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What’s Rotary?

We’re a leadership organization of local business, professional and civic leaders.

We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, and through that, we’re able to get things done in this community.

Welcoming District Governor Elects to the International Assembly

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 19, 2020

Raquel D'Garay-Juncal (Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley), Peter James-Robertson (DGE District 1285, Horwich, UK), John Mullin (Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo), Deborah Loveday (Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, District 9650), Celia Ramirez (Rotary Club of San Diego Southeast)

Sharon Schendel with Raquel D'Garay-Juncal (far right) and Rotary International Staff members Molly Friend and Zuhal Sharp

Donna Fipps and Emerald ready to greet at the airport

This year marks the last year of San Diego as host of Rotary International’s International Assembly- in 2021 the event will move to Orlando. Volunteers from District 5340 were on hand at the bottom of the escalators at the airport and at the lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt to welcome District Governor Elects who will undertake crucial training during the Assembly so that they will have the tools they need to steer their districts toward success in Rotary Year 2020-2021.

Building Partnerships Between Rotarians and the Peace Corps

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 19, 2020

Brett Mattei with Cal Mann and a banner from Rotary Club of Stip in North Macedonia

Former member Cal Mann joined our first meeting of the new decade to talk about his experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in North Macedonia and how a chance meeting helped him begin to align the efforts of Peace Corps volunteers with Rotarians in the areas they serve. Cal brought with him a banner from Rotary Club of Stip. Read more about Cal’s story at a recent Rotary service blog post.

More Banners for Our Collection

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 19, 2020

Dugan and Philippe Lamoise recently returned from a honeymoon trip that included a lot of safari and just a bit of Rotary. They brought back for new banners from clubs they visited.

Higher Expectations Produce Better Outcomes at Nativity Prep Academy

Gil Brady, President of Nativity Prep Academy (NPA), was our featured speaker at the January 9, 2020 meeting. Although the Academy formally schools students for Grades 6-8, these are just three years out of an 11 year commitment. NPA assures each 5^th grade applicant, and their family that, if they honor the contract they make with NPA, their son or daughter will graduate from college. The commitment NPA students and their families make is significant. While students, they spend over 10 hours a day at NPA. This extended time is needed to ensure that the students, all of whom are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, can catch up to grade level.

The Graduate Support Program is a key component of the NPA contract. NPA helps its graduates earn spots at some of the top high schools in the county, supports them through high school and helps them navigate the college application process. The NPA program also requires that parents have an equally strong commitment and helps parents to understand the challenges that their children face and how they can support them in their pursuit of higher education. To date, 99% of NPA graduates earned their high school diploma (c.f. 81% for San Diego County) and over 85% studied at a 2- or 4-year college.

On March 21, 2020 the NPA campus will be the site of an upcoming Rotarians at Word day. We’ll be helping NPA staff and alumni beautify and update their campus.

Bench Painting in Del Mar

Donna Fipps, Caroline Moran, Brett Mattei and Tony Villasenor get things ready

Caroline Moran, Jake Owens and Donna Fipps work together

Brett Mattei's sister-in-law Natalie makes sure that all angles of the bench look good

Donna and Don Fipps finish up the bench on the second week

Bill Rawlings secures a new resident in the park

Jim Watkins at the new selfie site with Sally the Sea Lion

Our members took time on two consecutive Fridays to spruce up the benches on the southwest corner of L’Auberge. The park has a new resident provided by Jim Watkins and securely installed by Bill Rawlings: Sally the Sea Lion. Next time you’re in the park take a picture of Sally- we’ll need think of an Instagram hashtag for her.

Annual 6-Way Meeting

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 19, 2020

Rotary International President Elect Holger Knaack

Suzy Wagner, Val Myers, Don and Donna Fipps and Klaus Gubernator at the 6-way meeting

Sharyn Daly brought her daughter, Jessica Daly, as her guest

Mark Matthess, Sharon Schendel, Sharyn Daly, Marlene Gotz, Garrie Rhodes, Karin and Jim Davies, Nina Wright

Rotary International President Elect Holger Knaack was our very special guest at the annual 6-way meeting attended by members of our club as well as those of Rotary Clubs of Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar-Solana Beach, Solana Beach Eco, Encinitas and Encinitas Coastal. Holger thanked District 5340 members for their hospitality in the years that San Diego has hosted the International Assembly, which he attended in 2006 when he was District Governor Elect.

Youth Service was one area that Holger emphasized- he and his wife personally hosted 43 Rotary Youth Exchange students and he was Youth Exchange Chair for Germany, a very popular host country. Through his experience with Youth Exchange and as a Director of Rotary International, he traveled frequently and saw the many ways that Rotary clubs across the world differed while still sharing same vision.

Despite those similarities, he did note a contrast between Rotary clubs in Germany and those in the United States. In the US, he found that Service was the primary focus of most clubs. Yet for Rotary clubs in Germany, Friendship and Integrity are foremost, and these priorities help form the foundation for service. Holger mentioned that retention is not a significant issue in Germany. Prospective members are chosen carefully, and each club strives to make sure that they meet the expectations of new members and that new members are well taken care of. Regardless of the focus, Holger intends to continue the goal of the current RI President, Mark Maloney, which is to grow Rotary and attract younger, more diverse members. The 6-way meeting was featured in a recent issue of the Del Mar Times.

Al Graff Still Serving

Al Graff (center) with Ed Siegel (left) and Honorary Member Bessie Floyd

Last January we helped Al Graff celebrate reach 100 years-old. One year later, he’s still going strong and his works were featured in a recent news article for the San Diego Foundation.

Welcoming Guests

Kathy Reed with Tom McCarthy

Jim and Karin Davies with granddaughter Keilani

At the December 19, 2020 meeting we welcomed Tom McCarthy, son of our member Kathy Reed. Tom is a graduate of both Torrey Pines High School and SDSU, and was an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 713- the troop we sponsor. Karin and Jim Davies were happy to have their granddaughter Keilani for a visit.

Torrey Pines High School Robotics Club

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jan 19, 2020

Torrey Pines High School Millennium Falcons (l to r) Advisor Klint Kirckconnell, Guy Nir, Douglas Liu, Minh Ho, Farrah Kaiyom, Fiona Ghatuari, Alisha Chakraborty

At our last meeting of the decade, members of the Torrey Pines High School Robotics Club, The Millennium Falcons, were our featured guests. They demonstrated their latest champion creation, MAUL, and discussed how their club manages their $50,000 annual operating budget and helps elementary school and middle school students follow in their footsteps. We are proud to be a Platinum Level sponsor for their club. Funds we provide are critical for the team to design and build their robots, and also help them travel to competitions.

Wrapping Up Community Resource Center Holiday Baskets

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Dec 15, 2019

Posing with one our "wraps" (front row, l to r: Jim Kohn, Brett Mattei, Sharon Schendel, Donna Fipps; back row: l to r: Matt Kurth, Jeff Matthews, Keith Ward, Jeanne Koskella, Val Myers, Janice Kurth, Don Fipps, Tony Villasenor, Kathy Quillin)

The holiday baskets themselves were already distributed, but even after some 7,000 individuals are served by the Community Resource Center’s annual event, there is still some work to do. We worked to wrap items on pallets so that they can be stored for next year’s holiday baskets and did other general clean up. Chris Stewart spent nearly the entire day at the fairground grandstands on Saturday, “Distribution Day”, when clients “shop” for bikes, toys, and other items. Leader of the Holiday Basket Captains, Kym Sheerman, said that the soccer balls our club donated were very popular items in the holiday basket shopping opportunity. View the album on the club website or visit the Google Photos album to download any you like.

Annual Holiday Party

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Dec 15, 2019

Vicki Barks, Beth and Reid Westburg, Marty Rips

Kit Leeger, Jim and Bernadette Watkins, Monty Woolley

Janice Kurth recognizes John Baranowski as a Major Donor Level II (with Candace Bahr, left, and Matt Kurth, right)

Walt and Linda Strangman with Nina Wright

Donna Fipps' Merry Mice sledded in

Joel and Kris Candib

Cookie exchange offerings

Jessica and Pedro from Flavor Chef serve up cake to go with all those cookies

Bob Fuchs and Jim McClellan

We had a great turnout for our annual holiday party. It’s always great to have a chance to catch up with our members’ spouses and friends while enjoying great food from Flavor Chef. Pedro Hernandez of Flavor Chef carved up about 40 pounds of prime rib and members supplied dozens and dozens of cookies to exchange.

Thank you to Suzy Wagner for organizing the party and John Baranowski for encouraging us to dust off treasured cookie recipes and everyone who came. Congratulations as well to John Baranowski, who was recognized by Janice Kurth as a Major Donor Level II. In John’s words: “Why do we love this club?” Because of members like John whose generosity helps make the many projects of Rotary International possible. View the album on the club website or visit the Google Photos album to download any you like.

Soccer Balls for Community Resource Center Holiday Baskets

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Dec 08, 2019

Klaus Gubernator inflating soccer balls for donation to CRC holiday baskets

The soccer balls created some blind spots in Tony Villasenor's car

Children attending CRC “shopping” events will have the chance to pick out a new soccer ball- one of the dozens donated by our club and inflated and delivered to the fairgrounds by Tony Villasenor and Klaus Gubernator.

Help Inventory CRC Holiday Baskets December 15 at 3:30

This year we’ll be helping the Community Resource Center (CRC) inventory all the items that remain after their holiday baskets are distributed. These items will form the foundation for CRC giving throughout the year and for next year’s holiday baskets, so it’s important for them to know just what they have on hand. Meet at the grandstand of the Fairgrounds on Sunday, December 15 at 3:30 PM. Enter the fairgrounds through the Solana Gate off of Via Del la Valle and follow the signs. We’ll work until 7 PM, and, who knows, afterward maybe there will be opportunity to head over to a local eatery (Pizza Nova, anyone??). For questions about volunteering, email Sharon Schendel.

Holiday Party Set for December 13 at 6:30 PM

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Dec 08, 2019

We’ll hold our annual holiday party in St. Peter’s Parish Hall (our regular meeting site) on Friday, December 13 at 6:30 PM. Make sure to RSVP to Suzy Wagner by Monday December 9 to reserve your spot (note that December 9 is also the last day to cancel without charge). All guests are welcome! Your account will be billed for $50 per person. Flavor Chef will serve dinner featuring prime rib and dessert of course will be dozens of cookies at our cookie exchange. Bring at least two dozen of your favorite, home-baked cookies and be prepared to let everyone know why your cookies are special. Also bring a container to take home some cookies.

La Colonia Children's Christmas Party

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Dec 08, 2019

The slime station was very popular. There are dozens of other pictures available- see links below.

Patti Kurtz and Nina Wright helping guests decorate their christmas tree paintings

The serving crew: Matt Kurth, Mark Matthess, Marty Peters, Janice Kurth

Jake Owens and Dagmar Gubernator captained one of the ornament stations

Jim and Janie King dressed for the occasion

We missed the rain for our annual Christmas party for members of the La Colonia branch of the Boys & Girls Club of San Dieguito and their families. Santa returned this year, introduced by surprise guests, the San Diego Sockers soccer team. All our guests left well-fed from the buffet supplied by Jake’s Del Mar, and the children were enthusiastic about the craft stations. Thank you to Community Service Chair, Tony Villasenor, for leading the event, and our craft table captains: Val Myers and Suzy Wagner kept the slime oozing; Donna Fipps and Sharyn Daly oversaw the bead station; Dagmar Gubernator, Jake Owens, Dee House, and Garrie Rhodes helped our guests make dozens of ornaments; Patty Kurtz and her team prepared canvases with pine trees pictures and Nina Wright helped kids decorate them; and Kathy Reed along with her friends Sarita Eaton, Jeri Opel and Beth Steusloff guided our guests in making succulent planters using clippings brought from Klaus Gubernator’s garden. Matt and Janice Kurth, together with Mark Matthess and Marty Peters helped serve dinner. Ed Siegel provided dinner music and Don Fipps led the clean-up crew. Thank you to all who helped make this event a great success! For pictures, visit our Facebook page or club website, or visit the Google Photo Album to download any pictures you like.

Seafarers by Birth, Pioneers by Necesscity

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 25, 2019

Jo Sletbak, Consul General of the Norway Consulate General

Jo Sletbak, colleague of our President Brett Mattei, and current Consul General with the Norway Consulate General in San Francisco, swung south from his base in Pacific Heights to talk to our club. Jo began by comparing shorelines- despite its smaller size in terms of area, Norway has a longer coastline than all of the United States. Thus, a maritime lifestyle has long been a hallmark of Norwegian society.

Norway seeks sustainability in many aspects, from renewable energy sources, to its fisheries, to its investment in future generations. Norway is a leader in hydropower technology, but still generates significant revenue from offshore oil and gas exploration.

A democracy since 1814 with the drafting of its constitution (the world’s second-oldest), Norway is a member of NATO. Its location is a site of strategic importance that bridges eastern and western Europe.

The “Nordic Model” describes the cooperation between government, employers and employees. Although the tax rates are high, the population can readily see the benefits of these taxes, through public funding of health, education and welfare services- all are free to citizens. Nearly one-third of Norway’s 5 million citizens have a college degree, and military service is compulsory for all young people, male and female. This strong social network contributes one of the world’s longest life expectancies (~80 years for men and ~84 for women) and consistently high ranking in the UN Human Development Index, although having a more homogenous population contributes to this success.

Jo graduated from UC San Diego and the University of San Diego, where he received a Master of Arts in International Relations. Prior to becoming Consul General, Jo served as Deputy Director of Balkan Affairs at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rotarian of the Month: Beth Westburg

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 25, 2019

For Rotarian of the Month for October, we honored Beth Westburg for all her efforts for the very successful Chili & Quackers. Beth and her husband Reid coordinated the food and she provided excellent ideas before the event and after, so next year’s installment will be even better. Thank you, Beth!

New Members Nina Wright and Jake Owens

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 25, 2019

New member Jake Owens (center) with sponsor Marty Peters (right) and Rotary mentor Don Fipps (left)

New member Nina Wright (center) receives congratulations from President Brett Mattei (right) and her Rotary mentor, Sharon Schendel

We’re excited to welcome our newest members, Nina Wright and Jake Owens. Nina is a realtor with Coldwell Banker and her office is in Del Mar, just a few steps away from St. Peter’s. Nina has a love of horses as well as hiking, dancing, music and the beach. Nina got a jump on Rotary life by attending the recent District Seminar. Sharyn Daly is Nina’s sponsor, and Sharon Schendel will be her mentor.

Jake came to our club the way many people do, by meeting Marty Peters. He is an independent promoter of health products and has a strong interest in wine as well as being a wine sommelier. Jake was a member of Interact in high school in Pensacola, FL where Rotarians provided support for his entry into the Naval Academy. He continues to serve as a Major in the USMC reserves. Marty Peters is Jake’s sponsor and Don Fipps will be his mentor.

Paul Harris Society +3 Dugan Moore Lamoise

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 25, 2019

President Brett Mattei with Paul Harris Fellow +3 Dugan Moore Lamoise

We recognized Dugan Moore Lamoise for her continued generous support of Rotary International (RI) with her third Paul Harris Fellow. Dugan is also a member of the Paul Harris Society- Society members pledge to contribute $1,000 annually to RI. Have you followed Dugan's lead and made your annual donation to RI? These donations are critical for supporting Rotary projects around the world.

Sponsoring Safety on Del Mar Beaches and Beyond

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 17, 2019

Don Fipps looking at the rescue dive gear with Del Mar Lifeguard Tyler Grant

Del Mar Lifeguards Tyler Grant and Scott Henson didn’t have too far to walk to join us at the Powerhouse Park pavilion to thank us again for the dive gear that we donated.

Educating Children in the Himalayan Foothills: Gamru Village School

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 17, 2019

Philippe Lamoise sporting a hat that was a gift from Rotarians in India

Philippe Lamoise expanded the talk he gave at the recent District Foundation Seminar on the Gamru Village School, a project he’s been involved with for over 15 years. Gamru Village School is located in Dharamsala in the Himachal Pradesh region of India. The area gained fame for its monastery, where the Dalai Lama lives in exile from Tibet. It’s also home to many Tibetan refugees, which brings attention to the region, but many donations go to support the refugees while few funds go to the locals.

In 2003, Philippe volunteered his software engineering and video editing skills to Tibetan monks in Dharmsala, and while there he visited the Rotary Club of Dharamsala. In 2004, he returned to help locals learn computer skills as part of a project sponsored in conjunction with the Rotary Club La Mesa Sunrise. During this trip, he visited a school for local children that was founded by Philip Adams. Although school in India is free, the uniforms, book and transportation is not, and these additional costs represented an insurmountable barrier to education for many children in India.

Through district grants Rotary helped fund resources for the school, including furniture, books and updated kitchen equipment (the school provides many children with their main daily meal). This support helps cover the $22,000 annual budget for the school, which has 9 teachers, two staff members and serves around 150 children. The school recently started a nursery to help relieve female students of child care duties for their younger siblings that would otherwise keep them out of school. The Gamru School is an example of how Rotarians like Philippe see needs on their travels and engage the power of Rotary to help fulfill those needs.

The 46th Annual Rotary District 5340 Foundation Seminar

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 17, 2019

Dugan and Philippe Lamoise receive recognition from PDG Marge Cole for becoming Level 3 Bequest Society members (with PDG Janice Kurth and current DG Marta Knight)

PDG Janice Kurth speaks about the importance of supporting the Rotary Foundation

PDG Scott Carr congratulates current DG Marta Knight on becoming a member of the Paul Harris Society

San Pasqual High School SuperNurds robotics team (with faculty advisor Yun Lutgen, far right) demonstrate the skills of their latest robot

Rotarians from across District 5340 gathered at the Institute of the Americas at UCSD to learn about different community and international club projects, hear from Peace Scholars, and thank those whose generous donations to their clubs and Rotary International help make these projects possible.

Past Rotary Foundation Trustee Steve Brown remembered the five Past District Governors (PDGs) we lost in the past year: Bob Tomko (PDG ’68-’69), Jack Mayo (PDG ’92-’93), Larry Scott (PDG ’02-’03), Dave Breeding (PDG ’10-’11), and, most recently, Wayne Cusick (PDG ’96-’97). All of these PDGs made important contributions to the District, and Wayne founded the Paul Harris Society (PHS). PHS members now provide nearly 1/3 of annual donations to Rotary International.

PDG Scott Carr recognized current District Governor Marta Knight as one of our newest Paul Harris Society members. PDG Janice Kurth explained that the apples scattered around (including on the podium) represented importance of continued giving- gifts made now plant the seeds for future Rotary successes. This point was echoed by PDG Pam Russell, who outlined options for Legacy Giving, including the Bequest Society. Pam recognized Dugan and PDG Philippe Lamoise as Bequest Society Level 3 donors.

Rotary Peace Fellow Bogdan Matuszynski spoke about the training he received as a fellow in Peace and Conflict Resolution and his founding of iSERVE, an organization that uses education and mentorship to promote the idea of global citizenship. Philippe Lamoise spoke about the Gamru Village School (see separate story for November 14, 2019 meeting) and Al Chalfant from Old Mission Rotary Club covered the support his club gives to the Thousand Smiles Clinic.

The UCSD Rotaract Club was represented by Kaeley O’Shea who explained what a WAPI is (water pasteurization indicator) and WAPI-making projects they hosted to produce WAPIs for use in Africa. Yun Lutgen, a math teacher at San Pasqual High School, introduced her SuperNURDs (Never Underestimate Robotic Domination) Robotics Team, sponsored by Rotary Club of Escondido- and the team members spoke about what the team has meant to them (for many, a change of career path).

November 21, 2019 Meeting at Powerhouse Park

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 17, 2019

For our November 21, 2019 meeting we'll again gather at Powerhouse Park while St. Peter's is hosting the Interfaith Shelter. Free on-street parking is available north of the Del Mar Motel or park in the St. Peter's lot (be sure to display your parking pass) and walk to the park.

Board of Directors Meeting Tuesday November 19, 2019

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 16, 2019

All members are welcome to attend our monthly Board of Directors meetings, held in the Youth Room of St. Peter’s. This month’s meeting will be held Tuesday November 19, 2019 at 7:30 AM and will last no more than one hour. Red Badgers need to attend one Board meeting to achieve Blue Badge status.

Celebrating Another Successful Chili & Quackers

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Nov 17, 2019

"Krispie" ducks from Donna Fipps

Chili & Quackers Chair Matt Kurth with Bronze-level sponsors Jim and Kathy McClellan

The Line of Succession: Vice President Dugan Lamoise, Past President Don Fipps, President-Elect Sharon Schendel and Current President Brett Mattei

Beth Westburg, Garrie Rhodes, Sharyn Daly and Mary Alice and Marty Peters (along with Reid Westburg in the back) enjoy the potluck food

Janice Kurth with Chili & Quackers hot dog grill master Reid Westburg

Robert Muller and Dee House with Miles Fleming

Some of you may have seen this bit on the club website. Unfortunately, I forgot to include it in the newsletter last week, so here it is now!

Thank you to Matt and Janice Kurth for hosting an Open House for everyone who helped make the recent Chili & Quackers “friendraiser” such a success. Matt in particular went beyond the call- chairing the event just one week before his daughter’s wedding.

The Rotary Club of Del Mar is a registered 501c4 non-profit organization.