Dear Rotarians,
Last Thursday was a shining example of what makes our club so special, we had a double feature of service and fellowship!
First, we kicked off with our very first service project of the year by supporting the LA County Sheriff’s Department in the Marina for their National Night Out. What a success! Our members connected with the community and the Sheriff’s Department, sharing who we are and the impact we make.
A sincere thank you to Monica Trepany for organizing this wonderful service project, and to Peter Smyth, Geo Rocha, Debra Fixen, and Gail Brooks for representing our club.
The second act of our double feature was our weekly Rotary meeting, featuring keynote speaker Scott Culbertson from Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Scott delivered a lively and educational presentation that inspired our members to take action!
We are excited to announce that we will be participating in a weekend service project at Ballona Wetlands this October, coordinated by Debbie Sue Miller with details to come. Thank you Debbie Sue for introducing our club to Scott.
Thank you to everyone who supported both events last Thursday. It was truly an inspiring night as our club embraced our community in two amazing ways through hands-on service and learning opportunities that will lead to even more impact in the future.
This Week: A Full & Exciting Lineup!
Board Meeting – Tuesday at 6:30 PM
All club members are invited to join us for our upcoming Board Meeting!
We will be meeting in person at Fisherman’s Village, and it’s a great opportunity to stay connected, share ideas, and be part of the conversation shaping our club’s future.
If you would like to attend, please reach out to me so I can keep you updated on any last-minute changes to the time or location.
Thursday, August 14th – Keynote Speaker: Glenn Hemanes
We are thrilled to welcome our very own Glenn Hemanes as this week’s keynote speaker!
Glenn will share the powerful benefits of de-cluttering your home and how this simple act can truly transform your life, as well as his inspiring journey into this exciting new chapter of his career.
Friday, August 15th – District’s First Fellowship Night: Friday By The Bay
This event is officially sold out, and we couldn’t be more excited!
We are especially proud that our very own Debra Fixen, Jill Peterson, and other incredible members of our club are playing a key role in making this night a success.
To those attending—see you there for an unforgettable evening!
Clarification on Our Meeting Schedule
Some of you have noticed the number of club meetings we have been having and have asked whether we will have a service project each month. The truth is, scheduling service projects on a Thursday evening can be challenging. Our Service Project Committee is working hard to organize meaningful projects for our club, with several of them planned for weekends to allow more participation.
Our schedule:
We meet every Thursday night except for the third Thursday of the month, which is reserved for our Happy Hour gathering.
I am always open to fresh ideas for our Thursday meetings beyond our keynote speakers. I would love to mix things up with combined meetings with other Rotary clubs, fun fellowship nights, game nights and any other creative activities you would like to see.
Your input is always welcome and together, we can make every meeting both meaningful and memorable!
Remember – Sunset Cruise Fundraiser – August 28
17 days until Our Sunset Cruise Foundation Fundraiser on
August 28th.
We have already raised over $30,000 in sponsorships, which is incredible! Thank you to all of our sponsors who are supporting this wonderful event!
If you haven't bought your tickets yet please do so by Friday, August 22nd.
This is our Club’s signature fundraiser benefiting both our Rotary Foundation and the amazing Boys & Girls Club Sailing Program and right now, it’s the only event fueling our Foundation so we can continue the impactful work we do all year long for our local and global communities.
This fundraiser is in “Service” to our Club. Service can take many forms and the biggest service we can offer this month is making this fundraiser an unforgettable success.
Thank you Debra Berman, Debra Fixson and Nancy Voss for already bringing in some auction and raffle items. Thank you all who have bought tickets. Our friends from Beverly Hills Rotary are purchasing their tickets and many more within our community.
Here’s how you can help:
Raffle & Auction Items:
Got a gift card, bottle of wine, unique experience, or fun item to donate? We’ll take it all! Every item helps boost our fundraising and adds excitement to the evening. Minimum of $100 each.
Sponsors:
We still have room for more sponsors! Opportunities start at just $500, with perks like year-round logo placement on our club sails, social media shout outs, and more. Know a business that might be interested? Let’s talk!
Buy Your Ticket & Bring a Friend:
Cut off date to purchase tickets is August 23rd.
Don’t wait we are capping this event at 80 guests, and spots are filling fast! This is a night of delicious food, open bar, dancing, and spectacular Marina views all for a great cause.
Please see below flyer for more information.
*Check out the photo contest at the bottom. We got some great pictures this week!
Looking forward to seeing you all Thursday night!
With appreciation,
Tracey Thompson Busa
President, Marina del Rey Rotary
2025–26
