WEEKLY BULLETIN • MARCH 8, 2024
Thanks to his week's correspondent:
Shannon LeBare

Guest Spoke Editor

 
Shannon LaBare is the founder of Purveyor Branding Co., where she helps businesses transform into beautiful, compelling brands that get results through brand strategy, storytelling, design and marketing.
 
Her husband Scott is a PGA pro working out of LA at El Caballero Coutnry Club. Her son, Ira, is an almost 9 year old kiddo who loves soccer and golfing with his dad. In her spare time, Shannon enjoys being with her boys and dachshund, Opie, and seeing what type of mischief they can get into.
_________________________________
 
Invocation: Justin Leland
Justin shared with us about medical issues facing our own Garro Ellis. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. 
 
Flag Salute: Jean-Luc Slagle
Song: Ed Tomlinson
Greeter: Juan Bustamante
Roving Mics: Juan Bustamante
 

GUESTS:

  • Christian Clegg, Program Speaker
  • Russell Sentes, guest of John Mendiburu
  • Alixa Cintron, guest of Juan Bustamente
  • Michael Tree, guest of Karen King
  • Katie Barton, guest of Doc Ervin
  • Jennifer Jensen, guest of Doug Pierce aka Dong Pierce
  • Julie Irvin, guest of Kristin Watson
  • Madeline Abernathy, guest of Cathy Abernathy
  • Enria Khalil, guest of Scott Andrews
  • Terra Haehn Laverty, guest of Ben Laverty
 

GOOD NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Presidents’ Gala was a huge success. Thank you to Toni Harper for your hard work to make it a stellar night. 583 raffle tickets were sold totalling up to over $21,000 pledged! 
 
 
Welcome to the club, Don Bonzai-Bynam!
  • Don, a Bakersfield native, attended Garcia's Memorial High School and earned an economics degree at UC Davis, where he excelled as an All-American in the men's swim team. Over the last two decades, he has dedicated his career to commercial real estate brokerage and management at Bynam Inc., where he now serves as an owner and board member.
  • As the founder and CEO of Temblor Brewing Company, a unique establishment that combines a brewery, restaurant, and entertainment venue, Don is deeply passionate about fostering arts and culture in Bakersfield. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is also a musician who has also been honing his skills in Banzai for the past 20 years.
Our community project is on March 23 from 9-12 at CSUB Edible Garden. Sign up with Jean if you are interested in putting your green thumb to work. 
 
NEXT WEEK - All Rotary Club meeting will take place at CTEC (7301 Old River Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93311) at 12pm. You won’t want to miss it!
 
 
We got a deep dive into the great work happening out of India with Dr. Girish Patel with Playful India.  Along with Dr. Allen Patel, significant impact has been made through Rotary International, a network boasting 1.4 million members worldwide. In 2021 alone, Rotary invested $333 million in global service initiatives, demonstrating its extensive reach and influence. As a club, we actively engage in international partnerships to align with Rotary's objectives and enhance community well-being locally and globally. Our club’s collaboration with Dr. Patel and Power India exemplifies this commitment. Our club has invested $175,000, leveraging over $700,000 to achieve an impactful nearly $1 million contribution in India. This partnership not only aligns with the mission of our group but also greatly benefits clubs in India. Rotary grants and support have played a vital role in providing essential resources to communities across India, including dialysis centers, medical buses, solar water heaters, two-tier beds, hand and leg prosthetics, vision-aid glasses, cancer detection buses, and smart boards. These contributions have created valuable opportunities for improvement in various aspects of community well-being.
 

PROGRAM

 
 
Bakersfield City Manager Christian Clegg joined us to share what inspires hope and excitement in our community from his perspective. In the face of challenges during the pandemic, Clegg offered an optimistic perspective, drawn from personal experiences that showcased the city's resilience and the strength of partnerships forged during tough times.
 
Looking at Bakersfield's growth, Clegg acknowledged the inevitable challenges that come with transforming from a small rural community to the ninth-largest city in California. He stressed the importance of managing and leveraging these changes, framing them not as obstacles but as opportunities for the community. The emphasis was on a thoughtful approach to growth, preserving the city's unique identity while embracing the inevitable shifts.
Turning to the economic landscape, Clegg highlighted the resilience of Kern County's economy despite external pressures. He pointed out untapped resources in the region, seen as key to significant economic development when strategically aligned. From a financial perspective, the city showcased its preparedness with substantial reserves of almost $60 million, a stark contrast to the $5 million held just four years ago.
 
Looking ahead, Clegg acknowledged concerns about affordability amid unstoppable growth but proposed embracing it as a driver of Bakersfield's economic future. He attributed the city's appeal to its quality of life and community spirit. Addressing challenges directly, he provided a nuanced perspective on homelessness and public safety, underscoring community support and highlighting lower per capita rates compared to other major cities.
 
Clegg encouraged us to focus on the strength of Bakersfield's people, calling for a shift towards positivity and collaborative efforts. Ongoing projects between the city and county were showcased as successful examples of aligned efforts to address shared challenges. The excitement lies in the potential for the community to shape its own history, stressing the importance of working together in new ways to discover overlooked value. The collective effort is seen as the key to a positive and empowered future for Bakersfield.
Judging by Kristen's facial expression, the Rotary swag bag is filled with cat poo.
A confusing Good News announcement about Mike McCoy's new art-gallery-former-porno-shop had Mira Patel looking a bit dubious.
Great vibes at this years President's Gala.
Lou & Sheryl Barbich putting on a demonstration of the hottest new dance- "The Loo".
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Patrick Collins
March 3
 
Bob Beck
March 7
 
Joe Gregory
March 12
 
S. Aaron Hegde
March 12
 
Rob Noriega
March 15
 
Shannon Grove
March 18
 
Win Eaton
March 25
 
Steven Rodrigue
March 30
 
Spouse Birthdays
Marlene Watson
March 14
 
Anniversaries
Shawn Kennemer
Kimberly Whealy-Kennemer
March 19
 
Ron Eaves
Betty Eaves
March 26
 
Join Date
Scott Andrews
March 1, 2023
1 year
 
Patrick Collins
March 3, 1997
27 years
 
Ken Jones
March 7, 2013
11 years
 
Mike Braun
March 13, 1997
27 years
 
Chris Machado
March 14, 2019
5 years
 
Jerene Battisti
March 14, 2019
5 years
 
Michael McCoy
March 22, 2018
6 years
 
Ally Soper
March 24, 2022
2 years
 
Buzzard Busby
March 24, 2016
8 years
 
Ron Eaves
March 26, 1998
26 years
 
Bob Beck
March 27, 1997
27 years
 
Dave Turner
March 31, 2005
19 years
 
Mike "Willieboy" Willis
March 31, 2016
8 years
 

Area Meetings

Tuesday @ noon
Bakersfield North

at the Petroleum Club

Wednesday @ noon
Bakersfield West
at the Stockdale Country Club

Wednesday @ 6:45 am
Bakersfield Breakfast

at the Petroleum Club

Wednesday @ 6 pm
Bakersfield Twilight

at The Hungry Hunter

Bakersfield  Downtown
at the Museum of Art

Friday @ noon
Bakersfield East

at Bakersfield Museum of Art

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Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise

Bulletin Editor
Mike "Willieboy" Willis
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Rotary Office

P.O. Box 1628, Bakersfield, CA 93302 • (661) 325-0696 • FAX: (661) 322-2311

staff@bakersfield-rotary.com   |   www.bakersfield-rotary.com


 

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