Tom Burke greeted us at the door—not just with his trademark smile, but with 50/50 tickets in hand and the gleam of a man confident he might finally win his own drawing someday. Tony Castiglione offered an inspiring invocation, reminding us why Rotary service matters (and possibly asking for divine help on club dues). Will Duerkson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance with enough enthusiasm to make Francis Scott Key proud. Then, Carol E. Smith raised her baton and our voices in song as we belted out the Rotary Four-Way Test tune—because nothing says “Rotary spirit” like trying to fit ethical principles into a catchy melody before coffee.

VISITING HUMANS:

• Chuck Canada made the trek from the Niles Rotary Club, chauffeured in by Carol Smith, who clearly believes in long-distance guest importing. Past President Chuck has visited so many times he’s now classified as “Rotarian-adjacent” and may soon qualify for his own badge by common law. Also, it was his birthday this week!
• Art joined us thanks to an invitation from Donna Schwartz, who continues her campaign to bring quality people to breakfast one guest at a time. Art survived the early hour, the singing, and the 50/50 ticket sales pitch, so things are looking promising.
• Michael O’Doherty, a former member, flew in all the way
• from Spokane just to visit, reminding us that you can leave Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary, but apparently you can’t quite escape it. It was great to see him back at the table, proving that once a BBRCer, always a BBRCer.

                            

THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM:

Queen Jackie Maxwell, our fearless President kicked things off with a brisk tour of the club’s Rotary year so far, proving that yes, we have done more than just eat breakfast and buy raffle tickets. Milestones, projects, and a healthy lack of drama suggest the ship is sailing straight and the captain still remembers where the wheel is.

Your Treasurer (Cameron Cerda) reported told us that the club’s bank account is behaving itself: income is only about $300 lower than last year, expenses are about $500 lower, and somehow that math still leaves us roughly $6,000 ahead year-over-year. Charter Night and president-elect trainings may make the timing look goofy on paper, but the bottom line is clear: we are on budget, spending responsibly, and nobody needs to start auctioning off their Rotary pins.

Our Membership chair Temo Lopez has been busy, adding three new members this year with two more waiting in the wings, proving that Breakfast Rotary still has curb appeal at 7 a.m. Guests get two free visits to decide if they like us, after which their inviter turns in an application and starts the highly official 5-day board review followed by a 5-day club notification—democracy in action. Before anyone is inducted and handed a badge, the membership chairs hold an orientation to explain Rotary expectations, fees, and why Paul Harris shows up in so many conversations.

Our Club Service/Socials chair (Jennifer Henry) offered a whirlwind recap of our adventures so far: Chewy’s in July, The Vault in September, Woodstone Pizza, Oktoberfest, Bunko, a Christmas party at Jeff Haynes’ house, and a visit to Hungry Hunter to keep our cholesterol properly challenged. Looking ahead, Charter Night is set for February 7^th  and the club will be on the road at Golden Valley on March 18, but March–May still need social locations and fresh ideas. Members are encouraged to suggest family-friendly events and lend a hand planning, preferably while wearing the famous yellow “Rotarian at work/play” shirts available from Denise—because nothing says “responsible adult” like bright yellow cotton.

Under Marty’s leadership, community service has looked like a full-time job with great coworkers. Over the past months, the club filled 60 backpacks with school supplies for local kids, sorted donated sneakers, planted about six trees and installed granite plaque stands, fed 25 families with Thanksgiving baskets, and wrapped up December with custom embroidered blankets and a holiday party at Rafer Johnson School. Coming up, members can flip pancakes this Saturday (shifts 6–9 a.m. and 9–noon), help assemble 100 cancer care bags in February (especially if they have leads on discounted radiation cream and comfort items), pick a favorite cause for Volunteer Big Kern on March 7,  and support our 1,000 Flags in the spring.

Erick’s Vocational report focused on celebrating people who do their jobs with heart. Nominations are open until April 18, 2026, for the “Above & Beyond” / On The Job Excellence Award, recognizing individuals who uphold high ethical standards, serve through their vocation, and inspire others. The lucky honoree receives a certificate plus a $500 donation to a charity of their choice, and Erick is seeking 3–5 Rotarians to help review nominations. He is also building a student-focused career panel and short vocational talks, with 4–5 speakers from different industries to show that careers rarely follow a straight line—perfect for Rotarians who took the scenic route to where they are now.

Sandra’s Foundation update reminded everyone that there are actually two separate pots of money: the club account for dues, breakfasts, and administrative costs, and the nonprofit foundation that funds community service projects from events like 1,000 Flags. The club’s endowment currently sits at about $410,000, invested with the goal of growing it large enough to support more programs from its earnings in the future. Members can use pledge forms to direct donations toward the endowment or other foundation purposes, and while small “happy spot” fines usually go to the club account, larger gifts of $50 or more can be routed to the foundation if designated; a fuller look at investments and budgeting is planned for May with financial adviser Jeff Bell.

HAPPY SPOTS:

• Ron Nelms returned from a surveyors’ conference in Oregon, where he visited, among other things, the spot where Lewis and Clark finally decided they had gone far enough and turned around. Ron brought back gifts in hopes of staying one step ahead of Queen Jackies fines, proving that historical curiosity and fine avoidance can go hand in hand.
• Teresa Waller was a full $100 happy—that’s $10 for every wheel on her new truck and RV combination.  Whether she can actually back the whole rig up remains anyone’s guess, but the club is taking bets and standing by with cameras just in case.

RECOGNITION:

In memoriam: Past President Harley Pinson

Many in the club remembered Harley Pinson. Harley Pinson recently passed away at the age of 75 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Harley was a Charter Member of Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary and served as Club President in the 2002–2003 Rotary year, helping shape the early character and culture of BBRC.

IT’S A WRAP:

We wrapped up the morning with a moment of truth—the 50/50 drawing. With $48 on the line and dreams of early retirement in the air, the lucky ticket belonged to none other than Temo Lopez! In a shocking twist, Temo accepted his winnings without being in costume—rumor has it he’s saving the superhero cape for a bigger jackpot.