JUNE 19, 2012 Speaker: Eric Frost – SDSU Visualization Center, Center for Information Technology & Infrastructure (CITI)

The SDSU VizCenter is a physical space but one that largely represents relationships between people and organizations collectively attempting to positively impact the worlds of Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief, Community Resil-ience, Search and Rescue, and aid to operational Emergency Responders and Homeland Security. The VizCenter specializes in organizing and delivering geospatial data (dots on maps) over small networks (terabytes to the handheld) for emergency response and disasters. By linking emerging technologies, innovative back-end processing, and operational needs especially for disaster, the Viz Center community is attempting to assist our community, region, nation, and world in responding to difficult situations with critical information, knowledge, and decision-support tools.

Dr. Frost is Co-Director of the Graduate Program in Homeland Security as well as the Director of the Visualization Center and the Center for Information Technology and Infra-structure. He works with geospatial imaging and data fusion as a means to support Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief globally, especially in joint projects with the US Navy and other Federal agencies in areas such as Central Asia, Indonesia, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Africa. His years with the Geology program at SDSU continues to link him to natural disasters globally as well as alternative energy, resilience networks, sustainability, global imaging, fiber optics, and cloud computing.

Rotary International President’s June 2012 Message

Rotary International 2012 – 2013 President Sakuji Tanaka

My dear brothers and sisters in Rotary,

June is a time to reflect on the Rotary year that has nearly passed, and to look forward to the one that is soon to begin. We look back at what we have accomplished and measure our progress toward the goals we have set for ourselves. In Rotary, we may pause to reflect, but never to rest on our laurels – for as much as we have achieved, we are always aware of how much there is still to do.

The 2011-12 year has been a time of significant progress. Binota and I have been fortunate to have visited different parts of the Rotary world and seen the many ways that Rotarians everywhere Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. In South Sudan, we met with Rotarians who are determined to make a difference despite tremendous challenges. The humanitarian problems in that nation are enormous, and begin with the most basic: At the moment, South Sudan lacks a single functional hospital. I am confident that in the coming year, Rotarians around the world will reach out to our newest Rotary country with the support and help it will need.

In Uganda, I was delighted and heartened to discover how many government ministers and officials are Rotarians, and to see them bringing the ideals of Rotary to life in their service. In Kathmandu, I was overwhelmed as countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – came together to vow to make the region 100 percent literate by 2017.

In Fiji and Vanuatu in the South Pacific, I was moved by Rotarians who are helping to lower child mortality and provide safe housing. In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, I was delighted by the statement of Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al-Nahayan, minister of higher education and scientific research: “We are looking forward eagerly to Rotary starting its first club here.” And in Valdivia, Chile, as close to the South Pole as Binota and I have been, we were moved by Rotarians’ work with children who have mental disabilities.

But most of all, we found our hearts warmed by the welcome we received all over the world – and by the sight of so many Rotarians living the Rotary ideal, and choosing to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. I thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president, and look forward to working together to build Peace Through Service. Visit President’s Monthly Message Page on Rotary International’s Website

LJ Light Article: Rotarians award $150,000 to La Jolla graduates

By Pat Sherman

The Rotary Club of La Jolla awarded $150,000 in college scholarships to 22 graduating La Jolla High School seniors during its May 22 luncheon at the La Valencia Hotel.

“Parents, you should be real proud of these students, the way they interview, the way they present themselves, the accomplishments they’ve already made — and they’re only at the beginning,” said Cindy Goodman, chair of the club’s scholarship committee.

Goodman said applicant interviews took place during a blackout.

La Jolla High School graduate and scholarship recipient Christian Gimber will be headed to the UCLA in the fall.

“There was no power, the elevators weren’t working and the stairwells were locked,” she said, addressing the students. “You accepted that challenge with great humor and grace and dignity. It proves that when you go on to school you’re going to do well under stress.”

Rotarian Russell King, associate director for strategic initiatives at UC San Diego, served as master of ceremonies.

King noted that the percentage of students graduating from high school or receiving a high school equivalency certificate in San Diego County is only 74 percent.

He said socioeconomic barriers were the most prominent factor in whether a student attends college.

“Socioeconomic issues should not stop someone from getting an education,” King said. “There are students that are in this room that are beating the odds. They’re getting into some schools I know I couldn’t get into, and they worked really hard to get there. We’re here to help you get to the next level.”

King said the number of outstanding federal student loans is currently $900 billion, while the number of private student loans is about $140 million — the former being greater than both the country’s overall mortgage debt and credit card debt.

Ricardo Rivas of The Preuss School at UCSD receives the Gilbert Martin scholarship from Rotarian Roger Anderson. Rivas heads to Northwestern University in the fall.

“We need to fill that gap,” he said. “We need to make sure that these students, when they get out of college, are not in debt.”

More Scholarship Winners
The following is a list of scholarship recipients and the universities they plan to attend in the fall.

• Riford Scholars (Recipients must attend a California college or university and maintain a GPA of 3.1 in high school and 3.5 in college to remain eligible for the scholarship in subsequent years.)
Elli Desaegher, The Bishop’s School (Point Loma Nazarene); Christian Gimber, La Jolla High, (tentatively UCLA); Kathy Ha, The Preuss School (Cal Poly); Alexandra Kirby, La Jolla Country Day (Santa Clara University); Lindsey Kostas, La Jolla Country Day (Stanford University); Linda Lam, The Preuss School (UC Irvine); Zack Lana, The Bishop’s School (UC San Diego); Kiriti Lin, La Jolla High (UC Davis);Minh Trang Vy, The Preuss School (UC Berkeley); Tom Wheeler, La Jolla High, (Santa Clara University); Ni Na Xaun Vo Diep, The Preuss School (UC San Diego).

Twins Megan (left) and Kaitlin Woods of La Jolla Country Day School receive their scholarship certificates from Rotary Club President Ron Jones. The sibling graduates will be headed to Notre Dame in the fall. Both served in the Spanish Honor Society and Cum Laude Society, and as co-editor and chief of their school’s yearbook.

• Rotary Scholars (Non-needs based, funded by a donors and Rotary activities. Recipients may attend any college or university in the country, and must maintain a GPA of 3.2 in both high school and college).
Tiffany Lo, The Bishop’s School (John’s Hopkins University); Mustafa Malik, The Preuss School (Yale University); Jessica O’Dell, The Bishop’s School (Brown University); Madison Pachoe, The Bishop’s School (Brown University); Ricardo Rivas, The Preuss School (Northwestern University); Amara Tang, The Preuss School (UC San Diego); Amaris Tang, The Preuss School (UC San Diego); Sharon Vongvanith, The Preuss School (University of Pennsylvania); Kaitlan Woods, La Jolla Country Day (Notre Dame); and Megan Woods, La Jolla Country Day (Notre Dame).

WELCOME…to Rotary Club of La Jolla’s NEW website!

Powered by WordPress, the leading content-management system (CMS) and built by Edward A. Sanchez of La Jolla’s own Brass Ring Multimedia, the new website is a great tool with the potential to significantly raise Rotary’s profile on the web, bringing Rotary’s message and mission of “service above self” to a larger audience.

Ryan Sutton’s “Bird Rock At Night.” 2011’s winner of La Jolla Historical Society’s student photo contest

Additionally, we plan to make this site a much more useful informational point for members of Rotary Club of La Jolla. News of recent events, advanced notice of upcoming activities, comments & commentary from members, better access to current membership information and more will be at your fingertips here on the new improved website.

On an aesthetic note, we’re fortunate and grateful to have some fine images from local photographers which convey the beauty of our La Jolla. Our thanks to Leon Chow of C&H Photo on Fay Avenue and Michael Mishler of La Jolla Historical Society along with the photographers themselves for helping greatly in making the site look great.

Bookmark the site and make a point of checking back from time to time to see what’s new and what’s happening!