Enjoy the meeting high (or low) lights, discover speakers, and events
where you can serve our community and the world.
President Ron's Briefing
Congratulations to John Bacon of Kern Bridges who is this year’s winner of the Above and Beyond Award. Please see his biography that follows the Meeting Notes.
A big welcome to our newest member Connie Bensusen who was sponsored by Athena Collup. Connie and her husband Albert operate Sandman Technologies. Be sure and sign her roster list so she can get the blue badge. (If you don't sign, you will get the fine!)
Hopefully you will be able to make out to Thousand Flags this weekend and help out. It is amazing to me the overwhelming support we have received from the community. Remember to visit Sequoia Sandwich Shops on Memorial Day and thank them for contributing 10% of their proceeds to Thousand Flags. Broken Yolk did this on Friday, May 24. Fortunately it was CSUB graduation day. Broken Yolk was packed! Thank you Kathy Andersen!
We have received generous sponsorships from outside our club which include Berry Petroleum, SunPower, and Sierra Printers. In addition our Club members business and organizations have risen to the occasion and we thank Edward Jones, Heise Media, and the Bakersfield Association of Realtors. And we can’t forget my colleagues in the surveying community that donate their time on Friday mornings to place the little white dots.
This week we will be dark but will be back on June 5th to hear from Bob Meadows and all the exciting things happening in Shafter.
April Showers are Supposed to Bring May Flowers; Not More Showers!
By Guest Reporter Mindy Wilmot
It was another wet and dreary morning in Bakersfield. Mother Nature does know it is almost June, right? Thought it was appropriate that Dan Johnson had us sing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” The songmeister also thanked Frank Wooldridge for filling in the previous week. In other opening business, today’s greeters were Bobbie Hake and Jeff Haynes with an assist from Greg Desme (or did Greg do it all? Jeff was fined $5 for being tardy and/or absent).
Denise Haynes delivered a beautiful innovation, and Karen Bonanno led our flag salute. No visiting Rotarians, but quite a few guests: Al Bensusan (husband of Connie, owner of Sandman), Nick Simmons (physical therapist from Glinn & Giordano), and Norma Rodriguez (Coordinator of Internships and Career Development in the School of Business and Public Administration at CSUB). Cheryl Scott was fined $5 due to Dr. Rodriguez making it upstairs before Cheryl, and wouldn’t you know it, Neil Walker covered Cheryl’s fine AGAIN! I don’t know what he has planned for our future president, but it must be a doozy!
Congratulations are in order for the following:
Club Anniversaries:Becky Brooks (6 years) and Marlene Heise (13 years).
Wedding Anniversaries:Patrick and Karen Thompson (40 years) and Stephanie and Don Baker (51 years). Wow; just wow! That’s outstanding!!
And happiest of birthdays to Pete Leveroni and Ken Quarnberg.
BBRC inducted its sixth new member: Connie Bensusan, sponsored by Athena Collup. Connie co-owns Sandman and loves to cook Cajun food. This is plenty early I know, but putting it out there…jambalaya and gumbo for Mardi Gras next year! Welcome to BBRC, Connie!
Karen Bonanno and Michael O’Doherty introduced this year’s recipient of the Above and Beyond Award, John Bacon, CEO of Kern Bridges. Kern Bridges provides housing and other services to youths in our county. We discovered that John fell into this work after being injured in a welding accident, and that he was formerly a member of Bakersfield South Rotary where he was awarded 3 (possibly 4) Paul Harris Awards and was a Master PRLS graduate. John requested that the $250 donated in his name go to the Young Marines, who happen to assist with Thousand Flags.
The Program: Dr. Gregg Wilkerson, Take two rocks and call me in the morning
Today’s fascinating and informative program titled “Mining History of the Lake Isabella Region” was conducted by mining historian and geologist Dr. Gregg Wilkerson from US Bureau of Land Management. In Dr. Wilkerson’s own words, “Every rock has a story to tell, but you need someone to translate.” He truly puts faces to our county’s gold exploration. He conducts tours and field trips and offered to do one special just for us. I, for one, had no idea that gold mining had such a rich history in our own backyard.
Club Announcements
Thousand Flags this weekend.
The All Club service project was this past Saturday. Thanks to those who participated.
This month’s social will be Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Café Med.
If you’re hungry this weekend, we hope you visited Broken Yolk on Friday, May 24, or any Sequoia Sandwich Company on Monday, May 27 because 10% of proceeds will benefit Thousand Flags. And if you aren’t able to go, share with family and friends and support these businesses because that’s pretty awesome!
Lots of Happy Spots!
Athena Collup - $20 happy after returning from an awesome conference in Washington, DC.
Cheryl Scott - $20 happy as she prepares for RI conference in Europe.
Karen Bonanno - $20 happy for her daughter’s portrayal as a Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
Dan Johnson - $20 happy after returning from the Caribbean (where he brought President Ron a voodoo doll and was that rum? Yum!), $5 x 2 happy for his band being asked to perform in Morro Bay and at Village Fest.
As for the 50-50 drawing, Mindy Wilmot did not make it a three-peat (so Frank will not be washing her car), but the new member streak is alive and well since Connie Bensusan won $71!!!
Thanks to Frank for the opportunity to try my hand at the Beacon once a month. Hopefully, your wit and humor will rub off on me.
John Bacon: 2018-2019 Above and Beyond Award Recipient
By Nominator Michael O'Doherty
John currently serves as CEO of Kern Bridges Youth Homes. Kern Bridges has a two-building admin facility and Two Group Homes. Casa de Niños is in an orange grove north of Bakersfield and Almklov House in town.
Kern Bridges has an average of 75 adoptions each year. The 80 employees have the challenge of supporting constantly changing population of foster children.
John was born just north of Pittsburgh and is the oldest of eight. He joined the Marine Corps in 1972 and became a Ground Radio Repairer. After his tour in the Corps he went to work for GATX where he helped build cylindrical railroad tank cars in the Pittsburgh area.
With the closing of the steel mills in the area, limiting opportunities in Pennsylvania combined with a desire to be in California, John took Kaiser Steel's offer to work in their Ontario / Riverside plant. It was while he worked there that an industrial accident sent 4,000 volts through John’s body causing massive damage to his hands and body. Many people would give up after that kind of extremely severe injury but john started volunteering with children and went to college.
He earned a bachelor’s and master's degree as CSU San Bernardino in psychology. He also received a master’s in social service from San Diego State. He remains at the top of his field through continuing education at Ohio State, Penn State, and USC.
John maintains relationships with former Kern Bridges youth, whether they are in prison or just need to talk. He also help other emancipated youth, both men and women as needed.
He constantly educates new workers in this field, he mentors interns, and is constantly updating all the programs through the never-ending maze of government rule changes.
John has one adopted son who was very traumatized as a child. His son now has a home and a loving father.
On top of all the outstanding, above and beyond his job, John was a member of South Rotary Club, has three Paul Harris Fellowships, is a two-Past President of that club and is a Master PRLS graduate.
