Category Archives: Rotary News

Rotary News, Scholarships

Monrovia Rotary Club Honors Life-Long Kiwanian Fred Bowden

By Susan Motander via Monrovia Weekly

The Monrovia Rotary Club in collaboration with the Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS) and Bowden Development has created a new scholarship fund.  The Fred Bowden Family Vocational Scholarship is the newest Rotary scholarship fund to benefit adult learners in the Monrovia Community.

It may seem rather strange for the Monrovia Rotary Club to honor a member of the Kiwanis Club, but one only needed to know Fred to understand the tribute.  Fred was a great supporter of all things Monrovia.  According to Bill Shieff, a member of Monrovia Rotary Club, Bowden was a great supporter of both clubs.  He participated each year in the big Rotary Club auction.

This new scholarship fund is especially significant in that Fred was a major construction contractor in Monrovia for many years. The fund will provide four annual scholarships to adults so that they can complete certification training in construction at MCAS.

Monrovia Rotary President Darrell Brooke explains the process: “Through the Fred Bowden Family Vocational Scholarship program, the Monrovia Rotary will contribute 50 percent of the cost per student, and the MCAS will cover the other 50 percent. This is the same formula we have been using successfully for the last several years for certification in other fields.  Our goal is the same: putting people to work.”

The mission of the Monrovia Community Adult School is “Helping to Build the Future Together” by reaching out to the community to create more opportunities.  These scholarships will help to fulfill that mission with assisting students in programs such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification.  Other programs will offer information about construction materials and practices, plan reading, and networking opportunities for those already working in construction.  Each course lasts 26 weeks and ends with certification in a particular construction field.

As the Bowden Construction part of this program, Todd Bowden, Fred’s son, is offering job site access to these scholarship recipients after they have received their certification.  Bowden said of the program, “We are thrilled to walk along this journey with everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing it come to life.”

Rotary News, Scholarships

2018 Monrovia Rotary Scholarships Awarded

Scholarship Committee Chair Erica Hahn, and committee members, John Campbell and Richard Tipping were pleased to present the 2018 recipients of the Monrovia Rotary Scholarship program. The Monrovia Rotary Club thanks Richard Tipping for his yearly generosity in providing additional scholarship funds.

2018 Rotary Scholarship Recipients

Monrovia High School 

  • Samantha Childers
  • Kemyl Tadeo
  • Benjamin Tang
  • Brenton Guthaus
  • Gizzel Ramirez
  • Gabriel Lujan
  • Valerie Flores

Service to the Community

  • Megan Matthiesen
  • Ishika Muchhal
  • Alison Lauder
  • Madison Schoonmaker

St. Lucy’s Priory Academic Scholarship

  • Frances Jimenez

Tipping Scholarship at MHS

  • Kemyl Tadeo
  • Benjamin Tang

Tipping Scholarship – Canyon Oaks/Mt High

  • Zelda Pacheco
  • Emilio Jimenez
  • Isabel Vargas

Tipping Scholarship – St. Lucy’s Priory

  • Frances Jimenez

Billy Ryan Scholarship

  • Luis Suarez
Rotary News, Service

Retiring Monrovia Police Chief Awarded by Rotary

The Monrovia Rotary Club has presented retiring Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt with the highest award a Rotary Club can present, a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in recognition of his 27 years of service to the people of Monrovia.

Named for the founder of Rotary International, the Paul Harris Fellow Award is given in recognition of individuals who have given $1000 to the Rotary Foundation or worthy individuals in whose name a donation has been made.

Other notable Paul Harris Fellow awardees include U.S. astronaut James Lovell, Mother Teresa, Pearl Bailey, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk.

Club History, Featured Member, Rotary News

Meet 2017-2018 Club President Bob Helbing

Robert Helbing is a California native. He came into this world in San Diego on January 1, 1962. His family has Midwest roots, and he moved to Chicago when his father mustered out of the US Navy. In 1969, the Helbing family returned to California, where Bob was raised in Pasadena. After finishing St. Francis High School in 1979, Bob enrolled in the California Institute of Technology, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1983.

Bob worked in the aerospace industry for several years, working on ballistic missiles. His projects included flights and flight hardware for the Minuteman, Trident, Peacekeeper and Small Missile projects. He left the industry in the wake of the post-Cold War downsizing, working in software development. In 1990, he joined the family firm, Air-Tro Heating and Air Conditioning in Monrovia. Bob is a third-generation engineer and a fourth-generation contractor. His family’s roots in contracting go back to the 19th century. He and his brother Tony have built Air-Tro to be the premier provider of HVAC services in the San Gabriel Valley, serving customers such as Occidental College, USC, Caltech, the City of Hope and many other institutions in the region. Bob served a decade on the board of the Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries, holding the Presidency of the Institute in 2013-2014.

Bob has been a Monrovia resident since 1991. He and his wife Erin have three sons, now all in high school or college. Bob is active in the community, having served on the Foothill Workforce Development Board for over a decade, as well as being on the board of both the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and the Monrovia Rotary Club. He is currently serving as Treasurer of the chamber, and is the newly installed President at Rotary. Bob has found involvement in the community to be a rewarding and enriching experience, discovering meaning in service to others and the delight in sharing that experience with fellow members of our community.

Club History, Rotary News

Club Demotes President Susanne

In an annual ritual of Rotary Clubs the world over, the Monrovia Rotary Club demoted 2016-2017 President, Susanne Hayek.  The atmosphere was festive with a 4th of July theme of red, white, and blue flowers and balloons, white tablecloths and fun music arranged by club member and Monrovian Restaurant owner, Sia Soris.

Headed by Past President Bill Shieff, and assisted by his Demotion Committee, Sylvia Domotor, Jan Mueting, and Erica Hahn, the evening was well coordinated and enjoyable.  An amusing “roast” of the outgoing leader included more than a few “blond jokes”.

A slide show of more than 350 images of the past Rotary year provided background to the proceedings, followed by the traditional president’s life video.

Bryan Earll was honored with the Carlson Award, the Club’s highest award, for his outstanding commitment and service to the Club.  Steve Baker was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his 20 years of service to the club as a Past President, Board Member, and Executive Secretary.  Jan Mueting was awarded “Tiger of the Year”, an annual tribute to the newer Rotarian who has made great contributions. Click here for more photos on FaceBook.

Other awardees were:

Excellence in Service

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Andy Montgomery

Finemaster

For Raising Over $20,000 in Club Fines

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Bill Shieff

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Bob Helbing

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Bryan Earll

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Sylvia Domotor

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Julie Roybal

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Darrell Brooke

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

John Campbell

Excellence in Stewardship

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Felix Villanueva

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Erica Hahn

For Special Assistance to the President

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Jenny Pappano
for Dedication to Interact and Youth Services

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Steve Knight

Room Set-Up

“Always Arrives Early and Always Stays Late”

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Kris “K-Rail” Leonard

Bulletin Editor

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Karen Lujan

Club Photographer

Outstanding Service Award

Monrovia Rotary Club

2016-2017

Jim Ward

The President’s “Swan Song”

It hardly seems possible that it was a year ago that I lead my first meeting.  At that time, you may recall that I listed all the 21 past presidents of our club that are still active today.  Because I think that is so remarkable I am going to list them again. 

Bill Shieff 2015-2016

Bryan Earll 2014-2015

Alex Blackburn 2013-2014

Julie Roybal 2012-2013

Tom Hould 2011-2012

Cal Magro 2010-2011

Jim Ward 2009-2010

John Campbell 2008-2009

Dennis Franklin 2006-2007

Kris Leonard 2006-2007

Tim Mishler 2005-2006

Mary Ann Lutz 2001-2002

Paul Genino 2000-2001

Stephen Baker 1999-2000

Rob Hammond 1997-1998

Tom Adams 1995-1996

Sam Wright 1993-1994

Gary Kooiman

Steve Knight 1983-1984

Detro Sells 1982-1983

Herb hezlep 1964-1965

The Monrovia Rotary Club was chartered in 1922; This year, we are 95 years old. 

The club has 57 members and 21 are past presidents…this is very telling because it shows that we are an amazing team.  People stop participating in Rotary when they don’t feel engaged or appreciated, or they feel overwhelmed or burned out.  This doesn’t happen in our club because we work together and we support each other. 

I come away from my year as President with a deep affection for this club and its members.  With a deep appreciation for all the grace that has been shown me and for the help that has been given me.  I had barely been a member for two years when I was asked to serve as president. I didn’t even know every members name in the beginning.  It was definitely a handicap not to have been steeped in the rich history of this venerable club but what made it possible was the help and guidance I received.

I thank you all for this opportunity to serve.  Every job in Rotary is both and opportunity to give and an opportunity to receive.  I have been richly rewarded in this past year and I thank you for the privilege. _Susanne Hayek

Rotary News, Service

Rotary Donates to Local Organizations

The Monrovia Rotary Club has donated $600 to the Monrovia Firefighters Association for their outstanding and life saving goal of making sure every home in Monrovia has a smoke detector. Other donations this month included $500 to the Monrovia Public Library for their summer reading program, $500 to the Monrovia Historical Society for the Legacy Project and $100 to the United Methodist Church Tea and Fashion show to benefit their pregnancy resource center. Thank you to our donors and club members for making this possible.

Donations to the club may be made by clicking the “Make A Donation” link above.

If you would like information on joining us please contact our Membership Chair using the links in the box to the right.

Featured Member, Rotary News

Club Inducts Deb Pringle

The Monrovia Rotary Club was pleased to induct Deb Pringle to membership.

Deb  is a Realtor® with Vastree Real Estate, specializing in families and historic homes in the Monrovia area. Originally born in Queens NY, Deb grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where she pursued her love of animals, working with the local VCA Animal Hospital and volunteering her time to train animals for the Susquehanna Service Dogs organization, which provides service dogs and hearing dogs for disabled children and adults. Moving to California, Deb studied high end dining service, eventually working with the award-winning Tavern restaurant in Brentwood and receiving her certification as a Level One Sommelier. Today, Deb is a proud member of the Monrovia community, engaging in social groups, book clubs, and spending a portion of her free time serving as a tutor for adults working to learn English as a second language. At home, Deb takes care of her own animals – two cats and an adorable Boston Terrier. Deb is also an avid baker… a skill that is encouraged by her husband, stand up comedian Ken Pringle (much to the chagrin of his expanding waistline!).

Featured Member, Rotary News

Club Inducts New Fire Chief

The Monrovia Rotary Club has inducted Fire Chief Brad Dover to membership.  Brad is being sponsored by Immediate Past President, Bill Shieff.

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Brad Dover began volunteering for Monrovia Fire and Rescue in 1994 as a fire cadet. In 1998, he was hire full time as a firefighter. The following year, he was assigned as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2003, Brad was promoted to fire engineer, a position he still cherishes as one of his favorites. In 2006 he promoted to captain where he spent two years on an engine company. In 2008, he was reassigned as a captain on the ladder truck. He said that assignment is where he grew the most professionally and all of the pieces of incident management came together. In 2015, he promoted to division chief, where he managed day-to-day shift operations. He was also responsible for citywide emergency preparedness programs and department support services. Brad has a Bachelorette of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach. He has completed the California career track programs for Fire Officer and Chief Officer. He was fortunate enough to spend a number of years as part of a California USAR Task Force. Currently, Brad is attending the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. The graduate level program is designed for fire service leaders from around the country. Brad has been married to his wife Anne for the past 18 years, and has 13 year old twins, Blake and Ella. Away from work he loves camping, golfing and being involved in his children’s sports programs. As a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, he insisted on naming his dog Lambeau, after one of the Packer legends.

The Club is proud that a person such as Brad,  who has spent a lifetime in service to others, has chosen the Rotary Club as an avenue of service.