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!
Board of Directors
Peter A. Arredondo Jr.
Director - Youth Services
Robert Avila
President
Don Crouse
Director International Services
Dennis Duncan
Executive Director
John Espinoza
Director of Membership
Shannon Hidalgo
Treasurer, President Elect
Bill Higley
Director Community Services
David Little
Executive Director - Legacy Foundation
Galen Metz
Vice President
Terry Wysocki
Director - Public Relations / Webmaster
Past Presidents
82-83 Richard Curly Jr.
83-84 Robert Jennings
84-85 Gerald Gaynor
85-86 Armando Favela
86-87 Howard Raff
87-88 Tim Burlingame
88-89 Henry Morgan
89-90 George Bradley
90-91 Bob Remy
91-92 Joe Geiselmann
92-93 Al Marino
93-94 Tom Miller
94-95 Richard Adams
95-96 Ed Cooper
96-97 Roman Morales
97-98 Michael Catania
98-99 Roger Gama
99-00 Dennis Duncan
00-01 Hugh Ledford
01-02 Mimmo Femino
02-03 Shirley Von
03-04 John Pellizzon
04-05 Judy Starns
05-06 Owen King
06-07 Terry Wysocki
07-08 Wes Uptergrove
08-09 Galen Metz
09-10 Bill Hammett
10-12 Galen Metz
12-13 Lone Sorensen
13-14 George Fuller
14-15 John Espinoza
15-16 Sal Flores-Chatfield
16-17 Robert Avila
17-18 Shannon Hidalgo
18-19 John Espinoza
19-20 Bill Higley
20-21 Cicero Salmon
21-22 Galen Metz
22-23 Robert Avila
Membership Directory
Peter A. Arredondo Jr. - Telecomm Construction
Director - Youth Services
Peter Anthony Arredondo JR. is one of our newer "young" members - born in Pasadena CA in 1983. He is the father of Four Boys: Steven, Peter III, Leo and Lincoln. His wife, Valerie LeAnn, married him in 2018 (he says "She thought I was irresistible"). He has been in the telecommunications business since he was 21 years old and wouldn’t change it for the world. He currently owns a small telecom construction company and now plans on seeing what he can do to give back to the city that he says provided so much for him. Besides volunteering, helping people and providing for his family, he enjoys planning, delegating and completing large projects of all sorts. He also likes to golf from time to time (but says he is not good)! He enjoys going to the river in the summer, camping in the fall and staying home in the winter - and in Spring he has allergies!
Robert Avila - Jeweler
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.
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.
Ted DeWitt - Signs designer
(Awaiting details...)
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 18 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
Director of Membership
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
(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
Director Community Services
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.
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 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
Vice President
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).
Phil Peters - Security Services
Phil (and his wife Deborah) attended our Service Club Social at Covina Park, where multiple service clubs, guests, and potential new members were in attendance. His reason for joining CSR?: "To be part of a community that understands that the greatest reward comes from giving".
J.P. Sazon - Real Estate / Mortgage Broker
(No Bio Supplied Yet)
Norma Suarez - Sales Window Coverings
New member in April 2023 - data to follow...
Isabel Valdovines - Insurance
Isabel is our first new member in 2023!
Terry Wysocki - Computer Technologies
Director - Public Relations / 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. His latest hobbies are his 120"
home theater / automation system, Pop Tennis, programming and jamming with guys in his band, GrayRock.
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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