2010 Float Riders and Outwalkers

The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee Inc presents “Service Above the Rest” based on the motto of Rotary International–“Service Above Self”–and the 2010 Tournament of Roses theme–“A Cut Above the Rest.”

Our Float Riders this year represent the new face of Rotary, young men and women who are members of Rotary clubs, Rotaract clubs, and Rotary New Generations clubs. Float riders listed below are from Rotary Districts 5240, 5260, 5280, 5300, 5330, 5320, and 5340 with 16,000 Rotarians throughout southern California and southern Nevada.

Tori Hettinger’s journey through all things Rotary began 12 years ago. After serving 4 years in Interact, she found her true passion in Rotaract. Since then, she has held a number of leadership positions, including Rotaract president at both UCLA and South Bay Rotaract. In 2005-2006, Tori had the opportunity to serve as the Rotaract District Governor during the 101st year of Rotary. She has attended a number of International conferences and conventions, including Interota in Munich, Germany, USCC and 3 RI Conventions. Tori has also held positions on the planning committees for USCC 2006 and the LA2008 Rotaract Pre-Convention. One of her most memorable Rotary moments occurred while distributing wheelchairs in Costa Rica with D5280 Rotaractors and Rotarians.

Tori works at the District 5280 Office as an administrator. In the future, she plans to pursue her Masters Degree in Art History. Her ultimate goal is to work at a modern art museum to teach others about the beauty and philosophy behind art.

Liz Raines joined the La Jolla New Generations Rotary club in 2007. Shortly thereafter she was elected President of her club at the age of 24, the youngest in District 5340 history. During her year as president the club thrived. They participated in a water project, made foundation goals, contributed to San Diego’s Dictionary Project, and fundraised for Polio Plus, all while enjoying the company of fellow members over laughs and a cheap happy hour. She has spoken on behalf of her district about New Generations and will continue to do so at the International Assembly in January. She has helped to charter a new generations club in Kingston Jamaica and worked on a project to bring computers to students there. La Jolla New Generations Rotary club was awarded the Presidential Citation at the end of her year.

Currently, Liz is the the Rotaract Chair for District 5340. She was a charter member of the University of San Diego Rotaract club and served as President from 2005-2006. Liz is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. She works for the Girl Scouts in San Diego.

Nate Trimmer started his Rotary journey nearly three years ago in Long Beach as the founding president of the California State Long Beach Rotaract Club sponsored by the Rotary Club of Long Beach. Since the chartering of the CSULB Rotaract Club in fall 2007, Nate has continued his involvement through many avenues of Rotary service. He has attended two RI Conventions (and Rotaract Pre-Conventions), distributed polio vaccine in Caborca, Mexico during a National Immunization Day and has spent a week in Colima, Mexico delivering libraries to elementary schools. He continues to join Rotarians and Rotaractors in efforts to charter new Rotaract clubs. Nate helped charter the Rotaract Club at UCI in February 2009 and is in the process of helping to charter the CSUF and Lakewood Community Rotaract Clubs.

Nate is the Rotaract District Governor for District 5320 in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. He finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering at CSULB, will complete his Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Legal Studies May 2010 and plans to attend Law School in fall 2010 seeking a joint JD / MBA with an emphasis in intellectual property.

Heidi Mankoff is truly honored to be representing the “Future of Rotary” in this year’s Rose Parade. She’s been a Rotarian since 2005, as a member of the Rotary Club of Granada Hills. Since becoming a Rotarian, Heidi has served in various leadership capacities for her Club. While serving as Community Service Chair in 2006, the Rotary Club of Granada Hills completed sixteen successful community service projects and earned District 5260’s coveted “Silver Bell” award for Community Service. She has hosted (and sponsored) GSE participants for the past few years and has served as a Facilitator for RYLA—and mentions that both of these programs are among her favorites. Heidi is a Paul Harris Fellow, a PRLS graduate and a recipient of her Club’s “Rotarian of the Year” award.

Heidi’s commitment to service extends beyond Rotary. She’s been an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society for the past 10 years, and in 2007, chaired an event which raised over $250,000 for the organization. Heidi also serves as Chairman of the Board for the newly chartered San Fernando Valley Jaycees—an organization which aims to develop the Valley’s next generation of leaders. Professionally, Heidi owns a small business consulting firm called Tall Ideas, which works to transform business owners to business leaders.

Tara Yeto joined the Rotaract Club of Santa Barbara in 2008. It was her first Rotary experience, but she quickly rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Within a few months of joining she was appointed as the Rotaract Liaison to the Rotary Club of Goleta and was elected President less than a year after joining. In addition to being President of her club for the current Rotary year she is also on the Goleta Teen of the Year Committee, a scholarship program put on by the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime, and a committee for Goleta’s 4th of July fireworks, which is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Rotary Clubs of Goleta and Goleta Noontime. Tara is also a Master PRLS graduate and is very proud to be from Rotary District 5240, where the PRLS program was developed.

Outside of Rotaract Tara has also volunteered with the American Cancer Society, most recently as the accounting chair for Santa Barbara’s 2009 Relay for Life. She is a graduate of UCSB and currently works at Deckers Outdoor Corporation. One of her goals for the future is to go back to school to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Nestor A. Jimenez is the President of the Foothill Communities New Generations Provisional Rotary Club. This club performs one community service activity per month. It provides meals to families at the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. It has promoted recycling by sponsoring two e-waste collections. Its members have read to at-risk children and reached out to seniors in their recreation center. They have raised funds for various charitable causes. It has contributed to the Polio-Plus campaign through personal collections and hosting the Put Rotary on Ice event with the Ontario Reign hockey team, raising over $5,700 for Rotary’s campaign to eradicate polio.

He is currently a Customer Service Associate at California Bank and Trust, Upland, California.

Julie Ngo cherishes the special gift of being chosen to represent District 5330 and her colleagues from the Temecula Noon Rotary Club at the Rose Parade. She was honored to have been sponsored into the 100+ member club 2 years ago and currently serves as the Youth Services Director for her club. Earning her degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Servant Leadership, Julie’s passionate about offering support, tools, love, and encouragement to the community’s young leaders. She is pleased to work hands-on with the youth throughout the district and manages her club’s RYLA, PRYDE, and INTERACT programs. She is also gathering resources and volunteers to start a community-wide Rotaract Club.

Julie still remembers how impressed she was by her first meeting and the heart of the people involved. She notes that often business professionals have only their own agendas, sales, or results in mind. Each lunch meeting since the first, she’s grown even more grateful to be surrounded by such an awesome and rare group of business professionals who operate from the spirit of giving above all else.

In addition, Julie chairs events and sits on the Executive Board of the Wishes for Children Foundation, a strictly volunteer-run charitable organization that provides assistance to severely ill and underprivileged children. She volunteers for the local Boys and Girls Clubs and is a den leader for his son’s Cub Scout troop. Last year she was honored to be recognized as business of the year by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce and remains actively involved in the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce as well.

Bryan Crawford is a young business person in our community, he joined the Rotary Club of Ojai-West in December of 2007, his first rotary experience. Not long after joining the club he was asked to be the head of our BBQ team which provides meals for local non-profits and schools. He also became a board member as Club Service chair and Sergeant-at-arms for the club, so he calls each meeting to order and presides over the first part of each meeting.

This is an example of the leadership opportunities and public speaking experience that comes with Rotary membership. He is on the organizing committee for Ojai-Big Chili, one of two major fundraisers for the Rotary Club of Ojai-West, events that raise funds to support our community and international service projects.

He is an insurance agent in Ojai selling all types of insurance products.

He appreciate the way the members of his Rotary club’s 50+ members welcomed him into the club. They always treat you like family and are very motivated to provide “Service Above Self” in local and international projects. As a new Rotarian and a Rotary Rose Parade Float Rider, he wants to wish you a Happy New Year!

The Rotary Rose Parade Float is not an official Rotary International program.