District 5240 club members gather to celebrate a remarkable year of service!
Five members of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise represented our club at the Rotary District 5240 Step Down and Awards Luncheon, where Rotarians from across the district gathered to celebrate a remarkable year of service, recognize outstanding achievements, and welcome new district leadership.
Led by District Governor Mike Dutra, the afternoon featured recognition of individuals and clubs whose dedication has made a lasting impact throughout District 5240. More than a dozen Rotarians received Mike's Opportunities Await Award for their outstanding contributions.
One of the highlights for our club was seeing Chris Baxter receive the prestigious Jock MacKenzie Award, shared with Loretta Butts, in recognition of their exceptional leadership and dedication over the past three years as District Training Co-Chairs, preparing and supporting club and district leaders.
The John Padilla Humanitarian Award was presented to Kim Mowder of the Rotary Club of Westlake Sunrise for her humanitarian work with Indigenous communities in Uganda. This award holds special meaning for our club, as it honors the legacy of our late member, John Padilla, whose passion for humanitarian service continues to inspire Rotarians throughout the district.
Congratulations were also extended to Lorraine McIntire, named District Rotarian of the Year, and to the Rotary Club of Westlake Sunrise, recognized as District 5240's Best Overall Club.
Our own club was proud to receive both the Silver Club Award and Peacebuilder Club designation, reflecting our continued commitment to service, leadership, and building peace in our community and around the world.
The celebration concluded with the official transition of district leadership as Mike Dutra passed the governor's pin to District Governor Margarida Eidson, who will lead District 5240 during the coming Rotary year. We thank Mike for his inspiring leadership and look forward to the opportunities ahead with Margarida.
View photos here.