ROTARY was the world’s first service club. The first Rotary Club was founded in Chicago, Illinois, USA on February 23, 1905 by Paul Harris (2nd from left in photo).
ROTARY is some 1.2 million service-minded men and women belonging to more than 34,000 Rotary Clubs in virtually every nation in the world.
ROTARY CLUBS meet weekly in local areas across the world. They have interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance. Membership reflects a wide cross-section of community representation.
ROTARIANS plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people’s lives in their local communities and our world community.
ROTARY is The Rotary Foundation, an essential arm of Rotary which each year provides some US$100 million for international scholarships and humanitarian projects – large and small – that improve the quality of life for millions of people.
ROTARY is committed to Polio Eradication. It works with national and international health organisations towards the goal of eradicating polio around the world. More than one billion children in developing nations have been immunised against polio through Polio Eradication grants. Rotarians through their clubs and personal contributions have raised over 2 billion dollars for this campaign.
Covina Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday morning at the Covina District Field and is one of over 33,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries.
We were founded on April 2, 1982 by Barney Ingram, a former member of our sister Club, Covina Rotary.
We provide philanthropic service to the local area, as well as international projects.
Our primary project, Operation Santa Clothes, has provided new clothing for over 34,000 school kids.
We serve the community while enjoying a great sense of cameraderie and spirit at our meetings as well as regular social events.
Interested in our Club or membership? Let us know via our Contact Page and we'll invite you to join us for a free breakfast to experience how we roll and what we're all about!
Athens Services is a Corporate member with variable representatives.
Robert Avila - Jeweler
Vice President
Robert has been a Rotarian for nearly ten years and is a past director of community service and club service. He is the Club's USC Trojan Football advocate as well as being a general sports nut (he flies to a Dolphins game every year and is a baseball / football coach). He is a gemologist and jewelry designer for his Covina store "Constantine Creations" and designs jewelry for Mark Victor Hanson (author of "Chicken Soup For The Soul"). Besides being president for 2016-17, Robert claims his best achievement is having a great wife and four healthy sons.
Jason Cook - Commercial Security
Jason runs a security tech company as well as being the head coach for the Covina Vikings football team.
Don Crouse - Tire Dealer
Director International Services
Don is a Charter Member of the Club and has distinguished himself with perfect attendance since 1982. In addition to serving on the board, he's a former Rotarian of the Year and Paul Harris Fellow. Arguably, the best "whiner" in the club, he is an avid fan of muscle cars, road runs, drag racing, and anything automotive. A graduate of Cal Poly, Pomona, he's been married for over 35 years and has two sons.
Covina Valley Unified School District - Michele Doll - School District Representative
CVUSD has joined our Club as a Corporate Member.
Ted DeWitt - Signs designer
Ted was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and works in the photo engraving and printing industries. He moved for a new position in California in ‘98 and worked with major commercial printers in the Los Angeles area as plant manager, general manager, and VP manufacturing. In 2009, he opened Signarama in Covina and Expanded in 2014 and again in 2022 with additional floor space and equipment. He now has five employees with revenues over one million dollars and was named 2022 Covina Business of the year. Recently, he was responsible for creating and donating much signage for our Mardi Gras fundraiser.
Dennis Duncan - Optometry
Executive Director
Dennis is a past president of the Club and plays an instrumental part in organizing ticket sales for The Auctions and other CSR fundraisers. He has been a member for over 25 years and in his spare time enjoys working with the Boy Scouts of America, skiing and collecting first edition books by John Steinbeck.
John Espinoza - Printer/Copier Sales/Service
President
A member since 1961, John has been instrumental in creating the Interact Club of Covina High School, a club that introduces teens to the spirit of Rotary. John runs a semi-successful printer and copier business in his spare time when not busy as a professional Polka instructor...
Jonathan Espinoza - Insurance
Membership Director
(New member - data aquisition underway...)
Shannon Hidalgo - Banker
Treasurer, President Elect
A member of CSR since 2010, Shannon was born and raised in La Puente. A Covina resident for 23 years, she has worked in financial institutions for 43 years, 31 years with Pacific Western Bank. Currently VP/Branch Operations Manager of West Covina Office. She has four children, 6 grandchildren and 1 doggie. Her hobbies include cooking and trying new recipes, crafting, happy hour with friends, and family time.
Bill Higley - Civil Engineer
Youth Services Director
Bill came to CSR by way of volunteering with the Operation Santa Clothes project. He was actually asked to join OSC due to the fact that he hangs out at K-mart every day anyway, and this gives him the opportunity to satisfy his community service hours requirements. As a result of his great participation and ambition, he became a CSR President!
Bill Hubbert - Pharmacist
“Bull” (his Club nickname for many years) is a Charter Member of CSR since its founding in 1982 and has been Club Treasurer for about as many years as well. He attended Covina High, Mt. Sac, and the USC School of Pharmacy which led to his partnership in Rose Pharmacy for 30 years. Semi-retired, he now has time to pursue his avocation: the American Old West and in particular, the Indian Wars. He spends time reading and researching the subject as well as traveling to visit historic sites with his lovely wife, Mary.
Nancy Leal - Stay at home Mom
Community Service Director
Nancy has become a full-fledged Rotarian and member of the board after upgrading from an Associate Member.
David Little - Finance Director
Executive Director - Legacy Foundation
David is affectionately called "grasshopper" by his fellow members because he rubs his legs together a lot. This could also explain why he has experienced wedded bliss for years beyond what could be expected at his young age.
Al Marino - Financial Planning
Al married his wife Nancy in 1971 and has a daughter, Danielle. A member of CSR since 1984, he served as a board member, then club secretary (under George Bradley and Howard Raff), and ultimately, as Club President. A former phys.ed. teacher with a doctorate from UCLA, he coached South Hills HS gymnastics to CIF championship in 1972 then went on to Cal State LA where he served as Gymnastics Coach, Kinesiology Professor and Associate Athletic Director for 12 years. During that time, he was awarded NCAA Division 1 “Gymnastics Coach of the Year” (1974). In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he was the manager of the Gymnastics Award Ceremonies. After leaving the educational sector, he became Managing Partner at Diversified Securities Inc. in West Covina. He is now retired and enjoys wooden boats, doo wop music, backpacking and hiking. His latest endeavor is learning to play bass guitar and joining a touring band!
Galen Metz - Wine Bar & Art Dealer
Secretary
After retiring from a 25 year career with Eastman Kodak, Galen opened the Azo Vino Wine Bar and Gallery in Covina where he exhibits and sells fine "objets d'arte" as well as great wines and beers. As a nationally known speaker on business and marketing practices, he served as Chairman of the West Coast School of Photography Board of Trustees and now serves on the Board of Directors of the Covina Downtown Merchants Assoc. As member of the Professional Photographers of America, he received the degree of Photographic Craftsman in '92, the PPA National Award in '96 and is one of only 25 recipients to receive the prestigious Paul Kennedy Award for Professional Photographers of California. He serves as an industry advisor to Through Each Other's Eyes, using photography as a medium for education and cultural understanding involving eight countries. He's a founding member and serves on the Board for the Living American Masters Photographic Project which researches, documents, and archives North America's greatest photographers. In his free time he enjoys motorcycle touring and you may recognize him as our auctioneer for the High Heels and Handcarts auction, the World War II Victory Party and Bootlegger’s Ball (which he chaired).
Terry Wysocki - Computer Technologies
Webmaster
Terry is a past president (2006-2007) and has been in the club since March 2001. Raised in Michigan, he joined the Army in '67, then moved to California to continue his education. He worked 12 years for the LA Sheriff then went into the private computer sector. Now when not working with computers, he rides a Harley with his wife, Sue, who is a Past President of the Covina Rotary Club. He's also a professional musician and has played drums in the White House, now playing keyboards. His latest hobbies are his 120" home theater / automation system, Pop Tennis, Pickleball, programming and jamming with guys in his band, GrayRock.
Associate Members
Associate members are an active part of our Club. They are not required to attend every meeting and pay regular dues. Instead, they have an annual enrollment fee and can participate in the meetings, events, and all of the projects that CSR has.
Paul Avila
Steve DeMuth
Donna Hummer
Melanie Jaso
Kyle Nagy
John Pellizzon
Isabel Valdovinos
Special Features Section
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If you would like to propose a new member to CSR, for a PDF application form that you can download and fill out, print and submit to the club.
There are 3 type of members in the Club:
Regular Members (age:21+, $100 Fee, Monthly Dues)
Associate Member ($300 year, $10 breakfasts)
R Future Member ($45 year, $10 breakfasts, age:<=30)
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