Upcoming Events
(These are the friends, the times, and the memories you wish you had.)
Join us at an upcoming event.
Contact us for more information.
Care n' Share Toy Drive
For 15 years, Nancy Stoke at the Torrey Pines Rotary Club has been collecting toys at the San Diego County Fair. Each year, she and her team of dedicated volunteers set up collection boxes and collect toys and stuffed animals from willing participants. Volunteers interact with guests departing the fair to encourage donations of toys won there, answer questions, arrange for hand-offs of gently used donations that may be at home, and hand out bookmarks or some token item as a Thank You for a donation which has Rotary contact info on the back. Volunteers get complimentary admission tickets to the Fair, so you can enjoy the Fair before or after your shift.
Over the years, Nancy’s project has collected over 110,000 toys that have been distributed to children in need. She and her team typically receive at least 400-500 donations daily. At the end of each day, the donated toys are taken to a secure location to be sorted. Nancy retired from the project last year and transferred it to the Hospital Infantil de las Californias, one of the main beneficiaries, to coordinate.
You can view the master volunteer calendar and job descriptions to find a shift that works for you.
Club Meeting with Baby Clothing Organization Speaker
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.
The speaker for this meeting will be Camille Currier, Secretary of the Board of Gently Hugged. Gently Hugged provides new/gently used baby clothing for San Diego mothers with babies in need. Clothes are sorted and items of each size sufficient for the first year are placed in a reusable blue or pink canvas bag and labeled for a baby "boy" or "girl." The completed bags are then distributed by nurses and social workers to low income, military, immigrant, and foster families in need within underserved areas.
Camille Currier is currently retired and lives in Scripps Ranch. She is a former teacher and instructional designer. Along with serving as secretary of the Board of Directors for Gently Hugged, Camille is also a final inspector for clothing provided to babies and families in need.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians.
Rotary District Governor's Dinner
Join Rotary District 5340 for an inspiring evening celebrating service, leadership, community impact, fellowship, awards, and the beginning of a new Rotary Year. This special evening will honor the accomplishments of 2025-2026, celebrate our District 5340 clubs and leaders, and welcome the incoming 2026-2027 Rotary Year.
Guests will also enjoy a unique evening inside the San Diego Air & Space Museum, including exclusive access to the museum galleries, special traveling exhibitions, and the opportunity to stroll through the museum during the reception. Your ticket includes access to Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Space: Our Greatest Adventure at no additional cost. Guests may also enjoy beautiful views of Downtown San Diego from the museum’s Observation Deck.
This is more than a dinner. It is a celebration of Rotary service, friendship, leadership, and the people who continue to make District 5340 a force for good in our communities and around the world.
Registration is now open.
Early Bird pricing is available through May 15, 2026
Included with Your Ticket
Museum reception and gallery experience
Exclusive evening access to the San Diego Air & Space Museum galleries
Access to special traveling exhibitions
Access to Ripley’s Believe It or Not
Access to Space: Our Greatest Adventure
Dinner and program
Awards and leadership celebration
Dancing to follow
Breakfast Service at PATH Connections Housing
Help serve healthy and delicious meals to PATH’s 134 residents. By providing a meal to someone in need, you are making a difference in the community and the lives of others. They prepare breakfast every day of the week and need your help!
You will help chef prepare, plate and serve breakfast. Our goal is to recruit 6 volunteers. If we have just 3 volunteers, we will put out a continental breakfast instead of cooking breakfast. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow for parking and sign in and ensure you are ready to start at 7:00am.
Email us at mverotary@gmail.com to sign up.
Leadership Transition Celebration & End of Year Party
The Rotary year runs July 1 - June 30 so it’s time to celebrate our accomplishments and leaders in 2025-2026 while welcoming in our 2026-2027 leadership. The celebration will take place on the Air Conditioned Lounge’s outdoor patio. It’s a bar owned by an Old Mission Rotarian in North Park. Paid parking is available in the lot across the street from the bar. The easiest spot for free street parking is two blocks away on the Adams Avenue bridge over the 805.
More information to come. This event is for members and their invited guests only.
Club Meeting with District Governor Visit
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided. Please note that this meeting will take place at the Linda Vista Branch Library instead of our usual meeting location at the Mission Valley Library.
The speaker for this meeting will be our new District Governor Jeb Bakke. Jeb became a Rotarian in 1991 and has been a member of Poway Rotary and Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary, serving in a variety of capacities in both clubs. He served as President of RB Sunrise in 2020-21. He has served the district as International Service Chair from 2021-23 and was an assistant governor for Area 15 that serves both the Paradise Valley and Sweetwater Rotary clubs as well as four active Rotaract clubs - D5340 of SDSU, UCSD, Pacific Beach and City Heights.
He grew up in Denver, Colorado as the eldest of five boys. He was active in sports, service clubs and singing at Cherry Creek High School and the University of Colorado, graduating in 1983 with a BS in Finance and Real Estate. Jeb has been an award winning, successful commercial real estate broker in San Diego with CBRE, Inc. since 1984. His team has been involved in many recognizable, high-profile, ground-up office developments and represented many large, well-known tenants in Southern CA, other states and countries.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians. Our club participates in an activity called “happy dollars” where attendees can contribute any number of dollars to share something they are happy about or looking forward to. Participation in happy dollars is voluntary and making a contribution is not expected of guests.
Thousand Smiles Clinic
Thousand Smiles provides free maxillofacial surgery, dental treatment, and various associated procedures to children from financially challenged families in Mexico. The foundation is totally funded by donations including but not limited to Rotary International Grants, other foundation grants, Rotary Club donations, and personal donations. Thousand Smiles is completely managed and run by volunteers. They host quarterly clinics at their location in Ensenada to provide cleft lip and palate surgeries as well as regular dental care.
Time/Schedule
Volunteers to be onsite at 9am each day, unless otherwise noted. Lunch will be provided (but please bring your own water/snacks). Expect to finish about 5pm each day.
Expectations
We are all working together to make these two days a success. We have been doing this for forty years and have a good schedule established. However, things do shift, and we appreciate your ability to be flexible.
Meals
Please bring your snacks and water. Lunch for volunteers will be provided.
What to Bring and Wear
For general volunteering, please wear comfortable clothing with closed-toed shoes. For practitioners and nurses please bring your necessary scrubs, gowns, etc.
Tips to Remember
Plan your trip to start and finish in daylight
When possible, caravan with at least 2 or 3 vehicles.
Don’t pull over for any vehicles not marked as police vehicles, even if they display red flashing lights.
If you have more than one vehicle, try to always take the one that attracts less attention. In other words, leave the Rolls Royce at home.
Leave your expensive jewelry and watches at home.
Obey All Road Laws
Always drive within the speed limit. Remember the signs are in kilometers per hour.
Don’t drink and drive.
Try not to do anything that would give a police officer reason to pull you over. If you do everything right you will be more likely to suspect that the red flashing lights behind you are not from a police vehicle rather than pulling over automatically.
Don’t pull off the road to take a nap or camp out. Wait until you get to the rest area at one of the toll stations.
City Heights Rotaract Meeting
Join City Heights Rotaract Club at their monthly meeting. Our club sponsors City Heights Rotaract and Marge is one of their club advisors. Rotaract is a type of Rotary club for young professionals.
We encourage our members to attend at least one of their meetings within the Rotary year. Their meetings typically take place on 2nd Tuesdays. Please notify them at chrotaractclub@gmail.com if you plan on attending so they have an accurate headcount for dinner.
Trivia Night
Join our team for trivia! We're going to play trivia at San Diego Brewing Company in Grantville. Along with a full beer list, San Diego Brewing Company also offers ciders, seltzers, kombucha, non-alcoholic beer, pizza, and appetizers. Happy hour ends at 5pm so you’ll have to get there early to take advantage of their happy hour specials.
Prospective members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. This is a no-host event.
Operation Flags for Vets: Flag Pick Up
Join Rotarians from District 5340 in picking up flags after the third annual American flag placement at Miramar National Cemetery. The Rotary District Military Coordination Committee (DMCC) is placing 22,000 flags at gravesites on Saturday May 23 for Memorial Day and will need to pick them all up on Tuesday May 26.
The cemetery is divided into 11 sections and volunteers will be assigned to a section. There is ample parking at the cemetery but carpooling is encouraged. Volunteers from the same club will be kept together as much as possible. Detailed instructions will be sent via email the week before which will include cemetery section map, distribution plan and instructions, and parking scheme with diagram.
Operation Flags for Vets: Flag Placement
Join Rotarians from District 5340 for the third annual American flag placement at Miramar National Cemetery. The Rotary District Military Coordination Committee (DMCC) has 22,000 flags to place at gravesites on Saturday May 23 in preparation for Memorial Day.
The DMCC anticipates needing between 250 and 300 volunteers and expect that the flag placements will take no more than 4 hours. The cemetery is divided into 11 sections and volunteers will be assigned to a section. There is ample parking at the cemetery but carpooling is encouraged. Volunteers from the same club will be kept together as much as possible. Detailed instructions will be sent via email the week before which will include cemetery section map, distribution plan and instructions, and parking scheme with diagram.
Club Meeting with Eye Exam Clinic Speaker
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.
Unfortunately our originally scheduled speaker from Gently Hugged has a family emergency and won’t be able to make it to our meeting. In her place, our Program Chair & Past President Sesy Enriquez will share about her recent experience serving at a five-day vision clinic with LensCrafters and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation at Harry Bridges Span School in Wilmington (Los Angeles area). More than 80 volunteers, including LensCrafters, EyeMed and additional EssilorLuxottica team members, along with volunteer optometrists, technicians and support staff, worked together to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses to students who may otherwise lack access to essential vision care. More than 900 Los Angeles Unified School District students in grades K-12 received the gift of clear sight due to their efforts.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians.
Epic Day of Service - Gardening at Grant Park
Join a global movement of service making a real impact in communities around the world with Mission Valley Evening Rotary Club in partnership with the San Diego River Park Foundation! On May 16, 2026, Rotarians and community volunteers across the globe come together for a record-breaking day of hands-on service, called Epic Day of Service—addressing local needs while contributing to a powerful global impact.
For our club’s Epic Day of Service we’ve partnered with the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) to help bring native plant gardens to life at their new eco-park, Grant Park, in Mission Valley! This new nature education center and eco-park in the heart of Mission Valley offers free STEM and environmental learning for underserved students and engaging nature programs for all ages—serving as a vibrant beacon of green space along the San Diego River for the entire community!
Volunteers will dig in and join the fun to help plant native plants, weed, water, mulch, and maintain their native seed library. No experience is necessary! We may also help with trash pick up and graffiti removal. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment knowing you're helping create important wildlife habitat and a vibrant green space for students and the community in the heart of our city.
The project will take place during River Days, SDRPF’s annual 9-day celebration of the San Diego River! SDRPF and an estimated 20 partners host fun nature outings, volunteer opportunities, art activities, bike rides, hikes, and much more along all 52 miles of the river.
Happy Hour at Oggi’s
Join us for delicious drinks and food at Oggi’s Brewhouse in Mission Valley. The restaurant’s actual happy hour deals end at 6:00pm so you’ll have to arrive early to take advantage of the discounted prices. We’ll watch the Padres vs. Brewers game that starts at 4:40pm.
Potential members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com with any questions.
City Heights Rotaract Meeting
Join City Heights Rotaract Club at their monthly meeting. Our club sponsors City Heights Rotaract and Marge is one of their club advisors. Rotaract is a type of Rotary club for young professionals.
We encourage our members to attend at least one of their meetings within the Rotary year. Their meetings typically take place on 2nd Tuesdays. Please notify them at chrotaractclub@gmail.com if you plan on attending so they have an accurate headcount for dinner.
NAMIWalks with Rotary District 5340
Please join us on this walk and celebrate the memory of Past District Governor Chuck Pretto. Chuck made Adolescent Behavioral and Mental Health his primary theme and his family has asked us to dedicate our walking team and our donations in memory of Chuck.
District 5340 will have a walking team at NAMIWalks on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Liberty Station. NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Rotary will also be helping NAMI with volunteers. The event starts at 7:00am. The walk is from 8:00am to 9:00am and the Wellness Expo is open until 11:00am. All proceeds will be used in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
So how can you help?
Register to join our District 5340 Team – click the “Join Our Team” button
Invite your your family and friends to join our team.
Donate and support our team - use the "Support Us" button.
Rotary Multi District Conference
This extraordinary gathering brings together Rotary leaders, Rotarians, Rotaractors, youth, families, and friends from across the Western United States and Mexico for three unforgettable days of unity, inspiration, service, and fellowship.
Hosted in partnership between:
Rotary District 5340 – San Diego & Imperial Counties (Host District)
Rotary District 5300 – Las Vegas, Southern Nevada & northern and northeastern areas of L.A. County
Rotary District 5330 – Riverside County & San Bernardino regions
Rotary District 5320 — Orange County & Southern Los Angeles Region
Together, we will celebrate Rotary’s power to transform communities, elevate leadership, and build lasting relationships across borders and generations.
Why Attend?
Better Together – Better World is more than a conference theme — it is a call to action.
Participants will experience:
🌍 International Project Collaboration
Discover global grant opportunities, cross-border partnerships, and innovative service models.💡 Leadership & Inspiration
Hear from past, current, and future Rotary leaders, including keynote speakers who will challenge your Rotary purpose and ignite your vision.🤝 Networking at Scale
Build real relationships with Rotarians from California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico.👩🎓 Rotaract & Youth Empowerment
Dedicated programming for young professionals, Interact advisors, and future leaders.💙 Hands-On Service & Unity
Participate in projects and learning sessions that reflect Rotary values of compassion, hope, and collective impact.
The Venue: Gaylord Pacific Resort
Located along the stunning Chula Vista Bayfront, the brand-new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center offers luxury accommodations, waterfront views, and world-class amenities — all steps from the Pacific Ocean.
Attendees will enjoy:
1,600+ guest rooms and suites
A massive state-of-the-art convention center
Atrium indoor gardens and dining experiences
Resort pool areas and spa services
Walkable bayfront promenade
Easy access to San Diego attractions, Tijuana, and Imperial Valley
This is the first major Rotary conference ever hosted at the Gaylord Pacific, making it a historic moment for our districts and our region.
Club Meeting with Youth Program Speakers
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.
Our speakers for this meeting will be students from Madison High School that we sent to Rotary District 5340’s Model United Nations Conference in March and RYLA in April. The Model UN students will share how they prepared for the program, how they presented their side(s) of the issues, what their reaction was to the event, and how the program prepared them for the next step in their life journey.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or “RYLA,” recognizes and rewards deserving 11th grade students for their leadership and service. Each April, about 200 young leaders attend an all-expenses-paid weekend in Idyllwild, where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends, and discuss ethical and social issues affecting leadership today.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians.
Breakfast Service at PATH Connections Housing
Help serve healthy and delicious meals to PATH’s 134 residents. By providing a meal to someone in need, you are making a difference in the community and the lives of others. They prepare breakfast every day of the week and need your help!
You will help chef prepare, plate and serve breakfast. Our goal is to recruit 6 volunteers. If we have just 3 volunteers, we will put out a continental breakfast instead of cooking breakfast. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow for parking and sign in and ensure you are ready to start at 7:00am.
Email us at mverotary@gmail.com to sign up.
Happy Hour at Novo
Join us for delicious drinks and food at Novo Brazil Brewing at the Mission Valley Mall. The restaurant’s actual happy hour deals end at 5:30pm so you’ll have to arrive early to take advantage of the discounted prices.
Potential members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com with any questions.
City Heights Rotaract Meeting
Join City Heights Rotaract Club at their monthly meeting. Our club sponsors City Heights Rotaract and Marge is one of their club advisors. Rotaract is a type of Rotary club for young professionals.
We encourage our members to attend at least one of their meetings within the Rotary year. Their meetings typically take place on 2nd Tuesdays. Please notify them at chrotaractclub@gmail.com if you plan on attending so they have an accurate headcount for dinner.
Comedy Night Social
Attend a night of laughter and good beer at Duck Foot Brewing Company’s Comedy Night Under the Stars hosted by our trivia emcee Alex Petit. Enjoy the best comedy acts in San Diego for free while sipping on some of the brewery’s signature brews!
Seats are first come first serve. We plan on getting there at 6:00pm for food from the food truck and drinks. There will be a food truck onsite with great Duck Foot beer. The show takes place outdoors and starts at 7:00pm. Please be advised this is a COMEDY SHOW, for ADULTS at a BREWERY!
The comedy show is free. There is a suggested 2 drink minimum. Tips for the comedians are appreciated!
Potential members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com with any questions.
RYLA Youth Leadership Camp
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or “RYLA,” is a program that originated with Rotary International and has since been specifically designed by Rotary District 5340 for students in San Diego and Imperial counties.
RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities.
These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid full-day experience where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve.
RYLA's intent is to encourage students to be more effective servant leaders. RYLA is not a camp intended to teach leadership skills (it is assumed that the students in attendance already possess those skills), however the following topics naturally arise in the course of RYLA activities and discussions:
Fundamentals of leadership
Ethics of positive leadership
Qualities of a "servant leader"
Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
Conflict management and problem solving
Building self-esteem and self confidence
Elements of community and global citizenship
Rotary's purpose of service to the community and world
Facilitators
One of the great joys of being a Rotarian is to share your vision of leadership and service with young people. RYLA gives you the opportunity to participate in leadership, learning and fellowship activities with some of the District’s finest high school juniors.
Your RYLA "Family"
Families are the essence of the RYLA conference. Participants will be divided into families to provide a more intimate learning and sharing experience. Each family consists of a Rotarian facilitator and up to 10 students from different high schools throughout our Rotary District. The family will become a close-knit community as a result of working together and sharing ideas after each major presentation and activity.
The process of facilitation is to guide or lead the family as it reflects on an experience, whether that experience was a speaker, a workshop or an activity. Effective facilitation enables students to share perspectives on a common experience through a productive dialog and then develop behavioral changes through enriched communication, trust, and teamwork.
What's required?
A desire to spend a weekend in a beautiful location with a group of inspiring young leaders.
All facilitators must undergo the Rotary District 5340 youth certification process.
Facilitators have a list of supplies to bring, which typically cost around $100. If you need assistance with this cost, please contact the facilitator coordinator.
RYLA takes place at a youth camp in Idyllwild, which is at an elevation of about 5,400 feet.
Facilitators may share a dorm or cabin with students. In this case, they are expected to ensure students are accounted for each night before lights out.
RYLA is a busy three days starting at around 7 a.m. and ending between 9 and 10 p.m. You won't have time to check in with the office, take phone calls or much else while you are with your student family.
The terrain at the RYLA camp is uneven with some hills. Facilitators need to be able to walk a couple of miles a day and sit on the ground.
If you have questions about becoming a RYLA facilitator, contact our club’s Youth Chair Jessica Long.
Club Leadership Learning Seminar
Rotary District 5340 invites you to the upcoming Club Leadership Learning Seminar (CLLS) — a vital event for all Rotary club leaders and members looking to grow, connect, and lead effectively.
This event, previously known as the District Training Assembly (DTA), has been renamed following action at the 2025 Council on Legislation held in April 2025.
Held only once a year, this event offers training for Rotarians including club officers, directors, and committee chairs to help them become more effective club leaders. All club members, especially new members, are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Come learn club management tips and best practices from other Rotarians throughout our region. This is a great opportunity to learn about Rotary and network with other Rotarians.
Registration this year is $25.00, which includes access to all classes plus Coffee Hour (coffee, tea, water, and pastries).
Grant Park Community Stewards
Get outside, connect with an amazing community, and help bring a new eco-park to life! Join us in volunteering with San Diego River Park Foundation for a fun and fulfilling morning at Grant Park, where you’ll connect with others, enjoy the fresh air, and make a real difference. This future nature education center and eco-park will provide free STEM and environmental learning experiences to thousands of underserved students per year! Help create a beacon of green space in the heart of Mission Valley by joining your community in vegetation removal and weeding, trash pick-up, graffiti removal, and occasional planting.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the event:
Bring: Trash grabbers, loppers, hand pruners, shovels, and gloves (if you have them). Reusable water bottle, hat, other forms of sun protection.
Attire: Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required
Weather: Light rain will not cancel the event
For safety reasons, no pets are allowed at this event
There are restroom facilities at this location
All ages are welcome, but those under 16 need supervision. Ages 16 and 17 are allowed alone but with a parent signature.
Let us know our Community Service Director Linda know if you can make it or email us at mverotary@gmail.com
SDSU Rotaract Networking Event
SDSU Rotaract and San Diego Rotary are excited to host a district-wide networking event designed to build meaningful connections among Rotary members while showcasing their clubs’ initiatives and future plans to Rotarians! This event is open to all Rotaractors and Rotarians, and they encourage everyone to join them for an evening of networking, collaboration, and community-building.
Event Details:
When: Saturday, March 21
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Montezuma Hall, SDSU (2nd floor of our Aztec Student Union)
Dress Code: Professional Attire
Food and drinks: Available on a first come first-serve basis!
Cost: None, the event is completely free!
** Please keep in mind that check-in will begin at 5:00 pm **
If you have any questions please text or email SDSU Rotaract President, Peyton Schoen
Phone Number: (530) 760-8700
Email: sdsurotaractpresident@gmail.com
VolunBEERS: A Hoppy Service Project
Our Public Image Chair Jessie Case is inviting our members to attend VolunBEERS, a fundraiser for HandsOn San Diego where attendees have the opportunity to give back to the San Diego community through volunteer service while enjoying the best beer San Diego has to offer.
The March VolunBEERS is dedicated to Groundwork San Diego - Chollas Creek. We'll be repotting succulent cuttings and Groundwork will be donating them to elementary students and families that attend their EarthLab events. Volunteers are encouraged to wear green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
Space and supplies are limited, so we recommend buying your tickets early. General admission is $25 for the Thumbs Up ticket which includes project supplies + one non-alcoholic beverage. Drink deals are $30 for the High Five ticket which includes project supplies + one 7oz pour, or $50 for the Handshake ticket which includes project supplies + up to three 7oz pours.
Club Meeting with Discussion on Connection
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.
The speaker for this meeting will be our own member, Richard Jennings. Originally from Virginia, it was the Marine Corps that brought him here and it is San Diego that keeps him here. Richard will lead an open discussion on building connection.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians. Since this meeting takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, we’re hosting a baked potato bar. You can sign up to bring something to share here. If you bring something, no need to bring $10.
We’ll have a painting fundraiser during the meeting. Bill Stanhope has generously donated a collection of paintings to our club. The proceeds will go toward our club’s contributions to PolioPlus which supports polio eradication efforts. After the meeting, some of us will go to Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks (just across the shopping center from the library) to keep enjoying each other’s company. Anyone is welcome to join!
Outreach Program Meal Packing Project
We are inviting the San Diego community to join us for a hands-on service project to provide over 10,000 high-protein meals to the San Diego Food Bank and Just in Time for Foster Youth.
California food banks are seeing more families requesting food assistance now than before the pandemic, and fewer donations of food. Our goal is to provide thousands of shelf-stable, protein-rich meals to the San Diego Food Bank to help them meet the demand for healthy food options.
All training and instructions will be provided. Adults and minors age 7+ with a parent are welcome. This project is hosted in partnership with Old Mission Rotary and with grant funding from Rotary District 5340.
Madison High Spring Band Concert
Join us Thursday, March 5 to support the Madison High School concert band. The Madison High School concert band performs throughout the year and represents their school in our community. MJ’s son and Arna’s grandson, Ell is a member of the band. We sponsor RYLA and Model UN students from Madison High School so let’s support their band also!
We’ll first have dinner at 5:00pm at Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant at 5420 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard near Madison High School. The concert starts at 6:30pm at the high school and is free!
Potential members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com with any questions.
City Heights Rotaract Meeting & Peacemaker Award
Join City Heights Rotaract Club at their monthly meeting. Our club sponsors City Heights Rotaract and Marge is one of their club advisors. Rotaract is a type of Rotary club for young professionals. We encourage our members to attend at least one of their meetings within the Rotary year.
Their meeting in February will feature their annual presentation of the Chuck Pretto Peacemaker Award. Come and celebrate with City Heights Rotaract as they recognize an individual who has made a great impact in our community. Please make sure to RSVP ahead of time and mark this date on your calendar. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to their Peace Chair Williams at 619-452-4855 or Club President Carlos at 619-804-8705
Parking: Resident street parking is available or you can also park for free at Joyner Elementary School at 3429 Van Dyke Ave.
Dinner will be provided, all are welcome, but RSVP is requested.
Club Meeting with Peace Speaker
We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.
The speaker for this meeting will be Linghan Chen. Linghan is a Rotary Global Grant Peace Scholar and a student at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego, where she is getting her Master’s Degree in Conflict Management and Resolution.
Linghan is from the People’s Republic of China. Her hometown, Xiamen, is a coastal city on the western side of the Pacific Ocean. She has previously worked for the United Nations as an intern and Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining as a staff member.
Linghan will join us thanks to Rotary International, Rotary District 5340, the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise, the Rotary Club of Nelson, British Columbia, and the Rotary Club of Shanghai.
Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at mverotary@gmail.com to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians.
Happy Hour at Lazy Dog
We’re trying out hosting monthly socials. Our February social will take place at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in Mission Valley. Lazy Dog is a relaxed, lodge-chic chain serving global comfort fare, including stir-fries, pot roast & pastas. Lazy Dog's happy hour ends at 6:00, but we intend to be happy long after that, view the menu here.
Potential members and guests are welcome! Contact us at mverotary@gmail.com with any questions.
Thousand Smiles Clinic
Thousand Smiles provides free maxillofacial surgery, dental treatment, and various associated procedures to children from financially challenged families in Mexico. The foundation is totally funded by donations including but not limited to Rotary International Grants, other foundation grants, Rotary Club donations, and personal donations. Thousand Smiles is completely managed and run by volunteers. They host quarterly clinics at their location in Ensenada to provide cleft lip and palate surgeries as well as regular dental care.
Time/Schedule
Volunteers to be onsite at 9am each day, unless otherwise noted. Lunch will be provided (but please bring your own water/snacks). Expect to finish about 5pm each day.
Expectations
We are all working together to make these two days a success. We have been doing this for forty years and have a good schedule established. However, things do shift, and we appreciate your ability to be flexible.
Meals
Please bring your snacks and water. Lunch for volunteers will be provided.
What to Bring and Wear
For general volunteering, please wear comfortable clothing with closed-toed shoes. For practitioners and nurses please bring your necessary scrubs, gowns, etc.
Tips to Remember
Plan your trip to start and finish in daylight
When possible, caravan with at least 2 or 3 vehicles.
Don’t pull over for any vehicles not marked as police vehicles, even if they display red flashing lights.
If you have more than one vehicle, try to always take the one that attracts less attention. In other words, leave the Rolls Royce at home.
Leave your expensive jewelry and watches at home.
Obey All Road Laws
Always drive within the speed limit. Remember the signs are in kilometers per hour.
Don’t drink and drive.
Try not to do anything that would give a police officer reason to pull you over. If you do everything right you will be more likely to suspect that the red flashing lights behind you are not from a police vehicle rather than pulling over automatically.
Don’t pull off the road to take a nap or camp out. Wait until you get to the rest area at one of the toll stations.
SD Themed Trivia Night Fundraiser
Join us for San Diego Themed Trivia!
Get ready to show off your knowledge of all things San Diego at our 2nd annual trivia night fundraiser - it's going to be a blast!
Mission Valley Evening Rotary invites you to join us at Novo Brazil Brewing Mission Valley for a night of fun and friendly competition. Test your knowledge of all things San Diego while supporting a great cause. Gather your friends, form a team, and get ready to answer questions about our sunny city. Prizes await the top trivia masters, so bring your A-game! Let's come together for a memorable evening filled with laughter, good drinks, and a dash of friendly rivalry.
You can sign up either as an individual or as a team of up to 4 members. Each round will include one San Diego focused question in addition to general knowledge questions. Delicious food and drinks will be available for purchase from Novo Brazil Brewing. Please arrive at 3:30pm so we can start promptly at 4:00pm. Attendees are encouraged to dress in San Diego themed attire so wear your favorite Padres jersey, rep your Aztec gear, wear your favorite beach look, or get creative!
With the help of Old Mission Rotary and a matching grant from Rotary District 5340, we’ll be able to pack over 10,000 meals for San Diegans experiencing food insecurity if we reach our goal of $1,500. Any additional funds raised our goal will go to the Mission Valley Evening Rotary Foundation (MVE Rotary Foundation). The MVE Rotary Foundation is the grant giving arm of Mission Valley Evening Rotary which provides funds to local and international organizations.
Mission Valley Evening Rotary is a group of professionals and community members serving San Diego, CA. Our club hosts service projects and social activities, along with our monthly meetings.
UCSD Rotaract WAPI Project
Rotaract at UCSD presents its 11th annual WAPI Project -- their signature annual event! All are welcome to attend! Help them get to their goal of making and testing 1000 water pasteurization indicators (WAPIs) to send to resource-poor regions across the world. Don't know how to make a WAPI? No worries -- they have volunteers ready to help you through the process!
The deadline to fill out their RSVP form is Wednesday, January 21st 11:59 P.M.
When:
January 25th (Sunday), 2026
10:00am to 4:00pm - Feel free to arrive and depart anytime throughout the event!
Location: UCSD, Great Hall in ERC's I-House. Located directly across Scholar's Lane from Pangea Parking Structure.
Visitor Parking: Pangea Parking Structure is $4.50/hr (maximum of $9)
FREE OPTION: There is normally parking at Gliderport or the road leading down to it. Would be about a 10-15 minute walk from Gliderport to Great Hall.
What is a WAPI?
WAPIs (Water Pasteurization Indicators) are reusable devices specifically designed to melt a wax coating inside the device when water has reached pasteurization temperature and is safe to drink. In some areas of the world, people collect water from natural sources, which are often ridden with disease-causing bacteria. To prevent getting sick, the water is typically boiled prior to drinking/using. However, water does not need to be boiled in order to be safe to drink, because pasteurization (the act of using heat to kill off the dangerous bacteria) occurs at 150° F, a much lower temperature than water's boiling point (212° F). Therefore, a lot of time and resources, such as fuel and wood, are wasted when water is brought to the boiling point, rather than the pasteurization point. This is where the WAPI comes in. A WAPI contains a special wax that melts at 150° and indicates when the water is safe to drink. Thus, WAPIs help communities lacking easy access to clean, drinkable water save time, money, and energy, by indicating when their water is safe to drink, before it boils!
Contact UCSD Rotaract at secretary@rotaractucsd.org, if you have any question/concerns/comments.
Assemble Baskets for Trivia Night Silent Auction
Our Fundraising Committee is asking for your help! The committee has been soliciting donations for the silent auction and raffle at our San Diego Themed Trivia Fundraiser. On Saturday Jan. 24 we will be grouping those items into baskets/packages and packing them in an aesthetically appealing way. This is an important task because last year the silent auction raised nearly $1,500, that’s 40% of our total proceeds!
This event will take place at a member’s home in El Cajon and is for members and invited guests only. Please bring any extra baskets, ribbons, or bows you are willing to donate to the effort.