Serving the Coachella Valley Since 1963
Chartered on May 9, 1963, the Rotary Club of Coachella Valley has spent over 60 years bringing together business, professional, and community leaders under one simple idea: Service Above Self.
A Welcome from President Max Ochoa
“Create Lasting Impact” is Rotary International’s theme this year, and it’s exactly how I feel about leading this club.
I’ve been a Rotarian since 2015, first joining while working at the Indio WIN Center, and reconnected with this club in 2023 after moving back to the Valley I grew up in. Today I work at the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy and serve on the board of Cal Bears in the Desert, but Rotary is where I get to give back to the community that raised me.
Our club has been showing up for the Coachella Valley since 1963, a club that puts action ahead of talk. I’ve watched our members sponsor scholarships, mentor students through RYLA, celebrate CVUSD musicians, support Flying Doctors’ medical outreach, and quietly do the unglamorous work of showing up, meeting after meeting, year after year. That consistency is our legacy, and it’s something I don’t take lightly.
My focus this year is simple: grow this club and strengthen it for the long run. I have a few project ideas of my own I’m excited to bring forward, but just as important, I want to hear yours. If there’s a cause or partnership you’ve been wanting to bring to the club, bring it to me directly.
If you’re a longtime member, thank you. Your consistency is the reason this club still matters after 60+ years. And if you’re new, or thinking about joining us, there’s a place for you here, whether that means visiting a meeting, subscribing to our newsletter to follow along, or supporting our work with a gift.
Service Above Self isn’t just our motto. It’s how we plan to spend this year.
Max Ochoa, President, 2026 through 2027
Who We Serve
Our service area is the Coachella Valley Unified School District, the Eastern Coachella Valley communities of Coachella, Mecca, Thermal, North Shore, and Oasis, one of the Valley’s great agricultural regions.
But our work goes well beyond that: education, youth leadership, health, and community service. We show up here, consistently, year after year.
What We Believe
Every Rotarian, everywhere, is guided by the same standard, the Four-Way Test, for the things we think, say, or do:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
and is it fun!
Our motto: Service Above Self.
Rotary International’s tagline: We are People of Action.
Part of Something Larger
We’re one of 61 clubs in Rotary District 5330, uniting more than 1,900 Rotarians across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Locally, that means scholarships, youth leadership, and hands-on service. Globally, it means standing behind Rotary’s work in health, education, clean water, and peace.
A Legacy You Can Join
For over 60 years, we’ve been doing the work, consistently, in our own backyard. If you’re looking for a place to put your time and skills toward something that actually changes lives here in the Valley, we’d love to have you join us.
