Events

Meriam Chihwaro, P.E., QSD

Meriam is an Associate Engineer with the City of San Diego. She has over ten years of diverse professional experience, including civil and transportation design, hydraulics and hydrology design, construction management and inspection of CIP, maintenance, and emergency projects, as well as experience in traffic safety and operations. She also has extensive background in working with and for various jurisdictional agencies and municipalities. Prior to being hired at the City of San Diego, I was a Senior Transportation Engineer/ Acting Branch Chief in District Traffic Safety at Caltrans D11. Prior to that, Meriam was an RE within the Caltrans D11 Minor B Branch/Maintenance Division. Additionally, she worked for the County of San Diego as an Assistant RE and Lead Inspector within the Construction Engineering Department, as well as for a private design firm as a Task Lead on multiple design projects, including the preparation and completion of design submittal packages and documents for various clients, including several school districts, public agencies, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC).

Alice Altes, PE

Alice is a Senior Civil Engineer with the City of San Diego. She is a San Diego native and licensed engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University. Alice has over 24 years of experience with water and wastewater projects for the City of San Diego including management of capital improvement projects (CIP), operations and maintenance engineering support, field inspection of construction projects, and in-house design. 

Before coming to Pure Water San Diego in 2021, Alice was the City’s dams and reservoirs operations and maintenance engineer for 3 years. Prior to that, she successfully managed several CIP projects including the ASCE national award-winning Alvarado Water Treatment Plant Ozone Upgrade & Expansion Project.

Assistant United States Attorney Oleksandra Johnson has been with the U.S. Department of Justice since 2016 and is currently assigned to the Major Frauds and Public Corruption Section in the Southern District of California. She supervises investigations and litigates complex fraud matters.  Prior to becoming a federal prosecutor she worked as a staff attorney at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California from 2009 until 2016.  

Michael L. Lipman is a partner in Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group with more than 40 years of experience trying criminal and civil cases in state and federal courts. His primary focus is on all aspects of white-collar criminal defense and related parallel proceedings, regulatory and licensing matters, and business litigation. He has had more than 50 jury trials and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He brings the judgment of a trial lawyer and former senior federal prosecutor to a variety of issues facing clients, both individuals and entities, including the defense of white-collar crimes and responding to government investigations related to such matters as securities fraud, insider trading and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, healthcare fraud, criminal tax matters, antitrust violations, mortgage fraud, government contract fraud, criminal environmental violations, public corruption and campaign finance violations, financial institution fraud, money laundering and bank secrecy violations, and export-control violations. He also has substantial experience conducting internal investigations, defending civil securities cases, civil RICO, Civil False Claims Act and qui tam actions. 

 Denise McGuire announced our First Community Service event for the year will be serving 100 young marines’ lunch at the USO Airport.  The Marines will be arriving at Lindbergh Field beginning at 7am on the 24^th, on their way to receive further education at Camp Pendleton.    While they relax at the USO, we will greet them, provide lunch for them and have an opportunity to meet and talk with them. 

 All Rotarians and volunteers are welcome!  We will arrive at 10:30 AM, set up lunch and begin serving at 11:30 am.  By 1:30 or 2, PM these young recruits will be picked up by buses to travel to Camp Pendleton for their next training assignment. 

The USO Neil Ash Airport Center is the largest USO in the World. It is located adjacent to and east of Terminal Two. Parking is across the street and will be free to all who help out.  We need committed volunteers!  Please, contact Denise, at denisemcguire@mac.com to sign up for the event  or sign up online here.

Another wonderful social at John and Karen Donaldson's lovely home on Mount Soledad!

Be sure to RSVP to Natascha Vossen

Margaux Stack-Babich, MPH (pictured  above)
Community Outreach and Engagement
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center

Through community outreach and engagement, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is working to find solutions to address the needs of our diverse community in the planning, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of cancer-related research, clinical care, and community outreach and education. 

.      Jen  Sedeno                                                     

Director of Well-Being

YMCA of San Diego County

Jen is responsible for working with community health partners to implement well-being programs across San Diego County YMCAs. Often, this work includes the engagement of communities with limited access to health information and care. Jen's background spans over 20 years in senior services, health and wellness. 

The District Governor provides leadership, inspiration, and guidance to Rotary Clubs under the general supervision of the Rotary International Board of Directors. In each jurisdiction or district, the Governor serves as the regional officer of Rotary, fostering success in their district at the club level.

Dianne joined Rotary in 1997 and is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego where she has served as Club President, Board Director & Secretary. She has served as a member of District 5340's Leadership Team for 16 District Governors in a variety of positions including Assistant Governor, Membership Chair, Strategic Planning Chair, Club Service Chair, New Club Development Representative, District Training Resource, Foundation Specialist and as a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute and President Elect Training (PET's).

 The Walter Munk Foundation for the Oceans is focused on advancing and supporting ocean science, creating impactful earth science educational content, and advocating for ocean conservation. The non-profit organization is committed to creating a meaningful and enduring impact on our relationship with the ocean.

Dimitri Deheyn, Ph.D.
Marine Biologist - Research Scientist - Board Member

Dimitri is a Scripps marine biologist developing research in the field of biomimicry: the process of emulating Nature to support green and sustainable innovations for various industries. His research aims at understanding the fundamental mechanisms responsible for specific adaptations organisms have developed to thrive under particular conditions, in aquatic or terrestrial environments.

Join  "Coffee with the President” featuring Rotary International President-elect, Stephanie A. Urchick, of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania. 

She will attend a breakfast meeting sponsored by the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club at the UCSD FacultyClub on October 21st from 7-9:30 am. The cost is $25, and reservations are required.

You may reserve  ON THE OCT 21 EVENT PAGE on the La Jolla Golden Triiangle website.  By Oct 12.

 Lamb's is one of San Diego's leading not-for-profit, professional performing arts organizations, presenting an exciting variety of work year-round in the resident theatre in Coronado. Lamb's also provides an Educational Outreach program touring to schools across the county.
Robert Smyth,  Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder

In 1978 Robert was a founding member of the resident acting ensemble at Lamb's Players Theatre. Since 1985 he has been that company's Producing Artistic Director. Under his leadership LAMB'S grew to become San Diego County's third largest theatre company. Robert has directed over 160 different shows, and performed in more than 120 productions.

On Tuesday, October 29th a Halloween party will be hosted by the Cracrofts at their home – 1360 Rhoda  Drive- from 5:30-8:00 pm.  Dogs & Costumes optional.  (Black tie per pic not required!     Limited Parking - Carpool or Uber.

The Timken Museum of Art preserves the Putnam Collection of European old masters, American art and Russian icons for the education and benefit of present and future generations of San Diego residents and visitors. The Museum celebrates the important role of art as a way of enriching the lives and nurturing the creative spirit in us all.

Megan Pogue is the Executive Director of the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park where she serves as the fourth executive director in the Museum’s 59-year history. Pogue is dedicated to the art museum’s service to the public and advancing the role of fully accessible art and education in San Diego’s civic agenda.

Since her appointment in 2015, Pogue has led the museum to embrace its founding principles of free access for all, inspiring people and connecting diverse communities through the power of art. She guides the museum’s institutional vision, its small but important collection of 90 permanent objects spanning over 500 years, including San Diego’s only Rembrandt on public display, exhibitions, educational initiatives, special events, outreach programs, external relations, administrative management and strategic planning.

Raised with three sisters and one brother in Manhattan Beach, California, by a finance executive father and an arts-loving mother who studied dance with Martha Graham and held a PhD in Theatre Arts, Pogue previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Development of San Diego Symphony for twelve years and is widely credited with reinvigorating the entire Summer Pops experience. Pogue holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a minor in music from San Diego State University, and, with more than 20 years in the nonprofit arts world, she combines her early “for-profit” experience and business acumen leading a $25 million distribution company with a lifelong passion for the arts to the benefit and sustainability of the Museum. 

Today, Pogue is applying her vision and skills to the transformation of the Timken, leveraging the features that led to the Museum’s 59-year history of success while capitalizing on new opportunities to revitalize, energize and expand the small institution. 

80^th Anniversary of D-Day:  On Tuesday, November 12th,  World War II veteran and Torrey Pines Rotarian Emeritus Max Gurney, with his Honor Flight guardian, Point Loma Rotarian Tim McCully, will give us a review of their June trip to France for the 80^th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy.  

     Max served in the U.S. Army 1942-45 as an intelligence specialist in campaigns in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.  After the war, he joined Pan American World Airways, working up from a baggage clerk to retire in 1991 as PanAm’s manager for southern France and Monaco.

     Tim served in the U.S. Navy 1976-2006, with twenty years of cruiser/destroyer duty and ten years spent managing Military Sealift Command (MSC) service force ships.  After retiring from active duty in 2006, Tim immediately transitioned to Navy Civil Service and continued managing MSC ships until his retirement in 2020.

     Max and Tim were members of a group of 68 WWII veterans flown by American Airlines and Honor Flight to the commemorations of the June 6^th, 1944 D-Day amphibious landings at Omaha and Utah Beaches, Pointe du Hoc, and the airborne parachute assault on St. Mere Eglise.  Following the D-Day ceremonies, Max was a Guest of Honor at his Burgundy wine society dinner in Dijon, and then went on to Monte Carlo to celebrate his 103^rd birthday with Prince Albert of Monaco. 

Charles Marsh, Jr., our 2023 Rotarian of the

Year, has had several careers in his lifetime:

U.S. Navy, Shopping Center Developer  and Child

Model. As a child, Chuck grew up in a small

Vermont town with Norman Rockwell as a

neighbor. From the age 3 months to 9 years, Chuck

posed for him with his likeness showing up on

Saturday Evening Post covers, a Kellogg’s

Cornflakes Box, and various advertisements. He

will describe what it was like to work with the famed

artist and having his likeness become nationally

identified as the all-time American boy.

Amy Forsythe is an award-winning military photojournalist who served as a U.S. Marine and is currently in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Public Affairs Officer. She’s served five combat tours and has been on assignment for several other overseas missions during her career. Her imagery taken while covering military operations around the world has been featured in numerous international and national media outlets through the years and continues to be used for historical purposes. She holds a bachelor’s degree from CSU San Marcos (2005) and a Master’s of Science from University of San Diego (2009).

Her book “Heroes Live Here: A Tribute to Camp Pendleton Marines” started as a passion project to showcase the memorials and markers on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and it turned into a collaborative work of art that honors our fallen Marines of the post-9/11 generation. She now works with other veterans to help them pursue their goals of becoming a published author.

Amy was first stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, in 1995 and still has strong ties to the base and surrounding communities. She's involved in supporting various veteran service organizations in San Diego County and around the country. 

Neil Senturia is a San Diego entrepreneur and venture capitalist who writes a weekly award-winning business column for the San Diego Union-Tribune (I’m There for You Baby, The Entrepreneur’s Guide to the Galaxy.) He has known Gina Champion-Cain for more than 20 years.

Barbara Bry is an entrepreneur who was a business writer for the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times and has served on the San Diego City Council.  She is the founder of three organizations that empower women.  She and Neil are married, and he is grateful.  They each brought two children to their marriage, so together they have four adult children—all married to people they adore.  As of this writing, they have eight grandchildren.

“I Did It” is the story of Gina Champion-Cain, the mastermind behind the largest woman-led Ponzi scheme in US history—$400 million. This real-life story includes a multitude of participants, banks, hedge funds, egomaniacs, and small-time crooks, all fueled by greed, stupidity, and a keen desire to look the other way. And even when they were looking in the right direction, all of these people and entities saw nothing. Gina was the Penn and Teller of misdirection, acting with caring behavior to other people (while bilking her investors), creating philanthropic endeavors and single-mindedly pursuing her dream of building an empire, taking it public, and cashing out all the investors.

The book, which was published over 2 years ago, is really only Chapter 1 of the story.  When Gina got to prison in Dublin, California, she organized the women, many of whom had been sexually abused, to file a lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons.  Since then, the Warden and others have gone to prison, Dublin has been closed down, and more news is expected soon!