Tomorrow, Sunday April 7 Isabella McCormick will perform as one of the finalists in the District 5340 Instrumental Music Competition. The finals will be at 2 PM in the Schulman Auditorium in the Carlsbad Library. Email Garrie Rhodes for details.
May 21, 2019
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Del Mar Plaza
Activities Supported: Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito, Community Resource Center, End Polio Now, Interact Rotary Service Clubs at Torrey Pines, Sunset and Cathedral Catholic High Schools, Leadership, Ethics and Determination training for Youth, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp, Model UN, Nativity Preparatory Academy, San Diego Blood Bank, San Dieguito River Project, Support of medical training in Ethiopia; medical clinics and a school in India; communities in Uganda, Kenya and Chechnya, Boys Scouts and local sports teams, Armed Services YMCA & Veterans Stand Down, and College Scholarships for local high school graduates.
There will be grand tastings, wine, beer, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment.
Our Sponsors
Beyond Words Fine Art Photography 
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Patrick Steusloff takes a swing with a Clubhub-equipped golf club
Scott MacDonald holds up an iPad paired to the Clubhub that displays information about Patrick's swing
Patrick Steusloff points out bowtie-shaped path (purple) of his stride and center of balance (blue dot) on an iPad that communicates with sensors in his removable shoe insole inserts
Patrick Steusloff is a startup technologist and was a product developer for early biotech companies in San Diego. At Hybritech he developed automated immunoassays systems and was Vice President of Development for Pyxis that provides medication and supply management systems. After founding IntelliDot Corporation, now PatientSafe Solutions, which delivers real-time patient information to clinicians, he took a break and pursued his passion: golf. He studied to become a professional golfer, but at heart he remained a product developer.
One of the most important factors in a golf swing is balance that comes from properly timed weight transfer. Steusloff began thinking about ways that he could help golfers learn effective weight transfer, and he began with bathroom scales, wired together at oriented at 45˚ angles, to capture information about weight distribution between the golfer’s right and left heels and toes. These early efforts led him to found Kinetek Sports and develop Clubhub, a sensor that fits into the drain hole at the end of a golf club grip. Using the Clubhub paired with an app on a smart phone or tablet, golfers can get real-time feedback and analysis on every swing they make. They see how far and where their shots went (and get GPS information on distances to the hole) and a 3-D video of their swing path. All of these data can be shared with instructors to help improve swing mechanics.
While working with Kinetek, Steusloff had an office in Rancho Bernardo, where he would often see a physical therapist, who had a neighboring office, working with patients who were recovering from stroke or other brain injuries. Talking with the therapist, he realized that, as in golf, balance is a main issue for those learning to walk after a brain injury.
Thinking back to the bathroom scales, Steusloff considered potential devices that could give brain injury patients real time feedback about their gait. He designed a shoe insert that incorporates five sensors in the insole that are positioned under the heel, the “knuckles of the toes” and under the big toe. These inserts can be tailored to the patient’s foot and directly communicate with a smart phone or tablet to show him/her their center of balance and stride path. Through real-time feedback patients can immediately see whether their gait is on the right path, and together with a physical therapist they can develop strategies to improve their balance and gait. Most importantly, the device allows them to practice on their own, or with a caregiver, to ensure that they get the repetitions they need gain new muscle memory. This device is in its early development stages, but has already helped several patients with brain injury improve their mobility and return to daily activities.
Thank you to Philippe Lamoise for building the website portal through which Sunset Soiree tickets can be visited. Philippe gave a demo of the website. Click here (that’s https://www.delmarsunsetsoiree.org/) to purchase your tickets now- just follow the simple step-by-step instructions. Email Philippe if you have any problems.
President Don Fipps (right) presents Al Tarkington (left) with his latest Paul Harris Fellow pin
Congratulations to Al Tarkington for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow + 3! Contributions by Paul Harris Fellows are vital to support Rotary projects locally and around the world.
Kit Leeger was Rotarian of the Day and chose to feature National Vitamin C Day. She brought with her several examples of vitamin C-rich foods, including peppers, kiwis and lemons.
For our vocational series, Kit talked about her career as an architect. She explained that architects facilitate communications between those who have needs (e.g., clients, users, the public) and those who will make the spaces (e.g., builders and contractors) and also provide professional services that draw on their design and technical expertise to make a client’s desires into reality.
To become an architect, Kit had to refine her drawing skills while learning how to define and solve problems, and prioritize needs. An architecture degree requires 5 years of study, and to become an independent architect Kit undertook nearly 6,000 hours of interning and a licensing examination (hers was a 4 day test during which she had to design a building). She also must do continuing education to keep up to date with current trends.
Being an architect in Del Mar brings special challenges to comply with Del Mar’s emphasis on neighborliness. Designs are considered by the city’s Citizens’ Participation Program (CPP) that gives immediate neighbors a voice in proposed projects, and can also be submitted to the Design Review Board and the Planning Commission. Depending on the project, the California Coastal Commission can be involved, and sometimes voter approval is needed.
Kit then gave an update on the St. Peter’s project she’s leading. The new additions will provide an elevator, classrooms, a music room and ADA-compliant bathroom. The project is on track for completion within the next 18 months. Kit called back to the Object of Rotary, and in particular how architecture can contribute to advancement of understanding and good will.
Member Joel McLeod invited members to attend Uncorked for a Cause to be Friday April 12, 2019 at the CBRE offices (near Larsen’s Steakhouse). This fundraising event for the Boys & Girls Club San Dieguito is sponsored by their Junior Board. Bring some wine and maybe end up with more wine than you came with at this unique event. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.
We have two opportunities to serve at the upcoming Rotarians at Work Day on April 27. We’ll be helping with projects at the San Dieguito River Park (SDRP) and some light projects on the Nativity Prep Academy (NPA) campus. Email Community Services Chair Barrett Smith to volunteer for the SDRP project or email Marty Peters to help at NPA.
Matt Kurth with Margaux Stack-Babich of the Immunity Foundation
Did you know that some viruses can cause cancers and that there is an effective vaccine to prevent infections by these viruses and in turn the cancers they cause? The Immunotherapy Foundation (IF) has a three-pronged mission that seeks to: i) fund research to develop new immunotherapies for cancers that arise following infection with certain strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV); ii) raise awareness of the importance of vaccines (e.g., Gardasil 9) that prevent HPV infections and the cancers they cause; and iii) support patients diagnosed with HPV-driven cancers to find effective treatments and clinical trials.
Our speaker at the March 28, 2018 meeting, Margaux Stack-Babich, is a program manager for the IF. She told us that the IF was launched four years ago by Ralph and Fernanda Whitworth after Ralph was diagnosed with HPV-related cancer at the base of his throat. After treatment, Ralph was cancer-free for one year, but the cancer returned and unfortunately Ralph died from the cancer in 2016. Fernanda now serves as President of IF.
Traditional cancer therapies involve surgery, drugs or radiation. Many cancers cannot be treated surgically, while drugs and radiation often kill both healthy and cancer cells. Immunotherapies unleash the power of the immune system to selectively target cancer cells. These therapies can be tailored to a particular patient based on mutations present in the cancer, are systemic and long-lasting, have fewer side effects and are less susceptible to resistance.
Although the rate of cervical cancer has decreased in part due to enhanced surveillance and screening, studies indicated that other types of cancers associated with HPV, including oropharyngeal, vulvar, penile and anal cancer are increasing. Thus, immunotherapies for these cancers are urgently needed. IF provides seed funding for local researchers, including those at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, which has allowed them to gather preliminary data that are needed to secure larger grants from government agencies.
IF also stresses the importance of preventing HPV infections through vaccination. Both boys and girls should receive the vaccine, since males in particular often are unaware that they may have been infected with a cancer-causing HPV strain. Ideally, children should be vaccinated between ages 11 and 12 so that they have time to develop an immune response long before they become sexually active. Moreover, the immune response to the vaccine is stronger in the pre-teen years, meaning that vaccine-mediated protection is even more robust when delivered at younger ages. Thank you to Janice Kurth for suggesting the IF as a program topic.
Model United Nations Conference: April 6 and 7
Our club is sponsoring three two student teams for the 15th annual District 5340 Model United Nations Conference. The teams will be considering two resolutions, one concerning protection for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and citizens of Syria and the other emergency responses to the outbreak of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis following the tsunami in the Philippines. The event will be held April 6, 2019 at the Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. You can also register to attend the dinner on April 7, 2019. Email Klaus Gubernator for specific details about the event timeline.
District 5340 Music Competition Finals: April 7
The finals of the District 5340 Music Competition will be held Sunday April 7 at the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium in the City of Carlsbad library. Our representative, harpist Isabella McCormick, a freshman at Cathedral Catholic, will be competing as one of the finalists. Email Garrie Rhodes for details about the event.
Rotary at Petco Park: April 16
Join other Rotarians from around District 5340 on Tuesday April 16 at Petco Park to watch the Padres play the Colorado Rockies. Purchase tickets at a special price of $32 each by April 1 (that’s tomorrow!). Bonus, it’s Taco Tuesday that night!
Rotarians at Work Day: April 27
We have two opportunities to serve at the upcoming Rotarians at Work Day on April 27. We’ll be helping with projects at the San Dieguito River Park (SDRP) and some light projects on the Nativity Prep Academy (NPA) campus. Email Community Services Chair Barrett Smith to volunteer for the SDRP project or email Marty Peters to help at NPA.
Scott Carr welcomes Karin and Jim Davies and Don Fipps as new Paul Harris Society members
Some of our club's Paul Harris Society members and fellows
Past District Governor and current District Paul Harris Society (PHS) chair Scott Carr recognized three new members of the PHS: Karin and Jim Davies and Don Fipps. The PHS was launched 20 years ago right here in our own District 5340 during Marty Peter’s tenure as District Governor. Nearly 120 districts now have their own PHS. PHS members contribute at least $1,000 annually to the Annual Fund, Polio Plus or approved Global Grants as a one-time gift, quarterly gift, or monthly gift of $85. PHS members are critical to ensuring that Rotary International can continue to support projects in its six areas of focus. Consider joining Karin, Jim and Don by becoming a PHS member. Click here to get started.
New member Yasser Tahboub added to our flag collection by presenting President Don Fipps with a banner from his previous club in Bahrain, the Rotary Club of Sulmaniya. This banner joins one that Philippe Lamoise recently brought back from Rotary Club Pertuis Sud Luberon, where his home in Provence is located.
Real estate advisor Gary London spoke to our club at the March 21, 2101 meeting about the issues surrounding the real estate market in San Diego county. London has over 35 years of experience in the San Diego market, and from a personal side, his family was one of the first to move into Carmel Valley in the early 1980s (he’s also a Rotarian, calling Club 33 his home club). He has consulted on several large projects in the area, including the Del Mar Plaza and One Paseo in Carmel Valley.
London said that we are now in the longest post-recession recovery in modern times, although the recovery hasn’t been robust with an annual GDP growth of around 2%. His clients at London Moeder Advisors feel that the economy will likely shift in the near future, in part due to the Federal Reserve’s decision not to change the benchmark interest rate and record low capitalization rates with high risk and low rates of return.
Real estate is also affected by changing needs of society. In the commercial real estate sector, the square footage of office space per employee is falling and the retail sector is changing, as more consumers elect to make purchases online rather than in brick and mortar stores. From a demographic perspective, the Baby Boomer generation is reaching retirement while the Millennial generation, those born between 1981 and 1996, are dealing with student debt and entering the housing market later.
Unlike previous generations, the past is not prologue for the current real estate market. London’s firm conducted a survey of local employers that effectively asked: “What keeps you up at night?” The most common answer was their inability to find suitable employees. The housing market in San Diego is contributing to that concern: the median house price is $650,000 (compared to the nationwide average of $250,000) and San Diego is adding only around 10,000 housing units annually when the need is closer to 15,000-20,000 units. Moreover, the type of housing that is being built isn’t where the jobs are and is more likely to be apartments rather than single family homes for young families.
Overall, London said that politicians and residents alike need to take greater responsibility to promote adequate land use and intelligent growth of the San Diego community.
We'll repeat this scene on April 27, 2019!
Our Rotarian at Work Day at Nativity Prep Academy is moved to Saturday, April 27, 2019. March 30 proved to be a busy day across the District, so we’ll meet at this amazing school one month later to help them with some projects to update/beautify the campus. Email Marty Peters with any questions and to let him know that you’d like to attend.
Marty Peters gave a vocational presentation at the March 21, 2019 meeting as part of the series sponsored by our Vocational Committee. Marty said he stumbled into the financial services sector. After college, he worked for the west coast division of RCA, which paid for him to attend graduate school at USC. However, Marty encountered issues with the accounting style of that office and when he learned about opportunities for pension administration companies, he left with two friends to found his own company, which marked the start of his career as an independent financial advisor.
For Marty, the best part of his profession is a chance to listen (he already had expert speaking skills) and from listening to determine what his clients’ priorities are. Technology and laws inevitably affect the financial services sector and Marty stressed the need to keep current with regulations and to pursue continuing education. Therein represents a challenge of being in financial services- the need to stay abreast of developments to give clients every advantage in managing their wealth. In terms of ethical issues and how the 4-way test can apply, Marty goes a step beyond The Golden Rule to follow The Platinum Rule: treat others even better than he would want to be treated. Marty said that being an independent advisor who is not tied to any one company allows him to give his clients the broadest range of options. Marty would advise young people looking to enter this profession to find a good mentor, join relevant professional associations, and, most importantly, always work with happy people.
Rotarian of the Day John Baranowski kicked off the March 21, 2019 meeting by recognizing National Common Courtesy Day and the ways that we can make everyday a Common Courtesy day (e.g., greeting others warmly, saying “please” and “thank you”, holding the door, letting others go first, letting a car in front of you). He also pointed out someone who embodies Common Courtesy- someone who always greets others warmly, never leaves anyone out, is always there, rain or shine, and is always ready with a joke, of course that someone is Monty Woolley!
Fred Krakowiak takes questions about his experiences in Africa
A sampling of Fred's artwork
A grandfather’s lesson to color outside the lines and make boundaries invisible, in short, to be a maverick, made a lasting impression on Fred Krakowiak, our speaker at the March 14, 2019 meeting. Despite a long and successful career as a financial manager who oversaw investment portfolios worth over $100 million, Fred felt unfulfilled.
Fred pointed out the importance of recognizing and acting on triggers for life changes. His trigger came after the 9/11 attacks when a client sued him for not fulfilling his fiduciary duties. Although the suit was dismissed as frivolous (Fred’s investment decisions for this client in fact led to a portfolio performance that exceeded that of the S & P by 30%), during arbitration Fred recalled looking out the window toward the Camelback Mountain and thinking: “I’m going to sell my practice.”
This moment led to a career change that allowed him to pursue a passion for art and wildlife, particularly wildlife in Africa. During his talk, Fred used some of his wildlife photography to parallel some of the challenges that face people looking for change. He spoke of the need to manage stress and the importance of recognizing that not all stress is negative, but that some responses to stress are.
While tracking a lion pride in Africa, Fred and his guide disagreed about which way to go. The guide pointed out to Fred that he had missed an important clue- the call of a baboon alerting others to the presence of lions. This situation illustrated to Fred the need to trust his senses, and, more importantly, how dulled senses can become during the course of everyday life. Now, when he prepares clients to go on walking safari, he encourages them to visit the grocery store produce section, close their eyes, and notice the smells- not just the sights. His travels to Africa and close encounters with animals also taught Fred to see how the behavior and posture of wildlife could convey life-saving cues.
Africa taught Fred the value of good guides, and that anyone making significant life changes needs a trusted guide as well as a detailed map that outlines the path to the desired change. Such changes are never easy and are often accompanied by anxiety, but Fred said that often life lies on the other side of anxiety.
Ryan Riell with his dad Les, mom Pam (center left) and wife Kristi (right)
Congratulations to Ryan Riell on receiving his Blue Badge at the March 14, 2019 meeting. Ryan is a Rotary legacy- his dad, Les, is a member of the Rotary Club of Mesa, Arizona and was also Ryan's sponsor. His mom Pam and wife Kristi were also on hand to see Ryan's badge turn blue.
Kurt Vonnegut wrote in “Breakfast of Champions”: “We had tortured circles until they coughed up this symbol of their secret lives: π.” This year Thursday fell on March 14, 3/14, giving Rotarian of the Day Matt Kurth, the opportunity to share some fun facts about π. Besides expressing the ratio of circumference to diameter of circles, π is an infinitely long, irrational number- we can express π to more than 20 trillion digits. Despite being irrational, Matt explained that π is thought to be “normal” meaning that the digits 0-9 appear with equal frequency and that you can find any number sequence (e.g., your birthday, social security number) with the π sequence. Click here to find where your favorite number sequence falls.
Richard Lederer spoke about his latest book: "The Joy of Names"...
... and demonstrated how "Wow" is both a written and verbal palindrome
We were delighted to have the original verbivore, Richard Lederer, as our featured speaker for the February 28, 2019 meeting. Richard has authored over 50 books and his talk focused on his latest offering- The Joy of Names. But first, Richard stopped to reflect on the word “Wow”, which he heard President Don Fipps say a few times. Richard pointed out that not only is “Wow” a palindrome, both written and spoken, but it’s an ambigram- a word that retains meaning even when viewed from varying perspectives.
But back to names- Richard noted that names give us our identity. Infants as young as 5 months old respond to their name, and Dale Carniegie said that to any individual their names is the “sweetest sound… in any language”. Humans are namers by nature, and names have evolved over the past century. For first names, John and Mary long held the top spot as most popular names, and while John holds on at 27th most popular, Mary has sunk to 126 (check out your own name’s popularity over the years at the Social Security website). Now parents frequently name their children so that their name makes them stand out, rather than fit in.
Last names took on increasing importance as villages. Last names often reflected geographical location (e.g., Woods), qualities (e.g., Stout), physical characteristics (Reed meant redhead), or occupation (e.g., Smith, Hooper, Chandler). Names can also be patronymic (e.g., Johnson, son of John).
Richard ended with a bit on nicknames, particularly how Richard, William, Robert, and Sara come to be called Dick, Bill, Bob, and Sadie. Some scholars believe that these nicknames, which all contain hard consonants, may simply have been easier and faster to pronounce.
Friday Project Fair chaired by Philippe Lamoise (thank you to Rotary Club Santee-Lakeside president Elana Levens-Craig for the photo)
Rotarians from around District 5340 gathered this weekend at the Catamaran Resort for the annual District Conference. Attendees learned about District programs (many of them youth-centered), including LEAD, RYLA, Model UN and MusiCamp. Our own Philippe Lamoise chaired the Project Fair on Friday March 1, 2019, which featured many projects in our sister district, District 4100, that are need of partner clubs. On Saturday March 2, 2019 the morning session included presentations on community service projects, many of which yield a high return at low or no cost, such as Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo’s Rotarians at Work Day project that relieved residents of tons of trash at no cost, and the Rotary Club of Santee-Lakeside’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive that ensured that food collected by U.S. Postal Service workers stayed in the community. The afternoon session highlighted the many international projects that district clubs support that address Rotary’s six Areas of Focus. Rotary Club of Del Mar had one of the highest per capita attendance rates in the district!
Phillippe Lamoise and Dugan Moore with Dorcas and Tusu Tusubira
At the February 28, 2019 meeting we welcomed Karim Pirani, founder of iBBQ (Interactive Barbecue), which markets tables that incorporate a barbecue that forms the center of social grilling parties; Melanie Capunay and Nichole Merzi from 22nd District of the Agricultural Association who manage events and exhibits at the Del Mar Fairgrounds; Adrienne Hurt from Lakeland Rotary in Minocqua is continuing to avoid the harsh Midwest winters; Clive Gill, who will speak to the club in early summer, stopped by to hear Richard Lederer; Tusu Tusubira and Dorcas Tusubira from Rotary Club of Kampala North and Rotary Club of Kamapla-Sunrise in Uganda were in town for the District 5340 Conference- Tusu is attending the conference on behalf of Rotary International President Barry Rassin. He was also a District Governor in Rotary Year 2006-2007 with Philippe Lamoise.
Garrie Rhodes was our Rotarian of the Month for February. We recognized her hard work to make the music competition such a success, and also for securing the featured speaker for the February 28, 2019 meeting, Richard Lederer.
Music competition organizer Garrie Rhodes (center) with judges Ed Siegel (second from left) and Jake Jamieson (far right) with contestants Devin Oswald (far left) Isabella McCormick (center left) and William Bonitz Newman (center right)
The first round of the District 5340 Music Competition was the program for the February 21, 2019 meeting. Our thanks to Garrie Rhodes for again organizing our competition, which featured three very talented young musicians. The contest is open to high school aged students in the region and the entrants are evaluated on the difficulty of the piece, their command of their instrument, interpretation and stage presence. Our own Ed Siegel and Jake Jamieson, who has a BA and MA in Ethnomusicology from UCLA (both have also performed at the Hollywood Bowl), served as judges.
Devin Oswald, a freshman at Cathedral Catholic High School, started the competition by playing a movement from Haydn’s Concerto G Major for violin. La Jolla Country Day senior William Bonitz Newman returned for the second year and played the 1st Concertino for alto saxophone by Georges Guilhaud. Isabella McCormick, a freshman at Cathedral Catholic High School finished the competition with Impromptu for harp by Reinhold Glère. Isabella’s performance was judged the winner and we awarded a $300 prize. She will move on to the Regional Contest in March to compete for a spot in the final round to be held in April.
Isabella said that she started playing the harp when she was six years old, and began working on her winning piece just last month.
We thank all the contestants for taking the time to play for us (and also their parents, Devin Oswald, Gisele Bonitz, and Patty and Kevin McCormick for joining us) and wish Isabella all success in the next round of the competition.
Visit our Facebook page to see (and like!) video clips of the performances.
Matt Clark from the Padres organization
Sergio Del Prado (Sergio del Prado, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships) and Matt Clark (Director of Group Tickets & Hospitality) joined our February 7, 2019 meeting to talk about the upcoming Padres season and events at Petco Park. Although the Padre’s 2018 season was lackluster (40% win rate), the concerts, including the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Def Leppard and Journey, held at Petco Park set attendance records, the sixth installment of Pedal the Cause raised nearly $3 million to benefit cancer research conducted in the San Diego area, and Trevor Hoffman was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Petco Park continues to be one of the top-ranked ball parks in Major League Baseball, but despite this success the Padres organization is still working to improve the facilities. The Premier Club is undergoing a significant refresh and the updated version will be ready for the 2019 season. The Park at the Park will be updated to provide a better experience for fans attending concerts and many fans will be looking forward to the Paul McCartney concert on June 22.
On the baseball side, 2019 is the Padres’ 50th anniversary. The outlook for the upcoming season is good, particularly given that the team has 10 of the top 100 prospects and one of the best farm teams in all of major league baseball. Young players to watch include Fernando Tatis, Jr., MacKenzie Gore, and Luis Urias. Our District 5340 will continue to host baseball nights, so 2019 looks to be a great year to watch some baseball downtown.
Donna Fipps with CCI puppy in training, Ressa
Ressa in June, 2017
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) puppy Ressa, came to Donna Fipps nearly two years ago. At the February 7, 2019, we bid farewell to Ressa as she moves on to undergo intensive training at the CCI Southwest Training Center in Oceanside. Ressa was in frequent attendance at our meetings and events, and never failed to wag her tail whenever someone greeted her. We wish Ressa every success going forward!
The Rotary Club of Del Mar is a registered 501c4 non-profit organization.
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