... official publication of BAKERSFIELD BREAKFAST ROTARY CLUB District 5240, Club 654, Bakersfield, California, Chartered 12/13/82 Visit our website www.bbrc.org Neil Walker Editor Cecil Martin, President, 2005-2006 - THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY Edition 15 October 12, 2005 Board of Directors President Cecil Martin Vice President Michael O'Doherty President Elect - Larry Mueller Secretary - Carol Smith Treasurer Denise Knudson Club Service Cheryl Scott International Service Shaun Kelly Fund Raising Jim Bell New Generations - Mike Stepanovich Membership Harry Bryant Vocational Service John Guerard Community Service DeAnn Straub Committee Chairs Sergeant-At-Arms Chris Rogers Fellowship Carl Leech, Mike Daniel Fireside Chats Jerry Starr Rotary Information Howie Wass Club Bulletin Editor - Neil Walker Programs Kay Pitts Club Awards Vincent Fong Music Carol Smith Publicity Becky Smith Family of Rotary - Sister Judy Morasci Foundation President Larry Mueller President Elect Nominee Ed Knudson VISITING ROTARIANS No visiting Rotarians GUESTS Evelyn Nelson Teresa Hitchcock HOSTS Harley Pinson Speaker s Asst. CLUB MEMBERS ASSIGNMENTS DATE GREETERS INVOCATION FLAG SALUTE INTROS 10-19 Fulton/Fussy Grabert Guerard Hanson 10-26 Hayden/Haynes Huffman D. Johnson J. Johnson 11-2 NO MEETING EFNO PREPARATION 11-9 R. Johnson/Kelly King E. Knudson Leveroni 11-16 Lafranchise/Malkin Maxwell Lari Leech 11-23 NO MEETING THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 11-30 Mueller/Nelson McClintock Merriman Morasci UPCOMING PROGRAMS 10-19 Life Reflections Herb Benham 10-26 Group Study Exchange Shaun Kelly 11-2 No Program EFNO on Saturday 11-9 Operations at Rabobank Arena Claudia Goodsell 11-16 District Governor Visit Sally Edelblue 11-23 No Program Thanksgiving Week 11-30 California Government Issues Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE 10-19 Past President, Carl Leech, will conduct the meeting 10-28 District Conference Palm Springs 11-5 Evening FOR New Orleans Benefiting Hurricane Katrina Survivors 11-16 District Governor Sally Adelblue s Official Visit ATTENTION MEMBERS... In a very short 3 weeks, we will be holding the 8th Annual Evening FOR New Orleans Fund Raising Celebration. Because of our commitment to helping the victims of the hurricanes, we especially need everyone s help this year. In addition to volunteering on a committee, we need to focus on obtaining sponsorships, selling vacation raffle tickets, and providing Silent Auction items. Contact Larry Mueller or Jim Bell if you have any questions. The event will be held... Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, 6:00 p.m. The Bayou, 1111 19th St. Cajun Theme - Silent Auction - Fabulous Food, Entertainment & Prizes
BIO - MIKE STEPANOVICH DIRECTOR, NEW GENERATIONS [In an effort to help members learn more about the club and its leaders, a standard feature for future Beacon publications will be biographies of BBRC Directors and other Club bigwigs. Thanks go to Past President Harley Pinson for his efforts chasing down this information. Editor] Mike Stepanovich is our club s Director of New Generations. He s been a member of our club since 2003 having been sponsored by Neil Walker. Mike also served part of the last Rotary year as Director New Generations Mike is employed as Public Affairs Director, California State University, Bakersfield. He s responsible at CSUB for all public relations and marketing for the university. Mike was born in Atascadero and first moved to Bakersfield in 1983. He has a B.A. in English from California State University, Sacramento (Go Hornets!), and a Masters in Public Administration from Cal State Bakersfield. Mike is married to Carol and they have two adult children. He s involved in the Arthritis Association of Kern County, and is a past President of the Bakersfield Wine Society, and with Carol was co-president of Couples Against Cancer. Carol is involved with the Assistance League of Bakersfield. Mike is a well-known local wine connoisseur and commentator. He writes a regular wine column and reviews restaurants for Bakersfield Magazine. Mike serves as a wine judge and judges at major international wine competitions around the U.S. He teaches wine classes at CSU Northridge, and has an extensive win e collection and cellar. He and Carol love to travel and have traveled extensively in the North America and Europe. They also are avid supporters (and season ticket holders) of USC football. Mike has a vegetable garden each year, and he loves to cook. Mike enjoys both the camaraderie and the Service Above Self aspect of Rotary. He cites the latter as one of the reasons he joined Rotary in order to have another outlet to serve the community. He really enjoys serving as Director New Generations and seeing the difference it can make with young people. Mike says he s the eternal optimist. The glass is always half-full (often literally so) for Mike! MEETING RECAP October 12, 2005 (Vocational Service Month) P resident Cecil Martin welcomed a smaller than usual audience on a beautiful morning. Cecil brought to our attention the glorious sunrise (pictured) just dawning in the east. Then, ala Jekyl and Hyde, he demanded Secretary Carol Smith to fine all members not present.... and moments later asking her to fine all visiting Rotarians who opted NOT to visit!??? Could it be the honeymoon rapidly coming to an end with our heretofore mild-mannered, super-hero president. (Anyone ever notice the close resemblance to the original Clark Kent (George Reeves)? Page 2 of 5
Speaking of heroes, Past President Howie Wass informed the club that no other nominations for President Elect Nominee had been received in the allotted 10-day period. Therefore a motion and second were made and ED KNUDSON was duly and unanimously elected to serve as BBRC President beginning in July 2007. Congratulations and enjoy the ride, Ed... it ll be here before you know it. You will love the job and the memories you make will stay with you forever. Red Badger, Julie Stewart (pictured proudly pointing at her badge) with her sponsor, Karen Wass) was invited to the podium where she was given her Blue Badge. Her roster was complete sans our own BPD Lt. Hajir Nuriddin. Hajir suggest you bring either your wallet or your weapon to the next meeting! The Fine Marshals had another heyday bestowing attention on Mr. Crown Mortgage, Tim Cox, for yet another new vehicle. Things going pretty well in real estate, huh Tim?? Jerry Saba was noticed for his bare legs and sandals on this golfing day off. As mentioned in the last newsletter Karen Wass, Jason Williamson, Zack Wallace and Carl Leech fared pretty well at the Plank Foundation Golf Tournament winning $100 apiece. Not learning his lesson a couple weeks ago, FM Howie Wass ill-advisedly again centered his wife Karen in the crosshairs. Howie must enjoy that doggie bed with the other pups because he seems determined to continue tucking his tail and returning to the kennels. It was a high moment indeed when Jason Williamson ratted out his teammate, Zack Wallace for hitting the long drive. Then the FMs leveled their barrels at poor Past President Jerry Starr for some recent TV notoriety attending the National Depression Screening Day. When asked if he wore his Rotary pin while on TV, Jerry confessed that he was too depressed that day and forgot it. He now 10 dollars broker and even more depressed. The highlight of the Fine Marshal s segment came when President Cecil was called to task for his recent dalliance of ignoring the no-advertising rule and putting in an advertising plug for his employer, Hillcrest Memorial. Being always ready for the unexpected, Cecil must have known he was in trouble. Realizing that he was soon to be ROASTED, he had the forethought to bring the proper receptacle in which to remove his charred remains (see picture). Cecil really URNed his laughs on this day!! THE PROGRAM The Brookings Institute has said that Bakersfield has replaced Las Vegas as the fastest growing community in the United States. Raymond (Ray) C. Bishop is Kern County s Director of Airports overseeing the daily operation of 6 county airports with 30 daily commercial flights. Seeing gridlock in the Los Angeles airports by 2025, Ray s goal is to capture some of that business. The big project at center stage currently is the new William Thomas Terminal to be officially opened in January or February next year. The dedication occurs on November 12 th. Has the construction project gone well? Don t build buildings if you don t have to! Drink purple Kool Aid instead! Bishop chided. Page 3 of 5
Another goal is to take Bakersfield to the next level in air traffic international. Ray has aspirations of adding direct flights to and from Guadalajara and Mexico City. Other direct flights he envisions include Honolulu and Sacramento. We were informed that the length of the runway at Meadows Field can accommodate the heavies so another goal is to capture a large share of cargo traffic. PAST PRESIDENT CARL LEECH TO RUN THE OCTOBER 19 TH MEETING Past President Carl Leech ( 94-95), as requested by President Cecil, will chair next Wednesday s meeting. Cecil has requested that each past president, from earliest to latest, chair the 3 rd meeting each month. He also has asked for a short biography of that PP to appear in The Beacon around the same time. Below is information received about Carl. [Editor s note: The information below was written by Carl s long-time friend and one of those whom Carl sponsored into the Club... Past President Paul Cooper.] CARL LEECH, also known as MR. TUXEDO, was asked to join BBRC in 1991. His sponsor was Past President Greg Smith. Carl leaped into Rotary service with great enthusiasm and energy. His involvement in Rotary at both the Club and District level is a true representation of his passion for the ideals of Rotary. Here is a quick list of Carl s Rotary accomplishments: * Sergeant of Arms 1991-1992 * Interact Advisor for Foothill Interact. 1991-1993 * Club Secretary 1992-1993 * P.R.L.S. Graduate... 1994 * President. 1994-1995 * District 5240 Club Service Director... 1998-1999 * Rotary International Conventions Attended.. 3 (Remembers attending two. One is a blur.) * Habitat for Humanity Projects Attended.. 15 * Charter Committee Member of the Valley Fever Vaccine Project * KCHSD Business & Ethics Conference - Committee Member 7 years * Rotarians Sponsored by Carl who became President 2 * Member International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians * Events Carl has served as our Bartender.. Too many to count. If each member of BBRC could take just one minute and think of the last meeting, social event or fundraiser that they attended and ask themselves Where was Carl? Carl was there setting up before we got there. He was there making sure that everything ran smoothly during the event. He was there making sure the rest of us had a great time. He was there cleaning up after we left. He is the guy who never asks for any recognition for his participation. We are truly fortunate to have a Service Above Self Rotarian like Carl Leech in our Rotary Club. Page 4 of 5
Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club P.O. Box 2568 Bakersfield, California 93303 Email editor: nwalker1@bak.rr.com WHERE TO MAKE UP Meeting Day Rotary Club Meeting Place Time Monday Bakersfield South Holiday Inn Select Noon Monday Inyokern Homestead Restaurant 6:30 a.m. Monday Wasco Valley Rose Golf Course Noon Tuesday Bakersfield North Holiday Inn Select Noon Tuesday Foothill High Interact Club Foothill High 7:15 a.m. Wednesday Bakersfield West Stockdale Country Club Noon Wednesday China Lake Heritage Inn Noon Wednesday Shafter Minner Air Field Cafe 6:30 a.m. Wednesday Bakersfield Breakfast The Petroleum Club 6:45 a.m. Wednesday Taft Jo's Restaurant Noon Wednesday Interact Bakersfield High School 2:40 p.m. Thursday Bakersfield Downtown Bakersfield Art Museum Noon Thursday Tehachapi Kelcy's Restaurant Noon Thursday Delano Mary s Heavenly Bites Noon Thursday Frazier Mountain Communities Dream Castle Café & Bakery (Frazier Park) 7:00 a.m. Thursday Kern River Valley Ewings (Kernville) 7:00 p.m. Friday Bakersfield East Veteran's Hall Noon BBRC PAST PRESIDENTS 2004-2005 - Michael O Doherty 2003-2004 - Neil Walker 2002-2003 - Harley Pinson 2001-2002 - Susan Eaton 2000-2001 - Don Trybul / Mike Daniel 1999-2000 - Paul Cooper 1998-1999 - Mike Daniel 1997-1998 - Ray Geigle 1996-1997 - Bonnie Crawford 1995-1996 - Carl Leech 1994-1995 - John Tait 1993-1994 - Greg Smith 1992-1993 - John Vasinda 1991-1992 - Bill Jones 1990-1991 - Glenn Ray 1989-1990 - Mike Kirkwood / Howie Wass 1988-1989 - Howie Wass 1987-1988 - Craig Holland 1986-1987 - Anil Mehta 1985-1986 - Bob Bryant 1984-1985 - Sid Chapin 1983-1984 - Jerry Starr 1982-1983 - John McWhorter Page 5 of 5