Greeter: Mike Willis
Prayer: Justin Salters
Flag Salute: Steve Sanders
Song: Toni (Just kidding…Toni will NEVER torture you with her singing!)
Roving Mic: Jorge Barrientos

The spoke editor (Toni) forgot to copy the list of visitors. However, there was a special visitor, Garro Ellis was with us!  Thanks Justin Leland for ensuring his presence. Garrol looked amazing and his incredible spirit was for sure felt by all!

Good News Announcements:

Amy Travis's New Role: Justin Leland, representing the Kern County Community Fund board, congratulated fellow Rotarian Amy Travis on her new position as CEO. Amy expressed excitement and looks forward to furthering the foundation's important mission.

Dr. Garish Patel's Anniversary: Dr. Garish Patel announced his 55th anniversary. We  would love for him to share his secrets to a long marriage.

Annual Meeting (Led by Kristen Watson): The Nominating Committee met, and Jorge Barrientos accepted the President-Elect nominee position to serve as our fearless leader in 2028-2029.

CALM: Steve Sanders announced that thanks to the generous contributions and support of Downtown Rotary, KCSOS gathered enough signatures to put the expansion initiative on the ballot in November. We are looking forward to their continued success!

Paul Harris Award: Jim Damien recognized his beautiful daughter, Claire, with a Paul Harris Award. Claire has graduated from high school and is off to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Jim reminded her that she represents not only the Damien family but all of us from Bakersfield. Wonderful job, Dad!

Mythical Margarita Party: There will not be a margarita party before the change of the presidency. Dr. Shambaugh was thanked for his and Theresa’s flexibility. Stay tuned for The Jeff Gutierrez margarita party will definitely be in President Toni’s year.

Presents for the President AKA Toni’s Tax: President Toni indicated she's bringing back a long-standing, heartfelt tradition: "Presents for the President," also known as the "Toni Tax." If you go on vacation and bring President Toni a present, she will waive your missed meeting fee. Additionally, if your vacation was booked through Uni-Globe Travel and Ray Watson, you can receive two weeks of missed meeting fee waivers.

Program: 

Brandon Evans, the Chief Workforce Development Officer spoke about Kern County Employer Training Resources (ETR) which is a department of the County of Kern, overseen by the Workforce Development Board. ETR provides no-cost employment and training services to both employers and job seekers in Kern, Inyo, and Mono Counties. Their mission is to provide expertise and leadership to ensure the workforce development system prepares individuals for current and future jobs, ultimately improving the economic conditions of the community. They are funded through various sources, including the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), and California state workforce grants.
 

ETR offers substantial support to business owners, not just by connecting them with qualified job seekers, but also through generous programs that can significantly offset hiring and training costs. They can help businesses locate employees and provide "On-the-Job Training" (OJT) programs. Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), employers can be reimbursed for a portion of the initial training costs for new employees, with skill levels ranging from entry-level to experienced professionals. Additionally, depending on the circumstances, ETR may even help pay a portion of employee wages after the training period. These no-cost services, provided in partnership with America's Job Center of California and other community organizations, make ETR a valuable resource for the community, helping businesses find the talent they need to thrive. The best way for employers to take advantage of these offerings is to reach out to ETR directly at (661) 325-HIRE to discuss how they can support specific workforce needs.