Cheryl Borthick - Special to the Sun

This year was an exciting year, as the Kernville Chamber celebrated its 50th Anniversary. ¬ÝWe held a dinner dance at Frandy Park in September. Prior to our 50th celebration we held many mixers, welcoming new members to the chamber and some renewed, Kernville Inn with Jazz Tones playing, Circle Park where Sweet Adelines entertained along with 'Out of the Blue'. ¬ÝOur Representative Jean Fuller attended along with others from her office.

Our former October rodeo was held over Labor Day weekend and the Chamber Board learned about Rodeo the hard way. ¬ÝWe had a ball serving up food and watching the Bull riding and Bronco busting in 105 degree weather. ¬ÝSeveral historical families were honored at the rodeo with grant money from the Glendale Community Foundation.

Newly installed officers for the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, left to right, Jeanette Rogers, Chuck Barbee, Cheryl Borthick, Bev Demetriff, Sharon Stennerson, Ron Guillentine, Sheryl Parmalee, and Mike Ludiker at lat week’s installation dinner in Kernville.

In October we partnered with the Kern River Valley Chamber, and sent Michelle Sweet office manager to the Trade Show in Bakersfield. ¬ÝWe had a beautiful display of all the fun and good times available in our Kern Valley area. ¬ÝSince that time the Kern River Valley Chamber has purchased a new backdrop and donated their old one to the Kernville Chamber.

Christmas in Kernville Candle light stroll was well attended even though it rained on our stroll. ¬ÝWe enjoyed a beautiful rendition of Silent Night and O Christmas Tree in German by our friend Josh Gorden, married to Roberta Piazza. ¬ÝIt was a highlight of the Christmas season. ¬ÝBut not to be out done, Santa arrived in Circle Park the next night while it snowed. ¬ÝI think that was a first for Kernville. ¬ÝThe Kern Valley Hot Rodders had been busy during the year, raising money to pay for the electricity for the Christmas lights in Circle Park and donated almost $900, while Kathy Crawford was busy with her donation cans in many businesses around the Park and raised almost $400, which paid for the lights in full.

In February, we hired Ann Justice, a 17-year former employee of the Kernville Union School District. ¬ÝThis was just before WFD and did she get educated on how busy the Kernville Chamber office is. ¬ÝMichelle Sweet and Ann are our very own secret weapons. ¬ÝMary Bostic gave her notice and left the chamber at the end of February. ¬ÝWFD was the biggest ever and the weather was very cooperative. ¬ÝWe had record numbers of people here and our sheriff department was very visible making for a relatively safe holiday. ¬ÝOur mayor candidates, Louisville Lisa and Outlaw Jerry James, along with Vintage Val, were absolutely fantastic, raising record breaking bribes and the Kernville Chamber gave back to the community over $21,000, Little League getting over $13,000 and Rotary over $8,000. We also helped Chuck Barbee in the showing of his fine film, Wild West Country by Bob Powers, at the Reel Cinema in Wofford Heights over the Whiskey Flat Celebration.

And speaking of Little League, we’re playing sanctioned softball at Randall Field thanks to the volunteer work of this fine organization partnering with the Kernville Chamber to make this become a reality. ¬ÝLittle League plays 6 nights a week. ¬ÝIn the future dugouts need to be covered and they plan on tournaments to be held at this field. ¬Ý

Both of our office spaces are rented and we held a mixer to welcome the Kern River Valley Realty Board and Alta Sierra Photography along with Tom Johnson’s 90th birthday this past month with over 50 folks attending. ¬ÝOn Sundays the meeting room is rented to a church group. The first Wed. of each month the KRVR group meets here at the chamber building. ¬ÝSo you can see the 'Community Building' is being used.

We’ve worked with the Forest Service this past year in helping Georgia Lupercio realize her dream to put the Cyrus Canyon Motorcycle Track back on course. ¬Ý(No pun intended) ¬ÝBobby Frenes and many volunteers worked to take care of the safety issues and an MOU was signed by the Kernville Chamber, Kern River Valley Chamber, KRV Revitalization, USFS, Friends of Cyrus Canyon in honor of Matt Lupercio and six organizations from outside the valley interested in holding events at this fine location. ¬ÝIn April the first of many events was held. ¬Ý

In April, Cheyenne’s Stage Stop and the ABATE motorcycle club in the Kern Valley donated over $1,385 to help build a new 'Mel’s Watering Hole' on the Rodeo Grounds. ¬ÝAt the Whiskey Flat Cowboy Auction a presentation of a new sign was made to the family of Mel Crowder. ¬ÝA 30-year-old picture of Mel, along with Johnny McNally and Leon Falk was presented to each son of Mel’s and the sign made by board member Ron Guillentine was placed on the easy up that sold beer at the WFD Rodeo. ¬ÝOur goal is to have a new building for the sign for our next Rodeo. ¬Ý

We have formed an Ad Hoc committee to go over Rodeo procedures to present to the Board in the next couple of weeks. ¬ÝThis committee consists of 2 board members ’Äì Chuck Richards and Bev Demetriff, 2 general membership folks ’Äì Bob Reeves and Lanny Borthick, and 2 Gents from the Cowboy community ’Äì Tippy Tipton and Tony Cain. ¬ÝCheryl is chairing the committee. ¬ÝWe’re working hard to turn the fall Rodeo into a great event and also use the grounds for many more events that would enhance business here in Kernville and the surrounding areas.

That brings us to the last couple of projects ’Äì the gazebo and kiosk in Circle Park. ¬ÝBoth projects have drawings and Parks Dept. is involved with them. ¬ÝThe Board of Trade is steering the engine for the Kiosk with input from the chamber to keep the housing of this fine information center a western theme for the town of Kernville.

During the year we’ve tried to notify you of events, causes and general information that would help you and your business, keep you posted on dates and times. ¬ÝSo in saying that, we’d like to get our newsletter back in business. ¬ÝIt would be sent to you email and for those of you who don’t have email, it would be sent through the US postal service. Mike Ludiker and Ron Guillentine have volunteered to start this up again. ¬ÝWe thank you. ¬Ý

I can’t stress enough how none of this would have been accomplished with out many wonderful volunteers, including all members of the Chamber Board of Directors. ¬ÝThis year we added Cindy Jewett, Tina Jost and Bob Burkhart to fill unexpired terms. They are serving with Jeanette Rogers, Chuck Richards, Sheryl Parmalee, Dick Reid, Ron Guillentine, Sharon Stennerson, Bev Demetriff, Mike Ludiker, and myself, Cheryl Borthick. We thank you all for your accomplishments and your spirit of volunteerism.

The yearly election took place in May and we had 7 fine folks from the community on the slate. ¬ÝWe re-elected Sheryl Parmalee, Dick Reid, Ron Guillentine and added Chuck Barbee to our board. ¬Ý

Our installation dinner was held on June 23rd at the Kern Valley Golf Course, with Brian Williams representing Jean Fuller as our installing officer. ¬ÝBrian performed his duties and I quote 'Beginning in 1957, after fleeing the rising waters of the newly created Lake Isabella, the Kernville Chamber of Commerce was born with the charge of promoting business and tourism in the Kern River Valley. ¬ÝThis evening, as the Kernville chamber of commerce focuses on the future, we are here to install the 2008-09 Board of Directors and Officers.' ¬ÝAfter raising our right hand and stating 'I do' at the end of the oath, we all swore to uphold the mission and vision of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, to provide leadership, support the business community and encourage tourism in the Kern River Valley. ¬ÝWe would also like to thank Craig Pederson, who attended, representing our 1st district supervisor, Jon McQuiston. ¬Ý