We are people of action who come together in their commitment to improving people’s lives and the community while enjoying better connections to friends and neighbors through service projects, fellowship and fun.
We meet the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 7:00am at the Dana Point Community Center. On the 3rd Wednesday of the month, we meet around town to support local businesses.
Scheduled club meetings and events appear on the club calendar.
Community Projects
Every Rotarian works to improve the quality of life for those in their communities.
Youth Support
We sponsor the high school service club, Interact, as well as fund college scholarships and support youth leadership retreats.
International Projects
Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and promote better understanding and peace.
The Environment
We get out there to help the needs of our community. We are the leaders in Dana Point and our surrounding communities.
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Help charities, global projects, volunteer for service projects, make new friends, and have fun!
š¦ Ice Cream, Thanksgiving & Good Company! š¦š
There's always something happening with Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary! š
Join us for fun, friendship, and opportunities to make a difference in our community! From sweet treats to serving our local seniors, there's something for everyone.
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Mark your calendars, bring a friend, and join the fun!
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š Service Above Self ā and having fun while we're at it!
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We welcomed home to MBSR our friend and former Rotarian Dave DesRochers on September 30th. Dave is the Founder & CEO of the 1st & Goal Project Inc. non-profit 501(c)(3) helps people achieve their highest levels of personal and economic independence by equipping them with the skills and connecting them to the right opportunities. This non-profit organization is designed specifically to help former athletes, military veterans, and others successfully navigate difficult life transitions.
Dave is also part of Ambassadors of Compassion. He serves as a director for this nationwide youth organization, which focuses on providing mental health, emotional resiliency, and trauma-recovery tools to students in public schools and colleges.
Dave has taken his "Service Above Self" to great levels as he does so much for kids, Vets, former NFL players and beyond.
One of the most profound privileges of being a Rotarian is the unspoken global passport that comes with your membership pin. No matter where you travel on Earth, you are never truly a stranger; you are simply a member of a global family waiting to be welcomed home.
We experienced this beautiful truth firsthand at our recent meeting when we were joined by a surprise guest, Mafine, from the Rotary Club Abidjan Horizon in CĆ“te dāIvoire, Africa. She traveled alongside her son, Karim who lives locally, bringing the vibrant spirit of her home club to ours.
Moments like these remind us that guests from all over the world are not just visitorsāthey are the very heartbeat of Rotary. With 1.2 million Rotarians in the world, and over 45,000 clubs across the globe, you can walk into a meeting in any country, span any distance or culture, and immediately find yourself wrapped in the warm embrace of our shared values and fellowship. We are incredibly grateful to Mafine and Karim for sharing coming to our Rotary Club meeting and reminding us how beautifully small our world becomes through the gift of Rotary.
September 23rd our speakers Mary Rozatti and Daniel Summers spoke to us from The Automobile Club of Southern California, San Clemente branch, about the exciting world of travel that awaits us! So many destinations and so little time. Get ready to pack your bags!
Wonderful moments at our Rotary meeting today! āļøšWe were delighted to spend time with Mitch Katz and his wife, Linda, pictured here alongside our Co-presidents Anita Houston and Hayden Macurda.
While many people collect stamps, coins, or baseball cards, Mitchās passion lies in the intricate world of mechanical watches. Mitch has been on a 25-year watch-collecting journey. Following a distinguished career as a physician, he turned his precision and dedication toward horology, (the scientific study of time measurement and the art or craft of making timekeeping devices like clocks and watches) and authorship. Each individual piece Mitch owns evokes special memories. Some call it insanity, others passion, in either event collecting is something we all do and derive pleasure from.
Mitch has authored several fascinating books on the subject, including his beautifully crafted title, "Time on My Hands." Thank you, Mitch for sharing your incredible journey and passion with our Rotary family!
Thank you to our hosts, Jamie Jessel and his lovely wife Kirsten, for inviting us all to a French wine tasting at Total Wine & More in Lake Forest on September 1st. Are Somalier, Amanda shared about French wines which are celebrated worldwide for their unparalleled elegance, deep complexity, and the unique way the express the distinct soil and traditions of regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.
We had a great turnout for our exclusive wine tasting where we explored these legendary flavors first hand! Thank you Jamie for your French pronunciation, it would be a faux pas to mispronounce anything either before or after we had a sip!
Now that we have had our master class in balance and flavor, we can turn any meal into an unforgettable occasion!
The Doheny State Beach Foundation (DSBF) is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the beauty and history of Doheny State Beach. Through fundraising, educational programs, and environmental conservation, DSBF works to protect this cherished California park. MBSR proudly welcomed left to right, KC, Kip, Retired Ranger Jim Serpa from Doheny State Beach, (Co-President Anita Houston center) Margie and Co- President Hayden Macurda to the right.
Ranger Jim gave us a fascinating history of the Doheny family and shared all about the Interpretive Center at Doheny State Beach which features walking paths, aquariums and a tide pool.
The Visitor Center is a vibrant hub for education, exploration and environmental awareness. The centerpiece of the center is now the largest public aquarium in the entire California State Park system.
Balanced and Leadership Focused
Protecting our coast means finding the perfect balance between human enjoyment and preserving our unique wildlife. ššWe are incredibly proud to highlight attorney Hydee Riggs, who has been reporting on the critical need to safeguard the endangered Pacific Pocket Mouse. As one of only three places left in the wild where this tiny creature survives, the Dana Point Headlands Preserve is a treasure worthy of our highest protection.
Hydeeās dedication to our community shines through as she prepares to step into her new role. Running unopposed for the Dana Point City Council (District 3), she brings both legal expertise and a deep love for our coastal spaces to local government.
True conservation means being a voice for our environment while maintaining a safe, beautiful, and accessible coastline for everyone. Thank you, Hydee, for championing the future of Dana Point! š¦ š
July 29th, Co-President Hayden Macurda introduced new club member Karen Johns and her dog Finley. Karen presented an extremely interesting craft talk.
Karen grew up in Maine and her varied life work experiences including teaching grades K-8 , politics, lobbying, residential and commercial real estate, the oil industry, and Formula One racing. These varied careers have enabled her to live in many places, including Maine, New Hampshire, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Monaco and California.
Highlights of Karen's career accomplishments included having been elected to her Town Council at age 27, and having been a candidate for the New Hampshire House of Representatives at age 30 (when she lost by a mere 41 votes); having been in the Army Reserve (Military Police) and having been Chief of Staff for the North Carolina Senate majority whip.
More recently, Karen has earned a BA degree in Business Administration (magna cum laude) from Texas A+M and has established Karen Johns LLC, working in the environmental energy industry.
Karen has three sons, two of whom are combat veterans and one an Air Force Academy graduate. She describes herself as a persistent woman who always wants to take the reins and "talk to the manager" when people are speaking the same language but not hearing the same meaning. She strives to fill her life with adventure, service, patriotism, conservation and preserving the environment.
Although a Rotarian for just a short time, Karen is already a Paul Harris Foundation member and is a valuable addition to MBSR.
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