With only the month of June left to go in this Rotary Year, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the accomplishments of the Rotary Club of China Lake. Fortunately, someone already has: Betty Miller has prepared a comprehensive list of activities for her updated club “brag sheet” to include, but by no means limited to:
- Scholarship Dinner-Auction which resulted in awarding almost $60,000 in local scholarships.
- Initiated the Community Scholarship Fair to share available scholarship information from 18 organizations with local students planning to further their education.
- Totally Tables dinner which raised $6521 for Friends of the Ridgecrest Branch Library.
- Supported our local Salvation Army through bell ringing, holiday gift shopping, holiday food boxing and community food box packing and sponsorships for summer camp.
- Supported the Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK) Baby Shower and Christmas Party events.
- Participated in community hoodie drive to provide hoodies for teens in need.
- Partnered with Immanuel Christian School for a warm blanket and fuzzy sock drive to support High Desert Haven.
- Adopt-a-Highway program for cleaning up China Lake Blvd (Highway 178) from Inyokern Road to Ridgecrest Blvd, collecting 54 garbage bags of refuse.
- Supported Community Wide Clean Up Event.
- Participating in the NEX TREX Challenge recycling plastic film to convert into a TREX bench.
- Sent a party of Rotarians, Interactors, and family members to decorate the Rotary International float for the 2025 Rose Parade.
- Supported Interact Clubs at Burroughs and Immanuel Christian High Schools developing a new generation of volunteers and leaders.
- Assisted the Burroughs High School Interact Club with their annual clean-up of the Burroughs Access Road.
- Supported the Burroughs High Interact Club’s Valentine’s Day and Halloween events for the Special Education Students.
- Sent 4 High School Students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp.
- Supported Safe Grad Night.
- Sponsored the Rotary 4 Way Test essay competition for elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Placement of 11 bicycle racks in town along Balsam St and at City Hall.
- Respect for Law dinner sponsorship honoring local Officers.
- Paul Harris Fellow Dinner honoring local volunteers.
- Vocational Service Award honoring an outstanding community member whose work exemplifies the Rotary Four Way Test.
- Recycling drive to raise funds for the Rotary International Foundation.
- Internationally, collaborated with other Rotary Clubs on a Tilapia Pond Project in Nicaragua and a Rain Water Collection Project in Kenya and supported Shelter Boxes, providing housing for those experiencing a disaster.
Thank you, Betty!
And thank you Rotarians for all you do for our community and for communities around the world.