|
Outgoing Rotary President Chris Wilson, known for his way-casual dress style, was draped with multiple ties and forced to wear a suit coat for his demotion.
|
Stop order given at demotion for
Rotary Presidency of Chris Wilson
July 15, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A no-nonsense stop order was slapped on the Rotary Presidency of Chris Wilson, who was affectionately hammered out of office at a recent send off for the third generation club leader.
Wilson, a contractor and rancher known for his casual dress style that left lower legs bare save for sandals, was tortured with a suit coat and multiple ties as he sat on scaffolding for his farewell.
Past Presidents Scott Dunbar, Maria Bombara and Pamela Lindsay helped “construct” Wilson’s downfall, Dunbar providing the suit coat and multiple ties Bombara and Lindsay helped drape on Wilson.
Lindsay noted that the clothing was an attempt to help Wilson “dress appropriately” to Rotary District 5240 standards.
And, as soon as he was seated two Santa Paula building officials came in and red-tagged him.
Past Rotary President Rick Araiza, the city’s fire chief and building and safety director, said the action was to “Put a stop order to Chris’ job,” leading the Rotary Club.
It was a year that required much building including reinstating the Pumpkin Patch…plans are underway to hold the massive fundraiser at a different venue after the club lost access to Faulkner Farm due to a dispute with UC Hansen Trust.
Among Wilson’s most successful construction projects was building the massive trebuchet — the feared Pumpkin Crusher — one of the most popular attractions at the Pumpkin Patch.
The club sang “Sunrise, Sunset” rewritten to reflect the Wilson’s family’s long history with the club. Chris’ grandfather Roy Sr. was a Santa Paula Rotary Club Founder in 1923; his son and Chris’ father the late Roy Jr., was — like his father before and his son thereafter — a club president, Roy Sr. 1938-1939, Roy Jr. 1965-1966 and Chris 2014-2015.
It is unknown how many multi-generational club presidents there are in the Rotary International organization.
Past President Ken Breitag noted Wilson, “Obviously took the dress code down a few notches…”
While brainstorming with Past President Mitch Stone, Breitag said it was “like a lightning bolt,” when they came across a photo of another famed leader.
And then he presented a PowerPoint of Wilson’s life that kept the laughs coming especially when photographs of President Theodore Roosevelt and Wilson were flashed.
Breitag noted both had lives that not only highlighted leadership but also a love of the outdoors and other adventures…and then there’s that brush mustache both men favor.
“President Roosevelt was famed for the Panama Canal,” said Breitag, “but President Chris did him one better with the Pumpkin Crusher!”
But not all of Wilson’s projects turned out as well said Araiza, who showed a series of slides “from the city’s archives” that showed although most people think of Wilson as a “world famous contractor that renovated the Santa Paula Art Museum” he has had some misses.
Between antiquated equipment and hand drawn plans that brought more roars of laughter, including a flood photo showing why Wilson was not encouraged to become a plumber Araiza did note that Wilson is also an arborist…and showed his “first tree removal” with a photo of a tree fallen upon a car.
“Chris’ bible,” said Araiza, “is the Contractors Book of Excuses!”
Wilson was gifted with revered Goodwill Thrift Shop find, the dreaded bias-relief bust of Rotary Founder Paul Harris whose famed sense of humor no doubt would appreciate the “art” that appears to be mounted on black velvet.
“You can,” said Araiza, “use it as a hood ornament…”
The gift was followed by a rousing rendition of “Old Man Wilson built a farm” obviously a custom take on the old favorite, tailor made as a farewell.
But first there was some serious talk about Wilson’s outstanding leadership.
“Chris,” said Bombara, “has been an amazing president…he keeps tract of everything and when there was some ‘yucky’ stuff he meets with all and brings us all together again,” to tackle community needs.
“He works behind the scenes more than you know…”
And Wilson, a Santa Paula Unified School District trustee, is always thinking of giving back: “When he was asked what do you want for your demotion, a plaque,” or other gift noting his club leadership, Bombara said Wilson noted, ‘I don’t want anymore crap…how about a donation to the scholarship fund?’ ” which provides scholarship to graduating Santa Paula High School seniors.
So said Bombara, “We’re donating $150 to the fund instead of purchasing a plaque with his gavel,” but Wilson did receive his Rotary pins and a gift card.
Also thanked with flowers was Wilson’s ever patient wife Yvonne who attended the demotion with other family members.
The gavel was given to President Judy Phelps to lead a new Rotary year
