plaza at the Rotary Club of Del Mar’s 19th annual Sunset Soirée. Take in the dazzling sunset view while enjoying hosted wine, beer, and cocktail tastings, as well as samples of menu items from Del Mar area restaurants. The event will be on Tuesday September 12, 2023, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Del Mar Plaza - Ocean View Deck, 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014. Visit www.delmarsunsetsoiree.org for details, tickets, and to explore sponsorship opportunities. Click "Read More" for additional information. |
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August is Membership and New Club Development Month August is when Rotary Clubs around the world focus on membership in Rotary. This is the perfect time to celebrate your club’s members and the amazing work they do in their communities and consider the many options available for strengthening your membership. Does your club have a plan? Are you executing your own plan to invite your friends and business associates to join your Rotary Club? There are many ways to join in the celebration. Click "Read More" to learn about a few activities to get you started.
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3rd Annual LobsterFest Enjoy a fun night and help the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary raise funds for their 2023-2024 community and humanitarian projects at their 3rd Annual Baja Style LobsterFest. The event will run from 5:00-9:00 PM on October 14, 2023, in the beautiful courtyard of the Del Mar Hilton. For more information, to register for a fun evening, or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit DMSBLobsterfest.com or call Vicky Mallett, Event Chair, at 858-245-7968. Click "Read More" for additional information. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is National Friendship Day, Yes, last week was International Friendship Day. On the first Sunday in August, National Friendship Day encourages people across the country and world to connect with friends. Make a new friend or reconnect with an old one. August is also Membership and New Club Development Month for Rotary International. What better way to connect with a friend than to invite them to your club’s Rotary meeting or, better yet, your club’s service activity. Let’s get more people in Rotary to help us Create Hope in the World.
From the week’s club visits: The Rotary Club of Solana Beach Eco has a Zero Waste initiative. Clubs should be looking to reduce waste at their weekly meetings; use reusable dinnerware, divert organic waste from the landfill, recycle properly, offer a vegetarian option in the menu. For more information of what you may be able to do, contact the District 5340's Environment Sustainability Committee at info@sbeco.org or https://portal.clubrunner.ca/10061/page/zero-waste-committee. |
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East County Rotary Clubs Set Kids Up for SuccessWith school just around the corner, East County Rotarians were doing their best to set kids up for success and what better way than to make sure they have the supplies they need to be successful students. This past week, the La Mesa Rotary Club got busy packing almost 100 backpacks with various supplies for kids going back to school.  The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club did something similar with a program called Buddy's Backpacks. Rotarians donated $620 plus supplies to help meet their club goal of 1,000 full backpacks for kids. Rotarians will also help with putting bags together and with the distribution (more to come on this).  |
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Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club Gives a Sheet!Every year as part of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club's installation dinner, members of the club donate scores of toilet paper to be given to the East County Transitional Living Center in El Cajon. The Center is a recovery center for homeless who are trying to get back on their feet. With the number of clients that are housed at any one time, the need to have toilet paper is essential to the organization. Appropriately named "Give a Sheet" this service project is one of the club's favorite outreach efforts. Shown in the picture below are members delivering this much needed commodity. Much of the paper rolls are stacked waist high behind those who took time out of their day to help club president, Karen Fleck with the delivery.  |
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Be a LifeSaver! Calling all Rotarians - Join in on one of the most impactful service efforts you can participate in - giving life-sustaining blood. The Rotary Club of Poway Scripps is hosting a blood drive on August 24 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The drive will take place in the Vons parking lot located at 10016 Scripps Ranch Blvd. Scripps Ranch 92131. Scan the QR code above or click here to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. Photo ID is required. Arrive hydrated.
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Binational Rotary Softball Game Was a Home Run! Districts 5340 and 4100 held a binational exposition softball game on July 29 at the Unidad Deportiva Tijuana. Coordinators and ball players hit it out of the park. Everyone had a great time playing and enjoying a BBQ following the game. This event helped build relations between the two districts and is slated to be an annual softball game. It also opens up the possibility of Rotarians and Rotaractors from District 5340 to participate in some local recreational softball leagues. To see a portion of the game, click here to watch the video.
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International Literacy Day International Literacy Day is September 8. We encourage members to give in support of basic education and literacy year-round, and especially on and around this day. Through your donation, or by encouraging others to donate, you can empower educators to inspire learning at all ages, increase adult literacy, and reduce gender disparity in education. This is a great opportunity to give a hand up to those whose lives would change if they were literate.
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Plan ahead for Celebrate Community Week Celebrate Community, an annual collaborative initiative from the service organizations Kiwanis International, Lions International, Optimist International and Rotary International, will take place the week of September 11-17, 2023. Barry Villamil, a member of the Rotary Club of Pearlridge, Oahu, Hawaii, USA, describes working with local Lions clubs to beautify a pedestrian underpass in a blog post for Rotary Voices. Plan your event now and learn more on the event’s Facebook page.
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Rotary Friendship Exchange Unites Members from across the Globe Edwin Bos and his family have visited India, Nepal, and most recently, the Philippines, through one of Rotary’s unique programs, Rotary Friendship Exchange. This exchange program gives Rotary members and their families the chance to experience new cultures — and make lifelong friends — by staying in the homes of Rotarians in other countries. "Participating in the exchange was the best decision I’ve made as a Rotarian." Ellen Waldmer Member of the Rotary Club of Jefferson, Wisconsin, USA Bos, assistant governor of District 6250 in Wisconsin, USA, led 13 Rotary members and their families on an exchange to the Philippines, where they stayed with Rotarians in District 3850. While there, they visited several projects, including a depository for shoe donations, a library’s computer literacy program, and a clean water initiative. Participants also enjoyed local festivals and learned about ecotourism in the Philippines.  Rotary members hike on Mararison Island, Antique, Philippines Rotary Friendship Exchange fosters interclub collaboration, with the goal of advancing international understanding and peace through service projects and spending time together. Bos’ district has worked on several international service projects, including a global grant project with the Rotary Club of Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines, that provided clean water. “Participating in the exchange was the best decision I’ve made as a Rotarian,” says Ellen Waldmer, of the Rotary Club of Jefferson, Wisconsin, USA. “I had the opportunity to see a water project our clubs and others helped fund and celebrate with the children and families it benefited. “We’ve made so many new Rotary friends while visiting our host families and clubs. It’s an experience we will treasure for years to come,” she adds. |
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A Message from District Governor Don FippsToday is International Day of Friendship and was designated by the United Nations General Assembly. On July 30, we step back and get thankful for these relationships worldwide, as they promote and encourage peace, happiness, and unity. This is what happens in Rotary. I am happy to say that the members of my club are my friends. According to a Mayo Clinic article, friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being, but it's not always easy to develop or maintain friendships. Let's Create Hope in the World by understanding the importance of social connections in your life and what you can do to develop and nurture lasting friendships. One of the ways the district promotes friendships is through its Rotary Night at the Padres. This past Tuesday, July 25, the Padres played against the Pittsburgh Pirates and won 5 to 1. All 52 of us in attendance had a great time in fellowship with one another. The next Rotary Night at the Padres is August 22 against the Miami Marlins and is sold out. In support of today's International Day of Friendship on you might consider learning about Rotary's Friendship Exchange. Rotary Friendship Exchanges allow participants to experience new cultures, expand their global understanding, and immerse themselves in service opportunities, all while building lifelong friendships. |
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Rancho BEERnardo Festival Slated for October The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club will hold its annual Rancho BEERnardo Festival fundraiser on Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 2:00-5:00 PM. A special early first-hour tasting of special brews will be held for VIPs from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. The festival will take place at Webb Park at the corner of Bernardo Center Drive and Avena Place in Rancho Bernardo. The festival will have 30+ top-rated breweries with 70+ of the best rated beers available in Southern California. Wine tastings are also offered from regional wineries, along with live music, delicious food and fun games. If you’re ready to buy, good news - SAVE $15.00 on VIP tickets - but only until August 21! For more information about tickets, participating breweries and wineries, visit RBFEST.COM. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the event. |
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Congratulations to Rotary Clubs Earning Rotary Citations The Rotary Citation awards recognize the hard work clubs do throughout the year. Working to achieve the citation goals helps clubs engage their members, stay relevant in their communities, and run more efficiently. A welcoming and engaging club not only fosters a positive experience for its members, but also reflects the values of Rotary. When clubs achieve citation goals, they contribute to the overall health and culture of Rotary for generations to come. Goals include increasing club membership, developing sustainable service projects, giving to the Rotary Foundation, and building awareness of Rotary in your community. Congratulations to the following Rotary clubs for achieving their goals and receiving this recognition.  |
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Sunset Sip n" Sail Enjoy a beautiful night on the water. The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake is sailing away on August 26, 2023, for an evening of drinking dancing and music. Want to join them? Tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased through Venmo. Use the QR code above.
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Rotary magazine’s 2023 Photo AwardsSee the world courtesy of this year’s award-winning photographers. Writing in the Rotary magazine in 1946, Paul Harris remarked that “travel is a good corrective for … mental near-sightedness.” The same holds true for photography, especially if, like Rotary itself, the photographer takes a global perspective. To verify that observation you need look no further than this issue of Rotary magazine, where we reveal the finalists in this year’s Photo Awards. Including the cover, there are a dozen photographs that carry us from Egypt to Idaho, from Nigeria to Taiwan. Along the way we see everything from an intimate moment as a medical team prepares for surgery to a sweeping nightscape illuminated by an aurora borealis. Though they are shot in different parts of the world, employ distinct palettes, and evoke different emotions, all of these photographs have in common an unseen beauty. These days we’re constantly bombarded with images — and in an era of AI and CGI, it can be difficult to know if what we’re seeing is real. But in these 12 photos we have the privilege of standing in the photographers’ shoes and experiencing an honest understanding of a particular moment. That generosity of spirit is another Rotary trait. By sharing their pictures, the photographers enable the rest of us to join them on their journey. |
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Message from District Governor Don FippsAs District Governor, one of the most enjoyable things you get to do is visit all 69 clubs. This past week on Thursday, I made my first club visit at lunch to my home club, the Rotary Club of Del Mar with President Matt Kurth. I had the honor of many of our Past District Governors including District Governor Elect Dianne Crawford and District Governor Nominee Luis Carranza attend the meeting. That evening, I made my second club visit to the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise with President Gina Woodard, and yes for dinner. I love it when clubs meet at different time to accommodate their members. Joining me on the club visits were my Chief Aide Kay Barron, my wife Donna with our Canine Companion puppy, Rosebud. Today is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day. Take a bow, vanilla. I scream, you scream, we all scream for…VANILLA ICE CREAM! Yes, you remember correctly, last Sunday was National Ice Cream Day, what can I say, we love ice cream.  |
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District 5340 Conference Cruise Don't miss the boat! Do you want to attend a District conference that will be fun, educational and relaxing? Then you need to join Rotarians across the District for an affordable weekend cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico. The conference will include: Friday: Welcome Aboard reception Saturday: Day at Sea with 2 General Sessions Sunday: Option to participate in Rotarians at Work projects in Ensenada in conjunction with local Rotary clubs or you can stay on the boat or you can explore Ensenada on your own or you can stay on the ship. Click on the Watch Video button below. Once you see it, you will want to sign up to attend this amazing conference. for any questions you may have, please send email to: d5340conferencecruise@gmail.com. To register, click here. |
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Sister District Raising Money for Clean Water in Schools Love to play tennis? Want to raise money for an important cause? Let’s support a club in our sister District 4100, by helping them raise money for a global grant to get drinking water in local schools. For more information: jimenezramos.marcela@gmail.com.
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People of Action - Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary ClubCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary is making a big effort to help the North County Food Bank. This past Thursday, July 20, 15 Rotarians packed hundreds of packing bags and over 2,500 pounds of produce.  |
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Corn Hole for A Cause Join the Point Loma Rotary in putting the fun into fundraiser on Saturday, August 26 at the NTC Park -lot B. Tickets range from $5 to $100. To learn more about this event scam the QR above or contact Margaret Virissimo at 619 313-0446 or Rob Cenko at 619 318-9762.
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Profile of the New President of the District's Largest Club New San Diego Rotary president Michael Brunker is sworn in with help from his 8-year-old grandson Kolu Kalaniopio from Kawaihae, Hawaii on Thursday, July 13. Union Tribune - July 26, 2023 Opinion: As the new San Diego Rotary president, my responsibility is bigger than Rotary Club 33 - sandiegouniontribune.com. It was 1970 when I graduated from St. James High School in Ferndale, Michigan, near the Eight Mile Road northern border of my hometown of Detroit. Melvin lived two houses down from our home on Northlawn. I’m sure my mother had something to do with the full-page ad in the yearbook from one of the founders of The Temptin’ Temptations. The larger message he shared was powerful — “We, the Temptations, encourage education, for only through knowledge can ‘MANKIND’ grow to true Glory.” He could have stopped there, but he added the postscript prediction. To have a mentor like Melvin Franklin believe I could be president of the United States of America was certainly profound to an 18-year-old rolling into the 1970s and three years removed from the riot in 1967 that forever altered the trajectory of the Motor City. History will forever note the prediction went unfulfilled. |
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Join Us in Supporting our Sister District The Rotary Club of Ensenada (District 4100) is hosting a fundraising event to raise money for their Global Grant “Clean Water for Kids”, which will supply drinking water in public schools in Ensenada through installation of reverse osmosis systems. All Rotarians or non-Rotarian friends are welcome to participate and enjoy this event in Guadalupe Valley. There are single tickets or tables for 8 or 10 people. This is a great way to support our sister district.. For more information, contact Octavio Sanchez at octavioprecision@gmail.com. |
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Blending Fun and ServiceThe Coronado Rotary Club combined fun and service and had a great day doing it. First they visited the Fisher House where the club supports the families of injured or ill military members being treated at Balboa Naval Hospital. They supplied new blankets and hair dryers for the rooms in addition to monthly food deliveries. They then went on to buying peanut butter for their monthly social to be delivered to the IB Food Pantry where many military members are served. Rotarians Mary and Bob Griffin, Ginger Cox, Suzanne Moore Manuel, Amy Kesteloot Steward, Dave John Johnson and Paul Laedlein had an amazing time being people of action. Following their service project, they enjoyed a club social at the lovely home of Meredith Heinecke.  |
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Meet the 2023-24 Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally, only the second Rotary president from Scotland, is embarking on his hope-filled agenda. Gordon wants Rotary to exist everywhere in a style that suits everyone who has the desire to work with us to do good. During this Rotary year, he'll focus on three presidential initiatives that Create Hope in the World: prioritizing mental health, building peace through virtual exchanges, and empowering girls. Read more about Gordon and his Scottish roots in the July issue of Rotary magazine and listen to a reading of the article on RI's podcast As one of his presidential initiatives, Gordon encourages Rotary members to make mental health a priority. Rotary has the ability to create the kind of world where we all feel supported as part of a community and where we help expand access to quality care. Everyone in Rotary has a role in this effort. Learn how you can support this and other presidential initiatives and watch Gordon’s video appeal. |
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A Double Dose of DonationsRotarian Nathan Oestreich donated his blood and simultaneously the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary made a $1,000 contribution to the San Diego Blood Bank - Chula Vista location. On hand to receive the funds were South Bay Center manager Tracey Jaymalin and Nurse Tina.  |
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From the Desk of District Governor Don FippsI was very pleased to see the 113th President of the Rotary Club of San Diego, Michael Brunker had his 8-year-old grandson Kolu Kalaniopio swear him in in front of a packed audience at Liberty Station this past Thursday (see article from UT in the story section). I love to see family involved in our Rotary activities; it makes us all better Rotarians and Rotaractors. A bit of Rotary trivia, the Rotary Club of San Diego is the 10th largest club in the world with 405 members. The largest is in India, Rotary Club of Vijayawada Midtown with 787 members.  Today is one of my favorite National Days, July 16th is National Ice Cream Day! While a member of the Rotary Club of West Sacramento, the club had an annual picnic that included a home-made ice cream contest. That was a lot of fun. I usually entered but never won. So, enjoy some ice cream today, it is a wonderful treat on summer days. |
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Registration Fee for the RI Convention Goes Up from $500-$595 on December 16.
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Help Support Our Marines Since 1939 the Rotary Club of Carlsbad has been actively supporting the community. In conjunction with our satellite club at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Rotary Camp Pendleton, and the community we will be able to support the 25,000 Marines who cycle through the rigorous training on base. Click "Read More" to Continue. |
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New Features in ClubRunner! July 2023 Edition Each new Rotary year brings fresh new opportunities to lead, strategize, and make a real impact in our communities. We're excited to share what's new in ClubRunner to launch the new Rotary year! Mobile Message Broadcasts Connect with your members and keep them informed of updates, event reminders and more instantly. Compose and send broadcast messages to your members' mobile phones through the ClubRunner mobile app. Through push notifications, members are notified of important announcements immediately. Click "Read More" to Continue. |
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From the Desk of DG Don FippsThe Rotary theme for July is New Leadership. We are seeing new leadership with our new Rotary International President, Gordon McInally, our new Rotary International Director, Dan Himelspach, 69 new club presidents in District 5340 along with your new District Governor. Yes, I am now including Rotaract clubs in our number as both Rotaractors and Rotarians are "People of Action" in District 5340. July is a time for very exciting changes in Rotary, but it is also laced with a lot of continuity. Today, July 9th, is National Sugar Cookie Day. To celebrate, this may be a good time to bake up a fresh batch and enjoy them with your friends and family. All you need is some sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and either baking powder or baking soda. Who knows, perhaps your batch of sugar cookies will help Create Hope in the World!
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Your Donations are Meeting Needs in Ukraine The Rotary Foundation so far has awarded more than 375 disaster response grants, totaling more than US$17.3 million, to help those affected by the war in Ukraine. Your generous donations have made it possible to provide refugees with food, water, and clothes. Grants have kept electricity flowing to hospitals, allowed wounded civilians to receive care, and found shelters for displaced families. But the need is still great. More than 45 grant requests are on hold waiting for additional funds to become available through the Ukraine Response Fund. Please consider making a donation today and read how Rotary members have been weaving a global web of giving in Ukraine since the war began. |
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Why Everyone Should Be Using the ClubRunner Mobile App The ClubRunner Mobile App is your key to connect to your club and District 5340 on the go! Completely free to download and use and available to ALL ROTARIANS AND ROTARACTORS in District 5340, this app will let you access key info while you're on the go. Using the newly upgraded ClubRunner services from District 5340, the ClubRunner Mobile App is completely independent of whether your club subscribes to ClubRunner itself or not. That means everyone in District 4340 can download, use and benefit from the app. Click "Read More" to Continue. |
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Vice Governor Steve Weitzen Presents Awards on Chuck Pretto's BehalfEvery year during the Governor's Dinner, the outgoing Governor presents awards to individuals and clubs who have made significant contributions in support of District 5340's objectives. Past District Governor, Steve Weitzen presented awards on behalf of District Governor, Chuck Pretto who is at home preparing for a bone marrow transplant in late August. These are coveted and well-earned awards. Winners are: ROTARIANS OF THE YEAR Alan Turner, Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Laura Mello, Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club ROTARACTOR OF THE YEAR Azareel Canizales ROTARACT CLUB OF THE YEAR Rotaract Club - University of California BEST LARGE SIZED ROTARY CLUB Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club BEST MEDIUM SIZED ROTARY CLUB La Mesa Rotary Club BEST SMALL SIZED ROTARY CLUB Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club PEOPLE OF ACTION AWARDEES LuAnn Miller, Coronado Rotary Club Ron Kohl, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club Marissa De Luna, Sweetwater Rotary Club Bonnie Welch of La Mesa Rotary Club Kay Barron, Point Loma Rotary Club James Morrison, Point Loma Rotary Club Click "Read More" to view a few photos. |
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Rotary Begins a New Year - Message from Newsbits Editor Congratulations to all the newly inducted club presidents. I am sure you are going to have a great year and I would like nothing better than to assist you. There are several ways I can help you promote your club:
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Rescue Mission Receives $4,500 Grant Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary member Craig Smith dropped off our $4,500 donation to the San Diego Rescue Mission last week. Their donation will assist with providing meals, shelter, clothing and hygiene items. Classes, counseling, job training and guidance is readily available which can help rebuild lives.
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People of Action - Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary ClubChula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club believes Sunday morning is a great time to volunteer with the education staff from The Living Coast Discovery Center! Sophia, Rhett, Trish, Chris and Rochelle joined friends and community members to clean up along the bike path near Marina Park in Chula Vista. Supporting our environment is a focus of the club.  |
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People of Action - Del Mar Rotary ClubPeople of Action: Refurbishing wood benches in Del Mar by the Rotary Club of Del Mar Community Service Committee.  |
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People of Action - Santee-Lakeside Rotary ClubThe Santee-Lakeside Rotary club incorporates a service project into their annual installation dinner. Members bring packages of toilet paper to the event. The beneficiary of the "Give a Sheet" project is the East County Transition Living Center (ECTLC) in El Cajon. The faith-based center welcomes homeless individuals and families into the center. Some are there for a short time and others enroll in a year-long residential recovery program that includes preparing them for jobs when they leave. In the photo, you will see members holding packages but what you don't see are more packages stacked behind them. Some of the basics of life can be of the greatest value.  |
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Grant Recipient Making Huge Strides in His Educational PursuitsMeet Byron, Guatemalan of Mayan descent whose education has been supported by district grants from our District 5340 for the past four years. With these grants he has been able to complete high school, start and complete so far two years of the university majoring in computer engineering, while holding down a full-time job at the Roblox English call center in Guatemala City. And, he supports his Mayan family who live 12 hours away by bus who have no means of surviving. The family was starving during the pandemic. This is a prime example of District money we’ll spent!  |
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July is Maternal & Child Health Month It is estimated that close to 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation, which can all be prevented. Rotary clubs and districts dedicate their efforts to improve access to quality care so that mothers and children can have long-serving opportunities for a healthy future. Projects to support mothers and children include mobile prenatal clinics, cancer screening, immunizations, and training on how to protect themselves and their children from disease. Click "Read More" for highlights of various projects and how you can become involved. |
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From the Desk of District Governor Don FippsToday is National Wildland Fire Fighters Day. July 2 honors the dedicated personnel who coordinate their efforts to protect the nation's wildlands. It's also a day to remember the sacrifice made each time a firefighter steps into a wildland fire. They too are People of Action. If you know or see a firefighter, thank them for their service. Sorry, I digress. This is my first article for Newsbits as District Governor. I want to first thank Past District Governor Chuck Pretto for leading the district this past year. He did a fabulous job! Included in my remarks in this edition of Newsbits, I have added the video message from PDG Check Pretto shown during the Governor's Dinner. Please click on the link to review his remarks. We all are pulling for Chuck as he moves through treatment for his leukemia. Also from the Governor's Dinner, there is a video greeting from our Rotary International President Gordon McInally. The theme for Rotary year 2023-24 is Create Hope in the World. As I said Monday night at the Governor's Dinner, this is easy for Rotarians and Rotaractors, it's what we do every day. I charge every Person of Action in District 5340 to Create Hope in the World. As we all take up that challenge, I know we will all having an amazing year! Click "Read More" for a glimpse of the event via photos.
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Membership in a Box August 12, 2023 8:00 am via Zoom As we get ready to start the new Rotary year, Rotary International is hosting two membership training sessions. These sessions will be hosted by the membership coordinators for Zone 26 and 27, John Chase and Jennifer Deroin, and will focus on the following goals:  Click "Read More" for registration and link information.
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The 19th Annual Switchfoot BroAM was a huge successThe 19th Annual Switchfoot BroAM was a huge success as more than 45 volunteers assisted in the event as members of Surfers Unite Rotarians Fellowship as well as Rotarians, Rotaract members and friends in the surf community. The crew also registered dozens of potential members for Rotary and Rotaract Clubs and as volunteers served on set-up, trash, selling raffle tickets, selling merchandise in the booth Rotarians met folks who had participated in RYLA in the past, were involved in Rotaract while in college and even one lady Wendy Lyn gave an impromptu interview stating, "Rotary changed my life when they awarded me an ambassadorial scholarship in New Zealand in 1987." Time to convert some of these wonderful prospects by officially inviting them to join the family of Rotary. Fortunately we have leaders in our District such as Ranjan Lahiri and Dianne Crawford to follow-up on these valuable leads and work with local clubs to invite folks to join for a visit.  The early birds, some arriving before sunrise included District Governor Elect Don Fipps and other Lifetime members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Here is a brief recap of the BroAM:
 The Surfers Unite booth was rocking in the surf zone.  Surf Jousting is an epic malay event...might make a great End Polio fundraising event in the future...who's in?  Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle Past President's Ron Kohl & Brett Morey hang out with Past President of La Mesa Sunrise Ivan Alba Photo credit: Scott James  Brett & Karla Morey enjoy the 90 minute performance of Switchfoot with Surfers Unite members Jim & Kim Frost and friends from Del MarThere are many ways to kick off a Summer of fun, but we cannot think of a better way other than being a part of the Switchfoot BroAM with Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship. Do not miss their other upcoming events. Next up: Life Rolls On taking disabled children and adults surfing in Huntington Beach and La Jolla Shores, the 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring, the Supergirl Pro in Oceanside with the top women athletes in professional surfing and City2Surf taking inner city kids surfing in Del Mar. If you consider yourself a beach enthusiast, know anyone who likes to surf, StandUp Paddle Board, put their toes in the sand, do beach clean ups or enjoys helping at-risk youth simply text "SURF" to 858-602-2532 or visit: www.surfersunite.org and get "on board." After all, June is Rotary Fellowships month. |
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Red Shoe Day a Huge SuccessWoo Hoo!!!! The results are in! The Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary club has heard back from Ronald McDonald House Charities and learned that their grand total for donations on Red Shoe Day was $2,153! That wonderful contribution put the club among the top ten overall fundraising teams in San Diego County (of 75 teams) and the TOP Rotary club!!! Club members wish to thank community members and those who made online donations or dropped some cash into our red shoes and buckets for help making this a successful fundraising event.  |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Vista Hill FoundationOn June 20th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $9,466 to the Vista Hill Foundation to help cover the cost of new flooring in their new Stein Education Center serving students with Autism. Vista Hill is committed to providing individuals and families with the guidance and resources they need to improve and enhance their quality of life. It was formed as a non-profit organization devoted to helping people of all ages, from communities large and small, both within and outside of San Diego, who are confronting the challenges of mental illness, substance use disorder or intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Photo Caption: (L-R) Incoming Art Pratt Foundation President Lee Kaminetz and Outgoing President Miles Durfee, Old Mission Rotary Outgoing President Don Krupp and Incoming President Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Board members Tom Sandler and Judi Copeland and Friends of Vista Hill Executive Director Rachel Peniche. |
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Who's Up for Pancakes? Who's up for pancakes? The Rotary Club of Fallbrook will hold its annual Independence Day Pancake Breakfast on Tuesday, July 4, at the Fallbrook Community Center. Breakfast will be served from 8:00 to 11:00 am and there will also be face painting and a Dog Show. $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 4 to 12, free for kids 3 and under. Proceeds benefit the Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society Camp Pendleton.
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Rotarians Gather at Grand Ole BBQ Flynn SpringsThe El Cajon Rotary Club recently changed its meeting schedule to have one service project, one social and two regular meetings per month. This past Tuesday was their first social organized by Rotarian Alison Cummings. Members flocked to the Grand Ole BBQ in Flynn Springs for some good old fashion fun and food. Joining them were some members of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club. The Grand Ole BBQ was recently featured in the San Diego Magazine.  |
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Girl Scouts Receive GrantThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $7,500 to Girl Scouts San Diego on June 13th. The funds will be used to replace five outdoor cooking stoves at the sleepover camps of Camp Winacka and Camp Whispering Oaks in the mountains near Julian.  Photo Caption: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary President-Elect Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Board Member Lee Kaminetz, Girl Scouts San Diego CEO Carol Dedrich, Girl Scouts San Diego Foundations Relations Specialist Tracy Browns, Art Pratt Board Members Tom Sandler and Cynthia Drake, Old Mission Rotary President Don Krupp and Art Pratt Board Member and life long Girl Scout Donna Maytum who sang the Brownie Smile Song for our Girl Scout guests!
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Happy Father's Day |
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New Zone Major Gifts Officer Congratulations go out to Laura Mello, pictured below with RI President Jennifer Jones, on her selection as Rotary Foundation Major Gifts Officer. Laura will be supporting the southwestern US Region of Arizona, Hawaii and Districts 5320, 5330 and our District 5340. Laura has been a member of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club for the past 12 years and is completing her year serving as Club President. She has been very active in our District Foundation. Laura was Director of Gift Planning at Rady’s Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She had a prior career in wealth management and private banking, before transitioning into philanthropic work. Our District foundation Committee is looking forward to working with Laura. |
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2023 Rotary Magazine Photo Award Finalists Though shot in different parts of the world, using distinct palettes, and evoking different emotions, the finalists in this year’s Rotary magazine Photo Awards all have one thing in common: an unseen beauty. There are a dozen photographs that carry us from Egypt to Idaho, from Nigeria to Taiwan. Along the way we see everything from an intimate moment as a medical team prepares for surgery to a sweeping nightscape illuminated by an aurora borealis. View all the finalists in the June issue of the magazine online. |
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The Governor's Dinner is Fast Approaching The Governor's Dinner is fast approaching. The Governors Dinner is the annual District awards and installation ceremony. Join us on Monday, June 26th as we celebrate the past Rotary year and induct our new leaders at the Del Mar Hilton located at 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014. Meal tickets for open seating is $68. Reserved seating requires a purchase of a table for 10 at $650. Names and meal choices are required at the time of registration. Meal tickets for Rotaractors are $43. Space is filling up quickly! If you have questions or issues registering, please contact Kay Barron at 714-335-5394 or Patty Fortin at 619-292-1239. Entree options: Beef, Salmon or Vegan. There is a full no-host bar. Parking is included but you must get parking ticket validated at the valet station. Accommodations: Discounted rooms available for $289. Discounted rate is available until May 26, 2023. To make reservations, call Stevi at the Del Mar Hilton 858-764-6043. |
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Time to Evaluate What Logo You are Using Rotary International changed its Rotary's logo a couple of years ago and it has been a slow process to educate clubs on the proper use of the current logo guidelines. District 5340 is committed to complying with the new guidelines and want to provide you with the resources you need to be in compliance. You can download the logo guidelines here. You can also find them in the Rotary Brand Center. Every member plays a role in strengthening the Rotary brand. Your club can help build brand recognition by using Rotary logos correctly and consistently. Always use your customized club, district, or zone logo when promoting your club or other Rotary entity or its activities. Learn how to create and use Rotary logos effectively and add them to your club or district communications. Clubs need to do an assessment of all their items bearing the Rotary logo. That includes marketing materials, badges, tablecloths, giveaways, inflatable items, etc. When ordering products from Russell Hampton, make sure you are ordering items with the right logo. Russell Hampton is aware of the changes. Going forward our Newsbits editor will not accept event flyers that have the wrong logo, so to avoid delays in promoting your events, it is essential that clubs submit artwork with the correct logo. If you have questions, please send an email the editor at sandyp304@gmail.com and she will get back to you with the answer. AVAILABLE RESOURCES
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Learn About the Role of District Governor Join us for an informal gathering to discuss the role of District Governor (dinner included). This is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet folks who have held the role in the past. WHEN - Thursday, August 3, 2023 DINNER - 6:00 PM Hosted by Janice and Matt Kurth Please call for address. Please RSVP to PDG Dan Gensler - dgensler@wealthenhancement.com or call 619-972-7290 |
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Update on Governor Chuck Pretto's Health JourneyMany of you have asked for a health update on our beloved District Governor Chuck Pretto. As of this writing, Chuck has completed his first round of chemo and has been released from the hospital to go home where he will spend the next two to three weeks rejuvenating his body and getting some much-needed rest. Following his respite period, he will have to go through another round of chemo. The ultimate goal for the future, once a match is found, is a bone marrow transplant. Chuck continues to be immune suppressed so no visitors, but he has given permission to give out his cell phone if anyone wants to call him (619-708-1849). He will even do a Zoom call. While he wishes to stay connected, please make sure calls are brief as his energy level is down. When asked what Rotarians can do to support him, his response was to consider donating and being tested on the Be the Match website whether it be for him or the general population. |
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Peace Pole to be Erected Over the SummerOn June 1, 2023, the San Marcos Rotary Club and the Mission Hills High School Interact Club broke ground on a new Peace Pole. Rotary President Alan Geraci, Rotary Interact Advisor Robert Chamberlain, and Interact Club President Savannah were joined by San Marcos Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Andy Johnsen and MHHS Principal Mr. Nathan Baker. The Peace Pole will serve as a symbol of peace on campus where students can gather and reflect on peace on earth! The Peace Pole will be installed Summer 2023.  |
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Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Celebrates Interact Students GraduationCongrats to Class of 2023 Hilltop High Interact Club members and our Presidential Volunteer Service Award earners sponsored by the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club. Hilltop students dedicated over 1,300 hours to serving their community this year! Interact President Andrea Necoechea is heading to Yale in the fall! These amazing young people will be our future Rotaractors & Rotarians.  |
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Share Your Rotary Photos and Win Prizes Calling on all Rotarians in Zones 26/27 (which includes District 5340) - Help us celebrate your Rotary year, win prizes, and have your pictures shared at Zone Institute in San Diego! HOW TO ENTER: Simply share your favorite #PeopleofAction photos on your social media. Please use the following hashtag: #RotaryBigWest. For additional information, please visit https://www.zoneinstitute.org/photo-contest/. |
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Two Weeks To Go - 19th Annual Swichfoot BroAM at Moonlight Beach Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship is looking for volunteers for the Switchfoot BroAM on June 17. Imagine Moonlight State Beach with 17,000 people enjoying a full day of surf contests, surf jousting (knocking people off with sticks) and over five hours of live music. Yup, that is the Switchfoot BroAM in a nutshell. In fact, Rotary District 5340 and Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship have combined forces yet again to be a sponsor creating the opportunity for Rotarians, Rotaract, Interact, family members and friends in the surfing community to volunteer at this event. It's a great way to recruit potential members to your club and together we will raise over $200K for local San Diego charities. We'd love to see members from Chula Vista to Oceanside, La Mesa to Coronado be a part of this great event. Click here to volunteer. Click "Read More" for information on BroAm and Life Rolls On events. |
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June is Rotary Fellowship Month Rotary Fellowships consist of individuals who share a common interest in recreational activities, hobbies, professions, or cultural identity. These groups help expand skills, foster vocational development, and enhance the Rotary experience by exploring interests while developing connections around the world. Click "Read More" to continue.
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Convention Concludes with a Message of Hope After imagining the future of Rotary in Melbourne, Australia, members and speakers at the 2023 Rotary International Convention looked ahead to next year’s gathering in Singapore and being able to share hope with the world by focusing on mental health and well-being. "Singapore is a city that embodies the spirit of service and giving back to the community," said Jennifer Scott, chair of the 2024 International Convention Committee. "This city-state is a hub of culture, cuisine, and innovation, and is renowned for its architecture, natural beauty, and bustling nightlife. There is something for everyone in Singapore." During the convention's closing session, 2023-24 Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally explained why he's asking members to make mental health a priority. When his only brother took his own life, McInally said, he became determined to fight the stigma around mental health issues and expand access to care. Click "Read More" to continue the story. |
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Rotarians at Memorial Day Mount Soledad Veterans MemorialOld Mission Rotary witnessed an inspiring Memorial Day ceremony under gray skies at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria thanked Rotarian Max Gurney for his service in WW2.  Rotarians at the ceremony (L-R) Rob Cenko President of Point Loma Rotary, Max Gurney (Army) and Gordon Shurtleff (Air Force) of Torrey Pines Rotary, Tim McCully (Navy) of Point Loma Rotary and Matt Risi (Navy) of Old Mission Rotary. |
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Support a RYLA Student's Efforts to Make a Difference Deadline extended to June 15! When Jasime Tran, a Junior at Mt. Carmel High School was selected by the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club as one of their students to attend RYLA, she didn’t really know what she was in for. But after a weekend in Idyllwild meeting fellow students and participating in the activities that prepare high school Juniors for leadership positions, she was inspired…and ready to act! Click "Read More" for the full story and how you can help her efforts. |
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RYLA CelebratedOld Mission and the Mission Valley Evening Rotary Clubs celebrated the return of their RYLA students at a joint club luncheon meeting. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) encourages leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an award for their past and present leadership and service activities. Old Mission Rotary sponsored ten students and Mission Valley Evening Rotary sponsored two.  Photo: (L-R) Kenneth Wright (Saint Augustin), Kenny Wright (Saint Augustin), Andrew Bier (Saint Augustin), Sharlena Nguyen (Madison High School), Tom Sandler is the Chairman of the Old Mission Rotary RYLA Committee, Jose Mojarro (Crawford High School), Michael Jackson (Crawford High School), Marge Cole is a Past District Governor and member of the Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club and Timothy Shaw is a school counselor at Crawford High School and supporter of RYLA for many years. |
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Youth Service Recognized at Coronado Rotary MeetingsIn keeping with community tradition, Rotarians welcomed outstanding student athletes and their parents to an annual luncheon meeting that has become one of the Club’s favorites. Coronado High School Athletic Director Robin Nixon presented students that were chosen by the Coronado's coaching staff not only for their athletic ability but also for their sportsmanship, coachability, integrity, and scholastic achievement. Coronado High School’s Interact Club members took over the May 24th meeting, introducing RYLA awardees, and sharing some projects during the past year, including supporting and visiting the La Hacienda Orphanage in Tijuana, fundraising events, and beach clean-ups, including one with members of the Grossmont Interact Club.  |
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Hygiene Kits AssembledThe Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club and its sponsored Interact club at R. Roger Rowe School put together many hygiene kits for individuals and families recovering from domestic and family violence as well as human trafficking. The City of San Diego's Your Safe Place will put them to excellent use.  |
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Two Rotary Clubs Support Red Shoe DayEach year, teams of volunteers gather at intersections across San Diego and collect donations from morning commuters to support San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House. This is their largest community fundraiser and helps the Ronald McDonald House provide a “home away from home” for families with children in local hospitals. Joining this effort were the Rotary clubs of Chula Vista Rotary and La Jolla Golden Triangle. On May 24, these clubs donned in vibrant red set out to hustle motorists for donations to this worthy cause. Looks like they had a lot of fun doing something good for the community.  |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Offers Volunteer Help to Food BankCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club is at it again. This time they are helping the North County Food Bank sort and stage over 2800 pounds of food! The North County Food Bank provides nutritious food to individuals and families in need in communities located in North County.  |
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Poway-Scripps Participate in Celebration of Champions Relay RaceThe Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps participated in the Celebration of Champions relay race for kids going through cancer treatments. They were asked to run with three kids over the course of the three-hour event. Members ran with a five-year-old named Yair who is going through brain cancer treatments. Then they ran with Max, a high school senior with leukemia, And, lastly the third, Lupita, who is struggling with cancer. All three were fast runners.  |
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2023 Blue Water Film Festival Scheduled for June The Solana Beach Eco Club is promoting the 2023 Blue Water Film Festival. Their newest club member, Greg Reitman, is the executive director of this organization, The 2023 Blue Water Film Festival (BWFF) presented by the Blue Water Institute. The 4th Annual Blue Water Film Festival is taking place June 8th - 11th, 2023 in celebration of United Nations World Oceans Day. The event will feature a total of 38 films; 12 feature films, 22 shorts, and 4 animated short films. All films are environmental related. The festival concludes with the Blue Water Awards on June 11th, 4:00pm at UCSD Park & Market Street honoring Patagonia Founder, Yvon Chouinard with the Global Guardian Award. Check out www.bluewaterfilmfestival.org. To purchase tickets, click here. Click "Read More" to learn more about the festival and for a request for housing of film personnel.
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Global Grants: Change in DDF Matching Rules for Our District! District Governor-Elect Don Fipps and the District Rotary Foundation Committee have approved a more generous District Designated Funds match of club cash contributions for Global Grants. For the 2023-2024 Rotary year, club cash contributions will be matched 150% or 1.5 times the cash contribution amount. For example, if a club contributes $5000 for a global grant, the club would be eligible for $7500 of DDF. This decision was made to make it easier for clubs to do Global Grants in light of recent changes in The Rotary Foundation World Fund match rules. The DDF limit for each club remains at $10,000 per club per Rotary year, which can be divided among several projects or used for a single project. A revised copy of the Grant Policies for the 2023-2024 Rotary year is attached. The change described above is highlighted in yellow. If you have any questions, please contact Janice Kurth, D5340 Global Grants Chair at janice@janicekurth.com. |
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You Think You've Got Talent Was a Great SuccessOld Mission Rotary successfully held the 11th “So You Think You’ve Got Talent San Diego." The show took place on Saturday, May 13th at Francis Parker School and profits will be used to fund the Thousand Smiles Foundation (70%) and the Old Mission Rotary Foundation (30%). There were nine unique acts making the event a true variety show. Income was generated by ticket and raffle sales, a silent auction and a pledge from the heart appeal. Profits from the event typically pay for 30% of the Thousand Smiles annual operations for their dental and cleft palate surgery clinics in Ensenada.  Photo Caption: (L-R) The First Place Winner was singer McKenzie Wrap who sang Hero by Mariah Carey ($1000 Prize), The Second Place Winner was Makena Stumpo who played piano and sang the Pearl Jam song Just Breathe ($500 Prize). The Master of Ceremonies was once again Matt Risi. The Third Place winner was the Songs4Smiles Youth Quartet with Shannon Cao (Viola), James Cao (Violin), Vera Muler (Cello) and Lilian Franqui(Viola). They performed How Far I'll Go from the movie Moana and Hey Jude by the Beatles. |
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Poway Scripps Rotary Participated in Two Work Day ProjectsFor its first Rotary at Work Day project, the Rotary Club of Poway Scripps provided support to the Valley Elementary Educational Foundation, in support of their STEAM program. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) provides education to all students, knowing that opportunity and access are the first steps in building student curiosity and knowledge. The Valley Elementary Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, made up of Valley parents. Together, we are the fundraising arm of our children’s school — raising money to bridge the gap between what school districts can provide and what students need to have the best, most well-rounded education possible. The club is currently working to raise funds to convert the old computer lab space into an Innovation Lab where students can explore, create and discover the areas of Science, Technology, Art and Math.  The second project was at the Abraxas High School Garden in Poway. They teach students about growing healthy food and giving back to the community by donating the produce to the people in their community that need it the most. The club helped them clear another large area to be able to plant fruit trees. They also helped with clean up and weed pulling in some existing garden areas.  |
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Rotary Club of Chula Vista Hands Out ScholarshipsOne of our most favorite events of the year is the awarding of two Rotary Club of Chula Vista Scholarships - the Joseph Rindone Service Scholarship and the Bill Padelford Academic Scholarship. We received many outstanding applications, but the best of the best were awarded to students from these local area high schools: Hilltop, Chula Vista, Olympian, Otay Ranch, Castle Park and Launch Virtual Academy. Mr. Padelford was present to hand out scholarships. Congratulations to these amazing students on their achievement and we look forward to them doing great things and becoming future Rotarians!  |
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Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Supports Interact ClubRancho Santa Fe Rotary Club celebrates Youth Services Month and the Rancho Santa Fe Community Interact Club established at the R. Roger Rowe Middle School. The Rotary Club invited all the Interactors, their Advisor, and parents to a May club meeting focusing on Youth Services and the student's accomplishments. The club meeting focusing on Youth Services and the student's accomplishments. Some of their stand-out projects are:
Rancho Santa Fe doesn't have a public high school. To bring the focus back to our community, they moved Interact to the middle school. Two of the Interactors participated in LEAD 2022. Dean Kaffka, who presented at our club meeting, shared the difference it made in his life, the confidence he has speaking and trying new things," said RSF Rotary President Paulette Britton. "Jake Hauenstein, the current Interact President, also shared that he likes to help others and give back to his community and Interact gave him that opportunity." Each student was awarded a membership certificate and recognized as founding club members at their middle school. Stacey Halboth, an amazingly dedicated advisor, was presented with a plaque and shared that the students would not have had as meaningful of a year had it not been for the Interact Club. The Rancho Santa Fe School District has contacted Stacey to recognize the club's good work. During the meeting, the Interactors and Rotarians engaged in a joint project by assembling toiletry bags delivered to Your Safe Place on behalf of District 5340. "The club's hope is that these 8th graders will all find their way to an Interact Club as they transition into high school," states Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Youth Chair, Mary Murray.  Pictured: Rotarians and Interactors in their custom club shirts |
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Del Mar's Chili & Quackers Loads of FunThe ducks all swam hard to get back to shore as a wonderful cap to the Rotary Club of Del Mar's 2023 Chili & Quackers. Thank you to all our event sponsors, as well as Viewpoint Brewing Co. for donating the beer and preparing Don Fipps' award-winning IPA chili for the chili dogs, the scouts of Troop 713 for all their help, Happy twist balloons by Keiko for the balloon art and of course the Del Mar lifeguards!  |
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Rotary Aids USPS Stomp out Hunger Food DriveMembers of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club were on hand at the Santee Post Office for Stomp out Hunger Across America food drive. Members unloaded 8,211 pounds of food (up from 4,718 last year) from Post Office vehicles and then weighed and loaded donations into a commercial truck where items were brought to the Santee Food Bank. This is a favorite service project because it demonstrates how the Santee community comes together to help the community. *It's partly what makes living, working and serving in Santee such a joy. The Santee - Lakeside Rotary Club has been working with the Santee Post office for well over a decade and Stomp out Hunger Across America food drive is one of the club's signature service projects.  |
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The Rotary Foundation is the Life Blood of Rotary. The Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. “Without the Foundation, there would be no Rotary, says Paul Harris Society Founder Wayne Cusick. That is why the Paul Harris Society was founded. The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. Rotary districts often honor new members of the Paul Harris Society by presenting them with a certificate and chevron at a district or club event. Click "Read More" to learn how your Paul Harris contributions have helped the world. |
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Work Party Slated to Beautify a Local Recovery Center On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the Rotary District 5340 Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force will be having a work morning at a local recovery home in the South Bay. We will be working outside in the garden and yard area, improving the landscaping and providing needed clean-up. These work events are vital to support the facility and also to show the residents that people can be kind.
We anticipate working from 8:30AM - 12:00PM (at the latest). No special skills are needed - just a good spirit and willingness to work outside. If you are interested, please contact Kimberly Schafer (kschafer108@gmail.com). Due to the need to keep the location confidential and a clear list of volunteers, each volunteer will need to contact Kim to sign up. The location will be shared with volunteers in the week prior to June 10, and must be kept confidential. We hope you will consider joining us. It's a great way to do good, feel good, and enjoy your fellow Rotarians! |
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Governor Down but Not for Long As some of you know, I was diagnosed with Leukemia on Saturday May 6th. I very much appreciate the outpouring of love and support I have received already. The ward I’m on at Scripps Green Hospital does not accept flowers, but cards, notes, letters are appreciated. My mailing address is 3555 Rosecrans St. Suite 114-109. San Diego, CA 92110. Click "Read More" for additional information.
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Service with a Smile at Ronald McDonald HouseOn May 10, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo helped cook and serve a meal at Ronald McDonald House at Rady Children’s Hospital. Different members go every month and it’s always a hit. An added bonus this night was a club member comic ventriloquist Joe Gandelman came along to entertain the kids.  |
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Low Tide Ride and Stride Coming in June The Low Tide and Stride Fundraising event is coming to Coronado June 24. Please mark your calendar and register today. |
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Join Us for a Wine Tasting Networking Event Join Mission Valley Evening Rotary on May 24 from 5:30PM - 7:30PM for a “California, Here I Come!” themed wine tasting and networking social at Total Wine Mission Valley. There will be 30 minutes allocated for a FREE wine tasting and the rest of the time will be left for socializing. We’ll have some appetizers but feel free to bring treats to share. Our event will take place in Total Wine’s classroom which is located at the back of the store, straight back from the entrance. Guests and prospective members are welcome! Let us know you’re coming by RSVPing here: missionvalleyeveningrotary.org/events/wine-tasting |
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NAMI Walk in Imperial Valley a SuccessOn April 29th, members of the Imperial Valley Breakfast Rotary Club along with members of the Imperial High School Interact club participated in the 1st annual National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) walk supporting those suffering from mental illness. They showed up 7:00AM at the Imperial Valley mall with their walking shoes and their Rotarians at Work shirts. Interacters and Rotarians helped set up the many booths at the event. At 8:00AM they took a brisk walk around the mall which ended inside the mall area where several organizations had set up booths. Among the organizations were Innercare, Imperial County Behavioral Health, Reps for Vets, Sun Valley Behavioral Health, and other organizations that support those suffering from mental illness. Most importantly, the club raised $880.00 and district-wide over $11,000.00 was raised for NAMI. Great job fellow Rotarians!  |
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Veteran Plaque Cleaned as Part of Rotary at Work DayRotarians at Work Day is always the last Saturday of every April. Started in 2006 as a joint effort between two Rotary Districts (one in the United States and one in Mexico), Rotarians at Work Day continues to grow. Each year, Clubs around the world identify a hands-on project that all members can participate in to help their local community. The traditional project undertaken by the members of the Torrey Pines Rotary Club on this day was to clean the plaques of the honorable veterans at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. The Torrey Pines Rotary Club is well represented at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, where the plaques of six current and former members are proudly and honorably displayed. They are:
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To Mothers Everywhere |
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LEAD - Influencing Our Next Generation Rotarians LEAD is October 14-15, 2023. Since 2009, the District LEAD Program - Leadership, Ethics, Aspirations & Determination – has been an opportunity for clubs to provide a unique two-day leadership, confidence, and growth conference for area 8th grade students. Pre-selected for their DEMONSTRATED leadership skills, the students attend a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) camp developed, presented, and funded by local Rotarians, and hear from speakers who help further nurture these talented leaders at a most critical point in their development. Click "Read More" for additional information including how you can participate and how to sponsor students. |
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Members of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and RC of La Jolla join forces by serving at Feeding San DiegoMembers of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and Rotary Club of La Jolla joined forces to serve at Feeding San Diego last Saturday in honor of Rotarians at Work Day. We asked Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and District Rotarians at Work Day (RAWD) Chair about the experience. "It is fantastic to reflect on how pivotal some of the ideas have been from Rotarians in our Rotary District over the years," said Morey. "Think about it, Rotarians who have since passed away like Bob Watson of the Rotary Club of Coronado started this simple but profound idea of Rotarians at Work Day decades spearheading the idea that our members across District 5340 would do hands-on projects in each of our communities on the last Saturday in April and it has become a global sensation." Working two shifts at Feeding San Diego Rotarians these two La Jolla clubs helped make several tons of food available to serve thousands of local San Diego residents. District Governor Elect Don Fipps and his Chief Aide Kay Barron stopped by Feeding San Diego event in the morning to say hello and made 5 other stops around the county before the end of the day.  |
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May is Youth Services Month Every year, over 350,000 young leaders participate in Rotary’s youth programs across Lead, Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), and Rotary Youth Exchange. Rotary’s Youth Service Month is an opportunity to promote our young leaders’ local and global impacts and the Rotary and Rotaract clubs that make these programs possible. Learn more. |
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Wine and Food Festival Slated for June 3 The Encinitas Rotary Club is holding a wine and food festival benefiting local charities on Saturday, June 3 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. To learn more and to purchase tickets, use the QR code above or click here. All attendees and guests must be 21 or older.
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Nativity Prep School Receives a MakeoverThe Rotary Club of Del Mar joined forces with NPA alumni on Rotarians at Work Day to sand and stain tables for the Nativity Prep School's AMIGOS patio. They also painted the choir loft that will soon be the new library while the current library is reworked to provide more STEM resources. NPA makes an 11-year commitment to all their students, who are 5-fold more likely to graduate college than other historically underserved students.  |
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Rotarians Lend a Hand with Hygiene ItemsRotary District 5340 Rotarians, you are amazing! Thanks for responding to the call-out for hygiene items for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors who are using the services of San Diego Family Justice Center’s “Your Safe Place”! So many of you have generously participated. To date, we’ve delivered more than $2,000 worth of needed products with more coming! Special thanks to Fallbrook Village Rotary Club, San Diego Coastal Rotary Club, San Diego Rotary Club, Coronado Rotary Club, and a ton of other Rotarians. You are an inspiration. We can use all the items we can get so keep them coming! Rotarians are truly People of Action.  |
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Trivia Night a Wild Success!Thanks to all of the Rotarians and community members who came out for an evening of fun, facts and fundraising at Trivia Night VII, sponsored by the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary on Friday, April 28. Congratulations to the team “San Marcos Rotary Trivia,” who walked away with the title of “Winner" after an intense competition. While testing everyone’s knowledge, the Club also raised money for their Community Benefit Fund and through a new 50/50 drawing, they raised $1,250 for Polio Plus. The donation will be made in memory of longtime member CVSR Alan Harmata. Alan, who contracted polio at a young age, passed away last fall.  |
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So You Think You've Got Talent San Diego Old Mission Rotary is sponsoring the 11th annual So You Think You've Got Talent San Diego? variety show on Saturday, May13th. In the ten previous years, winners have performed all types of music, dancing, comedy, magic and much more. The evening will start at 5:30 PM at the Francis Parker School Auditorium with international food stations, live music and an open beer and wine bar followed by the show. The event is co-sponsored by the Interact Club of Francis Parker and the Old Mission Rotary Club.
Tickets for the event are $100 per person and can be purchased at the event or in advance online. The event will primarily benefit the Thousand Smiles Foundation and the Old Mission Rotary Foundation. Thousand Smiles provides free dental services and cleft palate surgeries to children at their quarterly clinic in Ensenada Mexico. |
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Chloe Norton Wins Four-Way Test Speech ContestCoronado Rotary Club hosted the Four-Way Speech Contest finals for six wonderful students. They were all so good; it was a difficult job for the judges! Chloe Norton took 1st prize and $1,000. The others were awarded $750 and $500. Congratulations Carlsbad High School for having 3 students in the competition! District 5340’s leadership was in attendance: DG Chuck Pretto, DGE Don Fipps with Rosebud, DGN Dianne Crawford, DGD Luis R Carranza, Susan Callahan. Congratulations to these amazing students.  |
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El Cajon Rotarians Paint Picnic Tables for Non-ProfitsThe El Cajon Rotary club held their Rotarians at Work Day on April 22 rather than the 29th due to scheduling conflicts. Members gathered at the home of club president, Stu Scott. They assembled and painted eight wooden picnic tables for the East County Transitional Living Center and Home of Guiding, each receiving four tables. Picnic tables will be delivered next week. The picture below captures the work party and finished tables loaded on the trailer. Joining the club were five Granite Hills Interactors and their advisor. A fun project was enjoyed by all.  Photo: L to R - Gil, Joe, Cassandra, Ethan, Allen, Jean, Stu, Ginger, Matt, Dana, Tim, Jacob, David & Mia |
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Join Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary for Red Shoe Day Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary will be hitting the streets in Bonita on May 24 for Red Shoe Day supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities. Please join us on our team as we take over the intersection at Bonita Road and Otay Lakes Road. Or drive by and drop some cash into our red shoes! For more information, contact Halle Aiken at haiken@rmhcsd.org or call at 858 508-2447.
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Rise Against Hunger Event a Huge SuccessChula Vista Sunrise Rotary had a very successful food packing event last Saturday, April 22 (in conjunction with Rise Against Hunger). With nearly 80 volunteers made up of Rotarians, friends and family, and community members from Allen Elementary School in Bonita, these dedicated volunteers packaged nearly 13,000 meals within one hour!  |
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Governor's Dinner June 26 at Del Mar Hilton There are only a few tickets left! The Governors Dinner is the annual District awards and installation ceremony. Join us on Monday, June 26, 2023, as we celebrate the past Rotary year and induct our new club and district leaders at the Del Mar Hilton located at 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014. Open seating tickets are $68pp. Sit together and buy a table of 10 for $650. Names and meal choices are required at the time of registration. Schedule:
District Awards will be announced:
Click "Read More" for information on menu, parking, accommodations, etc. |
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Coronado Rotary Flying HighCoronado Rotary was flying high last month when retired Captain Jim Di Matteo, a 20+ year veteran of the U.S. Navy took the club's logo thousands of feet into the air above Naval Air Station Fallen, Nevada, establishing their club as literal “high-fliers.” A longtime Coronado resident, retired Captain Di Matteo has more than 6,000 flight hours in five different fighter aircraft (the F/A-18, F-16, F-14, F-5, and A-4), the only Naval aviator with this accomplishment. Now a trainer of Top Gun pilots, he photographed himself, flying upside down, simulating a Russian Mig for his aviator trainees, while maneuvering thousands of feet in the air soaring over the 40-Mile Desert in Nevada. Asked to speak about his adventures as a career fighter pilot, he instead addressed his familial legacy with the Navy, highlighting his 102-year-old father, also a retired Naval aviator. Long since retired from the Navy, and currently residing in Walnut Creek, California, his father served in three different wars – WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam. What was truly remarkable about Captain Di Matteo’s presentation is that his family had located their father’s personal diary from his many deployments during all three wars. Sharing excerpts from what his father wrote, club members in the audience were moved to tears by the heroics of this present-day centurion, and the extraordinary determination of what has been deemed “the greatest generation ever.” We, as Rotarians, heading into Memorial Day, must continue to focus on our motto, “Service Above Self,” while remembering and honoring that generation that went before us, and seeking to instill the same values from “the greatest generation ever” in our children and grandchildren.  |
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Convention Speakers Envision a More Peaceful World Keynote speakers at the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia, 27-31 May, share a vision of a more sustainable, equitable world. Professionally and personally, they are transforming health care, rethinking cities, advancing the cause of peace, and working to protect our environment. Learn more about the speakers and register now.
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How Polio Effort is Helping Battle Malaria Health workers in Pakistan go door to door administering the polio vaccine. Volunteers in Zambia perform a dramatic skit showing how malaria spreads. These efforts may seem very different, but they're deeply connected. A global partnership has mobilized millions of workers, reached underserved populations, and gathered unprecedented amounts of health information in the fight to end polio. That work by Rotary and its partners is also proving crucial in the battle against malaria. Learn more for World Malaria Day, 25 April. And read a blog post from Eric Liswaniso, program manager for Malaria Partners Zambia, who lost his parents to malaria when he was young.
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Autism Awareness Fair Supported by Rotary ClubsOn April 8th, the Imperial Valley Breakfast Rotary Club teamed up with the Imperial High School Interact Club and served FREE cotton candy at the 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Fair in Imperial, CA. Our Rotarians and Interactors worked non-stop serving over 300 cotton candy treats! I want to thank everyone who came out and participated! Great job Rotarians and Interactors, the community of Imperial Valley enjoyed your delicious and FREE cotton candy!  |
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Rotary Cruise a Major Success Raising $375,000 Photo L-R: District Governor Chuck Pretto, Janice Kurth, Marge Cole, Ron Kohl and Larry Lundsford The Rotary Foundation’s Cruise to Change Lives fundraiser went above and beyond expectations. Participants were honored to have Larry Lunsford, Rotary International Trustee and his wife Jill, as well as Chuck Pretto, current District Governor and his wife Kim on board. A Rotary Group dinner was attended by 49 people where inspiring words from Larry, Chuck and Ron Kohl were shared. Janice Kurth made an unexpected announcement that the group exceeded fundraising expectations with the support of Rotarians, (and friends and family of Rotarians) of $264,300! The number continued to soar and by the time they reached the end of the cruise, their fundraising efforts reached a grand total of $375,000!! Many thanks to all the cruisers for your extreme generosity. We are so grateful for your extraordinary efforts! Click Read More for the complete story. |
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Save the Date - Chili and Quackers Save the date for the Rotary Club of Del Mar’s annual Chili and Quackers, returning to Powerhouse Park on May 13, 2023, from Noon to 4 PM. Admission is free. Come to Del Mar, enjoy chili dogs, see the ducks race. Don’t let those big blue eyes and the long eyelashes fool you, these ducks are ready to swim. There are hundreds of ducks just waiting to be adopted at www.chiliandquackers.org. |
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Elementary School Book Sale Sponsored by Carlsbad RotaryCarlsbad Rotary Club understands that literacy is key to student success, and they wanted to make purchasing books affordable. As a result, Friday, April 21 the Carlsbad Rotary Club sponsored Jefferson Elementary School's Book Fair #2. Students in pre-K to 5th grade could purchase two books apiece for 25 cents each (of course that’s nowhere near what the new books cost the club). A big thank you goes to Rotarian Maureen Taylor for organizing the event and to Rotarian salespersons for the day Yvonne Finocchiaro, Tom Applegate and Maureen Taylor. Nothing could happen without volunteers who do the set up so a shout out to Rotarians Vince Ponce, Jani Jackson and Julie Walker for making sure things were ready for a day of reading.  |
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Max Gurney of Torrey Pines Rotary Honored at Mount Soledad Veterans MemorialMax Gurney of Torrey Pines Rotary was honored on Saturday, April 15th at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial with a ceremony and presentation of his wall plaque. Max served in the US Army in WWII in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Max is 101 years old and is going strong!  This photo of Max was taken just after the liberation of Florence in 1944 on a bridge over the Arno River. Max Gurney thanked the 40 plus people in attendance for their support and encouragement. Many members of Torrey Pines Rotary were in the crowd. Tim McCully of Point Loma Rotary (C) and Paul Pintek of the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial display a reproduction of the plaque that is now on the wall at the memorial. |
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RYLA is Underway in IdyllwildApproximately 200 students from high schools throughout San Diego County and who were sponsored by various Rotary clubs are at RYLA camp in Idyllwild. With the theme - The Power of One, students participate in a variety of activities designed to motivate, raise self-awareness and understanding, hone leadership skills, build lasting friendships and inspire a desire to serve. Check out the videos on the District's Facebook page. Here is a photo glimpse of activities underway. Thank you to the District's Governor line who took a field trip to see RYLA in action, yesterday, Saturday, April 15. RYLA ends today with many stories to share.  |
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Model UN a Great SuccessThe Rotary Club of Del Mar was honored to host District 5340's Model United Nations at the Del Mar Civic Center. Students at high schools from all across the district came together for a two-day conference to debate two resolutions: (1) Actions to address global food insecurity and its disproportionate impact on women; and (2) Prevention of an arms race in space and continued peaceful and sustainable space exploration. Thank you is extended to all the teachers, sponsors, Rotarians and students for making this year's Model UN a success. Below is a video compilation of photos for your enjoyment. |
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Rotary Service and Engagement Protecting the Environment. Rotary members understand that the whole world is their backyard. They see the effects of climate change in communities they care about, and they’re taking action. They’re tackling the problem the way they always do: by collaborating with communities to develop solutions to local challenges, using their connections to change policy, and planning for the future. For inspiration, browse club-led environmental projects from around the world in Rotary Showcase. Through The Rotary Foundation, you can support environmental projects. Learn more about these programs and resources and send your questions to rotary.service@rotary.org. |
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Promote World Immunization Week Join with Rotary to promote the power of vaccines to protect children and save lives. During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, let’s advocate for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines to the health and well-being of our communities. Download the toolkit for graphics and sample social media posts.
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Pickleball with a Purpose Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club member, Bob Stefanko, bought a pickleball package at a charity event, then turned it around and made his purchase into another charity event - Pickleball With a Purpose. The beneficiary is GenerateHope - a safe place for sex trafficked survivors to heal and find restoration in long term housing, therapy, education and vocational support. It's a special non-profit that the club often supports, and they are extending an invitation for you to join them at this event. Support of this beneficiary aligns with the District's Anti-Human Trafficking efforts. See below for details. On April 29, Ranch & Coast Magazine's enduring commitment to giving back to our community will take to the pickleball courts. The inaugural Pickleball with a Purpose charity event will benefit local nonprofit GenerateHope, which helps survivors of sex trafficking to heal and find restoration in long-term housing and trauma-informed therapy, education, and vocational support. Click "Read More" for additional information and ticket purchase information. |
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Pickleball Anyone? Pickleball is all the rage. Now you have an opportunity to show off your skills. Join the La Mesa Rotary 2023 Pickleball Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at the HUB Pickleball Club located at 9545 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91977. The tournament runs from 2-5:00 PM with dinner at the burger bar following from 5-7:00 PM. $125 ticket (single player or new player clinic). $40 ticket to just socialize and spectate. Click Read More for additional details. |
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Volunteers Needed for Food Packaging It’s been few years that we’ve missed this event due to Covid but Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary is back to holding our annual Rise Against Hunger Food Packing event. It will take place on Saturday, April 22 from 8:00 AM to Noon at Allen Elementary School in Bonita. We are in need of more community volunteers so if your Rotary club is looking for an additional project this month, please join us! All volunteers must register in advance either using the QR code above or at: https://rah.secure.force.com/events/homepage?id=7013Z000002zn6QAQ. For more information, please contact Sofia at 619 977-6467. We appreciate your support. |
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Rotary Club Volunteers at Ironman RaceOceanside Rotary Club recently volunteered at the Ironman Race. Members checked in athletes from all over the world!  |
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Students Show Off Their ArtThe El Cajon Rotary Club holds one fundraiser a year and with the proceeds they issue grants to non-profits, schools, American Legion, Wounded Warriors, Crisis House, Boys & Girls Clubs, HGH, etc. (See Gala flyer under News above in Newsbits.) One of the grants last year went to Steele Canyon High School's Art Department, teacher Mrs. Kenda Francis. Mrs. Francis had all of the Grossmont High School art teachers choose at least one participant to enter their art project to be displayed in a real art gallery in El Cajon. The students were able to participate in the showing along with sharing their artwork to the public. Parents, students, friends and family were thrilled to attend the exhibit and teachers were proud to show off their students' fine work. A guesstimate of 100 people attended the Friday night event and it looked spectacular! As you can see from the pictures below it was a great success! The club wants to extend a hardy thank you to Mrs. Francis for sharing their (students) success with El Cajon Rotary Club.  |
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Rotarians Held Bocce TournamentPrior to the gigantic SDSU vs FAU Final Four win, the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary club held its annual Bocce Tournament. Organizers Jim and Leslie Brubaker were also the tournament champions, and most attendees wore black and red to support SDSU.  |
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Old Fashion Barn Dance Ramona Rotary Club's 1st Annual Boot Scootin’ Barn Dance preparations are underway at Rancho de las Chuparrosas! Please join us on April 22 for tons of fun including dancing, yummy BBQ from Double M Ranch BBQ, karaoke, bidding on silent auction baskets, and an opportunity drawing for a fabulous Outdoor Pizza Oven! Opportunity drawing tickets are $10 each, 6 for $50, or 14 for $100. Tickets for the barn dance are limited and can be purchased along with opportunity drawing tickets from any Ramona Rotary member or at the Ramona Chamber of Commerce for $35 each. For more information, please contact Christie Carlson at 760-703-0792. |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary's Successful Scholarship RaffleCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary (CHNR) completed the Scholarship Raffle with the drawing held at its recent meeting. Past scholarship recipient, Samantha Romero, drew the winning tickets. Raffle prizes included: first prize of $5,000 was won by Jim Hagan; second prize is $2,500 was won by DelMar/Solana Beach Rotarian Diana Shimkus; third prize, an exclusive wine basket and wine tasting for 20, valued over $1,100 was won by Paul Wagner; and fourth prize, a basket of gift cards valued at over $500, was won by CHNR Past President Mike Metts. More successful than last year’s raffle, this year more scholarship awards will be presented to Carlsbad students. The raffle proceeds will be used for this year’s scholarships to high school seniors who live or attend school in Carlsbad. That scholarship application process deadline is past, but the CHNR Scholarship Team is now in the process of interviewing applicants. Awards will be made (for Carlsbad High School students) at the CHS Awards Ceremony. Awards to other Carlsbad students will be made at ceremonies yet to be set. For the past 25 years, CHNR has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships. The February/March Scholarship Raffle raised funds to expand the scholarship offerings with emphasis on trade and technical schools as well. With major fundraising events cancelled or reduced, this raffle opened an option for parents, community members and businesses to support the advanced education of our Carlsbad youth in a variety of new venues. This year’s added focus on trade and technical schools is an important gateway for many young people.  |
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Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With El Cajon Rotary Get your calendar out and join members of the El Cajon Rotary Club for a Cinco de Mayo gala on Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Elks Lodge in El Cajon (time and address above). This is the club's main fundraiser that benefits local charities and non-profit organizations. Click here to register and purchase tickets.
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Maternal and Child Health Month April is Maternal and Child Health Month. By prioritising Maternal and Child Health month, Rotary improves access to medical services for mothers and their children. These efforts are aimed at reducing the number of children under 5 who die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care and poor sanitation - a figure that is currently estimated at 7 million. More than 80% of maternal deaths can be prevented with access to reproduction health services and trained health care workers. Rotary provides education, immunisation, birthing kits and mobile health clinics to support these causes. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmissions, how to breast feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease. |
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Update on Polio Plus Campaign Thank you D5340 and its members for your continued support of Rotary International Foundation’s top funding priority of eradicating Polio worldwide. Since Rotary began its efforts in 1988, we have seen a worldwide reduction in polio cases of 99.9%. Only two countries remain polio-endemic: Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unfortunately, one case of Wild Polio Virus Type 1 (WPV1) was confirmed in a three-year old in Pakistan on February 20th of this year. This is the first case worldwide of WPV1 this year, with the last case having occurred in Pakistan on September 15, 2022. A snapshot of the progress we’ve made can be found on the chart below. |
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Family Receives New Home No words can express the love and joy the family had when they received the keys to their new house. This was a joint effort between the Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake, Chula Vista Rotary, City Heights Rotaract Club and Rotaract City Heights. On March 24 - 26, all hands were on deck working together for one amazing goal. The days were filled with amazing fellowship, teamwork and amazing people doing good for the community.
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A Culinary Arts Contest - Coeur de Cuisine Sunday, April 23, 2023 3:30 PM - Sponsor Reception 5:00 PM - Coeur de Cuisine The Rotary Club of Escondido is holding its 19th Coeur de Cuisine, a culinary celebration of service honoring those who have made a difference. The members of Rotary, both across the world and here in Escondido, provide humanitarian service to international and local communities. The highlight of Coeur de Cuisine™ is honoring members of our community who best exemplify the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self. Molly and Ron Smith have been public servants since first coming to Escondido in 1975. They have a combined 68 years of service with the Escondido Union School District and many other years of various civic endeavors. We are pleased to present them as the choice for our 2022 Honorees. The event will be held Sunday, April 23, 2023, at the Conference Hall at the California Center for the Arts Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA General admission tickets are $150 (judge) and Reserved seating is $300 (sponsor). Register NOW for Coeur de Cuisine 2023 honoring Ron and Molly Smith. |
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La Mesa Sunrise RC Bowling Fundraiser Grab a team and join the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club for an evening of bowling at Parkway Bowl on Friday, May 5, 2023. This is a fundraiser for the club. Each lane includes 2 hours of bowling with balls and shoes, large pizza and two pitchers of beer or soda. For more information click here or call 858 967-9331.
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Pick it ForwardRancho Santa Fe Rotary Club members held a “Pick it Forward” philanthropic event March 18 at the Lilian Rice estate in Rancho Santa Fe. RSF Rotary members and guests picked oranges at the estate which were then placed in trucks and delivered to St. Andrew’s Food Bank in Encinitas. 800 Families will have fresh oranges available. Participants enjoyed a picnic lunch after their project was complete. A big thank you to the San Diego Downtown Evening Rotary Club, Melissa and kids from Seeds of Hope and the RRowe Interact Club for joining the club in this effort. this beautiful morning.  |
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Successful Training AssemblyEvery year, District Leadership holds a training assembly designed to arm incoming club officers with everything they need to know to be successful in their roles. Specifically designed courses were available to club treasures, secretaries, membership chairs, public relations coordinators and presidents elect. There were also courses designed for the new member in mind, making it ideal for new Rotarians to meet their red badge requirements set by individual clubs. Additionally, to aid Rotarians who need to be youth certified, representatives from Live Scan were available to conduct the requisite fingerprinting needed for the certification and with the added benefit of a discounted price courtesy of the district. Participants walked away energized and ready to fulfill their roles come July 1. Below is a collage of photos that highlight some of the workshops provided. Thank you goes out to Bonnie Welch who is the district's training coordinator and to District leadership for all their efforts to make the training assembly a success.  |
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La Mesa Rotary Supports Little LeagueLa Mesa Rotary Club steps up to support Little League opening day and the Rolando Street Fair!  |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Builds Another HouseCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club is at it again, Yep, they recently spent a Saturday building House #23 in Tijuana, Mexico. Thanks to the coordination of the club's International Service Director Ray Green who organizing another successful day for a grateful family. Rotarians participating included: Green, Kate Hanham, Stephen Herring, Rick Huenefeld, Paul Kartzke, Viveka Kjellgren, Richard Weston and many family members. This is another great example of Rotarians being People of ACTION.  |
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Money Being Raised for Welcome Sign Photo Courtesy of Trace Wilson. Information taken from article written by Elizabeth Frausto, UT reporter. The Rotary Club of La Jolla is raising money for a “Welcome to La Jolla” sign that would be placed at the median at Torrey Pines Road and La Jolla Shores Drive. Conceptual drawings for the sign were approved by several community groups last year. Since then, architect Trace Wilson has made adjustments to the sign, making it 25 percent smaller and shifting the word “welcome” to provide a dot over the “j” in “Jolla.” Rotarian Cindy Goodman said the club was awarded a $25,000 San Diego County grant this week to cover some of the cost. “That will leave us approximately $20,000 to raise to complete the project, including installation, planting and permitting,” she said. Goodman said the sign, which is expected to be installed in the summer, will increase community goodwill and “income for local businesses and cultural institutions.” |
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Encinitas Coastal to Hold Golf Ball Drop Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club is holding a golf ball drop and silent auction fundraiser benefiting at risk youth. Colored, numbered golf balls are dropped from a helicopter. The balls closest to the hole win $2000. We hope you will join us at this beautiful venue and enjoy drinks, appetizers, dessert, music and fun! If you can't make it you can still purchase balls and win. Click here to buy event tickets and to download the ball purchase form. |
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Binational Softball Exposition Game Now Slated for July 29 Districts 5340 and 4100 are holding a Binational Exposition Softball Game on July 29 at the Unidad Deportiva Tijuana (Avenida Ermita Norte, 22104, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The exhibition softball game includes a barbecue/catering on the field. Folks are welcome to stay in the Rosarito area after the game ends. Warm up for the game starts at 9:00 AM. Organizers are also looking for some additional players. If you are interested, please contact Derren Lechuga at: derren.a.lechuga@gmail.com or by phone at 951-764-6890. Supporting this event will help build relations between the two districts, as they are planning to hold this event annually. Additionally, this opens up the possibility of Rotarians and Rotaractors from District 5340 to participate in some local recreational softball leagues. Let's Play Ball! |
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Experience the Magic of Buenos Aires…in Chula Vista! Are you ready for a night of exquisite dining, mesmerizing dance performances, and live music that will take your breath away? Then mark your calendars for "A Night in Buenos Aires!" on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Westmont San Miguel Ranch in Chula Vista, CA. This highly anticipated event is brought to you by the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake, an organization dedicated to making a positive impact on our local community and beyond. With your help, we can continue to support our service projects and make a difference in the lives of those in need. Click Read More for additional information. |
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Experience a Luau Right Here in San Diego The 3rd Annual La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Polynesian Luau Fundraiser will be held April 16 at the oceanfront La Jolla Shores Hotel. This event should SELL OUT! One of the top prizes is a drawing (included in the price of your attendance ticket) for a one-night stay at the La Jolla Shores Hotel / breakfast parking / and dining at the Marine Room. This drawing prize is worth hundreds of dollars in value. Only 150 tickets will be available for this prize. Cost is $100 per admission ticket. This is the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club’s Annual Fundraiser that supports their community and international projects. It is a lot of family fun and provides an opportunity to spend an evening with fellow Rotarians. For tickets / more information, please contact Randy Large - RLarge1@aol.com. |
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Mariachi 78 Slated for April 16, 2023 Returning once again to Escondido is Route 78 Rotary Club’s Annual Mariachi Festival and John Halcón scholarship fundraiser. The 9th Annual Mariachi Festival takes place at the California Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, April 16. The event begins with the very popular VIP Tacos & Tequila reception and top-shelf tequila and silent auctions from noon to 2:30pm. The reception is followed by the Mariachi concert from 3:00 - 5:30pm and features the 11-time GRAMMY nominated Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea. The concert also features the Ballet Folklórico dancers of Tierra Caliente Academy, directed by José Jaimes. Proceeds from the Mariachi Festival and the VIP reception will once again go to support North County nonprofits and to establish the inaugural John Halcón Scholarship. For tickets visit https://www.mariachifest78.org/. For more information, click Read More. |
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Live Scan Screening at District Assembly If you need to or are in the process of becoming youth certified, there will be a live scan operator available at the District Assembly on Saturday, March 25 from 7:30 - 9:00 AM. The normal cost is $45.00 but the District will pay the first $25.00 for a net cost to Rotarians of $20.00. Please note Life Scan only takes credit cards or check. A live scan screening background check is a requirement for certification in addition to completing all requisite paperwork. For Live Scan fingerprinting (a digital procedure that transmits electronically all the information to the Department of Justice and FBI), your employer/organization needs to provide a "Request for Live Scan Service" form. This form is mandatory, and you have to bring it with you, along with a government-issued photo ID. For instructions on how to become certified, click here. For the District volunteer certification application, click here,
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Coronado Rotary presented its 2023 Peacemaker Award to this Special International ProjectCoronado Rotary Reaches Across the Border with Calafia Rotary of Ensenada to Change Lives The 2023 Rotary Club of Coronado Peacemaker Award recognizes an international Rotary project that gives hope and purposeful life back to amputees in need. Limbs of Freedom is a joint international project that began more than 20 years ago with the Calafia Rotary Club of Ensenada, Mexico and the Rotary Club of Coronado, USA, and in cooperation with the Mexican Government Family Health Group Rehabilitation Center in Ensenada. The Rotary clubs support volunteer doctors and technicians who evaluate, fit, build, re-fit and adjust prosthetics for those in need. They staff weekend clinics known as Limb Camps. Recently, the medical team has begun using 3-D printed single-piece prosthetic limbs which can be aligned with precision and created overnight. To date, more than 1000 prosthetic limbs have been made. The Peacemaker Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made a significant difference in promoting good will, understanding, and peace initiatives, while exemplifying the Rotary ideal of service above self. |
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New Resources on the Brand Center Rotary's Brand Center is continually updated with new materials to help you promote your club! You’ll find tips on raising awareness of Rotary, ready-made print and digital ads, images, videos, audio clips, templates to download, and more. These resources allow you to create messages that show your community that Rotary members are people of action making a difference. Some exciting recent additions include:
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Coronado Rotary Makes Good on Pledge to HospitalSharp Coronado Hospital's new CEO, Scott Evans accepts Coronado Rotary’s latest installment of $12,500 toward their $100,000 pledge to Coronado's great community hospital! Bravo, Rotarians!  |
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African Enterprize Receives Grant for Sewing ProgramThe Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside is proud to announce that African Enterprise was one of their District Grant recipients this year. Malcolm Graham, one of the club's newest members, joined this organization in 1974 and worked with them for over 40 years. This program helps vulnerable women become wonderful women. Malawi, located in Central Africa, is the poorest country in Africa with a population of approximately 30 million people (80% of which live a rural existence, living off the land). The club's grant of $750 will help two women complete the 6-month program and leave with sewing skills, business coaching, a sewing machine (pedaled, since there is no electricity) and fabric to start their own business. You can find out more about their program at https://africanenterprise.org/our-locations/malawi/. |
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Rotary club of San Diego Paradise Valley Medial Mission 2023At the beginning of this year, San Diego Paradise Valley Rotary club members traveled on an important medical and dental mission. Their destination - the Philippines - where they visited four different rural areas. One area was Olongapo City which is about 97 miles north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and the other three sites were located in the southern part of the Philippines (Dumanjug, Badian and Calapan, Mindoro island). They traversed the land by driving from one location to another to different islands and by ferry boats. It was a daunting task at certain times since they drove for a few days in three vans carrying medical supplies and encountering areas with heavy rain, potholes and flood areas to reach the locations at specific date. Through perseverance, faith and determination they somehow met these challenges and arrived at their destinations and completed their medical and dental mission. The locals greeted them with open arms and were humbled to see them. Their smiles and hospitality gave club members the energy to do the work them came to do. A total of approximately 4,500 people were helped including providing 85 wheelchairs that were donated to five different regions of the Philippines. The club is proud of its passionate San Diego Paradise Valley Rotary members, their phenomenal local volunteers, dedicated members of the Philippine Armed forces, supportive Philippine local government, and the love from the Filipino people at all four sites who patiently waited for them to provide medical and dental services. |
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La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Supports Ukranian RefugeesOn March 11, 2023, members of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club volunteered to help Ukrainian refugees at the La Jolla Congregational Church. The club was one of several sponsors at the fundraiser that was hosted by AMNA Sanctuary. During the weeks leading up to the event, the club collected women’s toiletries and clothing to be donated at the event. It was a great project and a heartwarming experience.  |
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Escondido Creek Receives a Sprucing Up The Escondido East Rotary Club had a crew of members out cleaning up the Escondido Creek section they maintain. Their landscape expert Ryan planted some succulent plants to make the area look inviting.
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Backpacks Provided to Foster Youth Existing the System On February 25, 2023, members from La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global, and Destiny Hands International convened at Elly Dotseth's home to fill colorful backpacks with multiple personal hygiene items. There were 50 backpacks in total and will be donated to Just in Time for Foster Youth, to be given to young adults aging out of the foster care system. It was a very cold and rainy day, but they all still had a great time! The following Friday, Jo Ann Berquist, Elly Dotseth and Benjamin Kettor convened at Elly's garage, loaded the backpacks in our cars, and drove to Just in Time for Foster Youth to deliver the backpacks. They were joined there by Tori Rice and Camille Chenoweth-Moyer. The group was provided a tour of the amazing facilities, followed by delivery of the items to the organization's warehouse. The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation donated $3,000 to towards purchasing the supplies needed for the backpacks and Destiny Hands International purchased the backpacks and helped put them together. This is a great collaborative effort by multiple organizations. |
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Seniors to Receive Care Bags from the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club At its last meeting, the Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside celebrated the selection of Meals on Wheels as one of their District Grant recipients this year. Tim Wray, Director of the East County Service Center, shared with the club that they provide more than a meal, they also provide a safety check. Volunteer drivers talk to and check in on clients daily. This program, which serves over 320 in East County alone, is available to those 60+ for over 60 years, Meals on Wheels has allowed seniors to stay in their home, where they want to be. Two members of the club participate in the Meals on Wheels program delivering food weekly to seniors in East County. The Santee-Lakeside Rotary club purchased supplies for and assembled 100 "We Care" bags for seniors and provided a $750 grant that will help Meals on Wheels East County to continue serving those in need. |
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A Morning Dedicated to Oatmeal Packaging Recently the Rancho Bernardo Rotary club spent a great morning packaging oatmeal for the Food Bank and the Thousand Smiles Nutrition program - all thanks to the generosity of RB Sunrise Rotary club and the Church of Rancho Bernardo! |
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Volunteer Opportunity as an Ombudsman Travelers Aid San Diego was selected as recruiters for the San Diego County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. They are looking for ombudsman volunteers and are reaching out to area service organization to recruit people interested in making a difference by volunteering in their communities. Long term care ombudsman visit area long term care facilities and advocate to improve the quality of life for the residents. Click Read More for additional information. |
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ClubRunner to Offer Changeover Training Series We’re excited to announce that ClubRunner's Changeover Training Series is back for 2023! To help better prepare you for your new role and responsibilities this upcoming Rotary year, they are hosting a series of free webinars to help you brush up on your ClubRunner skills and knowledge. Join us for these in-depth webinars starting on April 14th until April 23rd, 2023, where they will be offering both beginner and advanced level training sessions covering various modules, by role on the club and district versions. REGISTRATION DETAILS Click below to view our schedule and to register for individual sessions or visit www.clubrunner.com/training. Can't attend live? Not to worry, all sessions will be recorded and shared on our community site after the series is complete. |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Expands Scholarship Opportunities Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary (CHNR) is enlarging its scholarship opportunities this year for high school seniors residing in Carlsbad. Scholarship opportunities for students interested in college have been in place for decades, but Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary is now providing scholarship funds to students interested in trade or technical schools. ALL seniors who live in Carlsbad or attend a high school in Carlsbad are eligible. To raise the additional funds for this significant expansion, and because of Covid concerns about large events, the club is organizing a Scholarship Raffle with a monetary prize. Tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Tickets may be purchased from CHNR Rotarians and by mail to the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Foundation, PO Box 130175, Carlsbad, CA 92013. Those tickets will be mailed back to the purchaser. Raffle ticket purchases online are not possible pursuant to California regulations, but donations to the club’s foundation also support scholarships. CHNR Foundation ID 33-0345307. To learn more, click "Read More." |
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End Polio Now 2022 Review For polio eradication efforts, 2022 brought good news. Fewer genetic strains of the virus are circulating than ever before. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. And support from political, medical, and community leaders in those areas has strengthened vaccination efforts during the past year. Global support for polio eradication also reached new heights, as was proven at the World Health Summit in October, when Rotary and international partners and donors pledged a combined US$2.6 billion to eradicate the disease. There were challenges in 2022 as well. The poliovirus appeared in places it hasn’t been for a long time: Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to name a few. Wild poliovirus cases were reported in Mozambique, related to the 2021 case in Malawi caused by wild poliovirus imported from Pakistan. News of these cases didn’t slow our eradication efforts, however. If anything, it made us even more determined. Now is our best chance to finish the fight against polio. |
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District Grants Final Reports Due April 1, 2023 Congratulations to the clubs that received 2022-2023 DDF and completed their District Grants projects. The final reports to close the grants are due no later than April 1, 2023. Click here to view detailed instructions on closing the grants. Power Point slides 21 through 27 will walk you to uploading receipts, notes in history log, loading photos and completing Final Report. If you have questions or need assistance contact Marta Knight - mknight@rotary5340.org or Alan Turner - alanturner.rotary@gmail.com. |
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San Diego Council on Literacy Receives GrantThe Rotary Club of Santee -Lakeside is proud to announce that The San Diego Council on Literacy was one of their District Grant recipients this year. They have been helping our community since 1986, serving 100,000 residents annually. Their CEO, Jose Cruz, shared that 47% of students in grades 3-11 in San Diego County are not meeting grade levels standards, typically because of a resource gap. Early learning is critical. Both language rich environments and being read aloud to can help young children develop a love of reading. Their grant of $250 will provide 10 children with one book per month for a year through their affiliation with the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Pittsburg Co. You can get more information on this organization at https://www.literacysandiego.org/.  |
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Old Mission Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest Photo: (L-R) Old Mission Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest Chair Eric Benink, contestants Vianca, Ricardo and Khadija, Achievement Coach Lizeth Araiza, contestant Aimee, Achievement Coaches Kristen Session and Daizy de la Torre, Reality Changers CEO Tamara Craver and Achievement Coach Michael Alvarez Franco. The Old Mission Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest held on February 28th, showcased high school students from the Reality Changers Program. Reality Changers serves youth who will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Their programs support students from backgrounds and inner-city neighborhoods that are typically underrepresented on college campuses, advancing equal education opportunities in our region and beyond. |
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Coronado Rotary Club Celebrates its 97th BirthdayCongratulations to members of the Coronado Rotary Club who recently celebrated their club's 97th birthday! Judging from the photos, they had a very vintage good time!  |
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Learn about Fix It Clinics Join us for the upcoming District Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting scheduled for March 6, from 6-7 PM. We will host Laura Anthony, from Fix It Clinic. We have all grown too accustomed to the "throw away" lifestyle. If something doesn’t work, throw it out and buy a new one. Because of this behavior, our landfills are filling at a rapid rate and electronic waste has become one of the largest pollution generators. So why don’t we just fix it? Whether you want to repair your appliances, you need help or you would like to set up a Fix It Clinic event, join our meeting to learn more! Join us via zoom: |
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Rotary Scholars at USD's Kroc School of Peace Studies: 20 years of Building Peace What happens after students receive Rotary Scholarships to enroll in master's degree programs in the University of San Diego's Kroc School of Peace Studies (KSPS)? Do they actively build peace? Does a Rotary Scholar's outreach in the service of peace justify his or her $60,000 funding? Each Scholar receives a $30,000 Rotary scholarship and a $30,000 match scholarship from the Kroc School. Rotarians Steve Brown and Cynthia Villis surveyed the 34 international alumni from 21 countries who have received such Rotary Scholarships since 2002, seeking information about their experiences of their programs and their achievements since graduation. The information that they share is a celebration of peacebuilding on the dusty grounds of the Sudan and Somalia, to the highest level of law in Tanzania, to building low-income housing in China. To learn more about these scholars and what the research found, click here. |
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Auld Lang Syne* RememberedThey say “Out with the Old and in with the New!”. But wait–not so fast! The Rotary Club of Del Mar donated the nearly 14-foot-tall clock gracing the corner of 15th Street and Camino del Mar to the Village of Del Mar in 2004 in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Rotary International. The clock recently needed a remodel, which included replacing the bronze plaque from the original installation. We gifted the old plaque to our remaining charter member, Monty Woolley. In a surprise presentation at a regular club meeting, all members were asked to stand and remain standing for as long as they had been in Rotary. First to sit were those who had been members for 5 or fewer years, then 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. At that point only 13 were still standing. Those members were asked those to sit if they had not attained 50 years, then 60 years, then 65 years of membership. Finally, there was only one person still standing - Mr. Monty Woolley. Monty has been a member of the Rotary Club of Del Mar since the club was chartered on May 4, 1954. That’s over 68 years! Monte says that he joined the club when he was only 10 years OLD and while that seems a little young, many of our current members are in their 30’s and 40’s. Monty and all members of the Rotary Club of Del Mar embody the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”. Service keeps us energized. Stop by some Thursday and visit us. We meet at Pacifica Del Mar at noon; join us in fun and service!  |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Travis Manion FoundationThe motto of the Travis Manion Foundation is “If Not Me, Then Who…?” Their mission is to develop programs, training opportunities, and events designed to empower veterans and families of the fallen, and then inspire them to pass on their values to the next generation and to the community at large. The organization is named after US Marine First Lieutenant Travis L. Manion, 26, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania who died April 29, 2007, while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.  Photo Caption: The Travis Manion Foundation received a $10,000 grant from the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary on February 7th, 2023. (L-R) Art Pratt Board Members Stan Vogelsang and Charlotte Cofield, Angelica Borowski who is the Western Region Coordinator of the Travis Manion Foundation and Art Pratt Board members Cynthia Drake, Michelle Malin and Tom Sandler.
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Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 with Rotary Join Rotary International March 8-13 to take part in our virtual, multi-day observance that seeks to raise awareness about the barriers that women around the world face as professional and local leaders and to build a supportive community to take collective action for change. Follow Rotary on Facebook to take part in this event. We will also celebrate the recipient of the 2023 Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, which honors an inspiring Rotarian whose contributions actively work to advance women in Rotary. Click here to register and to learn more about all the wonderful programs being offered.
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Don't Miss the Boat - District Conference Cruise Rooms are still available at the prevailing rate. District Governor Don Fipps would like to invite you and your family to the Rotary District Conference which will be held during a 3-night cruise departing Los Angeles for Ensenada, Mexico on Friday April 26th and returning to Los Angeles on Monday April 29th. The weekend will include some great Rotary speakers, a RAW (Rotarians at Work) project in Ensenada, tours of Limbs of Freedom and Thousand Smiles which our District supports and are both located in Ensenada, and LOTS OF FUN. You will find the weekend is surprisingly affordable, especially since it includes your cabin, most food and lots of entertainment on the beautiful Navigator of the Sea. Watch this video and get pumped up. Get ready to have some fun! For more information on pricing and registration, click on the link below:
For any questions or to get any additional information please send an email to: D5340ConferenceCruise@gmail.com. |
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Rotary Padre Games Scheduled Join Rotarians from across District 5340 for Padre baseball and fellowship. All games are on Tuesday nights and start at 6:40 PM. There is a limit of 5 tickets per person. Games are: July 25 $45 Pittsburgh Pirates SOLD OUT August 22 $45 Miami Marlins Purchase tickets Seats are located in left field at "The Point" |
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Rotary Voices Podcasts If you have less time to read but still want to stay up to date with Rotary stories, opportunities, and projects, listen to Rotary magazine’s official podcast. The Rotary Voices podcast (in English) has stories from the magazine and the Rotary Voices blog. A recent episode focuses on the first Programs of Scale award recipient, Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia. You’ll find interviews with Rotarians who are working in their communities to combat malaria and information about the science involved in fighting malaria. Find the podcast on your favorite app like Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or Spotify. |
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Join NAMI Walks April 29 Many of us have a friend or family member that has been impacted by mental health issues. Our District 5340 DG, Chuck Pretto has made Adolescent Behavioral and Mental Health the primary theme of 2022-2023, and we have just learned that Gordon McInally, President Elect for Rotary International will make mental health one of his focus areas next year. District 5340 will have a walking team at NAMIwalk on Saturday, April 29th, 2023. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Rotary will also be helping NAMI with volunteers. The event starts at 7:00am, the walk is from 8:00am to 9:00am and then the Wellness Expo is open until 11:00am. All proceeds will be used in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Click "Read More" to see how you can help or participate. |
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District-Wide Rotary Golf is Back Join Rotarians on February 27, 2023 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn for a round of golf, networking and fellowship beginning at 1:30 PM. Please contact Tee Times Coordinator Bret Geernaert at geernaertb@yahoo.com to reserve a tee time for yourself and golfers from your club. The cost for the round is $60.00 which includes cart and range balls. The snack bar & adult beverage bar are open for 19th hole fellowship. |
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How Rotarians Can Help Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria Turkey and Syria were struck by a devastating earthquake on 6 February that has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, and left people across the region without shelter in bitterly cold winter weather. The Rotary world responded to this catastrophe immediately. RI President Jennifer Jones activated our disaster response efforts, communicated with the affected districts, and encouraged governors in those regions to apply for disaster response grants and share information about their relief efforts so that Rotary can amplify the calls for support. The Rotary Foundation Trustees decided that all donations made, from now until 31 March, to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund will be used to aid earthquake relief projects. In addition, the Trustees made available more than $125,000 to Rotary districts affected by the earthquake through Disaster Response Grants. Click "Read More" to learn how you can help. |
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Clubs Celebrate Together the Installation of a Second Computer Lab. On February 11, 2023, Rotarians from Club Rotario Tijuana Agua Caliente (District 4100), students, parents, and faculty of Escuela Secundaria Num. 11 “Abelardo L. Rodriguez” welcomed Rotarians from La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club (District 5340) to celebrate the installation of a second computer lab together. The computer lab, which has 40 computers and 1 printer, will benefit 650 students per year. Club Rotario Tijuana Agua Caliente has identified junior high schools in low-income communities that lack computer equipment. To resolve this issue, junior high schools were preselected to have a computer lab installed. To date Club Rotario Agua Caliente has installed 22 computer labs and reports that the project has been a huge success. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. We look forward to our continued partnership to provide opportunities for the youth of Tijuana. The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club meets every Friday morning at the UCSD Faculty Club, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0121, La Jolla, CA 92093 at 7:00 a.m. (lajollagtrotary.org). |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to San Diego Museum of Art Photo: (L-R Front Row) Zach Roberts is the Manager of Institutional Relations and Lani Curtis is the Associate Director of Development at the San Diego Museum of Art with Art Pratt Foundation board member Michelle Malin (L-R Back Row) Art Pratt Foundation board members Charlotte Cofield, Stan Vogelsang, Tom Sandler and Cynthia Drake. The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary was proud to present the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park with a $10,000 grant to improve its communication technology. The funds were used to purchase new portable radios to allow security personnel and staff keep guests and the priceless art safe. |
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Free District Training Assembly is this Coming Saturday! TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE DISTRICT TRAINING SESSION The District Training Assembly is this coming Saturday. If you haven't registered, you need to ASAP! Held only once a year, the District Training Assembly is a great opportunity for officers, committee chairs and club members - new and old - to learn how to manage programs, projects and best practices from other Rotarians. The District Training Assembly is especially beneficial in educating members about Rotary, programs and resources available in the District. Online registration is open and classes are filling up so don't delay! Click on the link above or visit the District website today to register and select your classes. There is no cost to you. Two members of any Club planning to apply for a District Grant MUST register and attend the District Grants Seminar from 11:20 to 12:00 PM. The Global Grants Seminar will be held at 12:10 to 2:00 PM and participation is REQUIRED for Clubs planning to apply for a Global Grant; two members must attend.
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Let's Play Golf! Join us! The Rotary Club of Coronado is presenting its 27th Annual Coronado Rotary Charity Golf Tournament at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course on Friday, March 31, 2023. The annual Golf Tournament is the first yearly fund-raising event for the club's Foundation supporting over sixty projects each year with financial grants. The success of the Tournament hinges on Rotary volunteers, corporate and individual donations and a healthy player participation rate. Take advantage of the Early Bird Special and register on or before February 28 for $250 per person. From March 1 on, the cost is $300 per person. Let’s play!! To find out more and to register, go to the Rotary Club of Coronado’s website: coronadorotary.org and select the Golf Tournament tab. See you there! |
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New Youth Certification Requirements The safety and well-being of every participant, whether a minor or an adult, in a Rotary youth program is essential to the success of the program. Each volunteer who will plan or implement a Rotary youth program is required by a new California law to become Youth Certified by meeting the following new requirements:
These new requirements to become Youth Certified are effective immediately. Detailed instruction for completing the requirements can be found here. Click Read More for additional information. |
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Rotary Responds to Earthquake in Turkey Turkey and Syria were struck by a devastating earthquake on February 6 that has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, and left people across the region without shelter in bitterly cold winter weather. The Rotary world responded to this catastrophe immediately. Rotary leadership has activated our disaster response efforts, communicated with the affected districts, and encouraged governors in those regions to apply for disaster response grants. In addition, our project partner ShelterBox and service partner Habitat for Humanity are working on their responses. Find out how you can have the greatest impact.
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Coronado Rotary Breaks Record with Most PHFs in One Day
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Rotary Connections Make a Difference to a Domestic Violence Survivor Photo: "My right hand was chopped, however thanks to global friends, my hope and dignity is restored".A story demonstrating Rotarians are People of Action and the value of Rotary Connections. On December 1, 2022, Kenya’s Nation Media newspaper reporter K. Kazungu wrote a story on Fridah, a woman whose arm was severed, with a cry for assistance. Fridah exclaimed: “I gave this man my love, he chopped off my arm”. Fridah is a domestic violence survivor from far West Lamu, Kenya, and was in dire need of a prosthetic hand to regain her sense of life’s worth. A Rotarian from the Rotary Club of EL Cajon Sunset picked up Fridah’s story from halfway around the world through the Nation Media newspaper online. “Fridah’s story and cry for help really touched me,” Richard Makau, club president reports as he swung into action to assist Fridah with support of the Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset and his club's Rotary network of friends. He traced Fridah through Mr. Kazungu and contacted LN4 Hand Project, a California organization that provides prosthetic hands to people in need around the world. LN4 Hand Project agreed to provide a prosthetic hand to Fridah. Makau then contacted Kenya LN4 Hand Project ambassador, Rotarian Dr. Mussadiq Mir (Rtd, Aga Khan hospital) and a member of the Nairobi Utumishi Rotary Club, who organized funding from the Nairobi Rotary club to bring Frida to Nairobi from West Lamu for a gift of life of a prosthetic hand. Dr. Mir did a great job in outfitting Fridah with a prosthetic hand and brought a big smile back to Fridah. |
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Registration for Trivia Night is Now Open Registration for Trivia Night 2023 is now open. It is time to get your winning team members together! Teams can register online via credit card when visiting http://cvsrtrivianight.org. If you prefer to register and pay by check or cash, please email chulavistasunriserotary@gmail.com and a registration form will be emailed to you that can be mailed in. Want two free Trivia answers? Get your team registered and paid in full by March 28. Those two free Trivia answers may be what is needed to have you crowned the WINNER of Trivia Night 2023! Good Luck! Your support will help the club to raise money to support Polio Plus and local charities!
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February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month. Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Half of them are children. We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Addressing the incoming district governors at the 2023 International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, RIPE Gordon McInally called upon the members to capture the world’s attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations and he announced his theme: Create Hope in the World. He noted that a significant way to bring hope to the world is to put a greater emphasis on peace. He cited the action Rotarians have taken in the past year to support the people of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia. Rotary has made humanitarian relief a priority, attracting more Ukrainian members in the process. But he shared that true relief won’t come without peace — not just in Ukraine, but in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and dozens of other places around the globe. “Peace is the soil where hope takes root,” he said. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts. Rotary creates environments of peace.
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Cupid's Clean Up - February 11 in Ocean Beach Join Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship for a fun morning beach cleanup in OB. Dubbed the Cupid's Clean Up which is an event Surfers Unite Founder Brett Morey came up with a couple years ago, it's a great way for Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends in the surfing community to show the beach and the environment some love. Past events coordinated the second Saturday in February have included multiple events in Hawaii, Carlsbad and Pacific Beach. This year the Surfers Unite crew is hoping to have volunteers actively cleaning up shorelines in Florida, Hawaii, Australia and right here in OB. This is a free event and 5 gallon buckets, trash bags and gloves are provided so sign up today at www.surfersunite.org/events or simply text "SURF" to 858-602-2532. Use this as a recruitment tool to attract new members to your club.
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Rotarians supporting human trafficking survivors at GenerateHope Fifteen Rotarians from all over Rotary District 5340 went to GenerateHope’s transition home for human trafficking survivors to make their surroundings just a little bit nicer. Rotarians demonstrated to the residents that they are loved for who they are by people who want nothing in return. The staff and volunteers at the home are incredibly caring people who provide a safe place for survivors to take back their lives. |
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Rotary Club Throws Baby Shower The Scripps-Poway Rotary Club held a baby shower last week for the non-profit organization Gently Hugged. The club was tasked with having a party and bringing onesies for babies that will be distributed to new moms in need. In partnership, Ridgeview Health Center generously hosted this amazing event. Last year alone, Gently Hugged distributed more than 8,000 onesies!!
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City Heights Rotaract Club Receives Award San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera (tan jacket) presents a Volunteer of the Year award from City Council District 9 to the City Heights Rotaract Club for their service to the community. Club President Jesus Herrera is holding the award. Next to him is PDG Marge Cole, an advisor for the club. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon provides programs to adults who have developmental disabilities such as autism, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. (L-R) Joe Perruca is the Development Director and Laura Purdom is the Director of Operations at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and past president of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club. On January 31, Old Mission Rotary's Art Pratt Foundation board bember, Stan Vogelsang, presented their organization with a grant check for $10,000 to upgrade their ancient security camera system. |
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U-Haul Trucks Loaded with Donations On January 30, Rotarians and volunteers from Camp Pendelton Rotary club loaded and unloaded two U-Haul trucks stacked with donations to support Marines and their families on Camp Pendelton.
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Support Active-Duty Marines Are you looking to support our active-duty marines at Camp Pendleton? So are we! Join the Rotary Club of Carlsbad - we can make a greater impact together. There is a Matching Grant in place to provide a boost! Any contribution towards this project is tax deductible when you give through PCSF. Note " SOI Project" when giving. If you have questions, please email Malena Bennett at emailmalena@gmail.com for more details.
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Rotary Peace Scholar to Study at Rotary Peace Center at University of Queensland in Australia Photo: Coronado Rotary President LuAnn Miller and Rotarian Peace Chair Sharon Raffer welcomed Rotary Peace Scholar Nancy Nguyen to a recent Coronado Rotary luncheon meeting at the Coronado Yacht Club. Nancy Nguyen is one of 50 young leaders from around the world who have been awarded a fellowship by the Rotary Foundation. She will be attending the University of Queensland in Australia for the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies, an 18-month fully funded program. Nancy will be one of 12 Rotary Peace Fellows studying there. This innovative program merges a strong, academic understanding of the roots of conflict with practical tactics for solving real-world problems. This is the first time the Rotary Club of Coronado recommended a Rotary Peace Fellow candidate. Rotarians and Rotary family members cannot apply for the program, but Rotary Clubs have a key role in reaching and recommending Rotary Peace Fellow candidates. Nancy was chosen from a pool of global candidates for this highly competitive program. Her present role is as a Civic Engagement Community Organizer at the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) in San Diego. As the most active resettlement region in California and a border city to the world’s largest binational region, Nancy’s work at PANA allows her to be on the front lines of refugee advocacy. For her work “fostering relationships with coalitions and organizations that work on advancing immigrant and refugee issues locally and statewide” she was recognized as a 2021 Women of Distinction in Youth Empowerment by the San Diego Mayor’s Office. Nancy is a 2019 graduate of San Diego State University, Honors College. |
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Love Your Wetlands Day Join volunteers for Community Climate Action Day – San Diego, a volunteer service event and celebration of Love Your Wetlands Day, organized by the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System and the San Diego Audubon Society, and co-hosted by Mayor Todd Gloria’s Office, HandsOn San Diego, and San Diego community organizations! The Mission Valley Evening Club is attending and invites you to join them in supporting this event. Click Read More for additional information and signup.
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Learn About Rotary's Ukrainian Efforts Nearly a year has passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, igniting a humanitarian crisis, destabilizing security in Europe, and jolting the global economy. In this issue of Rotary magazine, we bring you an exclusive frontline account of the extraordinary response of Rotary and its members. This first installment of a two-part series begins in Poland, where Rotary members are providing long-term, sustainable care to help refugees address their trauma and reclaim a semblance of normality. Click here to read the Rotary Magazine's February 2023 issue. The link will take you to your digital copy, which you can read using any common web browser. |
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Coronado Rotary Helps Their Neighbors Coronado Rotary has been helping their neighbors at The Pantry at the Imperial Beach Neighborhood Center by supplying food and lightly used clothing donated by its members. Pictured from left are Rotary President LuAnn Miller, Rotarians Jenny Johnson, Carrie Seigenthaler, and Ginger Cox with Pantry Coordinator Debra Benson. With one in four families in Imperial Beach below the poverty line, the Pantry has stepped in to reduce food insecurity. Coronado Rotary wants to help The Pantry meet those needs by forming a committee to organize and deliver periodic member donations. Together we are stronger! |
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News from the District Rotary Foundation Committee Thank you for your Dedication, Service and Generous Gifts to the Rotary Foundation. You have made projects possible that have helped improve lives in our communities and around the world. Your gifts are more than donations. They bring health, peace and opportunities to people in need. Your District Foundation Committee has been working hard this Rotary year with DG Chuck managing District and Global Grants as well as your contributions. Click Read More to continue. We would like to recognize and thank the following dedicated members who have served on the Committee for the past 3 years. |
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20th Annual Comedy Night WE ARE BAAAAACK! The Point Loma Rotary Club will host hold its 19th Annual Comedy Night on Friday, March 17 at the United Portugues S.E.S. Hall, located at 2818 Avenida de Portugal, San Diego, CA 92106 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. The Tickets are $25 per person. All ticket sales will help the club conduct its many charitable activities for the betterment of their community. Purchase tickets here. |
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Disco Fundraiser Planned The Rotary of Escondido After Five announced plans for their annual fundraising event to be held Saturday, FEB 18th at the Lexus Centre in Escondido. The Disco Themed Gala will begin at 5pm and include silent and live auction items, dinner, dancing, and a special presentation of the Club’s “Spirit of the Community Award”. Live auction items include a special experiential day with Escondido Police and Fire Departments, as well as airline tickets. Please click "Read More" to continue. |
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Vines and Vittles Scheduled for May We are happy to announce that Vines & Vittles will be back better than ever. And it will be cooler than ever! We've changed the date from the heat of August to May 21 and are excited to welcome you all to our festival. If you've attended in the past, you know it's a fun time. Please tell your family and friends to join us. It's all to support the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Foundation to continue to positively impact our community. To Purchase tickets, you can either scan the QR code above or go to rbvfest.com.
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Time to Register for RYLA It's time to start thinking about RYLA! RYLA weekend is April 14-16, 2023. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or “RYLA,” is a program that originated with Rotary International and has since been specifically designed by Rotary District 5340 for students in San Diego and Imperial counties. These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid full-day experience 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 of today. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve. Application deadline is February 10, 2023. |
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San Diego Food Bank Appreciates Rotary Club Volunteerism Thank you to the Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake for being a steadfast supporter by continually donating their time and resources to the San Diego Food Bank. On January 5, the group bagged over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce! Great work! The San Diego Food Bank could not do their critical work without the generosity of community organizations. If you are interested in volunteering with your Rotary Club or community group, visit our website https://sandiegofoodbank.org/volunteer/.
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El Cajon Rotary Club Seeking Executive Secretary The El Cajon Rotary Club is looking for a paid Executive Secretary to start on July 1, 2023. Basically, the duties are the same as a club secretary but also includes the member billings for dues and lunches. Some of the requirements include preparing agendas and taking meeting minutes for both the club and foundation board meetings. This person will also keep Club Runner up to date with additions and modifications as well as coordinating with the caterer and the Elks Club (meeting location and ordering club supplies. Membership in the club is not a requirement but attendance at the Tuesday luncheon meeting is. Please contact club president, Stu Scott at stuscott@cox.net or call 619-954-9421 for more information. |
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Rotary Clubs Partnered to Show Thankfulness On January 9, 2023, the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club partnered with Club Rotario Tijuana Independencia and the Metro Chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers Association in a effort to bring toys to the kids of the police officers in Tijuana as a thank you for all the hard work and service they provide to our communities. Events like this help bring the San Diego and Tijuana communities together, promote peace in both areas, and empower our youth. |
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Work Party Slated to Help Local Recovery Home On Saturday, January 28, the Rotary District 5340 Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force will be having a work morning at a local recovery home in the South Bay. We will be working outside in the garden and yard area, improving the landscaping and providing needed clean-up. These work events are vital to support the facility and also to show the residents that people can be kind. We anticipate working from 8:30am - 12:00pm (at the latest). No special skills are needed - just a good spirit and willingness to work outside. If you are interested, please contact David Oates (david@publicrelationssecurity.com). RSVPs are required due to the need to keep the location confidential and a clear list of volunteers, each volunteer will need to contact David to sign up. The location will be shared with volunteers in the week prior to Jan. 28, and must be kept confidential. We hope you will consider joining us. It's a great way to do good, feel good, and enjoy your fellow Rotarians! |
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2023-24 Presidential Theme Announced Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally revealed the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, during the International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, 9 January. McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland, asked members to restore hope by helping the world heal from destructive conflicts and create lasting change within ourselves. McInally told attendees he plans to make mental health a focus and emphasized continuity in advancing the goals of previous leaders, including empowering girls and eradicating polio. Read more about the presidential theme. |
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New Meeting Location for La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Meetings The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club is excited to announce that beginning January 6, 2023, they will meet every Friday at 7:00 AM at the UCSD Faculty Club located at 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0121, La Jolla, CA 92093. All are welcome and they would be delighted for you to join them. Please email infoljgtrotary@gmail.com with any questions relating to upcoming programs or club information. They also offer a Zoom option but encourage in-person attendance. Please email the club for the Zoom link. For more information about the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, please visit https://lajollagtrotary.org/. |
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Rotary Wins Food Drive Challenge Congratulations Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors, Rotary won the food drive challenge with the Lions Club. Here are the numbers:
Altogether, the campaign brought in 16,500 pounds of food, $8,300 in monetary donations, for a grand total of 30,350 meals raised by your groups to benefit the San Diego Food Bank and/or local food banks.
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Rotarians Continue to Bring Joy to the WorldHelping Hands Across the Border Members of Rotary District 5340 (Club 33, Santee-Lakeside, Vista ) volunteering at Helping Hands Across the Border in Ensenada with Club Rotario Ensenada Centenaria.  Members of Rotary District 5340 (Club 33, Santee-Lakeside, Vista ) volunteering at Helping Hands Across the Border in Ensenada with Club Rotario Ensenada Centenaria. Santa’s Pals Holiday Giveaway  On Tuesday, December 20th, STAR/PAL held their annual Santa’s Pals Holiday Giveaway. Toys were distributed by Santa as the Grinch created mischief at the event that took place at Colina del Sol Park. Over 50 families and 175 children attended the event and received toys and gift cards free of charge. Charlotte Cofield represented Old Mission Rotary at the event. Old Mission Rotary has participated in almost all of their community events in the past year. |
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Cuddles and Snuggles Baby Shower The Poway Scripps Rotary Club is having a baby shower to benefit Gently Hugged, a nonprofit that provides families in need of baby essentials as they leave the hospital with their newborn. The shower is scheduled for January 26 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at 9825 Glen Center Drive, Scripps Ranch. You can come to the shower or drop off your donation at Marshall Middle School. Gently Hugged is asking for sleepers in sizes 0-12 mos. This is their first ever baby shower and the Club wishes to thank the folks at Gently Hugged and Ridgeview Health Center for their gracious help and support. Please RSVP to 619 932-5341 by January 23 if you will be participating. |
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RI Foundation Releases 2022 Annual Report John Hewko, General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer for Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation recently released the Foundation's 2022 Annual Report. He made note that this has been a year where records were broken, and a series of firsts exceeded expectations and he acknowledged this is the difference your support of the Rotary Foundation is making. Your belief in the power of our collective action is enabling Rotary to help more people, in more places, in more ways. He stated that through your generosity, you shine a light of hope for all who are missing out on basic health services, education, productive livelihoods. Because you step boldly to take action with us, he wants you to have an exclusive first look at the report. |
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You Are Invited to Learn More about Food Waste The District Environmental Sustainability Committee (DES) is hosting its monthly meeting on January 9 from 6:00-7:00 PM and you are invited to attend by Zoom. This month they will discuss food waste and how to save food!
On average, 40% of wasted food comes from households in the US while 1 in 6 children is food insecure. ReFED estimates that 24% of all food in the U.S. – 54 million tons – goes to waste. When we waste food, we also waste water, agricultural resources and fossil fuels used to produce, transform, and transport food. Reducing Food Waste is a way to both help the environment and reduce food insecurity. This is why Rotarians are taking action to save food. The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) created a food waste task force two years ago to support food waste projects and educate Rotarians. Although California is one of the most advanced states with regulations in place to divert food waste from landfills, there is still much to do to save food. Click Read More to continue article and get Zoom link. |
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Words Alive Presentation The Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club invites you to attend their meeting on Tuesday, January 17 at 6:00 PM at the Mission Valley Library—Community Meeting Room. Their guest speaker will be Kristi Storza, from Words Alive—the nonprofit organization featured at our District Conference in October. Together everyone will have fun and fellowship AND pizza. Come and join them—contact PDG Marge Cole (619-335-0590) to RSVP (so they have enough pizza!).
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Rotary Float Earned Princess Trophy Rotary Float 2023Congratulations to the Rotary Float Committee and all the volunteers for creating a beautiful float for the 2023 Rose Parade. The float received the Princess Trophy (the most beautiful float under 35'). Held in Pasadena Rotary's beautiful float made it’s turn from Orange Grove to Colorado Blvd in front of 750,000 fans and over 70M around the globe. “Service with Imagination and Hope” supporting this years theme, and the carousel horse is gorgeous. If you saw the parade, you will note that the first woman International President, Jennifer Jones was in the parade. Click here to watch the video. Rotary’s connection to the Tournament of Roses Parade dates to 1923 when the Rotary Club of Pasadena entered this float. Today, the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee heads up the effort. Members, clubs, and districts donate all the money for the floats, which over the years have depicted Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio, commitment to service, and various programs.  Rotary Float 1923 |
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How to Attract and Engage with Young Professionals SAVE the DATE - MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR HOW TO ATTRACT AND ENGAGE WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Saturday, January 21, 2023 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. VIA ZOOM This seminar will provide an opportunity for participants to engage in discussion about how to attract and engage with young professionals. We will have a panel of young professionals who will talk about their experience with Rotary and provide their insights as to why they joined Rotary and how clubs can welcome younger members to their ranks. We will also have breakout sessions so that participants can roundtable ideas. This Workshop is intended for Club Presidents, Membership Chairs/Committees and all Rotarians who want to learn how to help their clubs, and Rotary grow and thrive. |
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Christmas Celebrations ContinueNothing gets you into the holiday spirit like the last Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle meeting of the year.  La Mesa Rotary Club built then delivered 84 bikes to kids at Dale Elementary school! The kids had no idea they ALL were getting bikes. They just thought there were six bikes for an essay contest!  What a joyful Coronado Rotary Club Christmas party! Caroling, balloon fun, Santa, toys, delicious food and fellowship! Members filled up the Toys 4Tots truck headed up to Miramar.  The Mission Valley Rotary Club had a blast at their annual holiday party hosted by PDG Marge Cole. The Club had a potluck, gift exchange, and played holiday-themed games. FUN, FUN FUN!  The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club sponsored a holiday party for residents of Home of Guiding Hands. Club members helped set up, played games, served food and enjoyed interacting with the residents.  |
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DG Pretto Wishes You the Best this Holiday Season This is such a special time of year for so many Rotarians. I wanted to personally reach out and wish you the very best Holiday season. I am honored to serve with you in Rotary as we make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. As we approach the end of the year it’s a great time to reflect on what we have and to be grateful for all the good we have done as Rotarians during this first half of our Rotary year. We have distributed funds for over 85 District Grants and have 8 Global Grants in the works. We have funded two District Grants for Adolescent Mental Health. Rotary Clubs around the District are changing lives for the better, including house building in Mexico, building bikes for needy kids, serving seniors or the homeless and the myriad of countless other programs you do. I am so very proud of what you are doing to make a difference. THANK YOU! |
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Newsbits Goes Dark Christmas and New Years Day Newsbits will go dark Christmas and New Years day. The next edition will come out January 8, 2023. You can send informational items and stories to sandp304@gmail com for inclusion in the first Newsbits of the 2023 year!
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Don't Miss Out on a Discounted Rate for Melbourne Convention Are you planning on attending the RI Convention in Melbourne Australia? If you are, don't miss out on the opportunity to receive a discounted rate. The discount ends December 15. Now is the time to register! |
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3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Paddle OutOn Saturday Dec. 3rd, members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship and friends in the surfing community gathered together at 15th Street Del Mar for a fun social, the 3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Paddle Out. As many folks in Rotary District 5340 know this official Rotary Fellowship was started by Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle in 2017 and now has over a thousand members in 35+ countries. While the fellowship supports environmental causes such as beach, river and shoreline clean up events they also support many nonprofit groups and local programs including: (Click "read more" to continue article. |
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More Holiday Fun for RotariansMembers of the Imperial Breakfast Rotary Club along with the Imperial High School Interact Club participated in the annual City of Imperial Christmas Lights Parade. The Interact students decorated the float with multicolored lights and recreated a living room on Christmas Eve with a beautiful lighted tree surrounded by presents. The members can be seen waving to the crowd and letting the community know we are here and ready to serve!  The Rotary Club of Carlsbad had a wonderful time at Friday's Christmas Tree Lighting! The Rotary Club of Carlsbad sponsors this wonderful event.  Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary took time away from all of the hard work ahead this month and participated in a festive get together. Mike and Rowena Bell hosted the event and Chris and Rochelle Carroll planned the jolly celebration.  The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary held its holiday party. There were lots and lots of good food and laughter. The festivity was organized by JoAnn and hosted by Josh and LeAnn plus the turkey connoisseurs Jim and George helped make this celebration an evening to remember.  |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Clubs Collaborate to Build Homes in Tecate, MexicoVery early Saturday morning, December 3, 2022, several members of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo crossed the border caravanning to a small Colonia near Tecate, Mexico to build houses for two desperately poor families in need of homes. Working with Project Mercy Baja (projectmercybaja.org), club volunteers built the two homes in one day. The Project Mercy crew had poured the foundation slabs and arranged for prefabricated building materials and paint to construct the houses as well as adjacent outhouses. Although very basic and without running water or electricity, the houses are a marked improvement over the small cardboard and tin siding shacks they had been living in. Each family owns the land and must make improvements to accommodate the new house and outhouse before work can begin. Both clubs also donated household goods and clothing for the families as well as some toys for the children. We all agreed that it was a long, hard day filled with tasks that most of us hadn’t previously experienced, but when it came time to hand over the keys to the family who would be sleeping in a new home that night, it was all worth it.
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The Rotary Rose Parade Float & Rotary International President Jennifer Jones Ever wanted to do something truly historic? How about decorating the Rotary International float for the 134th Tournament of Roses or seeing over 20 floats in a one-million-square-foot building before they run down Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena? How about having dinner with the first woman President of Rotary International, Jennifer Jones, her husband and 200 other Rotarians? That's right you can contact one of our own Rotary D5340 Rose Parade Float Alumni - Brett Morey at 858-602-2532. Brett serves as one of the Directors on the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee and was selected by Past District Governor Scott Carr to represent our Rotary District in the 2018 Rose Parade. If you would like to check the latest sign-up schedule online or purchase event tickets for the December 30th Holiday dinner in Monrovia simply visit: www.rotaryfloat.org. please click "read more" to continue the article. |
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Rotary Gets in to the Holiday SpiritFallbrook Village Rotarians participated in the Fallbrook Community Center’s Tree Lighting Festival by bringing art supplies so that children could draw to their hearts’ content. All the kids had a good time!  Point Loma Rotary Club made Santa and the Ryan Peninsula YMCA very happy this holiday season with a check for $2,000 to support the Y's scholarship fund. As a leading nonprofit organization, the Y offers programs that foster youth development, promote healthy living and advance social responsibility.  The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club provided hundreds of amazing handwritten and handmade Holiday cards that will be a part of this year's Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee's "Elves Senior Care" packages.  The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club gathered Saturday to put together boxes for food items that the Santee Foundation's Santee Santas program will use to provide food and toys for families in need. This is a traditional effort for the club.  The Coronado Rotary Club was full of cheer at Coronado's Annual Christmas Parade. The club had their own Rotary float.  |
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A Community CureEditor's note: December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. This article taken from Rotary International's website showcases how Rotary took on Malaria in Zambia. Backed by Rotary’s Programs of Scale award, Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia confronts a worldwide malady at the local level. By Diana Schoberg Photography by Esther Ruth Mbabazi  Latham Chisanga had been in a car accident a few years back, and he’d dealt with the physical repercussions ever since. So, in February 2020, when a backache and fever came on, Chisanga skipped another visit to the clinic, swallowed a couple of painkillers, and got on with his life. Days later, he collapsed outside a neighbor’s house and fell into a coma. At the hospital, his malaria test came back positive. He died a few days later. His mother, Martha Lungu, wondered how this could have happened to a member of her family. After all, she was the executive administrator of Malaria Partners Zambia, the local branch of an international campaign led by Rotary members to end malaria. Lungu, a member of the Rotary Club of Ndola, didn’t see how she could continue her work. “How did I fail?” she lamented. “How come I didn’t do this right? And how am I going to talk to people about the prevention of malaria?” |
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December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month As you know, every month is dedicated to one of the major themes of our Rotary lives; this month the theme is that which RI is perhaps best known for, at least among non-Rotarians. The eradication of polio has of course been Rotary International's s major worldwide, corporate effort since the early 1980’s. And remarkable progress has been made. The job is not finished however, and you can rest assured that we will not, cannot, set this torch down until that job is finished. Disease prevention and treatment is one of the Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus. And for good reason. The health and vitality of a person, a family and a community can be seriously impaired by what in many cases is a preventable disease. Disease prevention is really a keystone to progress in other areas as well because of the interplay with other areas of focus like Water and Sanitation and Maternal & Child Health. Click "Read More" to learn what you can do to support this effort:
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Boat Rides with Santa Boat rides with Santa!! Bring the kids, grandkids, friends and neighbors on Saturday, December 10th for a harbor boat ride with Santa. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Oceanside. Mark your calendar and make your reservations here. |
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Rotary Creates Magic The Rotary Club of Encinitas invites you to an evening of magic. Join them on Saturday, March 4 at 7:00 PM at the Carlsbad Cultural Center (address above). Tickets are $60 and all proceeds benefits local charities. To order tickets click here.
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Fellowship and Service - They Go Hand-In-Hand!Bret & Karla Morey drove fellow Past Presidents Jacquie Reilly and Ron Kohl down to Ensenada early on Saturday, November 16. The International Service Committee of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle provided $1000 in financial support to purchase supplies for a center for disabled children in Ensenada. This was a joint project lead by Ron with the Rotary Club of Ensenada Rivirera. These clubs have done a few projects together, including Casa de Paz in 2014. It was great for members to see some friends in Baja, serve those in need and then spend a little time grabbing street tacos, coffee and churros and hitting Encanto in Rosarito for live music, sunset and drinks.  |
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Community Cleanup EffortOn November 19, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo held another community cleanup event under the leadership of Jim Hyldahl. This time the club set up in Seven Oaks Community Center and spent four hours collecting community discards from area residents. They also had help from some great students from the Mt. Carmel High School Interact Club.  |
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30 Trees and Plants Planted in Spring ValleyLast week an Outstanding service project was conducted by San Diego Coastal Rotary Club! More than 30 trees and shrubs were planted in Lamar County Park in Spring Valley to add beauty and environmental sustainability in this hidden gem of a park! Thanks to Rotarian Jenny Parker for herding the 15 volunteers!  |
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Rotary Uganda Safari, April, 2023 All Rotarians in District 5340 are invited to join members of San Diego Club 33 on a fabulous Rotary Safari trip to Uganda April 21-May 1, 2023. The group will visit Rotary projects in Northern Uganda and enjoy two days on Safari in Murchison Falls National Park before returning to Entebbe. Options include attending the Uganda Rotary District Conference in Mbarara and Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Uganda. Download details here. Contact Roger Haines at rogerhaines43@gmail.com or call on his cell at: 858-736-5505 for more information.
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245 Pounds of Food Collected The Imperial High School (IHS) Interact Club collected food items going door-to-door in the city of Imperial and collected over 245 pounds of food for the Imperial Valley Food Bank. The food collected was presented to CEO Sara Griffin from the IV Food Bank at the weekly Imperial Breakfast Rotary Meeting. Pictured from left to right, Club President Michael Harvey, CEO Sara Griffin, Interact Advisor Rebecca Caabay, Interact Social Media Manager Jaylen Benito, Interact Vice President Gabby Riesgo, Interact Treasurer Dulce Dueñas, and Interact President Michael Harvey Jr. Great job IHS Interact Club!
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Imperial Valley Rotary and Interact Support Food BankThe Imperial High School Interact Club collected food items going door-to-door in the city of Imperial and collected over 245 pounds of food for the Imperial Valley Food Bank. The food collected was presented to CEO Sara Griffin from the Imperial Valley Food Bank at the weekly Imperial Breakfast Rotary meeting.  Additionally, the Imperial Breakfast Rotary Club donated $1,900.00 to the Imperial Valley Food Bank to support their cause of feeding the less fortunate in Imperial County.  |
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Join in on an Evening of Service on January 5 The Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake is planning an evening of service at the San Diego Food Bank on January 5, 2023 (5:30 to 8:00 PM). The San Diego Food Bank is located at 9850 Distribution Avenue, San Diego, CA. The San Diego Food Bank currently feeds on average 550,000 people every month including seniors, active-duty military personnel and children living in poverty. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Of course, Rotarians should try to wear Rotary shirts to show unity. Rotarians and non-Rotarians are invited to participate. Click here for event page on Facebook.
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Food for City of HopeThe La Mesa Rotary Club packed 150 bags of food for City Hope to distribute to families for Thanksgiving break. They will be at it again for the December break as well!! A total of 700 bags are needed so if you would like to, donate, reach out by emailing club president, Jen Flyn at jen.flynn66@gmail.com. Each bag of food costs $15.  |
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Thanksgiving Fixings All Wrapped UpIt's hard to believe that not everyone has the means to enjoy a Thanksgiving holiday. This year, the Rotary Club of Scripps-Poway worked with Solutions for Change (whose mission it is to solve family homelessness, one family, one community at a time) by providing all the fixings for a dinner. They made gift boxes filled with potatoes, dressing, vegetables, gravy and gift cards for a turkey. Thanksgiving is extra special when you can be thankful for the gift of sharing.  |
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Veterans Honored with ParadeThanks to the collaborative effort of the American Legion, the Brothers of 6, and community members who volunteered their time, downtown Escondido was filled with smiles as the community enjoyed a parade honoring our veterans on Friday, November 11. There were nearly 50 organizations marching down Grand Avenue, and many of members of the Escondido Rotary Club participated proudly displaying their club banner, The parade was followed by a ceremony at the American Legion, which also included lunch and live music. Escondido's new club booth was prominently displayed next to the band and staffed with several of their members.  |
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International Youth Exchange Meeting Do you know any High School students that would like to travel or live abroad? Some 7,000 students annually participate in the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program, truly an affordable opportunity! As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, you will spend anywhere from a few weeks in the summer to a full academic year living with host families overseas. You may learn a new language; you will experience life in another country, and a lot about yourself! Click "read more" for additional information. |
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Service Project in Costa Rica Provides Eyeglasses to Residents in NeedSeveral members of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club are in Costa Rica and recently experienced a wonderful day of service bringing better sight to 175 Ticos (Costa Ricans). Of course, the day was punctuated by a beautiful sunset on the beach.   |
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Rotarians/Rotaractors MIxer Event This is a reminder about the Rotaract/Rotarian mixer event on Tuesday evening, November 15 from 6-7:15 PM at San Diego State University (Scripps Cottage next to the koi and turtle pond located in the center of the SDSU campus), To register, click here.
Register in the link above for more details and/or to register. Once registered, attendees will receive parking instructions and more details from the SDSU Rotaract hosts. This is a free event and an opportunity to network and briefly mentor students on career and life pathway opportunities to continue a connection. |
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Giving Tuesday November 29, 2022 "Giving Tuesday happens once a year, but your gift of Rotary will make a difference for a lifetime. This global day of generosity is an opportunity for all Rotary members to make a big impact with a gift of any size to our Annual Fund-SHARE. Please join us and together we can continue Doing Good in the World. “
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Rotary Ukraine Friends Deliver Ambulances Rotary and Ukraine Friends have joined together to provide a convoy of 40 ambulances for Ukrainian officials to help deliver life-saving aid to those injured by the war. The $600,000 initiative, $300,000 of which came from a Rotary Foundation disaster response grant, was the first joint project between the two organizations after a July agreement to collaborate. Rotary members are also working with Ukraine Friends to rehabilitate two schools in the Bucha region damaged by shelling. Read more about this initiative and the ongoing partnership to help the people of Ukraine.
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Escondido East Rotary Holds Success First Golf Tournament The Escondido East Rotary Club had their first Golf Tournament to help raise funds for community projects. It was very successful, and they are looking forward to next year to continue. The club wishes to thank Rotarians from other clubs for playing and sponsoring as well. The winning team got to wear and take home the Prestigeous Green Jacket.
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A Global Approach to Preventing Plastic from Reaching the OceanExcerpts taken from ARCNews November is Foundation Month. Contributions to the RI Foundation is crucial to being able to acquire matching grants funds, enabling clubs to make a lasting difference in the world. This article is a great demonstration of the importance of global and district grants and how they can be used. Like many coastal areas around the world today, the beaches in Chennai, India, attract large amounts of plastic debris. For teenage surfer and local resident Karan Chakravarthy, the presence of plastic at his favorite surf spots was distressing. So, he decided to do something about it. Chakravarthy joined other volunteers to collect trash with a nonprofit called Namma Beach, Namma Chennai (which translates to “Our Beach, Our Chennai”). In 2021, the organization removed 176,000 pounds of plastic waste from Chennai’s beaches. But Chakravarthy felt that more could be done.  Karan Chakravarthy used ArcGIS Survey123 to record data about beaches in Chennai, India, that are consistently littered with plastic. (Photo courtesy of Karan Chakravarthy.) He contacted his grandfather, Mandyam Venkatesh, who lives in San Diego, California, and obtained a $5,000 grant from Venkatesh’s Del Mar/Solana Beach Rotary club to further support Namma Beach, Namma Chennai. Through his grandfather’s Rotary connections, Chakravarthy also met Carl Nettleton, the founder of OpenOceans Global, a San Diego-based organization that employs geospatial technology and citizen science to help stop the flow of plastic to the world’s oceans. |
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Benefiting the Environment with Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship MembersOn Saturday November 5th, members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship met at Tower 13 in Mission Beach for a fun clean up event. Wearing sports jerseys from the NFL, Padres and San Diego Soccers the crew picked up plenty of trash as well as removed at least four dead birds from the shoreline. According to Founder of Surfers Unite and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle Brett Morey “This is the fifth beach cleanup we have had at Mission Beach and the reality is we find trash in the sand, parking lot and grass areas every time.” The crew included members of Pacific Beach Rotaract, San Diego Coastal, Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and friends in the community. In fact, according to Morey, “One of our volunteers (Ron) is an individual we met at the Switchfoot BroAM and are plugging him into a local Rotary club. We also met others on the sand interested in helping with future clean up events.” You won’t want to miss the next crazy and fun event or those being organized for 2023. In fact, we would encourage you to check the events page of Surfers Unite for the Third Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Paddle Out on December 3rd at 15th Street Del Mar. That’s right, grab an ugly Christmas sweater and pull it over your wetsuit then catch some waves and enjoy some donuts from VG’s. Sounds like an awesome social! Text “surf” to 858-602-2532 to get plugged in to upcoming events or visit: www.surfersunite.org. |
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Holiday Donation Drive Gets Underway The Rotary Club of Carlsbad is kicking off its holiday donation drive benefiting marines and their families at Camp Pendleton. They are specifically looking for diapers, toys and car seats. If you or your club can help out or if you have questions, please contact AskMalena@gmail.com.
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Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday - November 29 Support The Rotary Foundation this Giving Tuesday. On November 29, we hope to have as many Rotary members as possible take action and give to our Foundation so we can continue to make a difference in communities that need our help. Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity that empowers all of us to give through service, kindness, and financial support. We hope you and your club celebrate by Doing Good in the World and supporting our Foundation. The top engaged clubs will be featured on My Rotary. |
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High-Impact Service Through Programs of Scale The 2021-22 Programs of Scale grant was awarded to Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria, a member-led program focused on saving the lives of Nigerian mothers and newborns by improving access to quality health care. The project is sponsored by Districts 1860 (Germany) and 9110, 9125, 9141, and 9142 (Nigeria), as well as the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health. Read more about this program. |
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November is Rotary Foundation MonthNovember is Rotary Foundation Month. The Rotary Foundation....the engine that powers Rotary. Rotarians....the power behind the engine! The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary International, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact. |
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PDGs Honor New Governor Nominee Designate On Wednesday, November 2, Past District Governor Dan Gensler led 16 members of District 5340 Advisory Council, including Past and future District 5340 Governors, to the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club meeting to announce and honor District Governor Nominee Designate for 2025-26, Luis Carranza. His club was very proud of Luis and shared their pride and best wishes for his new position.
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Enter the 2023 Rotary Magazine Photo Awards The Rotary magazine photo awards are looking for your submissions! Rotary is seeking photography and video submissions for the annual Photo Awards contest. Winners will have their work printed in the June 2023 issue of Rotary magazine. The contest is an opportunity to share your vision of the world with the Rotary community. The photographer must be a member or honorary member of Rotary, or a participant or alumnus of an official RI or Rotary Foundation program. Photographers also can be the spouses or children of Rotary members. If the photo is selected for Rotary magazine, proof of a likeness release may be requested. Photographs must have been taken since 1 January 2022. Photographs must be submitted between 1 October 2022 at 0:00 Central Standard Time (“CST”) and 31 December 2022 at 23:59 CST. Questions should be sent to magazine@rotary.org with the subject line "Photo Contest." |
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San Marcos Rotary Club Sends Eight Students to Camp LeadOne of San Marcos Rotary Club's priorities is youth programs. They raise money to send students to leadership camps. The club sent eight 8th graders from San Marcos Unified School District to Camp LEAD, (Leadership, Ethics, Aspirations, &. Determination). The club hosted students, families, and school administrators at their weekly meeting so they could hear from the students about their experiences.  |
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Trauma Informed Learning Community Join the National City Rotary Club to learn more about the impact of trauma impacting children, youth, and families in our communities. This event will occur on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Pier 12 Marina. RSVP today by capturing the UR code above or by registering below. The fee is $40 per person; groups of three or more are $30 per person. Funds raised will support Rotary service projects.  |
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Food 4 Kids BackpackOne of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake's District Grants (22-23) is the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program. Established in 2006, this provides weekend food packages to chronically hungry elementary school students from low-income households who are at risk of hunger over the weekend when free school meals are unavailable. Recently, Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake made a generous donation of $1,000 to the San Diego Food Bank, Their donation will provide 2,000 meals for local families in need! Thank you for all of the important work you do in our community. |
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Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interact Come TogetherOn Friday October 21, 2022, San Marcos Rotarians, CSUSM Rotaractors, and Mission Hills High School Interactors teamed up to volunteer at the North County Food Bank. It was inspiring to members to work side- by-side to prepare food for distribution.  |
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Imperial Breakfast Rotary Club Makes Front Page of the Imperial Valley PressCongratulations Imperial Breakfast Rotary Club for making the front page of the Imperial Valley Press. Imperial Breakfast Rotary club member Mark Graham, Victor Jaime, Carlos Fletes (Darth Vader) and David Barajas (Stormtrooper), made the front page of the Imperial Valley Press during their membership drive at Imperial Market Days hosted on October 28th. The kids and adults loved taking their picture with our dressed-up members. They were definitely a hit at Market Days!"   |
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District Conference Demonstrates the Power of RotaryCongratulations to District Conference Chair Dawn Van Siclen and District Governor Chuck Pretto for putting on a very powerful District Conference. Attendees were able to hear from three ambassadorial scholars: from Japan, Kenya and Kyrgyzstan who shared their stories and their goals for peacebuilding and aiding conflict resolution. Representatives from Rady Children's Hospital and Vista Hill Foundation provided a glimpse into realm of mental health services to vulnerable adolescents and teens and provided an overview of how District 5340 is aiding in those efforts through District grants. Mental Health for youth is District Governor Chuck Pretto's key initiative for this year. Breakout sessions gave Rotarians and Rotaractors the opportunity to do what they do best and that is a service project. Opportunities included Words Alive reading kits and putting together hygiene kits for adults. New Generations/Encinitas Rotary Club also had a breakout session. The afternoon was filled with District Grant and Global Grant presentations that really demonstrated the good Rotary is doing in the world and in our own backyard. District grant presentations include:
Following District Grants were presentations on three Global Grants:
The conference wasn't all business, there was plenty of entertainment throughout the day with the highlight being aerialists performing prior to lunch and at the cocktail hour prior to the Foundation Gala. See for yourself some of the great entertainment. The Foundation Gala celebrated the work of the District and RI's foundations and the many personal financial contributions of Rotarians in District 5340. Rotary international Director, Vicky Puliz was in attendance and spoke about how much Rotary has done over the years and how Rotary has changed the course of history over time. A planned giving presentation was delivered by Laura Mello from the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise club. She answered many questions often raised by those who want to help make a difference long-term towards Rotary's charitable mission. Several Rotarians were honored for being the newest contributors to the Foundation's donor programs and just in the span of ten minutes over $1 million dollars was pledged to the RI Foundation. What a magical moment that was! Last, but not least, winners of the costume contest were announced followed by dancing to the music of Matt Heineke and Crown Town Music.
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Torrey Pines Honors the Greatest Generation The Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club will honor the greatest generation in a Veterans Appreciation Day celebration on Wednesday, November 9. Twenty veterans of World War II and the Korean war will join us as we thank them for their sacrifices and patriotism. The club and the La Jolla Sheraton each will provide lunches for ten veterans and their companions. Holly Shaffner, Director of Public Relations and Marketing of Honor Flight San Diego, will present a program to help us assure these valued members of our greatest generation that we still value their service. For information, contact Gordon Shurtleff, 858-483-4990 or plssunrise@sbcglobal.net. |
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Preparing for a Community GardenOn Saturday, October 22, the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club members got together to dismantle an unsafe and unusable wood structure at the Joint Use Park, Harriet Tubman Village Charter School Garden area. They trimmed plants off pathways and planted succulents along the garden perimeter. Today, a school learning-garden. Soon, a functioning community garden.  |
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Rotary Cruise to Change Lives There is still space available to travel Southeast Europe with District Rotarians in April 2023. This is an opportunity to combine a fun-filled vacation that also benefits the Rotary Foundation. Please see first flyer (second one) for more information. Please contact Ron Kohl at rkohl@expediacruises.com as soon possible if you are interested in this adventure. |
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Be a Learner in Action Be a Learner in Action! Take the opportunity to prepare for Rotary Foundation Month in November. Club presidents please share these key courses in the Learning Center with your members: |
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Rotary and Gates Foundation Extend Partnership Rotary, Gates Foundation extend partnership to eradicate polio. On the heels of Rotary’s announcement at the Global Citizen Festival pledging an additional $150 million towards polio eradication, Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are renewing their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to $450 million. Read more about the commitment. |
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Del Mar Rotary Club Holding Blood Drive The Rotary Club of Del Mar is hosting a blood drive on November 3. The San Diego Blood Bank Bloodmobile will be parked behind the Del Mar Civic Center (1050 Camino Del Mar) from 9 AM - 2:30 PM. Scan the QR code above or click here to book your appointment. Just one pint of blood can help three people in the San Diego community.
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Successful End Polio Bar Crawl Held The Pacific Beach Rotaract Club held a very successful End Polio Bar Crawl last Saturday. They had an amazing turnout. |
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District 5340's Walk to End PolioRotarians and Rotaractors came together to walk five of the seven bridges located in Balboa Park to raise awareness and to celebrate Rotary's achievements in eradicating polio. Participants shared in a wonderful breakfast of burritos and mimosas following the walk. A big thank you goes out to PDG Marge Cole, Sesy Enriquez and Jessie Case for organizing this event.   |
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Shelterbox Donation by Old Mission Rotary ShelterBox is a Rotary Partner charity that delivers aid to families devastated by conflict or disaster, to give them durable shelter and the tools to rebuild communities. Tim McCully (R) of Point Loma Rotary is our Rotary District 5340 ShelterBox Ambassador. Here Tim accepts a check for $1000 from Old Mission Rotary President Don Krupp. The cost for one ShelterBox is $1000. |
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Luis Carranza Nominated District 5340 Governor 2025-26 The District Nominating Committee unanimously selected Luis Carranza to be District 5340 Governor in 2025-26. Luis is a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary club and was club President in 2017-18. Luis is well known throughout the District as a pioneer and an active Rotarian with a BIG heart. He has been the Chair of the highly successful Taste of Ranch Santa Fe for the last several years and been Assistant Governor to 12 clubs. In addition, he has served the District as Foundation Seminar Chair and District Conference Committee member responsible for sponsorships. Please join us in congratulating District Governor Nominee Designate Luis Carranza! |
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Veterans Day Military Review, Carlsbad On Friday, November 11th, 2022, the Rotary Club of Carlsbad will co-sponsor a military review with the Army and Navy Academy to honor our veterans and their families. The public event is conducted each Veterans Day, November 11, beginning at 11AM on the football field at the Academy.
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A Haunted Harbor Boos Cruise aboard the tall ship Bill of Rights! HAUNTED HARBOR BOOS CRUISE! 2022 October 22, 2022 5 PM - 9 PM 604 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910 The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake is scaring up some fun for a great cause on Saturday, October 22nd. Join us for scary appetizers, finger foods & adult beverages aboard the schooner Bill of Rights. You'll have a frightfully good time enjoying the breezy outdoors on the San Diego Bay during sunset. Costumes are highly encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place! |
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Give the Gift of Life On November 1, the Rotary Club of Poway Scripps offers you the opportunity to Give the Gift of Life. To register for this event, you can use the URL above or go to mysdbb.org to schedule an appointment.
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District 5340 Don't Wait Vaccinate Newsletter |
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Surfers Unite Members Catch 100 Waves in Single Day for CharityThe 13th Annual 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring is in full swing. If you aren't aware, numerous Rotarians and Rotaractors from D5340 are involved to support these efforts and there is still time to do your part. Boys to Men Mentoring Foundation based in San Diego is hoping to expand their in-school programs from 33 local Middle and High Schools to 40 by next Fall. Consider partnering your club with them to reach this goal.  |
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Feeding Families at Dewey ElementryA few members of the San Diego Rotary Club 33's MAC Committee spent an afternoon volunteering to pass out boxes of dried goods and bags of fresh produce to the families in need at Dewey Elementary. Many of the children who attend Dewey are from Military families.  |
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Clothing Drive for Military Women The Rotary Club of Carlsbad is holding a clothing drive for women as part of Operation Dress Code - San Diego Pop-Up Boutique. This clothing drive is currently underway and will conclude on October 24 to give the club time to get all the donations to the location of the pop-up boutique on November 5. There are two locations you can drop of clothing:
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Fishing Event for VetsThis past week, the Point Loma Rotary Club sponsored their Annual Fishing Trip for Veterans Village. Let's just say everyone had a blast!  |
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BEERnardo Festival Just Around the Corner Saturday, October 22, 2022 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM VIP 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM Webb Park Lake at Bernardo Center Drive & Avena Place Do you remember the good times? We know we do! More than 34 breweries and five wineries will participate this year. Click "read more" for more information. |
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Hopeful News from The Rotary Foundation District 5340 has just received our 2nd Ukraine Disaster Response grant in the amount of $25,000. The first $25,000 grant was quickly used for food, transportation, communication, housing and trauma support for the 80+ families here in our own district. This second grant will be used to leverage housing for 24+ families. Many of the women and children have been hosted for 2-4 months and now need to find new housing. If you would like to host a family, know of housing opportunities or just want to support this effort, please contact James Morrison at fiddle505@icloud.com. District funds are available to assist. |
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Doing Good in the Community This weekend, the La Mesa Rotary walked to end Alzheimer’s at Liberty Station.  This past week, the Rotary Club of Route 78 presented a check for $1,500 for scholarships to MANA de North County San Diego.  District 5340 leadership ((DGE Don Fipps and DG Chuck Pretto) enjoying all the Rotary Oktoberfest activities around the district.  Incredible and inspiring day with nearly 140 Rotary members from all over the Western US discussing how to launch and improve anti-human trafficking Initiatives in their areas. This summit exceeded expectations! Thanks to Vicki Puliz for championing the day-long Rotary 26/27 Zone Summit, Bob Deering for leading the initiative, and committee members who worked tirelessly to put this on.
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Hurricane Ian Relief If you could change the world, what would you do? Rotary gives you the fellowship, service, network, and the opportunities to make a change. With that said, the Rotary District 6960, which includes all of Southwest Florida, sustained significant damage in the wake of Hurricane Ian and needs our help. This is an opportunity for you and/or your club to help make a difference for individuals and families living in the wake of this disastrous hurricane. Rotary has established a page where you can make a contribution towards the recovery efforts needed to make these communities whole again. We are "People of Action", please consider donating to this very worthy effort. To contribute to the Rotary Ian Relief Fund or to volunteer or provide resources, please click here. |
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Join In on the Walk for Polio Plus Join in on the amazing opportunity to walk together as Rotarians and Rotaractors to End Polio! We will meet at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park on October 22 at 8:00 AM. We will do the five bridges walk. Tickets are $20 for Rotarians and $10 for Rotaractors and includes a breakfast burrito brunch after the walk. The deadline to sign up is October 18. To register click here or you can use the UR code above. For more information, please contact Marge Cole at marge.cole@yahoo.com. |
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Lions versus Rotary Food Drive Challenge Extended to November 30! ROTARY DISTRICT 5340 has been CHALLENGED by the LIONS CLUBS OF SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL to collect food items for local food banks in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The Challenge between our two Districts will continue through November. DG Chuck Pretto would like clubs to gather donated food item, weigh it and let the District know the total weight amount and then proceed to drop it off at either the San Diego, North County or Imperial Food Banks. At the end of the month, we will compare the amount of food we donate versus what the Lion's come up with for a friendly competition. We have twice as many Rotarians in San Diego as do the Lions, but we know they are motivated to beat us, Let's come together and donate food to one of these local food banks. |
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9th Annual Ride the Point November 12, 2022 Liberty Station 2562 Lanning Road San Diego, CA 92106 Organized by Point Loma Rotary Club EXCLUSIVE ROUTES open only once a year! See San Diego like you’ve never seen it before and have the bragging rights that go with it! Ride the Point is limited to 600 riders, registration will close once this number is reached. Family Ride: A 6-mile flat course on bike paths that is perfect for beginning riders, cruisers, challenged athletes, and families. Children are $10, and children in trailers, attached cycles, or child seats are free with adult registration. Registration and check-in will begin at 7:00 am, and the family ride will start at 8:00 am. Click "read more" for other ride options. |
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October – Economic and Community Development Month Nearly 800 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. Rotary members are passionate about providing sustainable solutions to poverty. Rotary members and Rotary's Foundation work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities. Rotary provides training and access to well-paying jobs and financial management institutions. ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN. Rotary creates opportunities to help individuals and communities thrive financially and socially. ROTARY IMPACTS LOCAL ECONOMIES. Rotary members train people to become resources for their community, offering networking activities, advice on new business development and financial management training. |
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Look to the Rotary Magazine for Key International Efforts The recent detection of poliovirus in New York and the UK is a wake-up call for countries where the vaccine-preventable disease has not spread for years. It is a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. In this issue of Rotary magazine, read how a reengineered vaccine is lifting hopes that global eradication is closer than ever. Then, be part of history and help us build awareness on World Polio Day on 24 October. Click here to read the October 2022 issue. The link will take you to your digital copy, which you can read using any common web browser. Rotary, of course, remains as committed as ever to responding to the Ukraine crisis. In another of this month's features, you'll get an intimate look at the story of a family of Ukrainian refugees and the Rotarian in Poland who gave them more than just shelter — told in their voices and through powerful photography. In the Our World section, you'll find six tips on how to provide comfort and care for members — so they can, in turn, better serve their communities. And finally, in the Our Clubs section, we'll introduce you to one club in Australia that is going back to Rotary's foundations to engage young corporate professionals eager for opportunities to give back. One of the ways you can share story tips with us is through letters and emails, so drop us a note at magazine@rotary.org and tell us your inspiring Rotary stories. As always, when you see an article that you would like to share with a friend or colleague, use the Share feature to send them access. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to Zero8Hundred Old Mission Rotary Executive Club Secretary, Stan Vogelsang, presented a $10,000 grant from the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary to Zero8Hundred on Tuesday, September 27th during a club social at the San Diego Mission Bay Resort. The funds will be used to upgrade tablets, laptops and other IT equipment. Gerry Mclean (left in photo) is the Lead Peer Navigator for Zero8hundred. The non-profit is actively working to support service members, recent veterans & spouses overcome any challenges during and after their transition to civilian life.
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Poway - Scripps Rotary Club Selling US Flags Patriotism is a year-round celebration, and the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps is selling American flags. The flags are made in the U.S.A. and priced at $35. You may purchase a flag(s) by contacting Dan at (858) 240-6853. You can pay with Venmo, credit card, cash or write a check to “Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps”. Once ordered, your flag can be delivered to you by a Rotarian, or you may pick up at our distribution center. Proceeds are used to purchase flags and support community service projects. |
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Get On Board by Helping Disabled Children & Adults, the Top Women Surfers in the World and At-Risk YouthBy now you've probably read many articles about how Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship is bringing the surfing community together to assist non-profit organizations such as Life Rolls On, Boys to Men Mentoring and other groups. Have you sent these articles to surfers in your club or friends you know in the surfing community? It's just another way you can help grow your club membership. On September 17th, Ranjan Lahiri headed up the Surfers Unite crew at La Jolla Shores along with over a dozen Rotarians including Vince Ponce of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, Nicole De Wendt of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad, Nikki Brown and Michael Slentz of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, Derren Lechuga of San Diego Coastal, Krista Davies of Pacific Beach Rotaract and others to assist disabled children and adults. The final Life Rolls On event of the 2022 season took place in Santa Barbara this past Saturday.  Photo credit: Scott James @sjamesphoto Photo credit: Scott James @sjamesphoto Surfers Unite members also assisted with the Nissan Supergirl Pro in Oceanside as the top women surfers in the world competed. The event was won by 17-year-old Sawyer Lindblad of San Clemente who edged out USA Olympian Caroline Marks by 0.40. It was a terrific event in front of over 20,000 attendees. Special thanks to Scott James of San Marcos and Big Kahuna Vince Ponce for their outstanding photography skills as well as our volunteers who assisted in the judges and athlete's area during the three-day event.  Photo credit: Vince Ponce Sawyer Lindblad takes the cape at the Nissan Supergirl Pro Next up, the 13th Annual 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring for at-risk teens. Volunteers are still needed to pick up food from Pannikin in Leucadia and Board & Brew to assist teams of surfers catching 100 waves each in a single day. That's right Rotarians like Rodger Dougherty of Club 33 has done the 100 Wave Challenge each year and other Rotarians across the county including Derren Lechuga, Brett Morey, Vince Ponce and others have been involved for years. This year the crew is going to break $500k once again to support Boys to Men Mentoring and their hope is that more Rotarians and more club members will get involved in the cause. The need for mentoring teenage boys not growing up with a positive male role model has only escalated since the pandemic. By the end of this year Boys to Men will be in over 30 local Middle Schools and High Schools in our county and the goal is to be in over 40 schools by the Fall of 2023. To volunteer as a food runner, man the Surfers Unite booth October 8th at Cardiff Reef, get more involved or even catch 100 waves yourself reach out to Brett Morey at 858-602-2532 or visit www.surfersunite.org/events for other amazing service opportunities including a November beach cleanup.  |
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It Ain't Their First Rodeo! What does The Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps do when it doesn't have any projects? They help others! Over the weekend, some of their members worked the Poway Rodeo and helped with volunteer check in. Yee Haw!
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Fundraiser at Eagle Crest Golf Club October 28, 2022 8:00 AM Check-in 8:30 AM Tee Off The Escondido East Rotary Club would like to invite you to help support their first golf tournament fundraiser to help raise needed funds to support their community projects (projects listed below). Come play golf or sponsor a hole to have a sign at a tee box to advertise your business. For more information on pricing to play or to be a sponsor, contact by email either Kevin Bowcock at or Don Darrock. |
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6th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio Pacific Beach Rotaract 6th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio Saturday October 15th, 1pm - 6pm Come join the fun of socializing and checking out some of PB's most famous bars and pubs. These local bars will be slinging awesome drink and food specials and offering a chance to win some awesome local swag and gift cards for the annual costume contest. The theme is Vacation Vibes, and the best in creativity will sweep the competition. So, bring your travel pillow, because this crawl is going to be a trip! All proceeds fund the fight against polio. |
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Rotarians at PlayThe Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo knows how to balance work with fun. Fellowship is the glue that binds Rotarians as family. RB Rotarians nurtured their relationships at their annual picnic this past week at Lake Poway Park. Loads of fun, lots of games, some fantastic food and great fellowship brightened the day of all those who attended. RB Rotary is a place to come together to serve others, make a difference and have a lot of fun!  |
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Military Celebrated at Coronado Rotary MeetingIn Coronado, Rotary was all about military this past week. President LuAnn Miller welcomed North Island Base Coronado’s CO. “Woody” Clemens and XO Newt McKissick and thanked them for their “Service Above Self” for keeping us all safe and serving our country. And of course, they presented some grants funded by their recent Low Tide Ride & Stride fundraiser. Chair Amy Kesteloot Steward presented Wounded Warrior Homes a check for $23,152 and San Diego Armed Services YMCA, received $7,717. Their speaker was Rotarian Tim Quest, MD, who spoke about the amazing humanitarian cruise of the USNS MERCY that they just completed in the Pacific Rim. Rotarians are everywhere!!  |
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Ideas for Strengthening Rotary's Brand Take a good look at the Brand Center. It’s been rebuilt based on your feedback and is easier to use than ever. It features a more streamlined layout, a faster website platform, user-friendly navigation, and improved search. People can also now use the Brand Center without signing into My Rotary. The Rotary Brand Center helps all members tell their stories of service and impact in a unified way that is distinctly Rotary. Now it's easier than ever to learn about using our brand and create materials to increase recognition of Rotary in your community, nearby communities, and even worldwide. A new webpage, Our Brand, can guide you in using Rotary's logos, colors, and fonts to create flyers, brochures, presentations, and other promotional materials with a consistent look and feel. To get started, visit the Brand Center and go to the Our Brand tab. You can also go to the Help section to find answers to frequently asked questions about using the Rotary brand and our brand materials. |
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Carlsbad Oktoberfest - October 1, 2022 Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Carlsbad present CARLSBAD OKTOBERFEST October 1, 2022 12:00 - 8:00 PM Come join us at our 40th Annual Oktoberfest Fall Festival event with real German meals from TipTop Meats, kids and adult activities, live German music and, of course, a beer garden by Anheuser-Busch. The beer garden will feature a variety of Carlsbad Oktoberfest beer on tap and wine. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. This fundraiser benefiting both clubs’ contributions and investments in our community. This fundraiser supports much needed programming to invest in, celebrate and enhance the Carlsbad community.
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Reemergence of Polio Underscores the Need for Eradication The detection of poliovirus, and even cases of polio, in places where it hasn’t been found for years has demonstrated once again that eradicating a human disease isn’t easy, especially in the final stages. In recent months, an unvaccinated man in the United States was paralyzed. In the UK, poliovirus was detected in sewage. In Malawi, a child contracted polio. And Mozambique announced its first polio outbreak in 30 years. But rather than be discouraged, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) remain confident that they are making progress and can achieve their goal of a polio-free world. There are several reasons for this optimism. |
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Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps Hosts 57th Parade in Poway Powegians Don’t Let It Rain on Their Parade!Did you know that the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps selects its parade date nearly one year in advance? The chosen date is usually guaranteed to be the hottest day of the year so you can imagine the Plan B arrangements that were put in place just in case it rained Sept. 10, which was parade date. Fortunately, the rain held, the folks turned out, the bands marched, and the floats floated under their own power. By lunchtime, the 57th Poway Rotary Parade was history. |
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Rotarians Participate in I Love a Clean San DiegoMembers of Santee-Lakeside Rotary and other awesome volunteers/friends came out Saturday, September 17 to Lindo Lake for the 38th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, Presented by I Love a Clean San Diego, the County of San Diego's largest single-day environmental cleanup day. Rotarians picked up trash and cut “suckers” off trees. A really great way to spend a Saturday morning.  |
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Vines and Vittles a Smashing Success The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club held a very successful Vines and Vittles fundraiser on August 14. They captured the essence of this very popular event on video - click here to view.
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The Learning Center is Mobile Sign into My Rotary to use the Learning Center on your mobile device. Learn more with our guide to the Learning Center mobile app. Note that if you forward this email, anyone who hasn’t used the Learning Center before will need to go to rotary.org/learn, sign into My Rotary, and accept the privacy policy before they can access a specific course or learning plan. Direct links to the Learning Center may not work on mobile devices, but you can get to the Learning Center from My Rotary and then search for materials or courses. Visit the Rotary Learning Center Facebook page for the latest course updates, then share them with other members. Take the time to review the Learning Center Mobile App Guide. |
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The Point Loma Rotary Club Hosts Supervisor Terra Lawson-RemerThe Point Loma Rotary Club co-hosted the inaugural Point Loma Meet & Greet with District 3 County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer at the Light Box Theater in Liberty Station August 29, 2022. The event attracted approximately 80 residents of the Peninsula region to meet the Supervisor and her staff and discuss County District 3 issues. The event was co-hosted by the Liberty Station Arts District and The Point Loma Association, refreshments were provided by the Mockingbird Improv.  The newly re-aligned County District 3 includes all the coastal areas from Carlsbad to Coronado, which provides a great opportunity for County government to better serve the beach communities of San Diego. As an avid cyclist and surfer, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer spoke eloquently about issues of concern to the Peninsula community including livable communities, protecting the beaches and coastline for current and future generations, and transit issues unique to our community. The Supervisor also spoke about the County’s approach to homelessness which includes a new initiative to increase County Mental Health support and facilities. |
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2022 District Conference and Foundation GalaRegistration is closed!Please contact Patty Fortin at pfortin@rotary5340.org to get on the waitlist.  Heroes Unite! Hilton San Diego/Del Mar 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014 October 29, 2022 Join fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, and guests for a full day and night of celebration and fellowship at the 2022 District Conference and Foundation Gala. Click here for video invitation, The District Conference will take place from 9:00 - 4:00 pm. Check in starts at 8:00 am. Conference is $150 per person and includes: Continental breakfast, plated lunch, interesting speakers, musical & Aerial dance performances, and a raffle. The Foundation Gala will take place from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with dancing following. Check in begins at 4:30 PM. The cocktail hour and the Aerialist performances is from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. San Diego's best aerial show will only be seen at the Rotary Foundation Gala. Time is running out. Seating is limited. Reservations close in 10 days! Don't miss out on what everyone is talking about. Performances from 5-6:00 PM. Cost is $130.00 per person. Get a discount for participating in both events - $250.  Click here to see a preview of the entertainment. Gala includes informative speakers, formal dinner, Foundations Awards/Acknowledgements, Lancer Dancer performances, and Costume Contest prizes. Matt Heinecke & Crown Town Music will continue the dance party from 8-10 PM. Halloween Costumes are encouraged to be worn for the Gala. To register for the conference and gala, click here.For information regarding event activities, speaker line up and hotel room reservations Click here To sponsor a Rotaractor for the District Conference, click here: Donation | District 5340 (rotary5340.org) Treat Yourself to a Staycation! The District has partnered with the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar to book a set of rooms for the conference at a discounted rate. This is a first come first serve opportunity, and the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar are currently accepting reservations: |
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World Polio Day is October 24 As World Polio Day approaches, we’re getting ready to amplify our message about eradicating polio to protect the world’s children from this devastating disease. We’ve made tremendous progress so far, and now’s the time to intensify our fight to make polio the second human disease ever to be eradicated. In 2020, the World Health Organization’s African region was certified free of wild poliovirus, showing that eradication is possible even in very difficult circumstances. |
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Come Decorate Rotary's Rose Parade Float Rotarians, come help decorate the Rotary float! Rotary Rose Parade float decorating signups opened yesterday, Saturday, September 10 at 8:00AM. Click here to sign up. To learn more about Rotary's float check out the Rotary Float Committee's Facebook page.
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Encinitas Rotary Club's Food Festival a Success$94,000 raised!!! 17 non-profit organizations were the beneficiaries of this year’s Encinitas Wine & Food Festival. On Wednesday, August 31, Encinitas Rotary Club invited the beneficiaries to collect their donation and speak to the club about the great work they are doing in the community.  |
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Attention Club Presidents - Elect Presidents-Elect, District training is about to begin to prepare you for your year as President. If you are your Club’s 2023-24 President and you haven’t received information about Pre-PETS training, please contact Kay Barron at either kaybarronwegner@gmail.com or by phone 714-335-5394 so we can get you included. |
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The Gift of Reading The Guatemala Literacy Project is working to reverse the country’s low literacy rates and keep children in school. Joe and Jeff Berninger, two brothers from Ohio, USA, were volunteering at a school in Guatemala in 1997 when they launched a project to provide the school with books. Since then, The Rotary Foundation has helped fund the literacy project with 48 grants totaling $6.5 million. Read more about this project, just one of the ways that Rotary is supporting education.
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Santee-Lakeside Rotarians Join Reading LegaciesOn August 22, for the first time in over two years, the non-profit Reading Legacies' Book Bridges program was delivered to five women in a San Diego women's jail. The impact of the workshop extends to their children and families, who will soon receive a book and a recording of their incarcerated loved one reading aloud to them. There was an immediate positive effect on the group of women. When asked if they felt any different about reading to their child or young family member after completing the workshop, one woman answered, "I am touched mentally, physically, [and] especially spiritually uplifted.” Volunteers talk about the value of reading and its importance in building a bond with their young ones. In this particular workshop women's self-esteem needed to be lifted and with encouragement and group cooperation each participant read aloud, holding the book while a volunteer videotaped the storytelling.  Photo: Rotarians Elana Levens Craig and Sandy Pugliese outside the Las Colinas on their first day as volunteers for Reading Legacies' Book Bridges Program Santee- Lakeside Rotarians Elana Levens-Craig, former special education teacher and school board member and Sandy Pugliese, retired community relations manager and 22-year veteran school board member, were the volunteers to lead the first Book Bridges workshop after two years of not being able to enter the jails. In their words, the experience was “incredibly impactful.” |
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Rotaract Representative Erika Rodrequez Featured Erika Rodrequez, District 5340's Rotaract Representative, was recently featured in an online magazine - SDVoyager where she talks at length about everything Rotaract. The story begins 15 years ago when she joined an Interact club and takes her through the many memories and experiences, she has had throughout the years under the District 5340 umbrella. Click here to read story.
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Our Urban Trees Matter – Find Out Why Trees improve the livability of our cities for countless reasons. Your District Environmental Sustainability Committee would love for you to learn more about why urban trees matter by inviting experts to speak at your club. We are putting our best suggestions on the District 5340 speaker’s bureau for you. |
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LEAD Is Just Around the Corner The LEAD Conference Is Almost Here … Please Register your Club to Send Students Now! The LEAD Conference is excited to restart the District’s youth camp! Sign your club up today to sponsor students from your local middle school. LEAD is a 2-day weekend leadership camp for 8th grade students where Delegates discuss issues of ethical responsibility, improve leadership and communication skills, develop a positive outlook on service and life, and have fun with new friends. Delegates from middle schools around our District will attend. Please go to the LEAD website, www.rotary5340lead.org, click on the Rotary Club link, click on the Rotary Club Registration Form link, and follow the instructions to complete the form. You may call Paul Pierce at 760-942-9911 or email him at pepjr@peplaw.com if you have questions. Rotarians can serve as advisors at LEAD and share their love of service with a new generation! There is No Cost for you to participate! Please go to the LEAD website, www.rotary5340lead.org, click on the Advisors link, click on the Advisor Application Form link, and follow the instructions to complete the form. Questions … you may call Paul Pierce at 760-942-9911 or email him at pepjr@peplaw.com. |
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District Environmental Sustainability Committee Hosts Meeting This Month The District Environmental Sustainability Committee is hosting its monthly meeting on September 12th, 2022, 6-7:00 PM and you're invited! Elayna Flanders, Volunteer Director, is thrilled to come share the volunteer experience offered by the Nature Collective, formerly known as San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy. |
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Ramona Fundraiser Yields $3000Ramona Rotary rocked their fundraiser held in August. They brought in $3000 in proceeds to go towards scholarships. Rotarians from other clubs participated and showed their support for Romona's philanthropic efforts.  |
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September is Basic Education and Literacy Month Around the world, some 773 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Most of them are women. Many of them are locked in poverty by a lack of education and opportunity. In the September edition of the Rotary magazine, they will take you on a photographic tour of a Rotary-supported literacy project in Guatemala that is changing lives by helping children to stay in school and inspiring them to dream big. Click "Read More" for additional information and the link to this article.
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Catching 100 Waves in a Single Day for Charity! In 2018 Brett Morey, founder of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship and past president of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle joined a group of friends on the Degree 33 Surfboards team to catch 100 waves each in a single day. The group raises funds and awareness for Boys to Men Mentoring. Boys to Men is a 501(c)3 located in Spring Valley that provides mentorship and accountability to at-risk teenage boys growing up without a positive male role model. The statistics and results support the vast need for this fabulous organization as kids who get into gangs, drugs and make bad choices not only get into the Juvenile System but repeat a cycle of bad choices as adults unless others step in to turn their lives around. Boys to Men is "turning the tide" with weekly in-school meetings in over 33 local San Diego schools and has volunteers and staff helping teenage boys stay in school, improve their grades, graduate on time, pursue a career or university studies and most importantly learn self-worth.
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Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Takes Disabled Children & Adults SurfingOn Saturday, August 27th a group of Rotarians and Rotaractors from throughout Southern California got together in Huntington Beach to take over 80 disabled children and adults surfing. Perhaps you've heard of Life Rolls On Foundation which started 20 years ago by Jesse Billauer. Jesse was rising through the ranks to become a professional surfer when he hit a sandbar and suffered a life altering neck injury which left him a quadriplegic. That hasn't stopped Jesse from pursuing his dream or giving others along the way the freedom to enjoy the water.
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East County Rotary Clubs Attend SocialEast County Rotarians from Santee-Lakeside Rotary, La Mesa Sunrise Rotary, La Mesa Rotary and the El Cajon Rotary clubs got together in fellowship at Hooley's Pub in La Mesa. District Governor Chuck Pretto was there to thank Rotarians for all the things they do for the betterment of the community. Everyone had a great time. There is something special about these types of gatherings. The energy is remarkable and the genuine interest in knowing each other better is palpable.   |
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Help Support District 4100's Humanitarian Effort Our sister District 4100 needs our help District 4100 has been impacted by rains, and unfortunately the communities of Guayamas and Empalme were affected the most. District 4100 is asking for our assistance in securing needed household items and financial contributions so that we can buy the necessary materials to aid our Rotarians in the affected communities. Contact information is noted in the flyer above. |
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Start Preparing for World Polio Day World Polio Day provides an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world and honor the tireless contributions of those on the frontlines in the fight to eradicate polio from every corner of the globe.
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Old Mission Rotary Helps Staff the STAR/PAL Back to School Event at Colina Del Sol ParkOn Saturday, August 20th, Old Mission Rotary helped staff a STAR/PAL back-to-school event at Colina del Sol Park that included distribution of free back packs with school supplies. STAR/PAL is a nonprofit organization operating out of a facility in Colina Del Sol Park in mid-city that is dedicated to bringing youth and law enforcement together. Their programs are led by officers of the San Diego Police Department and are free of charge to youth throughout San Diego. The program is a way to promote peace and understanding in the community between residents and police. Old Mission Rotary has participated in several of their events in the past year and was the STAR/PAL Community Partner of the Year for 2020.  |
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District Designated Funds Aids Afghan Refugees The San Diego Women’s Foundation Collaboration Committee (SDWF) has partnered with Rotary District 5340 and the Carroll C. Long Charitable Fund at The San Diego Foundation to support Afghan refugees in San Diego County through a collaborative funding cycle.
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Celebrating VeteransMax Gurney, long-term member of the Torrey Pines Rotary club attended a luncheon on Sunday, August 13th celebrating veterans who have completed an Honor Flight trip. Honor Flight is a national organization that escorts veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit all of the war memorials. Max participated in the jam-packed trip and although a WWII veteran, Max was most impressed by the Korean War Memorial. Max participated in Operation Torch (North Africa), Operation Husky (Sicily). Monte Cassino, the liberation of Rome, the Gothic Line campaign and the liberation of Milan. Max enlisted shortly after Pearl Harbor and was being trained for the artillery when it was noticed that he was fluent in French and Italian, and he was transferred to Army Intelligence. |
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Rotary Statement on Recent Polio Detections in U.S., EuropeThe recent detection of the vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 case in New York, USA, and isolates in several environmental samples collected in London are stark reminders that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. It also highlights the importance of vaccination as the only form of protection against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases and the work that needs to be done in our communities to encourage the uptake of vaccines. Also, as the world gets closer to zero wild poliovirus cases, it is increasingly important to track all forms of the virus wherever they may appear, including in polio-free regions. |
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Be Part of One of the Hottest Parties in Del Mar! Tuesday September 13, 2022, 5:30 to 8:30 PM Del Mar Plaza - Ocean View Deck 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 Come enjoy the Del Mar sunset from the top of beautiful Del Mar Plaza. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Del Mar, the Sunset Soirée features hosted wine, beer, and cocktail tastings, hors d'oeuvres generously provided by the best restaurants in the Del Mar area, live music and an all-around great social experience! Take in the dazzling skyline view as you mix and mingle on Del Mar’s best view deck; sunset is at 6:58 p.m. so there will be plenty of time to view the auction items and bid on your favorites. |
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Save the Date - Baja Style Lobster Fest Join the Del Mar/Solana Beach Rotary Club for a fun evening of good food, friends, music and dancing on the patio of the beautiful Del Mar Hilton. A Flamenco guitarist will greet you on arrival followed by a served Lobster dinner at your table. After dinner, enjoy the lively music of Hot Rocks San Diego (dancing is encouraged). This year the event will support two major beneficiaries - Just in Time for Foster Youth and Casa De Amistad. A percentage of the proceeds will also be spread over many other programs that benefit underserved youth, our military, our community and selected international, literacy and humanitarian projects. Please register at www.dmsblobsterfest.com. Call Vicky Mallett at (858) 245-7968 with any questions.
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Fundraiser at Eagle Crest Golf Club The Escondido East Rotary Club would like to invite you to help support their first golf tournament fundraiser to help raise needed funds to support their community projects. Come play golf or sponsor a hole to have a sign at a tee box to advertise your business. Join us on October 28 for an 8:30 tee off. Check in time is 8:00 AM. For more information on pricing to play or to be a sponsor, contact either Kevin Bowcock at bowcockk@stifel.com or Don Darrock at ddarrock@bhhscal.com. Click read more to see what community projects will benefit from this fundraiser. |
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Del Mar Rotary Supports LifeguardsThe Rotary Club of Del Mar love supporting the Del Mar lifeguards. They recently donated funds for the purchase of new rescue surf boards. Every second counts when someone is in distress in the water, and these light, maneuverable boards allow the lifeguards to reach people faster. Rescue boards were involved in nearly all of the 700 rescues the lifeguards have made so far this year, so they are a critical part of keeping Del Mar Village beachgoers safe.  |
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Get ready to Imagine What’s Next with Rotary! Rotary members like you are taking action and creating meaningful change in communities worldwide. At past conventions, you’ve seen what we can accomplish when we come together and share our passion for Doing Good in the World. We’re excited to keep the momentum going in 2023. Join us in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia, May 27-31 to connect with other people of action. We’ll hear from great speakers, enjoy fantastic entertainment, take part in inspirational breakout sessions, and so much more. Register today to receive the reduced rate. Don’t wait, because this rate expires on December 15.  |
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Healthy Living Expo San Diego Coastal Rotary Club will be partnering with Gente Bonita Magazine for the Healthy Living Expo 2022 scheduled for Saturday, August 17 at 27th Embarcadero Marina Park North from 9-2:00 PM. This is a one-day event where there will be interactive activities hosted by leaders in multiple disciplines. It's an event for whole family where you can learn more about the many different ways you can improve your health, including wellness, nutrition, beauty, fitness and sports. When you are done, you will have the tools to live a healthy lifestyle. Get your free tickets today! |
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Vines & Vittles A Huge SuccessVines & Vittles 2022 is a wrap. On a warm Sunday in August almost 800 people attended Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club’s Vines & Vittles held at Webb Park. They had families, young marrieds, single folks, grandparents, and more. 48 booths filled with local restaurants, breweries and wineries providing tastings that were a huge hit. The event had local artisans and various non-profits promoting their mission. The main stage entertainment - The Shirt House Band and Mariachi La Victoria de San Diego serenaded the crowd for three hours. There were a lot of kids enjoying demos by Gyminny Kids, the Club’s own comedic ventriloquist Joe Gandelman, learning a golf swing at Red Line Athletics, and listening to some of their friends play their instruments at the Bach To Rock booth. Meanwhile, they were able to enjoy lemonade, ice cream and popcorn in the kid's refreshment zone as well as play a ton of games in the Game Stop. The figures aren't finished yet, but the Club’s goal was to raise funds to support the community service activities of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Foundation and the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society, and they are thrilled with the preliminary result. |
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Cabo Smiles August 2022Rotary District 5340 members Dr. Jeff Moses and lead nurse Patricia Hunter from the Rotary Club of Carlsbad and Rotary District 4100 members President Lucia Hatfield from RC Los Cabos led the Rotary-Smiles International Foundation surgical mission to Cabo Smiles August 2022 this last week. 14 babies and children received cleft reconstructive surgeries performed under intensive pediatric general anesthesia. Have a look at this short 3-minute video reviewing our beautiful team's experience.  |
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Buddy's BackpacksOn Saturday, August 21 bright and early, several Rotarians from the Santee-Lakeside Rotary volunteered to help distribute 900 backpacks to kids gearing up for the new school year. The day before, Rotarians and others filled the backpacks with supplies in just one hour thanks to the great organizing skills of those who set up. Saturday, backpacks were distributed at a drive-up location at Rio Seco elementary school. They were all gone within 1.5 hours! Everyone who volunteered did an amazing job. One family was so excited to be able to get backpacks for their school-aged children that the mother shared they were homeless. As she left, she honked the horn to show her appreciation. What a feel-good moment! The program is named after Buddy Robaya who was one of the founders who passed away in 2020 and the program continues to grow each year. The entire Santee community has embraced Buddy’s Backpacks. All the supplies and backpacks are donated by community members and organizations. |
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2022 National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day Today is National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day. San Diego Coastal Rotary Club is working toward raising community awareness throughout this upcoming week due to the importance of increased awareness and education to prevent further serious injuries and deaths resulting from fentanyl, especially as it is dramatically affecting our youth with high incidences of accidental overdoses. Please click read more to learn how your club can help through education. |
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The Rotary Club of Del Mar's Soiree Returns September 13 marks the return of the Rotary Club of Del Mar’s 18th Annual Sunset Soirée Gala and Auction. Join the merriment at 5:30 - 8:30 PM on the ocean-view deck of the Del Mar Plaza. This event is a celebration of the Rotary Club’s work in the community and the new and exciting projects to come. Enjoy an intimate evening with the sunset as your backdrop; you will partake in fabulous food and beverages, as you appreciate exciting entertainment and lively conversation. Tickets are on sale now at www.delmarsunsetsoiree.org. With ticket purchases you can delight in food from the Del Mar area’s finest restaurants paired with wine, from local wineries and tasting rooms, as well as beer and tequila. Doors open at 5:30 PM with a silent auction, complimented with tastings and libations from the area’s best restaurants, wineries and microbreweries, followed by a live auction. Click read more for additional information. |
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Pacifica Beer Fest PACIFICA BEER FEST September 3, 2022 Let’s support our sister District!!! Join the fun on Saturday, September 3 in Ensenada. Have fun and support Rotary projects. Proceeds will be used for community projects. There will be live music, craft beer, amazing food and more. To purchase tickets, click here. |
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Flapjacks for BackpackOn Saturday morning, August 13 at 6:00 AM, the Rotary Club of San Marcos and the MHHS interact Club were being of service at the Boys and Girls Club's Flapjacks for Backpacks fundraiser. They helped set up, handed out backpacks and cleaned up after the event. Over 700 backpacks filled with school supplies and books were distributed.  |
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Compost for Vegetable GardensOn Saturday, August 13, several Rotarians from the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club met up at Tubman Village Charter School to unload a huge pile of compost for their vegetable garden. The work was fun, and the company of volunteers was great. Thanks for all those who support schools in your community, and especially for ensuring students learn about healthy eating.  |
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From Disappointment to ExcitementAs we all look to see what we can imagine Rotary to be, several Rotarians in District 5340 found themselves doing something very creative to assist back-to-school students of the Preuss School. It was a last-minute project for the Rotary Club of San Diego Coastal and several other Rotarians who came to the rescue of students who found themselves at the last minute, prior to school opening, having to take public transportation when their school lost its contract for bus services. These are disadvantage kids from Southeast San Diego, many of whom have never taken public transportation before and would be faced with one to one-and-a-half hours of travel time. Rotarians collaborated with the school's PTA to get some information out to parents quickly in different languages. Rotarian of the Year Fernanda Torres volunteered her translation skills to make sure the communication was accurate and understandable. Volunteers were assigned to greet the students at trolley stops to make sure students made their transfers and got onto the correct trolley to and from school. |
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Take Me Out to the BallgameOn Tuesday, August 9, Rotarians from District 5340 came together to enjoy baseball and fellowship. Padres versus the Giants. It's always nice to be able to say the Padres won 7-4 but, even more important, to say that everyone who attended had a great time.  |
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Rotary MusiCamp Shreds the Gnar in Del MarThanks to the Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship crew, almost a dozen symphony musicians from France, Germany and Mexico along with a couple local San Diego Youth Symphony young adults were taught how to surf in the 8th Annual Rotary MusiCamp Learn to Surf event which was held at 18th Street on July 29th. Surfers Unite Founder and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle Brett Morey started this event back in 2012 as he had hosted a student from Germany. Brett asked his dear friend, the late Gary McElroy of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, “Gary, what if I took these kids surfing before they fly back to their countries"? He was all for it and so the tradition began in 2012. This year surf coaches consisted of Big Kahuna Vince Ponce of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi Noon, friends in the surf community Gary Giffin and lifetime members Danny Quisenberry (Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi Noon), Brett Mattei (Rotary Club of Del Mar), Mark Matthews (Rotary Club of La Mesa, Derren Lechuga (San Diego Coastal Rotary Club) and fellow Rotarians of La Jolla Golden Triangle Michael Slentz, Ranjan Lahiri and Karla & Brett Morey. Surfers Unite events are another great way to bring in potential members and share the stoke of Service Above Self. |
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La Jolla Sunrise Rotary's 3rd Annual Walk for the Trail You are invited to join in on the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary's 3rd Annual Walk for the Trail fundraiser scheduled for September 16. This year’s event includes amazing views of the La Jolla coastline and Pacific Ocean during a .6 mile "Walk with Rotarians” and is followed by an outdoor "After Party" at an exclusive La Jolla Coast Walk residence. The After Party includes cocktails, dinner, dancing and an auction. All proceeds go to preservation of the Coast Walk Trail. Please contact Randy Large; Rlarge1@aol.com or (858) 922-5449 with questions. |
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Poway Scripps Rotary Club Knows How to Have Fun in the SummerSummer is well underway, and members of the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps kicked it off at the Scripps Ranch Symphony in the Park. Sponsoring the concert series is just one of the club's many projects it supports. Combining business with pleasure is what we call attending the District Governor's Dinner. What a way to welcome our incoming president, Sumedh Bahl. Last year, Villa de Vida opened in Poway but due to Covid was unable to celebrate. This year the club organized and provided food for the one-year anniversary. This 52-unit apartment complex is dedicated to individuals with intellectual disabilities. The residents are able to live as independently as possible with support and community enriched activities to meet their needs. It wasn't all work though as members made time to take in a Padres game. As summer winds down, the club is busy organizing the 57th Annual Poway Rotary Parade to be held Sept. 10. |
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August is Membership and Club Development Month August is Membership and New Club Development Month, a time to recognize our members and the incredible work they do locally and globally. In 2021, many Rotarians around the world worked together to curb the pandemic through vaccination drives. After a long year of uncertainty, hope is on the horizon. In 2022 many clubs began efforts to help refugees escaping the war in Ukraine. There are so many ways to engage members. Are you sharing your story? Click read more for additional information on how your club can attract new members. |
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RYLA is Back!
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Time to Start Planning for the 4-Way Test Speech Contest It's time to start planning this year's Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest. The District's 4-Way Test Speech Contest is a huge amount of fun for the clubs and the students and is one way for us to recruit future Rotarians! Together we can offer a hand in helping our youth find their voice for the future. There are several good reasons to participate. Click read more to find out what they are. |
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Club Profile - Rotary Club of Del Mar Sharon Schendel is the President of the Rotary Club of Del Mar. She shared on the club's website that for most of her life, she was content to be in the background, taking direction from others. The members of the Rotary Club of Del Mar and the projects they spearhead inspired her to take a leadership role. She shares that every day, members of Rotary Club of Del Mar imagine how they might make the world a better place. She has captured the essence of the club in a video that shows how the Rotary Club of Del Mar's projects are helping enhance their own community, and communities around the world. We are using this video as the club profile for this outstanding Rotary club. To view the video, please click here. We highly encourage Rotary clubs to make use of technology and social media to tell your stories. Let's spread the word about how we can imagine a Rotary that truly makes a difference. This video is an outstanding example.
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El Cajon Rotary Holds Successful FundraiserAt this year's "Margaritaville" fundraiser for the El Cajon Rotary, the Club "Raised-the-Paddle" in honor of Rotarian Harold Brown who recently passed away and was the CEO of the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) raising donations in the amount of $14,600 for the organization. In addition, the evening netted ~$29,000 plus a $20,000 match from the El Cajon Rotary Foundation. The combined amount will allow the Club to distribute grants totaling ~$49,000 at the Club's annual "Grant Dinner Night" in September.  Photo: Left to Right: Joe Mackey, Gala Chair, Jacky Brown, ECTLC, Helen Zamora, ECTLC, Ivan Andujar, ECTLC, Alison Cummings, club member, & Stu Scott, President. |
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2025-2026 NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED The District 5340 Nominating Committee is now accepting completed application forms for the Governor of District 5340 for Rotary Year 2025 – 2026. The application deadline is October 10, 2022. All nominations must be submitted on the District Governor-Nominee Application Form. Fully completed forms can scanned and emailed to Dan Gensler at dgensler@rotary5340.org or submitted to the District mailing address: District 5340 – DG Nomination Committee, 5052 Clairemont Drive #178651, San Diego, CA 92117. Interviews will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2022. |
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Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame Welcomes Three into its RanksRotarians Bill Chaffin, Mike Fuqua and Jim Hyldahl become newest members of the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame. Bill Chaffin, Mike Fuqua and Jim Hyldahl were honored for their leadership and contributions with membership in the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. More than 80 community members gathered for the celebration at Silvergate Rancho Bernardo to welcome the three men into the elite organization. They are the 122nd, 123rd and 124th inductees since the organization formed in 1974. The RB Hall of Fame recognizes those who have contributed significant volunteer leadership in the community. Chaffin was to be honored in March 2020, but the ceremony was postponed due to COVID shutdowns. He has since moved from Poway to Las Vegas. His business partner, Alex Monroe, accepted Chaffin’s award on his behalf. The organization did not select honorees in 2021. The Class of 2022 members are Fuqua, who lives in The Lakes neighborhood west of Rancho Bernardo, and Hyldahl, a Poway resident. Both were nominated by 2019 inductee Don Glover. Glover spoke first of Fuqua’s contributions following 25 years as a Naval aviator and subsequent career in the defense industry. They met nine years ago, and Glover invited Fuqua to a Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo meeting. That led to Fuqua being the club’s 2017-18 president, an RB Rotary Foundation chair and an assistant district governor for Rotary District 5340. His community contributions include creating the Vines & Vittles festival, a fundraiser benefiting Rotary projects and the RB Historical Society. Its inaugural festival in 2019 raised $90,000. Fuqua also made sure that through Rotary tens of thousands of dollars in funding and assistance was provided during the pandemic to community members, including caregivers and students, Glover said. His other volunteer activities included assisting with RB’s Spirit of the Fourth festivities. “Mike shows one can be a leader and also a worker bee and this is why he deserves to be in the RB Hall of Fame,” Glover said. “I am very surprised to be standing here today, as surprised as I was several months ago ... (when told) I was selected,” Fuqua said during his acceptance speech. “I was literally speechless. To think of the leaders who have been given this, it is just beyond belief that I was selected for this. ... I am honored to be part of that group.” Fuqua said soon after attending his first meeting he knew Rotary would be his home. “I discovered that I get more than what I am giving, and the Rotarians have become family,” he said, noting how Rotary’s motto is “Service above Self.” “We take the idea of service seriously and I’d say we’ve done pretty well. We like to think of ourselves as people of action ... we know we are making a difference.” Saying none of the successes in his careers or life would have been possible without the support of Patty, his wife of nearly 51 years, Fuqua dedicated his RB Hall of Fame award to her. Glover also spoke of Hyldahl’s many contributions to RB following 17 years in the health industry and another 41 in the investments field. Hyldahl joined the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo in 1997 and was president in 2005-06. He is its foundation past-president and has led the club’s community service efforts for the past four years. His leadership in community service has made tangible improvements in RB residents’ lives, Glover said. Hyldahl spearheaded free neighborhood cleanups — three were held in Seven Oaks, two in Oaks North and this spring the project expanded to Westwood. “Each (clean-up) helped 200-plus families each time,” Glover said. It was Hyldahl’s leadership that got Rotarians over the past two years to replace more than 90 Neighborhood Watch signs in Seven Oaks and Mirador, Glover said. Glover also mentioned Hyldahl’s volunteer work on the Poway Symphony Orchestra and Guide Dogs of America nonprofit boards, his early support for the Pathway of Pride and volunteerism with Spirit of the Fourth. When speaking to the crowd, Hyldahl said the Rotarians have become his extended family and he enjoys what he does. “I love community service, I really do,” he said. “I am pleased and privileged to be here tonight with good people and givers to others.” Hyldahl said his volunteerism did not begin until age 57 when he joined Rotary. In retrospect, Hyldahl said he wished he had realized the value of community service when he was younger. Addressing his two grandchildren, who are now 20 and 30, in the audience, he said he wants them to learn this lesson at a younger age. “Giving is better than receiving, you have 10 times the joy,” Hyldahl said. “Your median age is 25. I waited 32 years beyond that to engage in service to others, after I was financially secure, and my children grown. “I missed the opportunity for fuller life experiences that beginning at your ages I would have met,” he said. “Begin now so you can experience giving to others in need. Find a service venue ... whatever course you choose your grandparents will be there to support you.” As for Chaffin, nominator and 2009 inductee Marty Judge praised him for his fundraising leadership that benefitted the community in many ways. Judge said he first met Chaffin in 2000 through the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo. Soon after, Chaffin introduced him to the Blue-Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway, for which he was raising more than $200,000 to construct an amphitheater, paved areas and build walking trails. “He transformed it from an eyesore to a garden spot,” Judge said. In 2004, Chaffin came up with another fundraising idea, this time to benefit the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation that would use the funds to provide many RB organizations and projects with community grants and grow RB’s endowment. He promoted a program that raised more than $100,000 for the RB foundation’s efforts when hundreds of community members went on cruises over the years, Judge said. “Bill Chaffin is a master fundraiser,” Judge said. He also recalled how in 2009 Chaffin led the Palomar Health Foundation’s fundraising efforts for hospital construction and other needs. Judge said Chaffin’s predecessor as board chair raised $2.1 million for the campaign. During his year leading the board Chaffin’s efforts led to $4.75 million collected. For seven years he also led the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club’s Rancho BEERnardo Festival. In its most recent year, it attracted a crowd of 1,000 and raised $120,000, Judge said. |
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A Look at the E-Club of San Diego Global The Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global was started in February 2016 and is one of the few Rotary E-Clubs in the District. We meet once a month via Zoom to connect and discuss our projects and we also invite guest speakers to converse about relevant topics to Rotary’s mission. We engage our members and visitors virtually, but we also meet in person a few times a year. We are a group of professionals from all backgrounds and diverse countries united by the purpose to help our local and global communities. We are a small Rotary Club with a strong international focus. Many of our members have international roots and are interested in supporting global Rotary projects. In the brief time we have been chartered we have collaborated with other clubs and organizations and completed District and International grants. Some of these grants are: |
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The 8th Grade LEAD Conference Is October 15 & 16, 2022 We are bringing back the 8th Grade LEAD Conference. This year, it is scheduled for October 15 and 16, 2022. It has been three long, frustrating years since the last in-person Rotary youth conference. Come join in the fun as the LEAD Conference restarts the District’s youth program conferences! Sign your club up today to sponsor students from your local middle school. Lead will be held at the Cuyamaca Outdoor School, a San Diego County Office of Education campus. Please go to the LEAD website and click on the Rotary Club Registration Form link and follow the instructions to complete the form. You may call Paul Pierce at 760-942-9911 or email him at pepjr@peplaw.com if you have questions. |
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District Environmental Sustainability Committee The next meeting of the District Environmental Sustainability Committee is on Monday August 1 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Elektra Fike-Data and James Berry from Tree San Diego will present and discuss Realities about Tree-related Initiatives in San Diego. As many Rotarians and clubs are interested in tree planting projects for their neighborhood and cities throughout San Diego County, we will learn the current opportunities and challenges to implement such projects. To join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87048212060?pwd=eVhUbllrZXphYU9PU1BRdUxoVXlMUT09 Meeting ID: 870 4821 2060 Passcode: 569075 |
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Stop Human Trafficking People of Action Summit – Human Trafficking Liberty Station Conference Center San Diego, California October 1, 2022 Human Trafficking worldwide is the second largest criminal activity, second only to drugs. Whether forced labor or sex trafficking, it is in every corner of the United States and your community is not immune to this heinous crime. As Rotarians or members of our communities, we need to be at the forefront of combatting modern-day slavery. Leave with an action plan and a play book for your district or club that will allow everyone to protect their families and community. |
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Africa Peace Concert The Peace MGI Team Lead Emmanuel Katongole is working with a dedicated group of volunteers to plan several days of activities for RI President Jennifer Jones and her husband and guests who are traveling to Kampala the first week in September. There is one event in particular that all Rotarians can participate in and that is the in-person and virtual Africa Peace Concert that will take place Friday, September 2. You have the opportunity to view the concert if you make an online gift on Rotary.org to either the Rotary Peace Centers endowment or the Peacebuilding and Conflict Area of Focus between July and September. When you do so, you will receive a virtual entry to the concert. It could not be easier. Click read more to view the How to Pay document that gives you details. |
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Rotary - Voluntary Contribution for Rotaractors to attend District Conference Rotarians, we are offering the opportunity for Rotary clubs to provide a voluntary donation to help Rotaractors attend the District Conference on Saturday, October 29th in Del Mar free of charge.  |
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Clubs Join Together to Clean Up Wildlife Refuge Area Chula Vista Eastlake and Coronado Clubs cleanup Wildlife Refuge in a combined effort, Chula Vista Eastlake and Coronado Rotary Clubs hauled trash out of the San Diego Wildlife Refuge at the Swiss Park Staging Area in Chula Vista. This is the second time these clubs have done this and the trash haul remains large and diverse with box springs, a basketball backstop, and golf clubs added to the bags and bags of trash! Doing our part to protect the environment and serve our communities! |
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Wine, Dine and Song The Rotary Club of Ramona invites you to their upcoming Wine Dine & Song charity event benefiting their Rotary scholarships. The event will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The location for this night of song is the Vineyard Grant James, 25260 East Old Julian Highway, Ramona CA. The cost is $35 per person and includes a catered buffet meal and one drink ticket for water/wine/soft drinks.
For More info: contact Cheri Choy, 619-721-9656, cchoy54@gmail.com or Christie Carlson, 760-703-0792, christie@sanvicentemortgage.com To purchase tickets: https://bit.ly/3O17HSs or send a check to Ramona Rotary at P.O. Box 276, Ramona, CA 92065. |
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57th Annual Poway Rotary Parade Mark Your Calendar! The Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps is pleased to announce that the Palomar Health Presents the 2022 Poway Rotary Parade is scheduled for September. 10, 2022. This year’s theme is, “We Are Family”. The club is delighted to again be working with Palomar Health as the parade’s title sponsor. The grand marshal is former San Diego Charger Cory Withrow. Withrow played with the team 2006-2008. He is the owner of King’s Craft Coffee Co., in Poway. In addition to parade favorites and regular entrants such as classic cars and horses, this year’s event will include a pet parade. In the first ever inclusion, Rotarians are eager to invite family and friends to participate in the parade with their lovable furry friends! There will be a contest for most unique pet, best dressed pet, and best float with a pet in it |
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Happy 100 Leon Williams The Honorable Leon Williams celebrated his 100th Birthday on July 21, 2022 at the San Diego Rotary Club. Leon joined Club 33 as an Honorary Member in 2011 and was the 2016 recipient of the Mr. San Diego Award for his contributions to outstanding community improvement for the San Diego region in a variety of ways, through his efforts over a long period of time. California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber spoke about those contributions and all in attendance joined in singing Happy Birthday accompanied by the International Youth Symphony. Visit https://bit.ly/LeonWilliams100 to send your birthday wish to our beloved Leon Williams!
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Membership Workshop Slated for August 20 DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THIS IMPORTANT WORKSHOP August is Membership Month and with that in mind, we are pleased to announce that our District Membership Workshop has been scheduled for August 20, 2022, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. The workshop will take place via Zoom.
This Workshop is intended for Club Presidents, Membership Chairs/Committees, and all Rotarians who want to learn how to help their clubs, and to help Rotary, grow and thrive. The link to the registration page is: https://rotary5340.org/event/membership-workshop-for-district-5340. |
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Taste of Rancho Santa Fe The 8th Annual Taste of Rancho Santa Fe Event will be held Sunday October 9, 2022 from 4:00 to 7:00PM. Purchase your tickets soon before the event sells out! Visit the club's event website at |
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We Are Searching for Volunteers District 5340's sole reason for existing is to support Rotary clubs within its boundaries and operates with volunteer support. The District provides support and resources to assist clubs in serving their members and communities. A variety of positions are available on District committees which include, Membership, Training, Public Image, Youth, International, District and Projects & Events. There is a special need for several Sergeant-at-Arms to help manage our events. Most positions require 1 year of Rotary membership, Assistant Governor positions require 5 years of membership. |
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Deadline for District Grant Applications for 2022/23 is Tomorrow, August 1 DEADLINE IS MONDAY, AUGUST 1. District Grant applications for Rotary Year 2022-23 need to be entered into matchinggrants.org by August 1, 2022. Applicant Clubs must meet all the qualifications listed below: |
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Building Homes - Changing Lives This video is for your club to use on your website, social media channels, during meetings and/or discussions with community sponsors and partners to highlight just one of the events that our Rotary Clubs hold throughout the year. We hope it will not only create excitement around our Rotary organization, but also within our own Rotary Clubs to spark ideas, creativity and energy. The video can be found on YouTube and here is the link to access it:
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Rotarians Give a SheetThe Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club among many other organizations identified the Christian-based East County Transitional Center (ECTC) as one of its key non-profits it likes to support. The Center provides transitional living and programs and services that restores the lives of those who are homeless. Well-trained case managers, knowledgeable about specialized assistance for this type of homelessness, The Center see themselves as a community, not a shelter and provides a "way-out" of an untenable situation for this large segment of the homeless One of the ways the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club helps ECTC is engaging in a very simple project supporting a very basis human need - toilet paper! Club members each contribute packages of toilet for East County Transitional Living Center because “Rotarians Give a Sheet.” This drive concludes at the Club's installation dinner. It's a fun project and everyone looks forward to participating. To learn more about ECTC, go to https://www.ectlc.org/.   |
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Corked Carlsbad Join us Saturday, July 30th for a festive night tasting North County’s finest wines, local beer, yummy food, live music and rejoicing in community and summer. This event takes place at the renowned Carlsbad Flower Fields. Tickets are limited - act fast! Order tickets now for yourself, family and friends! All attendees are required to show a government issued ID upon entrance and be 21 years of age or older. General Admission: $75 Early Access Pass: $125. To learn more about the event and to register click here. |
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Highlights from the Rotary International Convention 2022 With over 70 breakout sessions, the 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, marked a successful return to an in-person event. All 12 livestreamed sessions are now available on demand. You can view the virtual program online and register and watch on-demand content through 31 August. |
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Meet District Rotaract Representative (DRR) - Erika Rodriguez Erika Rodriguez is this year's District Rotaract Representative (DRR), who will be the point of contact for all things Rotaract in our District, alongside Jessie Case, Rotaract District Chair. The DRR provides support to all the Rotaract Clubs, grows the Rotaract brand awareness, and oversees the Rotaract District council. |
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Rotary Cruise - Save $750.00 Act Now AmaWaterways is celebrating their 20-year anniversary in July, so for this Rotary cruise slated for April 2-9, 2023 they activated a $750.00 per person discount only for this month. There are still a few Balcony Staterooms left, so book your room soon. For more information, please contact Ron Kohl at 858-518-0983 or by email at rkohl@expediacruises.com. The itinerary can be found here: |
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Opportunity to Learn More About the Role of Governor Join us for an informal gathering to discuss the role of District Governor (dinner included). This is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet folks who have held the role in the past. WHEN - Thursday, August 4, 2022 DINNER - 6:00 PM - Hosted by Janice and Matt Kurth LOCATION - 7225 Rue De Roark, La Jolla, CA 92037 Please RSVP to PDG Dan Gensler - dgensler@rotary5340.org or call 1, 619-972-7290 |
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Join Us for a Night of Baseball August 9 Cheer on your San Diego Padres Tuesday, August 9 at 6:40 pm against the SF Giants! Tickets are only $40/each and seats are located at The Point, under the scoreboard. What’s better than baseball? Baseball with 50 Rotarians!
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Coronado Earns Honors at 4th of July ParadeCoronado Rotary won two prizes in the renowned Coronado July 4th parade: The Andy Szymanski "Mr. July 4th" Sweepstakes prize for best overall float and the John D. Spreckels Prize for Division Winner. The float demonstrated all the community, regional and international projects our club manages each year along with honoring our forebears who won this country's independence from England.  |
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Interested in Playing Softball? District 5340 is putting together a co-ed softball team in preparation for an upcoming binational game with members of District 4100 (Baja California). Currently the District has six people interested and is looking for four additional players. The exact date and time of the game is TBD, but we’ll be playing down in Tijuana sometime in the fall. If you’re interested in joining, let Derren Lechuga, Youth Services Director - San Diego Coastal Rotary Club know, and he will begin coordinating with everyone on days/times/locations to hold practice sessions. Derron's contact information is derren.a.lechuga@gmail.com and his phone number is 951-764-6890. This sporting event is to help build relations between Districts 5340 and 4100. Eventually, we are looking to create a Rotaract division for this binational game and are looking to tie it to the end-of-the-year District Conferences. |
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Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Featured in Rotary VoicesFor those who don't know, the 18th Annual Switchfoot BroAM was a huge success as over 17,000 gathered at Moonlight Beach for a full day of surf contests, surf jousting and over 5 hours of live music. Our immediate Past District Governor Dan Gensler stopped by to witness the action including folks stopping by the Surfers Unite booth to get plugged in as potential new Rotarians. The Swithcfoot BroAM raises over $220k annually for at risk charities and thanks to the leadership of Rotary 5340 and Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship they are able to support the event to benefit A Step Beyond, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Feeding San Diego, Monarch School and Save the Music Foundation. You can read more about this amazing Rotary Fellowship in Rotary Voices as your District Governor Chuck Pretto is a Big Kahuna Lifetime Member along with Founder Brett Morey. https://blog.rotary.org/2022/06/30/a-rotary-fellowship-that-shreds/ Don't miss the July 29th Rotary MusiCamp Learn to surf event in Del Mar as well as other fun activities designed to involve the family of Rotary as well as bring Rotary into the surf community. Ever been to the Supergirl Pro in Oceanside or Life Rolls On events with disabled children and adults? Check out the Surfers Unite site now and register as a volunteer, sign up as a member and buy some cool Rotary gear including embroidered hats, sweatshirts and UV 50 Dri-Fit shirts at: www.surfersunite.org.  |
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Coronado Rotary Provides Grant to Warrior Foundation Freedom StationAt the first Coronado Rotary Meeting of the new leadership year led by President LuAnn Miller, the club awarded a $12,000 check to Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. The Wolf Pack, made up of a team of amputees who play basketball, inspires the July 4th crowd by shooting baskets through the hoop on the Coronado Rotary float as it glides down Coronado's main street. They are supported by the Warrior Foundation, which helps active duty and medically retired soldiers. The grant will pay for special ultralight wheelchairs for Wolf Pack members and a customized wheelchair for a paralyzed Marine, among other necessities for battle injured warriors.  |
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Come Hear Dan McAllister Speak The La Mesa Rotary Club invites anyone interested in hearing San Diego Treasurer/Tax Collector, Dan McAllister speak to join them on Wednesday, July 13 at noon to 1:30 p.m. Buffet lunch is at noon ($20 visitor lunch price). The Club meets at the La Mesa Recreation. Center located at 4975 Memorial Dr., La Mesa. Please email Sue Richardson if you plan to have lunch at SRichardson@Ci.la-mesa.ca |
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District Environmental Sustainability Committee Rotarians are invited to join in the district's first meeting of the year of the Environmental Sustainability Committee (Committee). Learn about the committee goals for the year and share your ideas on how the Committee can support your projects and your club! The meeting is on Monday July 11, 6:00 -7:00 p.m. The zoom link to attend the meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87048212060?pwd=eVhUbllrZXphYU9PU1BRdUxoVXlMUT09. |
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Reminder to Club Presidents One of your first tasks as new club leaders is to take the opportunity to take advantage of District Governor Chuck Pretto's desire to showcase each club in District 5340. Your club profile could include service projects, international grant projects, membership gains, goals, special recognitions, etc. It's your story to tell. Club presidents are asked to submit an article of club highlights s to Newsbits Editor, Sandy Pugliese at sandyp304@gmail.com. Sandy will create a folder and will select one or more highlights to be included in each week's edition of Newsbits. The hope is to showcase each club by the end of the year. Your article should be no more than 500 words. Please also send 3-5 pictures in jpg. or pgn. format. She will take care of the rest. If you have any questions, you can contact Sandy at 619 813-8922. |
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2022 District 5340 Awardees Announced One of the great parts of the Governor's Dinner is the announcement of Rotarians/Clubs who have earned special recognition. These awardees are selected by the outgoing Governor. This year, in front of 400 attendees, the following Rotarians/Clubs received recognition: RI MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD Mike Whitehurst RI "SERVICE ABOVE SELF" AWARD Marge Cole PEOPLE OF ACTION AWARDS Rachel Hopkins Karen Strabala Suzanne Manual LuAnn Miller Kitt Williams Jeb Bakke Susan Hennefent James Morrison Jane Simeral Tim McCully ROTARACTOR OF THE YEAR Derren Lechuga ROTARACT CLUB OF THE YEAR City Heights Rotaract Club BEST CLUB AWARD Small Size Club - Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Evening Medium Size Club - Rotary Club of Del Mar Large Size Club - Rotary Club of Coronado ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR Fernanda Torres Congratulations to everyone receiving an award. Your efforts to do good in the world has been exemplary and model the potential for greatness in all of us. |
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Ever Thought of Becoming a District Governor? Join us for an informal gathering to discuss the role of District Governor (dinner included). This is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet folks who have held the role in the past. WHEN - Thursday, August 4, 2022 DINNER - 6:00 PM - Hosted by Janice and Matt Kurth LOCATION - 7225 Rue De Roark, La Jolla, CA 92037 Please RSVP to PDG Dan Gensler - dgensler@rotary5340.org or call 1, 619-972-7290 |
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Vines and Vittles Family Festival Vines and Vittles Family Festival, a western themed Fun Family Festival, features a variety of local food vendors highlighting their favorite “vittles”. To go along with the “vittles,” local vintners and craft breweries offer wine and beer tastings. A trading post features crafts from local artists while local performers fill the afternoon with music and entertainment. DATE: Sunday, August 14, 2022 TIME: 2-5 PM LOCATION: Webb Lake Park – Rancho Bernardo Tickets are $40 - Purchase online |
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July is New Leadership Month July is Rotary’s New Leadership Month. Congratulations to all the new Club Presidents! Rotary has designated months to help clubs Develop meeting agendas, projects, or public image campaigns based on these special occasions. The Concept is to give all the clubs of the District a Ready Reckoner of the types of Service Projects, which could be conducted, during the year, and help plan the activities of the year, mostly based on the Rotary Calendar i.e., Rotary Designated Months. Call to Action One of your first tasks as new club leaders is to take the opportunity to take advantage of District Governor Chuck Pretto's desire to showcase each club in District 5340. Your club profile could include service projects, international grant projects, membership gains, goals, special recognitions, etc. It's your story to tell. Club presidents are asked to submit an article of club highlights s to Newsbits Editor, Sandy Pugliese at sandyp304@gmail.com. Sandy will create a folder and will select one or more highlights to be included in each week's edition of Newsbits. The hope is to showcase each club by the end of the year. Your article should be no more than 500 words. Please also send 3-5 pictures in jpg. or pgn. format. She will take care of the rest. |
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We Have a New Governor Governor Chuck Pretto and his wife Cindy Koby Pretto Please congratulate Chuck Pretto, District 5340 Governor 2022-2023 Chuck holds his BBA, MBA, and JD Degrees from the University of San Diego. Chuck and his wife, Kim Kobey, run Kobey's Swap Meet, San Diego’s largest open-air market. Kobey's recently celebrated its 47th year in business. Chuck is active in several community organizations. He has served on the boards of the San Diego Red Cross, the San Diego Crime Victims fund, the San Diego Community College Foundation Board, Midway Planning Committee, and was President of the Business Improvement Association for the Sports Arena area for 10 years. He also served as President of the National Flea Market Association his industry’s premier organization; he currently sits on the Board of the California Swap Meet Association. |
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Meet Rotary's First Female President Rotary International President Jennifer Jones is ready to hit the ground running as she takes office 1 July as the first female president in Rotary history. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor Roseland, Ontario, Canada, and founder and president of Media Street Productions, an award-winning media company in Windsor. Having previously served Rotary in a variety of roles including vice president, director, and Rotary Foundation trustee, her talents have strengthened Rotary’s reach and impact. Learn more about Jones in a profile in the July issue of Rotary magazine. Watch the presidential changeover ceremony on Facebook. |
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Fallbrook Independence Day Pancake Breakfast Looking for a way to celebrate July 4? Pancakes! Sound good? Well, sure it does! The Rotary Club of Fallbrook will hold its second annual Independence Day Pancake Breakfast on Monday, July 4, at the Fallbrook Community Center. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 10:30 AM and there will also be face painting and a Dog Show. $12 for adults, $5 for kids ages 4 to 12, free for kids 3 and under. Proceeds benefit the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
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Comforting Toys Donations Needed Thousand Smiles Foundation is in need for small clean stuffed animals, gently used or new for the August 5-6 dental/surgical clinic in Ensenada. The young kids are given them when they see the doctors and dentists, often for the first time ever. The toys help reduce the child’s anxiety in a new setting. Makes a good project for Interact and/or Rotaract clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well. Please email kimmuslusky@gmail.com for more info.
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The Changing of the GuardOn Thursday evening, June 30 something magical happened - the transfer of responsibility from the outgoing Governor to the Governor-Elect. All of this set before 400 Rotarians representing all the clubs within the district. It was a night of great celebration and fellowship. President-elects were sworn in as well as the new governor, all under the backdrop of RI President Jennifer Jones' new theme of "Imagine Rotary" welcoming the 2022-2023 Rotary year. Outgoing Governor Dan Gensler highlighted the many accomplishments of his year including a world-class District Conference and the partnership with Project Mercy with several homes being built by Rotarians in Mexico. Telling a story of its own is the combined effort of all Rotarians in District 5340 in achieving some significant milestones: A total of 650 projects were conducted this past year providing 60,000 volunteer hours and reinvesting $2.5 million back into our local communities. There is no celebration without a lot of recognition and this night was no exception. Congratulations are extended to District 5340 Rotarian of the Year Maria Fernanda Torres Garcia, Rotaractor of the Year Derren Lechuga and City Heights Rotaract Club named Rotaract Club of the Year. Three clubs earned recognition as Clubs of the Year in the small, medium and large categories and they were Coronado Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Del Mar and the San Diego Evening Rotary Club. Marge Cole received the Service Above Self and received a standing ovation for all her work. People of Action Awards were given to Rachel Hopkins, PR Chair and Jeb Bakke, International Chair. What a sendoff of the prior Rotary year and the welcoming the new Rotary. Congratulations to all. |
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Thank You to Outgoing Governor, Dan Gensler |
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The Sun Shined on the Low Tide Ride and StrideThe Rotary Club of Coronado held their Low Tide Ride and Stride June 18 with over 500 participants. It was a very low tide and a beautiful day for a beach event. Proceeds raised benefits Wounded Warriors. Rotary District 5340 Members.  |
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Bro Am Beach Fest a Huge SuccessLa Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club and Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship participated in the Bro Am Beach Fest at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. The highlight was the smiles on the faces of the disabled children with the Challenged Athletes Foundation who had a chance to ride waves with experienced and professional surfers. Many people stopped by the Surfers Unite booth to inquire about joining Rotary. Congratulations is extended to Rotarian Brett Morey who coordinated this event.  |
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RI Approves District 5340 Grant to Aid Ukrainians GREAT NEWS! - District 5340 will receive a $25,000 DISASTER RESPONSE GRANT from The Rotary Foundation to support Ukrainian refugees right here in our own District! CONGRATULATIONS to James Morrison, District Foundation Treasurer and member of Point Loma Club and his team for getting approval of their Disaster Response Grant (DRG) for Ukrainian refugees in our local area in RECORD time!! How can you or your club help? We need assistance with housing. While temporary is appreciated, longer term housing is needed in order to minimize families moving from house to house on a frequent basis. In addition, we need Rotarian volunteers for various tasks in reaching out to families and directing assistance. Since the conflict began, our District has been receiving Ukrainian refugees. Many families have mothers with small children, while the fathers remain in Ukraine. They are in need of food for host families, housing, clothing, transportation and more. If you or your club have identified families or want to volunteer, please click here. |
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Thousand Smiles Holds Successful ClinicOn June 11 Thousand Smiles Clinic hosted a Loma Linda Dental crew to hold a clinic for some of our pediatric patients with special needs. It was a great success! We are continuing to find more ways to serve the needy in Baja. Rotarians routinely help support this effort through fundraisers and active participation at the clinic in Ensenada.  |
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Super Cow Needs a Home! The Care ‘n Share Toy Drive, a project of Torrey Pines Rotary Club taking place now through July 4th is looking for a home for Super Cow! Super Cow is 4 ft tall, 4 ft+ wide and 4 ft+ deep. Hospital Infantil would love to have Super Cow in their reception area, however they are concerned that they won’t be able to take Super Cow across the border, and thus we need to find Super Cow a good home. |
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$2,000 Grant Given to Elder HelpThe Santee Lakeside Rotary Club provided a $2,000 grant to ElderHelp of San Diego. Elder Help will use the grant to fund incontinence supplies to seniors in our community. ElderHelp's mission is to provide personalized services and information that help seniors remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes.  |
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Rotary Rose Parade Float Theme Announced WOOHOO -- The final design and Float Theme has been approved by Rotary, The Tournament of Roses and the RRPFC Board. HERE IT IS ,,, TA DA!! There are so many ways to get involved - help decorate, be a walker, be an ambassador or have your club become a club ambassador. Show Rotary to the world! |
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Rotary Places a Focus on Peace First picture is Nancy Nguyen, Peace Fellow. The second picture from left to right: Coronado Rotary President Rob Taylor, President-Elect LuAnn Miller, Rotary Fellow Nancy Nguyen; Peace Projects Co-Chair Sharon Raffer; and District 5340 Governor and Coronado Rotarian Dan Gensler. The Rotary Club of Coronado celebrated with pride the announcement from Rotary International that Nancy Nguyen has been selected as a Rotary Peace Fellow. She will be attending the University of Queensland in Australia for the Masters of Peace and Conflict Studies, an 18-month fully funded program. The conflict in Ukraine highlights the need for motivated individuals applying their energy and expertise to the achievement of worldwide peace. “This is a real honor for us as a club and as a district,” said Rotary 5340 District Governor Dan Gensler. The district includes 61 Rotary Clubs consisting of 2,790 members in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Rotary Fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 80 for certificate studies at premier universities. Many Rotary Fellows go on to careers with governments, the military, law enforcement, NGOs, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank. The work of actively building peace and understanding has been a hallmark of Rotary since its earliest days. With the creation in 1999 of the Rotary Peace Centers. |
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Mar Y Vino The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake’s annual "Mar Y Vino" - Sea and Wine! fundraising event is happening on Saturday July 16th, 2022. |
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$10,000 in Scholarships Given to Fallbrook High StudentsThe Rotary Club of Fallbrook Scholarship Committe members Teresa Mendelson and Penny Johnson represented the Club as they handed out $10,000 in scholarships to Fallbrook Union High School students at the school's recent awards ceremony.  |
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2022 Convention Provides Inspiring MomentsThe 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, USA, offered plenty of inspiring moments as Rotary’s global network gathered in person for the first time since 2019, following two conventions that were held virtually because of COVID-19. The convention offered participants new horizons to discover through in-person events and a robust schedule of virtual offerings (with recordings available through 31 August). The Rotary world now looks ahead to next year’s gathering in Melbourne, the sparkling second city of Australia. Learn more.       |
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Get Out Your Hawaiian Shirt! Get out your Hawaiian shirt and join in on the fun. The El Cajon Rotary Club is having its annual fundraiser with a Margaritaville theme. The event begins at 5:00PM at the Elks Club in El Cajon and will feature dinner, music and dancing, along with a silent and live auction. Sponsorships are available. To register to attend and purchase tickets, click here. |
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June is Rotary Fellowship Month Do you have a hobby or passion you would like to explore with friends from around the world? Do you want to build community around your profession or cultural identity globally? Rotary’s Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion or identity. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience. Watch this video to learn more. For a list of Rotary Fellowships, click here.
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Presents Scholarships Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary presented $41,500 in scholarships to Carlsbad students at a recent awards ceremony. Twenty-one students from Carlsbad High, Sage Creek and LaCosta Canyon received awards from the club through its scholarship raffle and AVID scholarships. Thanks goes out to the club's Scholarship Team: Steve Ahlquist, Chairman, Raegan Matthews, Gloria Foote, Rachel Ivanovich and Ken Clark.
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San Marcos Rotary Club Hands Out Scholarship Awards On June 2, 2022, the San Marcos Rotary Club awarded over $8,000 in scholarships to students at the three local high schools, Palomar College and CSUSM. Pictured is President Dana Albert, the scholarship winners and their families!
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Comedy Night June 10 Come join us for Friday Date Night with Comedy. The San Marcos Rotary Club is hosting a Comedy Night fundraiser on Friday June 10th at 6PM at Jacked Up Brewery in Escondido. Proceeds benefit youth programs at San Marcos Unified School District. Tickets are $50, which includes one drink and one appetizer or two drinks. Let’s laugh! it’s for the kids! Tickets can be purchased on the Club's website at sanmarcosrotaryclub.org. |
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Melbourne Australia is Site for Next Year's Rotary Convention If you were unable to attend this year's Rotary Convention in Houston taking place this weekend, consider going next year. Imagine What’s Next is the theme for the 2023 Rotary International Convention, coming to beautiful Melbourne, Australia. Register and pay in full before June 8, 2022 and you’ll be able to take advantage of a special limited time promotional rate. Whether you’re new to Rotary or a longtime member, the Melbourne convention will be an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss your chance to Imagine What’s Next at the 2023 Rotary International Convention. Learn more at convention.rotary.org today! |
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Flamingo Night a SuccessThe San Diego Downtown Evening Rotary Club had the best time hosting the Flamenco Night Gala. The profits generated by the Gala will go to the Rotary Foundation and to Father Joe’s Villages (Dental Clinic).  |
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Chili and Quackers Event Enjoyed By AllThe Rotary Club of Del Mar held their Chili and Quackers event on the beach in Del Mar. The lifeguards did a rescue demonstration and then proceeded to drop thousands of plastic ducks in the ocean and watched to see who arrived on shore first. Lots of fun had by all.  |
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San Marcos Rotary Club Volunteers at the North County Food BankThe San Marcos Rotary Club spent their Rotarians at Work Day volunteering at the North County Food Bank. They had a whole team of Rotarians out preparing food for distribution.  |
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Districts Join Together to Aid Thousand Smiles On May 19-22, 2022, Rotary Districts’ 5340 and 4100 clubs of Carlsbad and Tecate joined together to host their May 2022 Tecate-Smiles in partnership with the Smilesinternationalfoundation.org which has helped thousands of children achieve their abilities to eat, speak, hear and smile more normally. One in 600 births in the Americas, from Canada down to Argentina, are born with congenital facial cleft conditions. Through this last month's efforts in the midst of COVID precaution, well over 600 remote video/internet screenings were performed resulting in 40 potential individual children being scheduled for surgeon and anesthesiologist clearances for safe performance of reconstructive surgery at the Rotary Centennial Hospital clinic at Cerro Azul, Colonia Hindu, Tecate, Mexico. Out of these, 10 children passed all health and family COVID testing and received 44 reconstructive surgeries changing their lives forever. Their care was supported by the local Tecate DIF director, Maria Quijada, the Tecate general hospital directors, the entire membership of Rotary Club of Tecate, several Rotary Club of Carlsbad past and president-elect and members, the Rotaract Club of Tecate and Smiles Action Volunteer Group (past USA Rotaract students), and Doctors, Nurses, surgical technicians and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Scottsdale, AZ. All of this was coordinated through the Smiles International Foundation located in Encinitas, CA with District 5340 Carlsbad Rotarian Dr. Jeffrey Moses. Many District 5340 matching grants from the Rotary Club of Carlsbad have helped to provide surgical equipment for these efforts. |
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Romona Rotary Club Distributes Scholarships The Ramona Rotary Club distributed $12,000 in scholarships this year. Nine $1,000 and six $500 scholarships.
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Winners of the "So You Think You've Got Talent ContestThe Tenth "So You Think You've Got Talent San Diego" was great fun! The show, sponsored by Old Mission Rotary Club, took place on Saturday, May 14th at Francis Parker School. Profits generated from this event will be used to fund the Thousand Smiles Foundation and the Old Mission Rotary Foundation.  Photo: The First Place winner was Poolside Jazz Group with musicians (L-R): Jace Kim- Drums, Cooper Lappin- Tenor Sax, Ethan Yuan - Baritone Sax, Ryan McWeery- Trumpet, Rylie Fabian- Alto Sax, Jon Sugiarto- Piano & Mellophone, Gannon Kaminetz- Trombone, Rohin Sood- Bass Guitar and Gavin Forrest- Guitar. The Master of Ceremonies was, once again, Matt Risi. The Second Place Winner was Classical Violinist Caitlin Wang (mask). There was a tie for Third Place with singer Jaydin Hamel-Hyland (yellow dress) and Comedienne Ella Engelberg.
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Award-winning Photographer, Journalist, and Author Kike Calvo to Speak Please join San Diego Coastal Rotary Club for a virtual meeting with Kike Calvo on Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30 pm. Award-winning photographer, journalist, and author Kike Calvo specializes in culture and environment. He has been on assignment in dozens of countries, working on stories ranging from belugas in the Arctic to traditional Hmong costumes in Laos. Kike's images have been published in National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times, Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair, among others. Kike pioneered the use of drones to produce aerial photography as a tool for research and conservation. He has authored 15 books including Drones for Conservation. |
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Care 'n Share Toy Drive is Back The Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club will resurrect the Care’n’Share Toy Drive, its signature project, at the San Diego County Fair next month. Before the fair was suspended because of Covid, the club collected more than 100,000 stuffed animals donated by fairgoers. Its goal this year is to collect at least 12,000 stuffed animals for the benefit of hospitalized children in local hospitals. |
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Get "On Board" with Surfers Unite and Grow Your Club by Volunteering at the Switchfoot BroAM on June 18 Want to grow your club? Sign Up to volunteer at the Switchfoot BroAM and extend an invitation to friends in the surfing community to join as well. Rotary District 5340 is thrilled to support this event along with Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship as they have been one of the largest volunteer organizations annually supporting the BroAM as well as a sponsor. What is the BroAM? Imagine 17,000 on the sand at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas for a full day of surf contests, surf jousting (knocking folks off surfboards with sticks) and 5 hours of live music including local bands and Grammy Award artists Switchfoot. Need a clip to better understand it? Here ya go! https://youtu.be/nRo0viR0szc.
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2nd Social Yields 25 New Prospective Members The Rotary Membership Social event Thursday night was wonderful. There was plenty of food, drinks and great fellowship. There were many Rotarians in attendance but most importantly, there were 25 potential Rotarians in attendance. A shout out goes to Ron Kohl who put both of District 5340's membership socials together.
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The 10th Annual City2Surf was held last Saturday in Del Mar The 10th Annual City2Surf was held last Saturday in Del Mar. San Diego based non-profit Hope Leadership Academy offers City2Surf, basketball and football camps as well as after school activities designed to ensure that youth from fatherless homes in underserved communities receive support, guidance and a plan to break the cycles of divorce, poverty and hopelessness. Brett Morey, Founder of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle has been involved for eight of the past 10 years. According to Brett, “We simply couldn’t pull off this annual event without our amazing volunteers and friends in the surfing community.” This year’s crew included: Big Kahuna Lifetime Member, Vince Ponce of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, Big Kahuna Jim Johnson who came down from Orange County with a few friends and Big Kahuna Brett Morey and his fiancé Karla Pieto. Jim is the incoming President of the Rotary Club of Irvine which is another example of how this remarkable Rotary Fellowship is building relationships within the family of Rotary. Surfers Unite now has members in 35 countries as well. Lifetime members of Surfers Unite included: Brett Mattei, Past President of the Rotary Club of Del Mar, Lifetime member Danny Quisenberry of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon and over 15 friends in the surfing community. Uriah Mirandon of Del MarSurf Sessions generously supplied the boards, instruction and wetsuits for free. Rotarians in D5340 should contact Uriah’s team for private surf lessons. |
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Santee Rotarians Assists with Stomp Out Hunger Food Drive Santee-Lakeside Rotary club members and kids and Santee Food Bank volunteers assisted local postal workers with the Post Office's annual Stomp Out Hunger Food Drive. This is an annual county-wide effort with donated items typically going to the San Diego Food Bank. For years, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club has worked with both the post office and the Santee Food Bank to ensure items collected in Santee go to the Santee-Food Bank where Santee residents can be served. On May 15, Rotarians unloaded postal trucks and reloaded 4,718 pounds of food onto another truck. The effort was supported by local businessman Kyle Whissel and Whissel Realty Group who donated a large delivery truck to help get the food items from the post office to the Santee Food Bank. Once there, the Santee Food Bank volunteers sorted the donations to be distributed at a later date. The Santee-Lakeside Rotary club also assists the food bank with monthly deliveries to shut ins living in the local mobile home parks. |
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You Are Invited to Refugee Day Join us for Refugee Day on Monday, June 20, 2022 at 6:00PM at the Chula Vista Golf Course and Venue located at 4475 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902. Those Rotarians interested in helping support refugees coming into San Diego, here is an opportunity to participate in some fun while investing financially into programs that support and uplift our refugee population. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Dr. Rasha Roshdy at sdeducator2014@gmail.com.
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Calling all Financial Advisors! Help a Human Trafficking Survivor Thrive Calling all Financial Advisors! Help a Human Trafficking Survivor Thrive Your District Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is collaborating with GenerateHope to provide a financial advisor to mentor one survivor a month for one hour on the basics of budgeting, saving and other necessarily skills. Doing so will help these brave individuals thrive as they take back the lives they deserve. Your help would make a major impact!
We need your help! Contact Dave Oates at david@publicrelationssecurity.com to learn more. |
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Six New Houses Built in MexicoIn concert with Project Mercy, six new houses were built from April 23 - 30, 2022 for six happy families. Thanks go to the Cox and Meziere families, Ware Malcomb Architects and colleagues, and Chula Vista and Encinitas Rotary Clubs.  Project Mercy was really pleased to welcome back Encinitas Rotary after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. Pat Davis spearheaded the event and was equally pleased to be able to welcome a lot of new Rotary and Interact members and share the house building experience with them. Encinitas Rotary has been a supporter of Project Mercy for many years and our longtime framers Chris Malek and Fritz Stelhern got back to working with them with the addition of a couple of our Mexican crew. Their family was the Arce Martinez family of seven. Mother Maria and the two youngest children stayed and played around the new construction all day. When she saw the completed new home, Maria broke down in tears, it was a touching moment for everyone.  Long-time friends Carmen Sandoval and the Chula Vista Rotary crew worked with the lead of Mike Meziere on April 23 to build a home for Concepcion Ramirez Tafolla and her extended family. Concepcion’s husband died a few years ago and she struggles to raise eight children on her own. Her daughter Alexandra has just had a new baby girl and Carmen was excited to bring them gifts for the baby as well as much needed food and items for the rest of the family. They spend nearly all their hard earned money from selling donuts on the streets, to pay for the land. The gift of a house and supplies paves a new way forward and gives them hope for their future.
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Charity Golf Tournament Join the Rotary Club of El Camino Real (Oceanside) and the Rotary Club of Oceanside for a fun filled day of golf, food, and fellowship! Bid on their special virtual auction items, win special prizes including a $10,000 hole-in-one on a designated par 3! Participate in their sponsorship opportunities! All proceeds go towards furthering their efforts to support their community through various educational, youth, and homeless programs. For more information and to register visit the tournament website at www.trellis.org/rcogolf2022.
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The Rotary Peace Centers Celebrate 20 Years of Training Peacebuilders Since the first Rotary Peace Centers welcomed peace fellows 20 years ago, more than 1,500 of them have gained the experience, skills, and networks they need to build peace in their communities and around the world. Collectively, program alumni are making a tremendous impact through their work as leaders in conflict transformation, as well as in the areas of community and international development that make conflict less likely to occur. Rotary’s long-term commitment to peace education will continue to support leaders in the future. In fact, the peace centers program will expand, with the addition of a new certificate program in the Middle East or North Africa by 2025. This truly is a long-term investment. |
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ClubRunner Changeover Training ClubRunner is offering a Changeover Training Series for 2022 to help better prepare you for this upcoming Rotary year. They're holding a series of free webinars to help you brush up on your ClubRunner skills and knowledge. This is a don't miss opportunity. Join them for these in-depth webinars starting on May 5 and continuing until May 21, 2022. New this year, they're offering both beginner and advanced level webinars for certain modules. These training sessions are open to all ClubRunner users at no cost. If the date has passed - no worries - they are recording each session. Hosted by expert Product Specialists, they will be presenting webinars based on roles, club or district versions, and in-depth module deep dives. There will even be live Q&A available during and after the webinar! Registration Details Click here to view schedule and to register for individual sessions or visit www.clubrunner.com/training. Can't attend live? Not to worry, all sessions will be recorded and shared on our Community site after the series is complete. |
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Duck Duck Chili! The much anticipated and universally touted Rotary Club of Del Mar CHILI AND QUACKERS is back! Live and in person, the Rotary Club is hosting the 14th annual Chili & Quackers challenge. Join the fun for all ages at Powerhouse Park, 1658 Coast Blvd, Del Mar, CA on Saturday, May 21 from noon until 3:00 PM. |
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Another Membership Social - Don't Miss Out! If you missed out on the first Membership Social on May 5, you have another opportunity on May 19, 2022. The District Membership Social is open to all Rotarians and an opportunity to invite potential Rotarians to meet and socialize. Rotarians - $25 Potential Rotarians - Free REGISTER TODAY!! Event limited to the first 200 people and will sell out quickly! Potential Rotarians need to be registered as GUEST |
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Rotarians Weed and Clear at San Elijo LagoonDel Mar-Solana Beach Rotarians and friends helped the Nature Collective clear non-native plants at the San Elijo Lagoon and San Dieguito County Park on Rotarians At Work Day.    |
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Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Takes Inner City Kids Surfing If you haven't signed up to assist with the Sat. May 14th City2Surf event in Del Mar be sure to get "on board" today as Rotarians throughout the county including Interact and Rotaract members as well as friends in the surfing community will take more than 50 inner city kids from Southeast San Diego and the South Bay surfing in Del Mar. City2Surf is a Learn to Surf program supported by Hope Leadership Academy, a faith based 501(c)3 organization and this can be a great opportunity to serve with arts and crafts, helping kids get in and out of wetsuits, photography and of course pushing kids in the water. There are already 20 volunteers signed up however there are a few open positions so contact Brett Morey at 858-602-2532 or register at: www.surfersunite.org/events. |
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Nativity Prep Academy is Site for Rotarians at Work DayRotarians from the Rotary Club of Del Mar selected to work at Nativity Prep Academy on Rotarians at Work Day doing a variety of tasks. Nativity Prep Academy is a private-independent, all-scholarship Catholic middle school and college-preparatory program for young men and women from low-income families who represent the first generation to graduate from college. Eleven years of support empowers our students to excel through high school, college, and beyond, becoming role models and leaders in their communities.  |
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North County Membership Social was Enjoyed by AllThe Rotary District 5340 Cinco de Mayo membership social at Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation was a blast! 95 Rotarians and guests had a wonderful time celebrating Cinco de Mayo while taking the opportunity to meet and greet fellow Rotarians and potential Rotarians. If you missed it, there is a Membership Social for San Diego on May 19 at the Legacy Center Mission Valley, so get in on the fun and fellowship by signing up on the District website.  |
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Otay Elementary Gets Assist with Cleaning Up in GardenRotarians from Chula Vista Sunrise and Eastlake Rotary Clubs joined together with community members last week at Otay Elementary School to assist with cleaning up the garden. A shed was built, weeds were removed, and countless other tasks undertaken. Rotarians coming together on Rotarians at Work Day!  |
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Rotary Night at the Padres Rotary Night at the Padres Come join us for an evening of fellowship as we cheer on our Padres team. Seats are located in left field at "The Point". Game Ticket: $35.00, 40.00 and $41.00 | Limit per person: 5 game tickets. The electronic ticket(s) will be emailed to you by Patty Fortin, 5340 District Administrator, 30 days before game day. Here is the lineup: Tuesday, July 5, 2022 | Game Starts at 1:10 PM Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 | Game Starts at 6:40 PM
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Goat for Joe Golf Tournament and Mental Health Fair GOLF TOURNAMENT IS SOLD OUT HEALTH FAIR AND ACTIVITES ARE STILL OPEN TO ALL The annual Goat for Joe Golf Tournament and Mental Health Fair is a fundraising event orchestrated by Dana and Andrea Albert through the San Marcos Rotary Club Foundation. Our presenting sponsor is Lawyers Title San Diego. This was created in memory of Joseph Aaron Nunez, Andrea's brother, who passed away by suicide in March 2017. There are several families in North County San Diego that may have a "Joe" in their lives that is struggling with mental illness such as suicidal behavior, anxiety, depression, schizofrenia, bipolar disorder, or any other debilitating mental disability. |
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Save the Date - 19th Annual Encinitas Wine & Food Festival Join the Encinitas Rotary Club for this celebration of international wines, spirits, local microbrews and outstanding cuisine from some of the region’s finest restaurants and caterers. The 19th Annual Encinitas Wine & Food Festival is being held at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. Guests will enjoy the beautiful grounds and ocean view, sample the wines and beverages from around the world, and taste the best dishes and desserts from our local restaurants and caterers. It’s truly a memorable occasion! Carpool & Win! Those who carpool with four or more to a car will have access to priority parking and be entered into a special prize drawing. For more information: Email: info@EncinitasWineFestival.com or go to the event website: www.EncinitasWineFestival.com.
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Shucking Corn at Feeding AmericaFeeding America was the beneficiary of the work by Santee-Lakeside Rotary club Rotarians and friends. Rotarians sorted corn - good from bad - and then bagged for distribution. Mixed in were some worms/caterpillars, which caused a few ‘ewes” before members purged them from the corn. Nothing was wasted. Discarded corn will be sent to a farm to feed pigs and the birds will love the worms. Altogether Rotarians bagged 1200 pounds of usable corn on the cob which will feed 600 families. To make the Rotarians at Work Day better than ever, District Governor Dan Gensler and Governor Nominee Don Fipps joined in on the fun.  |
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Encinitas Coastal Rotary Donates $4,555 to CRC from Purse Bingo EventThe Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club has distributed funds to Carol’s House managed by the CRC. The funds will go to support the CRC’s Carols House. Opened in 2004, Carol’s House is a 24-bed emergency shelter for all victims of domestic violence; it offers residents a safe home for 45 to 60 days in the emergency shelter while receiving concurrent services. The club is so very pleased to give these funds to a very worthy local charity.  Photo from L-R, Rebecca Nussbaun, Chief Program Officer, Gretchen Mitchell, Fundraising Chairwoman, Marti Rosenberg, President Coastal Encinitas Rotary, and John Van Cleef, ECR member and CEO. Photos by Hugh Stone, Encinitas Coastal Rotarian. |
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May is Youth Services Month Youth Service Month is a special time in Rotary. Throughout the month of May, members of Rotary clubs, Rotaract, Interact, and those involved in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Exchange celebrate the opportunities Rotary provides to connect, grow through service, develop leadership skills, mentor or be mentored, and have fun.
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Students Awarded Medal of Academic MeritMay 1 marks the beginning of Youth Services Month. What better way to kick off this theme than to announce that the Rotary Club of El Camino and the Carlsbad Rotary Foundation along with Union Bank recently made it possible for MiraCosta Collage and the Mira Costa College Foundation to award the 2022 Academic Medal of Merit to five outstanding students. The Medal of Academic Merit is considered the college’s highest academic award and is bestowed annually to students nominated by the teaching faculty and who earned a minimum GPA of 3.75 in degree-applicable courses. Each recipient receives a $1,500 scholarship provided by community members, businesses and service organizations. Winners are: Negar Farahbakhsh, Armando Gabriel Leon, Hayat Sherif, Gilbert "Gib" Barbo IV and Rocio "Rosey" Gutierrez.  |
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Meals for Unkraine VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DISTRICT SERVICE EVENT: MEALS FOR UKRAINE The Outreach Program would like to partner with Rotary District 5340 to help send 100,000 meals from San Diego to Ukraine. You may remember that the Distirct had a similar project two years ago during the pandemic when we packaged 10,000 nutritious meals to local families in need. Join us to assemble protein-rich meals during a fun service project with other volunteers. After the event, Convoy of Hope will ship the food to organizations feeding Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe. |
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Clubs Join Together to Maximize Efforts and Show a Little LoveA fantastic Rotary District 5340 Rotarians at Work Day event occurred in support of GenerateHope. This was the largest turnout todate with 30 Rotarians from Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, Coronado Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, San Diego Rotary Club, La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, and Pacific Beach Rotaract! They made short work of landscaping, deep cleaning and painting projects. The true benefit of this venture was that Rotarians demonstrated the Human Trafficking survivors at this transition home that they are loved for who they are and that they matter!!  |
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Watershed CleanupCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary and over 30 Rotarians and family members picked up or cleared over 1,000 pounds of trash from a watershed as part of Rotarians at Work Day.  |
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Community Cleanup at the Westwood ClubThe Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo conducted their latest community cleanup at the Westwood Club to celebrate "Rotarians at Work Day". They had a great turnout of RB Rotarians to help and a steady stream of cars and truck dropping off disposable items, used furniture and gently used items. Interfaith Community Services came by for the furniture and Rise Resale Store took a lot of used items. EDCO Waste Services provided the club with three 40' trash containers. It was so successful they had to shut down early - but we'll be back!  |
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Rotarians Build Thrift Store for Crawford HighCrawford Colts Thrift Store became a reality as part of Rotarians at Work Day this year. La Mesa Sunrise Rotarian Elena Lujan-Alba teaches at Crawford and responded to a student suggestion that one of the shipping containers on campus be converted to a student thrift store. She shared the idea with the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club and the project took off. The LMSRC organized a conversion event and were joined by The El Cajon Sunset and La Mesa Noon Rotary Clubs. Rotarians and students came out to paint, sort, saw, clean and support this joint effort. Elena's daughter designed the mural, students and Rotarians painted it. The day before, Rotarian Ron Rice painted the entire container inside and out. The shipping container was fitted with clothing racks, and Rotarians sorted donated clothing and hung it all on hangers. Next up: the planning of a grand opening.  |
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Our May Social is Just Around the Corner Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with fellow Rotarians and help grow our District! Join us for a fun-packed evening of fellowship on May 5 This is a District-sponsored event to give Rotarians and future Rotarians an opportunity to meet, greet and enjoy each other. Rotarians are $25.00 each. If your guest is a potential Rotarian, they attend free but they must be registered. Please register and join us. We'd love to see you! Click here for driving directions.
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CARLSBAD HI-Noon Rotary Reports Results of Scholarship Raffle Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary (CHNR) completed its first Scholarship Raffle on March 30, with the prize drawing on Monday, April 4. Karen Antonio, a CHNR scholarship recipient from 2021 and now a student at Cal State University San Marcos, was present to pick the winning raffle tickets. Carlsbad HI-Noon Rotary, has, for the past 25 years, provided hundreds of thousands of dollars for scholarships to college/university bound Carlsbad high school students. Those funds were generated by major events. This year, however, those events were cancelled or reduced (due to Covid) and options were discussed to make sure funds were available for scholarships. The club decided to expand the scholarship offerings beyond colleges, to students interested in trade and technical schools as well. The application deadline for all scholarships was March 30, 2022. The Scholarship Raffle was a success meeting its goal! At the CHNR meeting, Karen Antonio, picked the winners of the four raffle prizes:
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5 reasons to Use Learning Center Content |
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Peace Pole Dedicated at Preuss SchoolA Peace Pole donated by La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club was installed at The Preuss School UC San Diego. To help promote the concept of peace, the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club, through its Peace Committee, donated a peace pole that became part of a newly created zen garden on the campus of The Preuss School UC San Diego. The project has been a cooperative effort between members of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary club and The Preuss School’s Interact club. The words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” are inscribed on the pole in eight different languages, the choice of which was made by the students and reflects some of the languages spoken by Preuss' families. The project started in the winter of 2019-2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19. With the help of retired teacher, Eric Romer, and Tamima Noorzay of UCSD, the project was finally able to be completed and was presented to the Preuss community on Thursday, April 21, 2022.  |
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Charity Golf Scramble Join the Rotary Club of Carlsbad in a charitable golfing event benefitting the North County Lifeline Foundation whose mission is to build self-reliance among youth, adults and families through high-quality, community-based services. The charitable golf scramble is set for June 10, 2022. To register to play or to sign up as a sponsor, click here.
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2022 Council on Legislation Report The process to make changes to the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International is handled at Councils on Legislation (COL) meetings that are held in Chicago every three years. A representative for each district goes to the Council to vote on legislation items that are submitted according to a specific timeline. I was the representative for District 5340 at the Council that just happened on April 10-14, 2022. 94 items were under consideration of which only 29 were adopted. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2022. A lot of items were just small and technical changes, but there were a few that are a little more significant. The complete list of proposed legislation can be found at https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/proposed-legislation-2022-council-legislation, and the complete results of the vote can be found at https://my-cms.rotary.org/en/document/vote-totals-2022-council-legislation. I will just expand on some items below. |
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Rotarians at the Padre GameRotary District 5340 members and Rotary District 4100 share fellowship together at the Padres vs. Reds game held on April 19. The Padres won the game 6 to 2. Don't miss out on the fun of baseball and the fellowship between Rotarians across the district. The next game is scheduled for May 10 when the Padres take on the Cubs.  |
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Peace Pole Dedication All Rotarians Welcome Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 at 9am Balboa Park, near the International Houses The Rotarians from the E-Club of San Diego Global of San Diego have been working on putting together this peace pole for the past four years. Along with the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club they want to dedicate it at Balboa Park to raise awareness for Global Peace. With the war in Ukraine giving attention to world conflict, this is a very timely event, sending a message in 12 languages “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. |
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Rotary & Shelter Box Work Together to Provide Relief for Ukraine CrisisWith over 10 million people displaced by the war in Ukraine, Rotary and ShelterBox work together in and around the region to provide relief. A nice PR video has been put together to demonstrate the collaboration of the two organizations. Click on the title if the video doesn't automatically come up or view online. Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/3xa8hIZ |
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Mission Trails Clean Up Opportunity In celebration of Earth Day (March 22) and Rotarians at Work Day (April 30), San Diego Coastal Rotary Club will be cleaning and sprucing up one of our favorite places - the amazing Mission Trails Park, one of the largest, most beautiful natural parks in the US. Please wear your Rotarian at Work shirt, sun protection and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Be sure to bring a personal water bottle to refill and your own work gloves, if you have them. Tools, gloves and know-how, along with snacks, ice water and Gatorade, will be provided. Family and friends are very welcome. Volunteers under 18 years of age must have the volunteer waiver electronically signed by a parent or legal guardian. Volunteers under 13 years of age, must also be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. Here's a website to check out Mission Trails Park and find out more: Mission Trails Regional Park (mtrp.org) RSVP to Jenny Parker at jenny@jparkermd.net.
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Help District 5340 Reach Its $ Million Goal The World Health Organization reports, “Wild poliovirus transmission has fallen to very low levels with only one new case in 2022.” Only one case of wild poliovirus in 2022! Might this be the last ever reported case? What was once considered wishful thinking, is now within reach. Good-Bye Polio, Thanks Rotary. This World Immunization Week (April 24-30, 2022) please help our Rotary District reach our $333,333 giving goal this year to end polio. Every Dollar contributed to the PolioPlus Foundation is doubled by the Gates Foundation, which means we will have raised $1 million toward our goal to end polio. |
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'Rotarians at Work Day Drop us a line and let us know what you or your club are doing to promote Rotary in your community on Sat., April 30th. Don't have a plan yet? Perhaps you can link up with other clubs or make the drive up to Newport Back Bay to take part in the StandUp for the Cure event. More than 500 SUP riders including members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship throughout SoCal will raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Breast Cancer Research. Yes there are plenty of ways to get involved so click here to complete the Google form or simply send an email to bretthmorey@gmail.com Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle. |
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Low Tide Ride & Stride Kick off summer and Father’s Day Weekend with the 25th Anniversary Low Tide Ride & Stride on a NEW COURSE starting and ending at North Beach. Drop your beach chair at Sunset Park for the after-party with vendor tents and Matt Heinecke on guitar. Don’t miss this local Coronado event hosted by the Rotary Club of Coronado! Your participation supports our wounded warriors and first responders. Register now for early bird pricing: https://lowtideride.com.
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Thousand Smiles Clinic Dates Announced The Thousand Smiles Foundation announced upcoming clinics and is encouraging Rotarians to consider volunteering on one or more clinic dates. Thousand Smiles Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery and Dental Clinic will be held on the following days in 2022: May 6-7, August 5-6, November 4-5 At the following location: Thousand Smiles Clinic, Av Mexico 124, Corner of Av Mexico and 18 de Marzo, Colonia Buena Ventura, Ensenada If you are interested in attending, go to the Foundation website https://thousandsmiles.org, click on Volunteering and under that Sign Up. Any questions, feel free to call Bob Chalfa at 619 843 2943. |
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Need a Speaker for Your Meeting? Need a speaker for your meeting? Your AHT Task Force has you covered! The Rotary District 5340 Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force has created a Speakers Bureau with individuals from clubs in our district trained to provide information, education, and action opportunities to present to clubs regarding human sex trafficking and ways to get involved in combatting this $800 million illicit industry in our region. Research estimates between 3,000 and 6,000 individuals are being trafficked currently in San Diego County. We are happy to schedule a speaker to present to your club. Please contact us for more information about speakers and ways your club can get involved. Contact: kschafer108@gmail.com, tel: 619-322-6040 |
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Rotary Shows SupportOn April 3, PDG Steve Weitzen played in the Operation Game On golf tournament to raise money for wounded veterans. His playing partners were Bill Sutton and his son and Andy and Bret Geernaert. Rotarian George Sousa served as their putting coach. In addition, Bill sponsored two holes on behalf of the Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary Club. Rotarians were also volunteering to help with the tournament as well as many playing and supporting the cause. What a great way to show community support!  |
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A PENGUIN, PELICAN, AND POLIO |
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Model UN a Huge SuccessRotary District 5340’s Model United Nations occurred this month. This action-packed 2-day extravaganza was held at Del Mar City Hall and was a huge success. Pauline Lin-Endresen, San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club, and her Co-Chair, Klaus Gubenator, Del Mar Club, organized and led over 100 students from 17 schools. In addition, international speakers, teachers, advisors, Rotaractors, and many District 5340 Rotarians were involved throughout the year and on the weekend itself. Kevin Cahill, Del Mar Club, is the Chair – Emeritus. During the pandemic, Pauline transformed the Model UN, with its 100+ students and teachers, to an online venue - impressing all involved. Pauline was thrilled to be back in person this year. Guided by teachers and advisors, the students prepare all year. Student teams represent various nations around the globe, learning about their nations' biggest problems, biggest assets, and taking on that nations' point of view. Top-notch international speakers attend, speak, and inspire the students as they negotiate the globe's biggest dilemmas. San Diego State Rotaractors assume Model United Nations leadership roles as the Secretary-General. Alongside other District 5340 members, to make this a highlight of students' high school careers. All Rotarians participating agreed that "we learn as much as the students" by helping with this event. President Ann-Marie commented, "It's also a lot of fun and a great way to get to know other District 5340 members." Our District 5340 is the only one in the United States with a Rotary Model United Nations Program, started by our District's Pathways to Peace Committee thirteen years ago. Rotary International has a long and proud association with the U.N, with Rotarians involved in its charter, and having the highest consultative status of any nongovernmental organization. We are also partners with the U.N. in our PolioPlus initiative. Learn more about Rotary's proud participation in the founding of the United Nations in 1945: Rotary and at The Start of the United Nations.  |
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Mini Veterans Stand Down Event in East County The organizers of a mini–Stand Down Veterans event is looking for additional Rotary partners (Point Loma Rotary is sponsoring). Organizers have assembled a list of items for “Survival Kits” for Veterans to be order from Dollar Tree. Most items come in a case of 24 units. There is an inventory list for both men and women to help you build the kits. This event is taking place in East County on April 21 from 10AM to 2PM at the VFW Hall, 136 Chambers Street, El Cajon. The San Diego Blook Bank will also be at this event. The event will have representatives from the legal aid society, Veterans Village, Paul Mitchel Hair Salon, and Family Health for medical treatment. Service organizations can participate as well. If you have questions, please contact Robert Cenko at robert.cenko@nw-w.com. There are four documents you can download to aid you in ordering kits from Dollar Tree as well as inventory lists for both male and female: |
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Golf Balls Drop From the Sky Look! Up in the Sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s golf balls? Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club announces their 6th Annual Golf Ball Drop to benefit the Navy SEALs Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Griset Branch, the Community Resource Center, and Just in Time for Foster Youth. |
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Join with Rotary to Promote the Power of Vaccines to Protect Children and Save Lives During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, let’s advocate for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines to the health and well-being of our communities. Vaccines are one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. They’re safe, effective, and save millions of lives each year. Our progress in the fight to end polio is proof that vaccines work. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates that the polio vaccine has saved more than 20 million children around the world from paralysis. We need to continue vaccinating children against polio, because as long as the poliovirus circulates anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. |
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You're Invited to Hear a Speaker on Mental Health and Prevention The Old Mission Rotary club invites Rotarians to join them for their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at noon to hear Dr. Caitriona Tilden speak on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. The meeting will be held at the Legacy Resort and Spa Foundation Restaurant. A bio of the speaker follows: Caitriona Tilden, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychology Fellow at the San Diego VA/UCSD Consortium currently serving veterans at the San Diego VA Center of Recovery Education. She provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care to Veterans with serious mental health concerns, specifically those who are experiencing psychosis. Chances are, we all know someone who has struggled with mental health challenges and suicide. Please join us for lunch at Noon on Tuesday, April 5th to learn about these challenges and where to find resources for help. This will be the first in a two-part series of presentations about mental health and suicide. The following week we have Dave Jones of the Escondido After Five Rotary taking on the subject from a very personal standpoint. Please RSVP using this link: http://evite.me/ZYHvg6Cvfb |
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April - Maternal and Child Health Month Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger. 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.
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Wine Anyone?On March 15, several Del Mar Rotarians met to show off their winemaking skills in a fun evening of competition and wine tasting at Solterra Winery. Outfitted with the necessary tools and a brief tutorial, we got into groups of 4 and 5 and experimented with finding a blend of wine that best suited our palate! Owner and Winemaker Chris Van Alyea did the judging and the team lead by Sharon Schendel came in first place with a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.  |
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Hilarity for CharityOn Friday, April 1, with a packed house, Marsha Starr (also a Rotarian), the HIPNO DIVA entertained attendees with a great comedy hypnosis show featuring volunteers from the audience. This fundraiser was a joint effort between the La Mesa Rotary and the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary clubs. All proceeds fund the charities both clubs support. The event included both a live and silent auction. There was such interest in one of the live auction item that the donor offered it twice!  |
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Love to Golf? Join in the District Golf Roundup! Do you enjoy golfing? If so, please consider joining the District Golf Roundup scheduled for April 26, 2022 at 2:30 PM at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The fee is $45 and includes cart and range balls. This is a wonderful fellowship opportunity to meet other like-minded Rotarians while enjoying the beautiful sunshine of Southern California. If you are interested, please contact Bret Geernaert at bretg2019pres@gmail.com.
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Sub=Regional Round of 4-Way Speech Contest HeldOld Mission Rotary Hosted a Sub-Regional Round of the Rotary District 5340 Four Way Test Speech Contest. (L-R) Chase Bergener (Coronado Club), Yen Lam (Club 33), Kylie Womack (La Mesa Club), Angel Aquino (Rancho Bernardo Club) and Rishab Bora (Carlsbad Club). As always, it was very difficult to rank the speeches as the students were all well prepared and passionate. Rishab Bora and Kylie Womack will be continuing on to the Regional Round of competition.  |
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Rotarians from the E-Club of San Diego Global and San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club to
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Joint Cleanup ProjectOn March 26, San Diego Coastal Rotary Club partnered with Coronado Rotary Club as well as PB Rotaract Club to help San Diego Coastkeepers clean up a riverbed in the Otay Valley Regional Park. This beautiful park surrounds the river and wetlands that run to the South Bay National Wildlife Refuge - part of the larger San Diego Bay Refuge Complex. Ranger Moises says that we picked up about 200 pounds of trash (mostly plastic) and helped haul away a 40 cubic yard trailer of debris from invasive trees in the area. Unfortunately, this was only a small amount of the work that needs to get done to keep our sensitive watershed areas healthy. All participants are enthusiastic supporters of Rotary's 7th area of focus and are planning on many more projects like this come. Here is the link to the professional YouTube video that was made to an earlier similar project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKwo8Z9PZCc  |
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Rotary Club of Coronado Holds Successful Golf TourneyOn March 25, the Coronado Rotary Club held another great golf tournament. They sold out at 150 players. The tournament included a delicious lunch and dinner, putting contest and silent auction. There were lots of gift certificates to the pro shop for net, gross, long drive, etc, The money raised will go to Rotary projects (schools, youth sports, military & first responders needs, etc.) locally.  |
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Hear John Hewko Speak Join us virtually for a conversation with John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO of Rotary International. Tue, Mar 29, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT Online and Free Come hear the head of one of the largest civil society organizations in the world discuss what role everyday individuals and organizations can play in addressing the Ukraine crisis — from meeting humanitarian needs, to protecting human rights, to de-escalating the conflict. Join us on Tuesday, Mar 29, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT for a conversation with John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. |
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Pick to Give Community Outreach ProjectRancho Santa Fe Rotary Club members gathered for their Pick to Give Community Outreach pPoject at the Samuel Bingham estate in RSF. They picked 45 crates of fresh oranges for a local Encinitas food pantry to supplement their offerings with fresh produce. It was a beautiful day! Thanks to Seeds of Hope, LCC Rotaract Club, and some nice Encinitas Rotary club members for their help with this project.  |
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Participants Needed for Dementia Caregiving Study Rotarians, here is an opportunity for service: Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in collaboration with a San Diego small business, CareVirtue, to develop a legal and financial education tool for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. They are currently looking for people to participate in a survey that will help the research team build this tool. Click HERE for a copy of the flyer explaining this study.
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Rotary Night at the Padres ROTARY NIGHT AT THE PADRES Padres vs. Reds Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | Game Starts 6:40 PM Seats located in left field at "The Point" Game Ticket: $35.00 |
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Encinitas Rotary Club raises $22K for Ukraine Encinitas Rotary Club raises $22K for UkraineENCINITASAt the Encinitas Rotary Club meeting last week, Rotary members pulled together and raised nearly $20,000 for relief efforts in war-torn Ukraine. Rotary Club member Daphne Fletcher gave a presentation about her trip back to Ukraine in search of the long-lost relatives of her great-grandmother, who came to America from Ukraine in the early 1900s for a “better life.” |
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Check Out the March-April Immunization Committee Newsletter Check out the newest edition of District 5340's Immunization Committee's Newsletter. The topic focus is on the COVID vaccine and when to get a booster shot, Click here to download.
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Mark Your Calendars for Spring Blood Drive On April 27, roll up your sleeve and join the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps at their Blood Drive. The San Diego Blood Bank will help us. We'll be at the new Von's (10675 Scripps Poway Pkwy) from 9-2:30. To participate you must schedule an appointment at sandiegobloodbank.org/donate or calling 619-400-8251. Appointments are mandatory and donors will need to bring a photo ID.
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Encinitas provides $22K for Humanitarian SuppliesOn Wednesday, March 16, Daphne Fletcher of Encinitas Rotary Club made a presentation about her visit to Ukraine to find family roots near Uzhgorod. Just 48 hours later, the Encinitas Rotary Club Foundation had a $22,000 bank-wire out the door based on refugee assistance pledges from Encinitas Rotary members, friends, and even meeting visitors. The recipient, Rotary Club of Kosice Classic in Slovakia, is District 2240’s designated coordinator for humanitarian supplies. Through a signed donor agreement, Rotary Club Kosice Classic will use the Encinitas Rotary funds to procure supplies and get them to the Rotary Club of Uzhgorod-Skala, just across the border with Ukraine. Both clubs conducted daily assessments on the situation of refugees at the border. Mechanisms are in place to transport and distribute supplies. A number of other Rotary Clubs in Europe have been routing donated supplies through Rotary Club Kosice Classic. Encinitas Rotary’s monetary donation will provide Euros to purchase bulk supplies in Slovakia. Encinitas Rotary Club President Sherry Yardley stated, “All we needed to know was that fellow Rotarians were there to get the job done!”  |
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Rotary District Members Spruce Up Human Trafficking Survivor HomeNearly two dozen Rotarians from six clubs gather to perform some much-needed landscaping and light house cleaning for a North County home for human trafficking survivors. Thanks so much for the team at Refuge for Women who had us out! Clubs represented included Rancho Santa Fe Rotary, Southeast San Diego Rotary, La Jolla Golden Triangle, Oceanside Rotary, and Rancho Bernardo Rotary. Thanks to everyone who came out to help.  |
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The Rotary Foundation Has Created a Channel For Direct Humanitarian Support to Ukraine In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for donors around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.
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Rotary District 5340’s Anti-Human Trafficking Summit A Success!The joint Point Loma Nazarene University/Rotary District 5340 “Ending Human Trafficking” Summit was a resounding success with more than 300 community, government, law enforcement, and non-profit leaders gathering to collaborate on how we end this $800 San Diego County illicit industry. Nearly two dozen Rotarians were also present. Watch this YouTube video to see the entire program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7im5n6jdA  |
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Rotary Club of Del Mar Refurbishes Access RampOn March 14, members of the Rotary Club of Del Mar met at the La Colonia Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito in the Eden Gardens neighborhood of Solana Beach to refurbish the access ramp to Casita de Gloria. Members installed new handrails and a fresh coat of paint to provide a pleasing pathway to the Casita, which houses mentoring programs and other club activities. Outside the casita, El Jardin de los Ninos provides hands-on experiences in organic gardening. Casita de Gloria was named to honor Gloria Castellanos, who spearheaded the La Colonia branch, and currently serves as the La Colonia clubhouse manager.  |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Builds Their 22nd House in TijuanaCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary completed its 22nd house in Tijuana on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Thanks to Chairman Ray Green and his team - Laura Green, Rocco Ciesco, Estela Mitrani, Christian Chapman, Kate Hanham, Paul Kartzke, Mark Packard, and Vic Gausepohl, this project was a great success. A lot of effort went into planning this successful project, including planning meals and hydration options as well as finding ample storage to house the donated materials for the construction and furnishings. The build in Tijuana was like going to the symphony. It was a well-orchestrated effort with everyone playing their part in harmony.  |
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Rotary's Network Enables Rapid Humanitarian Relief for Ukranian Refugees The crisis in Ukraine is having devastating consequences on civilians as families flee their homes. According to the United Nations, more than 2 million people, most of them women and children, have sought refuge in neighboring countries and across Europe, while about 1 million more people have been displaced within Ukraine. Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Europe and around the world have taken swift action and are working with members nearby to provide food, water, medical equipment, and shelter for refugees. |
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Rotary Responds to Ukranian Refugee Crisis Rotary's Disaster Response Fund is a general fund to receive contributions for worldwide response to natural disasters. The fund typically provides for Disaster Response Grants of up to $25,000, made to Rotary Districts to assist on the ground in these disaster areas. Due to the growing humanitarian and refugee crisis taking place in Ukraine and the impacted surrounding countries, on March 2, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, acting on behalf of the Trustees, agreed that the sudden and extreme needs prompted by the crisis in Ukraine warrant immediate action to bring relief in these impacted areas. |
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District Grant Reports Due April 1 Please note that District Grant reports are due by April 1. The report is for Rotary year 2021-2022. Please submit your report to matchinggrants.org. If you have any questions, please contact District Grants Chair Elana Levens-Craig at levenscraig@hotmail.com. or by phone at 619 993-7805.
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Rotary Clubs Partner for Optical MissionThe Optical Mission of the Rotary Club of Meycauayan East of District 3770 in partnership with sister club, the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego, was started last October 16, 2021 with the aim of providing comfort to at least 100 school children with eye problems. In early 2022, COVID conditions eased up in the Philippines allowing the mission to resume providing free eye consultations, examinations, testing and eye glasses to elementary school children in the nearby communities of Meycauayan City. Pictures show members of RC Meycauayan East led by President Ernie Tolentino, DGN Rudy Enriquez and AG James Javier.  |
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410 Pounds of Oranges Headed to Food BankThis week a small group of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotarians and friends picked 410 pounds of oranges and delivered them to the Community Food Connection in Poway on Thursday morning. This is just one of many projects this club participates in - another great job!  |
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Rotary Club Sponsors Book FaireCarlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary produced another Book Faire for Jefferson Elementary students this week. Mo Taylor chaired the team: Dave Dana, Yvonne Finocchiaro, Eric Lodge, Harry Peacock and Helen Wells. Carlsbad Union School District Superintendent Churchill and Jefferson Principal Carla Bos also attended. Every student was able to select and to buy two books for a quarter each. All the happy faces were a wonderful sight for all participants.  |
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San Diego Police Department to Get Upgrades The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club (LJGTRC) will perform their eighth San Diego Police Department (SDPD) community service project on the weekends of March 19th and 26th remodeling a large portion of the Department’s Northeastern Division which provides protection to the San Diego communities of Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain, Sabre Springs, 4S Ranch, and Rancho Bernardo.
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Music Contest HeldLa Mesa Noon Rotary Club hosted the annual music contest this week. Although these kids haven’t been playing for long, they were terrific! Each was awarded prize money for their efforts!  |
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Want to Play Golf? Join us! The Rotary Club of Coronado is presenting its 26th Annual Coronado Rotary Charity Golf Tournament at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course on Friday, March 18, 2022. Your entry fee of $250 includes green fees, luncheon, beverages and post-game barbecue, as well as prizes for closest to the pin on all par threes and longest drives for men and women. Don’t have a foursome? No problem! We will match you with others so everyone can play. It’s a full day of fun starting at 10:30 AM with registration and a putting contest. Shotgun start using a scramble format will commence at 1:00 PM. |
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Gala Benefiting Thousand Smiles The Thousand Smiles Foundation was established by a group of Rotarians from the San Diego area in 1985, to provide free professional medical treatment to patients with maxillofacial deformities who, without our help, would go untreated, to use our facilities to provide dental care to under privileged children and to promote a bilateral interchange of medical, dental and surgical techniques between the medical professionals from the USA and the countries in which we work. |
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Give the Gift of Life! The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise is sponsoring a blood drive on March 26. If you can donate, please do so as there is currently a shortage of blood in San Diego County. Date: March 26, 2022 Time: 10-3:30 PM Location: 12156 Carmel Mountain Rd #300 Panera Bread Parking Lot San Diego, CA 92128 |
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How Rotarians Can Help Ukraine Humanitarian Efforts There has been an outpouring of concern on how we can help the citizens of Ukraine who are experiencing tremendous suffering and loss with thousands of women and children fleeing the country. My classmate, District Governor Dana Moldovan from District 5240 (California Central Coast) is originally from Romania. In her conversations with our fellow Rotarians in Romania she said, “Refugees are arriving in Romania with almost nothing, some are just walking over the border. Most refugees are women and children as the men are staying behind to defend their country. It is still winter and yesterday it snowed again at the border.” Of course, we’re all seeing the disturbing images on the news and naturally wondering how we can help. We have coordinated with District Governor Adrian Luca & District Governor Elect Florin Marginean from Romania Rotary District 2241 to provide support for the refugees. Contributions will be used for food, clothing and shelter for the women and children refugees. If you wish to help, please make your checks payable to: Rotary District 5340 Write: “UKRAINIAN REFUGEES” in the memo line. Mail check to: Rotary District 5340 5052 Clairemont Drive #178651 San Diego, CA 92117 Use the Donate Now Button to donate using your credit card. Thank you for your generosity! District 5340 Governor, Dan Gensler  |
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Sunday Musings - An Historic PETS An Historic PETS By any measure this year’s Presidents Elect Training Seminar was historic. We’ll start with appearance of Jennifer Jones, the first woman president of Rotary International in its 117-year existence. It was the first time for District 5000 from Hawaii to join Southwest PETS. The other districts in attendance were: 5320, Orange County; 5280, Los Angeles; 5330, Riverside; 5495, Greater Arizona; 5240, Santa Barbara; 5300, Pasadena; 5500, Tucson; and, of course, 5340 from San Diego and Imperial County. It was the first time in two years that PETS was in person. It was held at the LAX Marriott hotel. There were over 350 presidents elect getting ready to lead our clubs. |
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Chula Vista Rotary Shows Love to Healthcare WorkersThe Chula Vista Rotary delivered 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the healthcare heroes at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. They showered local heroes with appreciation for their ongoing love and care for our community! Thank you to all the Chula Vista Rotarians who donated and participated in this service project. Here is the response they received from healthcare workers at Sharp Chula Vista: "Thank you again for the cookies! They went a long way to spread love! And the added detail of a homemade card made them extra special." The club sent cookies to the ICU and to the Emergency Department, since they have been most impacted during this time, and it’s hard for them to leave the units. The rest were distributed during our “Show Love” event for staff on Valentine's Day.”  The club conducted a second round of Girl Scout cookie deliveries! In collaboration with Neisha’s Dance & Music Academy, the Rotary Club of Chula Vista donated cookies to the Heathcare Heroes at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.  |
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March is Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Month Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure. While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits. |
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Join in on Coastal Cleanup Project March 26 March is Rotary water and sanitation month so San Diego Coastal Rotary Club will be partnering with SD Coastkeepers on March 26 to clean up a waterway in the Otay Valley Riverbed as well as adding native trees. We will be ridding the area of debris before it has the opportunity to make it out the ocean. We will also be doing some restoration work that will improve the ecosystem and eventually prevent run off of rainwater in the area. All Rotarians are invited to assist with this project.
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District Training Assembly Around the Corner ARE YOU REGISTERED? The District Training Assembly is a great opportunity for officers, committee chairs and club members, new and old, to learn how to manage programs, projects and best practices from knowledgeable Rotarians. The District Training Assembly is especially beneficial in educating new members/Red Badgers about Rotary, its programs and the resources available in the district. Two members of any club planning to apply for a District Grant MUST register and attend the District Grants Seminar. The Global Grants Seminar will be held from 12:10 to 1:30 PM - two members of every Club planning to apply for a Global Grant are required to attend this seminar. Online registration is open, and classes are filling up so don't delay. Click on register now set up your classes.  |
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Rotary Club of Sweetwarter Partners with the Rotary Club of Meycauayan EastThe Optical Mission of the Rotary Club of Meycauayan East of District 3770 in partnership with sister club, the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego, was started last October 16, 2021, with a goal to provide comfort and improved sight to at least 100 school children with eye problems. The Misson resumed last Saturday, February. 19, 2022 following improved Covid 19 conditions in the Philippines, which have eased up and normalized a bit. The group conducted free eye consultations, examinations, testing and eyeglasses to elementary school children in the nearby communities of Meycauayan City. There efforts continued on February 26, 2022.  Photo: Members of RC Meycauayan East led by Pres. Ernie Tolentino, DGN Rudy Enriquez and AG James Javier |
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Scholarship Raffle to Benefit High School Seniors in Carlsbad Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary presents its first Scholarship Raffle to fund the scholarship pool for high school seniors who reside in Carlsbad. This year, funds will support scholarships for college, trade and technical schools. Do to Covid restrictions, fundraising events are off the table. Taking a creative posture, Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary club elected to hold a raffle to help support their scholarship efforts. The goal is to sell 2500 tickets between now and March 30, 2022. Cost of tickets are $20 for one and $100 for six tickets. Due to regulations, purchase of tickets online is prohibited. Tickets can be purchased through Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotarians or through mail: Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club Foundation, PO Box 130175, Carlsbad 92013. Your tickets will be sent to you. The drawing will occur on April 4 at the club's regular meeting. |
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Presidents-Elect Attend PetsClub's president-elect gathered this weekend at the LA Marriot to attend the Presidents-Elect Training Session (PETS). This is the first PETS in-person gathering since 2020. Participants receive a first-class training session geared toward arming them with the tools to be effective leaders for the upcoming Rotary year. Team building and networking are essential components of the training session as is inspiring stories and a lot of cheerleading. Make sure to ask your club's president-elect what they learned and even better ask them how you can help during their tenure as president.  |
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Rotarians Michael Fuqua, Jim Hyldahl selected for Rancho Bernardo Hall of FameCongratulations are extended to Rancho Bernardo Rotary club members Mike Fuqua and Jim Hyldahl who were selected to be inducted into the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame. Jim and Mike join five other Rancho Bernardo Rotarians in the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame: Mike Stelman, Karen Stelman, Dave Brooks, Scott Lawn and Don Glover. Their achievement was noted in the Rancho Bernardo News. Click here to read the article. It is very clear that the Rancho Bernardo Rotary club members are People of Action.  Photo: Mike Fuqua on left with Jim Hyldah on the right. |
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Rotary District 5340 Policy for Rotary Foundation Grants 2022-2023 The District Grants Policy for 2022-2023 has been published and you will find the link below. To be considered for District Designated Funds (DDF), the sponsoring club must be current on all District and Global Grant reporting; be current on Rotary International and District dues; enter Rotary Foundation giving goals on MyRotary.org by August 1, 2022 and ensure projects comply with the District 5340 Youth Protection Policy. To be eligible for district grant DDF, the Rotary club requesting the DDF allocation must have contributed either a minimum of $50 per capita to the Annual Fund or a total of $5,000 to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation for the 2021-2022 Rotary year. Two club members must attend the District Grants In-person (District Training Assembly on March 19 - to register click here) or Online Training by June 1, 2022. Trainees must also complete and pass the District Grants online quiz by June 1, 2022. Potential Primary Contacts are strongly encouraged to attend the District Grants In-person or Online Training. To review the entire grants policy click here. |
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Motorized Scooters Donated by the Rotary Club of SweetwaterTwo motorized scooters were donated by the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego to the community of the Order of the Most Holy Savior and St. Brigitte in Tijuana, Mexico for use by their elderly and ambulation impaired members. Blessings and turnover ceremonies were held last Sunday, February 20, 2022 at St. Charles Catholic Church Parish Hall, which was attended by Sweetwater Rotarians led by club president, Marissa De Luna.  Group photo shows seated from left, VP Rosie Mallari, Pres. Marissa, Rtn Pat Quebada, and Rtn Veronic Villanueva. Standing from left, Rtns. Fatima Larcome, Joy Vicente, Carmelita Vicente, Jason Larcome, Severo De Luna, K of C Joe Bajo, Sec. Romeo Villanueva, Philip Villanueva, Florian Pet, Freda Pet, K of C Frank & Margaret Dominguez.
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19th Annual Point Loma Rotary
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Prepare for District Training Assembly Prepare for the District Training Assembly Your club officers will benefit from the leadership and team-building skills they’ll learn during their upcoming district training assembly. They’ll also hear about new district initiatives and how districts can support club innovations. Find exercises in the District Training Assembly Leader’s Guide to help your teams work together to define new goals and strategies for their year in office. RI recommends that club officers and committee chairs complete the courses for their roles before attending district training assembly sessions. Role-specific learning plans are available in the club leadership catalog. |
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LaJolla Sunrise Rotary Club Sponsors Virtual Food Drive Two years of COVID economy followed by the rising cost of food at the grocery store (7% food inflation) have impacted almost everyone, but it has pushed many in San Diego past the tipping point: They cannot afford to buy food for their families. This flows down to school children sitting in class, distracted by being hungry. LaJolla Sunrise Rotary has teamed with the (Irwin) Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to sponsor a virtual food drive. The food bank is the largest in San Diego. They have more than 200 food distribution sites and provide food to more than 1/2 million people per month. They are a non-profit 501c. |
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I l like the Rotary Logo Chuck Pretto, District 5340 Governor-Elect Recently, our District Governor-Elect Chuck Pretto submitted an article to the Rotary Voices, an online blogging site featuring all things Rotary. His topic was I like the Rotary logo. It was thoughtfully written and worth sharing with members of District 5340. He’s a big believer in the power of the Rotary logo. So much so, Chuck plans to give every member in our district a Rotary pin during his visits to clubs. He hopes it will help start more conversations between members and the next generation of Rotary and Rotaract members. Below is his article: I like the Rotary logo — the one with the wheel and the word “Rotary” next to it. It’s not always a popular opinion though. Some members prefer the old Rotary wheel and continue to use it, even though it was retired nearly a decade ago. In some ways, I get it. We Rotary members can be traditionalists. The modern Rotary logo has something that the old one doesn’t though: name recognition — literally. The word “Rotary” (or Rotaract) is in big letters. It’s easy to read and most importantly, it’s easy to identify. I experienced that difference first-hand when I started wearing the modern Rotary logo on my lapel pin. From my dental hygienist to the person bagging my groceries, I was getting asked about Rotary everywhere. I never had this level of engagement before! You know why? Because we aren’t a big corporation like Starbucks with a logo you just know. The wheel doesn’t mean anything to the public. By adding “Rotary” to the wheel, our logo becomes much more identifiable. And because of that, I’ve had many delightful conversations with people. Some have even joined our club meetings to learn more about Rotary. It’s been a great recruitment tool. |
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Fisher House Receives Needed SuppliesThis month, Santee-Lakeside Rotary club members and friends of Rotary donated much needed supplies to the Fisher House San Diego. Fisher House's Mission of serving military by providing a "home away from home," at no cost, for their families while they are hospitalized caught the attention of the club who wanted to help. These homes allow military families to focus on the medical care and recovery of their loved one.  Photo: Santee-Lakeside president, Laura Purdom delivers supplies to Fisher House San Diego
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Rotary Night at the PadresRotary Night at the Padres Come join us for an evening of fellowship as we cheer on our Padres team. Seats are located in left field at "The Point". Game Ticket: $35.00, 40.00 and $41.00 | Limit per person: 5 game tickets. The electronic ticket(s) will be emailed to you by Patty Fortin, 5340 District Administrator, 30 days before game day. Here is the lineup: Padres vs. Mets Tuesday, June 7, 2022 | Game Starts 6:40 PM Tuesday, July 5, 2022 | Game Starts at 1:10 PM Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022 | Game Starts at 6:40 PM |
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The Paul Harris Society ”The Rotary Foundation is the life blood of Rotary.” “Without the Foundation, there would be no Rotary. Rotary was Wayne’s passion and I will continue to support that passion” | LeeAnn Cusick, Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, (Wayne Cusick, Founder of Paul Harris Society D5340). By giving from your heart each and every year, you’ll support families and change lives. Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide:
 Do you want to join the Paul Harris Society, Click here for the application. |
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Thousand Smiles Holds Successful ClinicThousand Smiles Foundation held a successful February clinic two weeks ago. The Foundation would like to thank those who supported it! Many thanks to the Point Loma Rotary club for sponsoring the volunteer lunches at the clinic. We had a very tasty taco luncheon. Gracias to the Lake Elsinore Rotary club for sponsoring the patient/family lunches as an ongoing project they have had for many years! Appreciation goes to the Centenaria Rotary of Ensenada for their ongoing logistical support as liaisons to the Baja Community. The Santee Rotary club gifted our kids with hundreds of toothbrushing kits, and the Highway 78 Rotary club supported us with books in Spanish, nutrition lessons, as well as internet magic! And of course, all our dedicated volunteers from other Rotary clubs and medical/dental people. We cannot function without this core of dedicated people! The Foundation is also grateful for Jimbos Markets for their ongoing support of our nutrition education and their donations! Two more clinics have been added to the Foundation's existing six clinics a year agenda. In March, they will be holding a pediatric clinic for Baja special needs children who would otherwise go unseen for dental care. They will also do another one later in the year. We are continuing to find more ways to serve the needy population in Baja.  |
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District to Support Afghan Refugee Efforts Rotary District 5340 and the San Diego Women’s Foundation (SDWF) are joining forces to support community-based organizations that are providing support services to Afghan Refugees in San Diego County. These organizations are providing very important services and goods to the thousands of incoming families in San Diego County that require assistance with emergency food, housing, clothing, legal services, transportation, health care and so much more. This first-of-a-kind community collaboration for our Rotary District will include financial support from both organizations and volunteer opportunities for all members. To date, we have assembled $30,000 in support for this important cause, and we expect this to grow significantly. We have an anonymous donor that has agreed to match $10,000 in additional donations. |
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Bouncy Balls GaloreWhat was the Fallbrook Village Rotary doing last Saturday? They joined the annual Baseball Bash at Ingold's Sports Park passing out bouncy balls to the kids! At their Rotary table, Rotarians shared the message about “Service Above Self,” handing out flyers, pens and business cards while some parents signed up to get more emails about our events! Everyone learned about the club's fundraisers and how Rotary works to eradicate polio! The smiling kids and bouncy balls were hopping all over the parking lot!  |
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Sign Up Now for the District Training Assembly Don't forget to register today for the 2022 District Training Assembly! Held only once a year the District Training Assembly (DTA) is a great opportunity for officers, committee chairs and club members, new and old, to learn how to manage programs, projects and best practices from other Rotarians. The District Training Assembly is especially beneficial in educating members about Rotary, programs and the resources available through the District. Online registration is open, and classes are filling up, so don't delay! Visit the District website today to register and select your classes! Two members of any club planning to apply for a District Grant MUST register to attend the District Grants Seminar, immediately following the District Assembly. Additionally, for those clubs planning on applying for a Global Grant, two members of your club need to attend the Global Grants Seminar being held as part of the District Assembly from 12:10 to 1:30 PM. |
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What Are You Doing for Rotarians at Work Day? It's time to create a little excitement for Rotarians at Work Day as District Governor Dan Gensler has tasked Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and Founder of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship to help clubs throughout D5340 to promote their hands-on service events. As many of you know, the late Bob Watson of the Rotary Club of Coronado encouraged Rotarians throughout D5340 to select a hands-on project the last Saturday of April so that we could unite to share how Rotarians make a difference in our community. This concept of Bob's became a global phenomenon as thousands of clubs around the globe have since adopted his vision as well. |
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Super Bowl Beach Clean Up in OB Join members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship, Rotarians, Rotaract, Interact members, friends in the surf community and others as we clean up Ocean Beach on Saturday, February 12 at 8:00 AM. Wear your favorite NFL team jersey or any other sports team jersey and invite others to join in the fun by texting "OB" to 858-602-2532 or simply register online at: www.surfersunite.org/events. ***** Wish to join others from Southern California up at Newport Back Bay for a day of fun? Well check out all the upcoming service events for Rotarians, Rotaract and Interact members as well as friends in the surfing community at: www.surfersunite.org/events.
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The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Presents Grant to the Balboa Park Committee of 100On Tuesday, February 1st, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant to the Committee of 100 to help them in their efforts to preserve Balboa Park. The grant of $10,000 will be used for the preservation of the facade of the Balboa Park Gymnasium.  Photo: Roger Showley is the President of the The Committee of One Hundred and works to preserve Balboa Park’s architecture, gardens and public spaces. |
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Humanitarian Visit to La Rumorosa MexicoSeveral members the Chula Vista Eastlake Rotary club made a trip to a home for abandoned seniors in La Rumorosa, Mexico on February 5th. They dropped off food, blankets, and gently worn clothing. But the main purpose of the visit was to scout out the repairs needed at La Casa Para Pobres Desamparados. The electricity is out in the kitchen and a dedicated electrical box is needed to handle the load for the electric water heater. Another visit is planned to ensure the electrician the club helped facilitate was able to complete the job. For now, though, they were glad to make a small dent in their ongoing needs.  |
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Monthly Rotary Theme One of the seven areas of focus of Rotary we don’t seem to talk about very much is peacebuilding and conflict prevention (the actual area of focus is named "Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution"), which is the theme for the month of February. It is often, however, the conflicts that occur throughout the world that are the root causes of poverty, despair, economic hardship and poor health. Take for instance the major deterrent to polio eradication: the difficulty in vaccinating children in war torn countries. Rotary International as an organization understands this relationship and therefore is deeply invested in supporting individuals and programs that will develop leaders who are committed to seeking ways toward peace. The path toward peace begins with understanding and respect for the differences that make us unique. |
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Join Us for a Night of Hilarity Join in on a night of hilarity on April 1 at 7:00 PM at the La Mesa Community Center. This event is a joint effort by both the La Mesa Sunrise and La Mesa Rotary clubs. 100% of the proceeds go towards sustainable projects the clubs have selected to participate in. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.laughlamesa.org.
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Join Us at the RI Convention in Houston We are pleased to confirm that the 2022 Rotary International Convention will be an in-person event in Houston, Texas on June 4-8, 2022. We are offering a special registration rate of $495 through 28 February. Click here to take advantage of this offer. All Rotary International convention and preconvention participants must either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 OR provide a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival at the convention. Check https://on.rotary.org/3umeujx for updates as we continue to determine what safety protocols are necessary, based on the current recommendations for safe gatherings from the CDC. We will see you in Houston! |
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Let's Give Back to Those Who Give So Much. At Sharp HealthCare and other health care facilities, thousands of dedicated individuals still face a daily struggle against COVID-19. Driven by a love for their work and a love for the people entrusted to their care. They continue to work tirelessly, preventing illness and saving lives. As Rotarians and People of Action, let’s return the empathy. Sharp HealthCare has given us the means to make a difference: Send a Valentine, donate meals or share a message from your heart. This is similar in practice to sending letters to soldiers, sailors and airmen overseas, thanking them for their service. All the contact information and links follow below.
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Save the Date - District Training Assembly Held only once a year, the District Training Assembly (DTA) offers training on a variety of subjects to Rotarians, including club officers, directors and committee chairs to help them be effective club leaders. ALL ROTARIANS - especially Red Badgers - are welcome and encouraged to attend. More information will be coming out on a weekly basis so please be on the lookout for these postings. Postings will include a registration link and course information. For those participating in District/Global Grants, this assembly will have a special Global Grants Seminar that requires two members of every club planning to apply for a Global Grant to attend. Start deciding who those participants will be. More to come.......
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Spring Cleaning Volunteer Event at a Human Trafficking Survivor Home Help us provide some needed spring sleaning at a Human Trafficking Survivor Home in North County March 5 from 8 AM to 12 PM. We’ll be doing some much-needed, non-skilled outdoor gardening, weeding and deep cleaning for this wonderful healing facility while demonstrating to its residents that Rotarians care about their well-being. Sign up soon by emailing Dave Oates at david@publicrelationssecurity.com. Details will follow to those who sign up. |
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Rotarians Providing Service to Their CommunitiesChula Vista Rotary Members of the Chula Vista Rotary spent the morning of January 29 in service and fellowship, volunteering at Feeding San Diego.  La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Members of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary is doing their part to spread joy around San Diego. They made California poppy seed bombs out of clay to throw around the community and brighten our world.  Route 78 Rotary Club Route 78 Rotary members Ashley Anello and Tamara Stark presented a check from their club for $500. as well as food to Unicorn 🦄 House in Oceanside.  Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club The Rotary Club of Santee Lakeside is proud to support Paws for Purple Hearts San Diego. Rotarians Lori Bird, Laura Purdom and Taylor Henderson presented a grant check of $1,000 to help them continue their amazing work with Veterans.  |
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Rotary Foundation Training Session Mark your calendars today for a very important training session put on by the District's Foundation Committee. The Foundation Training Session will be held on February 9 at 4:00 PM. This will be a Zoom meeting. Topics to be covered include Major Gifts and Major Impact for Changing the World and information on how your club can become a Promise Club. Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Don't delay, register today! |
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Escondido After Five Rotary Club Fundraiser The Escondido After Five Rotary Club is getting ready to hold its annual fundraiser on February 26, celebrating ten years of providing scholarships, giving joy to families during the holidays, supporting veterans and empowering youth in the community. Come celebrate Al Owens, the first recipient of the Club's Spirit of the Community Award. The event will be held at the Morgan Run Club and Resort from 5:00 PM to 10: PM. The address is 5690 Cancha de Golf, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091. Proceeds will benefit Felicita Elementary, Mission Middle School, Valley High School, Del Lago Academy, San Pasqual Academy, Operation Standown, Salvation Army, Education COMPACT and Rising Star. Please contact Sue Barajas for more information and to obtain tickets at suebarajas@hotmail.com. Each ticket is $75 or two for $140. |
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Mariachi Festival Slated for April 10 The Route 78 Rotary Club is holding is signature fundraiser - their 8th Annual Mariachi Festival on April 10, 2022 at the California Center for the Arts. VIP Tacos & Tequila VIP event begins at 12:30 PM, Concert begins at 3:00pm. This year will feature Mariachi Champaña Nevin from San Diego and world-renowned singer Monica Abrego, along with Baile Folklórico by Tierra Caliente. Those attending need to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test and remain masked indoors. You may buy tickets online here. |
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RI President-Elect Sets Theme for 2022-2023 RI President-elect Jennifer Jones imagines a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality and they make the most of their club experiences. She urges members to engage more with each other and use these connections to build partnerships that change the world. Speaking to District Governors-elect at this year's Governor's Training Assembly, RI PE Jones announced that the 2022-2023 Rotary International Annual Theme is Imagine Rotary!
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Vaccination Committee Publishes Newsletter Be on the lookout! District 5340's Immunization Committee is publishing a monthly Vaccine, Health & Wellness Newsletter. The first edition of the Newsletter can be obtained here. This Committee has been instrumental throughout the years in bringing public awareness of the importance of vaccination to Rotary clubs and the public-at-large - most notably the Polio vaccination efforts. Each month, Newsbits will publish the link to the most current edition of the newsletter making it convenient for you to access it in a timely manner. |
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Del Mar Rotary Club Making a Difference in Their Community The Rotary Club of Del Mar proudly supports the Del Mar Lifeguards through its grants program. Part of this year's grant went towards the purchase of the pictured EMT kits. To date two lifeguards have been able to complete EMT training, and more are scheduled. They are also available to Del Mar Firefighters.  After the Rotary Club of Del Mar completed the refurbishment of the benches in Del Mar so beautifully, the community service team was asked to also refurbish the tables, chairs, and benches at City Hall. The City of Del Mar will be recognizing all who participated during their February 7th meeting.
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Sponsorships of Afghan Refugees Did you know that Rotary Clubs can sponsor incoming Afghan refugee families? The Sponsor Circle Program is a community-led resettlement initiative that allows everyday Americans to take on the responsibility of welcoming Afghan newcomers to their communities. This is an emergency response launched to ensure that all arriving Afghans receive welcome and support. The Sponsor Circle Program pairs Afghan newcomers with community groups eager to provide support. Your Rotary club may be interested in sponsoring a family. For more information please click link: https://www.sponsorcircles.org/. The Program also provides application support sessions Monday-Friday; you can sign up here: https://www.sponsorcircles.org/application-support-sessions. |
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Imperial Valley Clubs Celebrate 100 Years of ServiceIt’s not every day that Rotary celebrates a club centennial, but Rotarians from District 5340 had that honor this year when Imperial Valley clubs celebrated 100 years of service. Rotary clubs celebrating 100 years were Calexico, Brawley, Holtville and El Centro. Imperial celebrated 25 years. Making the event even more special was the attendance of Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta and his lovely wife Rashi. President Mehta was the keynote speaker for this event and his speech left everyone motivated to keep working and growing Rotary by focusing on the goal of everyone bring one and everyone keep one. The two-day event was held at the Quechan Casino Resort in Winterhaven, California on January 7 and 8. Two Districts (D5340 and D5500) were represented at the event including D5340 Governor Dan Gensler, Governor-Elect Chuck Pretto, and Governor Nominee Don Fipps. Past District Governors Marge Cole and Mel Gallegos and his wife Judy attended as did Zone Director Vicki Puliz and Assistant Governors Melissa Short and Hortencia Armendariz. The celebration included a tour of the area, a social hour to kick off the event and breakfast for the committee members with President Mehta and Rashi. The evening included videos of charter members sharing their experiences of service above self and why Rotary is important for communities and the world. The planning of the centennial began in 2020 under leadership of committee chair Clifford Caldwell who acknowledged all the hard work put into making this celebration one to remember. Kudos went out to leaders of District 5340 committee members Eric Freeman, Bob Barros, Robert Menvielle, George Marquez, Hortencia Armendariz, James Garcia, Dillon Faubion, Maria Lucas, Ross Daniels and Peggy Price. There is no better way to covey the excitement of the evening better than with pictures. Below you will find a sampling of camaraderie experienced during the celebration.    |
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Point Loma Rotarian Wins Citation Award Congratulations to Point Loma Rotarian Mike Whitehurst on receiving the Citation for Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. Mike has served on the District Foundation Committee for many years--in the role of District Grants Chair and now as Major Gifts/Legacy Giving Co-Chair. He has done a number of grants in India and has traveled to India as part of his involvement with these grants. We will present his award at his club meeting and at the District Governor's Dinner at the end of this year. |
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Help End Human Trafficking Join us to help end Human Trafficking in San Diego March 4 at the Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA 92106. Please sign up for this terrific summit that your District Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is conducting with Point Loma Nazarene University and the San Diego County Office of Education. The regional summit will feature some inspiring speakers and provide you with tips and tools to help prevent someone in our region from becoming a victim of this $800 million illicit industry. The event is free, but registration is required. Reserve your spot today! To register, click here. |
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Media Coaching for Professionals in Today's Digital World Amy Scruggs, author of Lights Camera Action (on Amazon) will be speaking at a District wide meeting hostd by the Rotary Club of San Francisco (District 5150). This event is being held on Zoom on January 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm. District 5150 is opening this meeting up to any Rotarian who may be interested in becoming more savvy in the art of media communication. |
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New Evening Club Being Established A new club is forming that has grown out of the Mission Gorge Rotary Club (now defunct). It will be called the Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club. They will be meeting on Tuesday, January 18 at 6:00 pm at the Mission Valley Library (Fenway Parkway Center) Community Room. If you are interested or know someone who might be interested, please let them know about this meeting. All COVID protocols will be obserbed (vaccines, boosters, masks) as required by the library. For more information, contact Past District Governor Marge Cole at marge.cole@yahoo.com.
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Family Gives Up Presents to Furnish Homes Built by Rotary Members
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Travel the World for a Year of Service The Rotary Magazine recently featured a story about two La Mesa Sunrise Rotarians - Ivan and Elena Lujan-Alba and their two girls who traveled the world for one year with an emphasis on doing service projects whereever they could. You can read the story here. While traveling the family also created a blog so that each of them could reflect on their experiences. You can read what this trip meant to them in their own words: https://albaworldtour.wordpress.com
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Membership Workshop This Saturday Register now for the District Membership Workshop taking place on Saturday January 15, 2021, from 9-10:30 am. This is a virtual Zoom workshop open to all Club Presidents, Presidents-Elect, AG's, Membership Chairs and committee members. |
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New District 5340 Administrator Selected District 5340 is happy to announce that we have engaged the services of Patricia Fortin (likes to be called Patty) as the new District Administrator. Patty will work with the existing District Governor line to organize the affairs of the District. She has an extensive background in corporate processes and task management and we very much look forward to having Patty tackle the administrative duties associated with managing the day-to-day operations of the District. Patty is excited to begin her new role on Monday January 3rd. She will be working twenty hours per week with the following office hours: Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Contact Information: You can reach her by phone or email: Phone: 619-512-3380 Email: patricia.fortin@pafassociates.com |
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Collaborative Anti-Trafficking Efforts Join us during Human Trafficking Awareness Month to discover the collaborative anti-trafficking efforts of our region and why you're vital to the cause. This event is free with lunch included. Sign up here as space is limited! AGENDA
Sponsored by Rotary District 5340 through the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force. Hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University and the County of San Diego.
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What's Your Rotary Resolution? It's a New Year and the future of Rotary is in your hands! As is tradition for many, a fresh perspective and personal goals are set with the hopes of making a difference in some aspect of life. What about your Rotary ambitions? Do you aspire to leadership? How about membership growth?
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RI President's Final Message of 2021 RI President Shekhar Mehta has a final message before the end of the year, to bring with you into 2022. “This is the time to take a bigger, better, bolder approach through both club and district projects that can impact more people. Reevaluate where you are with your goals. Create strategies that can sustain change over years, not months. Everyone deserves a long, healthy life. When you Serve to Change Lives, your actions today can help extend the lives of others.” Thank you Shekhar for taking us through this year, we’re grateful for your leadership and look forward to the new year. Follow this link to read Shekhar’s full message to Rotarians and peacemakers: https://on.rotary.org/3mflV7d. |
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House Building Effort Featured in UT Earlier this month, Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club members joined forces with fellow Rotarians throughout District 5340 (San Diego and Imperial counties) and District 4100 (Baja California, Mexico), high school and college students in the service organization’s Interact and Rotaract clubs. Their efforts were featured in an article found in the Union Tribune on Thursday, December 30, 2021. Read article.
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January - Vocational Services Month Vocational Service is the essence of Rotary and serves as the foundation from which we serve our communities around the world. Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by using our unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others acquire or refine skills and advance their professional opportunities.
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Rotary is Represented at Rose Parade The 2022 Rose Parade marks the 42nd consecutive year the RRPFC has spearheaded Rotary’s representation in America’s New Year Celebration. This year’s theme, “Changing Lives Through Education,” aligns with one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, Basic Education and Literacy. A sixteen-foot-tall owl embodies both the spirit of self-improvement and Rotary’s determination to make the tools of education available to everyone in every land. Books, a quill pen and a hybrid apple/globe symbolize the importance of education throughout the world. To view Rotary's float in this year's Rose Parade, click here.
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The Holidays Bustling with CheerThree Santa Elves from the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club delivered presents to a Home of Guiding Hands’ residential group home in San Diego. The club adopted this group home as one of its holiday projects. It’s their hope that Covid restrictions will be lifted next year so that club members and residents can party together.  Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary is at it again… bikes for the Carlsbad Boys and Girls club families. On December 12, the club purchased, assembled and presented 43 bikes for Carlsbad kids. CHNR members, family members and four members of TREK Bikes worked together to “get it done.”  |
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A Holiday Message from DG Dan Gensler Happy Holidays! As we approach the end of the year it’s a great time to reflect on what we have and to be grateful for all the good we have done as Rotarians during this first half of our Rotary year. We have distributed funds for 70 District Grants and have 10 Global Grants in the works. 150 Rotarians from 27 clubs built seven houses in Tecate, Mexico and as Rotarians we have supported and engaged our community like no other organization.
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Navajo Water Project UpdateFor those Rotary clubs who are participating in the Navajo Water Project spearheaded by District 5495, here is an update on the team's work to bring clean running water to the Navajo Nation. In early 2020 (pre-Covid) nine in-home water systems from our Rotary global grants were installed in the small community of Dilkon on the Navajo Nation. Then in early April 2020, due to the severity of the pandemic on the Reservation, tribal leaders instituted lockdowns, curfews and work-stoppages that brought our work to a halt. While it was sad to pause this work, we all understood the need for caution given how hard the Navajo were impacted by Covid-19. Few were aware that by May of 2020 the Navajo Nation had become the epicenter of the outbreak in the world - worse by half than New York and New Jersey on a per-capita basis. So, we pivoted. We worked with DigDeep and the Rotary Foundation to quickly authorize that $75,000 of our first Dilkon global grant could be allocated to emergency above-ground water tanks. These tanks helped the Navajo have access to clean water and of course to adhere to hand-washing protocol. The emergency water tanks held them avoid the contact that occurred routinely at regional wells where they would have otherwise needed to fill buckets, cans and barrels with enough water to survive. |
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Wishing You Happy Holidays! May your holidays be merry and full of joy and hope! A reminder that NEWSBITS will be dark Christmas weekend.
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Gift Wrapping Luncheon at the Copley-Price Family YMCAOn Tuesday, December 7th Old Mission Rotary met at the Copley-Price YMCA for a Holiday Gift Wrapping luncheon. Members enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the onsite cafe and then organized and placed toys into colorful bags. Labels on the bags indicated if the gifts were for a boy or girl and for what age. Club members also donated toys to the effort. The toys will be distributed by the YMCA staff and volunteers to children living in the immediate inner-city area. The Copley-Price Family YMCA opened its doors to the public in 2014 and proudly serves one of the most diverse communities in San Diego, offering a supportive environment for people in the City Heights, El Cajon, Kensington, Hillcrest, Talmadge, and North and South Park areas. Over the years Old Mission Rotary has partnered with the Copley-Price YMCA even before their new facility was built. The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary contributed $300,000 to help set up a teen center and computer lab that primarily serves student from nearby Hoover High School. In addition to their physical fitness facilities and programs, the Copley-Price YMCA is dedicated to serving the local City Heights Community. This effort includes health and wellness programs as well as scholarships to help local residents afford membership.  Photo caption: ((L-R) Old Mission Rotary members Donna Maytum, Shari Stauder, Bob Chalfa, President Michelle Malin, Gloria Chalfa, Executive Secretary Stan Vogelsang, Copley-Price YMCA Executive Director Julian Villegas, Eric Benink, Matt Risi and Charlotte Cofield. |
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District International House Build Project Success!On Saturday, Dec 4th, 20 District 5340 Rotary clubs, four Rotaract clubs and La Jolla Interact Club crossed the US/Mexican border to meet with five Mexican Rotary clubs and Project Mercy personnel in a little rural community named Trebol, halfway between Tijuana and Tecate. Over 150 Rotary-involved people met to build seven houses during that one day. Jeb Bakke, District 5340 International Chair and his committee, (Kim Muslusky, Assistant Governor Mike Fugua, Fernanda Torres) worked from both sides of the border to make the event happen. They partnered with Project Mercy, a 30 -year-old 5013c that builds small houses in Baja for homeless people. The District 5340 International Committee raised over $52,000 during a 3-month period from local Rotarians to make the event happen. Each house had a cost of $6,800, out houses were $700. There were also six solar lamps purchased, six tables and four chairs for each house as well - all through donations from various clubs. District 5340 provided three buses to take the volunteers across the border, lunch for all of them as well as bottled water. District 4100, thanks to Fernanda Torres and Carlos Carillo, 4100 International Chair, arranged for a special hotel rate at the Grand Hotel in Tijuana for the night for those who wanted to stay over – and a special dinner, with music and entertainment. Both District Governors Dan Gensler and Octavio Sanchez were in attendance along with other district dignitaries. One of the goals of this event was to promote more cross-border interaction between both districts. There is now a video being made of this event. "This project was a great opportunity for Rotarians who have never been able to participate in an international project to work hands-on in something important– less than 50 miles away from San Diego!” said Jeb Bakke. “It opens your eyes to the needs that exist in other countries”.  |
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Thanksgiving Day Assistance Provided by Rotary ClubThe Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset recognizes that Thanksgiving Day is very special for many families in the community. However, for underserved areas of San Diego many families still struggle to put a decent meal on the table. This year the Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset provided Thanksgiving food baskets to 10 families (feeding 68 people) in City Heights on November 28 - 29, 2021. Many of these families are recent immigrants who are beginning their lives in the United Sates with limited resources. The club also helped recent Burmese immigrant families enjoy a BBQ at Miramar Lake Park on Thanksgiving Day. Many families who do not eat turkey received $50 gift cards to area grocery stores to purchase meat of their choice.  |
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Community Grants AwardedThe Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset held its community grant award night on Nov. 18, 2021. In this event, San Diego Tema Sister Cities Association was awarded $2000 for a school computer lab in Tema Ghana (picture below). Several Sister Cities were represented, including Panama City and Yokohama Japan.  Water or Children Africa of El Cajon was awarded $3000 for its continued rain harvesting and storage water tanks for schools in Kenya. Haiti earthquake relief efforts and mentorship efforts for youth were also funded at $500 each.  |
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Service Project to Benefit Underserved Families Yesterday, Santee-Lakeside Rotarians, friends of Rotary, and Rotary scholars assembled about 1,000 boxes for the Santee Santas' Foundation. The club is proud to partner with such a wonderful organization that is providing much needed food and holiday gifts to members of our local community.
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Disease Prevention and Treatment Month December is Rotary International family month with a focus on disease prevention and treatment. Globally, Rotary is recognized for its signature project, the eradication of polio in the world.
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RI Foundation Annual Report As a Rotarian, you play an essential role in ensuring that Rotary Foundation programs can continue to create positive and lasting change in your community and around the globe. The future of The Rotary Foundation depends on Rotarians like you, and that’s why we want you to be one of the first to see Rotary’s 2021 Annual Report. |
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Turkey Delivery to Homebound SeniorsThe Escondido East Rotary Club delivered 170 hot turkey meals to homebound seniors on Thanksgiving Day. A big thank you to Darol and Linda Caster for organizing the event. Thank you also to Mikki’s Restaurant on Valley Parkway in Escondido for preparing the meals and Rotarian’s delivering them.  |
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Master Cellist Promotes Musical Global Grant The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club is hosting Diego Carneiro, Master Cellist and orchestra director for La Orcestra Joven del Ecuador (Youth Orchestra of Ecuador) at their December 3, 2021 regular meeting to provide an opportunity for Rotarians to hear his music and learn his story. Diego is participating in a global grant between the Rotary Club of Colville (Washington State - District 5080) and the Rotary Club of Quito Ecuador de Quito Valle Interoceànico and is on a fundraising tour to assist in funding the global grant (#2128505). |
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Special Guest Speaker - Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta The Imperial Valley Centennial Committee is pleased to invite you to hear RI President Shekhar Mehta during their Centennial celebration January 7-8, 2022. The event will take place at the Quechan Casino and Resort located at 525 Algodones Road, Winterhaven, CA 92283. The agenda for the weekend is as follows: Friday Jan 7 (All times are Arizona time) 5:00 PM Rotary Social by the pool with RI President Mehta Quechan Casino Resort (Business Casual Attire) Saturday Jan 8 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Matching Grants Workshop 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Centennial Celebration of Clubs 6:00 pm - 6:30 pm Keynote Speaker: Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm RI President will recognize new members – Rotarians and Paul Harris 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Dinner (formal attire) |
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Meals on Wheels is Seeking Volunteers Meals on Wheels is looking for volunteers to help deliver home-cooked meals to seniors living in San Diego County. Volunteers delivering meals allows Meals on Wheels San Diego County's seniors to remain independent by providing nutritious meals and critical safety checks. Sometimes a volunteer is the only person their seniors see all day. Meals on Wheels San Diego County could not serve over 4,000 seniors each year without the help of their gracious volunteers. |
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Box Meals for Over 10,000 MealsIt was quite a day on November 16 for Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary (CHNR). Over 70 Rotarians, family members and friends worked in partnership with The Outreach Project to package and box meals for 10,000 people. The food will be presented to the North County Food Bank for distribution. The Outreach Project presented the bulk food and CHNR members worked in teams in an assembly-line approach to package all the food. It was boxed and recorded for future use, and, we were told, it was done in record time. CHNR identified “food insecurity” as its main service focus in 2020 and that focus continues. In fact, the North County Food Bank presented Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary with its Group Volunteer Award last Wednesday at its awards ceremony. President Raegan Matthews accepted on behalf of the club and LeAnn Rytz is the hardworking Community Service Director who coordinates the club’s service activities. Thanks to all who participated in this well-organized service project!  |
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Do You Want to Assist with Afghan Refugee Relocation? As you likely know, our community is expecting a large number of Afghan refugees in the next few months. Many Rotary clubs have been asking how they can help. D5340 Rotarians, supported by District Governor Dan Gensler, can provide assistance in many ways through the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a federally designated resettlement agency in San Diego that is in need of some assistance. |
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Saint Vinny's Superstars!Over the course of a month, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club and Friends of Rotary gathered and then donated sweaters, sweatshirts, and socks to Saint Vincent de Paul. There were so many donations that it took several trips to deliver it all. It shows, once again, how amazing and giving Rotarians are. Thank you to all those who helped make this project a success, especially to Elana Levens-Craig who coordinated this activity.  |
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$5000 Grant Presented the San Diego Civic Youth BalletArt Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant benefiting the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet (SDCYB). San Diego Civic Youth Ballet was founded in 1945 and has been the resident ballet school in Balboa Park ever since. In addition to offering high-quality, affordable, year-round training in the Casa del Prado studios, SDCYB produces three major productions at the Casa del Prado Theater each year: a full-length spring ballet, Fairy Tales in the Park each summer (which benefits the Scholarship Program) and the classic holiday production of The Nutcracker. There is also an annual Spring Showcase of the school and the SDCYB Performance Ensemble (which is comprised of the highest-level dancers) performs at special events throughout the community. SDCYB Development Manager, Christine de Pagter accepted the funds and announced that they would be using the $5000 grant presented on November 16th for furniture and dancing equipment.  Photo Caption: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation Board Member Cynthia Drake, Old Mission Rotary Executive Secretary Stan Vogelsang, Art Pratt Foundation President Miles Durfee, Development Manager of the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet Christine de Pagter, Art Pratt Foundation Board Member Gary John Collins, Old Mission Rotary President Michelle Malin and Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Charlotte Cofield, Judi Copeland and Donna Maytum. |
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Veteran's Day CelebrationsTorrey Pines Rotary Club Rotarian Max Gurney, was honored by Torrey Pines Rotary Club at their Torrey Pines Rotary Veterans Program on November 10th. The 100-100-year-old Army Veteran served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy in WW II. He just returned from an Honor Flight tour of Washington DC where he was the fourth oldest veteran on the trip.  Fallbrook Village Rotary Club Our Rotarians created posters for returning Marines. Everyone pulled out the stickers, crayons, markers and poster boards to make a military homecoming special.  |
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$5000 Grant Goes to the Brother Benno FoundationOn Tuesday, November 9, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $5000 grant to the Brother Benno Foundation. The funds will be used to update their administrative offices. The grant was accepted by the Kathleen Diehlmann who is the President of the Brother Benno Foundation. The non-profit started in 1983 as a soup kitchen in downtown Oceanside inspired by Brother Benno Garrity, a Benedictine monk who was well known for his tireless service to the poor in the Oceanside area. In 1991, the Brother Benno Foundation moved its services to its present location, a 12,000-square foot warehouse at 3260 Production Avenue in Oceanside, which has been divided into a dining room, full kitchen, children’s reading room, administrative offices, shower room, clothing room, computer lab, chapel, restrooms, and warehouse space.  Photo Caption: (L-R Front) Art Pratt Foundation President Miles Durfee, President of the Board of Directors of the Brother Benno Foundation Kathleen Diehlmann and Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Donna Maytum. (L-R Back) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Gary John Collins, Stan Vogelsang, Charlotte Cofield and Judi Copeland. |
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Reconstruction of Goldfish Point Observation PlatformThe La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club recently held their meeting outside at 7:00 am at the La Jolla Coast Walk Trail. During the meeting, a fundraiser check was presented to Brenda Fake, Rotarian and Chairman of Friends of Coast Walk Train. The fundraiser - 2nd Annual La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Walk for the Trail - benefits the Reconstruction of Goldfish Point Observation Platform, which was also supported by a $3,000.00 District 5340 matching grant.  |
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Sunday Morning MusingsMember Profile: Robert S. Brewer and the Downtown Breakfast Club This month we profile Robert S. Brewer and the Downtown Breakfast Club. Bob is a member of the Downtown Breakfast club. As is his wife Retired Federal Judge Irma Gonzalez. |
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Game On! Fun NFL Jersey Beach Clean Up Planned for Nov 20
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Calexico Rotary Club Presents $1000 Donation Checks Photo above: Calexico Rotary President George Marquez presents Calexico Police Officer and fellow Rotarian Victor Legaspi with a $1,000 donation for the annual Kids ‘N’ Badges Christmas shopping spree. In addition, Calexico Rotary President George Marquez presents Helen Palomino from Cancer Resource Center of the Desert with a $1,000 donation. These funds are part of a Rotary district grant that is specifically designated towards providing monetary support to Cancer patients traveling out of county for specialized medical treatment. Photo below.  |
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Rotary Monthly Themes Most of us are familiar with the reference to the "Twelve Days of Christmas" but did you know about the Twelve Months of Rotary? Rotary has identified a theme for each month. The monthly themes are meant to highlight the wide range of Rotary's good work and give clubs some suggestions, timing and guidance for their programs and activities. Here is the list. You can also download a PDF with samples of the graphics used for each Rotary month.
Click here to download a copy of Rotary Monthly Themes.
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Coronado Rotary Creates Video The Coronado Rotary Club's Committee to Protect the Environment recently spent a Saturday morning picking up trash in the Otay River Delta, a National Wildlife Refuge. This video is a short story of the men and women who were there and why they feel so strongly about this cause and why Rotary's seventh area of focus is so important. |
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Sunday Morning Musings Revisited In honor of Don Fipps being selected as the District Governor Designate I'd like to reprise his member profile which was featured in the March 14, 2021 Sunday Morning Musings. ___________ Currently, Don is the Assistant Governor for Area 3 - Carlsbad Hi Noon, Carlsbad Evening, Tri City and San Marcos. He is also serving as Governor-Elect Dan Gensler’s chief aide. |
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DG Dan Gensler Visits Six Rotary Clubs in Imperial ValleyI just returned from spending four days in Imperial Valley visiting 6 Rotary clubs. I had the most amazing experience with my time in the Valley. Did you know that the first club in D5340 was San Diego, Club-33 and that the next three clubs formed in D5340 where in the Imperial Valley? The Imperial Valley Centennial Celebration is coming up in 2022. Stay tuned for more information. On Wednesday morning, I visited the Imperial Breakfast club where President Peggy runs an efficient meeting, and we inducted several new members. From there, I headed out to Blythe and the Steaks and Cakes restaurant, where the Blythe Rotary Club has been meeting for many years. It was a pleasure to see everyone and a special thanks to Mike Cusick who helped me get my flat tire repaired. From there I headed to Calexico for the evening meeting with President George Marquez where we inducted one (out of four) new member. We enjoyed the best homemade Mexican food you could ask for. The Club surprised me with a sombrero, serape, and a bottle of tequila. |
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Could You Catch 100 Waves in a Single Day? Special thanks to District Governor Dan Gensler for stopping by the 100 Wave Challenge. Members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship including: Derren Lechuga (Past President of Pacific Beach Rotaract), Brett Morey (Founder of SURF and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle), Vince Ponce (Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi Noon) along with Ken Barrett (Past President of the Rotary Club of Del Mar Solana Beach) knocked out 100 waves each on Saturday, Oct. 23rd at Oceanside Harbor. Each of these men along with 30 others on the Degree 33 Surfboards 100 Wave Challenge team helped raise over $65,000for Boys to Men Mentoring and at-risk teens. In fact, this 12th Annual event has broken $300,000 and is tracking to eclipse last year's record of $509,000. There is still time to give, volunteer as food runners as well as participate. Check out the following on the Surfers Unite website, take a look at their Events page for an upcoming beach clean up and ugly sweater paddle out and text "100Wave" to 858-602-2532 to get involved. Together we change hearts and lives for fatherless teenage boys and build men of integrity and purpose. Thanks to the generosity of Rotarians Brett is about to break $11,000 to sponsor 11 kids in this program.  |
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End Polio Now Fundraiser a Huge SuccessSeveral clubs throughout District 5340 participated in the End Polio Now fundraiser held in Balboa Park on October 24. District Governor Dan Gensler joined and together Rotarians helped raise money to eradicate Polio. A huge shout out to Rotarians from Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club, Encinitas Coastal, Mission Gorge, Santee-Lakeside, Coronado Rotary Club, La Jolla Triangle, Del Mar, SD Coastal, La Mesa and Rotaractors from Encinitas, Pacific Beach, City Heights and San Diego. Following the 3.5 mile walk, participants were treated to breakfast burritos, juices and mimosas sponsored by the City Heights Rotary Club. Several other clubs took to the streets in local neighborhoods and along boardwalks to raise awareness for the End Polio Now campaign. It was a great effort by all.  |
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Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Tackled Multiple Service Projects this Past WeekendChula Vista Sunrise Rotarians spent Saturday morning collecting well needed items for the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility. The good works continued at the "J" Street Marina working with students from Hilltop High School's Interact and Eco clubs. They used kayaks donated by Harry at CV Kayak in cleaning up trash in the bay.   |
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Register for the Ecology Day Conference Sign up for the online Ecology Day Conference Nov. 6 hosted by ESRAG’s Western North America Chapter! Open and free to everyone, the morning panels showcase internationally renowned speakers. The afternoon sessions focus on the environmental work of youth and young adults In Rotary. The conference starts at 9:)) am Pacific Time. |
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The Rotary Club of Del Mar Celebrates Success In the world of mixers, the makings of a successful soirée involve the combination of nice music, delicious food, inspiring atmosphere, and great conversation. The 17th annual Rotary Club of Del Mar Sunset Soiree trumped all basic requirements with its abundance of hors d’oeuvres, fine wine and microbrews, the perfect music, a million-dollar ocean view home, and a picture-perfect sunset. The event goal to raise $50,000 was exceeded, allowing the Rotary Club of Del Mar additional funds for local and international projects. The club thanks everyone associated with the Soiree, including the approximately 300 attendees.  |
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Don Fipps Selected to Serve as District Governor 2024-25 The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that Don Fipps from the Rotary Club of Del Mar has been selected to serve as District Governor during the Rotary year 2024-25.In accordance with the provisions of Rotary International Bylaws Article 12, Rotary District 5340 created a Nominating Committee to review and interview candidates. This year's Committee included eight past, current, and future District Governors. and was chaired by Immediate Past District Governor Steven Weitzen. Any challenges to the selection of District Governor (Rotary International Bylaws Article 12.030.7) are to be received by Steven Weitzen, Chair of the Nomination Committee, by close of business on Friday, November 5, 2021. Challenges may be sent via email to weitzen5@aol.com. If no challenges are received, the selection of the Nominating Committee becomes official.
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TRF Training Session Being Planned District 5340's Foundation Committee will be hosting a TRF (The Rotary Foundation) training session on November 15, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom Donating to Rotary means clean water and sanitation. Health and hope in areas that were once ravaged by diseases like polio. Economic development and new opportunities. Your financial help makes all this happen, and more. This training session is especially important for club presidents, AGs and Foundation chairs,. Its an opportunity to learn about all the giving options Rotarians can participate in and how important donations are to the success of Rotary International and our local District and Rotary clubs. You won't to miss it.  Join the Zoom meeting: Meeting ID: 815 3718 4664 Passcode: 347519 |
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Give the Gift of Life This Thursday, Oct. 28 Please join the Rotary Club of Del Mar in donating the gift of life through blood donation this Thursday, October 28 at the Del Mar Civic Center Parking lot - 1050 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014. Reservations are encouraged. Register at: sandiegobloodbank.org/donate or call 619 400-8251.
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Shade Area Created for Refuge for Women SoCalHUGE shout out to the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club for their work with Refuge for Women SoCal in getting this meditative sail shade area created! It's such a healing place for those recovering from the trauma of human sex trafficking in America! Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANBNGKGu1YE  |
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OASIS Foundation Beneficiary of GrantOn Tuesday, October 19th, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $5000 grant to San Diego Oasis. Oasis is a unique educational program for adults 50+ who want to continue to learn and be productive throughout life. The grant money will be used to buy books for students at Title 1 elementary schools in under served neighborhoods. Kristin Amicone of Oasis solicited our membership to volunteer for reading programs in inner city schools.  Photo: (L-R Front) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Cynthia Drake, Donna Maytum and Charlotte Cofield. San Diego Oasis Director of Intergenerational Programs Kristen Amicone, Art Pratt Foundation Board Member Judi Copeland, Old Mission Rotary President Michelle Malin and Art Pratt Foundation President Miles Durfee. (L-R Back) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Gary John Collins and Stan Vogelsang. |
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Join in on Ride to the Point Fundraiser The Rotary Club of Point Loma is holding a Ride the Point fundraiser benefiting UCSD Moores Pancreatic Cancer Research and local San Diego charities on November 13, 2021. Ride the Hidden, the Forbidden and the Unridden. You can check out the video here. Don't miss your chance to participate. Register now! Ridethepoint.org.
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Biggest Little Farm Documentary on the Big Screen The San Diego Coastal Rotary Club is sponsoring the FREE showing of the documentary the Biggest Little Farm at the Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas (3965 Fifth Avenue #200, San Diego, CA 92103) November 17 at 6:30 p.m. This documentary movie takes you on the epic journey of how a farm can change the world! It's open to all Rotarians, family and friends. Celebrating Rotary's 7th area of focus, the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club wants to change your perspective on how you see farming, nature and humanity. Check out the trailer. RSVPs are required. Get your tickets by clicking here. There are only 190 seats available.
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World Polio Day is October 24. As World Polio Day approaches, the Rotary community is getting ready to amplify our message about eradicating polio to protect the world’s children from this devastating disease. Together, we’ve made tremendous progress. Now it’s time to intensify our fight to make polio the second human disease ever to be eradicated. Last year, the World Health Organization’s African region was certified free of wild poliovirus, showing that eradication is possible even in very difficult circumstances. The wild poliovirus remains endemic in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. We can use World Polio Day to advocate for the support we need to end polio in countries where it still paralyzes children. |
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District Administrator Position Now Open JOB WANTED: District 5340 is seeking a District Administrator. This remote (work-from-home) opportunity is a part-time position of approximately 20 hours per week and will report to the District Governor. |
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District 5340 Rotary Foundation News Stewardship Congratulations to District Foundation Stewardship Chair, Marianne Ericsson, on another 100% score win stewardship for our District. That means that our Global Grant reporting is up to date from all clubs and we are good to go for future grants. District Grants Rotary Foundation Month November is Rotary Foundation Month. Start planning your club activities and programs. Contact Foundation Chair Marge Cole, margecole81@gmail.com, if you need a speaker for your club |
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Clubs Participating in the Polio $250 Match Thank you to the following District 5340 Rotary clubs that accepted the $250 Mathews match. Additionally, other clubs are still in the process of contributing. Together we are making a difference towards the eradication of polio! |
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World Polio Day Stroll What: World Polio Day Stroll Who: PLRC members, family, friends & Rotapets When: Saturday, October 23, 2021 Arrive: 8:45am Depart: 9:00am Where: Depart from Liberty Station at USS Recruit (Map) The course will be a leisure 2 mile round trip stroll through Liberty Station. Check route here. Walk the entire course or any distance you choose. It is a little exercise, some fresh air, fellowship and, of course, support for Polio eradication. Please contribute directly to End Polio. COVID continues to impact our progress to End Polio Now. |
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Rotarian Kevin Fox Passes from COVIDOld Mission Rotary member Don Krupp noted that "vital statistics" about the coronavirus pandemic don’t tell us anything about the vitality of those good souls we’ve lost to the virus. Here in San Diego, the virus has taken lives of over 4,000 individuals. On Monday, September 13th, those vital statistics tell us four San Diegans died of Covid-19. One of those four was our Old Mission Rotary club member, Kevin Cox. In his memory, Don shared a statement Kevin had posted on his Facebook page in April 2020 as the pandemic was just beginning to take its toll. Kevin posted it again in April 2021: “Dear diary 4-1-20: This month will fully test our spirit and resolve as individuals, parents, children, friends, citizens, Patriots, countrymen and humanity worldwide. Don't give in to bad or negative behavior. Stay informed and positive. Do what you can to help others. Pray incessantly. Know we will get through this and be smarter and wiser from the journey. Stay safe!  Old Mission Rotarian Kevin Cox was inducted into the club on October of 2018. He passed away from Covid-19 on September 13th, 2021. |
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Americas Foundation Receives Grant Photo Caption: (L-R Back Row) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Cynthia Drake and Gary John Collins and Art Pratt Foundation President Miles Durfee. (L-R Front Row) Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Donna Maytum and Larry Edwards, Founder and Director of the Americas Foundation Christine Brady and Old Mission Rotary Executive Secretary Stan Vogelsang. On Tuesday, September 21st, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $7438 to the Americas Foundation. Their mission is to give aid to disadvantaged children and promote binational community development on the Mexican side of the border. The primary approach of the Foundation is to provide talented, intelligent children living in underdeveloped neighborhoods the opportunity to study, experience the arts, and begin to realize their potential. The grant was accepted by the Founder and Director Christine Brady.
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Haunted Harbor Boos Cruise Join the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake for a spooktacular time on the water. Join the club on Saturday, October 23 in a Haunted Harbor Boos Cruise aboard the tall ship Bill of Rights. Join in on a light meal and beverages and enjoy the the outdoors on the San Diego Bay - even catching the sunset before a spooky fog rolls in. Costumes are highly encouraged - and so is dancing. Prizes will go towards some of the best outfits of the evenings. Ghouls and gals, signup today. Boarding starts at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $75. Pay through Venmo @RotaryClub-ChulaVistaEastlake. Buy tickets.
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Rotary Clubs of Imperial Valley Centennial Please join Calexico, El Centro, Brawley and Holtville Rotary Clubs in Celebrating 100 Years of Service Above Self! Tickets available at: http://IVRotary100.com.
Event Details: 1921-2021 & 1922-2022 Special Guests! Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta and his wife Rashi will be attending! Join us on January 7, 2022 at the Quechan Casino in Winterhaven, CA to celebrate this momentous occasion. Non-rotary members are welcome and encouraged to attend. Club members from Districts 5340, 5500, 4100 and others will attend! |
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Homeless Benefit from Service ProjectEvery fourth weekend of the month, the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club celebrates their own Rotarians at Work Day. On September 26, club members made almost 50 bags of socks and sundries for San Diegans experiencing homelessness. They love serving the world together.  |
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Holiday Extravaganza Street Fair Get in the holiday spirit and join the Rancho San Diego Rotary Club for a fun-packed day at the Holiday Extravaganza Street Fair on Saturday, November 13, 2021. For more information, please email Norma Wiberg or Heather Manion. |
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October is Economic & Community Development Month |
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International Service Project Close to Home Want to get your club involved in a hands-on international service project close to home? District 5340 is inviting all clubs and Rotarians to take advantage of an incredible opportunity to participate in our upcoming international service project - Tijuana House Build in Mexico on December 4, 2021. This project is in collaboration with Project Mercy. For traveling ease, the District is providing a bus to the location. We’ll be building 6 houses for deserving families and there are two ways your club can participate and contribute: Volunteers We need approx. 90 Rotarians, Rotaractors and family/friends willing to help build the houses. You don’t need to be skilled in construction to participate although there is a strong need for skilled workers.
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Media Arts Center Beneficiary of Grant Ethan van Thillo of the Media Arts Center accepts a grant from the president of the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary, Miles Durfee. Media Arts Center San Diego provides new media tools and channels to create equitable and engaged communities where underserved voices are heard. The funds will be used to purchase cameras for their Teen Producers Program. |
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Membership Social Postponed |
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Rancho BEERnardo Festival Join us for live music, great beers, wines and hard ciders! Food trucks will available and games to play! All proceeds to support local and international charities. For more information or to buy tickets, click here.
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Grant Support Needed for Migrant Children When asked about this, District Governor Dan Gensler said “The Rotary Clubs of Rancho Bernardo & Imperial Valley Global Grant project uses a modern fresh thinking way to educate migrant children. If you’re interested in getting involved in a Global Grant, please consider looking at this opportunity.” Global Grant G-2801, provides internet education licenses, at a price of $40** per year, per student, to keep up their studies while traveling with parents in the fields. Talk about bang for your buck! 7000 migrant children in the Imperial Valley portion of District 5340 have been without adequate schooling since the start of COVID. As their legal resident immigrant parents are doing the work to provide San Diego City and County with fruits and vegetables harvested there, we feel it’s important to assist their children. When fully funded, the grant will help around 700 children complete at least one year of schooling. School Districts throughout the Imperial Valley will supervise and administer the Education of Students and provide Mobile Devices (tablets, etc.) to run the Virtual Internet Programming. The Club is asking fellow Rotarians, their Club and Foundations to pledge funds to help meeting their December 1 deadline for Grant Funding. |
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San Marcos Rotary Club Foundation Golf Tournament Join us for our 13th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday November 15th. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos and other charities. Sponsorship opportunities available. To register go to www.sanmarcosrotarygolf.org.
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Little Library Built by Rotarians The San Diego Coastal Rotary Club built a beautiful Free Little Library in southeast San Diego for Rotary's Literacy and Education Month. They had the help of a Syrian refugee family that they have been mentoring for the past five years. The kids helped Rotarians sand, paint, decorate and even dig the hole for the post. Rotarians proudly placed Rotary symbols but also adorned the library box with with inspirational messages. Then to make the most of a good thing, they made the library post a 'peace pole' and put "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in English, Spanish and Arabic. Neighborhood kids have already borrow some books and added some books. So far it's a great success.
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Welcome to the newest Rotary Club of District 5340 Welcome to the newest Rotary Club of District 5340! The Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego welcomed District Governor Dan Gensler at its regular meeting held at the IHOP in National City on Tuesday, September 14, 2021. |
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Newsbits to be Dark |
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Pub Crawl for Polio is Back! Join the Pacific Beach Rotaract Club at its 5th Annual Pub Crawl for Polio on Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 1:00-6:00 PM as they take over Pacific Beach bars and raise money for Rotary's End Polio Now campaign. The theme is Decades - dress in your favorite decade's attire! 20's, 60's, 90's... up to you - there will be a costume contest! Participating bars include Waterbar, PB Ale House, The Local, and Backyard. |
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Fallbrook Rotary Club Rebuilds Tree Wells On September 16, the Fallbrook Rotary Club joined forces with Save our Forest to assist in rebuilding the tree wells on eleven trees in the parking lot between the Library and the Fallbrook Art Center. Save our Forest is a Fallbrook Land Conservancy committee chaired by Jackie Heyneman. Their mission is to improve, enhance, and restore Fallbrook's environment through the re-establishment of native trees. Many thanks to our members who volunteered their time to keep Fallbrook a beautiful place to live, work, and play!  |
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Human Trafficking Research Conference Set for October 15 District 5340's Anti Trafficking Task Force is sponsoring Point Loma Nazarene University’s Human Trafficking Research Conference, to be held virtually on Friday, October 15, 2021. Join for free and the convenience of your home to learn from a national roster of researchers on the best practices to spot and stop this scourge in our area. Register today at https://ht-radar.com/2021-conference/ to reserve your spot! |
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Rose Parade 2022 Did you know you could help fund the float and possibly walk in the parade simply by buying a $100 raffle ticket or contribute $500 to become a Rotary Float Ambassador? In fact, the drawing for those who purchase a raffle ticket or become a Club Ambassador or a Rotary Float Ambassador will be Saturday, Nov 13. Purchase your tickets online before the 12th. The winner could be you! On New Year's Day 2022 the Rotary Rose Parade Float will be rolling down Colorado Blvd in the 133rd Tournament of Roses. Want to decorate our float? Support if financially? Become an Ambassador? How about attend a special Holiday dinner Dec 30 with Rotary International President & 200 friends. Questions: bretthmorey@gmail.com. To learn more about the Rotary float go to www.rotaryfloat.org. |
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A Cruise to Change Lives! MAKE YOUR DEPOSIT BY DECEMBER 31 AND SAVE $750 Get ready to have some fun. Do you love cruising? District 5340 recently announced an opportunity for Rotarians to cruise together and support the Rotary Foundation all in one. Enjoy a beautiful and fun-filled cruise vacation and see the Gems of Southeast Europe with other Rotarians while improving lives. Your participation in this cruise will result in donations to The Rotary Foundation. The cruise sails April 2-9, 2023, This is a river boat cruise on the Danube through portions of Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria & Romania. Visits to Austria and Turkey are also available by adding the pre and/or post-cruise extensions. For a short period of time you can make your $400 deposit by December 31, 2021 to save $750! To obtain the brochure, click on the page links provided here: Page one; Page two. |
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Want to Build Some Houses? Another International service project has been announced. This service project is open to all Rotarians throughout District 5340. For more information, please contact Jeb Bakke at jebbakke@gmail.com or Kim Muslusky at kimmuslusky@gmail.com. Phone numbers are also provided above. |
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Del Mar Rotary Club Delivers Peanut Butter Del Mar Rotary Delivers the Peanut Butter! In a normal year, the San Diego Food Bank serves about 10 percent of San Diego residents who are in need of food supplies. Before COVID, the Food Bank served about 300,000 people a month. Since COVID, the level of families who are food insecure and in need has increased dramatically and the Food Bank now serves about 600,000 people monthly through its various partnerships with community groups. When the Rotary Club of Del Mar asked what the Food Bank needed besides money, food bank officials responded with a request for peanut butter. Peanut butter is typically only sold in prepackaged jars and is considered too expensive for the Food Bank to purchase. Yet peanut butter is a good source of nutrition and very popular with area families. Under the leadership of Rotary’s co-presidents, Suzy and Karl Wagner, and spearheaded by member Scott MacDonald, the Club mounted a campaign to raise funds and procure peanut butter for the Food Bank. As a result, one pallet of 18 oz. jars of peanut butter or 1,620 jars was acquired by the Club and delivered to the Food Bank August 17. What an awesome project. That's a lot of jars! |
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A Glimpse of This Weekend's District ConferenceDistrict's 5340's Conference was held over the weekend at the beautiful and newly renovated Hotel Del. These photos give you a glimpse of the magic of the event.   |
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Del Mar Rotarians to Upgrade Benches It’s happening! It’s been a long process, over a year in the making! Del Mar Rotarians just received approval from the Del Mar Village Association and the City of Del Mar to refurbish the ageing benches on the beautiful streets of Del Mar. Thanks to the generous donation of Jim Watkins earmarked for beautification projects like this and the elbow grease of their very own Karl Wagner, Bill Rawlings, and Walt Strangman, they are on the way. As you can see from the photos, the benches were in desperate need of their care. They sanded, brushed, cleaned, and then oiled these benches back to their original beauty. And they have quite a few more to do! This is another great service project that highlights the many good works Rotarians do.
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Carlsbad Ocktober Feast Scheduled Mark your calendars! October 2nd will be the kick-off for the Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad Oktoberfest fundraiser! This year, it will take place at the Carlsbad Strawberry Company (Strawberry Fields) from 12:00 - 8:00 PM. There will be German food, music, Oktoberfest beverages, activities for the kids and more. Tickets will be coming soon! And during the month of October 2021, they will be holding their Oktober-Feast event to support their local restaurants. Ticketholders can enjoy promotions from various Carlsbad restaurants. Website coming soon! |
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Save the Date for Trivia Night! After two years of not being able to host Trivia Night due to COVID, the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise is keeping their fingers crossed for April 22, 2022. Please SAVE THE DATE and mark your calendars! Be looking to receive registration materials sometime in January!
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District Conference is Just Around the Corner! We are getting close to the final registration date for the District 5340 Conference! Play a round of golf at the beautiful Coronado Golf Club, network at a service project to construct water purification indicators, bid on fabulous items in an online and in-person auction to benefit End Polio Now and enjoy a relaxing bike/run/walk along the coast in Coronado, to name a few! Rotoractors are welcome and can enjoy special discounted pricing for the conference! Don't miss this event of the Rotary fall season! Sponsored by:  |
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District Wide Volunteer Opportunities Anti-Human Trafficking Volunteer Efforts – Sign Up! Your District 5340 AHT Taskforce has some great volunteer opportunities for you and your club to participate. Reach out to Dave Oates at david@publicrelationssecurity.com to sign up! Space is limited:
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Sunset Soiree Coming Our Way You won't want to miss this wine and food pairing event. Join the Del Mar Rotary Club for its 17th annual Sunset Soiree scheduled for October 5 at the Del Mar Plaza. Tickets are available online and are $75 each. The online auction will open September 28th and will close before the October 5 in-person event at the Del Mar Plaza. Online bidders will be offered “Buy it Now” opportunities and limited ability for participation in both our silent and live auctions after the online auction closes.
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Fernanda Torres Receives People of Action Award Recently, Past District Governor Steve Weitzen was able to deliver a much deserved People of Action award to Fernanda Torres of the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club. Most people know Fernanda as a hard worker, developing our international MUN program over many years. Over the last year and a half, Fernanda has been extremely busy helping her local community in Tijuana. Among other achievements, she has delivered food to hard hit poor communities during the worst days of the pandemic. She has also delivered thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment to hospitals, clinics and first responders over many months. She has done this at significant risk to her own health and safety - a shining example of Service Above Self. Fernanda designed, built and installed a beautiful 15 foot peace pole in a new park in the Natura Community as Peace Chair of her club. She is also working on a new training program with the Institute of Economics and Peace. Fernanda is co-chairing the Latin American Peace Symposium. She is on the board of the Boys and Girls Club in Tijuana and was San Diego Coastal Rotary Club's Rotarian of the Year in 2020. She is also the bi-national liaison for Districts 5340-4100 and is helping to forge a new partnership for future projects together in the area. If that isn't enough, Fernanda agreed to be the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club's International Chair and has more plans to do good work. Great job, Fernanda! >> |
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How can Rotary Empower Students Who Live in Extreme Poverty? How can Rotary empower students who live in extreme poverty? Join us and hear how Deborah Plotkin brought technology to the classroom in Uganda at the District 5340 Conference! Deborah will illustrate how she is working with at the Rotary Vijana Poa Mbale Technology Hub and providing technology and employment education to enable and advance economic empowerment in Mbale, Eastern Uganda. This project strives to help youth to sustainably and economically advance their lives, and that of their families and communities. Come see Deborah and all our fabulous speakers and members at the District 5340 Rotary Conference on September 10-12th. Register here. Don't wait! It's less than two weeks away! |
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September is Basic Education and Literacy Month More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults. All clubs are encouraged to integrate Rotary's monthly focus into their service and speaker events.
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RI Foundation Chair John F. Germ to Speak at Conference Don't miss your opportunity to hear from John F. Germ, Chair of the Rotary Foundation at this year's District Conference which is just two weeks away - September 10-12 and being held at the newly renovated Hotel Del Coronado. Click below to register. |
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You can make a huge difference in a few deserving students’ lives by joining the Madrina Program. The Rotary E-Club San Diego Global (RECSDG) has been supporting, through small District grants, 16 students in a program that allows them to start a business and finish their high school education in Guatemala. This past year, five of these students were chosen to go on to college programs based on their outstanding grades and have completed their first semester with flying colors. They did this despite COVID's economic effect on their country’s health and economy. These students have proven their worth – working together on menstrual pads, ecological soap and masks (see photos) to earn money for their tuition, and to help support their families. The Rotary grants have also helped pay their tuition. |
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$1,000 raised for Standup for the Cure Photo: Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Raises Over $1k for StandUp for the Cure & Contributes $1k to Life Rolls On Foundation Thanks to the generosity of Rotarians and friends, the Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship raised over $1k recently for breast cancer research. The 2021 crew consisted of Rotarians from throughout District 5340 including Jim Davies, Michael Slentz, Christine Muhart, Brett Morey, Jenny Parker, Vince Ponce and Krista Davies from Pacific Beach Rotaract. They also had Lake Arrowhead Rotarians Bob & Diane Gladwell as well as friends in the surfing community from Orange County for a fun morning of stand-up paddle boarding raising funds and awareness for StandUp for the Cure benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation and other breast cancer research groups. Those wishing to participate can still contribute to honor a loved one or friend by clicking here. Don't miss out on the next opportunity to serve as Surfers Unite Founder and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle Brett Morey has a couple Life Rolls On events on the calendar. Life Rolls On Foundation assists adaptive surfers (disabled children & adults) and the La Jolla Shores event will take place Oct. 16. Volunteer opportunities also exist thanks to Surfers Unite as the Super-Girl Pro in Oceanside features the top women surfers in the world Sept. 17-19. Sign up to volunteer for any of these unique, fun and relevant events to grow your club as we bring the family of Rotary together. www.surfersunite.org/events Need more info? Text "SURF" to 858-602-2532 |
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Member Profile - Rob Taylor The Rotary Club of Coronado has a new president with a long history in Coronado, a talent for math and an abiding curiosity about the world. Rob Taylor was born in Washington, DC, but soon moved to Coronado when his dad, a Naval officer, was stationed in Coronado. Rob’s father passed away when Rob was four years old, and the family settled in Coronado where Rob attended school, graduating in 1962. Rob had started school one year early, skipped a grade in high school and graduated at age 16. His desire to follow in his father’s footsteps led him to apply to the US Naval Academy, where he was rejected for being colorblind. Graduating from MIT and UCLA with degrees in mathematics, his talents for math and the French language were to guide his career. Computers were a new field when Rob got his master’s degree. He joined Hughes Aircraft, programming training screens for weapons officers learning to use their armaments and anti-radar tools, followed by a satellite telemetry project. He soon changed jobs to work for Xerox, which at the time aimed to compete with IBM in the nascent mainframe computer field. When Xerox got out of the computer business, Rob found himself between jobs. A fraternity brother told him about a technical writing job with another department at Xerox, translating French software manuals into English, and paid by the page. Rob’s rare combination of technical knowledge coupled with his French skills made him invaluable. He had the good fortune to be brought on fulltime and transferred to work in Paris for two years. |
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District Conference Wine Tasting and Auction Where has the summer gone? We are just three weeks away from our District's End Polio Now (EPN) Wine tasting event. This event is being held on the first night of the Rotary District Conference, Friday, September 10, 2021 at the Hotel Del Coronado on the Windsor Lawn overlooking the ocean. The Online Auction is now live! |
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Group Funding Education In Afghanistan Cautiously Optimistic Amid Taliban TakeoverHumanitarian, Rotarian and Past RI Foundation Trustee, Stephen R. Brown of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle speaks to Fox 5 about the face-to-face meeting of his Afghan colleagues with an Afghan official about the school their club opened in 2004 for both boys and girls in Jalalabad. Brown said the Taliban member applauded their work, including the education of girls and young women. That’s been part of the narrative Taliban leaders have been pushing lately, too. Brown said the Taliban even offered security for the schools. He remains cautiously optimistic that the Taliban will allow them to continue operating the school. |
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911 Ceremony of Remembrance Calling all first responders!! The Rotary District 5340 will be recognizing over 100 first responders in a moving commemoration on September 11, 2021 - the 20th Anniversary of 9-11. Do you know someone who is a first responder (including health care workers)? We would love to invite them to our commemoration ceremony to formally thank them for their service to the community! The ceremony will take place in the Crown Room at the Hotel Del Coronado at 8:00 a.m., with an arrival time of 7:00 a.m. Please contact Dan Gensler with names by emailing him at dgensler@rotary5340.org. Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor: Prime Lending - www.carranzagroup.com.
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Come Check Us Out! Warning! Visiting Rotarians in District 5340 are warned that meal portions at Old Mission Rotary meetings at the Legacy Resort and Spa are too big! Find out for yourself and check out the brand new, impressive Legacy Resort and Spa on Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley. Old Mission Rotary meets every Tuesday at noon except for the fourth Tuesday which is a 6PM and is a no host evening social at the hotel (next evening social on August 24). The lunch cost for visiting Rotarians is $25 and $15 for Rotaractors. Parking is free with validation. To RSVP please call or text Matt Risi at (619) 993-3913. |
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Join Us at This Year's District ConferenceDon't miss out on this fun-filled and inspiring event. The District Conference is on September 10-12 at the beautiful Hotel Del Coronado. If you haven't registered and would like to attend part or all of the conference, please click here. |
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August 2021 Rotary-Smiles International Partnership Mission in Mexico. 38 facial cleft reconstructive surgeries were accomplished this past weekend for these infants. The surgeries were performed under specialized pediatric anesthesia during the August 2021 Rotary-Smiles International partnership mission in Mexico. Not counting the vast humanitarian value, the estimated cost benefit, using USA values, was well over $200K USD which included the donated hospital care, anesthesia, CranioMaxillofacial surgery, nursing, and complex- staged treatment plan formulations. These children will usually need 5-7 staged treatments done over their growth and development, and when Thousand Smiles treat their primary procedure, they are fully accepted into their program. They then plan for these children to receive each of their staged treatments, which enable them to enter and contribute to society with abilities to eat, breath, speak, hear, and SMILE properly, allowing them to hold and perform any future employment. Credit goes to the Thousand Smiles team who donate their skills as well as pay their own travel expenses, Rotary District 5340's Club of Carlsbad (including Dr. Jeffrey Moses, Surgeon), the Solmar Foundation, H. ESPECIALIDADES, Club Rotario Los Cabos, the program's Communications Director, Leticia Gottwald with the Gottwald University and follow up Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dra. Macrina Bustos of MaxiMed. Please like their FaceBook Page for SmilesInternationalFoundation.org where you can get updates of Rotary Club of Carlsbad's other children's mission projects in Tecate, Mexico. |
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District Conference Project Highlight Has something ever changed you forever? Four years ago Camille Newbern had a lifechanging experience on her first service trip to East Africa. Since then she has led San Diego Rotary’s efforts to open a 200+ bed hospital in Atiak, Uganda. Join Camille at the 2021 Rotary District 5430 Conference on September 10-12 2021 to hear about the project’s inception, the journey to build a healthcare facility halfway across the world, and how she found herself in living “Service Above Self." This is a story you are not going to want to miss! Sign up for the conference here. |
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Rotary District Conference Speaker Stephen R. Brown Meet our inspiring Rotary Conference speaker Stephen Brown, past trustee from the Rotary Foundation and member of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club. Steve will share his experience with the Aral Sea Basin project, which focuses on resolving water conflict issues in Central Asia. This international project involves individuals from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, and Iran. The professionals assisting the project are from universities in Netherlands, Costa Rica and U.S., with Rotarians assisting from all three countries. Come listen and be inspired by his work! Click the register button below to sign up for the District 5340 District Conference. |
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World Polio Day October 24th World Polio Day is coming up quickly on October 24th! Join this Virtual Workshop on "How to Create a Successful World Polio Event" on August 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This workshop will help you plan and implement a successful World Polio Day event for your clubs. Make sure your event raises awareness and support for eradicating Polio worldwide. Click here to register and support for eradicating Polio worldwide! |
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Save the Date If you'd like to support the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club by attending this event or if you need more information, please go to www.lajollagrotary.org.
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Rotarian David Ballesteros passed away on August 5th. The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club lost a long-standing and very active Rotarian, David Ballesteros. David was a dedicated father, husband, friend, professor and Rotarian who dedicated his life to helping people around the world. As a dean at SDSU, he assisted countless students in becoming future leaders within the San Diego and Imperial County communities. As a Rotarian for over 37 years, David held numerous leadership positions within the Calexico Rotary Club and the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, where he led numerous district and global grant partnerships that delivered aid to the less fortunate in countries such as Ecuador, Mexico and Honduras. David had long envisioned a future where technology would make it possible to create a truly global Rotary club where members from around the world could meet virtually and work together to effect positive change on a global scale. This vision came to fruition in 2016 when he helped found the Rotary E-club of San Diego Global. 5 years later, the Rotary E-club of San Diego Global continues to thrive with members in 6 countries and 3 Global Grants successfully completed. David touched the lives of many of us and he will be dearly missed. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 22nd at 11:30 AM at Funeraria del Angel at 753 Broadway, Chula Vista. |
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Don't Miss Out on the District Conference Rotarians, we are just a month away from our annual District Conference scheduled for September 10-12, 2021. This year we will be holding the conference at the newly renovated and renown Hotel Del Coronado. Be one of the first to see the hotel's new look. What a wonderful place to hold a conference on a beautiful summer weekend. You won't want to miss it. Club Projects Showcase your club projects at the District Conference on September 11th! Order your table ASAP as space is limited. Email suzanne.manuel6@gmail.com to reserve your spot today. Please include name, club, and project name. You must be registered for the Conference to participate. New Rotaract Pricing! Registration includes Saturday day with conference, breakfast, lunch, beach game, and Pub Crawl Fun. Dinner is not included. $50.00 - 50 Available tickets |
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Serve to Change Lives Do you want the opportunity to "Serve and Change Lives" with clubs in our District? We are going to be featuring volunteer opportunities both locally and internationally in a new column entitled Service Projects - Local and International. The column will provide details of the service project and contact information for questions and for volunteer signups. We welcome submissions from all clubs. The emphasis is on providing volunteer opportunities in which others can join with you on the project. Let us know what your club is doing. This is what we will need from you to guarantee we can promote your volunteer effectively.
Please submit your information to the Newsbits Editor, Sandy Pugliese at sandyp304@gmail.com. |
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Corona Conversation is Praised by Public Health Leader Photo Caption: The Corona Conversation with Don Krupp is a weekly feature now included in our Old Mission Rotary Zoom Meetings. Noe Crespo, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor and is the Division Head of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science in the School of Public Health at San Diego State University. Old Mission Rotary knows Noe for his dedication and amazing success with the VIIDAI Public Health Program in San Quentin Mexico. At VIIDAI, Noe helped institute many programs to improve and monitor the health of migrant farmers who work in the tomato plantations of Baja. It is very significant that Noe praised the efforts of our own Don Krupp and his Corona Conversation series. Noe writes: “Thank you for sharing this important message with Rotary members. I am doing research on COVID and the vaccines and it is important that organizations such as Rotary unite to fight the pandemic and promote the vaccines. Together we can overcome this virus and rebuild stronger.” Don describes his weekly talks over the last year an a half as a "labor of love." |
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Last Week to Register for the StandUp for the Cure event Benefiting Breast Cancer Research Don't miss the opportunity to join Rotarians, Rotaract, Interact, family and friends on Saturday, August 14 as they launch Stand Up Paddle Boards from the Mission Bay Aquatic Center (MBAC) to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer Research. Benefactors include the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Van Andel Institute and Hackley Community Care for breast cancer research. Register online to join the team or make a donation to Honor a loved one. For those who want to come on down and cheer wear some pink and look for the Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship tent next to the MBAC as the team takes to the water. You can rent a StandUp Paddle Board at the event for as little as $28. Use this fun filled event as a recruitment tool for your club by inviting friends in the community. For more info text "SUP" to 858-602-2532 or visit: https://surfersunite.org/events. |
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August is Membership Month August is Membership Month, which means it’s time to celebrate your Rotary club, your members, and the good you do in your community and around the world. There are many ways to join in the celebration, but here are a few activities to get you started:
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Cleaning Up the BayChula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club members Gina, Trish and Sophia and friends volunteered during July working in conjunction with the South Bay Sustainable Communities to help clean up the bay at the "J" Street Marina. Either on land or in kayak, these volunteers made a difference by collecting a vast assortment of trash washed ashore though the drainage systems or discarded randomly by community members.  |
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Paul Harris Fellow Presented to Abraham SaddasThe presentation of Paul Harris Fellow recognition is The Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. It is named for our founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905. Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation. On Saturday, July 24, 2021 the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club had the honor and pleasure of recognizing Abraham Saddas, Vice President of the Community Food Connection in Poway as a Paul Harris Fellow. |
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Great Project Conducted by the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary ClubThe La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club is committed to a project every month. The month of July included cleaning the neighborhood around Diego Hills Charter School. They also stocked their free pantry for hungry students. What a nice way for the students to start a new school year!  |
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Fern Street Circus Coming to Town Come join in on an event for all Rotarians and their families and friends. Join us for the Fern Street Circus San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club Extravaganza. You will see amazing performances by circus professionals throughout the evening. Tight-rope walking and juggling lessons are available for kids and adults. In addition to this world-class circus, there will be live music, local food, and beverages for both adults and children.
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A Message from District Governor The first month of serving as your District Governor has been a privilege and honor. I have been welcomed with open arms and warm hospitality in my visits to the clubs. As a member of a larger club, I am amazed and delighted to see the impact our small and medium sized clubs are making on local communities and communities throughout the world.
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Don't Forget to Signup for Membership Seminar Attention Rotary Club Presidents and Membership Chairs. District 5340 will be holding its first Membership Seminar of the new Rotary year on Saturday, August 14 from 9:00 - 10:30 AM via Zoom. This seminar will have a short training session followed by two breakout sessions to bounce ideas off other presidents and membership chairs. You will not want to miss this. Please register and your Zoom link will be emailed to you. |
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The LEAD Conference Is Back And You Can Be An Advisor! It has been a long, frustrating year and a half for everyone who loves to serve our young people. Come join in the fun as the LEAD Conference restarts the District’s in-person youth programs! Rotarians and Rotaractors are invited to be Advisors at District 5340's LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, Aspirations & Determination) Conference. Best of all – there is no charge to Rotarians, Rotaractors, or to their clubs for serving as LEAD Advisors! |
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Acclaimed Documentary “Wild Climate.” The Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club will be hosting a special virtual screening of the acclaimed documentary “Wild Climate” at 6:30 pm, Tuesday, August 10, 2021. The film explores the impacts of climate change on the rural communities of the West. From abrupt changes in lifestyle to crop & wildlife losses, drought, wildfires and high temperature events are having devastating impacts on millions of people. |
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Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding for the Susan G. Komen Foundation Join members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center on Sat., August 14 for the 2021 StandUp for the Cure event raising funds for breast cancer research including the Susan G. Komen Foundation and other organizations. |
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Nominations for District Governor Now Open Nominations for District 5340 Governor 2024 - 2025 are due no later than October 10, 2021. Please submit nomination documents (Club Nominee Resolution Form, District Nominee Application Form, Ballot, Guidelines, Timeline), to the District mailing address provided below: Rotary District 5340 5052 Clairemont Drive #178651 San Diego, CA 92117 Interviews for District Governor 2024 - 2025 are Saturday, October 23, 2021, beginning at 9 am. |
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Old Mission Rotary Club Presents Check to DG Dan Ginsler District 5340 Governor Dan Gensler visited Old Mission Rotary on Tuesday, July 21st. At the meeting, President Michelle Malin presented Dan with a check for $1500 for the Rotary International End Polio Now Campaign. Despite the dramatic success of the many decade campaign against Polio started in 1985, it is crucial to continue working to keep the world polio-free.
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Starting Off the Year Strong!The City Heights Rotaract Club is starting off the year strong with a great turn out at their FIRST service event of the year. Thank you to their director of service Yesenia for creating the project. Rotaractors gathered at Teralta Park and helped out artists with cleaning, raking and general prep[ before they continue the Teralta Mural beautification. The Club also collected tons of trash while they were there.  |
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Share Your Thoughts Here's an opportunity for Rotarians to share their creative solutions with Rotarians all over the world. Every month, Rotary magazine looks at a different membership dilemma and solicits answers from readers. You may really enjoy this. Read the dilemma for the next issue and send your responses to magazine@rotary.org.
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A Club’s Tradition of Caring for the Environment The Rotary Club of Coronado's tradition of caring for the environment grows exponentially with Rotary International’s Seventh Focus. Coronado Rotary’s new committee looks toward action and education. Historically, for decades, Coronado Rotarians have reached out to help the environment through service projects such as monthly Saturday Beach Clean-ups, planting trees, and helping enhance local school grounds during Rotarians at Work Days. For Coronado locals and visitors alike, it is not unusual to see Rotarians in blue vests placing flags along Orange Ave, and more and more these days, at Central Beach, Tidelands Park and along the Bay at the Cays and the Strand. |
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RI Looks Back at 2020-21 The last Rotary year included many challenges, and we have much to be proud of — from Africa being declared wild polio-free and the strengthening of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, to our efforts to support COVID-19 vaccinations and awarding our first $2 million Programs of Scale grant. Learn more about what we achieved this year in General Secretary John Hewko’s report to the convention. |
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Give the Gift of Life |
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Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary to host Baja Style Lobsterfest Join the Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club (DMSB Rotary) for their first, fun LobsterFest dinner and fundraiser on the beautiful outdoor patio of the Del Mar Hilton on September 18, 2021 from 5-8pm. This will be their major fundraising event of the year supporting many humanitarian projects, both locally and internationally.
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Everyone Loves a Parade - Especially Uncle SamCongratulations to the Coronado Rotary Club. Their float won 1st place for the 7th year in a row at this year's Coronado 4th of July Parade. Coronado has a long history of participating in the parade and for setting out flags along the main road. New president, Rob Taylor, wowed the crowd as Uncle Sam! Get a glimpse of Uncle Sam in this three-minute video.  |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Participates in the Spirit of the 4th17 Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club members volunteered at the “Spirit of the Fourth” fireworks celebration on July 4th. Crowds numbered in the thousands and they enjoyed food trucks, a silent auction, some great live music and a traditional fireworks extravaganza. Rancho Bernardo Middle School was the perfect venue for the event as there was plenty of room for the kids to play and the crowds to feel comfortable. It was so great to see this annual fireworks display and family night return. The crowds were huge, and a great time was had by all!!  |
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Here Are District 5340's Year-End Awardees In front of nearly 400 Rotarians and guests, Past District Governor Steve Weitzen announced winners of District 5340's year-end awards during festivities at the Governor's Dinner held last month. Congratulations to these outstanding clubs ands Rotarians for their outstanding accomplishments during this past Rotary year. Thank you for making Service Above Self the center of all you do. |
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Lets Celebrate! |
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Military Memorial Wall Expansion Project In 2015 Vista’s Rotary Club dedicated the above Military Memorial Wall. The County of San Diego generously contributed $20,000.00 toward the project and private donors contributed another $45,000.00. The wall, a black granite tribute approximately sixty feet long by five feet high, is located along Rotary Lane on Vista Village Drive immediately east of Main Street and adjacent to the sports field of the Magnet School on Civic Center Drive at E. Vista Way. The City of Vista has participated in maintaining landscaping on a portion of Rotary Lane, but a portion of the property adjacent to the school property, over 100 yards in length, remains without any landscaping or improvements. The next phase of the project will landscape and beautify the entire length between the school parking lot and Main Street, and is planned for completion in the spring of 2022. The County of San Diego has again generously contributed $25,000.00 to the project estimated at a total cost of approximately $72,000.00. |
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Peace Pole Created for New ParkFernanda Torres, Peace Chair of the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club and the bi-national liaison for Districts 5340-4100 created an extraordinary peace pole for a new park in the working class Natura community of Tijuana. The peace pole is an impressive 15 feet high and beautifully decorated by hand by Fernanda. Each part of the decoration was symbolic with many emblems of Rotary as well as the wishes for peace on earth in English and Spanish. The pole is dedicated to the children of Tijuana. Helping Fernanda create, transport and erect the pole was Carlos Carrillo, chair of the International Service and Pro Peace Committee for the 4100 district and Mark McAnelly from the Old Mission RotaryClub. This was truly an amazing international peace effort! The unveiling ceremony for the peace pole was held Tuesday, June 29 and attended by Rotarians from the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club Old Mission Rotary Club and Golden Triangle Rotary Club as well as many Rotarians from several clubs in District 4100. A distinguished Peace Fellow Bogdan Matuszynski was in attendance. There were also dignitaries from Tijuana, members of the Natura community and, most importantly, Fernanda's parents (proud Rotarians). The Natura community was developed as a unique peace building community with efforts from the Ruba organization to bring the community together with a book club. Several talented ballerinas from the ABC Carvajal Dance Academy helped entertain the audience after the unveiling. Fernanda, the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club and several other Rotarians plan to continue to work with this Natura community in the start of a partnership and the sponsorship of a Rotary Community Corps. |
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Monthly Area of Service July is Rotary’s New Leadership Month. Congratulations to all the new Club Presidents! Rotary has designated months to help clubs develop meeting agendas, projects, or public image campaigns based on these special occasions.
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Dan Gensler Assumes District Governor Role July 1 As the incoming District Governor of Rotary International District 5340, which includes 61 Rotary Clubs comprising 3,000 members in San Diego and Imperial Counties, Dan Gensler is no stranger to both challenges and honors. He has been a member of The Rotary Club of Coronado since 1996 and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2004. In addition, he served as President from 2006-07. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - June 27, 2021 An Exclusive Interview with District Governor Steven Weitzen With the 2020/21 Rotary year coming to an end, so does the tenure for this year's District Governor. Newsbits (NB) sat down this week with District Governor Steven Weitzen (SW) to have a conversation with him about this Rotary year, his thoughts on the future of the District and his own future in Rotary. |
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Carlsbad Rotary Provides Much Needed Donations to North County Charities The Rotary Club of Carlsbad recently released substantial donations to various North San Diego County organizations as part of the Day of Giving - a day of giving and unity. Ava Payne, President of Rotary Carlsbad said “I’m in awe of the commitment, passion, and selflessness our four Day of Giving honorees demonstrated, stepping up through their organizations to assist those unable to help themselves. A noble purpose resulting in a profound and prodigious impact.” Jeffrey Sitcov, President and Founder of Doors of Change said “Doors of Change is so appreciative of Carlsbad Rotary for their generous donation to help San Diego Homeless Youth get off the streets and live productive lives. Since 2001 over 2,200 Homeless Youth have done this because of the help of many organizations like Carlsbad Rotary. " Sue McLeod, founder of Got Your Back San Diego, added, “Our existence heavily relies on generous donations from reputable philanthropic organizations like the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. They have, in large part, allowed us to move forward in these trying times. Our mission of providing food to school age children conveys to them that someone cares and that children matter #youmatter. Thanks Rotary!” The Rotary Club of Carlsbad made substantial donations to the following North San Diego County groups who have seen increased demand along with additional challenges resulting from last year’s pandemic:
Scott McClatchey, Community Service Director for Rotary Carlsbad said “Day of Giving is an annual tradition where our club recognizes local charitable organization’s doing amazing work in the community. This year’s program was particularly inspirational because of how difficult the past year has been, yet through it all these four organizations pivoted in order to continue their mission serving as a lifeline for our community’s most vulnerable population.” Each organization received a check from the Rotary Club of Carlsbad (pictures shown above). |
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Rotarians Helping Human Trafficking SurvivorsHuge thanks to the two dozen Rotary District 5340 members, family, and friends that came out to GenerateHope on June 19 to perform some much needed facility repairs/cleanup. A big thank you goes to Mark Rodriquez and the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club for spearheading the amazing landscape project! There was also great representation from the Coronado Rotary Club, San Diego Rotary Club, the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake, and the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego. These Rotarians made a difference in the lives of several human trafficking survivors. Congratulations on a job well done.  |
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Rotary Club of San Marcos Raises Funds for Behavioral Health Programs May was Mental Health Awareness Month. Supporting that effort, On May 15, 2021 at Goat Hill Golf Course in Oceanside, the Rotary Club of San Marcos held its 4th Annual Goat for Joe Golf Classic. The tournament was started by co-chairs Dana and Andrea Albert to create awareness and the de-stigmatization for mental illness. Funds raised supported Trucare’s behavioral health and suicide prevention programs. Truecare is a community healthcare provider for the underserved communities of North San Diego and Riverside Counties. With over 120 golfers in attendance, the day consisted of lots of fun, food and fellowship. A check for $10,000 was presented to Michelle Gonzalez, CEO and Carmen Huertero, Board Chair. Save the date - next year’s tournament is scheduled for May 14, 2022. Mark your calendars today! |
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Rotary Club of El Cajon Supports Salvation Army's New Community Center The El Cajon Rotary granted $10,000, plus a Matching District Grant of $4000, to support of the Salvation Army's new community center, in 2020. Specifically, the club’s donation offset the equipment costs for their new kitchen. The equipment and hood were key components of this new kitchen. The new kitchen will support senior, youth, and family programs. The Salvation Army's new building and kitchen plans to provide classes to teach seniors and other Food Bank clients how to make healthy meals with the emergency food they receive through our food bank. This kitchen will be used during the Salvation Army's annual free Thanksgiving and Christmas Community meals, which will serve the large low-income senior population in our community. They serve 120-130 seniors daily through the various programs offered. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - June 20, 2021This week we are proud to feature District Governor Steven Weitzen in an unfiltered and unscripted video musings. To view the video select "Read More" below. |
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Celebrating Max Gurney Rotarian Max Gurney recently observed his 100th birthday by traveling to Monaco, where he was and still is well-known as a friend and associate of Prince Rainier, Princess Grace, and the entire Grimaldi family. Max is a veteran of World War II and a career executive with Pan Am Airlines. He has been a Rotarian for 57 years, and he’s still counting! The Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club will commemorate our long-time member at a special, in-person noon meeting on Wednesday, June 30 at the Mt. Soledad Veteran Memorial. Rotarians who wish to join our celebration should contact Gordon Shurtleff <plssunrise@sbcglobal.net> or Henri Migala <hmigala@hotmail.com> for information about the meeting and the modest cost of lunch. |
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La Jolla Sunrise Rotary recognized San Pasqual Academy 2021 Rotary Scholars San Pasqual Academy (SPA) is a San Diego County first-in-the-nation, residential education campus designed specifically for foster youth. SPA has developed a remarkable 20 year, “Best in the Nation”, 95% high school graduation rate for foster children. This is particularly amazing compared to the nation wide foster child high school graduation rate of 50%. This week, La Jolla Sunrise Rotary with a matching grant from the Paula and Oliver Jones Family Foundation, awarded Rotary Scholarships to nine graduating seniors who elected to continue their education. These nine Rotary Scholars are continuing their education thru a combination of trade schools, junior colleges or four-year colleges. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary provides grant to the Waldorf School On Tuesday, June 15th the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $6,000 grant to the Waldorf School of San Diego located in City Heights. Funds will be used to purchase tools to help maintain buildings and landscaping. Pictured (L-R) Director of Development Andrew Holets, Art Pratt Foundation President Eric Benink, Art Pratt Foundation Board Members Cynthia Drake and Charlotte Cofield, Waldorf School Facilities Manager Pete Barber and Art Pratt Foundation Board Member Judi Copeland.
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Joint Effort to Protect the EnvironmentCoronado Rotary Club’s Committee to Protect the Environment (CPE) teamed up with Chula Vista-Eastlake Rotary Club on Saturday morning, June 5th to collect trash in recognition of World Environment Day. They cleaned along Frontage Road and the Bay Bike Path near the south San Diego Bay. The 30+ members of Coronado’s CPE are joined by others in the club almost every weekend to clean along the bay, the Silver Strand, or Orange Avenue. These are in addition to over 18 years of monthly beach clean-ups hosted by the club. Rotarians felt great about the positive impact they made at this partnering event between clubs in support of the new Rotary International Area of Focus which emphasizes local, national, and international actions to protect the environment. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - June 13, 2021The Need to Serve In 1943 Abraham Maslow wrote a paper entitled: “A Theory of Human Motivation.” The paper explored in a pyramid fashion how one moves from the lowest level of the pyramid up to the highest of five levels. As one achieves and becomes satisfied at one level, they are then motivated to move on to the next level. And so on. The lowest level of the pyramid is physiological needs. These include things that are essential for survival. Such as food, water, warmth, rest and breathing. Once those needs are met, one is ready to move up the pyramid to the next level. |
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Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Live at the Rotary International Convention Fresh off a recent beach clean-up event with high school students from University City High School, Rotarians and Rotaractors joined up to beautify Mission Beach. The crew filled more than 24 buckets of trash and recyclables in less than two hours and the buckets, trash bags and gloves were donated by Dixieline Lumber. This was all part of the Surfers Unite Rotary Fellowship. Discover not only how this exciting Rotary Fellowship is expanding the Family of Rotary in District 5340 but in 32 countries around the globe. Learn how you can use your hobbies and interests to successfully grow your club. |
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2022 Rotary International Convention:
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North City Rotarians Help Poway Food ConnectionRotarians from the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club expanded its efforts in support of the Poway Food Connection (Food Bank). What started as fruit picking from small local orchards and then donating the crop to the Food Bank has now evolved to also helping regularly to collect donations from grocery stores and packing boxes of items for the Food Banks’ three-times a week pickup schedule. Over time, some members of the Rancho Bernardo Noon Rotary Club became volunteers as well seeing that there was a continuing need for help. The Poway Food Connection supplies over 700 boxes of food to needy families in North County weekly! Additionally, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club stepped up to paint the facility and conduct minor repairs over the past year. Recently, it was determined that there was a need for a new entrance ramp and patio flooring. After all the work in securing estimates and obtaining funding was arranged, the cost of lumber doubled. To the rescue came both the Rancho Bernardo Noon Rotary Club and the San Diego North Sunrise Rotary Club who donated the extra funds to finish the job. San Diego North also joined in on the rebuilding project. This is a shining example of the power of Rotary – a need is identified - then things get done. If a club needs help, other clubs step up to lend a hand and soon it is a collaboration! |
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Padres Versus the Cubs"Take me out to the ball game...if they don't win it's a shame." Well, the Cubs took the game from our Padres but we all managed to have a great time as Rotarians. Charlie Crew from Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club was especially excited that he caught the Padre's home run ball! Special thanks to Erika Rodriguez for handling the logistics on the e-tickets. Truly "Service Above Self."  Pictured: From Left to Right are classmates: Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle (2013-14), Chuck Pretto, District Governor Elect Designate and Past President of Club 33 (SD Downtown), District Governor Steven Weitzen and Past President of the Rotary Club of Del Mar Solana Beach as well as International Photographer and Brand Marketing Coach Nikki Incandella. Steve and Chuck were right, Nikki will be a Rotarian soon enough simply by being a friend of Brett's. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - June 6, 2021Our member profile this month is on Rotarian and Assistant Governor, Luis Carranza. Luis is a member of the Rancho Santa Fe club. He is a Past President and has served as an Assistant Governor for Area 8 (Old Mission, Kearney Mesa San Diego, Southeast San Diego, the E-club - Marian Pavlovich and the Mission Gorge Rotary club). |
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Coronado Rotarians Celebrate with Sharp On Friday, May 28, Rotary Vaccine Volunteers gathered to celebrate the 50,000th COVID 19 vaccine administered at the Sharp Coronado satellite clinic. The Rotary Club of Coronado donated well over 2,000 hours to help keep people safe from the pandemic. Alongside other volunteers and Sharp Coronado staff, our dedicated team worked all shifts Monday through Friday starting in January to support and provide shots to the large numbers of people seeking vaccinations. Rotarians made patients feel welcome, calmed their nerves and moved them through the process efficiently. Sharp HealthCare is more than grateful for this outstanding volunteer effort. |
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Call for Volunteers!Your District’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force will be conducting some much needed spring cleaning and beautification projections the morning of June 19 at a human trafficking survivor safe house in the South Bay. The facility is operated by GenerateHope. Approximately 10 slots remain. Lunch will be provided. Contact Dave Oates at david@publicrelationssecurity.com if you’re interested.
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Torrey Pines Rotarian Max Gurnery turns 100!Torrey Pines Rotarian Max Gurney with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria on Memorial Day at the Mt Soledad Veterans Memorial. Max is a WWII veteran and served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He will be celebrating his 100th birthday on June 10th in Monaco.
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District Governor, Steve Weitzen, Inducted Eight Paul Harris Fellows from Escondido Rotary After 5 ClubOn May 19th, Escondido Rotary After Five had their first official in person meeting at Fusion Restaurant in Escondido since the pandemic closed the club's live meetings. Club members received their COVID-19 vaccinations and Club Service Director, Carol Szytel, was able to organize a meeting room that complied with COVID protocols. A delicious lasagna dinner was served and club members were joined by special guests District Governor, Steve Weitzen and Assistant Governor, Bret Geernaert present to induct eight new Paul Harris Fellows (PHF). International Service Director, Kela Sconce, worked tirelessly to help the last eight members obtain their PHF and with these inductions, After Five has a 100% Paul Harris Fellow membership! The evening was a great celebration of Rotarians that continue to help the club's community with service and treasure despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic. Everyone had a great time catching up and being able to share some fellowship outside a video screen. They were honored to share this great milestone with Governor Steve Weitzen, AG Bret Geernaert, and Rancho Bernardo Rotarian Gayla Williams and Golden Triangle Rotarian Bev Fritschner. Club Secretary, Gary Szytel, who just celebrated his 39th Rotaversary opened the meeting with a beautiful song. A video of the song and Governor Steve’s address to the club can be seen on the After Five webpage Home Page and Facebook page. |
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The Environment Area of Focus will be well represented at RICON21!
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The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo acts on Diversity and Inclusion Issues The murder of George Floyd last year and the increasing awareness of the need for diversity, inclusion, and equity in society struck a nerve with several RB Rotary Club members. So, in March 2019, incoming President Alex Robertson asked John Goodrich to head a team to see how we could make a difference. Beginning with three (3) members meeting weekly, and eventually growing to a committee of nine (9), the Diversity in Action Committee brainstormed, made a lot of phone calls, traveled several dead ends, hit COVID stimies, and eventually found some successes. All research and planning searched for:
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A new skill set for Santee-Lakeside RotariansOn Saturday, May 22, Rotarians from the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club showed up bright and early at the East County Transitional Care Center (homeless shelter open to families who want to have long-sustaining sobriety and a relationship with God) located in El Cajon. Club members helped beautify the center's playground with pulling weeds, hedge trimming and landscape management. The highlight of the day was the interaction between Rotarians and residents of the facility. Much can be said for personal story sharing and mutual respect for those who have been down on their luck or fighting addiction battles. The Santee-Lakeside Rotary club is involved in supporting the East County Transitional Center with not only landscape management but also with grants for various projects. In addition, the club sponsors a "Give a Sheet" toilet paper drive each year. Give a Sheet is the club's service project culminating at the annual installation event at the end of June when Rotarians fill the stage with reams of toilet paper. One can only imagine how much toilet paper the center goes through in a year's time.  |
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Sunday Morning Musings - May 30, 2021What’s It All About? I have been thinking about what it means to be in Rotary and what Rotary means to us and those we serve. Rotary really meets the needs of people of all ages - from womb to tomb. Everyone benefits from Rotary as lives are touched all over the globe. |
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Rotary Night at the Padres Rotary District 5340 is teaming up with the San Diego Padres to offer four top-tier games with special seats at Petco Park reserved exclusively for Rotary members. Rotary has a long history of involvement with the Major League Baseball franchise.
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Sunday Morning Musings - May 23, 2021Diversity Equity Inclusion With five weeks left in this Rotary year, I am beginning to reflect on where we have been, what we have done and where we go from here. I came into this term with high hopes to make a difference; to advance the ball and change that which could be changed and accept that which could not yet be changed. |
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Chili and QuakersWe are thrilled to invite you to our 2021 Chili and Quackers Challenge! As a past participant in our Rotary club events, you know how much fun we can quack up! Join us at Viewpoint Brewing Co. on June 7, 2021 at 5:00 PM to watch the races in person or watch the Zoom broadcast! Three Cup races feature organizations and activities supported by the Rotary Club of Del Mar. |
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Pads at the BorderLa Jolla Golden Triangle’s newest project comes to life during border visit on May 12 La Jolla Golden Triangle’s International Committee (Committee) has just taken on a cross-border project called Pads at the Border. Rotarians, Fary Moini and Jan Percival, a recent SDSU graduate and Rotaractor McKenna Avery visited the border last Wednesday to deliver pads and other supplies. When Rotarians pulled their car into the middle of Tijuana’s migrant street camp, the call went out quickly: “Mujeres! Solamente Mujeres!” (Women! Only Women!) and within 45 minutes, they finished distributing over 1,200 sanitary pads to a long line of women and teenage girls. These women and girls are among the 1,500 residents of the El Chaparral migrant camp, just a stone’s throw from the U.S. border. This unofficial – and unwanted – tent city materialized in February, shortly after President Biden’s inauguration. Fleeing violence at home in Central America, Haiti and Africa, these migrants refuse to leave as they wait for a chance to apply for asylum in the U.S. Rotarians visited in order to help relieve the distress of women and teenage girls whose menstruation is a monthly nightmare. With no money to purchase pads and no privacy to wash and dry their underwear, it’s a barbaric and humiliating situation, with the potential to be a public health crisis. Before heading back to San Diego, they made a second stop at the Templo Embajadores church located in the rugged Scorpion Canyon on the west side of Tijuana. This church-turned-shelter now houses an additional 500-600 asylum-seekers. They quickly distributed clean, new underwear to women and girls, in addition to Pedialyte purchased at Costco in Tijuana. Dehydration is taking a terrible toll on some of the children housed at Templo Embajadores. Committee members realize that long-term solutions are beyond their short-term scope, but they are committed to helping NOW. With support from organizations like Rotary, they hope to continue our deliveries as long as there are women and teenage girls in these grievous circumstances. Their recent visit was made possible by their alliance with Linda Carroll, co-founder of One Story at a Time, a non-profit that provides humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable people and sentient beings in Mexican border towns. Case manager Maria Lourdes Arias Trujillo (known as “Lulu”) was their guide and translator. A long-time humanitarian activist, Lulu’s compassionate familiarity among the migrants made their visit to the street camp, and shelter, feel non-invasive. To neighbors, friends and Rotarians who donated to support this visit, please know that the Committee members pledge to use all resources with integrity and care. They will not give up. To donate to Pads at the Border, please visit just1atatime.org. Where it says “ write us a comment” please designate “Pads at the Border.”  |
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Charity Golf Tournament scheduled for June 21 The Rotary Clubs of El Camino Real and Oceanside invite you to join them for their 40th annual golf tournament on Monday, June 21, at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside. It will be a scramble format. For sponsorship and registration information, please go to their website or scan the QR code below. They look forward to seeing you for a fun day of golf.  |
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Rotary Peace Conference to be held next month Do you care deeply about your community and looking for ideas to bring about positive change? Registration is live for the Rotary Peace Fellow Global Peace Conference on June 19, 2021. 24 hours of peace talks, skills-based workshops, and networking is an opportunity you will not want to miss! This virtual event is free. Learn more and register for FREE by visiting https://bit.ly/3tM83lL. |
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Flying Leathernecks Museum is the recipient of grantThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary recently issued a grant to the Flying Leathernecks Museum. The grant for $6,000 was accepted by retired Colonel USMC Victor Bianchi and retired Brigadier General USMC Mike Aguilar. The funds will be used for electronic equipment for their oral history programs and presentation capabilities. The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum is a United States Marine Corps aviation museum has been operating at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar since 1999. Unfortunately, The museum can no longer use the land on the air station and has been closed. The museum leadership are looking for a new home with both a physical location and a larger online presence. The museum contains exhibits and artifacts relating to the history and legacy of United States Marine Corps Aviation. The outdoor exhibits included 31 historical aircraft, multiple military vehicles and equipment. Indoor exhibits featured photographs, artifacts and artwork from the early days of aviation to the present. The museum maintains and restores vintage aircraft used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) through work performed by employees and volunteers. In the last 12 months, 28,000 people from around the world came to the museum.  Photo Caption: One of the many impressive aircraft displays at the Flying Leatherneck Museum is the "Lady Ace 09," the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter evacuated Ambassador Graham Martin from the rooftop of the American Embassy in Saigon in 1975 during the last hours of the Vietnam War. |
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Contribute to local Rotary causes - Get a Ring Thing®! Kimberly Schafer, Past President of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club and District 5340 AHT Steering Committee Member, is donating $1 from each sale of her Ring Thing products to local human trafficking efforts. Use the Ring Thing® at the gym, salon, golf course, while traveling or at home. The Ring Thing will give you peace of mind knowing your treasured rings are protected and close to you. And it makes a perfect gift! |
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Sunday Morning Musings - May 16, 2021Marge Cole Marge Cole, Past District Governor 2009-2010, is still very much involved with our clubs and District. She chairs the Foundation committee and is the advisor for the City Heights Rotaract club and the newest chartered club - the Mission Gorge club. And, there is so much more to Marge than that. Her story is so compelling. Let’s find out the rest of the story. |
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Fallbrook Rotary Celebrates 75 Years! Congratulations to the Fallbrook Rotary Club on their 75th Anniversary. The Club continues to thrive and just recently welcomed four new members: Bob Coleman, Patty Sargent, Janet Silver, and Kenneth Wesson. Pictured below are the initial Charter Members of the Fallbrook Rotary Club.  |
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Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2021 Rotary District Conference Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2021 Rotary District Conference To help ensure the success of our annual conference, we are opening up sponsorship opportunities! All the details for sponsorship levels of platinum, diamond, gold, and silver for the 2021 District Conference can be found on the Sponsorship page. In addition to sponsorship levels, there are naming opportunities for the Friday and Saturday evening events. |
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Rotarian's reflect on the future of the Rotary school in Afghanistan Recently, Diane Bell, Columnist for the San Diego Union Tribune featured an article about Rotarian Fary Moini’s and the Golden Triangle Rotary Club’s long-time efforts to build and run a girl’s school in Afghanistan and the implications that the impending withdrawal of American troops from the area may have on the school, it’s girls and the future of women’s rights. The article is below and is printed in its entirety.
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Governor's Dinner - SOLD OUT We have great news -the Governor's Dinner has SOLD OUT! You can still participate from home by joining in via Zoom. Please register for Zoom with the link below. Cocktails: 5:30PM to 6:15PM Program and Dinner: 6:30PM |
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Global Grant partners need to provide medical equipment to Uganda Rotarians, here is a rare opportunity for your club and its members to have a significant and lasting impact on health outcomes in Equatorial Africa. Uganda has 47 million people in a country the size of Oregon. It has an extensive network of 3165 hospitals and clinics. 2930 of these are outpatient (some including maternity) facilities. Our host country sponsor, the Naguru, Kampala Rotary Club, with NGO Bulamu Healthcare International, Uganda, have identified a great need for vital signs equipment in outpatient facilities in that country. Taking vital signs for each outpatient visit has been the standard of care in Western medicine for decades. However, because Uganda’s outpatient facilities lack basic equipment and supplies, only 1-2% regularly check breathing, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and the like. As a result, serious health conditions are going undiagnosed and not treated. (Bulamu’s research shows that when adults have their BP taken, 23% are diagnosed with serious health conditions (e.g., Hypertension).) With this equipment and training we can help identify health issues early, allowing healthcare providers to provide or refer patients to the medications or treatments they need. |
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Rotary Club of Coronado Binacional celebrates its 9th
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Sunday Morning Musings - May 9, 2021Where Do We Go From Here? The most frequently asked questions I have encountered the past few weeks are: When will our club meet in person again? And, how is that going to work? I have no magic bullet in answer to these questions. I do have some thoughts and suggestion to share. |
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Please Help India In January 2020, three Rotarians and their wives from the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo traveled to India to participate in a Mega Polio Campaign hosted by the Rotary Club of Agra Tajmahal in Agra, India. It was an amazing journey and experience that was truly life changing. In light of the crises facing India with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo is raising money to help our fellow Rotarians in Agra, India provide COVID-19 Support Kits to community members. India is experiencing an unprecedented surge of people flooding hospitals after testing positive. These kits will allow people to quarantine at home while monitoring their temperature and oxygen levels. Check out a current story on KGTV 10 https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/rancho-bernardo-rotary-club-answers-call-for-help-from-indian-group. |
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Join Us for a Round of Golf! Rotary Golf Roundup—June 7—Twin Oaks Join us on June 7, 2021 at Twin Oaks Golf Course (San Marcos) beginning at 10:00 AM. The cost for the round is $55.00, which includes cart and range balls. The snack and beverage bars are open for 19th hole fellowship. We will have a Closest to the Pin contest for men and women. Get a group together from your club and join us for fun and fellowship on the golf course. Contact Tee Times Coordinator Bret Geernaert at (bretg2019pres@gmail.com ) or 858-354-9002 to reserve a tee time for yourself and golfers from your club. If you can’t make it this date, mark your calendars for July 12 at Balboa 18 Golf Course in San Diego. More information on this coming out soon. |
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Looking for a HomeSan Diego Coastal Rotary Club 'adopted' a Syrian refugee family in 2016. It started with simple 'welcome to America' gifts but members have become very close to this family over the years. They have taken them on field trips, secured them a car and celebrated holidays together. The family, feeling the love, has participated in the Club's service projects like Feeding San Diego. Rotarian, Jenny Parker helped dad open his first checking account and get a credit card. She was able to help one of the children get into Preuss next year! She taught mom to drive and the kids to swim. In return, she had some wonderful meals and memories. The family honored her by naming their youngest child after her (Jana). One of the toughest problems for the family has been housing. They (all 9 of them) have been living in the same two-bedroom apartment (600 square feet) since they arrived. It has been impossible to find another larger affordable place to rent. They were unable to get into Section 8 housing, low income housing or secure a home from Habitat for Humanity. This last year has been exceptionally hard with the pandemic stay at home orders. The apartment they live in is falling apart and the area is horribly crime-ridden. Graciously, Jenny has decided to buy a house and let them rent. The kids can have a back yard and mom will have a kitchen for a catering business. It's probably the worst time to buy a home in San Diego because there is so little on the market and prices are skyrocketing and the competition is fierce. Homes are selling over the asking price in less than 24 hours of being on the market. Jenny has met all kinds of generous Rotarians interested in helping this family in various ways but she is looking for anyone who can help them find a home. She is looking in Southeast San Diego with a price range of $500 -$550K. Fellow Rotarian Craig Hothem is the real estate agent. If anyone knows of any potential leads, please let Jenny know. She can be reached at 619-985-2999.  |
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Sunday Morning Musings - May 2, 2021Youth Services Month May is Youth Services Month in the Rotary world. We, in District 5340, are very involved in youth services and programming. We have covered some of the programs in earlier Musings. Now we will take an overall look at what it is we do. |
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Sharp Coronado Vaccination Coordinator Ana Ramirez Receives Rotary Service Award The Coronado Rotary Club’s Bob Watson “Service Above Self” Award was presented to Ana Ramirez at the Community Center/COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Wednesday, April 21 meeting of Rotary. She was nominated by Rotarians Nora Allen, Mary Griffin and Steve Duermeyer. Ana is Sharp Coronado Hospital’s Patient and Volunteer Coordinator. At the height of the holiday surge of COVID-19 cases, on January 13, Ana was tapped to establish the clinic and coordinate more than 500 volunteers to support and administer vaccines at the Coronado Community Center. Scheduling and managing this number of volunteers is difficult, but Ana handles every encounter gracefully and deploys her volunteer team very effectively, constantly adapting to changing circumstances. When one reads of the long delays at other vaccination sites, Ana’s ability to manage the demands seems all the more remarkable, as those receiving vaccinations at the Coronado site have minimal wait time. |
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San Diego Coastal Rotary Club sponsors 300 meals The San Diego Coastal Rotary Club sponsored 300 meals with the USO for Servicemen this last Wednesday night and was able to deliver the meals and toys in person. It happened to be on 'dress as your favorite superhero' night so they came in costume to deliver the meals. It was one of the most fun and rewarding service projects the club has experienced.
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Three Clubs unite to help community garden On Saturday, April 24, Rotarians at Work Day, three Rotary clubs teamed up to put the finishing work into the La Mesa Community Garden at MacArthur Park. La Mesa Sunrise, El Cajon Sunset and La Mesa built 2 new planters and carried them into the garden, removed weeds, moved large rocks to line the bottom of the fence, built some metal shelves, leveled the ground, added mulch and spread it out to cover the bare dirt, and filled the planters with garden soil! The La Mesa Community Garden at MacArthur Park opened yesterday, May 1. The garden has 41 plots, including four that are ADA accessible. The garden sits near the city's public swimming pool, net to the former site of the clubhouse for Sun Valley Golf Course, which closed in 2017.
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Coronado Cays beach cleaned up by Rotarians On Saturday April 24, 2021, a large group of hearty Coronado Rotarians gathered at the home of Rotarians Deb and Bob Syverson in Coronado Cays to clean up the beach behind their house. The event recognized "Rotarians At Work Day" which is a world-wide annual Rotary event founded by former Coronado Rotarian Bob Watson.
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Charity Golf Scramble On Friday, June 4, the Rotary Club of Carlsbad (RRC) will host the first-ever Rotary Club of Carlsbad Charity Golf Scramble benefiting the North County Lifeline. The RCC Charity Golf Scramble benefiting North County Lifeline is our premier fundraiser for the year. What promises to be an unforgettable day of friendly competition, fellowship with friends and unbeatable entertainment. The tournament will be held at the St. Mark Golf Course in San Marcos with registration starting at 11:00AM, tee off at 1:00PM, dinner/auction around 6:30PM and then fun, music and cocktails before wrapping up around 8:30PM.
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Seniors Receive a Lending Hand at Mobile Home Parks The Santee Lakeside Rotary Club collaborated with the Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee, Inc. to help with yard upkeep in two mobile home parks in Santee. Residents who can no longer take care of their yards are at risk of eviction notice if left unattended. Joining Rotarians were a number of young family members wanting to get into the dirt and pull those weeds! This is the second year that the club has selected helping seniors as their project for Rotarians at Work Day.
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Encinitas Rotary Club paints offices at the Community Resource Center 15 members and friends of the Encinitas Rotary Club emerged from the COVID cocoon, masked and physically distanced, to paint offices at the Community Resource Center (CRC) in Encinitas. CRC programs include reduction and prevention of domestic violence, case management assistance, shelter and counseling for abuse victims, and food distribution to those in need. Club members had a great time working together and seeing each other outside of a Zoom window! Said President Kerry Witkin: "The CRC work project was our club's contribution to Rotarians at Work Day, a worldwide call for all Rotarians to participate in a community service project on the same day in April. It is rewarding to be part of an organization that lives its motto "Service Above Self." |
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Sunday Morning Musings - April 25Good morning. I'd like to introduce Dianne Crawford, my guest columnist for this week's edition of Sunday Morning Musings. Dianne is our District Governor Designate 2023-2024 and she is from the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego. Dianne has been a long-standing leader in membership development and many other things for District 5340. Enjoy her her excitement for Rotary. ............................... |
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Online Webinar AnnouncedYour District Anti-Human Trafficking task force has another excellent workshop on tap. Join us for this insightful overview of how businesses in San Diego County and elsewhere are banding together to educate the San Diego employees to identify and effectively report indicators of sex trafficking. You’ll receive ideas that you can implement in your workforce the next day! |
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Old Mission Rotary is the "Community Partner of the YEAR!" for STAR/PALCharlotte Cofield, Community Service chair for Old Mission Rotary was so impressed by STAR/PAL (Police Athletic League) that she reached out to the organization last summer for a potential service related project partnership. Her goal was to tackle head on the lack of communication between law enforcement and inner city youth that has created a never-ending stream of violent tragedies across our nation. The mission of STAR/PAL is to engage underserved youth with law enforcement and develop trusting and long-term relationships. STAR/PAL offers free programs for undeserved and at-risk youth in San Diego that are led by law enforcement officers. These programs focus on violence prevention, mentoring, leadership, civic engagement, outdoor enrichment, and physical fitness. Old Mission Rotary assisted STAR/PAL with a school backpack give away in the fall and with distributing Thanksgiving dinners in November. On Thursday, April 22, 2021 at STAR/PA's Colina Park facility in City Heights, STAR/PAL designated Old Mission Rotary as their "Community Partner of the Year!" Congratulations to Old Mission Rotary for outreach efforts to make a difference in the lives of youth!  Photo caption: Members of Old Mission Rotary at the STAR/PAL awards ceremony on April 22nd. (L-R) Donna Maytum, Steve Nuñez, Community Service Chair Charlotte Cofield, President Gary John Collins and Matt Risi.
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Rotarians at Work Day in South BayRotarians from two South Bay clubs -- Chula Vista Sunrise and Chula Vista Eastlake, celebrated Rotarians at Work Day volunteering at the "J" Street Marina. Working to support the South Bay Sustainable Communities (SBSC), Rotarians cleaned up trash in the water and land, resulting in numerous buckets of debris. A special thanks to Chula Vista Kayak for providing the kayaks, and the SBSC for providing the grabbers, gloves, buckets and more! It was a beautiful morning on the bay and the clubs hope to stay involved with this project in the future. Great work Rotarians!   |
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James A Flores to Speak Photo taken by Charlie NeumanJim Floros, CEO of the San Diego Food Bank will be the speaker at the San Luis Rey Rotary club meeting scheduled for May 11 at 7:15 a.m. at the Broken Yolk Resturant located at 2434 Vista Way, Oceanside, CA 92054. The Club would like to invite club presidents OR their designee to attend and hear Jim's 30-minute presentation. Club presidents should call Ron Wilson at 760-705-6553 to let him know if they or a designee will be attending, |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to the Youth Assistance CoalitionOld Mission Rotary Club's Art Pratt Foundation selected The Youth Assistance Coalition to be one of its beneficiaries. The Youth Assistance Coalition (YAC) was founded in 2017 by a group of motivated volunteers who saw the pattern of youth homelessness in San Diego and wanted to break it. From the beginning, YAC has focused on a community approach to breaking this pattern, and has built up powerful partnerships with many other organizations in San Diego who are also committed to helping these youth get off the streets in a lasting way. So far this year, they have provided 110 youth with stable housing.
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Sunday Morning Musings - April 18, 2021Fernanda Torres This month we profile Fernanda Torres of the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club. Fernanda is the President nominee for the San Diego Coastal club. In the meantime, she is the club’s Peace Chair. Fernanda lives in Tijuana and has not been able to come across the border because of the pandemic. Hopefully, that will change in the next few months when she can join her club members as they begin to meet in person. |
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South Region Collaboration for Virtual Earth Day Activities The Community Interact Club of Chula Vista Sunrise is collaborating with the City of Chula Vista, the South Bay Ecojustice Team, and the South Bay Sustainable Communities non-profit to host a virtual South Bay Earth Week event next week in conjunction with the City of Chula Vista Earth Day @ Home Event! |
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Rotary Club of Blythe Hosting Two Fundraising Events
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Rotarians at Work Day Around the Corner Rotarians at Work Day is Saturday, April 24. Please make sure you wear your Rotarians at Work Day shirts and take lots of photos. Share your story! You can send your story (a paragraph or two) to Newsbits editor Sandy Pugliese at sandyp304@gmail.com. Stories need to be submitted by Friday at noon to be included in the subsequent Sunday edition of Newsbits. Include the who, what, when, where and why so we have a complete story and don't forget those pictures! We can't wait to learn what your club did to improve your community and to promote Rotarians as People of Action! |
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Walk the Talk Benefit Week for Hands of Peace Join San Diego Coastal Rotary Club for a 5K walk on May 9, 8:30-9am. Hands of Peace empowers young people to find their voice, share their narrative and develop the compassion and skills they need to resolve conflict and serve their communities. Hands of Peace, San Diego has has many new programs focused on local San Diego youth. Rotary clubs in San Diego have partnered with Hands of Peace for many years now with service work and district grants. |
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Lagoona Kahuna Team Challenge at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation A month-long clean-up team challenge at Agua Hedionda Lagoon is slated for April 30 to May 21 (Friday's only). Its a great opportunity for businesses to support an environmentally friendly initiative, build team relationships, cater to a captive audience, and gain brand recognition. |
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Rancho Bernardo Hosts Blood Drive On Friday, April 16, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo held a blood drive in the Albertsons parking lot. A big "thank you" goes to the Club for recognizing the importance of blood donation especially during this pandemic and to all who took the time to donate blood at this event.
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Sunday Morning Musings - April 11, 2021Rotarians At Work Day In the Rotary world, the last Saturday in April is designated Rotarians at Work Day. Rotarians at Work Day continues to grow. Each year, clubs around the world identify a hands-on project that all members can participate in to help the local community. The day is a great way to revitalize our clubs, bring in new members and generate publicity for Rotary. |
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Virtual Rotary Convention Registration is Open Mark your calendars for an exciting opportunity to connect with Rotary members worldwide at the 2021 Virtual Convention: Rotary Opens Opportunities, June 12-16. Registration is now open offering a limited time special rate of $49. After 21 days, you will pay $65 to register.
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World Vaccination Week is Here! Nothing brings home the importance of World Vaccination Week than our present time dealing with the coronavirus. During World Immunization Week, April 24-30 , join with Rotary to combat vaccine hesitancy and misinformation by spreading the facts about why #VaccinesWork.
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Enjoy Golfing? Join the Fun with Fellow Rotarians on May 3, 2021 at Admiral Baker Golf Course! Our last outing at St. Mark Golf Course in April included District Governor Steve Weitzen, (pictured above -far right) enjoying a day on the links. Two of our Rotary golfers won closest to the pin: Dana Albert (San Marcos RC) & Cathy Hayes (La Jolla RC). Congratulations! |
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RB Sunrise Hosts Semi-Regional Four-Way Speech Contest Four-Way Test Speech Contest Semi-Regional Results The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club hosted the March 30 semi-regional Four-Way Test Speech Contest for local high school students via Zoom. The speech contest, created by Chicago Rotarian Herbert Taylor in 1932, is a public speaking contest which incorporates the components of Rotary's Four-Way Test.
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Anti Human Trafficking Taskforce Update |
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Volunteers Needed for Career Day The La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club is hosting a Career Day with the 11th grade students at the Preuss School (UCSD), which serves students from underserved communities who will be the first in their families to go to college. We provide the Career Counsellors to chat with the students via Zoom on Wednesday April 21 between 11:45PM and 1:30 PM. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - April 4, 2021Disease Prevention Month In the Rotary world, April is Disease Prevention Month. So, let’s address this very important matter. My grandmother told me on many occasions that your health is everything. She probably was right. Many, if not most of us, take our health for granted. We are the lucky ones. Yet, there are over 400 million people in the world who can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care. We, in Rotary, believe good health care is everyone’s right. |
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Sharp Health Care is Asking for More Volunteers Sharp HealthCare is reaching out again to District 5340 asking for Rotarian volunteers. With the closure of Petco Park immunization site, Sharp now offers four locations to administer Covid-19 vaccine to qualified individuals. Sites are in Chula Vista, Kearney Mesa, La Mesa and now San Marcos. |
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Stop Human Trafficking Are you interested in supporting survivors of human trafficking right here in San Diego County? The Rotary Club of Carlsbad has a Global Grant that will do just that! The grant will help fund the club's effort to provide crisis intervention services to survivors in San Diego. For more information on how you can become a part of it all and work to put a STOP to human trafficking during the 2021-2022 Rotary year, please contact Malena Bennett by email at M@AskMalena.com.
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Opportunity for International Service Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs can all participate in a one-day International Service project in Chula Vista on Saturday, April 24th. |
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Donating Blood is a Life Saving Gift! Here is your opportunity to help improve the health of those seriously ill during the Pandemic crisis. Join Rotarians across the District in donating blood on Friday, April 16. You must make an appointment by either calling 619 400-8251 or signing up online at sandiegobloodbank.org/donate.
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Last Chance to Sign Up for Training Assembly Our District Training is this upcoming Saturday! Hundreds of Rotarians have already registered to attend the District Virtual Training Assembly set for this Saturday, April 10 and we expect to be at full capacity! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about Rotary. |
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Guatemala Literacy Project Opportunities District 5340 has a special opportunity to participate in a successful continuing Rotary project. There are numerous ways you or your club can get involved. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - March 28Model UN, RYLA and The 4-Way Speech Contest Youth Services is very important to our clubs and District. We offer many programs to help develop our young people. Youth is certainly an area of focus for each club. |
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SAVE THE DATE - Virtual Rotary International ConventionPlease join us for the 2021 Virtual Convention: Rotary Opens Opportunities, June 12-16, 2021. Registration opens in mid-April. |
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2019-2020 Rotary Citation Awarded to District Last year's Rotary International President Mark Maloney awarded District 5340 the 2019-2020 Rotary Citation. Our District is one of 93 worldwide to receive this prestigious award. |
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Transitional Care Center Receives Grant This past week, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary club presented a check for $1000 to the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC). With a mission to provide transitional housing and restore lives, the ECTLC is a faith based 501 (C) (3) corporation. They offer four distinct transitional living programs, religious and secular, designed to fit the needs of most homeless families and/or individuals. TCTLC offers case management, affordable temporary housing for those who have lost their way due to the economy and they also offer a no-cost one-year program for those desiring a religious discipleship training program.
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Sunday Morning Musings - March 21, 2021This Sunday Morning Musing's guest columnist is Chuck Pretto. Chuck is from the San Diego Rotary Club - Club 33; and he is the District Governor Nominee 2022-2023. I know you will enjoy his Musing. |
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Decade-Long CollaborationFor over a decade, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club and the Santee Food Bank have been working side-by-side in helping Santee families in need. The collaboration comes in many forms from purchasing much needed refrigeration units with the help of Rotary District Grants to helping the Santee branch of the US Post Office with their Stamp Out Hunger Drive sorting, weighing food items donated by postal patrons and then delivering food products to the food bank for distribution. Most recently, the Santee Lakeside Rotary club issued a $3,000 District grant to help support the food bank's effort to provide COVID relief to families needing a hand up. This past weekend, the club delivered food items to shut in seniors in mobile home parks throughout the City of Santee. As People of Action, club members enjoyed the project so much that they adopted one of the mobile parks for ongoing monthly delivery service.   |
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Old Mission Rotary conducts a Sub Regional Competition of the Four Way Test Speech ContestOld Mission Rotary hosted the Sub-Regional Round of the District 5340 Four Way Test Speech contest on February 16th. In this round of the competition they heard from four high school students from clubs across the district. The rules for the competition are all the same throughout the district and students have between five and seven minutes to deliver a talk that is judged on content, organization, delivery and application of the of the Rotary Four Way Test. Year after year, our Four Way Test Speech Contests have been flawlessly organized and executed at Old Mission Rotary by Eric Benink. Nancy Vaughan of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club was recognized for her multi-year service as chair of the District 5340 Four Way Test Speech Competition. District Governor Steve Weitzen and District Governor Elect Dan Gensler also attended our Zoom meeting. |
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Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship Hosts Former World Champion Tour Surfer Damien Hobgood Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship invites you to join this exclusive ZOOM event on March 23 at 3PM PDT. It's open to all Rotarians, Rotaract and Interact members as well as family and friends in the surfing community. Consider this as an outreach opportunity to grow your club. Have a friend or neighbor that surfs? Invite them. |
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District 5340 Speaker Series - TRF Trustee Brenda Cressey The next speaker in our series is The Rotary Foundation Trustee Brenda Cressey on March 16, at 4:00PM via Zoom. She will talk about The Rotary Foundation and it's current challenges and successes. All District 5340 members are strongly encouraged to attend. |
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Clothing Drive for Operation Stand Down The Escondido and San Marcos Rotary Clubs will be holding a clothing drive on Saturday March 20, 2021 from 8am to 11am, in front of the Escondido City Hall at the corner of Broadway and Valley Parkway. They are asking Rotarians and community members to donate clothing that will be made available to the homeless VETS attending the North County Stand Down slated for mid-April. |
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Rotary First During Tax Season Looking for an easy way to increase impact? More and more people are discovering a simple and efficient way to give. Join the hundreds who support The Rotary Foundation with a tax-wise gift from their IRA each year. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of old Mission Rotary Grant to Resounding JoyIn 2004, Barbara Reuer began Resounding Joy with a team of volunteers offering music therapy as informed supportive experiences for socially-isolated seniors. Since then, they have expanded as requests for music therapy poured in from low-income communities. Over time, programs such as Healing Notes, Sound Minds, Semper Sound, Mindful Music, the Ariana Miller Music with Heart Fund and Community Connections have received generous support from the community.  Photo Caption: Dr. Reuer is the founder and CEO of Resounding Joy.She is an internationally recognized and widely published expert in music-for-wellness and music therapy. Last year alone, they served over 4,000 individuals, most of whom live right here in San Diego County. Most of Resounding Joy’s clients suffer from depression, PTSD, a brain injury, Down’s Syndrome, congenital heart disease, or a rare disease. The team of Board-Certified music therapists (MT-BC) strives to transform the health of San Diego County by using music as a therapeutic medium to effectively address physical, emotional, social, and cognitive goals. Music’s unique ability to navigate damaged areas of the brain and transcend verbal communication makes it a powerful tool in the hands of a qualified professional. At Old Mission Rotary's Zoom meeting on March 9, Art Pratt Foundation President Eric Benink presented Dr. Reuer with a check for $5,107. The grant will be used for an iPad and for musical instruments to be used in their virtual online therapy sessions. |
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March is Water and Sanitation Month |
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Rotary Golf Roundup Slated for April 5
 Please join Rotarians from around District 5340 for a Rotary Golf Roundup—April 5, 2021 Join us at St. Mark’s Golf Course in San Marcos. Bring a team from your club and enjoy Rotary fellowship. Tee time is 10:00 am. The cost is $49.00 which includes shared cart, green fees and range balls. To facilitate planning, please make your reservations by March 29. You may contact Tee Captain Bret Geernaert at bretg2019pres@gmail.com to make a reservation and for details. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - March 7, 2021Our District’s Leadership Plan This past nine months (the time it takes to have a baby) our District took a deep dive into our leadership plan. With guidance and help from District Governor Elect Dan Gensler, District Governor Nominee Chuck Pretto, District Governor Designate Dianne Crawford and Assistant Governor Don Fipps, we can now unveil the new and improved District Leadership plan. |
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RiseUp Industries is Beneficiary of Rotary GrantThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary recently issued a grant to RiseUp Industries! RISE Up Industries is a nonprofit that prepares the formerly incarcerated for careers as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine operators in their full service machine shop. Former enemy gang members and convicts work side by side, helping one another to complete the Re-entry Program and make positive life choices. The kinship they have fostered is an inspiration and proof that training and rehabilitation work! Graduates of the program typically find immediate employment. The Art Pratt Foundation presented a grant of $4,094 to purchase a bead blasting machine that is used to smooth manufactured parts for anodizing. Joe Calbreath is a member of their board of directors and accepted the funds and showed us an engraved plaque that will be mounted on the Bead Blaster Machine.  Photo Caption: RISE Up Industries offers people leaving jail and prison an opportunity for vocational training for high demand machinist jobs. |
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Old Mission Rotarian Wins Contest Old Mission Rotary President Gary John Collins won the Union Tribune Cartoon Caption Contest for Sunday, February 28th! Steve Breen, the newspaper cartoonist, selected President Gary among ferocious competition. I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised as Gary was a stand up comedian decades ago! |
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April 1 Deadline Approaching For Reallocating Funds For the 2020-21 Rotary year, some District Grants may not be possible due to COVID restrictions and cancellations. We understand that clubs may want to reallocate funds to another project.
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Sunday Musings - February 28Water and Sanitation Month The month of March is Water and Sanitation month in the Rotary world. In fact, March 22nd is World Water Day. Since 1993, the United Nations has observed March 22nd as World Water Day as a way to highlight the importance of clean water. This year's theme is "Valuing Water." |
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25th Annual Jim Laslavic Charity Golf Tournament It’s Tee Time! The Rotary Club of Coronado is presenting its 25th Annual Jim Laslavic Charity Golf Tournament at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course on Friday, March 19, 2021.
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Binational Virtual Project Fair It is our pleasure to invite you to learn about District 4100 Global Grants. Do you want to make a global grant? Do you know the role of CADRES in the Rotary Foundation? Would you like to know how Rotary projects contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? Their Project Fair will have workshops and conferences to educate you on all the above and more. THEY ARE WAITING FOR YOU! Register at: https://forms.gle/7Az5MsrSpT8bP3TYA |
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Sunday Musings - February 21, 2021"This week's Sunday Morning Musing we have as our guest columnist District Governor-Elect Dan Gensler from the Coronado Rotary club. Dan will offer his Musing which I am sure is outstanding." |
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Old Mission Rotary Conducts Club Round of Four Way Speech ContestOld Mission Rotary conducted its club round of the District 5340's Four Way Speech Contest on February 16th. They look forward to this important and impressive event every year and this was their first time ever to have the contest on Zoom! Old Mission Rotary is one of many clubs across Rotary District 5340 to sponsor a first round contest. The rules are all the same throughout the district and students have between five and seven minutes to deliver a talk that is judged on content, organization, delivery and application of the of the Rotary Four Way Test. Year after year, this event has been flawlessly organized and executed at Old Mission Rotary by Eric Benink. As is their club’s tradition, students from the Reality Changers Program participated in Old Mission Rotary's club round. Reality Changers was founded in May 2001. The program gives students living in areas targeted by gang culture an opportunity to become the first in their families to attend college and provides a positive peer culture. Many Old Mission Rotarians have served as mentors and tutors over the years. The founder, Chris Yanov, used money he won on the TV game show Wheel of Fortune to launch his dream! Reality Changers has a 98% success rate of getting participants into college and many are the first in their family to do so! |
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The Rotary Foundation Approves Changes to Funding Model To better support the growth of global grants, The Rotary Foundation Trustees recently approved policy changes to help balance financial resources with program demands. These changes will take effect 1 July 2021. The global grants program has been a tremendous success since it launched in 2013-14. That first year, the Foundation awarded 868 global grants worth $47.3 million. By 2019-20, the number of global grants awarded increased to 1,359, worth $95.6 million. While global grant funding increased by more than 100%, contributions to the Annual Fund, which is the primary source for global grant funding, did not keep pace. The demand for global grant funding is far greater than what is available. |
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Rotary Golf is Back! Join other District Rotarians on March 1, 2021 for a round of golf at The Vineyard in Escondido, beginning at 9:00 am. The cost for the round is $43.00, which includes cart and range balls. The snack bar & adult beverage bar are open for 19th hole fellowship on the patio. Please contact Tee Times Coordinator Bret Geernaert at bretg2019pres@gmail.com to reserve a tee time for yourself and golfers from your Club. The deadline is February 22 to hold a tee time. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - February 14Erika Rodriguez This month we profile Erika Rodriguez, the District’s new administrator. We want the membership to get to know Erika as she will become a great asset to our clubs and membership. Without further ado, let’s meet Erika. |
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Cross Border Efforts - Grains of HopeSince the pandemic started, more connections have been made between the Rotarian clubs of San Diego and Tijuana in order to provide much needed assistance to Tijuana. Fernanda Torres (Peace Chair, San Diego Coastal Rotary Club and D4100 and D5340 liaison) and Carlos Carrillo (D4100 International Service Chair and Pro Peace Committee Chair) spearheaded these collaborative efforts. Last April, DDFs sent thousands of pieces of PPE to frontline workers in Tijuana and then, beans and rice were distributed to people unable to obtain food during the lockdown. Last Thursday, another 3370 pounds of food was distributed to at risk communities on Tijuana. The Rotary Club of Tijuana Milenio Minarete helped channel the funds from San Diego clubs to buy food. This project would also not have been possible without the support of Mark McAnelly of Old Mission Club of San Diego, the main sponsor. Mark led the effort to obtain funds from his club and drove his own truck to deliver the food. This new campaign is called Granitas de Esperanza or Grains of Hope. The aim of the campaign is not just to provide food, but to spread the message of hope to the community of Tijuana and build binational collaboration among clubs.
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SD Downtown Breakfast Club Establishes Corona Virus TaskforceIn response to the ongoing pandemic, the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club established a Coronavirus Task Force (CTF) at the end of 2020 to determine how the Club could best assist our San Diego community affected by the horrific consequences of the coronavirus. Among many worthy charities, the CTF selected Meals on Wheels San Diego County as the organization to support because it serves a segment of the community particularly hard-hit by and vulnerable to the coronavirus: food insecure seniors and disabled individuals confined to their homes. |
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PETCO Park Volunteer Information Many of you have asked about volunteer opportunities at PETCO Park. Because of the outpouring of support and interest in volunteering, they are not currently accepting applications to volunteer at their vaccination site while they process the applications they have already received. They will reopen the volunteer portal if they need additional volunteer support. It is always helpful to check once and a while to see if things have changed. To see if volunteer slots are available, click here. If you have already applied or been cleared to volunteer, you can log in to check on your application or schedule volunteer shifts by clicking here. |
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District Training Session Slated for April 10 The District Training Assembly offers training for ALL Rotarians including club officers, directors, committee & program chairs to help them be effective club leaders. |
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The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Provides Grant to Doors of Change Photo: Jeffrey Sitcov is the President and Founder and President of Doors of Change. Since 2001, Doors of Change has been transforming the lives of homeless youth, one young person at a time. The work with youth ages 17-25 years old. |
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New Rotary Theme Announced Incoming RI President Shekhar Mehta, a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, West Bengal, India, revealed the 2021-22 presidential theme, Serve to Change Lives, at this past week's virtual Rotary International Assembly. He urged district governors-elect to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving others is the best way to live because it changes not only other people's lives, but also our own. Read more about the 2021-22 presidential theme.
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PACE Requesting Volunteers for Vaccination Site Come help with the vaccination process for San Diego's senior community. Gary and Mary West PACE welcomes both medical and non-medical volunteers. They are looking for volunteers to join them in San Marcos, CA - Monday through Saturday.
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El Camino Real Rotary Club Mourns Loss
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Past RI President Mark Maloney to Speak Join in on a special Zoom meeting February 24, 2021 6:00 pm Pacific Time Join us to hear immediate Rotary International Past President Mark Maloney speak about Rotary during the past year and what he believes the future holds for Rotary.
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Speakers Slated During Peacebuilding Month Rotary Peace Month by San Diego Coastal Rotary Club When: Feb 3, 10, 17 2021 6 pm Pacific Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZcsdu6gqT4uGNV1CpNBO3Aa4rDN3... After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
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February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution Month Of the 60 million people displaced by armed conflict or persecution, 90% are civilians. Half of those civilians are children. That’s millions of reasons why Rotary is so engaged in service projects, fellowships and other Rotary-sponsored campaigns in pursuit of peace in our world. Learn more. |
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Volunteer at a Sharp Vaccination Super SiteSharp HealthCare is managing two vaccination super sites – one in La Mesa and the other in Chula Vista. Volunteers are needed at both. To sign up, please go to www.sharp.com/health-classes/category/sharp-lends-a-hand-52. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - February 7Coronado Rotary Club’s Flags on the Avenue One of the District’s most notable and commendable community projects is the Coronado Rotary club’s Flags on the Avenue. The Flags on the Avenue is the signature project of the Coronado Rotary club. Eleven times a year the Coronado club places American Flags on both sides of Orange Avenue - the main street in Coronado. It is a stirring sight as you can see from the pictures. |
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Why Join the Polio Plus Society Someone once said that it would be unthinkable if Rotary ever stopped supporting polio eradication. Decades of commitment would be lost, for then we would be known as the as the organization that allowed polio to become endemic again. Fortunately we are in the business of Doing Good in the World and Rotary is committed until every last child and the world is polio-free. |
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Poway-Scripps Rotary Club Hosts Blood Drive |
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Rotary Clubs Being Part of the SolutionRotary clubs are stepping up to help local efforts to vaccinate individuals against the Corona Virus. Below you will see members of the Coronado Rotary Club who have been consistently volunteering at Sharp Coronado's vaccination site. Next you will see members of the Chula Vista Rotary Club participating as volunteers at the Sharp HealthCare site in Chula Vista. You can sign up to volunteer at any Sharp vaccination site by going to the following website: https://www.sharp.com/health-classes/category/sharp-lends-a-hand-52. Rotarians report this has been a fun and purposeful volunteer experience and many are signing up for additional shifts. SEND IN YOUR VOLUNTEER PHOTOS AND BE FEATURED HERE!  Photo: Coronado Rotary Club  Photo: Chula Vista Rotary Club past president Mike Green, president elect Donna Moss and board director elect Albert Auuilera. |
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RI Convention to be a Virtual Event The 2021 Rotary International Convention, scheduled for June 12-16, 2021 in Taipei, Taiwan, will now be a virtual event in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. For more information and to learn about convention, pre-convention and ticket refunds, etc., please visit: https://on.rotary.org/3r5uYYB.
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Sunday Musings - January 31Peace and Conflict Resolution Month February is Peace and Conflict Resolution month in the Rotary world. It seems as though from the dawn of time there has been war and conflict. Brother against brother - Cain and Abel. Family against family - Capulets and Montagues; Hatfields and McCoys. Nation against nation. The Hundred Year War; civil war here; civil war there. |
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Harvesting Opportunities Wanted Over the year, The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club harvested over 16,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables and donated the produce to local food banks. The club is looking for additional harvesting opportunities. They have branded themselves with this ongoing COVID-19 service project and wish to continue their efforts. If you know of any opportunity for harvesting, please have those interested contact Fern Hall of La Mesa Sunrise Rotary at 619-742-4131. The club will gladly pick and distribute their yield to local food banks and families in need. Masks and COVID precautions are followed during harvests and it is important to note that they are insured. |
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Rotary Human Trafficking Summit Please join this Rotary Human Traffic Summit - Offering Hope for a Better Tomorrow - Wednesday, January 27 at 9:00 EST. Human trafficking -- whether in the form of modern-day slavery, forced labor in in supply chains, debt bondage, sex trafficking, domestic servitude, or online child sexual exploitation – is a transnational multi-billion dollar criminal activity that the 2018 Global Slavery Index estimates to impact over 40 million men, women and children in over 167 countries on any given day. The U.S. State Department’s 2020 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report recognizes that government must play a role in eradicating human trafficking but “governments cannot succeed alone; actions at the local level play a critical role ...[because] the grinding reality of fighting modern slavery takes place not on world stages, but through the dedicated actions of...individual community members who are often the eyes, ears and hearts of the places they call home.” The TIP Report makes clear that we need to add a 4th element to the traditional 3P Paradigm of Prosecution, Protection, Prevention: Partnership. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - January 24Assistant Governors One of the most important positions in our District is that of Assistant Governor. Full disclosure: I was an Assistant Governor for three years. Our District runs from the border at Tijuana to the northern tip of Oceanside; east all the way to the Arizona border. It is a large swath of Southern California encompassing San Diego and Imperial Counties. |
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Meals on Wheels Receives Support The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club is thankful for the amazing work Meals on Wheels San Diego does in the community and were proud to assist them with their mission to support independence and well-being. The club recently gifted a $500 grant to support the organization. In addition, club member Elana Levens-Craig is a volunteer delivering meals directly to recipients homes.
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La Mesa Sunrise Continues Their Harvesting Efforts The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary club started the New Year with picking fruit for those in need. Food banks be warned: "here we come" says members of the club. Thanks to Fern Platt, Jeff Hall, Ivan Alba, Janet Bertolucci Castaños, Erin, Maddie, and Ivy for doing all the hard work. |
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Coronado Rotarians Being Part of the Solution Photo: Coronado Rotarians Suzanne Moore Manual, Carol Summers, Mike Wiowode and Jim Laslavic. Team Rotary volunteers on the first day of COVID vaccines in Coronado thanks to the tremendous organizational efforts of Sharp Coronado staff! Participants exclaimed "it feels good to be part of the solution".
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Be Part of the Solution! Everyone knows from watching TV and other news sources that COVID-19 vaccinations are not occurring as fast as they should. Sharp HealthCare has decided to open a supersite in the Sears building in Chula Vista to help facilitate the ramp up of the numbers receiving vaccinations. This past week many Rotarians responded to the call for volunteers to help get the program off the ground. Many have reported back that it was an excellent experience and provided meaningful work. Thank you to all who were able to give of your time. On its first day, Sharp had 1,800 registered folks qualifying for the vaccine shot. It is estimated that by the end of next week, the clinic site will have the capacity to administer vaccine to 5,000 people daily. The need for volunteers will continue for some time to come as health care providers ramp up their efforts to get more vaccine into the arms of qualifying participants as soon as possible. |
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Community Service Ripe for the Picking Photo: La Mesa Sunrise Rotary club at a recent harvesting of oranges and tangerines at a local neighborhood home. Happy New Year. It's fruit picking season! Citrus trees around San Diego County are ripe with fruit. Last year several clubs including La Mesa Sunrise picked and donated fresh citrus fruits to local food banks. La Mesa Sunrise alone harvested and delivered over 16,000 pounds of oranges, tangerines, grapefruit and other fruits and vegetables. We encourage all clubs to get involved! Let's do our part to find a partial remedy to the challenge of hunger and nutrition in San Diego County. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - January 17Sandy Pugliese - Newbits Editor Sandy Pugliese is the publisher and editor of Newsbits - the District newsletter you are reading now. Sandy also maintains the District web site: rotary5340.org. For this, and more, I am eternally grateful to Sandy for what she does. She makes me sound half decent and keeps me in line with unreasonable deadlines. |
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Toastmasters Courses Offered to Rotary Members Last year, Rotary formed a strategic alliance with Toastmasters International. As part of this collaboration, Toastmasters has developed a structured curriculum of communication and leadership courses for Rotarians and Rotaractors.
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Zoom Video of Past RI President Barry Rassin This past week, Past RI President Barry Rassin spoke via Zoom to District 5340 leadership on the topic of the 7th Avenue of Service - the Environment. He also responded to a variety of questions on topics affecting Rotary worldwide. Shown below is the link to view the Zoom presentation. |
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Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Provides Funding for Distance LearningWhen Christine Testa, a speech therapist at Pomerado Elementary School, told her father about the distance learning needs her students were encountering. Alan Turner, Christine’s father and membership chair for the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo began to raise funds specifically for distance learning needs at Title I elementary schools in the Poway Unified School District (PUSD). In a short time, Alan raised funds from Rotary members. Mike Fuqua, the president of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary club’s foundation provided an additional matching gift. Together they donated over $6,000 to the PUSD Foundation specifically for students and families in need of hotspots, Internet access, headphones and other equipment to help ensure students are able to learn and work at home.  Photo: Valley Elementary School was one of the first recipients of funding for hotspots devices. Pictured above are: Veronica Tapia a counselor at Valley, Christine Testa, Dolores Canizales, Alex Robertson the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club president, along with Alan Turner and Mike Fuqua. |
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Sunday Musings - January 10 |
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Volunteer Vaccinators Anyone with a current nurse or physician license can volunteer to vaccinate through Sharp HealthCare. If you qualify and are interested, please contact Dr. Jenny Parker at jenny@jparkermd.net for more details. HOT OF THE PRESS: More information will be coming out soon about how Rotarians throughout San Diego County can help in the vaccination effort with Sharp HealthCare. There will be positions open for non-medical volunteers as well. Stay tuned.
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Virtual Movie Night |
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Videos Now Available Yesterday, Part II of the District's Membership Seminar occurred. Members asked that the Zoom session video be distributed to enable others to take advantage of the rich conversation and ideas shared today. You can watch the seminar by clicking on this link. Earlier in the week, over 1,200 passionate Rotarians signed up to listen to John Hewko, RI General Secretary and his suggestions on how clubs can survive for the future. Many requested the video of John's message. Notes and the full video of John's message can be accessed by clicking on this link. |
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to Cristo Rey High SchoolThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary provided a $4850 grant to Cristo Rey High School. Cristo Rey San Diego High School in the South Crest neighborhood of San Diego prepares students with limited economic means for success. After opening in August 2020, Cristo Rey San Diego is now the 37th school in the Cristo Rey Network. Cristo Rey schools integrate four years of rigorous academic curriculum with four years of professional work experience, delivering a proven and innovative faith-based approach to education. Students graduate equipped with the knowledge, character and skills required to succeed in college and in life. Bob Nascenzi accepted the $4850 grant that will be used to purchase Scientific Calculators.  Photo Caption: Bob Nascenzi is the Founding President of Cristo Rey San Diego High School. |
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Go Fund Me Effort to Support Honduras The Rotary E-Club San Diego Global is asking for help supporting the victims of Hurricane Etna in the Honduras. The devastating hurricane hit some of the poorest communities in Honduras who were already suffering from the effects of Covid 19.
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RSF Rotary Provides Christmas Gift Drive Thru Parade The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club held a Christmas gift drive-thru for 65 families served by the ProKids-First Tee on December 18 in Oceanside. ProKids-First Tee's mission is to challenge underserved youth to excel in life by promoting character development, life skills and values through education and the game of golf. Gifts, books and bicycles were distributed to families in a fun drive-thru filled with music and lots of Christmas spirit. This was the fourth holiday event the RSF Rotary Club held this Christmas season for underserved children in the direct community. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - January 3Mid-Year Report DG Steve Weitzen delivers his mid-year report not only in writing but for the first time, his musings is presented in video format as well. |
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Exceptional Speakers Slated for February Please join the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club in their Zoom meetings in February. They have planned some exceptional speakers for Peace and Conflict Resolution Month and want to open up the opportunity for Rotarians throughout District 5340 to participate. Their meetings are Wednesday night from 6-7:30pm and speakers usually start around 6:45pm. The 4th meeting is a social. You are invited to four (4) Zoom meetings for Peace. You only need to register once. When: Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24, 2021 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcsdu6gqT4uGNV1CpNBO3Aa4rDN38-Ypco6 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Here are the dates and speaker bios:
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Tijuana PPE Donation Made Possible Through PartnershipThe International Service and Pro Peace District Committee for Rotary District 4100, through DG Guillermo Nava, Carlos Carrillo, Chairman of the District Committee and D4100-D5340 Liaison, Fernanda Torres managed a campaign to deliver face masks to the police of the Municipality of Tijuana and the security departments of the State of Baja California. This efforts was conducted by the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club providing a total of 20,000 face masks.  |
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RSF Rotary Donates Over 355 Toys to Solution for ChangeThe Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club recently dropped off over 350 holiday toys and 200 stuffed animals for children at Solutions for Change. Solutions for Change is a residential program in Vista currently housing 32 mothers, four dads, and 80 children in the program. The program aims to break the homeless cycle with skills, knowledge and resources. The Rotarians had generous support from the community. Rotarians set up an Angel adoption event at the RSF Post Office. Hundreds of Angels were displayed on a Christmas tree and each Angel gave the age and gender of a child. Sponsors from the community "adopted" these Angels at the post office and then turned in their Angels by bringing the appropriate unwrapped gift to a designated location. Rotarians also held an identical Angel adoption event of their own. This is the fifth year the RSF Rotary Club has collected toys for Solutions for Change.  |
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Anti-Human Trafficking Educational Videos Now Available Together, we possess the ability to break the cycle! District 5340's dedicated Anti-Human Trafficking task force proudly launches a series of initiatives that are designed to increase the awareness of San Diego County's human sex trafficking scourge and generate measures to help prevent individuals -- primarily young people -- from becoming victims. |
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January is Vocational Services Month By bringing together people from diverse professions and backgrounds, Rotary recognizes the importance of all skills and occupations. In Rotary, your professional life and vocational service go hand in hand. Members have a dual responsibility to represent their occupations within their club and exemplify the ideals of Rotary in their places of work. January is Vocational Service Month, a great time to use the Vocational Service in Action handbook and share it with your fellow club members. It can help you learn more about vocational service and offer ideas so you can practice it through your service activities, in your personal life, and in your career. |
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Best Wishes for Another Prosperous Year of Service |
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Bringing Holiday Happiness to Children for 30 Years Each Christmas since 1991, the Rotary Club of Del Mar has hosted up to 75 young children from Del Mar and Solana Beach to a fun and heartwarming holiday event. Every child deserves to be spoiled a bit during the holidays and the Rotary Club of Del Mar contributes by hosting an annual Christmas party. This is an event for members of Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s La Colonia Clubhouse in Solana Beach, complete with activities, crafts, gifts and food. This annual Christmas event ensures the La Colonia children and families have a fantastic holiday. A tradition which started 30 Christmases ago was modified this year to accommodate Covid-safe practices and became a Zoom Christmas Craft Party. On Thursday, December 10, the children and their instructors “zoomed” in from the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito La Colonia Clubhouse after-school program to enjoy crafts, music, treats and a visit from Santa. |
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Bonsall Rotary Club Helps Out In Belize Bonsall Rotary club president Jeff Johnson (left) works with friend Dave at the 12/20/2020 benefit effort to provide food and gifts to needy families in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Jeff and Dave helped prepare over 500 meals that were distributed that day brightening people's Christmas.
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Rotarian Helps with First Tier of COVID Vaccinations Sharp Healthcare Anesthesiologist and Rotarian, Jenny Parker helped administer first Tier COVID vaccinations to Sharp Healthcare Vice President of Orthopedics, Mary Ellington who is Rotarian in the La Mesa Rotary Club. Dr. Parker wore her Rotarian at Work shirt helping promote Rotary's efforts to encourage vaccinations.
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Fallbrook Rotary Club Gains and Loses MembersThe Rotary Club of Fallbrook has been adding new members even while meeting virtually through Zoom. Their newest members are Anna Beath, a realtor, and Kenneth Wesson who is retired. Unfortunately, the club also lost two members recently: Griffin Hamilton had moved here from C
 arlisle, PA where he had been a long time active member of the Rotary Club of Carlisle. Griffin passed away unexpectedly shortly after he joined the Rotary Club of Fallbrook. Mike (Myron) Reed (shown in picture) lost his battle with pancreatic cancer just before Christmas. Mike had been a member of Rotary for 67 years and had served as the President of the Wilshire Rotary Club before moving to Fallbrook. Mike’s passion in life was to serve the community which he did through many service organizations and also through his generous financial support. |
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Happy Holidays To All To our Rotary family: May the spirit of the holidays fill your hearts with joy and contentment.
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1946 World Champion of Soap Box Derby Race Photo: Old Mission Roatarian Gil Klecan won the 1946 World Championship Soap Box Derby Race when he was 15 years old! We never know what amazing talents and stories we have in our Rotary Club!Gil Klecan has been a member of Rotary since 1999 and a member of Old Mission Rotary for 21 years. Gil was born on the open plains of Kansas and moved to San Diego as a young boy when his father took a job at the Ryan Aeronautical Company. One morning, a 15-year old Gil was walking to school, an aerospace engineer stopped his car and recruited Gil on the spot as the driver for his new go cart design. Soon Gil was competing and winning until he won the 1946 World Championship Soap Box Derby Race in Ohio! Gil took his prize money and invested it in property. He has prospered in his career in residential and commercial real estate ever since. |
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Villa Musica Receives Grant of $6,000On December 15, 2020, The Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $6,000 to Villa Musica. Founded as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in November 2005, Villa Musica is a vibrant gathering place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to take music lessons, play in an ensemble, or participate in a workshop. Villa Musica’s goal is to create a focal point for community music education in San Diego, where students and teachers can meet to exchange ideas and experience the joy of making music. By creating a supportive and creative environment for the study of music, they aim to inspire many San Diegans to make music making part of their lives.  Photo: Fiona Chatwin is the Executive and Artistic Director of Villa Musica. The Art Pratt Foundation grant will help fund the new “Music on the Move” program. Villa Musica will purchase a bus and take music to the public. |
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Quintessential Festival Silent Auction Underway Have you checked out La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club's Quintessential Festival Silent Auction yet? 100% of the proceeds from their silent auction goes back to Club and will help them continue their work for the community, so every bid will make a difference! |
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Struggling Family Helped by Rotarians Chula Vista Sunrise President Jeff, Thiel, Past Co-President Rochelle Carroll and President-Elect Nancy Kerwin show off all the gifts brought in by club members that were taken to our Adopt-a-Family last weekend. We were determined to make this their "Best Christmas Ever" while the dad is deployed! |
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RSF Rotarians Play Elves to San Pasqual Academy (L-R) Friends of San Pasqual Academy board member Kathy Lathrum and Rotarians, Liana Novick, Tatiana Novick, Jill Stiker and Sophia Alsadek. Not pictured: Mark Rodriguez. Personal hygiene items were collected by the Rancho Santa Fe Rotarians for the many foster students living and attending school at San Pasqual Academy. (Courtesy of Rancho Santa Fe Review) Some of the members of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club recently met outside at the beautiful home of Sophia Alsadek to assemble hygiene products that were collected for the foster teens of San Pasqual Academy. The safety guidelines of social distancing were followed. The Rotarians were masked and socially distanced and they safely went out of their way to assemble these bags to make the holidays brighter for the foster students and alumni of San Pasqual Academy. Items collected included shampoo, shower gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, chapstick and socks and were placed in beautiful, decorative tote bags. The foster teens greatly appreciate these useful items, especially during these uncertain, difficult times. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - December 20Sabi and Dr. Indira Singh - Arch Klumpf Society Members Archibald C. Klumph was the founding member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland in 1911. He was a business man who owned and operated Cuyahoga Lumber. In 1913, he became president of the club. His signature contribution to the club was to build a reserve that would ensure projects could be done in the future. In 1916, just five years after joining Rotary, Klumph became the sixth RI president. His enduring legacy as RI president was the creation of the Rotary Foundation. Though the Rotary Foundation was formally established in 1928, it was Klumph’s declaration at the RI convention in Atlanta in 1917 that launched the Foundation. And, Mr. Klumph served as the first trustee chair from 1928 - 1935. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - December 13Disease Prevention and Treatment December in the Rotary world is Disease Prevention and Treatment month. My grandmother told me on many occasions that your health is everything. She probably was right. Many, if not most of us, take our health for granted. We are the lucky ones. |
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District Membership Seminar - Part II Scheduled This is a virtual workshop open to all Club Presidents, President-Elects, AG's, Membership Chairs and committee members. Please join us and learn important strategies for retaining and attracting new members to your club. |
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Escondido Rotary East Supports Those in Need with Turkey DinnersThe Escondido East Rotary Club delivered 120 Turkey dinners to homebound Seniors on Thanksgiving Day. The Club also delivered 1,200 pounds of turkey to Interfaith to be used for meals of those needing a nice cooked Thanksgiving dinner. A special "thank you" to Rotarian Darol and Linda Caster for getting this organized for the senior's delivery. Rotarians Wayne Brunner and Steve Yerxa for delivering to Interfaith. The many Rotarians and friends who helped deliver meals and a special "thank you" to Rotarian and Branch Manager of First Republic Bank, Dolly Cooper. Her bank donated the funds to pay for all the meals - $1,000.  |
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Rotaractors Help Out at the San Diego Food Bank Over the two nights the District Rotaract spent at the San Diego Food Bank, they packed 1,200 boxes (over 28,000 meals!) for the senior food program. Thanks to everyone who came out! Rotaractors are looking forward to the next district service project. |
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Urban Corps Receives $5000 GrantThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a $5000 grant to Urban Corps. The mission of Urban Corps of San Diego County is to provide young adults with the tools to expand their career opportunities through education, life skills training, and paid work experience on projects that benefit our communities. Urban Corps has given thousands of under served low-income young adults ages 18-26 the opportunity to improve themselves while improving their own communities. Urban Corps’ unique work-learn program allows youth to finish high school while earning a paycheck, learning real-world job skills, and giving back to the community through professional services. The Art Pratt Foundation grant of $5000 will be used for the purchase of landscaping equipment to help with brush clearance for wildfire defense in our neighborhoods. One example is a project in City Heights to clear old brush around the houses of low income homeowners.  Photo Caption: Lauren Welch is a grant writer for the Urban Corps of San Diego. |
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Future of Rotary This program is being held on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:30 am EST (Washington DC time). Please click here to register. |
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Anti-Human Trafficking Program Slated for December 17 Click here to register for this informative Zoom presentation. |
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December is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month |
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Santa gets a little help from Santee-Lakeside RotariansOn Saturday, December 5, Santee-Lakeside Rotarians assembled 1300 boxes for the Santee Santas Foundation readying them to provide their signature effort - an annual holiday food and children’s toy distribution. The club is proud to partner with such a wonderful community organization and has done so for the last six years. This is a tough year for so many people and hopefully the food and gifts these family receives for the holidays will be a bright spot for them in 2020. It is expected that over 400 families will benefit this year from this effort. Santee Santas Foundation has been bringing the holiday spirit to Santee for more than 65 years.  |
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Sunday Musings - December 6High Society Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey. Familiar names? Let’s add one more name to the mix: Paul Harris. On February 23, 1905, these four gentleman met for the first time at Gustavus Loehr’s law office. Paul Harris was also an attorney. This group became the first Rotary club. From such humble beginnings. |
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Rotarians Who Have Passed This Year |
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Anti-Human Trafficking in San Diego County by DA Summer Stephan The Rotary E-Club San Diego Global invites you to a recording of their recent guest speaker, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.
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California Rotarians Help Celebrate New Jersey Club's 100th AnniversaryTorrey Pines Rotary Club member, Gordon Shurtleff and his wife, La Jolla Rotary Club member Penny Shurtleff, visited the Vineland Rotary Club in New Jersey on November 24, 2020 via Zoom to help them (club) celebrate their 100th year anniversary.
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Thank You for Supporting Giving Tuesday |
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Rotary Santa to Visit Coronado December 13 In keeping with Coronado Rotary tradition stretching back to 1929, Santa will come to Coronado to spread joy to all. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their trusty elves will slowly cruise through Coronado neighborhoods between 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, December 13. Santa's route begins in the Village, before entering the Cays and then Strand military housing.
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Sunday Morning Musings - Nov 28Giving Tuesday Eight years ago an idea came to someone’s mind at the 92nd Street Y (92nd Street Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association) to have a day of giving monetarily and philanthropically speaking. The 92nd Street Y is 146-years old. But someone 138-years old did not come up with the concept to have monetary giving day. |
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Share this #GivingTuesday Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement of generosity. It is a giving day recognized around the world that empowers us all to give back to our communities through service, kindness and financial support – all beliefs that Rotary values deeply. |
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Old Mission Rotary Provides Funds for Thanksgiving MealsOld Mission Rotary provided funds for full Thanksgiving meals for two deserving families in City Heights. The food baskets were delivered by STAR/PAL on Saturday, November 21st by a procession of five low-rider cars escorted by San Diego Police Department black and whites! Charlotte Cofield and Lee Kaminetz represented Old Mission Rotary. Charlotte Cofield is our club’s Community Service chair and she was so impressed by STAR/PAL that she reached out to them in the summer. Our first opportunity to support them was a school backpack give away in the fall. The mission of STAR/PAL is to engage underserved youth with law enforcement and develop trusting and long-term relationships. STAR/PAL offers free programs for undeserved and at-risk youth in San Diego that are led by law enforcement officers. These programs focus on violence prevention, mentoring, leadership, civic engagement, outdoor enrichment, and physical fitness. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - November 22Giving Thanks For Rotary During this Thanksgiving week, I would like to share my gratitude for those people who have made this Rotary year special. If I have left someone off the list, it was inadvertent or an oversight. No slight was intended. Please feel free to make your own list. |
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Happy Thanksgiving |
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Rotarian and Veteran Max Gurney Recognized Max Gurney of Torrey Pines Rotary is a 99 year old WW2 veteran who served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. On Sunday, November 15th, Max was recognized with other WW2 veterans at a ceremony atop Mount Soledad at the National Veterans Memorial. All Rotarians of District 5340 thanks you Max for your service.
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Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Grant to San Diego Military Outreach Ministries On Tuesday, November 17th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant to Sandy Carter (R) who is the president of San Diego Military Outreach Ministries. Their mission is to serve active duty junior enlisted families (E5 and below) with basic needs to help stretch their limited funds. Everything is given free in appreciation for their military service. Families can visit their center or one of the "pop the trunk" pick-up events on military bases to pick up children’s clothing, infant diapers, baby food, toys, small household items and furniture. The Art Pratt funds of $3800 will be used for an office printer, a freezer to store frozen food and a new branded event canopy.
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Rotary Club of Bonsall Supports Adopt a Family Drive Officers of The Rotary Club of Bonsall present a donation to the Fallbrook Food Pantry. Treasurer Denise Wilson and Community Service Director Karen Estes handed off a $250 check to Carolina Miller to support the Adopt-A-Family drive in Fallbrook. The donation will be used to buy food and clothes for needy families to boost their enjoyment of Christmas in these difficult times. The Bonsall Rotary Club continues to serve the community through service and donations even though meeting in person isn't currently possible. |
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Dianne Crawford to be District Governor 2023-2024
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Help a New Wave of International Female Leaders Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global has just received a shipment of masks made with authentic native fabric by our entrepreneur Guatemalan high school seniors whom have qualified for university studies starting January 2021. (None of their parents have gone beyond the 6th grade) .
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Zone 26/27 Institute Awards We are pleased to announce awards given during the Zone Institute held this past Saturday. District 5340, under the leadership of 2019-2020 DG Marta Knight earned the following recognition: • ZONE 26 - PUBLIC IMAGE/BRAND AWARDS: Best District Website |
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Invitation to Speaker Presentation The District Environmental Sustainability Committee is pleased to invite all Rotarians to attend this presentation: Discovering & Protecting the California Chaparral, on November 17, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.
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Foundation Seminar Video Available If you missed the November 7 Foundation Seminar, you are in luck. Thanks to Rotarian Don Fipp, the seminar was recorded and now available for you to watch. The seminar was very inspiring, showcasing several District 5340 Matching Grant projects. You'll want to take the time to watch! |
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Chula Vista Sunrise Prepare for Thanksgiving The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise recently completed their November service project. They put together Thanksgiving dinner bags for families in need. Ten bags were prepared by club members on Saturday, November 14 to distribute to families through the Chula Vista Community Collaborative. Each bag consists of all the fixings and a gift card for a delicious holiday dinner.
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Sunday Morning Musings - November 15, 2020Dianne Crawford I would like you to meet Dianne Crawford, our District Governor Designate 2023-2024. The first thing to know is that Dianne is spelled with two "nns". Okay. |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotarians Skydive for Polio Plus What a great day to be a Rancho Bernardo Rotarian! A group of eight RB Rotarians and friends and a large group of cheerleaders gathered at Skydive San Diego in Jamul to skydive to raise money and awareness of the need to eradicate Polio. Although World Polio Day this year was October 24, they decided to celebrate it October 31 to also honor their own Don Glover who celebrated his 80th birthday by skydiving for the second time (his first was five years ago when he turned 75!). There were nine (9) skydivers - Six from RB Rotary and three from Poway Scripps Rotary - Kristin Rayder, Evan Rayder and Mike Villarino supported by Past President Karen Herreros and her daughter. It was a team effort definitely showing how Rotary Clubs can work together. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - November 8, 2020Rotary Opens Opportunities. Rotary’s theme for this year is: Rotary Opens Opportunities. I think (that’s why the column is called Musings) this is a most appropriate theme for this Rotary year. By the way, I thought last year’s theme of Rotary Connects the World was also an outstanding choice. |
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Don't Miss the Rotary Foundation Seminar this Weekend |
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Sunday Morning Musings - November 1Rotary Foundation Month November marks Foundation Month in the Rotary world. One of the highlights from the past in our District was in November 2014, when Past District Governor Janice Kurth put on incredible gala at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The evening was called “Millions For Hope.” Rotary International President K.R. Ravi Ravindran was there to share his thoughts about where we were in our eradication of polio mission. The climax of the meeting was the announcement of $30 million raised to eradicate polio. |
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Feel the Energy in Taipei - Discount Extended There’s more time to save! Due to the global pandemic, the early-registration discount deadline has been extended to 15 February 2021. Attending this year’s convention will allow you to connect with new friends, find new opportunities for service, learn fresh skills, and explore innovative ways to make a lasting impact in your community. You won’t want to miss the energy of the 2021 Rotary Convention in Taipei, Taiwan. We hope you’ll join us in Taipei to Feel the Energy. Don’t forget to invite your friends — download the promotional kit and share our official video about Taipei on your social networks. |
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Rotarians Construct New Homes For Those in NeedOld Mission Rotarian Gary Stemple once again organized and lead a team from Old Mission Rotary to a Project Mercy special fall construction event on a three-acre site in Chula Vista. Volunteers worked on the components for five pre-assembled houses which have been transported to Tijuana for final assembly into single family homes. In normal times, houses are built in Tijuana on site and presented to grateful families at the end of the workday. Project Mercy - Baja provides basic but sturdy homes in Tijuana, Mexico for impoverished families that live in desperately poor neighborhoods or Colonias. Old Mission Rotary Club Foundation has donated $2500. Each of the 20 homes being built this year cost about $5000 each to build.  Photo: Members of Old Mission Rotary participated in Project Mercy.  Photo: Many volunteer groups participate in Project Mercy. Rotarians not only participate but also bring along friends and family. |
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November is Rotary Foundation Month |
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Polio Walk in the Wee Hours of the Morning The morning of the 28th of October, members of the Rotary Club of Poway-Scripps were up and at 'em at dark o'clock to participate in a virtual walk for World Polio Day. Rotarians in our district were encouraged to walk together last week in support of ending polio. The BIG club question - who is brave enough to walk at 6:30 a.m. when it is 57 degrees outside? Well, just a handful of us and one early rising dog. President Dave walked at Big Bear Lake and literally phoned in his walk to Past President Karen, Kristin, Don (joined with his granddog, Red), and Melanie who met at Miramar Lake. |
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You're Invited to a Special Zoom Meeting |
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RSF Volunteers at Helen Woodward Animal Center Story and photo credit: Rancho Santa Fe Review The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary (RSF) club members volunteered October 16 at Rancho Santa Fe's Helen Woodward Animal Center. The Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) has been helping animals in the community for over 40 years. HWAC is a no-kill facility that receives no government funding so it relies on the Orphaned Objects Resale Shop among other creative ways to support its mission. Orphaned Objects Resale Shop supports HWAC through financial contributions estimated $250,000 annually. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sales at this high-end boutique thrift stores go directly back to HWAC.
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In Memory of a Fellow Rotarian |
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Sunday Morning Musings - October 25Season of Change To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose, under heaven... |
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Rotary District 5340 Policies for Rotary Foundation Grants 2021-2022 The District 5340 Rotary Foundation Committee and District Governor-Elect Dan Gensler, have approved the following policies attached below for Rotary Foundation Grants for the 2021-2022, Rotary year.
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End Polio Now Campaign CelebratedCollage of photos taken from Facebook showcasing Rotarians and Rotaractors promoting Rotary's End Polio Campaign on October 24, 2020.    |
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Dianne Crawford Selected for District Governor 2023-2024 In accordance with the provisions of Rotary International Bylaws Article 12, Rotary District 5340 created a Nominating Committee to review and interview candidates recommended by their respective clubs to serve as District Governor during the Rotary Year 2023-2024. This year’s committee included seven past, current and future District Governors and was chaired by Immediate Past District Governor Marta Knight. |
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Halloween Blood Drive Scheduled The Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary Club will be holding a Blood Drive on Halloween, Saturday, October 31, 2020 from 11:3am - 5:00pm, in conjunction with the San Diego Blood Bank.
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Annual Statement and Report of District Finances Rotary International and District By-laws require the Immediate Past District Governor to provide each club an independently reviewed annual statement and report of district finances within one year of serving. The attached statement and report will be discussed and adopted at our 2020 District Conference.
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Council on Legislation Proposed Enactments Due Soon Just a reminder that time is running out! If your club wants to propose an enactment for the 2022 Council on Legislation, read the following. The time has come for your club to make an impact on the entire Rotary world! Every three years our legislative body, The Council on Legislation, meets to consider impactful changes to our constitutional documents: the RI Constitution, the RI Bylaws and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution. While this event takes place in the spring of 2022, the time to propose enactments for that council is now! |
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Virtual Ducky Derby to be Held October 26 The Rotary Club of Del Mar announced today that although 2020 has seen cancellations of many events, the popular CHILI AND QUACKERS and DUCKY DERBY events will bring the community together once again. This year, the format will be a Quadruple Crown, four race event. On Monday, October 26, 2020, at 5:45pm, the 8th annual Ducky Derby will be virtual for the first time ever. Prizes include cash (up to $300) and a Ranch 45 dinner and wine pairing (valued at $500). |
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Pottery Sale Nets $800 for Polio PlusThe Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise held a pottery sale at the home of Club President Elly Dotseth this Saturday, October 17. Elly is a professional potter and offered up some of her wares for the benefit of Rotary's End Polio Now campaign. The sale netted $800 towards Polio Plus.  |
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La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Continuing Harvest EffortsThe La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club is known for its harvesting efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts support organizations that provide food to families experiencing food insecurities during this troubling time. The Club is routinely in route to a location offering harvesting opportunities of local produce. They bring along with them friends and family and they use these harvesting quests as a means to interest others in joining Rotary. This time round, the harvesting netted 60 bags of apples. The perfect fruit for those fall pie bakers.  |
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Join Us for a Virtual Rotary Foundation Seminar Join us for an exciting Rotary Foundation Seminar. The seminar will be held via Zoom. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Invite your friends and family to join in. They will walk away with a deeper appreciation for all the good work Rotary does locally and world-wide.
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San Marcos Rotary Club Raises Funds for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention ProgramsOn August 15, 2020, the Rotary Club of San Marcos held its 3rd Annual Goat for Joe Golf Classic (GFJ) at Goat Hill Park Golf Course in Oceanside. They raised funds for mental health and suicide prevention programs and specifically for the Behavioral Health Division of True Care based in San Marcos (formerly North County Health Services). The club had tee times for 90 golfers on the course, and served breakfast and lunch to 125 people including the golfers, the course's staff and 10 volunteers! Due to COVID-19, the scheduled Mental Health Fair which would have had 10 different mental health care providers was cancelled. The family activities including a baby goat petting zoo, air bouncer, and cotton candy stand were also prohibited. Last week at the Rotary Club of San Marco's weekly Zoom meeting, GFJ Chairs Dana and Andrea Albert presented a check for $5,000 to True Care for their behavioral health programs. Please save the date for their next Goat For Joe Golf Classic, which will be held on Saturday May 22, 2021 once again at Goat Hill Park. They anticipate over 300 attendees for golf, the mental health resource fair, and family barbecue and amusements!  |
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Rotarians Skydiving to “End Polio Now” The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club will mark World Polio Day (October 24) a week late on October 31 (Halloween) by supporting several members and friends in a skydiving event. Led by Don Glover, whose 80th birthday is also October 31, six people, including Past District Governor Mike Stelman, will jump at the SkyDive San Diego Center in Otay Mesa. Over 30 masked and socially distanced Rotarians and friends will cheer them on while complying with all local regulations. One of the club's members, Jo Casterline, who is a polio survivor and 91 years old, will be in attendance and will not be jumping only because her health care provider doesn’t think that’s a good idea! The photo above shows Don’s first jump - five years ago on his 75th birthday. His enthusiastic leadership in arranging this event has been the key to motivating others to participate. All are looking forward to supporting this vitally important Rotary cause. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - October 18Jessie Case I would like you to meet and get to know Jessie Case. Who, you might ask, is Jessie Case? Let me do my best to introduce you. First, Jessie is the co-chair of Rotaract for our District. Next year she will chair Rotaract all by her lonesome. But, there is more to Jessie than that. |
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World Polio Day Events Plan a fun event for your Club to celebrate the AMAZING success of Rotary International’s very successful program to eliminate polio from the face of the earth. In September, all of Africa was declared Polio-free after four years without a case. We are down to just two countries—Pakistan and Afghanistan—and World Health teams are going into those areas again to give the precious drops to children to save them from the scourge of Polio. If your club is participating in World Polio Day events, either club-sponsored or in the District's Virtual Polio Walk (see flier in this edition of NEWSBITS), you can pick up End Polio Now pins and wristbands to distribute to those who are participating in celebrating World Polio Day (Week)—October 24—31. |
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District Anti-Human Trafficking ZOOM Workshop Oct. 22 at 6:30pm We invite you to learn more about this $800 million illicit business in our region and what you can do about it. |
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Rotary Gratefulness Week Being an essential worker during this pandemic means potentially exposing themselves and their families to COVID-19 while performing their job duties. Essential workers are having to deal with new stresses of adding physical distancing measures to their jobs, shifting work hours, changing childcare needs with school closures among many other challenges, all while serving our community. They are making sure there is food, water, electricity, trash, sanitation services, and health care services. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - October 11A Virtual Fundraiser A few weeks ago, my club, the Del Mar/Solana Beach club (DMSB), held a virtual fundraiser. Here is the rest of the story. |
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Rotary Scholars Stay Connected Through Water Diplomacy Nataliya Chemayeva at her desk at the Scientific-Information Center, Interstate Sustainable Development Commission, International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.Through The Rotary Foundation, we invest in emerging leaders who are using their skills to make the world a better place. We have the amazing opportunity in Rotary to participate in this work by offering scholarships that enable these young leaders to expand their skills and make connections with other professionals in their fields.  During Reconnect Week 5-11 October, we celebrate these alumni and hold activities designed to keep them connected. These alumni serve as ambassadors for Rotary, joining a growing network of peacebuilders and service-minded professionals who are partnering with us to do good in the world. |
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Sustainable Investing: A Force for Positive Change Speaker Presentation by the District Environmental Sustainability Committee The District Environmental Sustainability Committee is pleased to invite all Rotarians to attend this presentation: Sustainable Investing – A Force for Positive Change, on October 20, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. |
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Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Supports the Community Food Connection It began when Dale Long, Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club's president-elect, suggested that the Club volunteer to gather fruit in local orchards to donate to the Community Food Connection. In short order, the Club could see there was still a greater need for more support, prompting Kim Varey, the Club's community chairperson to ask members to step up and do more.
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Community Service at San Dieguito County Park Photo: Valentine Songeur, Niels Lund, Mike Rypins, Carter Stafford (President), Amelie Catheline, Lynn Stevens, John O’Halloran, Dick Stevens at the Butterfly GardenMembers of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club (sbeco.org) have been volunteering once a month at San Dieguito County Park for over two years. As the club is oriented to serve on environmental projects, it was a natural fit for club member volunteers to come help at the park. Over the years, they have removed invasive plants, beautified small sections of the park and planted trees. |
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Rotarians Who Have Recently Passed Men of good heart and soul. We send condolences to their families and friends and to members of their respective Rotary clubs. We share in your sadness. Obituary links: David Ringrose: https://history.ucsd.edu/news-events/oneoff/ringroseObit.html
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Sunday Morning Musings - October 4World Polio Day October 24th marks World Polio Day. World Polio day is always observed on the 24th. That date is so random. Even though the 24th falls on a Saturday this year, why not the 1st, 10th 15th or 20th?
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Mother Spends Time in Iron Lung |
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The Walk for the Trail "The Walk 4 The Trail" fundraiser is an exceptional way for your Rotarian Club members to get together in small groups, enjoy the amazing views from the iconic La Jolla Coast Walk Trail and in a COVID responsible, outdoor setting. There is a sunrise (7-9:00 am) and sunset hike (4:30-6:30 pm) to chose from. |
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Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club Drive In MeetingLooking for great ideas on how to switch up meetings? Here is an example of the creativity Rotary clubs are known for: The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club is trying a new creative approach to Rotary meetings by having its members gather in their cars for drive-in meetings. Planning requires the following to be considered:
The Drive-In Rotary requires the program/speakers to understand A/V is not necessarily available. The club uses a cell phone number for their members to TEXT questions to the speaker. The club conducted its 2019-2020 Annual Awards Ceremony via Drive-In Rotary so they could take good pictures and at least have their honorees FEEL the support they enjoy from the membership. |
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Virtual Polio Walk |
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Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad Oktober-Feast Want to have some fun in October? During a normal year, the two Carlsbad Rotary clubs would be hosting the 38th Annual Oktoberfest, a family fall festival in early October. For the safety of our community and Rotary club members, the clubs changed the format of the event for 2020. They wanted a way to support their local restaurants during this difficult time and to continue to raise funds for their philanthropic work in our community. The clubs have partnered with nine local restaurants to create a 31-day celebration titled, Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad Oktober-Feast. |
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District Anti-Human Trafficking ZOOM Workshop A District Anti-Human Trafficking ZOOM Workshop will be held on October 13, 2020 at 6:30 pm. This will be the first of two sessions. We invite you to learn more about this $800 million illicit business in our region and what you can do about it.
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Deadline is Fast Approaching |
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Sunday Morning Musings - September 27Our Friends and Fellow Rotarians in 4100. In early July I was introduced to Guillermo Nava, District Governor for District 4100. District 4100 covers all of Baja California, and from the Arizona border down to Culiacan, Mexico on the interior of Mexico. |
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Making a Difference in Lives of Young Teenage Boys Making a difference in the lives of young teenage boys growing up without a positive role model is nothing new to members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship. In fact, Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and Founder of Surfers Unite has been involved with the 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring for the past four years. Brett leads the charge on the Degree 33 Surfboards team and has involved a half dozen Rotaractors and Rotarians in District 5340 as a result. Rodger Dougherty of Club 33 (RC of San Diego) has been participating in the 100 Wave Challenge since the inaugural year in 2010. A Lifetime Member of Surfers Unite and Senior Director of Public Affairs for Kaiser Permanente, Rodger has also been a huge financial supporter of the annual fundraiser for Boys to Men Mentoring. Talk about dedication, Rodger even completed the 100 Wave Challenge solo while on the East coast on business a couple years ago. |
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XV Virtual Project Fair - Ecuador Greetings from District 4400, Ecuador!
It is our pleasure to invite you and your Club to attend our XV Rotary Project Fair to be held online on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of November 2020. |
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11th Annual 100 Wave Challenge The 100 Wave Challenge runs September 19 through November 22 with the Degree 33 Surfboards team and Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship members taking off at Cardiff on October 3rd. Be sure to swing by the event to cheer them on as they ring the gong after completing 100 waves each. Better yet, if you would like to get involved to support this 501(c)3 as a mentor, volunteer, help out at the event or make a donation be sure to check out the Events page of Surfers Unite at: https://surfersunite.org/event-3886414. |
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Emilio Nares Foundation Receives Grant Photo: The Emilio Nares Foundation was created by the parents of young Emilio who passed away from cancer On September 15th, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant of $5588 to the Emilio Nares Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase an office printer. |
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Rotary Foundation District Grants Update District Grants: Congratulations to the District Foundation Grant Sub-Committee for the successful submission and approval by Rotary International of the 2019–2020 District Grant Report. The 2020-2021 District Grants block grant application for $152,233, was submitted and approved by Rotary International. This year we have 46 clubs with 96 grants totaling $150,525, of matching funds. Funds will be wired to our District Grant account. Clubs with approved grants need to make sure that their banking information is correctly uploaded in the matching grants.org website so funds can be forwarded. |
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RSF Rotary Club serves 300 Meals at USOOn Wednesday, September 9, the Rancho Santa Fe (RSF) Rotary Club picked up 300 meals from Culinary Wizard Catering in Rancho Santa Fe and headed down to the the USO San Diego Liberty Station. |
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Sustainability Award for Green Businesses The District Environmental Sustainability Committee (DES) is pleased to inform all Rotarians that the San Diego Green Building Council is hosting its 3rd Annual Sustainability Award and the application deadline is October 16th. Rotary Clubs have created a wide community of businesses and nonprofit organizations and this event is a great opportunity to showcase their green business practices. The DES encourages Rotarians, who may find an interest to this event, to apply and share with organizations or businesses that are looking to celebrate their best practices. |
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Join the Virtual Run - Get App Today |
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Newsbits Delayed a Week |
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Sunday Morning Musings - September 13Larry Potter Larry Potter is the insurance and risk management chair of District 5340. Larry is also a past president of the Downtown Breakfast Club. Larry is also openly gay. And, this is where our story begins. |
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Announcing New District Treasurer |
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10,000 Meal Packaging Event a SuccessThis past Saturday, the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club along with 50 other volunteers from 10 other San Diego clubs and a group from PB Rotaract Club worked with the Outreach Program to package over 10,000 nutritious meals. |
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La Mesa Sunrise Rotary & Learn4Life PartnershipThe La Mesa Sunrise Club has been busy this past month providing scholarships and food deliveries to recipients of the Learn4Life schools. Learn4Life schools help students with needs that cannot be met by traditional public schools.
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Virtual BocceFest Celebration of Giving After 23 years, Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary’s BocceFest - our fun fundraiser, bocce tournament, craft beer tasting, and auction has been cancelled due to the pandemic. However, because the need of our services and support for many non-profits is even greater these days, Rotarians called on past Bocce sponsors and donors, who have generously pledged over $36,000 as of September 9. To celebrate this milestone, the Del Mar Solana Beach Rotary will be hosting a BocceFest Celebration of Giving via a Zoom Webinar on Tuesday evening, September 15, from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
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Get Ready for Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week During Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week, October 5-11, Rotary members and alumni will gather to share their experiences, network, and exchange ideas for staying involved in Rotary. Join the action! Create a post on social media and tag it #RotaryReconnect. Hold a virtual meeting with alumni to share ideas. Invite an alum to speak at your online club meeting. |
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Sunday Morning Musings - Sept 6Learning and Leadership September is Basic Education month in Rotary. We in Rotary are servant leaders. We wouldn’t be in Rotary if we weren’t leaders. Leaders learn. Leaders read. Leaders study. Part of leadership in Rotary is continuing education. |
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21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge Learn about Equity - Diversity - Inclusion. Join the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge! Are you seeking a rational, constructive, non-divisive approach to exploring social justice here at home and across the country? The Peace Building Committee of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club is about to launch such an exploration. |
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Join the Coastal Cleanup Day The District Environmental Sustainability Committee is inviting you to participate in a regional coastal cleanup day organized by I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD), with the support of the California Coastal Commission. The 36th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day encourages you to Protect Your Happy Place! |
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Rotary Emphasizes Supporting the Environment Coronado Rotarians put “Supporting the Environment” into action on a steamy Saturday morning along the Silver Strand bike trail. Ivan Dunn, Rick Wilcoxon and Frank Spitzer donned Rotary vests and took trash cans, “grabbers” and gloves along with their masks to clear trash from the bike trail. In just a few hours, they picked up enough trash to fill an oversize trash bag along with several smaller trash bags. Their reward, aside from the satisfaction of leaving a clean trail, came from supportive shouts from passing runners, bike riders and walkers, along with finding $30!
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The District Environmental Sustainability Committee Invites You to Participate The District Environmental Sustainability (DES) Committee, created a few months ago with a mission to educate and support projects that protect our environment, meets regularly and all clubs are invited to be part of the discussion. If you feel like representing your club and/or would like to start a club committee dedicated to the Rotary Seventh Area of Focus, please join us on Monday September 14th at 6:30 p.m. for our next meeting. |
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Virtual 5K Run Want to support frontline pandemic heroes? Here is a way to do it. Join the Rotary Club of Coronado Binacional and participate in their virtual 5-K run being held on September 26 and 27. Click here to register. There is a requested $14 donation. |
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END POLIO NOW Wine-Tasting Goes Virtual, with an Online Free-to-Public Silent Auction This year, for the first time in its twelve-year history of raising funds for Rotary International’s END POLIO NOW campaign, the Rotary Club of Coronado will move its annual Silent Auction to an online platform. And, more good news, it’s free and open to the public.
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District Website Earns Award Immediate Past District Governor Marta Knight was notified that District 5340 was chosen for having the 2019-2020 BEST DISTRICT WEBSITE in Zone 26 under the category of Public Image/Brand Awards. |
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District-Wide Volunteer Opportunity Needs Your Help Volunteers are desperately needed for this fun and important meal packaging event on September 12. This event is now open to friends and family over 18 years. Please sign up now on Givsum by purchasing a ticket online at: https://www.givsum.com/opportunities/sd-coastal-rotary-10-000-meal-packaging-event-532d9292c. If you are unable to volunteer but would like to donate, you can also do this on Givsum. Any amount raised over the $3000 needed to purchase the food will be donated directly to the Outreach Program for future events.
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Another Zoom Tip - Updates Zoom keeps adding additional features, some very useful for our Rotary meetings. Updates come out about twice a month (latest Sept 1, 2020). Zoom will notify you about critical updates or bug fixes. Otherwise, you must manually check for updates (smartphones should update automatically). |
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Another Zoom Tip From the Encinitas Rotary ClubEven when permissible, it may be some time until all Rotarians are comfortable with attending "in-person" Rotary meetings. And some clubs are actually experiencing increased member engagement with Zoom. Now is the time to investigate options for "hybrid" meetings where some members meet in person and others join virtually via Zoom. Rotary Zones 33-34 has produced an excellent "how to" nuts and bolts guide for the technology side of hybrid meetings, from simple to more complex approaches at the "hobbyist" level.
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Sign Up Now for September 12 District-wide Service Project The San Diego Coastal Rotary club would like to invite all Rotarians in the 5340 district to participate in a fun and important service project. We currently need more volunteers! Here are the details:
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Sunday Morning Musings - August 30, 2020Diversity - Equity - Inclusion There is an ancient Chinese curse that holds: May you live in interesting times. And these are certainly interesting times. |
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Take Action for World Polio Day Get ready for World Polio Day on October 24 by promoting awareness, raising funds, and planning club events. This year, calling attention to our efforts to eradicate polio is as important as ever. We’ve shown that we can defeat this devastating disease, as five out of six regions are now free of wild poliovirus — but the fight is not over. Wild polio still paralyzes children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere. |
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Special Thank You to Old Mission Rotary Community Service ChairSpecial thanks to Old Mission Rotary's Community Service Chair, Charlotte Cofield, for partnering with STAR/PAL on a service project to distribute back packs filled with school supplies to inner city youth on Friday, August 28th. The Old Mission Rotary Foundation donated $1000 to the project. STAR/PAL was founded in 1988 and is a San Diego-based nonprofit organization with a unique nationally recognized model of police and community collaboration. Sworn officers from the San Diego Police and County Probation Departments work side-by-side with civilian personnel and trained law enforcement volunteers to provide the leadership and mentoring critical in promoting youth safety, positive life choices, and academic success. All STAR/PAL programs are led by law enforcement officers who educate youth about the dangers of juvenile crime and violence.  PHOTO: Old Mission Rotary President Gary John (R) and Steve Nuñez volunteered to work at the STAR/PAL event at Colina Del Sol Recreation Center. |
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Local Business Gets Help from City Heights Rotaract ClubCity Heights Rotoractor Club just completed its first community service project of the Rotary Year - revitalizing the outdoor space of a local coffee cafe to enable them to continue to be a gather place for locals. Cafeina Cafe in City Heights opened its doors to the community about a year ago. The coffee shop is owned by Andrew Benavides, who grew up in the neighborhood. Since opening, they have provided much more than coffee. Besides the mexican sweet bread and ice cream, Cafeina has opened its doors to local artists and community organizations. City Heights Rotaract's president, Rudy Vargas, frequents the local community coffee shop. When COVID hit, he realized people lost a place to gather, meet and study when Cafeina transitioned to to-go orders only. Rudy noticed that the outdoor area behind Cafeina Coffee needed some love so he asked Andrew if he'd be interested in partnering in a service project. Andrew jumped at the idea. The goal was to help reestablish a community gathering place not only during COVID, but for years to come. Director of Service, Tristen Cain, rolled up his sleeves and applied for a Rotary Foundation grant to help us match any club contributions to this project. After receiving the generous support, Tristen organized our members in a COVID friendly project, splitting masked members into small groups to tackle landscaping, painting, and bench building. At the end of the day, the place glowed. City Heights Rotaract cannot wait to see the place activated by our amazing community. We are grateful for Andrew for opening his business for this opportunity, our members for all their hard work during this heatwave, the Rotary Foundation for providing us with a grant to make this happen, Brandon Cain for lending his expertise and Linda Pennington for providing tools to make this possible. This is what community looks like! City Heights Rotaract is proudly sponsored by San Diego Rotary Club 33 and Mission Gorge Rotary Club. |
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Fuel the Frontline San DiegoThe Rotary Club of Del Mar supported the Fuel the Frontline San Diego effort on Friday, August 28th. The Club purchased a total of 55 meals from Del Mar restaurants Pacifica and Board & Brew and delivered them to healthcare providers at Scripps Emergency Room, Encinitas. Club members pictured are Brett Mattei, President Dugan Lamoise, Nina Wright, Don Fipps, Donna Fipps and Marty Peters. Photos courtesy of Philippe Lamoise. Board & Brew Pacifica Del Mar https://www.fuelthefrontlinesandiego.com/.  |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Supports Military Families with Donation On August 26th, the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Foundation presented a $600 check to Cathe Robling of the Navy Marine Corps Proud Foundation which supports the six San Diego Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society offices. The NMC Proud Foundation assists their military clients in financial need by providing them food and gas gift cards for the commissary and the exchange and delivers them to the six offices quarterly. They are here for the military in San Diego.
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Africa Now Polio Free African region declared free of wild poliovirus The World Health Organization (WHO) on 25 August announced that transmission of the wild poliovirus has officially been stopped in all 47 countries of its African region. This is a historic and vital step toward global eradication of polio, which is Rotary’s top priority.
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Escondido Rotary Clubs Join Together to Help Community The Rotary Club of Escondido After 5, obtained a matching grant to help with the purchase of 450 PPE shields for medical staff at the Neighborhood Healthcare Clinic in Escondido. Neighborhood Healthcare provides medical services for underserved community members and, with the surge of the pandemic, the clinic was having problems obtaining sufficient PPE for their staff. After 5 is one of the Escondido Rotary Clubs that stepped in to help keep these front-line medical workers safe. Snacks and Thank You cards were also delivered to our frontline heroes working at the health clinic. Working together, Escondido Rotary Clubs have been able to leverage their joint strength to make a larger impact in the community, while modeling the spirit and power of joint cooperation for Service Above Self.
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Sunday Morning Musings - August 23Bill McDade I recently have had conversations with Past District Governor Bill McDade. I found him to be candid, fun and a well spring of knowledge. With Bill’s permission, I would like to share his story. |
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Virtual Convention Breakout Sessions Now in Learning Center Watch the Rotary Virtual Convention Breakout Sessions Thanks to all who participated in the first Rotary Virtual Convention. Recordings of the breakout sessions and other resources are available in the Learning Center through May 2021. Look for them in the 2020 Virtual Convention Breakout Presentations learning topic.
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Oceanside Rotarian Featured in the Rotarian Magazine It's not often one gets recognized in a international magazine. But that is the case for Oceanside Rotary Club Rotarian, Reneé Richardson-Wendee. Reneé, who is an assisted living facility administrator, was one of 10 COVID-19 essential workers that were featured in the August edition of the Rotarian. The article, "The World Stopped. They didn't," highlighted those who put service above self when it counted most. |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Holding Poinsettia Sale |
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Rancho Santa Fe Blood Drive Completely FullThe Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club held a community-wide blood drive on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club parking lot. The sponsors included the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary club, Carter Financial, RSF Golf Club, and others. The San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) provided a Blood Mobile and the demand was unprecedented. The blood drive was the largest turnout of the day for the blood bank and 39 people were registered and 34 units of blood were collected. The San Diego Blood Bank offered free Covid-19 antibody testing and other wellness profile tests to donors. These life saving gifts will help save the lives of 102 people in just one afternoon! Another blood drive will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 (more information to come) to meet the unmet demand for donation appointments. Please mark your calendars today!  |
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Life-Saving Blood Needed Join Rotarians across District 5340 in this worthwhile and life-saving volunteer event. |
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Newsbits Moving to Sunday Delivery To avoid being caught up in your Monday morning routine at work, we have decided to deliver Newsbits to your e-mail box on Sunday. We hope this gives you a better opportunity to review its content. Enjoy!
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Meet Rotary International Peace Scholar Meet Nasema Zeerak, Rotary International Peace Scholar, currently studying at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. In a Zoom presentation on Wednesday, August 19, Nasema, a native of Afghanistan, described her background, current studies, and future aspirations. If you'd like to hear the presentation and learn about The Rotary Foundation funding process that facilitates scholarships like this one, click here. To learn more about Peace Fellowships, click here. |
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NBC7 Stolen Trailer Goes Live On August 20, 2020, NBC San Diego debuts “STOLEN,” an expansive documentary series about the sex trafficking and exploitation of children in San Diego County. |
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Monday Morning Musings - August 17 |
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Membership Workshop Presentation Available Online For those of you who were unable to attend District 5340's first virtual Membership Workshop held this past Saturday, we have good news for you!
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Santee K-12 Students Receive Backpacks The Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club donated $1,750 worth of backpacks and schools supplies as part of a community driven back-to-school backpack effort.
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Free Virtual Clubrunner Conference
Join Clubrunner on August 20 and 21 for two days of informative sessions, best practices and ClubRunner training. It's all virtual and free! |
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Monday Morning Musings - August 10 Loneliness What’s in it for me? Have we ever asked that question of ourselves as it relates to being in Rotary and a member of our Rotary club?
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Nomination of District Governor 2023-2024 Pursuant to Rotary International Bylaws, Section 12.030.3, I invite all clubs to submit their suggestions for nominations for District Governor 2023-2024. All Nomination Forms for District Governor must be received no later than Saturday, October 10, 2020, to be considered. Email them to mknight@rotary5340.org or via mail to: Rotary District 5340 Nominating Committee, 5052 Clairemont Drive #178651, San Diego, CA 92177. |
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Another Zoom Tip from the Encinitas Rotary ClubHaving trouble showing video clips via Zoom at Club meetings? The video looks good to you, but your members see very jerky video that is drastically out of sync with the audio?
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A Path Forward |
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First Woman Nominated to be RI President Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history. Jones will officially become president-nominee on 1 October if no other candidates challenge her.
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Monday Morning Musings - August 3 At one time I was the secretary of my club. It was a position for which I was ill suited. My minutes reflected only those who attended the board meetings and those who didn’t. I took the motion, the second and the vote. That was pretty much it. |
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Membership Seminar Slated for August 15 Mark your calendars and register for this year's Membership Seminar being held virtually on Saturday, August 15 via Zoom. We need participation from all clubs! |
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Council on Legislation 2022 |
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Tribal Community to Benefit from $500 GrantOn Friday July 31, Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation Past President Don Glover presented a $500 check to Inan Linton, President of A.B. Linton Foundation to support and improve the area's tribal community by providing resources for higher education and Native American Scholarships.
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Rotary Foundation Rotaract Giving Certificates Last year, for the first time, The Rotary Foundation offered a Rotaract Giving Certificate to recognize Rotaract clubs that contribute substantially to the Foundation. In order for a club to achieve this distinction, at least five of its members needed to donate a total of $50.
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Nomination Period Begins for 2023-24 District GovernorHave you ever thought about serving as our District Governor? Your might wonder:
How do I become one? What is involved? How do I begin to prepare? What is the time involved? How am I trained? And, much more. |
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Pam Russell Named As District Representative Congratulations to Pam Russell, District Governor 2008-2009, from La Jolla Golden Triangle Club on her selection by club ballots, as District 5340's Council on Legislation Representative for the 2020-2023 period. Philippe Lamoise, District Governor 2006-2007, from the Del Mar Club will serve as Alternate.
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Monday Morning Musings - July 27About five years ago I attended the PETS (Presidents Elect Training Seminar) in Los Angeles. At one of the dinners I had the good fortune to sit next to a young woman from a country in Africa.
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Past DG Robert Piva Has Passed "It is my sad duty to inform you that Past District Governor Robert Piva passed away. Bob served as District Governor from 1988-89.
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Encinitas Rotaract Holding Produce Drive Do you have left over fruits and veggies from your garden? Did you purchase too much at the farmers market?
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Chula Vista Sunrise Supports Community Through HopeThe Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club would like to thank Rotarians and community members who stopped by with donations for their food and clothing drive benefiting Community Through Hope.
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District Grants Information You Need to Know Our 2020-2021 District Foundation Committee met this past week. The Committee is closing the District Grants for 2019-2020 year. They also getting ready to approve and award the DDF, District Designated Funds, for the new Rotary year. |
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Monday Morning Musings - July 20Human Trafficking - sex trafficking - is an ancient/modern scourge that must be eradicated. And, our District will lead the way. |
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Virtually Discover the Ecuador Tropical Dry Forest On August 4th, Matthew Clark from conservation nonprofit Nature and Culture International will lead a virtual journey through Ecuador's tropical dry forests.
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Zoom Tip from the Encinitas Rotary ClubAre you meeting via Zoom? Do you miss socializing with just a few people at a time? Try using Zoom's Breakout Room feature.
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Selection of Council on Legislation Representative Our Rotary District must select our next Council on Legislation representative within the next couple of weeks. |
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Parade of Flags Multiple times a year, from every National holiday to every time one of the three U.S. Naval Aircraft Carriers stationed in Coronado arrives, there is a practice and display that is different from many other towns and cities.
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Monday Musings |
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Rotary Clubs Earn Citation RecognitionAt the June Governor's Dinner, DG Marta Knight announce winners of the Rotary Citation Awards. Clubs earning this distinction achieved their goals that unite people and take action. Clubs earning presidential distinction went beyond the minimum goals required for the Rotary Citation. Awardees:      |
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Hear World-Renown Motivational Speaker Join Mission Gorge Rotary Club for an evening with Michael Angelo Caruso on July 23, 2020 at 7:00 PM on ZOOM. Mission Gorge, our District’s newest Club, is pleased to invite you to hear world renowned motivational speaker, Michael Angelo Caruso. |
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RSF Rotary Held Successful Food DriveThe Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe (RSF) held a successful food drive on Saturday, June 13 at the RSF Association parking lot.
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Rotary Fellowship at the ParkThe Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset held its first meeting of the 2020-2021 year at La Mesita Park in La Mesa CA, with all the State and local health directives observed. It was a joyful break from the current Zoom meeting format and it was a great way to socialize in open air all the while practicing distancing. |
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RB Rotarians Thank CaregiversBelow is a picture from Sunrise Living thanking Rancho Bernardo Rotary for the cake and gift cards they were given. This was part of a program where Rancho Bernardo Rotary provided 258 gift cards and five "Thank You" cakes to care workers in five facilities in Rancho Bernardo, Poway & Escondido. Everyone was very appreciative as Rotarian, Sandie Dewane did a fantastic job organizing everything.  |
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Our Rotary Family is Growing |
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Rotarians Honored at Virtual District Governors' Celebration Over 300 Rotarians and Rotaractors participated in a year-end celebration (Virtual Governors' Celebration) - held, on Monday, June 29, 2020. Rotary International President, Mark Maloney greeted participants with words of praise and encouragement.
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DG Steve Weitzen to Author Weekly Column in Newsbits Monday Musings Happy New Rotary Year! Welcome to what I hope will be a weekly column called "Monday Musings" about things going on in our clubs, District and the Rotary world. |
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July Is New Leadership Month |
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An Easier Way to Browse Quickly To make skimming articles in our weekly Newsbits easier, you will now see a graphic and one or two sentences from the article or announcement on the front page. To read the full text, please click "read more".
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Outgoing District Governor Year-End Message It was an honor serving District 5340 as your Governor, living our theme, "Rotary Connects the World". I was so proud as all of you connected with your club, your community, and with each other sharing what we as Rotarians are all about - People of Action, doing Good in the World. We started our Rotary year with a new Vision Statement Strategic Plan, a roadmap to follow, that did create impact in your communities and around the world. The vision - "Together we see a world where People Unite and Take Action to Create lasting Change - across the Globe, in our Communities and in Ourselves". You all achieved this new vision, completing four priorities:
COVID-19 along came and changed our world. But, being People of Action who are inventive, entrepreneurial and resilient, you were ready to seek out fresh opportunities to serve, and reinvent how you operated with confidence. Thank you for this UNBELIEVEABLE opportunity to serve. I have so many memories and experiences in my heart. Thank you for sharing and making your Rotary world a part of mine. I am proud as you Make Good Happen Together, with Love, Compassion and Joy".
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Access To Convention Videos If you were unable to participate in the Virtual RI Convention live, you are now able to stream the general sessions and breakout sessions on the RI website. |
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School Closure Makes Way for Covid-19 FundingThe Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global (E-Club) was awarded a three-year VTT Global Grant (#1747029 FY17-19). This is a BEL (Basic Education Literacy) grant whose goal was to improve teacher training in Honduras, resulting in keeping students in school. Due to the Covid-19 virus and immigration problems, this grant ended early, leaving about $8,000 leftover from the funds to cover the volunteer teachers travel from the US that were not used. The E-Club contacted past District 4250 (Honduras, Guatemala and Belize) Governors, Julio Gracioso and Dr. José Antonio Interiana Torre who directed the E-Club to Sergio Pineda, Usula Rotary Club, San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Maxie Glackman from the E-Club, the lead Rotarian on this project, worked with Regionaldo Muñoz from Students Helping Honduras for many years and between the three parties discussed how the unspent funding could be used to support Covid-19 needs. With amazing coordination between the E-Club, the Usula Rotary Club, San Pedro Sula and Students Helping Honduras, food packages were put together and have been sent to the students and their families who were the beneficiaries of this grant.  |
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Canine Companions for Independence Receives GrantThe Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary awarded $6,000 grant to Canine Companions for Independence. The money will be used to repair the roof of their Oceanside dog training facility. Since 1975, Canine Companions for Independence has provided assistance dogs, free of charge, to recipients. Old Mission Rotarian Tom Sandler (holding dog below) and his wife, Sondra are now raising their 11th puppy for the organization. Volunteers get puppies at eight weeks old and socialize and train them for a year and a half. The dogs are then returned to Canine companions for advanced training.  |
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Covid-19 Impacts Thousand Smiles' August Clinic Date The Covid-19 pandemic appears to follow a pattern of infection and illness that has been closely observed, and the Thousand Smiles Foundation (Foundation) has learned a great deal over the last six months. Fortunately, Southern California and Northern Baja have posted their public health data, and we have not seen the kind of severe disease as in places like New York and Italy. As expected the Foundation is experiencing problems in more densely populated areas that have inadequate social distancing and limited medical resources. In Northern Baja, notably in the cities of Tijuana and Mexicali, there continues to be a large number of residents who carry the infection, and some percentage of them becoming very ill or dying. |
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School in Philippines Receives Hand Washing Station To help prevent the spread of Covid-19, the Rotary Club of San Diego Paradise Valley donated a handwashing station to Eliseo-Belen Elementary School, Bacolor Pampanga, Philippines.
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New Area of Focus Announced The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have added a new area of focus: supporting the environment. |
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Good News - Polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria! Rotarians, your End Polio Now work is making a difference. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that Polio is no longer endemic in the country of Nigeria, leaving the devastating disease endemic in only two remaining countries and bringing the world one major step closer to achieving the goal of ending polio for good. Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus since July 24, 2014, and all laboratory data has confirmed that a full 12 months have passed without any new cases!
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Volunteers Are Needed Volunteers needed! The San Diego County Office of Emergency Services and San Diego Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) have contracted with Jewish Family Services (JFS) San Diego to provide meals and groceries to over 90% of food insecure seniors in the County through their 211 system.
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Feel the Energy in Taipei - 2021 Rotary Convention Experience the energy of Rotary like never before in a city filled with tradition and infused with ingenuity. Join us at the Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan on June 12-16, 2021.
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Join the Celebration!It's not too late to participate in the Governor's Celebration, this Monday, June 29. The Zoom celebration can be accessed with this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88387471400?pwd=bmJUbzdoNVhZa09saG0wTjZZZUpEdz09 Password: 932005. It would be helpful if you register to give us a headcount of all who participated. You can register online. This is a free event. The Governor's Celebration is going to be an exciting evening of fun, recognitions and celebrations. The event will open at 5:45 pm with the program beginning at 6:10 pm with our Celebration of Life, honoring 36 Rotarians that have passed this Rotary Year. The Governor Celebration will start at 6:30 pm. We have worked very hard to make this an enjoyable evening for all of you. We have many special Rotarians joining us to congratulate our District for all that we have done together this year as "Rotary Connects the World". We will recognize club activities, Rotary Foundation awards, Rotary Citation winners, Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of the Year, and Rotarian and Rotaractor of the Year. 2020-2021 District Governor Steve Weitzen will be inducted as well as incoming Club Presidents and Assistant Governors.
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Find a Rotary Fellowship That's Right for You Want to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience? Join a Rotary Fellowship! Rotary Fellowships are international groups of Rotary Members, their family members, program participants, alumni, and even non-members who share a common passion. From Bowlers to jazz fans, scuba divers to history enthusiasts, photographers to lawyers, there's a Rotary Fellowship for everyone. Currently, about 91 fellowships unite members in fun and friendship. |
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RB Rotary Club Supports Covid-19 Needs at Interfaith Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club continues to provide assistance in support of Covid-19 needs. Recently, the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Foundation contributed $5,250 to the Interfaith Emergency Covid-19 program. This was part of their overall $14,500 contributions towards several other worthwhile areas of need as previously reported. Pictured in front from Interfaith is Sanos Peneflor, Security and Bahad "B" Hernandez, Development and Special Events Associate. In the back is Alan Turner, Grant Coordinator and Membership Chairman of the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club. |
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Supports Child Care NeedsThe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in extreme challenges to the local families who require childcare. Specifically, the closing of schools has left families scrambling for childcare as parents return to the workforce. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego: 4S Ranch support these local families through programs providing the opportunity to use computers, complete arts and crafts, engage in educational activities, and remain active while social distancing. Due to the additional restrictions imposed by CDC guidelines, the resulting impact increased the costs for these programs four-fold. Recently, the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club (RB) met Danny Sherlock, President and CEO and Roy Cornett, RB Rotarian and Director of the 4S Ranch Boys and Girls Club to present a $4,000 grant to support these summer programs. This grant coupled with an earlier grant approval of $1,500 will provide individual scholarships for over 80 children in the 4S Ranch area.  Photos: RB Rotarians, Doug Dawson, Don Glover, Roy Cornett, Dave King and Mike Fugua. Boys and Girls Representatives, Roy Cornett, Dave King and Danny Sherlock |
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2020 VIRTUAL CONVENTION UNDERWAY UPDATE! Rotary's First Virtual Convention is underway! Both General Sessions have concluded but are available to stream online. Simply go to go to the home page of riconvention.org. Click on the button under the General Sessions block, which will say JOIN. Breakout Sessions are underway. If you cannot participate live, sessions will be available in 48-72 hours from time of session. |
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Anti-Human Trafficking Is Focus for 2020-2021 |
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Dental Clinic Expands with the Help of RotaryThe Mulegé Rotary Clinic was founded 40 years ago to help the poor and disenfranchised people of the town of Mulegé in Baja California Sur, Mexico. It offers low and no-cost dental and eye care to people who otherwise cannot afford it. The Clinic has recently undergone a $35,000 renovation with a new roof, wiring, plumbing, lighting, flooring, air conditioning; the works! Thanks to Jim and Carmen Hughes, Dugan and Philippe Lamoise, San Diego Rotary Club 33 and the Del Mar Rotary Club for a major contribution of $10,000 to this project. These huge improvements allowed the clinic to expand its dental practice by two additional operatories and the ability to bring in more volunteer dentists and doctors to the clinic to offer health services to the people of Mulegé and the surrounding area.  |
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Virus Inspires SongCOVID-19 has inspired a variety of emotions and reactions in people worldwide, but did you know that in Coronado it inspired a resident to write a song? Doug Weisbarth, an 82 year-old retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and Coronado Rotarian, has written "The World Stopped Turning" in May to relate his view of how the virus has impacted our world. His 100 year-old Aunt Betty gave him the idea. Some of the lyrics include: This old world, it stopped turning, when the COVID virus hit; All the people, worldwide, were all sent home to sit; Shops and factories all closed down, no workers to be had; Income stopped and bills came due, the situation - bad. Weisbarth came to Coronado with the Navy in 1957. He had planned to be a Marine, but his father asked him two questions to help him choose the service to join: "Why walk when you can ride?" and "Would you rather operate the weapon system or be the weapon system?" Weisbarth's Navy career spanned 22 years and like so many, he returned to Coronado when he retired. He then embarked on a 30-year, second career in the home maintenance repair business - Doug Weisbarth Service. |
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Polio Match Deadline Fast Approaching We need your help to meet the Gates Match Challenge for $100 million to Take Out Polio. Donate your lunch money ($10 or more) at endpolio.org/donate or use the QR code above by June 30. Matching recognition points are offered for donations of $100 or more to polio. Contact End Polio Coordinator Bob Rogers at crobertrogers@comcast.net.  |
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Virtual Rotary Convention Just Around the CornerJoin us during the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention on June 20-26 for activities beyond the general sessions that will get you moving, help you get involved, and connect you with members from around the world. You can:
Signup for our free convention today and encourage friends in your network, club and community to join you. Don't miss out! |
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Join the Walking Challenge Join the Walking Challenge at the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention! Participate in some friendly competition with Rotarians, Rotaractors and members of the family of Rotary as you work your way up the leaderboard for a chance to win prizes. Sign up here. #Rotary20 |
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Food Drive Slated for Saturday, June 13 |
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In These Unsettling Times |
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Are You Ready for the Rotary Virtual Convention? Rotary Virtual Convention June 20 - 26, 2020 I'm getting ready for the Rotary Virtual Convention by showing my Rotary pride! How are you getting ready? Do you have a favorite Rotary or Rotaract shirt, a great pin, or your country flag? Remember to sign up; the event is free! You can select which general sessions you will participate it in as well as breakout sessions. Remember for those of us in Southern California, there is a two hour difference. General sessions begin at 6:00 a.m.! Don't let that deter you though. It's very likely you'd be up at that time if you were in Hawaii! To register, please go to this website.  |
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COVID-19 Grant Zoom Meeting a Success!On Friday, June 5, 79 Rotarians from all over District 5340 participated in the Virtual COVID Grant Celebration, showcasing the many good projects that were conducted by clubs utilizing a one-time matching grant opportunity provided by the District in response to community needs relative to the COVID-19 outbreak. PDG Janice Kurth reported that the majority of the grant requests centered around four common themes - food and basic needs, personal protective equipment (PPE), education and small business assistance. The top two themes - food and basic needs and PPE raised $44,941 and $11,050 respectively. The total amount of funding for all grant projects was $58,891. In addition, PDG Kurth relayed that there were several projects undertaken that were independent of the COVID grant program and combining their efforts with the grant projects, it is estimated that $100,000 was used to support COVID relief. Representatives from participating clubs were provided an opportunity to talk about their projects; all were very impressive. Clubs are reminded that reports and receipts need to be upload in order for projects to be closed.     |
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RB Sunrise Donates Fruit to Poway Food ConnectionThe Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club's 5th fruit gathering adventure was held on May 21 at a grove in Valle Verde. The Rotarians have been gathering fruit from local orchards whose owners have offered to donate for the good of the community. "In this time of tremendous need, where people have lost their jobs, it's something we can do to put food on their tables," said Jim Stewart, project lead. This latest collection provided a couple hundred pounds of ripe oranges and grapefruit that the Rotarians delivered to Poway's Community Food Connection. This was one of several projects that the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotarians have been busy with since the beginning of the pandemic. They have also distributed face masks to hospitals and retirement homes. Another group put together gift baskets for health care workers at retirement homes to thank them for their extra efforts during difficult times. This club also provides ongoing home help services to senior shut-ins.  Photo: The masked crew are harvest participants including Bret Geernaert, Jan van Glabbeck, Kim Muslusky, Mark Berdan, Nazrin and Ralph Barbee, Lloyd Trilling, Steve Sayler and Jim Stewart. |
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Rotarian Jerry Winter Supports Coronado's Local Businesses Photo: Jerry Winter, 28-year Coronado Rotarian. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, Jerry Winters recognized a need among our local Coronado businesses and contributed $5,000 to the Club's Rotary Foundation to help them with losses suffered during the pandemic lockdown. If we are fortunate, we have a friend or family member to whom we turn when times are toughest. They lift our spirts and support us in many ways - large and small. Jerry, a 28-year member of the Coronado Rotary Club, is one of those individuals to whom we turn. He is a past Rotarian of the Year (2010) and recipient of the Peacemaker Award (2018). The Peacemaker Award recognizes individuals who are making a difference in promoting understanding, tolerance, and conflict resolution, and helping build good will and peace. Jerry Winter offered the following encouragement to Coronado business: "All I can say is hang in there. This is especially tough on those types of businesses that have to come in close contact with their customers. Coronadans are thoughtful people and will support them as soon as the government loosens some restrictions." The Coronado Rotary Club's Board of Directors identified 20 local restaurants and businesses that have donated in the past to Rotary charitable events such Low Tide Ride & Stride, End Polio Now Wine Tasting, and the Jim Laslavic Charity Golf Tournament. Sue Ryan, Coronado Rotary Community Services Director, contacted each business and restaurant, purchased gift cards with Jerry's contribution and conveyed Rotary's thanks to the owners for their past support. The gift cards will serve as a silent auction item for future Rotary fundraising events.  Photo: Mary Ann Berta, Jerry Winters and Sue Ryan at Mary Ann's business in Coronado la mer. Mary Ann Berta, a 28-year Rotarian and owner of Tartine and la mer, has been a staunch supporter of many Rotarian events. She was very appreciative of the gift card purchase and offered these words of advice to her fellow business owners: "We need to stay positive together! We don't want to risk losing our small-town atmosphere." Mary Ann also expressed thanks to the City of Coronado for providing the Lifeline Business Loan when businesses needed it most. Rotary has always supported and demonstrated a commitment to local businesses in various ways. Jerry Winter's gift validates that commitment in the most tangible way possible. |
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Virtual Eco-TalkThe Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club organized a virtual Eco-Talk with students of the BCK Program, which is focused on providing environmental education to students. The Club hosted 36 people, including students, teachers, school principals, parents, a City of Encinitas representative, and Eco-Rotarians. Bill Dean, co-founder of the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club, started the SWPPP Internship Program in 2013 and then the BCK Program in 2016. During this event, we heard from the next generation of environmental stewards on what they have accomplished at their schools and the passion they bring to making a difference in our world. Supported by an amazing team of teachers and educators, they addressed storm water and waste challenges observed in their schools. Drew, Bill's granddaughter, and Judah are both students from Ocean Knoll Elementary School. Through the SWPPP Internship Program, they studied water usage, conservation, and pollution and became experts in recycling. With other students at their school, they raised awareness through art and advocacy to the Encinitas City Council. Additionally, they developed a project to address a storm water problem identified in the back parking lot of their school and worked with school district facilities staff to resolve it. Two 4th grade students from Flora Vista Elementary School (Maddie and Zoë) talked about the Trash Amendment Action Plan they participated in, the actions they took and the outcomes it produced. It resulted in a full week of actions for the entire school and a campaign to educate students and parents. Students enjoyed presenting to the Solana Beach Eco Rotary Club. They are now ready to give presentations to other groups and schools. The next generation is comprised of passionate kids ready to advocate and implement solutions to protect our environment! The BCL Program is focused on providing environmental education to students. All they programs are designed to have students participate in activities and provide meaningful solutions along with data valuable to schools, cities, and hopefully the state. But, even more important, these programs help change people's behavior to make responsible decisions and motivate them to take actions toward improving our environment.  |
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June is Rotary Fellowship Month June is Rotary Fellowship Month. What better time to find like minded people and connect? Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience. |
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Funding Formula for Global Grants Changing Rotary Foundation Changes the Funding Formula for Global Grants On May 29, our District leadership received a letter from Rotary Foundation announcing a change in policy on funding Global Grants. Previously, the Rotary Foundation matched District Designated Funds (DDF) with a 1:1 match and club and individual cash donation with a O.5:1 match. The Trustees have eliminated the match with the club and individual cash donations - they will ONLY match District Designated Funds as of July 1, 2020. Clubs that are submitting Global Grants will see their funding adjusted on MatchingGrants.org when submitting a Global Grant for the 2020/2021 Rotary Year. Our Matching Grants webmaster, PDG Philippe Lamoise is working on the application to revise the formula to match the new Rotary Foundation policies. Clubs are reminded they must complete the online training for grants (both Global and District) if they plan to qualify for submitting a grant in the 2020-21 Rotary Year. Grant training is no online on the District 5340 webpage. Two members of each Club submitting a grant must complete the online training and the quiz that goes with it to qualify their Club to submit a grant. The Funding for District Grants remains the same. The District will match up to $3500 of Club donation for a District Grant in 2020-2021. District Grants are due on the Matching Grants website on August 1, 2020. Two members of a Club applying for a District Grant must complete the online training and quiz for District Grants to make their Club eligible. District Grants for the current 2019-2020 year must be completed and closed to be eligible to apply for a grant in 2020-2021. If you have any questions, please contact the following: Marge Cole, District Rotary Foundation Chair Janice Kurth, Global Grants Chair Elana Levens-Craig, District Grants Chair |
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Rotary Club of Del Mar Virtual Sunset Soiree The 16th Annual Rotary Club of Del Mar Sunset Soiree is going virtual. Our online auction will be accepting bids beginning June 3 through June 7. Join our live event on Sunday, June 7 from 5-6:00 p.m. to enjoy live entertainment and learn about our club's many projects, both at home and around the world. The online and live auctions feature dozens of special items and we will raffle off a gift card tree sprouting dozens of valuable gift cards. Please visit the Sunset Soiree website to learn more, register to bid and purchase raffle tickets. Please also consider donating to support our projects and our partner beneficiary, the Boys and Girls Club of San Dieguito.
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Rotary Inspires Guatemalan High Schooler "I'm Maureen Duncan and I am a member of the Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global. One of my high school vocational students in Guatemala created a poem regarding the pandemic in Guatemala (with some of my editing and input from other students and the local project manager of my District Grant in Guatemala). It's quite uplifting and I thought informative for all our District members to learn about how others are affected by the pandemic and how they cope. The original was written in Spanish. This has been translated into English. I hope you enjoy it." I don't Need Anything. I don't need anything...thoughts from a Guatemalan high school student, IDM, Santa Lucia I don't need anything in this pandemic crisis. I have a roof over my head, a bed, bread and water every day. I am grateful for the opportunity of opening my eyes; of seeing the light of day; studying with my books, hoping for a better future. I am calm. I am not afraid, Guatemalans, we are not "los damificados", the damaged people. We are not victims. We are a poor country but now it doesn't matter in this pandemic. We are equal with the rest of the rich countries; it doesn't matter what work we do or what class we are from. Even if you have the best clothing or shoe brands, this situation has marked equality worldwide. What matters to me? To Guatemalans? Being united in family; school, friends, church, country, the planet. We help each other now. No need to fight now. No need for wars. Money doesn't matter anymore. Money buys vanity and now no nobody has money. The planet matters. What are we doing with our planet? Our volcanic mountains are thundering, bleeding their lava again. They are crying out in anger about what we have done to the environment, what we have done to human rights. Let us be still and listen to the earth. I say it is time for us to rebuild our world with empathy, solidarity, connection. What have I learned during this pandemic? To have hope .... last week I almost lost hope. I live alone here so I can go to school. May family lives nine hours away by bus. I did not care to see sunlight, telephone or a computer. I was nauseous and dizzy with a fever. But I still did my work; my obligations. I found the strength within me. I called upon my Mayan ancestors. I don't need anything because I have my inner strength. |
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Virtual Chartering Celebration You're invited to join us for the Virtual Club Chartering Celebration of our newest club: San Diego Downtown Evening Club. The event is Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. For Zoom meeting information, please contact David Diaz at david@ipeace.org. |
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Train for Change - A speaker opportunity! Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club (CVSRC) is aware that due to COVID-19, most Rotary clubs are starting to move to online meetings. This switch can be challenging, but also come with exciting new opportunities to connect with people from all over the world. If your club is looking for virtual speakers during this transition, CVSRC would like to recommend Maxie Gluckman who runs a wonderful project their club is sponsoring for the 2020-21 Rotary Year in Honduras. "Train for Change" empowers Honduran teacher leaders through professional development to improve the quality of education for one million children in the most impoverished areas of the country. Over the last year, a lot has happened in Honduras and the Honduran experience has been central to many recent news articles. As Maxie has been working on the ground for seven years now and two years through an incredible Rotary Global Grant led by the Rotary E-Club of San Diego Global, she believes that there are many stories that have gone untold. Maxie would love to share with your club these stories and the power of Rotarian generosity, including:
Please consider having Maxie speak to your club about the "Train for Change" and if you are inspired like our club, use your DDF funds to support this important grant. Please contact Maxie at maxie.gluckman@instructual.com.
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Rotary and Boys and Girls Club Partnership Join us for an informative Zoom presentation on Thursday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m. Our District 5340 clubs are doing a lot of work with the Boys and Girls Clubs in our local communities, especially during this difficult time. District Governor, Marta Knight and Blake Johnson of Boys and Girls Clubs of America will discuss the importance and impact of this partnership. |
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Old Mission Rotary Foundation Charitable GivingThe Old Mission Rotary Foundation (not to be confused with the Art Pratt Foundation) will disburse $44,923 to 28 different organizations this Rotary year. This money has been used to fund projects in the areas of Community, International, and Youth Services and for all six Rotary areas of focus: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation and Maternal and Child Health. Our Pennies for Polio jar presented to us by District Marta Knight last summer has raised $499 and the Old Mission Rotary Foundation is adding $501 to make our total Polio Plus contribution of $1000.  |
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A Vast Grove of Oranges Picked by Rotarians of Several ClubsThanks to the generosity of Mark Bitterlan who manages a grove of oranges in Rancho Santa Fe, several Rotary clubs county-wide were able to harvest oranges for distribution to non-profits of their choice. Sparked by a UT article featuring the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club and their efforts in picking local fruits, Mr. Bitterlan offered his grove of 100 trees for the picking. Too large a venture for just one club, the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club connected with the Rancho Santa Fe Club for help. As a result, a schedule was developed and Rotary clubs throughout District 5340 were invited to participate. This past weekend, the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club picked nearly 3,300 pounds of oranges at the grove on Sunday, May 24. They are donating part of their harvest to Producegood, a 501 c(3). Members of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club joined them and oranges they pick are being donated to the Santee Food Bank. The Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club and the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club picked oranges on Saturday, May 23. Their harvest was taken to local food pantries. Point Loma Rotary Club also picked close to 2,000 oranges for donation to four different non-profits on the Peninsula.  |
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Rotary Club of San Diego South Bay Helps Meycauayan CityThe Rotary Club of San Diego South Bay set aside $250 and secured a $250 COVID-19 Matching Grant from District 5340 to provide rice and necessary supplies to indigents of Meycauayan City affected by the total lockdown due to enhanced community quarantine in place in the area. In partnership with their sister club, the Rotary Club of Meycauayan East of District 3770 in the Philippines, the goods were distributed last April 16 and 17 to some 120 families. They were each given packages of 10 kgs. rice and foodstuff. Deputy District Governor and Past President, James Javier and Club President, Ramon Santos are shown with club members during the distribution.  |
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Havana Nights on the Horizon The Rotary Club of El Cajon is proud to announce our 30th annual fundraiser! Originally, we had planned a Havana Nights extravaganza but this year due to the COVID pandemic, we are adapting and will be doing things differently be seeking pledges! Our club is proud to celebrate its 94th year of providing support for our local and world communities. While we are saddened that we are unable to gather during this time, we still have a deep desire to support and serve our East County community and beyond, especially during these unprecedented times and WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our club is asking our members, local businesses and community partners to consider making a financial contribution, in lieu of sponsoring and or supporting our event so that we can continue to do the great work that we have done for 94 years in our community. The Club's Foundation has graciously agreed to match the pledges up to $20,000! Suggested pledge levels are: $100, $250, $500, $1000 and $2500 or any amount your heart desires. Remember, all pledges will be matched by our Foundation up to $20,000. For your pledge to our fundraiser, you will be fully highlighted and acknowledged as a community contributor through our Rotary website, our social media outlets and local newspaper. To make a financial contribution online, please make your pledge here. All donations are tax deductible if made to the El Cajon Rotary Foundation under IRC section 501 c(3) Federal Tax ID #95-6141259 and mailed to: El Cajon Rotary, P.O. Box 643, El Cajon, CA 92022. |
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Save the Date - Global Cyber Peace Conference |
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Considerations Before Resuming In-Person Meetings As COVID-19 infections begin to level and government shelter-in-place and similar orders expire, Rotary districts and clubs are confronted with the complexities of determining how and when to resume in-person gatherings. We must base our decisions on the health and safety of our members, while maintaining compliance with government and health regulations. COVID-19 will be part of our Rotary planning until a proper prevention or vaccine is readily available. Johrita Solari, our Zone 26 Director asked for a committee to come up with the following document to help clubs make decisions about in-person meetings. Our Rotary organization is a compilation of autonomous clubs with cultural, social, and community-based values that preclude a one-size-fits-all approach for club decisions about resuming in-person meetings. This document is developed to help our Rotary clubs and leadership with consideration and resources for the discussions and decisions they undertake at this difficult time. The primary goal of this document is to help Rotarians consider the safety and health of our members. You may download the PDF version here.
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Bike Ride Along the Bay You're invited to join the Pacific Beach Rotaract Club for a nice bike ride around the bay on Saturday, May 23. The club will be practicing social distancing, ensuring everyone is riding six feet apart and wearing masks. Bikers will check in and review the route at 9:00 am. Check in is at De Anza Cove, 2727 De Anza Road, San Diego, CA 92109. There is plenty of street parking. Look for the Rotaractors' bright blue shirts and their Pacific Beach Rotaract club flag. The ride will conclude a noon. You may make your ride as short or long as you like. Family and friends are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please contact club president, Sesy Enriquez at 619 518-2437 or email her at sesyenriquez@gmail.com.
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Virtual Governor's Celebration Virtual Governor's CelebrationThis year's Governor's Dinner has transformed into a Governors' Celebration conducted virtually. This event is scheduled for Monday, June 29 opening at 6:00 p.m. with the ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m. A number of surprises are planned for all! Registration is now open. This virtual event will include District club award presentations, installation of club presidents and District Governor Steve Weitzen. Please join us for a festive celebration. Registered participants will receive a Zoom meeting link by email.
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Old Mission Rotary Continues to Award Grants to CommunityCOVID-19 has wreaked havoc with Old Mission Rotary's schedules but the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary continues to award grants to help their community! Here is a look at who they are supporting:
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Join Rotary's Facebook Live Series Join our next #RotaryResponds Facebook Live event on May 20 to make connections and take part in engaging conversation. The series features Rotary leaders, members, and leaders from partner organizations sharing how they're taking action in their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club Turns 60 The Santee Lakeside Rotary Club (SLRC) is celebrating its 60th birthday this month. Chartered as a Rotary club on May 23, 1960, the club introduced 23 charter members to the world of Rotary. At the time of charter, SLRC represented the twin communities of Santee and Lakeside, both were unincorporated rural areas. Santee has since incorporated as a city. Rotarian, Walter Chandler served as its first president, followed by Rotarian Ray Stoyer. The club was sponsored by the El Cajon and La Mesa Rotary clubs. Charter members were: Walter Chandler, Dr. John De Kock, Charles Bliss, Ross Mallette, John Bacon, Ray Stoyer, Charles Skidmore, Dwight Williams, Fred Breise, Barney Barrett, Rev. Charles Clark, John Gill, Bert Partain, Robert Schipper, Bruce Swinson, Gordon M. Bell, Wayne Chubb, Al Flaven, Chet Harritt, Duane Pillsbury, John Smiley, W.H. Stevens Jr., Edward L. Brewer, Dr. Everett Carmody, Frank Fox, Sam Millison, Gale Ruffin, Harold Secor, William Thomas and Thomas Smiley. SLRC membership was drawn from a broad cross-section of professions, business, industry, education and government, which is still true today. Currently SLRC has 32 members and growing. Current members who have led the club as president include Bill Pommering, Allen Carlisle, Elana Levens-Craig, Augie Caires, Sandy Pugliese, Tom Miles, Doug Wilson, Vic Bermudes, Jim Peasley, and Paul Ague. As People of Action, a long-standing community service program stands the test of time and is still going strong. Initiated a few decades back by a growing concern over high school drop out rates, the SLRC established a scholarship program that aimed to assist students from three local high schools - West Hills, Santana and El Capitan - with staying in high school and graduating with their class. Identified students were mentored and were given a set of criteria that, if met, would provide them the equivalent of a two-year community college tuition, including books and fees. To date, over 200 students have been helped through this program. With the motto Service Above Self at the helm of all the club activities, other local community projects undertaken by SLRC include participating with the annual USPS in the Stamp Out Hunger Food drive to make sure the food that is collected in Santee is donated to the Santee Food Bank. SLRC also provided assistance through either hands-on projects, grants or a combination of both and include Santee Santas Foundation, Santee Food Bank, East County Transitional Living Center, Canine Companions for Independence and Rotary at Work projects. Other activities include holiday card card writing to distribute to isolated seniors in mobile home parks, collecting items for a Veteran's home, Soles 4 Souls shoe collection, planting trees, participating in Rotaractor WAPI project. and providing fingerprinting services for children at local health fairs. Internationally, SLRC has sponsored water projects in Kenya and Ecuador, as well as providing direct assistance to Rancho Marta, a school and orphanage in Mexico, where the club has funded a kitchen, computer lab and a ranch solar project. In earlier days of the club, SLRC was involved in assisting a school in Tijuana. In addition, the SLRC joins its sister club, the Rotary Club de Ensenada in activities of mutual interest. SLRC typically meets at noon on Thursdays at San Diego Christian College but is currently meeting virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions. The club would love to have you join them for a meeting. You can find the club online or on Facebook. You can also email the club or call (619) 993-7805.  |
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Boys and Girls Club Receive Relief Grant The Rotary Club of San Marcos used the COVID-19 Relief Grant to support the Boys and Girls Club of San Marcos' Free Meals Program. The program utilizes Feeding America which provides free hot meals to youth in North County. Their need increased dramatically from 150 to 400+ meals a day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Club provided a $2,500 grant to assist the program. This much needed funding provided 12,000 meals to kids suffering from food insecurity in North County. Check out the video thank you they received from the Boys and Girls Club. |
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Grants Training Goes Online Grants Training Goes Online This year, we are offering our Grants training online for those clubs that wish to do Global and/or District Grants. Clubs must complete the training(s) and the quizzes which go with them to be eligible to apply for grants in the 2020/2021 Rotary year. Dates for these grants and other information are included in the trainings listed below. Global Grants Training Information The Global Grants Training will be taught by District 5340's District Global Grants Chair and Past District Governor, Janice Kurth. Clubs will need to follow the directions in the PowerPoint training, If you have questions, Janice is available for more information. Her email contact information is provided in the PowerPoint. Clubs will also need to complete a Memorandum of Understanding and have their Annual Fund Giving Goals on the My Rotary website. District Grants Training Information District Grants training will be offered under the tutelage of District Grants Chair, Elana Levens-Craig with help from Major Gifts Chair, Mike Whitehurst. There is a quiz when the training is finished, which will need to be completed to be qualified to complete a District Grant. Clubs will need to have their Annual Giving Goals for the Rotary Foundation identified on the My Rotary website. District Grants are due on August 1, 2020. Link for Grants Training To review the material for Global Grants, click on Global Grants Seminar and scroll to the bottom where you will find a video to watch. For District Grants, Go District Grants and click on District Grants Training and scroll to the bottom to find the training video. To be eligible to participate in grants, two members of your club must attend the training.
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Call to Action - Oranges for the Picking Recently, the Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise was featured in the Union Tribune for their harvesting efforts of local produce and subsequent donations to local food banks and non-profits. This venture has been enormously successful and a variety of individuals have contacted the club offering their produce for picking as well. So far they have collectively harvested over 1500 pounds of citrus fruit. One of the more resent calls comes in from a property owner in Rancho Santa Fe who has a grove of 100 orange trees. He has offered his crop up for harvesting with all oranges going to Rotary for redistribution to organizations in need. This project is larger than the Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise can manage and they have contacted the Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe for help. Both clubs agreed to open this opportunity up to any and all Rotary and Rotaract clubs who might like to participate. Clubs pick the citrus fruit and they take with them what they pick for distribution in their respective geographical area. The Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe has agreed to be the coordinating club for this effort. If you are interested in scheduling a date/time for your club to pick oranges, please contact Elie Feghali at (661) 331-4705.
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Happy 94th Birthday El Cajon Rotary! The El Cajon Rotary Club just turned 94. Established in April of 1926, the El Cajon Rotary Club is a group of local businessmen and professionals who form part of Rotary International, a community service organization founded in Chicago in 1905. El Cajon Rotarians have lived by the motto of "Service Above Self" for the past 94 years. The El Cajon Rotary Club champions many causes such as literacy, clean water, peace and health. Club Rotarians are dedicated to eradicating the polio virus and have contributed to many East San Diego County programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Symphony, Youth leadership training, East County reading and literacy programs, the Salvation Army, high school vocational programs, youth theatre programs and Thousand Smiles. The Club normally meets each Tuesday at noon at the Elks Lodge in El Cajon. If you'd like to connect with them, please use their website or see them on Facebook. For questions about El Cajon Rotary, contact club president, David Johnson at 619 977-6497 or djbanker@gmail.com.  |
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SD Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club Responds to Needs of the Community Photo: Robert Semmer and Gillian Semmer are co-chairs of San Diego Breakfast Rotary's coronavirus response committee. When the coronavirus crisis and economic shutdown hit our nation and our community, San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club's board could see that our region was heading for a tsunami of humanitarian needs. We quickly formed a coronavirus response committee and asked two long-standing members, father and daughter Robert Semmer and Gillian Semmer, to co-chair it. The new committee's mission was to explore how our club could best aid our community in this time of crisis. Our club is best known for our outgoing hands-on-projects to help our community. However, because of the stay-at-home and social distancing requirements, we determined our efforts in this crisis would need to be focused on providing financial aid. Over the following weeks, Bob And Gillian and their committee went to work raising new money, as well as researching the local charities that would give us the biggest bang for our buck in helping those being hurt most - homeless, seniors, youth, newly unemployed, and food-deprived individuals and families. Through individual member donations, our club's foundation, and two available matching grants, we have directed over $85,000 to the following seven local charities. The committee selected these organizations because they have a long and respected history of serving those in special need. Likewise, our club has partnered with most of these organizations in the past and knows first hand the good work they do. East County Transitional Living Center houses and feeds over 450 previously homeless people and families and helps them back to full employment. With our $12,500 donation, the center will be able to invite at least 10 additional families into their programs. Serving Seniors was given $12,500 to provide meals for disadvantaged senior citizens in downtown San Diego. Episcopal Community Services' Uptown Safe Haven was given $12,500 for their residential facility that provides transitional housing and supportive services to chronically homeless young adults with moderate to severe mental health issues. Feeding America was given $10,800 (plus a partial match bringing the total to $19,100) for their program to provide 40,000 meals for communities affected by the coronavirus. Father Joe's Villages was given $8,300 (plus a matching grant doubling the total to $16,600) for their emergency relief fund to feed and house thousands of homeless persons. Salvation Army Downtown San Diego was given $8,300 for their work with economically vulnerable, low-wage men, women and children who are at risk of falling into homelessness. La Mision Children's Fund Food Bank in Baja California received $4,000. La Mision previously served 55 families per month, but because of the coronavirus crisis, is now serving over 350 families per month. The San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club was founding in 1990 and has since donated $2 million to charities ranging from wounded veterans, USO, feeding and housing the homeless, assisting senior citizens in need, the USS Midway, Honor Flight, Junior Achievement, as well as humanitarian projects in Baja California, Latin America, Africa and India. Our annual Holes for Heroes golf tournament is our featured fundraiser. The author of this article, George Mullen is the president of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club.
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RCSDPV Medical Mission 2020The Rotary Club of San Diego Paradise Valley (RCSDPV) held its Annual Mission in the Philippines from February 15 to March 1, 2020. The Club participated at three sites serving the less fortunate people from San Ildefonso, Bulacan, Madapdap Resettlement, Mabalacat Pampanga and Bauang La Union. Services provided were free medical consultation, dental cleaning and dental extraction, minor surgeries such as cyst removal, donated reading glasses, feeding program, free medication such as antibiotics, vitamins, analgesics and many more. They served more than 7,000 people in the chosen state. Other activities included:
Through this effort RCSDPV was able to accomplish five of Rotary's Six Areas of Focus (Maternal and Child Health, Peace Conflict Prevention, Basic Education and Literacy and Water Sanitation) during the trip.   |
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Virtual District Red Badger Chat This Tuesday District Governor (DG), Marta Knight has developed a virtual red badger chat opportunity for new members whose Red Badge requirements call for attendance at a District event. Given the COVID-19 restrictions for gatherings, this virtual chat satisfies the required attendance at a District event.The chat is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2020 from noon to 1:00 p.m. Registration will be open on the District website by Friday. This is open to all members, not just Red Badgers. Topics will include District information, including location, size, website, positions, Rotary.org., Learning Center, and Roteract and Interact clubs. The District Governor line will be speaking as well as a Rotaractor and Interactor. A Zoom meeting link will be sent out to participating members via email. |
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Coronado Responds to Orphanage Need Via Zoom Coronado Rotary Club has turned to Zoom video conferencing for its weekly meetings. With 135 Rotarians in virtual attendance, donations for Coronado High School (CHS) Interact Club's service project at the Hacienda Orphanage came pouring in using the chat meeting option. CHS Interact Co-President Brianna Heinken (first row, third from the right) spoke to the Rotarians about the technology and necessity needs (related to COVID-19) at the orphanage during this pandemic. Rotarians learned about the orphanage's struggle in transitioning to virtual learning because they lack the technology needed. With caring and generosity, 76 Rotarians responded giving $7,465 and an in-kind donation of five laptops for the students at the orphanage. The Coronado Interact Club, sponsored by the Coronado Rotary Club, is made up of 30 active CHS students. Along with various service projects in the community, the Interact Club travels to the Hacienda Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico three-to-four times each year to complete projects, bring donations, and spend time with the children there. Cole Mullins, Interact Vice President, said, "After going to the orphanage for the last four years, I have loved meeting all the children and creating bonds with them. It is very special and amazing experience that I have been able to have. This gift will impact them greatly as it will help improve their living conditions and open new doors for them. They are bright kids and thanks to gifts like this they have bright futures!" Declan Dineen, Interact Co-President-Elect also commented, "Its been such a remarkable experience to give back to the orphanage in addition to making a positive impact on the children's lives. I'm beyond thankful for having such giving and involved role models such as the Rotarians. I'm excited to see what the children will be able to achieve and accomplish with your generous donation." The Coronado Rotary Club also provides financial assistance to the orphanage throughout the year.  Photo: CHS Interact Students at the Hacienda Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico Photo: CHS Interact Students conducting service project at the orphanage. |
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Virtual Rotary Convention Planned Mark your calendars for June 20-26 for an opportunity to gather online with the family of Rotary for our first online convention. Now more than ever, Rotary Connects the World: the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention will join you with Rotary participants around the world during a time of unprecedented challenges. Together we'll still experience the spirit of Rotary, be inspired by innovation, celebrate our resilience, and explore how clubs are addressing COVID-19. Experience Rotary in action during our Flag Ceremony, witness the power of connection during our general sessions, learn new ways to engage with Rotary during our breakout sessions, find inspiration from our global speakers, and much more. We have never needed Rotary - and we have never needed each other - more than we do now. We hope to see you online, because Now More Than Ever, Rotary Connects the World. |
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RYLA Bank Account Compromised Be on notice that during these trying times, fraud is on the rise. Take every precaution to protect your online activity and view every email with a critical eye. This week, District 5340's RYLA bank account was compromised. A very honest woman from Ohio received in the mail a typed-written check payable to her in the amount of $2,100 from the District's RYLA account. The check was signed by an approved District RYLA bank account signor. It was mailed in a very suspicious looking envelope from a signage company in Michigan. As soon as she got the check in the mail, she received a phone call from someone with a very heavy foreign accent, asking her to cash the check immediately. She got very suspicious. Had she not, she would have cashed it and she would have received another call telling her it was a mistake and that she would need to return the money, Fortunately for her, she made the call to our District Answer Connect Services. District Governor (DG) Marta Knight called her back and got the story. She asked the woman if she would send her a copy of the check and the mailing envelope, which she did. She verified the District bank account and the check number did not coincide with the sequence of checks being used by RYLA. They also do not type out their checks. The check was an exact image of the RYLA checks, including the signature. The District notified US Bank where the accounts are managed. The authorities were also notified in both locations. It appears this is a new type of fraud - get a check, copy it, change the check number and add a new payee to it, mail it out, have someone cash it and then call to ask them to return the funds. The RYLA account has since been closed and a new one opened. If you have any outstanding checks, they will send a replacement from the new bank account. The reason for this is to WARN you that there is a lot of fraud going on. Be careful with your club accounts. Balance them monthly and keep close tabs on your checkbooks. Additionally, this week, DG Knight's email was also hacked. Many of you received emails from her asking you to collect on a deposit she made to you using OneDrive. If you received it, please delete it; the notice was fraudulent. Her email has been restored with a very secure password with the assistance from representatives of Yahoo. It is no longer compromised.
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Rotary Club of Fallbrook Holding Non-Event Fundraiser The Rotary Club of Fallbrook is engaged in a fundraiser (using COVID-19 District Relief Grant Matching Funds) to help three key Fallbrook non-profits who, in response to the pandemic, have stepped up to provide food to Fallbrook citizens in need - grocery delivery services to seniors and feeding Fallbrook's youth who are forced out of school and after school activities. If you'd like to help, please send your donation of $20 or more to the Rotary Club of Fallbrook Foundation, P.O. Box 1227, Fallbrook, CA 92088 attention: COVID-19 Non-Event. You donation is tax deductible. |
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Highlights of the April RI Board of Directors' Meeting Zone Director, Johrita Solari shared with District 5340 leadership the decisions that were made at the April 22-26, 2020 Rotary International Board of Directors meeting. The highlights are below:
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Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Responds to COVID-19 PandemicThe Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo (Club) has operated their Foundation since 1978 with the expressed purpose to support charitable, cultural, scientific, civic, health and/or education purposes, primarily for local communities in North San Diego County. The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation (Foundation) annually provides an average of $40,000 in grants to support local projects. As a result of their successful western-themed family festival, Vines & Vittles last summer, they were able to provide $70,000 in grants this year. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded with its dramatic impact in our country and community, the Foundation determined that it was time to act. Under the leadership of the Foundation president, Dan Glover, the trustees assessed the immediate need and decided to provide additional grants to worthy organizations and create a program to provide restaurant gift cards to first responders and homeless youth in the Poway Unified School District (PUSD). The additional grants were provided to:
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club's major fundraiser for this summer, Vines & Vittles family festival has been canceled and they have lost a major source of funding for future grants. But, the Club recognized that many of the their local restaurant vendors are struggling with the stay at home orders and decided to create a program that would send them some business. The Club purchased 245 gift cards from Mike's BBQ, Cork and Craft, Jessies Bake Shop, Duff's Doggz, Denny's, Roundtable Pizza, Cowboy Chicken, Elements Café, Submarina and Chicken Charlies. Each of the these great community assets also contributed to the cause allowing the Club to procure cards valued at $5,875 for $4,650. These cards will be donated in various quantities to the San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation (first responders), Palomar Health Foundation (Pomerado and Palomar Hospital nurses and emergency medical staff), PUSD Families in Need Foundation, and Abraxas Foundation (students in need).    |
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COVID-19 #Rotary Responds Livestream Telethon Saturday, May 2 10:00 a.m. CST 8:00 a.m. PST We are pleased to invite you to participate in a COVID-19 #Rotary Responds one-hour Telethon to raise critical funds for disaster response. This Facebook Live event will be simulcast on the Rotary International Facebook page. The goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars (the link is now live). Rotary's 1.2 million members across the globe have taken swift action to respond to the COVID 19 pandemic. More than $3.4 million in Rotary Disaster Response Grants have already been put into action on the front lines to battle COVID 19. Additionally, millions more have been raised by our #PeopleofAction -- they have responded quickly and are truly saving lives. Now, we need to do more and the need for additional funding is a priority. Join this live event to hear stories of hope, inspiration and graditude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities. The Telethon will also showcase how our polio eradication infrastructure is helping to combat COVID 19. The live stream will be simulcast in eight languages. Share this event and spread the word through your social media channels. Invite your friends and family and members of your community to watch and see first-hand what Rotary's People of Action are doing to combat COVID 19. When posting, use hashtag "RotaryResponds. Lastly, encourage everyone to donate!
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Check Out Rotary's Learning Center While we are staying home, what better time is there for learning more about Rotary. Check out the Rotary Learning Center. It's a great way to build up your Rotary knowledge. There are single e-learning courses, as well as learning plans with multiple courses on each subject matter. Want to learn Rotary basics? Fellowships? Best practices for engaging members? How to build a diverse club? Club president basics? Club secretary basics? Grant management? Membership? Mentoring? This list could go on; there is something for everyone. This is a great way for new members to get up to speed on everything Rotary. Clubs may even want to make e-learning part of their red badge requirements. Let's get started! |
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Veterans Home Receives Some LoveThe Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club (Club) showed some love to residents living in the Veterans Home of California located in Chula Vista. Veterans received a variety of activity gifts to keep them occupied during the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home orders. In just one week, the Club collected 76 books, seven crossword, 16 Word Find, 11 Sudoku, 44 pencils, 22 decks of cards, dice and checkers, three coloring books, markers and colored pencils and a couple of art projects. The best part of this project was the 102 handwritten cards and 26 beautiful drawings and cards made by local children.      |
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Fallbrook Rotarian Creates Short Video on Four-Way Test As we look for ways to grow as Rotarians, we came across the artistry of Rotarian, Terry Decker from the Rotary Club of Fallbrook who cleverly put together a six-minute YouTube video on the history of Rotary's Four-Way Test. It's a short video so please take the time to watch. You can view it here.
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World Immunization Week As scientists work to find a vaccine for the new coronavirus, we can do our part to keep our communities healthy by helping Rotary spread the word about the importance of vaccinations during World Immunization Week, April 24-30. Immunizations save millions of lives every year and are widely recognized as one of our most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Yet outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases continue to put children's health at risk around the world. Rotary knows firsthand that #VaccinesWork. Since 1985, we've contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly three billion children from polio. When children receive the polio vaccine, their pinkie fingers are marked with purple ink so health workers will know which children received the vaccine. Today, only two countries continue to report cases of polio caused by the wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan. |
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Happy Birthday Paul Harris On April 19, 1868, Rotary founder Paul Harris was born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. To honor him, you may wish to read notes to Harris from his Rotarian friends. Consider finding ways to celebrate the 152nd anniversary of Paul Harris' birth. Tell RI by writing to annualfund@rotary.org. You could be featured in the next Paul Harris Society Resource. Subscribe to this quarterly newsletter if you aren't already receiving it, and you'll get updates on membership, read about what motivates our contributors, and more.
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Rotary Responds Rotary International has a blog on its Rotary Voices page that share stories of service from around the world. From hosting virtual meetings to using tutorial videos, Rotary members are embracing change to stay connected during COVID 19. #Rotary Responds. Check out some of the stories: https://bit.ly/3dkWMCi. |
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Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club Donates to Santee Food BankMembers of the Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside Rotary raised $1,250 in just under two weeks and donated the money to the Santee Food Bank to help the nonprofit feed residents having a tough time during the COVID 19 pandemic. The Club appealed to its members to donated $19 (after COVID 19) or whatever they could to help the Santee Food Bank. Members raised $1,250 in short order, which combined with the promised $250 from the District for a total of $1,500 delivered to the president of the Santee Food Bank, Pastor Dennis Martins, and several of the group's volunteers. According to Pastor Martins "their (food bank) resources have been strained these past several weeks with the COVID 19 virus. While we typically feed 450 families, this month we have served almost 900. This pandemic has really had an impact on those that we serve." In past years, District 5340 Matching Grants have also allowed the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club to support the Santee Food Bank by purchasing needed refrigerator and freezer units. The Club also partners with the Santee Post Office during their annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive providing assistance in off loading donated items from postal vehicles, weighing donations and then loading bins onto a donated large truck to deliver directly to the Santee Food Bank. Club participation allows the food items donated in Santee to stay in Santee.  Photo L-R: Pastor Dennis Martins, president of the Santee Food Bank and Bill Pommering, president of the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club show off the $1,500 check donated by the club. Photo: Food Bank volunteers showing graditude for the donation. |
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Harvesting for the Greater GoodThe Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise (as part of a early Rotarians At Work Day effort) got together a harvesting party at a member's home where they picked over 500 pounds of fruit that was donated to the Santee Food Bank, La Mesa First Methodist Church's Fresh Start program, Noah Homes, Homeless Encampment, the East County Transitional Living Center, Bradley Convalescent Home and La Mesa senior citizens. If you look at the picture below you can see they did this all while practicing social distancing. A big shout out goes to Rotarian Peggy Smith Davis for growing this amazing bounty and donating it all!   |
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Major Needs Identified South of the BorderRotarian Fernanda Torres, peace chair for the San Diego Coastal Rotary Club is quarantined in Tijuana. While there, she identified major needs in her community and texted her Club president, Jenny Parker about the issues. Members of the club went into immediate action and obtained a COVID grant from the District and Torres were able to obtain thousands of pieces of much need personal protective equipment (PPE) at a great price and get them distributed to clinics and hospitals in Tijuana. The San Diego Coastal Rotary Club also put together a COVID grant to aid kids and families in need. As a result, more than 1,000 pounds of beans and rice were distributed to orphanages and families in Mexico. As much as San Diegans are suffering physically and economically during this pandemic, our sister city across the border is doing even worse with no or limited safety nets to assist. If any other clubs would like to contribute to people in need in Tijuana, Torres and Parker will be able to help make sure the funds and resources get to where they need to go. For more information, contact Jenny Parker at jennyy@jparkermd.net.     |
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PolioPlus Responding to the COVID-19 Challenge A program begun by Rotary is employing thousands of health workers to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GAEI) which includes Rotary's PolioPlus program. From the earliest days of polio eradication in the Philippines, the generosity and advocacy of Rotarians and our partners has nearly stopped polio, stopped Ebola from becoming an epidemic in Nigeria and now responds to COVID-19. Over the next four to six months, the polio program is offering tools, workforce and extensive surveillance network to support countries as they respond. Globally, the polio surveillance network is being trained on COVID case detection, contact tracing, laboratory testing and data management. GPEI is deploying its coordination mechanisms such as emergency operations centers and sharing physical assets like vehicles, computers, and mobile phones to combat the pandemic.
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Cotton Face Masks The San Diego Downtown Breakfast Club has a project to help micro entrepreneurs referred by the International Rescue Committee in San Diego (IRC) and the Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD). The Club has been taking donations to pay local small business, tailors who have l | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
