Tidings

The Kiwanis Club of San Diego welcomed 7 scholars and 6 university representatives to our meeting on April 19, 2022!

President Mike Boland rang the bell to kick off the meeting and lead the pledge of allegiance.

New member Jeremy Alexander gave a meaningful welcoming invocation.

Scholar Elizabeth Gaitan, a music student as SDSU, led the crowd in a verse from "This Land is Your Land."  She graciously accepted this role on the spot as she walked in the door to the luncheon.  Thank you, Elizabeth!

Scholarship Committee Chair Justin Frisco welcomed all our guests.

Later Elizabeth led the singing of "Happy Birthday" to Steve Morris, who interviewed the honored scholars:

• Cesar Caro, Cal State San Marcos
• Isabelle Etore, Point Loma Nazarene
• Elizabeth Gaitan, SDSU
• Sol Griffin, USD
• Kalo Grimsby, UCSD
• Luke Loprete, SDSU
• Emi Matsu, Point Loma Nazarene

Congratulations to a well-deserving group!

The April 5 luncheon began with Karina Sousa, Club Secretary, ringing the bell and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

Shaun McArdle led a meaningful invocation, and Doug Frost led singing of America the Beautiful, not All Along the Watchtower - which he really wanted to lead!

The members were thrilled by a presentation from Ron Lee, of Skydiving Innovations.  

We celebrated the upcoming birthdays of Doug Frost, Steve Morris, and Shaun McArdle. 

Then we got a grant recipient update update from Teresa Valenzuela and Azahalia Valdez of the San Diego Futures Foundation.  Azahalia told us she had been involved with Kiwanis since childhood, so it felt like she was coming full circle to attend our luncheon.

Fun times were had by all!

A group of Kiwanians met for breakfast at the Broken Yolk in the Gaslamp Quarter on March 15th at 7:30 a.m.! 

The early start didn’t seem to be a problem with the vibrant members and guests in attendance. 

It was great to see Tom Bauer and Luis Ocana in the house! Jim Floros outbid all for the dog toy + treat combo donated in honor of Ruby Sousa’s birthday. 

Brian Krause was late so was fined by being the Chairman of the Day but did a fabulous job introducing our fearless fencer, Judge Vic Bianchini!

Judge B, the world champion fencer, enlightened the group on the world of fencing. It was an amazing program and we all learned some valuable information!

The Club went on an outing on 3/1/22 to the River Center at Grant Park, still under construction. 

We donned hard hats and vests, and Rob Hutsel, President and CEO of the San Diego River Park Foundation, led us on a tour through the construction site, as we imagined what was to come.

 

Afterwards we enjoyed a box lunch nearby, and President Mike Boland asked the Club to open their hearts and wallets, giving all collected money directly to the San Diego River Park Foundation.

A fun outing for all involved -- looking forward to more Kiwanis adventures!

What a whirlwind it's been -- we were back in person at the Admiral Baker Clubhouse for our luncheon 2/8/22.  

President Mike Boland rang the bell to begin the event.

Ricardo Sandoval led the invocation, asking us to each reflect on how the pandemic is affecting us all.

Doug Frost led us in singing "America the Beautiful."

Mike Boland introduced and welcomed our speaker from Partners Therapeutic Horsemanship - Bobbi Buettgenbach.   Partners Executive Director Karen Crampton also attended and answered questions. 

We inducted new member Jeremy Alexander to the Club -- welcome, Jeremy!

We were happy to celebrate these member birthdays:

• Heather Robinson - 2/1
• David Gugerty - 2/5
• Tim Callan - 2/9
• Glen Honig - 2/14
• Lauren Cook - 2/21
• Vic Bianchini - 2/21
• Scofield Hage - 2/24

We also got an update from the Boys and Girls Club.  They received a centennial grant pre-pandemic but construction was halted at the time.  Thank you to our member Ricardo Sandoval for the update and his guest Connie Alvarez.

As is customary, our members were very generous with their donations, including:

Mike Boland - who forgot his Kiwanis Pin

Elaine Boland - who is happy to be with the Kiwanis Club

Monica Ball - who loves Kiwanis

Ryan Callan - who was happy to have his son Ethan visiting

Ricardo Sandoval - who was happy to see guest Luis Ocana at the luncheon

Shaun McArdle - who updated us on a blood drive at the Point Loma Yacht Club

Karina Sousa - who is energized by the guests and new members plus the recent Kiwanis events

Joe Sigurdson - who had to leave early

Can't wait for our next event!

Going virtual did not dampen the enthusiasm of the Kiwanis Club of San Diego on January 18, 2022.  

President Mike Boland rang the bell to begin our virtual luncheon.

Judy Leitner led a moment of gratitude, particularly focused on the events at Congregation Beth Israel earlier this week in Colleyville, Texas.

Some of us sang along, although on mute, to "My Country 'Tis of Thee."

Justin Frisco introduced and welcomed our two speakers from SDSU Athletics - Curt Apsey and Derek Grice.  They updated us on the soon-to-be Snapdragon Stadium.

We also got an update from the MAAC Project.  They received a grant last year from the Kiwanis Club and used it to purchase umbrellas for their outdoor tables -- which are getting a lot of use now, especially as more students are sitting outside.  Thank you to our guests, Elsa Roth and Tommy Ramirez.

Many of our members were very generous with their donations, towards the end of our Zoom meeting, including:

Mike Boland - celebrating a birthday

Jay Jeffcoat - watching the Chargers play in Vegas

Gordon Boerner - recovering from illness

Justin Frisco - happy to be in the Club

Ryan Callan - also happy to be part of Kiwanis

Susan Day - who purchased the items Mike auctioned off from his recent trip to the UK

If you missed the excitement, you can watch it all online:

We hope to see you soon!

So much excitement at the Kiwanis Club of San Diego luncheon on December 7, 2021 at Admiral Baker Clubhouse.

President Mike Boland rang the bell and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Vice President Susan Day provided a meaningful invocation.

The group sang "God Bless America" with long-time member and Foundation Treasurer Doug Frost.

Many guests were welcomed in addition to our speaker Ted Leitner and honoree Vic Bianchini.  They included Lt. Governor of Division 21 John Crawford, Lt. Governor of Division 11 Sergio Rosas and interclub members from the Kiwanis Clubs of Bonita, Sweetwater, Grantville-Allied Gardens, Tierrsanta and Hidden Valley-Escondido. 

Chairman of the Day Vic Bianchini introduced speaker Ted Leitner.

Ted entertained the audience and answered questions.  

We celebrated 2 Club birthdays with members in attendance:

• Ricardo Sandoval - December 6
• Judy Leitner - December 17

Carl Nettleton made a donation to the Club in honor of John Freeman, a supervisor of Carl's at the beginning of Carl's career.

Our final agenda item was to award the Don McKee Spirit of Kiwanis Award to Vic Bianchini.  Brian Krause introduced Vic.

 

What a fantastic end of 2021 for the Kiwanis Club of San Diego!

Our November 17th luncheon began with President Mike Boland ringing the bell and leading members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Justin Frisco followed with the invocation.

Everyone present helped David Jay belt out "Grand Old Flag."

Our guests were welcomed, and Brian Krause warmly introduced speaker Dan McAllister, San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector, a former member of the Club.

There was only one birthday to celebrate -- Brian Krause on November 30th.  The Club is looking forward to socializing with him on his birthday after an afternoon service project at the Burn Institute.

Many members had fines to pay and events to pay tribute to, including:

• Doug Frost who was happy to return to a luncheon in person.
• Judy Leitner who just returned from a vacation in her hometown state of Texas.
• Karina Sousa who celebrated both her parents' birthdays with a family trip to Hawaii.
• Carl Nettleton who just attended the California Economic Summit and whose daughter just passed the bar.
• Mike Boland whose daughter competed successfully in the National Championships for American Saddlebred.
• Brian Krause who has a birthday coming and 15 years as a member of the Club.
• David Gugerty who has accidentally kept the "fine free pass" for a long while, having just returned to the country.
• Both Jay Jeffcoat and Brian Krause generously pledged hospitality passes to SDSU Basketball to the Foundation.

We heard an update and presented a check to Carter Anderson of the Monarch School.

She shared this moving video as well:

If you missed it, you can watch all the fun on our Zoom recording:

Prime rib was on the menu at the Club Luncheon November 3, 2021.

President Mike Boland rang the bell and led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jim Melvin gave a moving invocation, asking us to remember those who are no longer with us.  Jay Jeffcoat introduced some of us to "Columbia Gem of the Ocean," and we hope to sing it again soon!

Chairman of the Day Ryan Callan helped us welcome Valerie Lowe and Maren Kavanagh from I Love a Clean San Diego.

We were pleased to get an update from the Foundation for the Children of the Americas from Jose Gonzalez and present him with a check.

If you didn't attend, you can catch it all on the Zoom recording:

A fun time was had by all at the October 19, 2021 Club Luncheon.

President Mike Boland started off the meeting by ringing the bell and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.  Next up was Shaun McArdle's Invocation.  A rousing chorus of "God Bless America" was up next, led by Doug Frost.

Chairman of the Day Justin Frisco introduced the speaker, Craig Dado, of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, who spoke about Breeder's Cup.

 

We celebrated October birthdays:

• Gordon Boerner - 10/1
• Susan Day - 10/3
• John Rush - 10/7
• Dick Shaw - 10/14
• Jay Jeffcoat - 10/16
• Monica Ball - 10/19
• Gary Knight - 10/26

Jay Jeffcoat was honored with a Diamond Level George F. Hixson Fellowship for his support of Kiwanis and the community.

And, Capt Randy Morgan USN (Ret) was presented with a check for the Seal Family Foundation.

If you missed the fun, you can catch it all on our Zoom recording: