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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.

Switchfoot Bro-Am

Del Mar Rotarians were on hand to volunteer at the 15^th annual Switchfoot Bro-Am beach fest- an event attended by over 15,000 people who come to Del Mar to enjoy a day of surf, food, and live music. Switch Food Bro-Am raises funds to support several local organizations, including: A Step Beyond, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Feeding San Diego, Rob Machado Foundation, Stand Up for Kids, VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

Demotion Party

Don dons the Rotary chapeau. Click here to see all pictures from the evening.

On June 22, 2019 we gathered on Solana Circle to say thank you to outgoing president Don Fipps for a job well done. Oktoberfest was the theme and Flavor Chef had plenty of German-themed food on offer. We presented Don with his very own Oktoberfest kit. The year-end raffle was particularly exciting- Karl Wagner sold his envelope to Matt Kurth, who then sold it to Chandra Collure. Chandra came out the winner of those transactions, for he held the envelope containing the grand prize- $800 cash. Special thanks Dee House for organizing the party and Brett Mattei for arranging the venue. View and download photos at the Google Photo Album, or on the club website.

Passing the Presidency

Brett Mattei awaits induction with other presidents of clubs within District 5340

Don Fipps dons shades for National Sunglasses Day- and his last day as RCDM president

Congratulations to Don Fipps for a packed presidency. Don’s major initiative as President was updating our club logo and branding- we’ve all been enjoying the results of his efforts. The Club was recognized by District 5340 with a Rotary Citation with Silver Presidential Distinction. Citations are award to clubs that achieve their goals for membership, Rotary Foundation Giving, Service and Public Image. At the June 27, 2019 meeting, we reflected on all the past year’s projects performed by our Lines of Service Committees.

Brett Mattei was inducted as our new president at the Governor’s Dinner on June 27, 2019. We look forward to impact that Brett will make in his presidential year.

Del Mar Community Connections Connects with SDG&E Energy Efficiency Program

At our June 27, 2019 meeting we welcomed Sally Schifman, Program Manager and Andrew Beecher, Associate Environmental Planner, both with Rincon Consultants, which is partnering with the Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) program to help local seniors use the SDG&E Energy Efficiency Rebate and Incentive Programs to maximize their energy efficiency and save some money. DMCC will help seniors take advantage of: i) Instant in-store rebates on efficient appliances; ii) Energy savings assistance program (ESAP) that helps renters and homeowners audit their energy use; iii) the Advanced Home Upgrade Program to defray costs of installing energy efficient upgrades; iv) AC Quality Care program to inspect air conditioning units; v) AC Saver, which allows SDG&E to turn off or reduce AC run time; vi) Solar Rebates and Incentives Programs; and vii) Residential lighting program that offers discounted energy-efficient LED lamps. If you know a Del Mar senior who could benefit from these programs, or would like a free in-home energy audit, please have them call 858.730.6131.

Club Banner Displays

Thank you to Donna Fipps for gathering many of the banner’s we’ve received from other clubs over the past year and arranging them on composite banners, which were on display at the June 23, 2019 meeting.

Rookie of the Year: Ryan Riell

Congratulations to our Rookie of the Year for Rotary Year 2018-2019: Ryan Riell. Ryan is carrying on the family tradition- his dad, Les, is a member of the Rotary Club of Mesa, Arizona and was also Ryan's sponsor. Ryan, a realtor and buyer specialist with the Wannebo Real Estate group, is a member of the Youth Services Committee and the Vocational Committee, and has been working to update our social media presence to highlight the club’s activities and recruit new members.

Libraries Are Our Future

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 17, 2019

Polly Cipparrone, Branch Manager of the Del Mar Library

Polly Cipparrone, Branch Manager of the Del Mar Library, spoke at the June 13, 2019 meeting about how libraries form part of our future. The Del Mar library was established in 1915 and is one of 33 branches in the San Diego Country library system, which has an annual budget of 46 million dollars and and 300 employees. The library system is supported in part through property taxes.

The library can be thought of as a “third place”. Home and work and first and second places, respectively, where we spend most of our lives, but a “third place” is a site for personal time. Libraries are also conveners and connectors that work to bring the community together, not just in a physical place, but also by providing information about local events and resources.

Given its broad reach within the community, the Del Mar library hosts informational sessions delivered by experts on Medicare from Health and Human Services, retirement benefits from Social Security Administration, and parenting classes from Rady Children’s Hospital.

The Del Mar library is updating its technology offerings. Their bandwidth and internet speed is expanding to provide faster access to information and services such as teleconferencing and webcasts. San Diego County residents can sign up online to get a digital library card to access over 60,000 e-book titles using the Libby app or read magazines online. The library itself still receives many print editions, including The Financial Times, Investor’s Business Daily and the San Diego Business Journal. Stop by the library to learn about all the resources they have!

Rotarian of the Year: Karin Davies

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 17, 2019

Congratulations to Karin Davies, who is our Rotarian of the Year for 2018-2019. Karin’s Global Grants to decrease the neonatal mortality rate in Ethiopia embody the Guiding Principles of Rotary and show what Rotary can do to improve the lives of others. Her work was featured in a recent issue of “The Rotarian” magazine. Karin will use her experience to chair the International Services committee in the coming Rotary Year.

Increasing the Stability of the Del Mar Bluffs

Don Fipps with Allie DeVaux, SANDAG project manager (left) and Tricia McColl (center) chief design engineer for HTNB

The Del Mar Bluffs are buffeted daily by a variety of pressures, including storm surges, waves, wind, erosion, and surface and subsurface runoff. Preserving the bluffs between the Torrey Pines Bridge and Coast Boulevard has been a long-standing effort that involves multiple government agencies, with leadership by San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and North County Transit District (NCTD). Tricia McColl, chief design engineer for the infrastructure firm HTNB and Allie DeVaux, project manager for SANDAG, joined our meeting to provide an update on the stabilization work.

After a 2000 survey that assessed multiple factors such as bluff stability, geological makeup, stability and potential for earthquake, the agencies prioritized the areas that were most vulnerable. In the ensuing 19 years, drainage improvements and stabilization of two areas were undertaken, and currently stabilization of Del Mar Bluffs 4 is underway. Seismic and drainage improvements are planned for a region around Sherrie Lane and slope stabilization to slow retreat will also be done in an area south of 4^th street.

As the bluffs inevitably retreat and sea levels rise, additional stabilization measures will include replacement of old drainage structures, repair of existing sea walls and construction of more stabilization piles will be needed. In the very long term, the possibility of tunnels in several routes is being explored, although the costs for that type of project will run well into the billions.

Ella Chambers Awarded Rotary Club of Del Mar Scholarship

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 10, 2019

Don Fipps and Scholarship Committee members Bill Dougherty and Kathy Reed congratulate scholarship recipient Ella Chambers

We are proud to award one of our annual scholarships to Ella Chambers, a senior at Torrey Pines High School. Ella maintains a 4.35 GPA and scored 34/36 on the ACT. After volunteering for two years at the North County Immigration and Citizenship Center in Solana Beach, where she capitalized on her fluency in Spanish, Ella now has a paid position there as coordinator of citizenship tutoring and interpreting. In the fall, Ella looks forward to attending Miami University in Ohio, where she plans a pre-law curriculum that she hopes will include study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and internships to gain practical experience. Our scholarship will provide $4,000 towards her educational expenses.

We thank Bill Dougherty, Kathy Reed, Tom Ryan, Chandra Collure and Chris Stewart for interviewing the 11 finalists from 20 applicants, who were evaluated based financial need, community service, and participation in Interact.

Rotarian of the Month: Val Myers

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 10, 2019

We thank Val Myers for all her efforts, and for sacrificing the lower level of her house for around one month as a staging area for all the auction items. Val spearheaded the effort to package all the auction items into attractive displays that always up the bids.

Del Mar of Yesteryear

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 02, 2019

Larry Brooks- Del Mar Historical Society President, points out features of Casa Del Mar in August 1886

As May wound down, we reflected on how the Del Mar Community has grown over the decades. Larry Brooks, President of the Del Mar Historical Society, joined our May 31, 2019 meeting to present some memories of Del Mar going back to the late 1800s when the town was founded by Colonel Jacob Taylor who moved to the area from Texas. Colonel Taylor began platting the village of Del Mar in late 1885 and by 1886 had established a luxury hotel, Casa Del Mar. The hotel’s accessibility, reputation and beautiful location drew many visitors to Del Mar as a seaside destination, but in January 1890 fire destroyed the hotel.

After the loss of Casa Del Mar, growth of the village was stagnant for more than a decade until five Los Angeles-based investors, Henry Huntington, William Kerckhoff, Henry Keller, Charles Canfield and Edward Fletcher (whose name is attached to several local landmarks, e.g., Fletcher Cove, Fletcher Parkway) formed the South Coast Land Company in 1905 to begin making Del Mar what we know today. In the ensuing 30 years, the population of Del Mar quadrupled. In 1936 the village became home to the San Diego Country Fair and in 1937 the Del Mar racetrack hosted its first summer season. By 1959, the city incorporated.

Brooks told the story of the site of many current day buildings, including the Hotel Del Mar, that occupied the site where L’Auberge now stands, the path to the train station from the hotel, which pedestrians still use more than 100 years later, and showed a picture of the remnants of the Hotel Del Mar natatorium, which can still be seen at low tide. He also told how the Del Mar train station lost its status as an Amtrak stop and how the building came to be privately owned after transfer of a lease from the Santa Fe railroad. Perhaps the most important story for the village of the Del Mar is efforts of city residents to shift the 5 freeway eastward to its current route that preserved the village as we now know it.

Successful 2019 Sunset Soiree

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Jun 02, 2019

The weather was a bit gray, but the rain held off for our 2019 Sunset Soiree held May 21, 2019 on the Del Mar Plaza patio. We had a great turnout and lots of bids on dozens of silent and live auction items. Thank you to all our vendors for providing delicious food and beverages and all the Sunset Soiree Committee members for sacrificing many hours over the past months to ensure that the event went smoothly (my personal thanks to my husband, Jim Kohn, for taking pictures in my absence). View and download full resolution pictures in the Google Album or view them on the club website.

John Allcock and Mindfulness

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

For the past 15 years, John Allcock, our speaker at the May 2, 2019 meeting, has practiced and taught mindfulness- the art of paying attention to the present moment without judgement, but with curiosity and openness. Practicing mindfulness mediation can free a person from being captured by thoughts or external events, as well as to choose how to respond to these events.

John is the father of three daughters, and 10 years ago he began sending them emails outlining things that he’d wish he’d known when he was younger. He eventually summarized these emails in his book “40 Things I Wish I’d Told My Kids”. Among the lessons he describes in the book are 1) Don’t be ruled by the tyranny of events; 2) 90% of worries are wrong, either the thing we worried about didn’t happen, or happened in some other way; 3) Thinking is overrated (and can lead to worry); 4) You can’t control what comes into your head, but you can control what happens when it gets there; 5) “You make me mad” is a fantasy- you allow yourself to become mad at the actions of others.

By practicing mindfulness, we can respond rather than react and create space that allows impulsive reactions to be replaced by thoughtful responses. Regular practice of mindfulness may even remodel the brain to increase the gray matter density of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus that control higher-order functions and memory, respectively, and decrease the size of the amygdala that controls the “flight or fight” response.

John incorporates mindfulness training at Sea Change Preparatory school in Del Mar, which was founded by his wife Cheryl as a school for students who learn best in non-traditional settings.

Rotarians at Work Day at Nativity Prep Academy

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

The front steps, hallway, front office and science lab at Nativity Prep Academy (NPA) got a dose of new color thanks to our members who participated in our recent Rotarians at Work day. New president Gil Brady was working right alongside us, as were several NPA graduates. Thanks as well go to Cynthia Villas and Mara Milligan, advisors for USD Rotaract Club and Cathedral Catholic Interact Club, respectively. Afterward, Marty Peters brought #8 sub sandwiches from Mona Lisa to celebrate a job well done. Check out the photo album to see more pictures from the day.

Miles Fleming is Rotarian of the Month for April

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

Thank you to Miles Fleming for organizing the recent house build in Tijuana, for his work he was named Rotarian of the Month for April.

Brian Keating, the Big Bang and Losing the Nobel

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

At our April 18, 2019 meeting, Brian Keating, a professor of physics at the University of California San Diego, spoke about his minor obsession with winning the Nobel Prize, and how he used the BICEP 2 (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) Telescope at the South Pole to gather data that might describe the seconds just after the Big Bang when the universe began to expand. In 2014 Keating and his team thought they had the first indirect detection of these early gravitational waves in the cosmic microwave background. Unfortunately, their discovery turned out to be contamination that was essentially dust in the Milky Way.

While dealing with the disappointment of learning that his finding was an artifact, Keating began to think about the nature of scientific awards, particularly the Nobel Prize. Using Buddha for inspiration, he came up with the Four Noble Truths about the Nobel, with the fourth truth being that “the way to overcome misery is through the eight-fold path”, which includes a correct view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. Through his own introspection about his research and his drive for the Noble, Keating came to new realizations about his motivations for discovery.

RYLA 2019

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

Don and Sharon with their UC Berkeley "family"

Chris Stewart models his costume

Don Fipps in his fairy costume- no talking when rendering the costume, or else you get a dose of duct tape (see right)

Don Fipps, Sharon Schendel and Chris Stewart were all facilitators at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) held April 12-14, 2019 in Idyllwild. RYLA brings together talented high school juniors from all over District 5340 for a fun weekend of fellowship and learning about what it means to be a servant leader. Each facilitator helps a group of eight students get to where they need to be and get discussions going. This year, Don and Sharon were co-facilitators for the Cal Berkeley “family” and Chris Stewart oversaw the United States Air Force Academy “family”. One less serious RYLA activity is “It’s a Wrap” that involves newspaper and masking tape to transform facilitators into different characters. Don led off the pageant with his turn as a fairy. Watch the video in the RYLA photo album.

Triple Crown Pin for Marty Peters

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

Don Fipps (left) and Marty Peters (right) holding his Triple Crown Donor pin

Congratulations to Marty Peters for being recognized as a Triple Crown Donor, which is a Rotarian who is: 1) A Major Donor; 2) Bequest Society Member; and 3) Grand Donor.

Welcoming Guests

Posted by Sharon Schendel on May 12, 2019

Tom Ryan with his daughter, Kate Ryan Kleinow

At the April 18, 2019 meeting, we were joined by regulars Ole Prahm, Assistant District Governor Susie Callahan; District Governor Nominee (soon to be Elect) Steve Weitzen, and Nat Reade. Tom Ryan brought his daughter, Kate Ryan Kleinow.

On May 2, 2019 we were joined by Associate Member Dani Knapp, Richard Haase, Nicole Merzi, Ole Prahm and Jim Brunner. Vicki Barks brought her friend Beth Westburg.

Balance During a Golf Swing, Balance During Rehabilitation

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Apr 06, 2019

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.

Al Tarkington Paul Harris Fellow +3

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Apr 06, 2019

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 Pulls Double Duty to be Rotarian of the Day and Discuss Her Vocation

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Apr 06, 2019

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.

The Immunotherapy Foundation- Unleashing the Immune System to Fight HPV-driven Cancers

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Mar 31, 2019

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.

New Paul Harris Society Members

Posted by Sharon Schendel on Mar 31, 2019

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.

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