Correspondent & Sgt. at Arms:

Jean-Luc Slagle

Spoke Editor Profile:
Jean-Luc Slagle is the founder and creative director of Scope Studios, a creative agency that helps businesses and organizations shape important ideas into clear, compelling campaigns and creative work. In addition to his professional work, Jean-Luc mentors emerging artists and creatives throughout Kern County. He lives in Bakersfield with his wife, Haley, their son, Rylo, and their sheepdog mix, Toulouse.

Invocation: Ashley Vorhees

Flag Salute: Big Lever

Song: NONE (Thank God)

Greeter: Jerene Bautista

Roving Mic: Pat “Good Hustle” Collins

Guests:

Neil Meeks, guest of Sarah Haggard

Tim Johnson, guest (and offspring) of Jeff Johnson

Frank & Christine St. Clair, guests of Juan Bustamante

Taylor Dougherty, Ozzy Khan, Jessica Turrubiates, and Misty DeLaTorre all guests of Toni Harper

Good News, Fines & Announcements:

Kurt Wingate clarified several important provisions of the Toni Tax, namely Toni’s preferences and sizes. For future compliance, please consult the official reference below:

Wine Preference: Any

Liquor Preference: Any

Sweet/Treats: Any

Shirt Size: M

Shoe/Boot Size: 7.5 US / 38.5 EU

Boot Heigh Preference: Any

Gemstone Preference: Any

The gift does not have to fit inside the Toni Tax Basket, and there is no minimum or maximum value. The Toni Tax is not about money. It is about sharing the joy of travel through compulsory gifting.

The first tribute of the day came from Ray Watson, who presented Toni with a bottle of Hundred Suns Pinot Noir from the Oregon Coast and received three waived Missed Meeting Fees in return. A quick audit reveals that three missed meetings at $20 each equal $60, while the wine appears to retail online for about $45. Ray came out approximately $15 ahead, making the Toni Tax one of the club’s more promising investment opportunities.

Sarah Haggard asked whether Toni Tax gifts are tax-deductible. Sam Newland, CPA of Halle Porter Newland & Rickett LLP, gave a thumbs-up while chewing. This is not formal tax advice. Consult a CPA who is not currently eating.

Jerene Bautista announced that George Granger is now officially the oldest resident at Rosewood Senior Living at age 93. Congratulations to George on reaching the top of yet another leaderboard.

Nik Boone asked how far one must travel before triggering the Toni Tax. Toni ruled Shafter too close; Taft may qualify. Working interpretation: beyond 50 miles, Toni collects before you pass Go.

Nik was also accosted for the lack of paper trail or contract for the sponsorship space on the official rotary laptop and subsequently fined. $250 directly to the Waterman Foundation. 

Sheryl Barbich shared information about the upcoming John Brock Recognition dinner. Interested parties may write to info@bakochamber.com.

Ben Stinson and Sheryl Barbich engaged in an alleged gambling operation, otherwise known as an unspoken bet. Details remain murky; the Waterman Foundation received the proceeds.

Pat Collins and Ken Burman made amends for previous Toni Tax violations with a signed, framed photo of the two of them in Mission Beach, San Diego. Each received one waived Missed Meeting Fee. 

Toni Harper announced that our very first “Rotary’s Most Wanted” target, Joe Gregory, is allegedly coming next week. Should he do so, credit goes to Ken Burman.

Toni also introduced “Rotary in the Wild,” encouraging members to photograph fellow members of THEE Rotary Club of Bakersfield outside their natural Thursday habitat. Waived Missed Meeting Fees may be awarded, particularly when Rotary pins or other identifying paraphernalia are visible. 

Program:

Taylor Dougherty treated members to a fascinating and engaging presentation on stuttering.

A little background on Taylor:

Taylor earned her bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of California, Riverside, and will begin a master’s program in speech-language pathology at Ithaca College this fall. She currently works at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, commonly known as CARD.

Taylor is also a person who stutters and is passionate about stuttering education and advocacy.

Some facts about stuttering:

• About 1 out of every 100 people stutters.
• Stuttering is more prevalent in men than women, at a ratio of approximately 3 to 1.
• It typically emerges in early childhood, most often between the ages of 2 and 5.
• Stuttering has been a documented part of the human experience for roughly 4,000 years.

Taylor walked us through some of the more technical aspects of stuttering, including its different components, the ways stuttering behaviors can manifest, and the distinction between primary and secondary behaviors.

She also discussed approaches to treatment. These can include physical and mental modifications designed to reduce tension during speech, as well as strategies for addressing the fears, triggers and social pressures that may accompany stuttering.

The highlight of Taylor’s presentation was a practical guide for interacting with people who stutter

1. Refer to someone as “a person who stutters” rather than “a stutterer.”
2. Allow the person to complete their thought.
3. Maintain natural eye contact.
4. Refrain from interrupting or finishing the person’s words or sentences.
5. Treat the person as though the stutter is not there.

As it turns out, this is also a helpful guide for interacting with all human beings.

Treat others with dignity and respect. Give them the time and space to express themselves. When we make room for differences rather than rushing past them, we may discover that a moment of patience allows us to hear something we otherwise would have missed.

Everyone in the room came away with a greater understanding of stuttering, but Taylor’s larger lesson was about the value of truly listening. It is a lesson we will remember:

“People who stutter have the unique opportunity to teach the world to listen.”