Invocation: Capt. Clinton Trimmer
Flag Salute: Aaron Falk
Song: Ed Tomlinson led a rousing rendition of Jingle Bells, with special (and unrehearsed) accompaniment from your editor, Justin Salters
Greeter: Tammy Johnson
Roving Mics: Jordan Kaufman and Nik Booner
GUEST SPOKE EDITOR
Justin Salters
Justin Salters is the President of
Hey Salty, a communications firm he founded in 2020. The firm specializes in partnering with mission-driven organizations, companies and agencies to achieve communications breakthroughs. Justin is also the Interim Executive Director of
B3K Prosperity. More importantly, though, he’s married to Emily and has three young children: daughters Pierce (5) and Ivy (3) and son Kip (6 months). He’s been a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield since Sep. 2021.
Sergeant-at-Arms Nik Boone introduced guests and visiting Rotarians:
- Salomon O’lvera, guest of Bill Lever
- Michelle Damaev-Tieu, guest of Aaron Falk
- Past Member David Morton, guest of President Joe Hay
- Kyle Eng, guest of Patrick Beck
- Don Bynum, guest of Past President Jim Damian
Members of the BHS Interact Club
- President Autumn Scott
- Social Media Director Jaida Lesko
- Eagan Santer
- Emiliano Barraza-Avila
- Priscilla Luna
- Advisor Tina Rathburn
Good News and Announcements
Jeff Gutierrez shared that his step-dad George Culver was selected to be Grand Marshall at the Bakersfield Christmas Parade
Dave Whelden reminded everyone that Salvation Army Bell Ringing was happening on Friday
Capt. Clinton Trimmer gave Past President Jim Damian a refresher on bell ringing while reminding us to use the new QR code to make either a one time or (hint, hint) recurring donation to the Salvation Army. All funds contributed stay local in Bakersfield
Bill Lever shared a volunteer opportunity at Bakersfield National Cemetary next weekend with Wreaths Across America. They will also need volunteers in January on pick up duty. Call Bill (cell: 562-397-0462) for more information
Mike McCoy shared his daughter Claire has joined the staff of the Secretary of State’s office in Sacramento
Ken Keller shared that Bakersfield Memorial Hospital was recognized as a High Performing Hospital for maternity and childcare, one of a select few across the nation and the only in Kern County.
Cathy Abernathy has been appointed to the Golden Empire Transit District Board or directors
PP Jim Damian compelled Doug Pierce to share he crossed the 10-mile mark running
PP Jim Damian ended the announcements with a reminder that our club’s Christmas Party is next Thursday at CALM from 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP to Jean by Friday, Dec. 8. Children are invited to attend next week.
In a nod to Rotary of
olden days, happy golden days of yore,
PP Jim Damian brought back a round of Christmas Movie Trivia, with a little help from
Sergeant-at-Arms Nik the Elf. Sergeant-at-Arms Nik was clueless about It’s a Wonderful Life (you can
stream it on Amazon Prime for free or tune in to USA Network tomorrow at 9 PM), our Interact guests were very familiar with Die Hard.
After trivia, Cathy Abernathy introduced our speaker, State Senator Shannon Grove.
Sen. Shannon Grove was born and raised in Kern County. After graduating from Arvin High School, Sen. Grove served in the United States Army. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany she witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Following her service to our nation, she established a staffing company with her sister-in-law called Continental Labor and Staffing Resources. Sen. Grove currently serves as the CEO.
Prior to her election to the State Senate, Sen. Grove was the first woman veteran elected to the California Legislature.
Grove has served as the State Representative of the 16th Senate District and served as the Leader emeritus in 2019. In 2022, Sen. Grove was elected to the 12th Senate District, where she continues to advocate for small businesses, the developmentally disabled, farmers, and families. She and her husband, Rick, are the proud parents of five children and ten grandchildren.
Sen. Grove shared a general update on the work she’s doing in Sacramento in an effort to do the best with the cards we’ve been dealt.
Drawing on her experience as a small business owner, she started by sharing just some of the ways that state legislation and policy is driving the cost of doing business and, by consequence, the cost of EVERYTHING up.
The state is facing a $58 billion deficit, which means we should expect the majority to go looking for new sources of “revenue,” i.e. taxes and fees.
A new law will increase the minimum wage for fast food employees to $22 per hour (an increase from $16 per hour). And while most of us don’t own businesses directly affected by this increase, the increase will have a ripple effect across the labor market ultimately driving up all of our salaries and wages, on top of higher employer taxes.
On a similar note, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed a law increasing the minimum wage for hospital workers to $25 per hour. While this is a significant hit to every healthcare provider in the state, it’s especially affecting rural hospital. Sen. Grove shared that the hospital in Ridgecrest will be eliminating its labor and delivery service line due to increasing costs.
Sen. Grove also shared about some of the work she’s done to address and prevent the fraud that plagued the Employment Development Department (EDD), including passing a new law to require EDD to cross-reference records from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in a way to eliminate fraud ran out of the state prison system.
She ended with a lightning round of updates and news:
- A bill that would ensure criminal restitutions from agricultural theft are directed back to rural counties, to help expand law enforcement presence
- Partnering with Senate President Pro. Tem Toni Atkins to fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Labor. In Kern County, 5,700 children have signed-up to receive books through the program
- SB-14, Sen. Grove’s piece of legislation that makes sex trafficking of a minor a strikable offense
- SB-15, her bill regarding air emissions from imported oil. Borrowing a term from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sen. Grove is collecting data to demonstrate how oil and gas produced in California is “ethical energy,” compared to the environmental, social and governance troubles of imported oil.
As she left, Sen. Grove was generous enough to contribute $50 to each of our Salvation Army Bell Ringing team captains.
NEXT WEEK: Christmas Party at CALM from 5 to 7 p.m.
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