Welcome to another issue of the Beacon! Enjoy the meeting high (or low) lights, discover speakers, and events where you can serve our community and the world.
President Ron's Briefing
If you missed the food packaging last Saturday, you have another opportunity on May 18th. Same place, Jim Burke Ford on Oak Street, and same time from 8am to noon. It is being postponed because the second pallet never arrived. So we didn’t have all the ingredients to put it together.
This week we have Michael McCoy, Executive Director of the Kern County Museum. Also, we may have new members being inducted; so come join in on all the fun.
John Guerard, Starlight Presenter, being drilled by Pres. Ron
How Many Cats Can Fit in a Tree?
By Editor Frank Wooldridge
April Showers bring May Flowers…yes, this is so true and if you haven’t been up in the surrounding mountains lately there are plenty of flowers for us to enjoy before the heat of Summer blazes in on us. Happy May Rotarians! And nothing is finer than to start out the month with a Breakfast Rotary meeting. From the welcome greeting of Jeff Bell, Stephanie Baker, and Jerald Wyatt we started out our meeting out mighty fine.
John Guerard was our Starlight Presenter this morning. John, a dedicated Rotarian has also been a faithful manager of Grimmway Farms. With emphasis in carrots and organic produce, John is truly a master when it comes to supplying healthy veggies to families all over the world. John’s family is quite a peach too, with three children and two grandchildren, and friendly wife Susan, The Gerard’s are an asset to our community. From pipe smoking to skiing, UC Davis Aggie John does it all, and he is truly an inspiration to our Breakfast Rotary Club.
The Program: Tony Galagaza; Chief, Bakersfield Fire Department
Well you asked for it, now you got it you fire personnel fans…a real life fireman and your only question was how many cats he saved out of a tree! Oh well, Bakersfield City Fire Chief Anthony “Tony” Galagaza came to visit with us anyway. I am sure glad he did because we all learned a lot about him personally and what character he would like to promote within his personnel.
Chief would like to think of people in the community he serves as customers. I personally like this, having come from a similar industry, often the recipients of our police and fire departments become disconnected from these two very important public safety departments. Chief wants to improve the department’s image and public service.
Speaking of safety, before becoming Chief, Chief Galagaza was the president of the city fire union representing over 200 fire personnel. He knows a lot about safety and displayed that wisdom in protecting his personnel from dangerous hazards exposure while union president.
Chief Galagaza was encouraged to report that with the soon to come public service sales tax increase by 1 cent, his department will soon close the gap between filling the previous personnel shortages and improving the prompt response to calls for service. This is a very serious issue and one we should take notice of. Since 2010 our fire calls for service has increased by 51% while the number of personnel available to respond promptly to those calls have remained stagnant in our growing city.
We want to thank Chief Galagaza for sharing his time with us. He strives to promote wellness within his personnel, which in turn will translate into legendary fire services for Bakersfield.
Final word, you guys asked him closing questions about cats in trees, and how many babies he has delivered. Wow, I get it, now I know why fire personnel are always portrayed as…the nice guys!
Club and Community Service
Sandra Quigley, yes dear Sandra, keep her in your prayers Breakfast Rotarians. She had a little setback, but we know and love our Sandra and look for her to bounce back soon. We Missed You Today Sandra!
YOU ARE NEEDED! Saturday May 18th at Jim Burke Ford on Oak Street from 8 to 12pm for Rotary Food Packaging. Join other Rotary Clubs across Bakersfield for a morning of giving as we package food for underserved families. Your help and giving is so needed. Hope to see you there.
Denise Haynes tells us to Sign Up, Sign Up, Sign Up, for 2 hour shifts at Thousand Flags May 25 through 27, we need folks in the (shaded) information booth. All hands on deck please! See Past Presidents Denise or Jackie Maxwell for preferences.
Denise also wanted to add that she has recently sent out in an e-mail to all of us in regards to the amended By-Laws which she would like us to read and approve, if you of course approve of the revisions.
Finally, Denise is seeking an antagonistic crowd of fun loving President Ron Nelms demotion committee members. Do you have the spirit? See Denise for details. Demotion is set for June 28th mark your calendars.
Opportunities and Rewards
I sure like that Harry Bryant, such and easy going, fun-loving, and generous guy. I think he has the best voice of all the Breakfast Rotarians. I heard him singing Sweet Caroline today, or was that Neil Diamond? Oh yeah, Harry won the 50-50. Atta boy Harry, treat me to lunch Harry?
Until next week, Stop, Drop, and Roll to the next Breakfast Rotary activity.
