Eduardo Flores from Ventura Bee Rescue gave a fascinating presentation about the lives of bees, honey production, and relocating unwanted hives at our meeting August 28, 2024. He even brought some of his sweet friends with him!
On Saturday, August 10, 2024, members of the Rotary Club of Ventura, joined by Rotary Ventura South, Ventura Rotaract, Foothill High School Interact, and Ventura Lions, filled 750 backpacks with school supplies to donate to Ventura Unified High School students in need. This annual project is part of our club's commitment to serve youth.
Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinkos and philanthropist, addressed the Rotary Club of Ventura on August 7, 2024. He shared secrets of growing a single copy shop into an international chain with over 1,200 locations, and his philanthropic activities, which center on early youth development. In attendance were many members of our club, members of other area Rotary clubs, and guests. Guests are always welcome at our Wednesday luncheon meetings.
The Rotary Club of Ventura hosted our 31st Anniversary Fireworks Show and Family Picnic on July 4, 2024. A great crowd enjoyed a spectacular professional fireworks show, live music by Soul Infusion, kids games and kids zone--all for $10 adults and $5 kids. Proceeds support dozens of programs of local non-profit community organizations. Big thanks to our major donors--Community Memorial Healthcare, Ventura Auto Dealers Association, Hofer Properties, and SoCalGas--along with all our other sponsors (click "Read more"), and to all who volunteered to make this event a huge success!
This joyous event is spread across several acres of beautiful lawn at the Ventura College Athletic Fields, and includes a spectacular fireworks show, live music, food vendors, a Kids Fun Zone, and what we like to call 'the friendliest hometown picnic in America'! Adults $10, children $5, family of four $30. For information and tickets, visit https://www.venturafireworks.com/ Member volunteer link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4BA5A92BA1FAC43-49814613-ventura . Community members also needed to volunteer https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4BA5A92BA1FAC43-49453949-community
Eighty-three members and guests on June 18 celebrated the completion of the first half of Neal Lassila's two-year term as President at the Water's Edge Restaurant in the Ventura Harbor. The theme was "Living Life Like a Song." Congratulations on a great year, and the best is yet to come!
Mesa Farm Executive Director Dan Parziale and County Supervisor Matt LaVere gave a presentation about the Mesa Farm Project at our meeting June 12, 2024. The project seeks to prevent homelessness by giving young people transitional housing, wellness offerings, vocational support and community connection. Its pilot program in Ojai is progressing toward opening.
On June 10, 2024, the Rotary Club of Ventura hosted a brunch for graduating seniors at Pacific High School. Churro Champ provided fresh churros. Pacific is a model continuation school with an impressive 85% graduation rate. Congratulations!
The Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation (also known as the Julius Gius Memorial Rotary Foundation) awarded $50,000 in grants to 19 local non-profit organizations at our luncheon meeting June 5, 2024. The grants increase the ability of non-profits to serve the educational, recreational, artistic, and health and human service needs of our local Venturans. We are proud to support their contributions to our community.
On May 22, 2024, the Rotary Club of Ventura awarded one $5,000 scholarship and five $1,000 scholarships to Ventura Unified School District seniors for their winning entries in the arts. The Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarships are based on the Rotary International theme of "promoting peace" and are given based solely on artistic merit. Congratulations, and thanks to all who participated!
The Rotary Club of Ventura honored teachers at Pacific High School, a model continuation school of VUSD. Thanks to teachers everywhere for the fantastic job you do!
Fireside Chats join new Rotary members with more seasoned members to learn about Rotary and get to know each other. Nineteen new and long-term members met the evening of May 9, 2024, for an informative, supportive, and delicious event!
Interact Club board members from Foothill Technology High School conducted the Rotary Club of Ventura luncheon meeting on May 8, 2024. Interact clubs develop leadership skills and provide public service to the community. The members reviewed their many service projects of the year, and graduating seniors discussed their educational plans. (The Rotary Club of Ventura also sponsors Interact clubs at Ventura and Pacific High Schools; Rotary Club of Ventura East sponsors Interact at Buena High School, and Rotary Club of Ventura South sponsors Interact at St. Bonaventura High School.)
The Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarships are the only local scholarships based on submissions in video, music, photography, and art, and are available to VUSD seniors. The submissions were on display at the Crowne Plaza Hotel the evening of March 18, 2024. The awards will be presented at our noontime meeting May 22.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly gave an informative presentation about human trafficking at our meeting April 10, 2024. The DA's office prosecutes forced labor and forced prostitution that victimizes both males and females.
The Rotary Foundation and the California Rotary Districts have been selected as the 2023 Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year by the Network of California Community College Foundations. The award was given in a special video presentation during our luncheon meeting April 3, 2024. California community colleges serve 1.8 million students, fifty percent of whom experience food insecurity. Rotary has donated $6.2 million to California community colleges.
On March 22, 2024, the Rotary Club of Ventura hosted Career Day at Pacific High School. Eight Rotarians and 12 community members representing 25 different careers inspired students to consider new opportunities for their futures.
The Mobile Vision Clinic was unveiled March 20, 2024. This addition to the Central Coast Free Vision Clinic, which was started by two Rotary Club of Ventura optometrists, will expand the local populations receiving free vision examinations and free prescription eyeglasses. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ventura and other Rotary clubs, The Salvation Army, Lions clubs, the Westminster Free Clinic, and SEE International. (Photo courtesy of Adam Casillas)
Research Biologist Charis van der Heide gave a presentation at our luncheon meeting March 13, 2024, on overwintering monarch butterflies on the Central Coast. Tiny tracking devices are helping follow the migration patterns of these annual visitors to our city.
The Rotary Club of Ventura was the top fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House Walk for Kids, raising $28.000 to support the RMDC Family Room at Ventura County Medical Center. We will be participating in the Walk for Kids April 21, 2024, 8 a.m., at San Buenaventura State Beach.
Steve Yamshon, Acting District Ranger for the U.S. Forest Service, Ojai Ranger District, gave a presentation at our meeting March 6, 2024, and discussed the many volunteer opportunities.
The week of February 26, 2024, club members distributed free dictionaries with lots of reference material in the back to over 900 Ventura Unified School District third-grade students.
At our meeting February 28, 2024, David Maron from the Ventura County Civil Alliance shared highlights from its 2023 State of the Region Report. The report has fascinating information about the county's economy, education, housing, crime, and many other topics. To download a copy, visit http://civicalliance.org .
Rhett Mauck, Executive Director of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, gave a presentation at our meeting Feb. 21, 2024. The Foundation has its headquarters and training center in Santa Paula, Calif., and has located victims of natural and manmade disasters around the world.
