Rotary District 5150 proudly recognizes Laurel Botsford of the Rotary Club of Terra Linda as our Rotarian of the Month for November 2025.
A Rotarian since 2017, Laurel has been an active and inspiring leader from the day she joined. She currently serves as the club’s Youth Director, a role she has held for seven years, where she has revitalized and guided two thriving Interact Clubs—Terra Linda High School and St. Isabella’s Middle School. When Laurel took over, both clubs were struggling; under her mentorship, they have flourished, now boasting more members than her own Rotary club. She works closely with faculty advisors and students, helping them design meaningful service projects and fundraisers that connect with Rotary’s values.
This year, Laurel secured $1,000 environmental grants for each Interact Club and guided students through the process of planning and implementing their projects. Her Interactors regularly present at Rotary meetings and participate in club service projects and fundraisers, reflecting Laurel’s success in fostering true intergenerational engagement. She has also been a mentor and collaborator with the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (SEL) at Terra Linda High School, supporting students in developing confidence, leadership, and community awareness.
Beyond Rotary, Laurel is the Founder and CEO of Wisdom International: Prevention Before Harm, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing human trafficking before it occurs. Since its founding in 2018, Wisdom International has collaborated with survivors, Tribal Leaders, educators, and anti-trafficking coalitions. Earlier this year, Laurel joined a Rotary site assessment trip to Guatemala to support an international project focused on prevention and education. She also developed a four-hour training for Rotary Young Leaders on how to identify and prevent trafficking—a vital and timely contribution to Rotary’s humanitarian mission.
Laurel’s career and service reflect her deep commitment to communication, compassion, and prevention. A former communications professional and international speaker, she holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages, is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy (2019), and is a Paul Harris Fellow and Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) donor. She also serves as a core member of the Drug Awareness Program with the San Rafael Elks Lodge #1108 and has been a Board Member of the Friends of the Sausalito Library since 2012.
Laurel’s life and leadership embody Rotary’s spirit of Service Above Self. Whether mentoring youth, building partnerships to fight human trafficking, or supporting her community through countless local initiatives, Laurel brings wisdom, energy, and heart to everything she does.
Rotary District 5150 is proud to honor Laurel Botsford as Rotarian of the Month for November 2025 for her visionary leadership, compassionate service, and enduring commitment to creating a safer, more hopeful world.