Homepage Stories and Other Archives

Here are the meeting updates and other news archives from the last year.

FirstFruits Farm

Wes Carlson of Firstfruits Farm gave a presentation on this organic farm in SLO that began in 2011 at the Peets farm property and grew into 2 acres of vegetables and fruit trees grown to be offered to those in need. Firstfruits Farm supplies produce to the SLO Food Bank, The Kindness Coalition, God's Storehouse Food Pantry, Rock Harbor Church, Grace Central Coast TMHA, U-Pick Pantry, and Peoples Self Help Housing. This is a volunteer nonprofit helping to stamp out hunger in our communities. See www.firstfruitsslo.org for more information.

Grants Awarded 2025

Grants were awarded here for Morro Bay in Bloom, El Camino Homeless Org., Infinite Music, and Lost at Sea.

Morro Bay Rotary Club thanks you all so much for sponsoring our 75th Anniversary Dinner!

Gold Sponsor - Astound Broadband

Silver Sponsor - Virg's Landing

Silver Sponsor - Dan & Linda Costley

Bronze Sponsor - Coast Electronics/Radio Shack

Bronze Sponsor - Christine McDonald Weiss - Coastal Real Estate

Bronze Sponsor - Estero Bay News

Car Show BBQ 2024!

Peace Opportunities

Peace Prevails with the Del Mar Peacekeepers Sunshine Spreaders Thanks to Morro Bay Rotary

Ten 4^th graders at the Del Mar Elementary School welcomed me on November 2^nd to tell me (Ruth Ann) about their new club the “Sunshine Spreaders.” Wearing lanyards inscribed with the words Del Mar Peacekeepers they told me they have the desire to “change the world.” After seeing the Peace Picket that I brought along with me as a gift to the group, they decided they would like to construct more of them to sell as a Holiday Project. I ordered in all the supplies for them to make up 24 Peace Pickets and they got busy!

Susan Stephens, their faculty coordinator said the kids had a blast doing this and it is evident from the results of the brightly painted and decorated pickets. Sales have been brisk since they set up a table in the lobby of the school and now plans are to keep this peace project going even after the holiday season. Hopes are to blanket Morro Bay (and maybe other towns too) with a Peace Picket in every yard. The kids thank Morro Bay Rotary for sponsoring this project!

-Ruth Ann Angus

Peacebuilder Chairperson

On International Peace Day in September Peacebuilder Chairperson Ruth Ann Angus and Interact/Youthact Adviser Jessica Weiss went to the Morro Bay Kid's Club and joined with kids ages 5 through 8 doing a special art project. The kids used photos from Rotary magazines and stickers and other art pieces that emphasized nonviolence and peace designing a Peace Blanket. The blanket is being produced at a photo lab and will be an auction item for the Morro Bay Rotary Club to bid on. Then it will be sent somewhere in the world to some needy child who needs a blanket to keep warm sleeping at night. These are the community peace projects that this Rotary club is concentrating on for this year. Stay tuned and check back for new information on Morro Bay Rotary Club Peacebuilder Projects coming soon!

2023 Ducky Derby Pictures

WINNERS

Morro Bay High School Scholarships

Tuesday, June 6th 2023

Grants Night at the Yacht Club 05/30/2023

Yacht Club Grants Night Thank you all!

Our 4-way test essay winner

Jessica Weiss with Alaura Rogoway our 4-way test winner.

Our incoming President Dan Costley been a Rotarian for 40 Years

Congratulations Dan!

4th of July Cayucos Parade

Wow-what a fun day working together with Cayucos, Los Osos, and Morro Bay Rotarians.!!!

It is going to be a Historical year for Rotary!

Lighted Boat Parade 2021 - Huge Success

1st Place Winner of Lighted Boat Parade 2021

Close to 10,000 on-lookers lined the Embarcadero to enjoy the 2021 Morro Bay Rotary Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 4^th. The weather was reminiscent of the holidays, a beautiful evening with a chill in the air. Crowds filled the restaurants, the balconies and sidewalks to watch the parade of 22 decorated boats ranging in size from 17 to 71 feet. Local non-profits including Central Coast Women for Fisheries, Knights of Columbus, Lion’s and Rotary served up chili, sausages, cookies, and hot chocolate that was quickly sold out.

Rotarians John Solu and Melissa Davis announced and described the boats as they passed by the judges: John Headding, Jillian Montgomery, Sue Olivas, Dean Sullivan, and Michael Wambolt. First Prize of $500 went to the Persistence owned by Nick Taron from Morro Bay. The sleigh decorations with a giant reindeer and carolers dressed like elves caught the eyes of the judges. Second Prize of $350 went to the Wake-n-Bake owned by Mike Leal from Paso Robles and the Third Prize of $150 went to the Western Explorer owned by Roy Arnold of Paso Robles. Boats were decorated to look like whales, seahorses, Christmas trees, snowflakes and Santa flying a plane. The Bay was filled with thousands of glittering, colorful lights everywhere including sailing masts lighted high into the night sky.

While the Morro Bay White Caps Band played, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted a never-ending line of children, parents, and dogs at the Rotary Santa House. Complimentary photos with Santa were given to families along with each child choosing a gift to take home with them.

Rotary President Tim Olivas mused that “Yes, it was a great showing for the Lighted Boat Parade! Good to see some semblance of life returning to semi-normal”. Children were happy, boats were beautiful and residents and tourists were thrilled to spend the evening on the Morro Bay waterfront.

Big THANK YOU to Jude Long for providing this article, picture, and all of the publicity she did for the Lighted Boat Parade.