Meet Janet Napier!
Janet Napier
From global humanitarian projects to lifelong friendships, Janet shares how service, travel, and community have shaped a deeply meaningful Rotary journey.
1. Why did you join Rotary?
Over a 21-year period I had worked for three different YMCAs in California and, during most of that time, women were not allowed to join Rotary. However, when I left the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles headquarters to assume the Executive Director position at the Santa Barbara Family YMCA, I knew I needed to join a service club; it was sort of an expectation. Within YMCA circles, Rotary was considered the best service club in the country. E. Russell Smith, at that time, was a YMCA board member and so he introduced me to the Sunrise club. I joined for work reasons, but I stayed because I was so impressed by the humanitarian work carried out by Rotarians around the world; plus, my fellow Rotarians became my good friends.
2. What has been your most meaningful or memorable Rotary experience?
There have been so many that it’s hard to pick just one. Traveling to another country to monitor or assist with a project is probably most meaningful; for example, helping with eye surgeries in Celaya, Mexico; visiting the two rural communities in Nicaragua after we completed the Global Grant to deliver water to 520 homes; and going to India to give polio vaccine drops to little children during the National Immunization Days.
3. What have you learned or gained through Rotary?
I have gained good, lifelong friends. I can’t say enough about how I love my Rotary family and look forward to seeing them, whether in meetings, on volunteer projects or just having fun at social activities.
4. When you are not Rotary-ing, how do you like to spend your time?
I play lawn bowls two or three times per week: it’s fun, great socialization and a little exercise. I take Spanish classes which, since Covid, are on Zoom. My fellow classmates – about six of us – get together for lunch occasionally. Am I fluent in Spanish yet? No! I also do a low-impact aerobics class on Zoom twice per week. I had been an American Red Cross volunteer client caseworker for twenty years until early last year when I decided it was time to “retire;” it was an emotionally difficult job. For the past seven years I’ve been the treasurer of the Santa Barbara Lawn Bowls Club and I finally decided it was time for someone else to take over. My final task in that role will be to coordinate the 2025 tax returns for the club with our accountant. I am a member of SB International Film Festival’s Cinema Society where I get to see U.S. and foreign movies throughout the year at the Riviera Theatre, followed by a Q&A with a director, actor, writer, etc., and I’ve been a volunteer for the SBIFF for about twenty years. I will be a volunteer venue manager with shifts at both the Arlington and Riviera theatres this month. And, of course, I love to travel.
5. What does “service above self” mean to you?
To me it means placing the needs of others in both the local and international communities above my own self-interest; working to improve the lives of others in a humble way rather than for personal gain or recognition. The strange thing is that doing things for others ends up giving me huge personal satisfaction.
Left: Working in the Celaya eye clinic.
Right: With Assemblyman Gregg Hart and husband Connard at the free dental clinic our club did with SB Neighborhood Dental Clinic.
Left: Shelter manager at the Red Cross shelter at UCSB's MAC following Jesusita fire in 2009.
Right: With the Rotary Group Study Exchange team on the TV set in Bacolod, Philippines 2007.
Left: At the Chilean post in Antarctica.
Middle: Bell-ringing outside Nordstrom's 2019.
Right: With Program Presenter Congresswoman Lois Capps during Janet's Presidential year.
Left: Giving the polio vaccine in India 2005.
Right: On the houseboat in India with Karen, Luz Maria, Connard and E. Russell during NID.
Left: Lawn bowling.
Right: With the SB Family YMCA staff.
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Each month’s Member Spotlight features a Rotarian sharing their story, experiences, and what Rotary means to them. These spotlights celebrate the diverse paths that bring us together in service and fellowship and show how Rotary makes a difference both locally and globally. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know our members in a new way and perhaps be inspired to imagine your own Rotary journey.