I expect everyone is enjoying our well-deserved cooler weather as we finally escape from the recent heat wave. At our last meeting on September 3, 2024, we were visited by District Governor Judy Zulfiqar who is traveling the District and meeting with all 60 clubs to introduce herself and express her appreciation for the great work performed by Rotarians throughout the area. Judy talked about the concept of “Inspiring Rotary Heroes” and how the District stands ready to support Rotary Clubs and heroic Rotarians in any way possible as we complete our mission of Service Above Self. She reminded us that the role of the District is not an oversight as many people believe. Rather, the role of the District is to provide advice and help with grant funds for projects, training, and anything else needed to support Rotary clubs which are independent and self-governing.
Judy also shared some key dates for Rotary this year, including:
November 2, 2024 – District Foundation Dinner
March 8, 2025 – District Four-Way Speech Contest
March 22-23, 2025 and April 12-13, 2025 – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
April 26-27, 2025 – Rotarians at Work Weekend
May 2025 – District Celebration
June 23-25, 2025 – Rotary International Convention in Calgary
Our club should give some thought to how we can participate in the Rotarians at Work weekend in April 2025. We can expect a great year ahead with Judy overseeing District operations, and we sincerely appreciate her taking the time to travel to San Bernardino and meet with our Club.
Great News About Ed Ridder
As you know, Ed Ridder was absent from our last meeting on September 3, 2024. At about the same time as our meeting was occurring, Ed was undergoing heart surgery. Thankfully, Ed’s procedure was successful and he is recovering very well. Thank you to everyone for your heartfelt thoughts and prayers for Ed during a difficult time. We miss Ed and look forward to his return very soon.
Congratulations and THANK YOU to Ladd Seekins!
During her visit on September 3rd, District Governor Judy Zulfiqar presented Ladd Seekins with the Rotary Foundation’s Major Donor Award. This award is given to Rotarians who reach a cumulative donation total of $10,000 or more. Ladd, we congratulate you on this amazing achievement, and THANK YOU on behalf of everyone around the world who has benefitted from your donations and the donations of all Rotarians. If anyone would like to donate to any Rotary cause, please visit https://my.rotary.org/donate.
Board Meeting This Week
We will be having a brief Board Meeting this Tuesday directly following our regular Rotary meeting. All Board members, please plan to attend. All Rotarians are also invited to participate as your input and participation in Club business are very valuable to the success of our Club.
Inland Empire Fires
Since our last meeting on September 3, 2024, the Inland Empire has been under siege by heat, devastating wildfires, and poor air quality, all of which have wreaked havoc on all of us. District 5330 has mounted a support system for anyone in need of help, especially those in the Running Springs, Wrightwood, and other mountain areas that have been under evacuation orders for many days. Rotarians have stepped up to offer their homes to displaced families and have organized donations to our first responders who bravely and selflessly battle the flames in awful conditions. Always remember, Rotary is an extensive network of kind, caring, and compassionate people who stand ready to help in times of need. If you or anyone you know needs support, reach out to Club or District leadership.
On September 5, 2024, the Line Fire started in Highland near Baseline Road and Alpine Street. The fire is still burning today and is about 25% contained. Over 38,000 acres of wildland have been torched, stretching from Highland to Running Springs, east to Mentone and Angelus Oaks, and the fire is now on a slow crawl toward the Big Bear Dam area. Fortunately, the cooler weather and reduced winds have stunted the progress of the fire in recent days. Although devastating and highly impactful, we are thankful that the fire has resulted in no fatalities, although there have been three injuries, one structure destroyed, and three structures damaged.
Similarly, the Bridge Fire began September 8, 2024, near East Fork and Glendora Mountain Roads in the mountain wilderness north of La Verne. It has spread north and east into Wrightwood and south Phelan, burning over 52,000 acres, and is now only 3% contained. Today, the Bridge Fire is the largest in Southern California. Again, we are fortunate that this fire has generally been confined to wildland areas, and there have been no fatalities or injuries, although 19 structures have been destroyed and 6 damaged.
Editors Note: Wildfire Aware App created by ESRI in Redlands will show you the latest information on fires throughout the United States.
Earthquakes
Just this week, there have been an astonishing 9 earthquakes in Southern California and Southern Nevada, each with a magnitude of 3.0 or higher. The largest of this group was a magnitude 4.7, which was centered near Malibu. Thankfully, there have been no reports of significant damage or injuries. While earthquakes are generally unpredictable as to date, time, and location, we certainly can predict that they WILL occur! As such, this is another wake-up call to us all… we need to plan and prepare for the impact of these known and expected events.
Disaster Preparation
Most of us are longtime California residents and understandably have become complacent regarding the devastation caused by earthquakes, wildfires, and flooding (especially in recent burn areas). However, we must strive to prepare ourselves, our families, and those we know who are vulnerable to these inevitabilities. With the recent wildfire and earthquake wake-up calls, we should all be reassessing our disaster preparedness and ensuring we have an updated plan and sufficient supplies. For more information about planning and preparedness for a variety of emergencies, visit the California Office of Emergency Services website at: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/planning-preparedness-prevention/planning-preparedness/.
President, Bill Orr 2024-2025
Rotary Club of Downtown San Bernardino
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Featured Guest
Marisol Sandoval, San Bernardino Symphony Association’s Operations and Patron Services Manager
Marisol Sandoval is the San Bernardino Symphony Association’s Operations and Patron Services Manager. She is responsible for maintaining and managing office functions, providing oversight to ticketing and ensuring quality patron support, and developing new creative fundraising strategies.
Marisol is always courteous over the phone, accommodating at the box office, and diligent in advancing the Symphony’s mission. Her focus on community outreach reflects a passion for service no matter where she is and a deep belief that community is anyone she comes into
contact with. Some of her goals include growing audience capacity, creating opportunities for at-risk youth interested in careers in the arts, and demonstrating to the community how much we care.
Marisol was born and raised in San Francisco and grew up in the Excelsior district. She attended Saint Ignatius College Preparatory where she earned the Father Reese Award for her dedication to community service." Marisol earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from University of California Riverside. No stranger to hard work, Marisol boasts her Alumni status from the scholarship program Students Rising Above, a 4-year College-to-Career scholarship founded in San Francisco.
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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 name: rotarysb.org and rcsb.net.
ROTARY LIFE ADVISORS
Freshman Class –
Sophomore Class – Lindsey Cobaugh and Shirley Jean
I expect everyone is enjoying our well-deserved cooler weather as we finally escape from the recent heat wave. At our last meeting on September 3, 2024, we were visited by District Governor Judy Zulfiqar who is traveling the District and meeting with all 60 clubs to introduce herself and express her appreciation for the great work performed by Rotarians throughout the area. Judy talked about the concept of “Inspiring Rotary Heroes” and how the District stands ready to support Rotary Clubs and heroic Rotarians in any way possible as we complete our mission of Service Above Self. She reminded us that the role of the District is not an oversight as many people believe. Rather, the role of the District is to provide advice and help with grant funds for projects, training, and anything else needed to support Rotary clubs which are independent and self-governing. 
As you know, Ed Ridder was absent from our last meeting on September 3, 2024. At about the same time as our meeting was occurring, Ed was undergoing heart surgery. Thankfully, Ed’s procedure was successful and he is recovering very well. Thank you to everyone for your heartfelt thoughts and prayers for Ed during a difficult time. We miss Ed and look forward to his return very soon. 
During her visit on September 3rd, District Governor Judy Zulfiqar presented Ladd Seekins with the Rotary Foundation’s Major Donor Award. This award is given to Rotarians who reach a cumulative donation total of $10,000 or more. Ladd, we congratulate you on this amazing achievement, and THANK YOU on behalf of everyone around the world who has benefitted from your donations and the donations of all Rotarians. If anyone would like to donate to any Rotary cause, please visit 
We will be having a brief Board Meeting this Tuesday directly following our regular Rotary meeting. All Board members, please plan to attend. All Rotarians are also invited to participate as your input and participation in Club business are very valuable to the success of our Club.
