RCVE Breeze July 1 2026 (Jul. 01, 2026)

Derek Eidson

Dear Members of the Rotary Club Ventura East,

It is a profound honor to write to you as your president. I am deeply grateful to each of you for placing your trust in me and allowing me the privilege of leading our club into this next chapter.

As we kick off this new year, I want to recognize the remarkable legacy of our past leaders. The dedication and guidance of those who served before me have built a rock-solid foundation, allowing our club to make a lasting, tangible difference right here in Ventura.

Looking ahead, my highest priority is deepening our membership engagement. A service club thrives entirely on the shared passion of its people. I want to ensure that every member feels deeply connected, genuinely valued, and fully empowered to bring their unique strengths to our community projects.

As a younger professional stepping into this role, I am excited to bring a fresh perspective to our board and our meetings. My goal is to tackle our upcoming challenges with an energized outlook—streamlining how we collaborate, embracing new ideas, and exploring modern avenues for service, all while fiercely respecting the timeless traditions and core values that defineVentura East Rotary. Together, we can blend our club's rich history with innovative approaches to maximize our impact.

Thank you once again for this extraordinary opportunity. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and dive into a fantastic year of service alongside all of you.

Yours in service,

Derek Eidson
President | Rotary Club Ventura East

2026 College Scholarships Awarded

On May 14, 2026, The Rotary Club of Ventura East held their annual scholarship luncheon.

21 graduating high school students from the Ventura Unified School District received a total of $71,500 in grants. The highest award of $7,500 was given to Madeleine Wicks of Foothill Technology High School.

An additional $80,000 in grants was given to current college students who reapplied for scholarships that were awarded in prior years.

In total The Rotary Club of Ventura East has awarded over 1.3 million dollars in scholarships to over 400 students.

July 4th Parade and Can Drive

At the Parade on July 4th, attendees are encouraged to bring 2-3 cans of food that we will collect and deliver to Food Share. Roary is also expected to make an appearance. Come join the fun! We will set up before 9 a.m. and the parade steps off with incoming President Derek Eidson at 10 a.m.

EPIC Day of Service May 16, 2026

For our EPIC Day of Service, Rotary Ventura East members and volunteers spruce up the grounds at the Historic Dudley House on N Ashwood.

A Message From Chayah

Dear Tim and the Rotary Club,

We want to say thank you for your continued support of three children at Chayah Children's Home in Uganda.

Pius is in 6th grade and doing well. His health is good and he has become a very responsible young man as he's become more comfortable in the boy's home with Chayah's staff

Daisy is thriving. She's put on weight since coming and her health is excellent. She's not quite old enough for school, but enjoys playing with the other toddlers. She is well cared for by the Mothers and Aunties at Chayah and is doted on by the older kids.

Otim is just turning 3 and also doing well. He is a busy toddler and delights in making others laugh. He is full of joy, healthy and loves to take the lead with his age-mates. He's also been known to take their toys run for the hills!

Your sponsorship provides meals, clothing, housing, medical care, a nurturing staff and lots of space to play. We couldn't do it without you and appreciate your continued care and support of these three miracles.

Jodi Plum

Chayah Ministries International, Inc

2025 Scholarship Presentations

Scholarship Thursday was another great success. A special thanks to Steve Harbison, Kathy McGee and Jacquelyn Syndergaard who were judges and presenters.

We presented scholarships to 24 graduating seniors, including 9 students from Paciific High School for vocational and community college purposes. The foundation also awarded funds to 24 students who are currently enrolled in college. Thank you to Cal Magro for being responsible for bringing the Pacific students into the program and his generous monetary donation to a Pacific student.

And a special thanks to all of you that attended the luncheon. In total we had approximately 100 people in attendance. Great Job Rotary East!

In service,

Tim Hughes

Scholarship Chair

President Yinka answers the call
Shaped by his native land, the 2026-27 president carries the dynamic spirit of Nigeria with him to Rotary leadership

2026 Photo Awards: the extraordinary ordinary
The pictures featured in this year’s photo awards are simply sublime

To catch a killer parasite
As the science advances, Rotary members join the quest to find malaria vaccines

Care close to home
Portable kidney failure treatment will keep patients in the remote communities they love

News and Stories
Read the latest Rotary news, stories, and features highlighting global service, humanitarian impact, and people of action around the world.

Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Ventura East!!

Service Above Self

Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Poinsettia Pavilion

3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America

District Site

Venue Map

Carin Kally
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Poinsettias 2025

Support our Buena Interact Club

Jul 23, 2026 5:30 PM

Social

Finny's Crafthouse on Main and California

Jul 30, 2026

No Meeting, Dark

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Rotary Club of Ventura-East

Elevator Speech

We are a nonpolitical, nonsectarian social organization comprising local business, civic and professional leaders. We meet regularly to get to know each other, form friendships and through that we are able to solve community and global problems with service projects. Like:

Scholarships at 5 local high schools,
Interact Clubs at 3 local schools.
Support the YMCA, City Center, Ventura Botanical Gardens
Promote literacy and career guidance in schools
Internationally we support an orphanage & school in Uganda and contribute to eliminating Polio worldwide.

The Rotary Club of Ventura-East meets Thursday noon to 1:30 at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura. Come and learn more about Rotary's humanitarian service, high ethical standards in all vocations and help build good will in this community. Use your professional skills and talents to make a difference.