WELCOME TO DISTRICT 5240
Rotary District 5240 is made up of over 3,300 members, from 72 clubs, in 4 different counties within California, United States. We meet regularly to not only form bonds and friendships, but we also strive to improve lives locally and around the world.
 
There have been so many inquiries asking where people can help with the current fire disaster in our beloved District. There are several avenues people can donate money:
  • Ventura County Community Foundation (This is the foundation we worked with last year with the Thomas Fire.)
  • District 5240 Charitable Foundation - If you want to donate to our D5240 Charitable Foundation, send checks to: District 5240 Charitable Foundation, Attn: Barry VanderKelen, Chair, 1212 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Write "Fire Relief" in the memo section on the check. Or click on the Donate button below.
  • In response to the #HillFire and #WoolseyFire, United Way of Ventura County and United Way of Greater Los Angeles have created the Southern California Disaster Relief Fund to support long-term recovery for affected low-income individuals and families. Make a donation online at www.unitedwayla.org/en/give/disaster-relief-fund/ or text ‘UWVC’ at 41444 for Ventura County only.
Donate to the Rotary District 5240 Charitable Foundation
 
Sandi Schwartz
District Governor 2018-19
Rotary District 5240
 
Stories From Around the District
5 Things You Didn't Know About Rotaract
MY EXPERIENCE AT THE 2018 BIG WEST ROTARACT CONFERENCE
By: Yuan Xie
 
Hello! My name is Yuan Xie (pronounced like you and me). I am a fourth-year undergraduate student at UC Santa Barbara, and I am currently president of the campus-based Rotaract club. We started the chapter in September of last year, and it’s been a blast ever since!

Fact 1: Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has sponsored two Rotaract Clubs – one at SBCC and one at UCSB.

Fact 2: UCSB is the last undergraduate UC to have a campus-based Rotaract Club.
 

UCSB, UCLA, UCSC, UCD, and UC Berkeley Representing at BWR Conference 2018
 
Read more...
4-Way Test Essay Contest
Goal
To encourage students to consider how “The 4-Way Test” can be used in everyday decision-making. This is accomplished by expressing their thoughts in an essay that relates a case or story where they applied these principles in their everyday life.
 
Who is Eligible?
All elementary school (1-5), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) students.
 
Awards
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for elementary, middle, and high school
 
     First Place - $300      Second Place - $200      Third Place - $100
 
Winners will be selected by a District Review Team for the above listed cash awards. The cash awards will be handed out by the sponsoring Club President and the District Governor, or District Representative.
 
Read more...
District 5240 2021-22 Governor
Dana Moldovan was a partner in a high tech company that was acquired by a public company. After completing her contract with the buyer, Dana started a 501©3 nonprofit organization, Children Skills for Life, whose mission is to help children build their future through education, and began working full time on humanitarian projects.
 
Dana joined Rotary International in 2002 and is an active member of Newbury Park Club, District 5240.  She is Past President and was always involved in the Club in International and Local Community projects; she is the Club Grants expert. Dana served as the Club International, Grants and Foundation Chair, District Chair for the 100th Anniversary District Foundation Gala, District Country Coordinator for Youth Exchange. At the Rotary International Level Dana serves as Inter Country Committee - General Secretary and National Coordinator for USA.  Dana is also part of Rotary International Action Group for Peace.
 
Read more...
Origins of a Global Grant
Why should you give to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund? Your contribution to the Annual Fund is the primary source of support for Rotary Club projects worldwide. “To ensure that the funds for the projects are there when needed,” says Past RI President Ron Burton, “all contributions to the Foundation’s Annual Fund are invested for three years.” When the three years period is up, the investment earnings of your gift go toward the operating expenses of the Foundation. Your principal is split 50/50, with half going to our District Designated Fund and half going into the World Fund, a pool that the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation use to match grants where they are most needed.” 

To better explain how the TRF Global Grant process works, I want to tell you about a project that I am personally involved with that originated on my trip to India last January. Prior to joining the D5240 2018 NID team in Delhi, Kay Bliss, Susan Weaver and I spent five days visiting the Prashanti International School in the city of Puri, India. Puri is in the state of Odisha on the Bay of Bengal. Odisha is one of the poorest states in India - 80% rural, with many families living well below the poverty index, often on less than 50 cents per day. 
 
Read more...
District 5240 NID Trip 2019
District 5240 is putting together another team of Rotarians to India to participate in a NID (National Immunization Day) on February 3-4, 2019.
 
The trip will most likely start on January 28th and end around February 9th 2019. Besides the activities on Feb. 3rd, door to door immunization will be conducted over a few days starting on the 4th (we will do door to door immunization only for 1 day). This will entail some long hours and lots of walking (which means you need to be in good shape, physically and mentally).
 
Here are some guidelines that will influence the selection process:
Read more...
Keeping Paso Robles Beautiful
The Paso Robles Rotary Club connected with their local Interact club to help clean up the Salinas River Bed this last Saturday.  Rotarians and Interactors in Action, together, helping keep Paso beautiful.
Disney Tickets for Non-Profits and Schools

Disney Parks and Points of Light are celebrating family volunteerism by rewarding nonprofits and schools in the United States with Disney 1-Day Park Hopper tickets for hosting – or participating in – family volunteering activities.Eligible organizations create and register projects, track family volunteers, and complete projects to receive complimentary park tickets from Disney. Projects can benefit the organization directly, or support another community effort or need. The more volunteers participating in your project, the more tickets you earn – up to 20 tickets! Tickets may be used to reward volunteers, as a contest prize, for a fundraiser, or in other creative ways.

 

Read more...
Council on Resolutions 2018 Vote

The Council on Resolutions meets online each year. Representatives from all of Rotary’s districts vote on resolutions that clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the General Council or Conference of RIBI have proposed. The RI Board of Directors will consider all resolutions that the Council adopts. Learn more about the Council on Resolutions.

If you are a Council representative, sign in to vote.

View the current resolution proposals: 2018 Council on Resolutions: 15-Oct to 15-Nov

Rotary Club of Montecito Gives $12,500 in Scholarships to Santa Barbara City College Students
In partnership with the SBCC Foundation, the Rotary Club of Montecito and its supporting foundation is pleased to announce a contribution to provide ten $1,250 scholarships to high performing Santa Barbara City College students. Montecito Rotary Club has long prioritized education as a key area of focus by providing financial support to ensure Santa Barbara’s local youth are able to maximize their potential.

“For more than 25 years, the Rotary Club of Montecito has provided scholarships for students in the Vocational and Career Technical Studies at Santa Barbara City College; the total amount of support provided during this time exceeds $100,000,” said Rotary Club of Montecito Foundation Treasurer John Glanville. “This year the club funded ten scholarships for a total of $12,500. These scholarships cover a range of vocational endeavors including a variety of medical studies, automotive and marine diving technologies, cosmetology, journalism, computer systems, and theatre arts. The club membership believes in the mission of SBCC to educate and provide opportunity to students seeking worthwhile careers in a variety of career technical fields.” 

 
Read more...
 
 
Share Your Club Stories

Rotary District 5240 encourages clubs within the District to submit short articles, "Club Stories," to be published on the District Website and in the District Newsletter. Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to showcase your club's accomplishments. Here are the guidelines and the "how-to" for submitting your stories.   

WHAT qualifies as a Club Story?

Club Stories are highlights of District 5240 Club-specific activities. The following examples illustrate activities that qualify as District 5240 Club Stories (upcoming or after the fact):
  • Community Service Projects
  • International Service Projects
  • New Membership Highlights
  • Club Fundraising Events
  • Member Award Recognitions

HOW do I submit my Club Story?

After you make sure the story qualifies as a "Club Story," you may submit it by emailing ALL of the following items to stories@district5240.org:
  1. A short summary of the activity, minimum 50 words and maximum 250 words. Please submit as a Word doc and proofread prior to sending. If the content is copywrited/re-used from another source, permission must be granted and please reference the source.
  2. Include 2-3 of the best photographs taken from the activity. If there are individuals included in the photo, please include names and Club titles of each Rotarian. (If there is a YouTube video link taken from the event, please include as well).
  3. Include the contact information of the most appropriate Rotarian that others may reach out to regarding the featured story.

WHERE will my Club Story be posted?

The three most recently published Club Stories will be highlighted on the homepage of www.rotarydistrict5240.org, while an archive of previous Club Stories will be included and available to view under the menu tab, District -> Archived District Stories.
Your story may also be selected for the District Newsletter which goes out to our nearly 3300 active members.
 

WHEN will my Club Story be posted after I submit?

Depending on the amount of Club Stories in the cue, your article could take as short as 24 hours or up to 2 weeks to be published after all necessary information is received.
 

We hope that you take advantage of this promotional opportunity for your Club!

Questions about Club Stories? Please email stories@district5240.org for assistance.
Questions about the website? Please email website@district5240.org for assistance.
 
District Newsletter
 
District Rotary Foundation
 
Our District
 
 
Events Calendar
December 2018
S M T W T F S
25
26
27
28
29
30
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
01
02
03
04
05
 
Upcoming District Events
 

EVENT FLYERS

 
4-Way Test Essay Contest - February 1, 2019
 
PRLS - February 15 - 17, 2019
 
Rotary International Convention - June 1, 2019
 
Dinner in Hamburg - June 2, 2019
 
Connect With Us
 
Links
Deadline for submission of stories is the 20th of the month, please send to stories@district5240.org
Have you joined the District Facebook Group yet?
Have you created a My Rotary account at Rotary.org yet? If not, click the Rotary logo for instructions on how to create your account.