Solana Beach Eco Rotary club (SBECO) hosted an engaging event for local environmental enthusiasts on a warm afternoon at the Dove Library in Carlsbad.
The event featured the fun and educational film The Little Things That Run the World and drew a strong turnout, with more than 200 tickets sold. Senator Catherine Blakespear, a strong advocate for environmental protection and climate action, attended as a VIP guest. Pleased with the turnout, she later texted, “Excellent work all around.”
Several partner organizations joined us at the outdoor reception tables, sharing information about insects, biodiversity, and their work. Jim Crouch, “the Oak Man,” gave away oak saplings, while others distributed native seeds and educational materials. Club member Jay Klopfenstein fascinated the crowd with his signature butterfly hat. The California Native Bee Society, San Diego Environmental Film Festival, North County Climate Change Alliance, North County Group of the Sierra Club, California Retired Teachers Association, and Solana Beach SeaWeeders all helped welcome guests. A live beehive from the San Diego Beekeeping Society also fascinated children and adults alike.
The Schulman Auditorium was an excellent venue for the screening, offering comfortable seating and high-quality audiovisual equipment for a seamless presentation. The Little Things That Run the World is an award-winning documentary about the essential role insects play in ecosystems and human survival. The film highlights the global decline in insect populations while offering practical solutions. It also features dedicated entomologists and insect enthusiasts who have gathered data for decades, along with remarkable macrophotography that brings bugs into close view. The packed audience clearly enjoyed the film, responding with applause after the screening.
After the film, Jay Klopfenstein had a few moments to speak about the Pollinator License Plate Initiative, and an expert panel led a lively Q&A session. Our panelists brought deep knowledge of the environmental issues raised in the film. Kira Olsson from SD Beekeeping Society, Rachel Allingham from the Natural History Museum, Kristin Evans from the Nature Collective, Don Rideout from Native Plants for Encinitas, Ricardo Sanchez from Mira Costa College and Stephanie Holbrook from Wings of Change were exceptional speakers. They answered complex questions clearly, kept the audience engaged, and shared practical guidance on creating habitat and making space for the “little things that run the world.” Many thanks to Dove Library and to all the people and organizations who made the event possible.