Breakfast Rotarians at The Broken Yolk were greeted with morning sunshine and bright, shiny faces with masks. We welcomed our president, Dave Spalinger, back to the podium to lead us in another fabulous meeting. As Rotarians we anticipate meeting once a week to see our friends, catch up on the latest news, care for one another, and occasionally poke a little lighthearted fun. In times like these, we all can use a whole lot of positivity, and a morning Rotary meeting is just the place to find it. There is no substitute for serving others and that is exactly
what we do. So, if you are missing us, we are missing you too! Come join us at The Yolk, or on Zoom and get caught up on our club’s exciting news and events. Hey, while you’re at it, invite a friend. I am sure you know someone that could use a big cup of Breakfast Rotary coffee; they may even be interested in becoming a member.
what we do. So, if you are missing us, we are missing you too! Come join us at The Yolk, or on Zoom and get caught up on our club’s exciting news and events. Hey, while you’re at it, invite a friend. I am sure you know someone that could use a big cup of Breakfast Rotary coffee; they may even be interested in becoming a member.Past President Ron Nelms was a man with an Invocation and as a past president he hasn’t lost his stuff. Ron asked for blessing to be bestowed upon our club members and our service to our community. Last week’s interim President Athena Collup lead us in America’s Pledge of Allegiance, and Past President Denise Haynes filled in to lead us in God Bless America, one of my favorites!
We have not had any visiting Rotarians lately. I wonder if it is because they can’t find us? Maybe we better get the word out that are meeting at The Broken Yolk. Just sayin”… We did have a Zoom guest; Sandra Parnell’s husband Jon. It was nice to see or hear from Jon. Karen Bonanno’s spouse, Tony, was present in real life at The Broken Yolk – what a treat! Read more on Karen and Tony later.
President Dave wasted no time questioning the reasoning behind his $50 fine he received last week. With rapid response, Athena Collup explained it was her understanding that President Dave was going to be present through Zoom to ensure her success and support as she assumed the president role last week. Athena told The Prez when she took over the gavel last week, President Dave was nowhere in sight, and with no way to be sure that he was wearing his Rotary Pin last week as he promised, the fine was applied by past presidents. President Dave tried negotiate mercy upon himself with a WAM-bulance response to get out of it, but to no avail. His fine last week of $50 held secure. (For the record, it is both a duty and privilege of past presidents to bestow fines on the current president.)
**Featured Program**
I don’t know where Pete Leveroni is getting these wonderful programs, but he is doing a S-M-A-S-H-ing job. Today, Pete introduced us to a real live miner. Civil Engineer Al Shirkey is the miner’s name and huntin’ for gold and silver is his game. Al is the manager of aggregates and projects at Golden Queen Mining Company in Mojave. Al has an extensive resume leading numerous construction and engineering projects for several international corporations. With 30+ years of experience, Al has practically seen it all. Al says his most recent endeavor is his most rewarding. Geez, and why wouldn’t it be? He is literally digging for gold and silver!
So, if you were not at Wednesday’s meeting, you missed your chance learning about this mining operation. Al’s explanation was a little technical so I will do my best, and if my explanation of what learned sounds a little like your latest attempt to landscape your yard with rocks and boulders, I’m good with that. In operation 365 days a year with 250 employees from administrators to the lucky staff who get to drive and operate gigantic earth moving equipment with tires larger than your house. Golden Queen is at full throttle excavating acres of rock from an open pit to extract precious raw material.Utilizing ingenuity from engineers, geologists, consultants, and demolition experts this team of professionals must take into consideration the expense of excavating and the profits they can potentially derive. As a project manager, Al is always thinking about THE COST of any project. To keep a handle on costs they model acreage they intend to excavate to determine cost and benefit. Al gets to make the tough call as whether to proceed. His work is not for the squeamish, and this is the part I like, because once a decision is made to proceed with an excavation project, dangerous explosives are used to begin separating the rock from its natural state. It was during this moment that I knew having a Breakfast Rotary meeting near ground zero at a blast site would be a meeting none of us would ever forget!
Never seen in the aisles of a Lowe’s or Home Depot are the kind of super heavy equipment that carries the newly created boulders in the pit. The boulders are moved to the “jawcrusher” to begin the process of grinding them into aggregate! These little rocks are subjected to intense, complex chemical processes to segregate a, hopefully, large yield of gold and silver.
Al reminded us that his team are not the first to mine the Mojave territory. During the late 1800s and turn of the century, miners were already aware of gold and silver in the area. He said the early prospectors constructed elaborate subsurface tunnels, up to 30 miles long to extract the precious minerals. Most of the “easy finds” were removed by the pioneers. If any of you think you’re going for a little drive to Mojave to strike it rich, Forget a-bout it! Al’s work is sophisticated, calculated and absolutely dangerous. Despite that, Golden Queen Mining has secured new leases to mine the area for many years to come. Yes, there is gold in “them thar hills“. Several thousand ounces of gold are extracted per month. The remaining aggregate is sold for uses such as landscape, road resurfacing products, and construction projects.
The mining company also restores the land by backfilling the spent pit with some of the mined material. All of this sounds like one more aspect of a Kern County industry some of us know little about. Yet, after today we acquired new knowledge and a sense of appreciation for Al and those like him that take maintenance of our natural resources seriously while producing products that enable us to maintain our way of life. Not sure if a Breakfast Rotary meeting would practically work in Mojave, but if we do, I am sure there are many who will attend. BAM!
We thank Al for sharing with us. To find out more visit https://www.goldenqueen.com/
**Celebrations**
Past President Neal Walker must be having a fun birthday, because he wasn’t at Rotary; the guess was that he was getting a pedicure. We wish him a happy birthday! Karen Bonanno was present with husband Tony to recognize their wedding anniversary. KC Steakhouse will be their destination to continue their celebration of married bliss. Other wedding anniversary celebrants were Mindy Wilmot and her fella, Don. Congrats all!
**Announcements Announcements**
Alison Hickman touted the availability of Wine, Place, and Show sponsorship packets. She said the packets are to be provided to those pers
ons, or companies that are interested in supporting our event. Alison made the packets available, so if you did not receive one, there is time to do so. They are also available through links on www.bbrc.org. She mentioned the sponsorship packet includes ways to support our annual Thousand Flags event too. With respect to the event itself, Alison told us that this year’s Wine, Place, and Show to be held on September 19th will include an array of fun-filled games, horse races, fabulous food, and wine. It is an event that is easy to promote. Given that the WPS parties will be unique hybrid virtual, live and in parties, attendees can anticipate a lot of fun and surprises. Contact Alison at her email address ahickman@tangraminteriors.com
ons, or companies that are interested in supporting our event. Alison made the packets available, so if you did not receive one, there is time to do so. They are also available through links on www.bbrc.org. She mentioned the sponsorship packet includes ways to support our annual Thousand Flags event too. With respect to the event itself, Alison told us that this year’s Wine, Place, and Show to be held on September 19th will include an array of fun-filled games, horse races, fabulous food, and wine. It is an event that is easy to promote. Given that the WPS parties will be unique hybrid virtual, live and in parties, attendees can anticipate a lot of fun and surprises. Contact Alison at her email address ahickman@tangraminteriors.com President-Elect Jeff Haynes announced that it is that time of year for our reminder of what keeps our BBRC afloat. By that I mean, tending to our Foundation Pledges. Jeff reminded us that your minimum $250 foundation pledge is split between our club’s foundation ($150) and The Rotary Foundation ($100.) The Rotary Foundation supports projects both in North America and the rest of the world. We will receive more information soon about the pledge process from Jeff and the Breakfast Rotary Foundation board. Please remember, our club has a reputation within Rotary District 5240 as having one of the highest numbers of member participation to The Rotary Foundation. Let’s keep up the great reputation. (This week’s clue is “what is the requested total annual pledge to the Breakfast Rotary Foundation and The Rotary Foundation?”)
Activities Director Michele McClure made everyone stand at attention, and boy-oh-boy she got my attention as she asked how many of us would be interested in eating ice cream. Michelle wanted to determine the interest level of those members who would attend an ice cream social at Riverwalk Park. Ordering ice cream from Dewar’s is planned; as soon as Michelle ices out the details, she will distribute information for your participation.
**Fines and Whines**
The mornings fines were plentiful, which is the reason I titled this section **Fines and Whines**. There were a lot of whiners. You would think that after three successive weeks of fines coming to members not reading The Beacon that members would have learned by now. Well let’s see…
President Dave checked with Jeff Bell to see if he knew what this week’s clue was. Jeff is a nice guy, maybe too nice, yet it did not help him as The Prez fined him $10 for not knowing the answer. Ah, Bree Goodmon who fumbled without correctly answering the clue for two weeks in a row got another chance. This week she pulled the correct answer out of her hat, well kinda. She answered the quiz by stating that the number of attendees at WPS virtual parties should be between 10 – 12. The correct answer was 10 – 20, but The Prez had mercy on her and gave her a pass. Whew! Congrats Bree!
Past President Denise Haynes - I declare who will be my wing person at my next bar fight! She is one tough lady, which she demonstrates with her ultra-marathon runs. Now she is training for a crazy steep High Sierra mountain climb. What is not tough about her is her hiking boots which literally fell apart last weekend during her climb. For this story and her pain, The Prez did not levy a fine upon her. He instead encouraged her to take her money and buy some new boots.
Past President Cheryl Scott and Sandra Parnell have participated in the past in a half marathon that went from Morro Rock to Cayucos Pier. It is called, aptly, Rock to Pier Run Half Marathon. The event is an annual fundraising event, which, unfortunately, was cancelled this year. Not to be cheated of this fun running, the women decided to do it anyway,
but do something different and run it backwards. Yes, backwards. I am not sure what this could have looked like, but at the end of their race they were awarded with a fabulous high carb breakfast prepared by their doting husbands. Backwards? Ah…$10 fines.
but do something different and run it backwards. Yes, backwards. I am not sure what this could have looked like, but at the end of their race they were awarded with a fabulous high carb breakfast prepared by their doting husbands. Backwards? Ah…$10 fines.A happily retired John Guerard is a grandpa again, this time a boy! Gramps donated $20 to the coffers. Then came an array of other donors. There were the likes of Dr. Jeff Haynes who traveled to Lake Tahoe. He sacrificed $10 to The Prez for a good bottle of whiskey, 
Pat Thompson who, while camping in Wyoming, found a coyote face roadkill. While he seemed slightly saddened about parting with it, he still presented it to The Prez as his travel tribute. 
That cost him $10 bucks and the coyote face.Past President Mike O’Doherty did not impress the Prez either with throwin’ and skippin’ rocks. Why would you give rocks to a guy that cuts wood for a living? $20 Mike! Heavens knows where Ken Quarnberg went. I’m not sure he even knows, but one thing is for sure, he presented The Prez with “Alien Jerky”. Yes, Ken said there nothing can be seen in the package of jerky, it is invisible like The Prez’s hair. A big $20 fine Ken. Jeff Bell is just thankful his son was going to take his driver’s test later in the day. I’m sure he passed because he is a smart and careful kid. Must take after his mom…$10 Jeff. And finally, there is Teresa Ramos-Alvarez and her husband Nick Alvarez. Apparently, Luigi’s is the place to be on Saturdays. But when The Prez gets there and is waiting for a table before you, my advice is if your name is called for a table before him…beware. Teresa apparently ignored this advise and was awarded a fine of $20 from President Dave himself. Wow, Prez you really out did yourself this week in fines. Nice job!!!
Pat Thompson who, while camping in Wyoming, found a coyote face roadkill. While he seemed slightly saddened about parting with it, he still presented it to The Prez as his travel tribute. That cost him $10 bucks and the coyote face.Past President Mike O’Doherty did not impress the Prez either with throwin’ and skippin’ rocks. Why would you give rocks to a guy that cuts wood for a living? $20 Mike! Heavens knows where Ken Quarnberg went. I’m not sure he even knows, but one thing is for sure, he presented The Prez with “Alien Jerky”. Yes, Ken said there nothing can be seen in the package of jerky, it is invisible like The Prez’s hair. A big $20 fine Ken. Jeff Bell is just thankful his son was going to take his driver’s test later in the day. I’m sure he passed because he is a smart and careful kid. Must take after his mom…$10 Jeff. And finally, there is Teresa Ramos-Alvarez and her husband Nick Alvarez. Apparently, Luigi’s is the place to be on Saturdays. But when The Prez gets there and is waiting for a table before you, my advice is if your name is called for a table before him…beware. Teresa apparently ignored this advise and was awarded a fine of $20 from President Dave himself. Wow, Prez you really out did yourself this week in fines. Nice job!!!To add to the kitty and on a gentler note, Michele McClure wished a prayer and her personal donation of $20 to the fines in remembrance of her dear friend Joan.
And what would The Beacon be without a little mention of this week’s winner of President Dave’s continuing mask contest. This week’s winner of the funniest mask is Past President Queen Jackie 
“HaHa” Maxwell. Next week will feature the best sports team mask.
“HaHa” Maxwell. Next week will feature the best sports team mask.Service Above Self,
By: Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer 7/29/20