BBRC Meeting News

Posted by Frank Wooldridge
Once Upon a Time, I was a big sports guy. I would keep one ear or eye to the radio or television as a spectator to catch the latest sports action, while simultaneously checking scores of the previous day’s games. I am grateful for all the memories of sports highlights over the years but more recently I have been taking stock of more important things where I can personally participate to help others have a more fulfilling life and even make dreams come true. We in Rotary, particularly Breakfast Rotarians are in a perfect place to actively participate in the lives of our community members through programs which support youth, veterans, homelessness, seniors, and our own members in a time of need.
Outgoing member Kathy Berry who is moving to Arizona said it best. She tearfully told us Wednesday morning she wishes she had been a part of Breakfast Rotary 20 years ago. Kathy realized in the short time she has been with us the impact and value we have in our community. So, members please remember how important your service is to others. With only a couple of months left in 2020, let’s achieve great things and remember how important each of us is as a member of the club. 
President Dave Spalinger opened Wednesday’s meeting by calling on John Guerard to offer the Invocation. Double duty Past President Denise Haynes lead us in America’s Flag Salute then, we rolled into a perfectly sung “God Bless America”.
 
No visiting Rotarians today but we did have a visitor. Kathy Berry’s husband, Don, visited with us to join Kathy in her last meeting as a BBRC member. 
 
As I mentioned, sports have taken a back seat in my life, but it certainly has not for a number of Breakfast Rotarians. There were several members whose eyes gleamed as President Dave did a quick presto chang o act behind the podium and dawned an LA Dodger jersey. Many hard-core Dodger fans such as Past President Cheryl Scott gave their approval. If you have not been following baseball, the Dodgers are playing in the World Series. There are definitely fans in our club…with the notable exception of Past President Ron Nelms, a SF Giant diehard.
 
**Featured Program**
 
Pete Leveroni knows people…a lot of them. We enjoy the spoils of Pete’s good fortune, and I assure you Wednesday’s speaker was no spoiler. We had the great pleasure of Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard as our featured program. Supervisor Maggard has enjoyed a lengthy tenure as the Kern County 3rd District Supervisor. Maggard’s district encompasses parts of northeast Bakersfield, parts of the southwest, Oildale and Westchester. Prior to being elected as a county supervisor in 2006, Maggard was a Bakersfield City Councilman. Educated in Bakersfield, Maggard graduated from California State University Bakersfield and eventually opened his own CPA firm. Dedicated to preserving public safety and quality of life for Kern County residents, Maggard wanted to share with us some of his more recent challenges as county supervisor.
 
Maggard quickly focused his presentation around COVID and the political obstacles Kern County faces. By the way, I do not like politics, and this is why I stay away from the pundits. So, what I will try to do is maintain a decorum of…fair and balanced, well here we go! Maggard stated, that as each day goes by the California county mandates and requirements for COVID response are change. He said that to satisfy the mandates Supervisors must keep abreast of the changes, so they are 1) following the law, and 2) safely working toward reopening the local economy. Maggard says on one level there are those that ask him, “How does he sleep at night knowing that political decisions he makes may risk lives?”, then those you say, “How does he sleep at night knowing that political decisions he makes may risk jobs and business?” As you can see with this constant see-saw debate it is a wonder Maggard gets any sleep at all! How do you keep the economy and jobs on an uptick, when potentially risking lives?
 
Maggard is very proud of Kern County and its partners within the county health department and hospitals, as they have come together and formed a plan to meet the state’s reopening standards. Additionally, he touted that local leadership came up with original and common-sense ideas for Kern County’s response to mitigate COVID infections. For instance, the governor speaks of “flattening the curve” of active COVID cases. Maggard said flattening the curve has been achieved locally, but he and other local leaders believe a better measurement of response is to ensure that we have an adequate supply of nursing staff on hand in the event Kern County experiences a surge in cases.
 
One example of this forward thinking was for the county to secure state funding ($12 million) to pay salaries of nurses recruited to work in hospitals in Kern County during the pandemic. We can have all the masks, hospital beds, and ventilators in the world, but if there are not enough front-line nurses in Kern County for medical support for those afflicted with COVID, all those other things do us no good.
 
Maggard’s emphasis is on measuring hospital COVID patient capacity levels rather than numbers of people testing and displaying COVID symptoms. There are pros and cons of each measure. 
 
Governor Newsom is into testing according to Maggard. He said there are three criteria the state has established to determine how each county is managing the virus. Those criteria are:
 
  • Testing Rates
  • Positivity Rates
  • Health Equity
 
I had not heard about “health equity” before this meeting. Funny how it happens, after the meeting I heard health equity and the governor’s criteria used in other places the rest of the week. Health equity is a requirement that 25% of the total tested population is from lower socio-economic areas of the community. After the three criteria measurements are evaluated by the state, a determination is made as to the county’s progress. If we can continue to progress in lowering numbers of positive cases, while testing more residents, including disadvantaged members in the population, we may be able to start moving back into a lifestyle with more freedoms.
 
As a matter of caution, Maggard told us that COVID is particularly hazardous for certain compromised health groups. He identified those groups as:
 
  • Obese
  • Diabetic
  • Have heart disease
  • Have cardio-vascular disease
  • Taking immuno-suppressant drugs
 
These words of caution, along with Maggard’s explanation of government protocols was educational and clarifying. Personally, I see a lot of work ahead for Maggard and the rest of the Kern County leadership. One thing I can say is that we too, have an important part to play in combatting COVID. It is my hope and prayer that each of us become part of the solution and stays healthy. Thank you to Mike for visiting with us. We look forward to having you come back soon to share the good news that our county is getting an “A” in setting a good example on dealing with COVID in the coming weeks and months.
 
**Announcements**
 
In the hunt for a permanent venue for future Breakfast Rotary meetings we will continue to sample the second of three potential venues. The goal is for the members to determine which best meets their and the club’s needs. This week we will sample the new accommodations of The Petroleum Club at The Sundale Golf Course at 6218 Sundale Avenue. See you there at 6:45 am, October 28th. 
 
Happy Birthday to the best guitar teacher, Rockin’ Dan Johnson. Dan and his wife Char both passed the challenging state real estate exam recently. They have a lot to celebrate! Congratulations to Dan and Char!
Come on man, President Dave, throw us a bone! The Prez most certainly did. He caught 8 Breakfast Rotarians, yes 8, who did not know what The Beacon clue for the week was. Thinking there was no Beacon published because we were DARK last week was a typical excuse heard among the unprepared. But in fact, there was a clue. The clue was what song did Mindy Wilmot play on her ukulele? Karen Bonanno knew the right answer and walked away a free woman. To Mary Jo Pasek, Bree Goodmon, Marlene Heise, Past President Kay Pitts, Past President Cheryl Scott, Sandra Parnell, Past President Neil Walker, and Ken Quarnberg, you made The Prez’s coffer look really good! Beacon quiz: How many people last week had to pay fines because they did not know the quiz answer.
Jeff Haynes reminds all to prioritize your annual giving to The Rotary Foundation. You know contributions are returned to our District from The Rotary Foundation after a time. We also gain cred when we demonstrate to the other Rotary Clubs in District 5240, we are leaders in member participation.
 
Happy Spots include a $20 donation from Ron Nelms who brought from Montana some disgusting BEAR SCAT for The Prez. Only Ron “Buford” could get away with that. The good news for The Prez is that the scat is edible.
 
Rockin’ Dan dished up $20 and words of inspiration to all after passing his Real Estate exam. Dan says, “Stay Positive”. Amen!
 
Marlene Heise, who is a real champion, shared that her husband Ben is working himself to health. She thanked the membership who have prayed during these challenging times Ben has faced. You’re a true Rotarian and friend Marlene!
 
I opened this edition of The Beacon by talking about sports, so I may as well finish it with sports. Cheryl Scott styling a Dodgers mask edged out other competitors for Prez Dave’s bottle of Conundrum wine. See Dodgers can win something. Hear that Ron…
 
In a fleeting moment “Ham” Harry Walker presented The Prez with a Clemson University mask. Can someone tell Harry he doesn’t have to do that! He won last week and gave The Prez an Alabama University mask, so no bribing The Prez.
 
After many a week, President Dave announced we are once again able to hold a drawing. The drawing was held, and Michele McClure won the bucks!
 
Blessed be to you and your families, until next week,
 
By Frank Wooldridge
 
Beacon Writer