Invocation: Brad Hannink
Flag Salute: Jeff Johnson
Song: Jeff Gutierrez
Roving Mics: Eddy Paine & Steve Illingworth
Greeter: Dave Turner
This day in history
In 1493 Christopher Columbus mistook this:
For this:
Must have been day drinking.
Good News & Announcements
Jeff Johnson and his team of Bell Ringers pulled off a hat trick by being the top kettle money maker for the third time in a row.
Speaking of the Kettle Drive, at Luigis, during the busy Friday lunch crowd, a gutsy Brad Barnes stood up, all 8 feet of him, and got everyone's attention. No easy feat in that madhouse. He announced that there were some Rotarians out front ringing a bell, and to put some money in their Kettle. That is all, you can go back to your pasta.
Program:
There was a last-minute shuffle in the line-up today. Apparently a person was going to talk to us about time management but forgot to put us down on their calendar. Epic fail. So, instead, we had a farewell tribute to long-time member Jessie Lopez.
After an intro worthy of Ricky Gervais by Justin Leland, Jessie got up and told the story of what lead him to become a Boy Scout leader.
Although Jessie never was a Boy Scout, after graduating college in 1991 he got a job there. He was tasked with possibly the most challenging recruitment assignment ever. He had to venture into the Eastside Salinas gang territory recruit 50 at-risk kids to go on a camping trip. Although the kids were not official gang members, they already identified with either the Crips or the Bloods.
So Jessie and a busload of 25 Crips and 25 Blood affiliated young teens set off for camp. At first, it was touch and go. But Jessie coaxed them to work as a team and ultimately the youngsters realized that aside from their "colors" they are all pretty much alike. That was a life-changing experience for the boys and for Jessie.
He eventually arrived in Bakersfield and has had a successful term as Executive Director. So much so, he was recruited for the Executive Director role of the Pacific Islands. He will be moving to Hawaii with his family and will oversee Hawaii, Guam and American Somoa. And, of course, he'll become a Hawaiian Rotarian.
Good luck and God speed Jessie!
Next Week
Don't miss Madaline Abernathy's presentation in which she won the Individual Documentary category at the National History Day competition. She will be performing her project, The Challenger: A Tragedy that in time led to a Triumph.
Guests
Steve Hale guest of Bart Hill
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