Their aspirations range from becoming a dental hygienist with plans to engage in a program for those who cannot afford dental care, history teacher, and film director, to more unique and ambitious paths like underwater welder, large animal veterinarian, Naval Intelligence Officer, neurosurgeon specializing in encephalitis and other seizure-related conditions, as well as a focus on astronomy and astrophysics to work for NASA.
A Message from the District Governor
🫶 My District 5240 Rotary Family 🫶
This will be my last e-letter to each of you as District Governor. It’s been a true honor to serve as your District Governor this Rotary year. Though my Step Down is scheduled with the District Awards this Saturday, June 14, at the Edwards Barn in Nipomo, I have about 18 days till June 30 in the post. Hopefully, I will see you in person this Saturday, and if not, at the next Rotary event.
June marks Rotary Fellowships Month when we recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program. Fellowships equate friendships and the family of Rotary. Many of us join Rotary for different reasons. Surveys show that majority of us stay because of the friendships or fellowships. A good friend, in a child's eyes, is someone who accepts them for who they are, treats them nicely, and is honest. Isn’t that so true?
Last week, I posted on social media that one of our very own, Steven Gibbs, was badly hurt in a car accident and suffered head trauma. Steve served as our District Youth Protection Officer for many years. He and his wife, Li Gibbs, are strong advocates of youth service, having headed KernYES (Youth Empowerment Summit) for several years in Kern County. Both have been RYLA counselors and instructors, and are proactive with the Interact and Rotaract clubs in Kern County. I asked that we pray together as the Rotary family for Steve’s full recovery. Yesterday, I received good news from Li that Steve was awake and able to breathe on his own. So, please continue to pray for Steve’s speedy recovery. It’s going to be a long healing process. Steve and Li need our help. If you are able, please consider making a donation via https://gofund.me/c00c1b4c
It’s a gift to be in Rotary because of our global Rotary family and how we can impact lives together and make friends across the globe. I was in Morelia, Mexico last month, to check out a school classroom project. A new classroom has been built for about 29 students in a 350-student elementary school. We were there for the ribbon cutting and to witness the transition of the students from the old, dilapidated classroom to the new shining classroom with new whiteboard, new flooring & walls, windows and brand new desks. Before we moved over, I got a chance to meet the 3rd graders. Even though I didn’t speak Spanish and none of the young students spoke English, they knew how to thank Rotary. One little girl, who was seated in front, raised her hands and made a heart - a universal sign of gratitude that I understood immediately. I choked up before I could speak. I knew I made a friend there.
- Four Proclamations on September being the Month of Service from the County Supervisors in Kern, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties
- Total Annual Fund Giving of approx. $776,000; PolioPlus Fund of $140,000; Over $201,000 to Endowment plus Other Donations totaling $1,222,349
- 11 Approved Global Grants, 11 Global Grants Submitted, 3 Pending Authorizations & 10 Drafted Global Grants, and 67 District Grants
- An extensive list of local service projects- scholarships, food programs, community clean-ups, community rebuilding & beautification, fighting human trafficking, youth programs, supporting local schools / non-profits and countless more.
- Based on only 18 clubs submission of Impact Reports, 225 service projects of about $1.6 million service value involving 24,000 hours impacted 287,000 lives. If we were to include all the service projects carried out by all 68 clubs in our District, the service hours, value and lives impacted would be amplified enormously and incredibly.
Rotary Is Love + Service = Magic of Rotary!
Sherry Peckhoon Sim
Rotary District 5240 Governor 2024-2025
Rotary Club of Cayucos
805-234-4315
June 12, 2025
Updated Constitutional Documents
Rotary’s revised constitutional documents, incorporating all of the enactments adopted by the 2025 Council on Legislation (COL), are now available in English. The following three documents have been updated:
- Constitution of Rotary International
- Bylaws of Rotary International
- Standard Rotary Club Constitution
Trustee and Board Action on Items Adopted by the 2024 COR
The 2024 Council On Resolutions (COL) referred a number of items to the TRF Trustees and the RI Board for further action. The Board and the Trustees met in February 2025. At these meetings, both groups reviewed items referred from the COR. Their decisions regarding these items have been summarized here.