Blacklake History

Black Lake Gyro was Chartered on August 6, 1992

Events leading to the Black Lake Charter as the sixth Gyro Club in California came about when Bob Decker moved to Nipomo, Ca. from Bellingham, Washington where he had lived for 13 years after retirement from the Long Beach Police force. While there, he became acquainted with Emil Baijot who was to become president of Gyro International and was wanting to start a new club in Bellingham. Bob became a Charter Member and a lifelong Gyro.

Upon his move to Black Lake, he started playing Golf with three other fellows and within two months had asked if there would be any interest in forming a Gyro Club in Black Lake. The three members of the foursome said they would think about it. So, a couple of months later, the other three members of the foursome asked Bob whatever became of that club he was talking about ? Seeing that there was some interest, Bob called the Secretary/Treasurer of Gyro International (Jim Parker) and asked how we should go about forming a Gyro Club In Black Lake. Jim Parker said he would help in any way that he could and referred Bob to Alan Rehbock who was then District Governor of District IX. At this point, Bob called the other clubs in District IX and asked for their assistance in forming this club. He also contacted his old friend Emil Baijot who also volunteered to help organize our club.

Through a few meetings and cocktail parties held at the Decker’s house, Bob told everyone about Gyro and showed all of the prospective members a video outlining what Gyro was all about. The prospective members showed an interest and so the wheels were set in motion to form the Black Lake Gyro Club.

Alan Rehbock, called and invited all of the prospective members to a District Interim Convention being held at "The Cliffs" in Shell Beach and that all prospective members would be the guests of the San Jose Gyro Club. All of the prospective members who attended had a great time and all became Charter Members of the Black Lake Gyro Club.

At our Gyro Charter Night, we had a total of 110 Gyros from all around the country and Canada attending our Installation. In attendance was the Gyro International President Marty Larson, Jim Parker, Secretary/Treasurer of Gyro International and many members of each club San Jose, Oakland, Fresno, Long Beach, and Palm Desert. Also members from other Districts to welcome us into the Family of Friendship and wish us well in the formation of Black Lake Gyro.

Since 1993 our chapter has been led by Bob Decker, Ed Johnson, Les Bennett, Tim Ruggerone, Andy Andersen, John Bowen, Alan Noll, Roger Lindley and John DeYulia.. In June 2004 we stand at 39 members and have a wonderful history of friendship and time spent together. The membership of Black Lake Gyro have proven to be the leaders of their community. Bob Decker is a past  District Governor, Roger Lindley is the District Governor, Cliff Trotter serves on the water district board, John Bowen is a candidate for Senator in the Senior Legislature of California and Bill Morrow serves on the Incorporation Committee for Nipomo, California. In 2004 the Black Lake chapter hosted five Gyros from Nelson, British Columbia in a twinning.