A MESSAGE FROM THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR

December Highlights & January Preview
Cindy and I hope your holiday season was filled with joy, and we wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
We kicked off 2026 by participating in the Tournament of Roses Parade, helping decorate the Rotary float and, for me, walking alongside it on New Year’s Day. Despite the rain, the beauty, energy, and enthusiasm of the parade truly shined through. Several of our clubs and Interact members made the trip to assist with float decoration, and I encourage everyone to take part in this unforgettable Rotary experience in the years ahead.
December was a busy and festive month, with visits to six clubs and attendance at numerous club events and holiday parties. Thank you all for the warm hospitality. The Santa Maria Parade of Lights was a standout, showcasing four clubs from the Santa Maria/Nipomo area working together throughout the year to make it a tremendous success, well worth attending if you’re nearby next year. Another highlight was the Westlake Village Rotary Club’s annual Holidays in the Village event, which drew more than 12,000 attendees to a European Holiday Marketplace and provided outstanding visibility for Rotary.
Welcome Satellite Club of China Lake
January has us scheduled to visit four clubs, with ten more remaining, including the newly approved Satellite Club of China Lake. Congratulations and thank you to Assistant Governor Mary Meyer Lundstrom, Club President Ricca Charlon, and the entire team for welcoming 20 new Rotarians into our Rotary family.
January is Vocational Service Month
I’d like to share the following from President Suzie of the Tehachapi Clubs’ monthly newsletter. January is Vocational Service Month, a time to highlight how our professional skills can be used for community betterment, promote high ethical standards in all careers, recognize the value of all useful work, and mentor youth as they prepare for future workplaces. It is also an opportunity to reflect on ways we can host workplace visits, offer career guidance, apply our expertise to service projects, and embody the principle of “Service Above Self” in our daily lives and volunteer efforts.
The next six months for your Club and the District
Over the next six months, District leadership will continue working closely with clubs to finish the 2025–2026 year strong while preparing and training our 2026–2027 leaders. As we Unite for Good, we do so together, building stronger clubs, stronger communities, and a more peaceful and understanding world. This is a good time to review your clubs goals for the year, start transitioning new leadership and invite your community to be part of this special family called Rotary.
PeopleOfAction.org Campaign Update
Three Easy Ways to Participate (I know this was in the last newsletter. We need more participation!)
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Follow and Engage
Follow Rotary People of Action on Facebook and Instagram. Like, comment, and share the posts that resonate most with your club’s work. -
Invite and Inspire
Encourage your members to follow the pages and invite their friends, families, and colleagues. Every share helps amplify Rotary’s reach. -
Show Local Action
Repost campaign content or share your own photos and stories that show Rotarians acting locally. Use hashtags:
#PeopleOfAction #Rotary #[YourClubName]
Again, a Huge Thank-You to Our District Sponsors who help promote Rotary in our District.
Diamond Sponsors: Wedgewood Weddings, Sterling Hills Golf Club
Gold Sponsor: The Fence Factory
Bronze Sponsors: Ridge Wallet, Poinsettia Pavilion, Lakeview Canyon, Candu Graphics,
Tammy Dobrotin - State Farm and James Shipe of Wilde Wealth Management Group
Yours in Rotary,
Mike Dutra
District Governor 2025–2026
Rotary District 5240
The awards were presented at the Rotary club's first Sips 'n Sombreros event since the pandemic in 2020, held at the Santa Maria Country Club in partnership with the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, with more than 225 people attending.
The Don Melby Ethics in Business Award honors a local business for its high ethical standards and adherence to the Rotary 4-way Test. The award was established in honor of Donald Melby, a longtime Rotarian and respected local businessman who owned Melby Jewelers.
