Laguna Niguel Rotary Hosts E-Bike Safety Seminar

Our Laguna Niguel Rotary Club will will hosting a FREE E-Bike Safety Event for our community youth and families. The event will take place on Tuesday, June 25th from 6:30-8:00pm in the main ballroom at the Crown Valley Community Center. We have confirmed speaker representatives from the Laguna Niguel City Council, Laguna Niguel Police Services, Mission Hospital Trauma Team, and Robert Blain from Rock N Road Cyclery. Click here to RSVP

Laguna Niguel Rotary Hosts E-Bike Safety Seminar Mike Gerard 2024-06-03 07:00:00Z 0
Scholarship Winners 2024 Kristin Epperson, President 2024-2025 2024-04-30 07:00:00Z 0

Mike Darnold Discusses Camp RYLA

Our meeting last week featured Mike Darnold, the founder of Rotary District 5320 Camp RYLA. Since retiring as a police officer in Fullerton, Mike’s career has focused on helping students, along with their participating families, put themselves back on the track to higher education and the establishment of healthy personal values. Annually, Mike works with over 300 students and their families on drug/alcohol abuse and other challenging issues.

Mike helped found District 5320's Camp RYLA program over 21 years ago and has served as one of its coordinators ever since. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is all about Rotarians working with youth in leadership development. It is an intensive training/experiential program for students that are currently juniors in high school.

Mike Darnold Discusses Camp RYLA 2023-01-17 08:00:00Z 0

Past President Mark Montgomery: Service Trip to Africa

To wrap up our final meeting of 2022, our speaker, Programs Chair Mark Montgomery gave a presentation chronicling his 2021 service trip to Africa. He and his fellow travelers flew into in Tanzania. They visited a school in a local village where they had the opportunity to meet some of the students. Mark provided them with a dental hygiene demonstration and also donated toothbrushes and baking soda so they could properly clean their teeth. It was very evident that the children truly appreciated this lesson. Mark's next stop on his expedition was to Kenya. They visited a village where they were greeted with a vibrant welcome ceremony provided by the residents. They also met with the tribe elder and his family. Overall this trip to Africa was a heartwarming experience and the adventure of a lifetime.

Past President Mark Montgomery: Service Trip to Africa 2023-01-04 08:00:00Z 0

2022 Dictionary Project

The Laguna Niguel Rotary Club has completed its annual Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders. Every 3rd grade student in Laguna Niguel elementary schools--and select schools in Dana Point and Aliso Viejo--received a free dictionary from the Rotary Club. This project recognizes the fact that 3rd grade is a critical stage in a child's academic development. "From kindergarten through second grade, kids learn to read," says Dr. Bill Nguyen DDS, a Past Rotary Club president who spearheads the project. "But from third grade on, children read to learn." As a child immigrating from Vietnam, as directed by his father, Dr. Nguyen learned to speak English by reading the dictionary and memorizing 50 words a day. Dr. Nguyen shares this story with students each school the Club visits and the impact of this long term program has been validated again and again. "We've had several students approach us in the high school and college years to share their gratitude and tell us that they still have the dictionaries they received from the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club in third grade. It's a very rewarding to hear that," said Nguyen.    
2022 Dictionary Project Mike Gerard 2022-10-10 07:00:00Z 0
Oktoberfest Fundraiser 2022-09-23 07:00:00Z 0

Rotarian Jim McGinley Named 2021 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year

Please join us in congratulating Laguna Niguel Rotary Club Past President, and Rotaract Chair, Jim McGinley, on being selected as the 2021 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year!
 
But Rotary Club is not the only organization through which Jim provides community service.  For the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, Jim is currently vice-chair; and he has served as a board member, membership chair, and ambassador for the organization for the past seven years.  He has volunteered for his church, St. Timothy Catholic Church here in Laguna Niguel, and has impacted countless families and individuals through his years of leadership and service with the Knights of Columbus organization.
 
Jim has also served our City of Laguna Niguel governance directly, through his time as chairman and vice-chairman of the City of Laguna Niguel Parks & Recreation Department. He held leadership positions with the Laguna Niguel Sports Advisory Committee and is the founder of the Laguna Niguel Senior Games.
Rotarian Jim McGinley Named 2021 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year 2022-05-10 07:00:00Z 0

Laguna Niguel Rotary Supports Ukrainian Refugees

At our latest meeting, Laguna Niguel Rotary Club's special guest, Tatiana Shabelnik, spoke of her life-long friend, a Ukrainian woman and her young son that fled to Poland and were in need of financial support and a place to stay. Our generous Rotarians immediately pledged to provide financial assistance individually for this family in need of our help. Tatiana has also been in contact with Rotary Clubs in Poland and was very grateful for our donations. 
 
In response to the deepening refugee crisis, the Rotary Foundation Trustees have decided to prioritize contributions made to the Disaster Response Fund until April 30, 2022, to support disaster response grants for districts affected by these events. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to supply water, food, medicine, shelter, and clothing. This is primarily an appeal for individual donations so please feel free to give any amount possible. Please follow this link if you would like to make a personal donation for this worthy cause.
Laguna Niguel Rotary Supports Ukrainian Refugees Mike Gerard 2022-03-10 08:00:00Z 0

Laguna Niguel Rotary Rallies Behind Community “Trunk or Treat” Halloween Event

Our Laguna Niguel Rotary Club joined in with twenty Laguna Niguel Chamber-member businesses and non-profits united to create a special, and safe, Halloween for kids at a "Trunk or Treat" event in the YMCA parking lot. Each group parked their cars, and opened their trunks, while 20 families per hour went “trunk to trunk” to pick up treats. Giveaways included 16,000 pieces of candy, treats, and promotional items. 
Laguna Niguel Rotary Rallies Behind Community “Trunk or Treat” Halloween Event 2021-10-30 07:00:00Z 0

Laguna Niguel Rotary Club Provides Scholarships to Local High School Seniors

Rotarians Madam President Kim Douglas, Stewart Mims, Esq (vice president), Taje Gill (Scholarship Committee member), and Bill Nguyen (Scholarship Committee chair) provided 14 scholarships to Aliso Niguel High School and Dana Hills High School seniors who embody the Rotary ideals of academic excellence and community service. Congratulations, scholars!
 
How can you get involved?  Become a Member!
 
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from over 200 countries and geographical areas. Join us and help make the world a better place!
Laguna Niguel Rotary Club Provides Scholarships to Local High School Seniors Laguna Niguel Rotary Club 2021-05-21 07:00:00Z 0

Do you have what it takes to become a dynamic leader and change yourself and the world?

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA and eRYLA online) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. Due to COVID-19, for 2021, RYLA will be a virtual, online camp.
 
What is RYLA Camp (now eRYLA online for 2021)?
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is all about Rotarians working with youth in leadership development. It is an intensive training/experiential program for about 180 high school students in their pivotal junior year, who are chosen for their proven or potential leadership abilities. Students participate in an all-expense online “camp” from their homes over five days. The camp is run by RYLA Alumni and student attendance is sponsored by Rotary Clubs from throughout District 5320. Attendance is free for qualified high school Juniors. Students are joined by talented young people from communities throughout the district. RYLA provides a memorable opportunity to learn, grow, have fun, make new friends, and gain a new and improved focus.  Click here for more info!
Do you have what it takes to become a dynamic leader and change yourself and the world? Michael Gerard 2021-02-17 08:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel Donates Life Saving Clean Water Wells in Uganda, Africa
 

Imagine, for a moment, that you and your children have no access to healthy, clean water. You and your daughter or son have to walk miles, twice a day, to collect contaminated water in heavy jerry cans to be used for your cooking, washing, and bathing. As you continue this daily ritual, you understand that 1 in 5 children under five years of age, and many adults, are dying from parasites that even boiling the water could not stop. Yet you continue because no one can survive without water the water you collect is the only water available to your village. Your daughters and sons carry water instead of being in school each day. There is little hope for a future. 
 
Now imagine that the Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel donates $6,000 to fund each of two clean water wells in 2017 and 2019. Your village, Butawata B, in the Mubende District of Uganda, Africa with 1,530 people, has received a well of its own that is providing clean, potable water in the village.
Rotary Club of Laguna Niguel Donates Life Saving Clean Water Wells in Uganda, Africa  2021-02-16 08:00:00Z 0

Helping people with disabilities make their own music

Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school.
 
After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school.
Helping people with disabilities make their own music 2015-05-01 00:00:00Z 0

Finding Safe Haven

For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.
 
After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
Finding Safe Haven 2015-05-01 00:00:00Z 0

Saving lives in Ghana

What is it like taking a large team to Africa?  It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.

A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.
Saving lives in Ghana 2015-05-01 00:00:00Z 0