Home Page | Rotary Club of Ventura

"The Friendliest Club in Rotary"

We meet In Person

Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.

Poinsettia Pavilion

3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America

District Site

Member Hobby Day

We began our meeting August 26, 2026, with members sharing their favorite memories of Dolly Parton, including Ken giving a rousing rendition of “Nine to Five.” Members then shared their hobbies, including travel, cooking, quilting, cold plunges (eek!), get-out-the-vote, teleportation, and alchemy. (Okay, I made a couple of those up, but our members do have lots of interests outside of Rotary!)

Backpacks for Kids

On August 8, 2026, members of the Rotary Club of Ventura, together with West Ventura County Rotary Club, the Ventura Downtown Lions Club. Rotaract, & Interact, filled backpacks with school supplies and distributed them to Ventura Unified School District students. This annual project helps students start the year on the right foot!

Cycling Without Age

Cycling Without Age Ventura offers free rides on Trishaw E-Bikes to the elderly and persons with disabilities. Founders Daniel Ayers and Michael Mariani described their exciting program at our meeting August 19, 2026. For more information, go to CWA-Ventura.org.

Financial Planning Panel

Bob Cheatham (Integrity Wealth Advisors) moderated a panel discussion on financial planning at our meeting August 12, 2026, with Stephen H. Wagner (Integrity Wealth Advisors), Mike Anderson (Maranantha Financial) and Abiel Acosta (Prospera Succession Partners).

State of the Region

David Maron of the Ventura County Civic Alliance distributed copies of the 2025 State of the Region report at our meeting August 5, 2026, and discussed highlights. The report, which is also available online, is a treasure trove of trends in Ventura County agriculture, economy, education, politics, and so much more.

JGMRF Community Awards

The Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation (Julius Gius Memorial Rotary Foundation) awarded community grants to 12 local nonprofit organizations and honored them at our luncheon meeting July 15, 2026. We are proud to support organizations that improve lives in our community.

Ventura Music Festival

We learned about the wonderful musical offerings for this year's Ventura Music Festival at our meeting July 23, 2026, and were treated to a sample by violinist and Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta. For more information, visit venturamusicfestival.org.

Ventura Art and Chalk Festival

Therapy Dogs of America

We learned about the Therapy Dogs of America from Program and Volunteer Manager Aja Forner and her dog Scout at our luncheon meeting July 8, 2026.

Step Down Dinner

Our annual Step Down Dinner was June 24, 2026, at Palomino. We honored Indy Batra, Connie Young, and Saurabh Bajaj, who served as our Presidents this year. We also swore in our incoming President, RoseAnn Hill, and the members of the Board of Directors.

Speed “Dating”

Welcome to RoseAnn Hill, who presided over her first meeting as President on July 1, 2026! We adapted the “speed dating” model with a series of short discussions with other members to learn more about each other.

2026 JGMRF Annual Presentation to Club

On Wednesday, June 17th, 2026, Neal Lassila presented the JGMRF Annual Update to our Rotary Club of Ventura. Here is the presentation deck:

Ocean Rainforest

Kaira Wallace from Ocean Rainforest gave a presentation at our luncheon meeting June 10, 2026. We learned how the company is growing and harvesting seaweed and turning it into a growth booster for agriculture that reduces the need for fertilizer.

Fireside Chats

On June 1-3, 2026, club members attended Fireside Chats held at the homes of three of our members to enjoy potluck dinners and plan building a great future for our club.

Welcome Room Comedy Venue

On May 27, 2026, we toured the Welcome Room at 20 N. Oak Street (other door at 419 E. Main), which is being developed into a comedy venue. Founder and Director Alex Schneider shared his vision for the project, which will feature shows by comedians with each show a benefit for a local charity. We followed the presentation with lunch next door at Rice by Mama.

Perspectives on Peace Scholarships

At our meeting May 20, 2026, the Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation awarded a total of $10,000 in art scholarships at the Staci Johnson Ingram Perspectives on Peace competition. The entries focused on Peace, one of the areas of focus of Rotary International. The awards were selected from 34 entries in painting, mixed media, digital art, photography, original music, dance, sculpture, and video.

Naval Base Ventura

Rich Cobb, the Morale, Welfare & Recreation Manager from Naval Base Ventura spoke at our meeting May 13, 2026. He discussed the amenities available to active duty personnel, their families, and Navy contractors, including swimming pools, bowling alleys, restaurants, and fitness centers.

Environmental Service

Don Maruska, Rotary District 5240 Environmental Chair, spoke at our meeting May 6, 2026. He discussed actions we can take individually, as a club, with ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group), and in collaboration with community members to help sustain our environment.

Foothill Interact

Members of the Foothill Technology High School Interact were honored as guests at our luncheon meeting April 29, 2026. Interact clubs are Rotary's service clubs for high school students to develop leadership skills while practicing Service Above Self.

Perspectives on Peace

The Rotary Club of Ventura Foundation awards up to $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors for art submissions that focus on peace. The entries include painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, photography, video, and music. A reception to view this year's entries was at the Crowne Plaza on April 22, 2026. Winners will be announced and the scholarships awarded at a luncheon May 20, 2026.

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.