Club Service History

As written in the History of Rancho Santa Fe Rotary document, 2010 by Chuck Badger Sr.

The motto "Service Before Self" is readily apparent in the many Rotarians involved with extensive activities of Rancho Santa Fe and the surrounding communities.

Within our Club, the pervasive spirit of camaraderie and cooperation is seen as members stay informed with bulletins and newsletters, attend frequent New Members Breakfasts, and enjoy a continuous flow of "Who am I" talked where both new and established members share their professions and interests.  

Past Presidents are regularly honored, as are Rotarian spouses at four regularly scheduled events, the Fall Festival, annual Holiday program, Valentine's Day Luncheon and the June Demotion Party.

Two of these special programs, the Fall Festival and the Demotion party, are where Rotarians show their strong talent and dedication to keeping "fun" in "fundraising". The Fall Festival dates back to September, 1982, when Rotarians were eager to raise funds to help rebuild the burned out Aerospace Museum.  That "high flying" event, complete with paper airplane soaring contests and door prizes, was hugely successful.  Every September the village looks forward to the annual "Celebration of Community" fundraiser featuring family picnics, contests for kids, food, music, and entertainment that ranges from cheerleaders to square dancers to guitar players to local bands.  The benefitting charity changes each year, but the spirit of celebrating family and reaching out to others is the "wind beneath the wings" of this annual celebration.

The annual June Demotion party is a casual western round up of the year's activities, held at the Rancho Santa Fe Riding Club.  The catered food may be baked or barbecued, but the outgoing president and the past year's programs are always cheerfully roasted.  Wanted posters with names of "Silver Dollar Jim" and Black Barry" while "End 'Em High Rea" and "Gotcha Roger", along with their laughter-loving cronies, can be counted on for creating wild wooly (and sometimes angelic) entertainment.

As so often happens with Rotarian ideas, Bill and Donna Herrick's dream to help a community in Mexico became a spectacular reality in June, 1991.  A 24-hour emergency clinic in Primo Tapia, Mexico, is now open after the combined efforts of four Rotary entities (Rancho Santa Fe, Rosarito Beach, Mexico, District 5340, and Rotary International) combined finances and expertise to create this desperately needed facility.  Basic medical equipment and supplies were arranged for by Rancho Santa Fe Rotarian Greg Grajek, board member on the Tri-City and Fallbrook Hospitals.  The clinic and two ambulances, run by the Mexican Red Cross with continued support from Rotarian contributions and local students regularly gathering and delivering food, clothing and blankets, now serves a wide area of Primo Tapia and Rosarito.

A dedicated serious side is shown by the generous financial boost given by the Rotarians and their spouses who are Paul Harris Fellows and Sustaining Members.  Their contributions, deeply appreciated and regularly recognized, directly improve the Rotary Scholars program and the growing goals of the Rotary Foundation.  These members truly exemplify their dedication to going "above and beyond" to make a significant impact in the lives of others.