Sunday Dog Walk
Les invited all members of our club and his friend Ash to have a group dog walk at Gum Grove Park on a cool summer Sunday morning. This is his dog’s favorite place, which makes it his favorite place as well.
All the humans reveled in each other’s company and the dogs enjoyed the scents of nature all around us.
Farewell to Sofus
Frank’s family graciously hosted Sofus, the Rotary international exchange student from Greenland, for a year while their son, Reed, spent a year in Denmark. Reed has already returned home, and Sofus is about to return to Greenland at the end of his exchange year. Sofus and Reed shared their experience abroad and traded interesting cultural stories with members of the Rotary club. Sofus even conversed with Reed in Danish for a bit.
The international exchange program is one of the best opportunity that Rotary has to offer to youths all around the world. At the conclusion of the program, each participant travels around the United States or Europe and enjoy the hospitality of Rotary clubs in various cities.
Chartering a New Club in OC
Ernie Delfin, a Rotarian for many decades, has been working hard to create a new Rotary Club for the past two years. Today the new district governor Craig inducted members into this brand new club, with president Al leading the way. Frank, Bethany, and Les from Signal Hill Rotary were present to witness and celebrate this special occasion.
St. Luke’s Shower for the Homeless
Les volunteered at St. Luke’s this morning to assist our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness to have a hot shower and a nice breakfast. The camaraderie was not just between the volunteers, but also with the lives of people who survive on the fringe of our society. If we neglect to recognize and respect them, we lose a part of humanity within ourselves.
Signal Hill Rotary is committed to participate in this program on a weekly basis.
District 5320 Transition Dinner
District governor Chris Skorina is passing the torch to the governor-elect Craig Livingston at the end of the month. Many past governors gathered and helped to plan the event in Irvine.
President-elect Kiran Gidwani represented our club at the transition celebration.
2025 RYLA Reunion
Once again, RYLA alumni united at Doheny Beach in Dana Point for a reunion barbecue. Les was there for the sun, fun, and juicy burgers.
Farewell to Tom
Tom joined Signal Hill Rotary in June of 2015. He served as our club president from 2019 to 2020, and he has been a guiding force in our club ever since.
His self-deprecating humor, quick wit, and good nature filled our meetings with laughter and tight-knit camaraderie. He is relocating to Rancho Mirage with his loyal German shepherd. He will be leaving our club as a formal member, but he will always be our friend.
Visiting Charles Parks
Frank, Kiran, and Les visited our only honorary club member, Charles Parks, and his wife this afternoon. Charles has been a member of our club since 2015, after being invited to join by the past president Bob Mendoza.
Charles has been less active in the club after his retirement, but he had returned to the club as guest speaker in the past. Les reached out to him to invite him back as guest speaker, but we found it better to visit him at his house.
Les presented Charles the Rotary pin, and we shared stories of our Rotary years together.
Celebrating Rotary Youths
Signal Hill Rotary Club celebrated the members of the Interact Clubs at Jordan High School and Sato Academy at the end of the school year at Straw Hat Pizza tonight. The Jordan Interact Club, lead by Ricardo, shared their many fundraisers and projects through their inaugural year with the Rotarians. The Sato Interact Club was lead by Auriel.
Sofus is our current Rotary exchange student from Greenland, shared his experience with the Interactors. Raj and his parents also attended the event, sharing his experience at RYLA.
Long Beach Pride Parade 2025
Joining the members from the Long Beach Rotary Club, Les and Kiran celebrated pride with thousands of spectators in the annual Long Beach Pride Parade. Frank and Kathy were part of the parade as well with their own organizations.
