Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North 
September 23, 2026 Newsletter

Guests & Visitors

  • Jessica White: Introduced by Cathy, Jessica is a local business owner specializing in home organization. Describing herself as the "Mary Poppins of home organization," she praised Rotary's polio eradication efforts, drawing parallels to her own mission of helping people organize and simplify their lives.
  • Mary Garza: Welcomed back to the club and warmly noted as being "half a Rotarian already."

Club Announcements & Upcoming Events

  • Oktoberfest 2026 Success: Jackie reported that the recent Oktoberfest fundraiser was a financial success, bringing in a net profit of approximately $9,000. Huge thanks to our event sponsors: Mike Bergquist, the Correa and Garcia Family, Duran Capital Management, The Berry Man, Prosperity Partners, Tim Hardy, Santa Barbara Airbus, and Roberto Najera. Heartfelt gratitude was also given to our dedicated volunteers—including Cathy Calabro, Tim Hardy, Joe Lanza, Jim Lisi, Graham Sharp, Lisa Gosdschan, Amy Bankoff, Niko Miramontes, Rowena Maloco, and John Holehouse—for their hard work on setup, ticket sales, and cleanup.
  • Columbus Day Social: Monday, October 12th at 5:30 PM. Join us in the private room at Harry's for Columbus Day trivia, camaraderie, and a raffle. Tickets are $30 (which covers the menu), and members are highly encouraged to bring spouses, partners, and friends!
  • Master Chorale Concert: Sunday, October 24th at 3:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church. The performance features dancers and a new conductor from Boston.
  • Community Service Committee: The committee will hold a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, October 29th at 4:30 PM. Members interested in joining should reach out to Jim to be added to the email distribution list.
  • Holiday Party: Save the date for Wednesday, December 2nd, at the University Club. A sign-up sheet is currently circulating.

Mega Bucks & Celebrations

  • Phil contributed a Double Mega Buck after utilizing his love of statistics to calculate his 1 in 1,000 odds of drawing the red marble in the opportunity drawing.
  • Joe gave Mega Bucks to recognize Jackie Duran and John Holehouse for their outstanding work ensuring Oktoberfest was a success.
  • Mike Bergquist proudly contributed a Mega Buck to celebrate a fellow Rotarian shooting his best golf round ever—an impressive 83 at Glen Annie Golf Club!

Guest Speaker: Jordan Eller, Public Insurance Adjuster

Our featured speaker was Jordan Eller, a second-generation Rotarian from the Ventura East Club, UC Berkeley rhetoric graduate, and licensed public insurance adjuster. Jordan’s presentation, "When Mayhem Strikes: Property Loss & Insurance Claims," outlined the crucial differences between carrier adjusters and public adjusters when navigating the aftermath of property damage.

Key Insights from the Presentation:

  • Advocacy Matters: While carrier adjusters represent the insurance company, public adjusters serve as exclusive advocates for the policyholder.
  • High Denial Rates: A recent Wall Street Journal study revealed that 44% to over 50% of property claims filed in 2025 resulted in a $0 payout due to high deductibles, exclusions, or wear and tear designations.
  • Navigating Complex Claims: Homeowners who accept a carrier's initial assessment often receive a fraction (40% to 60%) of the actual repair costs. Furthermore, large claims are often split among multiple carrier adjusters (dwelling, contents, living expenses), which severely delays the process.
  • Case Studies: Jordan shared local examples, including a 1970s Ventura condo fire that exposed asbestos in popcorn ceilings, and a historic 1925 home fire in South Pasadena. In the latter, Jordan's team successfully navigated complex, period-accurate restoration requirements (like matching double plaster and slotted screws) and properly documented a trust/lease arrangement to increase the homeowner's Loss of Use/rental payout from $0 to $360,000.

Pro-Tips for Homeowners:

  • Review Exclusions: Read your policy thoroughly to understand gaps in your coverage, such as common exclusions for slab leaks or underground pipe breaks.
  • Document Everything: Take a comprehensive video inventory of the inside and outside of your home, including your roof and property lines.
  • Beware of Restoration Contracts: Be highly cautious before signing any restoration vendor contracts immediately following a disaster, particularly those containing an "Assignment of Benefits" clause or completion penalties.
  • Monitor Premium Hikes: Prepare for upcoming premium hikes in the California market, such as the 29% increase for the FAIR Plan taking effect on October 15th.