From the Daily Breeze, February 19, 1931:
"HERMOSA ROTARIANS SELECT OFFICERS OF NEWLY FORMED CLUB...John Glass Named President...
And from the Hermosa Beachcomber (the club bulletin), R. I. Golden Anniversary issue, Feb. 22, 1955:
"...Thus was born the Rotary Club of Hermosa Beach, in the depth of the depression, through which it lived, the membership at times only ten men; through a world war and through prosperity until today (1955) this club has a membership of sixty local men and has built and owns the Rotary Youth Building, which serves so many of the youth of Hermosa Beach."
The Club's Youth Building was built in 1948, enlarged to its present size from 1950 to 1954, when the club made its decision to hold meetings there and still does. Our building's use has been donated to all youth groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Headstart, Student Classes and other non profits free, and is rented out to various organizations to help obtain maintenance costs.
1951: Hermosa Rotary under the leadership of President Ray Brooks sponsored the Manhattan Beach Rotary Club. They, in turn, sponsored the El Segundo Rotary Club, making our club a grandfather.
1951: Hermosa Rotary inaugurated annual sponsorship of the Citizenship Congress with Hermosa Schools, wherein students prepared talks on "What the Constitution Means to Me" with winners receiving trophies and saving bonds after presenting their talks to the club. Student recognition continues today.
1954: Hermosa Rotary joined in the inter-club activity, The Coast Rotary Bowling League, which it continues to support today with two teams.
1962: Home hosted and assisted staffing events at the Los Angeles Rotary International Convention.
1963: The club sponsored an Indonesian Dutch family of five into the US, locating them housing, schooling and jobs and supporting them until they were able to live on their own.
1984: Began sponsorship of The Hermosa Beach Annual 5 and 10k Run Walk for a few years.
1987: The Rotarian Magazine recognized Hermosa Beach Rotary as the third highest per capita giving club to Polio Plus in the world, in the small club category.
1988: Delivered needed blankets and mattresses to an orphanage near Loreto, Baja California in cooperation with the Hermosa Beach Sister City Program.
2000: Shipped thousands of used school text books to the Rotary Club on the Island Country of Bequia.
2003: Established the "Kids Helping Kids" project as developed by Dr. Bob Content for our Centennial project. If classroom children document a week of helping other kids, they get $100 for a class project.
2008: Held First Annual Educational Renaissance Faire.
2008: Were awarded a Matching Grant from RI to bring clean drinking water to four Rural Schools in Thailand.
2009: Matching Grant from RI is being used to provide incubators and supplies to a rural hospital in Thailand. A District Matching Grant is being used to honor Students of the Month from Hermosa Valley School for Citizenship, Service Above Self, and exemplifying the values in the 4-Way Test.
Over the years:
Staffed food and water booths at the semi-annual Hermosa Beach Chamber Fiestas.
Sponsored several Ambassadorial Scholars.
Hosted and housed GSE visitors.
Established "Fellowship Members" from Belgium, Glendale, Redondo Beach and other local areas.
Awarded student scholarships to 8th grade graduates of Hermosa Beach Schools.
Participated fully in District activities.
Sponsored inter-club meetings with Manhattan Beach Rotary, Hermosa Beach Kiwanis and others.
Continue to use our Rotary Building as a Youth Building, Community Building and as a fund-raiser.