



Welcome to Rotary
Rotary Club of South Pasadena
Mission Statement:
"The Rotary Club of South Pasadena provides an opportunity for community & international service, while building friendships & developing leaders."
Get Educated
Get great information and educational tools from our upcoming speakers
Upcoming Club Meeting Programs
We meet on the
2nd Wednesday of the month
email us at rotaryclubofsouthpasadena@gmail.com to inquire about meeting location
12:00pm-1:30pm
All are welcome!
And 4th Wednesday of the month
for happy hour, somewhere in South Pas!
Ask us where and join us! All are welcome!
Interested in speaking to our club?
Email our Program Chair
Making News
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One of the "coolest" Club Presidents, Peter Kingston, previous CEO Of day-Ray, the premiere sponsor of our Taste of South Pasadena event for years, has passed away leaving us all missing him greatly. We will always celebrate his days as the "Cool Prez" and all he brought to the club (and the wine!).
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Club President, Kathy Selders made Club history by being the first President in 85 years to serve 2 consecutive terms - and she did it voluntarily because she was having so much fun! We are all so grateful for her extended leadership, extraordinary dedication, and hard work!
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Another of our dear Rotarians, in the Club for 52 years (!) has passed on March 13th, Conrad von Bibra. He was a very distinguished leader of our Club winning many awards and leading the District as District Governor in 93-94. An exceptional Rotarian who helped maintain our history and would lead new Rotarians in "fireside" chats at his home, welcoming everyone. We will miss him and we pledge to carry out Rotary traditions in his name.
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It is with a very heavy heart that we share the passing of William (Bill) Reese, a stoic and memorable member of our Club for 30+ years. Everyone loved Bill, and Bill loved everyone. His heart was Big, and he was a Rotarian through and through. He added such spark to our Club and led us in song and spirit. He is gone, but not really. His big presence lives within us all.
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Incoming Rotary Club President Kathy Selders began her year of leadership on July 1, and she has promised a year of activation, community visibility, and club service projects to reinforce Rotary's new theme for 2021-2022 - Serve to Change Lives.
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Sara Munshin was named 2020-2021 "Rotarian of the Year" for exceptional service as Club Secretary.
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Outgoing Rotary President Rod Gregson was "demoted" on June 29th in his first and only in-person club meeting as President. This "Zoomed Out" affair was a celebration of our health and good friendships.
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In June 2021, the club recognized high school students for their achievements with scholarships. Read more here.
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On April 1st, 2021, the club handed out grants of $1,500 each to 6 different local, very worthwhile charities: Union Station Homeless Services; Door of Hope; East Meets West Parent Education Association: The Giving Space; Hathaway-Sycamores; Ronald McDonald House (Pasadena)
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In March, the club gave a grant to Rise Against Hunger for $1,008.
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April 6, 2020 South Pasadena, CA - Service Club Looks to Save South Pasadena Restaurants
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April 19, 2019 Tecate, Mexico. Corazon Build with San Marino Rotary.
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April 17, 2019 South Pasadena, CA. Eats On The Streets, a Success.
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May 6, 2018 LaVerne, CA. Students Develop Marketing Plan for Club
Thank you to the over 1400 ticket holders who attended our 9th annual Taste of South Pasadena on May 9, 2023. It was our biggest event yet! Over $38,000 was raised that evening.
Look for our 2024 date coming soon.
Special thanks to all our sponsors, committee members, City of South Pasadena and all our patrons (returning and new) that made the night another amazing success!
The Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say and do:
1 Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to ALL concerned?
Does this resonate with you? Are you
ready to connect and volunteer with people
who share your same values? Learn more
about joining Rotary!
2019-20 GOLD Patch - District Award Winner for "Uniting People"
A HUGE thank you to all the donors who gave to
our South Pasadena Restaurant campaign.
A total of $14,000 was awarded!
2019-20 GOLD Patch - District Award Winner for "Taking Action"
2019-20 PLATINUM GOVERNOR
Distinction Patch for 31 Citations of Action
2019-20 Rotary International Citation with PLATINUM RI's President's Distinction - this is the HIGHEST award a Club can achieve! Only 100 Clubs of 35,000 worldwide receive this honor.
2019-20 - Special recognition to Kathy Selders for exceptional volunteerism, to David Morales for Foundation leadership and 100% Paul Harris for the Club, and to Marchelle Sellers for her 4th Rotarian of the Year Award for exceptional activism.
2019-20 Marks 50 Years of Club Membership for Past District Governor Conrad VonBibra! Congratulations and thank you Conrad for lifelong service to The South Pasadena Rotary Club. In Memorium - Conrad passed 03/13/22.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Rotary International
As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. Rotary will cultivate a diverse. equitable and inclusive culture in which people from under-represented groups have greater opportunities to participate as members and leaders.
Get Inspired & Connected
Join us for free at a meeting
2nd Wednesday of the month
Contact us for meeting location
South Pasadena
12:00 - 1:30pm
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4th Wednesday of the month
Happy Hour
Contact us for time/location

Grant presentation to Cayman, of Rise Against Hunger
Ninth Annual Taste of South Pasadena - SAVE THE DATE - Tuesday, May 9, 2023
We are back! South Pasadena is known for our incredible variety of gourmet eateries in and this year we welcomed a record 1400 ticket holders to this highly-anticipated event co-sponsored by the City of South Pasadena and Priority One Credit Union!
This year we had 32 food and drink destinations for you - each serving up a delicious signature dish or non-alcoholic drink just for you! (6pm-9pm)
Our VIP wine, brewery and spirit event was an additional ticket for 21+ and was supported by a record-breaking 20 vendors! (5pm - 8pm)
We were ecstatic to welcome world-class entertainment!
Jim Kimo West is the 63rd Grammy Awards (2021) winner for Best New Age Album, "More Guitar Stories." He was also nominated in 2019 and can also be heard and seen on all of "Weird" Al Yankovic's videos, albums, and concerts since 1983.
Magic Castle magician, Rich "Doc Magic" Freeman! 🎩 All guests received a pass from Rich to attend the invitation-only Magic Castle!
Cynthia Brando is an award winning singer and acoustic folk rock performer and songwriter in Los Angeles. She was joined by guest guitarists Ed Tree (Spencer Davis/Rita Coolidge) and Barrett Tagliarino on guitar.

Meal and hygiene product delivery to the unhoused in South Pasadena
July 4, 2021
The Rotary Club joined South Pasadena Tenants Union and CareFirst to serve 25 meals to the unhoused in South Pasadena. Volunteers gathered in the Arroyo giving food and toiletries to our unhoused neighbors. It was a wonderful gathering. Everyone was very appreciative!


Senior Center Bags of Love & Fun
February 14, 2021
This year Valentine's day at the South Pasadena Senior Center was a little different, but the drive-thru love was coming by the bagful! South Pasadena Rotary Club partnered with the Senior Center to provide fun goodies for all the seniors in our community. We look forward to hosting our more formal lunch in 2022, but in the meantime, this bag of fun was a real "treat" for everyone.


Dinner Cruise on Mission
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
The Rotary Club of South Pasadena and the South Pasadena Rotary Foundation presented Dinner Cruise On Mission on September 30th. This family friendly restaurant supportive dinner night provided special menu items from South Pasadena favorites, Mike & Anne's, Tomato Pie and Gus's BBQ. Supporters ordered food and cocktails from one or all 3 restaurants. Over $3700 was raised to support local restaurants!




South Pasadena Emergency Restaurant Grants
The Rotary Club of South Pasadena and the South Pasadena Rotary Foundation launched an emergency grant program through GoFundMe to assist local South Pasadena independent restaurants needing COVID related relief. Our Club, along with community members and local groups (including WISPPA) raised a total of $14,000 and awarded grants to fourteen restaurants in three grant cycles. We were able to give equal funds to every eligible applicant. Many thanks for supporting this vital campaign!


February 14, 2020
For the upteenth year in a row, the Rotary Club of South Pasadena served up a delicious Valentine's Day lunch to the our friends at the Senior Center. Around 80 seniors were treated to a wonderful meal and entertainment.
Rotarians were joined by spouses, friends and their kids for this annual Rotary favorite volunteer event.

February 8, 2020
The Rotary Club of South Pasadena hosted a hunger relief project packing 10,000 bags of food that went to undernourished children in The Philippines.
We needed a lot of help and help came! San Marino Rotary Club, local Boy Scouts, children and spouses of South Pasadena Rotarians and our neighbors all pitched in. Thank you to our Priority One Credit Union for hosting our group.
