For many Rotary clubs, international service means supporting projects in distant places. For Coastal Encinitas Rotary, it also means building lasting relationships with communities around the world through hands-on involvement and trusted partnerships.
Leading those efforts is Chuck DuVivier, Chair of the International Service Committee and one of the founding members of Coastal Encinitas Rotary. Since helping launch the club in 1984, Chuck has played a key role in shaping its commitment to service beyond our local community. His international Rotary work dates back to 1999 and has taken him to projects throughout Latin America and beyond.
“What makes Rotary unique is that we don’t just send money,” Chuck explains. “We build relationships, work alongside local Rotary clubs, and help create projects that communities can sustain long after we’re gone.”
The Coastal Encinitas Rotary Club has traveled twice to Guatemala in support of a Student Aid Program organized by the Rotary Club of Retalhuleu (Club Rotario Reu). This program has received strong multi-year support from club members. The club has also chosen to support school renovation projects in partnership with the Rotary Club of Tijuana. Additional international service opportunities and partnerships will be evaluated and discussed by the International Service Committee.
According to Chuck, one of the most rewarding aspects of international service is seeing the long-term impact. “When you return years later and see a project still making a difference, you realize the true value of Rotary’s approach.”
International projects often require years of planning, fundraising, coordination, and follow-through. The International Service Committee evaluates opportunities carefully, looking for projects that align with Rotary’s Areas of Focus and offer meaningful, sustainable outcomes.
While many members support these efforts through fundraising and committee work, others choose to travel and participate directly in project implementation. Those experiences often become some of the most memorable moments of their Rotary journey.
For Chuck, the work continues because the need continues. “Service doesn’t stop at borders,” he says. “Rotary gives us the opportunity to help people we may never have met otherwise, while learning that we have far more in common than we ever imagined.”
To learn more about Coastal Encinitas Rotary’s international projects and partnerships, visit the International Projects page on our website:
