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2024 OBCF Candidate Statements

The Ocean Beach Community Foundation (OBCF) is electing up to nine new Directors to serve on the OBCF Board. Candidate forum took place at a community forum on Wednesday, June 26 at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library.

Community voting will be held June 26-July 4, with newly elected candidates starting their term on July 8, 2024.

We’re excited to announce candidates for the 2024 elections. Each voter can select 1 to 9 candidates to join the OBCF Board. The link with voting instructions follows these candidate statements:

Palmer Bajari

I'm Palmer Bajari, and I'm excited about the opportunity to serve on the Ocean Beach Community Foundation Board.

With a deep commitment to community service, a background in environmental sciences, and a passion for making a positive impact, I believe I can be a valuable asset to the Foundation and the amazing work they do in our community.

As a student of Environmental Sciences at San Diego City College with the goal of pursuing a career in watershed management, I'm dedicated to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. My experiences in advocating for community issues in coastal communities has equipped me with the skills needed to effectively represent our shared interests. I enjoy outdoor activities including surfing, hiking, and semi-professional beach volleyball.

Helping people is my greatest passion. I was raised in a family that encouraged participating in river and beach cleanups, volunteering in churches, and advocating for community issues. I'm inspired by the historic traditions that bring us together in Ocean Beach. Events like the Pier Pancake Breakfast, Taste of Ocean Beach, Holiday Parade, and Food & Toy Drive showcase our community's spirit of unity, support, and celebration. These events not only engage residents but also help strengthen the bonds that make Ocean Beach a special place to call home.

I'm a people person and have great listening and leadership skills to help solve problems. If elected, I will work tirelessly to ensure the voices of Ocean Beach residents are heard, foster connections between neighbors, and promote initiatives that enhance the beauty and well-being of our community.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. I'm excited about the opportunity to serve on the Ocean Beach Community Foundation Board of Directors, uphold the Foundation's core values, and contribute to the mission of making Ocean Beach a vibrant and thriving community for everyone.

John Carleton

Hello Ocean Beach Community Foundation Members,  

I'm John Carleton, and I'm excited to introduce myself as a candidate for the OBCF Board of Directors. As a long-term resident of San Diego County and a current member of the Ocean Beach community, I am deeply committed to the well-being and prosperity of this area.  

My academic journey at UC Berkeley, where I studied applied mathematics and economics, has equipped me with a strong analytical and strategic mindset. Additionally, my 27-year tenure as an underwriter at Liberty Mutual in San Diego, has honed my skills in risk assessment and financial analysis, which I believe will be valuable assets to the OBCF Board.

Being the former President of the Jaycees and a volunteer firefighter, I have actively engaged in community service and leadership roles. I have also dedicated my time to volunteer work at various events, including the Taste of Ocean Beach Restaurant Walk and Annual Holiday Parade, underscoring my passion for enhancing our community's traditions and events.

On a personal note, my interests in travel, cycling, and golf reflect my outgoing and active nature. Furthermore, my support for progressive Democratic candidates aligns with my values of inclusivity and community empowerment, echoing my commitment to OBCF's mission. I am eager to contribute to the OBCF Board's efforts and am thankful for the opportunity to serve.

I ask for your support to bring fresh perspectives and dedicated service to the OBCF. Together, let's work towards enhancing the well-being of Ocean Beach and supporting the OBCF's mission and goals. Thanks for your consideration.

Angelo Devlin

Hello!

My name is Angelo Devlin, and I'm excited to offer my candidacy for the board of The Ocean Beach Community Foundation. Growing up in Ocean Beach, I've always been passionate about our community. I am also an Eagle Scout, which has instilled in me a strong sense of community service and leadership. I've been actively involved in initiatives to foster community engagement and development.

For four years, I organized youth skate camps at Ocean Beach Surf and Skate, promoting skill development and a sense of belonging among local youth. I then designed the Belmont Park Skatepark, where I not only created the park but also developed a retail store and founded a summer camp that integrated the rides and attractions of Belmont Park. This project allowed me to contribute significantly to our community.

I now work as an administrator for Belmont Park, where I have continued to work towards the betterment of our community. I founded the Annual Belmont Park Community 5k and now coordinate Belmont's Annual Jobapalooza hiring festival, both of which have provided valuable opportunities for members of the community to thrive and connect.

I am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience, passion, and dedication to the Ocean Beach Community Foundation. I believe in the organization's vision to enhance community engagement and create more avenues for residents to come together and prosper. I am eager to help make our community an even better place to live, work, and play.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Karen Froehner

I moved from the Hudson Valley in New York to Ocean Beach, California, in June 2021.

My husband, Karl Heinz, is a German physicist specializing in semiconductors. We have a blended family of five children, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Two of my children moved to California for college and to be closer to their father. I am the conservator for my developmentally disabled brother, Carl, fulfilling our late mother's wish to create a family community in San Diego for his care.

She passed away in October 2021.I retired as the Director of Activities at an Assisted Living Facility in New York and was a Licensed Massage Therapist from 1998 to 2023. I owned a massage business in New York until 2003, when my husband was transferred to Taipei, Taiwan.

There, I joined the International Women’s Organization, helping to increase membership and establish a thriving magazine. In 2022, I became actively involved in the Ocean Beach Woman’s Club (OBWC) through my neighbor, Jenny Brengelman.

I joined the Philanthropy and Social Justice Committee, liaised for the Kiwanis Kite Festival, and designed the OBWC float for the 2023 Christmas Parade.

I also attended OB Town Council (OBTC) meetings and volunteered at the Farmer’s Market. Initially, I enjoyed volunteering with OBTC but grew uncomfortable with the leadership and disorganization.

However, recent positive changes in OBTC have inspired me to contribute to restoring trust and respect within the Community Foundation. My professional background includes co-founding and editing a magazine for the Taiwan International Women’s Club, chairing the Children’s Area at the Clearwater Revival in New York, and co-owning an interior design company, CAI Designs. I believe my diverse experiences and commitment to community service make me a valuable asset to the OBTC.

Dave Lipscomb

To the good people of Ocean Beach and members of the Community Foundation.

My name is David Lipscomb, Dave as most folks here call me. I am a native San Diegan, born and raised here in Ocean Beach/Point Loma for 61 years.

I graduated from Point Loma High in 1981 and was soon hired by a Fortune 500 company at the age of 21. They moved me, my wife, and my 2 year old son to Los Angeles as their National Sales Engineer. Upon our 5 year anniversary of moving to LA, we were able to move back to San Diego where I bought my first condo in Rancho Bernardo on the golf course.

Several of us owners under 60 at the time got together and I was nominated to run for Community Counsilman for our district spanning most of Rancho Bernardo Drive. I publicly won the vote as documented in the local paper at the age of 28. Working with the city and local investors, we created and implemented the RSVP program through the San Diego Police department. The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol did wellness checks and vacation visits to many local residents and grew quickly from one to 5 patrol cars.Over the years I have bought and sold several properties including 3 with HOA’s. I was always on the board in one capacity or another, doing whatever I could to make our community a better place.

I have been a Superintendent level journeyman electrician for over 30 years. In 1995 I met my then girlfriend’s father while installing the La Jolla Village AMC theater, and soon after joined his company doing exclusive work for the movie studios, sound companies, theater chain installs, and celebrity homes. Working my way up to Senior Project Engineer/CFO, the work and experiences I have blessed to have been a big part of were priceless. The following company I worked for as a project engineer for a local Broadcast Engineering company was a new path for me,doing medium and large scale projects for local broadcast systems for cities in Santa Barbara, Thousand Oaks, LAFD educational and testing facility, XETV channel 6 here in San Diego. After being severely injured on a project at the Costa Mesa Police Department Emergency Operations facility, my career pretty much came to an end.

I do volunteer work including Head Projectionist for the San Diego Film Festival, 17 years of volunteering as a route captain and site electrician for the MS walk and other needs at the MS Society here in San Diego. My dad was an electrical engineer, and my mom taught adult education here in San Diego for 47 years. My mom passed away last July, and I know that she is proud of me and would gladly support my honest involvement with our local OBCF.

I have several key issues I would love to get right into, as well, I will always make myself available to hear any and everyone’s concerns, thoughts, and opinions. I would be thrilled and very proud to take an active role in our community and serve the people of Ocean Beach with prideful hard work, following through when we undertake our efforts here at home.

Margaret Morghen

Hello Ocean Beach!

I am Margaret Morghen and I would be honored to be considered to serve on the Ocean Beach Community Foundation Board.

My family and I moved to OB in 2009 when my older daughter was 5. Now my daughters are 12 and 20. How time flies! During that first year we were privileged to participate in several wonderful OB experiences which I soon realized were highly anticipated and historic community traditions.

I loved the feeling of being instantly included in these community events and they also provided an easy way for me and my girls to make new friends and learn about what was happening locally. I did not realize it then, but these connections I made at these gatherings would (over time) also provide me with lifelong friendships, support networks and eventually (and incredibly!) the creation of my full time Piano Teaching Business.

I also did not realize back then that there was a group of people who had worked together year after year to provide me and my family with these important traditions. And that these community events would become very important to me and my family. It is so wonderful that even though my daughters are 7.5 years apart, they both got to participate in the OB Holiday Parade, Tree Decoration and Santa Experience.

This shows how committed and resilient this Board has been in providing these traditions through thick and thin over the years. It would be a great honor for me to add my own skills - as a long time resident, business owner and involved parent - to our Board to ensure these traditions continue.

Thank you so much for considering me!

Nicole Murray

I’m Nicole Murray, an Ocean Beach resident for the past 22 years. After benefitting from the work of the now Ocean Beach Community Foundation, I think it’s time to pitch in and serve.

I landed in San Diego in 2002, rented my first tiny cottage on Cape May, and never considered living in any other community. My children were born here in 2003 and 2006, and it’s been a wonderful community in which to raise them.

I’ve been a really active parent, volunteering at the local schools as well as their activities (theater, sports, Girl Scouts etc). The kids and I have also volunteered throughout San Diego, and locally for the OB Food and Toy Drive and the annual Pancake Breakfast. We now reside in a little house on Narragansett Ave.

I’m a licensed acupuncturist and local business owner. My clinic, Beach Community Acupuncture, was founded in early 2009 on Niagara and Bacon, and was a member of the Ocean Beach Business Association until we outgrew our space in 2015 and moved the clinic over the hill to Point Loma.

Fifteen years later, the clinic is still serving the Ocean Beach and Point Loma community with affordable holistic health care. I highly value community connection and service, and am a mature, energetic, capable person.

My former career was in nonprofit development and program management, so I have plenty of staff and board experience for 501(c)(3) organizations. If chosen for a board seat, I’m very happy to serve.

Thank you for your consideration.

Dawnette Sheets

I am so excited at the opportunity to join the OB Community Foundation. I’m going on my 5th year of living in OB and I can’t tell you how much I love this community.

I’m an emergency room nurse and the only thing that takes me out of the OB bubble is my work, but if there was a hospital here, you bet I’d be working there! I have always been drawn to communities that prioritize small businesses and that is something I truly appreciate about OB.

I think I could be an asset to the OB Community Foundation for many reasons, but to start, I am very open minded and I’m very outgoing. By nature I feel like I have a solid ethical compass and I truly want what’s best for the community I love.

I also like to troubleshoot sticky situations and come up with quality solutions. I think of myself as a creative person that likes to plan events and parties, but on a budget!

As a nurse, I’m able to make my own schedule, I only work 3 days a week. This allows me the availability and time to give to this role and I look forward to being a part of all the inner-workings of the Foundation and the events we put on in our community.

Schuyler Winter, Jr.

To my neighbors in Sunset Cliffs and Ocean Beach,

Thank you for taking the time to review my Candidate Statement and consider me for a position on the Ocean Beach Community Foundation. My wife and I moved to Sunset Cliffs a year and a half ago and have instantly felt at home here. There aren't many places in the world that have a vibrant and engaging community within walking distance of such natural beauty. There really is no place like it, and I'm grateful we have the OBCF to ensure we're celebrating our neighborhood and preserving it for generations to come.

I'm interested in joining the board of the OBCF to contribute to that mission. This would be my first experience serving on a community foundation but I have volunteered in the past with Respect OB and know this is a great way to contribute to my local community. As such, I would approach it with an open mind and look for the ways that I can best be of service.

I'm a marketer by trade and have over ten years of experience in everything from live event production, partnerships, and creative strategy. Given all the amazing events and charitable campaigns that the OBCF leads, I know my skills and experiences could be useful for the organization and its initiatives.

Please send me an email or give me a call to let me know what you think about those ideas or just to introduce yourself. I want to know what is important to this community and the people that make it such a wonderful place to live!

Regards,

Schuyler Winter, Jr.

Rouge Yusuf

I believe in the power of community-driven change and the importance of fostering a thriving, inclusive neighborhood. As an OB resident, I have experienced firsthand the unique charm and challenges of Ocean Beach, and I am passionate about serving our community through advocacy, engagement, and improvement initiatives.

Firstly, I am committed to advocating for the needs and voices of our diverse residents.

By joining the board, I aim to ensure that our community's concerns are heard and addressed effectively. Whether it's advocating for environmental preservation, affordable housing, or enhanced public services, I believe that a strong advocacy effort can lead to significant positive changes for Ocean Beach.

Engagement is another pillar of my candidacy. I envision a community where every resident feels connected and involved. I plan to initiate and support programs that encourage active participation from all age groups and backgrounds. By fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, we can strengthen our community bonds and create a supportive environment for all.

Improvement of our neighborhood is a continuous journey. I am dedicated to working on projects that enhance the quality of life in Ocean Beach. This includes improving our public spaces, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that our infrastructure meets the evolving needs of our community. My goal is to make Ocean Beach not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.

Finally, I believe in the power of community events to bring people together and celebrate our unique culture and spirit. By organizing and supporting events such as beach cleanups, local festivals, and educational workshops, we can create opportunities for connection and community pride.

Voting for the 2024 OBCF Board of Director elections is a 2-step process:

1. Click the link below and submit you information to verify your eligibility to vote as an OB resident, employee, property owner, or business owner.

2. Once you complete the form and your eligibility has been verified by our Election Committee, you will receive a ballot by email within 48 hours, allowing you to vote for up to 9 candidates for the OBCF Board.

I would like to receive a ballot to vote

Please direct all OBCF questions to our general email at [email protected].

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