The Rotary Club of San Marcos supports many community and humanitarian projects such as:
- "Concerts in the Garden" - Woodland Park - Co-Sponsor
- "Hole-in-One" - Boy's and Girls Club Golf Tournament
- Dictionaries to 15 Third Grade Classes - San Marcos Schools
- Annual Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program
- Weekly Meals on Wheels Distribution
- The Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts of America
- City of San Marcos Street Fair, and Fourth of July Fireworks
- Palomar College, and San Marcos High School Student Scholarships
- San Marcos High School Interact Leadership Club
- Rotary Youth Leadership Conference - Rotary sponsors four students each year
- Annual Building a house in Mexico Project
- India Computers for the Blind
- Chile Computers for the Blind
- Polio Eradication - Rotary Worldwide Project
2005 was a busy year as well for the San Marcos Rotary Club.
In addition to our ongoing support of the above listed programs we...
- Provided Tsunami relief in India - provided funds to build a permanent house
- Established a Grant for University Teachers sponsor to teach in Chile
- Sponsored of High School Exchange student from India
- Provided funds for Hurricane Katrina relief
- Adopted a family whose home was burned to the ground in a major area fire
- Provided College Scholarships for students at both high schools and Palomar College
- Presented Rotary Youth Leadership Awards by sponsoring four students (two from each high school) and a facilitator
December 2004 - For this year's annual Adopt A Family the San Marcos Rotary adopted
a Marine Corps family. The Haddow family; Lawrence, Preston, and Aubrey joined us at our
meeting on December 23rd. All of the
Christmas gifts and food items were brought by club members to the
Holiday Party at Stan Mahr's house.
View an article about our reaching out in North County Times.
November 11, 2004 - Several Marine Corps guests and retired Brigadier General David M.
Brahms joined us for a special special Veterans Day Luncheon.
In today’s world there are few who really know or remember the true meaning of Duty and Honor.
General Brahms told those present that we need to always remember so that what has happened in the
past may never happen again. A great and compelling speech.
View an article on our Veterans Day meeting in the North County Times.
October 16, 2004 - Working with Interact and exchange students, Rotarians from the Tijuana Club
and the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Club (they also donated $1,500), the day trip in Mexico building a new home
for a deserving family was a magnificent success. A great meal was served to us by them of chicken, rice and beans with
delicious homemade tortillas. All who participated agreed that it is an enriching experience.
View an article about the trip from Today's Local News.
View an article about the trip from the North County Times.
September 11, 2004 - The Rotary Club of San Marcos and the City of San Marcos hosted
a "Tribute to 9/11" featuring the Palomar Pacific Music men, a 60-man barbershop harmony
chorus. The event was held at 7:30pm an the San Marcos Community Center.
View an article from the North County Times.
August 19, 2004 - The Rotary Club of San Marcos extended its warmest of hospitality to
two young Marines who were their Honored Guests at the club’s meeting August 19. A hugh
Bravo was given to Rotarian Bill Wood for spearheading this great effort for the Club.
Bill has recruited his very own Heroes to help in funding and transportation in our outreach
to these Marine Heroes, on a weekly bases. We thank Rotarians John Forst, Matilda
Lepa-Rough, Chuck Linn, and Larry O’Malley
Honored guest, Lance Corporal Jeremiah Letterman, of Spruce Pine, S. Carolina, serves with
the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. He was wounded in a roadside bombing in Iraq in April
2004 and received a Purple Heart. Jeremiah is married living on base with his wife at
Camp Pendleton.
Also honored was Corporal David Reigelsperger, of Alexandria, Virginia. David who also
serves with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines received a Purple Heart. He survived a roadside
bombing and machine guns wounds in June of 2004. David is married and the father of two
children, ages 2 and 4.
As Rotary President Joan Boughton shared with both young men, “The Rotary Club of San Marcos
sincerely expresses its gratitude for their dedication. It is because of them and others
we are able to enjoy the precious gift of Freedom”. There is no question San Marcos
Rotarians... You “Make Hearts Sing, Minds Expand, and Spirits Soar”.
View an article from The Paper.
July 24, 2004 - For the third season the San Marcos Rotary Club co-presented
the "Concerts in the Park" at Woodland Park. During the check presentation
President Joan highlighted some of the great things that our Club and Rotary
International are doing for our community and the world. The 2nd annual Rotary Family Picnic was
held at the July 24 concert featuring the Fabulous Woody’s. For those that
attended it was a great time with good music from the 60’s.
View an article from the North County Times.
View an article from the San Diego Union Tribune.
July 20, 2004 - The Rotary Club of San Marcos has joined with the newly renovated
San Marcos Senior Center to enhance the "Tot Lot", which is an area dedicated to seniors
who can relax, socialize, and interact with young children. We needed to develop a concept,
which was affordable to implement and maintain. By securing a matching grant from the San
Marcos City Foundation, we were able to accomplish both goals.
With the creative guidance of San Marcos Rotary Community Service Chair, Stephanie Mathews,
a whimsical and friendly seven-foot tall topiary dragon was designed by Topiary Designer,
Pat Hammer. The curious dragon appears to have burrowed under the fence surrounding
the "Tot Lot". He is positioned so through his wire rim glasses he can watch the
children as they play and run underneath his huge curving body. In addition, his
positioning gives the feeling that he can eavesdrop on a good story being read by a doting grandma.
Ground breaking was July 20, 2004. The dragon has been installed, with plants positioned
to fill in the enormous frame. In spring of 2005, an unveiling party will be celebrated
at the San Marcos Senior Center with the members of the community, San Marcos Rotarians, senior
citizens and their families.
View an article from the San Diego Union Tribune.
View an article from Today's Local News.
View an article from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce - Business Update.
February 28, 2004 - The Rotary Club held their 5th Annual Reverse Opportunity Drawing at
the San Marcos Boys & Girls Club. The annual event is held to raise funds in support
of the club's ongoing efforts in the San Marcos area. The theme this year was a
Hawaiian Luau complete with theme decorations, punch, and Hawaiian dancers.
Here are some photos from the evening.
December 4, 2003 - Once again our annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family program was a great
success. All of the Christmas gifts and food items were brought to the Holiday
Party at Stan Mahr's house. Because of the urgent need due to the fires in
October, two families were sponsored this year.
Here are some photos from the evening.
November 20, 2003 - President Luene thanked all of members in attendance for doing
a wonderful job on the house in Mexico the past weekend. She presented
John, Joe, George, Darrell and Rob with “Lend a hand pins”. Pictures were
passed around and lots of good memories were told. The best story was told by
George who said that Esperanza (the mother) told him, “Last night my family slept
in a shack, tonight we sleep in a castle”. Many thanks to Joe for organizing
this project, the Tijuana Rotarians for the outstanding dinner, and of course the
Corazon people for really doing an outstanding job of helping the poor in Mexico.
Photos are available here.
View an article about the trip from the North County Times.
View an article about the trip from the La Prensa San Diego.
Fires swept through San Diego County in late October. The San Marcos Rotary Club
did many things to make this an easier time for the victims. Through the generosity
of the Club we collected $1,145.00 to go to Fire Victims. The money was
sent to the McCormick Foundation to match the money .50 for every Dollar.
A very successful “Fire Bear” project was begun to sell teddy bear dolls with the proceeds
going to sponsor a family from the Paradise Fire that lost everything. The family
had small children and the money was used to help them rebuild their lives. See the
December 18 Newsletter for photographs.
Every opportunity was taken to promote the effort including visits to other clubs in the
District and manning a booth at the Chamber of Commerce's Arts and Crafts Festival.
Photos from this event were shown in the November 20 Newsletter.
President Luene arranged for the Solvang Breakfast Rotary Club to donate toys to the
fire victims in early December. They drove down with a rented truck and took toys
to Poway Rotary at Luene's house, and to the library at Valley Center where they were
distributed to Valley Center, Julian and Cuyamaca. Congratulations on a job well
done Luene. See the December 11 issue of
the Newsletter for photos.
August/September 2003 - Members of the Club made the annual "back to school" journey to
deliver Dictionaries to 3rd Graders at Elementary Schools in San Marcos. Each
student was given an English dictionary (the school district is encouraging students
to read English) and five Spanish versions were left with each teacher. Not only
those members delivering the books get involved. Many members take home boxes of
books during the weeks before to add the label with the
Rotary Four Way Test and the words "Donated by the San Marcos Rotary Club" to each
dictionary the club gives out.
July 26, 2003 - For a second year the San Marcos Rotary Club co-presented "Concerts
in the Park" at Woodland Park. During the check presentation President Luene
shared with the audience all of the great things that not only our Club but also Rotary
International is doing in the world. This was the club's meeting this week.
Enjoy the photos.
April 12, 2003 - Saturday night the place to be was the San Marcos Boys and Girls Club.
The Rotary Club of San Marcos held their 4th Annual Reverse Opportunity Drawing. The event
was held to raise funds in support of the club's ongoing efforts to benefit community outreach
programs in the greater San Marcos area. The theme this year was "Escape to Spain" with
Flamenco Dancing and Paella entertainment. 250 tickets were sold as $100 donations and
over 75 people attended the event. Here are some photos from the evening.
December 17, 2002 - Our Annual Christmas Adopt-a-Family program was a great success. All of
the wrapped Christmas gifts and food items were brought to the Annual San Marcos Rotary Holiday
Party at Stan Mahr's house. Here are some photos from the evening.
December 3, 2002 - Glenn Schwartz, with the assistance of George Burrola, Patricia Hodgkin, and
Don Findlay, presented over 400 dictionaries to 15 third grade classes at Richland, Knob Hill,
and Carillo Elementary Schools
.
As part of the club's participation in
The Dictionary Project, the goal is to put a dictionary in the hands of every 3rd grader in San
Marcos. Still to go are San Marcos Academy, Paloma, Alvin Dunn, LaCosta Meadows, and Twin Oaks
Elementary. Each dictionary the club gives out includes a label with the Rotary Four Way Test
and the words "Donated by the San Marcos Rotary Club". The students and faculty were very appreciative
.
One class at Carillo Elementary even "signed" their appreciation.
November 16, 2002 - Over two dozen members and friends came together to take part in the Project
Mercy house building in Tijuana. A home was built for a single mother, Maria Trinidad Varelas,
her child (with another on the way), her mother, 3 sisters, her brother, and a cousin. The
total family income is about $300 per week. Previously their house was made of garage doors
for walls and plastic sheeting for a roof. The brother, Cornelio, is a mason and poured the
slab for the house. Thanks to our efforts this family now has a safe, clean and dry
home.
Here are some photos from the trip.
Read an article about the trip from the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper.
View an article about the trip from the North County Times.
View an article about the trip from the La Prensa San Diego.
September 20, 2002 - Glenn Schwartz presented "Rotary Four Way Test" Plaques to the three 5th
grade classrooms at Carrillo Elementary School. The goal of the project, started during
Darrel McMullen's term as club President (2000-2001), is to put a plaque with the Rotary Four
Way Test in every 5th grade classroom in the San Marcos Unified School District.
The plaques now hang in the classrooms of Ms. McMullen, Patti Reynolds, and Mr. Musik.
Glenn spoke to the entire school during the flag salute. Principal Fred Wise made a nice
introduction of Rotary and the Plaques.
View an article from the North County Times.
September 6, 2002 - The Rotary Club sponsored a Hole-in-One at the Boy’s and Girls Club "Mayors
Cup" Golf Tournament. The club's community activites were presented to attendees by members
and a booth with photos and descriptions.
View an article from the North County Times.
August 24, 2002 - The Rotary Club of San Marcos co-sponsored the “Concert in the Gardens”
series at the Wood House at Woodland Park. The club presented the City of San Marcos
Community Services with a check for $1000 at the concert.
Featured performers were Ruby of "Ruby and the Red Hots" with her Jazz Band "Cool Blue".
View an article from the North County Times.
August 1, 2002 - The Rotary Club of San Marcos presented former Interact student Janelle Robinson
with a Rotary Scholarship in the amount of $1250.00. Jenelle graduated from San Marcos High
with a 4.26 GPA, was on the honor roll seven semesters. Some of her extra curricular activities
were Hispanic Merit Scholar, Campus clean up leader and PATH (Performing Arts for the Handicapped)
Volunteer. Congratulations Jenelle!
View an article from the North County Times.
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