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President's Message

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

 

From Vision to Action: Diego Bressant’s Mission to Transform Our City Starts with You!

As a reminder, join us on December 2 at 11:45 AM for an inspiring talk by Diego Bressant from the Wolf’s Den. He is spearheading city-wide clean-ups that are creating a meaningful difference in our community. As a dedicated young entrepreneur, Diego focuses on enhancing health, wellness, and cleanliness. Come and find out how you can contribute to this vital movement!

 

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Reminder:

 

The nominating committee, chaired by Dr. Bill Orr, has met and approved a slate of potential officers, who have accepted the nominations:

 

- President: Tawnya Rhoades-Hensley (25/26)

- President Elect: Edward Hensley

- Director at Large: Shirley Jean

- Director at Large: Sheila McDevitt

- Treasurer: Ed Ridder

- Secretary: Phil Savage III

- Immediate Past President: Dr. Bill Orr

 

Voting will take place on December 2 at our first meeting. Any additional nominations will be accepted from the floor during the November 18 meeting.

 

Additionally, a board meeting will be held immediately following the December 2 meeting.

 

 
Tawnya Rhoades-Hensley
President, 2025-2026

Rotary Club of Downtown San Bernardino

 

 

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Featured Presentation

Diego Bressant – Founder of The Wolf’s Den, San Bernardino

Diego Bressant is the visionary behind The Wolf’s Den Training Facility, located at 1930 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA. His journey began humbly, training athletes at Moore Middle School with homemade obstacles he built and carried himself. When he later moved training into his backyard, he christened the space “The Wolf’s Den,” inspired by his four huskies, who were constant companions during those early sessions.

From those grassroots beginnings, Diego built a community of athletes who shared his passion for obstacle training, fitness, and resilience. His backyard rig attracted nearly 200 people, including competitors from American Ninja Warrior, where Diego himself pursued his dream of competing. He applied season after season, finally earning a call to compete in Season 15 of American Ninja Warrior, a milestone that fueled his drive to expand The Wolf’s Den into a full-fledged facility.

Today, The Wolf’s Den has grown into a thriving training hub with over 300 active members. The facility supports athletes across disciplines—Ninja Warriors, OCR (Obstacle Course Racing) champions, parkour athletes, gymnasts, and even knife-throwing champions. Diego’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: transform every “I can’t” into “I can’t believe I did that.”

Beyond fitness, Diego is recognized as a community leader. He was honored as Citizen of the Month by the San Bernardino City Council in July 2023, alongside fellow community advocate Xzavian Ochoa. His work reflects a commitment not only to physical training but also to uplifting San Bernardino by offering a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for people of all ages and fitness levels.

 

Quick Highlights

  • Founder & Owner: The Wolf’s Den Training Facility, San Bernardino
  • Location: 1930 South “E” Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408
  • Origins: Began training with homemade obstacles at Moore Middle School, and later moved to backyard training with nearly 200 participants
  • Inspiration: Named The Wolf’s Den after his four huskies
  • American Ninja Warrior: Competed in Season 15
  • Community Impact: Over 300 active members; honored as Citizen of the Month by San Bernardino City Council
  • Philosophy: Turning “I can’t” into “I can’t believe I did that”

Diego Bressant’s story is one of persistence, creativity, and community building. From backyard rigs to a professional facility, he has transformed his passion into a movement that inspires athletes and neighbors alike.

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Event Highlight Revisited

Annual Turkey Giveaway
On Saturday, November 22nd, we joined forces with community partners including IE Rebound, Arrowhead United Way, Children's Fund, the District Attorney's Office, the Police Department, the Public Defender's Office, Vibrant Green for Vibrant Peace, Rotary Life, Young Women’s Empowerment, Amazon Fresh, and the All Smiles Loving Care Foundation. Together, we provided meals for over 2,300 families during our annual Turkey Giveaway, which aimed to uplift local families with holiday meals and essential resources. It is an honor to collaborate with Rebound on this meaningful effort.
 

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Rotary Club Website

Attention San Bernardino Rotarians,
You can now access the Rotary Club of San Bernardino website by entering the domain names: rotarysb.org and rcsb.net.
 

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Member Accomplishment

Our wonderful club president, Tawnya Rhoades-Hensley, has recently released a new book that’s sure to delight readers of all ages. Three Doggy Explorers: University Hills Expedition is a charming adventure that showcases Tawnya’s love for storytelling, animals, and the vibrant spirit of our local community. With her signature creativity and heartfelt attention to detail, she brings to life a trio of curious canines on a playful journey through sunflowers, ponds, and helicopters overhead—capturing the imagination and wonder that make childhood magical. Tawnya’s debut into children’s literature is not only a celebration of her artistic talents but also a joyful gift to families everywhere.

 

Book Overview: Join Salem the sleek Shar-Pei, Beasty Boy the gentle giant Cane Corso, and hilarious little Tooty Toot Toot the French Bulldog on their joyful daily expedition through the sunny hills behind the university. These three inseparable doggy friends splash in frog-filled ponds, chase dragonflies through fields of towering sunflowers, greet colorful hang gliders floating down from the sky, and dream of secret waterfalls and hidden caves.

With wagging tails and hearts full of wonder, the Doggy Explorers show young readers that adventure is always just beyond the next trail. Perfect for little animal lovers, this warm and lively picture book celebrates friendship, curiosity, and the magic of exploring the natural world together. Includes a fun activity section where kids can build their own doggy explorer backpack!

 
If you would like to purchase this book, click the link: Three Dog Explorers
 
 

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ROTARY LIFE ADVISORS

Freshman Class – Leonard Ayala & Antonette Hensley
                                             
Sophomore Class – Daniel Solkowitz and Justen Steeman
 
Junior Class – No Class
 
Senior Class – Latasha Aimee, Lindsey Cobaugh & Shirley Jean
 
Updated 10/19/25
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Phyllis Kates
November 13
 
Spouse Birthdays
Carla Cronin
November 14
 
Christopher Jean
November 22
 
Speakers
Dec 02, 2025
City-wide Clean Up
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
Immediate Past President
 
Vice President - Program Chair
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
Director At Large
 
Director At Large
 
Director At Large
 
Director At Large
 
Rotary Club of San Bernardino Newsletter Editor: John Jamerson