El Segundo Rotary Club

Join us on Thursday, June 11, for an informative presentation by Paul Samaras on El Segundo's Housing Element and the status of its implementation. He will discuss the City's long-term housing plan and touch on the General Plan Land Use Element, "El Segundo - Vision 2050".

Paul is the Principal Planner in the City's Community Development Department. He has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's in Public Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. He has been a professional planner for 25 years and is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

Paul has a passion for long-range and transportation planning and has collaborated with a consultant team to prepare and adopt the City’s Housing Element in 2022. He has been the project manager for several major projects, including the City’s Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) update in 2024, the Bicycle Master Plan (2011), the Climate Action Plan (2017), and the Smoky Hollow Specific Plan (2018).

Currently, Paul is working on the comprehensive update of the City's General Plan Land Use Element (or "El Segundo - Vision 2050"), an effort that is expected to last until spring 2027.

We are incredibly proud to see the Rotary donation create a permanent and lasting impact at Center Street School’s Literacy Garden. What began as a community project has become a vibrant space where students can gather, explore books, and develop a love of reading in a safe, welcoming, and inspiring environment.
The greatest reward is seeing the smiles on the students' faces as they enjoy this special space. Moments like these remind us why community service matters. Knowing that this project will benefit generations of students for years to come makes it one of the most meaningful and impactful contributions Rotary has made to our local community.
Together, we are not just building a garden—we are helping cultivate curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of learning.

At this week’s Rotary meeting, we had the distinct honor of hosting our annual El Segundo Community Service Awards—an inspiring celebration of the individuals who make our community stronger every day.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s award recipients:
Juliana Farello — ESUSD Educator of the Year
Kyle Azcuna — ESUSD Classified Employee of the Year
Philip Milam — ES Police Department Police Officer of the Year
John Hurtado — ES Police Department Civilian of the Year
Khalid Abdelshife — ES Fire Department Firefighter of the Year
Joseph Lormans— ES City Employee of the Year

Each of these outstanding individuals exemplifies dedication, service, and an unwavering commitment to the El Segundo community. We are deeply grateful for all that they do, often quietly and behind the scenes, to make our city safer, stronger, and better for everyone. We are proud to recognize and celebrate their impact—it is a powerful reminder of the difference true service makes in people’s lives.

Are you ready to meet some awesome humans who are as passionate as you are about making El Segundo the best place to live? Join the El Segundo Rotary Club at Barsha Wine Bar & Shop, El Segundo, for our monthly Meet & Mingle on Thursday, June 4, at 5:30 PM.

Adnen and Lenora Marouani opened Barsha Wines & Spirits in 2012 after years spent traveling, cooking, and exploring wines from around the world. They had one simple intention: to create a space that brought together the flavors, cultures, and hospitality that shaped their lives.

Our monthly Meet & Mingle events are a fun, casual, and welcoming way for people in El Segundo to meet like-minded neighbors passionate about creating positive change in our community and around the world. If that sounds like you, we would love for you to join us and see how much fun you can have serving your community through Rotary.

Earlier today, the El Segundo Rotary Club hosted its annual Community Service Awards Luncheon. Congratulations to Officer of the Year, Philip Milam, and Civilian of the Year, John Hurtado, for their outstanding service and dedication to the El Segundo community.

What an EPIC DAY OF SERVICE! ❤️🥫
On Saturday, nearly 50 Rotarians from 3 local Rotary Clubs came together at the Westside Food Bank to assemble 600 summertime food boxes for families in need.
This is what Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self” and “Unite for Good” looks like in action — neighbors, leaders, and volunteers joining forces to make a real difference in our community. When schools close for summer, many families lose access to regular school meal programs, creating an even greater need for food support. That’s where the Westside Food Bank steps in, helping ensure children and families have access to nutritious meals during the summer months.
Together, we packed hope, kindness, and support into every single box. 💙

We had an incredible panel discussion at the Rotary lunch meeting exploring one of the most important questions of our time: What does education mean in the age of AI? 🤖📚
Moderated by Carolyne Smigelski from Northrop’s AI Committee, the panel brought together diverse perspectives from education, industry, workforce development, and students to discuss how AI is rapidly reshaping the future of learning and work.

Our amazing panelists included:
• Frank — ESUSD School Board President, sharing the K-12 education perspective
• Tom Hsieh — Owner of Code Ninjas El Segundo discussing both the professional workplace and youth education viewpoints.
• Hac — providing insight from the workforce and skill development perspective as an adjunct faculty member at El Camino College
• Dayyan from LMU — sharing a valuable student perspective on navigating education in the AI era
The conversation was thoughtful, eye-opening, and deeply relevant to how quickly the world is evolving. Topics ranged from AI literacy, creativity, and critical thinking to the future of jobs, personalized learning, and how we prepare students for careers that may not even exist yet.
What became clear is that this conversation is bigger than technology — it’s about how we as a community help the next generation adapt, thrive, and lead in a rapidly changing world.

We had the exciting opportunity to get a sneak peek of the long-awaited Plunge renovation during the sponsor reception this week! 🏊‍♂️🎉
The El Segundo Rotary Club is proud to be one of the community partners helping support this incredible project, and it was amazing to see how close it is to completion. After years of planning and construction, the new Plunge is finally in its final stages and will soon reopen for the entire community to enjoy — less than a month away!
Projects like this are a great reminder of the impact Rotary continues to make in our community. From supporting youth programs and education to helping bring important community spaces like the Plunge back to life, Rotary is all about creating lasting positive change through service and collaboration. 💙💛

We can’t wait for everyone to experience this beautiful new facility soon!

The El Segundo Rotarians had an unforgettable time at the 2026 District Conference Cruise from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico this past weekend! 🚢🌊☀️
From meeting amazing Rotarians from all over the district to sharing laughs, stories, and unforgettable memories, the fellowship was truly incredible. We connected with so many passionate, service-minded people who also know how to have FUN! We even discovered a Rotary Clock — proof that Rotary spirit is everywhere! ⏰😂
This was more than just a conference — it was a celebration of friendship, service, leadership, and community. Events like this remind us that Rotary is not only about making a difference, but also about building lifelong friendships and enjoying the journey together.
If you’ve ever been curious about Rotary, this is your sign to come check it out.

We had the pleasure of hearing from Genesis from the LA County Sanitation Districts, who shared how the agency serves nearly 5.5 million residents across the region. She spoke about the importance of communication, public service, and building strong connections between agencies and the communities they serve. It was a meaningful and insightful conversation for everyone in attendance.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate recipients of the El Camino Foundation Rotary Scholarship Program. Scholarships were awarded to students pursuing careers in fields such as paralegal studies, automotive technology, and nursing. Congratulations to all of the recipients, and we wish them continued success in their future endeavors!