The Rotary Club of Mission Bay is hosting a pancake breakfast at the Wavehouse on Oct. 9 to help raise money in Rotary’s worldwide effort to combat polio and also to provide dictionaries for local third graders. “This is one of our big fundraisers during the year, so we appreciate a turnout by the community,” club President Susan Thorning said. Attendees will enjoy an early breakfast prepared by the Wavehouse head chef. They will also be entertained as Flow Jam, a Flowriding competition, will be warming up on the wave machine. “People coming to breakfast will be able to watch the competitors working out on the wave,” Thorning said. “It makes it exciting for those people who haven’t come down to the Wavehouse to see people riding on the wave.” The event is from 7 to10:30 a.m. and tickets are available for $8 a person, or folks can get a discount at $15 for two people. Rotary Club of Mission Bay continues to thrive The Rotary Club is a service club that was started in 1905. Over the years, the Rotary Club has grown around the United States and in cities all over the world, and currently boasts 1.2 million members. The local club meets every week and offers an opportunity for charitable souls to give back to the local community. After helping to complete renovations at the Crown Point Pavilion, a project that took five years, the club’s members thought it was a good time to get involved with an international situation. Although polio has been eradicated in the United States, it still poses a threat around the globe. Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria are nations whose populations still feel the effects of the devastating illness. “We are so close to eliminating polio in the world,” Thorning said. The Rotary Club’s international ties make it unique among the multitude of non-profit organizations out there. “A lot of the activities center around a club in one country working with a club in another country,” Thorning said. “They come together for the good of both places.” Although new members are always welcome, the club does not take every person who wants to join on a whim. Rotary wants people who are committed and genuinely care about what the Rotary Club stands for. Prospective members need to be referred by a current member and must show they can fit in with the rest of the team. “You are working side by side on projects, so you want people you can count who are like-minded in the community,” Thorning said. “You want to enjoy each other’s company.” For more information about the pancake breakfast or to find out what it takes to join this organization, call (858) 336-6474 or visit www.rotaryclubmissionbay.org