WELCOME TO OUR CLUB!
 
You are invited to be our guest for lunch.  We meet most Tuesdays from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM at La Valencia Hotel in the Village of La Jolla, 1132 Prospect St.  Usually, we have a club social on the last Tuesday of the month instead.
 
Our Vision: Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
 
Our Mission: The mission of the Rotary Club of La Jolla is to be an energized and proactive Service Club consistent with our motto:  "Service Above Self". We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
OUR PRESIDENT'S WELCOME LETTER

For more than 75 years, the Rotary Club of La Jolla has proudly served our local, national, and global communities. We’re especially passionate about supporting young people, through scholarships for college-bound students, Interact programs at La Jolla High School and The Bishop’s School, and our cross-border Tijuana Scholars initiative co-sponsored with the Rotary Club of Tijuana.

At our core, we’re a community of people who believe in making a positive difference. Guided by Rotary’s shared vision of a world where people unite to take action and create lasting change, in our communities and within ourselves, we invite you to experience the impact of Rotary firsthand.


If our mission resonates with you, we’d love for you to join us for a Tuesday lunch meeting at the historic La Valencia Hotel. Let’s connect and explore how we can make a difference together.

 
RUSSELL KING
CLUB STORIES
A Visit to our Scholars Lab in Tijuana

For 42 years, our club has been operating Scholars lab in Tijuana to benefit the youth who live near the landfill, one of the poorest parts of Tijuana. The lab is in a classroom that we funded in a community center built by the Rotary Club of Tijuana. Recently our President Russell King, president, Denise McGuire toured the lab with a David Cash, a coordinator from the Tijuana Rotary Club and our Clubs’ coordinator Tina Deroche. Sixth graders are carefully selected by the principal of the local elementary school for the program which continues through the 12 th grade. Classes are held on Saturdays and teach English and computer skills. Our club provides a $50 per month stipend to the families to compensate them for the money, their son her daughter might earn by working on a Saturday. Local college students assist our students in the classroom.

 

A Beautiful Rotary Reunion Across the Pacific: La Jolla Celebrates Friendship in Sasebo, Japan
Rotary reminds us again and again that friendship has no borders.
 
Recently, Rotary Club of La Jolla President Russell King had the honor of representing his club, along with the spirit of Rotary District 5340, during a special visit to the club’s Sister Club in Sasebo, Japan. The occasion was deeply meaningful, as the visit coincided with the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Sasebo and the 65th anniversary of one of their sister clubs in Taiwan.
 
Joining Russell on this memorable journey were Denise McGuire, President Elect, and Charles Hartford, President Elect Nominee. Together, they experienced the extraordinary hospitality, warmth, and fellowship of their Rotary family abroad. From wonderful meals and meaningful conversations to a harbor cruise on a Rotarian’s boat and even lively karaoke, the visit was filled with joyful moments and heartfelt connection.
 
The anniversary celebration itself was a remarkable event attended by hundreds of guests. President Russell King was honored to be seated alongside the Mayor of Sasebo and his wife, the President of the Sasebo Rotary Club and his wife, and the President of the Taiwan sister club and his wife. It was a powerful reminder of the respect Rotary leaders share around the world and of the lasting bonds that are built through service and friendship.
 
More than anything, this unforgettable visit strengthened relationships and reflected the very best of Rotary. It reminded all who attended that our Rotary family extends far beyond our own communities. Across cultures, languages, and oceans, we are united by a shared commitment to service, goodwill, and human connection.
 
For the members of the Rotary Club of La Jolla, these memories will be treasured for years to come. And the excitement is already building for next year, when La Jolla will celebrate its own 80th anniversary and have the privilege of welcoming its friends from Sasebo to Southern California.
 
In true Rotary spirit, gifts were exchanged, friendships were deepened, and yes, President Russell’s presidential backpack made its debut in Japan. Russell also shared that ducks were among the many cheerful gifts exchanged along the way, adding a fun and memorable touch to an already extraordinary experience.
 
This beautiful visit stands as a shining example of international fellowship in action and of the powerful ways Rotary continues to unite people across the world.
Business Person of the Year Award: Bill Meanley

The Business Person of the Year Award recognizes a local business owner or employee who makes a significant contribution to the community through service and dedication. Hammer & Nails Hardware has served Pacific Beach and La Jolla in the same location on Turquois Street since 1946. Bill Meanley has owned the store since 1991 and joined the Ace Hardware cooperative in 2004. Bill and his team provide proactive and personalized support that exceeds customer expectations. The neighborhood store is known for long- time employees who build relationships with customers to find solutions to their home and yard needs. Hammer & Nails supports the community in many ways including sponsorship of youth activities and local school projects.


Bill has been a member of the La Jolla Rotary Club since 1994 and has been active in numerous programs and projects.  He has supported the La Jolla High School Interact Club’s Tijuana home builds like nobody else.  Supporting over 25 builds, Bill has allowed club leadership to procure up to $200 worth of supplies, hammers, and whatever is needed each time without question.  These costs add up quickly and without his support, it would be very difficult to come up with the money as the cost of a home build has doubled over time.
 

We are honored to present Bill with the well-deserved Business Person of the Year Award in 2026 and thank Hammer & Nails for serving the community with genuine care.

 

Another Rewarding RYLA Experience

Members of our Interact Cub at La Jolla High School came to our April 14 meeting to tell us about their three-day Rotary youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) experience Just completed. This is an intensive leadership training program for high school juniors which we sponsor every year. In a camp environment participants develop leadership skills, build conference, and make connections through workshops and activities. The purpose of RYLA is to develop, recognize and empower young leaders, and encouraging them to be able to be catalysts for a positive change in their schools and communities.

Rooted in Service: La Jolla High Interact Students Transform Outdoor Space

LJHS Interact Club members noticed a 4‘ X 100‘ space along Westbourne St. leading to the front door of their school was covered in weeds and trash. They decided to take this on as a project.

With $2,000 from our Club for plants and supplies they gathered one Saturday early February to remove the weeds and trash, prepare the area, and re-landscape with the new plants.

Our youth service chair, Craig Schniepp talked about the significance of this re-landscaping project. “All schools now only have one point of entry. Everyone had to walk past this section which was nothing but weeds and trash. The interactors wanted something that all students, staff, and parents would enjoy and be proud of.”

LJHS principal Chuck Podhorsky agreed. “We are incredibly grateful to be part of such an extraordinary community. Our local Rotary Club is an invaluable partner to our school and our students consistently demonstrating generosity, service in a deep commitment to supporting young people. The replanting and beautification of the area in front of our school is yet another example of their kindness and dedication. Their efforts not only enhance the physical environment of our campus but also reflect the strong spirit of collaboration and Care that makes our community so special.” Chuck Marsh & quotes from La Jolla Light.

 

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SPEAKERS
Celeste Parry, U.S.Navy Marine Mammal Program
May 12, 2026 12:00 PM
Training Mammals for the Navy
Kiwanis 1/2 Marathan Water Station #6
May 16, 2026 6:00 AM
Near Scripps Clinic Hospital on Torrey Pines Road
Natascha Vossen, Scholarship Chair & Asst. Lance
May 19, 2026 12:00 PM
Presenting our Riford & Rotary Scholarship recipents
Ana Espana, Chief Judge, San Diego Juvenile Courts
Jun 02, 2026 12:00 PM
What is going on in our Juvenile Court System
UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla - NOTE a Friday
Jun 05, 2026 7:15 AM
A Joint Meeting of the four LJ Rotary clubs at the Faculty Club
Kim Heinie
Jun 09, 2026 12:00 PM
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CALENDER

May 2026

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UPCOMING EVENTS
CLUB EXECUTIVES DIRECTORY
President
Russell King
President Elect
Denise McGuire
Past President
Robert Teaff
Secretary
Barbara Brown
Treasurer
Pat Stouffer
Club Service
Penny Shurtleff
Community Service
Courtney Snyder
International Service
Anya Singleton
Vocational Service
Vince Glorioso
Youth Service
Craig Schniepp
Club Administration
David Brockett
Webmaster
Chuck Marsh
Membership
Midge Coburn
Scholarship committee
Natascha Vossen
Public Image Officer
Cindy Goodman
Club Foundation Chair
Bill Burch
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