Rotary Honors Outgoing President

The Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary club recently honored outgoing president Chris Hastert following another successful year.

During his presidency, the club accomplished many community-related efforts including the review of 37 community funding requests for local nonprofit agencies. The club was able to fund 33 of those organizations with a total of $38,370, which is 99 percent of the club’s budget.

Approximately 77 percent of the funds went to organizations working with youth. Top recipients were the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Maria, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, Special Olympics, Santa Maria Fairpark, Court Appointed Special Advocates and Concerts in the Park through the People for Leisure and Youth, Inc. and the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department.

Hastert is general manager of the Santa Maria Public Airport.

Jim Peterson takes over as president this year. Peterson attended Fresno State University, majoring in biology, and Los Angeles College of Chiropractic where he received his doctorate of chiropractic. He has been in practice in Santa Maria since 1981.

Peterson has served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Maria Valley for 15 years and was board president. He also served as president of the Foundation Board of the Boys and Girls Club. He is currently in his second term as an Orcutt Union School District board trustee.

August 10, 2013  •  Santa Maria Times Staff report