Home Page | Rotary Club of Ventura

"The Friendliest Club in Rotary"

We meet In Person

Wednesdays at 12:00 PM

Poinsettia Pavilion

3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America

District Site

Fireworks Show and Family Picnic

Thousands of guests had a great time at the July 4 2025 Fireworks Show and Family Picnic. The Rotary Club of Ventura puts on this event each year as a service to our community, and to raise money for our many community and charitable community activities. The event included a Kids' Zone with bouncy houses, food trucks, live music by Nautical Thrust, and a spectacular professional fireworks show. Many thanks to our great sponsors, our volunteers, and all who attended!

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko

Ventura County's top prosecutor, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, addressed the club at our lunch meeting on June 18, 2025. Nasarenko leads over 100 prosecuting attorneys, 58 peace officer investigators, and over 100 support staff, to bring criminals to justice. He discussed the increased punishment authorized by Proposition 36, recent cases including an organized jewelry heist, the use of DNA to identify perpetrators, and drug treatment programs. Chief DA Investigator Scott Whitney discussed email compromise fraud in which criminals impersonate parties to upcoming cash transfers and divert hundreds of thousands of dollars to themselves.

Step Down Dinner

We held our annual Step Down Dinner on June 10, 2025, in the beautiful courtyard of the Museum of Ventura County. We honored outgoing President Neal Lassila for his incredible leadership for two consecutive terms, our outgoing officers and and board members, awarded members for their service, and welcomed our incoming officers and directors. We enjoyed great food and drink, jazz saxophonist Brandon Ragan, and the comradery of members of The Friendliest Club in Rotary!

Grants to Local Non-profits

On June 4, 2025, the Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation (Julius Gius Memorial Rotary Foundation) gave a total of over $50,000 in grants to 19 local non-profit organizations. Representatives of the organizations were honored at a luncheon on June 4, 2025. The grants increase the ability of non-profits to serve the educational, recreational, artistic, and health and human services needs of our local Venturans. Click "Read more" for list of recipients.

Perspectives on Peace Scholarships

At our luncheon meeting May 21, 2025, we honored the top entries in our Perspectives on Peace competition. Ventura Unified high school seniors submitted art, photography, video, or music that focus on the theme of peace, which is one of Rotary International's core values. We awarded a total of $10,000 to six talented students.

Area Agency on Aging

Roger Horne from the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging spoke at our meeting May 14, 2025. He described the wide array of services the agency provides seniors and caregivers and its volunteer opportunities. To learn more about its programs or to access its Live Well resource guide, go to vcaaa.org or call 800-510-2020. You don't even need to know exactly what program you want--their staff is trained to direct you to help for your situation.

Perspectives on Peace

The Rotary Club of Ventura awards a total of $10,000 in scholarships to Ventura Unified high school seniors based on their submissions in video, photography, art, or music that highlight peace. The public viewed the entries from these exceptionally talented students at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on April 30, 2025.

Museum tour

Club members were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum of Ventura County

Bowling Night

Club members enjoyed an evening of socializing and bowling at Buena Lanes.

Interact Fundraiser

The Rotary Club of Ventura sponsors Interact Clubs at three local high schools, giving students the opportunity to serve their communities and develop leadership skills. Support the Ventura High School Interact all day this Thursday, April 24, through purchases at any of the Ventura County (and Carpinteria) PizzaMan Dan locations.

City Council Leadership

At our lunch meeting April 9, 2025, Ventura Mayor Dr. Jeanette Sanchez-Palacios and Deputy Mayor Doug Halter updated us on the issues the city council is handling. Doug is one of many local leaders who are members of the Rotary Club of Ventura.

Chumash Storyteller

Alan Salazar, a Chumash Elder, educator, and author, addressed the club at our meeting April 2, 2025. He discussed the brutal history of California against Native Americans, and the ongoing tomol canoe trips where the Chumash visit their ancestral home on the Channel Islands.

Angel Flight West

Jeff Moorhouse and Joslynn Skelton from Angel Flight West shared their incredible program at our meeting March 26. Since 1983, their volunteer pilots provide their time, airplanes, and fuel to fly over 2,000 passengers a year to medical appointments, to escape domestic violence, and make other compelling needs more accessible and less traumatic--all at no cost to the recipients!

Barefoot Grandpa

Club member Dan Holmes gave an entertaining look at his life at our luncheon meeting March 19, 2025. He described his adventures as a student, seed expert, kibbutznik, whitewater guide, professional photographer, husband, father, scout leader, grandfather, and more. Dan is a great example of the exciting people in our club! You can join his other 237,000 followers on his Barefoot Grandpa YouTube channel!

Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation

At our meeting March 12, 2025, we received an update about the Julius Gius Memorial Rotary Foundation (JGMRF), dba the Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation, presented by Foundation President Rob van Nieuwburg and board member Connie Young. The Foundation awards grants each year to nonprofit and service organizations who make significant impacts to support the most vulnerable and needy members of our Ventura community. In addition, four endowments grow our funds and provide scholarships to local students. Tax deductible contributions are always appreciated to help us serve Ventura residents.

Ventura Fire Chief

City of Ventura Fire Chief David Endaya and Fire Marshal Brett Reed were our guests on March 5, 2025, and discussed how they are making us safer by reducing our wildfire risks, the Fire Hazard Reduction Program, and defensible space inspections.

New Art City Theatre

New Art City Theatre founders Bev and Kirby Ward gave a delightful live performance of "A Show That May Change the World" at our meeting February 26, 2025. They were accompanied by Billy Thompson on keyboard, Michael Ward on Cajon, Jodi Farrell and Julie Hamann doing back-up vocals, and Brion Shearer from Ventura's Immersive audio providing sound. The performance explained, in dialogue and song, how at New Art City Theatre, playwrights, composers and lyricists from across the nation develop their new work through live readings and workshops. A video version, filmed in and around Ventura, is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ufFQ9CL8uc

Gems & Minerals

Members of the Ventura Gem & Mineral Society were guests at our luncheon meeting February 19, 2025. Club member Jim Brace-Thompson discussed the hobby and the club's many activities, including its upcoming Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show, March 1 & 2 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Admission is Free,

Visit from District Governor Sherry Sim

Rotary District Governor Sherry Sim visited our club on Feb. 12, 2025. Sherry is the top official of District 5240, which includes almost 3,000 members in 68 Rotary clubs from Paso Robles to Thousand Oaks, Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, and Santa Barbara. She inspired us with how Rotary leadership can make the world a better place.

Peace Social

Club members met at Bright Sparks Brewing the evening of February 11, 2025, to socialize and learn about the work of our club's Peace Builder Committee. Members can participate in the Rotary Peace movement by checking off activities on the Peace Bingo card!

The Rotary Club of Ventura

STRATEGIC MISSION STATEMENT

Why We Exist: We believe in the power of community and the profound impact of service above self. Our purpose is to bring like-minded individuals together, and through trust and support, we uplift each other while working tirelessly to improve lives, making Ventura and the world a better place.

How We Achieve It: We create a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment where fellowship, philanthropy, and friendship thrive. Through collaboration, we open doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed, enabling both personal fulfillment and collective accomplishment. By partnering with and empowering other non-profit organizations in Ventura, we amplify our impact, ensuring that good deeds reach those who need them most.

What We Do:

Foster a sense of extended family and community through networking and support.
Engage in philanthropic activities that enhance the well-being of our local and global communities.
Promote peace and understanding through our service projects.
Provide platforms for community leaders to meet, collaborate, and drive positive change.
Act as caretakers, leaving a legacy of betterment and a measurable impact.

Our Belief: We are better together and can achieve so much more as a united group. We exist to give back, meet community needs, and create a brighter future. As the Friendliest Club in Rotary, we take pride in our commitment to making our community a better place for everyone, ensuring that our existence means something significant.