Baja Rotary Christmas educational backpack program. It was a great day at the school. The kids were so happy! We could feel the Christmas spirit!

It's so important to let our First Responders know we are grateful for their dedicated service and sacrifices! With the leadership of our new Community Service Director, Jamie Jessel, Anita Houston and Linda Hess were fortunate enough to visit with the Orange County Fire Authority Base Camp in Santiago Canyon. This crew is based locally, and focused on the groundwork needed to fight fires, both here in Orange County and abroad, or wherever the fires may take them. Our MBSR team delivered the 50 support packs our club assembled a few weeks ago to the wildland firefighters. Essentials such as socks, lip balm, bandanas, liquid IV for hydration, assorted snacks, eye drops and sunscreen were included. Thanks to club members who participated in that effort. Everyone at the Camp was so kind and appreciative. Rotarians were taken on a tour of their basecamp, which was absolutely eye-opening. A permanent bond with the Battalion Chief and his team of firefighters was forged and will hopefully will last for many years to come.

Stan Moore introduced guest speaker, Kevin Sheek, who has been managing the SONGS nuclear energy generation and safe storage of residual radioactive materials since his arrival on site in 1989. Although the San Onofre plant is currently in the midst of a multi- year decommissioning process, the facility generated a constant stream of 11,000 megawatts of electricity from each of its two generators dur 1967 - 1993, when scale down operations were initiated. Kevin stressed that throughout the at least 40 year decommissioning process, Safety, Environmental Stewardship and Community Engagement were Southern California Edison’s main focus and concern. After years of exhaustive planning coordination and permit and licensing process between various responsible agencies (SCE, CA Coastal Commission, San Diego County and neighboring municipalities) the SONGS tear down phase was started in 2013 and is currently 60% done and expected to be completed in 2028. Ultimately, the final disposal of nuclear waste material is the responsibility of the federal government, which must identify construct and operate a final storage site. The tons of solid nuclear waste now stored at SONGS will be removed from the site by railroad using a five track railway system (six truckloads of material can be moved in a single freight train car). This eventual relocation is mandatory because CA law stipulates that no commercial radioactive nuclear waste can be permanently stored in California. Meanwhile, SONGS uses one million gallons or minute to cool the pressurized water reactors that cool ceramic material containing solid nuclear waste that

Membership Chair, Charles Brickell, presented Allison Peterson with her long-awaited and well deserved MBSR Blue membership badge. Allison is a remarkable overachiever who is a tremendous addition to our club! Allison is pictured here flanked with Co-Presidents Hayden Macurda and Anita Houston.

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 to all our MBSR friends! We enjoyed fun-filled festivities at the Laguna Niguel Senior Center last Saturday night. A delicious potluck and Secret Santa gift exchange made for a special evening together!