ATTEND MINGAFEST
Life is funny the way it zigs and zags and circles around.
I came of age in the counter-culture outgrowth of the 70’s, a
surfer who discovered Oceanside because of my search for waves. It was my
love of photography, film making and surfing that eventually found me working
for KOCT starting in 1987. I loved videography and editing but soon found
myself, with the passing of KOCT’s founder Bob Bowditch, promoted to the
Executive Director of KOCT with its related administration, paperwork and
community involvement.
It was while still having that counter-culture self
perception that then City Clerk, Barbara Regal Wayne asked me to join the San
Luis Rey Rotary, an offer I turned down as I could not see myself as a
Rotarian. However a few years later, (after more community participation
and involvement), retired County Supervisor John MacDonald came to my office
and asked me to join the Oceanside Rotary. KOCT had a long history with John
and his son (stories for another day) and my feeling was I could not turn him
down and was honored to join the Oceanside Rotary. It was not long after, due to
schedules and circumstances I had to stop attending the Oceanside Rotary but a
few months later I was asked by Jodi Coe to join the Wednesday morning San Luis
Rey Rotary Club, and who was there to
greet and harass me for not joining their club years earlier? Yep,
retired City Clerk Barbara Wayne. We now enjoy a weekly good natured
verbal sparring match that reminds me of the good friends and colleagues I’ve
come to know since becoming a Rotarian.
One such Rotarian was Larry O’Harra—the President of the
Oceanside Rotary Club in 2013 who passed away last month. Before Larry died he
was instrumental, along with his Club and current President Mike Curtain, in
bringing the first MINGAFEST to Oceanside—it will debut on Saturday May 3rd
from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Oceanside Museum of Art in cooperation with
MainStreet Oceanside.
What I like about this upcoming event is that it is a fun
way to get together with other non-profit organizations ‘for the benefit of
all’. There will be food from local restaurants and craft beer too. Every
dollar raised goes directly to supporting organizations like KOCT, the
Oceanside Rotary, the OMA and others. (When you sign up on-line there will be a
pull-down menu where you can select your favorite charity and $10 of every
ticket sale will go to the charity you choose, my hope is you will consider
selecting KOCT!!!)
My wife and I are going so we can remember a great man, support
Rotary and connect with this community that I have become a part of. Yea,
yea I have become part of the establishment and I am ok with that because
tomorrow I am going surfing and the circle will continue…
Click here to order tickets for this unique event: