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The official weekly publication of
The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast
Visit our website: www.bbrc.org for more!
The Beacon- April 24, 2024
The Beacon
The official weekly publication of The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast
for April 24, 2024
by Jackie Maxwell
Pictures by Jackie Maxwell and Carol Smith 
Reporter of the Week: Jackie Maxwell
Pictures by: Jackie Maxwell and Carol Smith
 
Sandra Parnell stood out front of Slater Plumbing & Mechanical's lovely building to greet the members on this brisk Spring morning.  Unfortunately, she was alone in her duties since Dr. Scott (Scooter) Tangeman was apparently tending to someone’s teeth.
 
Willow Ranch Restaurant provided breakfast, and it was a fine meal. The breakfast was served in the lovely new kitchen at Slater’s fancy new building.
 
There was a great turnout for this off-site meeting.  It was a full house with standing room only as our great BBRCers wandered into a well-equipped meeting room that the owner, Ed Slater, will use to mentor young folks who wish to opt for learning the “Trades” rather than attend college.  This is a vital area of education that cannot be overlooked.  Thank you, Ed, for your dream of training Junior and Senior high school students to become productive in the careers that keep our daily routines in motion.
 
Stephanie Baker gave our invocation.  Followed by the Flag Salute led by Brandon Phipps.  Our songstress Carol Smith led us in a BIG rendition of “God Bless America!”
 
Besides the usual faces, Ed Slater (actually the junior), his son Eddie Slater (actually III), and Ed’s fiancée, Roxanna, joined us this morning.  President Pat invited Ed to the front of the crowd to share some of the history of how he became a plumber and grew his business to greatness.
 
Ed started out in Seattle and left home at 15. He somehow ended up in Hawaii, where he honed his beach bum and surfing skills. Eventually, he moved back to the contiguous states and ended up in Los Angeles, working for General Electric. He caught on quickly to his job and was encouraged to become a plumber because “People always need water.”
 
General Electric offered him a job in Bakersfield; the rest is history!  He excelled in industrial manufacturing projects and struck out on his own over 20 years ago.  Slater Plumbing & Mechanical does it all, offering services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers.  Just a few of his clients include Nestle (where they ran 300 feet of plumbing under the production floor without interrupting the processing plant) and Pilot and Flying J truck stops throughout California.  Showers seem to be a key money maker for the truck stops, and Slater manages to keep the water flowing.
 
Slater’s average is 20 employees, but it uses other contractors as necessary, often up to 120 persons on a site.  Ed contributes his success to developing personal relationships.  He feels only in Bakersfield, with its tight community and excellent business connections, could he have grown his business to its present state. 
 
“With Slater Plumbing, you get all the capabilities of a large plumbing company along with the service and pride of workmanship you find in a family-owned and operated business.
 
Short-timer President Pat then took back the meeting and announced there would be NO happy spots or fines today. YIPPEE! Pat thanked Queen Jackie (hey, that’s me) and Tom Roddy for hosting the April social. We had such a good time and are ready to do it again in the fall! After a few reminders of upcoming events and announcements, the meeting was adjourned, and people were welcome to take a look around the fine facilities at Slater’s Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Read more...
The Beacon April 17, 2024
The Beacon
The official weekly publication of The Rotary Club of Bakersfield Breakfast
for April 17, 2024
by Mindy Wilmot 
Reporter of the Week: Mindy Wilmot
 
 

Mindy’s Musings

I enjoy being able to write the newsletters, and I love it even more when members of our Interact Clubs come to visit! Queen Jackie and Brenna Ardron greeted us at the door. Frank Wooldridge stepped in to give our invocation while Ron Nelms led us in the Flag Salute. And, of course, we had to sing the Four Way Test with Interacters in the room! 

The Program - Interact

Youth Services Director Donna Schwartz introduced two tables of Interact members from Independence High (with advisor Dimitrius Lara), Golden Valley High (with advisor Jennifer “Yama” Yamauchi), and one member from our new club at Del Oro High (not bad for a school only in its second year!). We were honored to hear two of our Four Way Test Essay Contest winners recite their winning entries. Genesis Harris from Del Oro related her entry to the social activism of Martin Luther King, Jr. She received a check for $200. Golden Valley’s Omar Garcia Blanco, who was our pick to be entered in the District contest, wrote his essay about gym etiquette. For his efforts, he received a check for $300 and received third place in the District. Both students were poised and articulate; it was a pleasure to hear from them both. 

Both advisors discussed the amazing projects that the clubs have undertaken for the school year. We are in such good hands!!! Several students discussed their recent weekend RYLA and how they made friends and learned skills that they will keep for life. All the feels when we visit with our youth clubs!!

Congratulations!

Happy Birthday to Marlene Heise (4/16), President Pat Thompson (4/17), and Greg Desme (4/17). Happy Club Anniversary Temo Lopez (5 years) and Karen “I need to check the spelling, but would have gotten it right if I didn’t” Bonanno (7 years). And Happy 34th Wedding Anniversary to Ken and Susan Quarnberg (4/22).

Happy Spots

Keeping with the anniversary tradition, Ken Q was $34 happy to celebrate marital bliss. 

Birthday Girl, Marlene was $50 happy to share that her sweetheart Ben’s oncology scans are clear! Dave Spalinger returned from Baja with a Mama Espinoza shirt for the Pres and $20 for the Happy Spot kitty. Jeff and Donna Schwartz returned from the land of The Lord of the Rings with a special tea towel and $20 for the coffers. Carol Smith was $20 excited in that fact that 9 BBRCers have used DG points in order to level up to the next Paul Harris award (I have since learned that there have been two more people). Finally, one of the Golden Valley Interact students was $15, happy for the upcoming prom. Thank you, Jeff Haynes, for covering his happy spot. 

Announcements

Tickets are on sale soon for a chance to win a flag-themed quilt made by our first lady, Karen Thompson. 

Thousand Flags, keep those sponsorships coming! The next planning meeting is on 4/24 at Sol y Luna at 5:30 p.m

Above and Beyond - Please consider nominating a non-Rotarian for this excellence on the job award. The winner will receive a plaque, and $1,000 will be donated to a charity of their choosing. 

Dates: 

Dark May 1 - Get some rest!

Fireside Chat May 4, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm at On the Vine on Rosedale Hwy. 

Congrats to Sean Kelly for winning the $74 pot!

 

 

 

 

 
Upcoming Speakers
May 01, 2024 6:45 AM
May 08, 2024 6:45 AM
San Joaquin Challenges around San Joaquin Valley Water
May 15, 2024 6:45 AM
Peace Project
May 22, 2024 6:45 AM
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Dale Bender
April 8
 
Marlene Heise
April 16
 
Greg Desme
April 17
 
Pat Thompson
April 17
 
Anniversaries
Kenneth Quarnberg
Susan
April 22
 
Upcoming Events
Pancake Breakfast #3?
May 04, 2024
 
Cinco de Mayo - Club Social
May 05, 2024
 
East Fundraiser - Vino Amore - Luigi's
May 11, 2024
 
SEAL Spring Fling
May 15, 2024
 
Vocational Speed Dating - Part II
May 22, 2024
6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
 
Meeting Duties
April 24, 2024
 
Greeter
Parnell, Sandra
 
Greeter
Tangeman, Scooter
 
Invocation
Perkins, David
 
Flag Salute
Phipps, Brandon
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Selby, Sally
 
May 8, 2024
 
Greeter
Pasek, MJ
 
Greeter
Galvez, Anne
 
Invocation
Potter, Bill
 
Flag Salute
Quarnberg, Kenneth
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Pitts, Kay
 
May 15, 2024
 
Greeter
Sanders, Marti
 
Greeter
Schwartz, Donna
 
Invocation
Scott, Dennis
 
Flag Salute
Scott, Cheryl
 
Visiting Rotarians
Schwartz, Jeffrey
 
May 22, 2024
 
Greeter
Singh, Bani
 
Greeter
Spalinger, David
 
Invocation
Turnipseed, Michael
 
Flag Salute
Walker, Neil
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Vega, Char
 
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