Spoke Notes –

Visitors: 

• Justin Garant, with Clifford & Bradford invited by Nik Boone
• Jeff Negrete and Ashlee Wolf with Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno invited by Pat Collins
• Juan Bustamonte invited by the absent, Josh Shirley

New Member:

Good News:

• Mike Chertok – Gamecocks from University of South Carolina (the real USC) won the 2022 National Championship.  They started the season ranked #1 and ended the champs!
• Garro Ellis – Flew to Georgia to visit his daughter who had the families first boy.  Congratulations Garro!
• Jeff Gutierrez – Clarified that he was misquoted in the Bakersfield Californian.  He was hoping to express the fact that Give Big Kern is a great opportunity for employees of our larger businesses to get involved and give back. 
• Louis Gill – His youngest daughter, Bridget is engaged.  Congratulations, Louis!
• Pat Collins – Sent a special thanks out to everyone for their support of the Waterman Foundation annual fundraiser.
• Pat Collins – His daughter had a baby named Mia Ruby.  Congratulations, Pat!
• Pat Collins – Was offered to join the board for the Catholic Charities Diocese of Fresno.
• KUDOS ALL AROUND!

Announcements:

• Save the Date (STD) 
  • Rotary All Club Event In partnership with the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative.
    • When: April 30 from 10am – 2pm.
    • Where: Urners Parking Lot, 4110 Wible Road, Bakersfield, CA 93313.
  • Please bring a kitchen-sized trash can and fill it with trash bags, toilet paper and dish/hand soap.
  • Margarita Party at the Barbich Compound on May 12, 2022.  Arrive sometime after 5pm or 5:30pn or maybe 6pm. 
• Great update from the Luigi’s meeting.  We raised a total of $116,830 for the Waterman Foundation
• Next few meetings will be off site so PLEASE check your emails.
  • This week we are meeting at the Stockdale Country Club

Program:

• Networking/Fellowship opportunity in honor of Earth Day on 4.22.2022!
• Each table was asked to share stories about their most memorable/inspiring/shocking story that has taken place in a national park or in the wilderness. 
  • Table 1 – Mike Willis was the winner at his table and talked about his adventures riding motorcycles. 
  • Table 2 – Mike McCoy was the winner at his table talking about his adventures scaling Half Dome. 
  • Table 3 – Jeff Johnson was the winner at his table and shared his story of also climbing Half Dome.
  • Table 4 – John Schueler was the winner at his table regaling his adventure of jumping in a river and swimming as hard as he could to get to the other bank.  His wife outdid him by doing a backflip into the river and being such a strong swimmer to make it through the current. 
  • Table 5 – Garro Ellis was the winner at his table telling the story about shooting himself in the butt.  Not sure what that has to do with the great outdoors, but glad he’s okay!
  • WINNER!!!  Table 6 – Molly Busacca was the winner at her table and shared the story of how she and her husband were able to get a pass to climb Mt. Whitney with only 4 days before having to be there!  This was a very special experience for her because her sister joined her in spirit, and they climbed to the top together.  Her husband didn’t make it all the way up but Molly and her late sister did. 
  • Table 7 - Ashley Sodergren was the winner at her table and shared her story about how she and her father have a competition every year of who can catch the biggest fish at June Lake.  Ashley has surpassed her dad by not only catching the biggest fist, but also having two taxidermy fish vs. her dad’s one.

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 Mark

Bakersfield  Downtown
at the Museum of Art

Friday @ noon
Bakersfield East
at Bakersfield Museum of Art