Rotary Club of La Jolla president gets second term a decade after his first

A decade after his first tenure as president, Russell King is back at the helm of the Rotary Club of La Jolla. His “encore presidency” is the first of its kind in club history.

“It really is a wonderful opportunity to lead a wonderful organization,” King said. “So when you’re given a second chance at it … it’s a bit of an unusual circumstance, but also it really is a privilege.”

It’s the first time in the La Jolla Rotary Club’s nearly 80 years that someone has been recalled to a second full term as president.

King’s second term began in July, but the groundwork for his return was set nearly a year before, when he was named to arrange speakers for meetings.

King was recommended by the nominating committee that puts together a list of potential candidates and reaches out to them for interviews.

The Rotary Club president typically serves for a year and continues to participate on the board the year after to ensure a smooth leadership transition. King said the group already is starting the process to find his successor.

King’s new term marks a return to normal presidencies since the COVID-19 pandemic. Former president Barbara Brown served in the role for 18 months, and Bob Teaff — who had been president in 2002-03 — succeeded her for a six-month half term. During the pandemic, meetings were held in virtual and hybrid formats.

“I think between COVID and … a lot of things going on around the world right now, service organizations are challenged … whether it’s a church organization or a service organization [or] clubs,” King said. “Part of my focus … is to help reestablish our identity as a service club.”

The Rotary Club says it seeks to provide service through “our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.”

The La Jolla group meets from noon to 1:30 p.m. most Tuesdays at the La Valencia Hotel, with club socials the last Tuesday of each month.

King’s first term took place from 2014 to 2015. By the time he was appointed, he helped raise nearly $1 million to support local student scholarships. That, in addition to partnerships with Club Rotario de Tijuana, tied into the larger goal of uplifting young people.

One of the key reasons King’s second presidency is different from his first is his retirement in June 2024 from UC San Diego, where he was an administrator. He started in the university’s School of Arts and Humanities and transitioned to other roles, finally working as a special-projects adviser to the chancellor.

Retirement wasn’t on his mind until he heard his peers ask about it, King said.

“Suddenly you’re [thinking] … ‘Wait, I can retire,’” he said. “I spent 30 years working at the university and loved it. When I got to this point, everybody’s looking at me like “Well, that’s 30 years. You can retire.’”

With more time to engage in the Rotary Club’s projects and apply what he learned during his first term, King is hoping for a fruitful year ahead.

“Having commitments and clubs and other things that you need to be accountable for is a great way to transition into … a new lifestyle,” he said.

Cindy Goodman, a former Rotary Club president and current public information officer, expressed excitement for the return of a “beloved” leader.

Among King’s attributes, the one that stands out the most to Goodman is “his ability to work with … all kinds of people and work diplomatically to solve problems,” she said. “So if there are issues among members or between members, he is just there with an ideal way of resolving conflict.”

“You can put Russ on any board anywhere and he’s going to make a compatible team out of all kinds of diverse members,” Goodman added. “[He’s] just good at it.”

Learn more about the Rotary Club of La Jolla at rotarycluboflajolla.org.