This last Wednesday’s meeting was unlike any other meeting that we have had in recent memory. Our meeting gave all that attended an opportunity to learn our club’s origins. Celebrating Bakersfield Breakfast Club’s 40th year who better to share our history than Past President and Charter member Jerry Starr. To opened up our exciting meeting. Our president Jeff Haynes rang the bell to bring our rowdy crew to order. Mindy Wilmot provided our invocation and David Perkins led us with America’s Flag Salute. Past President Denise Haynes told us that she placed the lyrics for the song, This Land is Your Land, on the tables. That is kind of Denise, and I’m grateful to her preparing and making available the lyrics to us so that we can all sing together.
We have some guests who I’m hoping will become more regular at out morning meetings. For the second week in a row, Past President Neal Walker invited Dr. Robert Provencio as his guest. Welcome back Dr. Provencio. Good to see you too, Neal.
Jerry Starr invited his son, Matt Starr and Charlie McWhorter to our morning meeting. Charlie’s late-father John McWhorter was a past Breakfast Rotary President during the club’s early years and John contributed so much to the club’s beginnings. Welcome Matt and Charlie. Later in the meeting where Jerry was our featured speaker, Jerry presented to Charlie a Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary flag bearing the design Charlie’s father created when the club was first formed. An emotionally moved Charlie accepted the flag with pride and thoughts of his father.
**Featured Speaker**
This segways perfectly into our presentation that features none other than Jerry Starr. Most of us know the mild-mannered Jerry as a friend and a proud representative of BBRC, but some did not know he actually got his start in Rotary as a 1978 member of a Rotary Club in Oskota, Michigan when he was stationed at a base in that community as a member of the United States Air Force. He later was stationed in Merced at the Castle AFB Base where he brought his love for Rotary to that club. Jerry eventually found his way to Bakersfield where he along with a number of gentlemen started and chartered our club in 1982. Elected as this start up club’s first president, Jerry simply was setting himself, and perhaps the rest of us for a life changing event. Of course, that would be our lifelong commitment to Service Above Self. What an honor.
Jerry along with Dennis Scott are our only remnants from those gentlemen that originally started our club. Dennis relaxing at his Lake Tahoe home continues to call BBRC his home.
As Jerry began his presentation, he shared that covering BBRC’s history is no easy task because there have been so many accomplishments and positive changes (growing pains) that the club has endured. From modest beginnings, Jerry said the club had to learn over a period of time the personality of the club and how that personality would equip the membership to achieve its goals. Now this type of presentation by any other person could have been fairly bland, but when Jerry spoke of historic meetings and events his stories caught our attention. His favorite all-time from recollection, was when a woman on a trampoline was the featured program, this certainly got my and other members attention this morning. Did I see a gleam in Jerry’s eye when he spoke about this meeting?
It doesn’t stop there. I’ve been a member of this club for a real long time and I never heard of this next tale. Jerry told us at his demotion from BBRC President, that he was literally kidnapped, handcuffed to an ambulance gurney and transported to a local hospital! And local Judge Chapin and something about wearing a Tu-Tu??? Even, promoting a golf tournament at Buena Vista Golf Course and sponsoring a Hole-In-One contest in which the club did not take out insurance to cover the obligation to pay the guaranteed winnings if someone did happen to actually hit one. And you guessed it…someone actually made a Hole-In-One committing BBRC to put up the money. There must have been some fast talkin’ and a lot of Crow Eatin’ by Jerry and BBRCs to work their way out of paying a hefty cash prize to the golfer. I’m not going there with details of what kind of leadership could have led to such irregularities. I have a reputation as a Beacon Writer to uphold so I will just leave these stories outcomes to your own speculation…
Moving on to more PG-13 type material, Jerry tells us Breakfast Rotary has enjoyed years of fantastic fundraisers, such as Twilight at Tuscany, Evening at New Orleans, a Western BBQ, Bats and Broomsticks, and our current fundraiser Wine, Place and Show. Jerry touts the efforts of these fundraisers not just for the fun and memories they have created, but for the contributions our club has made to numerous local beneficiaries that have been able to deliver services that they would have not been able without the support of Breakfast Rotary.
Some of those beneficiaries that are still enjoying our support are Polio Plus, Houchin Community Blood Bank, Relay for Life, Wreaths Across America, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, SEALS Program, Wounded Warriors, Special Olympics, Thousand Flags benefitting Veterans, Pancakes Breakfasts and Target Christmas Shopping with Kids.
Jerry told us that unmistakably, Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary has made its mark on community, no doubt, but it has also affected its members. Jerry lauds the efforts of the club’s members for welcoming families of members in the participation of club activities. He said the outcome has been life long friendships and personal growth. Aside of just being a business networking group, members that embrace the essence of Breakfast Rotary have truly been the recipients of all the goodness that comes through the joy of giving.
Being around as long as Jerry, as a member, not an age thing…, Jerry has seen an evolution of Rotary membership policy and procedure internationally. Of the most significant is the inclusion of women to Rotary into clubs all over the world. Jerry acknowledges that for him, women in Rotary has changed the face, the momentum and the successful future of Rotary. He marked Breakfast Rotary’s first female member; Bonnie Crawford who was sponsored by Jerry himself in 1988. Jerry also sees a shift in who we see as a potential new membership basis. Jerry foresees Rotary International envisioning memberships that represent the communities that we live in. Jerry also predicts that Rotary International which has performed outstandingly with its near elimination of Polio, will shift their worldwide health focus to the eradication of COVID-19.
Pride beams from Jerry’s face as he shares Breakfast Rotary was the starting point for local Twilight Rotary which started their club with a nucleus of Breakfast members. A more “youthful” extension of our club is to promote the ideals of Rotary to high schools through our Interact programs. Programs at Golden Valley and Foothill High Schools have enjoyed their partnership over many years with BBRC. The program has made possible offerings that have groomed our future leaders in understanding that service as a Rotarian should extend through personal, business and community life. Within that pursuit, ethics plays a big part. Jerry touts the efforts of members like Past President Carl Leech for dedicating time into coordinating the annual Rotary Ethics Conference with the Kern County High School District. Beacon Clue is, name the two high schools that Breakfast Rotary are a part of our Youth Services program.
We all know Jerry is a humble sole, but you cannot hold back his pride in telling of the long list of all of the service awards BBRC has had bestowed upon the club from Rotary District 5240. Speaking like a modest winner of an Oscar, Jerry said that the leadership of BBRC has been blessed with great presidents and Boards of Directors along the way, and those filling what he describes as “hard jobs” to make the club continue its successes.
Well Jerry, this has been interesting…you have spent a good part of our meeting sharing just some of the take-aways that you think make your life in Rotary extraordinary. Well, we as members not only enjoyed your morning presentation, we join you in the privilege of being members of Breakfast Rotary. Like you we see changes ahead, and rest assure, like you, we promise we will take care of “your club” now and into the future as a tribute to you and those club forerunners that made all of what you shared with us possible. It is our sincere promise and tribute to you.
**Announcements Announcements**
President Jeff tells us that brother Dan Johnson is undergoing treatments for a lump found on his throat. He will be away from the club for a period of time and would ask for your prayers for a speedy treatment and recovery. Besides we will need to tease and annoy Dan as we are so used to doing upon his return. Stepping up to help with the Sergeant of Arms duties will be Jacque Alexander in Dan’s absence.
Birthday Rotarians this week are Jeff Bell and Karen Bonanno. Happy birthday to our dear Rotary members and friends. Charter member Dennis Scott is celebrating 47 years married and Past President Craig Holland is celebrating yet another BBRC anniversary. Thank you both for all you have done with our club over the years and Dennis, enjoy your and Frances’ anniversary in Tahoe!
Denise Haynes rightfully took the podium to thank those within the club that through their contributions made this year’s Thousand Flags a resounding success. With only 3 weeks of planning time before Memorial Day, Denise assembled a Band of Heroes who provided much needed funding to enable the previously COVID hampered program a strong comeback after a year laid off. Those sponsors and persons named where Valley Gun (Ken Quarnberg), Edward Jones (Jeff Bell), Lyn Citrus Seed (Past President Jackie Maxwell), Ron Nelms and Associates, Heise (Marlene) Marketing, Haynes (Jeff) Chiropractic, Bakersfield Board of Realtors (Athena Collup), and Forever Flags (Neal Walker).
Social Director Sandra Parnell reports that are very first social BBRC outing under President Jeff’s regime will be upcoming at Los Pancho’s Restaurant. More details to follow.
Denise Haynes informed us that September 11th will mark 20 years since that fateful attack upon the Twin Towers. To pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price to protect our county, The Bakersfield City Fire Department is planning an event at the Buena Vista Fire Substation. They have asked for some of our Flags which we will oblige. More to follow on this event as well, perhaps volunteer opportunities will soon become available to us. Stay tuned…
**Happy Spots**
Darling Mary Jo Pasek just returned from a tour of Iowa with her husband Tom. While there, they visited the town of Clearlake where a coffee mug and a ball cap from the famous Surfball Room was bought by MJ for The Prez. I think The Prez will have to get used to this sort of treatment.
Denise Haynes would like to have everyone know that her daughter Jacki Sprague is opening a business to dedicate attention to your party and balloon decoration needs. With the number of parties and events we participate in, I am sure we can give Jacki some service. Contact Denise for detail, or just call Jacki from the business cards that were left for us on the table during the meeting. Congratulations!
Greg Desme is a whooping $100 happy after visiting with his grandchildren in Florida.
There were some issues again with Past President Cheryl Scott during the meeting. Apparently, she caused her friend Sandra Parnell to have to pay a fine of $40. Disgruntled at the end of the meeting Sandra told Cheryl that if Cheryl won the drawing that Cheryl would have to share the winnings with her. Geez, guess that Sandra has a special talent, as she guessed it right. Cheryl did in fact win the daily drawing. I think lunch is in order for Sandra, what do you think Cheryl?
In Rotary,
Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer