Tidings

President Justin Frisco rang the bell to begin the High School Scholar Celebration on April 15, 2025.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, we welcomed guests:

• Staci Reidinger, friend of Jim Floros
• Yuridia, sister of honored Key Club student
• Dr. Jerry Rey, Key Club Advisor at St. Augustine High School
• Harrison Trubitt, Key Club advisor at Academy of Our Lady of Peace
• Lily Nock, Key Club Lt. Governor
• Jenny Serban, ASB Advisor at Steele Canyon High School

Then Scholarship Chair Brittany Curran led the panel to our high school honorees:

• Dylan Masis Thomas, Laurels for Leaders Scholarship Recipient
• Aaron Benjamin Arellano Valle, Key Club at San Diego High School
• Mattie Gosling, Key Club at St. Augustine High School 
• Tommy Battaglia, Key Club at St. Augustine High School
• Any Nguyen, Key Club at Academy of Our Lady of Peace
• Eliana Daood, Key Club at Academy of Our Lady of Peace

Membership Chair Wendy Reuben encouraged everyone attending the Padres game to see the Kiwanis San Diego booth.

We celebrated these April birthdays

• April 2, Michaelene Abbott-Cooper
• April 18, Doug Frost
• April 23, Steve Morris
• April 25, Shaun McArdle

Members made donations of Bill's Bucks in honor of:

• Jim Floros, Padres undefeated at home
• Tom Bauer, happy to be in attendance
• Joe Sigurdson, successful Rooted in Resilience event
• Wendy Reuben, in honor of two prospective members in attendance Chris Sirkis and Bob Morris 
• Bob Morris, inspired by the honorees
• Glen Honig, celebrating service
• Karina Sousa, love that the Club/Foundation is able to support deserving students
• Gordon Boerner, enjoyed meeting guest Yuridia plus honored to have Lily Nock in attendance and congrats to employee Judith Eisenberg on finishing her Master's degree in Nonprofit Leadership

After recapping past events and looking forward to future ones, President Frisco rang the bell to conclude the meeting.

President Justin Frisco rang the bell to open the March 18, 2025 luncheon meeting.  

After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, guests were introduced including:

• Matthew Pohl, Kiwanis Club of Imperial Beach
• Leslie O'Leary, mother of Claire LeBeau, Foundation President
• Joe Pisano
• Harriet Wolpoff
• Sandy Robertson
• Mary O'Tousa
• Sue Cohn
• Anita McKee
• Denise and Chris Davidson
• Linda Cipriani
• Elaine Eisenberg
• Kelly Riseley

Next, Emily Moberly introduced our speaker, Dr. Kwane Stewart. Dr. Stewart is the founder of Project Street Vet, and he spoke about providing veterinary care to the pets of the unhoused in San Diego and beyond.

Then we welcomed members Ryan Callan and Tim Callan from Callan Capital to give members a Foundation portfolio update.

Membership Chair Wendy Reuben gave an update on our recruiting efforts.

To that end, we welcomed new member Michaelene Abbott-Cooper.

We celebrated these member birthdays:

• March 1 - Joe Sigurdson
• March 17 - Annie Fitzgerald
• March 27 - Louie Ocana

Members gave Bill's Bucks to celebrate:

• Joe Sigurdson - the Boys to Men gala is coming up April 5
• Wendy Reuben - had an amazing vacation
• Brian Krause - looking forward to the Aztecs win and apologies for interrupting the last meeting with a phone call to President Frisco
• Karina Sousa - wonderful remembrance of member Drue Jordan plus amazing service project last weekend
• Lance Grob - father is in good health and an upcoming career fair at Miramar College

Linda Dao won the auction for an SDSU blanket and bobblehead.

Before ending the meeting, we viewed photos of recent events and looked ahead to what's coming.

President Justin Frisco rang the bell to open our meeting on February 18, 2025 at Elijah's restaurant.

We said the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed guest Nate Taylor, a landscape contractor and client of President Frisco.

Then Carl Nettleton introduced our speaker Glen Schmidt, FASLA who spoke about "Saving San Diego! The Role of Landscape and Open Space in Maintaining Quality of Life." 

Membership Chair Wendy Reuben gave an update about the upcoming New Member Orientation.

We inducted new member Constantine Harrison.

Club Secretary Karina Sousa gave an update about Laurels for Leaders.

We celebrated Club birthdays:

• February 1 – Heather Robinson
• February 5 – David Gugerty
• February 9 - Amber Bertelsen
• February 9 – Tim Callan
• February 9 – June Frost
• February 14 – Glen Honig
• February 18 – Todd Miller
• February 21 – Lauren Cook
• February 21 – Vic Bianchini

Members generously gave Bill's Bucks:

• Amber Bertelsen - to celebrate her birthday and her daughter's making the volleyball team
• Gordon Boerner - kudos to Karina and Amber for a great job with Laurels this year
• Claire LeBeau - forgot her pin and grateful for a wonderful speaker
• Jay Jeffcoat - dog Buddy is doing well after eating a rock
• Jeremy Alexander - forgot his pin and is looking forward to an amazing youth program he is organizing
• Glen Honig - celebrating his birthday
• Monica Ball - her daughter just turned 40 and Uplift has an amazing mentoring program just about to begin
• Carl Nettleton - missing his fellow Kiwanian Drue Jordan and glad Joe Sigurdson is out of the hospital
• Wendy Reuben - amazing quality of life in San Diego
• Brittany Curran - spotted in the San Diego Business Journal

We remembered long-time member Drue Jordan who passed this week.

Then a recap of the last month's events and look into next month's before President Frisco rang the bell again to end the meeting.

President Justin Frisco kicked off our January meeting at Elijah's with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcome to guests:

• Karina Sousa brought her new husband Matt
• Brian Krause brought a friend and neighbor Justin

Jim Floros introduced our speaker Doug Constantiner, CEO of Societe Brewing. He spoke about forming his successful brewery, and members were interested in his words and his beer.

Membership chair Wendy Reuben gave an update on recruitment efforts.

Governor Doug Frost and First Lady June Frost spoke about the First Lady's focus on pediatric cancer research.

Karina Sousa described our new Laurels for Leaders format and encouraged support and attendance.

We celebrated January birthdays:

• Will Earley - January 12
• Mike Boland - January 16
• Drue Jordan - January 19

Members generously donated Bill's Bucks in honor of:

• Gordon Boerner was spotted in Giving Back Magazine
• Wendy Reuben was spotted in Giving Back Magazine
• Jim Floros was spotted in the San Diego Business Journal
• Wendy Reuben was excited that she has hot water once again at home
• Brian Krause was pleased with the holiday party turnout at his home and that his daughter passed her driver's exam
• Karina Sousa was inspired by Kiwanis' good works to help all, especially as she has watched the tragedy of the LA fires

After a recap of past events and look forward to upcoming events, President Frisco closed the meeting.

President Justin Frisco opened our December meeting. We said the Pledge of Allegiance and greeted guests including Rachel Hilliard, doing an interclub from Southeastern Kiwanis.

Next, Carl Nettleton introduced our speaker, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan who spoke to us about Fentanyl and its effects in the community.

We inducted new member Will Earley.

Then we awarded Karina Sousa the “Do All Be All” Award for her many contributions to everything about our Club and Foundation.

Wendy Reuben gave an update from the Membership Team,

followed by birthday celebrations for:

• Ricardo Sandoval – December 6
• Constantine Harrison – December 7

Members generously donated Bill’s Bucks to commemorate:

• Gordon Boerner – honored to have new member Will at the luncheon who was a Key Club President and glad to be retired to be able to spend time with his daughter
• Glen Honig – his grandson is now 5 months old
• Karina Sousa – been with her partner 9 years and now married

We did a quick recap of events since our last meeting, followed by a look to future events before President Frisco rang the bell to end the meeting, the last of 2024!

President Justin Frisco opened our Scholars Luncheon with the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome to all guests.

Then Scholarship Team Chair Brittany Curran invited our scholarship recipients to a panel introducing themselves to our members. Students included:

• Micah Concepcion, University of San Diego
• Jose Garcia Gomez, SDSU
• Kris Andra Jackson, SDSU
• Rachel Lemmen, Point Loma Nazarene University
• Matthew Smith, SDSU
• Izabella Vasquez, UCSD

Danielle Valenciano from the San Diego Foundation talked about the partnership between our Club and their scholarship program.

Christina Piranio from San Diego Children's Discovery Museum gave us a grant update.

Membership Team Chair Wendy Reuben invited all members to bring someone to upcoming events with the goal of having them join the Club. 

We inducted new-ish member Annie Fitzgerald.

We wished happy birthday to our only November birthday in absentia, Brian Krause.

Members gave Bill's Bucks in celebration of:

• Gordon Boerner - forgot to invite his wife Leigh as his guest
• Annie Fitzgerald - thanks for patience in her ability to get to her first meeting
• Joe Sigurdson - Boys to Men just won a $100K grant for mental health education
• Jim Floros - his son's Senator boss was re-elected
• Martha Futterman - as Lt. Gov., she is glad to attend special occasions and wish congrats to the scholars
• Carl Nettleton - had a wonderful trip to Englad where he toured Darwin's office and sat on Ted Lasso's bench
• Glen Honig - glad to be at the meeting
• Karina Sousa - one month married
• Shaun McArdle - oldest member at the meeting
• Monica Ball - birth of her sixth grandchild
• Greg and Karen Bower - thank you for the Toys for Tots donations
• Lance Grob - looking forward to the April fair put on by Miramar College

Gordon Boerner auctioned off a stein he brought back from his recent trip to Germany, and Micah Concepcion won it!

We recapped past events and looked forward to upcoming before President Frisco rang the bell to end the meeting.

Newly sworn in President Justin Frisco rang the bell to start our first meeting of the Kiwanis year.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, we welcomed the many guests in the room, including a large contingent from Kiwanis of Alpine. 

Jay Jeffcoat introduced our speaker Coach Brian Dutcher, SDSU Men's Basketball Head Coach. Coach Dutcher spoke about his background, his players, his staff, and his coaching philosophy. The audience was enthralled, asking many questions at the end of his presentation.

Next, Greg and Karen Bower were honored with a Distinguished Service Award for being so engaged in our volunteer activities.

We welcomed new member, Linda Dao, and presented her a Kiwanis lapel pin.

We celebrated these October birthdays:

• October 1 - Gordon Boerner
• October 7 - John Rush
• October 9 - Sanam Charlton
• October 14 - Dick Shaw
• October 16 - Jay Jeffcoat
• October 16 - Paul Riggs
• October 19 - Monica Ball
• October 21 - Linda Dao

Attendees generously donated Bill's Bucks:

• Gordon Boerner - for missing the event he planned, for his birthday and for his years in the Club
• Brian Krause - was wonderful to see Ryan Jeffcoat at a Padres game
• Kiwanis Alpine members - great to see attend another Club's meetings
• Karina Sousa - in honor of her upcoming wedding
• Jay Jeffcoat - for his birthday and for his years in the Club
• Claire LeBeau - grateful for today's program and our member years of support of the Campanile Foundation

After reviewing past events, the meeting ended looking forward to upcoming events.

Club President Steve Morris rang the bell to open our last meeting of his presidency. Then Club Treasurer Brian Krause and Club Secretary Karina Sousa welcomed members to the first (and last) Kiwanis Olympic Games!

They were thrilled to spot these Kiwanians in the crowd:

• Eldon Thompson
• Monica Ball
• Lauren Cook
• Heather Robinson
• John Rush
• Division 11 Lt. Governor Martha Futterman
• Imperial Beach/South Bay Kiwanis President Steve Futterman
• Southeastern Kiwanis President Nathan Brooks

 

Steve Morris, Vice President Justin Morris, and Jay Jeffcoat joined the MCs to get the party started and hand out some kudos!

Wendy Reuben received a Distinguished Service Award for taking on the membership team as incoming chair. She also received her 35-year Legion of Honor pin.

Glen Honig received a Distinguished Service Award for joining the Board and participating in so many service projects.

Mike Boland received a Distinguished Service Award for his leadership of the community service team and participation in so many of the service projects.

Emily Moberly received the Youth Service Award for her participation in service projects this year, alongside her adorable children.

Brittany Curran received the George F. Hixson Fellowship for her leadership of the scholarship team.

Gordon Boerner was honored with the Don McKee Spirit of Kiwanis Award for his two years of presidency of the Foundation plus his dedication to the Club. He also received a Ruby K pin because of his incredible membership recruiting efforts.

Karina Sousa was honored with a brand new perpetual award -- the Do All Be All Award -- for everything she does and is. She also received a Ruby K pin for her successful membership recruiting.

Lt Gov Martha Futterman inducted the new Club board:

President	Justin Frisco
Immediate Past President	Steve Morris
Vice President	Gordon Boerner
Club Secretary	Karina Sousa
Club Treasurer	Brian Krause
Class of 2025	Glen Honig, Lance Grob
Class of 2026	Tom Bauer, Lauren Cook
Class of 2027	Ryan Callan, Wendy Reuben

and the new Foundation board:

President	Claire LeBeau (Class of 2025)
Immediate Past President	Gordon Boerner (Class of 2027)
Vice President	Joe Sigurdson (Class of 2026)
Secretary/Treasurer	Karina Sousa (Class of 2027)
Investment Committee Chair	Chuck Day (Class of 2027)
Class of 2025	Carl Nettleton, Jay Jeffcoat
Class of 2026	Jim Floros, Brian Krause
Club Ex-Oficio	Justin Frisco
Scholarship Chair	Brittany Curran

Jay Jeffcoat received a Ruby K pin for his recruitment of so many members, many of whom were in the room.

Carl Nettleton received his 30-year Legion of Honor pin.

Cal-Nev-Ha Governor Doug Frost received his 40-year Legion of Honor pin.

Eldon Thompson belatedly received his 40-year Legion of Honor pin, earned in 2022.

Lunch ended with a thank you to Club Operations Administrator Judith Eisenberg and all of the Elijah's Restaurant crew.

Looking forward to good things in the new Kiwanis year!

President Steve Morris rang the bell to open the meeting. After we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance, we welcomed guests:

• Matthew Pohl from the Imperial Beach Kiwanis Club
• Bob Morris from the San Diego Symphony

Next member Carl Nettleton introduced our speaker, Julie Coker,

CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority.

We learned so much about why San Diego is an amazing place to live and to visit, and how the San Diego Tourism Authority markets our "bright" city!

Next we celebrated Brittany Curran's August birthday, in absentia.

Then new district Governor Doug Frost showed off the new banner he got at the convention.

Members gave Bill's Bucks in honor of their celebrations including:

• Monica Ball whose daughter is having a baby
• John Rush who is excited about the upcoming FDD gala
• Karina Sousa who is planning the upcoming FDD gala
• Shaun McArdle who welcomed everyone to tour the Maritime Museum
• Gordon Boerner who was thrilled to represent the Foundation at the Habitat for Humanity event

And, a couple of members were spotted being honored in print so they were fined. Congrats to:

• Sitara Setha

• Jim Floros

After recapping past events and looking forward to upcoming events, President Morris rang the bell to end the meeting.

President Steve Morris opened the virtual meeting. and we were happy to welcome 5 guests from the Tierrasanta Kiwanis Club:

• Rich Orr
• Peter Penczar
• Rex Warburton
• Dave West
• Jan Whitacre

Jay Jeffcoat told us about his history in the founding of 211 San Diego, then introduced their CFO and our speaker, Paul Redfern.

Members and guests on the call were impressed to learn about the important work that 211 San Diego does for our community. They have many government and nonprofit partners and provide a myriad of services.

Next, we heard from Kristin Haywood of Nativity Prep Academy. Nativity Prep prepares low-income middle school and high school students for college success.

Just one birthday to celebrate in August, but we were pleased she was on our call. Happy birthday to Brittany Curran!

Karina Sousa pledged Bill's Bucks in recognition of the amazing service project over the weekend with Habitat for Humanity building two playhouses.

Gordon Boerner echoed those sentiments with his Bill's Bucks pledge and added that the two playhouses would be going to local military families.

After a review of events past and look forward to the excitement coming, our meeting was adjourned. If you missed it, you can catch the recap online: