About Us

The Club

The Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara is a dynamic group of professionals age 18 to 30 interested in meeting people and volunteering in the community and internationally. Membership is open to people who like to socialize and participate in public service projects.

As part of Rotary, a global service organization, Santa Barbara Rotaract has the benefit of affiliation with an established group of local professionals.

Social events and volunteer opportunities occur about once a month. All activities are voluntary. For more information, contact Santa Barbara Rotaract via e-mail at info [at] sbrotaract.com

Officers

Matthew Chao, President

Bio coming soon.

Karla Ortiz, Vice President

Karla Ortiz was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and is the oldest of two. She grew up in Santa Barbara, Ca and left in 2004 to Chicago where she matriculated at Loyola University. She graduated from LUC in 2008 receiving her Bachelors in Biology and minor in Biostatistics. Post graduation, she entered the Master in Biotechnology and Master of Business Administration program at California State University Channel Island in the summer of 2008. Throughout her two years at CSUCI, Karla dedicated her time to her community work, worked for a start-up company, while concurrently shadowing a local prominent doctor. She successfully completed her dual Master program in September of 2010. That same year Karla joined Rotaract-Santa Barbara, which targeted the same goals she was seeking. She was able to see firsthand the type of impact Rotaract has within the Santa Barbara community through public service programs. Altogether her experiences have crystallized her interest in serving the underrepresented on healthcare issues through direct representation and advocacy. Karla is currently interning for a local hospital and is planning to apply to medical school this upcoming summer. As vice president, she has high hopes for the upcoming year with Rotaract and is excited to take it to the next level.

Fahim Farag, Treasurer

I was raised in Southern California and came to Santa Barbara in 2004 to complete my undergraduateeducation. Upon earning B. A. degrees in Philosophy and Law & Society I entered the field of nonprofitdevelopment with a personal interest in opportunities not available to current and future generationsdue to socioeconomic barriers. I earned my nonprofit development officer certificate in Fall 2009through Cal Poly SLO continuing education in conjunction with the Nonprofit Support Center of SantaBarbara County. Currently I serve as Director of Development for the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.I joined Rotaract in early 2011 upon the recommendation of a former member as a way to learn aboutmore community service opportunities beyond personal volunteerism with a nod to the notion ofcollective impact. Community involvement includes active volunteerism with DAWG and Foodbank ofSanta Barbara County, I was also a member of the 2010-2011 class of the Santa Barbara Foundation’sKatherine Harvey Fellows. Personal interests include animals, the outdoors, sports, photography andart, and philosophical studies with specific interests in applied ethics and discourse ethics.

Kelsey Freeman, Secretary

Hi, I’m Kelsey. I was born and raised here in Santa Barbara. I’ve been involved withRotary International since I started an Interact Club at my high school. I then gotinvolved with Rotaract when I was in college at the University of Denver, where Imajored in Business Information Technology. After graduating in 2009, I moved back toSanta Barbara to work at Raytheon. I’ve been with Raytheon about 2 years now and theRotaract Club of Santa Barbara about 8 months. Other than work and volunteer, I loveto travel, work out, play soccer, read, spend time with friends and family, explore SantaBarbara and try new restaurants. I’m excited for the opportunities the new Rotaract Yearwill bring us!

Cheyanne Gustason, International Chair

Bio coming soon.

Courtlin Stoker, Past President

Bio coming soon.
Group 8 Meeting Locations and Liaisons
Rotary Club President Meeting Time Location Liason
Carpinteria David Blodel Thu 1145AM Carp. Comm. Bldg. [Open]
Carp Morning Gary Bright Weds 7AM Carp. Women’s Club [Open]
Goleta Noontime Barbara Tzur Tues 12PM Elephant Bar [Open]
Goleta Evening Tom Fausset Tues 630PM Elephant Bar [Open]
Montecito Richard Douglas Tues 1210PM Montecito CC Stephanie Morris
SB Downtown Laurie Yttri Fri 12PM Double Tree Nick Lietzow
SB North Thomas Jacobs Weds 12PM Harry’s [Open]
SB Sunrise Fred Gaeden Weds 7AM SB Club Claire Wittich / Stephanie Morris