2026 PRESIDENT'S LETTER AND MEMBERSHIP

Greetings Fellow Club Members,

I want to begin by thanking Scott Cuda for his last three years of presidency. Scott has been a dedicated and positive leader through several challenges, and it has been a pleasure working alongside him as Vice President. I know he will continue to volunteer his support as he returns to the Board of Directors. I hope to carry the same positive growth and momentum into my presidency.

For members who do not know me personally, my name is Emmy Lombard, and I am honored to serve as your Club President for the next three years. I am a third-generation San O club member and have served on the Board of Directors for more than a decade. I grew up at San O—raised by my dad, Bob, also a former club president—and I deeply value the importance of family and fun at our beach for the generations who have come before us and those still to come. I have also worked as a seasonal State Parks lifeguard at San O for 12 years, which has strengthened my appreciation for our positive relationship with State Parks.

Everything we do as a club would not be possible without our Board of Directors and our volunteers. I am excited to have Mark Brown as Vice President, Mike Murphy as Secretary/Treasurer, and Rob Sasche as Sergeant-at-Arms. Each of these officers has raised their family at San O and has devoted countless hours to supporting the mission of the club. We are also fortunate to have Ann Marie Moneymaker continuing as our club secretary; she dedicates tremendous time and energy to our cause and was our most recent Spirit Award recipient.

As we approach a new year, I want to revisit our mission and how you, as members, help support it. Our mission is to preserve and maintain our beach in its historic and natural state, prioritizing accessibility and a family-friendly environment. Your membership and engagement help us protect what makes San O special. Our Board cares deeply about the future of this beach, volunteering countless hours to organize events, coordinate with key organizations, maintain the road, and repair the Shack.

Our events are fun for the whole family, and I encourage you to join us if you haven’t already. We host two surf contests each year—the 10 Buck Chuck and the San Onofre Surfing Contest. There’s no such thing as a bad day of surf, and even when the weather or swell fall short, the club always rallies with great banter, laughter, and good vibes. The San Onofre Surfing Contest welcomes contestants of all ages, and it’s a heartwarming sight to see kids as young as one getting pushed into waves. Our Horseshoe Tournament may be one of our smaller events, but it’s filled with sharp commentary and playful heckling that make it a blast for participants of every skill level. We also host three Volleyball Tournaments that overflow with tradition, positivity, and multi-generational San O family spirit. The regular San O Courts crew brings some of the most welcoming, family-friendly energy on the beach. And finally, our Family Day has become a huge success, filled with kids’ games, live music, food, and big raffle prizes. These events are open to all members, and we love seeing new families join in and share the San O spirit.

Thank you to our members who continuously show up at our events—always stoked, always smiling, and always spreading good vibes. San Onofre has a rich history, and we hope to help create many more years of memories. Join us, get involved if you’d like, and help us protect this beach for generations to come.

The Board has worked closely with several important organizations to protect our beach and maintain access. We remain in ongoing communication with California State Parks, especially in recent years as the lease renewal became a concern. State Parks has signed another 25-year lease with the Military to keep San Onofre State Beach open to the public. They also work to maintain and keep our road open and include us in those discussions. At their request, we have assisted with road maintenance, Shack repairs, and bamboo removal for the lifeguards. We continue to support and donate to the San Onofre Parks Foundation, which shares our mission of protecting our beaches and ensuring accessibility. We have also increased engagement with Surfrider, which recently received a $1 million grant for coastal resiliency and erosion-mitigation efforts specifically designated for Surf Beach. As concerns about road damage and accessibility grow, it is more important than ever that we work alongside these organizations.

Growing up at San O gave me countless precious memories—spending entire days in my wetsuit, whether I was in the water or lying in the sand making squirrel traps. I’ll never forget how proud I felt receiving my 8-and-under plaques and all the joy that came from the luau games organized by Jim Irwin. And if I ever didn’t like the lunch my dad had packed, I could always count on one of the nearby usual motorhomes to offer a sandwich or a treat along with a familiar smile. I loved every moment spent at the volleyball courts, where the Murphys welcomed me and taught me the joy of volleyball and community. These are the kinds of memories I hope we can continue to create for future generations.

It is an honor to serve as your Club President. I cannot express how much love I have for this beach, its history, and all the families who make San O what it is. I look forward to working together to uphold the mission of the club, to protect this sacred place, and—most importantly—to keep having a great time while doing it. I hope to see you on the beach and in the lineup soon.

Sincerely,

Emmy Lombard

2026 San Onofre Surfing Club President

Release provided by San Onofre Parks Foundation:

SAN CLEMENTE, CA., April 25, 2020 - The San Onofre Parks Foundation is pleased to learn that the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton support an extension of the lease on San Onofre State Beach for 3 years to 2024. The original 50-year lease was signed in 1971 and was set to expire in 2021. San Onofre State Beach provides a unique “Coastal Wilderness’ experience in the heart of Southern California. Celebrating a rich natural and cultural history, the parklands are among the most popular in all of California. From the first people, the “Acjachemen,” to the modern era that identifies San Onofre as the best year-round surfing zone in North America, the San Onofre story is a fascinating tale of preservation, access and recreation. President Richard Nixon and California Governor Ronald Reagan graciously dedicated the land as a California State Park for all future generations. The Department of the Navy owns the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton land, which includes all of San Onofre State Beach. The State Park land extends south along the coast from San Mateo Point (Cottons surf break) to Trail 6 at the Bluffs Campground. The park includes nearly 2,000 inland acres along the Orange and San Diego County line, including lush wetlands, upland coastal sage habitat, the San Mateo Campground, extending to the Northwest corner of Camp Pendleton bordering the community of Talega in San Clemente and undeveloped land owned by Rancho Mission Viejo.

The San Onofre Parks Foundation understands that the 3-year lease extension is an interim solution, intended to provide the Department of the Navy with additional time to complete the work necessary to execute a succeeding long-term lease. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has been a gracious partner and landlord to California State Parks throughout the initial 50-year lease period. Camp Pendleton has a legacy of mindful stewardship for all land within the Base and shares that tradition with California State Parks. Together they will continue to manage responsible public access to this spectacular zone, while protecting and preserving the treasured natural and cultural resources. The San Onofre Parks Foundation looks forward to working with all stakeholders, including Camp Pendleton, California State Parks, the Surfrider Foundation and Save San Onofre Coalition, amongst others, as a new future unfolds for San Onofre State Beach.

About San Onofre Parks Foundation The San Onofre Parks Foundation is a California 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education and interpretive programs within the State Parks at San Onofre and San Clemente. The organization serves as a voice for the community who share a love for these parks.

Dogpatch shack restored!

Dogpatch shack relocation and restoration is complete. As most people are aware, the original Dogpatch shack built in 1981 had succumbed to the elements of beach erosion and termites. With State approval, the San Onofre Surfing Club went to work and got things going. Special thanks to Bob Lombard for taking the lead and thanks to Tom Bistline, Matt Enright, Pam Enright, Clarence Yoshikane, Craig Ephraim, Jim Wynne, Cyndie Kontoes, Rick Fegley, Mike Riley and Ann Marie Lombard for all of their help with getting it done. Now the palm frond roof is complete and the Dogpatch shack is ready for all to enjoy for another 40 years!