ROTARY CLUB OF VENTURA EAST
Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Ventura East!!
Ventura East
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America
2024 College Scholarship Applications
Multiple Scholarships up to $7,500.00 will be awarded.
 
Approximately $125,000.00 total will be awarded.
 
Available to graduating VUSD seniors who are attending two or four year colleges or vocational & technical schools.
 
College students who are prior recipients of a
Rotary Club of Ventura East scholarship may re-apply.
 
Click here to download the 2024 Scholarship Application
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Ventura-East
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Ventura-East. Our club was chartered on May 23, 1963; 55 years of service to our community and the world.  We are also the first club to be a 100% Paul Harris Fellow club in our district and we were the 54th club in the world to achieve this distinction, having donated $1,000 per member to the Rotary International Foundation to fund projects in the United States and all around the world.
 
Ventura-East Rotarians meet for lunch from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, 3451 Foothill Road.   A delicious lunch, fellowship and networking, a short business session and usually an informative speaker who presents current and timely topics.
 
Rotarians practice our pledge of “Service Above Self” through our five Avenues of Service committees:  Club Service, Community Service, International Service, Vocational Service and Youth Service.  One of our most popular projects is the Push-em Pull-em Parade for youngsters and families on the 4th of July. We started this parade in 1976 and celebrated the 43rd anniversary of the Push-em Pull-em Parde this year (Click on this link to see photos PhotoAlbums/2017-push-em-pull-em-parade).  Operation Splash, partnered with the YMCA, teaches youngsters to swim and learn water safety.  We are, after all, a beach community!  We support The Ronald McDonald House at VCMC, Food Share and Autism Society Ventura County. This year in June we awarded $125,000 in scholarships to local High School Seniors with plans to attend colleges and universities.  This coming June we plan to also award scholarships to those students pursuing vocational programs.
 
Leadership training for our youth is an important part of what we do, sponsoring an “Interact” Club at Buena High School and sending High School Juniors to a program called RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a 4-day retreat for self-development and leadership experience. 
 
On an International basis, we are partnering with “The Mossy Foot Project” based in Ventura and providing medical and rehabilitation services through their project in Ethiopia.   
 
We have two major fundraisers each year to support our charitable work. In April, we host a jigsaw puzzle competition that benefits our club and Autism Society Ventura County and our club. Our second and most lucrative fundraiser is Poinsettia Sales for the holidays. Volunteer Rotarians deliver the cases of beautiful plants for each order to home or business.  For large business orders, we can drop ship the cases.  Ask us!  These fund-raising events allow us to continue our services to our local community and to the world.
 
If you have an interest in Rotary and doing good in our world, here locally and internationally, please contact us through our website or see us on Facebook. We welcome your inquiry and would welcome you to join us at lunch to investigate the opportunities of Rotary Membership.
 
Carin Kally
President
2023-2024
Rotary Club of Ventura East
President's Message

Carin Kally

member photo
Dear Rotarians and Friends,
 
I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed  Thanksgiving, and now that the leftovers (food, family) are gone, it’s time to put on your holiday smile, and get ready to deliver some poinsettia cheer!  We have done it again!  Another successful plant sale, thanks to lots of great connections and promotion by our dedicated members. 
 
So this Thursday, after a hearty lunch, we will load up our sleighs and venture off through the neighborhoods to friends and businesses delivering cases of the cheerful red poinsettias. So clean out your ‘sleigh’ and have it charged or fueled and ready to ride. Don any festive attire fit for spreading good cheer and off we will go being merry and bright.
 
Other ways we will be spreading  Holiday Cheer:  Bring unwrapped toys and books for kids to the meetings for Jacquelyn Gargano to take to Ronald McDonald Family Room at VCMC where Santa will have regular rounds to make.   We will be bell ringing for the Salvation Army in front of Green Thumb this year on both December 16th and 23rd.  Please be generous with your time and sign up with Cal Magro.  The forthcoming Club  Holiday Party invitation will include a list of items to bring to donate to the Family Justice Center.  Stay tuned for more. 
 
If you are looking for something amazing to do for the holidays, you can still sign up to decorate the Rotary Rose Parade Float.  We have two members going on December 27th for the 4-11 p.m. shift.  You can check it out and sign up at rotaryfloat.org.  If you go to “see who’s going” you will see the complete availability.  There is a $15 cost to cover the t-shirt and lunch or dinner. 
 
Next week we will get back to a regular club meeting format and welcome Roberta Griega from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).  The holidays can be a particularly difficult time of year for many people and there is ongoing need for awareness every day of the year.
 
What’s ahead
 
December 7-  Roberta Griega, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
December 14 – TBA
December 21 –  Holiday Party at Bill and Kim Gray’s
December 28 – Dark
 
See you on Thursday.
 
CONTACT Margarida Eidson FOR A ZOOM LINK IF YOU NEED A VIDEO LINK FOR THE MEETING
 
Carin Kally
President 2023-2024
Rotary Club Ventura – East
NEWS FROM VENTURA EAST
Meeting November 2, 2023
Our Flag Salute was led by Nancy D’Attilio
 
President Carin gave our Inspirational Message.
 
Upcoming events:
11/9 – Chayah Children’s Home
11/14 – Board Meeting
11/16 – Poinsettia call day
11/23 – Dark
 
We have had some club members agree to serve on the Peace Building Committee.
 
Kathy McGee spoke about Poinsettia sales for this year. We now have 3 weeks to get all the plants sold.
 
Our speaker today was Wade Nomura who spoke about the Rotary Foundation.
 
 
Bruce McGee presented Margarida Eidson, Kathy McGee, Judy Hoag, Nancy D’Attilio & Charles Ferguson with Paul Harris Awards.
 
Happy $’s: Margarida Eidson,
 
Cal Magro conducted the opportunity drawing and the lucky winner was Charles Ferguson!
Dr. Rafael Canton, Celebration of Life
The Celebration of Life for Rafael Canton will be held on Friday, November 3 at 11 o'clock
at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, 5654 Ralston Street. 
 
Many Rotarians donated cash to purchase a floral arrangement. 
If you would like to donate, please let me know and we can arrange for you to do so. 
...Rich Stewart, 805-320-4388, richs395@sbcglobal.net.
Meeting October 5, 2023
Cal Magro led us in the Salute to the Flag.
 
President Carin let the club know about the passing of Rafael Canton, MD.
President Carin passed the microphone around for people to talk about Rafa.
 
Jeff Burgh donated a $50 Visa gift card for the Opportunity Drawing.
 
PDG Wade Nomura introduced his wife Debbie as a guest today.
 
This Saturday is the Flash Mob and Love Ventura project.
 
Thank you to all the volunteers from the Ventura Beachside Bash. Details are coming soon.
 
The District Governor’s visit was a lot of fun. We raised about $1,000 for Polio Plus that night.
 
Bruce McGee reminded the club about the D.G.’s offer to match funds to get Paul Harris Fellows.
 
Poinsettia sales are on the way. Be thinking about companies or organizations who may want to order poinsettias.
 
Our speaker today was PDG Wade Nomura to speak about the Rotary Rose Parade Float.
 
Happy $’s: Debbie Nomura, Jeff Hata, Harriet Clune
 
Rich Stewart conducted the opportunity drawing and our lucky winner was Margarida Eidson.
In Memorium: Rafael Canton
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Rafael Canton, M.D. Rafa passed away on September 30th at the age of 102.
 
 
Rafa joined the Rotary Club of Ventura-East on February 1, 1974 and served as President for the Rotary year 1978-79. We will always remember Rafa for his happy heart. Rafa believed that laughter was the best medicine and one thing you could be sure of was when Rafa did our Inspiration, we were in for at least a minute of laughter!
 
Rafa will be inurned with his late wife Jane later this month or early next month at Ivy Lawn Cemetery. We will keep you informed.
 
 
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The Breeze
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Vance Thompson
    January 1
  • Nancy D'Attilio
    January 14
  • Dawn Knowles
    January 17
  • Emily Barany
    January 21
  • Steve Harbison
    December 28
  • Dick Gallagher
    December 31
Anniversaries:
  • Bruce McGee
    Kathy McGee
    December 19
  • Kathy McGee
    Bruce McGee
    December 19
Join Date:
  • David Anderson
    January 1, 2003
    21 years
  • Dick Gallagher
    January 1, 2003
    21 years
  • Harriet Clune
    January 1, 2003
    21 years
  • Vance Thompson
    January 1, 2003
    21 years
  • Charles Ferguson
    January 3, 2023
    1 year
  • Derek Eidson
    January 3, 2023
    1 year
  • Jerry Dannenberg
    January 3, 2023
    1 year
  • Jacquelyn Gargano
    January 4, 2023
    1 year
  • Joe Bova
    January 13, 2021
    3 years
  • Husam Hishmeh
    January 26, 2006
    18 years
  • Carin Kally
    December 1, 2019
    4 years
  • Rich Stewart
    December 1, 1981
    42 years
  • Will Hoag
    December 12, 2008
    15 years
Club Leadership
President
Carin Kally
President-Elect
Dawn Knowles
Past President
Margarida Eidson
Secretary
Jeff Hata
Treasurer
Charles Ferguson
Sergeant-at-Arms
Rich Stewart
Club Service
Dawn Knowles
International Serv
Tim Hughes
Youth Service
Joe Bova
Asst. Chair International Serv
Adonis Campillo
Community Service
Cal Magro
Vocational Service
Joe Strohman
Marketing & Social Media Chair
Jacquelyn Gargano
Membership
Bruce McGee
Fundraising Chair
Margarida Eidson
2021-24 At Large Director
Tim Hughes
2023-26 At Large Director
Jacquelyn Gargano
2023-26 At Large Director
Nancy D'Attilio
2022-25 At Large Director
Adonis Campillo
2021-24 At Large Director
Joe Bova
2022-25 At Large Director
Dawn Knowles
The Rotary Foundation
Bruce McGee
Members Only
 
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ROTARY CLUB OF VENTURA EAST
Welcome to the website of the Rotary Club of Ventura East!!
Ventura East
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
United States of America
If you would like to make a donation for Maui Relief, you can do that here. Please scan the QR code or click on this link: Maui Fires Relief Fund
Click on the flyer to download your order form now!
Support our Buena High School Interact Club!
UPCOMING EVENTS
View More...
2023 Push-em Pull-em Parade
 
2023 Backpack Project
Membership Corner
 
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Rotary Club of Ventura-East, Please click this link.
Rotary Club of Ventura-East Avenues of Service Citation Recipients
Recognizing that the strength of the Rotary ideal is founded on the service carried out by club members worldwide, this citation program provides a means for Rotary clubs to personally recognize a member of the club for outstanding efforts in the five Avenues of Service. The citation commends the service carried out by an individual Rotarian in the club, thereby reinforcing the importance which Rotary places on the personal involvement of each club member in Rotary service activities.
 
Eric Nicolet - 1997-98
Devere 'Pete' Gallagher - 1998-99
Joseph Strohman - 1999-00
Sally Adelblue - 2000-01
Jan Lindsay - 2001-02
Richard Stewart - 2005-06
William Spellman - 2006-07
Husam Hishmeh - 2007-08
Deborah Roberts - 2010-11
Wendy Pazen - 2011-12
Jeff Hata - 2012-13
SPEAKERS
December 2023
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AVENUES OF SERVICE

 
Photo Albums
2020 Rise Up Against Hunger
Ronald McDonald Family Room
Sip & See #3
2018 Make Me Smile Week
Sip & See: #RotaryEastRocks!!!
2018 Push-em Pull-em Parade
2018 Trees, Trees, Trees and some RAIN!!!
2017 Nightmare on the Hill
2017 Backpack Project
2017 Social @ Limonera
2017 Push-em Pull-em Parade
2017 Rotarian's at Work Day
2016 Nightmare on the Hill
2016 Ventura County Fair Parade
2016 Stepdown Dinner
2016 Push-em Pull-em Parade
2016 Scholarship Award Ceremony
4 New Members!!!
2016 Ronald L. Hertel 4 Way Test Essay Contest
City Center Project
2015 Christmas Party
2015 Push em Pull em Parade
2015 St. Patrick's Day Parade
2014 Moorpark Civil War Reenactment
FoodShare and the Salvation Army 2014
BBQ at Civil War Reenactment 2014
Ventura Chamber BBQ 2014
2014 Push N Pullem Parade
2011 Push N Pullem Parade
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