As President of the Oceanside Rotary Club, I sometimes find myself so focused on what we need to do next that I forget to stop and appreciate what we have already accomplished.
When I recently put it all together, I realized just how much our members have done — and how proud I am of our club. Our commitment to Service Above Self can be seen throughout our community. Our members have supported military families, served dinner at Solutions for Change, provided clothing for youth at VisTAY, volunteered at Ironman Oceanside, and continued building relationships with organizations throughout Oceanside.
One accomplishment that holds special meaning is our Goat for Joe fundraiser benefiting TrueCare. The effort was spearheaded by Oceanside Rotarian Dana Albert following the loss of his brother-in-law, Joe, to suicide. Dana and his family wanted to turn their loss into an opportunity to help others facing mental health challenges. With tremendous community support, the fundraiser resulted in a $10,000 donation to TrueCare in Joe's memory.
Our youth programs continue to grow. Approximately 60 students at Oceanside High School have expressed interest in Interact, and we are sending six eighth-grade students to the LEAD Leadership Conference. We also continue to support RYLA, the Four-Way Speech Contest and the District Music Competition.
We were pleased to receive approval for a $3,000 District Grant, providing additional resources to expand our service.
Our longstanding relationship with Crown Heights remains an important part of who we are. It reminds us that some of Rotary's greatest impact comes from continuing to show up year-after-year.
Our service also extends beyond the border. We continue to strengthen our friendship with fellow Rotarians in Tijuana, culminating this year in our Sister Club Agreement, “Service Without Borders.” It is a wonderful example of how Rotary brings people and communities together through friendship and service.
And then there is fellowship! From summer socials and house parties to PolioPlus Bingo and community events, we continue to have fun while doing good.
This year also brought change as we established a new meeting home at the Broken Yolk Café and began a new membership outreach campaign to introduce Rotary to more Oceanside business and community leaders.
It is an honor to serve as President of a club with such a rich history and members who continue to believe in what Rotary can accomplish.
We have done a great deal together — but there is much more ahead.
And I can't wait to see what Oceanside Rotary does next.
Renee Richardson
President, Oceanside Rotary Club
Service Above Self