Club Officers & Commitees

The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club offers many ways to get involved and make a difference! Join our various committees to support local initiatives like education and environmental conservation, or participate in global projects improving health and providing clean water. Engage through events, committees, and leadership roles, and connect with like-minded individuals to create positive change together.

Click on a committee name to view more details.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Chair: Ralph Hirschmann

The Community Service Committee empowers Rotary members to enhance life in our local communities through impactful projects. We focus on initiatives that are local (San Diego County), have a real impact on people’s lives, and/or positively affect the local environment (animals/plants). Each project requires a detailed description of the planned use of funds and a final report on the results.
 
In 2023-24, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club funded more than $26,000 in local projects. Here are a few highlights:
– **Boys & Girls Club Griset Ranch:** Painted and fixed picnic tables, provided pumpkins for 30 kids at Halloween, and remodeled the teen patio.
– **Kongs for San Diego Humane Society:** Purchased $1500 worth of XL Kongs for large dogs at the Escondido campus, stuffed and froze Kongs, and made “meatballs” from kibble and wet food for future use.
– **Feed the Marines:** On August 30, 2023, 19 Rotary members served over 400 Marines and their families at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
– **Walk 4 ALZ 2023:** Participated in the Walk4ALZ fundraiser, raising $3,375 for Alzheimer’s San Diego, with members and friends walking in North County.
– **St. Andrew Church Breakfast:** Sponsored the Saturday morning breakfast program at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Encinitas, providing funding and volunteers to serve hot meals to community members in need.
– **Just-In-Time “My First Home” Project:** Supported young adults transitioning out of foster care by helping them set up their first homes with essential furnishings and household items.
– **CRC Transitional Housing Facility Support:** Donated to the Community Resource Center to support Carol’s House, a 24-bed emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.
 
Additional projects include contributions to local food pantries, holiday baskets, and winter coats for those in need.

CLUB PROGRAMS & SPEAKERS COMMITTEE

Chair: Ralph Bettencourt

The Club Programs and Speakers Committee facilitates efforts to find, schedule, and organize interesting, meaningful, and engaging experiences, presentations, and speakers for the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club.

FOUNDATION

Co-Chair: Linda Kitchens

The position of Foundation Chair is a board level position with responsibility for the funds raised in support of the various objectives of The Rotary Foundation.  In our club, we have co-chairs to handle the club’s relationship with the Rotary Foundation. The Chair handles most of the campaigns to raise money for various club and Foundation goals.  Since most of our members have traveled abroad on Rotary projects, they understand the importance of Foundation funding. They know that their contributions to The Rotary Foundation make service projects possible, so they are inspired to get involved and contribute. The Co-Chair keeps track of all the donations, completes all the forms and submits all the paperwork. The Chair and Co-Chair work with the club treasurer to manage the flow of contributions and the grant money that we receive from District and Global Grants. Our Club has received the “100% Paul Harris Award” and consistently earns the “100% Sustaining Member” designation.  We were ranked first in the district during the last Rotary year for the highest average per capita contribution to the annual fund.

FUNDRAISING

Chair: Gretchen Mitchell

The Fundraising Committee strategically directs and manages the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club’s fundraising activities. This includes organizing events and projects to meet short- and long-term goals. The committee sets fundraising targets, identifies potential donors, develops action plans, trains board and staff members, and ensures adequate administrative resources.
 
Encinitas Coastal Rotary currently hosts two main events each year. The Golf Ball Drop and Silent Auction, typically held in the spring, raises funds for several charities and supports the club’s committees and board. The other event, Purse Bingo, is an exciting fall event with proceeds dedicated to funding local women’s services in our area.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Chair: Chuck DuVivier

Our club has had an active International Service Committee for more than 35 years, supporting a broad range of projects all over the world. To add awareness for international issues, the Club encourages travel to our project locations where members can experience firsthand the value of our efforts. We have participated with polio immunizations, starting schools, student support, economic development, well drilling and sanitation education, agriculture and business consulting, home building, peace initiatives and many other types of projects. We also encourage participation with the Rotary Fellowship groups to make connections with other clubs and individuals with similar interests.

MEMBERSHIP

Chair: Caroline Talebi

The role of the Club Membership Committee is to develop and implement an action plan for membership development that actively attracts, retains, and engages members. The Membership Committee is responsible for:
– **Membership Service:** Identifying members’ needs and recommending developing services to meet those needs.
– **Increasing Membership:** Implementing strategies to grow the club’s membership base.

PEACE

Chair: Katherine Zacharias

PUBLIC IMAGE

Chair: Vembra Holnagel

The Public Image Committee assists the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club gain media coverage and promote its activities. The committee manages the club’s website and social media and communicates with local media.

SOCIAL EVENTS

Chair: Marla Elliott

There are a wide variety of social activities….including hands-on service locally and internationally, parties, dinners, pub crawls, poker, and theater excursions (to name a few). We’re open to ideas here – this club has fun!

YOUTH SERVICE

Chair: Marti Rosenberg

Rotary has a long history of working with youth, from providing scholarships, encouraging youth leadership, offering student exchange programs, and sponsoring youth-based service clubs. The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club’s Youth Committee is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of young individuals through various impactful initiatives.
 
1. Sponsorship of AVID Students on a College Visitation Road Trip to the Bay Area.
 
Description:
The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club sponsors AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students from local high schools on an educational road trip to the Bay Area. This program offers students a unique opportunity to visit multiple colleges, gain firsthand campus life experience, and inspire their higher education aspirations.
 
Examples:
Campus Tours: Students visit renowned institutions such as UC Berkeley, Stanford University, and San Francisco State University, where they participate in campus tours, information sessions, and student-led discussions.
Workshops: Attendees engage in workshops focused on college readiness, application processes, and financial aid, equipping them with valuable knowledge for their academic futures.
Networking: Students interact with college students and faculty, providing them with insights and potential mentorship opportunities.
 
2. Interview and Select 6 High School Juniors to Attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Weekend in Idyllwild, CA
 
Description:
Each year, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club interviews and selects six exceptional high school juniors to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) weekend in Idyllwild, CA. RYLA is a leadership training program designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills, and community service commitment.
 
Examples:
Leadership Workshops: Participants engage in sessions on communication, problem-solving, and team-building, developing essential leadership qualities.
Networking: Students connect with peers from across the region, building relationships and sharing experiences with other young leaders.
Outdoor Activities: The weekend includes outdoor challenges such as ropes courses and hiking, promoting resilience, teamwork, and self-confidence.
 
3. STEAM Project with the Boys and Girls Club of Encinitas
 
Description:
In collaboration with Encinitas’s Boys and Girls Club, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club conducts a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) project. This initiative aims to spark creativity and innovation in young minds through hands-on, interactive learning experiences.
 
Examples:
Robotics Workshops: Children design, build, and program robots, learning fundamental coding and engineering principles while fostering collaboration and critical thinking.
Art and Technology Integration: Projects combining traditional art techniques with modern technology, encouraging participants to create multimedia art pieces highlighting the intersection of creativity and innovation.
Environmental Science Activities: Experiments and projects focused on sustainability, such as building solar-powered models and exploring renewable energy sources, promoting environmental awareness.
 
4. Scholarship Award Through Mira Costa Community College
 
Description:
The Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club provides scholarships to deserving students attending Mira Costa Community College’s Technology Career Institute. These scholarships support students in gaining new job skills quickly and affordably through accelerated, hands-on job training programs in advanced manufacturing, engineering, emerging technologies, healthcare, veterinary science, and professional skills training. The program aims to enhance employability and wage potential by equipping students with in-demand skills.
 
Examples:
Advanced Manufacturing: Scholarships support students in acquiring skills in CNC machining, welding, and additive manufacturing, preparing them for immediate entry into the workforce.
Healthcare Training: Students receive scholarships for training in healthcare fields such as medical assisting and phlebotomy, leading to quick employment opportunities in the healthcare industry.
Emerging Technologies: Scholarships fund education in high-demand fields like cybersecurity and drone technology, equipping students with skills highly sought after in the job market.
Professional Skills Training: Support for training programs that enhance essential professional skills, ensuring graduates can excel in various career paths and secure higher wages due to their increased expertise.
 
These initiatives highlight the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club’s commitment to nurturing the potential of young individuals and preparing them to become future leaders and contributing members of society.