It was another fine Wednesday morning at the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club — coffee was hot, pastries were plentiful, and the crowd was (mostly) awake! Our ever-welcoming GREETERS, JEFF BELL and DALE BENDER, greeted the masses with smiles and 50/50 Opportunity Drawing tickets in hand — proving once again that Rotary hospitality comes with a shot at easy money.

 

 

 

In a surprising twist of events, DARIN BLUNT, a man often spotted only in archival bulletins and club legends, made a rare live appearance to deliver the invocation. The prayer was heartfelt, the crowd was moved, and a collective gasp was heard — not for the inspiration, but for the sheer fact that Darin was physically present.

 

 

KAREN BONANNO then led us in the Flag Salute with poise and purpose, and CAROL E. SMITH lifted spirits as she guided us in a rousing rendition of “God Bless America.” Between patriotism and prayer, we were ready to seize the day — or at least our next cup of coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had no birthdays and no wedding anniversaries to celebrate, but we did manage to find something to celebrate. CAMERON CERDA marked his 4th year as a proud BBRC Rotarian, proving that time really does fly when you are having this much Rotary fun. 

 

Now we jump right into the program.

 

Guest speaker JASON CATER wasted no time winning the room, opening with “You guys have energy” and then proving he could match it. He walked the club through Bakersfield’s impressive evolution from a town of 1,990 residents to a city of about 420,000, now ranked as the 40th largest in the country. He explained that the City’s focus centers on three big themes: quality of place, creating jobs and opportunities, and mobility, all aimed at building a community where people both want to live and are able to thrive.

Jason highlighted the City’s work in economic and community development, especially around affordable housing and neighborhood cohesion. He described long-running housing programs dating back to the 1970s and 80s that have been successfully managed with no major compliance issues, and he emphasized current efforts to build capacity for new business initiatives in Southeast Bakersfield. The creation of the Bakersfield Community Land Trust is a major step, designed not only to provide affordable units but to expand ownership and access, preserve key assets, and use tools like a local housing trust fund and dedicated set‑aside dollars (authorized in 2021) to add more housing units and shelters.

On the jobs front, Jason outlined an ambitious economic strategic plan focused on advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and large‑scale projects that will see major dollars spent starting in 2026. Recent recruitment wins include California Dairies, which opened in April 2025 with a $270 million capital investment and around 400 jobs, and Bids, which is finalizing contracts for its first trial and also expects to create about 400 jobs while doing business worldwide. He also noted Bios, a pharmaceutical firm testing in the region with secured investment and an upcoming clinical trial, as well as the proposed Rosedale Ranch mega site, a rare large‑scale property opportunity with huge growth potential.

Jason tied this all back to place‑making and revitalization, spotlighting Old Town Kern as an area with deep history and a vision plan to turn that history into a modern business and community hub. Projects like the Renaissance Inn with its 85‑unit quality, affordable housing development, coupled with job opportunities, adult education, GED classes, and workforce training, show how housing and jobs are being linked on the ground. He wrapped up by stressing the strength of community partnerships in Southeast Bakersfield and the broader alignment with Kern California, California Jobs First, and clean‑energy and community‑growth initiatives across Kern County, underscoring that Bakersfield’s future is being built by an active, coordinated team committed to opportunity and inclusion.

 

 

 

Happy Spots and Fines did not disappoint this week, as wallets opened almost as wide as the smiles. JEFF BELL was positively glowing as he shared that his oldest son welcomed a second daughter, Sophie, and his oldest daughter welcomed her first son, Calvin, and he promptly put his money where his pride is at $20 per grandkid.

Not to be outdone by mere happiness, fines also made an appearance: MARY JO PASEK was fined in absentia for never updating her Facebook photo, and CAROL SMITH was cited for excessive selfies on Facebook, proving once again that at BBRC, even your social media is subject to quality control.

 

BRENNA LAYNE officially graduated from rookie status, shedding her red badge and proudly receiving her Blue Badge today. The upgrade is well deserved and marks her full induction into the wild and wonderful world of BBRC membership.

 

                                        

We have pancakes and party clothes on the menu.

 

The upcoming Pancake Breakfast at Dignity Health is on January 24, 2026, with two different shifts available and plenty of room on the griddle team—we need your help to make it a success.​

Looking a little further ahead, Charter Night will be celebrated on February 7th at Stockdale Country Club, where members’ meals are covered and a guest is only $20. Dust off your dressy attire and come help celebrate 44 years of BBRC, proving that our club ages like fine wine, not leftover pancake batter.

 

The meeting wrapped up with the 50/50 drawing, where TROY FRINGER walked away with the whopping $40 pot, proving that sometimes the real program is pure luck.​

Next week will be a “State of the Club” meeting, and QUEEN JACKIE issued a stern royal decree that this is not the meeting to bring guests, as we will be diving into some serious club business.

 

SOCIAL PHOTOS:

If you missed the social at Hungry Hunter this week, below are a few pictures of that event.

Enjoy!