Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce METRO E-NewsBacktotheTop
METRO E-News, October 2012
Table of Contents
2012 Expo - Oct. 25
2013 Bakersfield Guide & Business Directory
Creating a Buzz About Your Business - Nov. 6
Workplace Wellness Summit - Oct. 23
Quarterly Labor Law Forum - Nov. 13
Bakersfield: The Next Five Years - Dec. 11
Leadership Bakersfield Alumni Reunion Photos Now Available
October 2012 Legislative Session Recap
2012 Economic Census
Member News
METRO E-News Sponsor

 

Promoting Our Community & Building a Strong Economy

2012 Bakersfield Business Expo 

Thursday, Oct. 25 * 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Rabobank Convention Center 

 

140 Local Businesses  *  Free Food

Prizes, Freebies & Give-Aways 

 

Download Free Admission Coupon 

 

Sponsored by:

 

American Business Machines     ARRC Technology   Bright House Networks Business Solutions   Jim Burke Ford Lincoln

San Joaquin Community Hospital   Stria   Wells Fargo   National University


 Media Sponsors:

 

Kern Radio Newstalk 1180 Kern Business Journal   KGET-TV 17

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Building a Strong Economy & Promoting Our Community

2013 Bakersfield Guide & Business Directory 

Put your company at the fingertips of local business decision-makers!

Don't Miss Your Opportunity to Advertise in the Bakersfield Chamber's Flagship Annual Publication 

 

The Chamber is now accepting advertising placements for the 2013 Bakersfield Guide & Business Directory. Spaces fill quickly, place your reservation today! Priority ad placement is given on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve early!    

Published by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and distributed at the beginning of 2013 to more than 1300 local businesses, the Bakersfield Guide & Business Directory is a quick-reference community guide and business resource. The Guide contains information on business and industry, education, housing, transportation, arts and culture, as well as fast facts, demographics and economic indicators for the area. 

 

For more information download the ad contract below. If you have any questions, please contact Spencer Schluter at sschluter@bakersfieldchamber.org or call (661) 327-4421.

Download Directory Ad Contract

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Providing Business Education Opportunities

Creating a Buzz About Your Business - Nov. 6 On Tuesday, November 6, The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce will host Creating a Buzz About Your Business, a seminar organized by the Chamber's Business Development Committee. 

 

Guest speakers will include Kevin Bartl, Bakersfield Condors; and Kevin Burton, San Joaquin Community Hospital. The Bakersfield Condors and San Joaquin Community Hospital always have the community talking about their events and programs, now you can find out why. Shine a light on your business with best practices from some of the best in the business.

 

Registration will begin 11:30 a.m. and the program will run from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This seminar will be held at the Chamber office, 1725 Eye Street.

 

Registration is $30 for Chamber Members, $60 for non-members. Cost includes a boxed lunch.

  

Please park in the Eye Street parking structure located on the northwest corner of 18th and Eye streets.

To RSVP, register online or call (661) 327-4421. 

 
Register Online

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Building a Strong Economy

Workplace wellness isn't just good for your employees, it's good for your business. Healthy employees have fewer lost workdays, lower medical claim costs, lower indemnity claim costs.

 

A Worksite Wellness Summit will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Bakersfield Marriott at the Convention Center, 801 Truxtun Avenue

 

Presidents and CEOs are invited to a power breakfast with exclusive insight from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) speaker Jason Lang, held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Registration for the summit begins at 8:30 a.m. and the summit itself will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 

Businesses can learn how to increase their bottom line by having a healthy workforce; get information about wellness programs for any size worksite (small, medium and large); learn how to implement wellness programs on any budget; and see what it takes to create a culture of health.

 

Space is limited so register online or call (661) 868-1297. Lunch will be provided. Deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 19.

 

Register Online


Sponsorships are also available. For information on how to sponsor this event contact Tim Terrio at (661) 377-1700 or email tterrio@TERRIOtherapy.com.
 

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Providing Business Education Opportunities

Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases go unreported. The truth is, workplace violence can strike anywhere, anytime, and no one is immune. In most workplaces where risk factors can be identified, the risk of assault can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions.


Learn how you can protect your workers and your workplace from Workplace Violence at the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce free Quarterly Labor and Employment Law Update Forum.

Tuesday, Nov. 13
Registration 7:30 a.m.
Program 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Speakers Juanita Web, P*A*S Associates; Jerry Pearson, Law Offices of Young Wooldridge; and Carine Ortiz, Bakersfield Police Department will tackle the difficult issue of workplace violence.

There is no charge for Bakersfield Chamber Members to attend this event but reservations are required. Cost for non-members is $40.

Please park in the Eye Street parking structure located on the northwest corner of 18th and Eye streets.

Register Online 

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Providing Business Education Opportunities

Bakersfield: The Next Five YearsThe annual Bakersfield: The Next Five Years Forum is one of the Chamber's premier business information luncheon forums each year and attendees represent business leadership in our community. Each December this forum features future forecasts in three different areas that are key to Bakersfield and Kern County. Save the date, this year's forum will be Tuesday, Dec. 11.


AT&T is the Premier Sponsor; Aera Energy, Tejon Ranch, Southern California Gas Company and San Joaquin Community Hospital are Silver Sponsors and Midstate Development Corporation is a Bronze Sponsor.


The Chamber is currently accepting applications for additional sponsors. Silver sponsorships are available for $2,000 and Bronze for $1,000. 


Please contact Pauline Bartlett at (661) 327-4421, or email pbartlett@bakersfieldchamber.org for more information.  

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Building a Strong Economy

Leadership Alumni Reunion a Stunning Success, Photos Now Available

 

The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all the attendees for making it such a memorable event. We would also like to thank everyone who donated items for the Bakersfield Rescue Mission, Police Activities League and the Jamison Center for continuing Leadership Bakersfield's tradition of community service.

 

View & Download Event Photos  

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Representing the Interests of Business with Government

Final Bills Signed and Vetoed

 

Governor Brown concluded his work on legislation on the last weekend in September. The Governor signed three Chamber supported bills and two opposed while vetoing three other Chamber opposed bills.  

 

September 30 was the last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature before it began its final recess. The legislature will adjourn at midnight on November 30. The organizational gathering for the 2013-14 regular session convenes on December 3, 2012. 

 

Bills signed by the Governor will become law on January 1, 2013.  Urgency measures went into effect immediately upon being signed.   

 

 

Signed and Chaptered

 

Supported - AB 890 (Olsen) Improves safety and roadway conditions that expedite goods and people movement by exempting roadway projects from the California Environmental Quality Act process.

 

Supported - AB 2564 (Ma) Expedites permitting for maintenance and upgrades for natural gas pipelines throughout the state.

 

Supported - SB 863 (DeLeon) Workers' Compensation System Reforms, which offset necessary increases in permanent disability benefits and potentially lowers system costs for employers by reducing delays and litigation in the system, addressing the lien epidemic, shortening the medical-legal process, implementing an independent medical review system and streamlining the permanent disability schedule.

 

Opposed - AB 1532 (J. Perez) and SB 535 These bills constitute an illegal tax increase. Both will increase energy costs; including fuel prices, on consumers and businesses by allocating funds from an illegal tax to various programs that are not necessary to cost-effectively implement the market-based trading mechanism under AB 32.

 

 

Vetoed

 

Opposed - AB 889 (Ammiano) Onerous Wage-and-Hour Mandates for Individuals and Families. It would have required individuals and families who hire "domestic work employees" to comply with onerous wage-and-hour mandates that even sophisticated businesses in California struggle to satisfy, thereby discouraging such individuals from retaining the services of these domestic work employees.

 

Opposed - AB 1450 (Allen) Exposure to Costly Discrimination Litigation. Before amendments, would have subjected employers to unjustified charges of discrimination for legitimately inquiring into an applicant's most recent employment history.

 

Opposed - AB 2346 (Butler) Increased Cost of Food. This would have increased the price of food and force growers to move their crop production to other states and countries, thereby hurting California exports, by creating unprecedented and excessive consequences for perceived and actual violations of heat illness prevention regulations.

 

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Building a Strong Economy

2012 Economic Census Is Coming Soon

 

In November and December, more than 4 million American businesses, including 7,200 businesses in the Bakersfield metro area, will receive 2012 Economic Census forms. Responses to the questionnaire are required by law (Title 13, U.S. Code), to be returned by February 12, 2013.

 

Every five years, the Economic Census develops a comprehensive portrait of American business, from the national to the local level. Timely and accurate data are vital to effective public policy and important to your chamber and your members.

 

What Businesses Need to Hear...and When

  • Sep.-Oct. 2012  - The Economic Census has information that benefits your business, at business.census.gov. 
  • Nov.-Dec. 2012  - Watch for your form, coming to most businesses in mid-December 
  • Jan. 2013  - Complete your form. Your industry / community is counting on you 
  • Feb. 2013 - Economic Census forms are due February 12
  

The U.S. Census Bureau has created a special Web page at business.census.gov to tell businesses about the Economic Census, and provide statistics they can use to assess and grow their business operations.

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Promoting Our Community

Member News

Member News 

 

This year, public school teachers will spend an average of $356 of their own money to pay for school supplies and instructional materials needed for student learning. The Fuel Your School program can help these educators receive funding for eligible projects - ranging from pencils to microscope slides and even live tarantulas for use with biology lessons - through DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that organizes funding for schools across the country. During the month of October, when you fuel up with 8 or more gallons at a participating Chevron or Texaco station, Chevron will donate $1, up to $300,000, to help fund projects for public schools in Kern County. You can even track the progress of funded projects in our city at www.FuelYourSchool.com.

  

Kern Council of Governments is again asking for your help. Business and Industry and Environmental and Social Equity Stakeholder meetings for our Regional Transportation Plan Cycle II Outreach will be held Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 9:00 a.m. at the Kern Council of Governments office (1401 19th Street, Suite 300). Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on one or both of those days. The meetings will focus on studies that have been completed to inform the Regional Transportation Plan. For more information, contact Becky Napier at (661) 861-2191.

 

The Bakersfield Downtown Business Association is seeking sponsors for the Condor's Party in the Plaza with the Bakersfield Condors. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Attendance of more than 6,000 is expected. Several levels of sponsorship are available. For more information, please call (661) 325-5892 or email dbassociation@gmail.com.

 

The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, Southern California & Nevada Chapter is gearing up for a spooktacular walk season! Walk MS: 2012 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27 at Yokuts Park, and you can be part of the fun and excitement of the Halloween-themed event, whether it be as a walker, planning committee member, or volunteer. Register online at www.WalkToEndMS.org or call Christine Grontkowski at (661) 321-9512 ext. 66401 for more information on how to get involved.

 

Kaiser Permanente wants you to come out and join the fun on Saturday, Oct. 27 at their timed 5K run and 1K stroll. Visit with local businesses at their Health Expo and let the kids enjoy the activities at the free Kid Zone. All 5k participants registered by the Wednesday, Oct. 24 deadline will receive a commemorative Get Fit T-shirt and will be guaranteed their shirt size. Finisher ribbons will be given to all participants and awards by age category. Registration for the event can be found on www.active.com (keyword: Kaiser Permanente). Registration fee for the 5K is $20 and the 1K is free (registration required).

 

Applications for non-profit and for-profit organizations to participate in the first-annual Kern County Nut Festival are now being accepted. The nut festival, scheduled June 14 and 15, 2013 at the Kern County Museum, will be a culinary celebration featuring Kern's top nuts - almonds, pistachios and walnuts. Local businesses and groups are invited to participate by selling a food product or merchandise, hosting an exhibition or managing a "nutty' activity. Businesses and groups involved can earn revenue from participation in the festival. Festival organizers estimate there will be at least 6,000 attendees to the Nut Festival. Applications, rules, and other information are on the Kern County Museum's website at www.kcmuseum.org. For more information, Beth Pandol, bpandol@gmail.com or Sheryl Barbich, sheryl@barbich.com or call the Kern County Museum at (661) 868-8400.

 

Kern Community College District trustees have named Dr. Sonya Christian as the new president of Bakersfield College. Christian, the vice president and chief academic officer at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon, will serve as Bakersfield College's 10th president and lead the institution as it enters its 100th year of educational service to the community. Christian's first day as Bakersfield College president is November 29. She will work on a part-time basis until January, when she begins full-time employment.

 

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