On Saturday, March 29th, Centennial High School's Interact Club (of Bakersfield East Rotary Club) volunteered at the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science's annual Spectacular World of Science event. Promoting science education and curiosity, CHS Interactors guided children and visitors around various science-related booths and led activities, ranging from showing how to use a microscope to sharing fun facts about fossils!
A Message from the District Governor
My District 5240 Rotary Family
The Rotary theme for this month, March, is ‘Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.’ As Leonardo da Vinci famously said, “Water is the driving force of all nature.” This profound statement resonates with all of us, as we recognize the vital role water plays in sustaining life.
The Rotary Club of Chicago’s first known service project, in 1907, was the construction of public toilets, or “comfort stations,” to improve sanitation in the city. This project marked the beginning of Rotary’s journey, making it the world’s first service club.
In our District, clubs have partnered with local organizations to build toilets, rainwater collection systems, communal handwashing stations, and water filters. We’ve also worked on establishing water supply and delivery systems, educating communities on maintenance, and providing hygiene education.
Globally, The Rotary Foundation has invested over $130 million in more than 2,000 WASH Global Grant Projects since 2013. These efforts have improved access to safely managed and basic WASH services for communities, schools, and healthcare facilities while safeguarding water resources. Incidentally, Past District Governor Wade Nomura chairs the Rotary Action Group WASH’s Operations Team. (https://www.wash-rag.org/)
The unwavering commitment, dedication, and generosity of Rotarians continues to inspire me. Last week, I visited the Wasco Rotary club, which has around 23 members. Recognized as the go-to service club in their community, they are expanding their impact by building wells in Africa. The list of service projects within our district is nothing short of remarkable.
Bruce Lee wisely said, “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless—like water. Water adapts to any container and can flow or crash. Be water, my friend.” Rotarians embody this spirit—fluid, flexible, resilient, and dedicated to meeting community needs.
“Rotary Is Love” + Service = Magic of Rotary
“Rotary Is Love” + Service = Magic of Rotary
As always, thanks for all you do 💜
District Governor Sherry Sim
March 14, 2025
Rotary District 5240 Focus on Rotarian Dr. Bob Skankey
Maternal and child health continues to be a primary focus of District 5240 Rotarians. In December of 2024 Dr. Bob Skankey contacted artist Leslie Clark to commission a series of paintings depicting their experiences working with nomads in Niger. Here is the back story.
In 1994 artist Leslie Clark traveled to Niger for the first time looking for exotic subject matter to paint. She fell in love with the nomads and their desert environment. She went down a rabbit hole that led to a life she never expected. After several return trips she bought a cow for a Wodaabe nomad to thank him for his generous welcome.
Come rain or shine, Westlake Village Sunrise Rotarians deliver. On a drizzly day in March, a group of Westlake Village Sunrise Rotarians delivered 150 bags containing self-care or hygiene products to Harbor House to be distributed to unhoused individuals in our community. The contents of each bag included such products as soap, lotion, lip balm, a toothbrush, toothpaste, tissues, lip balm, a comb, 2 ‘N 1 shampoo/conditioner and a protein bar.
These items were donated by the members of our club and the bags were assembled at one of our morning meetings in February. The assembly of the bags allowed our club to foster camaraderie while supplying essential items to unhoused individuals.
In 2022, near the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Daleiden saw an article about an area nonprofit’s need for help putting together Easter baskets for foster and at-risk children.
Chris, the community service director of the Rotary Club of Westlake Village, thought it would be a great club project.
She approached then President Mike Dutra, who got the club to allocate money. That money, along with donations from club members, enabled the Westlake Rotary Club to put together baskets for children supported by James Storehouse, a Newbury Park 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps children in foster care, young people aging out of foster care and exploited and at-risk children.
