Club Information
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Ojai - #674
Ojai
We meet In Person
Fridays at 12:00 PM
Aquinas Center of St. Thomas Catholic Church Activity Center
185 St. Thomas Drive
Ojai, CA 93023
United States of America
(Note: Club does not meet at above location on 4th Fridays) Mailing Address: Post Office Box 511, Ojai, CA 93024
Home Page Stories
The Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation (RCOEF) annually gives over $150,000.00 in scholarships to High School graduating seniors from the Ojai Valley. In 2023 we awarded $150,000.00 in scholarships.
Submitted by Betsy Watson, Rotary Club of Ojai Community Grants Chair
 
Community activists of the Rotary Club of Ojai faced tough choices in awarding $25,000 to local non-profit organizations when requests totaled four times that amount.  The proposals, ranging from enrichment activities for area youth, event support, and storm damage repairs, underlined the deep ongoing needs in our bucolic community. 
 
The committee volunteers included new and seasoned Rotarians with varied community experiences. Despite that (or because of it?) they coalesced around requests that address basic needs.  At the end of the meeting, ten smaller organizations that provide direct services to residents of the Valley were selected for funding.  
 
Rotarians of Ojai proudly support youth who are transitioning from foster care, first-in-family college applicants, mental health services for at-risk youth and families of young children, music education, and outdoor volunteer experiences for students.  
Learning more about the substantial needs and services in our community underscores the importance of robust fundraising. Rotary Club of Ojai community grants are funded by our major fundraiser Taste of Ojai, an all-hands-on-deck annual event. In the large Taste committee and in the smaller community grants committee, we model the credo Service Above Self.
Photo below: Girls Empowerment Workshop received a $2000 Rotary Club of Ojai Community Grant
.
 
 
Every year the Rotary Club of Ojai awards the Fred Clapp Memorial Business Ethics Award to a non-Rotarian business owner in the Ojai Valley who exhibits a commitment to providing ethical service and improving the lives of people in our community.  On March 17 Carolina Murillo of Flora Gardens Nursery received the award at a Rotary meeting, including a plaque that will be displayed prominently at her nursery. She also was featured in an article with photo in the Ojai Valley News.  Together with her husband, Carmen, and her son Danny, Carolina has managed Flora Gardens for almost 14 years. 
 
Carolina is grateful that her business allows her to pursue her love of plants.  “I’ve had an insane love for plants since early childhood.  I am a certified arborist with a strong background in pest management.  I thank the many people who took the time to talk to me about their garden and share their dreams and goals while I poked around their garden,” Carolina said.
 
Rotary Club of Ojai is especially appreciative of Carolina’s advice and service in obtaining trees for the club’s annual Arbor Day tree planting.  For the past 22 years the Rotary Club of Ojai has celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees with students at a local school. The Rotary Club meets at the school for lunch, and students put on an Arbor Day program and also learn more about trees from Rtn. Al West, retired Deputy Chief U.S. Forest Service. 
Photo: (Left to right)  Al West, Clapp Business Ethics Award Recipient Carolina Murillo, Vocational Service Director Larry Beckett, Co-Presidents Marty Babayco and Kay Bliss
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Ojai
 75th Diamond Anniversary Gala

 Saturday June 3rd from 4-8:00 p.m.
Boccali’s Ranch ~ Upper Ojai

 Please join in the fun and fellowship as we celebrate 75 years of
 “Service Above Self” in a spectacular Topa Topa backdrop!

 Wine tastings in a fully working barn with appetizers,
foot tapping music, and a very special video premiere,
followed by a hosted bar, sit-down buffet dinner,
more special music and program on the lawn under the oaks.
 
75th Anniversary Co-Chairs, Tony Thacher & Cheree Edwards
For questions 805.340.7575
 

Taste of Ojai 2023!

A Journey of Food, Wine, and Art

2:00-5:30PM - Sunday, April 16, 2023 - Libbey Park

Get your tickets and view all the details now at www.tasteofojai.org

Proceeds from Taste of Ojai benefit the Rotary Club of Ojai Educational Foundation. The Rotary Club of Ojai and its Educational Foundation have raised nearly one million dollars over the last two decades with Taste of Ojai being our primary fundraising event. Nearly $130,000 of scholarships are awarded each Spring to Ojai students for Fall enrollment at a recognized college, university, community college or technical school, with over 400 scholarships awarded to date. In addition, each year more than $30,000 of community grants are awarded to Ojai schools and non­ profit organizations.

In celebration of Rotary Club of Ojai’s 75th anniversary year, we’re giving $25,000 to Ojai Valley area non-profit organizations.  Organizations that serve residents anywhere in the Ojai Valley are encouraged to apply.  This year’s focus will be on projects with an environmental, youth and/or educational impact. 
Submit completed applications to ojairotarygrants@gmail.com before the February 28 deadline.
 
 
 
 
Please click on the link below to read a great story by Leslie Bouche, Chair of the International Committee.  It describes the efforts to generate a global grant for Prashanti International School in India.  It provides details of the grant and lists the many Rotary Clubs and other partners which provided the support.  The story was written for the District 5240 newsletter.
Rotary Club of Ojai: International Service Committee
 
The Rotary Club of Ojai’s International Service Committee (ISC) is a very active part of our Club. Over the past several years, we have developed long-term, close working relationships with communities in several countries such as Roatan, Niger, India, Bosnia, Ghana, and Cuba. Ojai Rotary has provided grants to support and help create sustainable, positive change in the areas of medical care, economic development, education & literacy, and water & sanitation. Here is a partial list of our club’s international projects:
 
Community Service
 
Bulletins
Club Executives & Directors
President-Elect
Co-President Elect
President
Co-President
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Community Service
Club Service
International Serv
Vocational Service
Public Relations
Youth Service
Membership Co-Chair
Membership
Member at Large
Rotary Club of Ojai Education Foundation
Family of Rotary
Interact/Youthact Advisor
RYLA Coordinator
The Rotary Foundation
Polio Plus Chair
Club Bulletin Editor
Programs Chair
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Bob Eisler
    June 7
  • Cindy Frings
    June 8
  • Craig Lynwood Edwards
    June 13
  • Bill Prather
    June 16
  • Bill Weirick
    June 16
  • Dave Brubaker
    June 16
  • Terry Twichell
    June 21
  • Dewayne L. Boccali
    June 27
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Bob Eisler
    June 7
  • Nancy Prather
    June 22
Anniversaries:
  • Craig Lynwood Edwards
    Deborah Edwards
    June 1
  • Dave Brubaker
    Karen Brubaker
    June 5
  • Mike Weaver
    Susan Weaver
    June 5
  • Matt Clements
    Ronda Larue-Clements
    June 10
  • Terry Beckett
    Joy Edwards-Beckett
    June 15
  • Dick Weirick
    Jane
    June 16
  • Don Reed
    Sue Reed
    June 19
  • Tony Thacher
    Anne
    June 19
  • Marc Whitman
    Julia Taft Whitman
    June 21
  • Ren Adam
    Victoria
    June 21
  • Bruce Hanson
    Cynthia Hanson
    June 22
  • Fred M. Fauvre
    Shirle
    June 29
Join Date:
  • Larry Beckett
    June 13, 2019
    4 years
  • Fred Farkhani
    June 14, 2019
    4 years
  • Betsy Watson
    June 22, 2012
    11 years
  • Fred Coleman
    June 23, 2017
    6 years
  • Gregory Webster
    June 23, 2017
    6 years
Make Payments Online
Member Dues & Fining
Click Here
 
Rotary Club of Ojai Educational
Foundation Donations
Click Here
Speakers
Richard Hajas
Jun 09, 2023
Water, Drought, Fire & Ojai
Susan Andrzejewski, CSUCI - Dean of Business
Jul 21, 2023
Cal State Channel Islands School of Business - Vision for the Future
Friends of Condors Debbie Parisi
Jul 28, 2023
California Condors
Col. Jack Jacobs, Ret.
Aug 04, 2023
Ukraine
Get Acquainted Talks
Aug 11, 2023
Marty Pops, M.D.
Aug 18, 2023
A new and old look at affirmative action for admission to medical school
Pam Davis
Sep 22, 2023
realities of admission to colleges and universities 2023
RSS
Rotary magazines 2023 Photo Awards

In Rotary magazine’s 2023 Photo Awards, we see the world courtesy of this year’s finalists.

A song of their own

The Imagine Impact Tour brings Gaby Moreno to her home country of Guatemala to inspire children to dream big.

Rotary International Convention concludes with a message of hope

As the gathering in Melbourne comes to an end, Rotary looks forward toward Singapore and a focus on mental health.

Rotary projects around the globe June 2023

Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in Canada, Grenada, Korea, Australia and Ireland.

Peace and climate change take center stage in Melbourne

Nobel Peace Prize laureate, child climate change activist, and Rotary Peace Fellows explore the intersection of environmental protection and peace