I am kind of t
hinking we need more chairs for our morning Breakfast Rotary meetings. Meetings have become so popular everyone wants to show up. Well that comes as no surprise as our club has so many fantastic events and projects going on, why would anyone miss? President Jeff Haynes has done a fine job as our president this year and his efforts have paid off. Great morning presentations, and Pete Leveroni thought it was just about him, great comradery among members, plenty of events to sign up for to make Bakersfield a better place to live and frequ
ent new member inductions. So many, I can’t even hardly keep up. Yes, we had another new member induction later in the meeting.
hinking we need more chairs for our morning Breakfast Rotary meetings. Meetings have become so popular everyone wants to show up. Well that comes as no surprise as our club has so many fantastic events and projects going on, why would anyone miss? President Jeff Haynes has done a fine job as our president this year and his efforts have paid off. Great morning presentations, and Pete Leveroni thought it was just about him, great comradery among members, plenty of events to sign up for to make Bakersfield a better place to live and frequent new member inductions. So many, I can’t even hardly keep up. Yes, we had another new member induction later in the meeting.With all of 
this enthusiasm and optimism about, it is of no wonder that Past President Denise Haynes led us in song singing “My County ‘Tis of Thee.” Bill Black too, is all about country, and so is his son. Bill brought his son Jonathon who is enlisted in the U.S. Army 82nd Airbourne. Thank you, Jonathon, for stepping forward to take that pledge of honor so that we can in America have freedom.
this enthusiasm and optimism about, it is of no wonder that Past President Denise Haynes led us in song singing “My County ‘Tis of Thee.” Bill Black too, is all about country, and so is his son. Bill brought his son Jonathon who is enlisted in the U.S. Army 82nd Airbourne. Thank you, Jonathon, for stepping forward to take that pledge of honor so that we can in America have freedom.Our morning program speaker is the newly appointed Kern County Public Defender Peter Kang. Now just so you know, the public defender’s role in the community is to oversee the administration of his office comprised of “deputy public defenders”. As attorneys, the office is that category of criminal defense attorneys that represent people who are indigent or cannot afford to personally pay for the services of an attorney. These are rights you have seen on TV read …You have the right to an attorney…if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Yes, is these attorneys who fill that important role guaranteed by the 4th, 6th and 14th amendment. So, there is your civics lesson.
Mr. Kang is very busy; we are privileged to have him visit us to share his office’s role in the criminal justice system. A UC Berkeley graduate who attended the Hastings School of Law tou
ts over 20 years’ experience handling the defense of those charged with violations of the law. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Kang brings to his office a perspective that considers societal deficiencies that often are overlooked by the emotion of the very crimes defendants themselves commit. A component to any crime is the victims and that is a point that Mr. Kang is well aware. What is missing from the examination of crimes that are committed is the question of what he describes as an indifference to those that commit the crime. His points are certainly valid.
ts over 20 years’ experience handling the defense of those charged with violations of the law. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Mr. Kang brings to his office a perspective that considers societal deficiencies that often are overlooked by the emotion of the very crimes defendants themselves commit. A component to any crime is the victims and that is a point that Mr. Kang is well aware. What is missing from the examination of crimes that are committed is the question of what he describes as an indifference to those that commit the crime. His points are certainly valid.In fairness, Mr. Kang makes a case for considering what deficiencies in a person’s life would lead them to a life of crime. The situations are many, and there are varying reasons why some people as Mr. Kang describes are “left behind”. He says with 5% of the world population and 20% of our populace behind bars or under the jurisdiction of the criminal courts, there appears to be something broken, very broken. He reports that the prison system is a pitiful outcome for those who commit crime and is not always the answer for reforming prisoners. In fact, he described prison as a haven for compounding a convicted criminal’s behavior, not to mention an affect upon further damage to their mental health. I do not think we would get an argument on this poor statistic.
Enough time could not be allotted for a full discussion surrounding views of such a controversial topic as crime and punishment, so I will dispense with any reference to that. There are too many, “what-if’s” that such a conversation can be infused with, and in the end no progress is made debating the most appropriate response to recidivism, judicial reform and the administration of justice. As a matter of note, Mr. Kang went on to highlight Kern County as a location where there are numerous prisons where there are simply too many inmates that comprise those fallen individuals that have been lost in a social calamity which resulted in their criminal convictions and a system which does nothing other than label and impugn them. His staffing of deputy public defenders and staff hardly scrape the surface of providing prompt criminal defense work diminishing the significance of the term “speedy trial”. Adding that his office is assigned by the courts 35,000 cases a year and inability to attract a new corps of deputies, partly due to lack of interest from young lawyers and competitive salaries outside of Kern County, it does not appear anytime soon that it is going to be “easy street” for the county’s public defenders.
In spite of the obstacles, Mr. Kang credits his hardworking office for capturing some justice victories for individual clients and in rules of law. Some of those victories, even though few, have meant justice prevailing for those little regarded, or sometimes forgotten persons who fall victim to criminal justice imperfections, or miss life’s opportunities that have evaded them. Additional victories have come through securing a multi-year grant of approximately $3 million which was secured through the Board of State and Corrections.
With all of this handwriting on the wall, Mr. Kang and his department have their work cut out for them. Rising Kern County crime rates, public demands for safe streets and stringent budgetary requirements certainly make for turbulent seas for Mr. Kang in the administering of the public defender’s office. Yet, with a prudent and rational approach towards working with other local criminal justice departments, we can aim at addressing fairness in application of criminal law, while holding those accountable for depriving law-abiders of their freedom to live in civility. Thank you, Mr. Kang, for visiting us and for helping us understand your chosen community service, and in dedicating yourself to the support of those that rely upon your skilled deputy attorneys and staff.
Mem
bership Director Pat Thompson, in what sounded like a writing of the last chapter of his illustrious role of membership director announced that as his 32nd and final new member induction, Holly Kuntz, would be his last. Wait a minute, don’t we still have about a year or so before Pat becomes our club’s president? There is still time for more new members isn’t there. Wait, did The Prez fire you…no way! Just kidding! I expect Pat is just preparing to transition into his president-elect role. Well Pat, thank you for your administration of the role and all I can say is that whoever is picked to assume your role, has big shoes to fill.
bership Director Pat Thompson, in what sounded like a writing of the last chapter of his illustrious role of membership director announced that as his 32nd and final new member induction, Holly Kuntz, would be his last. Wait a minute, don’t we still have about a year or so before Pat becomes our club’s president? There is still time for more new members isn’t there. Wait, did The Prez fire you…no way! Just kidding! I expect Pat is just preparing to transition into his president-elect role. Well Pat, thank you for your administration of the role and all I can say is that whoever is picked to assume your role, has big shoes to fill.Getting back to Holly, she is sponsored by Past President Jackie Maxwell. Holly is no stranger to public service having served in various roles such as a coordinator of local 4-H programs and the Lavender Festival in western Kern County. Married with two adolescent children at home, I fully expect this “Mrs. Kern County” to be going to further propel our club to new heights. Welcome Holly!
Jennifer Yamauchi advisor to Golden Valley High School Interactors brought several of her students who are active in Interact to join us for breakfast and share their experiences at the recent RYLA conference. Some of the students were presented with scholarships from our club. Let’s hear a take from each of the students to see what they took away from their RYLA 4-day experience.
- Jose – Learning from other students and my attendance was a true blessing.
- Valpre – Surrounded himself with energized people, put their differences aside, indescribable.
- Haley – Cult like happiness, felt like a family that all got along well, emotional joy, and overcame the fear of falling (failing).
- Kasa – As a shy person not one to engage or public speak,but placed at ease as I felt I was not being judged by others, enjoyed team building and becoming closer to new friends.
- Roberto – Gratitude to our Breakfast Rotarians for sending him and encourages us to send others, I changed for the better, will never forget and now more confident. Learned more at RYLA in 4 days than in 4 years of high school…wha wha what! Mrs. Yamauchi!
Like many of you, we have over the years sent an annual contingent of Interactors to RYLA, but this year, for some reason, maybe for me the state of our world and America, I took particular notice. Watching the students light-up about their experiences, especially what clearly was an emotional release of bad stress and personal reconstruction they allowed to affect themselves in such a powerful way. The freedom to express themselves without concern for retribution or judgement, the freedom to be a friend and make new ones, and even acknowledgment that what they learned will open up new ways of living out the course of their lives happy and task centered. Humm, so it is possible?
We can put down our shields and be true to each other and to ourselves. To see opportunities for growth instead of obstacles of confusion that only result in closed minds and ruptured growth. Society can take a lesson from these RYLA Interactors or, simply become a Breakfast Rotarian and be all in with what we stand for as a club. And oh yes, ditch the social medi
a on iPhones. Not allowed at RYLA, go figure…
a on iPhones. Not allowed at RYLA, go figure…Past President Dave “The Wood Man” Woody Spalinger reported that our past-president committee conferred upon the future of our leadership as they do each year. In doing so they collectively agreed to the nomination of David Lari as our president elect nominee. This is very cool. David not only has a solid financial background, but his wife also makes the most killer Texas Chocolate sheet cake!!! Bring it on! Congratulations David.
Michele McClure is seeking volunteer Rotarians to give her a little boost by showing up next Friday May 27th at Fremont School on Texas 
Street right of Union Avenue from 1:45 to 2:30p to help pass out dictionaries our club has purchased for students at the school. Sounds like one cool hour of your time. Ya might wanna check this out. The Beacon Clue is what street is Fremont Elementary School on where Michele McClure will be passing out dictionaries.
Street right of Union Avenue from 1:45 to 2:30p to help pass out dictionaries our club has purchased for students at the school. Sounds like one cool hour of your time. Ya might wanna check this out. The Beacon Clue is what street is Fremont Elementary School on where Michele McClure will be passing out dictionaries.Big DuraMax truck drivin’ Dan Johnson reported that he is ready to get his rockin’ on after a lengthy hiatus on the remission mend as his band will be performing July 9th in Pismo Beach. I’m pretty sure we will be hearing more on this from the Danster.
Oh yeah, we had a drawing and the winner was Will Duerksen who won $63 bucks. Wow, impressive Will.
In Rotary,
Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer 
