Thank you to Robert Provencio and Tom Burke for taking meeting notes. Due to a scheduling complication they both reported on the meeting. The following is a compilation of both of their reports.
Greeters Marlene Heise, Denise Haynes & new member Xavier Canez were seen doing land office business at the entrance to the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club and Casino. Everyone was warmly welcomed. Inspiration was found in our invocation, Pledge of Allegiance to Old G
lory as we anticipate Flag Day, and the singing of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Soon-to-be-Past President Dave Lari acknowledged visiting Rotarian (and proud member of the Bakersfield Republican Women’s Club) Bill Lever and guests including Jacque Alexander’s guest, Sandy Kessler and the beaming Carol Smith’s No. 4 grandson, Austin Eknoian.
PROGRAM
Dave Per
kins introduced the day’s program speaker, BBRC’s very own Myah Salinas (also incoming youth service director) with a fascinating program about finding and following one’s vision, mission, and purpose.
kins introduced the day’s program speaker, BBRC’s very own Myah Salinas (also incoming youth service director) with a fascinating program about finding and following one’s vision, mission, and purpose. Myah Salinas discussed how she started a cotton candy business at the age of 16.
She began marketing the business through social media. This sparked her interest in social media and thus began her evolution in social media and creating content. She began to garner a public reputation for creating social media and that continued on through college where she refined her social media skills as part of the marketing team for CSUB Student Recreation Center. Her love of social media and passion for business continued beginning at CSUB where she worked for various campus entities on developing their social media presence and going on to develop her own online presence as an influencer supporting and promoting local businesses. She gained customers and an understanding of business networking which helped her to move on to other opportunities. Upon graduating, her first professional employment continued her work in marketing and social media. Her next step was to create her own page and content becoming an influencer.
Myah’s love of coffee brought her to an ah ha moment. One day while in a local store to buy a coffee drink, Myah started looking at the ingredients for her coffee drinks. She was shocked at the lack of natural ingredients in the coffee drinks that she would regularly consume. Thus she began experimenting with coffee drinks augmented by natural ingredients which evolved into the idea of starting a coffee business.
Seeking to treat her coffee addiction, she developed Buzzy Bean, a natural series of coffee-related products guided by best practices and using talent and wisdom gained at a CSUB business development seminar. Though it has taken a year of challenges to go from a completed business plan to physically opening the production plant. Myah announced her hard work will come to fruition with the opening of Buzzy Bean Coffee in August 2025. Myah also acknowledged she got tremendous assistance/coaching from fellow BBRC member Char Vega, the CSUB Accelerator Program and the Kern Women’s Business Conference Power Pitch grant program. Myah’s business plan presentation won the grant competition providing much needed startup capital funding for the new business. The product will be sold in locally owned stores. She even promised to share with club members some of her coffee in the near future!
Another special opportunity arose through the Kern Women’s Business Conference Fast Pitch competition. She was thrilled when she took first place. Not only did she win a $5,000 grant that was sorely needed to continue her business start-up, but the affirmation from the judges that she was on the right path gave her more confidence. “Believe in your vision!” says Myah, clearly a young entrepreneur focused on success.
One can always count on BBRC friends to offer excellent ideas, questions, and support. In this regard, Temo Lopez wondered if there might be any investment ops in the offing. Dave Spalinger raised a caution about product liability insurance and Char Vega added the perspective that with product liability one needs it for both manufacture and transport. Frank Woolridge wondered “Are you still consulting on content creation?” This appears to be developing as a recognized aspect of Myah’s portfolio of businesses.
MEMBER RECOGNITIONS
Jeff Schwartz has a birthday coming on June 13 and is facing the onerous task of selecting the restaurant that will serve the feast.
Club Anniversaries:
Tom Burke 6/7 (8 years)
Xavier Canez 6/9 (new to BBRC after 9 years with Bakersfield North Rotary)
Michelle Zdybowicz 6/15 (also new to BBRC, after 2 years with Ventura South Rotary)
Happy spots were shared as well…
Kay Pitts closed the deal on selling their rental house with the help of Team Gordon (led by our William Gordon)
Jeff Haynes pointed out that the new member roster was missing Shaun Kelly’s name, but John Guerard avoided a fine by having already discovered and “corrected” the error.
Scooter Tangeman was elated because of a successful surgery for a grandchild.
Willie Gordon’s team won recognition for being a top volume seller, no small thing in this tough market. Their group ranked 10th in state for small real estate groups
Finally, in the Tangled Web We Weave category… Frank Woolridge reported that some ne’er-do-well had absconded with his club badge. He was certain he had put it back in the Badge Box at our last meeting. He asked for an immediate club wide badge check; . Carol Smith then announced she found Franks’ badge in the Badge Box but in the wrong slot. After thorough inquisition. At this point Temo Lopez admitted that he found Frank’s badge and inadvertently put it in in the wrong slot. Jeff Haynes accepted paying Temo’s fine. In the end, this drama ended, and Frank solved the case in a way that would have made Sherlock Holmes proud.
Stephanie Bake
r then proceeded to give the club a brief lesson in how to navigate the Badge Box!
r then proceeded to give the club a brief lesson in how to navigate the Badge Box!Anne Galvez was awarded a Paul Harris Award, named after the founder of Rotary International, is a recognition given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization and/or their community, often through service and financial contributions. It's a high honor within Rotary, acknowledging individuals who embody the motto "Service Above Self"
NEWS AND REMINDERS
- Pay for your BBQ tickets
- Marti Sanders will take over Community Service next year and wants our help to set up the program. Please offer ideas and complete the coming survey!
- DEMOTION is coming 6/28/25 at 6pm
- .
- Rotaract training which will include Basic Practical, Relevant Leadership Skills (PRLS) Curriculum is coming up. It will be Rotary Training Sunday 6/29 at Kern Bridges at Location is 1321 Stine Rd. 93309. Breakfast and lunch are included for $25. All Rotarians, especially newer members, are welcome to participate. Thank you Donna Schwartz for assuming the coordination of this event.
- District Awards this Sunday (6/15) at Nipomo, 11am to 3pm.
- Stephanie Baker shared a picture of the 1000 Flag quilt that Karen Thompson donates to the event every year on the bed of this years winner.
- Next week is President Dave’s Swan Song Meeting.
- Past Pres. Pat Thompson won the $75 kitty this week—“Don’t tell Karen!”
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“ It is unconscionable for people who have a real medical need for coffee to have to wait in line for those to whom coffee is a mere recreational activity.” - Dave Barry