Rodolfo "Rudy" Alvarez began his Rotary career on this birthday (October 23) in 1983, when he joined the Rotary Club of Westwood Village, where he established a long track record of club service, including serving as Westwood’s 75th President.   Rudy has had exemplary service to  District 5280, serving in its Leadership Mentor Program, District Conference Planning and Strategic Planning committees.  He served as Group Study Exchange Team Leader to Italy, has twice been Chair of the Ethics Kaffeeklatch Series, and was Executive Aide (2005-06) to District Governor-Elect Ingo Werk -- a position that many Santa Monica Rotarians got to know Rudy.  In September,  2007, Rudy will be in Cartagena, Colombia as a Special Guest at the XXXVI Rotary Institute for Zone 21, encompassing all of Latin America.  Currently, Rudy serves on District 5280 Finance Committee and District 5280 Policy and Guidelines Committee.  Rudy is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

Immediately following graduation from high school in San Antonio, Texas, Rudy served three years active duty in the United States Marine Corps, followed by five years reserve.  He entered college with Korean GI Bill support, earning the Certificate of European Studies from the Institute for American Universities, Aix-en-Provence, France (1960), Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University (1961), and both MA (1964) and PhD (1966) from University of Washington (Seattle).  Rudy launched his research and teaching career at Yale University (1966-72) and was appointed to the faculty at the University of California Los Angeles in 1972, where he is now Emeritus Professor of Sociology.  He speaks several languages and has visited Rotary Clubs across District 5280, the United States, and many countries as well as participated in Rotary’s International Conventions.  Appointed in 1968, he is now the longest serving member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Rudy took up residence in Santa Monica in 1986 and was appointed to the Architectural Review Board by the City Council in 2001.  Rudy proudly owns and races a 2003 Limited Edition Fiftieth Anniversary Commemorative Model Corvette. His two highly accomplished daughters (Anica and Amira) are his best friends and he thoroughly enjoys his three lovely granddaughters (Aia, Mika, and Taara Nishio).

Barbara Bishop is president of BBPR, Inc., an award-wining, full-service, marketing communications agency.  Celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2006, BBPR, Inc. specializes in media relations, web strategy, special events, creative collateral material development and marketing communications strategic planning.  Barbara, who is married to attorney Laurence Leisten, lives in Bel Air, California with their two beautiful Persian cats, Humphrey and Tiffany.  Barbara is an accomplished cook, wine collector, and world traveler (in her spare time).  In addition, she enjoys sewing, singing, dancing, hiking, biking, rollerblading, meditation and yoga.  Barbara also serves on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels West, on the marketing committee of OPCC, is a member of BTW (Big Thinking Women) and is active in helping to save unwanted pets from being put to death in shelters, through her work with K-9 Connection.  

Bret Carter is a Vice President, Director and Shareholder of Hart, Watters & Carter, a professional law corporation. He practices law in the same firm as fellow Rotarian, Charles "Dick" Hart, Jr. where he emphasizes corporate, business and real estate transactions. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.  Mr. Carter lives in Malibu with his wife, Hazel.  His interests include hiking, biking and racquetball. He is also an avid traveler having been around the world and to all seven continents.

Melissa K. Dagodag is a native of California and attended Stanford University, where she earned both her Master's and Bachelor's degrees in English. After graduating from Stanford University, she owned and operated her own product design and manufacturing business for several years.  From this business she gained valuable hands-on experience which continues to enhance her skills as a business attorney. She decided to attend law school after feeling the frustration of seeing her designs and other tangible representations of her ideas stolen by others. Throughout attending The UCLA School of Law, she kept in mind her ideals of protecting creative embodiments of work, for herself, her friends and her colleagues. After graduating from The UCLA School of Law, she gained a great deal of helpful work experience at a prestigious Los Angeles law firm, in-house as Vice President of a small music publishing company and in-house as Business Affairs Counsel at a prominent fashion company. In early 2006 she opened her own law office. To this day, she endeavors to adhere to the ideals which brought her to the practice of law in the first place: helping to protect the work of creative and entrepreneurial people.
 

Christopher Darrow is an attorney who has been practicing law in California since 1976.  He specializes in Intellectual Property Law, particularly patent and trademark law.  After graduating from the University of Toledo in 1968 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, he worked as an aerospace engineer on the anti-missile missile program being developed at that time.  He moved to Santa Monica in 1970 and worked inside the McDonnell Douglas facility at the Santa Monica airport.  He graduated from Whittier College School of Law in 1976, and now works at the Greenberg Traurig law firm in the Water Garden.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association. 

Chris worked in Century City for many years and was an officer and director of the Rotary Club of Century City before transferring to the Rotary Club of Santa Monica.  He has been a Rotarian since 1989 and is a Paul Harris Fellow.  He resides in Topanga, swims for exercise and has a daughter and two cats living with him. 

June Doy has been the Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica for the past three years and also an Administrative Assistant at Carlthorp School working for Dee Menzies.  June has 3 dogs and 1 cat – Katie, Mochi, Bailey, and Fluffy, AKA Gizmo, who allow her to reside in their apartment in Santa Monica. When the dogs no longer let her reside with them, she moves in with her brother-in-law, Tom Loo, at his beautiful home in Malibu.  Her interests are Hiking, Animals, Fishing and Camping. 

Scott Knight is Co-Founder, Managing Principal and Director of Sales for Perr&Knight, an insurance consulting firm based in Pacific Palisades, California. Since co-founding the company in 1994, Perr&Knight provides comprehensive services to over 90% of the property-casualty insurance industry and  employs over 100 professionals with offices in California, Florida and New York.  

Scott is also a partner of Pali Wine Company which was founded in 2005 by a group of co-workers from Perr&Knight. Pali currently makes high-end, vineyard designated Pinot Noir at its winery located in Lompoc, CA (50 miles north of Santa Barbara). In addition to assisting with the winemaking process at the winery, Scott is responsible for managing the sales and distribution of Pali Wines throughout the world.  

Born in Newport Beach, California on “tax day” 1965, Scott graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 1988 with a degree in Psychology. A lifelong Californian, Scott currently resides in Santa Monica with his wife, Janice, daughter, April (born in 2000), son, Leo (born in 2004), and their cat, Prince. In addition to being a homemaker, Janice has responsibilities with the operations of Pali, is active with the PTA, and volunteers her time at their children’s schools.

Scott’s hobbies and interests include spending quality time with family and friends, sports (playing and watching them), growing his businesses, collecting and drinking fine wines, music, rotary, and helping those in need.    

Brian Rene Linnekens is the president and principal shareholder of Global Innovation Development, Inc (www.GIDevelopmentinc.com), a real estate development company. Brian was born in San Francisco and moved to Lake Tahoe with his family when he was very young. He grew up in the mountains and attended South Tahoe High School where he was the Class President during each of his freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. He played varsity football and taught a junior golf program during his summers.  Brian then studied structural engineering at Swarthmore College, where he was a member of a Delta Upsilon fraternity and played on the football and golf teams. Brian graduated from Swarthmore with distinction with a Bachelor of Science in engineering - with emphases on steel and concrete design, heat transfer and thermofluid dynamics.

Brian then attended the School of Law and the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, where he received his dual degrees - J.D. and MBA. After working for a large downtown law firm for a couple of years, Brian founded Global Innovation Development, Inc. and began developing large multi-family and mixed-use real estate projects around Southern California. Brian is currently expanding the focus of his company to include assisted living facilities and low/moderate income housing.

Brian currently lives in Santa Monica with his wife, Jenna, and his two pets - Dante XX (the dog) and Socrates (the turtle)."

Jean McNeil Wyner is the Physician and Community Liaison at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital.  As Physician Liaison Jean helps acclimate new physicians to SM-UCLA and its services and programs, makes regular office visits and arranges quarterly luncheons for physician office staff personnel.   In a Government Relations capacity Jean’s contacts with the City of Santa Monica has helped the medical center with its ongoing rebuilding project.  In her Community Liaison role Jean works tirelessly on behalf of countless community based social service agencies. 

Jean participates in the following organizations as a board member, advisory board member and team member:  American Cancer Society, Relay For Life, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, Santa Monica Sister City Association, Santa Monica College Advisory Board, Santa Monica College Associates,  Salvation Army of Santa Monica, Salvation Army ARC, Santa Monica Family YMCA, UCLA Stevens House Scholarship Association, Santa Monica Breakfast Club, Santa Monica Historical Society Museum, Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club, Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation, Westside Challenge to Beat Breast Cancer, WISE and Healthy Aging and the Police Activities League.

In the past 22 years, Jean has received many awards for her service on behalf of the medical center:  YWCA Woman of the Year, Presidential awards from the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce in 1988, 1997, 2002 and 2003, “One in a Million Award” from the American Cancer Society, Service Ace Award from the Westside Challenge to Beat Breast Cancer, Humanitarian Award from the National Conference of Community and Justice, Roy E. Naylor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Commendations from the City of Santa Monica in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2002, the Jim Cayton Community Service Award from the Center for Healthy Aging and the Extraordinary Community Service Award from the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

Jean lives in Marina Del Rey with her husband, Dr. Norton Wyner.  They enjoy walking, reading, theatre and fine dining.  Jean has one son, Frank

David Outcalt is Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay having retired in 1998. Previously he was Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage. David graduated from La Jolla High School in 1952 and went on the receive a B.A. from Pomona College, an M.A. from Claremont Graduate University, and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, all in mathematics. Prior to moving to Alaska he was a professor, department chair, and dean at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received an honorary doctorate from Kyung Hee University in Korea and is a Life Member of the International Association of University Presidents.

He was married to his late wife, Marcia, in 1956. They have four sons and eight grandchildren with a ninth on the way. David is a violinist playing with the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra and the Topanga Symphony Orchestra. He enjoys hiking and backpacking, genealogy and just hanging out with family. He is a member of the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church.

David is a long time Rotarian having joined the Rotary Club of Anchorage in 1982 and subsequently was a member of the Green Bay and Kapaa Clubs before joining the Santa Monica Club. He is a Benefactor and multiple Paul Harris Fellow, past club president and past club foundation chair.    

David G. Price is Chairman of American Airports Corporation, an aviation real estate fixed base operation and airport management company which purchases, leases and develops aviation properties, FBO’s and general aviation airports.  He was founder and Chairman of American Golf Corporation and National Golf Properties which he sold in 2003.  American Golf owned/leased and operated more than 350 golf courses in the U.S., England and Australia.

David developed and chaired the Museum of Flying at Santa Monica Airport which he expects to reopen in another location at the airport in 2008.  He also founded and developed Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village. 

He is a graduate of USC and the UCLA School of Law, and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, obtaining his wings as a jet fighter pilot.  He is a member of the Chief Executives Organization.

David enjoys flying World War II aircraft, especially his P-51 Mustang, and has competed in the Reno Air Races.  He enjoys motorcycling, sports and athletics. 

He has five children and ten grandchildren and he and his wife Helen reside in Brentwood. 

Lynette Shishito has been a full-time business professor at Santa Monica College since 1975, while also serving in various administrative positions as department coordinator and director of certain business-related grants.    At one time, Lynnette had her own business as a computer training consultant, which, interestingly, brought her into the homes of Joan Rivers and Jane Fonda to teach their daughters computer skills for college.  Her desire and fun is in teaching.  This is why she has enjoyed being the faculty advisor for the SMC Rotaract Club for about 14 years.  Lynnette feels very honored to have been made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica.

Lynnette and her husband live in the Sunset Mesa neighborhood of Malibu.  Their dogs are their children.  She also enjoys helping out at a nearby rescue shelter where she has taken in three rescued cocker spaniels so far.  Growing up in Minnesota, Lynnette goes back to visit family a few times every year.  More weather-friendly, however, are visits to her husband's family in La Jolla and Hawaii.  Lynnette's interests include golfing, traveling and doing volunteer work. 

Danae Thomas has more than 20 years experience in the financial services industry and joined UBS in 2004.  She focuses on providing comprehensive wealth assessment, management and preservation.  Her goal is to add value to each client relationship through the use of a consulting process, which includes strategic asset allocation as well as financial and estate planning.  Danae has in many ways reinvented the role of the financial advisor.  For her it goes well beyond managing the client's assets, she helps them manage their lives.  Danae's focus is on providing an unparalleled level of personal attention with each of her clients.  She has also created a host of very unique programs and special services to help support women who are in transition.

Danae is a graduate of Chico State University with a degree in English Literature.  She has been featured in Madison's Who's Who and is an active member of the Chambers of Commerce of Santa Monica, Greater West LA, Culver City and Westchester/MDR and now Rotary of Santa Monica.  Danae is single and lives near Marina Del Rey with her dog, Winston and spends her free time traveling, rollerblading, golfing and is learning to play tennis.

Anna Carin Thomér (Anna) is Consul at the Consulate General of Sweden in Los Angeles with responsibility for business promotion and investments in the areas of IT, biotech and environment technology. The position is within the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Anna earned her Master of Laws from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. She has worked as management consultant at KPMG and worked at the Swedish  Ministry of the Environment. Also, in New York she was involved with the preparations for the Non Governmental Organization’s Forum for the United Nations World Conference on Women in China,  and later was associated with  the preparations for the UN Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat II, in Istanbul. Anna has served as Vice Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Through a Swedish NGO she participated in a democracy project at the refugee camps of Polisario Front in the Sahara.

Anna was a member of Stockholm Old Town Rotary Club between 1997-2007 and grew up in a city north of Stockholm. She has resided in Santa Monica since 2006 and her interests include travels, art, music, dance, politics, science and technology.