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Latest News & Stories


My Writing Process
My writing journey began in the crucible of high school journalism class, under the tutelage of the formidable Ms. Marjorie Nobel. She...
Ray Sanford
Oct 14, 2024


What Commitment Looks Like
As dawn breaks over Uttar Pradesh, Aisha Khan prepares for another day of vaccinating children against polio. But she's not alone in this...
Ray Sanford
Oct 9, 2024


Healing Burned Children
Giving children a chance to fully recover from devastating burns, the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club, with help from San Clemente, and...
Ray Sanford
Oct 5, 2024


The Business of Giving
Applying Entrepreneurial Spirit to Rotary Projects In 1905, five businessmen in Chicago came together to form what would eventually...
Ray Sanford
Sep 30, 2024


If
When I first read "If", I thought it was one of the best poems ever written to inspire ethical behavior. As Paul Harvey used to say...
Ray Sanford
Sep 23, 2024


The Power of Curiosity
The role of curiosity often goes underestimated. The insatiable drive to question, explore, and not be satisfied with the status quo is a...
Ray Sanford
Sep 19, 2024


Empowering Communities
When it comes to international service, one of the most crucial debates is how best to provide aid: should we focus on short-term relief,...
Ray Sanford
Sep 17, 2024
Rotarian in the News
A U.S. high school was ravaged by fentanyl — and came back from the brink In Orange county, Rotarian Mike Darnold, a former police...
Ray Sanford
Sep 15, 2024


Forging Unity
The traditional idea of America as a "melting pot" evolves into something more dynamic when we consider it not as a stew, but as a...
Ray Sanford
Sep 11, 2024


Cleaning Up the Creeks
In a powerful display of community service, members of San Juan Capistrano Rotary came together on Saturday, September 7th, to tackle a...
Ray Sanford
Sep 9, 2024


Hispanic Culture
Growing up in Claremont, California, I was immersed in a vibrant mix of Hispanic culture that shaped my childhood experiences. My...
Ray Sanford
Sep 7, 2024


Unleashing Potential
Imagine joining a Rotary club, thinking you're simply lending a hand to your community. Little do you know, you're about to embark on a...
Ray Sanford
Sep 4, 2024


Service Connects Us
I once took a "Comparative Religions" course from an esteemed professor at the Claremont School of Theology. We were all struck by the...
Ray Sanford
Aug 28, 2024


Mentoring vs. mentoring
In my time as a Rotary District Governor, I've had the privilege of visiting countless clubs, each with its own unique character. Yet,...
Ray Sanford
Aug 23, 2024


Finding Our Way
Years ago, I was visiting my friends Jim and Jamie in their new home in the Edna Valley, just outside of San Luis Obispo. They had moved...
Ray Sanford
Aug 20, 2024


To be an Olympian
Every four years, the Olympics showcase the world's top athletes, but few of us truly comprehend the extreme focus and dedication behind...
Ray Sanford
Aug 15, 2024


Consistently Boring
"Semper Fidelis" and "Service Above Self" - two mottos that have shaped my life, First as a Marine and then as a Rotarian. These aren't...
Ray Sanford
Aug 13, 2024


"Sudden Death" Promotion
I witnessed the genius of Steve Sabol when he and I attended Colorado College at the same time. He quickly became a legend—not on the...
Ray Sanford
Aug 9, 2024


Reimagining Rotary
Note: This post is a thought experiment, not a recommendation. While it's about Rotary, the process of reimagining also applies to...
Ray Sanford
Aug 5, 2024


The Brave Knight Fallacy
I was brought up with tales of brave knights slaying dragons and rescuing fair maidens. It was in the movies and books that romanticized...
Ray Sanford
Aug 1, 2024
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