Retired US Navy Captain Brad “Brick” Connors is a former Navy Strike Fighter Pilot and amassed over 4,500 hours and over 1,000 carrier landings during multiple combat deployments.  He was the Commanding Officer at Naval Base Ventura County for more than 3 years before he retired.  He also has written a book called Fighter Pilot Parent that is available on Amazon. Tonight he told some heroic stories of other fighter pilots that he looked up to and a little bit about his deployments. He links he leadership in the air to parenting his 4 children. "Every parent wants the same: to have our children take off into the world and its adventures, but to return home safely at the end of the day." After the meeting our club was so enthralled by his stories, that Brick stayed for a book signing.

 

Diego Velasquez is a Rotarian from the Conejo Valley Club who has a passion in collecting funds to support an International Wheel Chair Project. The wheel chairs are donated to those that don't have the means to afford a chair and have been faced with everyday challenges. Diego came to visit us and shared how the donations have made a positive impact for both the individual and their families. The chairs cost $100 to make and to date, the project has donated 9,831 chairs.

 

For his acts of bravery in saving his own property during the recent fires, President Joe dubbed Chuck Carmichael Fireman of the Year. Glad you, your wife, and your property are safe Chuck!