It’s always a
good thing when a newer member starts the meeting with the Invocation. Why, you say? Because the newer member a chance to see what it looks like from the Breakfast Rotary president’s point of view, while giving them the opportunity to hold the membership at attention while bestowing words of wisdom. Member William Gordon, who has been a member almost a year, took his turn at the podium to commence the gathering with the Invocation. With that the meeting was off and running. William felt just a little taller with his taste of what his future will feel like as a leader of our
good thing when a newer member starts the meeting with the Invocation. Why, you say? Because the newer member a chance to see what it looks like from the Breakfast Rotary president’s point of view, while giving them the opportunity to hold the membership at attention while bestowing words of wisdom. Member William Gordon, who has been a member almost a year, took his turn at the podium to commence the gathering with the Invocation. With that the meeting was off and running. William felt just a little taller with his taste of what his future will feel like as a leader of our
fine club.Past President Craig Holland, and sponsor of William was the perfect follow-up as he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. It was so cool songstress Carol Smith rolled right into the morning song without even taking a breath. With that, we were singing “I’ll be Workin’ on the Railroad”, with no lyrics needed for these members by the way…thank you very much.
Program Director Pete Leveroni keeps the weekly speaker hits comin’ like Casey Kasem’s Rock and Roll America’s Top 40, presented Rick Anthony, Director of the City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department. Mr. Anthony, who was appointed May 2021 has an impressive resume having held several positions that prepared him very well for our county’s recreation and parks post. Now you may be curious what it takes to prepare one to be in-charge of facilities that we all loved. Well, consider Mr. Anthony serving in the United States Air Force, and then a pre-trial investigator and house arrest coordinator, which is not walk in the park, Ha-Ha I made a funny.
Mr. Anth
ony also served as coach and commissioner of an athletic club, then started his own business as a certified arborist (tree service), and then an unexpected appointment as director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, a position he held for 10 years before traveling from the east coast to Bakersfield.
ony also served as coach and commissioner of an athletic club, then started his own business as a certified arborist (tree service), and then an unexpected appointment as director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, a position he held for 10 years before traveling from the east coast to Bakersfield.So why Bakersfield? Why not? You see, with the influence of persons close to home, …his wife…and family members, yes Mr. Anthony is Bakersfield bred, it was time to come home after 30 years for a magnificent opportunity to lead our city parks department. After surveying the potential for improvement and growth in our parks, the timing could not have been more ideal for the former South High School Rebel athlete to return to Bakersfield. With a cup full of optimism, Mr. Anthony, a downtown Rotarian, is setting some lofty goals for his department. He shared just a few of those goals and how he expects to achieve them.
With the challenges of homelessness, vandalism, drought, and staffing issues, Mr. Anthony tells us he will be able to respond using a responsible outlay of funds acquired through Measure N funding. Mr. Anthony recognized member Mike Turnipseed of Kern Tax who was in attendance to ensure that our city tax dollars are wisely spent. Mike made a cameo impromptu kudo speech, praising Mr. Anthony for his vision and plans for the responsible use of those tax monies.
Among some of the initiatives Mr. Anthony is focused are his Adopt-a-Park Program, Ranger Program, Partnership Building, Update of Master Plan, department reorganization, and Addressing Park Needs in Underserved Areas. As I normally do as writer of the Beacon, I have the privilege of picking just a couple of the speaker’s major initiatives/objectives to highlight what accomplishing them could look like.
Let’s look at the park adoption program. Mr. Anthony would like to make adopting a city park a way park neighbors can give back to their community. Local residents can make their adopted park a place where fun and memories can be made, instead of where criminal elements lurk. We Breakfast Rotarians are right with the director on this one. Ever hear of San Miguel Park? Of course, you have. It is a local park along the bike trail our club adopted for Rotary’s 100th anniversary in 2005. The park has memorial and recognition plaques at the base of trees our club and friends planted. Semi-annual landscaping club events at the heavily wooded park have been staged to help the city keep the park in pristine condition.
Speaking of the Ranger Program, this is a brilliant idea. Made of a select team of civilian employees, Mr. Anthony’s” Rangers” will complement local BPD by focusing patrol on the parks to minimize petty nonsense so that families become attracted to the park. This will also enhance the contribution of the aesthetics of the park for neighborhood homeowners. I guarantee the William Gordons and Athena Collups of our club like that kind of community development. Lastly, the Master Plan. Heavy lifting of park innovation which will be phased in over a 10-year period by Mr. Anthony. The update is intended to review and document what was done, not done, and will be done for our parks. Mr. A
nthony anticipates that his team’s and the residents’ efforts will result in parks that are a prized centerpiece in their neighborhoods.
nthony anticipates that his team’s and the residents’ efforts will result in parks that are a prized centerpiece in their neighborhoods.I think most of us agree that our city parks can be locations where children grow in ways that contribute to healthy, productive and happy lifestyles. With Mr. Anthony at the helm, and the partnerships he develops in the community, including local Rotary Clubs, we can expect our city parks to become a shining example of the Best of Bakersfield. The park website can be located at https://www.bakersfieldcity.us/297/Recreation-Parks . Thanks for visiting with us Mr. Anthony!
Club Developments
President Jeff had no birthdays or wedding anniversaries to report. Wow, that rarely happens! He did note that Honorary Member Yuki Kobayashi-Takeuchi, who is teaching Japanese at Bakersfield College has 14 years of affiliation to our club.
Drum roll ladies and gentlemen! Wednesday morning’s meeting marked the beginnings of two new members and their journey in Breakfast Rotary. Membership Director Pat Thompson introduced inductees Cameron Cerda and Javier Reyes. As a part of the induction Pat shared with us the monumental contribution that the inclusion of women has had upon Rotary
world-wide, and particularly our club over the last 25 years.
world-wide, and particularly our club over the last 25 years.Recognizing BBRCs 40th anniversary, it is only fitting according to Pat, to uphold how our club’s women have embraced membership and leadership. Each of our women past presidents received accolades for their dedication. They have certainly left an everlasting high standard to follow which we are in gratitude.
Both Cameron and Javier shared their enthusiasm with the honor of being inducted. Congratulations to both of you Red Badgers! Just a reminder, any member that doesn’t meet Cameron and Javier and sign their club roster is subject to a fine!
What a way to start the new year with deep pocket members willing to sleep the first of the year and not read The Beacon. Yes, there was a Beacon Clue Past President Jackie Maxwell, and all the others who generously contrib
uted to The Prez’s coffers. Thank goodness Ken Quarnberg saved the rest of you who hadn’t read our weekly newsletter by correctly answering the clue. The clue was, which school do we provide dictionaries each year, Answer…Freemont School.
uted to The Prez’s coffers. Thank goodness Ken Quarnberg saved the rest of you who hadn’t read our weekly newsletter by correctly answering the clue. The clue was, which school do we provide dictionaries each year, Answer…Freemont School.President Jeff and Past President David Spalinger absolutely conspired to present one of the most hilarious past president features that we had seen to date. Dave was cool as a clam when the video of him appeared on the screen. He lamented his short-sightedness in giving away bottles of wine to members as prizes during his 2020-21 term in that as president he feels he carelessly contributed to members’ troublesome excessive drinking. In a responsible move, Dave told us that he will now be starting a rehab treatment program for those he wrongfully led astray to a world of debauchery.
Dave said that his tenure was compounded in disgrace by past member Marilee Reagor who presented him on one occasion with a package of gummy bears that were “CBD laced”. Little did the president know he would become addicted to the drug-laced bears. For that he too is seeking treatment. To dramatize Dave’s trials, President Jeff shared with us a segment of a classic Cheech and Chong movie that helped us sympathize with Dave and all he is experiencing daily in his battle with gummy bears.
Moving on to serious stuff, President Jeff confirmed that our District 5240 conference has been COVID postponed. It will be re-scheduled. Charter Night February 12th is still a go at the Bakersfield Country Club. Mark your calendars and see you there. Our Beacon Clue is what night is our Charter Night scheduled?
The Prez scored a totally cool US Army 82nd Airborne ballcap presented to him by totally cool Bill Black whose son is serving in the 82nd. Bill’s son recently visited Bill and mom Jan during the Christmas Season.
More socially acceptable than gummy bears, but equally addicting are Girl Scout cookies that Darrin Blunt is slinging to our club members. Darrin said he will be taking orders through February 12th so get your orders in to him now cookie lovers! I like the mints and peanut butter, how ‘bout you?
You gotta pay to play and Will Duerksen knows how to play…and win, the daily raffle that is. With his winnings, he gave them to new member Cameron Cerda to add to the over $370 bucks club members collected during the meeting to mark the birth of Cameron’s and his wife’s new little baby! As a consolation, Will was awarded by The Prez a bottle of wine, what else?
In Rotary,
Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer
