Rotary Club of Benicia

Rotary Club of Benicia Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on February 23, 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Its principal motto: Service Above Self. Rotary's

popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed; clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later. The Rotary Club of Benicia was chartered on December 9, 1966. In 1985, Rotary International made a historic commitment to immunize all of the world's children against polio. The Rotary Club of Benicia was also active in this pursuit. Working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and national governments thorough its PolioPlus program, Rotary is the largest private-sector contributor to the global polio eradication campaign. Before efforts began in 1988, polio paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day, which totaled about 350,000 children annually. By 2006, the incidence of polio has since declined by more than 99 percent. The Rotary Club of Benicia has been, and continues to be, involved in numerous community and international projects, such as:



Annual street cleanup

Benches on First Street

City of Benicia 9th Street Park

Dictionaries for all third graders each year

Flag holders and flags for First Street

Garbage truck for Tula, Mexico

Little Flock Orphanage in India

PolioPlus

Projects at Benicia schools

Scholarships for high school seniors

Tree City USA

Wheelchairs for those in need

This week, the Rotary Club of Benicia welcomed Michael Ghielmetti and Jonathan Fearn of Signature Development Group, who...
06/13/2026

This week, the Rotary Club of Benicia welcomed Michael Ghielmetti and Jonathan Fearn of Signature Development Group, who shared an overview of the potential redevelopment of the Valero property.

Possible plans could include up to 3,500 new homes, 3 million square feet of industrial space, 600,000 square feet of retail development, major infrastructure improvements, and phased development over time. The speakers also explained the extensive planning and approval process required before any project can move forward.

While the future of the property is still taking shape, the goals include creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and providing long-term benefits for the community.

Thank you to Michael and Jonathan for an informative presentation on one of the most significant opportunities facing Benicia's future.

🌟 A Remarkable Rotary Milestone! 🌟At today's meeting,  Martha Christopher was recognized with her Third Paul Harris Fell...
06/11/2026

🌟 A Remarkable Rotary Milestone! 🌟

At today's meeting, Martha Christopher was recognized with her Third Paul Harris Fellow Award, presented by President Dipak in honor of her continued commitment to Rotary's mission of Service Above Self.

Receiving a Third Paul Harris Fellow recognition is a testament to Martha's generosity, dedication, and unwavering support of Rotary's work both locally and globally. We are grateful for her leadership and service, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved honor!

👏 Congratulations, Martha, on this outstanding achievement! 💙💛

This week at Rotary, we had the pleasure of hearing from our very own Scott Reep, who spoke to us about Rotary's Four-Wa...
06/04/2026

This week at Rotary, we had the pleasure of hearing from our very own Scott Reep, who spoke to us about Rotary's Four-Way Test and the deeper meaning behind each of its guiding principles:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

He also proposed a lighthearted but meaningful addition to the list: a fifth test — "To Have Fun!" After all, while Rotary is dedicated to service above self, building friendships, enjoying fellowship, and having fun together are important parts of what makes our organization so special.

Thank you, Scott, for today's presentation and for reminding us that service, integrity, and fun can all go hand in hand!
.

⛳ SAVE THE DATE ⛳A great day of golf, good food, and community spirit is coming to Benicia!Join the Rotary Club of Benic...
06/01/2026

⛳ SAVE THE DATE ⛳

A great day of golf, good food, and community spirit is coming to Benicia!

Join the Rotary Club of Benicia and N.S.G.W. #89 for the 21st Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, September 25, 2026 at Blue Rock Springs.

🏌️ 8:30 AM Shotgun Start
🥩 Steak Dinner After the Tournament
📍 Blue Rock Springs Golf Course

Gather your foursome, invite your friends, and get ready for a fun-filled day on the greens supporting local community efforts.

Stay tuned for registration details and sponsorship opportunities coming soon!

Our members are so proud that we were able to play a small part in the great things you are all doing!!!
05/30/2026

Our members are so proud that we were able to play a small part in the great things you are all doing!!!

Mark your calendars! ⛳️The Rotary Club of Benicia and N.S.G.W.  #89 are excited to bring back our Annual Golf Tournament...
05/29/2026

Mark your calendars! ⛳️

The Rotary Club of Benicia and N.S.G.W. #89 are excited to bring back our Annual Golf Tournament for its 21st year!

📅 Friday, September 25, 2026
📍 Blue Rock Springs Golf Course
⏰ Shotgun start at 8:30 AM
🥩 Steak dinner to follow

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun day on the course supporting great community organizations, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
More details, registration information, and sponsorship opportunities coming soon!

The Rotary Club of Benicia was honored to recognize four exceptional student scholarship recipients during this week’s m...
05/22/2026

The Rotary Club of Benicia was honored to recognize four exceptional student scholarship recipients during this week’s meeting. Each student shared their personal story, future goals, and reflections during thoughtful presentations to our members.

Students who apply and are selected for these merit awards are recognized based on qualities such as academic achievement, community service, leadership abilities, and/or need, while also planning to attend either a two-year or four-year college.

We are proud to celebrate these inspiring young leaders and the families who have supported them along the way. Congratulations to all of our recipients — Isabella Bachman, Nathan Sebastian, Logan Baeta, and Ivan Sisouvang. We look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future! 🎓✨

This past week, Benicia High School held its annual Senior Awards Night.  The Rotary Club of Benicia was proud to recogn...
05/22/2026

This past week, Benicia High School held its annual Senior Awards Night. The Rotary Club of Benicia was proud to recognize four outstanding students with certificates, a Rotary ball cap AND financial support for their future education.

Three students received the Jack Bell Merit Awards:
⭐ Ivan Sisouvong
⭐ Nathan Patrick Sebastian
⭐ Isabella Bachman

Students who apply and are selected for this merit award are recognized based on qualities such as academic achievement, community service, leadership abilities, and/or financial need. These awards honor Jack Bell, founding president of the Rotary Club of Benicia in 1966 who is still an active member of our club today.

We also proudly presented the very first Paul Adler Service Award to:
⭐ Logan Baeta

This new annual award recognizes a graduating senior who demonstrates exceptional commitment to serving the community. The award is named in honor of the Rotary Club of Benicia Past President, Paul Adler, who exemplified Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” throughout his years of membership with service to our club and the Benicia community.

In total, these awards represented $7,500 in support from the Rotary Club of Benicia to help invest in the future of these remarkable students.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients — we are proud of you and excited to see all you accomplish in the years ahead!


This past week, our speaker was Jim Wunderman, Director of Public Affairs for California Forever and former President an...
05/18/2026

This past week, our speaker was Jim Wunderman, Director of Public Affairs for California Forever and former President and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

Jim spoke about several important issues impacting California and the Bay Area, including the state’s housing shortage, declining affordability, and slowing economic and population growth since 2019. He also discussed the significant economic challenges facing Solano County, including major job losses tied to the closures of Valero, Budweiser operations, the bankruptcy of Mare Island Dry Docks, and uncertainty surrounding Harbinger.

Despite these challenges, Jim shared optimism about the future, highlighting opportunities tied to a growing U.S. manufacturing revival in EV, solar, semiconductor, and aerospace industries. He explained how the Suisun Expansion Plan and Solano Shipyard could help create new jobs, manufacturing growth, and walkable neighborhoods, positioning Solano County as an important innovation hub for California.

Jim was an excellent speaker, and we appreciate him taking the time to speak with our club members and answer questions. Thank you, Jim!

04/22/2026

We got over 50 reactions on out posts last week! Thanks everyone for your support! Come check us out at www.beniciarotary.org🎉. We would love to meet you!

Address

PO Box 421
Benicia, CA
94510

Opening Hours

12pm - 1:45pm

Telephone

+17077430143

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