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
My fellow Rotarians!
 
Thank you for all your support, effort, and love for the Rotary.  Every Rotary member makes a huge difference in the club's success to reach new levels.  Personally, I love attending the lunch at Brass Bear because every member brings so much character to the club. I can't say thank you enough!
 
Rotary Happy Hour!   I have no other information other than Rotary Happy Hour happens every Friday!  I love the mystery and only the best members get invited!  Fully, joking…    This sounds like a great opportunity to meet your fellow Rotarians and invite a friend to understand more about Rotary.  Please reach out to Marlee King for more information. 
 
Guatemala - Please give a shout out to Don Jack and Bill Dutton for showing there international Rotarian support in the effort to support the indigenous people of Natun, Guatemala.  They will be leaving in a couple weeks, and I look forward to the program on their return.  Outstanding work!
 
Grants – Highlighted notes from Santa Barbara Rotary Charitable Foundation Grants Committee, dated 02/07/2024, Our Foundation is in the process of identifying nonprofit organizations who our members identify as potential candidates to receive a grant from our Foundation for our July 1, 2023, to June 30th, 2024, Financial Year. Our Foundation has a Board of Directors.  Foundation Board members are elected by our Club. 
 
The current Foundation Board Members are Andrew Hicks—Assistant Chair, Bob Fatch—Chair* (recovering from Medical Leave), Donald Jack—Treasurer, Kathleen Blake—Secretary, Jim Stretchberry, Aruni Boteju, David Shea, Van Do-Reynoso, Jim Armstrong (Ex Officio—Club President Elect). Foundation Committees: Finance Committee – Chair Andrew Hicks, Grants Committee- Chair Kathleen Blake.
 
This year we have about $20,000 to award to grant recipients.   This year our Grants Committee would like our Club Members to identify 4-5 local 501(c)3 organizations to receive a Grant of $4,000 to $5,000.  We are looking for organizations that have areas of focus that include either:
 
1—The Environment, 2—Education, or 3—Human Services
 
If you would like to nominate an organization as a possible grant recipient, please reply to our Grants Committee by reply to this email.  Include the name of the organization and a very brief explanation as to why you think the organization would be a worthy grant recipient.  We would like you to submit your nominations to the Foundation by February 12, 2024. 
 
The Grants Committee will evaluate the list of candidates.  We would then ask you to assist us with getting in touch with the leader of the organization to find out more about their organization, and to find out what they would do with the money if awarded a grant.
 
Upcoming Events
 
Marine Watch Dogs has reached out about another event.  This will be a beach clean-up at East Beach February 24, 2024, around 9:00am.  In addition, they are looking for ideas around parts of our coastline that you think would enjoy a little TLC.
 
Upcoming Programs 
 
February 16, 2024 – Josh Molina with the Local News will discuss the local news environment in Santa Barbara.  
 
March 01, 2024 – The Art of Mindful Living. Petra Beumer is a mindful living expert and founder of the Mindful Eating Institute in Santa Barbara. With a master's in clinical psychology from the University of Hamburg, she has two decades of experience promoting positive lifestyles. She's a pioneer in blending Eastern and Western therapeutic approaches, especially in the realm of emotional eating, weight management, and self-care. Petra has curated unique programs that champion holistic well-being, integrating principles of positive psychology and mindfulness. She held influential Work-Life Balance workshops at the California Health & Longevity Institute and served as a health educator in Santa Barbara. Petra is a keynote speaker for the American Heart Association on Stress and Eating and has presented at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. As a Self-Care Specialist, she worked with prestigious resorts like Golden Door and Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Her guiding principle is to love and honor yourself wholly and authentically.
 
March 15, 2024 – (OFFSITE) The Clubhouse at La Cumbre Plaza. The Inclusive Arts Clubhouse is a headquarters for inclusivity in the Santa Barbara community, with the goal of providing a safe and welcoming space focusing on people of all abilities. Located at La Cumbre Plaza, the Clubhouse offers participants a chance to explore the arts and create long-lasting friendships while developing greater self-esteem and independence. Programs are always adaptive, inclusive, creative, and free!
 
This was my attempt to keep the President letter short and sweet.
 
Always remember to SHARE YOUR LOVE for the ROTARY, growth is always possible!  
 
President
Garrett Gruendyke  
Not only do we have a Club Meeting on Fridays, many of our members join for fun and fellowship for Friday evening happy hours. Stop by sometime and say hi!
 
Members from our Club having a great time ringing the bell and raising funds for the Salvation Army. Thank you to all who volunteered!
 
 
 
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