Greeters:Tom Burke (sporting his stylish cane) and Temo Lopez, kindly filling in for Shane Bryant
Invocation:Bill Black, sharing a thoughtful history lesson on the atomic bombings of August 1945
Flag Salute:Frank Wooldridge, stepping in for the missing Darrin Blunt
Song:The More We Get Together, led by Denise Haynes — with Willie and Ron enthusiastically “getting together.” Denise teased that Kumbaya may be next.
Visiting Rotarians: None, per Karen Bonnano
Guests:John Parnell (“first husband,” according to Sandra) and Dr. Adam Kline, guest of Char Vega
Club Business
Service Project: The Pet Food Drive continues through next Wednesday’s meeting.
Birthday: Happy birthday to our President, Sandra Parnell!
Club Anniversaries:
Kay Pitts – 26 years
Marti Sanders – 3 years
Happy Spots:
Bill Black – $20 for returning from Oregon after his mother’s passing, bringing back a S’mores kit complete with a melted bag of M&Ms
Troy Fringer – $20 after returning from the Cayman Islands with island‑themed coasters
Cheryl Scott – $6 for completing the Rock to Pier run in Morro Bay with Sandra (and being “forced” to be happy about it)
Club Socials:Char Vega sent out a survey seeking ideas for this year’s socials. Her message: Respond… or be assigned something.
Speaker: Sheriff Donny Youngblood
Sheriff Donny Youngblood delivered a funny, grounded, and engaging presentation.
Key points:
Joined the Sheriff’s Department on February 6, 1973.
On his very first day, within two hours, he responded to an officer‑involved shooting in Oildale — a memorable “welcome” to the job.
Leads a department full of humans — some who arrive without driving skills and some who have never fired a weapon.
Has added nearly 800 new personnel in recent years, including officers now living in outlying communities such as Ridgecrest and Rosamond.
Faces a daily “you can’t make this stuff up” reality, including state mandates that release felons who should remain accountable.
Maintains strong partnerships with BPD, CHP, FBI, and other federal agencies… but has yet to meet Governor Gavin Newsom.
Prioritizes officer wellness, though acknowledges the challenge of fully understanding what individuals may be dealing with privately.
Echoed Tony Castiglione’s praise for the Search & Rescue team, which stations itself along the Kern River every weekend to help those who encounter the “Killer Kern,” often with tragic outcomes.
President Sandra thanked Sheriff Youngblood and his team for recovering the Thousand Flags trailer and its contents after they were stolen a few years ago.
Opportunity Drawing
Art Esparza walked away with a cool $37.
Next Week’s Speaker
Alejandra Murillo – CSUB MESAS Center
A big thank‑you to David Perkins for taking this week’s meeting notes. Your time and attention help keep our club informed and connected.
And a big shout‑out to Denise Haynes for capturing photos throughout the meeting. Your pictures help bring our weekly newsletter to life.
