First of All, our esteemed newly elected president David Thorman introduced our newly appointed Assistant Governor Leigh-Ann Reniero, who then introduced District Governor Brent Hastey. She said that Brent was born and raised in the Plumas Lake area, representing the 5th generation of his family to live in Yuba County, CA. Brent graduated from Lindhurst High School in 1977, where he was on the wrestling team and played tuba in the marching band. Brent attended Yuba College, becoming active in local politics and was first elected in 1987 to a seat on Reclamation District 784. Brent later served as a county supervisor, found and chaired the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, chaired the Yuba County Water Agency and was chair of the Yuba Community College District Board of Trustees and is currently serving on their Board. Brent is the current president of the Assoc. of CA Water Agencies. Brent owns and operates Plumas Lake Self Storage. In 1986, Brent joined the South Yuba county Sunrise Rotary Club, was Secretary Treasurer in 1987, vice president in 1989, and president in 1990-91. Brent would serve as president again during 2010-11 and Assistant Governor in 2013-17. Brent and his wife Alisan, have been married 35 years and raised four amazing children – two whom are Rotarians. They have plenty of dogs, a few horses, and a donkey. The apples of his eyes are his two grandchildren. In his spare time, Brent enjoys building and racing cars with his team, the Nerd Herd, on the 24 Hours of Lemons circuit.

Brent took over (virtually) and said how great it was to be at President David's house with other real human beings and be able to stand for the National Anthem. He said he joined Rotary when he was just a young person, in his late 20s (1986), and most of the people in the Club were 20 years or more older, but he became friends with them and pretty soon he became treasurer because the treasurer left the Club and became President in 1990. But Brent tells the story of the local levee breaching and his home was flooded. Many of his Rotary friends helped him clean up and he actually got help from the Rotary Foundation. A wonderful lesson in the value of Rotary in his life.
Brent says that he loves the fact that Rotary is inclusive and actually when he joined Rotary it was the last year of the universal all male memberships. He loves diversity as does our new Rotary International President Holger Knaack. He is known for loving youth programs and you know this year's Rotary theme "Rotary Opens Opportunities".

Brent is sorry to announce that the District's Foundation Dinner has been cancelled because of Covid-19, but you know what? He has an idea - why not send a check in the amount that you would have spent for the dinner to the Rotary International Foundation. Make something positive out of a negative. And still, in spite of our adversity, why not bring someone into Rotary and open a door for them - just as someone opened the door of Rotary to you. Covid-19 actually opens doors because virtually anyone can be as close as next door or across the ocean.