Rotary Club of Carmel Valley

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Santa’s Fly-in

What would Christmas be without Santa Claus? Our club organizes and runs the annual Carmel Valley Santa’s Fly-in and a parade. The staging ground is a long-closed airport runway in Carmel Valley Village. Club members are involved in all aspects of this special day, such as the helicopter fly-in, parade supervision and logistics. Countless people of all ages line both sides of Carmel Valley Road in the village to attend. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by helicopter. This is a major and joyful community event that has brought happiness to Carmel Valley locals and others for over half a century!

Community-Based Projects

The club frequently works with Carmel Valley community groups on projects that benefit the community. Projects range from landscaping to construction work to vehicle speed safety signs. In 2024 a number of club members participated in building Tatum’s Tree House, a major project designed for handicapped children at the Carmel Valley Community Center. Partnership projects enhance the community experience and help provide for a quality environment for the valley's citizens. These include assisting residents at Rippling River, a local Section 8 Housing complex with eighty low-income, elderly and/or handicapped residents. Club members help in numerous ways. They take heavy/bulky loads of recycling to a recycling center where the money received is used for the benefit of all the residents, like helping to cover the cost of community BBQs so residents can better get to know their neighbors. Our club has arranged for the local Interact Club to do various clean-up projects or assist residents with gardening. Our Rotary Club through social media encourages the community to donate needed personal care items and cleaning supplies that residents on limited income are unable to afford on their own. The club also has a representative on a local non-profit community group that provides assistance to residents.

Adopt-A-Road

Our club has adopted a section of Carmel Valley Road between Highway 1 and the intersection of Rancho San Carlos Road, clearing litter and debris from about a two-mile stretch of the valley’s main thoroughfare. The Carmel High School Rotary Interact Club joins the Rotarians in this community service. Approximately four times a year we are responsible for collecting trash along this area. The Community Service chair member works closely with the county Public Works Department to coordinate trash bag pick up, mowing schedules and reporting any issues such as clogged drainage, hazardous spills, blocked signs, etc. This event is open to all Rotarians as well as the public; many locals like to participate. All of this volunteering is a great way to show community spirit and to help keep Carmel Valley clean and beautiful.

All aboard!

Each summer our club operates a small train, enjoyed by children and adults alike at the Carmel Valley Fiesta, a community event sponsored by Carmel Valley Kiwanis, at Carmel Valley Community Park. We also operate the train at the All Saints Day School fall festival and Santa’s Fly-In. We can also operate the train at other local festivals when requested. Volunteers from our club and the community are welcome to assist with operating the train and its booth. Come join us for the ride!

Ticketing Support and Entrance Operation at Laguna Seca Raceway

For the past 40 years our club’s Rotarians have enjoyed operating entrances, and selling and scanning tickets as well as helping fans arriving at entrances at world-famous Laguna Seca Raceway at all their races, usually about a half-dozen annually. In turn, operators of the world-famous raceway have contributed over the decades more than $100,000 to our Rotary Club's community education projects. Rotarians get to see some spectacular and historic vehicles driven in by fans as they have their tickets checked. Did we mention that it's a whole lot of FUN too as well as a great way to build lasting friendships.

Player Courtesy Vans at Golf Tournaments

The Monterey Peninsula is world renowned for its many golf courses and tournaments, the most famous of which is the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which draws top golfers from throughout the world as well as celebrities. Dozens of our club members put in long hours as drivers for the golfers throughout the length of the tournament, a full week including practice rounds, at several local golf courses. The club receives a stipend from tournament directors for hours of volunteering. Our club also drives for the PURE Insurance Championship, a golf tournament on the PGA Champions Tour. It is held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course and teaches golf and promotes young people and our club receives a stipend here as well.

Food Bank for Monterey County

Our Rotary Club has assisted the Food Bank for Monterey through financial contributions and distribution of food to senior housing facilities.

Rotarians support the Family Health Clinic in Seaside for free weekly medical services for the needy. The Rotary Club of Carmel Valley donates funds and volunteers in support of this this humanitarian outreach.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

In honor of the men and women who have served and/or are serving our country in the military services, we hold an annual Veterans Day luncheon in conjunction with the Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary Club and the Carmel Sunset Rotary Club. At this special event, members of the armed forces, past and present, deliver special remarks and bring us up to date about various aspects of the military. Our club presents a salute to veterans, and as a solemn part of this event, we set up and explain the meaning of a special table for fallen and missing service members. Also, the local Rotary club veterans who have served are recognized individually for their service.