community lovers

Being a Member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington has the potential to impact local and worldwide communities.

Our Club was established in 1928 and has been a constant participant in the many facets of the Wilmington business, educational, social, and non-profit sectors.

Over the years, the faces of our members has changed, along with the demographics of the Wilmington community and its business members. With the motto of “Service Above Self,” our Club has strived to be a relevant partner to those in leadership, as well as, to those in need of services to enhance their everyday lives, meet their educational goals, become productive citizens, and to enjoy a quality of life that brings them happiness and fulfillment.
As a member club of Rotary District 5280, our members have had the opportunity to travel the world and work on humanitarian projects in various countries. These international projects expand our knowledge and social interactions with those around the world. And, we are such a diverse club that our members represent countries from around the world, which brings many rich experiences to our social gatherings, our projects, and our understanding of the world.

Executive & Directors

President:
Rafael Garcia
Past President:
Juan Torres
President Elect 2023-2024: 
Cristian Amaya 

Community:
Cecilia Moreno
Secretary:
Margie Hernandez, Chair
Yolanda De La Torre, Co-Chair
Treasurer:
Lucia Moreno-Linares
Club Fellowship:
Yolanda De La Torre
International:
Maritza Jimenez-Zeljak
Vocational:
Mercy Yanez
Youth:
Evelyn Hernandez
Membership:
Juanita Naranjo
Peace/Rotary Foundation:
Sergio Carrillo
Public Relations/Social Media:
Juan Torres, Chair
Cecilia Moreno, Co-Chair
Sergeant-at-Arms:
Patrick Wilson
Programs:
Open
President-Elects:

FRIENDS OF THE ROTARY CLUB
OF WILMINGTON
501(c )(3) nonprofit organization
Tax ID: 83-3179438
Board of Directors for Foundation:
Juanita Naranjo, President
Olga Chavez, Secretary
Yolanda De La Torre, Treasurer
Member-at-Large:
Sergio Carrillo
Olga G. Chavez

President's Message

Welcome to the Wilmington Rotary Club website in beautiful Southern California, USA. If you are a member, I thank you for your commitment to the Wilmington community and I know you will enjoy engaging in the many projects we undertake to be good citizens and to be “A Gift to the World.” If you are a visitor to our site, please feel free to join us for our weekly meetings at Neno’s Restaurant in Wilmington. There you will receive a friendly welcome from our members and learn about the many interesting facts that make Wilmington a historical and vibrant treasure in the Los Angeles Harbor area. We are forming a Rotaract Club that will be open to young professionals (18-30) living and working in Wilmington. If you are interested, we would love to have you join. And, if you would like to celebrate the joy of the season at our annual Christmas Feast for needy families on Christmas Eve, please contact us and we will make sure your participation is moving and fulfilling.

Our Club has been in existence since 1928 and we have seen many changes occur within the Wilmington community. As a result, our Club has faced many challenges in order to stay in existence and to remain relevant to the community. Thank you for your interest in our Club and we hope to remain vibrant through the next decade when we celebrate our 100th anniversary and begin our second 100 years of existence.

Weekly Luncheon Meetings

We meet in person on the first three Mondays of the month at Neno’s Ristorante Italiano & Norooz Persian Grill at 910 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington. We do not meet on the last Monday of the month. Instead, we meet on the last Thursday of the month  for an evening social at 6:00 pm at various locations in the community.

In case of COVID-19 case increases, we will switch to virtual weekly meetings and socials via Zoom.

For inquiries, email us at infowilmingtonrotaryclub@yahoo.com

Signature Events

One of our annual events is the Christmas Feast, held on the Saturday before Christmas at the Wilmington Senior Center.  This is a sit-down tamale dinner for local families who might not otherwise celebrate Christmas.  Invitations are distributed through the Sts. Peter & Paul Poverty Program (a major partner), local schools, non-profit and community organizations, and by our members.

We have hosted as many as 1100 guests at this event, which has taken place every year since 1992.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, we are able to give each child under the age of 12 years a gift for Christmas.  Typically, there are about 900 family members in attendance, of which about 700 are children.  We have Santa on hand for photos and candy canes.

Another signature event has become the Navy Fleet Week Reception on the grounds of the Banning Mansion in Wilmington.  This is held on the Friday of Fleet Week and all members of the Navy fleet are invited to attend.  This event is co-sponsored with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and other local business supporters.

Membership Benefits

As a member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington, you have the opportunity to interact with our local members, as well as, Rotarians from throughout our District and from around the world.  District 5280 hosts various events and activities, along with a Paul Harris Foundation Dinner and the annual District Conference.  In addition, there is an annual humanitarian trip to other countries such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Trinidad, Peru, and Mexico.  Each year there is an international conference for all Rotarians.  In past years it has been held in Germany, Canada, Japan and the US.  Upcoming conferences are set for Honolulu, Hawaii and Taipei, Taiwan.

Are you interested in becoming a member?

Please note that membership in a Rotary club is by invitation only. Often, a person being considered for membership is invited by a club member, or sponsor, to attend one or more club meetings to learn more about Rotary. In this case, the sponsor submits the candidate’s name to the club’s membership committee.

If you are interested in joining our Rotary Club, download and complete the member application and email it to infowilmingtonrotaryclub@yahoo.com. We will contact you.