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Club Meeting on October 16, 2019
We held our regular club meeting at The Mark restaurant. Our speaker was Michael Turnipseed, whom some of us know from the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club days. Mike is with Kern County Taxpayers Association. He gave a brief overview of the “disruptive” qualities of the organization and how the members help bring about “more accountable, effective, efficient, and reliable government.” He attributes much of the success of the organization to the dedicated and intelligent members of the organization’s Board. He then welcomed questions from club members including one about efforts to solve the problem of the homelessness of people in our community.
Stephen Penner, the Music Director of the Shafter Symphony Orchestra, gave a short talk about the partnership between the Shafter Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Dance Center and the fund-raising campaign he is leading to have a live orchestra play for the local Nutcracker Ballet.
We had several visitors with us including Guy Veach, a member of the Florence, Oregon club and his friend, Judy, who were on the last leg of a 36 day cross country motorhome trip. We also had Sandy Fosters’ friends, Robert and Nina, visiting from Scottsdale, AZ.  Ashli Diaz joined us also again.
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2019 District 5240 Conference
Our President, Nancy Pollard, attended the 2019 District 5240 Conference this past weekend in Santa Ynez, California. Here is a picture of Nancy and other Bakersfield Presidents with their club flags about to walk in the District 5240 Parade of Clubs.
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Club Social at Portrait of A Warrior Gallery
We held our monthly club social event on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, by meeting at the Portrait of A Warrior Gallery on Eye Street in Bakersfield. We were given a very informative tour by Ms. Lili March. This Gallery has so many moving and touching things about it. But, the most moving part was seeing these hand-painted portrait of each soldier who has died since 911 and reading about their lives and who they were and the families that they left behind. If you didn't know the human toll that a war can have on a person or a family, you knew it when you read these individual soldier's stories and the families that they have left behind to deal with a loss of a loved one. To say this was a moving and somber event is an understatement. After being moved by this Gallery, we all walked across the street to Sandrini's and enjoyed dinner, drinks and each other's company. Mr. Robin Paggi (aka Pat Paggi) and Mr. Amy Smith (aka Zane Smith) also joined us.
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BCSD Partners in Education Breakfast
On Friday, October 4, 2019 morning, Robin, Amy, and Nancy attended the Bakersfield City School District Partners in Education Breakfast as guests of Mt. Vernon Elementary School principal, Mrs. Xochitl Prieto. The District, which is the largest elementary school district in California, has expanded its after school programs; students at all of the schools have the opportunity to attend the STEAM Academy classes that are offered during expanded school hours. Later at the school, Mrs. Prieto gave an overview of the Mt. Vernon Elementary School new expanded after school program and provided information about the classes they will have for the students. She also conducted a tour of the school and invited guests to step into some classrooms for a few minutes to see teachers and students in action---teaching, coaching, and learning.
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Club Meeting October 2 2019
At our meeting on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, Cecil talked about the concert fundraiser at the end of April 2020. We are looking to double the club's profit. We will be the first club putting on a concert. He also made it clear that if we do this, we need to focus first on selling sponsorships before individual sales. Then, out own Twilight club member, Anselmo Moreno, gave an informative and insightful presentation about Identity Theft and Data Breach. According to Anselmo, there are four kinds of data breaches, Credit data breach, IRS ID theft, DMV identity theft and Medical ID theft. Anselmo emphasized keeping your personal information secure, not providing it to others unless absolutely necessary for the service you are requesting, and review your credit reports often.
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Centennial Interact Club's Support of EmpowHER
This weekend, Centennial Interact club attended the EmpowerHER breast cancer awareness month event and supported our local warriors. They helped with registration, handed out goody bags and treats and helped with set up and clean up. Great job Interactors who attended.
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Club Meeting September 25, 2019
B-Rad gave us an inspirational moment; Denise helped out with our flag salute; and Manuel was volunteered to lead us in the four-way song.
 
Our speaker was Amy Travis, the Executive Director of CASA. CASA works with abused and neglected foster children. A CASA volunteer is the eyes and ears of the Juvenile Court system. There are thousands of foster children waiting for CASA volunteers. Amy told us that there are three things that everyone can do for CASA that will help their organization. First and most importantly, you can become a CASA volunteer. It is an 18-months commitment. You can give money to their fund. Lastly, you can can tell everyone about CASA and how they can help.
 
Statistically, most foster children are doomed to a life of addiction and homelessness. CASA is trying to change that as much as possible. The solution is citizen volunteers. The idea is to have one volunteer per child. Right now, they have a little over 130 volunteers, but need a lot more. Without an advocate, these children are going to most likely languish in the foster care system.
 
Finally, during our question and answer session of our program, we learned that our own, Vince Zaragoza, was one of the original people who started CASA. It was so interesting to hear Vince tell us about how little their budget was when they first started and what they had to do in order to get CASA going. Way to go Vince. It's impossible to imagine how many children's lives have changed because Vince and a few other people decide to get CASA going. You were a Rotarian years ago and you didn't even know it.
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Interact Club at The Park at River Wallk
The Centennial Interact Club held its first event of the year, the MADD run! They had a total of 24 volunteers, including lots of brand new faces.
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Centennial Interact's First Meeting of the Year
Centennial Interact Club held its first meeting of the year and they were kind enough to share some photos with us. What a turn out it looked like. At their meeting, they covered what Interact is, they introduced their board members and informed everyone about exciting events coming up like the MADD run this past Saturday and JJ's Legacy Got the Dot program. They had over 100 people in attendance.
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Meeting Responsibilities
Inspirational Moment
Zaragoza, Vince
 
Flag Salute
Palmer, Margaret
 
Visitors / Guests
Smith, Amy
 
Greeter
Azemika, Tracy
 
Ambassador
Azemika, Tony
 
Executives & Directors
President
 
President-Elect
 
President Elect Nominee
 
Immediate Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
International Serv
 
Community Service
 
Vocational Service
 
Youth Service
 
Membership
 
Awards Chair
 
The Rotary Foundation
 
Web Master
 
Club Bulletin Editor
 
Peace Chair
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Sam Hammoudeh
March 24
 
Join Date
Vince Zaragoza
March 7, 2018
6 years
 
Amy Smith
March 24, 2010
14 years
 
AREA MEETINGS

Tuesday @ 12 Noon 
Bakersfield North

at the Petroleum Club

Wednesday @ 12 Noon
Bakersfield West
at the Stockdale Country Club

Wednesday @ 6:45 AM 
Bakersfield Breakfast

at the Petroleum Club

Thursday @ 12 Noon
Bakersfield Downtown
at the Bakersfield Museum of Art

Friday @ 12 Noon 
Bakersfield East

at Bakersfield Museum of Art

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