COMMUNICATOR

UNITED SOCIETY OF The Monthly Newsletter of the Sociedad Unida de Baja California Vol MMXXI No 07 P.O. Box 439030 #168 July 2021 San Ysidro, CA 92143 www.unitedsocietyofbaja.org

USBC Events USBC October Events

Social, Summer Solstice, and Tour Member BBQ

June was a busy month with several events. The USBC monthly social and restaurant tour events allowed members to savor the delicious food of Rosarito. The USBC/IMAC Summer Solstice fundraiser was a huge success!! This month’s social events will be held at Los Amigos on Saturday, July 17th and Luigi’s Ristorante on Monday, July 26th.

USBC in-person General Meetings resume on August 7th at the Hotel.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wayne R. Denniston, President (2021) Amy Valenzuela (2021) (951) 295-5148, [email protected] (619) 205-9189, [email protected]

Anita Olson, First Vice President (2021) Arlene Sieman (2023) (661) 100-6800, [email protected] (661) 612-1081, [email protected]

Mona Jean Smith-Middleton Danielle Williams (2023) Second Vice President (2021) (619) 955-7192, [email protected] (664) 631-3291, [email protected] Dee Dee Martinson (2021) Linda Denniston, Secretary (2021) (661) 100-6800, (951) 295-5148, [email protected] [email protected]

Milo Goehring, Treasurer (2021) Jo Flowers (2021) (661) 100-6653, [email protected] (661) 613-9355, [email protected]

Judy WestphaI Larry Kolisnyk (2021) Immediate Past President (2021) (664) 631-3291, [email protected] (661) 614-1113, [email protected] Paul Flowers (2023) (661) 613-9355, [email protected]

ALTERNATES

Diego Knight (2021) Robin Bell (2021) (661) 117-9791, [email protected] (619) 467-6297, [email protected]

Laura Orange (2021) Alexander Magnum (2021) (661) 106-5872, [email protected] (664) 501-4321, [email protected]

Kathy Hutzler (2021) (661) 100-6060, [email protected]

Amy Valenzuela Jo Flowers Education/Sunshine & Spanish Speaking Ambassadors Membership Table (664) 631.-2092, [email protected] (661) 613-9355, [email protected]

Anita Olson, Sergeant-at-Arms Laura Orange, Greeter (661) 100-6800, [email protected] Paul Flowers, Greeter

Bill Clark, Nominating Milo Goehring, Membership (661) 110-9047, [email protected] (661) 100-6653, [email protected]

Danielle Williams, Speaker Chairperson Raymond Bell, Website I Communicator (619) 955-7192, [email protected] (303) 775-5281, [email protected]

DeeDee Martinson, Socials & Events (661) 100-6800, [email protected]

United Society of Baja California (USBC) General Meetings: 1st Saturday of the month, 10am, th Rosarito Beach Hotel, Rosarito, B.C. (Starting August 7 2021) Board meets Wednesday prior to the 1st Saturday,

10am, at La Maroma. USBC is a social charity group serving as the hub for social, charitable and special

interest groups in the Rosarito area.

www.unitedsocietyofbaja.org

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TREASURER'S REPORT

BY MILO GOEHRING

Financial Report (June 2021) Total Income $ 2,269.00 Total Expenses $ 1,646.00 Year-to-date Income $ 1,002.00

Membership Report (June 2021) New Members 6 Renewals For The Month 3 Total Active Members 132

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Wayne Denniston [email protected]

ello members,

USBC’s monthly socials and restaurant It is a very fulfilling job to help others in our tours are back and everyone is having a great community and we are a great vehicle for time. Thank you Judy for June’s restaurant tour meeting other ex-pats as well as educating at Kraken. Remember: Our restaurant tours are ourselves on various topics and organizations. held the last Monday of each month. Our socials are the third Saturday of each month at It’s not too late to join us on our cruises in Los Amigos. March 2022. We always have a great time on these cruises; thanks to Larry Norman, our Our first fundraiser in over a year was on June cruise director. Check it out on our website. 20th at IMAC Park. There was lots of food, drinks and entertainment. It was a lot of fun and Since 1983, USBC has been the original a great success. This was a celebration for umbrella organization for all charity and non- Fathers’ Day and Summer Solstice. A special profits. We are proud to be a valuable and thank you to Danielle, DeeDee, Maribelle and all important part of our Rosarito community. the wonderful volunteers who helped make this event possible. And a huge thank you to IMAC Our monthly Communicator is sent out to each for their great support. member. Each edition includes all the names of your board as well as their contact information. General meetings with speakers will begin It is also available on our website at again in August. Mark this on your calendar. It www.unitedsocietyofbaja.org. A very special will be on the first Saturday of every month. The thank you to our amazing web master and first meeting this year will be on August 7th at Communicator editor, Raymond Bell. 10:00am, at Rosarito Beach Hotel. Breakfast can be ordered from 9:30am to 10:30am. We USBC will continue to follow all safety protocols would encourage all of you to get breakfast as it for COVID for our events and we look forward to offsets the cost of using the hotel. Our first seeing you soon. speaker will be announced soon. Submit your suggestions for speakers and topics to Danielle, Please continue to be safe and aware. As our speaker chairperson. always, Linda’s and my prayers are with you all.

Your board is working hard to get things God bless, happening again. Send us your suggestions Wayne Denniston, President and ideas for fun. Even better, run for a position on the board and get involved. Elections for all positions on the executive board and board of directors are up for election. Voting will start in November and if you are interested in running for any of these positions, please let me know.

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USBC Community – This and That… by Danielle Williams

Accompanied by Wayne Denniston, our president, I attended the 5th annual Rosarito Historical Congress at the Rosarito Beach Hotel on June 23rd. I was shocked to find out that USBC pre-dates the creation of the municipality of Rosarito by 15 years. The morning program was two-fold: announcing the classification of he Rosarito Beach Hotel as a historical monument (it was inaugurated in May 1925), and rendering homage to Hugo Torres, the lightning rod for the creation of Rosarito. In his acceptance speech, senor Torres described the process in some detail, stating it was a long, arduous process of demonstrations, plebiscites, and much work before Rosarito broke off from and was finally granted a charter as a city whose official name is Playas de Rosarito in 1998. Old timers in Tijuana still refer to Rosarito as “Playas” causing total confusion with which most people in Rosarito nowadays shorten to “Playas”. Kit Kaplan, one of our long-time member, remembers vividly the civil unrest of those days.

The confusion notwithstanding, the fact remains that Rosarito was born of strife in 1998, while in 1983 USBC was quietly born of the goodwill of a handful of expats wanting to do good for their host community. One is now a vibrant entity growing by leaps and bounds while the latter plods along basically unknown of Mexicans and ex-pats alike.

Although I came to Rosarito in 2008 and was aware of its existence, it took me a long time to join USBC. My realtor had told me the organization was not worth my time. I joined at some point, years later, during Judy Wesphal’s tenure when I became aware of the myriad charity organizations USBC supported. While I have been a fan ever since, I deplore the lack of exposure USBC suffers. It is to alleviate the problem that I came up with the idea of a major public event: the Father’s Day and Summer Solstice Feast at IMAC this last Sunday. Thanks to massive advertising both in Spanish and English as well as media coverage, USBC did benefit from the exposure. By all accounts, the event was a success with a total of some 300 attendees, mostly Mexican, who enjoyed the varied program. It was an enjoyable feel-good sort of affair with a fair amount of networking with Mexican folks. It is my sincere hope that USBC can continue to reach out and spread the good will generated on June 20th. There are many opportunities out there to make ourselves more visible.

For a long time, I have toyed with the idea of a historical project. It is worth researching whether some folks who arrived in Rosarito before 1983 are still around. Who were these USBC founders? I am more than mildly curious. Would it not be worth joining forces with the Rosarito Historical Society to document our mutual history? This new and different story could be told through different outlets: radio, TV, articles, exhibits, and performances. This would culminate in a bi-national reception honoring our interviewees.

This is just one idea. I am sure we can come up with more projects if we put our heads together.

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USBC Cruises -- Holland America Cruise (March 2022)

As part of the USBC Fundraising Events, there are two 7-day cruises to choose from, both in March 2022. Please contact Larry Norman, our vacation and cruise coach, at [email protected] (619) 930-9677, for more information and to book your cruise.

Holland America – Ms Koningsdam

Two 7-Day Cruises Mexico – March 13th to March 20th th th Coastal – March 20 to March 27

March 13th 2022 - Mexico, Round Trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas

Balcony Cabin $1,389 + $115 port tax ($1,504 per person)

Inside Cabin $979 + $115 port tax ($1,094 per person)

March 20th 2022 - Pacific Coastal Catalina, Santa Barbara, San Francisco (overnight) and Ensenada

Balcony Cabin $1,334 + $205 port tax ($1,539 per person)

Inside Cabin $1,074 + $205 port tax ($1,219 per person)

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Community Support –USBC and Rosarito Rotary Club

Both USBC and the Rosarito Rotary Club have co-existed in Rosarito for many years. With some friendly networking and communications, these two organizations are looking to work closer together. Here Adolfo Tejeda of the Rosarito Rotary Club, and Wayne Denniston, the USBC President, further than collaboration process.

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Community Support – FRAO

The Foreign Residents Attention Office is an organization whose primary goal is to help new settlers to the area.

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USBC Restaurant Tours…

Our Restaurant Tours allow our members to sample the savory delights and favorite restaurants of Rosarito. The tours are scheduled for the 4th Monday of each month.

July 26th, 5pm – Luigi’s Ristorante RSVP and Payment by July 18th

MENU

1. Antipasto Rustico 2. Soup (stratachela or minestrone) or salad 3. Chicken Oro blanco OR Pasta Pescatore (Seafood pasta) white or red OR Linguini Vesuvio (with shrimp in a wine sauce) OR Bistec Ranchero

4. Tiramisu or Canoli

Welcome drink: glass of wine, beer, or margarita.

$25USD Tax and service included

Pre-Payment Confirms your Reservation Cash to Milo Goehring, Check Payable to USBC, PayPal www.unitedsocietyofbaja.org/tour

km 31 Blvd Popotla. Kitty corner from TAPANCO restaurant. Park on Tapanco side, just before the stop sign and safely cross the boulevard.

Contact: Danielle Williams -- (619) 955-7192 [email protected]

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Calendar of Events

USBC General Meeting USBC Monthly Social USBC Restaurant Tour FRAO (#201) Free Spanish Class, 1st Saturday of the month at 10am. 3rd Saturday of the month at 1pm. 4th Monday of the month at 5pm. ZOOM Web Attendance 11am – Rosarito Beach Hotel, Rosarito Los Amigos, Rosarito Different restaurant each month. 1pm Mondays (Beginner) & (starting August 7th) Fridays (Intermediate)

July 2021 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Chocolate Wafer Day; Fried Clam Day; Eat Your Beans Day Linda Denniston Anisette Day birthday Elizabeth Staudigl birthday Gingersnap Day

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fried Chicken Day; Dive Bar Day; Hand Roll Day Macaroni Day; Strawberry Sundae Day Mexican Legislative Mona Jean Smith- Sugar Cookie Day Arlene Sieman Election; Middleton birthday; birthday; USA Independence Graham Cracker Day Chocolate with Kitten Day; Day; Almonds Day Pina Colada Day BBQ Spare Ribs Day; Caesar Salad Day

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 7-11 Day; French Fry Day; Give Something Away Cheer Up the Lonely Beans n Franks Day Day; Day; Gummi Worm Day Larry Kolisnyk birthday; All American Pet Photo Simplicity Day; Corn Fritters Day; USBC Social Day Eat Your Jello Day; Nude Day; Personal Chefs Day Pecan Pie Day Tape Measure Day; Strawberry Rhubarb Mac n Cheese Day Day; Peach Ice Cream Day; World Emoji Day 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Ice Cream Day; Sour Lollipop Day; Hammock Day; Candy Day; Moon Day Penuche Fudge Day; Caviar Day Rat Catchers Day Daiquiri Day; Gorgeous Grandma DeeDee Martinson Get Out of the Day; birthday; Doghouse Day Junk Food Day Vanilla Ice Cream Day Tequila Day; Be Someone Day; Drive Thru Day

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Hire A Veteran Day; Love Is Kind Day; Milk Chocolate Day; Lasagna Day; Avocado Day; Wine n Cheese Day; Scotch Day Buffalo Soldiers Day Chili Dog Day; Mutt Day; Parents Day Chicken Wing Day Raspberry Cake Day Cheesecake Day; Restaurant Tour Father In Law Day; Talk In An Elevator Day

Robin Bell birthday; All or Nothing Day; Coffee Milkshake Day

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USBC Community – June USBC Restaurant Tour

Our last monthly restaurant tour was held at KRAKEN and we had a huge turn-out. KRAKEN is the premier seafood restaurant in the area, and everyone had a great time.

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AA Grupo open meetings: Sun, Mon, Thurs, 10 AM Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm, 2 blocks east of Del Mar Inn. Closed Women's Wednesday 10AM & Men's Thursday 6PM. (661) 614-1678. AL-ANON (English) Tuesday 10AM 2 blocks east of Del Mar Inn. Saturday 1PM in Primo Tapia. Call for information (661) 614-1678. Angels 2 Angels is a bi-national mission-centric charitable organization dedicated to helping orphanages transform into centers of excellence, providing children with protected, loving, quality care. 100% of all donations go directly to help the orphanages. www.angels2angels.org. Contact: Leticia Castro de Halverson, Founder and Executive Director, (951) 205-9890, [email protected]. Baja Animal Sanctuary Provides help for abused and abandoned animals by spaying/neutering and finding homes. Contact: Sunny Benedict, [email protected], www.bajaanimalsanctuary.org. Baja California Spay Neuter Foundation Providing low cost spay and neuter clinics in Baja. Volunteers always welcome. Contact: Robin Gunther, President, (661) 123-3619, (619) 906- 7294 [email protected], www.BajaSpayNeuter.org. Baja Dog Rescue American-run 501(c)(3) organization operated by volunteers in Baja California. We are a no-kill shelter that rescues and rehabilitates unwanted, abandoned, and neglected dogs and finds them loving homes. Contact: (619) 407-9372, (664) 636-2997, [email protected], www.bajadogrescue.org. Baja Scholarship Foundation Provides financial support to superior Mexican students at risk of dropping out of school due to financial hardship. Contact: Judie Desson (661) 613-2359, (760) 208- 2840, www.bajascholarshipfoundation.org, [email protected]. Bajavurah Meets the last Sunday of the month. A Jewish social group whose members live part or full-time in the Rosarito Beach area. www.bajavurah.com. Contact: Gordon Kane, President, (619) 980-4673, [email protected]. Club de Ninos y Ninas Rosarito Affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club of America. Provides positive programs, services and activities for school-age children. Contact: Rosy Torres, President, [email protected], www.clubnyn.org. Cruz Roja Voluntarios Americanos de Rosarito General meetings 2nd Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at the Beach Comber Restaurant & Bar, Blvd. Benito Juarez Km 25.5 in Quintas del Mar. Thrift Store, located behind Waldos, open Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. DIF Desarrollo Integral de la Familia Meetings in English: 2nd Tuesday,9:00AM, Salon Maya, Rosarito Beach Hotel Contact: Linda Munoz, (661) 612-6082 or (661) 612-6077, [email protected]. Flying Samaritans Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Villas del Mar, 10:00AM. They conduct free clinics for people of Mexico who have no other resources. Medical clinics the 2nd Saturday, and a hearing clinic the 3rd Saturday. Clinic is located at Calle Chihuahua #488, Colonia Constituciόn. Contact: Susan Smith, President, (858) 240-2360, (661) 100-6066, [email protected], www.flyingsamaritansrosarito.org. FRAO The Foreign Residents Attention Office, located in Suite 201 (new location) on the first floor of City Hall, provides information and assistance to international residents. Breakfast meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month 10:00AM. Calafia Hotel Contact: (661) 614-9600 ext. 1080, [email protected]. Friends of the Library Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month except December (10AM) at CEART. FOL promotes reading, literacy & works to improve conditions and collections of the 5 library branches. Contact: President Nancy Zvonkovic, [email protected], www.friendsofthelibrary.com.mx.

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Hearts of Baja Children's Homes Network To coordinate the needs and resources of the 109 registered and additional non-registered group homes for the nearly 6000 children, orphaned or not, living in our own backyard. Contact: Marilyn Widd, [email protected], (442) 400-2309, (760) 936-3772, www.heartsofbaja.com. Los Angelitos Orphanage You are welcome to be part of this orphanage, and the blessing of your sponsorship will allow an additional child to enter into this home. [email protected], www.losangelitos.org. Rosarito Sister Cities Committee Meets the 4th Thursday of the month, 10:00AM in Room 212 at City Hall. Aims to increase international trade, economic development, and exchanges of culture, educational and social services. Contact: (661) 614-9600 ext. 1080, [email protected]. Rosarito Theatre Guild Board of Directors meets on the 2nd Tuesday,10:00AM at their Theatre in the CINES RIO building, #76 Benito Juarez Boulevard, Rosarito (one block south of Elektra), Contact: Sylvia Dombrosky, President (664) 631-3320, [email protected], www.rosaritotheatre.org

Catholic Church Rosarito Centro English Mass Sunday 9:30AM Fr. John McCormick, Fr. Oscar Villalpando Ramirez, (661) 612-1048. Calvary Chapel Rosarito Pastor Mike Vincent. Meets at Aqua Calientes #2978. Services: Sunday 9:00 & 11:00AM, Saturday 6:30PM and Wednesday 6:30PM. (661) 612-7915, [email protected]. Hope Chapel Rosarito Located in Baja Malibu, right next to Baja Storage at KM 23.5 along the Tijuana-Ensenada free road. Services: Sunday 11:30AM and Wednesday at 6:00PM, (664) 609-3557, www.hopechapelrosarito.org. Hope and Faith Amish Mennonite Fellowship In La Misiόn, we will be bilingual. Info: Jason Caruth (646) 155-0539, (619) 591-8009. Latter-day Saints (Mormon) English service Sunday 9:00AM-12:00PM, Rosarito Chapel, 20 Calle Cantil, 5 blocks west of Benito Juarez off Av. Del Mar. Info: Craig Klein (619) 581-7121, [email protected]. Rosarito Beach Christian Church Km 42.6 on Tijuana-Ensenada free road. Sunday Worship Service 9:45AM, Info: (661) 614-0009, Pastor: Dr. Tom Ward, [email protected], www.rbccchristianchurch.com. Rosarito Church of the Nazarene Pastor Gary Tucker. Meets at Calle Abete & Mediterraneo, 2 blocks east of Crown Plaza Hotel. Services: Sunday 10:00AM, Wednesday 6:30PM, (619) 504-9611, [email protected]. Mission St. Mary Magdalene Playas de Rosarito Rev'd Fr. Mark S. Lieske, East Side @ Km 40.3 Free Road Ensenada - Tijuana Look for our Signs, Next to Artistic Furniture North of Ollie's Pizza & South of Baja Produce. [email protected], US (619) 313-7511.

www.unitedsocietyofbaja.org