Greeter: Justin Leland
Invocation: Ray Watson
Flag Salute: Ray “Pop” Watson
Song: “You're a Grand Old Flag” – Bee Barmann with piano by John Calanchino
Roving Mic: Aaron Falk
SPOKE EDITOR PROFILE:
Jorge Barrientos is the director of marketing and public relations at Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark. He serves on board of directors for a variety of local community organizations. When he’s not working or serving our community, you can find him traveling the world and hanging with his family, which includes wife Carla, 5-year-old son Julian, 3-year-old daughter Gianna Sol.
GUESTS:
- Ray and Marlene Watson, Joanne and George Beal, Morgan Barnes, Jerry Fliger (Kristen Watson)
- Visiting Rotarians: Margaret Palmer (Twilight), Quon Louey (District 5240 Executive Assistant Governor), Linda Sullenger (East), David Lari (Breakfast), Zane Smith (North), Barry Hibbard (West)
- Happy Birthday to Zane Smith!
- Ira LaBare (Shannon LaBare)
- Vanessa (Juan Bustamante)
GOOD NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Justin Leland: Garro has been transferred out of CNS and is home now. He also was able to travel to a family reunion in Wyoming.
- Nik Booke: Critiqued the PowerPoint presentation and skills of the Sargent at Arms Jason Cater, but lauded the centerpieces on our tables.
- We were treated to sweet, delicious (non-alcoholic) margaritas courtesy of the Margarita Lizard. Contact them for all your frozen drink machine rental and reptile needs. 805-797-3802, margaritalizard.com.
- Club Runner has all Rotarian contact info and other cool Rotary news.
NEW MEMBER
Patrick Birchfield was born and raised in Bakersfield, graduating from Stockdale High School. He earned his degree in business management, economics, and accounting from UC Santa Cruz. After graduating he went to work at the international accounting firm in San Francisco followed by a firm in Los Angeles before moving back to Bakersfield to start his own CPA firm in downtown Bakersfield.
He’s heavily involved in our community as well. He’s in his last year of serving on the board of directors for the Active 20-30 Club of Bakersfield, but he also serves on boards for the Bakersfield Racquet Club and the Alzheimer’s Disease Association of Kern County.
Outside of the office and community work, you can find Patrick golfing, playing tennis or pickleball, and in the great outdoors. He’s been married to wife Sarah for 6 years and they are raising their 6-year-old boy Spencer, and college-bound stepdaughter Cadence.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Shannon LeBare will be leading the programs committee as its chair.
- July 18: Jeremy Brown and The Kitchen
- July 25: Lora Brown and Fairfax School District
- August 1: David Coffey and “Bakersfield Built”
- August 15: JP Lake, Kelly Youngstrom, David Higdon and Kern Venture Group
- August 22: Becca Bland, Derek Abbot and Tejon Ranch
- August 29: Dark
PROGRAM
The Kristen Watson era has begun! As is tradition, the outgoing president introduces and pins the new president. Well … that didn’t happen on Thursday. Instead, Ray Watson, former Rotary president and life partner of our new president, stepped in to save the day.
- Third highest populated country at about 6 million people in just 284 square miles. To compare, Kern County is at just under 1 million in 8,000 square miles.
- 88% home ownership rate; Kern is at about 60%
- Averages 5 government-mandated amputations per day for littering (OK, I made that one up, but they are notoriously strict).
As far as Rotary International, Stephanie Urchick of Pennsylvania is leading the organization this year and running with the theme “
The Magic of Rotary.” Kristen, however, proclaimed she’s drinking the Kool-Aid, but not necessarily from the pitcher. Her theme for our Downtown Rotary will be “
The Magic of Connection.”
“Downtown Rotary is 105 years old,” she said. “We are all a part of this legacy.”
Here’s how we’ll be connecting within Rotary this year outside of regular meetings:
- Monthly social hours with the next one at 5pm on Thursday, July 25, at Imbibe Wine & Spirits
- Holiday events
- President’s Gala reimagined as a Charter Night
- Street fair/party fundraiser tentatively titled “Streets of Bakersfield”
The 2024-25 Officers and Directors are as follows:
- President: Kristen Watson
- President Elect: Jeff Gutierrez
- President Elect Nominee: Tony Harper
- Past President: Joe Hay
- Secretary: Kat Clowes
- Treasurer: Sam Newland
- Sargent at Arms: Jason Cater
- Directors:
- Juan Bustamante
- Nik Boone
- Jean-Luc Slagle
- Ally Triolo
- Justin Salters
- Shawn Shambaugh
- Brad Barnes
- Mark Barnes
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