A well-attended Breakfast Rotary meeting is a sight for sore eyes, and speaking about sore eyes, I’ll bet your eyes have been stinging a bit with all these fires in California lately! Well our own Breakfast Rotary duty members took whatever sting in our eyes out and replaced it with some tears as the threesome of Past Presidents Jerry Starr, Denise Haynes and member “always in good standing” Mary Jo Pasek lead us in our Invocation, Morning Song and America’s Pledge of Allegiance, respectively. Denise, who I am pretty sure by the songs she pic
ks for us to sing has a passion to be a mountain hikin’ kindergarten teacher, had us sing “Little Light of Mine”.
ks for us to sing has a passion to be a mountain hikin’ kindergarten teacher, had us sing “Little Light of Mine”.Initially, President Dave Spalinger announced that there were no visiting Rotarians and then it was revealed through Zoom that Past President Don Trybul was online with us along with about a dozen current members. Thanks Kathy Berry, who is general manager at the Yolk, for being such a marvelous
host. The Yolk has proven to be a pretty spiffy place to meet on Wednesday mornings!
host. The Yolk has proven to be a pretty spiffy place to meet on Wednesday mornings! Special thanks to member Ken Quarnberg, who was not present at Wednesday’s meeting, for serving as our acting president for last week’s meeting. I’ll bet that Ken’s morning absence was due to that president job being pretty taxing. Stand-by Breakfast Rotarians, your day at the podium leading is coming soon!
Breakfast Rotary Birthdays include Heath Niemeyer (who on the 10th and Sally Selby on Sept. 11th. Happy Birthday to you both!
Breakfast Rotary Anniversaries include Grandpa Dr. Joe Nunez DDS 33 years (whoa!), and Sally Selby and Chelsea Ashcraft are 1 year each. Old Joe and young Sally and Chelsea you are all celebrated and we are all better for your membership.
‘Ol President Dave tried to trick, or scare members and it’s not even Halloween yet! He asked members what was the Beacon secret clue for this week. Shakin’ in her boots, new member Cheryl Rydia did not know. But that was OK because Perky Dave Perkins came along on his white horse and saved the damsel in distress. Dave revealed that there was No Clue! Therefore, No Fine!
** Featured Program**
Pete Leveroni announced our morning’s featured speaker. Her name is Amy Travis and she is the Executive Director of CASA of Kern County. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is certainly no stranger to Breakfast Rotary, nor is Amy. But, for those who are not familiar, I will share a bit about Amy and CASA. Amy has held the position of executive director since 2019 and previously worked in most all positions with the non-profit before her current post. Amy is well suited for CASA for many reasons, so let me give you a couple. First, she has the education. A graduate of Fresno Pacific University Amy is continually sharpening her skills at being the best she can be. Never resting on her laurels, she recently graduated from Loyola University’s Child Advocacy 
Program. Secondly, she is the mother to a bouncing 2-year-old boy. Trust me, I know Amy and her husband Jeff (a family law attorney), - their boy really bounces! Amy runs a tight ship at CASA and has led CASA to a rise in prominence and success in the short time of her leadership. Always striving for the best, take it from me foster kids in Kern County have hope for success with CASA and Amy in charge.
Program. Secondly, she is the mother to a bouncing 2-year-old boy. Trust me, I know Amy and her husband Jeff (a family law attorney), - their boy really bounces! Amy runs a tight ship at CASA and has led CASA to a rise in prominence and success in the short time of her leadership. Always striving for the best, take it from me foster kids in Kern County have hope for success with CASA and Amy in charge.To be somewhat succinct, CASA is not what a lot of people assume it is. It is not a Big Brother or Sister program. You are not taking children into your home to live. CASA’s strength comes from their volunteers. A CASA volunteer is someone like you and I. Potential volunteers receive training on skills to be a successful volunteer for primarily foster children. You ask why do these children need CASA trained volunteers. As a retired police detective and current member of the CASA Public Relations Committee, volunteers are needed to represent dependent foster children in a number of circumstances. These children do not have parents available that can exercise legal decisions within the child’s best interests. A primary place a CASA volunteer’s presence is needed is in court. Why? To ensure that the judge is familiar with particular needs of the child so that provisions are in the best interest of the child. The volunteers provide input to not only judges, but to health care providers and even school site administrators so children can have hope and a chance to succeed. Yes, being a CASA volunteer is a lot of responsibility, but it is all worth the training and sense of achievement that come as a result. Just ask our own Bree Goodmon about her role as a CASA volunteer. As Bree will tell you, being a trained CASA volunteer is one of, if not the most, rewarding activities she has experienced.
The CASA te
am of Kern County has grown 25% recently and of course, there is a need for additional team volunteer members RIGHT NOW! There are approximately 140 volunteers; CASA needs about 100 more. Amy told us coincidently there was a graduation of the next team of volunteers that evening. The volunteers will promptly be assigned Kern County kids. Other good news Amy shared with us is that CASA of Kern has recently secured additional office space adjacent to their current office on Columbus Street. The space will be used by both client children and their CASA volunteers to improve the service that the program has to offer. The 2000 sq. ft. space will come equipped with a kitchen, training room and visiting center.
am of Kern County has grown 25% recently and of course, there is a need for additional team volunteer members RIGHT NOW! There are approximately 140 volunteers; CASA needs about 100 more. Amy told us coincidently there was a graduation of the next team of volunteers that evening. The volunteers will promptly be assigned Kern County kids. Other good news Amy shared with us is that CASA of Kern has recently secured additional office space adjacent to their current office on Columbus Street. The space will be used by both client children and their CASA volunteers to improve the service that the program has to offer. The 2000 sq. ft. space will come equipped with a kitchen, training room and visiting center.As I mentioned I serve as a donor and volunteer with CASA. I have witnessed wonderful progress with the organization. The CASA staff have displayed remarkable attitudes even during this pandemic episode. To do that and still make gains speaks volumes to the heartfelt efforts that this organization provides to local foster youth. Wanna participate? Contact the CASA of Kern office at 1717 Columbus Street, (661) 631-2272, and visit their website at https://kerncasa.org/ Thanks Amy for visiting us today. Perhaps there may someone out there that needs to volunteer to become a CASA today. I’ll bet there is.
** Happy Spots**
Kathy Berry 
could not wait to get up and share. She reminds me of when we were in grade school and participated in Show and Tell. We got big points with the teacher when we did that. But in Kathy’s case her little trip to Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Nevada amounted to Show and Pay. Yes, she gets credit for a cute leather moccasin key chain she brought to The Prez, but it cost her $50 bucks.
could not wait to get up and share. She reminds me of when we were in grade school and participated in Show and Tell. We got big points with the teacher when we did that. But in Kathy’s case her little trip to Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Nevada amounted to Show and Pay. Yes, she gets credit for a cute leather moccasin key chain she brought to The Prez, but it cost her $50 bucks.
Pete “the” Leveroni went back home to visit his brothers to reminisce and throw his back out while acting like he is 30. Pete cautions others that moving belongings from a parent’s home is no small task. As loyal as this Breakfast Rotarian is, Pete and his family business, Subway, in spite of cancellation of Wine, Place and Show this year, has generously designated his intended Subway WPS donation to The Bakersfield Angels, who would have been our Fund-a-Need beneficiary. Way to go Pete!
Michele McClure has a Breakfast Rotarian heart and soul. She lost her dear friend recently and donated $40 in her memory. On a lighter note Michele is always looking for a great party. Michele shared that Saturday October 24th Past President Queen Jackie Maxwell has offered her Arvin Ponderosa for a BBRC club social. Michelle says, stay tuned. A 50-50 drawing will be held for Bakersfield Angels. (A 50-50 drawing for Bakersfield Angels will be next meetings Beacon clue)
**Announcements Announcements**Kathy Berry wants all pancake makers on deck Saturday, September 26th at the Dignity Health Center on E. California Ave., 7 am. She reports that other upcoming events will be Thanksgiving Baskets and Christmas Shopping with children at Target.
Denise Haynes by the way did not get drafted into the military. She was in full camouflage uniform, which included a custom cammy COVID mask to win a fine bottle of Conundrum wine. Don’t “Spill the Wine” Denise!
Next week we are DARK, but when we return September 16th at Broken Yolk those that want to compete for a bottle of Conundrum, or whatever The Prez wants to put out, we will be competing for the Funniest Mask.
Until next meeting, Be kind to each other and first ourselves,
Beacon Writer Frank Wooldridge
9/4/20