San Diego Rotary

Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director-SANDAG
2019-06-20 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
After an extensive national search and recruitment effort, the SANDAG Board of Directors announced in September 2018 that Hasan Ikhrata, a widely lauded transportation and planning expert, had been selected as their new Executive Director. Ikhrata was previously the Executive Director of SCAG, the Southern California Association of Governments (Los Angeles), for more than a decade, and began his new position with SANDAG on Monday, December 3, 2018.
Ikhrata worked for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the South Coast Air Quality Management District before first jointing SCAG in 1994. Born in Jordan, he has a master’s degree in civil engineering from UCLA.
“This region deserves a great vision to have a state-of-the-art, unmatched transportation system that the rest of the world will say ‘Look what San Diego did,’” Ikhrata said following the announcement of his new position.
A San Diego Grand Central Station? Ikhrata will be talking about his vision for the San Diego Airport and improving transit there.

Annual President's Roast
2019-06-27 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Come and enjoy President Suzy’s send-off by our Past Presidents and the Roast Committee!

DARK- No Meeting
2019-07-04

Annual Change of Command
2019-07-11 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
We will welcome 2019-20 President, David Oates, the club’s 110th president.
Please join us as our newest leader shares his vision for this exciting new Rotary year.

Ferry Zandvliet-Paris Terrorist Attack Survivor
2019-07-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
On Friday, November 13, 2015, Ferry attended a concert by the “The Eagles of Death Metal” at Le Bataclan Theatre in Paris. A terrorist attack during the concert took the lives of 89 fellow attendees and left 300 wounded. The emotional scars are felt by everyone who was there, including Ferry. It was a night that changed his life.
Chronic insomnia, hyper-alertness, anxiety and serious PTSS problems grew to dominate his life. He noticed that while his immediate environment became harder and angrier, he personally felt the opposite. The social hardening around him forced him to speak up; Ferry refused to be angry with the perpetrators, nor did Ferry let fear overtake him.
A week later, Ferry again attended a concert, and later formed a friendship with the father of one of the Bataclan terrorists.
Ferry will share his story of that night, the aftermath, and what he learned about himself and others.

SDYS's International Youth Symphony
2019-07-25 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Entering its 15th year, the annual International Youth Symphony is a partnership program between the San Diego Youth Symphony and Rotary District 5340 International Youth Exchange. It brings musicians from across the globe together with SDYS’ most advanced musicians for a two-week intensive music experience.
This summer, twenty-four international musicians representing ten countries will join SDYS students to create a unique orchestra, comprised of exceptionally talented student musicians led by SDYS Music Director Jeff Edmons for two weeks of rehearsals and a variety of recitals and concerts in the community.
This will be the group’s fifth year performing for us. Forty-two talented students from all over the world will be joining us…do not miss it!

Dr. Peter Hanson-Stem Cell Research
2019-08-01 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Dr. Peter Hanson came home to La Mesa and joined Grossmont Orthopedic Medical Group in August of 1992 and has enjoyed all aspects of his orthopedic practice, which includes sports medicine, arthroscopy, shoulder reconstruction and lower extremity total joint replacement including introducing the anterior hip approach to East County. He has been Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, and for over 12 years has served as the Medical Director of Orthopedic Surgery at Grossmont Hospital, a position that involves orchestrating the Total Joint Replacement program for the hospital. At Grossmont Hospital, he has served as Chief of Staff, as well as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Hanson has always been involved in clinical research, but became much more so the last 6 years. He was President of the San Diego Stem Cell Center, and is Medical Director of BioSolutions Clinical Research Center. With San Diego as a hub of Biotechnology, he has developed relationships with local, national, and international companies and done FDA clinical trials for multiple regenerative medicine trials, primarily for arthritis of the hip and knee.
His presentation will talk about recent changes in FDA regulations in clinical use of stem cell therapies and recent biotech clinical research opportunities being pursued here in San Diego.

Bob Brewer-United States Attorney for the Southern District of California
2019-08-08 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Robert S. Brewer, Jr., a decorated Vietnam War veteran, former prosecutor and prominent San Diego litigator for decades, was sworn in on January 16, 2019, as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of California by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz.
As the United States Attorney, Bob is the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the busiest judicial districts in the nation.
President Trump nominated Bob to serve as U.S. Attorney for this district on June 25, 2018, upon the recommendation of U.S. Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein. The full Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment on January 2, 2019.
Bob will talk about the San Diego U.S. Attorney’s office since he took over in January. He will briefly discuss the 2 year process of getting appointed and gaining Senate confirmation. Bob will then cover the organization, challenges, priorities, and accomplishments of the office.

Marlee Ehrenfeld-City of San Diego 250th Anniversary
2019-08-15 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Celebrating Where San Diego and California Began
This is an important year for the City of San Diego. On April 11, 1769 the first seaborne contingent of a Spanish settlement arrived at a quiet harbor in San Diego aboard the ship San Antonio. Just a scant three months later, these Spanish soldiers and missionaries, led by a Franciscan priest named Junipero Serra, gathered amid oaks and coastal sage scrub to dedicate the founding of Mission San Diego de Alcala. The two events set into motion the first of 21 missions extending northward and the evolution of that calm harbor into a working Port. San Diego is believed to be the first permanent settlement in what is now California.
Learn how this community-driven anniversary effort has resulted in a collaboration that includes civic leaders, organizations, community volunteers and Kumeyaay representatives. Thousands of residents and tourists have attended a series of events to reflect on our city’s history and leave a legacy for the future. Please join us in celebrating San Diego’s 250th anniversary with a dynamic presentation that includes a short documentary of how the past 250 years have shaped our region. And learn about the events and celebrations yet to come as we honor San Diego’s colorful past and bright future.

Brian Steffy-Illumina Solutions Center
2019-08-22 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Brian Steffy has worked in biotechnology for the last 21 years. He is currently an Associate Director of the Illumina Solutions Center, and has been with Illumina for the last 9 years. His responsibilities at Illumina include designing labs for Next Generation Sequencing, leading a team of scientists who provide their clients with customized solutions as well as educating new clients on the benefits of their technology.
Along with his colleagues at Illumina, Brian has developed a successful program in which high-school science teachers can bring genomics to their classrooms and perform an actual experiment on their campus.
Brian will talk about the history of Illumina and the past, present and future of genetics.

District Governor Marta Knight and Annual Committee Showcase
2019-08-29 11:15 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
A perennial program, this is your chance to learn about how our club spends more than 100,000 volunteer hours annually in the service of others. Nearly every international, youth, community and vocational committee will be showcasing their projects and members.
Come early! The Showcase begins at 11:15 am with Marta Knight, 2019-20 Rotary District 5340 Governor, headlining as our program speaker.
Marta will be sharing her “Rotary AHA Moment” and family history. She will also be sharing Rotary President Mark Maloney ‘s goals as well as our District goals for the coming 2019-2020 Rotary year.

Supervisor Nathan Fletcher
2019-09-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
District 4 Supervisor Nathan Fletcher is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran, former member of the California Assembly, and a Professor at the University of California, San Diego.
Supervisor Fletcher’s priorities are focused on improving the quality of life for people who live and work in San Diego County. He is working to improve mental health services; protect the environment and tackle climate change; address housing affordability and improve the services for our homeless population; protect the rights of underrepresented and immigrant communities; and improve transit accessibility for people across San Diego County.
He currently serves on a variety of boards and commissions including the Executive Board for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, The Polinsky Children’s Center, the San Diego Association of Governments’ (SANDAG) Transportation Committee, and the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
Supervisor Fletcher will be giving us an update on the County’s policies and priorities.

Gabor George Burt
2019-09-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Gabor George Burt is the global authority on re-imagining boundaries and author of the book Slingshot.
A mastermind of innovation, creativity and strategy, Burt enables individuals and organizations to overstep perceived limitations and to carve out successful growth strategies. His Slingshot Framework is at the forefront of global innovation.
As the foundation for Slingshot, Burt was a leading expert of Blue Ocean Strategy, the new millennium’s most influential business strategy approach. He contributed case study material to the worldwide bestselling book of the same name, and originated the most popular blog on the topic.
Burt is actively involved in shaping strategy for a diverse group of international clients ranging from top multinationals & governments to start-ups & NGOs, and leads by example through his own initiatives.
He is named on a list of Top Visionaries, among numerous prominent appearances he gave the opening presentation at the World Marketing Forum, and was the architect and host of the Forum for Partnership in the Americas – a gathering of business and government leaders.
Rotary presentation: Re-Imagine the Boundaries of Your Business
In today’s border-less business environment, you are either actively shaping the future of your market space, or you are left in the wake of others who are. Gabor reveals how you can be among the future-shapers. He will present the simple yet highly effective concepts of the Slingshot Framework – built on Blue Ocean Strategy – enabling you to redraw market boundaries for strong growth, ongoing relevance and sustained customer attachment.

Annual Mr./Ms./Mrs. San Diego Program
2019-09-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
The Mr./Ms./Mrs. San Diego award has been in existence since 1952. For over 65 years, the San Diego Rotary Club has been in charge of selecting an individual (or individuals) each year that has contributed outstanding community betterment to our city in various ways. Past recipients include Father Joe Carroll, Steve Cushman, Tom Hom, Betty Peabody, Leon Williams, the late Lucy Killea and Patti Roscoe.
Club 33 members, please join us on September 19 to celebrate and honor the contributions and achievements of this year’s honoree, Michael W. Brunker.

SDSU Football Coach Rocky Long
2019-09-26 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Coach Rocky Long was named the 18th head coach in Aztec football history in January 2011 and became the first San Diego State head coach to lead the team to a bowl game in his debut campaign. Long has amassed the most victories of any Mountain West head coach since the league’s inception in 1999.
Under Long’s direction in 2017, the Aztecs became the first team in NCAA FBS history to register consecutive 2,000-yard rushing seasons by different players (Donnel Pumphrey in 2016, Rashaad Penny in 2017) and just the second with a pair of 2,000-yard rushers (also Texas).
In 2016, Long guided the MW-champion SDSU to its fourth 11-win campaign in program history, accomplished consecutively for the first time in program history. SDSU won its second-straight bowl game for the first time in the Division I era. Long’s three bowl game victories are the most in SDSU’s Division I era.
Long was the Mountain West Coach of the Year for the third time in 2015.
Since his arrival on The Mesa, a total of 17 Aztecs have been chosen in the NFL Draft, including three in 2017, which tied for the most by a Group of 5 school and the most for SDSU since 2013. San Diego State had at least one player selected in each NFL Draft from 2011-15.
Coach Long will be speaking about the topic of the current state of Aztec Football and their leadership.

Meeting Canceled
2019-10-03 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Due to a fire in the kitchen where our meals are prepared, the meeting is canceled. We will resume our lunch program schedule next Thursday.

JoAnne Simerson-Polar Bears: Our History and Their Future
2019-10-10 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
This talk will share what makes a polar bear a polar bear, the relationship of people and polar bears, and the impact of climate change on both of us. The hope will be to inspire you to understand the simple changes we need to make to assure a future for all.
JoAnne Simerson spent 37 years working in zoos and aquariums caring for, training, and setting up behavior management programs for many species. As she progressed in her profession she was drawn more and more to bears, and specifically polar bears. They impressed her with not only their intelligence, but the creative approach they used in life.
JoAnne has spent 18 falls in Churchill Manitoba during polar migration time, many summers in the Arctic pack ice above Norway, and several springs in Canada at polar bear dens observing moms and cubs emerge. She has worked with Polar Bears International for 18 years as a volunteer for many of their conservation outreach programs and held positions on their Polar Bear Sustainability Alliance and Polar Bear Wellbeing Program. Now retired, JoAnne travels regularly to the Arctic, Alaska, and Africa as a wildlife photographer.

Scott Brunner-FBI Special Agent San Diego Field Office
2019-10-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
In May 2019, the FBI announced the appointment of 24-year agency veteran Scott Brunner as special agent in charge of the bureau’s San Digeo Field Office.
Brunner started his FBI career as a special agent in 1995. He was first assigned to the Portland Field Office in Oregon, where he primarily investigated violent and organized crime. He later transferred to the Oklahoma City Field Office, focusing on public corruption. He also served as a pilot and SWAT team operator in both offices.
In 2003, Brunner was promoted to the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he program-managed the joint FBI/Hungarian Organized Crime Task Force. He transferred to the San Diego Field Office in 2005, where he supervised a strike force that tackled major Mexican drug traffickers.
Brunner was selected to lead the FBI’s Safe Streets and Gang Unit at FBI Headquarters in 2009, overseeing the FBI’s anti-gang programs. Two years later, he was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of criminal and administrative programs at the Louisville Field Office in Kentucky. He later led Louisville’s national security and intelligence programs.
Between 2014 and 2016, Brunner served as the legal attaché in Bogota, Colombia, before he was named as the chief of the surveillance and aviation section of the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG). He was promoted to deputy assistant director of CIRG in 2018, where his responsibilities included managing the FBI’s surveillance, aviation, unmanned systems and counter unmanned systems programs, behavioral analysis, and the 24/7 command center.

Denise Mueller-Korenek-Breaking Boundaries
2019-10-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Learn from this world record holder how, at the age of 45, she broke the land speed bicycling record by pedaling more than 183 miles per hour. She’ll discuss her experiences — both the triumphs and setbacks — and show us how to apply those lessons to our lives. This inspiring program will be one not to miss!
Denise Mueller-Korenek is an American cyclist. She holds the world record for paced bicycle land speed and is considered “the fastest cyclist on earth”. She set the record on September 16, 2018, at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, by traveling an average of 183.932 mph on a custom-built carbon KHS bicycle behind a custom-built vehicle to minimize air resistance. The previous record, 167 miles per hour, was set in 1995 by Dutchman Fred Rompelberg. Two years earlier, Denise set the women’s bicycle land speed record, pedaling 147.7 mph. Denise is the first and only woman in history to hold the world record, which was first established in 1899.

State of the Spirits Market
2019-10-31 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Guest speakers: Geoff Longenecker, Founder of Seven Caves Distillery and current President of the San Diego Distillers Guild and Bill Rogers, owner of Liberty Call Distilling Co.
Geoff and Bill will tell us how they got into the spirits business and provide an overview of San Diego’s distilling history. They will also talk about the challenges and opportunities for local distillers. With the San Diego Distiller’s Guild Festival coming up on November 16, Geoff and Bill will share some tips for newcomers to craft spirits and what the best way to enjoy the festival.

Annual Salute to Military
2019-11-07 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
True Americans!
Many of them didn’t ask to leave their homes to fight on distant battlefields. Many didn’t even volunteer. They didn’t go to war because
they loved fighting and they didn’t take extended vacations to far off lands out of enjoyment. Most importantly they didn’t separate themselves from their loved ones because distant makes the heart grow fonder. These were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways during extreme times throughout our nation’s history. These were the men and women of our Armed Services, Veterans. We must continue to recognize their achievements, commitment, and continuous support for the future generations but most importantly we must “KEEP THE FAITH”.
Our guest speaker will be Sergeant Major Ray McGinnis of the Wounded Warrior Battalion-West (Camp Pendleton).
The United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment provides and enables assistance to wounded, ill and injured Marines, sailors attached to or in support of Marine units, and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. Their primary focus: rehabilitating the mind, body and spirit.

USCG Captain Timothy Barelli
2019-11-14 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Capt. Timothy J. Barelli, the new Sector San Diego commander, arrived from Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he served as the deputy director of emerging policy. He was responsible for developing service-wide strategy and advising the commandant and senior leaders on major issues. Of particular note, he crafted the Coast Guard’s Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 and the Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook – the Service’s 10-year strategy to promote $4.6 trillion in annual maritime commerce and protect and modernize the nation’s critical maritime infrastructure.
Barelli’s previous assignments include executive officer at Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, aeronautical engineer officer at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Georgia, and the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida.
CAPT Barelli will provide a snapshot of operations Coast Guardsmen and women at Sector San Diego conduct locally and around the world. He will talk about the scope of Coast Guard missions and responsibilities and specifically what our engagement is in the San Diego community. In 2019, Sector San Diego has conducted roughly 650 cases ranging from search and rescue, to maritime law enforcement, to vessel safety and pollution response.

Don Buchheit-Human Trafficking Prevention
2019-11-21 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Spotting human trafficking before it starts. Training both students and educators on how to identify a young person targeted for recruitment into this dark world remains a critical front line in the battle against human trafficking.
We will hear from Don Buchheit, Regional Director of the San Diego Trafficking Prevention Collective, about how organizations from across the county are banding together to increase the awareness of the tactics employed by traffickers and ways to counter it.

DARK - No Meeting
2019-11-28, 2019-12-26, 2020-01-02

Bid Big! Auction
2019-12-05 11:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Arrive early! Our annual auction begins at 11:00am. Great auction items including trips, hotel stays, theatre and sporting tickets, family orientated packages, excellent wine and so much more! And remember, your support for this year’s auction will directly impact those who need us in the community. So come and enjoy a glass of champagne and Bid Big!

Garry Bonelli-Chairman, Board of Port Commissioners
2019-12-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Garry Bonelli was sworn in on January 16, 2019, as the new board chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners for the San Diego Unified Port District.
Garry’s mantra for the Port of San Diego is clearly defined: “In order to have a world-class port we must: think globally, plan regionally, and act locally, focusing on what’s best for the bay overall.”
His goals include completing the Port Master Plan, so that it can go before the State Coastal Commission, and working hand-in-hand with Chula Vista on that city’s Bayfront Park Project, which covers 535 acres, and includes a Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center, restaurants, marinas, retail space, an RV park, and more. He notes that fully half of the acreage will be dedicated to open space. He also plans to continue to be a champion for clean bay water.
Renaissance on the Bay
With his presentation, Garry will take us on a virtual tour around San Diego Bay and all of the Port of San Diego projects going on within the Port’s five member cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego. We will hear about the progress being made on the 535-acre Chula Vista Bayfront project, the Brigantine’s Portside Pier project on the North Embarcadero, Seaport San Diego and others.

Annual Holiday Program
2019-12-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States

Annual State of the Investment Market
2020-01-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, San Diego, CA, 92106, United States
Kick off the New Year with one of our most popular programs. Advisors Linda Stirling and Don Bauder (via Skype) will discuss, and may even debate, how stocks, bonds and other investment assets will fare over the next 12 months.
For information about our Prospective Member Reception being held on this day at 11:30am – click here.
