Sherry Sim and Cayucos President Scott McManus at Singapore Rotary International Convention 2024. Photo courtesy of Sherry Sim
By Judy Salamacha
Congratulations, Cayucos, as you celebrate Independence Day 2024. I have always been amazed how this small beach town of residents and visiting owners collaborate to produce one of the biggest and most patriotic events in the entire USA. The model was created so many years ago and yet continues to attract entire families to get up at dawn to build amazing sandcastles together, which entice early morning beach-walkers followed by a fun-filled throw-back patriotic parade, a community BBQ and all-afternoon Bingo to while the time before fireworks boom off the Cayucos pier. https://highway1roadtrip.com/things-to-do/4th-of-july-in-cayucos/
A shout-out of praise to the Cayucos Lions, Lioness Clubs, Cayucos Chamber, Seniors and Rotary plus the many other businesses and residents that rallied to participate to make this event happen. It is also noteworthy that these same residents are there whenever there is a community challenge to resolve or event to produce like the rebuilding of the Cayucos pier and Veterans Hall, creating a community museum, art center, library and dog park, replacing children’s beach equipment and funding enhancement facilities and programs at the elementary school. And the list goes on…
“If you want to go fast, you go alone; if you want to go far, you go together.” Originally an African proverb, numerous American notables have incorporated it into their presentations. Sherry Sim, an active Cayucos resident, believes it best defines a Cayucan’s collaborative spirit and effectiveness. She plans to convey this quote’s magical powers while visiting the 69 Rotary clubs in the district she now leads as Rotary District Governor 2024-25. As of July 1, she assumed the title and responsibilities and one of her duties is to attend all Rotary clubs in San Luis Obispo, Kern, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties and a small portion of southern Los Angeles County.
Her training for the district leadership position officially started three years ago. However, immediately after serving as president in Cayucos, she was annually invited to serve at district positions, including twice as assistant governor – all the while, performing her real estate duties based in Cayucos plus serving regional and state positions with the California Realtors Association.
“My vision is for each club,” she said, “to be recognized as a vital community service organization in their communities.” She believes this is achievable only by working together with individual club members reaching out to other organizations and leaders all striving for a common purpose to make a difference. “I am truly humbled.”
Humility and generosity are two of Sherry’s attractive assets, but her drive to achieve and work collaboratively with others put her on the fast track to lead District 5240. Since Cayucos Rotary was chartered in 2007, the club has accumulated four – three consecutive – “Best Small Club” recognitions.
Sherry Sim meets Rotary International President at RI Convention in Singapore. Photo courtesy of Sherry Sim
In 2002 she had moved to Cayucos from Los Angeles after a 14-year management career with the Los Angeles Tourism & Visitors Bureau. She achieved her real estate sales license not realizing it would become her main source of income. She credits Realtors Shirley Lyon and Greg Astle for helping her navigate her new career in real estate and Rotary for helping to increase her community contacts.
Sherry was a neophyte Rotarian and Central Coast realtor in 2007 when Chungsam Doh, an East Bakersfield Rotary Club past president, who had relocated to Morro Bay, and Scott Beer, the Morro Bay president in 2007-08 and a resident of Cayucos, convinced her Cayucos needed its own Rotary club.
“It wasn’t easy,” Sherry said. “We were determined to find the minimum 22 members recommended to sustain a club’s membership.”
However, she admitted she didn’t know much about Rotary when “I came back from my annual visit with my mother in Singapore and discovered I had been elected Charter Club President of Cayucos Rotary.” Then the hard work began. “We lost a few members immediately struggling down to 13-14 members doing multiple jobs. “I was trying to learn presidential duties, booking programs, creating a website, and more. We had to make some money to pay our dues to Rotary International, so we were doing anything, car washes, beach clean-ups to build up our club treasury.” She suggested it working together created the bonds to achieve their goals, “But we had so many angels in Cayucos helping us.”
For example, Certified Escrow Officer and friend Hilary Hopkins introduced Sherry to Toby James, owner of Tobin James Winery, who lived in Cayucos. The club had committed to providing an electronic scoreboard for the school’s new gymnasium. The cost was $2,500 and they needed $865 to reach goal. Sherry explained, “When I talked to Toby, he said wait a minute and walked across the street to the bank and got the check for the $865. He is still providing all the wine for our annual Masquerade Fund Raiser Dinner & Auction. He made the mistake of giving me his home phone number.”
Currently Cayucos Rotary still has four Charter members besides Sherry: Scott McManus is the current Cayucos Rotary Club president; Jessica Peterson had been secretary for years and will serve as advisor for the Cayucos School Interact Club this year; and Emily Campbell is a club past president. Although not a charter member, Sherry added, “Steve Geil was club president in 2016-17 and again in 2019-20. He was instrumental in our club’s fundraising strategies. We were raising about $10,000 and when he took over, our club began raising close to $25,000 immediately. Steve initiated our annual ebike raffle which averaged about $35,000. Our annual Masquerade evening averages about $42,000.”
District Governor Sherry and President Scott recently returned from Singapore where they attended the annual Rotary International Convention along with over 3,000 Rotarians worldwide. Besides sharing the Rotary message with other clubs in the district, she oversaw building her team to guide district goals and activities this year, including the training meetings for club board members online and during a celebration-styled district conference. Keeping it local, Sherry selected the Madonna Inn for this all-district meeting in October. She will also direct the spring training for the 2025-26 presidents at an all-California leadership conference annually at the Los Angeles Marriott.
District Governor Sherry is particularly proud that District 5240 created its own Rotary Action Group – a Mental Health Initiative – recognized worldwide by Rotary International.
Interested in checking out membership in Rotary or attending an Estero Bay Rotary Club meeting when District Governor Sherry Sim delivers her message? Cayucos Rotary meets first Thursdays at 8 a.m. and third Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. at Luna’s Café; Morro Bay meets the 1st, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at Noon, currently at The Buoy until remodeling is completed at the Morro Bay Golf Course; Cambria meets Fridays at Noon at San Simeon Lodge; and Los Osos meets on Fridays at 7:15 a.m. at La Palapa Mexican Cuisine in Baywood.
