Tag Archives: featured

Club History, Featured Member, Rotary News

Meet 2023-2024 Club President Karen Lujan

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the installment of Karen Lujan as our incoming Rotary President for the 2023-24 Rotary year on July 1, 2023.  As we close out our first 100 years of service to the Monrovia community and prepare for the next chapter in our Rotary journey, we are filled with anticipation for the leadership and positive impact that Karen will bring to our organization.

Karen is no stranger to our Rotary family, having served as an invaluable member for 15 years. Throughout her tenure, she has proven her ability to inspire, engage, and empower others to make a meaningful impact in our community and beyond.   Karen has lived in the San Gabriel Valley since the age of 7.   Karen attended UCSB where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.  She then went on to earn her Master of Business Administration Degree in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. Karen has been married to Fil Lujan for 27 years and has two grown boys who are both living at home attending college and one chosen daughter with two grandchildren that live in the SLC area. Karen currently works as a Senior Product Line Manager for Siemens Corporation in the Semiconductor Software industry.

Here is what Karen had to say regarding the upcoming Rotary year:

I hope to continue building on the momentum that we grew last year with our Centennial year.  We are a service club first and foremost and I want to find meaningful projects in our community and abroad where we can help those in need.  I strongly believe in the power of teamwork and the collective strength that comes from people coming together toward a common goal of helping others . Please consider joining us, you can help make a difference, at home and around the world.

Rotary News, Service

Monrovia Police Chief Sanvictores Awarded by Rotary

The Monrovia Rotary Club has presented retiring Monrovia Police Chief Alan Sanvictores with the highest award a Rotary Club can present, a Paul Harris Fellow Award, in recognition of his continual 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.

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.”