Solana Beach Eco Rotary had a busy day on Oct. 3, beginning with an early-morning bike ride around the bay to raise funds for homeless services provided by First Lutheran Church downtown. On the hottest day of the year, Chris, Steve, and Jenny set out to complete a 24-mile ride. Although the heat prevented them from finishing, they had a great time and made a strong effort for the SBECO team. Jenny staggered to her car first, Steve left midmorning to attend to other matters, and Chris continued on energetically before eventually calling it a day. We’ll try again next year. Hopefully it will be cooler. Cheers to Team SBECO Rotary!
At 11 a.m., the Solana Beach Library opened its doors for a Clean Air Fair as part of San Diego Climate Week. Local environmental groups were invited to host tables and educate the community. Participating businesses and organizations working toward a greener future included Go Greenish, Girl Scouts, EDCO, San Elijo Lagoon, Nature Collective, Seaweeders, and, of course, SBECO Rotary.
Many families attended the library’s events. Carter, Andi, Carl, and Alisa did a fantastic job promoting the club and our reusable dinnerware sets, while making some good contacts. Andrea entertained children with fun projects. Andi played a great Vanna White for our “Wheel of Fortune,” and we handed out sustainable prizes, including reusable utensils, water bottles, and pollinator seeds. Special thanks to Niels Lund and his band for providing background music, and to Chris for creating fun bookmark projects for the kids. After the bike ride, Jenny visited the tables, helped distribute prizes, and entertained a few children.
We are advocates for the pollinators, essential for human food security and thriving ecosystems. Unfortunately, their populations have fallen catastrophically. In partnership with the California Pollinator Collaborative, our goal is to establish a California Pollinator License Plate Program by replicating the Whale-Tail License Plate program that provides millions in grants annually. If approved, funds generated from the purchase of the pollinator plates would pay for the protection and restoration of habitat for pollinators, enable more community action and support the work of many non-profit organizations (like SBECO!) in the pollinator protection effort. We welcome volunteers willing to champion the initiative through legislature. More information here.
Our club began volunteering at the 125-acre San Dieguito County Park10 years ago. Since then, we have removed invasive plants, improved the native garden, grown vegetables, maintained the Butterfly Garden, SMRT Garden, and other areas, beautified the entrance, and planted many trees. Ranger Alejandro Santos warmly thanks the club for helping make the park one of the best in the county.
SMRT (Stormwater Makes Retained Treasure) Gardens are multi-tasking rain gardens that grow native plants, support our local wildlife and cool our community. SMRT Garden #1 was created by SBECO at the San Dieguito County Park and it is thriving! Hopefully, this is one of many to come.
SBECO would like to help your next event be zero waste. Our Zero Waste Committee has great ideas and dinnerware sets to use free of charge. The kits include plates, utensils, cups, glasses, mugs. We also have bins to sort recycling, composting and landfill waste. Use SBECO dinnerware kits for your next event. To borrow the kit, fill out this form:
If you are a seasoned birdwatcher, just enjoy watching birds in your yard, want to learn more about birds or want to support bird conservation, join us! We are forming a new group: BROS - Birder Rotarians Of San Diego. BROS is open to all Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors in D5340 who are interested in birds. We plan fellowship, field trips and fun projects. Jenny Parker and Leah Bissonette are collecting names and organizing. Contact Jenny for more information or if you would like to join us. jenny@jparkermd.net
Amelie (chair) and Carter (co-chair). DES connects interested Rotarians from all district clubs and introduces great speakers. DES is looking for speakers on environmental topics for an ambassador program. Please let Amelie know if you are interested in participating.
Jenny and Alisa would like our club to reach EREY recognition this year so please donate to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. EREY status is achieved by clubs when, during the Rotary year:
EVERY member of that club personally contributes at least $25 to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund
The club’s total TRF Annual Fund contribution averages at least $100 per capita
SDCAN is a non-profit organization focused on strengthening and accelerating climate advocacy in San Diego County. The non-partisan network facilitates resource sharing, focusing on coalition building and public relations, in order to amplify the efforts of member organizations. Check out their calendar below for environmental seminars and events around town.
NCCCA is a non-profit organization working to empower people and organizations to take action on climate disruption through education, collaboration and mobilization. The goal is to inspire, unite and educate individuals, empowering them to seek out and act on solutions to the climate crisis. Our members and active volunteers provide education throughmonthly presentations in cities throughout North San Diego County and across the planet via Zoom. Check out the calendar below.
The Escondido Creek watershed links inland preserves, urban communities, coastal habitats reminding us that what happens upstream flows directly to the beaches and ocean. The have regular education, hiking and yoga events. Check link below.
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy preserves, protects and shares the natural and cultural resources of the San Dieguito River Valley (92,000 acres) through efforts to acquire lands, complete trails, restore habitats, establish educational programs, create interpretive centers, encourage recreation and mobilize public support. Watch this 3 min video showing the great work being done right now:https://youtu.be/vbJ9FzRllQ0.
The San Diego River Park Foundation is dedicated to improving the health of the San Diego River and to creating a better quality of life for our community through the creation of a park system the length of the 52-mile river. Our programs, projects, and events are designed to connect people to our historic San Diego River and empower the community to steward and celebrate it.
The San Diego LEARN Program offers free energy efficiency & electrification courses through live webinars, on demand training, microlearning, and more! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, our short courses are designed to support you with upskilling and gaining new knowledge from content provided by industry leaders. Check out the courses at sandiegolearn.com or contact Jasmeet Singh, Marketing and Outreach Manager at 619-878-3811 or jsingh@rhainc.com.
Co-Presidents Elect – Chris Chase and Steve Jewett
SBECO Club Foundation Board
President – Dick Stevens
Treasurer – Lynn Stevens
Secretary – Andi Kosnar
SBECO Rotary Club Committees 2025-26
Membership Committee – Niels Lund, Chris Chase and Mark D'Andrea
Foundation Committee – Lynn Stevens
Communications Committee – Jenny (bi-monthly newsletter and weekly reminders). Amelie – point of contact for calendar.
Program Committee (speakers) – Niels Lund - nlund@sbeco.org
Service Committee – Amelie (chair) We will continue our every 3rd Sunday, 9am service work at San Dieguito County Park. SD Park also hosts environmental festivals three times a year. We sponsor an educational booth and zero waste stations.
Events Committee – Members needed. SBECO partners in several events every year including several Eco Festivals and the Encinitas Wine and Food Festival.
Zero Waste Committee – Julie (chair), Amelie, Carter. There is a virtual meeting every first Thursday at 5-6 pm.
Fundraising Committee – Alisa Morrison and Dick Stevens
Rotary Climate Action Team. Carter (chair) Amelie, Niels. A group of Rotarians passionate about the environment and interested in doing some public speaking on various climate related topics.
