Sunrise Rotary April 12, 2018; “Little Italy and the San Diego Waterfront” and… A successful trip serving in Mexicali…
President Dave presided over our meeting in fine fashion; Past President Tony led us in the pledge. Bill Dopp led the Morning Prayer.
Thanks to Past President Bob Burson for his meeting notes to assist your absent bulletin editor… Good Work Bob!!
Guests and Visitors:
Club Secretary Linda Bailey introduced a visiting Rotarian, John Goodrich, Rancho Bernardo, and District Governor Nominee.
Birthdays:
April: 17: Becky Lund
Anniversaries:
None this week
Rotary Anniversaries:
April: Andy Ommen, 10 years… Great to have you with us Andy… Serving the community for a decade…
Photos of the Week:
President Dave shared some photos from the Mexicali project; including a door that took 8 plus hours over two days to hang… So meticulous is our Presidant!!
Past President Rich Aeling commented on the Mexicali project, stating that most all went well… Although we suffered an accident involving one of our volunteers… Silvana Tavares tripped over a sprinkler head, falling and injuring her head and neck… after a brief visit to the ER, and enduring 20 sutures, she is home and doing better…
Fellow Rotarian Mike Morasco has prepared a physical therapy plan for her… Heal quickly Silvana!!
Dates to Remember:
April: 20-22: RYLA
21: Rotarians at Work Day… The Club is teaming up with Escondido Shines (I Love a Clean San Diego Creek to Bay Cleanup). Our work location is Grape Day Park form 9:00 AM to Noon. All hands are welcome to join in the project…
May: 17: Evening meeting; The evening program will be presented by Jeff Miller, a survivor of the United Airlines Flight 232 that crashed in an Iowa cornfield in 1984…
Please send an email to Past President Bob Burson confirming your attendance and the number of attendees…
June 16: Wine, Brews and Buckaroos Event sponsored by the Bonsall Rotary Club
21: Demotion Dinner… Adios President Dave! More details to come; right Tony???
Hi Fives:
President-Elect Dave Herbert announced that Bonnie Maloney had agreed to help run our Interfaith Community Service Project, Thank you Bonnie.
Past President and Foundation Chair, Kevin Svetich announced that the following members had received their 9th Paul Harris Fellow award:
Future President Linda Bailey
Past President Barry Baker
Past President Mike Muehl
Kevin also reminded us that for those are able it was time to make your annual $1,000 contribution to the Paul Harris Society.
Past President Kevin and President Dave with Rotary Foundation Banners recognizing our club members’ generosity…

Other than for the joy of our fantastic company, District Governor-Elect John Goodrich came to the meeting to present the Club three awards for our contributions to the Rotary Foundation:
- We were 3rd in the District in per capita giving,
- We were 100% member participation,
- And we were 100% Every Rotarian Every Year contributing to the RI Foundation
Foundation Banners awarded to Escondido Sunrise Rotary…
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Past President Jeff Johnson asked for help for the History Center’s annual car show. He needs bartenders at Grape Day Park from 9:00am - 3:00pm. The date is May 26th.
It was announced that Doug Shultz finished second in the Center for the Arts Dancing with the Stars Contest.
Congratulations Doug! And congratulations to the Center for raising $157,000…
Escondido East Rotary hosting their annual picnic supporting Active Duty and Veterans on May 12 at Kit Carson Park; tickets are $20 and available from Rich or any East Rotary member
Program:
James Bregante was our speaker; his topic was Little Italy and the San Diego waterfront. He is a native San Diegan and a docent for the Little Italy Heritage Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego. He has spoken on these topics over 300 times to over 12,000 people. Additionally, he has written a book to be able to pass his memories of a young San Diego to later generations.
He shared his experiences of growing up in Little Italy and the changes that occurred over the years to the San Diego Waterfront. His presentation included historical pictures of both Little Italy and the harbor and Embarcadero.
Some of the highlights of his talk included telling us that when he was young the only restaurant in Little Italy was a Mexican Eatery and that his family came to San Diego as refugees from the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake. During WWII his uncle would tell his fellow sailors who came through San Diego to go to his sister’s house to have dinner. He said they always had company at dinner time during the war years. San Diego Bay was filled in over the years and that the bay originally came up to where the train tracks are located today.
Speaker Jim Bregante sharing his memories with Club Members…
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Next Week’s Program:
Come and find out…
Opportunity Drawing:
Lunch Money: $27.00 Past President Jeff Johnson
Big Pot: $694.00 … Mark Maus… Sorry; better luck next time