Last year, the Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club informed Vembra Holnagel member that they wanted to meet with him.
Holnagel thought it had to do with raising money as it was one of his skills.
A citizen of Encinitas is a founding member of the Shades of Pink Foundation California. The non-profit organization raises money for women in treatment and recovery from breast cancer.
Holnagel was wrong. Rotary members who called him have revealed that he has been elected as the party’s future president. She accepted and her season begins in early July.
“I was not expecting it,” Holnagel said of the meeting. “It was strange when they said we wanted you to be president. I am so thankful that they were looking for me for this job and I will do my best.
“I feel honored to serve at Rotary. The people involved in Rotary are smart and successful. It is an honor to be associated with them and to do something about their community. ”
An Indiana native, Holnagel has lived most of her life in the San Diego area. He graduated from Cal-State San Marcos. She and her husband are zealous supporters of the athletic teams of San Diego State University.
After moving to Encinitas, Holnagel decided he wanted to join the Rotary as an opportunity to make friends. The organization is committed to charity locally and internationally, while conducting public events.
While researching groups in the area, he settled on the Encinitas Coastal team, founded in 1984.
Holnagel said: “I just went in and felt very home.” It was a wonderful thing and I’ve been there for 12 years now. “
The current president, Marti Rosenberg, said Holnagel deserves the party’s top position, an idea reinforced by efforts over the past year to prepare the incumbent president.
“She’s educated, which is amazing and fun,” Rosenberg said. “She is clear and present. I’m glad they chose him. I have included new, innovative things, and you will build from those trends and improve our team. “
He described Holnagel’s personality as “sanguine,” according to Webster’s glossary which means “a strong mark, high color and cheerfulness.”
“I’m a leader and a human being,” Rosenberg said.
Although being the team president will be a new experience for Holnagel, he does not know the role of leadership.
He has been a member of the Shades of Pink board for nine years and has served as its president, treasurer, aid committee chairman and marketing director. She oversees a $ 250,000 allocation to support local women in treatment or recovery from breast cancer.
As Rotary president, Holnagel will oversee fundraising efforts for about 15 charities. The group’s activities include its two main annual grants – Purse Bingo Winter and Golf Drop during year.
Funds from those events support the families of the fallen Navy Seals, victims of sex trafficking and survivors of domestic violence among other causes.
“I’m very excited about what we’re going to bring to the table in the new year,” he said.
One of Holnagel’s goals is to increase membership, which currently stands at 47 and is almost equally divided between women and men.
“We’re looking at exchange rates,” Holnagel said. “One of our tasks is to include everyone and to grow our members in different ways.”
He also said he would try hard to set up a student scholarship program and help the city of Encinitas deal with homelessness.
“We’re looking at ways in which we can fill in some gaps,” Holnagel said. “My goal for the team is to find out how it can work more effectively on what we can do about homelessness.
“We have compassion for the situation (of the homeless) and we want to find a real solution to help them move forward. … I think the more we learn about them and the problems of see, that’s where we can find a solution where we can make a difference. ”
Holnagel will be officially president on July 5. The party usually meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at the Cicciotti food market in the Encinitas’ Cardiff-by-the-Sea community.
“I’m very excited about what we’re going to bring to the table in the new year,” he said. “I have only 12 months as president. I want to do everything I can. Besides, we only have a lot of fun.”
To find out more about Encinitas Coastal Rotary Club, visit www.encinitascoastalrotary.org.
