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Sharon Schendel

I'm honored to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Del Mar. For most of my life, I was content to be in the background, taking direction from others. The people of the Rotary Club of Del Mar and the projects they spearhead inspired me to take a leadership role. This is a special year for Rotarians: Jennifer Jones is the first woman to be President of Rotary International. She chose "Imagine Rotary" as her theme and challenged members to dream big and work together to make dreams into reality. Every day, members of Rotary Club of Del Mar imagine how they might make the world a better place. Please take a moment to watch this video to see how our club's projects are helping enhance our own community, and communities around the world.

Come join us!

What’s Rotary?

Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change.

Playing the Waves

Musicians with surfing coaches (upper left- Brett Mattei has the hat); Brett's student (upper right) learned quickly after Brett showed in the basics (lower right); This guy might look familiar: he's Val Myer's brother-in-law

Young musicians visiting San Diego for the District 5340 MusiCamp put down their instruments for an afternoon to join members of the Surfers United Fellowship of Rotary to try surfing the waves in Del Mar. Brett Morey of La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary organized the event and our own Brett Mattei was there to coach some of the musicians on surfing basics. By the end of the afternoon, many had gotten the hang of it and ridden a few waves. If someone in the crowd looked a bit familiar, that’s Val Myer’s brother-in-law and Brett said that he’s one of the most enthusiastic surfing coaches ever.

The Rapid Development of the Antiviral Paxlovid

Dr. Martin Edwards uses a baseball and a mitt to demonstrate binding of a Paxlovid component into the active site of the SARS-CoV-2 protease

Model of the SARS-CoV-2 protease molecule with the Paxlovid molecule (stick diagram, upper right) blocking the active site (photo courtesy Dr. Martin Edwards)

Dr. Martin Edwards joined our July 28, 2022 meeting to tell the story of how Paxlovid, the treatment for COVID-19 was developed so rapidly. After hearing initial reports from China in January 2020 that a newly-discovered virus could transmit person-to-person, Dr. Edwards thought to himself: “Nearly every person in the world could be infected.” More than half a billion documented infections later, that thought seems to be coming true.

Dr. Edwards said that Paxlovid was propelled by earlier work done on SARS, a virus that is related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, but that failed to cause a global pandemic. Both SARS and SARS-CoV-2 make a protein called a protease that can snip apart different virus proteins so they can assemble to make new viruses that can go on to continue infection, or infect others. Scientists at Pfizer already knew the three-dimensional structure of the SARS protease, and they knew from the SARS-CoV-2 DNA sequence that the SARS-CoV-2 protease would probably have a very similar structure.

Pfizer scientists determined the structure of SARS-CoV-2 using x-ray crystallography, and then analyzed whether molecules in a library containing millions of different chemicals could nestle into a pocket in the protease called the “active site” and block the protease from snipping apart virus proteins. Without the protease snipping, there are no new particles, and infection stops. Dr. Edwards brought a baseball and a glove as an analogy to show how the molecules in Paxlovid fit into the active site pocket. By December 2021, the FDA granted Paxlovid emergency use authorization, and millions of doses have since been administered.

Interested in learning more about the development of Paxlovid and why you might have heard of people “rebounding” (i.e., testing positive after receiving the drug and testing negative)? Check out this NPR story, and articles in JAMA Network and Science.

A Room of One's Own Part 2

Klaus Gubernator and Steven McDowell returned to Church of the Brethren to continue building a sleeping cottage that was started last week. More members of St. James Mission Circle also returned. There’s just a bit more work to do, so if you have time on Saturday August 4, please stop by the church at 3850 Westgate Place (just south of the I-15 and I-805 split). They’ll put you on a job that matches your skill level (or you can learn a new skill).

Social at Cevasco's

Cevasco’s is one of the newest restaurants in the village of Del Mar and we’re delighted that they’ve signed on to serve at the Sunset Soiree. Happy Hour at Cevasco’s is a true bargain: $3 beers and $5 wine and good selection of tasty items for half price. Great to see so many members there. We had Don and Donna Fipps (and Omeeka, of course!), Steven and Jennifer McDowell, Brett Mattei, Jim Kohn and Sharon Schendel, Matt and Janice Kurth, Linda and Walt Strangman, Karl and Suzy Wagner (who also arranged the social). Our socials are fun and important ways that we can support the restaurants that support our club.

Sunset Soirée Planning Meeting on ZOOM

Soirée planning is ramping up and the website will soon be live! Thank you to all the members who signed up to help at last week’s meeting. At the upcoming meeting we’ll go over the restaurants and wineries/breweries who’ve committed, take stock of auction items (WE NEED MORE!!!) and discuss event layout. We need auction items, gift cards for the gift card tree raffle, and wines for the final $100 and inclusion in auction baskets. Here's the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88004492056?pwd=Q1I5SjU2RTVncU1QbDVHQUZwUjZIQT09

Or join using the meeting ID:

Meeting ID: 880 0449 2056
Passcode: JOINRCDM

Event Registration Through Club Website

Many events on the club website will now have a registration button. Please use this feature to sign up! By signing up, event organizers can know who plans to attend. For our service projects in particular, having sign ups can help us better track volunteer hours, which we need to report to Rotary. We can also use this information to highlight to potential members and donors how much time our members devote to the community.

Get the ClubRunner App!

Wondering how to get to a member’s home? What their phone number is? What events are upcoming? It’s all in the ClubRunner App. After a quick download from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android), you’ll be up and running with all the club information at your fingertips. Note that if an event is held at a member’s home, their address will NOT be posted on our website, so with the ClubRunner app, you can quickly find the address and get directions through your phone. All information through the App is secure and available ONLY to members. Contact Sharon Schendel if you need help updating your profile.

Designing Diagnostics for Tropical Diseases

After advancing several drugs to treat cancer, Dr. Marco Biamonte, our speaker for the July 24, 2022 meeting, founded Drugs & Diagnostics for Tropical Diseases (DDTD), a non-profit organization that develops news treatments and diagnostics for diseases that largely affect underserved populations. The goal of DDTD is to eliminate diseases that should belong to the past.

News From the Track

Perennial favorite speaker and Honorary Member Joe Harper, President and CEO of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, stopped by Jimmy O’s for our July 14, 2022 meeting. Opening Day on July 22 is already sold out. In fact, tickets were gone 15 minutes after the sale began on June 13, and the crowd will be held to 22,000 this year. The Thoroughbred Club is coming off hosting its second successful Breeder’s Cup. Despite lower attendance due in part to the pandemic, the handle was high, and exceeded the 2017 value by nearly 10%. When the track does well, so does California: as a non-profit, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club returns its revenues to the state. Off-track betting now dominates with around 90% of the handle coming from bets placed offsite.

Joe said that the meet starts later as track requires preparation after the fair season, but it also ends later, which allows Del Mar to have one week during which it is the sole active track. All Joe Harper talks have a healthy old Hollywood component (his maternal grandfather was Cecil B. DeMille) and told favorite stories about his appearances as an extra in movies like the “The Greatest Show on Earth” and “Ten Commandments” that unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor. We thank Joe for his continued support of the club and look forward to our Annual Day at the Races on August 18.

A Room of One's Own

Marty Peters, Sharon Schendel, Klaus Gubernator, Pat Caughey and Pete Grossnickle take a quick break from work (upper left, l to r); Executive Director of the Church of the Brethren Kathryn LaPointe explained the mission of the church in helping refugees with the challenges they face in a new country (center left); Pete Grossnickle, Dee House, and Bob Muller roll paint on one of several cottage wall panels (center); Jan Grossnickle painted a lot of trim pieces (bottom center). The cottages will eventually have a small porch and will offer residents a private space to sleep, work and relax.

Assembly line of cottage components (top) made for rapid progress on a second cottage. Poodle "Don Quixote" (aka Don) made sure everyone kept on track (and that no Dorito went uneaten).

Small cottages are sprouting up at the Church of the Brethren, in the Gateway neighborhood of San Diego, just south of where the 805 and the 15 split. We joined with St. James Mission Circle, a social action program of the St. James-St. Leo Catholic Community in Solana Beach that is working with Casas de Luz to build transitional sleeping cottages.

As part of the Church of the Brethren’s Peace Village refugee resettlement program, which offers shelter to refugees and asylum seekers, these cottages are a first step for folks on their way to more permanent living situations. Residents typically stay fewer than 120 days. The cottages provide a bed, refrigerator, toaster oven, and heater, and a lockable door. They have no plumbing, but residents have access to communal shower and toilet facilities, as well as on-site laundry. Thank you for Marty Peters for coordinating this opportunity (and for working onsite).

We had a great turnout. Members Pat Caughey, Jan and Pete Grossnickle, Klaus Gubernator, Dee House and Sharon Schendel, contributed, as did friends and family members Bob Muller and Tim Grossnickle. This project was particularly good because there were plenty of jobs for everyone, regardless of skill level and volunteers were rewarded with drinks and snacks. In addition, it was fun to work beside and meet all the volunteers from the Mission Circle. The project continues July 23 from 8:45AM-4 PM. Come join us to help build a few more cottages to help complete what will eventually be a village of 20.

Ukrainian Refugee Outreach Event

Amna Sanctuary, led by Executive Director Dr. Rasha Roshdy, organized a one-stop-shop for Ukrainian refugees to access services in the San Diego community. The Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley donated a ballroom where representatives from local agencies including Health and Human Services (HHSA), DMV and San Diego Unified School District helped refugees register for a State ID, enroll in school, and get work permits. Member John Baranowski and his wife Candace Bahr volunteered to help shuttle Olga and her son Lev, who are now living in Oceanside, to the event. Olga told him that the event helped her accomplish in hours what might have taken her months to do on her own. Watch the NBC7 news video to hear an interview with Dr. Roshdy and see scenes from the event.

Blood Drive Exceeds Goal

Our blood drive with San Diego Blood Bank on July 7, 2021 was a huge success. We exceeded the 20-pint goal with 21 pints collected. Del Mar Rotarians and their friends and family comprised the majority of the donors and 5 donors were first-timers with the Blood Bank. We had 11 members donate, and organizer Walt Strangman pulled in his son Mike Strangman, and sister-in-law Carol Poole. The 21 pints we collected can help over 60 individuals in San Diego County. Many thanks to Walt for organizing and being at the Bloodmobile throughout the drive. The next drive will be November 3. Couldn’t make the July 7 drive? You can always schedule an appointment to donate at a location that’s convenient to your home or work.

Leadership Changeover at the Governor’s Dinner

Posted by Sharon Schendel

Enjoying the Governor's Dinner (clockwise from upper left): Bill Rawlings, Linda Groom, Dugan and Philippe Lamoise; plenty of wine to go with dinner; Karl Wagner, Don Fipps, and Suzy Wagner show off our newest banner; Sharon Schendel after swearing in of club presidents

The theme chosen by RI President Jennifer Jones is "Imagine Rotary". Don Fipps received his District Governor Elect pin from Chuck Pretto and thanks from outgoing District Governor Dan Gensler for his service as his Chief of Staff; Lower left: Pat Caughey, Klaus Gubernator and Celia Ramirez (Rotary Club of San Diego Southeast)

The ballroom at the Del Mar Hilton was full of just over 400 District 5340 Rotarians for the 2022 Governor’s Dinner. Our club fielded two tables to see our own Don Fipps be elevated to District Governor Elect and Sharon Schendel be sworn in as President by the new District Governor Chuck Pretto of Club 33. Co-Presidents Suzy and Karl Wagner topped off a stellar year by accepting the award for best medium-sized club of the district. Philippe Lamoise made sure that everyone could see and hear all the presentations with his A/V expertise. Click here to view/download these and other pictures.

Welcome New Members: Jan and Pete Grossnickle

Posted by Sharon Schendel

We are delighted to induct our newest members, Jan and Pete Grossnickle. You might remember Jan from when she visited our club as a speaker who presented on her work with those who are experiencing housing insecurity in San Diego. Click here to link to the story about her presentation. Thank you to the sponsors of the Grossnickles, Karin and Jim Davies.

San Diego Airport Flying to New Heights

Posted by Sharon Schendel

Hampton Brown, Vice President, revenue generation, marketing and innovation for San Diego Airport (SAN), joined our meeting on June 30, 2022 to outline ongoing progress at SAN, particularly work to modernize Terminal 1. These improvements are urgently needed, since Southwest, which uses Terminal 1 gates, services 32% of SAN passengers. In addition, many of Southwest’s flights are within California, and the frequency of these flights is now back to pre-pandemic levels.

International service at SAN is also up by around 27% with options for non-stop travel between SAN and London Heathrow, Munich, Toronto, Montreal, and Tokyo. Hampton said that SAN is actively seeking more non-stop domestic flights, especially a return of flights to Reagan National airport.

Work on Terminal 1 began on November 1, 2021 and the new T1 parking structure is expected to open late 2024. Phase I of construction that will offer new Terminal 1 Gates 1-10 should open in 2025 followed by more new gates in Phase II, scheduled for completion 2027. The wait will be worth it. The renovations will provide more than 1 million square feet of modern terminal space with an outdoor patio area and better access roads. Click HERE to take a virtual tour of the new Terminal 1.

As work on Terminal 1 progresses, there will be traffic challenges. Hampton encourages SAN travelers to explore a variety of transit options. In particular, SAN passengers can take the Coaster or Trolley to the Old Town Transit Center, where they can transfer to the free, all-electric shuttle bus, the San Diego Flyer. The Flyer runs every 20 minutes and stops at both terminals. Click HERE for information about the Flyer, with schedules and an informational video.

New Dogtag at Workshop for Warriors

Posted by Sharon Schendel

There's a new dog tag hanging at the Workshop for Warriors (WFW) in recognition of our $5,000 donation. Students at WFW have recently been discharged from the military and work to earn certification in machining and welding. Our gift helps increase the number of students WFW can serve. Click here for the story about our visit to WFW on April 14, 2022.

Demotion Party for the Wagners

Posted by Sharon Schendel

Scenes from Viewpoint Brewing Company (clockwise from upper left): Overlook of the fair; Karl and Suzy with a delicious cake; the "Spirit of Ecstasy" hood ornament on the Tarkington's 1960 Rolls Royce; enjoying a view drinks before the program begins

Suzy receives her tiara, joining other female past presidents Val Myers, Janice Kurth and Dee House (left) and Karl wears the traditional chapeau of past presidents

Jim Davies (left), District Governor Dan Gensler (center), and Bob Brewer (center) said a few words in praise of the Wagners

Linda Groom received Rookie of the Year honors, and Don Fipps, along with Marty Peters (who couldn't attend) was recognized as Rotarian of the Year

We celebrated the highly successful term of our first co-presidents, Suzy and Karl Wagner, with a Demotion Party at one of their favorite places, Viewpoint Brewing Company. With a nod to the Wagners’ yacht, “Night Wind”, the party had a nautical theme. Al and Stevie Tarkington chauffeured Karl and Suzy to the party in their champagne 1960 Rolls Royce. The Wagners’ term was marked by substantial growth in membership, multiple Fridays devoted to beautifying the Del Mar village, and continuation of successful club projects at home and abroad.

Thank you to past-president Dugan Moore Lamoise for organizing the party, Philippe Lamoise for making sure all the speeches were easily heard, Val Myers for the fun table centerpieces (and personalized rum bottles), and Dee House for creating the nametags. We enjoyed speeches from Jim Davies, former member Bob Brewer, and District Governor Dan Gensler.

We recognized co-Rotarians of the year–one Past District Governor and one future District Governor–Marty Peters and Don Fipps. Linda Groom was named our Rookie of the Year. Congratulations to Suzy and Karl for steering the club to success and now that you’ve finished your term we know that you’ll likely be spending a bit more time sailing on Night Wind!

To download high-resolution versions of these and other pictures, click here. Also check out the story by Dee House and pictures in the Del Mar Times.

Big Surf and Fast Ducks: Chili & Quackers

Posted by Sharon Schendel

Ducks waiting to be picked up while Dano's Island Sounds (lower left) played. Troop 713 members (center) helped with all aspects of the event while

Patty Kurtz, Miles Fleming and Philippe Lamoise (lower right) staffed the duck/food/drink sales table

Viewpoint Brewing Company brought some beer and cooked Don Fipps' award-winning IPA chili that topped the chili dogs; Happy Twist Balloons by Keiko was back with a full menu of balloons; Beth Westburg (lower left) took a break from the "What's Rotary?" booth to visit with District 5340 District Governor Dan Gensler (center) as he waits for Garrie Rhodes (center right) to finish dressing her dog served up by Casey Robison (center right). Bob Fuchs (lower right, center) with Mary Savoy (lower right, left; Bob was Mary's sponsor) and her husband, Gene Helsell.

The Del Mar Lifeguards rescued Clay Sheffrey (bottom, center) and representatives of the Friends of Powerhouse Park sold tiles to raise funds to refurbish the the playground. Suzy Wagner (lower right) was ready to note the winners of the duck race and we had lots of help (lower left) corralling the ducks when they returned to shore.

Some future lifeguards check out the Zodiac rescue boat; balloon sword duels while Scouts collect ducks. Del Mar Lifeguards displayed rescue equipment, the purchase of which was supported in part by Rotary Club of Del Mar

Karin and Jim Davies spend some time with friends Pete and Jan Grossnickle outside the beer tent; the ducks get tossed in the surf (center left); Marty Peters and Karl Wagner were expert grill masters- Philippe Lamoise stopped by for a chili dog; Lots of beer and wine on offer.

Bob Muller and Dee House stop to say hi to Mary Alice Peters and Nelly (upper left); the moment of release (upper right)

The final Jenga match with Caroline Morin was riveting.

May Gray was in full force for our Chili & Quackers “friendraiser” on May 21, 2022, but the weather made for a good tide that brought the ducks back to shore within minutes of release. The ducks had been virtual for the past two years, so we were delighted to bring them back in person to Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. Returning to the beach were Dano’s Island Sounds with calypso music, the Del Mar Lifeguards who launched the ducks and demonstrated a rescue of a swimmer in distress who was expertly played this year by Clay Sheffrey. Marty Peters and Karl Wagner kept the supply of hots dogs ready to be topped with Don Fipps’ award-winning IPA chili, which was made by Viewpoint Brewing Company (they also supplied the beer). District Governor Dan Gensler and his wife, Chris, took time out of their busy schedule to stop by. Special thanks go to Troop 713 members and their parents, who all worked so hard before and after the event. Thanks as well to co-presidents Karl and Suzy Wagner for overseeing the planning, Brett Mattei for getting up early and securing the site, Beth Westburg for leading the “What’s Rotary” information tent, Philippe Lamoise for developing the online site that ensured smooth and secure duck adoption and food pre-purchase; Karin and Jim Davies for organizing the children's activities; Marty Peters, Karl Wagner, Dee House, Casey Robison, and Gregory House for running the food tent; Keith Ward and Jeff Matthews for tending bar; Miles Fleming and Patty Kurtz for handling on-site purchases; Val Myers for day-of oversight and organization; Linda Groom for sheltering the ducks post-race; Linda Saville for spearheading the event layout (and flagging gopher holes); Bill Rawlings for tent transport; Janice Kurth for getting tables and chairs (no small feat given the busy party season); Dugan Lamoise for organizing the Troop 713 volunteers; and Steven McDowell for event breakdown. Last, we thank all the sponsors, donors, and duck adopters!

Governor's Dinner - June 30th

Join all your Rotary friends from around the District for the year-end festivities celebrating the accomplishments of our outgoing District Governor Dan Genzler and ring in the new with the exchange of flags for incoming Governor Chuck Pretto. All new incoming club presidents will be sworn in during this event as well. Please let Suzy Wagner know if you're going to attend.

April Rotarian of the Month - Beth Westburg

Congratulations to Beth Westburg - April Rotarian of the Month

Thank you for all your contributions to the Rotary Club of Del Mar and especially for bringing all the wonderful speakers to our meetings!

Rotary District 5340 Model UN.

We’re Proud to help sponsor Rotary District 5340 Model UN. Thank you to all the students and advisors! Thanks as well to City of Del Mar for providing the venue and of course to our member Klaus Gubernator for organizing the event

Rotarian at Work Day, April 30

On April 30, Rotarian at Work Day, the Rotary Club of Del Mar got together to seal new tables and build new bookcases for Nativity Prep Academy. Nativity Prep is a private-independent, all-scholarship Catholic middle school and college-preparatory program for young men and women from low-income families who represent the first generation to graduate from college. Eleven years of support empowers our students to excel through high school, college, and beyond, becoming role models and leaders in their communities. It is an honor to support these incredible students and amazing organization

Annual Chili and Quackers Challenge Saturday, May 21

The Quack is Back! The Rotary Club of Del Mar Chili & Quackers challenge returns to Del Mar Powerhouse Park
Saturday May 21, 2022 from 12 PM to 4 PM.

Ducky Derby: Adopt one duck or multiple ducks to be released by Del Mar Lifeguards as part of a ducky flotilla. The adopters of the ducks that float ashore the fastest will win valuable prizes.

The event is free to attend- adopting ducks is completely optional. Also enjoy chili dogs, soft drinks, beer and wine, which will all be available for purchase. For the little duckies, we'll have games and balloon twisting. All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Del Mar charitable service projects, both at home and around the world.

For more information, click here

Workshop for Warriors

Posted by Sharon Schendel

Co-presidents Suzy and Karl Wagner present WFW CFO Rachel Luis y Prado with a donation.

Linda Groom, Marty Peters and Janice Kurth learn about WFW welding projects

Machining Instructor Randall Uerkvitz

Machining students take a break from class for our tour

Fiber laser cutter donated by Amada America

WFW welding shop

Near the General Dynamics NASSCO and BAE Systems shipbuilding and repair sites is a place of transformation: Workshops for Warriors (WFW). Around 200 students annually undertake intensive 4-month training programs in machining or welding at the WFW campus. After earning portable and stackable credentials, WFW students pursue manufacturing careers in their chosen skill. Around 95% of WFW students receive job offers and graduates work at a range of major manufacturers like Ford, General Dynamics, Boeing and SpaceX.

On April 14, 2022, Rotary Club of Del Mar members toured the WFW campus. We were led by Rachel Luis y Prado, WFW CFO and Chief Academic Officer, who is married to the WFW founder and CEO, Hernán Luis y Prado, and also by WFW Director of Operations, Keisha Javis-Jones, who is a Marine Corps veteran.

WFW began in Hernán’s garage in 2008 and the campus opened in 2011. A Navy veteran, Hernán realized the need for resources to help veterans transition from the military back into civilian life. The need is particularly urgent in San Diego County, which has one of the largest veteran populations in the United States. Of these veterans, around 10% are unemployed or live in poverty.

Students learn about WFW through word-of-mouth or collaborating partners like Camp Pendleton. Active-duty personnel nearing their End of Active Service Date are eligible to enroll. Accessibility is a key goal of WFW. Students who qualify receive scholarships and living assistance and the accelerated training program means that students can begin earning robust salaries rapidly.

In 2022, WFW will surpass 1,000 graduates who will help fill an emerging gap in the manufacturing sector: skilled machinists and welders are retiring and the demand for skilled workers to fill these positions is high. WFW is undertaking a capital campaign that will substantially expand the campus and allow more students to enroll.

Rotary Club of Del Mar is proud to donate $4,600 to help more WFW students earn skills and credentials they need and to ensure that veterans transition from the military to high-paying, in-demand jobs.

Recognition for Polio Contributions

Rotary is an international community that brings together leaders who step up to take on the world’s toughest challenges, locally and globally. The eradication of polio is one of our longest standing and most significant efforts. Along with our partners, we have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against polio in 122 countries. We have reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide and we won't stop until we end the disease for good.

At our March 24th meeting, former District 5340 Governor Steve Weitzen awarded the Rotary Club of Del Mar a Certificate of Recognition for exceeding our fundraising goal to end polio.

Thank you to all who contributed!