ROTARY CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA

Serving Santa Barbara And The World Since 1918.

CLUB MEETINGS

Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Meeting

First and third Friday of each month.


Brass Bear Uptown
3302 McCaw Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

View our Calendar to see upcoming meeting dates.
Time: 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

ABOUT THE ROTARY CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara was chartered by Rotary International on January 1, 1918 and has been serving those in need in Santa Barbara, our region, and the world since.

Our Club Members are dedicated to community service projects, both at home and abroad, including supporting foster youth in Santa Barbara County, working with Mayan families in Guatemala, and more.

Rotary Club of Santa Barbara members are a diverse group of local leaders in business, non-profits, education, government, and more.

Are you interested in making Santa Barbara, and the world a better place. Join our next meeting and talk with members about how to get involved!
UPCOMING EVENTS
RECENT ROTARY NEWS
Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Rotarians and their families. Thank you for your service! A special thanks to all the members that supported our Youth Fosters Holiday Wine Auction. Can you believe that our club raised $2,500.00 to support the Youth Fosters Program… way to go Rotarians!  I hope everyone had a great time laughing, joking, and donating to a great cause.
 
A special thank you to the programs committee and speakers for doing an outstanding job!  Ashlyn Cavaletto came to speak about, "Becoming a Change Maker".  Legendary, Wade Nomura addressed international Rotary efforts to bring water to Haiti.  Lee Abbott, Executive Director, and Producer of the film "Disaster at Devils Jaw". Impact of Title IX on women's sports by Jaylon Letendre.  Professor Joel Rothman, Director and Founder of the Center for Aging and Longevity. Chris Hastert, Director of the Santa Barbara Airport.  The Owner and Operator for Chick Fil-A on State Street, Travis Collins.  The programs have been outstanding, educational and VIP access to what's going down in Santa Barbara. Remember to share your love for the Rotary.
 
Ready to travel? Strap those backpacks and make sure your passports are valid, let's travel to Natun, Guatemala.
 
Our Rotary International Special Projects Committee has started to plan for the next trip down to Natun Guatemala.  This will be the ninth (9th) trip for the Rotary of Santa Barbara to Guatemala and volunteering with the NGO Natun Guatemala in Panajachel. Staring in 2014, through our volunteers, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has constructed 6 homes, 80 stoves, provided 51 water filters, launched the tutoring program, our members have sponsored over 14 students, offered elder support and much more…
 
Some of you might asking what is Natun, Guatemala?  It is a 501(c)(3) CA non-profit that provides opportunities & assistance to indigenous Maya of rural Guatemala, through education, nutrition, health & economic development programs. Please reach out to Don Jack or Bill Dutton for more information regarding this wonderful international service project. Reach out to David Shea on what not to do when traveling to Guatemala.
 
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara partnered with Marine Watchdogs, community service project, to clean up plastics on Ledbetter beach. Thank you to Bill Dutton, Don Jack, Greg Dawson, my daughter Vivien, and Mr. Gruendyke for cleaning up the beach. Altogether, 10 large trash bags of plastics, old shoes, cans, bottles, glass, crab netting and a bee sting on the bottom of the foot. Overall, we couldn’t ask for a better day on the beach in sunny California.
 
Coming Up…  Greg Dawson would like to extend the invitation to the Legacy Gala 2023 with Jay Leno. The event will on December 14, 2023.  Please reach out to Greg Dawson for current pricing. You can also reserve tickets at THETURNERFOUNDATION.COM

Next program will be December 01, 2023, a special meeting for the Santa Barbara Rotary Charitable Foundation. Information listed below sent on November 20,2023:
 
In conjunction with our regular meeting on December 1, 2023, the Santa Barbara Rotary Charitable Foundation will have a very brief meeting to elect two members to fill vacant terms on the Foundation Board.  The vacancies have been created due to Connie Green taking a leave of absence from the club, and Greg Knowles resigning from the club due to moving out of State.
 
Pursuant to the Foundation Bylaws, the Nominating Committee, composed of the Past President, current President, and President Elect met and are pleased to nominate David Shea to fill the Greg's remaining term until June 30, 2026, and Van Do-Reynoso to fill Connie's remaining term until June 30, 2025. Nominations from the floor for the Foundation Board can also be made at the Special Meeting.
 
As a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara, all members are also members of the Charitable Foundation.  Special Meetings of the Foundation require all members receive a notice ten days in advance.  This invitation serves as that notice  
 
Just in case you've been hearing about Project SMART… Project SMART – North American Club Projects Leading the way. The conversation starts around older drug prevention programs that represented the same information for all grades.  Project SMART wants to offer drug prevention programs designed to target different age groups. 
 
School Education Program:
School program, educating children about the dangers of addiction, prescription drug disposal, protecting the drinking water, Safe Drug Disposal.
 
Medicine & Drug Disposal:
Making every day-drug disposal through in-home SAFE drug disposal.
 
Awareness:
Of OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) number of deaths, providing communities with Narcan Training to Save Lives, OUD screening tools.
 
Recovery:
Support services, Social recreational recovery infrastructure and social media resources, database of organizations in the local community recovery process that provides real-time data.
 
Treatment:
Through MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment), Medication and behavioral therapies in your local community to include a local database.
 
The "SMA" of Project SMART have identified Grant Funds available to implement these programs in local clubs.  For more information or to help lead a task force, please reach out to
North American Task Force Leader: Larry Kenemore (913) 705-0983 email: rag.ap.larry@gmail.com
 
I wish everyone a very blessed Thanksgiving. 
Share your love for the Rotary.
 
President,
Garrett R Gruendyke
Why did the skeleton run away? Because a dog was after his bones.

Wow, it’s a great time to be a Rotarian!   Lots of great things going on, so I'm just sending out a recap…
 
Last and final call for Youth Fosters Donations.  Rotary cares duffel bag project, $107.00 per bag.  Fellow Rotarians, if you would like to donate, please let Matt or myself know and we can properly bill you for the donation.  If you're looking for a good deed to finish off the year, go all in.  Why support one (1) bag when you can support five (5) …. I'm just saying!  
 
This Friday at Brass Bear, Youth Foster Donations.  Please bring a bottle of wine for the auction or a blank check, or both.   This is our holiday donation where the Santa Barbara Rotary Club raises $2,500.00 for the Youth Fosters program of Santa Barbara.   Get ready, get those check books open and have a great time donating to a wonderful cause for the holidays. 
 
The highlight to Friday's meeting, The Santa Barbara Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Chris Hastert, Director of the Santa Barbara Airport. Mr. Hastert has been the Director of Santa Barbara Airport since October 2022. He previously served as the General Manager of the Santa Maria Airport for almost 13 years and was Deputy Director of Airports for over 12 years. for Mr. Hastert is a private pilot and has extensive experience in managing airports in California.  He also served as Rotary President of the Santa Maria Breakfast Club. Register today and come prepared to learn something new! 
 
Coming up, community service event with Marine Watchdogs.    The club will be at Lead Better Beach, November 4th Saturday from 9:00am -12:00 pm.  Marine Watchdogs will provide rakes, canned water, and buckets.  They have asked for no plastic at the beach during the clean-up.   If it happens to rain the night of or day before, the event will be canceled.    Let's do our Rotarian part to keep our beaches clean and safe for all to enjoy. 
 
Share your love for the Rotary and get engaged!   Get ready, all members will have an active role in the club starting 2024.   I've realized the club has lasted for well over 100 years because of all the well-rounded and educated minds that have come together to make our club truly amazing.    I can't tell you how excited I am to learn from my peers.    Please don't hesitate to reach out, I would love to hear what area of the Rotary you are interested in.    
 
Let's get active and SQUASH all the other clubs around, for we are the best club in Santa Barbara. Share you LOVE for the ROTARY. 
 
President 2023-2024
Garrett R. Gruendyke 
Show your LOVE for the Rotary!
 
Rotary Cares Duffel Bag project – All members should buy one (1) bag.
 
First off, thank you Jennifer LeMert & Lindsey Leonard for making the wonderful connection with The Youth Fosters Program and providing the club an introduction to partner with Gustave Prado, Department Business Specialist for Adult and Children Services. In addition, a special thanks to all the Rotary members that showed up at Chicago Title to help pack 100 bags for the Youth Fosters Program. A special thanks to Jennifer LeMert, Steve Peterson, Dan Hellinger, Bob Fatch, Lindsey and Destiny, Stacy & Samara, Rosemary Rice, Steve Baker, Bruce McDonald, and Jim Armstrong (scroll down to see photos of Rotarians in Action). Thank you to all members if I happen to miss a name. Please reach out to your company, organization, or family, speak about our cause and how The Santa Barbara Rotary Club is making a difference for the youth of Santa Barbara and along the Central Coast.  Get loud, get active and donate today!
 
Hot, hot, hot – Upcoming speaker Friday 09/15/2023 at the Brass Bear, The Santa Barbara Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Lee Abbott, Executive Director, and Producer of the film "Disaster at Devil's Jaw".  Based on the largest peacetime naval disaster, this gripping documentary explores the fatal night of September 8, 1923, when seven speeding destroyers of the U.S. Navy crashed into the ragged California coastline, having ignored all signs of their impending doom. Reconstructing the human factors that led to this monumental shipwreck and the life-saving lessons that can be drawn from it. Don't miss out, register today!
 
RCSB meeting planned for 09/29/2023 at the Brass Bear. This will be our program for the last Friday in September. Marta joined Lancaster Sunrise Rotary in 2005 serving two terms as Club president, receiving co-President of the year for District 5260 during her first term. She has served five years as Assistant District Governor, was a multi-year District Trainor and Group Study Exchange (GSE) member, staff member and Director.  In 2015 Marta moved to Ventura County and joined the Oxnard Rotary Club, in District 5240. Prior to being chosen as District Governor Designate in 2021, she served the District as the PRLS (Practical Rotary Leadership Seminars) Director for two years and as District Trainer for three years.  Marta is a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society Member, Major Donor and achieved PRLS and Master PRLS Graduate in 2006.
 
Marta is Co-Founder and CEO of Smart Coast California and has had a long and successful career in housing and community development in California and Nevada. She accepted this position in February 2023, following eight years as the Government Affairs Director for Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS®.  
 
IMPACT REPORTING - I will start mentioning impact reporting and spending time reviewing what it means. Rotary wants to start keeping track of all the effort, sweat and tears that go into every service project. Take a note on how much time was involved, members that helped and final accomplishments. All this information will then go into one database to show the value of volunteering and the impact being made. 
 
Thank you for your service, effort, and support with the Santa Barbara Rotary Club.
 
President 2023-2024
Garrett R. Gruendyke