by Breeanna Jent on 2014-01-29
Board members were installed and community members recognized during the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce's annual installation and awards banquet Jan. 23 at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel.
Chamber CEO Phil Carlisle welcomed the crowd, including dignitaries like Mayor Rhodes Rigsby and representatives from the offices of Congressman Gary Miller, Assemblymember Mike Morrell and San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos.
Rigsby swore in the chamber's 2014 board members and its officers: Gary Nelson, president; Scott Stockdale, president-elect; Roni Bailey, secretary; James Walling, treasurer; Danny Fontura, Luke Kibler, Elsie Chan, George Macias, Victor Miller, Margie Miller, Richard A. Schaefer, Bill Arnold, Angela Lalas, BJ Rhoads and Verne Miller; and recognized its directors emeritus: Norm Meyer, John Ruffcorn, Willard Stewart and Mel Upp.
In his President's Address, Nelson compared the city of Loma Linda's sound financial state and the progress of the community in comparison to the nation as a whole. A banker by trade, Nelson touched on the oftentimes harrowing reality of the national debt crisis.
The good news for Loma Linda came in three points, according to Nelson:
1. Loma Linda University has a record-breaking number of enrolled students;
2. Real estate values continue to climb and the city is seeing growth with the addition of new business and upcoming projects, and;
3. Loma Linda remains fiscally sound.
Nelson touched on the $173 trillion national debt and the unemployment rate and gave a disclaimer.
"As long as general public does not bother to inform themselves our economy will grow at a slow pace and it’s not going to be a normal recovery," he said. "The longer we don't pay attention or we don't address some of these very large issues, the worse it will be for [our] kids and grandchildren. But there's hope, especially when looking at the chamber and the city. Loma Linda is in a good financial position, unlike the state and some surrounding communities, and it's because we have people that are involved and people that make tough decisions. That gives us an advantage and Loma Linda can to continue to grow."
President's awards were given to several community members that evening.
Leonard Werner, MD, an accomplished professor of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology at the Loma Linda School of Medicine, was awarded the B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS Excellence in Leadership Award; Loma Linda Academy High School student Beau Young, with aspirations to attend University of California, San Diego, was awarded the $1,000 Southern California Edison Scholarship; Chamber Ambassador Jennifer Castaneda, who has been working with the chamber since 2005, was awarded the Chamber Ambassador of the Year 2013 award; and Chamber Board Member BJ Rhoads was recognized as the Outstanding Board Member of the Year 2013.
Chamber officials said that winners of the 2013 Community Awards were accomplished, active community members and leaders who have exemplified hard work and dedication both to their community.
Diana Deanda, city of Loma Linda finance director, was honored as the City Employee of the Year for which Rigsby called her "superhuman year," working to keep the city fiscally sound in the wake of the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency.
“I want to thank my parents for establishing in me a core foundation, a faith in God, for the many sacrifices that they made and for their unconditional love throughout the years and for teaching me the value of hard work and instilling in me good work ethics," Deanda said. She also thanked her sister and her staff for their support and assistance.
Jeremy Claridge, a physical education teacher at Loma Linda Academy Elementary, was presented the Teacher of the Year award by elementary principal John Chen, for his dedication to his school, his students and his colleagues.
He said, "It's fun to work in a community that values education so much and to work at a school that doesn't just pay a good service but intentionally encourages us to keep growing and growing and get better every year.”
Deputy Michael Salazar with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, was presented with the Police Officer of the Year award by Captain Steve Dorsey, for his exhibited commitment to keeping Loma Linda and its residents safe at all hours.
Salazar shared, "It has been an honor to serve and protect the community."
Captain Scott Daniels was presented the Firefighter of the Year award by Loma Linda Fire Chief Jeff Bender, for his contributions to the city and executing difficult decisions to keep residents safe. In an emotional speech, Daniels said, "There was a man who told me there's no greater thing you can do for your fellow man than to serve him. That man was Chief Bender. I have carried those words with me on every call, on every fire.”
Napoli's Italian Restaurant was honored as the Business of the Year for consistently providing great service and authentic cuisine in its 21 years of business, and Margie Miller, publisher of the City News, was honored as the Citizen of the Year for her contributions to the community through her weekly print and online newspapers and through her contributions as a chamber board member.
Miller said, "I, too, thank my parents for giving me my core values, unconditional love and support. From my dad I learned to always give a helping hand up, and I draw my strength from my mom." Miller thanked her husband, Jim Miller, for his unwavering support, as well as her staff.
[END]
Chamber Installation/Awards Dinner
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Google Map
Event Location: San Bernardino Hilton Hotel
Address: 285 E Hospitality Ln. San Bernardino CA 92408
Description: Dinner and program will start at 7 p.m. Dinner $45. Silent auction/networking at 6 p.m. All welcome to join.
CONTACT INFO
Phone: Loma Linda Chamber 909-799-2828
GARY NELSON PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS:
Today I'd like to share some good news and then a dose of reality, followed by a disclaimer. So the good news is: Loma LInda University has a record number of students in school that are helping doing a great job of educating our future healthcare providers. That's a really big thing for Loma Linda. We have good news in that the real estate market in Loma Linda is recovering, and everyone's house is worth more today than it was yesterday, and it continues to get better. We have good news in that we've added a number of new businesses to our community and we have some projects that should be starting this year, so Loma Linda is actually still growing. We have very good news in that the City of Loma Linda is doing well financially, especially when you look around us, because not all cities around us in Southern California are doing so well as Loma Linda, because its leadership is actually doing very well.
So now the bad news, the bad news is that I haven't found anybody that can tell me what effect the Affordable Health Care Act is going to have on healthcare. We're hoping that the reimbursement and money coming into Loma Linda is better, but so far, I haven't found anybody that can say yes or no. I do know that healthcare costs, in most of the businesses that I've talked to, have gone up significantly, which is not necessarily a good thing, but that's truth.
Bad news was that I was looking at (usdebtfog.org) that currently shows our population of the United States at 317 million. So I was wondering, it also gives the number of taxpayers is 115 million. That's interesting, because I know it used to be about 50, 55% of Americans used to pay taxes, but if you do the calculations, it's actually at 36.28% of the pop. is paying taxes. I'm not sure if that's enough people paying taxes.
Other things on the US debt clock: current debt 17.3 trillion not including unfunded liabilities gvt incurred. 127 trillion- unfunded liabilities.
Amount per taxpayer we owe for unfunded liabilities 1,171,571.
Dose of reality: the current debt is at 107% of every dollar produced in US. If we all did not take any money, and gave it all to gvnt for a year, everybody in the whole US, it wouldn't pay for the debt.
Unemployment: 6.7%; the gvnt refers to it as U3. They also have one called U6 which is broadest # unemployment at 14%.
Disclaimer: As long as general public does not bother to inform themselves, our economy will grow at a slow pace and it's not going to be a normal recovery. The longer we don't pay attention, we don't address some of these very large issues, the worse it will be for my kids and my grandchildren. Can it be fixed? Yes it can, but it takes individual responsibility to be part of the change by being active and part of the solution. That's part of the reason why I love being part of the Chamber, is that I work with people who are active in the community and they are making a difference. So there's many solutions to this. My personal belief is that if you vote, idc what party you vote for, replace the people, bring in new ideas, so it's not a profession.
I ask, are you going to make a difference? Next year, is it going to be worse, or is it going to be better? If we don't do anything, it won't get better. One last thing, because I know these are not the most pleasant numbers to talk about... our community in Loma Linda is in a good financial position, unlike the State, unlike some of our surroudning communities and it's because we have people that are involved, people that make tough decisions, that gives us an advantage and it's a great reason for LL to continue to grow. I believe LL will be a much better than today and it will continue to grow but it doesn't mean there aren't other big problems that people need to continue to be aware of.
Diana Deanda:
I did want to say some thank yous. I want to thank my parents, for establishing in me a core foundation, a faith in God,the many sacrifices that they made and for their unconditional love throughout the years; for teaching me the value of hard work and instilling in me good work ethics. I want to thank my sister, for her never-ending emotional support, and her financial support to finish my education many years ago. I want to thank the City Council for their leadership of this wonderful community; I want to thank Jarb, our City Manager, for his solid team leadership for all staff; and I want to thank my staff, for their hard work and dedication. Without them, I would not look as good as I do; and last, but not least, I want to thank God, for the life and purpose he has instilled in me, for the amazing circle of community, friends and family he has surrounded me with, and I pray that I may always strive to do his will above all.
Jeremy Claridge:
I just want to say there's so many people to thank, first and foremost, my wife, who always supports me, in the days where the patience is running lower, keeps me on the straight and narrow, and then all the colleagues and administrators at Loma Linda. It's fun to work in a community that values education so much and to work at a school that doesn't just pay a good service but intentionally encourages us to keep growing and growing and get better every year.
Dept. Michael Salazar:
Jan 2005: Sheriff's Academy
May 2006: Sheriff's CS
LL GT San Manuel Casino, County surrounding SB
He took on that assignment with open arms and really showed that he cared about the city and the people he deals with. Being the captain of a sheriff's station, I do receive a lot of phone calls... I have never received a complaint (about) Mike in the whole time I've supervised him. I've received numerous calls from people that he's arrested, people that he's provided service in other areas of the city who said that he's just a pleasure to work with so that's one real quality I must say Mike takes on.
Through my time In LL I've met a lot of people, built some relationships I'll take with me as I move on through my career. I'd like to thank my wife who's always supported me as a deputy throughout my career, captain dorsey, who is a mentor to me, he pushed me to keep working hard and build those relationships within the community; lt. muhoney who is a leader, thank you sir for always being there. I'd like to thank the Chamber, comm. residents for cont. support of sheriff's dept. been an honor to serve and protect the community.
Scott Daniels:
There was a man who told me there's no greater thing you can do for your fellow man than to serve him, and that man was Chief Bender. I have carried those words with me...
*emotional*