Can you believe that last Wednesday morning’s Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary meeting ushered in our Fall Season? Amazing! I was just getting used to the sustained heat and smoke of another Bakersfield Summer. Oh well, as a consolation, The Kern County Fair also opened Wednesday, so bring down the boxes you stored away with all your Fall and Winter clothing as conditions are a changing. With that we are always in condition for Past President Cheryl Scott opening our meeting with an invocation. Cheryl called for an abidance of adhering to the Principles of Rotary in its application towards equity and equality in our nation. These words perfectly were suited to transcend into our Pledge of Allegiance and our song of the morning led by Carol Smith, God Bless America.Can you believe that last Wednesday morning’s Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary meeting ushered in our Fall Season? Amazing! I was just getting used to the sustained heat and smoke of another Bakersfield Summer. Oh well, as a consolation, The Kern County Fair also opened Wednesday, so bring down the boxes you stored away with all your Fall and Winter clothing as conditions are a changing. With that we are always in condition for Past President Cheryl Scott opening our meeting with an invocation. Cheryl called for an abidance of adhering to the Principles of Rotary in its application towards equity and equality in our nation. These words perfectly were suited to transcend into our Pledge of Allegiance and our song of the morning led by Carol Smith, God Bless America.
*Our Program*
Missing in Action Program Coordinator Pete Leveroni must be on a special mission as he was absent. So, President Jeff Haynes stepped way up to fill Pete’s role in introducing the featured speaker for our morning program. Our guest, Stephen Pelz is the Executive Director of Kern County Housing Authority. I thought I was busy until I heard of all of the community roles and boards 
of directors Mr. Pelz is serving in. Starting his career as a social worker for the County of Kern was the perfect training ground for Mr. Pelz. Seeing firsthand how social services are utilized and identifying gaps in levels of service equipped Mr. Pelz to rise to positions such as budget analyst with the county. This was certainly a logical step for the future executive director since it gave him experience in handling the responsibility of the county’s allocation of state and federal funding. Mr. Pelz leadership as Executive Director of Kern County Housing Authority is measured in his ability to measure and assess the need of limited financial resources his department receives to apply to what seems to be an ever-growing pursuit in providing services to clients.
of directors Mr. Pelz is serving in. Starting his career as a social worker for the County of Kern was the perfect training ground for Mr. Pelz. Seeing firsthand how social services are utilized and identifying gaps in levels of service equipped Mr. Pelz to rise to positions such as budget analyst with the county. This was certainly a logical step for the future executive director since it gave him experience in handling the responsibility of the county’s allocation of state and federal funding. Mr. Pelz leadership as Executive Director of Kern County Housing Authority is measured in his ability to measure and assess the need of limited financial resources his department receives to apply to what seems to be an ever-growing pursuit in providing services to clients.I think defining the word clients, in Mr. Pelz vernacular includes anyone who is in need of affordable housing, those persons who receive financial vouchers to be spent on rental assistance and even children of those recipients to learn to become self-sufficient so they too do not become dependent upon social services as their parents have. As the leading supplier of affordable housing and rental vouchers, the Kern County Housing Authority is stressed to the limit in providing housing, so with limited places to house people it is in the client’s and community’s interest to break the chain, if you will, on families depending upon the county to subsidize them. How stressed is the Kern County Housing Authority in making housing available? There is a current 10 year waiting list of 20,000 local applicants who are anticipating having their housing needs fulfilled.
Mr. Pelz tells us that some of the additional Kern County Housing Authority programs consist of USDA Farmworker, Veterans and Senior housing options. Of note, I referred to efforts to break the chain of the next generation of people that have to rely on subsidized housing. The Kern County Housing Authority is attempting to break the chains of poverty by offering programs such as the youth Teen Clubs and STEM activities. Mr. Pelz said a foundation to raise money has been established to fund these youth programs to prevent another culture of poverty, but those preventative programs are not funded through the federal government like the other programs are.
An incentive to gain better employment by clients is also in place through their employment program, according to Mr. Pelz. Hand in hand with employment efforts are rent control efforts in Section 8 housing. This is yet another good reason to attend Breakfast Rotary meetings, as we learn so much. We learned that traditionally when those persons who receive subsidized housing or rent vouchers are awarded jobs and receive salary promotions, the government increases their rent. Certainly, a disincentive to make effort to find a better job for some. Mr. Pelz said efforts are being made to place a freeze on the amount of rent recipients pay so that they can enjoy the fruits of their labor, so to speak.
Normally, at this point of my segment of writing about the featured speaker I include closing comments to include the speaker’s contact information and appreciation for spending time with Breakfast Rotary. But this time I did something extra. I not only provided the website for you to explore, which is https://kernha.org/ I spent some time exploring housing and program options on the site. Needless to say, I was dismayed with the lack of availability of affordable homes throughout Kern County for clients of the Kern County Housing Authority. Needless to say, it is a sad day in deed when there are entire families with little children who desperately are in need of a roof over their head and there is none to send them to. The situation is frustrating and down right sad. Mr. Pelz, you have a very difficult job. It is with this club’s hope and prayers that you and your staff will further reasonable and sound efforts towards changing lives for the many that suffer for lack of a place they too can call home.
*Announcements Announcements*
Enter Pat Thompson our bestest Membership Director ever. He had the honor to call newly approved member Robert Provencio to the front of the stage along with his sponsor Past Preside
nt Neal Walker. A former East Bakersfield Rotarian himself, Robert’s past Rotary dossier is truly impressive. As Pat read off his past Rotary Club achievements, I could only think how fun it will be taking Robert’s experience with leadership in Rotary to a high new level with our club. Robert is a perfect fit for membership as Breakfast Rotary is all about Community Service, Funding Projects and Expanding Existing Services. Robert, who himself is a repeat Paul Harris Fellow, brings to the table knowledge in the development of scholarships which may prove very beneficial to our clubs’ goals of creating new avenues of funding service. We are excited to have you Robert and look forward to years of fellowship.
nt Neal Walker. A former East Bakersfield Rotarian himself, Robert’s past Rotary dossier is truly impressive. As Pat read off his past Rotary Club achievements, I could only think how fun it will be taking Robert’s experience with leadership in Rotary to a high new level with our club. Robert is a perfect fit for membership as Breakfast Rotary is all about Community Service, Funding Projects and Expanding Existing Services. Robert, who himself is a repeat Paul Harris Fellow, brings to the table knowledge in the development of scholarships which may prove very beneficial to our clubs’ goals of creating new avenues of funding service. We are excited to have you Robert and look forward to years of fellowship.As a part of the recognition, Neal told us an inspiring account of how he became acquainted with Robert. It seems that both men met on a chance occasion outside a local restaurant. The car-less and stranded Neal struck up a conversation outside of the restaurant that unfortunately was closed. Unrelenting, both men were not going to be denied their breakfast. So instead of passing up a chance to make better acquaintance with each other, Robert invited Neal for further conversation at another restaurant whereupon both men realized they had much in common…including a passion for Rotary. Hence, you never know when an opportunity to recruit new members is going to present itself. So be on the lookout because you never know what you can do through telling others about our awesome club. In Neal’s case you might makes friends with another breakfast buddy. 
Secondly, realtor, William Gordan was called by Pat to the podium to be recognized for meeting all the requirements to receive his Blue Badge. Congratulations Robert and William!
It is our very own Past President Queen Jackie Maxwell who is celebrating a birthday on Sept. 27th! John Guerard has been married to Susan for 43 years (another cradle robber). And Will Duerksen and yours truly have Rotary anniversaries, 18 and 13 years respectfully. Congratulations all! There has got to be a party somewhere for us to celebrate all this, Right? Maybe the party will be held in Paso Robles? Our classy Club Service Director Sandra Parnell told us an opportunity presents itself October 9th for a road trip to the night gala Sensorio. The excursion will of course include chartered transportation, a wine tasting venue and the Sensorio light show for a mere $75. I’d do it how about you! Let Sandra know your interest so she can plan accordingly.
Wine Place and Show is in our crosshairs November 13th Past President Denise Haynes requests members rally to get sponsors and push ticket sales online. The online sites are:
https://bbrc.regfox.com/wine-place-and-show-2021 for individual Tickets
https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000002816/en-ca/files/homepage/wine-place-and-show-2021-sponsorship/sponsorship-packet.pdf for Sponsorship Packets
*Happy Spots*
Following a recent retirement celebratory vacation cruise to the region of Budapest, John Guerard presented The Prez with a little prize, a shot glass, as if The Prez needs another one to add to his collection. I have heard rumors that Past President Dave Spalinger is constructing an added kitchen cabinet for President Jeff to store his collection of shot glasses.
Proud but never too loud Neal Walker called Past Presidents to attention to recognize a deficiency within President Jeff which according to Neal needed an … attitude adjustment. When out on the town … does Neal ever eat at home? … Neal happened to see President Jeff enter Frugatti’s Restaurant. From the patio seats of the restaurant, Neal called out to the newly appointed president who was walking up to the entry of the restaurant, with the look of fraternity brotherhood, only to be snubbed by the younger brash President Jeff. This is what Neal said anyway!
Feeling emotionally damaged because of the uppity-ness of President Jeff, Neal felt this level of disregard required attention. With Neal’s statement of alleged facts, Presidents in the house felt that a disservice had been done to Neal’s ego. The sentence was to send President Jeff to the “Wheel of Misfortune”. A spin was spun. The wheel did not stop on a fine, but the good-natured President Jeff who denied seeing, or hearing the soft-spoken Neal at the restaurant evened the score by spotting a $20 for his indiscretion.
Carol Smith has a thing about socks and this ladies and gentlemen is becoming well known. Hello Pete Leveroni… There is nothing that says I like the Rotary President other than buying them socks, and that she did. On a recent camping trip that took Carol by way of Solvang, she found the perfect pair…of green socks…for The Prez which I am sure will match with his fabulous Scottish Kilt.
Lucky Ken Quarnberg comes away the big winner of the drawing, $47 will almost fill half of your gas tank Ken!
Our Rotary Beacon Clue is what does Carol Smith have a thing for.
In Rotary,
Frank Wooldridge
Beacon Writer