TEMBLOR BREWING CO. 3200 BUCK OWENS BLVD SUITE 200, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308
Reminder....Join us at Temblor TONIGHT September 16th for a fun night of Bingo!
Show up for dinner around 6pm and BINGO will start at 7pm. If you can't stay for BINGO, just join us for dinner!
They have reserved a section to the right of the stage for our group. RSVP's are required so they know how many seats to reserve. It's a very busy night for them so make sure you let me know how many are coming. It's a family friendly event too! Bingo is free and you will get extra cards when you order food/drinks.
FOOD DRINKS PRIZES FUN Bingo Night B B R C Monday September 16th
It has been at least a year and a half since I wrote my last edition of The Beacon. President David Lari gave me an offer I could not refuse, if I wrote this one special addition for you. Basically, I traded writing this edition to eliminate a $20 Breakfast Club fine I was issued the previous meeting. An easy trade off as far as I am concerned. Regrettably, my contribution comes upon a date that still resonates with every single American in remembrance of the atrocities that changed our country with the attack upon the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon, Flight 93 that was forced down by passengers in Shanksville, PA. Following on to that attack, our Nation many lives lost during the years-long war in the Mideast. Through the years since that attack, we as a country have changed culturally. Some things good, some things bad. It is my prayer that our country adjusts to a land of civil unity and partnership once again with common goals. More and more, I am convinced it is our duty as Rotarians to bring that prayer to reality.
Darin Blunt was dressed up exceptionally nice to lead us in our morning invocation, a moment of silence to memorialize those lost following 911 was taken. Past President Karen Bonanno teamed with Robert Provencio to lead us in the American flag salute and morning song respectively. Our song was a very snappy, O’ Columbia Gem of the Ocean. I have heard this before, and enjoyed the song which was initially considered as our National Anthem. I wonder if ‘O Columbia would be more “singable,” than The Star Spangled Banner. Guess it wouldn’t matter, I can’t sing well anyway!
Breakfast Rotary welcomed guest Christine Herton. Christine was a guest of Sandra Parnell. If I was a betting guy, I think we may see Christine again. Why? She stayed a long while after the meeting talking to members…Always a good sign!
Speaking of Good Signs, we had a new member induction! We are pleased to announce the addition of Cory Prattwho sought our club out through Past President Kay Pitts. Thank you to Stephanie Baker who led Cory in his induction during Kay's absence.
Cory, employed as a project manager with Advance Communication and Consulting, emits a genuine Service Above Self attitude evidenced by his background in contribution to others. We won’t let him get too comfortable and will get him involved in our club activities ASAP.
Happy Birthday to our Sally Selby! Happy Birthday friend…where’s the cake to celebrate? Ken Quarnberg marks a memorable and entertaining 25 years of devotion to our Breakfast Rotary club. You both make us better!
It was good to see Jeff Bell join us and actually be able to physically sit with us for a whole meeting. Jeff is progressing well following a terrible auto accident. He appreciates the little things in life that much more these days following the accident. He was effusive in his thanks to all who have prayed for him and his wife all along the way.
Past President Jeff Haynes had another member added to the Haynes lineage with the arrival of grandson baby Ronan who tips the scales at 8.7 lbs.
Noteworthy, is Bill Potter’s pursuit of recognition and honor for those local veterans we have lost and not been brought home from foreign wars. Bill, a hero himself, has committed much of his recent days, weeks and months, to Portrait of a Warrior’s MIA project. Portrait of a Warrior Gallery is located at 1925 Eye Street and highlights the many local veterans who have served, who we have lost, and those that are still MIA. Bill shared that on September 20th at 9am a ceremony will be held at Hodel’s to honor those local fallen heroes, 128 in total. God bless Bill and those soldiers. Yes, Bill did appear in the local newspaper without his Rotary pin showing, and you know what that means...
Go figure, Ken Quarnburg celebrant of a 25 year Breakfast Rotary anniversary was the weekly winner of our own version of the lottery! Well done Ken.
Speaker chair without equal, Pete Leveroni introduced our guest speaker, Kern County District Attorney, Cynthia Zimmer. We should know her by now…right? I mean she has worked at the “DA’s” office for 40 years. I personally worked with Cindy when I was a young street cop, and she was a brand-new DA. She handled plenty of my criminal cases where there were arrests and she was the prosecutor. I can tell ‘ya, she hasn’t changed much. Even though she has entered the political realm as our County DA, she still is passionate about law and order. It is what she is supposed to be, unlike some California and Federal DAs which I know are hardly even recognizable as DAs. It’s frightening today my Breakfast Rotary friends.
It was just that thing that Cindy spoke of, the laxity of leading political figures in California who have swung the pendulum in the opposite direction of justice resulting in the unsafe streets, violence, drug addiction and homelessness that we see daily. Prior to the pendulum swinging, California was a law-and-order territory. Yes, the prison population was up according to Cindy, and those standards were supported by state politicians. One can pull out statistics, and whatever they want to rationalize and make them feel good for a reason to cause change, and that’s exactly what they did. During the Governor Jerry Brown term, reduced state prison sentences for felony crime inmates happened all too often. Violent felony inmates were kept in custody; less violent felony inmates were transferred or returned to county jails; those inmates who were in prison or jail for lesser crimes were returned to the streets. This action was caused and approved by voters in California with Proposition 47 and Assembly Bill 109.
Now unless you want to continue being in denial with your head in the sand filtering what you only want to believe, instead of opening your eyes to see these fanciful Pollyanna-ish ideas have consequences, you will not see the damage such decisions make. We caused the homeless situation folks! We see this playout on the state as well as the national level. Unforeseen, has been the increase in the homelessness condition, according to Cindy. She is 100% right. We have never seen this in modern days, and it should not be happening. Personally, my heart goes out to these souls walking our streets, but thanks to misinformation they are alone, and endless amounts of money to homeless centers will not turn the tide, nor on drug abuse, nor on street theft and vandalism. We have done these people an injustice. We can do better, much better.
Cindy, and fellow law and order DAs in California have been feverishly pushing Proposition 36. Prop 36 re-drafts many of the sentencing standards of 47 and 109, administering stronger deterrents in the form of sentencing. One will say, BUT tough penalties don’t stop crime! Well, they do for those who do not want to be locked up! If they don’t case and choose to break the law, Cindy and her staff will send them to Jail (misdemeanor crime inmates) and Prison!
No, Cindy is not insensitive, she is most sensitive! People who commit crimes time and time again need help! For instance, drug addicted convicted people need drug courts, jobs, and hope to pay for their own housing. Mandates and Accountability are a gift to them! When you do not have that, you get what we are seeing now, and if Cindy, and those in leadership don’t make inroads to changing laws we will see it even get worse.
Yes, one can say BUT there are exceptions, some groups may not be treated equally, and there are loopholes for some when Law and Order is applied. Well yes, nothing is perfect, but by and large what you see on the streets is what you get. That is your reality, and it does not look good. Even politicians on the state and national level are gently displaying some signs of moving the flag marker a bit because people are seeing the reality of unsafe streets and are becoming fed up, and of course politicians want the votes. As a suggestion, it is time to raise the standards for all to better our towns, to give others hope, to provide jobs for those who want to work, and available housing they pay for on their own. Give these folks dignity and incentive to build upon, steadily reinforcing them so improve the quality of their lives. Those that lead will set the new standard for those to rise up with them. Cindy’s promotion of Prop. 36 is hope to those on the street and those who are trying to build up better. Thank you, Cindy, for your leadership and course of making Kern County a place we can proudly call home.
Note from Editor: Kim Fly is this year's Chief of Staff for DG Sherry Sim. The editor is participating in this challenge. I hope you join me!
Can you hike, walk or run on October 20, 2024 or any day between today and the end of October to support the District 5240 October goal of raising $25,000 or more toward the Rotary Foundation Polio Fund?
Imagine a world where no child has to suffer from polio. Together, we can make that vision a reality! We are so close to the end of polio!
I invite you to join our District 5240 Hike to End Polio Challenge, a fun and meaningful opportunity to make a difference. So lace up your shoes, gather friends, and take on the challenge!
THE GOAL-Raise $25,000 for the Rotary Foundation Polio Fund
THE CHALLENGE-Hike, walk, or run with friends, club members or solo and make a donation. Every step counts, and every dollar brings us closer to eradicating polio.
1. Hike, walk, or run with fellow club members, friends, or solo. 2. Everyone that participates donates here at RAISE FOR ROTARY 3. Make it fun by hiking, walking or running and plan to go to brunch together. 4. Use #hiketoendpolio for social media posts
5. Suggested donation of $50 per person
Here is the link to donate or make your own team. Use your email address you use with Rotary to get your donation receipt.
You could also send a check with your name and club info and I will personally complete the Rotary Foundation donation form on your behalf. Make check payable to Rotary Foundation and send to Kim Fly c/o RC Carpinteria Morning POB 703, Carpinteria CA 93014
Will you join me? I hope so. Together we can make a difference!
And as any previous donations to the Polio Fund, we receive the matching funds from the Gates Foundation
Bill Potter joined the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club on March 8, 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience in real estate management and a strong commitment to community service. Sponsored by Karen Bonanno, Bill's Rotary classification is Real Estate Management, and he has already contributed his expertise to the 1000 Flags committee.
A US Navy veteran, Bill spent many years working in real estate management in Southern California before moving to Bakersfield with his family in 1991. For 27 years, he successfully owned and operated Potter McKinney Inc., a venture he recently merged with Watson Realty in December 2023. Now, as a commercial real estate broker with Watson Realty, Bill continues to make his mark in the industry.
At home, Bill enjoys life with his wife and best friend of 39 years, Denise, and their beloved kitty, Tolli. Outside of work and Rotary, Bill is passionate about great rock music, good wine, and sharing fun moments with good friends.
For Bill, Rotary is a gift that has introduced him to wonderful new friends and professional connections that have enhanced both his personal and business life. We're grateful to have Bill as part of the BBRC family and look forward to his continued contributions to our club and community!
y with the attack upon the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon, Flight 93 that was forced down by passengers in Shanksville, PA. Following on to that attack, our Nation many lives lost during the years-long war in the Mideast. Through the years since that attack, we as a country have changed culturally. Some things good, some things bad. It is my prayer that our country adjusts to a land of civil unity and partnership once again with common goals. More and more, I am convinced it is our duty as Rotarians to bring that prayer to reality.
who sought our club out through Past President Kay Pitts. Thank you to Stephanie Baker who led Cory in his induction during Kay's absence. 
uto accident. He appreciates the little things in life that much more these days following the accident. He was effusive in his thanks to all who have prayed for him and his wife all along the way.
t of a Warrior Gallery is located at 1925 Eye Street and highlights the many local veterans who have served, who we have lost, and those that are still MIA. Bill shared that on September 20th at 9am a ceremony will be held at Hodel’s to honor those local fallen heroes, 128 in total. God bless Bill and those soldiers. Yes, Bill did appear in the local newspaper without his Rotary pin showing, and you know what that means...
It was just that thing that Cindy spoke of, the laxity of leading political figures in California who have swung the pendulum in the opposite direction of justice resulting in the unsafe streets, violence, drug addiction and homelessness that we see daily. Prior to the pendulum swinging, California was a law-and-order territory. Yes, the prison population was up according to Cindy, and those standards were supported by state politicians. One can pull out statistics, and whatever they want to rationalize and make them feel good for a reason to cause change, and that’s exactly what they did. During the Governor Jerry Brown term, reduced state prison sentences for felony crime inmates happened all too often. Violent felony inmates were kept in custody; less violent felony inmates were transferred or returned to county jails; those inmates who were in prison or jail for lesser crimes were returned to the streets. This action was caused and approved by voters in California with Proposition 47 and Assembly Bill 109.
Member Spotlight: Bill Potter
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