Talkshow host Victor Dominguez kicked out of the Rotary Club after criticizing City Council

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5/29/10 - You may have read a recent front page article in Banning’s  “rag” about KCAA 1050AM Radio talkshow host Victor Dominguez being kicked out of the San Gorgonio Rotary Club for – what he believes was – a speech he gave before the Banning City Council on May 11, 2010. The session’s subject of discussion was the proposed closing of the Senior Center, Community Center and Community pool due to the City’s ongoing fiscal crisis.

Here is what Victor Dominguez actually said :

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Dominguez was speaking his mind, only to be unduly interrupted by another Rotarian Club member,  Mayor Bob Botts. Botts seemed clearly uncomfortable with the direct and sharp criticism brought forward by Dominguez’ speech, which questioned his – and the entire Council’s – policies.

Victor Dominguez also makes mention of Don Robinson being delinquent of over $ 21,000 in property taxes going back all the way to 2005 (view our story here) . This is factual and a matter of public record.

He also brings to light Don Robinson bouncing multiple checks to the Banning Utility, a fact that was confirmed by the City Attorney’s office in April of  2010 (view our story here).

It needs to be noted that both of the above issues are no longer “rumors” , as some people may want the public to believe, but confirmed facts that are – at this point – indisputable.

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EMAIL FROM ROTARY CLUB  SHORTLY AFTER THE SPEECH

Only a few days after Victor Dominguez spoke his mind before the Banning City Council he received the following email from the secretary of the San Gorgonio Rotary Club :

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From: Larry Higgins <larry.higgins@……..net>

Subject: Rotary Membership

To: victor………@……..com

Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 9:07 AM

Victor:

This letter should come to no surprise to you as you and I have had several conversations already about this very subject.

This is to inform you that your membership in the San Gorgonio Rotary Club has been revoked effective 5/18/2010. You are hereby no longer a member of Rotary, and you are no longer welcome at our meetings.

This Board decision was the result of your many Club infractions; your attendance, failure to properly carry out and perform the duties of your position, disrespect of fellow members and the communities we represent, disregard of the Rotary Four Way Test, Rotary Code of Ethics and our Constitution and by-laws.

Larry Higgins

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IS THIS THE AMERICAN WAY ?

You, the reader, may judge for yourself whether the actions taken by the Rotary Club were reasonable : was this a legitimate measure against a member or did the Club engage in retaliation against a member who exercised his right to free speech ?  Does Rotary International (website) endorse such actions being taken against members that publicly criticize other members ?

Maybe someone should refer this matter to Rotary International and perhaps this local club should lose their charter.