Bell, of the Bakersfield Twilight Club, was the featured speaker at the August 24 meeting held at the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula; Flight 126 Café catered the lunch meeting.
Club President Judy Phelps introduced special guests Jack McClenahan of Ojai, a former Santa Paula Rotarian and District Governor, District Executive Bob Braitman of the Ventura South club and Indy Batra of Ventura, Assistant to the District Governor.
Batra introduced Bell noting he first became a member of the Bakersfield Breakfast Club in 2004.
“The road for him was not that long to leadership,” and Bell soon racked up awards for his Rotary efforts including several Paul Harris Fellowship Awards.
Bell also started the Bakersfield Twilight Club; the District Governor and his wife Donna have been married for 40 years and enjoy their dogs and traveling.
“What an honor to be at a club with a history of 92 years!” said Bell.
He noted his wife was unable to attend but “She’s the brains and the beauty of the outfit…I’m the mouthpiece.”
Bell met Santa Paula Rotarian Al Guilin before, who noted, “So you’re the new guy…I told him I hoped I wouldn’t be giving a boring speech but if I did I’d buy him dinner. This is the 22nd club I’ve visited,” laughed Bell, “and I owe 17 dinners so far!”
“Chiefs, Indians and RINOS” was the subject of Bell’s presentation and he noted “Many if not all Rotary clubs have chiefs, not Indians,” because the membership is primary those who are “leaders and successful…my comfort zone is being an Indian.”
RINOs are “Rotarians in name only and even though you don’t want to recruit RINOs,” that can even be of value if they stick with the club and are loyal members.
Younger members at time are more prone to being RINOs as they have “small children and growing businesses, but they stick with Rotary.
A small town in Colorado with only 1,200 residents has two Rotary Clubs with a total member of 120, 10 percent of the city.
There are layered benefits to being a Rotarian: “It gets you out of the routine,” with weekly meetings that offer interesting speakers, a good meal and networking.
Although undefined, “That’s another benefit,” that Bell said allows club members to meet others and later perhaps “do business with those you know…”
Rotary Clubs around the world generate about 340,000 projects a year.
“How many acts of kindness are there?
“At least 10 each,” which Bell said translates to 3.4 million acts of kindness, “Because of you,” through dues and programs.
“That adds a richness to life you can’t find anywhere else, even to a RINO…”
Bell brought the point home by asking “What would your community be like if the club was not here?”
Bell harkened back to his earlier quote of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe regarding one person’s impact on another.
As Rotarians, “We are that decisive element,” that makes a difference around the world.
Bell noted that RI President K.R. Ravindran chose “Be a Gift to the World” as his theme for 2015-16, to give the gifts of time, talent, and knowledge to better the lives of all.
“My theme,” as District Governor said Bell, “is ‘Enjoy Rotary.’ You embody both…”
