Hello all. Here is your weekly Rotary Reader compiled from copious notes of the meeting captured by a substitute not nearly as fabulous in her writing as Frank, Denise.
We were
greeted by Jason Williamson and Jeff Bell. Thank you for the hellos and we’ll take your money now, thank you. I HAVE to mention the breakfast menu because it was delicious and adventurous: meatballs, chili verde, eggs, 
bacon and hash browns. Oh yummy. Chile verde over hash browns, let’s just mix cultures a bit. Folks were still scooting through the breakfast line when Pres. Jeff rang the bell. Michael Turnipseed did the invocation, Neil Walker guided us through the flag salute and songstress, Carol Smith had us sing “My Country Tis of Thee”. We didn’t sound too morning. Jacque Alexander introduced 2 visiting Rotarians: Jason Cater from Downtown and Sam Hammoudeh from Twilight/Rotaract. We had 2 non-Rotarian visitors. David Perkins introduced special guest Myrna Arias whose sponsor Michele McClure was absent. PE Karen introduced special guest Erik Bautista. Pres. Jeff asked all present to please indicate on the form on the table their intention to attend the All-Club luncheon on Thursday, March 3rd. The All-Club will be our meeting next week, we will NOT be meeting on March 2nd.
greeted by Jason Williamson and Jeff Bell. Thank you for the hellos and we’ll take your money now, thank you. I HAVE to mention the breakfast menu because it was delicious and adventurous: meatballs, chili verde, eggs, bacon and hash browns. Oh yummy. Chile verde over hash browns, let’s just mix cultures a bit. Folks were still scooting through the breakfast line when Pres. Jeff rang the bell. Michael Turnipseed did the invocation, Neil Walker guided us through the flag salute and songstress, Carol Smith had us sing “My Country Tis of Thee”. We didn’t sound too morning. Jacque Alexander introduced 2 visiting Rotarians: Jason Cater from Downtown and Sam Hammoudeh from Twilight/Rotaract. We had 2 non-Rotarian visitors. David Perkins introduced special guest Myrna Arias whose sponsor Michele McClure was absent. PE Karen introduced special guest Erik Bautista. Pres. Jeff asked all present to please indicate on the form on the table their intention to attend the All-Club luncheon on Thursday, March 3rd. The All-Club will be our meeting next week, we will NOT be meeting on March 2nd.Keynote Speaker
Pete Leveroni introduced our speaker Paul Saldana, Director City of Bakersfield Economic and Community Development (CED). Mr. Saldana studied at Crown College, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business. He comes to his CED Director position with 35 years in gov’t planning and permitting. He stepped into this position a mere 7 months ago.
The City 
of Bakersfield, City Council has eight goals, CED works in conjunction with City Council on five of them: Economic Opportunity (for individuals), Business Success (working with businesses), Neighborhood Vitality (revitalization of older neighborhoods), Homeless Services (in particular the Brundage Lane Navigation Center) and Tourism/Marketing. The CED’s plan in helping the city in these five goals involves focus on five actions. The first is to CONNECT government entities with businesses to create measurable results for the businesses. The second is to SOLVE PROBLEMS based on the experience of all involved. Action three is to DEVELOP opportunities for growth, achievement, and success. Number four is to CREATE a positive impact in our city. Finally, action five is to INSPIRE innovation. Mr. Saldana explained the CED has done a tremendous amount of strategic planning in order to avoid a piecemeal approach to goal achievement. CED has begun the implementation of several plans focusing on the five goals. Some examples of prior plans, now actions are 1) Baker Street & Downtown revitalization. The CED received a two-million-dollar grant to help in this effort. During Q & A he further explained how CED is aggressively recruiting new businesses. They are working to clean up problem properties. They are directly investing in façade improvements and streetlights. 2) Parks & Public Works have joined forces in projects to make a sizable impact, such as the Beale Park street and park improvements. 3) CED is working toward equitable spending in all parts of Bakersfield to escape the recent history of spending mostly west of the 99. Martin Luther King Park being an area of need. 4) CED is directly responsible for the Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC). Mr. Saldana shared statistics from the BLNC: 102 people have been placed in permanent housing, it is at full capacity and will be expanding to 300 beds soon and expanding the offerings for “residents” such as more kennels for dogs, there will be a medical care center on site staffed by local care providers. During Q&A Mr. Saldana talked more of the homeless crisis and CED involvement. CED is working with County Behavioral Health to address the underlying issues/causes and develop plans to address those. He said this could only happen after the immediate needs had been met. The BLNC did just that. The final question gave Mr. Saldana the opportunity to share his goal for the end of his first year. He hopes to continue enacting the projects outlined in the strategic plan and he wants to continue to develop trust and confidence in the community toward CED.
of Bakersfield, City Council has eight goals, CED works in conjunction with City Council on five of them: Economic Opportunity (for individuals), Business Success (working with businesses), Neighborhood Vitality (revitalization of older neighborhoods), Homeless Services (in particular the Brundage Lane Navigation Center) and Tourism/Marketing. The CED’s plan in helping the city in these five goals involves focus on five actions. The first is to CONNECT government entities with businesses to create measurable results for the businesses. The second is to SOLVE PROBLEMS based on the experience of all involved. Action three is to DEVELOP opportunities for growth, achievement, and success. Number four is to CREATE a positive impact in our city. Finally, action five is to INSPIRE innovation. Mr. Saldana explained the CED has done a tremendous amount of strategic planning in order to avoid a piecemeal approach to goal achievement. CED has begun the implementation of several plans focusing on the five goals. Some examples of prior plans, now actions are 1) Baker Street & Downtown revitalization. The CED received a two-million-dollar grant to help in this effort. During Q & A he further explained how CED is aggressively recruiting new businesses. They are working to clean up problem properties. They are directly investing in façade improvements and streetlights. 2) Parks & Public Works have joined forces in projects to make a sizable impact, such as the Beale Park street and park improvements. 3) CED is working toward equitable spending in all parts of Bakersfield to escape the recent history of spending mostly west of the 99. Martin Luther King Park being an area of need. 4) CED is directly responsible for the Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC). Mr. Saldana shared statistics from the BLNC: 102 people have been placed in permanent housing, it is at full capacity and will be expanding to 300 beds soon and expanding the offerings for “residents” such as more kennels for dogs, there will be a medical care center on site staffed by local care providers. During Q&A Mr. Saldana talked more of the homeless crisis and CED involvement. CED is working with County Behavioral Health to address the underlying issues/causes and develop plans to address those. He said this could only happen after the immediate needs had been met. The BLNC did just that. The final question gave Mr. Saldana the opportunity to share his goal for the end of his first year. He hopes to continue enacting the projects outlined in the strategic plan and he wants to continue to develop trust and confidence in the community toward CED.Club Happenings
Pres. Jeff retook the podium. He gave a brief re-cap of Charter Night which, everyone agreed was fabulous. He gave the podium to Michael O’Doherty who presented Tom Burke with his first Paul Harris Fellow. Pres. Jeff, back in charge announced Darin Blunt’s birthday, Kay and Brian Pitts 41st wedding anniversary, Donna and Jeff Schwartz 1 year Rotary anniversary and Michael O’Doherty’s 25th Rotary anniversary. QUESTION/CLUE/TRICK OF THE WEEK: Who was President when Michael OD began Rotary? ANSWER: John Tate/Carl Leach.
Super Bowl winnings were distributed by Michael O’D who coordinated the pool. 1st quarter, $100 to Greg Desme, 2nd quarter $100 to Ken Quarnberg, 3rd quarter $100 to Mindy Wilmot and final score $200 to Ken Quarnberg. Lucky dude Ken.
Our Past President video was Gina Hayden, Pres. in 2011-12. Her most memorable was the first year BBRC participated financially and on site with Wreaths at the National Cemetery. She gave kudos to MJ for her huge role in that project’s success. Gina is now a member of the North Colorado Springs Rotary. She will be Pres. next year and looks forward to implementing some of BBRC’s good habits.
The Beacon Clue was not known by Sally Selby nor Ron Nelms. Will Duerkson correctly answered and owed no money.
Announcements
A really 
too long discussion was held about the super fun BBRC campout in Buellton March 11-13. Everyone going and not going is all knowed up now. Dan Johnson joined us on Zoom. He said he is winning the fight against his cancer but does seem to have his share of set-backs: COVID and an ear infection. He continues to fight the good fight. Ron Nelms had to spin the wheel because he did not help his new member Javier Reyes, walk around on Charter Night to collect signatures. Ron didn’t suffer too much, he won 100 PHF points. Mindy Wilmot announced a big day for Rotary but challenged Pres. Jeff as to what the day meant. He didn’t know it is the 117th Birthday of Rotary. Pres. Jeff made the Club $40 richer. Pres. Jeff reminded us the Rotary Reach business of February is Happy Jacks and to try to get by there for burgers and pie. Kay Pitts informed us the District Training Assembly is March 26 and is Zoom. Hopefully PE Karen will get to attend some live event prior to her presidency.
too long discussion was held about the super fun BBRC campout in Buellton March 11-13. Everyone going and not going is all knowed up now. Dan Johnson joined us on Zoom. He said he is winning the fight against his cancer but does seem to have his share of set-backs: COVID and an ear infection. He continues to fight the good fight. Ron Nelms had to spin the wheel because he did not help his new member Javier Reyes, walk around on Charter Night to collect signatures. Ron didn’t suffer too much, he won 100 PHF points. Mindy Wilmot announced a big day for Rotary but challenged Pres. Jeff as to what the day meant. He didn’t know it is the 117th Birthday of Rotary. Pres. Jeff made the Club $40 richer. Pres. Jeff reminded us the Rotary Reach business of February is Happy Jacks and to try to get by there for burgers and pie. Kay Pitts informed us the District Training Assembly is March 26 and is Zoom. Hopefully PE Karen will get to attend some live event prior to her presidency. Happy Spots/Fines
Dave Spaling
er got a new, fancy side-by-side and is taking a crazy trip on it from Lake Isabella to Laughlin. He was a pitiful $5 happy. Mike Turnipseed and his wife Nancy are being recognized by the Kern Literacy Council for their contributions to its Reading for Life Program. He was a generous $50 happy. William Gordon and his fiancé Nicole are traveling to Colorado to tidy up April wedding plans and he will return for his bachelor party in Tahoe (he says the women are prettier there than in Vegas) next weekend. Writer’s apologies for not hearing how happy he is. Cheryl Scott was fined for again being in the public eye by writing an article on Billie Barnes’ many contributions to BC. She’ll be out $20 for the article.
er got a new, fancy side-by-side and is taking a crazy trip on it from Lake Isabella to Laughlin. He was a pitiful $5 happy. Mike Turnipseed and his wife Nancy are being recognized by the Kern Literacy Council for their contributions to its Reading for Life Program. He was a generous $50 happy. William Gordon and his fiancé Nicole are traveling to Colorado to tidy up April wedding plans and he will return for his bachelor party in Tahoe (he says the women are prettier there than in Vegas) next weekend. Writer’s apologies for not hearing how happy he is. Cheryl Scott was fined for again being in the public eye by writing an article on Billie Barnes’ many contributions to BC. She’ll be out $20 for the article. William Gordon won the opportunity drawing. He became $53 richer. Karen Bonanno won 5 pts in the new membership drive competition.