We meet once a month to share updates and upcoming events, to hear from a speaker representing a community organization, and to connect with one another. Upcoming events include volunteering and networking opportunities. A light dinner will be provided.

The speaker for this meeting will be Andy Blue, who worked for the San Diego Zoo for over 30 years and was based at the Safari Park. He has been an animal keeper, animal care manager, and retired as Associate Curator of Mammals. He was mainly responsible for animal shipments, exhibit design, and animal welfare. Andy will speak about co-existing with Southern California wildlife such as coyotes and rattlesnakes.

Andy’s work took him all over the world including Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, and South America, accompanying international animal transports including rhinos, lions, antelope, gazelle, and zebra. He was also a member of the opening team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida and has always been interested in improving animal welfare and wildlife trafficking. He is currently working on projects in Mexico, Iraq, Lebanon, and Cuba. He worked for the San Diego Humane Society for five years and retired a second time last year as the Campus Director of Project Wildlife Ramona where they care for 1500 injured or orphaned animals a year including mountain lions, bears, coyotes, and raptors.

Prospective members are welcome! Email us at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at info@missionvalleyeveningrotary.org to let us know you’re coming. If you aren’t a member, your first meeting is free. We ask $10 to cover the cost of dinner from members and visiting Rotarians.

Our club participates in an activity called “happy dollars” where attendees can contribute any number of dollars to share something they are happy about or looking forward to. Participation in happy dollars is voluntary and making a contribution is not expected of guests.