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Palm Desert Rotary
Meetings: Tuesdays at 11:45 in the Palm Valley Country Club, Club House. Also available via Zoom.
🎤 Inspiring Voices at the Rotary Four-Way Test Speech Contest!
Fourteen talented high school students delivered powerful and inspiring speeches on Saturday, March 14 at the Rotary District’s Four-Way Test Speech Contest, hosted at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Banning. Students, parents, and Rotarians gathered early to celebrate the incredible speaking talents of these young leaders and the values of the Rotary Four-Way Test.
🏆 Congratulations to our top winners:
🥇 1st Place: Rocco Nelms – Perris Rotary ($700)
🥈 2nd Place: Sanvi Mishra – Temecula Rotary ($600)
🥉 3rd Place: Naira Abaza – Palm Desert Rotary ($500)
👏 Additional prize winners included:
4th – Ruben Torres (San Bernardino Rotary)
5th – Leah Quinones (Colton Rotary)
6th – Simranpreet Sandhu (Hemet Rotary)
7th – Julia Rose Aler (Desert Hot Springs Rotary)
8th – Itza Vera (Big Bear Lake Rotary)
9th – Vala-Valis Miller (Mountain Sunrise Lake Arrowhead Rotary)
10th – Gerardo Fajardo (Indio Rotary)
🌟 Honorable Mentions:
Valentina Chavez (Lake Arrowhead Rotary)
Celeste de Lucia-Sintole (Moreno Valley Rotary)
Stephania Garcia (Murrieta Rotary)
Laila Woods (Rialto Rotary)
A heartfelt thank-you to our anonymous judges and the many dedicated Rotarians who volunteered their time to make this event possible. Special appreciation to our contest chair Mary Scott and the outstanding volunteers who helped bring the contest to life.
📸 Pictured (L-R):
DG-Nominee Brian Pellis (San Bernardino Rotary), 2nd Place Winner Sanvi Mishra, 3rd Place Winner Naira Abaza, 1st Place Winner Rocco Nelms, Contest Chair Mary Scott, and DG Nominee-Designate Dess Benedetto (Palm Springs Sunup Rotary).
📅 See them again at RYSE!
Don’t miss the Rotary Youth Showcase Event (RYSE) on April 12 at Moreno Valley High School Performing Arts Center. Our top three speakers will return to perform alongside the District Music Contest winners and the Art for Peace honorees.
🕑 Doors open at 2:00 PM for Rotary Service Lobby Exhibits
🎭 Performances begin at 3:00 PM
Bring your friends and family and help celebrate the incredible talents of Rotary youth! 🌟👏
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With Rtn. Debbie Vance - Rotary Graphics – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
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Palm Desert Rotary Meeting March 10th 2026
Find our last video 4-Way Test Contest here and all previous presentations on our Vimeo feed.
It was one of those days! You know, the sort of meeting that you attend and leave with new hopes for the future and a belief that the “kids are alright”!
So, today, we set off on our journey with the flag salute and introduction of guests. Amongst whom were Mark’s sister and brother-in-law from Florida. They were introduced as “the brains of the outfit” as they are both Doctors. Also, Chad from Palm Springs Sunup Club in his role of exchange student allocation. There was, once again, the lovely Marilyn Sanderson visiting us! She has been so many times recently, she should rejoin! What….? She is!!!..... You heard it first!
Most importantly, today were the three presentations of the winners in our 4-Way Speech contest. Now, as I was busy entertaining, I missed the names of these three lovely girls! Each one bowled us over with their intense, meaningful and energetic speeches that they will give at the district finals later in the week.
Mouths hung open! Tears formed around the eyes of even the most resolute of members and guests as we listened to three equally talented people giving us a vision of current learning and hope for the future.
Now we must give many accolades to Massey Pitts, who was the organizer and facilitator of this wonderful event.
Well, Done Massey! Even husband Kieth, who was also here to admire, was clapping the loudest. Massey also introduced her talented “helpers”, Mayor Kathleen Kelly and incoming President Maryalice, for their expertise and help.