It’s hard to believe we’re already in the second half of the Rotary Year! Having the opportunity to serve as President of this great club has been more fulfilling than I ever imagined. If you think a Rotary leadership position is in your future, or if you just want to hone your leadership skills in a Rotary environment, I encourage you to register for the Master PRLS weekend, set for April 3-5 in Bakersfield. The program, developed more than 25 years ago by members of our Rotary District FOR all the District’s clubs, is really one of the best. Plus, anyone that moves into BBRC’s president position must have Master PRLS under their belt before taking the reigns.
As usual, we have lots of service projects and fun on the calendar! It’s time to prep dictionaries for our Fremont Elementary students, placing nameplates on the books the morning of Wednesday, January 15 at Fremont Elementary (607 Texas Street). Then we’ll need 8-10 Rotarians to make the classroom deliveries the morning of Wednesday, January 22.
Finally, be sure to come to the club social on Thursday, January 16 at Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar downtown. You know it’ll be fun!
See you all next week. In the meantime, share Rotary with a friend!
Starting a new year, a new decade, and a whole new set of New Year’s Resolutions is a lot to grasp in this 1stBakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club edition of the year, so I won’t even try. But, I will say one thing, if the next several months with President Cheryl Scott at the helm is anything like the first part of her presidency, we are all in store for one big finish. It is an honor to call myself a Breakfast Rotarian, so please join me in making the year 2020 memorable and extremely special to all those who benefit from all the wonderful work each of you do to make our world a place filled with joy, hope, love, accomplishment, and cheer!
The songstress, Past President Denise Haynes began our Wednesday meeting with Scottish poet Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne”. Denise tells us there are numerous historic interpretations of the song, and that is interesting because honestly I have never been able to make much sense of the song myself. Yet, it was with good spirit as we Rotarians took part in singing this tribute to one another and to kindness in the coming year.
We welcomed guest Bethany McKanna, who is an officer of the Kern County Rotaract Club.. She came to tell us all about a fun-fabulous upcoming event February 4th called Paint Night Fever. The event will involve painting and drink tickets…should be a hoot! So for details, visit the Kern County Rotaract Facebook page, or contactNoah Salinas at (661) 703-1445.
We also welcomed Past President Craig Holland’s wife, Carole. Craig shared with us that we will be seeing more of Carole in the weeks to come. Well at least we know now that Craig will make it to our meetings on time!
Part of the carpool club was Joe Adams who is a true gentleman, if he knows what is good for him, who drove our dear Marilee Reagor to the morning meeting.
Our final guest was Sergeant at Arms, Andrew Ozanich’s son, yes Andrew Jr., who wasted no time in wrestling away his father’s duties and the “mic” to actually do a pretty darn good job in his father’s post.
Past President Mike O’Doherty and his wife Brenda are celebrating their 39th wedding anniversary. What an accomplishment. Even though Brenda was absent, I am confident that there will be a fine dinner and perhaps a movie enjoyed by the O’Doherty family in recognition of this momentous milestone.
Speaking of Rotary member anniversaries, we have a few. Mr. Pat Thompson (5 years), Teresa Ramos-Alvarez (18 years) and new Breakfast member Frank Tripicchio (a whopping 25 years)!
It is with heartfelt goodbyes that we are saying so long to our fun-loving Bobbie Hake. Bobbie is moving to the Sacramento area, where she will be much closer to her grandchildren. We will miss you, Bobbie! You have made a giant impact in our lives and the people of our community, through Rotary. Come back to see us soon!
Mr. Jim Lewis of the Moorpark Rotary Club was our featured speaker. Just a little bit about Jim. - he is a retired educator and coach. He was originally prodded to attend a Rotary meeting to learn about scholarship opportunities for his students in Ventura County. Little did Jim know that Rotary International is a primary benefactor of the eradication of polio. Oh yes, did I mention Jim was afflicted with polio as a child? The disease has impacted Jim’s life in many ways, but I think we can say with confidence that once Jim learned of Rotary’s focus, he knew the Rotary team is where he needed to be.
Jim has been with Rotary for nearly 20 years. He has made the fight to eradicate polio through Rotary membership, and joining Rotary’s affiliation with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) his battle. Since his involvement with Rotary, Jim has spearheaded numerous fundraising efforts and is widely known throughout Rotary for these efforts.
When Jim speaks about where Rotary was in 1985 when Rotary first took on this devastating deadly disease, and how far we’ve come, Jim boasts with pride. You can actually see it in his face, and I think he even stands a bit taller!
When Rotary began the fight against polio there were 350,000 active cases (1988), and now there are approximately 120 wild polio virus cases worldwide. Jim tells us that much of this progress would not have occurred if it were not for the GPEI, which includes Rotary members just like you and I.
Jim is cautiously optimistic, as Afghanistan, and Pakistan continue to have active polio cases. He said it would not take much slacking off to allow the disease to take front and center once again. Jim tells us radical factions from these countries further complicate achieving 100% eradication, due to their unwillingness to cooperate with preventative medical needs of their own countrymen and women…and that includes children!
Yes, Jim is a cheerleader…don’t tell him I said that, but he is. Jim wants us to direct 2020 towards ramping up momentum to donate to Polio Plus with our Rotary Foundation Giving, support polio survivor programs, and commit toRotary District 5240Polio Plus Societywhich started in October 2018.
Any Rotarian in our district that pledges to donate at least $100 to Polio Plus annually, will become part of the Society. I am sure Jim would like to hear back from us on this new program.
Jim, thank you for traveling to Bakersfield Breakfast to be part of our program today, we join you in your mission to stamp out polio once and for ALL!
Michele McClure is ordering us to our first club social of 2020. The event will be held January 16th at 6:30 pm at the Noodle Bar. She also tells us that dictionary prep and delivery will happen starting next week at Fremont School. Contact Michele for details.
Breakfast Rotary certainly knows how to have fun, and this is a well-known fact. Ushering in our next house party will be Connie Bensusen, who has generously offered to open her home to our annual Rotary Super BowlParty. I suspect the party will be the same date as the game, for if that is true it will be held February 2nd. Details to follow!
The February 29th Charter Night is quickly approaching. Mark your calendars for a night of star-studded recognition and cheer as we will celebrate the very beginnings of our club (December 1980). The festivities begin at 6pm at the Bakersfield Country Club. Dave Spalinger said it is a special night for him because it is a night that we Breakfast Rotarians can be recognized, or recognize others for acts of service above self. He mentions that there are numerous Breakfast Rotarians with Foundation Recognition points so close to being able to award a Paul Harris Fellow that members should check their current points to see where they stand.
Actually, Dave, I think that is very resourceful. What would be even more resourceful is that since you live 2 blocks from the Bakersfield Country Club, maybe after Charter Night, an after-party could be arranged at your home. Just sayin’.
Tom Burke is seeking volunteers for Kern YES, scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd at the Historic Taft Fort. This all-day leadership program for high school youth allows Rotarian mentors to engage with local youth to promote many of the traits seen and developed in Rotarians worldwide. Hopefully, one day these youth will become Rotarians just like you and I. See Tom or www.bbrc.org for details.
Thousand Flags is in the forecast for May.Karen Bonanno (who did such a great job with all of her fundraising efforts during Wine Place and Show) will direct this second “big” Breakfast Rotary program. She is seeking to establish an organizing committee, so don’t be afraid…jump in with Karen. I trust she will take care of you and you’ll have a ton of fun too!
Due to time constraints there was no Coffer Management System today. Darn it, I know that breaks your heart, but sometimes ya got to improvise. Tip…next week, really behave!
Running out of time won’t keep Mary Jo Pasek from being the luckiest girl in the “Whole U.S.A.” as she pulls down some, as we used to say…”Serious Coin”! Congratulations MJ.
Until next week, God bless all my Breakfast Rotary Brothers and Sisters and look forward to a prosperous, giving and Service Above Self 2020.
Happy New Year, Friends!
The songstress, Past President Denise Haynes began our Wednesday meeting with Scottish poet Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne”. Denise tells us there are numerous historic interpretations of the song, and that is interesting because honestly I have never been able to make much sense of the song myself. Yet, it was with good spirit as we Rotarians took part in singing this tribute to one another and to kindness in the coming year..jpg)
Part of the carpool club was Joe Adams who is a true gentleman, if he knows what is good for him, who drove our dear Marilee Reagor to the morning meeting.
Mr. Jim Lewis of the Moorpark Rotary Club was our featured speaker. Just a little bit about Jim. - he is a retired educator and coach. He was originally prodded to attend a Rotary meeting to learn about scholarship opportunities for his students in Ventura County. Little did Jim know that Rotary International is a primary benefactor of the eradication of polio. Oh yes, did I mention Jim was afflicted with polio as a child? The disease has impacted Jim’s life in many ways, but I think we can say with confidence that once Jim learned of Rotary’s focus, he knew the Rotary team is where he needed to be.
