Upcoming Events
Our official season begins September 14, 2026
We will keep you informed via email announcements. Click Here to Send an email messageUpcoming Events
Don’t forget to check out some of our upcoming speakers in the program below!
Greg Sanders – Author/Veteran
Greg Sanders is a co-author of Bait: The Battle of Kham Duc, published by Casemate Publishers. Greg is a Vietnam War combat veteran. He participated in Operation Elk Canyon to retake Kham Duc in July, 1970. Greg earned a BA and an MA in History and a JD from Pepperdine University. He will recount the battle of Kham Duc, which was one of the biggest and most misunderstood of the Vietnam War.
Past Speaker
Chuck Cervello – Task Force Officer
Mailing Address
Indian Wells Rotary
74923 Highway 111, Box-138
Indian Wells, CA
92210
Meeting Address
Indian Wells Country Club
46000 Club Dr.
Indian Wells, CA
92210
President-Elect
Dave Donahue
(503) 878-2785
dfdonohue@outlook.com
Indian Wells Rotary Scholarship Gala 2015
Entrepeneur of the Year
Nachhattar Chandi
Our honoree and entrepreneur of the year in 2015 Scholarship Gala was Nachhattar Chandi, who epitomizes "The American Dream".
Chris Willison – Lt. and assistant Chief of Police in the City of Indian Wells
He is the lieutenant and assistant chief of police in the City of Indian Wells and he supervises a group of 12 subordinates, including a sergeant, deputy, CSO’s who work together to keep the neighborhoods of Indian Wells safe.
Speakers From Our Recent Past
Brandon Weimer – Toffee maker
Brandini Toffee is sold around the world and has been featured on Oprah Winfrey’s O List, The Martha Stewart Show, the Food Network, and has been served at the White House. Come and enjoy this lively conversation with a successful local entrepreneur!
Manager for the City of Indian Wells
He has extensive experience in economic development, working on the revitalization of several shopping centers, an auto plaza, a regional mall, and an award-winning brownfield development.
Consul General of Canada
He is the Government of Canada’s senior representative in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.
Mr. Shaikh has served as a board member for the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, and ently, on the board of AFC .
Mary Perry – Public Information Officer for Desert Sands Unified School District.
Paul J Reulbach – Palm Springs Life Publisher
Paul Reulbach has worked in the field of publishing for over thirty five years. Paul graduated from Northeastern University and has had a successful publishing career working for Lawyers Weekly Publications, Business Review magazine, San Francisco magazine, and Silicon Valley Magazine.
Now he aims to bring his insight and expertise into the valley as the newest publisher at Palm Springs Life.
Aaron Espinosa
Director of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory
Over the course of his career with the City of Rancho Mirage, Aaron been involved in some amazing projects. He was instrumental in the design and construction of the Joe and Gigi Roberson Mineral Collection and the management of space planning of the Library and Observatory.
Michael Carter
District Attorney Inspector
Michael Carter is a Supervising District Attorney Inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He started his law enforcement career, in 1986, with the Newark Police Department. In his 12 years at Newark he worked patrol, investigations, SWAT, DARE, as Field Training Officer and the department Personnel and Training Officer.
Michael Hestrin – District Attorney
Michael A Hestrin was elected as Riverside County District Attorney in June 2014 and was sworn in to serve as the District Attorney on Jan 5, 2015. The California District Attorney Investigators Association honored Hestrin as the Statewide Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year for Riverside County.
Clay Behm
Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional
In addition to being a Certified Reverse Mortgage
Professional, Clay is a member of the National Reverse
Mortgage Lenders Association, the Financial Planning
Association, and the California Desert Association of Realtors. He has three decades’ experience in the Mortgage industry.
Gerald Colucci
Italian Entertainer
Years before Gerald Colucci took his first voice lesson, he studied the great Italian singers, from Caruso to Dino. Many of his songs are classic Neopolitan songs. Dale McKinney of “The Desert Entertainer” said “Colucci personifies the passion of the great Italian singers.”
Morgan from Red Jeep Tours
Trip Advisor
Back by popular demand! Morgan from Red Jeep Tours knows more than the living lizards in the Coachella Valley. Always a thrill to hear from her.
Patrick Evans – Meteorologist
Patrick Evans is the KESQ News Channel 3’s morning and noon meteorologist, and Host of Eye on the Desert. He will be talking about the weather in the Coachella Valley.
Eric Ornelas – Sunnylands
Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator
“A place of history, hospitality, and diplomacy in the California desert.”
Chuck Porter
Korean War Veteran
Chuck Porter will be speaking for the day about
his military service during the Korean War.
Aimee Byard – Big Horn Institute
Aimee is a Field Biologist at the Big Horn Institute and serves as the Institute’s Associate Director.
Jeff Stone – Nevada State Senator
“Senator Jeff stone will be giving us an update about what is happening in the state of California.”
Dean Apple – Dean Apple Magic
“Dean makes the audience the stars of the show with interactive comedy.”
Returning once again by popular demand!
join us for a fun afternoon of magic and comedy!
Previous Scholarship Gala Events
We’ve raised over $200,000 for higher education over the past 17 years
Indian Wells Rotary Scholarship Gala 2015
Entrepeneur of the Year
Nachhattar Chandi
Our honoree and entrepreneur of the year in 2015 Scholarship Gala was Nachhattar Chandi, who epitomizes “The American Dream”.
