Thank you to member, Dawn Cox for arranging another fascinating visit
to EDCO on October 22 where we received a tour of a variety of recycling activities. Highlights included,………………... Afterward, we enjoyed lunch at Elmisa Cafe
What a Success!! On September 25, the Rotary Club of Del Mar celebrated its first-ever Making Waves
That Impact Sunset Luau at Del Mar Beach. The food, refreshments, entertainment, and generosity were outstanding. The setting could not have been more perfect. The funds raised will be used to support youth, community, vocational, and international Projects. Thanks to all the club members and community businesses who made this possible.
One of the best parts of being a member of the Rotary Club of Del Mar is our annual Day at the Races. Our race was first on the card and President Steven McDowell was in the winner's circle to congratulate Mr. A.P., a horse that was sired by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, on his victory. We’re grateful as always to our honorary member, Joe Harper, for hosting us. Click HERE to watch a video of the race and click HERE to see more photos from the day.
Just some of our Luau team, led by our President-elect, Michael Clark.
It is going to be a great event.
If you haven't already, now is the time to register for our Luau before the ticket price goes up.
Scenes from the field trip followed up with an al fresco lunch.
Dawn Cox arranged a field trip to the EDCO Resource Recovery center to see their variety of recycling activities. EDCO is a family-owned business and they pride themselves on supporting both their employees and their community. We watched the rapid sorting of recyclables and saw the huge anaerobic digesters that produce fuel to power the EDCO fleet. Afterward, we relaxed over lunch at Vintana restaurant.
Our Newest Paul Harris Society Members
Klaus Gubernator and Miles Fleming receive their Paul Harris Society pins from James Morrison, the District 5340 Paul Harris Coordinator. Also pictured are Past District Governor, Marty Peters and Pat Caughey, Club President.
On April 26 we had our annual Rotarians at Work Day. Our group was large, strengthened by not only our members, but members from the Rotary Club of Del Mar Solana Beach, Rotary Club of Downtown San Diego, and University of San Diego Rotaract (click on the link to view their Instagram post with more pictures from the day) who worked alongside students from St. Augustine and Cathedral Catholic High Schools on projects at the Nativity Prep Academy campus. Nativity Prep Alumni returned to help as well. Thank you to Marty Peters for organizing, and for the Mona Lisa sandwiches!
On February 13, 2025 we held our competition to determine our representative for the District 5340 music competition. The competition was tough, but we selected pianist Chloe Lee, a student at Torrey Pines High School, to advance to the regionals, where she was selected as a finalist. The finals will be held Saturday March 22 at the Carlsbad City Library (check back for the time). Thank you to Garrie Rhodes for organizing the event.
2025-26 Club President, Pat Caughey’s, Demotion Party
On June 25, we thanked all the committee chairs, exceptional Rotarians, and our 2025-26 Club President for their service to the club this Rotary year. The festivities were celebrated at the beautiful Del Mar home of our 2026-27 Club President, Steven McDowell. Excellent food, wine and craft cocktails plus the “plant” theme, added to a fun evening.
Karen Lare, Chair of the Del Mar Lagoon Committee spoke at our March 6 meeting about the San Dieguito lagoon. The Lagoon committee works to preserve and enhance the areas of the San Dieguito and Penasquitos Lagoons that lie within Del Mar. Nearly 50 years ago, the San Dieguito Lagoon was designated as a sensitive resource area that qualified for protection under the Coastal Act. Later, focus grew to encompass the full watershed in the region with groups like the San Dieguito River Valley Land Conservancy and the Friends of the San Dieguito River Valley forming and working with government entities like Joint Powers Authority to acquire and manage lands in the newly-designated San Dieguito River Valley Park. A key milestone was the selection of the lagoon for a mitigation restoration plan that was part of permitting for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Restoration work began in 2006 and mitigation is ongoing. Now, the health of the lagoon is robust, and the area provides a range of recreational activities with the Dust Devil Trails east of the I-5, and areas that are part of the Coast to Crest Trail that will eventually include 71 miles from the shores of Del Mar to Vulcan Mountain near Julian.
Sharon Schendel and Steven McDowell were facilitators, and Greg Harris (inset) is a member of the organizing committee (always recognizable in red shirts)
A thank you note from one of the four RYLArians we sponsored to attend.
Sharon Schendel visited an Open House at North County Tech High School at the invitation of one of her RYLArians
In late April, members Greg Harris, Steven McDowell and Sharon Schendel were in Idyllwild for the District 5340 RYLA camp. Greg is a member of the RYLA organizing committee, and Sharon and Steven were facilitators. The weekend was chilly and wet, but the RYLA enthusiasm wasn’t dampened. We had a nice note from Ava Barrientos, one of the students we sponsored, and Sharon Schendel was invited by one of her RYLArians to visit an Open House at her high school, North County Trade Tech in Vista.
The annual Don Lapham Memorial Dinner to benefit the Mexican American Educational Guidance Association (MAEGA) will be Monday August 31, 2026 at Tony’s Jacal restaurant in Solana Beach. Click HERE to purchase tickets online (donations can also be made at this site). You can also buy tickets at the door. Each ticket tickets include an enchilada-taco combination plate with beans, rice and salad. All members are encouraged to attend and to bring family and friends. Enjoy dinner any time between 5 and 8 PM on August 31.
In the upper left is the "press conference" that Jim Davies hypothesizes leads to all sorts of global events.
In the upper left- Toni celebrates with Susan Maronde and Beth Davidson, whom she named co-Rotarians of the Year
We celebrated Toni Mecaro’s successful term as Club President on June 10, 2025. Matt and Janice Kurth hosted Toni’s demotion party at their home, and the theme followed that for the Rotary year: The Magic of Rotary. We were entertained by magician Skyler King and of course Jim Davies gave one of his patented talks that revealed the timeline of events that followed Toni’s interview at the Jallikattu contest in January (click HERE to watch the video of her interview- Toni's part starts around 1:35). Toni joined the “tiara club” comprising women who’ve served as club presidents and then passed the giant gavel to Pat Caughey. Congratulations to Susan Maronde and Beth Davidson on being named Rotarians of the Year!
Club President Toni Mecaro receives Best Medium Club Award from District Governor Dianne Crawford (left) and Pat Caughey is sworn in as the new club president (right)
Janice Kurth receives Service Above Self Award from Dianne Crawford (upper center panel); President-Elect Steven McDowell and Jennifer McDowell attended (upper left). Jenny Caughey, Bob Muller, Pat Caughey, Dee House and Suzy Wagner rounded out one of our tables (lower center panel) with (l to r) Val Myers, Jeff Matthews, Toni Mecaro and her friend Janine Gossett. Sharon Schendel was sworn in as Assistant Governor (lower left) and will be chief of staff for District Governor Luis Carranza (upper right)
On June 7, 2025 members attended the Governor’s Dinner in Mission Valley to see Pat Caughey be sworn in as our newest club president. Janice Kurth received the Service of Above Self award and Sharon Schendel was sworn in as Assistant District Governor for Area 1 and will also serve as Chief of Staff for District Governor Luis Carranza. We were honored to be named Best Medium-Sized club in the District. Thank you to Dee House for arranging the table reservation.
Humble Design Executive Director Laura Lavoie (upper right) and examples of homes furnished for clients
Items on the Humble Design San Diego wish list (and some items that are not)
Laura Lavoie, Executive Director of Humble Design San Diego, was our speaker at the July 17, 2025 meeting. Founded in Detroit in 2009, Humble Design helps change the lives of their clients who are transitioning out of homelessness by tailoring custom designs to their tastes and making those designs a reality by fully furnishing home interiors. All of Humble Design’s clients are referred by partner organizations including the Alpha Project, East County Transitional Living Center and San Diego Rescue Mission.
Humble Design San Diego is on pace to help two clients every week and are looking to expand to help 3 clients per week. All clients are referred by partner social service organization. Furnishings used in the designs are donated and are stored at their new warehouse in Logan Heights. Their work has a quantifiable impact. A study by the UCSD Homelessness Hub found that clients served by Humble Design are 10-fold less likely to return to homelessness and most clients report an increased sense of self-worth and mental stability. Children of clients have strengthened friend networks and are more likely to bring friends home. You can help by donating items that can be used to furnish new homes for Humble Design clients. Click HERE to learn more.
