Photo caption: Incumbent Club Trustee Leticia Garcia swears in the 2024 leadership team: (left to right) 1st VP Roxanne Rios, President Tim Prince, Trustee Leticia Garcia, 2nd VP Mark Alvarez, SB Valley Water Conservation District Board Member, Club Trustee and George E. Brown, Jr. Peace Award recipient Col. David Raley (Ret.) and Treasurer Ladd Seekins. Also present but not in the photo were Parliamentarian Gil Navarro and Trustee Christian Shaughnessy.
SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. — The San Bernardino Democratic Luncheon Club swore in its 2024 leadership team on Saturday, February 24, at the San Bernardino Elks Lodge. Six officers and three trustees took the oath of office.
Founded in 1993, the Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino (DLCSB) is the Inland Empire’s largest and most active Democratic club. Over a hundred members and guests attended the affair, which featured comments from several candidates for local and statewide offices.
Following the invocation by Stephanie Liggins, the Pledge of Allegiance led by San Bernardino Valley College professor Dr. Ed Millican, the singing of The National Anthem led by James M. Smith and incoming President Timothy Prince’s welcome, Trustee Leticia Chavez introduced the distinguished guests and then lunch was served.
Six officers and three trustees comprise the leadership of the Club each year. Officers serve for one year and trustees for three. The club’s 2024 officers are Timothy Prince, President; Roxanne Rios, First Vice President, Programs; Mark Alvarez, Second Vice President, Membership; John Fisher, Secretary; Ladd Seekins, Treasurer; and Gil Navarro, Parliamentarian.
Incumbent Trustees Leticia Garcia and David Raley welcomed Christian Shaughnessy, the newly elected Trustee. Shaughnessy is a candidate for San Bernardino City Council, Ward 3, the southernmost city ward. Shaughnessy also serves as President of the Young Democrats of San Bernardino.
Among the politicians who spoke, San Bernardino Sixth Ward Council Member Kimberly Calvin gave an especially stirring acceptance speech upon receiving a special plaque recognizing her “unfailing service & support of the Democratic Party.” Calvin teared up as she recounted the challenges she has had to surmount to move San Bernardino forward.
Photo caption: San Bernardino Sixth Ward Councilmember Kimberly Calvin accepts the Democratic Luncheon Club’s Democrat of the Year 2024 recognition award.
“I am truly honored to have been named Democrat of the Year by the Democratic Luncheon Club of San Bernardino… In my role as Councilmember of San Bernardino’s Ward 6, I will continue to work for the betterment of all community members and the voice for those who consider themselves to be voiceless, as that is the Democratic way!”
After all the speeches and recognitions, “We had over two dozen prizes plus the 50/50 opportunity drawing, with David Raley and Carol Robb as the biggest winners who required a cart for their haul… All the attendees felt good about their Party’s chances for success in the upcoming March 5th primary,” said Prince.
Photo caption: Plaque honoring San Bernardino Sixth Ward Councilmember Kimberly Calvin for her service to the Democratic Party and the City of San Bernardino.
The League of Women Voters, San Bernardino celebrated their 48th annual Citizens of Achievement and Civic Engagement Ceremony honoring community leaders and organizations on a beautiful Sunday, October 8, 2023, at the Sterling Natural Resource Center in Highland, CA.
Honorees included Francine Cepeda Blacksher in recognition for being the founder of the Pacific Islander Graduate Recognition Program; Dr. Jenna Cortez-Aguirre for her work with St. Mary’s Ballet Folklorico of Redlands; Kristin Malaby for starting So Cal Trash Army clearing trash from the mountain recreation areas.
Also honored were Dr. Enrique Murillo, Jr., founder of Latino Education & Advocacy Days (LEAD) and appointment by President Joe Biden to the United States Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics of all age groups; Ratibu Shadidi (William “Bill” Henry Jacocks) posthumously for his community activities, civic engagement, social activism, and advocate of “Kwanzaa Consciousness.”
The League of Women Voters recognized Ratibu Shadidi as a Citizen of Achievement. Ratibu’s Award acceptance by son-in-law Carl M. Dameron and first grandchild Teriki Shani Thillet presented by Twilla Carthen. Video and editing by Giacomo Thillet Video link:https://youtu.be/dXr67-QwVq4?si=ecGQbT4dw6okXK4u
Finally honored were High Desert Pearls for advocating social justice including campaigning in the high desert local schools to increase voter participation, registration, and education; Inland Empire Children’s Book Project’s main focus of volunteer work includes giving books to children ages 0-18 (donations and volunteers are always welcome); and Westside Action Group, unofficially known as WAG to reduce racial inequities in employment, education, government, etc. in the City of San Bernardino.
After the program, the League was honored with recognition from San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran and council members Kimberly Calvin, and Damon Alexander, along with community leaders San Bernardino City School Board Member Felicia Alexander and County School Board Member Dr. Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers.
San Bernardino Council members Kimberly Calvin, and Damon Alexander, present a certificate of achievement to League Members Kathy Ervin, and Twila Carthen, also present San Bernardino City School Board Member Felicia Alexander and County School Board Member Dr. Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers
The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Instead, it encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters takes positions on issues after studying the issues, meeting together to review the study results, and voting on the positions that follow from those studies. The League of Women Voters of the San Bernardino Area subscribes to the positions held by the League of Women Voters on the national, state, and local levels.
