Downtown Club News
Don Lang Memorial Tree Dedication Ceremony
Posted by Thomas Sayer on May 30, 2018
Today a group of our Club members dedicated two trees to the memory of Don Lang.  The trees are a Fern Pine and a Naked Coral and are located along Park Avenue near Morley Field Drive across from Roosevelt Middle School.  Pictured above on the left of the Fern Pine are Bobbi Spinner-Flack, Gary McElroy, Dee Lang, Tom Sayer and Mary Dawe.  On the right of the tree are Cindy Blair, Martin Blair, Mary Engles, Melissa Blackburn-Joniaux and Tom Fitch.  Thanks to the Friends of Balboa Park for the service opportunity!!  This year our Club has planted ~110 trees, or at least one tree for every active member.
 
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San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club Member Joe Ciokon tosses Ceremonial Wreath off the flight deck of the USS Midway
Saturday, May 26th was a special day aboard the USS Midway! San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club member Joe Ciokon tossed one of four ceremonial wreaths off the flight deck of the USS Midway, in commemoration of those lost or injured in battle. Rotary Club President Bobbi Spinner-Flack and President Elect Tom Fitch attended the Ceremony.
 

“I know the true meaning of loss in combat,” retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Joe Ciokon told a crowd of hundreds who gathered at the USS Midway Saturday.

They might have come from different generations, but veterans of World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and the War on Terror came together to share stories of heroism, survival, sacrifice and remembrance.

During the ceremony, they tossed four wreaths, symbolizing the four major American wars of the last 75 years. “We remember them with events like this, what sacrifice and service is. That’s the way we honor their memory is to talk about what they did,”

Students Rock the 4-Way Test Speech Contest
On April 11, 2018, the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club once again had the honor of hosting the Regional Finals of the District 5340 4-Way Test Speech Contest.  This year's contestants were all outstanding, with everyone agreeing that this was the best group ever.  The participants, high school students from throughout San Diego County, were (in order of ranking):  Jesse Kennedy, Kaseba Chibweth, Cole Mullins, Ariana Bermudez, and Emily Sabory.  Each received a cash prize, and the top three will advance to the finals on April 26.  Congratulations to all of these amazing orators!   
 
The 4-Way Test Speech Contest Finals will be hosted by the Rotary Club of San Diego (Club 33) on April 26, 2018, at the Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  The event (including lunch; cost is $33) is open to the public.  If you are interested in attending, you must register online at www.sandiegorotary.club.
Play Ball!
More than 60 Rotarians from District 5340 participated in Rotary Night at the Ballpark on April 12, when the San Diego Padres hosted the San Francisco Giants.  The event included a special Rotary flag raising ceremony at the Rotary Flag Court (in the right field grandstand area of Petco Park).  But the highlight of the evening was watching District Governor Scott Carr as he threw out the honorary first pitch and scored points for style.  Congratulations, DG Scott, and thanks for representing Rotary!     
 
Upcoming Speakers
 
Rotary Links
 
San Diego Downtown Breakfast is a