Dr. Raymond Shields, President of the E-Club invites you to join us online Tuesday evening at 6:30pm Pacific time.
Agenda for On Line Meeting 2026-27
6:30 PM PDT
- Welcome from President and call to order
- Roll call and Introductions
- Current Announcements and News
- Program
- Comments and Questions
3 November 2026
Dr. Robin Gurwitch, Traumatic Stress in Children
Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D., a Clinical Psychologist, is a Professor Emerita in the Duke University School of Medicine, affiliate in the Center for Child and Family Policy, and the Founder of RHG International Training and Consulting, PLLC. Dr. Gurwitch specializes in work with children, particularly those considered at-risk. Since the bombing in Oklahoma City in 1995, she has devoted much time to understanding the impact of trauma and disaster/mass violence on children and ways to increase resilience and promote healing. Dr. Gurwitch has numerous scientific publications and presentations addressing these topics. A caring clinician, Dr. Gurwitch has been involved in direct care following national and international disasters. Dr. Gurwitch has been actively involved in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) since shortly after it began in 2001, with efforts largely focused on Disaster/Terrorism. She now serves as a Senior Advisor for the Disaster and Terrorism Program of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and Co-Chair of the NCTSN’s Disaster Behavioral Health Working Group. Dr. Gurwitch is the Co-Principal Investigator for the NEW DAY (Network for Enhancing Wellness in Disaster-Affected Youth) SAMHSA-funded grant with the NCTSN. Dr. Gurwitch has served on state and national committees and task forces as well as consulted with federal and state agencies and school systems. She is also a Facilitator Trainer for the NCTSN’s Core Concepts of Trauma program. Among her appointments, Dr. Gurwitch served on the inaugural US Department of Health and Human Services’ National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters. Dr. Gurwitch is a subject matter expert regarding at-risk populations, especially children and family issues, for various agencies and organizations including the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the American Psychological Association, the Department of Education, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Street. As a subject matter expert, Dr. Gurwitch is in high demand for national and international media stories related to children’s mental health issues. Recently, Dr. Gurwitch has become involved in activities related to the mental health impact of antisemitism and is part of the Leadership Team of the Jewish Community Mental Health Initiative, a non-profit program funded, in part, by the American Psychological Foundation.
Dr. Gurwitch is a leader in the evidence-based treatment, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As one of only 21 Global Trainers, certified by PCIT International Association, Dr. Gurwitch is involved in training, service, consultation and research in PCIT in the US and internationally, with numerous publications and presentations related to PCIT. For more than two decades, she has co-led PCIT efforts within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). Dr. Gurwitch and her colleague recently developed an adaptation of PCIT specifically for use with children who have experienced trauma (Trauma Directed Interactionä). She is recognized as the national leader in the adaptation of PCIT for use with military families. In 2024, Dr. Gurwitch received the PCIT Lifetime Achievement Award from PCIT International Association. Dr. Gurwitch is one of the co-developers of Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE), a trauma and evidence-informed program based on PCIT and other evidence-based parenting interventions designed to strengthen relationships and to improve behaviors in children and teens who have experienced trauma or extreme stress. She has been involved in CARE implementation and dissemination in settings throughout the US and internationally; CARE has a growing evidence base. Dr. Gurwitch has taken the primary role in adapting CARE for use after disasters/mass violence (Respond with CARE). She has also worked to adapt CARE for use with military families, children in the child welfare system, and an adaptation for school settings, among others.
A prolific writer and educator, Dr. Gurwitch has co-authored book chapters, scientific journal articles and public education materials on the topics of trauma, resilience, psychological first aid, terrorism, disasters and preparedness, PCIT and CARE. She authored a trauma treatment manual for use following disasters for children and adolescents. Dr. Gurwitch regularly presents on topics related to her specialty areas at regional, national and international conferences. She has helped to develop materials for the NCTSN, APA, SAMHSA, and the American Red Cross, among others.
10 November 2026
Dr. Jessie R. Legros, Unconscious Bias
Jessie Rosemarie Legros, EdD, MPH is an executive and professional development coach who helps leaders and mid-career professionals gain clarity, strengthen their leadership effectiveness, and navigate pivotal career transitions with intention and confidence.
With more than 20 years of leadership and management experience, Dr. Legros brings a distinctive combination of strategic thinking, adult learning, behavioral insights, facilitation, and cross-cultural expertise to her coaching. Her career spans senior federal public service, higher education, consulting, workforce development, and international assignments. She has coached and facilitated teams, developed emerging leaders, led complex multidisciplinary initiatives, and designed professional development programs for highly accomplished professionals.
Dr. Legros holds a Doctoral degree in Leadership and a Master of Public Health. Her executive development includes Harvard Kennedy School’s of Government Applying Behavioral Insights to Public Policy Program and CDC’s Strategic Leadership Institute.
Her coaching is particularly suited to accomplished professionals seeking to elevate their leadership presence, navigate change, clarify their next career chapter, and translate expertise into greater influence and impact. She combines thoughtful inquiry with practical strategy, helping clients move from insight to purposeful action.
17 November 2026
Dr. Helene A. Kalfuss, The Rotary Foundation
Helene is a retired Speech Pathologist who specialized in post-operative head and neck cancer patients, swallowing disorders and organic voice disorders. She earned her Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit and was an Assistant Professor in the WSU College of Medicine and Chief of Audiology and Speech Pathology at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. On moving to the State of California, she became the Director of the Camarillo State Hospital Children’s Speech and Language Clinic and opened a private practice on moving to Palm Springs.
Dr. Kalfuss is a past president of the Rotary Club of Palm Springs and in 2021 transferred to the Rotary Club of Cathedral City. She is now a full time Rotarian who frequently speaks on TRF, Global Grants, as well as Membership and Literacy. She served as Governor in 2006-2007 and continues to be very active in her district serving on several committees and chairing Global Grants since 2019. Her Rotary activities are varied and have allowed her to experience all that Rotary has to offer; she was even a Group Discussion Leader and staff at RYLA annually, and a training facilitator on TRF at the Rotary Leadership Institute.
Helene served for several years as the RI Literacy Resource Coordinator for Zone 26 and as the Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Zone 26 as well. She has served as the TRF Development Specialist for Zone 26, writing a well received monthly column for the zone newsletter and was EREY Coordinator for Zone 26 in 2013 and 2014. She was the So. Cal. PETS TRF trainer and/or facilitator in 2007, 2010, 2020 – 2023. She has been a sought after TRF guest speaker at many clubs and districts in the U.S. as well as in several other countries, and was a speaker/presenter about TRF at the Rotary International Conventions in Birmingham, England , Montreal, Quebec and New Orleans. Dr. Kalfuss has been an RI President’s Representative to District 3201 in India , District 5450 in Colorado, 6150 in Arkansas, led a GSE team to India in 2013, served as an RI Training Leader at International Assembly in 2011 and 2012, and was the Chair of the Governor Nominee’s Advanced Training Seminar for Zones 25 and 26 in 2013 and 2014.
She is a long time active member of the Rotary Cadre of Humanitarian Technical Advisors and has traveled extensively in several developing countries. Helene represented District 5330 at the Council on Legislation in 2010 and has served on many Zone Institute Committees in various capacities. She has served her Club, District, Zone, and Rotary International in numerous positions and has been awarded the Citation for Meritorious Service from The Rotary Foundation, the Service Above Self Award from Rotary International and the coveted Distinguished Service Award from The Rotary Foundation. A more complete listing of her numerous Rotary activities is available upon request.
Her husband, Leonard is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and a member of Rotary for 40+ years. He is a past member of the Rotary Cadre of Technical Advisors and the Fellowship of Rotary Physicians. Leonard was District 5330’s GSE Team Leader to District 9200, Kenya and Uganda in 2006, and served as a site inspector for The Rotary Cadre in India in 2007.
Both Leonard and Helene are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors, Bequest Society Members and Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation. They have been married for 61 years and live and love Rotary.
24 November 2026
Club Assembly