Rotary Club of Marina del Rey | District 5280 | October 13, 2026
First Quarter Report Edition
President's Message
“There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
— Nelson Mandela
Dear Fellow Rotarians and Friends,
We have closed the first quarter of our Rotary year, and I am writing with a heart full of gratitude. When I installed our board at Del Rey Yacht Club on July 16, I asked us to spend this year Creating Lasting Impact. Three months later, you have done exactly that.
Together we raised more than $100,000 at a sold-out Dusk & Diamonds Sunset Sail, the strongest fundraising result in our club's history. We grew our membership, adopted a Three-Year Strategic Plan, became a designated Peacebuilder Club, entered our first District Cardboard Boat Regatta, and rolled up our sleeves from Mother's Beach to the Westside Food Bank to the Aiglon Garden in Pacific Palisades.
Our community has noticed. The Argonaut named us Best Community/Social Club in its Best of the Westside 2026. The issue comes out October 22.
This club has never settled. In just our third year, we keep reaching for the life of service we know we are capable of living, and this quarter showed what that looks like.
None of this happens without you. Thank you to every member who chaired a committee, sold a ticket, greeted a guest, carried a shovel, or brought a friend. Thank you to our Foundation President, Debra Fixen, for her partnership, and to our board for their leadership. You are the reason I am so proud to serve as your President.
This edition is a big one. It carries our First Quarter Report, catches us up on the last few weeks, and lays out everything coming this fall. Please find at least one event below and join us.
Yours in Rotary service,
Nancy Voss, President
September Rotarian of the Month: Mary Cotrufo
Congratulations to Mary Cotrufo, our September Rotarian of the Month, for her unwavering efforts and contributions to the Sunset Sail. We could never have done it without you. Thank you again, Mary, for all of your dedication to Rotary and service!
Mary Cotrufo, September Rotarian of the Month
First Quarter Report: July – September 2026
Membership
• We started the Rotary year with 33 members and reached 37 by the end of September.
• The board approved four new members on August 25: Lisa Strick, Ilene Florin, Kendra Carlo and Natalia Badel.
• Welcome to our September inductees, Lisa Strick (sponsored by Michelle Kessler) and Richie Florin (sponsored by Dave Voss and Geo Rocha).
Fundraising
• Dusk & Diamonds, our 3rd Annual Sunset Sail on September 17 aboard FantaSea One, sold out with 160 guests and raised more than $100,000. Proceeds bring young people from underserved communities, including the Boys & Girls Club of San Gabriel Valley youth sailing program, out onto the water.
• Thank you to every sponsor, to FantaSea Yachts and the Ginsburg family, and to the Marina del Rey Tourism Board for its $5,000 gift.
Service in Our Community
• Backpack Drive for St. Margaret's Center in Lennox, plus a volunteer morning on August 22.
• Marines collection drive on September 12.
• California Coastal Cleanup Day at Mother's Beach on September 19, led by Nico Ruderman and Lennart Heyner.
• Pause for Peace on the International Day of Peace, September 21.
Club Building & Fellowship
• Board installation July 16, and our Three-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2029) adopted at Club Assembly on July 23.
• Del Rey Yacht Club became our new meeting home.
• Designated a Peacebuilder Club through the Rotary Action Group for Peace.
• Our first District Cardboard Boat Regatta on August 29, with a boat led by Lalo Marquez and rowed by Claire Date and Debbie Sue Miller.
• Orcas VIP Tour at the Natural History Museum with 37 Rotarians and guests, including our friends from El Segundo Rotary.
• Fellowship with Westchester Rotary (August 27) and Pacific Palisades Rotary (September 24).
Speakers Who Inspired Us
• Councilwoman Traci Park (August 6).
• Erikk Aldridge, VP of Impact for LA28 (August 20), our biggest night yet with 59 seated.
• Jordan and Grant Janov, 49er-class sailors campaigning for the 2028 Olympics (September 3).
• Sara Schulting-Kranz, keynote speaker and author of Walk Through This (September 10).
Rotarians of the Month
* July : Debbie Sue Miller , Club Secretary
• August: Lalo Marquez, Community Service Vice Chair.
• September: Mary Cotrufo, for her unwavering work on the Sunset Sail.
Thank You, Dusk & Diamonds Sponsors & Donors
Our 3rd Annual Sunset Sail sold out with 160 guests and raised more than $100,000 because of the generous people and businesses below. Your gifts are bringing youth from underserved communities out onto the water. Thank you for making a difference in our Marina.
Sunset, sails and good friends
Best team ever!
Captain's Deck Sponsors
Marina del Rey Lessees Association • LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
Upper Deck Sponsors
Marina del Rey Tourism Board • John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation • Debbie Feinerman & Bill Stump
Main Deck Sponsors
Pacific Ocean Management • The Plotkin Family • Drollinger Properties • Voss Silverman & Braybrooke LLC
September Morn Sponsors
Albert Hernandez PDG • Caffe Pinguini • Del Rey Yacht Club • Estate Properties • Gayle Taylor • JR Dzubak • LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce • Mercy Housing • The Neighbors of Playa Vista & Westchester Living
Special Thanks
FantaSea Yachts and the Ginsburg family, who make this evening possible, and Larry and Kim Turner for sponsoring our photo booth.
The Dusk & Diamonds photo booth, presented by Venice Paparazzi
All smiles aboard FantaSea One
Auction Donors
Andrea Krohn, LAMC Collective • August Aesthetics • By Your Side Dance Studio • Caffe Pinguini Italian Restaurant • City Cruises of Marina del Rey • Deb Berman • Facials by Cindy Putman • Facials by Tania • James Frawley • James Michelle Jewelers • Joan Shaver • Marina del Rey Sportfishing • Massage by Jessica • Maty's Salon • Michelle Kessler & Patrick Day • Mina Villegas, By the Sea Studio & Gallery • Mo's Place • Nancy & David Voss • Otis College of Art and Design • Points By Ellen • Rewind Aesthetics • Richard & Ilene Florin • Rifkin Raanan Cosmetic Dentistry • Seaside Salon • The Garland Hotel • Tony Palermo • Ultimate Escape Room • William Davis
Pirates of the marina
Ahoy from the captain’s deck
Welcome aboard!
Raising a glass to our sponsors
President Nancy Voss with Director Benedicta on board
Captains, pirates and a crown or two
Event photos courtesy of Venice Paparazzi.
Since Our Last Edition
October 1 — Welcome, Marla Eisenberg!
Please join me in welcoming our newest member, Marla Eisenberg, who was inducted at our October 1 meeting. Marla is sponsored by Ilene Florin. When you see her, introduce yourself and make her feel at home.
Welcome to the club, Marla!
Marla Eisenberg, our newest member
October 1 — Our Speakers
Thank you to Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang for joining us at Del Rey Yacht Club, and to Carl and Tara Eaton, Directors of OC-Not Just Tourists, for opening the evening with a short presentation, hosted with International Service Director Claire Date.
October 3 — Palisades Beautiful: Aiglon Garden Planting
Rotarians, students, and community volunteers grabbed shovels and planted California natives across the Aiglon Garden site in Pacific Palisades, turning bare soil into a garden that will welcome residents home as the Palisades rebuilds. Working alongside Pacific Palisades Rotary and Palisades Beautiful, we helped begin the final stage of this beautification project.
This project was made possible with support from Rotary District 5280 wildfire relief funds. When Rotary partners with others, we strengthen community resilience and bring people together. Work is also underway on a Peace Pole at the Aiglon Triangle site, and a second Peace Pole is being planned for Marina del Rey.
Thank you to Councilwoman Traci Park, Palisades Beautiful, American Landscape, Johnson Tree Co., Athens Services, StreetsLA, and every volunteer who showed up!
Rotarians, students and neighbors after planting the Aiglon Garden in Pacific Palisades
October 5 — Youth Protection Training
Thank you to Tom Johnstone of District 5280 for leading Youth Protection Training on Zoom, and to every member who took part.
October 10 — Westside Food Bank Packing Day
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
We proved it on Saturday! Our club joined El Segundo Rotary, Redondo Beach Rotary, and the Rotary Club of Mental Health & Wellness for a morning of service at the Westside Food Bank, organized by El Segundo Rotary.
Working side by side, our four clubs cleared 175 pallets and packed 392 boxes of fresh vegetables, which will be delivered to the VA in Santa Monica for our veterans.
Thank you to every member who came out, and to El Segundo Rotary's President for bringing us together. Different clubs, one mission, and a whole lot of heart. This is what Rotary is all about.
Rotarians from four clubs at the Westside Food Bank
Our crew ready to pack
Fresh carrots on the packing line
Madame Presidents
Fresh produce stacked and ready for packing
Even our furry friend pitched in on the carrot pallets
This Thursday
Club Assembly — Thursday, October 15
6:00 p.m. at Del Rey Yacht Club. Club Assembly is for members only. Come hear from our directors, share your ideas, and help shape the rest of our year.
🎃 Halloween Costume Meeting — Thursday, Oct. 29, 6 p.m., Del Rey Yacht Club! Come in costume and compete for prizes, then hear PDG Albert Hernandez on the Rotary Foundation. Bring a friend!
Halloween_Costume_Meeting
Halloween_Costume_Meeting
Halloween_Costume_Meeting
Coming Up
Tue., Oct. 13 — Board of Directors meeting, 6:30 p.m., Community Room, 4655 Admiralty Way. Members are welcome.
Thu., Oct. 15 — Club Assembly at Del Rey Yacht Club (members only).
Oct. 16–18 — RYLA 2026. Our club is sponsoring two students.
Thu., Oct. 22 — Pumpkin Patch set-up social, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Fisherman's Village, hosted by Geo Rocha and Mary February. Light fare served.
Sat.–Sun., Oct. 24–25 — Pumpkin Patch at Fisherman's Village, 13755 Fiji Way. Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission, kids' painting station, photo booth and live music. Sales support our Holiday Program for unhoused families and local seniors. Saturday is World Polio Day, with our End Polio Now purple pumpkin activation.
Thu., Oct. 29 — Halloween Meeting. Come in costume, with prizes for the best costumes! Speaker: PDG Albert Hernandez, District 5280 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair.
Thu., Nov. 5 — Dr. Michelle Christie Vitallo, Founder, President and CEO of No Limits for deaf children and families, with special guest comedienne Kathy Buckley.
Join us for an inspiring evening with Dr. Michelle Christie Vitallo, Founder, President and CEO of No Limits for deaf children and families. Special guest is comedienne Kathy Buckley, who has been the No Limits spokesperson for 25 years.
Nov. 11–15 — El Salvador humanitarian trip with the Rotary Club of San Salvador Noroeste.
Sat., Nov. 14 — Rise Against Hunger, led by Benedicta Ogbonnaya.
Tue., Nov. 17 — Board of Directors meeting on Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
Thu., Nov. 19 — Commodore Luigi Falanga travels from Italy to charter the Rotary Fellowship of Sea Lovers in Marina del Rey. No cost to join.
Thu., Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving morning meal delivery to homebound seniors with Westside Pacific Villages. Meet at 10 a.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Westchester.
Dec. 1–19 — Holiday Toy Drive with Venice United Methodist Church, plus Adopt-a-Family for children in Marina del Rey community schools. Families choose gifts on December 19.
Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway & Community Outreach Saturday, December 19, 2026 · 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Venice United Methodist Church
Join the Rotary Club of Marina del Rey for our Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway and Community Outreach, held with Venice United Methodist Church. Families from our underserved community, including unhoused children in Marina del Rey’s community schools, will come to choose gifts for their children, so every child has something special to open this holiday season.
This day is made possible by your generosity. From December 1, we’re collecting new, unwrapped toys, and through our Adopt-a-Family program, cash gifts go to a Rotarian who shops for a family’s wish list.
Volunteers are needed throughout the day to greet families, help them shop and wrap gifts. Bring a friend, bring the kids and share the joy of giving. This is Creating Lasting Impact at its best.
o volunteer or donate, contact President Nancy Voss or Director Benedicta Ogbonnaya
Dec. 24 & 31 — No meetings. Happy holidays!
President's Photo of the Week
An October sunset over Marina del Rey, from our home in Playa del Rey
Every so often the marina reminds us why we love serving this community. This was my favorite moment of the week. I hope it brings you a little of the same joy.
President's Office Hours
I arrive at 4:30 p.m. before every club meeting at Del Rey Yacht Club. Drop by with a project idea, a ClubRunner question, or just to say hello.
Rotary Club of Marina del Rey • Meets 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursdays, 6:00 p.m.
Del Rey Yacht Club, 13900 Palawan Way, Marina del Rey
