EAGLES of EXCELLENCE eBulletin

Posted by Chris Costlow on Jun 12, 2017

June 8, 2017 meeting

The evening began with members of The Mountain Top Strings providing beautiful ambiance as club members and guests socialized in preparation for the best meeting of the year so far.

President Mike Beveridge rang the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Liz Harris offered an uplifting and inspiring Invocation.

John Stock led the group in the recital of The 4-Way Test, and our own 3-Way Test.  In case you don't know, the 3-Way Test is as follows:

  1. Will it be fun?
  2. Will anyone get hurt?
  3. Will anyone find out?
 

In case you missed it...

EAGLES OF EXCELLENCE

 
 
This last Thursday, June 8th, about 100 people were treated to what was likely the most rewarding and heartwarming event on our yearly calendar; The Eagles of Excellence Recognition Dinner.  Many thanks to John Calahan for his hard work in putting this together, and thanks to all who assisted him!
 
This year's recipients were Dena Arbaugh, Barbara King, and last but not least... our own John Stock.
 
One thing this author has been struck by since joining The Rotary Club of Big Bear Lake is the humility displayed by club members and the people we as a club recognize (well, with the possible exception of one Kevin Wagner, that guy who HATES interrupting - humble?  HA).  Thursday night was a perfect example.  Listening to this year's Honorees speak left very few dry eyes.  Eagles of Excellence, WE SALUTE YOU!
 
I won't take too much time writing biographies for Dena, Barbara, and John, but I would like to give a few highlights...
 

DENA ARBAUGH

Dena has always known that her calling is to help others.  With a Father who was a Rotary Club President and a Mother who believes in making a difference in her community, "Service Above Self" was part of her childhood.
 
Dena's path to service in the community began with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from UC Riverside in 1985.  After graduating, one of her first jobs was as an Instructional Aide at a school for emotionally disturbed children.
 
Dena moved to Big Bear Lake in 1998 with her husband Mike and their two children, Kyle and Kayla.  Mike is a retired Research Scientist.  Kyle is a retired Army Scout, married and raising three boys.  Kyle will earn his Bachelor's Degree in Public Safety Management next year.  Kayla will be earning her Master's Degree in December in International Business and telecommutes as a Project Manager with Blackstone Technology Group, and is getting married this summer.  Both Kyle and Kayla served as Presidents of the EarlyAct Club at BBES and were members of the BBHS Interact Club.
 
Working with Rotarians, Dena saw a need for and started the BBMS Youth Act Club.  Being the advisor of this club was one of the highlights of Dena's life.  She was recognized by The Grizzly as one of the Top 10 in Big Bear making a difference with our youth.  Realizing how important experiences are for our youth, she started after-school enrichment classes such as "Language, Culture, and Food" using volunteers from the community and some of the Rotary Club Foreign Exchange Students.
 
As a first year Principal at BBMS, She started a STEM Academy.  By her second year, it had evolved into "STEM for ALL".  By her third year, this program had blossomed into "STEAM for ALL" with the addition of the Arts.  Subsequent years brought more awards to BBMS, such as the California Department of Education's Gold Ribbon School Award for "STEM for ALL", and a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award.  BBMS was also chosen as one of three secondary schools in California to receive the Healthy Kids Award.  The same year, Dena received the STEM Champion Award by San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and in 2016 she was a nominee for Women of Distinction from Congressman Mike Morrel of California's 23rd Senate District.
 
Let there be no doubt:  Dena TRULY soars with Eagles.
 

BARBARA KING

Barbara is a classically trained pianist holding a BA in Music from CSULB and graduate courses from Teacher's College at Columbia University in New York City.  For over three decades, Barbara taught piano and comprehensive musicianship in her music studio in Manhattan Beach, CA.  She served on the board of Music Teachers Association of California, organized and adjudicated Certificate of Merit Exams, Conducted music pedagogy classes for the International Piano Teaching Foundation and worked with the Manhattan Beach School District as a music specialist and arts consultant.
 
In 2004, Barbara and her husband John retired and relocated to Big Bear.  Retirement brought blessings of more freedom and new opportunities.  Soon after moving to Big Bear, the serendipity of meeting two amazing musicians, Dian Sloan Kubeja and Sharon Rizzo, provided a chance to learn new music skills and serve as an accompanist for vocalists and instrumentalists in music events on and off the mountain.  Through many rehearsals and performances, this unexpected opportunity created many close relationships with young musicians and has become one of the most meaningful highlights of her life.  Later, Barbara met Glenda Beukelman.  Barbara and Glenda worked together sharing piano duties in the community.  Together, Barbara, Diane, and Glenda created the successful annual Messiah Sing-Along under the sponsorship of the Arts Council of Big Bear Valley, which Barbara has served as Director of for the past 12 years.  In her position as Director, Barbara along with Executive Director Gail McCarthy, Dave Leach, Stan Miller, Vi Holiday, and Ellen Nichols produced many successful events such as the Music at the Mansion Series and Art on the Lake.
 
For the past three years, Barbara and John carried on the fine Rotary tradition to produce the annual Rotary music competition; "Big Bear Idol".  This event provides our student musicians an exciting yearly goal to enhance their musical studies, perform in front of a large audience, garner valuable feedback from University music professors, and compete for monetary prizes as well.
 
In 2011, Barbara collaborated with Sharon Rizzo to develop the youth orchestra known as Mountain Top Strings of  California (whose members, by the way, provided a wonderful musical selection at the beginning of our Eagles of Excellence Recognition Dinner.  They were SO good, our own President-Elect and others made donations to their program!).  This creative endeavor has resulted in Concert Performance Tours in 2013 and 2016 to Italy and Austria, and a 2017 Carnegie Hall New York Tour.  Playing piano with this special group of young musicians on the world stage was the highlight of her musical career.  When not engaged in these artistic endeavors, Barbara is busy at the Community Church, or staying active with snow skiing, cycling, or playing Grandma to her two adorable granddaughters.  When she's not traveling with hubby John, that is.
 
Obviously, Barbara is enjoying a well-deserved good life in beautiful Big Bear as she continues to soar with Eagles through her volunteer efforts whenever and wherever possible.  KEEP SOARING BARBARA!
 

JOHN STOCK

I'll be brief.  Or maybe not.  Those who know John know he's one very dedicated individual, and "Service Above Self" hardly describes his dedication to his community and its youth in a way that does him justice.
 
John is a Midwest transplant originally from Delaware, OH, a town of 15,000 residents known for its popular harness racing facility, a liberal arts university, and being a Mecca of agriculture.  After attending Riverside Poly High School for one year in 1968 he retreated to the Midwest to finish high school and register for the draft.  With that accomplished he returned to Riverside in 1970 at the ripe old age of 18.  Accepting an offer in 1972 to be employed in Big Bear was instrumental in shaping the man we know today.
 
By 1973 he and his trusty Yamaha had explored every dirt trail in the San Bernardino National Forest.  He met the girl of his dreams, Ginny.  Somehow, he convinced her to marry him.  By 1975 he was self-employed as the owner of Stock's Automotive on the corner of Summit Boulevard and Big Bear Boulevard.  The business eventually moved to its current location at the corner of Big Bear Boulevard and Conklin Road.
 
John's three proudest accomplishments have been raising his two amazing Daughters, and humoring Ginny well enough to stick with him for 44 years.
 
Activities that kept his spare time occupied revolved around family time and community service.  Today John's hobby is Rotary, but prior to joining our Club he joined the Elks Lodge 35 years ago and volunteered on their Old Miners Parade Float Committee and ran their Soccer Shoot-Out competition.  The Big Bear Valley Youth Soccer League consumed his family for 13 years.  John coached, refereed, sponsored teams and held multiple Board of Directors positions including Field and Equipment Manager, Concessions, Director of Coaching, Director of Referees, and representative of the Board of Directors at District Board Meetings.  Currently, John and Ginny can be spotted on Saturday mornings rooting for the soccer team they sponsor.  There was a period when programs like Academic Decathlon, Odyssey of the Mind, and Mock Trial needed assistance and transportation off the mountain for their teams to complete.  John often filled that need.  Being on the Bear Backers Board of Directors to help raise funds in support of sports programs at the high school helped fill a void between soccer days and Rotary.  A favorite activity of Johns was also volunteering to work the gate at football games.
 
In 1995 John's daughter Kim joined the Interact Club, and John became a parent volunteer for the club.  This cemented his joining Rotary in 1999.  Since that time John has served as Interact Advisor, Youth Services Director, and stepped in for Million Meals when needed.  John has been the Big Bear Rotary Club Foundation Treasurer, Rotary District 5330 Youth Exchange Officer, Rotary District 5330 Youth Exchange Compliance Officer, and District PRYDE and RYLA Chairman.  John and Ginny have also hosted numerous Foreign Exchange Students.  Few people have soared as high as John in service to his community and its most precious treasure; its YOUTH.  Of people who can be considered a true Eagle, John is certainly high on the list.
 
Dena, Barbara, and John, this author is certainly not alone in believing that THE WORLD is a better place because of your presence in it, the things you do, and the way you do them.  We are truly lucky to have you in our lives.
 
Thank You.