As your Beacon writer I am very honored to bring you the best and brightest moments from each of our weekly meetings. Being a Breakfast Rotarian is most certainly something that gives me great pride and gives me an opportunity to engage in outstanding community service projects with a fellowship of members who are my friends. What can hardly be better than that? Thank each of you for your camaraderie. Better yet, let’s all get to know the members of our membership even better over lunch, coffee, or maybe participating in one of our upcoming projects or social events. The time is now folks!Wednesday’s meeting was ushered in by Dr. Tom Burke who provided our Invocation. Stating words of a Prayer for Peace, Love, Spirit, Harmony, Joy and through Giving, Dr. Tom told us that we will Receive. Amen. Past President Mike O’Doherty lead America’s Flag Salute and our Red, White, and Blue sparkling Past President Denise Haynes heralded in the song that we all sang along to, “She’s A Grand ‘Ol Flag”.
Pat Thompson brought a guest, who I just so happen to remember this guest coming to my home when he was a mere 5 years old to play with my young sons. Pat’s guest, William “Willie” Gordon is very active with his mother Sheeza and father Frank Gordon in the local real estate market. Pat is taking Willie to our meeting, but ya know old Pat as he probably has membership goals in mind for Mr. Gordon.
President David Spalinger gleefully acknowledged both Connie Bensusen and Dale Bender as our morning greeters. I think that it was totally cool that Dale was recognized as a greeter even though he accomplished this feat through ZOOM. But that’s our Dale for you.
Since President Dave is giving out commendations, he can’t forget to mention Past President Kay Pitts whose management of our club’s website has been first class all the way. Thank You Kay, and you know folks, Kay does all of this with a smile on her face all the way! Thanks Kay, where would we be without you.
**Featured Program**
After recognizing Kay, Kay had the privilege of introducing our guest speaker. Brent Burton has been known as the consummate public servant. I like listening to the music of Steely Dan, or Creedence Clearwater Revival, but for Brent his sound of music comes from Lights and Sirens. No that is not some music group, it is the actual sound from ambulances, firetrucks and deputy patrol cars blazing their sirens that gets his attention. It is that adrenaline which reels in Brent to serve Kern County residents through emergency public services.
Just take a look at Brent’s resume, Kern County Fire Department Reserve, Hall Ambulance Air Flight Coordinator, and a sergeant with the Kern County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy. Are you kidding me! This guy is running on high-octane jet fuel how does he have time for us? Oh yes, his regular day and night gig is instructor of emergency public safety and EMT classes at Bakersfield College AND is a Deputy County Coroner in his “free” time on Fridays and Saturdays.Ah, our own Mary Jo Pasek, with appreciation, mentioned some of the committees he is on at BC. There is not a word in Webster’s Dictionary to describe Brent’s workload, yet we are glad he has chosen his profession well as the product of his dedication is appreciated by many, including retiring Kern Community College District Chancellor Dr. Tom Burke who had many kind words to speak of Brent.
Now let’s get to the grit of Brent’s presentation. Having served 32 years in emergency public safety myself, I know that the topic of, Tales from the Coroner’s Office, can get a bit twisted really quick, so I appreciate Brent keeping his presentation at a BBRC Family Show Level. As Brent discussed his chaotic schedule and demands from his most recent duties at the coroner’s office, he identified those types of cases that his office investigates. Any case involving death by homicide, traffic accident, overdose, industrial accident, drowning, aircraft accident, fire and those where next of kin are not known are his office’s jurisdiction. That is a broad group of cases, not to mention all of the natural cause deaths that the office may be responsible to process which local mortuaries may not. Brent estimates that at the current pace of death cases passing through his office, the Kern County Coroner’s Office will surpass 5000 cases by year’s end.
I heard Brent say two to three times that his goal in serving the public at the coroner’s office that he just wants to bring closure to a very stressful situation for families. A difficult task in deed, but that’s the life of the dedicated public servant. Brent shared with us the intensive frequency of calls he receives both day and night that is unrelenting. Before he resolves his investigation towards one death case, he receives a call for another one. There is no rest in between and if you haven’t figured this out already, this is not some 9 to 5 shift. Calls come in around the clock, and of course, anyone who knows anything about such cases, they normally happen at the worst hours.
Brent cites a prevalence of overdoses, particularly with something called M-30s. Closely associated with the dangerous drug fentanyl, M-30s have quickly been identified as the main culprit for some of Brent’s woeful caseload. Seeing this first hand, even for someone who routinely does this type of work, Brent says is hard to comprehend with the dangers of drug use, why would anyone choose to take that risk. We wish there was an easy answer, but unfortunately there is not.
Brent says his job is difficult as it is without persons risking life engaging in behavior that leads to death resulting in yet another late-night death investigation for him and his staff. But that is who he is and we thank him for his sacrifice. He speaks of that very difficult part of his job that includes going to the home of a decedent to inform a family member of a death in the family. No matter how many of these you do, I’ll tell you that you just don’t get good at that. Perhaps you can’t, or should want to. But with genuine compassion, Brent does the best he can.
When Brent retires, and I hope he does one day, I think he has another career as a consultant for some made for Netflix movie, or television show. Hey who knows, maybe he will star in the action drama. But you know, even if he doesn’t, he is a Kern County Star that we have been blessed to have. To Brent and all the others like him that serve honorably and proudly, we Breakfast Rotarians salute you.
Normally, I will list the email and phone number of our speaker guest’s office, so that we can conveniently contact them. In this case, I think I’ll pass on listing Brent’s contact information. Brent understands.
**Announcements Announcements**
Past President Carol Smith took a turn at the podium to share with the membership a tribute, if you will, to our American flag, our history and 6 boys. A reading from a book entitled “Six Boys and 13 Hands” described the brief and often displayed photograph taken during WWII of 6 young Marines hosting an American flag in display following conquest of the Marines battle on the island of Iwojima. As Carol read, all Rotarians at the meeting gripped her words in s
uspense as she explained the significance of the soldier’s bravery, their separate journeys in life, and their fates. United they stood for our country’s values, and bravery at wartime. The 6 boys w
ith twelve hands were joined by the 13th, the Hand of God as Carol shared. A moving story indeed and we thank Carol for sharing on the eve of Memorial Day in America.
uspense as she explained the significance of the soldier’s bravery, their separate journeys in life, and their fates. United they stood for our country’s values, and bravery at wartime. The 6 boys with twelve hands were joined by the 13th, the Hand of God as Carol shared. A moving story indeed and we thank Carol for sharing on the eve of Memorial Day in America. We only had one birthday celebrant and that would be Pistol Pete Leveroni. That would be Saturday May 22nd to be exact! Happy birthday salutations Pete! Rotary Anniversaries include dear Connie Bensusen at 2 years and Dirty Harry Bryant at 22 years. Got to love those Breakfast Rotary members and the anniversaries.
The Prez admitted that the favorite part of the meeting was finding out who read The Beacon. I am glad he does, but when he turned to me to give the answer to the clue, I take that as an indication that he is being generous to the members. Because of course, I am going to get the answer correct, I created the darn clue. With that, the clue was how many times did Past President Cheryl Scott approach the podium AND ADDRESS THE MEMBERSHIP during the last meeting? Some claim it was a trick question, not really, all you have to do is pay attention at the meetings and completely read all parts of the clue in The Beacon each week. And with that, the correct answer was 3 times. Oh, by the way, isn’t there a song with the lyrics…Once, Twice, Three Times A Lady! How fitting for Cheryl.
Soon to be President Jeff Haynes, reminded us that there are still a few members who are in need of turning in their annual Rotary Pledges. Please let’s collectively work towards 100%-member pledge giving and complete our donations before the end of President Dave’s term is completion. Rotary Beacon Clue this week is what is Incoming President Jeff Haynes asking us to do? Speaking of The Prez, Cheryl Scott has assured us that plans towards President Dave’s demotion are going quite well. Mark your calendars for June 25th at Lino’s 1931 H Street.
Past Pres Denise Haynes has Thousand Flags up and runnin’ and we need YOU to make this year’s event a success. Sign-ups for various tasks are still needed 
and there is a little time left, so please contact Denise and fill in a spot today. Besides it is fun and will be in the beautiful sunshine we are having these days. Set up begins Saturday May 29th at 7am pounding stakes, 8 am staging flags, 9 am placing flags and take down Monday at 4 pm. Help is needed for 3-hour tours in the information booth for flag sponsorship too! I’m doin’ that one!
and there is a little time left, so please contact Denise and fill in a spot today. Besides it is fun and will be in the beautiful sunshine we are having these days. Set up begins Saturday May 29th at 7am pounding stakes, 8 am staging flags, 9 am placing flags and take down Monday at 4 pm. Help is needed for 3-hour tours in the information booth for flag sponsorship too! I’m doin’ that one!Come to Breakfast Rotary meetings where everybody is a winner! And then, of course, there are those special winners each week. Mary Jo Pasek is special and winner of $41 dollars making her a little bit richer having won the drawing and another member had the lucky number winning a bottle of Justin wine, and making them a little bit … well, I’ll leave it to your imagination.
In Rotary,
Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer