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Rotary District 5340 Governor Diane Crawford (center) joins Point Loma Rotarians Lloyd Weaver and Margaret Virissimo in celebrating the Point Loma club\u2019s 75th anniversary. (Provided by Margaret Virissimo)<\/p>\nThe Point Loma Rotary Club is commemorating 75 years of community service and engagement around San Diego County and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 75 years we\u2019ve been a family that celebrates, supports and uplifts,\u201d said club President Angie Ware. \u201cWhether it\u2019s local projects, scholarships or global initiatives, our members bring passion and creativity to everything we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club officially kicked off celebration of its milestone April 27 as past and current members gathered at the Point Loma Assembly Hall to reflect and look ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur anniversary celebration focused on reflections and stories shared by some of the club\u2019s longest-serving members, complemented by fresh perspectives, celebrating the legacy and continued impact of the club,\u201d said Rotary Club member Richard Thorn, who was president in 1989.<\/p>\n
Point Loma Rotary serves as a cornerstone for local and international action and initiatives, presenting myriad opportunities for members to be involved.<\/p>\n
From community service days such as Flags for Vets Day and Veterans Fishing Day to humanitarian efforts like a Fiji water sanitation project and support for Ukraine, there are many ways for members to uphold the club\u2019s motto, \u201cService Above Self.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRotary is an organization of business and professional persons, united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards and help build goodwill and peace in the world,\u201d Thorn said. \u201cInternationally, we have participated in water projects in Fiji and Africa. Fijian villages suffer chronic outbreaks of waterborne diseases like typhoid, leptospirosis and dysentery. The Point Loma Rotary Club worked with Fiji Savusavu Rotary Club, Rotary Club of San Diego and the Fijian Ministry of Health to build and deploy 870 safe water filtration stations \u2026 serving over 4,000 villagers in Fiji.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rotary District 5340 Governor Diane Crawford (center) joins Point Loma Rotarians Lloyd Weaver and Margaret Virissimo in celebrating the Point Loma club\u2019s 75th anniversary. (Provided by Margaret Virissimo)<\/p>\n
On a local level, the club\u2019s primary current fundraiser is the annual Ride the Point bicycle ride slated for Saturday, Nov. 8. The event, providing routes of six, 25 and 62 miles, helps support pancreatic cancer research at UC San Diego\u2019s Moores Cancer Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cRide the Point is the PLRC\u2019s largest fundraiser,\u201d Thorn said. \u201cDuring its 2013 to 2023 run, Ride the Point\u2019s total proceeds have been $450,000. PLRC donates the Ride the Point funds in honor of Jim Krause, a member who died of pancreatic cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition, Point Loma Rotary supports various other causes, including the Point Loma YMCA, Point Loma\/Hervey Library and leadership programs at local schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years the club has raised money to support many local organizations and has also funded some landmarks you may be familiar with,\u201d said marketing media director Margaret Virissimo.<\/p>\n
Spots such as Shelter Island\u2019s Rotary Pavilion, completed in 2006 by James Hubbell, and Liberty Station\u2019s Rotary Clock serve as lasting reminders of the club\u2019s dedication to service, she said.<\/p>\n
The anniversary celebration shed light on how far the club has come. When it was founded in 1950, it had just 17 members and was led by President Alden Johnson. Now the group has 50 members.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a powerful mix of fellowship and service and a great way to make a difference,\u201d Thorn said.<\/p>\n
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Point Loma Rotary Club members Kali Mistry and Kay Barron take on a retro look to celebrate the club\u2019s founding in 1950. (Provided by Margaret Virissimo)<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, current members are ambitious for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy focus this year is to continue creating meaningful impact in our community while keeping things fun and engaging for our members and neighbors,\u201d Ware said. \u201cOur theme this year is \u2018Let\u2019s have fun and get it done,\u2019 because service doesn\u2019t just make a difference, it brings people joy when we do it together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to building on our history and ensuring the Point Loma Rotary Club remains a vibrant, welcoming cornerstone for the next 75 years and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rotary Club meets weekly for lunch and a speaker at the San Diego Yacht Club, 1011 Anchorage Lane, Point Loma.<\/p>\n