Spring showers bring spring flowers and a beautiful day it was for a Rotary meeting.
There to greet us on the 12th floor were Athena Collup and Jerry Starr. The deal of the morning was seven tickets for five dollars and everyone was a winner. Harry Bryant gave a heartfelt invocation followed by our flag salute that was led by Karen Bonanno. Bill Black got our Easter joy rolling with us singing "Peter Cottontail." Luckily, President Denise didn’t have us hopping around the room for her Fit for Rotary Moment. She decided to expand our brains and had us work on a Vince Fong Word search.
Shaun Kelly was let off the hook as there were no visiting Rotarians; however we did have a few guests. Kay Pitts introduced her husband Brian. Mike Turnipseed graced out presence with his guest, MaryAnn Keithly. She informed us that she was participating in the “Dancing at the Stars” at the Stars Theater on April 6th and 7th. Our speaker and prior Rotarian, Vince Fong, brought his District Director, Lauren and his Field Rep, Tanner.
We had no wedding anniversaries but did sing happy birthday to Marilee Reagor. President Denise announced that both her daughter and daughter-in-law were both expecting boys and she was $25 happy. Tom Burke was $20 happy for his wife’s retirement with the County of Kern after 32 years. Greg Desme was $10 happy in honor of his son passing the Certified General appraisers test. Neil reminded Brian Pitts about a conversation they had regarding the lava in Mojave Desert and how it got there. Brian simply stated that it was by a volcano and Neil was bewildered about this answer as there no mountains in the area. To help expand Neil’s knowledge base about volcanos, Brian gave him a book on Volcanos and for this Neil was $5 happy. Martha Zamora was $40 happy for visiting grandson in Houston and participating in the Bakersfield Amazing Race with her son.
After all these happy spots, President Denise was not done collecting money for the coffers. She did fine Mike Turnipseed $10 for not being at the meetings to sign new members' signature sheets and he got his second Paul Harris Award. Jason Williamson was targeted for not being happy this year and became $15 happy for his 25th anniversary and his daughter’s acceptance into college.
Sandy Magley gave a vocational moment, although she has been retired from the KHSD as an English teacher and English Department chair. She is currently spending her time cuddling babies at Memorial Hospital and with the Kern High School Expulsion Panel Board. She hopes that the love she is providing with her cuddling will help to deter them later in life in hopes of not seeing them at the expulsion board.
Mike O’Doherty introduced Vince Fong, our State Assemblyman and previous member. He does business in Sacramento Monday through Thursday and is in Bakersfield Thursday to Sunday. There is never a dull moment for Vince as he deals with the multiple problems the California faces. These problems include an affordability crisis, gas tax, cap and trade, mandates on utilities, and difficulties with building in California. He also has continues to work with the Valley Fever project and renewable energy.
As our meeting came to a close, everyone anxiously waited to see who would win $65 in the 50-50 drawing and Mike O’Doherty had Shawn Kelly’s winning ticket. He gave half to Maryann Keithly for the Stars Theater. Our Paul Harris point raffle was won by Harry Bryant, he received 200 points.