3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Paddle Out

On Saturday Dec. 3rd, members of Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship and friends in the surfing community gathered together at 15th Street Del Mar for a fun social, the 3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Paddle Out.  As many folks in Rotary District 5340 know this official Rotary Fellowship was started by Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle in 2017 and now has over a thousand members in 35+ countries.  While the fellowship supports environmental causes such as beach, river and shoreline clean up events they also support many nonprofit groups and local programs including: (Click "read more" to continue article.
 
  • City2Surf with Hope Leadership Academy teaching inner city kids how to surf.
  • 100 Wave Challenge for Boys to Men Mentoring to reach at-risk teenage boys growing up without a positive male role model in their lives.
  • Learn to Surf events for children with autism.
  • StandUp for the Cure raising money for Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer research with SUP events in Newport Back Bay, Seattle and Michigan.
  • Life Rolls On Foundation supporting disabled children and adults with a dozen events across the nation including West Coast volunteer opportunities in Santa Monica, Huntington Beach and La Jolla Shores.
  • Rotary MusiCamp Learn to Surf event taking symphony musicians and local San Diego Youth Symphony members surfing.
  • Switchfoot BroAM supporting as event sponsors and volunteers to benefit multiple local San Diego charities including A Step Beyond, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Feeding San Diego, the Monarch School and Save the Music Foundation.
Photo: Mike Renner of Jimmy O’s Del Mar, JD Stull and Beau Lontine joined Rotarians Ranjan Lahiri, Brett & Karla Morey, Danny Quisenberry, Derren Lechuga and others for fun, fellowship and VG’s donuts.  Photo: Mark Ritter
 
Photo: Rotarian and Lifetime Member Ken Barrett of the RC of Del Mar Solana Beach shows off a sweet mid-drift pug Christmas sweater he borrowed from his wife…classic!  Photo: Mark Ritter
 
Photo: Lifetime member and Rotarian Danny Quisenberry of the RC of Carlsbad Hi Noon caught quite a few nice lefts.  Photo: Mark Ritter
 
Photo: Lifetime member Mike Stock does a stall before walking the nose.  Photo: Mark Ritter
 
With the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Australia, there are big plans for Surfers Unite members to come together in Melbourne and, in fact, Surfers Unite will have a booth in the House of Fellowship.  If you are interested in supporting their efforts check out the webpage, register for upcoming events, buy some ridiculously cool merchandise including dri-fit shirts, embroidered hats and sweatshirts - they make excellent holiday gifts for your Rotary President too! 
 
Surfers Unite Rotarian Fellowship is a 501(c)3 non-profit as well for those considering membership and year end giving.  More than anything, use these family fun service events through the fellowship to help grow your Rotary Club by extending an invite to a neighbor, a friend or someone you know who surfs or rides stand-up paddle boards.  If you consider yourself a beach enthusiast you should join.  Make a New Year’s resolution to get more out of being a Rotarian by joining several Rotary Fellowships to connect across the globe.  Learn more at www.surfersunite.org or text “SURF” to 858-602-2532.