Old Mission Rotary meets Tuesdays at noon in the community room at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, 4300 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego. Parking is free.
The Old Mission Rotary Club So You Think You’ve Got Talent show is back!
For over 13 years our club has hosted an annual talent show called “Got Talent San Diego”. Our show is being performed at the Francis Parker Upper School Hall. This year’s event will be on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 5:30pm to 9:30pm, with rehearsal that morning from 10 am to noon.
The prizes are $1,000, $500, and $250 in cash for the top performers. The application is at:
www.gottalentsandiego.com
This year for the past ten years the Event beneficiary is Thousand Smiles. The Thousand Smiles Foundation is a non-profit charitable foundation that provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries and dental care for underprivileged children in Latin America.
Currently, the Thousand Smiles Foundation Surgical/Dental Clinics are held in Ensenada, Mexico. We have supported Thousand Smiles Foundation because we believe its mission and performance is outstanding and has earned our annual support.
Since its beginning in 1985 by a group of San Diego area Rotarians, over 1,700 children have received life-enhancing craniofacial reconstructive surgeries, dramatically changing their lives. Human beings who were literally outcasts in their communities have been restored to normal, healthy and respected individuals.
In addition, over 16,000 children have received dental care, ear tubes, hearing and speech therapy at their wholly owned, state of the art clinic facility in Ensenada, Mexico. For more information we invite you to explore their web site at http://thousandsmiles.org.
Dominic Pizarro and his band "Midnight Collective"
Dominic Pizarro and his band "Midnight Collective" will be performing during dinner at our Talent Gala show on Saturday, March 17th at Francis Parker School.
Homeschooled and raised with an appreciation and love for music, Brothers Dominic and Angelo Pizarro began studying Classical Music at the age of three and a half in San Diego California. With Encouragement, and support from both their Mother and Grandfather, the boys continued their zest for music and later developed an avid Interest in Jazz and Pop.
The brothers were inspired by Music Greats such as Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Harry Conick Jr., Elton John, Gershwin, Rogers & Hammerstein, Billy Taylor, Daniel Jackson, Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, Billy Strayhorn, Sinatra, Horace Silver, Ray Charles, and many more.
The Pizarro Brothers started performing duets on one piano in 2003 when Dominic was seven years old and Angelo four years old. They began busking and performing around San Diego at Community Festivals, The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Nursing Homes and local Cafes.
The Pizarro Brothers have been featured on CBS Channel 8 with Larry Himmel, Fox News, KUSI & The CW. They have performed at Anthology, Make A Wish Foundation, The U.S. Grant, The Ronald McDonald House Charities, Retirement Communities, The Rock Church, Petco Black Tie Gala, San Diego Sockers, Manchester Hyatt, Daniel Jackson Week at Croce's, Fashion Valley Mall, Mission Valley Mall, Horton Plaza, Borders, Seaport Village, Temple Beth Israel, Christmas on the Prado, The Italian Festa, The Sicilian Festa, Weddings, Schools, Fundraisers and Special Events.
Their most memorable experience, was being asked to be the Opening Act for Marvin Hamlish on July 2, 2010.
Our annual fundraiser the "So You think You've Got Talent San Diego" is coming on May 17, 2025.
You can post the Flyer to the right on your Factbook page and LinkedIn page. You can also print it and post it on any bulletin board at work or at the YMCA, or at the Boys and Girls Clubs you may visit. You can share with family and friends.
In case you were not aware we do have a Facebook Page and a LinkedIn Page that you can follow and when we post weekly you can like and repost those postings.
Old Mission Rotary and the Mission Valley Evening Club Food Packaging Event
Old Mission Rotary and the Mission Valley Evening Club sponsored a food packaging event organized by The Outreach Program of California on Saturday March 1st. Michelle Malin made available the gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Club of San Diego Clairemont location.
The mission of The Outreach Group of California is to bring communities together so as to make a positive impact on hunger and food insecurity.
Chris Romero is the West Coast Regional Events Director for The Outreach Program and is a member of the Mission Valley Evening Rotary club. Chris loves his work and explained that "Throughout every city in this country, families are struggling to provide the most basic of resources on a consistent basis. In California, 1 in 5 people are living close to the poverty line or are one life event away from a financial crisis. And while the problem is heavy, and we’re reminded daily of the divisiveness in the country; bringing small groups of people together around a social issue."
Many volunteers were present including Rotarians from the Old Mission and Mission Valley Evening clubs. After a brief safety and training session the volunteers packaged 10,000 meals in 71 minutes! The protein packed bags of oatmeal each serve six people and the food cost was .38 per bag. The packets will be distributed by the San Diego Food Bank to provide healthy breakfasts for people eligible for food assistance.
Members of Old Mission Rotary present were President Bob Chalfa, President Elect Susan Josephson, Steve Nunez, Michelle Malin and her son Joey, Don Krupp, Lee Kaminetz, Shari Stauder, Matt Risi and Gary John Collins with his son Gage.
Future Plans for Mid-City by Alex Frost and Morgen Ruby with The City of San Diego
Old Mission Rotary's meeting venue at the Copley-Price YMCA is located in City Heights which falls the Mid-City area of San Diego. Much of our charitable work is focused on this community with grants from the Old Mission Rotary and Art Pratt Foundations.
The City of San Diego is updating the Mid-City Communities Plan for the first time in 25 years to identify opportunities for new homes, businesses and infrastructure to benefit everyone in Mid-City. The Mid-City Communities Plan will be a part of the City's General Plan - the City's guide to long-term growth - and will implement the City's Climate Action Plan.
On Tuesday, March 4th, we were treated to a very interesting presentation on future plans for Mid City by Alex Frost and Morgen Ruby are both Planners with the City of San Diego.
Photo: Alex Frost is a Principal Planner and Morgen Ruby is a Senior Planner at the City of San Diego
Susan Josephson attended the 2025 President Elect Training Seminar (PETS)
Old Mission Rotary President-Elect Susan Josephson attended the 2025 President Elect Training Seminar (PETS) for the Southwest Rotary region at the LAX Marriott from Thursday, February 20th to Sunday, February 23rd.
PETS training is designed to help incoming presidents prepare for a successful year of service to their club. The training provides the knowledge and confidence to lead with innovation and inspiration. Incoming presidents from clubs in Districts 5000, 5240, 5280 and our District 5340 attended.
Susan reported that she came back from PETS excited and filled with new ideas for her Rotary year!
San Diego Youth Ballet accepted a $10,000 grant from the Art Pratt Foundation
Founded in 1945, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet (SDCYB) has been the resident classical ballet school in Balboa Park for almost 80 years - offering affordable, year-round, high-quality classes and productions for dancers ages 4 to adult in the beautiful Casa del Prado. The organization provides over 500 students with daily ballet classes, produces ballet productions for over 20,000 patrons each year, teaches over 500 students offsite through the Outreach Program, and continues to operate in good financial health with a dedicated staff of full-time and part-time employees, as well as over 200 volunteers.
On Tuesday, February 25th, Kim Thomas, the Executive Director of the San Diego Youth Ballet accepted a
$10,000 grant from the Art Pratt Foundation that will be used to replace their aging Nutcracker set backdrop.
This was a special grant award for the Old Mission Rotary family. We all know Matt Risi, who is a longtime member of our club, a two-time past president, and longtime club publicity chairman. Angela Risi, Matt’s daughter, was a phenomenal dancer and a graduate student at Duke University working on her MFA in Dance when she was shot and killed in 2023.
The Duke Chronicle remembered her as a “supernova type of artist” with “creative brilliance and a passion for community building.” She has also been described as “a kind soul with a passion for movement and music”. This week would have been Angela’s 32nd birthday.
Growing up, Angela participated in the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and Matt has shared some great memories from that time.
The President of the Art Pratt foundation, Lee Kaminetz noted that in the Hebrew tradition, when someone dear to us passes away, we say “May her memory be a blessing.” This award to the San Diego Youth Ballet was given in Angela’s honor.
Photo: (L-R) Art Pratt Foundation members Susan Josephson, Bob Chalfa, Shari Stauder, Stan Vogelsang, Lee Kaminetz. Judi Copeland and Tom Sandler with Kim Thomas of the San Diego Youth Ballet and Matt Risi of Old Mission Rotary.
When you become a member of Old Mission Rotary you begin a journey that lasts a lifetime.
Your time, energy, and a passion to improve your world are all you need to “Get involved with Rotary”
Become one of Rotary’s people of action or explore the many opportunities we have for anyone — whatever your age or interest — who wants to improve lives in communities near and far.
Join Rotary’s 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Old Mission Rotary brings together people across generations who share the ideals of service, leadership, diversity, friendship, and integrity and wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves.
This history of the past 75 years of our Club is dedicated to all of our past presidents. Take a moment to click on the image and read our history.
Remember the Bwana of Old Mission, Mike Rogers is our longest tenured member. He joined our club in 1962. That is remarkable.
Read his section on our past presidents in the beginning of the history. Dave Blum who kept the Tom Baumann Old Mission Rotary History Book is included. Win Bishop's photo albums are included. Many parts of Matt Risi's past newsletters are included.
In the "About our Club" section of our website are all the individual sections of the History. You can download and save them for yourselves.
Read and offer edits or updates. Unlike a regular printed book, this is a living document that I can update till end of my time.
Join us at the Copley-Price Family YMCA in City Heights – Kensington at 4300 El Cajon Blvd. We meet on Tuesdays at Noon for lunch, fellowship and guest speakers that make a positive difference in and around our community. All are welcome to attend.
Copley-Price Family YMCA is "Located at the Corner of Fairmont and El Cajon".
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