Greeter – Ray Watson
Prayer - Ben Stinson
Flag Salute – Steve Sanders
Song – Sarah Haggard

Guest Spoke Editor

Clint and his wife, Megan, have served as Salvation Army Officers for over a decade, ministering in Los Angeles, Montana, and Wyoming before coming to Bakersfield in 2021. As Corps Officers, they lead the church and community outreach of The Salvation Army, helping neighbors in need and offering hope to those on the margins of society. Their mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name. 

Visitors & Guests

Katie Thompson with Clinica Sierra Vista was the guest of Toni Harper

Kenny Sprat with Talent Base was the guest of Georgia Petropoulos

Mireya Urasta, Financial Planner, was the guest of Juan Bustamante

Karen Dang with Kaiser, the wife of Vin Dang, was the guest of Vin Dang

Abner Caleada with Valley Center for the Blind was the guest of Shellena Heber

Recardo Esquivel with Grow Public Schools was the  guest of Katie Barton

Merril Clanton and Russell Stentes with KCSOS were the guests of John Mendiburu

Visiting Rotarian Assistant Governor Douglas Carothers (Bakersfield West Club)

Good News:

2 Minute Drill – Juan Bustamante and Kamal Bhakta shared about their experiences at the district conference. Juan mentioned how much he enjoyed the whole event and meeting people, and Kamal mentioned the available activities, including the pub crawl.

Juan Bustamante completed his first triathlon, taking first in his age group.

Ashley Vorhees announced to the club that CASA’s Superhero run is on Saturday, October 25, at the Park at River Walk.

Aaron Falk announced that Kern Community Foundation’s Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Kern County is now available and shows improved health among the women and girls of Kern County. 

Ben Stinson advocated for the club to support the signature drive for CALM and pledged $10k for the effort.

Girish Patel told the club that his wife was sick and had to be taken to the ICU, but is now doing much better. He thanks the staff at Mercy Southwest. He ended by pledging $2,500 to the CALM signature Drive.

Stan Eschner voiced his support for CALM.

Program:

The program featured three presenters who discussed how the Kern County Superintendent of Schools' office supports disadvantaged youth across the county. 

Carla Barrientos gave an inspiring look into how KCSOS and KCC SELPA (Kern County Consortium Special Education Local Plan Area) serve students with special needs across our vast county. Together, they support more than 12,000 children in 48 school districts—bringing vital services like speech therapy, specialized classrooms, and home-based help even to the most remote corners of Kern’s 8,000 square miles. Their mission is simple yet profound: ensure every child, regardless of ability or ZIP code, can learn and thrive. From toddlers just starting out to young adults mastering life skills, Barrientos showed how collaboration and compassion are opening doors for students from mountain to desert to valley.

Tom Corson shared the inspiring work of the Kern County Network for Children, founded in 1992 to protect and enrich the lives of local youth. At the heart of this mission is the Dream Center—Kern County’s only one-stop resource hub for foster and homeless youth up to age 25. Last year alone, it served more than 1,000 young people with essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene kits, while also offering life skills classes in nutrition, money management, and more. Through collaboration and compassion, KCNC continues to give hope and opportunity to Kern County’s most vulnerable youth—helping dreams take root and grow.

Devon Kennedy shared a powerful personal story about finding redemption through Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ alternative education program. Once convinced his mistakes had defined him, Devon discovered through caring teachers and mentors that his past didn’t determine his future. What stood out most to him was the school’s culture of mutual respect—staff who treated students with dignity inspired students to rise to high expectations. With compassion balanced by accountability, Devon thrived, completing the Jobs Plus program and graduating this past spring. His message to Rotary members was clear: with support and belief, every student can rediscover hope and purpose.