The Encinitas Rotary Club has been a fixture in the community for over 71 years, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2009. Known throughout district 5340 as a one of the truly raucous clubs, the 90+ plus members play hard and work even harder. Outside visitors and visiting Rotarians coming to the weekly club meetings never leave unsatisfied or unimpressed. From the interesting juxtaposition of Elk’s antler’s behind the president’s head to the now famous Rotary Rebels table, a weekly meeting at the old grange hall is never without its surprises. With its propensity to have fun and its incredible commitment to the local and international community that it serves, the Encinitas Club is the epitome of all that Rotary stands for.
The heart of the Encinitas Rotary is its membership, and the membership of the club reflects the diversity that is Encinitas. The club counts among its members elected city officers including past mayors and city councilmen as well as both public and private education leaders, including superintendents, district administrators and school principals. Members also include many of the owners from the flower growing and distribution community, the hallmark industry of Encinitas. Representatives from many of the other commercial entities in our community, including banking & finance, retail sales, car dealerships, restaurants, real estate and services also are proud Rotarians. Many health care leaders and professionals fill our seats on Wednesday. The club is also proud to have representation from the Encinitas’ rich artist community.
Avocations and hobbies for this diverse group of individuals range from gardening to flying biplanes, from semi-pro athletics to wood working, from accordion playing to extreme sports.
The membership is well-known within the community; and willingly offers their skills and expertise outside of their Rotary club commitment. They serve on most of the not-for-profit organizations’ boards of directors within North San Diego County. They manage community service organizations and have a major presence in the Chambers of Commerce. Many of the clubs members also hold key leadership roles at the Rotary District level.
When this powerful group of individuals focuses its efforts on Rotary service activities, the results have been incredible and far reaching. The following is just a small sampling of the more recent undertakings of the club.
- Now in its 19th year, the cornerstone event of the Encinitas Rotary Club has been the Encinitas Rotary Soccer Cup. From it’s humble beginnings in which 64 clubs brought about 1,000 players, the tournament now routinely attracts over 230 teams and 3,800 youth from San Diego and Riverside County. Since it’s inception the tournament has raised more than $1,000,000 dollars.
- In 2004, the Encinitas Rotary Club launched it’s second major fundraiser, the Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival. From its humble beginnings, the Festival is now in its 7th year attracting over 500 guests, and working hand-in-hand with local charities and not-for-profits. In just the past five years alone, this event has raised over $425,0000, growing over 130% since its first year!
- The Encinitas Rotary Club also supports the local school systems in many, many ways; among them:
- Every year, a group of committed Rotarians draw upon their vocations to offer a rich program of financial literacy training to local high schools that supplement the curriculum.
- The club distributes personal dictionaries to every 3rd grader in the Encinitas Union School District and has been doing so for many years.
- Annually, the club recognizes a “teacher of the year” from every elementary, middle and high school in the area; providing both a recognition and financial stipend to help defray classroom costs.
- The club supports an active Interact Club at the San Dieguito Academy, assisting high school students learn the principals of community service.
- The club has also contributing to the development of a new performing arts center at the local high school.
- Encinitas Rotarians have been actively engaged in hundreds of large and not-so-large hands-on community service projects that range from helping to develop environmentally-sensitive gardens at the local schools, to clean up projects at the famous beaches of Encinitas, to building and maintaining infrastructures at local museums and the local YMCA.
- The contributions of the club have transcended the local community, extending to many work projects south of the border that support schools, contribute to the construction of homes through Project Mercy and improve health through 1,000 Smiles project. The club contributes heavily to Rotary International’s commitment to the eradication of Polio, and has developed several water wells, improving the infrastructure of many extremely poor African communities.
We recognize that part of ourt ongoing success is attracting and integrating community residents and those working within the community. We are constantly seeking new members who share our passion for service.
The community of Encinitas, and the many international communities that it has assisted recognize the Rotary Club as an organization that is committed to improving the world in which it lives and synonymous with word “service”.
Roger Bolus, Ph.D
2010-2011 President, Rotary Club of Encinitas
| President | Roger Bolus |
| Secretary | Claudia Yates |
| Treasurer | Norm Nyberg |
| President Elect | Gregory Harris |
| Past President | Tom Cozens |
| Membership | Jim Merrill |
| Community Service | David Lam |
| Club Service | Brenda Smith |
| Rotary Foundation | Adam Rosenberg |
| New Generations Service | Kristin Gaspar |
| Vocational Service | Al McKendrick |
| International Service | Bill Sparks |
| Public Relations | Kevin Miller |
| Youth Protection Officer | Dale Long |
| Internet Chair | Gregory Harris |
| Peace Chair | Bill Dean |
| Interact Chair | Carolyn Cope |
| Giving Committee Chair | Tom Cozens |
