Greeter – Dave Weldon
Prayer – Ken Beurmann
Flag Salute – Juan Bustamante
Song – John Calachini: God Bless America
Guest Spoke Editor
Clinton TrimmerClint and his wife Megan have been Salvation Army Officers for twelve years, having held appointments in Los Angeles, Montana, and Wyoming. In 2021, Clint and Megan became Corps Officers for The Salvation Army in Bakersfield. As a Corps Officer, Clint oversees and directs the church and social work of The Salvation Army in Bakersfield. Clint and Megan have two sons, Lincoln (8) and Wesley (4).
Visitors & Guests
Steve Sanders hosted Mitchell Coleman with Tejon Ranch Conservancy
Alex Balfour hosted Sean Hart with Citizens Bank
Kristen Watson hosted Thom Davis with CSUB
Ashley Vorhees hosted Erin Estelle with Valley Strong Bank
Good News:
Ken Beurmann showed a video of his son winning his football game this past week. Ken’s son is a kicker who was attempting a field goal when a poor snap necessitated him to pick up the ball and fling it to a receiver as he was being tackled. Ken then followed the clip with a rousing prayer.
Clint Trimmer shared that on Wednesday, November 20th, The Salvation Army is having a Kettle Kickoff fundraising lunch at Mill Creek Christian Church. Sponsorships at the $500 and $1000 levels are still available. Contact Clint if interested.
Shawn Shambaugh gladly shared with the club the arrival of his new granddaughter, Paige.
Joe Hay informed everyone about the Ford Power Promise: a complimentary home charger will be installed with the purchase of any Ford EV through the end of 2024.
Kat Clowes ensured the club that although she is performing in
Sweeney Todd she is not slashing people or putting anyone in an oven. Performances are at the
Ovation Theater on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays through November 9, the show starting at 7:30 pm.
Where in the world featured South Korea, which has 159 Rotary clubs in the city of Seol. South Korea boasts the world’s 14th-largest economy, with an estimated GDP of $1,838 Billion. Roofs in South Korea angle up at the corners in traditional architecture to mimic the shape of a smile.
Program:
CSUB President Dr. Veron Harper shared his vision and goals for CSUB, which center around the desire for CSUB to be considered Kern County’s University, before diving into the primary theme of his presentation, Dr. Harper shared how he got the call to come to Bakersfield 9 years ago with every expectation that his position with the university would be a stepping stone to another position and another university, as his career had been up to that point. However, Bakersfield's welcoming nature and strong community spirit, which he had not experienced before, convinced him and his wife to make Bakersfield home for them and their three kids. He thanked the club for being part of the authentic community experience that convinced his family to stay.
His decision to put down roots was so strong that when Dr. Harper applied to succeed CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny as the university's third president, he did not have a backup plan if he did not get the job. Fortunately, he did get the job and can move forward with his vision for greater integration between the community in Kern County, particularly Bakersfield, and the university. The first priority will be to make CSUB the 1st choice for every student graduating from a Kern County high school. The second priority is for CSUB to embrace community and industry partners to ensure a resilient economy and well-equipped workforce. The third priority for CSUB under his leadership will be to embrace the diversity of the Kern County community. Fourth on the priority list is for CSUB to be engaged in the challenges facing our community. To implement these four priorities, the university will develop education and community assets to help the Southern San Joaquin Valley continue being a place where people want to live and work.
Three of the projects highlighted in support of these priorities were to develop the land on which CSUB is located to the maximum benefit of students and neighbors. One piece of this development is a new Kern County Performing Arts Center located on campus for the enjoyment of the entire community. Another piece is a renovated community track for use by individuals and groups that desire a quality location for walking or track and field events. The track will no longer have a fence around it. The CSUB Energy Innovation Building is set to be the first project in developing the CSUB campus under Dr. Harper, with the building being ready for use in Fall 2026.
The club was reminded that there is much to be proud of when considering their local university.
Questions followed the presentation.
Kat asked if there were plans to expand the majors offered at CSUB. The answer was an emphatic yes. CSUB plans to add engineering majors, the first being mechanical engineering, and majors related to performing arts.
Jeff asked if students, faculty, and administration share in CSUB's governance. The answer was that each has input. Still, the curriculum is the purview of the faculty, operations, management, and funding priorities are the purview of the administration, and student opinions are sought when making decisions.
Nick asked if Vern was upset that his son chose Cal Poly rather than CSUB. The answer was that Cal Poly is a better fit and that he is a proud father regardless of the school.
.jpg){kind=logo}
.png)
