Events

 Nina Thompson is Director of Public Relations at San Diego Humane Society. She is a communications professional with more than 20 years of experience. As a newscast producer for local, national and international newscasts, she won six Emmy awards and 13 Emmy nominations. 

Sheri Painter is the Co-Founder of Birds Eye Aerial Drones and a community-minded business leader passionate about innovation, service, and impact. She has built her career at the intersection of aviation, entrepreneurship, and public good, while also giving back through civic and nonprofit leadership. A proud Rotarian and past Rotary Club President, Sheri is deeply committed to service above self and to helping connect business, community, and purpose.

Sheri will be sharing insights from her past talks on the safe and responsible use of drones, along with how emerging technology can be used to better serve communities, industry, and the public. Drawing from her experience in aviation, business leadership, and community service, she brings a practical and thoughtful perspective on innovation, safety, and impact. Her message is both informative and inspiring, with a focus on using technology in ways that build trust and create real value.

Richard Abraham is a native of San Diego who graduated from Montgomery High School. While in high school he enlisted in the United States Navy and attended boot camp immediately after graduation. 

Richard served our country for more than 20 years, most ofthose years being out at sea. He retired as the Command Master Chief of the USS Jouett prior to its decommissioning.

After retiring from the Navy Richard worked for Hobart Food Equipment San Diego. He worked his way up from technician to Service Manager prior to retiring from Hobart after more than 25 years.

After retirement he chose to volunteer at the San Diego Air and Space museum Gillespie Field, and at the San Diego WatercolorSociety. 

During the last ten elections he has worked with the County as a poll worker, and he is currently serving on the Lakeside Community Planning Group. 

Richard has lived in the east county for 45 years and currently lives in Lakeside where for more than two years now he hasbeen working on his vision of having a Lakeside Veterans Wall of Honor built. 

Debbie Miller, Webmaster

• Dental Assistant 1975-1986. Worked for Dr. Sperber who was also a Forensic Odontologist.
• Bachelors of Science degree in Information Technology
• Owner of Debwebdesigns.com a website company since 2012
• Member of the Lakeside Woman’s Club and current Co- Vice President, newsletter editor, social media
• Webmaster for the Lakeside Woman’s Club and the Lakeside Friends of the Library

Caprice Sander, Treasurer and Bookstore manager

• BA Social Ecology, UC Irvine
• Retired State of California (DMV) Office Manager
• Lakeside Chamber of Commerce Ambassador
• Lakeside Woman’s Club member, Lakeside Garden Club, Lakeside River Park Conservancy

Ivan Chaban is a sophomore at the University of San Diego studying International Relations with minors in Economics and Creative Writing. Originally from eastern Ukraine, Ivan's life changed dramatically in 2022, setting him on an unexpected journey to San Diego. Through the support of the Rotary community, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, he rebuilt his life in a new country and a new language. Today he is an adaptive athlete in surfing, running, and triathlons, and a student passionate about international cooperation and service.

Meet the Mayor of Santee and hear about current and upcoming community updates. Feel free to bring family or friends who might be also interested in hearing from our mayor.

In Liberia, following 14 years of civil war, extreme poverty and limited infrastructure mean that many students graduate from high school without ever having used a computer. Schools often lack basic educational resources such as textbooks, digital tools, and reliable electricity, leaving both students and teachers without the means to fully engage in modern living. This digital gap limits academic achievement, workforce readiness, and long-term earning potential for Liberia's youth.  Rotarian Benjamin Kettor, a native of Liberia who became computer literate thanks to a one-dollar donation while he was seeking refuge, is now leading a campaign to "pay it forward."  His initiative aims to equip Liberian students with vital computer skills before graduation through the innovative SendBox system - a self-contained computer lab and digital library that connects to any device without requiring internet access. 

Michael, a longtime Rotarian and past club president in District 5340, will discuss insights he has gained throughout his Rotary journey, including the unique experience of continuing his Rotary service entirely in Spanish in Tijuana.