Palm Desert Rotary Club’s Iconic
International Service Project: “Mexicali Weekend”
PDG Ricardo “Taco” Loretta, PD Rotary International Service Chair
Inspired by legendary Past RI President Frank Devlyn, Palm Desert Rotary club met with a small club in Mexicali, Mexicali Oeste, some 12 years ago and began a relationship that has become one of District 5330’s notable success stories. Headlined by an annual gathering in Mexicali named “Mexicali Weekend,” the first weekend of every year, this relationship hits all the right Rotary notes involving member engagement, service and fellowship.
In addition to Mexicali Weekend, these two “sister clubs” not only care for each other, but they show it in many ways. They attend one another’s meetings, including their annual “Rotate the Wheel” change of leadership. They visit periodically to brainstorm current and proposed new activities. And they involve other clubs in their respective and neighboring districts, so that when Mexicali Weekend happens, Rotarians from 4 districts and some 15 to 20 clubs, numbering 80 to 100 each year, join together for productive, affordable, rewarding and fun time. There is nothing else quite like this complete Rotary experience! To appreciate what we do, kindly review the powerpoint presentation “Mexicali Weekend Project Overview.”