Let the Good Times Roll – Again!

And did it roll!  It was inspirational, informative, exciting, fun, motivational, educational, and a very good time indeed!  Over 18,500 wonderful Rotarians were there from 151 countries.  The city of New Orleans gave us a tremendous welcome – with outstanding food, music, and the spirit that is unique to this great city.  The Convention Committee and the Host Organizing Committee outdid themselves to make this Convention one of the best ever.  Read, see, and here all about it by clicking here.

Governor’s Awards Banquet – June 7 – Crowne Plaza Hotel

Let’s continue the celebration of a great year by attending our own “inspirational, informative, fun, motivational, educational, and very good time indeed” party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, June 7^th.  Registration and reception start at 5pm; the doors open for dinner at 5:45pm; and the program begins at 7:00pm.  We’ll congratulate 39 of our clubs for earning the Presidential Citation from Rotary International President Ray Klinginsmith and graduate a record class from the Leadership and Development Academy.  We’ll also see and hear the winners for our Rotary Four-Way Test Speech and Video Contests.  The Rotarian-of-the-Year will be announced. 

And there will be more.  Don’t miss it.  Register now by clicking here.

Centennial Year Kickoff – June 25 –

Embarcadero Marina Park South on San Diego Bay

It won’t get any better than this!  Moonlit night – along San Diego Bay – cabaret table for 4 – Wolfgang Puck Catering -- San Diego Symphony Pops Orchestra – Creedence Clearwater Revisited – need I say more?  It is a co-celebration of the end of the San Diego Orchestra’s Centennial and the kickoff of the Centennial of Rotary in San Diego!  Be there.  Get more information and order your tickets here.

Polio goes to TED

Polio goes to TED: the 'TED Talks' are well known for presenting "ideas worth spreading" - one of which is the incredible worldwide effort to eradicate polio. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization, spoke about the plan to continue the scientific miracle that ended polio in most of the world and to snuff it out everywhere, forever. His talk (23 very interesting minutes) can now be viewed here.

Rotarians in our district have been VERY generous in supporting the PolioPlus Challenge.  Since the Challenge began in December 2007, you all have contributed $495,345.10 to help eradicate this terrible disease.  Oh, soooo close to a HALF MILLION DOLLARS.  THANK YOU DISTRICT 5340!

Every Rotarian Every Year

Have you and every member of your club contributed to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Programs Fund (APF) this year?  I hope so.  The Rotary Foundation is OUR charitable arm – the way all Rotarians can help others in the world to have a better life.  The Annual Programs Fund is the source of the matching funds we love to use for humanitarian grants in our own communities and needy communities around the world.  THANK YOU for your generous support to the Annual Programs Fund.

You can check your own giving history AND contribute directly by registering for and using Member Access in the upper right hand corner of www.rotary.org.  

Be a Vibrant Club!

Do you want your club to be a Vibrant Club?  Do you want your club to attract new and exciting members?  Do you want to do significant projects that serve your community and the world community?  It all starts with deciding together what you want to be (vision) and developing a multiple year plan (strategy) to get there.  All of our successful clubs are following this model.  You can too.  Contact Michael McQuary (michael_mcquary@yahoo.com) to schedule a Strategic Visioning session.  Get a copy of and utilize the ideas in “Be a Vibrant Club” by clicking here.

  Honor Roll 

Presidential Citation with Distinction (at least 35 points in each of four categories)

Rotary Club of Carlsbad, President Avneet Sidhu

Rotary Club of Chula Vista, President Lisa Johnson

Rotary Club of Coronado, President Tim Cusick

Rotary Club of Encinitas, President Roger Bolus

Rotary Club of Escondido, President Linda Bailey

Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, President Dory Beatrice Griffith

Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise, President Rick Wildman

Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise, President Christine Evans

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, President Suzie Lisio

Rotary Club of San Diego, President Bonnie Schwartz

Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, President Lynn Hamilton

Rotary Club of Shadowridge (Vista), President Debbie King

Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, President Jeff Hall

Presidential Citation (at least 25 points in each of four categories)

Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton, President Linda Sundram

Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, President Al Wanamaker

Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise, President Tom Miller

Rotary Club of Del Mar-Solana Beach, President Jan Parsons

Rotary Club of El Camino Real, President Robert Taylor

Rotary Club of Encinitas Coastal, President Donna Marie Robinson

Rotary Club of Escondido East, President Holly Merkel

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber

Rotary Club of Fallbrook, President Larry Rothacher

Rotary Club of Fallbrook Village, President Scott Harry

Rotary Club of La Jolla, President Mark Leinenweber

Rotary Club of La Jolla New Generations, President Eddy Miller

Rotary Club of La Mesa, President Deanna Price

Rotary Club of Mission Bay, President Susan Thorning

Rotary Club of Mission Valley, President Jean Kerr

Rotary Club of Mission Valley-Sunset, President Matthew Guillory

Rotary Club of National City, President Marco Topete

Rotary Club of Oceanside, President Vernon Allen

Rotary Club of Old Mission, President Lee Kaminetz

Rotary Club of Point Loma, President Frank White

Rotary Club of Poway, President Bill Stoudenmire

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise, President Al Watson

Rotary Club of San Diego Paradise Valley, President Femie Cupit

Rotary Club of San Marcos, President Linda Strand

Rotary Club of Valley Center, President Mary Swanby

Rotary Club of Vista, President Tim Aspell

Presidential Citation for Interact Clubs   

Cathedral Catholic High School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Del Mar)

Wilson Middle School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Diego)

Morse High School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego)

Valley Center High School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Valley Center)

Francis Parker School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Old Mission)

Fallbrook High School (sponsored by Rotary Club of Fallbrook)

Presidential Citation for Rotaract Clubs 

San Diego State University (sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Diego)

University of San Diego (sponsored by the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle)

University of California, San Diego (sponsored by the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle)

Net New Members (calculated from the official starting membership)

Rotary Club of Escondido, President Linda Bailey – Net +13 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of Coronado, President Tim Cusick – Net +8 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of Escondido East, President Holly Merkel – Net +8 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of Chula Vista, President Lisa Johnson – Net +8

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, President Suzie Lisio -- Net +5 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of San Diego Paradise Valley, President Femi Cupit – Net +5 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, President Lynn Hamilton – Net +5 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of Encinitas, President Roger Bolus—Net + 4 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise, President Rick Wildman – Net +4 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of Old Mission, President Lee Kaminetz – Net +4

Rotary Club of Valley Center, President Mary Swanby – Net +3

Rotary Club of El Cajon Sunset, President Van Hankins – Net +3

Rotary Club of Encinitas Coastal, President Donna Marie Robinson – Net +3 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of La Jolla, President Mark Leinenweber – Net +3 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton, President Linda Sundram – Net +2 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise, President Tom Miller – Net +2 (Met Goal)

Rotary Club of Calexico, President Elsa Garcia Soto—Net + 1 (Exceeded Goal)

Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, President Al Wanamaker—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Del Mar, President Dan Henderson—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Fallbrook, President Larry Rothacher—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Fallbrook Village, President Scott Harry—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Mission Bay, President Susan Thorning—Net + 1

Rotary Club of National City, President Marco Topete—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Oceanside, President Vernon Allen—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Poway, President Bill Stoudenmire—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Ramona, President Stephen Brindley—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Rancho San Diego/Spring Valley, President Michael Golz—Net + 1

Rotary Club of Point Loma, President Frank White – Net +2

Met or Exceeded Annual Programs Fund contribution goal for 2010-2011

Rotary Club of Bonsall, President Mark Hvasta

Rotary Club of Borrego Springs, President Jim Bennett

Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton, President Linda Sundram

Rotary Club of Chula Vista Sunrise, President Tom Miller

Rotary Club of Del-Mar Solana Beach, President Jan Parsons

Rotary Club of El Centro, President Bobby Brock

Rotary Club of Escondido East, President Holly Merkel

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber

Rotary Club of Escondido, President Linda Bailey

Rotary Club of Fallbrook, President Larry Rothacher

Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, President Dory Beatrice Griffith

Rotary Club of La Jolla New Generations, President Eddy Miller

Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise, President Rick Wildman

Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise, President Christine Evans

Rotary Club of La Mesa, President Deanna Price

Rotary Club of Mission Bay, President Susan Thorning

Rotary Club of Mission Valley Sunset, President Matthew Guillory

Rotary Club of Oceanside, President Vernon Allen

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, President Suzie Lisio

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise, President Al Watson

Rotary Club of San Diego North, President Danny Kazmarik

Rotary Club of San Diego/Spring Valley, President Michael Golz

Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, President Lynh Hamilton

Rotary Club of San Diego North, President Danny Kazmarek

Rotary Club of San Luis Rey, President Anne Speraw

Rotary Club of San Marcos, President Linda Strand

Rotary Club of Vista, President Tim Aspell

Annual Programs Fund per capita giving for 2010-2011

#1 -- Rotary Club of La Mesa, President Deanna Price, $667.36 per member!!

#2 -- Rotary Club of Rancho San Diego/Spring Valley, President Michael Golz, $480.53 per member!!

#3 – Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber, $447.19!!

Met or exceeded $2,000 contribution to PolioPlus during 2010-2011

Rotary Club of Borrego Springs, President Jim Bennett

Rotary Club of Brawley, President Larry Allen

Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, President Al Wanamaker

Rotary Club of Chula Vista, President Lisa Johnson

Rotary Club of Coronado, President Tim Cusick

Rotary Club of Del Mar, President Dan Henderson

Rotary Club of Del Mar-Solana Beach, President Jan Parsons

Rotary Club of El Centro, President Bobby Brock

Rotary Club of Encinitas, President Roger Bolus

Rotary Club of Encinitas Coastal, President Donna Marie Robinson

Rotary Club of Escondido, President Linda Bailey

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber

Rotary Club of Fallbrook, President Larry Rothacher

Rotary Club of Imperial Valley Breakfast, President Charles Rhoades

Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, President Dory Beatrice Griffith

Rotary Club of La Jolla New Generations, President Eddy Miller

Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise, President Rick Wildman

Rotary Club of La Mesa, President Deanna Price

Rotary Club of Miramar, President Joe Mastin

Rotary Club of Oceanside, President Vernon Allen

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, President Suzie Lisio

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise, President Al Watson

Rotary Club of Rancho Santa Fe, President Pat Galvin

Rotary Club of San Diego, President Bonnie Schwartz

Rotary Club of San Diego Downtown Breakfast, President Lynn Hamilton

Rotary Club of Vista, President Tim Aspell

100% Every Rotarian Every Year (each member contributing to APF, per capita exceeding $100)

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber

Rotary Club of Mission Bay, President Susan Thorning

100% Paul Harris Fellow Club (every member is a PHF)

Rotary Club of Escondido Sunrise, President Peggy Reiber (qualified in earlier year)

Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton, President Linda Sundram

Rotary Club of Poway, President Bill Stoudenmire

Rotary Club of La Jolla Sunrise, President Rick Wildman

Rotary Club of Encinitas Coastal, President Donna Marie Robinson

Rotary Club of Mission Bay, President Susan Thorning

Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise, President Christine Evans

The Last Word

Congratulations to all the clubs and club leaders who have worked diligently to make your clubs Bigger, Better, and Bolder this year.  I am very, very proud of each one of YOU.  It has been a great year indeed and it is because of YOUR leadership that your clubs are more impactful at serving the needs of your community and the world AND becoming more attractive to new and exciting members of your community.  YOU are Rotary at its finest and it has been my distinct pleasure and honor to have served with you this year.