Greeter – Jerry Fliger

Prayer – Ben Stinson

Flag Salute – Bill Lever

Song – No Song

Roving Mic – Mike Willis

Guest Spoke Editor

Clinton Trimmer

Clint and his wife, Megan, have served as Salvation Army Officers for over a decade, ministering in Los Angeles, Montana, and Wyoming before coming to Bakersfield in 2021. As Corps Officers, they lead the church and community outreach of The Salvation Army, helping neighbors in need and offering hope to those on the margins of society. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name.

Visitors & Guests

Carl Frank owner of Buds Brake and Wheel was the guest of Juane Bustamante

Bethany Anderson clerk at McKinney Air was the guest of Dave Whelden

Jadon Gauthier producer was the guest of Jean-Luc Slagle

Club President Toni Harper was joined by her office staff

Toni Tax:

Mike Willis, returning from his trip to Scotland shared the harrowing experience of driving in Scotland as he presented his Toni Tax of a bagpipe Christmas ornament, and a red heart rock.

Jacob Frost paid his Toni Tax with a rock he picked up in Sedona.

Good News:

Jordan Kaufman shared that his son got married in Santa Barbara and is moving back to Bakersfield to accept a position as the Packing Manager for Dryer’s.

John Schuler shared the news of his granddaughter Rosie being born.

Anthony Tobin shared that there is a VIP deal for the comedy club exclusive to members of the club – watch your e-mails for more information.

Sarah Haggard shared that if people want to meet prior to the comedy club she will be at Crash for pre-show cocktails. Invitation is also extended to those who don’t want to go to the comedy show and just want to have cocktails with other club members.

Jeff Johnson shared that his Jaguar got first prize this weekend in the category of best import.

Nick Boone shared that he is celebrating 9 years married to his wife. He also shared some friendly ribbing concerning Anthony.

Vin Dang – Levied his, levy a fine, fine against Nick Boone for some comments made concerning Anthony. The club seemed to agree.

Jim Damian – Shared that Ken Jones has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and that Joe Gregory is helping take care of Ken. Ken has been awarded honorary membership to the club.

Program:

Behind the Scenes with Krista Horton

Instagram influencer Krista Horton gave Downtown Rotary a behind-the-scenes look at an industry that barely existed a generation ago. Introduced by Justin Leland, Horton joined him for a question-and-answer conversation about how sharing her life online unexpectedly became a career.

Horton began posting while living in Ventura as a way to connect with other moms. She had no business plan and worked almost entirely from her phone. Her audience grew through features including Twinning Tuesday and Hot Mess Express, along with photos taken in her rental home’s carpeted bathroom, which became an unlikely fascination for followers.

What began as a hobby gradually became a business. Early partnerships consisted of free products, and Horton initially charged just $25 for a sponsored post. Today, depending on the work involved, a story can command $100,000, with compensation increasingly based on engagement rather than follower counts. She shared how one partnership with T-Mobile included sending her family to Zion National Park for a photoshoot and social media posts.

Horton has also expanded beyond social media through Staykation, which began with pillows and blankets and later expanded into apparel.

During questions from Rotarians, Horton discussed TikTok, giveaways, her employees, involving her children in content, and maintaining personal boundaries. Her children are always given the choice of whether they want to participate.

Asked whether someone could still build a career as an influencer today, Horton said it remains possible, but the increasingly crowded marketplace requires considerable time, hard work, an ability to recognize trends, and plenty of hustle.

For Horton, what began simply as a way to find community eventually became a career, a family business, and an unexpected opportunity rooted right here in her hometown of Bakersfield.