Once a famed English author Rudyard Kipling wrote a book which we all know by the name “Jungle Book”. We all know the story… jungle boy raised by wolves who becomes prey for a deadly snake until he is adopted by a bumbling bear and a wise panther. Yes, that story.

 

Well, if you have been around long enough to have read that story, you have also been around long enough to know the 1961 hit, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. Yes, Rotary can be a jungle sometimes and Dan Johnson started our meeting off with The Tokens classic hit song. What I did not know was that we had some absolutely fantastic singers that rose up to hit those high “Wimoweh” “Wimoweh” vocals. Impressive!

 

So, I suppose the word “Jungle” will be my theme in this edition. Rotary Club management can be a Jungle sometimes, so it is for that reason that we have Club Assembly. Yes, not necessarily the most popular meeting of meetings, but necessary just the same. This is our club and it is important to maintain our club’s chartered course in reaching our annual goals so that we do not end up in the wilderness.

 

 

President Ron Nelms said that because of our club’s Board of Directors he has not had to do anything during his presidency. Hey, that’s what he said. President Ron, in the absence of Denise Haynes, who was too busy to come to Rotary because her daughter Danielle gave birth to Denise’s new granddaughter last night at midnight, asked Queen Jackie Maxwell to speak in Vice President Denise’s behalf.

 

Queen Jackie said through a reading from Denise that our club is alive and well. Denise cited that amending new by-laws for our club is a work in progress. Thanks Denise and congratulations.

 

Club Secretary Darin Blunt got right to the point by acknowledging that our attendance at weekly meetings stands at a consistent 64% and that we have a current compliment of 58 members. The real blow dart in Darin’s presentation was that his two daughters have now aged-out of Girl Scouts. And that means NO-MORE-GIRL-SCOUT-COOKIES. Now what are we going to do? 

 

Treasurer Will Duerksen shared with us that he is not in the woods about our Rotary financial picture. He said we are where he expects us to be at this time of year for our club. He reported that our income is down a tad from where it should be, but that is due to membership attrition. Alas, good news to come yet on new membership.

 

Our Club Service Director Jeff Haynes knows where the big feasts are and he has done a stand-up job arraigning some really fantastic places where we Rotarians have been able to let our hair down, yep me too, after hours. Jeff’s latest offering will be back out to Corseree’s Kitchen in Rio Bravo. We are going to turn up the notch on the next mixer as Jeff has promised us food, bunco, and wine tasting. Are you serious! See everyone there. Best salads there, no kidding. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the date!

 

I have never seen our International Director Representative Mike O’Doherty, short on words, ever, but yes he admitted he had a moment of stage fright once where he mistakenly stated his Alma Mater as Fullerton State when in fact it was Fresno State during the filming of Family Feud that he was in. Oh well that’s OK, I bet Mike’s team won…right, Mike you won, right?

 

Mike is steering Rotary through the dark trails of doing lifesaving work and through his direction we are seeing the benefits. Mike shared with us how our Rotary funds are being used internationally in Bangladesh to help women learn to read and write in English. Former Breakfast and now West Rotarian Randy Merriman acknowledged gratitude and continued support from our club towards the club joint effort in bringing dental services to previously un-served residents of Guatemala. Seriously, Randy shared with us that the un-served people of this impoverished nation walk with their families for many miles and stand waiting for many hours just to receive a chance of receiving dental care. Really makes you think how blessed we are to have what we do and that we are in a position to serve mankind through Rotary. It is simply ours to share. Support these programs your efforts are so needed now.

 

 

Dave Spalinger is all over the map because he has had so many Community Service Projects that he has offered to the membership. That’s right, there is something for everyone in Rotary and Dave has done a great job letting us know what and where we can display our energy. It has paid off in the lives of countless people who have attended our projects.

 

Vocational Director Karen Bonanno has asked us to submit names of community members that we consider to be unselfish contributors to Bakersfield. Karen said she will soon reveal the person her committee selected to be this year’s “Above and Beyond” recipient.

 

That Andrew Ozanich has been one busy Youth Services Director. Andrew, along with high school ambassadors Bobbie Hake and Bree Goodmon have taken our Youth Services campaign right up to the top of the canopy serving and directing numerous projects, like RYLA, clean-ups, annual speech contest, Autism Society project, etc. etc. Very Cool Stuff.

 

Pat Thompson, yeah, and you thought he was such a good boy. Hardly, this former juvenile delinquent has actually spearheaded a pretty sharp membership drive. What was once a period that we seemed to be losing members in the quicksand, Pat, as Membership Director, has uncovered several new members and prospects to come. Atta boy Pat and all Breakfast Rotarians who have sponsored new members.

 

 

Thank you Stephanie Baker for your role as Chair of our Awards. No we had no idea you had a tattoo. Impressive. We think you’re great Stephanie, who is a Driller by the way.

 

Queen Jackie does what others, including myself, are not always enthused to do, and that’s raising money. As Fundraising Chair Jackie was happy to report that our club fundraiser Wine Place and Show was yet again a success making $38,000. Funds made will help support other Breakfast causes and promote another event which has attracted a lot of attention, Thousand Flags.

 

Thousand Flags is approaching so if you know of persons or businesses which may be interested in sponsorships this will help offset expenses and can add to our accounts receivable. Just so you know, contributions to Thousand Flags benefits any number of local Veterans projects in our community.