The Rotary Club of Altadena is a member of a Coalition of four clubs within the Pasadena Unified School District. One of the goals of these clubs is to assist the District in its mission to educate the children of our community. The other clubs are the Rotary clubs of Pasadena, Pasadena Sunrise, and Sierra Madre. This Coalition recently donated $30,000 to the District for the provision of uniforms for the PUSD All-Star Band that marched in the 2005 Tournament of Roses Parade. On the front of the shako headpiece is the Rotary logo, emblazoned for all to see.

The Coalition also sponsors the PUSD Parade of Banners, along with Partners in Education and the Pasadena Educational Foundation. This parade is put on to thank the hundreds of businesses throughout the community that adopt schools in the District.

Mini-Grants for Teachers

We have an extensive teacher mini-grant program, where $300 grants are given to teachers in response to proposals by the teachers detailing how they will use the money to enhance the classroom experience for their students. For example, in Rotary year 2004/2005, the Club gave $300 mini-grants to fifteen teachers from six schools in the District.

Old Fashioned Days Parade

The highest profile activity of Altadena Rotary is the Old-Fashioned Days' Parade, an event that brings out the whole community to watch antique cars, equestrian groups, bands, fire trucks, marching children and other community groups march down Lake Avenue. This event is put on in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce’s Family Festival, which features arts, crafts, music, entertainment, food, and many other activities. The size of this project makes it imperative that most of our members participate on parade day.

Flags and Flagpoles

The maintenance of lighted flagpoles and the display of flags down Lake Avenue are obligations accepted by Altadena Rotary in return for endowment funds from American Legion Post #470. In the late 1990s, the American Legion Post in Altadena had dwindled to very few, quite elderly members. They searched for a community organization to carry on their Americanism traditions. They settled on The Rotary Club of Altadena to perform these activities in perpetuity. A more complete explanation is available through our Members Only section.

Four days a year Altadena Rotary partners with Boy Scout Troop 4 to put flags down both sides of Lake Avenue, a block or so on Altadena Drive and on Mariposa. The original agreement calls for putting out the flags three days a year: