EDITOr’S LETTER
OCTOBER IS ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MONTH
 
 
      Each October, Rotary members around the world focus on strengthening local economies. We celebrate and support projects that create jobs, empower entrepreneurs, and build sustainable communities. From vocational training and micro-loans to mentoring young professionals and supporting local businesses, Rotary’s work in economic and community development helps reduce poverty and promote equitable growth.
 
At the Rotary Club of South Pasadena, we’re reminded of what true rebuilding looks like: not just in structures, but in spirit. When the Eaton Fire left families in our region, particularly in Altadena, with nothing but memories, Rotarians Marchelle Sellers and Kathy Selders & their committee stepped forward with extraordinary compassion and vision. Through the Eaton Fire Recovery Grants Project, they helped channel resources, partnerships, and hope into the hands of those who needed it most - fulfilling hundreds of wishes, both practical and deeply personal.
 
Their work wasn’t only about replacing what was lost - it was about renewing dignity, restoring livelihoods, and reminding survivors that their community still stood beside them. Their leadership stands as a living example of what Rotary makes possible: that when caring people unite for good, healing begins and communities thrive again.
 
As we continue our mission this month, may we all be inspired by their spirit of service. It is a reminder that when compassion leads the way, communities not only rebuild. They rise together.
 
- Betty Bui
President, Rotary Club of South Pasadena
“Peace . Unite for Good”
 

 
 
cluB INSPIRATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY
🌎 International Peace Day was on September 21st! Each year on September 21, the world observes the United Nations International Day of Peace:  a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace among all nations and peoples. It reminds us that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the ongoing practice of empathy, understanding, and collaboration.
💙 Rotary’s Enduring Commitment to Peace
Rotary and the United Nations share a deep history rooted in the pursuit of peace. Rotary was among the organizations that helped draft the UN Charter in 1945, and peace remains at the heart of everything we do -  one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus.
But Rotary’s vision of peace goes far beyond treaties and negotiations. It’s about creating the conditions where peace can thrive by addressing the causes of conflict and empowering communities to flourish:
   •    Conflict Prevention and Resolution: Rotary Peace Centers and fellowships train leaders to mediate, rebuild, and lead reconciliation efforts worldwide.
   •    Economic and Community Development: Sustainable livelihoods reduce desperation and create stability.
   •    Education and Literacy: Knowledge fosters understanding - the cornerstone of lasting peace.
   •    Youth Empowerment: Through Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and mentorship, Rotary cultivates young leaders grounded in compassion and dialogue.
🕊️ Here in South Pasadena For the Rotary Club of South Pasadena, Peace Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a reflection of our mission. Whether we’re mentoring youth, rebuilding lives after the Eaton Fire, or creating spaces for connection and understanding, each act of service contributes to a more peaceful world.

 This September 21, may we each recommit to Rotary’s call to “Peace – Unite for Good.”
 
ROTARY READS
 
 
mental health & well bEING COMMITTEE
WALK OUT OF DARKNESS & LUMINARY CEREMONY
🌿 District 5300 Mental Health & Well-Being Day, Walk Out of Darkness & Luminary Ceremony
September 20, 2025 • 5 PM • Delhaven Community Center, City of Industry
Southern California Rotarians gathered on September 20 for a moving evening of remembrance and hope at District 5300’s Walk Out of Darkness & Luminary Ceremony. The event united clubs from across the district to honor lives lost, support those impacted by mental health challenges, and raise awareness for suicide prevention.

As the sun set, participants lit luminaries along the path - each candle symbolizing courage, compassion, and community. Together, Rotarians, families, and friends walked to affirm a powerful message: no one walks alone.

The evening reflected Rotary’s enduring commitment to hope, healing, and peace. Through shared stories and quiet moments of reflection, attendees strengthened Rotary’s mission to build stronger, healthier communities - where compassion replaces stigma and connection brings light to darkness.

💙 Rotary stands for Mental Health & Wellness. Together, we remind every person: You are not alone.
 
 
Health & Wellness Club Chair 
Maarten Simons
 
The Missing Piece in Peace: Cultivating Inner Stillness
With the United Nations General Assembly in our rearview mirror, we are once more reminded that the solutions to a world in turmoil do not lie in the halls of government, nor within the intergovernmental organizations that attempt to unite them.
There is no shortage in political discussions (don’t we all know it). What we lack - and what is dividing us - is a collective sense of compassion rooted in inner-peace.
After all, how can we create a more just world when we are not at peace internally, filled with selfish ego, resentment toward others, and clinging to materialistic motives?
"As above, so below; as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul". It is an ancient Hermetic principle that reminds us that who we are on the inside creates the world around us.
And as Rotary members, we need to realize that our ability to effectively serve others, to contribute to peace and justice, starts with our own capability to find stillness. To find reflection. To find inner-peace. This is how we realize the Collective Consciousness needed to realize lasting change for good.
Ex-Beatle George Harrison quoted his spiritual guide Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, saying: “For a forest to be green, each tree must be green.”
Let’s be green trees. Let’s prioritize our minds, bodies, AND souls to create the fertile ground for compassion.
Aligned with our year theme ‘Peace – Unite for Good’, Rotary Club South Pasadena will host an inner-peace focused event in January (Rotary’s Health & Wellness month). More details to follow.
 
 
CLUB SOCIAL
CARL’S OKTOBERFEST
🍻 Prost to Fellowship!
 
A heartfelt thank you to Past President Carl von Bibra & his amazing wife Elizabeth for opening their home and heart to host our Rotary Oktoberfest. It was a night filled with laughter, friendship, and Bavarian cheer! From amazing bratwurst to all type of german food and merriment, every detail reflected the true spirit of Rotary fellowship. It was wonderful to see members and friends come together, raise a glass, and celebrate community the South Pasadena way.
 
Thank you, Carl and Elizabeth, for your generosity and hospitality - and for reminding us that service and joy go hand in hand. 🌟
 
 
interact club of SPHS in THE NEWS
A GREAT DAY IN THE STOKE
🌊 A Great Day in the Stoke: Service, Surf, and Community
 
On a bright Saturday morning in Huntington Beach, A Great Day in the Stoke celebrated the joy of inclusion, ocean wellness, and community connection. The event - founded to make surfing more accessible to all -  featured a surf competition with black pro surfers, a 5K run, two surf sessions with Pro surfer Rocky McKinnon and his team, a Nickelodeon Kids Zone, a Beach yoga session powered by Lululemon, an awards ceremony and a live concert, bringing together participants, surfers, and volunteers for an unforgettable day in the waves.

Among the volunteers were five members of the South Pasadena High School Interact Club, including their President, who assisted pro surfer Rocky McKinnon and his team throughout the day. The Interact Club of South Pasadena began its partnership with McKinnon’s adaptive surf organization two years ago, and their ongoing collaboration continues to deepen through shared values of service, empowerment, and compassion.

Also present was Rotarian Ines Kuperschmit, who joined in supporting participants and cheering on the volunteers - exemplifying the intergenerational spirit of Rotary in action.

A Great Day in the Stoke was more than a surf day; it was a powerful reminder that when service meets joy, and community meets compassion, everyone rises with the tide.
 
”Celebrating Black Surfers at Huntington Beach fest” Los Angeles Times, Sunday 28 Sept. 2025, www.latimes.com
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upcoming club social
🎃 The Rotary Haunted House of Friendship
Thursday, October 30 | 5:30 - 9 PM
The Blinn House, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena
 
Get ready for a night of eerie elegance and spirited fellowship! 👻
The Rotary Clubs of South Pasadena, San Marino, Pasadena, and Alhambra & Monterey Park are coming together to host a Halloween Costume Party like no other and we’ve invited Rotary friends from across the San Gabriel Valley to join the fun!
 
Expect live music, eerie cocktails, and plenty of tricks (and treats!) as we transform the historic Blinn House into a haunted haven of Rotary fellowship.
🏆 Prizes for Best Costume & Most Creative Club Spirit!
 
✨ Come celebrate the magic of Rotary - in costume, in community, and in style.
💀 $35 | RSVP by Oct. 27 to Lauriane Deriu at laurianed07@gmail.com
 
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
 
with love
Betty Bui
 
 
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South Pasadena, CA 91031, United States